November 19

John Fitzgerald Kennedy
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

When I read this quote and took a bit of time reflecting on exactly what it meant, I had an ahhh moment. Do we live a life of gratitude?

Thanksgiving has evolved over the years to be more than a feast and a celebration. It is a day to show gratitude and appreciation for those in your life. My question is this, do we live by these words?

Are there people in your life you maybe take for granted? Do you say thank you out of habit? Do we actually live a life of gratitude? Do we teach others how to be thankful or what gratitude is? I have found over the years many have never been taught how to be grateful for the things in their lives. We can all be great teachers by living these few words, thank you and gratitude.

Today I would like for you, no matter where you are in your life journey to take a few minutes to think of the great teachers in your life. It may be a third grade teacher, a Sunday school teacher, a best friend’s mom, a parent, a friend. Reflect on why they had an impact on your life and if they are alive I suggest telling them thank you for being a positive influence for you.

When creating my own list I have found the more I write, the more people I think about. How wonderful, as it has flooded back many memories throughout my life of people and places I had forgotten about. There were many to choose from here is one I would like to share with you today.

I was a small child when I would visit my Grandma Mack. I don’t remember much about her since she passed away when I was young. She was a single mom in very difficult times as her husband died when my father and his twin sister were quite young. There were two other children as well. I can you tell from experience raising four children alone in these times is not exactly easy, but in those days of hardship it had to be a challenge. My memory of her is being a wonderful teacher to a special needs child named Bobby. He had Downs Syndrome and was at her house often. I remember her caring, loving him and teaching him. These memories have stayed in mind my entire life and had a special impact as it has helped mold me into the person I am today.

It may not seem important at the time but things you do now can impact others without your even knowing it!

I suggest you think of the people and children in your life and how you have made an impact. Do you have teachable moments where you can make a difference in the life of a child or an adult? I believe we all do if we live a life of gratefulness and thankfulness. I encourage everyone to make their list of people you have gratitude for in your life. I have a little different perspective as I start my day because I have remembered some wonderful memories and am amazed at how many people have made an impact in my life. What a wonderful way to start my day!

Susie Austin

Yesterday is History, tomorrow is a

mystery, today is a gift, use it wisely….

This is one of my favorites as it relates to everyone whatever stage or place you are in life.

Today is dedicated to my father as he is celebrating his eighty fourth birthday!

Take a little time and reflect on the past month, do you obsess about what negative things have been happening in your life? Do you constantly worry about what might happen tomorrow? How about just for today, try just for today! Decide what things you would like to accomplish today. Write them down and check them off as you complete them. At the end of the day celebrate the job well done and reflect on the successful day. Take time to smile, enjoy something you love and savor the moment. Look back and know that it is a day well lived. Remember if the day did not go so well, each day we get a fresh new start.

It seems when I was young time went very slow, remembering as a small child the day never would end, as a youth school would last forever, as a younger adult pregnancy will last Indefinitely! Now I am amazed at how fast the time speeds by, my children are amazing young adults, I have ads for AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) and my parents are in the fall season of their lives.

I had a wonderful talk with my mother the other day when my father was back in the hospital. I was upset as he has been there more and more lately. She reminded me of the words at the top with today being a gift, we need to enjoy the time we have left. It was not so easy at first but smiling I knew what she meant. My father never owned a company, held office, or made a lot of money. What he did was more important! He has raised eight children of his own, taken in countless of others along the years. He has always gone out of his way to help others without complaining. He was a liberator under General Patton in World War Two. He has been married to my mother for 60 years and he is my hero. He has always stood up for me, even times when I was wrong and he probably shouldn’t have. He loved me when I couldn’t love myself. He has taught me love and compassion and forgiveness and for that I am grateful for everyday I have with him. I encourage everyone today to tell those you love in your life that you love them. Make a few phone calls leave a couple of voice mails and you will make someone’s day!

This quote says it all! I am proud of you Dad!

Susie Austin

HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS?
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others:
To leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child,
a redeemed social condition, or a job well done;
To know that even one other life has breathed because you lived.
– This is to have succeeded.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

“No one who achieves success

does so without the help of others.

The wise and confident acknowledge

this help with gratitude.”

Alfred North Whitehead

Have you ever known anyone who never needed help from anybody? Do you have a mentor or someone who has helped you, coached you or been a positive influence in your life?

I am finding most people I know that are successful have had the guidance and help of other people and are also quick to give back to help others as well.

Appreciate those in your life, don’t forget to be grateful and acknowledge the things others do for you. I am grateful every day to all the wonderful people who encourage, empower, and have faith in me. I am happy and content and am truly grateful for the positive people in my life.

Susie Austin

“Being happy doesn’t mean

that everything is perfect.

It means that you’ve

 decided to look beyond

the imperfections.” 

A lovely thought to start the day. Think of the people in your life, are any of them perfect?  We know no one is perfect and we know in order to be happy and content we need to look past others imperfections and realize this is a key factor in life. I remember my mother telling me when advising me as a youth, when choosing a mate make sure you find someone whose faults you can live with. Mothers are so wise aren’t they? I wish I would have listened to her more.

With friends acquaintances, family, and coworkers they all may have irritating qualities, problems, or even things we don’t approve of. The key is to love them anyway in spite of their imperfections. If we concentrate on the things that bother us about others we will not be happy, however if we look to the good in people we will be happier and have lower stress levels.

Being happy is a choice that we make every day, we can decide to be happy and overlook the small things or we can choose the other path, which one do you choose?

Susie Austin

Og Mandino: 

“I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply all my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.”

Let’s do a reality check today and see how much progress we have made on our goals and dreams so far this year. It is the beginning of May and soon we will have reached the six month point in the year, yes I know it is hard to believe.

This is a good time to assess and possibly make some changes in your plan for the year. If you have not started goals this is the perfect time to begin.

I believe we must be willing to adjust our goals as we make progress on our journey. Everything is a learning process. Successful people are committed to learning and realize you can learn from all life experiences. Successful people also know when to make necessary changes in goals, this is why writing them down is important. Make sure you continue to monitor your progress as you venture on your journey. Make necessary changes as you learn and grow, remember to stay positive and focus on all the good things  life has to offer.

Create a strategy for making your vision a reality, then build confidence and believe that you can really make it happen and your dreams can come true. The first step is to start, begin today to plan your life and start to write down your dreams and how they can become a reality; with vision and belief the future can be exciting and rewarding. Make this first step and walk into the life you are meant to have full of hopes and dreams.

Susie Austin

The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385.   When he was 16, he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity, he became close to God.

His wishes were to return to Ireland, to convert the native pagans to Christianity.  He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries. He also set up schools and churches which would help him in his conversion of the Irish to Christianity.

His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been celebrated as St. Patrick’s Day ever since.

 One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more believable Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.   

Today, people celebrate the day with parades, wearing of green and drinking beer. One reason St. Patrick’s Day might have become so popular is that it takes place just a few days before the first day of spring. Some say it has become the first green of spring.

Since I am part Irish I would like to think I maybe have a little luck of the Irish. 

Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket today.

I wish to extend to everyone a very happy St. Patrick’s Day, may the wind always be at your back and remember, God always has you in the palm of his hand.

 Susie Austin 

March 16

“If you concentrate on finding whatever

 is good in every situation,

you will discover that your life will suddenly

 be filled with gratitude,

a feeling that nurtures the soul.”

~ Rabbi Harold Kushner ~    

Today I would like to talk about the importance of being thankful and finding good in every situation.

Take a look at the weekend you most recently experienced. What did you do? How many positive things in the weekend can you remember and can you reflect on them? In every situation there are always good things that happen, however we need to be aware these good things and recall them often.

I try to encourage the positive in each day, for example I went roller skating over the weekend and I must say I did pretty well until I got a bit over confident and tripped over my own skate. I went down on my knees and had a pretty major fall. I think what I hurt the most was my pride. I assessed the situation and after I got up and we put the glass back into my glasses I decided to take a bit of a break. I did go back out for a little while to mostly prove to myself I could. I was very thankful I was still in one piece andMore importantly I was thankful my kids were having fun and we were having a great time together. I was by far the oldest mom out there and they were not embarrassed but proud.  

I was privileged to watch my son Dustin and my daughter Brittany perform in a beautiful concert with combined choirs along with a youth symphony orchestra. It was a beautiful day. When your heart is filled with gratitude, it will nurture your soul I know it has mine.

Susie Austin  

March 6

Manners are a sensitive

awareness of the feelings of others.

If you have that awareness,

you have good manners,

no matter which fork you use. 

 ~Emily Post

When deciding to discuss manners today I did not realize the scope of this one word. Did I want to discuss social manners, edict, table manners, morality, politeness, intercultural, bad manners or what not to do?

Think over the last two days, can you remember saying thank you. Please, may I help you? Did you offer someone your seat? Saying excuse me when you walk in front of someone or interrupted another during conversation.  What do you say when someone sneezes? 

Many of these things we take for granted; however what if you have never been taught these things? I believe there are many who have never been taught social skills and in turn come across as being rude.

I believe a great starting point would be to recognize and be aware of this in your life and in the lives of those around you. Is there something you could to assist others in a way that is not humiliating?

Have you ever thought about teaching or discussing this with others in your life? Manners are extremely important in life especially good ones. Rudeness seems both dehumanizing and threatening, and it is quite possible one may be acting out of ignorance.

Be patient and kind in dealing with others, as you may not know their circumstances. Teach by example, be a good role model and please, mind your manners. J

Thank you,

  Susie Austin   

January 28

The making of friends,

who are real friends,

is the best token we have

of a man’s success in life.”

- Edward Everett Hale

Today is a good day to talk about friendships and how they affect us throughout the course of our lifetime. I have the privilege to have many different kind of friendships in many different places over the years.

Do you remember your childhood friends and how important they were in your life? In teenage years friendships were more important than parents. The influences these friends have can significant influences either good or bad in the lives of teenagers. I believe any parent needs to be very aware of whom your teenage children are associating with. We carry friendships to different stages in our lifetime and in most cases friends have made a difference and impacted us in very special and positive ways. Think for a few minuets how your friends have influenced you throughout your lifetime?
There are friends who come into your life for a reason and some for maybe just for a season. To all we have a purpose but many times we forget about the special friends we have met along the way. If we are truly lucky we maybe have opportunities to reconnect with old friends, share some laughs and compare journeys.  I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to reconnect with old friends in which I have not seen for many years. I was a little concerned things would be different because of all the years and events over time. I am thrilled as I have laughed much, caught up with families and feel as if all the years in between have melted away. This is the true mark of real friendships. It does not matter what has happened over the years, what matters is the bonds have remained.
If there is someone in your life you have lost contact with over the years I encourage you reconnect. You might have to do a little investigation but it will be worth the effort.
Don’t hesitate to tell your friends you cherish their friendships and stay connected.  What a great feeling it was the other day when I received a phone call from a friend who just wanted to say hello my friend, I was just thinking about you and wanted to call you and tell you what a wonderful friend you are. Live life as it was meant to be, happy, healthy, in mind body and spirit but don’t forget to include your friends.

Susie Austin