Quotes on Happiness

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. –Helen Keller

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. –Mark Twain

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost. –H. Jackson Browne

The best vitamin to be a happy person is B1. –Author Unknown

There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will. –Epictetus

My creed is that: Happiness is the only good. The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now. The way to be happy is to make others so. –Robert G. Ingersoll

Remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination. –Roy M. Goodman

Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it. –Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Talk happiness. The world is sad enough without your woe. No path is wholly rough. –Ella Wheeler Wilcox

When a man has lost all happiness, he’s not alive. Call him a breathing corpse. –Sophocles

All men have happiness as their object: there are no exceptions. However different the means they employ, they aim at the same end. –Blaise Pascal

Don’t mistake pleasures for happiness. They are a different breed of dog. –Josh Billings

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas, My Friend

‘Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give,
And to see just who in this home did live.

As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,
A sober thought came through my mind.
For this house was different, it was dark and dreary,
I’d found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,
Not how I pictured a United States Soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read,
Curled upon a poncho, the floor for a bed?
I realized the families that I was visiting this night,
Owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.

Soon ‘round the world the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedoms each month of the year,
Because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lie alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
“Santa, don’t cry, this life is my choice.
I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more,
My life is my God, my Country, my Corps.”

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep,
I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,
And we both shivered from the cold night’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave, on that cold, dark night,
This Guardian of Honor, so willing to fight.
Then the soldier rolled over, and with a voice soft and pure,
Whispered, “Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas Day. All is secure.”

One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
“Merry Christmas my friend, and May God Bless You This Night.”

By James M. Schmidt
Former U.S. Marine Corporal
Copyright © 1987

A Soldier’s Silent Night

Santa and his singing reindeer

Are you in the Holiday spirit yet?

Just think this is a cute video and want to share it with you. Enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

May You Be Blessed

May you be blessed this holiday season…

The Charles Schulz Philosophy

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the ‘Peanuts‘ comic strip. I received this as an email so I don’t really know if this really is “The Charles Schulz Philosophy,” but still think it’s worth sharing.

You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them.
Just read straight through and you’ll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series Winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies..
Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special!!
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials..
The most money..or the most awards.
They simply are the ones who care the most.

Humor — What A Woman Wants

Happy Friday! Here is the joke du jour. Enjoy!

—————————————————-

A woman was sitting at a bar enjoying an after work cocktail with

her girlfriends when Steven, a tall, exceptionally handsome, extremely

sexy, middle-aged man, entered. He was so striking that the woman

could not take her eyes off him.




The young-at-heart man noticed her overly attentive stare and walked

directly toward her –as most men would have. And before she could offer

her apologies for staring so rudely, he leaned over and whispered to her,

‘I’ll do anything, absolutely anything that you want me to do, no matter how

kinky, for $20.00………on one condition.”




Flabbergasted, the woman asked what the condition was. The man

replied, ‘You have to tell me what you want me to do in just three words.’




The woman considered his proposition for a moment, and then slowly

removed a $20 bill from her purse. She then pressed the bill into the man’s

hand — along with her address, looked deeply into his eyes, and slowly and

meaningfully said…

“Clean my house.”




My Wish for You

This is my wish for you:
comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes,
rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips,
sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag,
beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being,
faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you are in doubt,
courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth,
love to complete your life.
–Anonymous

What Not to Get Your Wife for Christmas

It’s that time of year — the time when husbands stress out over what to get their wives for Christmas. My dad always waited til a day or two before and then ask me, “What should I get your mom for Christmas? What does she want?” Boy this used to irk me — 1) Because he waited til the last minute, 2) because this meant that I had to go out shopping with him to find a gift for her, and 3) I had to think up a gift for her. When I got out of school (no longer a kid) he still asked the same questions but he didn’t want to go shopping anymore — he wanted me to do it for him. Then he started asking…”What did you get your mom for Christmas? Could one of your gifts be from me?” Whaaat!!! If it was really last minute I’d have to give up one of my well thought out gifts and say it was from him. What is it with these guys??? It’s years later and I think we’ve come to a nice arrangement. Now my dad gives mom money for Christmas. She loves it! In fact she now tells me, “When he asks what I want, just tell him to give me money.” Great, everyone is happy. It works for all of us.

Just about every year hubby and I go through the same song and dance. He’ll ask, “What do you want for Christmas?” And I will say, “I don’t know.” Most times, I’ll eventually think up something and tell him. Where is the fun in that??? I want to be pleasantly surprised — emphasis on the word pleasantly. I manage to always come up with good gifts for him without his help, why can’t he do the same for me?

Here’s some funny video’s I found about men getting it wrong when it comes to getting their wives Christmas gifts. (Keep reading after the videos).

What not to get your wife for Christmas (this one is a little graphic)




Christmas Shopping Tips for Clueless Husbands

So what’s my hubby gift story?

When it comes to gift giving, hubby is hit or miss. I don’t like to dwell on it but I can think of two misses off of the top of my head: 1) Nothing – because we said we weren’t going to buy anything that year for eachother. And that’s one time he chose to stick by his word. And…2) When he got me cubic zirconia earrings instead of the diamonds I asked for, and told him where he could buy them, etc. I never believed he’d screw that one up — but he did, big time!

One of the best gifts he got me was on our first married Christmas together. He got me housecleaning services (a maid). Yay! WooHoo!

What has been your experience with receiving gifts from your current hubby, ex-hubby, or boyfriend? What is the best Christmas gift you received from them? What is the worse (top one or two) gift you got from your significant other?

The Art of Gift Giving

Have you ever received a gift from someone and wondered, “What were they thinking?”

This is the time of year that stores love — People are out shopping big time for that special gift(s) to give their family, friends, and sometimes co-workers. I know with a gift it’s supposed to be the thought that counts, but sometimes the message received is “I really wasn’t thinking about you at all. I just wanted to grab this gift to say I got you something.” I still remember the Christmas when my hubby received a cumberbun from a close family member. We both thought, “What were they thinking?” Where was he going to wear it? It’s not like we were going to formal occasions that required one to wear a tuxedo and cumberbun. After all the gifts over the years, I’ve come to realize that some people just don’t have a knack for gift-giving. I’m not an expert but my mother and I have been told “you always give good gifts.” So I thought about it and put together some tips on the art of gift giving.

The Art of Gift Giving

1 – It’s not about you – Giving a gift is about the other person (the receiver), not about you. Get a gift you think the other person will like, not just something you want them to have because you like it. Actually think about what you know about the other person. Do they have any hobbies, are they avid readers, do they collect anything, do they love to cook, fish, play video games, love clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc.

2 – Spend only what you can afford – Do not go into debt to buy presents. An inexpensive gift can be just as special. Sometimes the simplest things are the best things. For example, a framed photo of someone special to them; a grocery store gift certificate.

3 – Listen – Listen when people talk. They will usually tell you about themselves and what they like, and what, if any, hobbies they have or activities they enjoy (for example: going to the theatre, watching movies, playing video games, traveling, reading, music, hiking, biking, etc.)

4 – Observe – When you are with that person, or are in that person’s home, observe your surroundings. You can get a feel for what they like and even for what may be missing that they could use. For example: You can see the person likes Yankee Candles, collects Lladros or Hummels or anything else. You might see that they could use a new pair of gloves, coat, hat, wallet, television, dvr, cd player, dvd player, ipod, electric knife, dishes, silverware, towels, tools, watch, clock, etc. – you get the picture).

5 – Fill a need – People will tell you what’s going on in their lives and what they think they need. You may know that the person is going through a difficult time financially and money would be just the right gift for them. Or maybe they are saving up for something special. Who doesn’t like getting money?

6 – Ask – Ask the person what they would like as a gift. You can say something like “What’s on your birthday, Christmas or whatever, wish list this year?”

7 – Be practical – Give the person something they can use. Keep in mind: Not everyone likes fruit cake or your cooking. My father once had a co-worker that liked to give baked goods on special occasions. The only problem was that none of her co-workers liked the taste of her cooking. She must’ve been trying to make things from scratch. Besides burning it, how else do you mess up cookies?

8 – Splurge – Give the person something special that you know they like but can’t afford, or can afford but wouldn’t spend the money on for themselves. For example: A Coach bag, or some other designer handbag; Tickets to a ball game, concert or a play, etc.

9 – Be sentimental – Someone once told me that one of the best gifts they ever received was from her best friend. She had known her friend since college and now they are grown up, working, and married with children. Her friend made her a (Creative Memories) Photo Book that documented special occasions and words said during the course of their friendship. My daughter and I have since made a special photo book (hardcover with binding and everything) documenting the lives of my mother and aunt. We’ve also done books for others and it seems to have gone over quite well. Sometimes I think I see a little tear forming in their eyes.

Do you have any other tips for gift giving?

FREE:
Frugal and Homemade gift ideas e-book: The ABC’s of Christmas Gift Giving

Life Is Like a Cup of Coffee

Life Is Like a Cup of Coffee

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: “If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups… And then you began eyeing each other’s cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Savor the coffee, not the cups! The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

–author unknown
http://www.spiritualshortstories.com

What do you think? Do you think the jobs, money, and position in society are just tools to contain life and don’t define, nor change the quality of life we live?