feeling gratitude

An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day. --Irv Kupcinet
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Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. --WT Purkiser
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Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude. ~E.P. Powell
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As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy
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Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow. ~Edward Sandford Martin
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Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live. ~Jackie Windspear

what legends are made of

Have you discovered the legend that says hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration?

The hummingbird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life's sweetest creation.

I'm thinking about human condition today and how you celebrate your time here.

the last time you laughed it hurt so good?
the last moment of a true human connection?
the last sight of beauty that captured you so intensely you stopped in your tracks?
the last experience in floating free of time?

the storm

someone close to me who is experiencing one of life's storms had a moment of clarity today amidst the all-consuming and unsettling fear of not knowing what comes next...not knowing what to do now... and not knowing why this is happening...

exhausted, at the end of this day, after a turbulent year, he sent this via text -

Serenity is not freedom from the storm but peace amid the storm.

Like it! Will use it! Will you?

right now

wherever we are is where we're supposed to be.

wisdom to seek grace

Meditation for the Day

In these times of quiet meditation, try more and more to set your hopes on the grace of nature. Know that whatever the future may hold, it will hold more and more of good. Do not set all your hopes and desires on material things. There is weariness in an abundance of things. Set your hopes on spiritual things so that you may grow spiritually. Learn to rely on a power greater than you, more and more and in that reliance you will have an insight into the greater value of the things of the spirit.

Thought for the Day
I hope that I may not be overwhelmed by material things. I ask that I may realize the higher value of spiritual things.

Source: Twenty-Four Hours
photo credit: my december skye (8)

just breathe

inhale, it is pure, like water in the sea.
salty but familiar. a pull, to a quiet place.

necessary to exhale, feeling rhythm
centering the soul,
letting go. entering grace.
soaring free
spirits flying.

wide, awake, expansive and rare.
breathing space
blessings with nature's goodness
reminding me to go there.
visit bluebird skies,
looking, searching -
staying...
for as long as
i'm needed.

it's time.

i need a quiet moment

To Thine Own Self Be True

Yet here, Laertes! Aboard, aboard for shame!
The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail,
And you are stay'd for.
There ... my blessing with thee!
And these few precepts in thy memory
Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue,
Nor any unproportion'd thought his act.
Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel;
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
Of each new-hatch'd, unfledg’d comrade. Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel but, being in,
Bear't that th' opposed may beware of thee.
Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice;
Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgement.Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man;
And they in France of the best rank and station
Are of a most select and generous chief in that.
Neither a borrower, nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.Farewell; my blessing season this in thee!

-- William Shakespeare

i got a little reminder...

this week i got a little reminder (but really a big reminder) from an old friend. of course i have to share...

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

-marianne williamson
-has also been sited by nelson mandela

Simple Grace - A Journal for Your Journey

Released for the Holidays

A companion journal to The Simple Grace Book Series by Beth Jannery
Use Simple Grace - A Journal for Your Journey to write your thoughts, intentions and actions while you read any of the Simple Grace Books.

Give yourself this gift, or give it to a friend, and find a quiet corner to start your new beginning. For the holidays, for 2009, or for today.

As always, thanks to my readers. I love hearing how The Simple Grace Books have touched your lives. Please keep writing: bethjannery@gmail.com

To order the companion journal: Simple Grace - A Journal for Your Journey
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=jannery

service, honor, love and pain

Thank you today and everyday.
A moment of silence on Veteran's Day.
Honoring:
Aunt Louise
Dad
Jon

survive the storm or dance in the rain?

a friend shared this story with me today, go and share it with someone you care about.

How to Dance in the Rain

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health.

He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is neither physical, nor romantic.
True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

Life isn't about how to survive the storm.... but how to dance in the rain.

might be something you need to read

sometimes annoying, often overused, but always true...

I can have complete serenity at this very moment...if I live in denial.

We came to AA to save our ass, and found out our soul was attached .


Hope
Unity
Gratitude
Serenity
not drugs

HOPE is
Helping
Other
People
Everyday!

Just For Today...
You have to be willing to get rid of the life you have planned, so to have the life that is waiting for you.

No matter what - you don't have to pick up.

Until the pain gets strong enough, there will be no change.

It came to pass; it didn't come to stay.



Humble people don't think less of themselves, they just think of themselves less.

Resentments are like peeing your pants--they don't affect anyone quite as much as you!

May your lost dreams of yesterday become the reality of your tomorrow!


Hit your knees.....
not the bottle!"

I can't fix anyone but me,
and that's a full time job!"

Recovery is an inside job

Just for today.

Think Think Think

First things first.

How important is it?

Keep an open mind.

Keep it simple.

Live and let live.

Have an attitude of gratitude.

Mind your own business.

Progress not perfection.

Change the things I can.

One day at a time.

Wonderful things happen
One day at a time

Listen and learn.

Let go and let God

Easy does it.

This too shall pass.

Great expectations can lead to great disappointments.

Al-Anon doesn't give us the choice between feeling good or feeling bad- it gives us the choice between feeling and not feeling.

Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself

If it is to be, it is up to me.

If you think handling everything is too much, try letting go.

Fear is a darkroom where negatives are developed.

Take what you like and leave the rest.

Measure yourself by your best moments not your worst.

Remember yesterday, dream of tomorrow, but live for today.

The longest journey starts with the first step.

Recovery is a process, not an event-it takes time.

Recovery is an inside job.

You must be present to win.

Each new day offers a new opportunity

One hour at a time..
One day at a time..
One step at a time

Wonderful things happen..
One Day At A Time

A.A. Slogans

"It's alcohol-ISM, not alcohol-WASM !"

"A.A. also stands for.
"Attitude Adjustment."

"I can only carry the message, I can"t carry the drunk!"
Seven missed meetings makes one weak.

Happiness is not getting what you want, it is wanting what you get.

Self-will can get me what I want right now,
God's will can provide what I need for eternity.


The only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how we use them.

Being Recovered from Alcoholism is like getting a Gunshot wound. You can
recover from it but it does NOT make you bulletproof. You can recover from
alcoholism but it does not make you Immune from Alcohol.

HALT: Don't get
too Hungry,
too Angry,
too Lonely, or
too Tired!!

It's never to late to be what you might have been. George Eliot (12 life in recovery magazine).

There ain't no big deals!

If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got.
or
If you keep doin' what your doin'
you'll keep gettin' what your gettin'



No matter how far off the path we've stumbled, we're no more than 12 steps away from the solution!

Thoughts are not things and feelings are not facts; they only have the power we give them.

Looking for God
is like a fish looking for water.

Listen to the message..
not the messenger

Feel, Deal and the Heal
(Feel it, Deal with it and then Heal from it)

Hope is knowing the good in us will overcome the bad.

Happy, Joyous & Free

God speaks to us all a little differently, hoping we'll tell each other.

Even if I'm on the right track, if I don't move I'll get run over

Don't give up five minutes before the miracle

Do not be discouraged.

There is no situation too difficult to be bettered and No unhappiness to great to be lessened.

Don't take everything personally.

When you feel left out, reach out.

Have patience with all things, but first with yourself.

Serenity comes when I stop expecting and start accepting.

Today is the tomorrow that I worried about yesterday.

You cannot deal with the alligators until you drain the swamp and get out of the mud.

Glance at the past, but don't stare at it.

You can't change yesterday, but you can ruin today by worrying about tomorrow.

Wherever you go- there you are.

To live or just exist- the choice is yours.

Focus on the program-not the problem.

One needn't make a crisis out of an incident.

When you're flat on your back, there's no way to look but up.

As you go through life, make this your goal- watch the donut not the hole.

No is a complete sentence.

It's hard to be hateful when you're being grateful.

Fear is not a shortcoming- it's an emotion. Our reaction to it can be the shortcoming.

It helps to learn the difference between being responsible to others and being responsible for others.

Ulcers are what you get from mountain climbing on mole hills.

If you find yourself in a rut, stop digging.

Never walk unescorted through your own mind- it can be a dangerous neighborhood.

The way to get anywhere is to start from where you are.

If you want serenity, put your Higher Power between you & your problem.

Expectations are premeditated resentments.

my favorite meditation

when you don't know what to do, don't do anything. read this and it will guide you. then, when you are ready to take action, to make a change, do the "next right thing."

Prayer of St. Francis

Make me an instrument of Your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so
much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to
eternal life.

pray for the people who try to hurt you

Thought for the Day
I have lost many of my resentments. I have found that getting even with people doesn't do any good. When we try to get revenge, instead of making us feel better, it leaves us frustrated and cheated. Instead of punishing our enemies, we've only hurt our own peace of mind. It does not pay to nurse a grudge, it hurts us more than anyone else. Hate causes frustration, inner conflict, and neurosis. If we give out hate, we will become hateful. If we are resentful, we will be resented. If we do not like people, we will not be liked by people. Revengefulness is a powerful poison in our systems. Have I lost my resentments?


Meditation for the Day
It is not so much you, as the grace of God that is in you, that helps those around you. If you would help even those you dislike, you have to see that there is nothing in you to block the way to keep God's grace from using you. Your own pride and selfishness are the greatest blocks. Keep those out of the way and God's grace will flow through you into the lives, of others. Then all who come in contact with you can be helped in some way. Keep the channel open, free from those things that make your life futile and ineffective.

source: Bill W's program material

a new beginning

simple grace books & consulting is beginning a new blog filled with inspiration, mediations, daily joys, purpose and grace.

please stay tuned.

-beth
author, consultant & founder of simple grace books

www.bethjannery.com