we've been thru a thing or two

been in some tight spots

seen our share of heartache

and had the good fortune

to see some things most

go a lifetime and never see

yep

been down some dusty roads

a few places that even angels

have the good sense to stay clear of

but not you and me no sir

we plowed on through

almost got stuck

run amuck

but came out shinin' like new

and i couldn't of done it

without you my friend

wouldn't have done it

without you

~ poem "Not Without You" by Michael Traveler

Too often 

we don’t realize what we have until it’s gone. 

Too often we’re too stubborn to say, 

‘Sorry, I was wrong.’ 

Too often 
it seems we hurt the ones closest to our hearts, 

and we let the most foolish things tear us apart. 

Challenges are what you came for. 

And you are never, 
ever, 
given a challenge you cannot overcome. 

The purpose of life 
is to give you a chance to be the grandest version 

of the greatest vision ever you held about Who You Are. 

When challenges arrive, 

then, move straight to clarity: 

This is what you came for. 

Now rise to this occasion, 

and know that you have every resource

with which to create the right and perfect outcome.

—Neale Donald Walsch

"When you are experiencing rough waters, 

trust that a brighter tomorrow is waiting for you 

on the other side. 

Hang tight and ride the storm. 

You will get through it. 

Never give up and Believe..."

 ~Sherry Kane

Forgiveness is a process of giving up the old for something new. 

Old experiences and memories that we hold on to in anger, 

resentment, shame, or guilt cloud our spirit mind. 

The truth is, everything that has happened had to happen.

It was a growth experience. 

There was something you needed to know or learn. 

If you stay angry, hurt, afraid, ashamed, or guilty, 

you miss the lesson. 

You will be stuck in a cloud of pain.

— Iyanla Vanzant

You cannot avoid facing yourself your whole life. 

If you avoid your truthful emotions and pain 

you will implode and contract into a diminished and feeble state. 

Growth and empowerment requires reflection 

and facing the frightening, ugly, hard and unbearable reality. 

People are often clever masters at fooling themselves 

and not seeing the obvious right in front of them. 

One of the fastest ways to move through your pain 
is to get a grip on reality. 

Real transformation requires real honesty.

 If you want to move forward — 

get real with yourself!

— Bryant McGill

When a cupboard is full to overflowing and the doors are opened up, 

that which is within comes tumbling out and nothing can stop it. 

When floodgates are opened, 

the water rushes forth with tremendous power and force, 

carrying all before it. 

So with the spiritual power within you; 

once it has been recognized and released, 

nothing can stop the flow.

 It pours forth, 

sweeping aside all negativity and disharmony,

 bringing with it peace, love, harmony and understanding. 

It is love that will overcome the world;

 it is love which will unite humanity. 

Therefore the sooner you release that tremendous power of love within you 

and allow it to flow freely, 

the sooner will you behold world peace and harmony 

and the oneness of all humanity. 

When you have love in your heart, 

you draw the very best out of everyone, 

for love sees only the best and therefore draws forth the best. 

Be not afraid; 

open up,

 hold nothing back,

 and let it all flow freely.

—Eileen Caddy

"It is so easy to look at the things that are wrong in life, 

the challenges and the issues 

because those are at the fore-front of our minds. 

But, what if we changed our line of thinking 

and stopped giving so much power to those things 

and what if, instead, 

we decided to focus on all the good...

the list is endless as to all the blessing that we could count. 

What if, we gave all of our power/energy to those things in life 

and focused all of our attention to that which is good...

would our life change? 

ABSOLUTELY! 

We would be giving our power to something positive...

to the things that are good and not to that which is not so good. 

We would be creating positive energy 

and positive energy attracts more positive.
Give it a try...what do you have to lose...

maybe you have everything to gain."

~Kim Bayne 

"Can you resolve yourself to just be?

 To just be in today and let life be lived 
and enjoy what you have have now...

forget about the yesterdays. 

Live in this moment...
not in the past or in the future 

and be happy with your life right now...

because this is where you live now. 

This is where your life needs you to be....

you need to be present in the here and now, 

so you don't miss all the good that is right in front of you."

~Kim Bayne

Patience, 

above all else, is what is needed right now. 

Do not let anxiousness or frustration take over. 

Conditions on the exterior of your experience will change, 

but your highest benefit will be achieved 

when conditions in your interior remain the same. 

Hold to your inner peace. 

Reclaim your identity. 

Trust your higher wisdom. 

Look to the grander vision.

—Neale Donald Walsch

Get centered and calm yourself down. 

An anxious mind can't take you where you need to go. 

Recognize that true power resides within you ~

 never outside of you. 

Keep your eyes on the prize 

and don't allow yourself to be thrown off course. 

There is power in the pursuit of your dream.

Continue to go after your dream...

regardless of the obstacles, 

rejection, or things that will be thrown into your path. 

Go around, go through, or leap over them 

and remind yourself what this dream really means to you. 

Going after your dream will give you power 

that you don't even know you have.

 Embrace the challenges

 because they build character, resiliency and faith. 

You were born to succeed.

 You have GREATNESS within you!

—Les Brown

Encouraging others is an important part of being part of a family, 

a group of people and a community. 

Everyone is doing their best in this world and sometimes, 

a kindly word of encouragement can help others realize that they're not alone.

Moreover, 

encouragement is a way of recognizing the good others do,

 and seeking more of it.

 Applauding success acknowledges that people matter

and that their efforts mean much to you,

whether the person is known to you, or even a stranger.

Take some time out today to encourage someone who crosses your path.

Who have you encouraged today?

— Brian Tracy

We are human beings. 

We take wrong turns, 

we make mistakes and we fall short. 

And through it all, we learn, 

we make amends and we grow. 

And then we simply must allow ourselves to move 

beyond our regrets and our disappointments

 into the warm light of self- forgiveness. 

Tonight let go of any self- judgments 

or critical thoughts that keep you stuck in the past, 

and sleep your way toward morning. 

Another chance to give it a go 
will be waiting for us tomorrow.

Many of us are so focused on the outcome 
that we miss the joy of the task. 

If you have so much to do

 that you have nothing to look forward to 
but more doing, 

you had better slow down, 

because there is something you are missing. 

When you move too fast, doing too much, 

you miss the moment by moment, 

day by day joy associated with being alive. 

The goodness of life is right where you are, 

but you have to slow down in order to recognize it.

—Iyanla Vanzant

We have to be careful who we give our heart to. 

It's resilient, 

but it's also tender 

and not always easy to open after a shattering. 

This is where the art of selective attachment serves us.

 If we sense that there are profound possibilities in the heart of a connection,

 caution is wise. 

Not simply because we want to get to know the person we open to, 

but also because the connection will need strong girders 

to hold deep openings safe.

 It's precarious enough to love deeply,

 without adding a shaky relational foundation into the mix. 

Better to get our feet solid, 

before we jump on in.

JEFF BROWN 

"Maybe that 'thing' you are going through isn't by chance. 

Maybe this is the beginning of a transformation in your life, 

one that will bring change. 

Learn to see the gift in any situation in life and you will find peace. 

It is all in how you look at and think about things 

that will determine how easy or difficult they will be. 

Take a moment and see the opportunity for growth. 
Except what is, knowing it will bring growth 

and do so with a grateful heart."

Kim Bayne 

No effort is ever wasted, 

although some pay dividends later than you think. 

Do not imagine that you "wasted your time" 

because something didn't turn out right. 

There is no such thing as "waste" in the Universe. 

Everything -- everything -- yields benefit. It's true. 

And your life will show you this. 

So don't decry the "effort that failed." 

All things lead to your highest good. 

You just may not know it yet.

—Neale Donald Walsch

 

You can see what others can't see for your life and your dream. 

Make it okay to stand alone or apart from the crowd. 

You are the architect of your life. 

Give yourself permission to express the real you,

 or another part of yourself. 

It doesn't matter if others don't get you. 

Stay focused on what you want,

 even if it doesn't seem possible right now.

Your mind will try and convince you to be logical, 

realistic and practical...

given your age, finances, or life situation. 

Let your heart be your guide and have the last word. 

You can't get out of life alive, so be bold.

Go after what you want. 

Commit to live an adventurous, significant, purposeful life.

 You Deserve!!

—Les Brown