Enjoy

Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.

~Robert Brault

Enjoy

Today is a day to be joyful; to laugh and to live in the moment! How many times have you gone through a day and have not taken any time to really enjoy the experience, what you learned or the people you met along the way? Well, today is a day to slow down and take in every experience. Enjoy each moment today and see if for what it really is, a time to breathe new life into your soul and be grateful for all of the abundance that surrounds you. Add some laughter in there and watch out, you just might have a great day!

Balance

(picture by Colleen, my sister, at the Bronx Zoo)

And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

~Confucius

Balance

All we want is some balance in our lives! It seems that we can struggle every day in order to find or obtain the balance we so badly crave. But gaining balance is not something we achieve, rather it's a state of mind that we choose to either be in or not. Balance comes when you let go of trying to be perfect. Balance comes when you realize that you can only do your best any given day and that is enough. Balance comes when you stop letting everything and everyone else control who you are and the decisions that you make. When you finally decided that balance is what you truly want, then you will find it.

Rest

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.

~J. Lubbock

Rest

Today is a day to get some much needed rest. You have been running around, taking care of a million other people and not paying any attention to yourself. Well, today that is going to change. Whether it's taking a nap, going for a walk, or going to finally get that smoothie you have been dreaming about all week, now is the time to take some "me" time. Enjoy this beautiful day for what it is, a day to say hello to yourself in the mirror again!

The Last Minute

Success is 10% inspiration, 90% last-minute changes.

~From a billboard advertisement

The Last Minute

If it were not for the last minute, half of the things in our lives would not get done. Sometimes we wait until we have to push ahead in order to complete a task or maybe we just get focused on another goal and then realize we need to finish what we started already! Either way, the clock is usually ticking faster than we care to admit. But this doesn't mean your unfocused or lazy, it just means that you work well under some pressure from yourself. Don't beat yourself up over those items that you left for the last remember. Embrace the fact that you have a few moments left to complete your tasks and do it with grace and style! Remember, the last minute can be the greatest minute of your life!

Security

Our only security is our ability to change.

~John Lilly

Security

We all need to feel a sense of security in order to feel that we are genuinely okay. Security can be achieved in many different ways. What's important is that we find it in order to be at peace as well as productive. If you are feeling unsettling, restless or like something isn't right, then your sense of security has been rocked. It's time to change that feeling and the first step is to realize what is it that's making you so uneasy. Then take the time to clear your life of all of the static and noise and make the right decisions that will start to bring that sense of security back into your life. Remember that without a sense of security, you will never feel truly at peace.

Confidence

God wisely designed the human body so that we can neither pat our own backs nor kick ourselves too easily.

~Author Unknown

Confidence

So many times we doubt ourselves, our talents and our knowledge. Our confidence gets shaky when we feel like our lives are in a bit of turmoil and that's when we start to think that we don't know what we are doing. Well, stop. Stop the self-doubt. Stop over analyzing a situation. Stop focusing on what went wrong. Start to treat yourself with care. Start to acknowledge your strengths and skills. Start to find that courage and confidence within again. Believe that you make a difference. Believe that you matter. Believe that you are making an impact on this world and walk forward from that point of view. Only when you start to believe in your own personal power will the universe answer back in a supportive way. So go ahead, have confidence in yourself and watch what miracles start to happen.

Calm

Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you.

~John De Paola

Calm

After every storm a wash of calm must come in. Your life might seem in a state of upheaval right now. Maybe there are some major changes occurring and you're not quite sure what to expect or what the outcome is going to be. What you can be sure about is that there will be peace coming to you shortly. When life gets tough, that means that the storm is about to break into a beautiful rainbow. Have faith, trust in your gut and have peace that it will all be okay!

Surprises

(my new pup Baci (Italian for Kiss) and the reason that the Daily Pearl's have been coming a little late this week!)

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.

It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.

~Author Unknown

Surprises

Life is funny sometimes, isn't it? Just when you least expect it, a surprise awaits you around the corner. Can these changes be a little anxiety producing? Yes, they can. The key is to realize that the surprise is something that will fill your heart with more love and joy than you could have ever imagined. Don't shy away from surprises, embrace them. It's not what you may have been expecting but it's exactly what you need!

Soar

My soul is in the sky.

~William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Soar

There is no time like the present to take that flying leap! You have been waiting to long to just go for it. The time has come to loosen those chains around your body and get ready to forge ahead into a wealth of opportunities and growth. Your smart, capable, creative, and have infinite potential. It's time to unfold those wings, give them a good stretch and soar as high as you can dream!

Settling

The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon,

but that we wait so long to begin it.

~Author unknown, sometimes attributed to W.M. Lewis

Settling

Why do we settle for less than we deserve? Why do we put our own goals on the back burner? Why do you treat ourselves like second class citizens? Well this is going to change today! Stop settling in your life. Stop putting everyone else's needs above your own. It is time to take life by the steering wheel, decide what it is you truly want and go for it 110%.

Gratitude

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Gratitude

Today is a day to reflect back and be grateful for all of the small things in your life. Whether it's a stranger that held the door for you or the green light you caught that got you to work on time, today is a day to celebrate the little triumphs. It doesn't hurt to to stop and be thankful even in the midst of when your day isn't going as you had planned. Taking the time to acknowledge the little things will make you realize that they all add up to one giant ball of gratitude!

Beauty

Beauty is power; a smile is its sword.

~Charles Reade

Beauty

There is beauty in everything. Yes, everything. In challenges, tears, triumphs, happiness and hardships, there is always beauty to behold. Seeing the beauty in all situations is not being overly optimistic or a dreamer, it's much deeper than that. Being able to see and and feel the beauty, even during the greatest difficulties, is how you know that you are connected to the universe and there is something much bigger than you at work. It's how you know that this experience is real and that it means something to your soul. Beauty is in everything and in everyone. Sometimes we just need to adjust our focus slightly in order to see it!

Embrace

The reason angels can fly is because they take themselves lightly.

~G.K. Chesterton, "Orthodoxy"

Embrace

Sometimes life gets hard, challenging or just way too difficult. Sometimes we may just want to wave the white flag and say "ENOUGH"! Sometimes we have hit a crossroad and are not sure what path to take. Well, it's time to take these feelings and turn them into something amazing. It's time to embrace you own personal strength and be the powerful being that you were meant to be. Once you start listening to the guidance you have been getting from within, then miracles can truly start to happen. By embracing all of the different situations in your life, you will start to walk the path that is right for you. Today is a day to embrace your life and walk forward fearlessly!

Home

Where thou art - that - is Home.

~Emily Dickinson

Home

What makes a home a real "home"? Is it the items you put in it? Is it the time you spend taking care of it? Is it the amount of money you pour into it? A home is more than just a place to lay your head at night, it's a space that reflects who you are as a person. Every room tells a story. Moments are captured and hung up on walls. Special tokens are collected and displayed on shelves. But a real home is even more than that. It should place that other people feel welcomed including yourself. It is a place that gives you serenity and peace. It should feel like a giant hug every time you walk into it. If this is not the feeling you are getting from you home (or the part of the house you live in) then it is time to make some changes. Create a space that truly reflects who you are. Go ahead and create a real home for yourself today!

Manifesting

The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another.

~James Matthew Barrie

Manifesting

Worrying is something that we all do best. We worry about our finances, our home, our jobs, our children and a host of other things that keep our minds occupied all day. At the same time that we worry, we also wish and yearn for stability, for a great job, for an amazing partner, for a comfortable roof over our heads and of course enough money to feel secure. Here is the truth though, we cannot worry and expect to manifest what we yearn and hope for at the same time. Worry blocks abundance from coming into our lives. It also does not fix, help or change our situation. It only makes us more worried! Today, instead of thinking about what you don't have and want, only think about what you truly desire with joy and enthusiasm. Positive thoughts attract positive outcomes. So go ahead, manifest some wonderful things in your life today!

Surrender

If you surrender to the wind, you can ride it.

~Toni Morrison

Surrender

When we hold on to things so tightly, we end up losing them in our grasp. When we put so much energy into worrying about a situation and trying to control it, it seems to not get any better. But when we surrender our concerns, feelings and our need to control these situations, they seem to find a way to change for the better. It is so hard to let go. It is so hard to believe that by surrendering, we are not giving up but giving in to life. Once we can learn how to be peaceful despite the storm, the storm than fades away and we are left with clarity and opportunities we could not see before. When you are able to surrender, truly let go, that's when you find the most peace in every area of your life. What in your life has been keeping you up with worry or fear? What have you been trying to control and not getting the results you want? Now is the time to try something different. It's time to surrender. Who knows, you just might find the answer you have been looking for all along!

Shelter

Home is a shelter from storms - all sorts of storms.

~William J. Bennett

Shelter

We all need a shelter; a space that provides us a sigh of relief as we walk through the door. A space that brings us some quiet away from the storm of our every day lives. A space that gives us that sense of security in an insecure world.

Well if you don't have that type of space, today is the day to seek one out! It's not important necessarily where you find your shelter, it's just important that you have one. Be it a space in your current home, an office, a studio or in another person's arms, find that place that makes you feel safe, quiet and loved.

Today is also a day to reach out and also be that shelter for someone in need. It could be a friend that needs you to provide that shelter for him or her or it even could be an animal that needs a new loving home. Finding a place of shelter and being a shelter for somebody else is one of the greatest gifts you can give both yourself and that other being.

Birth

(Picture taken by my mom, Sue)

Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending.

~Author Unknown

Today's Pearl is dedicated to the McKeever family.

Birth

Today is a day to welcome in new beginnings in all shapes and forms. Whether it's the birth of a new idea, career, job, move, relationship or an actual new bundle of joy, embrace that today will and can change your life forever is the most blessed way. You have worked so hard on getting yourself to a good place and now is the time to step forward with confidence and peace. Let your creativeness soar and believe that you are more than worthy of this new abundance flowing into your life today. Have a blessed day everyone!

Focus

Consider the postage stamp:

its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.

~Josh Billings

Focus

Does your world feel a little chaotic lately? Do you have a million things going on in your life yet you feel like you haven't completely finished one task? Well it's time to focus. Pick one aspect in your life that you need to focus on or a goal that you have not yet completed. Map out the steps you need to take in order to get it moving in the right direction. Then start to implement it today! There is not time to waste. By not being focused, you lose valuable time in your life. Time that is meant to be spent joyful, not feeling overwhelmed and stuck. More often then we care to admit, we put off what we need to do because it can seem too overwhelming. The more you remain unfocused though, the more crazy your life is going to be. Focusing takes practice and discipline but you are up for the challenge. Stay focused all day today and see how many unfinished tasks you can get done. Here's to a productive day!

Strength

(picture taken by my mom, Sue)

Success: To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Strength

What makes us strong is not what we have conquered nor what we have achieved. True strength is not defined by being a rigid person in our thoughts and actions. It's quite the opposite. We gain strength from being flexible. We gain strength from listening to other people's opinions. We gain strength from remaining calm and peaceful. We gain strength by having discussions rather than shouting matches. We gain strength by finding commonality rather than differences. We gain strength by being bendable to life and all of its experiences. This is what makes us not only strong but durable. We will bend more easily to life without breaking. Real strength, the kind we all desire, is letting go of the notion that we need to "better" than someone else or that we need to be right all of the time. Let down your guard and realize the more gentle you are to yourself and other's, the more strength you gain in your soul.

Values

You can tell the ideals of a nation by its advertisements.

~Norman Douglas, South Wind

Values

We all have a set of values based on our life experiences. Our values shape our lives and help us make decisions throughout the day. But most of us go through life without really taking a look at what we value and why we value it. We also don't stop enough and think about if we are actually living a life that is congruent to what we say our values are. If I say that forging true connections with others is something I value, yet I post a nasty comment about a friend on Facebook for everyone to read instead of discussing the situation in private, is this staying true to my values? If I value that people do not gossip about me behind my back yet I run to the nearest person I know to divulge something juicy I just learned, is that being true to my values?

A lot of times it's a lot easier to say that we actually value something than to live that value. Today, take a long hard look at what your values are. Know what's important to you in this life. Assess how you are living your values and if you find there are inconsistencies, well this is the time to change that. By mirroring your values to your actions, you take a huge step closer to your true person within. It will make you walk much lighter, have meaningful relationships with everyone and give you a sense of peace throughout your day that you always wished for. Remember, values aren't just talking the talk, it's more about walking the walk! Let your actions mirror your words.

Starting New

If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it.

~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

Starting New

What has not been working for you that needs a new approach? What have you been waiting for but has not surfaced? What have you been putting off for another day? What have you been avoiding doing but is necessary to open up your path? What have you complained about but having taken steps to fix? Well today is a day to change all of that. Today is a day to start again. As my good friend always says, "if I open my eyes and put my feet on the floor in the morning, it's going to be a great day". It is a great day and a great time to begin something new. Success is not just about how hard you work, it's about the attitude that you have about the work that you are doing. If you are not enjoying something, than why are you doing it? Change it. You, and only you, have the power to steer your life in a new direction. Only you can make the decision to change what isn't working. So off you go! Enjoy the journey of starting anew and remember, the beauty of life is that we always have the decision to change our lives in every moment of every day.