Put your magic glad on, baby.

“Put your magic glad on, baby.  The world needs your sun.  You just could be the one, you know, who saves somebody’s day—hauling it out of the gloom pool—setting it on its feet again.  It wouldn’t be the first time.

Don’t give me your aw c’mon.  I know your power.  I’ve seen it in action with my very own eyes. 

Why just last Tuesday, you turned it on that old dude up on 4^th and Vine, giving him that sly wink as if you shared some precious secret just between the two of you.

‘Hey, Pops,’ you said.  And he lit up like a Christmas tree just because you knew he was real.”

© Susan K. Minarik

No-Cost Strategies to Fight Depression

Mild depression is something more and more common in our dysfunctional society. The bad economy, people out of work, the endless heat wave in Texas, floods in other areas, illness, addictions, marital problems, ended relationships, kids in trouble; the list can go on for a while. But here are some effective tips to help you fight off mild depression and the nagging blahs that often overwhelm us these days. See them here: Health.com

Simple Acts = Happiness

Sometimes we just make life's good experiences too complicated. Happiness, contentment, a sense of inner peace, those things don't come from a new car or a fat bank account or owning the biggest house on the block. We come to know the really good stuff -- emotional growth, inner strength, profound joy -- as a result of so much more simple experiences. See some here and give them a try: Happiness

Get Fit Where You Sit

Not everyone can go to the gym every day or even every week. Schedules, the economy, kids activities, and other less reasonable excuses often keep us from exercising and attempting to stay fit. Here are some simple exercises nearly anyone can do both at work and at home. Try them: Health.com

Lasting Happiness

Here is a beautiful essay that reminds us of all the essentials in life. Finding a way to stay in touch with each of them is the secret to a fulfilled life and to knowing a kind of ongoing happiness and inner peace even in the midst of life's tough challenges. See the brief essay here: Lasting Happiness

It's Always Uncomfortable to Grow

Many of the things that are required to build and maintain healthy self-esteem can be uncomfortable, but the truth is they are essential.  The good news is, with practice, uneasiness subsides and they become part of who you are.

Saying ‘no’ and asserting yourself, asking for what you want, expressing your true feelings, saying positive things about yourself, letting someone love and nurture you…these may all be the things that are uncomfortable.  But, only at first.

One sure way to conquer discomfort is to simply do what is uncomfortable.  Step away from complacency and dare to grow and develop yourself today.  Start by choosing something that you have been putting off.  Then, just do it!

© Meditations for Women

Rise Above It All

Rise Above It All

by Jane Powell on September 22, 2011

“Reality is something to rise above.”


Great things are accomplished when you believe that what’s inside of you is superior to your circumstances. Believing you’re more important than any of your problems, that you’re bigger than anything that can happen to you, takes courage.


You may have to dig deep for this courage, but it is there. Rise above fear and doubt. Remind yourself that you are in control, that the time to live is today!


©Jane Powell – Meditations for Women

Life doesn't ask much of you, considering all it does for you.

 "Life doesn't ask much of you, considering all it does for you."  What a great thought from Susan K. Minarik in this helpful little essay.  Sometimes we just need to stop complaining, take a deep breath, look around, and be grateful for all of the beauty all around us.  It's there if we'll just look and see and appreciate it.  See the full essay here: Gifts of Beauty

Allowing the Wildness

I love this thought.  It's practical, human, meaningful for all of us. Stepping away from whatever is bothering us today and reaching for some treasure in our possession is such a great exercise in life.  See if you agree: Allowing the Wildness

We have more potential than we might know.

"Although talent feels and looks predestined, in fact we have a good deal of control over what skills we develop, and we have more potential than we might ever presume to guess."  ~ From, The Talent Code, by Daniel Coyle

You look good today.

We all need to know we matter, that we are confident in our talents and skills, that we are smart, loving, attractive, worthy. Here is a site that offers some excellent resources for helping us feel good about who we are and what we have to contribute to life: Self Esteem

There is no real power in intention

“Listen carefully to me. Despite popular belief to the contrary, there is absolutely no power in intention...There is no difference in the person who intends to do things differently and the one who never thinks about it in the first place. Have you ever considered how often we judge ourselves by our intentions while we judge others by their actions? Yet intention without action is an insult to those who expect the best from you.” ― Andy Andrews, Author/Speaker 

The magic of truth and lies (and iPods) | Video on TED.com

This is so cool. Enjoy this brief video! Marco Tempest: The magic of truth and lies (and iPods) | Video on TED.com

To get the most out of the relationship you are in...

"To get the most out of the relationship you are in, it won't be helpful to listen to the ego's stories about it.  They will only bring separation and conflict.  Essence (our true nature) would tell a different story about your loved one.  It would probably be something like this: 'This person is in my life for me to love to the best of my ability.  Let's see what happens if I do that.'  As Essence, we are here to serve others and serve Life.  The ego, on the other hand, is all about serving self." ~ From, What about Now? Reminders for Being in the Moment, by Gina Lake

How to Love Your Crazy Life

Sometimes life goes haywire for all of us. Too many schedules. Not enough sleep. Wrong diet. Kids out of control. More expenses than income. On and on it goes. Here are some practical thoughts on how to take a deep breath and make it all sort of seem to work. Read them here: Your Crazy Life

You don't need negative thoughts

"Try giving up all the thoughts that make you feel bad, or even just some of them, and see how doing that changes your life.  You don't need negative thoughts.  All they have ever given you was a false self that suffers.  They are all lies." ~ From, What About Now? Reminders for Being in the Moment, by Gina Lake

Choice, not Chance

"Excellence is never an accident.  It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.  Choice, not chance, determines your destiny." ~ Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

A Drink a Day Linked to Healthy Aging in Women - Health News - Health.com

A new study shows that moderate drinking could improve your health. Women, especially, who have a glass of wine or a drink a day were seen as having generally better health including better cognitive function than those who binge drink or who don't drink alcohol at all. See the results here: Health.com

3 Steps to a Longer Life

Here are some easy, interesting tips on extending life for all of us. See them here: Sharing Rocks!

Focusing on negativity doesn't make any of us better

"The moment is never improved or helped by negativity, although we are programmed to think our negative thoughts, worries, and fears serve a useful function.  When you really examine this idea, however, you see that negativity doesn't serve.  Focusing on negativity and fears doesn't make anyone a better person, nor does doing that help us function better in the world.  In fact, the truth is quite the opposite." ~ From, What about Now? Reminders for Being in the Moment, by Gina Lake

The demise of guys?

Psychologist Phillip Zimbardo says boys today are learning all the wrong things from video gaming, porn sites, and other isolated Internet programming. The results are disastrous in terms of their social development, emotional maturity, their sense of self, and their ability to relate to girls in any meaningful way. See his brief, alarming, and fascinating presentation here: Video on TED.com

Life, Clutter, Mess

"Perfectionism means that you try desperately not to leave so much mess to clean up.  But clutter and mess show us that life is being lived." ~ Anne Lamott, Writer/Novelist

Love Everything

Love all Creation.  The whole and every grain of sand in it. Love very leaf, and every ray of light.  Love the plants.  Love the animals.  Love everything.  If you love everything you will perceive the Divine Mystery in all things.  Once you perceive it you will comprehend it better every day.  And you will come, at last, to love the whole world with an all embracing love. – Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

8 Tips for Boosting Your Energy RIGHT NOW.

Who doesn't need more energy in these busy times? We all do. Increased energy helps us get more done, builds self-esteem, creates confidence, makes us feel better. Here are some simple but excellent tips on how to do it: 8 Tips for Boosting Your Energy RIGHT NOW.

Ignore the odds and go for it

"There will be a few times in your life when all your instincts will tell you to do something, something that defies logic, upsets your plans, and may seem crazy to others.  When that happens, you do it.  Listen to your instincts and ignore everything else.  Ignore logic, ignore the odds, ignore the complications, and just go for it." ~ Judith McNaught, Novelist

What Life Can Teach You

Here is a list of things author, humorist, "60 Minutes" commentator Andy Rooney has learned in life: See the list here: Andy Rooney.

Living Beyond the Comfort Zone

"Struggling and suffering are the essence of a life worth living.  If you're not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you're not demanding more from yourself -- expanding and learning as you go -- you're choosing a numb existence.  You're denying yourself an extraordinary trip." ~ Dean Karnazes, Author/Marathon Runner

Your present circumstances...

"Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go they merely determine where you start." ~ Nido Qubein, Author/Consultant

"I've come back from the colorless world of despair..."

"In my own worst seasons I've come back from the colorless world of despair by forcing myself to look hard, for a long time, at a single glorious thing: a flame of red geranium outside my bedroom window.  And then another: my daughter in a yellow dress.  And another: the perfect outline of a full, dark sphere behind the crescent moon.  Until I learned to be in love with my life again.  Like a stroke victim retraining new parts of the brain to grasp lost skills, I have taught myself joy, over and over again." ~ From, High Tide in Tucson: Essays from Now or Never, by Barbara Kingsolver