Great love, wishes and miracles

What a beautiful quote by Willa Cather!

Another version of this quote replaces wishes with miracles.

I'm not sure which one is the correct quote.

As I came across the quote, I pondered the meaning although I have run across it many times through the years and never gave it a thought.

My first interpretation was "with love comes faith."

My second interpretation was "is love enough?"

"Enough for what?"

Perhaps Willa was conveying the message that even the greatest love does not bring happiness, but we can always hope for a miracle?  Or was she conveying another message about being patient with love?

Could it be that she had a great love for someone who did not return the same degree of love, but she could wish for her desires?

There is a popular quote that has been used in song lyrics through the years . . . 

"love can move mountains."

Could we interpret the meaning of the Willa's quote to mean the same thing?

Sometimes I analyze and think too much!

The quote just got me to thinking about what her thoughts and feelings were when she wrote it . . . and what was going on in her life at the time.  Love and how it affects us fascinates me!

What is your interpretation

 of the quote?

read more

Embrace Self-Worth and Self-Love

If you have built castles in the air
your work need not be lost.
That is where they should be.
Now put the foundations under them.

Henry David Thoreau


One of the ways to love the self more is to stop comparing yourself to others. Although you are part of a whole, you are also an individual self, with your own path. The group and family belief systems you have taken on as your own can be obstacles to your self-love. The challenge of loving the self is to step aside from everything you are told, and ask, "Does this fit me? Does this bring me joy? Do I feel good when I do it?" It is ultimately your own experience that counts.
(Orin & DaBen through Sanaya Roman,
from the book, Living With Joy) 
orindaben.com


"Nobody needs to prove to anybody what they're worthy of, just the person that they look at in the mirror. That's the only person you need to answer to."
Picabo Street


"Self-worth comes from one thing - thinking that you are worthy."
Wayne Dyer



"We long for love, success, abundance and all that is good to come into our life. Yet, many of us feel we are not worthy of such good fortune. It is a great moment when we finally realize we are worthy of all the goodness, all the greatness and all the love that life has to offer. For it is that moment we realize our true nature, our true identity and from that moment forward our lives change. When we know we are worthy of our heart's desire, it shows up effortlessly."

Mastin Kipp

Self-love and self-worth can be tricky, especially when one is afflicted with any degree of depression.  The mind can play tricks on thoughts and perceptions that may lead to feelings of unworthiness and self-hatred.  It just happens!

Even though I had the emotional tools to deal with feelings of failure at various stages of my life, my conscious mind didn't want to deal with it.  Isn't it easier to just give in and let yourself dig the hole deeper and deeper into the danger zone?  How well I know . . .

I think of the millions of people who are currently unemployed in poor economic times, having to compete with those who are over-qualified for the same positions . . . those who are willing to take the position just to survive.  I've been there too . . . the subconscious feeling of self-worth and and the survival mode is what got me back on my feet and back to the reality of having to compete for a job.  It is a mind game.

It is my belief that anyone can do anything they set their mind to when self-worth, confidence and a strong sense of survival is present.  What a freeing experience it was for me to finally realize that I am an asset in the workplace.  At that point, it was easy to present myself as such to a potential employer.

Finding real love again happened for me the same way.


Self-love and self-worth are
important ingredients in this
 world of survival of the fittest.

Refuse to be a victim!

read more

Anything is possible

For the weak it is unattainable.

For the fearful it is the unknown.

For the bold it is opportunity.

The future has many names. 

Victor Hugo

Living life in the now, knowing that there are opportunities all around us, can earn a happy future.  It is all about keeping an open mind and always keeping the future in mind, while learning from past mistakes.

The fearful can realize that the unknown holds opportunity, while moving ahead cautiously.  From experience, I know that the fearful can also be bold when opportunity presents itself.  Knowing and truly believing that just about anything is possible in the future gives the fearful hope for the future.

Past experience found me finding long distance relationships on the other side of the world.  Fear of the unknown and moving on kept love a world away . . . a safe haven . . . lonely, but not really alone . . . proceeding toward love with extreme caution, yet at the same time proving that the opportunity to find an attainable love connection was out there for me when the time was right.

Those closest to me worried that I would live a lonely existence behind a computer monitor the rest of my life urged me to get out into the real world . . . one that I was not ready for.  I tried.  I failed miserably!

The message I'm trying to get across is to seize opportunities in your time and in your way.  Be true to yourself with lots of patience.  Fear of the unknown is not a bad thing . . . you can move on boldly and cautiously at the same time, knowing that anything is possible when you believe in yourself, trusting and listening to your instincts.

Who knew that a chance #followfriday on Twitter would lead to an awesome relationship, friendship through emails, chat and phone calls for a long time would lead to the most perfect love I could ever imagine.  

We were married two weeks ago.

The future has many names . . . name your future.

read more

The day the world changed

As on any normal day, I was watching the morning news when the breaking news came in that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I remember wondering what it must have been like to be stuck on those top floors and even envisioned what those poor souls were going through to survive.

I watched in horror as the second plane hit and knew that nothing would ever be the same. My heart sank when the buildings came down in a black cloud and it seemed as though I was watching a sci-fi flic. 

But it wasn't a movie or a staged production. 

It was evil . . . and it changed our world.

Please pray for world peace and 

an end to the evil called terrorism.

I'm still haunted by the images and my thoughts about the day.

Do you ever wonder who those people were that no doubt fought the fight of their lives on that day, only to lose their lives? The person they were, why they were special to their loved ones? And their loved ones . . . the thoughts that must haunt them like a chronic disease that can't be cured. I think of them and their families often. 

We sometimes forget the residents of Manhattan who had their world ripped apart. Some were left homeless, some were eyewitnesses to the horror as it unfolded. How about those who are chronically ill because of what they breathed in that day? I can't imagine living that nightmare.

This memorial post is dedicated to the memory of those lost in the World Trade Center & Pentagon terrorist attacks . . . and the heroes who fought the  terrorists on Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. 

May we never forget them, the loved ones they left behind and the day our whole world changed.
Freedom itself was attacked
 this morning by a faceless coward,
 and freedom will be defended.
George W. Bush

read more

Nasty habits and motivation

"Be miserable.

Or motivate yourself.

Whatever has to be done, 

it's always your choice."

Wayne Dyer

OK, fess up . . . I guess we all do it at times . . .

it is ok to want to feel miserable and throw a pity party.

I do it without realizing that I'm doing it.

It is all about changing your thinking and the way surrounding circumstances are perceived.  I'm learning that negative thinking isn't going to make my life much better or happier.  Quite the contrary.

One of my realizations is that negative thinking is a nasty habit.

Nasty habits are so hard for me to break, however, I believe that over time they can be defeated through awareness.

Choosing to motivate happiness should be the goal rather than expecting misery through negative thinking and dwelling on what is not right.  Circumstances are what they are and can't be changed . . . defeat the vicious cycle of negative thinking and make the best of the situation. 

You reap what you sow!

There was a time when I wrote notes to myself and placed them where I could see them in the midst of my daily routine on the refrigerator door, the bathroom mirror and/or my computer monitor . . . the little reminders heighten awareness to break those nasty little habits, leading thoughts in the right direction, whatever they are.

While it is healthy to look back on past experiences, it is not healthy to dwell on them or overthink them to the point of the downward spiral that can get out of control.  Thinking positively about the here and now and living for the moment is a much better practice . . . it is not living through rose-colored glasses . . . rather, it is expecting positive outcomes and breaking the vicious cycle of negative thinking while being realistic.

Peace, love and happiness . . . 

choose to be happy :) 

read more

Dreams and the big picture

"The most pathetic person in the world
 is the person who has sight, but no vision."

Helen Keller

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations.
 I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty,
 believe in them, and follow where they lead."

Louisa May Alcott

"The only limits are, as always, those of vision."

James Broughton

What’s the big picture for your life? 

Do you know?

Your mind needs to have a clear and challenging vision,

 a purposeful ideal road map to where you are going.

The concept of "the big picture" reminds me of lyrics

 from the song "Do You Know" by Diana Ross:

Do you know where you're going to

Do you like the things that life is showing you

Where are you going to

Do you know

Do you get

What you're hoping for

When you look behind you

There's no open doors

What are you hoping for

Do you know

Once we were standing still in time

Chasing the fantasies

That filled our minds

You knew how I loved you

But my spirit was free

Laughin' at the questions

That you once asked of me

Do you know where you're going to

Do you like the things that life is showing you

Where are you going to

Do you know

Now looking back at all we've planned

We let so many dreams

Just slip through our hands

Why must we wait so long

Before we'll see

How sad the answers

To those questions can be

Do you know where you're going to

Do you like the things that life is showing you

Where are you going to

Do you know

Do you get

What you're hoping for

When you look behind you

There's no open doors

What are you hoping for

Do you know

read more

Dreams and moral support

"I am grateful to have the choice over the direction of my life.

I choose to surround myself with only those who believe in me and my dreams."

Source: The Daily Love

It is awesome to have dreams and ambitions.  Not so awesome when you are surrounded by those who try to tear your dreams down for whatever reason.

We must follow our dreams . . . within reason . . . otherwise the question "what if" will be a haunting echo in the night.

Ultimately, the choice is ours.  My worst disasters have come after "the dream" was laughed at and I had to proceed just to prove that I could do it.  My choices were possibly made for the wrong reasons, but the failure was mine.

Understanding that there are people in this world who are fearful of taking a chance, don't believe in innovation or flat out don't believe in your dream should be considered when making the decision to follow your dream.

The concept of a light bulb must have been hilarious back in the day, but Thomas Edison believed in his dream . . . or maybe he surrounded himself with those who gave him lots of moral support to go for it.

Better to surround yourself with people who believe in you, no matter what!

read more