Gratitude, in spite of …

December 1, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 22 Comments

Having an especially bad day? Everything’s going wrong and you feel overwhelmed with things and what’s even worse is nobody seems to care. People are being rude and appear to be indifferent to your problems and concerns. You’re thinking, why bother with anything.

With negative thoughts and emotions, you’re feeling sensitive and abused, hurt, angry (pick an emotion that works for you) NOW, RIGHT NOW is the time to be grateful … as silly and unhelpful as that may sound. The thing is it actually works, because how you’re viewing things changes. You see potentials and possibilities you didn’t see when thinking negatively.

When things seem at their very worst – being grateful for what you do have will be the thing that generates positive change. It’s always worked that way, it’s just that most of us don’t notice it.

So go ahead, give it a try. You’ll be surprised … pleasantly surprised.

~ Take care of you and have a wonderful day and better tomorrow,

Penny

Thank YOU – 100,000 visitors, I thank you all!

November 11, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 27 Comments

By the time you read this. I will have reached a milestone of sorts. I’ve had one hundred thousand visits from people from around our wonderful planet. Actually stopping by to visit from 155 different countries. I’m most happy and honored to have achieved this much, and am so very grateful for your friendships. I don’t have words to properly convey this as well as I would like so I’ll just repeat, with great sincerity from my heart:

Thank You!

Penny

The Blessings of a Monday

October 20, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 20 Comments

For so many of us, Monday seems filled with too much to do, too many things to worry about and the beginning of a long week ahead. Here’s another perspective to consider:

The Blessing of Your Life

The blessing we are given, begin with each new day

wondrous things can happen brightening the way.

The laughter of our children, the greeting of old friends,

this day is ours for molding, from beginnings to the ends.

With the start of each week, a gift has been received,

labor hard, laugh and love but mostly be well pleased.

“Life is a joy, your choice to make the best of each day you are given –

which is a blessing, in and of itself, to be cherished.”

Penny L Howe, 2014

My wish is for you to have a wonderful week ahead. Take time to be grateful for that which you do have.

~ Penny

Happiness

September 26, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 27 Comments

Penny L Howe, 2014

Another short one, but loving and being loved does feel that way, don’t you think? Remember that being grateful is also a big part of the recipe for happiness. Everyone have an excellent Friday and weekend coming up!

~ With much love,

Penny

A Positive Way to balance your life!

September 11, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 27 Comments

The words and mentality of “being negative” are used too much. To feel sorry for ourselves, to think poorly of our “situation”. To play the blame game with others. Looking for the “wrongs” in the world (not the rights) and in general setting us up for a long term negative outlook on our tomorrows. But this is today … so …

Number One – Look out your personal window (view of life) and make a list of everything you currently do have. Start with essentials like a roof over your head, food and clothing, modern plumbing. (the things many of those who do have – take for granted – and just to remind you, those who go without are most of the humans on the planet)!

Number Two – What “Do” you like about you. Anything that comes to mind. Your friendly personality. Your love of animals. The way you can solve puzzles. Your love of reading, or gardening, anything (at all) about who you are and what you do, that you like – about yourself. Don’t go negative here.

Number Three – What you like (love) that is most likely within your view, nearby. Be inclusive. Nature, life, trees, plants (flowers) Water, mountains, people, kids, old folks, food. Make this list as long as you want.

Number Four – Now write, but only about the things you’ve listed! From the heart! You are not allowed to think any negative thoughts, like what’s wrong with you, what you don’t have, what you can’t do, what you don’t like (we tend to do that all day) this exercise is to remind and balance our minds!

Number Five – Be grateful!

Life is Simple

I am

I feel

I exist

I care

I do

I live

I love

I am

Have a good day today,

~ Penny

The most beautiful thing in the Morning!

October 12, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 22 Comments

What is the most beautiful thing you wake up to each morning?

Hello everyone. I woke up extra early today. Well rested, my rising early was rewarded with the view of a glorious autumn sunrise. It was beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

Inside, in the predawn stillness, aromatic smells of freshly roasted coffee entice, the hot beverage is nectar to my taste buds. A second cup and my sleepy mind energizes. I whip up a batch of cinnamon streusel muffins all the while thinking … well, all sorts of good thoughts.

Everyone else is still sleeping, their minds filled with pleasant dreams from yesterday. Beginning on Fridays (in between chores and responsibilities) we seem to have extra does of creativity. Yesterday (after work and school), we played games,made cookies, and suspended our cares and worries for awhile.

Creating Autumn Cookies

cutting the shapes

frosting the cookies

Autumn Cookies (and yes they taste as good as they look!)

It was late last night, when we retired. This morning the air is now rich with blended aromas of fresh coffee and baking cinnamon streusel muffins, and I hear sounds of others beginning to stir.

Sitting here at my laptop, I reflect on the most beautiful thing I can think of. And guess what? Beauty is all around me, everywhere. It’s Life. The little things that on many days I don’t notice. Today I’m reminded to be grateful.

For me, without a doubt, the most beautiful thing I woke up to this morning was another day (and I cherish it)! Having the ability to experience, share, give and receive. With full awareness of the blessings I’ve been given, I accept the responsibility that is mine for being able to be part of life and, with much love in my heart, I welcome the day and all that it has to offer – come what may.

Today, take some time to remind yourself how lucky you are and to be sincerely grateful. Life is filled with ongoing daily problems (some, really hard ones too) but you can weather the storm. If your heart is filled with love and gratitude for what you do have, your day can still be beautiful too. Blessings to all of you, this Saturday morning!

“Your blessings in life are always richer –

when recognizing them for what they are – A Gift to you!

Show your gratitude by giving back!”

Penny L Howe, 2013

A passage of time

May 2, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 37 Comments

All of us are on a journey through life. Each journey encompassing a passage of time.

Sometimes we travel with someone on our journey. And sometimes we don’t.

The blogging experience is a journey too. A “blogging” passage of time. One where we are definitely sharing our journey with others.

These last 10 months of blogging, to date, have been wonderful and I’m grateful to so many who have made this passage of time such a good one for me. I’ve met some wonderful people online that have become friends that I cherish.

The time, for me, has been well spent. I’ve learned much and enjoyed more. I hope the future will be even better for all of us in our blogging adventures.

Thank you, for all those who come by to visit and comment. I greatly value you and your comments more than you can know. I’m looking forward to visiting and sharing continuing journeys with you.

~ Penny