TRISTEN CHURN

Eventually we grow weary of seeking treasures outside ourselves and we begin to look within. There we discover that the gold we sought, we already are. Alan Cohen Inspirational Author, Speaker and Teacher source: inspiration peak

May peace fill all the  empty spaces  around you And in you, may contentment answer all your wishes. May comfort be yours, warm and soft like a sigh. And may the coming year show you that every day  is really a first day, a new year. Let abundance be your constant companion, so that you have much to share. May mirth be near you always, like a lamp shining brightly on the many paths you travel. May you be true love.   Author Unknown But Very Much Appreciated! source: inspiration peak

The takers are the people who believe their lives will always be the total of what they can get from the world. They are always thinking get, get, get. They plan and scheme ways to get what they want in money, in love, in happiness, and in all kinds of good... but whatever may be their spiritual ideals or lack of any, no matter what they take, they can never know peace or security or fulfillment. The givers, on the other hand, are convinced life is a giving process. Thus their subtle motivation in all their ways is to give themselves away, in love, in service, and in all the many helpful ways they can invest themselves. They are always secure, for they intuitively know that their good flows from within. Eric Butterworth American Author, Philosopher and Minister source: inspiration peak

Begin your day with thankfulness for this beautiful world. This will give you a sense of well- being and gratitude. Here are some words that have inspired me. I hope you find them a good reminder as well. Think freely and with an open mind. Smile often. Tell those you love that you do. Rediscover old friends. Make new ones. Hope, grow and reach out. Pick or buy some flowers and share them. Keep a promise. Laugh heartily. Let someone into your life. Hug a child. Slow down by seeing a sunrise or sunset. Listen to the rain. Enjoy the warmth of the sunshine. Trust life and yourself. Have faith. Make mistakes and learn from them. Explore the unknown. Celebrate life! Barbara Rother: Connecting the Heart The Beacons of Light – October 15, 2008 Copyright 2000 - 2008 Lightworker. www.Lightworker.com

Everything in life can be nourishing. Everything can bless us, but we've got to be there for the blessing to occur. Being present with quality is a decision we are invited to make each day. Sister Macrina Wiederkehr American Author and Spiritual Retreat Director source: inspiration peak

When your determination changes, everything will begin to move in the direction you desire. The moment you resolve to be victorious, every nerve and fiber in your being will immediately orient itself toward your success. Daisaku Ikeda Japanese Author, Poet and Peace Activist source: inspiration peak

I had looked for happiness in fast living, but it was not there. I tried to find it in money, but it was not there, either. But when I placed myself in tune with what I believe to be fundamental truths of life, when I began to develop my limited ability, to rid my mind of all kinds of tangled thoughts, and fill it with zeal and courage and love, when I gave myself a chance by treating myself decently and sensibly I began to feel the stimulating, warm glow of happiness, and life for me began to flow like a stream between smooth banks. Andrew Young, 1807-1889 Scottish Schoolmaster and Poet source: inspiration peak

Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1929-1968 source: inpiration peak

鵑鵑原本在美國工作，公司給她的待遇很好，再加上單身，生活過得很逍遙。前一陣子她住在臺灣的母親罹患腦瘤，開刀後復原得很慢。鵑鵑立刻請調回臺，找了間公寓，把母親接到身邊就近照顧。 鵑鵑不是家中的獨生女，上有大姐，下有弟弟，但是只有她放棄原本的生活，承擔服侍母親的責任。她大姐偶爾給她一筆錢，當作是孝親費，此外很少露面，更別談關心自己母親的現況， 好像出點錢就可以心安理得的把母親推給妹妹。 我們這些鵑鵑的朋友看不過去，紛紛提醒她要找大姐和弟弟談清楚母親的事。鵑鵑保持她一貫的優雅從容，靜靜的說：「照顧媽媽是我的福氣。 」 原本為她打抱不平的我們， 聽了這句話，頓時沉默起來。難怪從來不曾聽她抱怨，自認享有「福氣」的人，怎麼會向人訴苦呢？她總是耐著性子尋找適合母親的飲食配方和復健機構，珍惜與母親相處的時光， 鵑鵑忙著張羅都來不及了，哪有閒功夫喊累叫煩哪！ 在鵑鵑細心打點下，病情不大樂? [的母親，身體竟一天天好起來， 母親想要康復的意願也啟動了，甚至會離開臥房到屋外走走。原本令人覺得沉重的擔子，因為鵑鵑懂得惜福，居然化作豐盛的禮物。 現在鵑鵑成了大家的強心劑，每當我們遇到困難，或者受了委屈， 習慣性的退縮、放棄、抱怨或指責別人時，總會想起她的話。在我們這一群朋友中，開始流行一種句型：「 能多做一點是我的福氣。 」「孩子不聽話，耐著性子引導他是我的福氣。 」 「擠公車沒位子坐是我的福氣。」說這些話的時候，我們多少帶著點自我解嘲的意味，有時也是開玩笑，但不知不覺中， 我們看待周遭人事物的態度有了明顯變化，原來好福氣也是會傳染的。 一句話 人生的成敗，常常因為一個人、一件事，甚至一句話而有決定性的影響。 尤其對人有用的一句話，勝過千言萬語。古今中外有很多人因為別人的一句話而深受感動，甚至豁然開朗； 由於「一句話」而改變一生的事例，更是多不勝數。 美國著名的教育家和演講口才藝術家卡內基，小時候是一個非常調皮的小男孩。 他九歲的時候，父親將繼母娶進門。他父親向新婚妻子介紹卡內基時，如是說：「希望你注意這個全郡最壞的男孩， 他實在令我頭痛，說不定明天早晨他還會拿石頭砸你， 或做出什麼壞事呢！」 出乎卡內基預料的是，繼母微笑地走到他面前，托著他的頭，注視著他。接著告訴丈夫：「你錯了， 他不是全郡最壞的男孩，而是最聰明，只是還沒找到發洩熱忱地方的男孩。」此話一出，卡內基的眼淚...