“Let go of certainty. The opposite isn’t uncertainty. It’s openness, curiosity and a willingness to embrace paradox, rather than choose up sides. The ultimate challenge is to accept ourselves exactly as we are, but never stop trying to learn and grow.” ~ Tony Schwartz Dear Universe, The other day I saw this quote: “You have to allow yourself to grow.” …
One Thing at a Time
“Do one thing at a time, and while doing it put your whole soul into it to the exclusion of all else.” ~Swami Vivekananda Dear Universe, Lately, things have been busier than normal. I don’t mind. I like being busy, feeling productive, working towards goals and checking items off my to-do list. But it’s been the kind of busy that …
Some Kind Words
(Sunset at the park!) “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” ~Leo Buscaglia Dear Universe, I believe in sharing our feelings with others—especially when it can brighten or change …
Sand and Sandcastles: The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of
“I dream my painting and I paint my dream.” ~Vincent van Gogh Dear Universe, Yesterday I arrived at the beach nice and early, which is one of my favorite things to do. It turned out I wasn’t the only one who likes to beat the crowds. There on the beach was an older gentleman putting the final touches on a …
Follow Your Bliss
“Success is realizing the true joy and wonder of life can only be yours if you follow your own intuition, aiming to achieve your bliss.” ~Steven Redhead Dear Universe, Lately I’ve been thinking about what it means to be blissful. To me, bliss is more than happiness, more than joy. Yes, it’s being happy and joyful, but it’s also being …
Follow the Color-Filled Road
“Thoughts are very powerful things. Think of them often enough and long enough and they’ll become self-fulfilling prophecies.” ~Charlotte Reed Dear Universe, I am feeling especially blessed this last week as I have been traveling to some of my favorite cities and new places with one of my favorite people. At least once a day I stop and can’t believe …
The Giving and Receiving of Writing
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” ~Anaïs Nin Dear Universe, Recently I stumbled upon a writing contest on Positive Writer. The topic, “How Writing Has Positively Influenced My Life,” intrigued me. Though I’ve been writing for as long as I’ve been reading, this idea is something I only recently thought about. But I’ve never …
Make Peace Starting Now
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” ~Buddha Dear Universe, I am not a fan of cemeteries. Well, I don’t know anyone who is. So it doesn’t surprise me that I never really noticed that right near my work is a sprawling cemetery I drive by almost every day. But the other day, as I stopped at the …