Happy New Year!

Words that do not match deeds are not important.
--Che Guevara

SO TRUE

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly....
--Antoine de Saint Exupery

If we look at the world through suspicious or angry eyes, we'll find a world that mirrors our expectations -- a world where tension will mount, arguments will abound, strife will be present where none need be. However, our experiences in some manner bless us, and we'll recognize that if we look upon them with gratitude. Everything in our path is meant for our good and we'll see the good when our hearts act as the eyes for our minds.

When we see with our hearts, our responses to the turmoil around us, the fighting children, the traffic snarls, the angry lovers, will be soft acceptance. When our hearts guide the action we can accept those things we cannot change, and change those we can. And the heart, as the seat of all wisdom, will always know the difference.

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
--Bill Cosby

"Oh, how I wish .... this problem would go away......" "Oh, how I want my friend to get help with her eating problem." "Oh, how I wish I could make my mom understand."

When we become obsessed with how we want others to change, we put our own happiness on hold. As we wait, hoping and scheming about how to get others to see their many problems, we are neglecting ourselves. It's almost as if we think it's not fair for us to be happy when others are miserable. But when we detach with love, we still care, we still pray and wish for the best, but we know that other people's problems belong to them, not to us.

Today let me accept the fact that if I detach with love, no one will die from it. I'll just be more healthy and happy.

When we were children we used to think that when we grew up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability. To be alive is to be vulnerable. ~ M. L'Engle

There is no witness so dreadful, no accuser so terrible as the conscience that dwells in the heart of every man. ~ Polybius

Anything you cannot relenquish when it has out-lived its usefullness, possesses you. In this materialistic age, a great many of us are possessed by our possessions. ~ Mildred Lisette Norman

What a blustery day in IL

It's cold, windy, worse than the 'storm of the century' I think. I'm grateful to have a warm and cozy home and tons of things to do!!

We had great fun last night. My sis and her kids came over for home made pizza, chex-mix, scrabble, checkers and decorating cookies. It's the simple things, eh?!