Expectation is the root of all heartache

Expectations are the root of all heartache.

~ William Shakespeare

Something to think about…

Taking our friends and loved ones for granted, expecting perfection from them in every instance, greatly lessens the value we have in one another’s lives.  Being hard on those closest to us may relieve some of the tension we feel about our own imperfections, but it creates another tension, one that may result in our friends leaving us behind.

We need the reminder, perhaps, that our friends are special to our growth.  Our paths have crossed with reason.  We complete a portion of the plan for one another’s lives.  And for such gifts, we need to offer gratitude.

Each of us is endowed with many qualities, some more enhancing than others; it is our hope, surely, that our lesser qualities will be ignored.  We must do likewise for our friends.  We can focus on the good, and it will flourish — in them, in ourselves, in all situations.  A positive attitude nurtures everyone.  Let us look for the good, and in time, it is all that will catch our attention.

Source (modified):  Each Day a New Beginning | Hazelden Meditations

Courage is not the absence of fear

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

If you always speak of your troubles

If you always speak of your troubles, you will always have troubles to speak of.

The Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the:
SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change, the
COURAGE to change the things I can, and the
WISDOM to know the difference.

Begin each day with a grateful heart

Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate

Our attitude towards life

Our attitude towards life determines life’s attitude towards us.

Feelings are much like waves

Feelings are much like waves; we can’t stop them from coming, but we can choose which ones to surf.

What if, today, we were just grateful for everything?

What if, today, we were just grateful for everything?

Begin each day with a grateful heart

A ship in the harbour

A ship in the harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.

Friendship picks you up when the world lets you down

Friendship picks you up when the world lets you down.

Bring your own sunshine

Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your own sunshine.

TODAY is the TOMORROW you worried about YESTERDAY

TODAY is the TOMORROW you worried about YESTERDAY.

Who you think you’re not

It’s not who you are that holds you back. It’s who you think you’re not.

Have you prayed

Have you prayed about it as much as you’ve talked about it?

Just take one step at a time

Just take one step at a time…that’s really all you can do.

An ethical life

An ethical life is built of integrity, honesty, kindness, decency and belief in truth, justice, honor, love, respect, compassion, and working together to make life better.

The most precious jewels you’ll ever have around your neck

The most precious jewels you’ll ever have around your neck are the arms of your children.

Begin each day with a grateful heart

Nothing great can be accomplished without passion

Nothing great has been, and nothing great can be, accomplished without passion.

Raising a human being

Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience, you are raising a human being.

The person nearest you

Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.
~ Mother Teresa

Begin each day with a grateful heart

Girls are like apples on trees

Girls are like apples on trees.  The best ones are at the topi of the tree.  The boys don’t want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt.  Instead, they just get the rotten apples from the ground that aren’t as good, but easy.  So the apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, they’re amazing.  They just have to wait for the right boy to come along, the one who’s brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.

Janet’s Note:  I don’t entirely agree with everything portrayed in this quote (the “rotten apples” phrase gives me pause), but it’s got some interesting ideas and is, I think, beautifully presented.