5 Amazing Hope Quotes

Thank You cards @ http://www.cafepress.com/dennylyongifts.757042696

From Denny:  Hope.  We all know what it feels like when hope blooms deep inside our hearts.  We all enjoy it when our minds turn to thoughts of hope lifting us up when we need encouragement.

Considering the tragic shooting of 20 little children and their 6 teachers in Connecticut this month right before the Christmas holiday, the economy and job worries of Americans, Hope seems to be in short supply this season.


Here are a few quotes to jump start your Hope again and pull you out of feeling blue or full blown depressed.  Sometimes, Life can get overwhelming.  Good people often wonder if all they do in the world and for the people in it is really worth it because it appears on the outside that little has changed.  That's why it's good to have a few strategies tucked away in your pocket for just those tough times when you need to pull yourself out of a negative spiral and pump yourself back up with some inspiration.

Cute Life Quote: Make Sure You Smile

From Denny:  You know how it is.  You have a gazillion old photos lying around begging for attention.  You decide it's time to pair them with some funny or insightful quotes.  Of course, the old ones before digital are suddenly and now magically digitized!  See how easy that was?  How painful was that? :)

Just click on the image to take you to my flickr page where you can find the embed codes for use on your blog or site.  All Rights Reserved otherwise.

Subscribe in a reader to Beautiful Illustrated Quotations

* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where the other 20 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place.  A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. * 

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Dennys World of Quotes: Best Inspirational and Funny Mothers Day Quotes

A photo of my own beautiful mother - photo by Denny Lyon

Dennys World of Quotes: Best Inspirational and Funny Mothers Day Quotes: From Denny:  Enjoy some more great quotes, inspirational ones, this year, about our mothers, a few poems found too.  I've also collected many funny Mother's Day posts from many of my other blogs on this post:

Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food: Best Funny Mothers Day Quotes, Trivia, Photography, Poetry

Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food: Best Funny Mothers Day Quotes, Trivia, Photography, Poetry: From Denny:  Today is the day we honor the mothers in our lives.  Sometimes, those mothering women are our fond memories of those who helped us to become better and stronger people today.

They may be our biological or adoptive mothers, grandmothers, aunts, older friends who mentored us, fabulous school teachers.  Whoever the best women are in your lives, take a moment today and this week to enjoy the best of what they gave to you.

As I've blogged over the past few years, there are now a happy pile of women inspired posts and some very funny Mother's Day quotes to enjoy:

15 Best Christmas Quotes: Just What Is It About Christmas Time?

From Denny:  At this time of the year, in the early winter, there slowly descends and rests upon the land a sense of spiritual calm and Peace.  


Be aware not to get too caught up in the shopping sales, rushing about to finish last minute gifts and holiday preparations to miss noticing the biggest Gift.  Take the time to absorb this special energy sent from Heaven.

Do You Know How Your Thoughts Create Your World?

From Denny:  Perception.  It comes from the feelings in our hearts and the culture taught notions in our heads.  We can acquire Stinkin' Thinkin' from our families or national culture too in the form of long held prejudices that create strife and wars.

But "What If?" we decided to sit down and spend time reflecting upon who we are at our core being?  When we release ourselves from the Should Have, Could Have, Would Have expectations of society and family what would we discover about ourselves on the deepest level?

How Does Solitude Clear Our Perception?

From Denny:  Meditation and deep prayer is all about first quieting the monkeys of the mind - those daily "To Do" lists that crowd out deeper consideration of the thornier issues in life.  We all know how imperative it is to go to a relaxing place in Nature to quiet our emotions from stress.

The same is true for prayer and meditation.  We go to quiet places inside ourselves to relieve stress and solve problems.

Attitude Quote in Poem

From Denny:  Check out this clever direct poem about how our daily attitude shapes our lives.

Funny Attitude Quote

From Denny: Check out the latest interesting quote to make you smile while you think.

Do You Really Believe Your Principles?

From Denny:  How many of us scrutinize ourselves as much as a presidential candidate?  Do we hide from the truth?  Do we rationalize we are one thing but suspect we might not measure up?

A case in point is the recent Penn State pedophile scandal.  Head coach Joe Paterno had to step down.  Why?  For decades he taught good character.  Yet, when his moment came he did not step up to the high principles he taught.

12 Funny Quotes About Prayer

From Denny:  Prayer is a wonderful thing.  It can bring us comfort, calm our fears and inspire us.  It's also quite amusing to view it in terms of the human condition called "whining."  There is also "bargaining."  Once you grow past those two obvious pitfalls you discover "peaceful communion."

How Close Is God In Prayer?

From Denny:  This quote is really about All That Is larger than ourselves.  Just when we think one power is so huge we discover there is a much larger Power living right inside us, ready for the asking.

What Exchange Happens During Prayer?

From Denny:  When you pray and meditate do you ever spend a few minutes just concentrating upon your breathing in and breathing out?  Tell the mental monkeys to hush and sit in the corner playing quietly while you do so.

The beauty of what you will discover after many sessions is what happens between the inhale and the exhale, that small beat of Time where a window opens up to reveal the awesome.  It's an awareness you receive like when you read the Book of Genesis, the first chapter.  Now pay close attention to the space between verses one and two.  Why read the rest of the Bible when you have that much to contemplate for the rest of your life?

How Does Prayer Change Your Life?

From Denny:  How often do we enter into a study not realizing how much it will change us?  We often think we will learn astonishing things of which we can marvel and retell.  But do we really contemplate how the practice of that study can prepare us to receive far more than a string of interesting facts?

There is knowledge, understanding and wisdom.  We begin by pursuing the knowledge.  Then we place the context of that new knowledge into relationship with past knowledge gained.  Then we begin to practice that knowledge and gain a greater understanding of the whole.  Then we apply that knowledge and understanding in a timely fashion and with great care and consideration:  wisdom.

What Is Your Daily Meditation Focus, How Do You Know You Succeeded In The World?

From Denny:  You awaken in the early morning.  What is your first thought?  Is it to get the coffee going so you can turn your brain on, chasing away the sleep cobwebs?  Is your first thought to start that To Do List in your head even before the sun rises?

Too often we fill our lives with "musts" and an endless stream of physical tasks all nagging for our attention.  Jumping to those demands can easily get us out of balance, stressed out and excessively tired.

Have you ever considered changing what you think about when you first open your eyes in the morning?  Know that you will get around to attending to your daily routine.  Things have to get done and they will - but are you giving yourself the gift of cherishing that first thought in your day?

Master Fearless Mug

"Mastering others? Strength. Mastering yourself? Fearless."

Dennys World of Quotes: Fathers Day Quotes: Funny and Inspirational

Happy Father's Day! photo by jwlphotography @ flickr, All Rights Reserved with embed code available

Dennys World of Quotes: Fathers Day Quotes: Funny and Inspirational: "Best quote: The father is always a Republican toward his son, and his mother's always a Democrat. - Robert Frost

Father's Day Quotes

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. - Clarence Budington Kelland, U.S. Writer

A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society. - Billy Graham, Christian Evangelist

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.
- Theodore Hesburgh, Catholic Priest and President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame

How true Daddy's words were when he said: 'All children must look after their own upbringing.' Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands. - Anne Frank, German Jew and Holocaust Victim

It is much easier to become a father than to be one. - Kent Nerburn, U.S. Author and Educator

We are given children to test us and make us more spiritual. - George Will, U.S. Journalist"

Dennys World of Quotes: Funny Birthday Quotes

Dennys World of Quotes: Funny Birthday Quotes: "Wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself. - Tom Wilson

Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened. - Jennifer Yane

Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest. - Larry Lorenzoni

May you live to be a hundred years - With one extra year to repent.

The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. - Lucille Ball"

Mothers Day Quotes: Rose Kennedy

From Denny: When you are looking for inspiration in tough times and wondering how to get through the trials of being a mother, look no further than to Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Her life often played out like an intense soap opera. She experienced the deaths of several of her children before their time, of which two were political assassinations. She lost her first son to war. Her husband cheated on her and yet she remained committed to the marriage.

Rose Kennedy was one tough lady you could not help but admire. She looked at her children as powerhouses that would influence others and change the world. And change the world they did. One even became president: John F. Kennedy.

What Value Do We Place On Alone Time?

Mother and child after a water birth and cord still attached Image via Wikipedia

From Denny:  Do we place enough value on our time spent alone with only our own thoughts?  Too often we are reluctant to pull back from daily duties, the wishes of others that try to influence us in our daily lives.

Do we value our own thoughts above those around us?  The only way to find out is to spend regular times of solitude to listen to our inner thoughts.  It is a quieting time, as refreshing for our emotions as it is for our mind.

Carve out some regular time every day, if only for five minutes, to seek your own thoughts.  You will be surprised at how suddenly problems in your life become easier to solve.  Your understanding of the issues in your life grow.  You become adept at leaping over issues that previously held you back, often stuck for years.  Value your alone time as much as you value yourself.  You are both precious!

Quote

* When we cannot bear to be alone, it means we do not properly value the only companion we will have from birth to death - ourselves. - Eda LeShan


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

*** Check out Holiday Recipes From Dennys Food and Recipes

Dennys Global Politics
The Social Poets - news, politics, political cartoon humor
The Soul Calendar - science, astronomy, psychology
Visual Insights - photos, art, music
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations - spiritual quotes, philosophy
Best Spiritual Posts - my own best as well as links to other spiritual posts from all viewpoints
Poems From A Spiritual Heart - poetry
The Healing Waters - health news
Dennys People Watching - people in the news
Dennys Food and Recipes
Romancing The Chocolate - chocolate recipes and more food
Unusual 2 Tasty - different twists on favorite foods and international
Comfort Food From Louisiana - Cajun, seafood and more comfort food goodies
Dennys Funny Quotes - humor
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd - more crazy humor
Dennys Blog Feeds - see what's posting at all Denny's blogs at a glance
Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts Food - an online newspaper

How Does Solitude Help Define Us?

From Denny: How often do we need to get away from our present environment just to get a different perspective? We take holidays away from work and feel refreshed when we return. We enjoy seasonal holidays for a different turn of mind and feelings. We celebrate a special moment like a birthday, an anniversary, a special occasion.

When we turn our attention away from the "group think" into a smaller group think like family or friends, instead of the work environment or society at large, we get a chance to examine our priorities, wants and needs.

Solitude taken to the level of just spending time with the inner self takes our reflection to the deepest level of contemplation and consideration. That is when it becomes crystal clear what is bubbling up into our thoughts arises from our authentic self.

Take some time today to separate your authentic self from the crowd - and listen to your heart. You have a wonderful message to speak.


Quote

Solitude shows us what should be; society shows us what we are. - Robert Cecil

Related articles

• Cartoons: Some Hummers to Scratch Your Head Why (thesocialpoets.blogspot.com)
• Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Early Spring for 2011 (thesocialpoets.blogspot.com)

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

*** Check out Holiday Recipes From Dennys Food and Recipes

Dennys Global Politics
The Social Poets - news, politics, political cartoon humor
The Soul Calendar - science, astronomy, psychology
Visual Insights - photos, art, music
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations - spiritual quotes, philosophy
Best Spiritual Posts - my own best as well as links to other spiritual posts from all viewpoints
Poems From A Spiritual Heart - poetry
The Healing Waters - health news
Dennys People Watching - people in the news
Dennys Food and Recipes
Romancing The Chocolate - chocolate recipes and more food
Unusual 2 Tasty - different twists on favorite foods and international
Comfort Food From Louisiana - Cajun, seafood and more comfort food goodies
Dennys Funny Quotes - humor
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd - more crazy humor
Dennys Blog Feeds - see what's posting at all Denny's blogs at a glance