Wow a Butterfly!
Wow a Butterfly!
Okay, I am sure that you clicked on this title out of curiosity. Wow a butterfly; what would a butterfly have to do with self help content? And you are right. Not a thing! But it is the phrase that my daughter used when she saw a butterfly while playing outside. She said it with so much excitement that I could not help but feel excited for her too.Now, I know it sounds kind of cute. But, what I am trying to communicate is that children seem so happy because they are overall excited. They get excited with a toy, an animal, a game, a hug, a friend etc. They are happy to just wake up another day; they have so much to look forward to (anything).As adults we can also appreciate the beauty of a butterfly but, I am not quite sure we would get so excited. We have seen butterflies more times than them but, most importantly life in general gets on our way not allowing us to have enough time to contemplate. Those who even dare to dream out loud are often discouraged by peers. Why? We have all bought in to this notion that life is hard. Which is partly true but, everything is not terrible. Sometimes we overlook the good things.So what should you do about it? Follow your dreams, be open to new experiences, make new friends, stand up for your beliefs, have hobbies etc. If you follow these simple tips you will soon have some excitement and happiness in your life.Spice it up a little,Kenia Morales----------------------------------------------You may reprint this article as long as no changes are made without permission and hyperlink is maintained active.Kenia Morales is the publisher of online magazine http://kpatra.com "For Every Aspect of Today's Woman. Visit her site to find a variety of women related issues and topics" click here http://www.kpatra.com/keniascolumn.htm to find Kenia's little piece of heaven her inspirational column.
Time for Sunshine
Time for Sunshine
Having spring around makes you feel different after such a long winter journey. How well do you feel when you have a little bit of sunshine in your life? What effect does it do have on our psyche? The power of sunshine brings us a lot of comfort, optimism, self-confidence and of course a smile. Imagine how great if would be if we were so positive all year round!Living like this is possible if you really think about it. In order to exist in such a state of happiness though, we must have sunshine radiating from within ourselves, shining from our hearts, our minds and from our souls. I bet many of you are reading this now and saying "Yeah that is easier said than done!" And what do we say to that well, in the end that's your choice and if you think that way then your own life will reflect that attitude of yours!In order to make 'sunshine' or rather, 'light' a part of our being It is so important that you watch your thoughts, your words and your actions so that you do not contradict what you really feel you'd like to create in your own life. Watch your thoughts and really become aware of how many negative thoughts pass through your mind about yourself and other people around you. Watch to see how often you gossip about other people and when you become aware of it you will see how often it is actually attached with feelings of jealousy, envy and insecurity about yourself.You should also take a close look at your 'intention'. How many of you do something for another person without expecting to receive something in return? It might not even have to be a material or physical thing you expect, expecting recognition or acknowledgement for what you have done is enough to create conditions on your intention. Think about it! We may not always pay attention to what our true intentions are behind our words thoughts and actions because many of us are not aware of the power and effect they have when it comes to creating our lives.Putting all of what I have said together, it seems that most of us are creating monsters inside of us just by simply talking, thinking and not putting our heart out with the right intention towards helping someone else. All of these things are born from a 'negative' attitude and will not help us in any way at all when it comes to bringing a brighter 'sunshine' into our lives. If you took all your negative attitudes in one hand and measured your need to feel 'sunshine' in the other, you would see how both these elements really contradict each other.Be brave and break your patterns and your habits this spring and by doing so you will allow the true sunshine to take place by radiating out from your heart and into your life and the lives of the people who are around you!I will leave you with that for now until next time and allow sunshine to shine your life.Copyright
Beautiful Day Blues
Beautiful Day Blues
The massive orb dominates the aqua crystalline backdrop of its own making, floods its rays on everything below. The sky devoid of a single cloud seems as empty as I feel and the beach looks like an arid desert, molded by tireless wind and blazing heat. I picture myself atop an Arabian camel, parched with thirst, crossing an unforgiving series of never-ending dunes, up one and down the next, no rhyme nor reason, only the nose of the animal in front of me.As I walk, I find my feet drawn to stepping on shells.
I like the crunch under my soles and wonder what draws me to destruction.
No real gain, just a crackle and a few pops beneath my Reeboks.
Hmmmm.The half-covered shiny Coors light can contrasts with the faceless dull version that lies next to it, undoubtedly washed ashore.
A half-eaten fish head sits next to a huge jellyfish obviously out of place in a world far too shallow for its survival. It sways its last moments of life with each bathing wave that push it side to side as it bakes in the sun.
Soggy yellow plastic, discarded cigarette butts, even a soiled diaper that for a brief moment I entertain the thought of picking up.
Normally, I would have.
Not today.Walk, walk, crunch, crunch, more broken shells.
I pick up a triangular orange piece that reminds me of a shark's tooth, run my fingers along its edges to its sharp point and keep pricking my index in some warped notion of martyrdom.I glance down the beach at a lone fisherman checking his lines.
What does he see on this spectacular day?
Does he pay attention to anything besides his bait on the hook?
Does the serenity help his quest for meaning or simply lead him from Bud to Bud?
I long for the eyes of my children, the wondrous zeal that would find magic in the beat up straw hat, the buried yellow ribbon or any stick more than two feet long, an instant conductor's wand or a spear or a trumpet or a telescope.
What vision might they bring to my sight?
Could I shed this morose foreboding that clings to me like an oversized sweatshirt pulled too soon from the dryer, damp, heavy, with an odd, unrecognizable, unpleasant smell?Still, the seagull and the sandpiper frolic in the surf, peck morsels from the wet sand, bob their heads up and down and chase the waves.
The majestic pelicans swoop along the shore like prehistoric predators a mere foot above the surface.
The flies dart back and forth, light and take off, never at rest for more than an instant.
The Labrador chases a tennis ball.
The infant waddles to wet her toes.
The white-haired snowbird stoops to collect a sand dollar.
A crab peeks out of his hole only to retreat back in again.Me, I walk and crunch shells, walk and crunch shells, a case of beautiful day blues?That's A View From The Ridge...About The AuthorAuthor Ridgely Goldsborough invites you to subscribe to The Daily Column, a heart-felt collection of stories that inspire hope and courage. Please do so at www.aviewfromtheridge.com.ridge@aviewfromtheridge.com