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IT'S ALL IN HOW YOU SAY IT
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which read: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"
The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." What he had written was: "Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it."
Were not the first sign & the second sign saying the same thing? Of course. Both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which read: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"
The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." What he had written was: "Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it."
Were not the first sign & the second sign saying the same thing? Of course. Both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?
Moral of the Story:
Be thankful for what you have.
Think differently and positively.
Invite people towards good with wisdom.
When Life gives you 100 reasons to cry,
show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile.
Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear.
Keep the faith and drop the fear.
Don't believe your doubts
and don't doubt your beliefs.
Life is wonderful if you know how to live!!!
Be thankful for what you have.
Think differently and positively.
Invite people towards good with wisdom.
When Life gives you 100 reasons to cry,
show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile.
Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear.
Keep the faith and drop the fear.
Don't believe your doubts
and don't doubt your beliefs.
Life is wonderful if you know how to live!!!
I am not sure who wrote this, but I needed to share with you. I think that
we can be so much further ahead if we just think better.
My sign would say; Today I am happy, I had a dollar, I gave it to a young Child who had nothing, I don’t have much either, but I had that dollar to create happiness with, what did he really have. What would your sign say?
We all have something to give, or to share, but how many of us just keep everything and never share our good fortune. A friend of mine came to my house when I moved and saw how much I was giving away, not selling it, just passing it on to someone who needed that very thing. I was delighted to share with those that I love. She moved soon after and called me to tell me that for the first time in her life she shared her things with others, even giving things to the local charity in need. I was so proud of her. She gave a gift to another because it made her life feel better. She has since given in so many way and is now a very giving thoughtful person.
If you give someone a compliment just because you can, that is a gift as well, it cost nothing, a smile, a pat on the shoulder. All of these things are ours to share, but how many of us never do this. I often see people that I think look sad, or upset, or hurt, and I find something about them that I can compliment then on in passing. I know it is a simple thing but it sure can go a long way.
One day in the grocery store there was woman who was obviously not happy, walking slowly, head down, as I walked close to her I could hear her sighing. I walked by and stopped, turned around and said. My God you smell like an angel, and she did, her perfume was so sweet and gentle. She smiled and thanked me, with a broken smile which almost turned to tears. I smiled back and asked her the name of the scent, she replied, I am not sure, it was something her son gave her last year for Christmas, and she loved it so much as it was the last thing he gave her before he passed away in a car accident. I could feel her pain, it was so intense. Her tears were there behind her eyes and so I smiled again and said “that is why you smell like an angel”. Of course she smiled again, a big happy smile and thanked me. I moved along and finished my shopping seeing her two other times, she was walking faster, smiling, cheery her cheeks we red with joy, she was given back her happiness, I shared mine with her.
I never saw her again, but I do see many people just like her everywhere. We all have a story, we all have pain, but if we think happier, better thoughts we may be able to share some happiness with not only ourselves but with everyone we come in contact with.
So share, a little thing today, a smile, a wave, a compliment, you will feel better that you did.
Happiness is yours to create, enjoy your rewards.
Over Compensating
Are you the biggest giver or are you just feeling guilty?
Why do we do this, why do we feel that we have to give so much. What are we feeling guilty for, ask yourself, do you really need to buy all those presents for that one person.
For years I would buy presents for my family, friends and co workers, never thinking in any way that I was doing anything wrong or that I was giving too much. I was always a giver, as a child I would give away anything I had if it made some one else happy. I always knew that giving was a gift to me. Slowly as I go older I watched as so many people gave of themselves in a very selfish way. Many people seem to give out of resentment or guilt. I was one as well.
I divorced my son’s father after a very unhappy and abusive relationship.
For years after the divorce I gave, gave and gave more to my son, in many ways that I am sure was not productive in retrospect. I did feel guilty that this father was not there in his life, I spent money I did not have to get him what I thought would replace the pain he was feeling. I was really only adding to the pain. I felt like a failure to my little boy, I carried so much guilt over his loss for so long. Until one day at Christmas a few years ago he said to me” wow mom you go overboard every year”. You get me so much more than I need.
What a statement, a freeing statement I call it. In the words more than I need, I realized I was giving him what I felt he needed, which was more than I could really give him. He needed so little from me, just my love and my thoughtfulness not a zillion presents beneath the tree. He taught me that day to let go of the guilt as it was not what he needed at all.
I still get him as much as I can, but I do it now because I love to spoil him, to treat him to things that I know he cannot afford, to give him part of me, my thoughtfulness. I always remember his words when I am shopping now, and I only get him what I feel he really needs to make his life a better place, not a place controlled or riddled with guilt. I give to myself now the things that I was giving away trying to get my son to know that I loved him. He knows I love him; I don’t have to buy that.
One the other ways I see people experiencing giving is in resentment. So many people give only because they feel they have to, and then resent the gift or the thought completely. If you feel that you are giving in this way, ask yourself why? Why do you feel that you have to give anyone anything you are not happy to give to? If in your heart it makes you feel unhappy or hurt, don’t do it.
Do not give that negativity to any one. In the gift you are giving to the person you resent you are also giving a very negative energy that will be returned to you as well. Why not just say no, I am not going to do it.
I had a person in my life that is very negative and I really chose not to want to be around this person, her birthday was just a short time ago and I thought I had to get her a gift, it took a long time to decide what to get her, but I found a very thoughtful, lovely gift that I was sure she would care for. But in the back of my mind when I was shopping, I was thinking about how nasty, and hurtful this person is and I did not feel she deserved my gift. I felt the negative I would be sending with the gift to her, and it did not feel good.
It made me feel resentful and guilty at the same time. I decided that I was not going to send a gift this year, that I was not going to acknowledge her at all, and that I was going to cut ties and let her go. This was something I had been thinking about for a long time. What a great relief I felt after accepting that I was no longer going to be exposing myself to her negative. I have not seen her and not spoke to her in months and I feel so free and clear without the guilt that I was carrying over that relationship.
I no longer feel that anyone in my life that cannot return my positive energy is worthy of a position in my heart. My gifts will be shared with those that deserve them and are in turn positive loving people. I feel free from the guilt and resentment that caused me to over compensate with gifts all year long, not just the holidays. We all know that the most gift giving time of year is coming. Is there some one on your list that makes you feel this way, if so, why not give yourself the gift of freedom from the guilt and resentment and let them go.
I have chosen to be free form the guilt and I now give from love and thoughtfulness.
If somewhere in your life you have felt that you have given too much and are out of control, remember you are capable of being in control if you just believe.
Blessings to everyone as we come through this beautiful fall season and prepare for winter.
Next time, let’s talk about New Beginnings.
This time I thought that I would share my favorite Broccoli soup and one that is a crowd pleaser, Carrot Orange soup, add this favorite to any poultry meal. The combination of carrot and Orange assist in digestion, and fat blocking.
Creamy Broccoli Soup (Egg-Free, Gluten-Free) my favorite.
Ingredients:
1 cup onion, diced
1 tbsp. oil or butter flavored dairy free sub (good one from smart balance)
5 cups chicken stock
1-½ lbs. broccoli, cut into florets
1-½ tsp. curry powder
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. basil
½ tsp. sugar or sugar substitute.
pinch cayenne
2 cups Olympic (or other brand) Soy Yogurt
¼ tsp. nutmeg
black pepper, freshly ground
Cook onions in oil until transparent. Bring stock to a boil, add broccoli and boil gently for 7 minutes or just until tender. Add onion mixture, curry, bay leaf, basil, sugar and cayenne to broccoli and simmer, partially covered for 10 to 15 minutes. Gradually add mixture to yogurt stirring vigorously, and then add yogurt mixture back to soup. Heat just until hot. Do not boil. Add nutmeg and pepper. Serve immediately. Serves 4 to 6.
And one of my favorites.
CARROT AND ORANGE SOUP
1 oz. butter, if you are not using butter, use Extra Virgin Olive Oil, ½ ounce
1 1/2 lbs. carrots peeled and sliced
2 med. onions, skinned and sliced
2 pts. Chicken stock
Salt and pepper
1 med. orange
Melt the butter in a saucepan; add the carrots and onions and cook gently until the vegetables begin to soften. Add the stock, season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 40 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
Allow the soup to cool slightly, then sieve or puree in a blender or food processor. Finely grate half the rind from the orange and add to the soup. Thinly pare the remainder of the rind, using a potato peeler, and cut into fine shreds. Cook the shreds in simmering water for 2-3 minutes until tender, then drain.
Squeeze the juice from the orange and add to the pan. Reheat gently and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Garnish with shreds of orange rind just before serving
Namaste,
Sharon Quirt
My sign would say; Today I am happy, I had a dollar, I gave it to a young Child who had nothing, I don’t have much either, but I had that dollar to create happiness with, what did he really have. What would your sign say?
We all have something to give, or to share, but how many of us just keep everything and never share our good fortune. A friend of mine came to my house when I moved and saw how much I was giving away, not selling it, just passing it on to someone who needed that very thing. I was delighted to share with those that I love. She moved soon after and called me to tell me that for the first time in her life she shared her things with others, even giving things to the local charity in need. I was so proud of her. She gave a gift to another because it made her life feel better. She has since given in so many way and is now a very giving thoughtful person.
If you give someone a compliment just because you can, that is a gift as well, it cost nothing, a smile, a pat on the shoulder. All of these things are ours to share, but how many of us never do this. I often see people that I think look sad, or upset, or hurt, and I find something about them that I can compliment then on in passing. I know it is a simple thing but it sure can go a long way.
One day in the grocery store there was woman who was obviously not happy, walking slowly, head down, as I walked close to her I could hear her sighing. I walked by and stopped, turned around and said. My God you smell like an angel, and she did, her perfume was so sweet and gentle. She smiled and thanked me, with a broken smile which almost turned to tears. I smiled back and asked her the name of the scent, she replied, I am not sure, it was something her son gave her last year for Christmas, and she loved it so much as it was the last thing he gave her before he passed away in a car accident. I could feel her pain, it was so intense. Her tears were there behind her eyes and so I smiled again and said “that is why you smell like an angel”. Of course she smiled again, a big happy smile and thanked me. I moved along and finished my shopping seeing her two other times, she was walking faster, smiling, cheery her cheeks we red with joy, she was given back her happiness, I shared mine with her.
I never saw her again, but I do see many people just like her everywhere. We all have a story, we all have pain, but if we think happier, better thoughts we may be able to share some happiness with not only ourselves but with everyone we come in contact with.
So share, a little thing today, a smile, a wave, a compliment, you will feel better that you did.
Happiness is yours to create, enjoy your rewards.
Over Compensating
Are you the biggest giver or are you just feeling guilty?
Why do we do this, why do we feel that we have to give so much. What are we feeling guilty for, ask yourself, do you really need to buy all those presents for that one person.
For years I would buy presents for my family, friends and co workers, never thinking in any way that I was doing anything wrong or that I was giving too much. I was always a giver, as a child I would give away anything I had if it made some one else happy. I always knew that giving was a gift to me. Slowly as I go older I watched as so many people gave of themselves in a very selfish way. Many people seem to give out of resentment or guilt. I was one as well.
I divorced my son’s father after a very unhappy and abusive relationship.
For years after the divorce I gave, gave and gave more to my son, in many ways that I am sure was not productive in retrospect. I did feel guilty that this father was not there in his life, I spent money I did not have to get him what I thought would replace the pain he was feeling. I was really only adding to the pain. I felt like a failure to my little boy, I carried so much guilt over his loss for so long. Until one day at Christmas a few years ago he said to me” wow mom you go overboard every year”. You get me so much more than I need.
What a statement, a freeing statement I call it. In the words more than I need, I realized I was giving him what I felt he needed, which was more than I could really give him. He needed so little from me, just my love and my thoughtfulness not a zillion presents beneath the tree. He taught me that day to let go of the guilt as it was not what he needed at all.
I still get him as much as I can, but I do it now because I love to spoil him, to treat him to things that I know he cannot afford, to give him part of me, my thoughtfulness. I always remember his words when I am shopping now, and I only get him what I feel he really needs to make his life a better place, not a place controlled or riddled with guilt. I give to myself now the things that I was giving away trying to get my son to know that I loved him. He knows I love him; I don’t have to buy that.
One the other ways I see people experiencing giving is in resentment. So many people give only because they feel they have to, and then resent the gift or the thought completely. If you feel that you are giving in this way, ask yourself why? Why do you feel that you have to give anyone anything you are not happy to give to? If in your heart it makes you feel unhappy or hurt, don’t do it.
Do not give that negativity to any one. In the gift you are giving to the person you resent you are also giving a very negative energy that will be returned to you as well. Why not just say no, I am not going to do it.
I had a person in my life that is very negative and I really chose not to want to be around this person, her birthday was just a short time ago and I thought I had to get her a gift, it took a long time to decide what to get her, but I found a very thoughtful, lovely gift that I was sure she would care for. But in the back of my mind when I was shopping, I was thinking about how nasty, and hurtful this person is and I did not feel she deserved my gift. I felt the negative I would be sending with the gift to her, and it did not feel good.
It made me feel resentful and guilty at the same time. I decided that I was not going to send a gift this year, that I was not going to acknowledge her at all, and that I was going to cut ties and let her go. This was something I had been thinking about for a long time. What a great relief I felt after accepting that I was no longer going to be exposing myself to her negative. I have not seen her and not spoke to her in months and I feel so free and clear without the guilt that I was carrying over that relationship.
I no longer feel that anyone in my life that cannot return my positive energy is worthy of a position in my heart. My gifts will be shared with those that deserve them and are in turn positive loving people. I feel free from the guilt and resentment that caused me to over compensate with gifts all year long, not just the holidays. We all know that the most gift giving time of year is coming. Is there some one on your list that makes you feel this way, if so, why not give yourself the gift of freedom from the guilt and resentment and let them go.
I have chosen to be free form the guilt and I now give from love and thoughtfulness.
If somewhere in your life you have felt that you have given too much and are out of control, remember you are capable of being in control if you just believe.
Blessings to everyone as we come through this beautiful fall season and prepare for winter.
Next time, let’s talk about New Beginnings.
This time I thought that I would share my favorite Broccoli soup and one that is a crowd pleaser, Carrot Orange soup, add this favorite to any poultry meal. The combination of carrot and Orange assist in digestion, and fat blocking.
Creamy Broccoli Soup (Egg-Free, Gluten-Free) my favorite.
Ingredients:
1 cup onion, diced
1 tbsp. oil or butter flavored dairy free sub (good one from smart balance)
5 cups chicken stock
1-½ lbs. broccoli, cut into florets
1-½ tsp. curry powder
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. basil
½ tsp. sugar or sugar substitute.
pinch cayenne
2 cups Olympic (or other brand) Soy Yogurt
¼ tsp. nutmeg
black pepper, freshly ground
Cook onions in oil until transparent. Bring stock to a boil, add broccoli and boil gently for 7 minutes or just until tender. Add onion mixture, curry, bay leaf, basil, sugar and cayenne to broccoli and simmer, partially covered for 10 to 15 minutes. Gradually add mixture to yogurt stirring vigorously, and then add yogurt mixture back to soup. Heat just until hot. Do not boil. Add nutmeg and pepper. Serve immediately. Serves 4 to 6.
And one of my favorites.
CARROT AND ORANGE SOUP
1 oz. butter, if you are not using butter, use Extra Virgin Olive Oil, ½ ounce
1 1/2 lbs. carrots peeled and sliced
2 med. onions, skinned and sliced
2 pts. Chicken stock
Salt and pepper
1 med. orange
Melt the butter in a saucepan; add the carrots and onions and cook gently until the vegetables begin to soften. Add the stock, season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 40 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
Allow the soup to cool slightly, then sieve or puree in a blender or food processor. Finely grate half the rind from the orange and add to the soup. Thinly pare the remainder of the rind, using a potato peeler, and cut into fine shreds. Cook the shreds in simmering water for 2-3 minutes until tender, then drain.
Squeeze the juice from the orange and add to the pan. Reheat gently and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Garnish with shreds of orange rind just before serving
Namaste,
Sharon Quirt