Giving is one of many powerful insights from Christmas.  Let’s reflect on three ways to give this Christmas-in-July:

1.  Think about how you can improve on giving to others.  We know that the happiest people on the planet are the people who give to others unconditionally with the expectation of nothing in return.  So if you want to increase your happiness as well as others, increase your giving!  One of the most potent ways to give, is to give of your time.  Start by giving time to the most important people around you.  Time can be given powerfully by simply allocating time to be with and listen to your spouse, child or friend without interruption.   If you diarize time you won’t feel flustered with lines of attention being drawn to other things you need to get done.  It will help you to be fully present and the one you are with to feel happy or content because you truly are ‘fully’ present.

2.  Another powerful way to give is to spend a day giving your total attention to others.  Do this once a week.  Don’t talk about yourself whatsoever for a whole day.  Don’t give any opinions or add your story to anything said.  Always acknowledge the other person after they have finished speaking.  Honour them by saying back to them pertinent points to show you have listened and ask them to expand more on the subject or ask them questions to get them to continue speaking.  If they ask you a question and it can be a simple yes or no that’s ok but don’t add your ‘stuff’ your story and move onto a question back to them.  And remember to be fully present by listening with positive body language and good eye contact too.  You’ll soon find that most people are not really interested in your story, they are more interested in themselves and what they have to say.  They will walk away from you feeling great and will think you are a wonderful person, simply because you gave them space to be truly heard. 

3.  Give acknowledgement to the ones you love.  Acknowledgement is craved by most people.  Without acknowledgement many will tend to retract and will not give again as they feel unappreciated.   For example, you go out of your way to do more than what was expected at work and your boss doesn’t acknowledge you.  Do you feel inspired to do more next time?  Probably not.  Your partner spent time making you a meal.  Do you take it for granted or do you acknowledge them with love for their time and care preparing the meal for you?  Every time you don’t acknowledge someone for what they have done or given to you, and you take it for granted, you erase a little of their love or respect for you.   Another example, your child puts his/her dishes in the sink – acknowledge them with positive comments.  When you acknowledge the small things, it can create a snowball effect of more good behaviour.  It won’t happen overnight but it will happen.  This practice can powerfully transform relationships.  It is a gift to increase happiness for you and others around you.

This Christmas-in-July spend some quiet time thinking about and planning ways that you can give.  By giving of your time and your acknowledgment, you expand and create a more generous loving heart while creating more happiness in the world for you and others.

 A friend posted this onto my Face Book this morning.  Lovely.  I also get inspired all the time by sayings and quotes.

We get inspired by beauty and youth every day.  And we want to grasp it in our hands.  There is a bit of beauty in every household.

I found this image from Pinter est.  Love it.  Would be tempted to make one as a joke gift for my sister’s husband for a Christmas Gag gift.  I couldn’t imagine the coffee beans going into the microwave, but I’m sure it would hold up.  But to get it rinsed, that could be a different story.

Who are you inspired by?  Who or what in your life drives you to create?  What motivates you to do what you do?  It doesn’t matter what you do, but we all are inspired from something.

Are you one of those people who loves to flip through a magazine to get inspired?  Are you a picture person or are you text?  What draws you to the page?  Is it enough to make you stay?  Or are you the one who flips through pages quickly?

Sometimes I am the one who is flipping through a magazine rather quickly.  But as I go, I discover a page here and there that I want to linger in a moment longer.  And then the reading grips me with a vise and I’m there for the duration.

I love seeing the pretty pictures.  Sometimes, I can flip through quick and other times, I find I need to study the picture a little longer to see how it is made.  And as I sit in my chair (usually at a waiting room), I find myself asking that question.  ”Could I make that?”  Or, “That would look perfect in my dining room.”  Where can I get it?

Or can I come up with something similar and unique because it is my own.

And sometimes it is a celebrity who we are inspired by.  Which celebrities are your favorites?  Do you have a whole bunch of favorites or does just one all time favorite sum it up for you?  What is it about them that makes you love them or their style?  Is there one actor or actress that you love that you think nobody else measures up to?

And if you could have been one of them, who would you have switched places with?  And how do you think they would have lived if they had filled your shoes?  Vice versa.  What would you have done with their life?  Maybe I’ve just given you a great story to write.  Or maybe I’ll write it someday.  Hmm…..

Too much on my plate right now.

Here’s a funny little story that I read from one of my brother’s friends on face book.  He dreamed that he was at a yard sale and bought a bunch of socks that were in a fish bowl.  I laughed and told him if I saw them at a yard sale like that tomorrow, I would know who to send them to.  And then another friend told him, “Have fun with your smelly, stinky dream socks.”  Cute.

That’s the beauty of face book.  You get to have a good laugh with your family and friends no matter how far away you live from them.

Well, as I think about things, I would have to say that I love Katherine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor.  Those would be my favorite older actresses or iconic figures that I would look up to.  And when I die, maybe I will float on over and have a cup of tea with them and a Sarah Lee pound cake fer sure.  

Who knows, I’m not dead yet.  And I don’t plan on going until I get my face on one of those Smucker’s jars.  By then, someone else will be announcing the old geezers that we will be.

Ode to be old and sitting in a rocking chair like Whistler’s mother or Grandma Moses.  Now she lived a full life.

I guess my favorite modern actresses would be, Kristen Stewart, Amanda Seyfried, Julia Roberts, Paltrow, Kate Winslet and I’m sure others.

I really like a lot of different ones.  It kind of depends on the movie.  I basically like watching a lot of different ones and decide if I think they are acting well in the movie.  And sometimes I fall asleep on a movie and it becomes meaningless.

I’m a fan of the Twilight movies.  Anything Gothic will do it for me.  I love those movies, Gothic art fascinates me.  I always wish my art would be Gothic, but it ends up being pretty, nostalgic and lovingly done.  But I do have some works that can be borderline.  Like a doll with no eyes.  That would do it.

Anything that has photographic atmosphere really inspires me.  

It’s not just the people that inspire me.  It’s the images, the artwork, the photography, the way a certain thing looks.

Sometimes we can go somewhere and look at our surroundings and just get inspired.  Do you ever find yourself walking into an antique shop or somewhere else that you want to visualize just for the sake of ideas?  I love looking at antique shops, but usually don’t go because I don’t have the money for their pricey old stuff.  And once in a while I will purchase something.  Maybe once a year or two.

And how many times do you just get inspired by your family and friends?  Quite often, I would think.  And if you are a writer like I am, we can get ideas from absolutely anywhere.  Maybe it was something that Aunt Susan said to you yesterday that maybe made you think to yourself, “Oohh…. you just gave me an awesome idea.”  ”Your spoon you are holding is giving me an outrageous thought.  I’m gonna bang the crap out of it and write all my wedding guests names on them!!!”

That is a Pinter est idea by the way.  If you haven’t already checked it out, go and get an invite.  It’s lots of fun.

Have you ever thought that a simple photograph could begin a story for you?  I’ve known other authors and poets who have used this idea in their poetry.  I gave it a whirl a few times.  It’s kind of fun.

Or if you get five of your friends to try this out, I bet you all would come up with something completely different.  As we all perceive things in a different way.

If you were to be really reckless and wild, which actress or actor would you be?  Or even more fun, which family or friend would you be? 

Which one would you most likely not want to be like?  Is there one that seems most infamous to you?  If you were to tell one of them what you thought of them, which one would you most likely tell them a piece of your mind?

I think for me it would be Lindsay Lohan.  She has really made a mess of herself.  And there’s no need.  I once admired her movies, back in the day when she was good, but she has really spiralled downhill for me to get disgusted.  And I kind of got disgusted when she came out of the closet.

I’m not judgemental.  If people are gay, that’s their choice.  I like Ellen and she’s gay.  I like her because she is funny.  I love her show.

I’m also a fan of the Today Show and Rachel Ray.  I don’t mind Nate Berkus.  I can’t stand Dr. Phil and Judge Judy.  I’m glad she was never my mother.  I’ll switch the station quick usually.  Anderson Cooper is okay, but something about that show bugs me to no end.

My job is EBay, so I get to be home to watch these and then be there for my kids when they are home.

And speaking of kids, how many times have they inspired you?  Countless times, I’m sure.  Kids inspire the world over and over.  We are amazed at their capabilities, their profound feelings and emotions.  They wear their hearts on a string.  They can be as blunt as can be.  They are not afraid to tell you what they think.

Sometimes we are so surprised at what came out of their mouths.  And yes, sometimes we look over and think, “Is that my child?  She’s not mine, really.  Oh, bleep…….”  Your face turns more red than the tomatoes in your sandwich.  Or strawberries……. or the bright red undies that you are wearing and nobody knows it.

Nope, I’m not wearing red today.  Maybe tomorrow.  If I remember.

What was the person, place or thing that made you do the wildest thing you’ve ever done?  

I’m not sure what my wildest thing I’ve ever done.  Maybe to walk the streets of New York City at night once and not quite knowing where I was going?  I thought I was going to get lost, but I found my way to my college friends and the movie theater we were supposed to all meet at.  Thank-god.

I was never one to do a really crazy thing.  Well, actually now that I think of it, I have done something crazy.  It’s how I met my current boyfriend (and my future one and only).  But I’m not sure if I’m ready to tell anyone what I did.  I did tell one or two old friends and I made the mistake of telling my sister.  And I caught holy hell for it.

I guess the only thing I will be willing to confess is that I’m a little like my character, Sarah in my Black Roses book.  Let’s just say, I can relate to her.  Although, thank god there has never been a murder in my life.

It’s in the past anyway.  And I got lucky and met a wonderful man.  Yay!!!!

Anyway, when my sister started snapping at me, the phone went about a foot away from my ear.   Yup.  Yup. Yup.  Over and done with, Martha.  I was bad, and now I’m good.  ha ha….

I may not be famous, but I’ve lived a colorful life so far.  And one of the best things was being a stay at home mom.

And how many moms have you been inspired by in your life?  Many I bet.

In your close surroundings, who has inspired you the most?  Has there ever been anyone in your life that you have been trying to be like your whole life?  There is for me.

My mother.  I loved her and my whole life will be on being who she was and making sure my children grow up knowing who she was.  She is my biggest icon in this whole life.

And my children are also my biggest inspiration.  And my biggest accomplishment.  Four little miracles that make me smile every day.

And it is so true that we meet the other half in our life by so many mysterious ways.  I guess it all makes for an interesting story.  How did you meet the love of your life?  Write about it and tell your kids.

One of my writer friends from an old writing class was writing her memoirs for her grandchildren.  She wanted them to know what it was like for her growing up in a certain neighborhood.

Basically all over the world, we are inspired.  Each and every day.  It’s what we make of it that counts in our lives.

Being inspired by other people, places and things makes us grow as our authentic selves.  And we turn it into something that is uniquely ours.

But hearing stories, seeing images and being inspired makes the world go round.  And we are left with raw emotions that make us feel something.  And suddenly we are not quite who we were before.  New thoughts form.

Jennifer Jo Fay

Copyrighted May 16, 2012

                                An Evangeline Wilde doll.  I get inspired by these Gothic dolls.

 There’s always room to be inspired by a new blooming rose.  Women should have a rose for every day.  In any shape or form.

An eerie picture for me to be inspired by.  Perhaps a new mystery?  You never know.

Love her.  Okay, maybe someday I will write the story about a young woman who switches places with her.  It could even be a young girl in the future who wants to know what her life is like and Katherine Hepburn wakes up inside her casket and desires to live life again and this young girl meets her in a dream and asks her to experience her young life.

Okay, there’s my food for thought today.  Or maybe it starts out that two dead women (me and Katherine Hepburn and her two friends, Audrey and Liz are having tea spread out on a fancy black cobweb picnic table above James Dean’s grave.  Mind you while he is smoking pot over yonder with Marilyn Monroe.) and she and I decide to live life over again in one an other’s lives.

                                                               Man Ray’s photograph.

                                                        Amanda Seyfried.  I love her eyes.  I would love to someday just draw her eyes and then come up with something else completely my own afterwards.  But to begin with the inspiration.  I could even make it haunted if I want.

I also love the old pictures.  I get inspired by old pictures all the time.

They are the most caring person anyone can have. Most Loving, Most Special and Dear to our Hearts. Words are not enough to described how we feel for them and how much they mean to us. Life will not be the same without having them. We can have friends who will listen, and will be there for us but no one can be as caring, understanding, loving and true like our Mother.

There maybe times that we may argue with them, have misunderstanding but at the end of the day, we still run to them for comfort and hear some good and inspiring words, they encourage us to be a better person, strengthen us on our weakest and what is more amazing they love us just the way we are. They may not be perfect, just like we can not all be perfect but we will always feel the love that they have for us.  

The love of a mother may come in different ways, show in different act but nothing compares to the LOVE they have for their children.

Mother’s Love is Unconditional!

A good read that i would like to share to everyone ( some maybe have read this already), very touching and very inspiring…it did touch my heart and i  hope it could touch yours too.

A Mother’s Message to her Daughter

“My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”… Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way… remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day… the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad… just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you… my darling daughter. “

Happy Mother’s Day to All Mother Out There!

Source: Learn From Life

Your Mother

        This one is simple. If you don’t know this than I am not sure how you are still alive to be reading this.

Your Wife’s/Girlfriend’s Mother

        Do not let your partner know you are doing this. Just do it. It’s an awesome way to get some kudo points with your lady and she will also be excited that you, more than likely, remembered her as well.

Your female counter-part

        Ok, although this seems like common sense, I need to explain. Say your wife or girlfriend is pregnant and has not given birth yet. She could only be a few months knocked-up, it does not matter! Her hormones are going bonkers and her body is changing and she feels this way and she feels that way and frankly she does not even know what she’s feeling. BUT, I bet that if you don’t acknowledge her on her first “pre-mother’s day” that your going to hear about it either immediately or 2 years down the road when your in the middle of an argument about chewing too loud!

Close family members and friends

        This one isn’t a requirement but it’s a nice way to show you care. If your are close to anyone that has given birth, adopted, or raised children in any way then let her know that you notice.

What do I get her? She already has everything she needs. Will a generic card from wal-mart and half-dead flowers work?

        Don’t be a cheap-ass and don’t waste your money. This is not valentines day or her birthday. It’s actually something very important to her.
   
        If you have the cash to go buy her some overpriced jewelry or a new car and all of the over the top things that money can buy, then go do it and stop reading this. But if you’re here looking for unique, and truly thoughtful, ideas or inspiration on what to get the Mothers in your life then follow along.

1. Manicure and pedicure for her and her BFF.

2. Her favorite movie and breakfast in bed.

3. A gym membership to an all girls gym… use caution. If she has been mentioning this then it’s a good idea. The “all girls” gym maybe a nice sales pitch.

4. A romantic evening out, free of the kids, just you and her. Make it fun and be original. Do dinner at her favorite place and then skip the traditional movie and head out sight seeing or to a coffee shoppe for some dessert. Try to find something local and outside, weather permitting of course . Maybe even rent a decent hotel room to go back to and have some much needed alone time.

5. “It’s the little things that matter the most!” Yes it is cliché and your significant other has said it a million times… that’s because it’s true. Think of little things that she has said in passing such as “oh that’s neat” or “I could really use”. Something that she said in passing, while she thought you were not listening, is always a must have item.

6. Surprise her with tickets to her favorite band in concert. It doesn’t matter if the concert is on the day of or after Mother’s Day. Guaranteed she is posting a picture of the tickets on Facebook to brag to her friends that her “husband just got us two tickets to go see ADELE!!!! ZOMG!!!” And please do not get embarrassed by this, your lady is happy right?

7. Girls love to feel like you are uber-attracted to them and they love to shop! Gift card to Victoria’s Secret or any similar stores. And go with her…. ah, the catch. Females love your input on these things. Sometimes they use it, sometimes they don’t, but when it comes to lingerie does it really matter?

8. Accessories for her smart-phone. A cute bedazzled case, a wristlet made for her phone, a hands-free call system for the car, etc. The phone is an accessory to her and in some ways is more important than her favorite purse. They will not admit it, but girls are the nerds when it comes to their smart-phones.

BE THOUGHTFUL OR CRASH AND BURN

        At the end of the day you just want your special lady to know she is an awesome person and that you admire how great of a Mother she is. Remember women pride themselves on their role as a Mother, not on getting older, so this is the most special day of the year to her. You do not have to go crazy and over-spend to show your appreciation, and in no way should you. Make a plan, make a budget, and make it heartfelt. Stick to these three rules and create the best Mother’s Day gift you can offer to the woman (or women) that make your life go round.

Martial Law

Martial law is definitely coming to America. The only question is when. Most people don’t understand the true meaning of this law and what American citizens will soon experience. The definition of martial law is the temporary rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis. Unfortunately, it is a lot more complicated than that. Martial law is another term for “police state”. If the United States was to become a police state, that means the Constitution and the Bill of Rights will no longer be effective. Citizens will no longer be innocent until proven guilty because they will have no rights to a trial by jury. People can be arrested and imprisoned without charges. Gun owners will also come under attack during martial law. All it takes for martial law to be enforced is the president’s signature on a proclamation (such as the one signed by Obama for the H1N1 flu) and the attorney generals signature on a warrant that has a list of names attached. If there is a national emergency declared, such as a terrorist attack of mass destruction, the constitution will be discarded in favor of a military form of government. Those left in power under martial law involves people in high levels of society, the wealthy elite, international bankers, and secret societies.

The people in the highest ranks of the global elite are the ones planning to enforce the martial law and the New World Order. This includes secret and occult societies such as the members of the Illuminati, the Freemasons, the Bohemian Grove, Skull and Bones, The Bilderberger Group, the Council of Foreign Relations(CFR), and the Brotherhood. Some members are believed to be David Rockefeller, the Bush Family, Rothschild, and Barack Obama. These members plan to take total control over the world. When this national “emergency” happens, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) will be here to send you to their detention camps where you will be put on the “red”, “blue”, or “yellow” list.Citizens on the “red” list are enemies of the New World Order such as leaders of patriot groups, outspoken ministers, and community leaders. They will be taken from their homes around 4 a.m. about two weeks before martial law is implemented. These citizens will be temporarily imprisoned and killed. Those on the “blue list” will be taken to the FEMA camps a few weeks after martial law is enforced. They are people that followers of the “red” list. The citizens on the “yellow” list are people that have no knowledge of the New World Order. They will be told what to dohow to behave, and be re-educated. There will be too many on this list, so many of them will also be killed or starved. Those that are not killed will be chipped, released, and tracked. This includes the implantation of the RFID chip or Radio Frequency Identification tags.This electronic device, which is smaller than a grain of sand, will be implanted in the hand or forehead

Joy and pleasure are evanescent, whereas happiness is exclusively derived from a particular rewarding experience, such as an act of charity, alleviating a condition of famine, donating your precious time, as well giving of yourself, not merely in terms of money alone, but your acts of kindness in any area of life, categorized as strictly humanitarian, so that your willingness to help the needy become blissfully rooted in your spirit and soul, unlike any other feeling that comes and goes, depending on the duration of your experience which might be brief or extended to a degree. Joy could be overwhelming up to a point, but fizzles away with the lapse of time.  Pleasure could also be all-consuming but dangerous if it is over-indulged, and loses its edge after you have had enough of its effect.

Happiness could be attained and retained whereas pleasure and joy attained but not sustained. Life is precious, and when accompanied by a feeling of real happiness, the merits thereof become subliminally meaningful.

Momentary feelings that are felt outside the periphery of happiness could suddenly take on the garb of pain and regret. Happiness, on the other hand, could be experienced under circumstances that are considered singular, extracted from sources of Nature, and the inspiration and creativity that are derived therefrom. There are other outlets that help steer you across paths of happiness, such as meditation, eliciting your innermost potential of learning to appreciate life meaningfully, and thereby controlling your tension and stress that contribute to pressure and pain

The body does not depend exclusively on its ability to function alone, but must rely on the mind and spirit,  from which emanates the quality of life and from which we could tap the feeling of true happiness.

A true artist yesterday, today and for the tomorrows to come. Thank you and Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss.

The speaker then compares this story with us and God. We are a beautiful dwelling. However, sometimes we are disorganized and full of clutter. We let these negatives get in the way enjoying the freedoms and joys of life. God is the house cleaner. Through the death of His son on the cross, we are completely forgiven and cleaned. All of the negative junk and clutter is removed. Yet just as the homeowner in the story above ignored the efforts of the loving cleaner, we also often disregard the wonderful gift God has given us of complete restoration.

We are offended when we give gifts or service that is taken for granted or disregarded by the recipient. How do you think God feels when we disregard His beautiful gift of forgiveness and restoration?

Think about this as you go through life. Be sure to accept the loving gift of God’s forgiveness, love, and mercy. Enjoy the wonderful joy and freedom that this provides. Don’t think you have to be perfect, but also don’t let the negative clutter of your life bring you down. Ask for cleansing. God will immediately respond, and once you are cleaned enjoy the benefits of the beautiful dwelling you are, and share them with others. You will blessed beyond belief. Enjoy the blessings : )

Work, work, work

This has been the most common focus of people to meet every day’s necessities. It has even become a defense mechanism for coping with the fast pace of life. But sometimes, to some extent, it can draw a person farther and farther from the eternal goal–happiness. This happens when the person gets so occupied that he gets this mindset that nothing matters any more…until realization dawns on him. One should always create a balance in life. Unlike in mathematics, in life, the limit does exist. So, if we really want to be happy, we should know where our limit is and what matters most. Work is an essential part of life, that’s why it’s also called a “living”. But, we should also take time to pause, and share our precious time to those who need us, . Then, happiness sets in.

Who inspires you?

Most people when asked on this matter (inspiration) would think of his/her special someone, the other half, kismet, soul mate, girlfriend, boyfriend, and the likes. If inspiration is only about romantic relationships, then how about the single person?

It really doesn’t have to be like that. If we only broaden our horizon, life is wider than we think. There is a greater power than that of human love. Because we know not love in the first place without the Creator who is love. And besides, if our only source of love would be that of human love, we all will fall short. But if our source of inspiration and love is from God, then we will know how to be truly happy.

It’s the little things in life that matters..

Nowadays, since people are becoming busier and busier, struggling in this competitive world–landing in a good paying and having this and that, towards accomplishments in terms of wealth–this has always been the pattern of the so-called “successful” life. But this conventional pattern does not guarantee a happy ending. There are even millionaires or richer out there who end up wasting their lives in drugs and other vices, or worse, commiting suicide. Money, therefore, is not the key to happiness.

 Nonetheless, peace within yourself and the people around you takes a huge part in your happiness. To love and be loved, that is. But if you find it a hard thing to do, take some time alone. Go somewhere where you can be comforted by a moment’s solitude with nature around you and a breath of fresh air. Stop and smell the roses. Enjoy the scenery of God’s creation and maybe then you will find peace and be reconnected to the inner voice within you–the voice of God. Listen…and be happy!