“It’s wondrous what a hug can do.
A hug can cheer you when you’re blue.
A hug can say, ‘I love you so,’
Or ‘Gee, I hate to see you go.’
A hug is ‘Welcome back again.’
And ‘Great to see you! Where’ve you been?’
A hug can soothe a small child’s pain,
and bring a rainbow after rain.

The hug! There’s just no doubt about it-
we scarcely could survive without it!
A hug delights and warms and charms.
It must be why God gave us arms.
A hug can break the language barrier,
and make your travels so much merrier.
No need to fret about your store of them,
the more you give, the more there’s more of them.

So stretch those arms without delay
and give someone a hug today!”

To learn more about powerful tools to help eliminate harmful
stress and bring more joy and happiness into your life, go to
http://www.HappyWednesday.com

This is Joanie Winberg, The Happy Wednesday Lady

See you next week!

During and after divorce is a very challenging time in a
person’s life. For more information go to the 24/7 Resource Center- The National
Association of Divorce for Women and Children – www.NADWC.com
Joanie’s passion is to not only survive divorce, but thrive through divorce!

“A professor stood before his class and wordlessly picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks about 2″ in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

‘Now,’ said the professor, ‘I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. The rest is just sand.’ ”

To learn more about powerful tools to help eliminate harmful
stress and bring more joy and happiness into your life, go to
http://www.HappyWednesday.com

This is Joanie Winberg, The Happy Wednesday Lady

See you next week!

During and after divorce is a very challenging time in a
person’s life. For more information go to the 24/7 Resource Center- The National
Association of Divorce for Women and Children – www.NADWC.com
Joanie’s passion is to not only survive divorce, but thrive through divorce!

“Several years ago I was at a train station in Amsterdam waiting in line to buy a ticket. As I stood there I saw a young homeless man asking people for money so he could buy breakfast. It was early in the morning and most of the travelers simply ignored the young man or gave him a dirty look.

There was one exception though – an older, well-dressed businessman who looked as though he was from the middle-east. When approached by the panhandler, the gentleman looked straight into his eyes and quietly asked ‘How much will you need?’ I couldn’t hear what the young man said but watched as the older man pulled several bills from his wallet and calmly placed them in the young mans’ hands.

I don’t know if the young man actually used this money for breakfast or for some other purpose. What I do know is that I witnessed two completely different reactions to the same situation. I saw people who were either afraid or annoyed or distrustful. And then I saw this man who was not afraid and treated the homeless man as though he were a brother. I decided then and there that, even though we have to be careful in this world, I would rather be like him.

May this day bring us many opportunities for kindness.”

Always aim higher than you believe you can reach. So often, you’ll discover that when your talents are set free by your imagination, you can achieve any goal.

If people offer their help or wisdom as you go through life, accept it gratefully. You can learn much from those who have gone before you. But never be afraid or hesitant to step off the accepted path and head off in your own direction if your heart tells you that it’s the right way for you.

Always believe that you will ultimately succeed at whatever you do, and never forget the value of persistence, discipline, and determination.

You are meant to be whatever you dream of becoming.

Perspectives
~Author Unknown

“One day a father and his rich family took his young son on a trip to spend a few days on a farm of a very poor family with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, ‘How was the trip?’

‘Very good, Dad!’

‘Did you see how poor people can be? And what did you learn?’ the father asked.

The son answered, ‘I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden, they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon.’

When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless.

His son added, ‘Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!’

Isn’t it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude toward life, you’ve got everything!

You can’t buy any of these things. You can have all the material possessions you can imagine, but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing”

Today’s message

The Law of the Garbage Truck!
I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.
We were driving in the right lane
when suddenly a black car jumped out
of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his brakes,
skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!
The driver of the other car whipped his head around and
started yelling at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy.
And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, ‘Why did you just do that? This guy
almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!’
This is when my taxi driver taught me
what I now call, ‘The Law of the Garbage Truck.’
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks.
They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.
As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it
and sometimes they’ll dump it on you.
Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.
Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let
garbage trucks take over their day.
Life is too short to wake up in
the morning with regrets, so ..
‘Love the people who treat you right!
Pray for the ones who don’t!’

Today’s message

10 Ways on HOW TO STAY YOUNG
~ George Carlin

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay ‘them.’

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be A LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it’s family, pets, music, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over,
it became a butterfly.”

~anonymous

Today’s tip-

When you see a butterfly, our thoughts may be…what a beautiful creature! How wonderful to fly about freely, bringing beauty to whomever’s path it crosses. We don’t think about the journey that butterfly took to become this awesome display of nature.

This butterfly was once a creeping and colorless caterpillar. Who, may or may not survive harsh weather, a landscaper’s freewheeling tool or just simply the process it must undergo to become that beautiful butterfly.

And that cocoon- some say how they wish they could be in a cocoon. They see it as a “safe” place, a warm and comforting place. But, like the butterfly of this quote, it could also be construed as a dark place, a lonely place, wondering how long before the “light” shines through.

The hope of becoming that beautiful butterfly can inspire. If a little caterpillar can transform into a beautiful butterfly- what are our possibilities? The “transformation” part may be difficult. It may be a quick transformation, it may take longer.

BE PATIENT! Like a butterfly, there is beauty in all of us. When you shed your cocoon and spread your beautiful wings, the world will be waiting.

9 Lessons from Trees
~ Unknown author

1) It’s important to have roots.
2) In today’s complex world, it pays to “branch out.”
3) If you really believe in something, don’t be afraid to go out on a limb.
4) Be flexible so you don’t break when a harsh wind blows.
5) Sometimes you have to shed your old bark in order to grow.
6) If you want to maintain accurate records, keep a log.
7) It’s okay to be a late bloomer.
Avoid people who would like to cut you down.
9) As you approach the autumn of your life, you will show your true colors. You should be brilliant!

Today’s tip-

Which of the nine lessons resonates for you?

Think about it and write down your thoughts and feelings by going to the Happy Wednesday blog at www.HappyWednesday.com.

Junior high school students in Chicago were studying the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of the lesson, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World.

While gathering the papers, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn’t turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, “Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there were so many.” The teacher said, “Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help.”

The girl hesitated, then read, “I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. to touch…
2. to taste…
3. to see…
4. to hear…
5. to feel…
6. to laugh…
7. and to love.

The room was so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop.

May this story serve as a gentle reminder to all of us that the things we overlook as simple and ordinary are often the most wonderful – and we don’t have to travel anywhere special to experience them.

Enjoy your gifts!

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren’t old enough and we’ll be more content when they are.

After that we’re frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there’s no better time to be happy than right now.

Your life will always be filled with challenges. It’s best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza. He said,
“For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.”

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have.

The next time you are feeling stressed and your mind is working over time with stressful thoughts, remember this story about “Rule Number 6” written by Benjamin Zander.

Have a Happy Wednesday!
Do something to empower yourself!

“I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you.”
- Roy Croft 

Today’s Tip

When people are around you how do they feel? Are they feeling more energized and happy? Does your presence allow others to feel better about themselves? A friend of mine, L.A.Murphy beautifully expresses our influence over others…”We are the total sum of our relationships. When we plant our garden with seeds of love, forgiveness and thankfulness we flower abundantly and bring more joy into all our relationships both personally and professionally. Always remember no two gardens are the same; love your neighbor’s garden equally and the passer by will smile.”  

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-ground?
Or listened to the rain slapping the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flights?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading nights?

You better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask ‘How are you’ do hear the reply?

When the day is done do you lie in your bed with the next 100 chores
Running through your head?

Ever told your child we’ll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die
Cause you never had the time to call and say “Hi?”

You better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
it is like an unopened gift…thrown away.

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower and hear the music
Before the song is over.

“If a dog were your teacher these are some of the lessons you might learn…

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy

Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory
Take naps and stretch before rising
Run romp and play daily

Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do
On warm days stop to lie on your back on the grass
On hot days drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree
When you’re happy dance around and wag your entire body

No matter how often you’re scolded
don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout
run right back and make friends

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm
Stop when you have had enough
Be loyal
Never pretend to be something you’re not

If what you want lies buried dig until you find it
When someone is having a bad day
be silent …sit close by…and nuzzle them gently.”

To learn more about powerful tools to help eliminate harmful stress and bring more joy and happiness into your life, go to www.HappyWednesday.com.

Until next week, have a Happy Wednesday!