Take Action

Take Action
by Annie Tornabene



Fumbling through some old books, I found a book called Adrift 76 days lost at sea by Steven Callahan. It caught my eye and I began to read it. Adrift and lost at sea is much like being in the mist of a dark fog of depression ... at least I saw the similarities.

In 1981, Steven was sailing by himself from Spain to Antigua. (Ok, so it wasn't a ship as big as this one ... it's the only picture I could find.) Somewhere west of the Canary Islands, he notices that termites have eaten into the mast. He takes action and lowers the sails. It was a good thing that he lowered the sails because a storm came through. If the sails had been up, the boat would have been toppled and most likely sank at that moment.

After the storm past, he noticed the boat was sinking. So he had to take action. He managed to grab the life raft, a knife, his emergency duffel bag, a piece of the mainsail, and a sleeping bag. Luckily he had read other books about people being lost at sea such as, Staying Alive, 1974; Survive the Savage Sea, 1973; and Sea Survival Manual, 1975. He took action and was prepared before he started his journey. He followed the advice of others that had gone before him in similar journeys. This was the first account of anyone surviving alone for so long of a time.

He endured hardships, depression, anxiety, loneliness, cramped living space, hunger, pain and thirst, yet he creatively had determination and perseverance to take action to survive. Sharks, barracudas, doradoes and storms faced him daily. If he hadn't gone through this hardship, this storm, he would have never discovered the treasure. How many of us could survive under these conditions in stormy waters?

Many of us are having difficulty doing the same thing on dry land much less stormy waters. It is no different. Not to say that he didn't bravely face and take action or discredit his experience. Depression is much like facing stormy waters on a lifeboat lost at sea. The only difference is that nobody knows you are lost at sea in the mist of a dark fog of depression. They think because they can see you that you are not battling for your life. They don't see the stormy waters.

They don't see that you are adrift in your mind and lost at sea. They don't see you struggling to find your way in the misty dark fog of depression. They just see you sitting there. I know, I've been there. The more we sit, the darker the fog becomes until all about us is darkness. I don't know how long I sat there before I noticed a tiny pinhole of light. I didn't know if it was a light at the end of a tunnel or a tankard coming to blow me away. A key to understanding depression is to take action. Get up. Take a walk. Turn yourself around. Do anything even if it means just wiggling your little finger. A little wiggle today means two little wiggles tomorrow. Each step of the way is a day of victory. One baby step at a time.

I know something compelled me from within to take action. Get on up. Go toward the light. It was a lighthouse that guided me safely in. The Lighthouse of Halo is here for you too. Do you have your SOD Emergency Kit? If you don't, contact me and I'll help you get one. For those who don't know what a SOD Emergency Kit is. . . it is Survival of Depression Emergency Kit. Together we can make a difference in battling the stormy sea of depression and take action.

Grain Of Sand

Grain Of Sand
by Annie Tornabene

Have you ever seen a pearl? Probably you have. You admire its color, its glimmer, and its smoothness. It all started with a tiny grain of sand. A little grain of sand logged in the clam. It irritated the clam but he turned it little by little (one baby step at a time) into something beautiful.

That little grain of sand became a beautiful, radiating pearl - a priceless gem. So can you. Those troublesome, irritating things that get under your skin. Those rough edges of anger, anxiety, fear and other issues can be smoothed and polished.

Don't worry if you feel that you are not finished. Just take one baby step at a time. It's the process that you are working on turning that grain of sand into something beautiful not the completed product that is important.

Be patient. Enjoy peace, tranquility and laughter. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression with a grain of sand.

The Journey

The Journey
by Annie Tornabene



Everyday you are on the journey to explore your best life now. No one has ever traveled you same path. You are not alone on the strings of life. Thousands of people just like you travel along the strings of life everyday, but each one has a slightly different path. Each one of us has our own path to travel, sometimes together sometimes apart. No two people will ever share the exact same path on the journey of life. Each step you take is your life and only your life. Take time to make sure you are living your life to the fullest. Get the most of the journey and enjoy it!

In the old days when explorers went out in search of new territory, they took a compass with them to plot their course. You need your compass too. No, not a metal compass to point the direction, your compass is an internal mechanism. That's what makes the difference. You must be still to see the directions.

Take time each day to meditate. Get your bearings. Chart your course and full steam ahead on the journey to your best life now.

There will be guides along the strings of life to help point the way. Only you can make the journey for your best life now. Together we can make a difference in the journey to living your best life now.

Happy Labor Day

Happy Labor Day
by Annie Tornabene



Labor Day, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers in other words, we the people. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers (the average American) have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

In 1882 it began being celebrated and became a national holiday in 1884. The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. We the people are a vital force of labor adding to the highest standard of living and the greatest production that is realized in our economic and political lives. We are a light to the rest of the world.

So today we celebrate you! Happy Labor Day! Have you made plans for having fun today? Are you on course to live your best life now? Celebrate today as your day for the achievements that you have accomplished. Celebrate today for the freedom from depression. You have struggled... you have labored day after day in your struggle to break from depression.

Seek the light from within you to guide you. Enjoy the celebration of your best life now. You can do it one step at a time! Together we can make a difference in understanding depression and celebrating our best life now!

The World Needs Love

The World Needs Love
by Annie Tornabene



What the world needs now is love, sweet love. Remember that tune. Here it is 30 or 4o years later and we are still crying out for love. Not the mushy kind of love, true unconditional love for each other. There is so little of it. We look for love in all the wrong places. Do you realize how much can be done with love?

The Power that created you has the power to heal you. How you ask? With love. The world needs love. A powerful reaction can be implemented one person at a time with love. There is no more powerful medicine or antidote than love. I've seen love revive a person on their death bed. I've seen marriages rekindled because of love. I've seen diseased ridden people healed because someone loved them enough in spite of their disease. I've seen doctors wash their hands and say they have done all they could do, then love stepped in and took over. I've seen harden people change their mind because of love. This kind of love isn't easy but it is definitely worth it.

Do you realize the power of your love? Love begins with you loving yourself. You need to love others as yourself. So if you don't love yourself, how can you say you love others? You are an important part of the secret to healing the world. It all begins with you. Together we can make a difference with the world needs love. What you do today makes a difference! What are you doing about love?

Begin with an open heart. In an attitude of gratitude, pure and simple, look into the mirror and say "I love you!" Say it again. Say it louder. Really mean it. Say it often. Fake it until you make it. Then start saying it to others. If you can't say it, think it. Look at them or a picture of them and think "I love you!" Say it to your enemies. First it will shock them. The element of surprise is good. I had a friend, that taught me to meditate, that during his daily meditation in the morning and evening, he would meditate and send love to his enemies. Keep on keeping on and have faith that you have put love in motion. Then let love take over. Together we can make a difference, one person at a time. Are you with me in the war of love?

Keep Your Chin Up

Keep Your Chin Up
by Annie Tornabene

When is a boxer at his greatest risk? It may not be when you think. As a child I had to watch all the boxing matches. The only one I remember in real life was George Foreman. My Dad was a golden glove boxer in his early years and was disappointed when I went into martial arts. After seeing me perform, he said it was like boxing without the gloves. You never knew you could learn lessons about the strings of life from a boxer, did you? It's not in the fight that the boxer is at his greatest risk. That is usually when he is using extra precaution. It's in the morning when he wakes up and looks in the mirror. He or she is more prone to losing the battle when they look in the mirror...when they see themselves eye to eye. It's that space between the ears that catches them off guard. It's the place where he is less dangerous physically and more often throws caution to the wind. Wow, that's the same with you and me.

It's in the mind that he wins or loses the fight. Nine times out of ten, the fight is won when he looks in the mirror with his chin up and feels he can win. He has to remind himself, "Keep your chin up!" His manager has to remind him, "Keep your chin up." Looking down, he is at risk of being hit. Looking eye to eye with your chin up, he's prepared and ready to fight. He can see every movement...every flinch of his opponent.

It's the same with us. We have to prepare ourselves every day. We have to keep your chin up. We have to smile at adversity. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression. It's not how far you've come; it's just that you get back up! Hold your head up high, keep your chin up. You can do it!

When things are going pretty good, it's easy to get distracted from keeping your chin up. You forget that you need to keep your chin up and are vulnerable to getting hit. You know what I'm talking about. Keep your guard up. It's easy to slide right down into the depth of depression when you least expect the darkness to set in...when you have a sudden blow. When you've had a bad day, keep your chin up. Who knows with another blow you just may have a knock out and you win!

As my Grandmaster says, do it in an attitude of gratitude. OK, he said to say "Beat you to a bloody pulp cheerfully." It says the same thing. Keep your chin up. Together we can make a difference in learning to keep our chin up and healing our mind.

Glamour Shots

Glamour Shots
by Annie Tornabene

Put your best face forward is what my Mother always said. Your Mother may have told you similar statements. Whatever trouble gets you down, whatever circumstances you face, hold your chin up high and smile. It makes your enemies wonder what is going on in your life that makes you smile in the face of adversary. Your friends will admire you for your courage.

It is like a stain glass window. You can rave about its beauty in the daylight. However, you never know its true beauty until darkness sets in and the light from within shines through.

Glamour shots are being taken every moment along the strings of life. What does your latest glamour shot say about you?

As you look through the glamour shots along the strings of life, what are you portraying? Are you angry and scowling? Are you peaceful and tranquil? Are your eyes full of compassion? Do you have an attitude of gratitude and a thankful heart? Shine your light for all to see your beautiful glamour shot. Love your life. Together we can make a difference.

Celebrate Life

Celebrate Life

by Annie Tornabene

Yesterday I was at a funeral of an elderly lady that I didn't know. I did know her children. As I sat there, I was reminded of my own Father's Celebration of Life ceremony over two and a half years ago. (We didn't call it a funeral - it was a celebration of his life.) We looked at a picture slide show of his life and told warm heart-felt and funny stories about his life. In the end, we felt a light-hearted peace in our life and felt blessed to have had him in our life.

When was the last time you celebrated life? When did you experience joy and laughter in your life? When did you celebrate love? Love your life by celebrating your life. Celebrate all the goodness in your life. Be in an attitude of gratitude in all things. Celebrate peace and tranquility in your life. Celebrate the abundance that is flowing in your life. Celebrate life and more peace and hope will be with you. Together we can make a difference. The celebration of life makes a difference in our lives.

Out Of The Ashes

Out Of The Ashes
by Annie Tornabene

As I watch the burning embers from the pile of burning dead tree limbs that had fallen in my yard from a recent storm that went through here, it brings me to the realization that our lives are like ashes. Ashes are the dead residue of what had been on fire...a flame of passion gone dead...the hurts and pains that is left in our lives from past troubles and storms in the strings of life. Everyone has them. The disappointments...the grief...the sorrow...the pain and agony...the dark cloud of depression are all ashes. The past is nothing more than a bucket of ashes.

Ashes are what keep the fire from burning. . . Ashes slowly kill the flame. They smother the fire. They keep oxygen from breathing new life into the fire. Just like when we hold on to our old hurts or hold a grudge, it keeps us from fully living in our present.

In the movie, Kung Fu Panda, the Grandmaster stated, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why they call it the present." And so it is.

We can't do anything about the past. It is a bucket of ashes. Dump it out! Sweep off the ashes that are holding you back. Let a new fire rise out of the ashes. Out of the ashes of burning rubble comes new hope, a resurrection of life. Just like the donkey did.

Oh, I forgot to tell you about the donkey. A donkey fell in a deep hole that the farmer was digging for a well. The farmer said the hole was too deep and the donkey too heavy to try to pull the donkey out of the hole. So he prepared to bury the donkey in the hole. He shovelled dirt into the hole. As the dirt fell, it fell on the donkey's back. The donkey didn't know what was going on so he brushed the dirt off his back and stepped on it. The donkey kept doing this over and over again never giving up. He had hope that his master would get him out. To the farmer's surprise, the donkey was getting closer to the top with each pile of dirt that was going into the hole. The donkey was brushing it off and stepping on it. So he used the ashes of what was to be his burial to be his stepping stones. Soon the donkey was able to walk out of the hole. You will too. Doesn't some of this sound like our lives? Everyone will be amazed at the ease that you walked through the storm in the strings of life.

Out of the ashes will rise your tomorrows. In the present you may not know if you are building a sandcastle or if a dust storm is on the way. Have hope! You are building your dream castle out of the ashes of your life. Love your life. Together we can make a difference.

Amazing Gratitude

Amazing Gratitude

by Annie Tornabene

In an attitude of amazing gratitude today I want you to listen to Mike Dooley talk about how thoughts become things. You've often heard me say that our thoughts become our actions, actions bring about results. Together we can make a difference.

This is how you have a week of empowerment. Begin and end each day in an attitude of amazing gratitude. Begin on Sunday, do something for yourself. Monday Do something for your family. Tuesday Do something for your local group. Wednesday Do something for your community. Thursday Do something for this organization. Friday Do something for your Nation. Saturday Do something for mankind. When I say do something, I mean give of your thoughts, your time and assets. Take action, postulate positive thoughts, tell somebody, show your sign of support, give of your thoughts, time and things of value such items you no longer need, a click of the button, whatever you can. Always with a gratiful heart. Every positive thought turns into an action; action brings results. Thinking your way to an abundant life is the first step. Together we can all make a difference. !!!! Amazing gratitude make a difference.

Abundant Living

Abundant Living
by Annie Tornabene

I'm Rich...... This morning I searched my wallet. It was empty. Then, I checked my pockets . I found a few coins . I then searched my heart and found you. Then, I realized how rich I really am... Thanks for being my friend and e-mail buddy! May you be as rich as I am!

Have you ever realized how rich you truly are to have at least one friend? My daughter told me today that we were rich. I thought of friends that had mansions. I was thinking of material wealth and said no we're not. Then she smiled at me and said, "We're rich in love." My heart melted. She was right. It doesn't matter how much money a person has. It doesn't matter how fancy the car. It doesn't matter what clothes we wear. Who really cares about those designer labels? It doesn't matter how big the house is. What matters is that we love one another. We have abundant living.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. If you have more health than illness, you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day. If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 700 million people in the world. If you can attend a church or religious ceremony without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world. If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in depression and downtrodden. If you are reading this on your computer, you are among the 1% who has that opportunity and more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

You have a friend that was thinking of you. You have abundant living. In an attitude of gratitude, be thankful for the abundant living you possess. Allow abundant living to flow more readily in your life. Be thankful for the abundance that you are enjoying and living. Be thankful for the little things and the big things will take care of themselves. As they follow the little things.

The Champion

The Champion
By Annie Tornabene


As we watch the Olympic games in Beijing, I am reminded what it take to be the champion. That include finding the champion in you.

In 1644, a child named Antonio Stradivari was born. He, at a time when the average person lived be 35-40 years old, lived to be 93 years old. Amazing!

The reason I talk about him today is because he used very primitive tools to be the best he could be. I'm sure you have heard of his work today. Stradivari's Violins. Every step of the process was focused on providing excellence to each violin he created before he would sign his name on it. Many times he worked long and tedious hours alone to complete his violins. He spent his life doing his best life now.

Striving for excellence is not something you can turn on and off at the push of a button. The champions in the Olympics don't just become gold medalist overnight. It is something they strive for every day. They practice it for hours on end. They eat, live and breath it. They stay focused on living their best life now. When family and friends want to do something else, they stay focused.

Are you staying focused with your life? Are you going through the motions of living day to day, just getting by? Are you staying focused to live your best life now. You are the champion of your life. There is the champion within you.

Do you think Tiger Woods or Mike Phelps became champions overnight? No, They did the little things each day that made a difference in their lives. Stay focused when you are alone. Stay focused when you find negativity around you. You deserve to live your best life now. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression. Making a commitment to staying focused will help you live your best life now.

Many times we allow ourselves to become stuck in our present circumstances even if we are unhappy and really want to strive in a new direction. Why? Because it's familiar. One of the most important factors in understanding depression is the willingness to try things out, to experiment, to test new grounds. In fact, this is the only way to rock the boat and get unstuck. We may have to try and try again. It is a far better thing to try to succeed and fail, than to do nothing and succeed. Discover the champion in you! Make your dreams come true.

My Gift To You

My Gift To You

by Annie Tornabene





























My gift to you is the present.
What a gift!
Grab it before it slips away.
Guide me, through the sand I shift.

Precious moments are all we have.
You would give me your precious moments.
They can take away our possessions,
Nay can they rob us of our few comments.

Our moments are precious and few.
The moments we share I can take anywhere.
If I never hear from you again,
I will hold to the moments of you there.

© 2006 Annie Tornabene

Give with an abundant heart in all that you do and say. An abundant giver knows that there is more than enough to supply our needs. An abundant giver knows that they are allowing the Creator to supply a gift to another through the use of their hands. An abundant giver gives of their time, their energy, their resources, their thoughts and their money knowing that it is with an attitude of gratitude that all be blessed.

Live your life in a life of abundant living. Give of your time, energy, resources so that you will be blessed with abundant living. Our numbers are few but precious moments in abundant living are all we have. Make the most of it!

In an attitude of gratitude, I thank you for your precious gift of friendship. Live your best life now. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression.

Blessed Or Stressed

I am too blessed to be distressed. ~ Annie

In the hustle and bustle of life, men and women are becoming more stressed or worried over the little things. What can you do? What kind of attitude are you carrying? What do you want? Are you happy dragging around? I don't think so. First of all realize, that most of the little things you worry or become stressed over never happen! Taking baby steps forward, leads to action. Action means that you are moving in a direction. You can always change direction.

Low impact exercises like yoga and bodyflow help relieve those little physical blocks within the body to help the whole body be less stressed. It also helps clear the mind so you have have more positive thinking and rid yourself of stinking thinking. You get things off your mind without realizing it.

Eating sweets causes stress. So instead of picking up a candy bar pick up a handful of strawberries or some walnuts or almonds. They fight the stress hormone.

Remove all clutter from your home, car and office. All the stuff that is out of order, the stuff that is out of place, the stuff that makes you feel bad. Change it around make you feel better and less stressed. It will keep your mind on other things.

Take time to meditate. It will allow you to be calm and focused.

Read some good reading material. Good things in allows good things to come out of your mind. You need not be stressed anymore! You are too blessed to be distressed.

Walking, Talking, Breathing

The road to success is always under construction. ~ Lily Tomlin

That's right. In everything you do is walking, talking and breathing. Are you making the most of it? What does your walk say? What does your talk say? What does your breath say?

You can find out a lot about a person by the way the walk, talk and breathe. What does your choices, reactions and emotions reveal about the way you live life?

In order to have our best life possible we need to set the stage for relaxing. Our environment helps us in our breathing. If we feel good about our environment, we breathe in positive moments and expel positive. Try lighting candles during meditation to help you stay focused. Believe it or not, the light from the candle sparks life from within.

What you think about most often is what you will talk about. Change your thoughts and you will talk better of those around you and will talk in positive talks instead of stinking thinking. Remember to say your affirmations. The more you say them, the more the mind hears them and will give you what you ask.

Then you have to walk the life. You can't say things are good when you are dragging. Stand up straight, hold your head high and smile. You are worth it! You deserve to walk, talk and breathe your best life now!

Attitude of Gratitude Again

The older I get, the more I realize that life is a journey where we need to be in an attitude of gratitude to make the most of our life. If we are in an attitude of gratitude, we experience the best possibilities life has to offer us.

If we are in troubled waters or a storm of life, think can I do something about it? Is there a better way? What can be changed? Define what that means to you. Each of us have a different view point so each of us has our own goal. What I can do to change may be different than what you can do to change? Both courses will get us to our destination because it's the goal that we choose for our life.

Instead of asking "why?" ask "what?" Everyone has storms in our lives. Everyone suffers depression at some point in their life. It's a matter of how long you choose to be depressed that makes the difference. Instead of complaining why me. Start thinking what lessons do I need to learn in this circumstance. It's the little things in life that defeat us. That is why we must conquer it daily. Bling it on!

Do not let the chains of depression get you down. Your obstacles can be your greatest opportunities. Your setbacks can be your stepping stones. Let it be like a drop of water that ripples through the water to changes the course in our lives. Let it open a path for you. Remember there is a silver lining behind every dark cloud. The pulling on the chains can be the release you needed to free yourself from depression.

When you have a bad day, ask yourself what will it matter a hundred years from now? I know sometimes it feels that the problem we are faced with is the worst possible fear and it will change everything. 99% of the time, it's just our panic attacks kicking in. When all is said and done it won't matter. Or tomorrow things will look brighter. I have found that waiting a day, I can see clearer and make a better decision. What difference does it make?

Lessons Learned From Johnny Cash

We've been jamming tonight and listening to JC - no other than the late great Johnny Cash. Inspiration comes from strange places. Here's what I've learned about depression.

1) Understand Your Man ...er, you are the man! Huh hum! In understanding depression, keep the spirit of believing in yourself. You can do it! The power of believing is amazing. You are right whether you believe you can or whether you believe you can't. So choose to believe you can.

2) A Boy Named Sue - Life isn't always easy. You gotta be prepared. Don't let anyone steal your dream from you or steal your thunder. Many will try to sway you away from your dream or target, you have to stand your ground. Having goals and a plan for your life, ensures that you will make it. Like the song says, "This world is rough, and if you're gonna make it, you've gotta be tough." Your life requires you to get tough about you and your life! Not in a forceful way but with gentle strength. My Tae Kwon Do Grandmaster said, "Train tough!" It's the same with life. Who wins out if you don't?

3) The Man In Black could be called Branding 101 JC - Johnny Cash wore all black because it was his trademark. He had a reason for dressing in black. When you saw him in black, you knew or quickly knew what it was. Johnny Cash didn't waddle in depression, he found a way to honor it. Life can be depressing but depression does not have to get you down. Make the most of your life. Everyone gets depressed sometime, just remember one step at a time.

4) The Legend of John Henry's Hammer - John Henry's Daddy told him to: "Learn to a turn a jack, learn to lay a track, learn to pick and shovel too." Same with your life. We have to pick and choose what we think about to empower our lives. Computers and the Internet are great, but it can't take the place of the human touch. Remember there is a real person on the other end of the computer connection. We need human interaction. The movie "Wall-e" makes a point of how we need the human touch. See how Walle and Eve interact. Learn to use technology to increase your interaction and know that it needs a human touch. Here is a summary on YouTube.


5) One Piece at a Time - Stealing one piece at a time from the assembly line to build a Cadillac without costing him a dime didn't turn exactly how it should look. Remember there are people out there that try to steal one piece of your joy and happiness at a time. Don't let them rob you of you joy and happiness. It's not worth it! You take control of your life and you will find that you have the real thing. They can never own you unless you allow them. Take one step at a time.

6) In The Jailhouse Now - Some days it feels like we're in the jailhouse now, but don't be held a prisoner by depression. Depression can hold you and your loved ones hostage. Learn to take baby steps, one step at a time in learning to Walk The Line. Don't let it hold you back, use your understanding depression to conquer depression. Are you a victim or victor?

7) Ring of Fire - Is just one of those storms of life. When you find yourself in a ring of fire, let it burn, burn, burn your passion for life. Let your ring of fire, ignite a spark of passion to come out of the ashes with your light from within burning bright; you will find a sandcastle was built out of the storm. What lessons did you learn?

8) A Bridge Over Troubled Waters - When you find you're in the storm water, find a bridge to cross over to the other side. There is always a bridge to safety. No matter how stormy the waters, there is a better way. Just find that connection and stay connected.

9) The Beast In Me - The beast in me has had to learn to live with pain and anger. We must learn to control our anxiety and anger which helps reduce our pain. Doing daily meditation and music are to the soul like a bandaid is to a cut or as sleep is to rest. They help control the beast in me. Can you feel the music?

10) Walk The Line - Doing our daily routine, we are able to take baby steps toward learning to walk the line toward peace, tranquility, joy and happiness. It's the Texas two step in making progress to understanding depression.

What kind of music are you creating with your life? Hope it tops the charts!

You Are The Reason

I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle. - Jane Austen

When bad things happened, I never thought it was related to my stinking thinking. I was certain that it due to something else: the environment, the economy, an ex, etc. Certainly I wasn't responsible for my "bad luck." I was wrong. Bad things happen to good people. It was due to my stinking thinking. I attracted the bad luck with my stinking thinking.

You have in your life what you tell yourself you have. Think about it. Have you been sabotaging yourself? You will never get what you want in life until you believe you are worth it. If you tell yourself, you will never . . . Guess what? You will never ... Your mind seeks to make your comments what you think about the most, true.

Did you hear that? Your mind is like a robot, seeking to fulfill your wants. Everything in life is yours for the asking. All your hopes and dreams lie before you. You are the reason you have them or don't have them. Affirmations are very powerful if you believe you can. Because you are repeating a positive affirmation, you are programing your mind to think that statement. However, if you insert stinking thinking, you are sabotaging your effort.

If you are in a mess, then you can think your way out. Nothing in life was created without a way to overcome it. Sure it may be a lot of hard work to get out of the mess, but we didn't get in the mess overnight so we can't get out of it overnight. All those little thoughts daily kept building steps to where we are today. Now we have to think, is this where I want to be? Is this where I want to be five years from now?

When we accept the fact that we are where we are today because of our stinking thinking, we can accept responsibility for getting us where we want to be. Our daily stinking thinking led us to not make certain decisions that led us where we are or led us to accept someone else's decisions.

Now we must chart a path to get us on a new course. Daily practicing ridding ourselves of stinking thinking. Daily practicing taking baby steps toward the life we want. Daily practicing new habits of positive thinking. New steps of daily charting our progress.

Practicing positive possibilities won't happen overnight and it won't be easy, but it is a sure thing! By accepting all of the responsibility for where we are, and all of the responsibility for where we want to be, we can experience a tremendous life of joy and freedom.

Remember to keep telling yourself, "I can do it!" "I can make it!" "I am worth it!" Consistently move forward. No matter how hard it gets, just keep on keeping on. You can do it! Plug in to good inspiration daily. Stay connected. Smile. Together we can make a difference.

Your Amazing Life

Sometimes the hustle and bustle of everyday life has got us pulling our hair out. The chaos, the grind, the aches and pains, the stress just seems to fill all of our nooks and crannies until it seems like their is no room for anything else. Sound familiar?

The past month or so, I have had my 11 year old nephew staying with me. It was his first time to be away from home. Living so far from me, he hasn't had much time with me. It has been a real treat and eye opener. I get use to hearing what my kids say and think that all kids think the same. ha ha!

In some ways, my brother and I are alike and some ways we are very different. I've been teaching my nephew new things apparently. One of the games we like to play is called Cashflow by Robert Kiyosaki. I enjoy teaching and coaching others how to empower themselves. The best thing we can do is teach our children financial security. Everyone has a job, with expenses and it's how much you have left that is your cashflow. Of course, it teaches little ways to increase your cashflow. He says this is "Amazing!" He is constantly asking if this is really like real life. I said yes. He says, "Amazing! I have to teach my Dad this." lol

I've even had him go with me to pay bills, etc. so he can see the real life cashflow. We do the same with his allowance. Sometimes he says, "But I'm just a kid." I remind him that in seven years he will be 18 and this will be real life. Then he says, "Amazing, I've got to learn it now."

It is wonderful to see things from the eyes of a child. Everything is "Amazing!" In understanding depression, when you are around children, you cannot be depressed. It is as through the eyes of love, everything becomes amazing. If you haven't been around a child lately, try spending time with one. They take things that we think of as ordinary to be "Amazing!" They pick our ordinary life to be an "Amazing Life." What better teacher do we have? Don't let your troubles drive you to despair. Let them drive you to the realization of your abundant life - your amazing life! No wonder they call it amazing!

Give Gratitude First

Be thankful in all things. I know you are busy, but alway live your life in an attitude of gratitude. Even those events and circumstances in our lives that don't look pleasing. Sometimes we should be thankful for something that looks like a disaster. One time, I was in the five o'clock traffic approaching an intersection. Suddenly, my car started to overheat. Which was surprising since it was a realitively new car.

I turned into the service station that was on the corner. Shortly after turning in, an explosion happened at the intersection. BAM! I got out of my car and turned to my surprise, the car that was following me, had been hit by a speeding car going in the intersecting street which had no traffic. I had to be thankful for my car overheating.

Not always do we know why something happens or why one door closes. I have found when one door closes, a better door opens.

Know if you live your life in an attitude of gratitude first, abundant living will be attracted to you. I know it takes a little more effort to prioritize your life and get into the habit of giving gratitude first. Take a few minutes each day to quiet your mind, mind healing and renew your spirit. You will be amazed at the sense of peace, joy and tranquility that will flow in your life. In an attitude of gratitude, work hard, play hard. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression and life.