Mellow Yellow Blossoms ... Monday Motivator

Weekend Reflections & Window Views
are in the next post

Sharing a few more early Spring blossoms here
and at Small Reflections too

Crocus Buds ... Oops!!!
Methinks they're actually Freesia



Gazania blossoms ...


Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in Today's Flowers and
Mellow Yellow Monday


It's been a while since I've shared a Monday Motivator
but I received the following note in email today,
clicked to watch the brief inspiring video clip
and thought it worth passing along ...
just because ;-)
Enjoy!

Hope you all have a delightful day
and a wonderful week!

Dear Virginia,

Peter Drucker once said, "It is easier to come up with new ideas than it is to...let go of the old ones." I couldn't agree more! That comfort zone is...well, pretty comforting for all of us.

What are some of the secrets to taking risks and turning problems into new opportunities? Just click here to watch an unforgettable 3 minute movie that is guaranteed to spark your imagination!

And don't forget to share it with friends and co-workers.

To life,

Mac Anderson
Founder, Simple Truth

Copyright 2010, Simple Truths, LLC. All rights reserved.

Thoughts for Today
"Education without values , as useful as it is, seems to make man a more clever devil." C.S. Lewis

"You are the conductor of your own attitude! Nobody else can compose your thoughts for you." Lee J. Colan

Random Tuesday Thoughts & Morning Musings

Ruby Tuesday, My World, Midweek Blues
and Miscellaneous Monday Memes are
in Monday's Multi-tasking post below.

Herein are my Morning Musings and

It's about 7am and I'm planning to swim with a friend this morning around 8:30 before getting on with the day's errands & activities. Getting into the 'water exercise' habit seems like a good idea since the pool where 'S' lives is 5 minutes away and perfect for swimming laps.

1. I can't hear 'surf' this morning, but the ocean's scent washed over me when I opened the windows & doors a while ago. Living at the beach is a blessing I seldom take for granted, but mornings like this make me smile with recognition and gratitude first thing.

2. After having my sleep interrupted Saturday and Sunday night, I'm grateful the 'vacation renters' next door didn't party on the deck late into the evening last night. I feel rested this morning and glad I talked to them about the 'noise' issue.

3. I enjoyed catching up with friends at yesterday's Retired Gals Lunch. We visited longer than usual and it was about 2:30 when I headed out to run errands. Molly's DELIGHTED to have her favorite 'Duck & Sweet Potato' cookie treats from Natural Balance and a few new toys too. Maybe I'll take her to Dog Beach later to run free & play with fur-friends.

4. Hearing of Eunice Shriver's passing this morning, my heart goes out to her family & friends. Her presence on this earth will be missed by many but her contributions are many and her legacy endures.

5. This morning's email from Simple Truths contained a link to this brief inspirational video about the power of encouragement based on the book Even Eagles Need a Push by David McNally. If you have three & a half minutes, it's worth clicking the link to watch ... now or later. Perhaps you'll pass it along as I've done ... just because.

"The Push. Sometimes we need it ... sometimes we need to give it. It can be the greatest gift you ever give. It will change a life forever." Mac Anderson, Simple Truths.com

Morning Musings ...

recent pages from
my daily journal collaged ...
as you see I don't

stay within the lines
'linear' is challenging
I think in odd shapes

following my hand
where it leads to discover
what I do not know

Click to embiggen ...
and for others sharing Random Tuesday Thoughts

Thought for Today
"The one real object of education is to have a man in the condition of continually asking questions." Bishop Mandell Creighton

Today's Flowers - Blog Your Blessings Sunday

Mellow Yellow and Camera Critters too ;--)

Bees & wasps enjoy
flitting hither & yon from
blossom to blossom ...

This bee prefers orange
Nastursiums over yellow ...
Click to biggify ;--)

Click to embiggen for better viewing ...
for other participants in
Today's Flowers & Camera Critters, & Mellow Yellow Monday
and for my other Camera Critters at Happily Retired Gal this week.

It's the one year Anniversary of ...
Misty Dawn started the meme and explains the rules here.

"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today."
Cherokee Indian Proverb

It's good to feel healthy again! I've moved my March sidebar Gratitude list to Happily Retired Gal and started my April list at Small Reflections. Taking time each day to add something to the list keeps me paying attention to the everyday blessings I encounter.

My sister and her husband left for Alaska on Wednesday so I should have more time for blogging in the days & weeks ahead, but I suspect it will take considerable time to catch up. I'll do what I can as time & energy permit.

I've enjoyed creating collages to share on each of my blogs look forward to doing more of the same with the many photographs I've taken over the past few weeks.

In closing, on this Palm Sunday, I submit for your viewing this brief video clip from Simple Truths ... One Solitary Life.

What are some blessings in YOUR life currently?

For others who 'Blog Their Blessings'

go to My Blog Rolls and/or click on the
Blog Your Blessings logo above.

Thought for Today
"The story of Easter is the story of God's wonderful window of divine surprise." Carl Knudsen

Belated Monday Motivator & Simply Kind Tuesdays

Wordless Wednesday is at Small Reflections

Once again I wish to share with you an email with a brief inspirational video link I received this morning. I hope the practical ideas within the presentation speak to YOU as they do to me.

"Dear Virginia,

It started with a piece of trash.

Matthew Emerzian, a successful music industry executive in Los Angeles, was walking back to his office with a co-worker one afternoon in 2004 when he stopped to pick up a plastic fountain drink cover from the sidewalk and put it in a nearby garbage bin.

"My co-worker quickly asked me what I was doing," Emerzian recalled. "I explained what I thought to be the obvious, but apparently I was wrong." To the co-worker, litter simply belonged to the litterer, not to the population as a whole.

"I explained to him that litter and pollution are everyone's problem not just the person who couldn't find the trash can for their cup lid. He profoundly responded with 'Dude, you're weird.'"

Emerzian, now 38, walked back to his office both angry and sad.

"I couldn't believe that someone could remove themselves so far from the greater good of our world."

Matt began to think, 'what if everyone in the country picked up one piece of litter on the same day.' Or 10 pieces! The math was easy, yet so powerful. He then began to think of a few other easy things that 300 million Americans could do to make a difference.

From this, a great idea was born. He called his friend, Kelly Bozza, and told her that he wanted to write a book about how all of us can make a difference with our lives. Within a week, they had over 100 items on their list and were ready to start writing.

Their book, titled Every Monday Matters...52 Ways to Make a Difference, has sold 120,000 copies. The ideas are simple - small acts that collectively add up to an enormous impact for the greater good.

Dr. Martin Luther King said, "Everyone has the power of greatness; not for fame, but greatness. Because greatness is determined by service."

To celebrate the release of our new movie, the next 500 orders of Every Monday Matters will receive a free Simple Truths eco-shopping bag. By shopping with a reusable bag, you can use 1,000 fewer plastic or paper bags this year, especially shopping for groceries.

All the best,
Mac Anderson
Founder, Simple Truths"

Click here to view the brand new Every Monday Matters movie.

Claudia of Everyday Kindness has made some changes ... splitting the Everyday Kindness Challenge into two parts:

1. The original challenge to perform at least one act of kindness per day continues.
2. The new challenge is 'Simply Kind Tuesdays' ... the goal of which is to increase awareness of the kindness that surrounds us.

I invite you to participate in either or both challenges as time & energy permit. Clicking on the Simply Kind and/or Everyday Kindness logos at the top and bottom of this page will take you to others participating.

Simply Kind Blogroll

On a Limb with Claudia
A Touch of Inspiration
By the light of the Moon
Confessions of a Middle-Aged Suburban Diva
Kim Smith
Miss Riss
Mom’s Musings
Not a Mean Girl
Popping Bubbles
Remote Treechanger
Storyteller
Waiting 4 the news

Thought for Today
"We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once." Calvin Coolidge

Happy Valentine's Day - PhotoHunt (Nautical)

This week's theme is 'nautical' ...

Walking in Long Beach
around the marina with
my new camera

snapping photographs ...
Serendipity? Perhaps
because I took these

pictures then collaged
them when TN Chick's email
arrived on Thursday.

Click to 'embiggen' for better viewing ...
& click for other Photo Hunters this week.

Click for
Camera Critters #45
HF#115 & Friday's Five Favs
HaikuFriday#114 & SkyWatch#29
HaikuSkyWatchFriday @ HappilyRetiredGal

If you need a 'shot of inspiration' here's a link to a lovely 3 minute video from Simple Truths sharing success secrets through awesome photos and powerful thoughts ... found in this morning's email.

This Valentine is for all my Bloggy Friends
and any visitors who leave me a comment ... just because.

Wishing you a delightful Valentine's Day

and wonderful weekend!

Thought for Today
"The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them." Stephen King

BelatedMondayMotivator & SimplyKindTuesday

Once again I wish to share with you an email with a brief inspirational video link I received this morning. I hope the quotes within the presentation speak to YOU as they do to me.

"Dear storyteller,

One of my all time favorite quotes comes from one of my all time favorite people, Zig Ziglar. He said...

"People often tell me that motivation doesn't last, and I tell them that bathing doesn't either. That's why I recommend it daily."

That's what this beautiful, oversized coffee table book is all about...daily reinforcement to keep you positive and always moving in the right direction. What a great way to kick off 2009!

Zig Ziglar is a legend in the field of motivation and personal development. His new book Inspiration...365 Days a Year, features an inspirational quote for each day of the year and breathtaking nature photos throughout.

This collection of quotes features some from Zig himself, and many other favorites that have inspired him throughout his life. It is something that you, or anyone you give it to, will treasure.

I'm very proud to present our new movie: Inspiration...365 Days a Year, by Zig Ziglar. So sit back, turn up your speakers and click here to watch.

And, if you're inspired, don't forget to forward this email to a friend or co-worker. A little "shot of inspiration" can be a wonderful thing!

Live with Passion,
Mac Anderson
Founder, Simple Truths"

I've viewed it three times already this morning and am sure I'll return to it repeatedly ... just because I want to keep myself 'on track' in 2009.

Claudia of Everyday Kindness has made some changes ... splitting the Everyday Kindness Challenge into two parts:

1. The original challenge to perform at least one act of kindness per day continues.
2. The new challenge is 'Simply Kind Tuesdays' ... the goal of which is to increase awareness of the kindness that surrounds us.

I invite you to participate in either or both challenges as time & energy permit. Clicking on the Simply Kind and/or Everyday Kindness logos at the top and bottom of this page will take you to others participating.

Thought for Today
"We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once." Calvin Coolidge