Graceful Landing

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Just for Today

By Sibyl F. Partridge:

1. Just for today I will be happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that "most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Happiness is from within; it is not a matter of externals.

2. Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.

3. Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse it nor neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.

4. Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

5. Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways; I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. I will do at least two things I don't want to do, as William James suggests, just for exercise.

6. Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, nor find fault with anything and not try to regulate nor improve anyone.

7. Just for today I will try to live through this day only, not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.

8. Just for today I will have a program. I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests, hurrying and indecision.

9. Just for today I will have a quiet half-hour all by myself to relax. In this half-hour sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective in my life.

10. Just for today I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I love, love me.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Today's Inspiration

Video food for thought...

(Be sure to silence the music player down below before playing video.)

Saturday, October 29, 2011

The Home

'At the Back Door' by Robert Duncan

The Home

"Our very nature demands home. It is the first essential element of our social being. This cannot be complete without home relations. There would be no proper equilibrium of life and character without the home influence. The heart bereaved and disappointed, naturally turns for refuge to home life. No spot is so attractive to the wary one: it is the heart's moral oasis. There is a mother's watchful love and a father's sustaining influence. There is a husband's protection and a wife's tender sympathy. There is a circle of loving brothers and sisters happy in each other's love. Oh what is life without these!"

- from The Royal Path of Life (1879)

'Family Night' By Robert Duncan

'The Summer Foal' By Robert Duncan

Monday, October 24, 2011

Redheads

I spent Saturday evening snapping photos of my adorable nephews and niece. Several of them have the most beautiful shades of red hair.
I am still amazed that not one of my six children were endowed with red or auburn hair.
Especially considering the fact that my father has red hair, my maternal grandfather had red hair, two of my brothers had red hair growing up (that darkened to auburn later), I have numerous red-haired cousins as well as an aunt and my husband's grandmother's hair was auburn.
I felt sure that the genes were strong enough to come through my line. I was wrong.

So I get to enjoy the various shades of Red/Rouge/Rojo/Rosso/Ruby/Garnet/Scarlet (you get the idea) in my extended family.

They also look exceptionally lovely this time of year!