Success and Sunsets - #write31days 10-06-16

Are you successful? What does it mean to you to be successful? Many people strive tirelessly for success and are continually focused on their goals & achievements. There seems to be a tendency to allow the world around us to determine if we are successful or not. Hence, there are many definitions for success.

Personally, I would feel that my life was a success if I made a positive contribution to my world -- beginning with those around me. Financial success is less important to me than making a strong connection with my family and peers. On the other hand, I would not feel successful if my focus on family & friends was so intent that I was blinded to what the rest of the world needs. 

Many people who are held in high esteem and called successful don't feel as successful as the rest of the world sees them. Many are discontent and looking for something more to feel like a success. While others who seem of little consequence to our world live lives feeling not only content but, fulfilled. Each person must decide for themselves what path they will choose in order to "succeed" at this life.

Since a very young age, two of my favorite things to do in life hav been to watch the sunrises and the sunsets. The beauty held in so many of them stop me in my tracks and remind me of the wonderful beauty that is available to each of us each day at no additional charge. They are there to savor... when we open our eyes to see.

In the words of Donald Miller:

"You will have arrived, not when you have arrived,
but when the sunset stops you
because you see its beauty again.
Success is free."
~ Donald Miller #quote

Not everyone would agree with that sentiment. I, for one, hope that I never fail to see the beauty of a sunrise or a sunset.

Success and Sunsets - #write31days 10-06-16

An Irish Blessing for Your Day! #write31days 10-2-16

I love collecting quotes, lyrics, scriptures & sayings that catch my eye then pairing them up with a photo I’ve taken somewhere along the way. I love sharing those with friends and anyone. Sometimes I will share a collection of my “stuckinindiana pairings” for a holiday or event or day of remembrance. A favorite group I’ve put together are on my stuckinindiana Facebook page in an album entitled “World Wisdom”. Today I want to share an Irish blessing with you...

"May the dreams you hold dearest
be those which come true
and the kindness you spread
keep returning to you."
~ Irish Blessing

Read that blessing one more time focusing on the words I’ve highlighted:

"May the dreams you hold dearest be those which come true and the kindness you spread keep returning to you." ~ Irish Blessing

What are the dreams you hold dearest? Are they dreams of attaining material blessings or the blessings of others? Are they dreams of being famous or influential in the eyes of the world? Are they dreams for the well-being of loved ones? Are they dreams of attaining goals, of growing & learning daily, of making some needed changes in your life… ?

And, how often do you spread kindness? Is being kind something that is a forethought for you or is it something that usually happens based on how others are treating you or behaving? How do you usually spread kindness? What can you do today to begin a new pattern of spreading kindness?

When I first read this Irish blessing, many of the above questions came to mind. If we don’t really consider what we are holding dearest and how we are acting regardless of what is happening to us and around us, this blessing could be, in many ways, a curse. Reading this “blessing” made me pause and think about what I was choosing for me & for my life.

Today may you make the choices and changes to embrace this blessing:

"May the dreams you hold dearest be those which come true and the kindness you spread keep returning to you." ~ Irish Blessing

Many blessings upon YOU today!


5 Minute Free-For-All #write31days 10-2-16 An Irish Blessing for Your Day!

sunrise thoughts 23 October 2013

Today took a major turn when a family friend & I talked on the phone. He said that today would be a good day to ride along on the combine with him.

I managed to catch a few shots of the sun rising & then headed that way to hop on a combine for a 10+ hour day in the fields for me.

House Embarrassment

This morning I'm surrounded by clutter. Some of the clutter is clean laundry waiting to be folded & put away. Some of the clutter is the contents of a purse emptied while searching for the check book. And, then there's just the normal "clutter" hanging out on floors, furniture and counters: children's books, school papers, unopened mail, clean dishes to be put away & dirty dishes to be cleaned AND so much more!

The priorities in this season of life lately have been more important than keeping up with things around the house. And, I'm reminded of a "pairing" I did some time ago about an unclean house. I loved the quote.

"At the worst, A HOUSE UNKEPT cannot be so distressing as a life unlived." ~ Rose Macaulay

A few days ago a new friend (whom I met through the Nesting Place #write31days challenge) shared a post that reminded me of where my priorities should be in these weeks.

Please hop over & read this brief & insightful post from PlaidFuzz: "How to be Content in a Crappy House" 

And take a few minutes to check out Melissa at The World According to PlaidFuzz on Facebook and her page over at PlaidFuzz

THE stuckinindiana ADVICE FOR TODAY:

FOR ANY OUT THERE STRESSING ABOUT THE SMALL STUFF... 

Relax about some of the things which might be stressing you out today & focus your time and attention on the IMPORTANT things in life :)

Related posts:

• The Clutter of Life
• Messy Rooms
• Crazy Clutter