Can't Say it Enough! + Life Sucks Sometimes + Why Did They Get Married?
Good Morning from Prince Edward Island!
The newsletter is a little late today. Sorry.
Put the kettle on, get out the best china, it is time we chatted about something really important.
WORDS.
I love what I do.
But there are times when it is struggle.
It was challenging writing something today.
Then I remembered the ‘words’ someone wrote to me. And they buoyed me.
“Thank you for helping me during a very tough time in my life. This past year... has caused me some pretty sleepless nights, self-doubt, and despair. Reading the good stuff you send my way has helped me remember to be an encourager to others, to stay positive as I worked through my new normal and try to get past the loss. So thank you and know that what you do before hitting 'send' each morning DOES make a difference!"
Words Matter.
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
- Martin Luther King Jr.
What we say internally and externally affects our world.
Be careful.
A couple who had been married for sixty years and was asked what their secrets were. “Think before you speak,” resonated.
Recently, a dear friend posted a video sharing concern for others and community on social media. Her anguish & despair could be felt vibrating through the screen. It broke my heart. Standing in the bully arena; she spoke. Young teenagers picking on a young teen who they 'thought' gay. And this young teen means everything in the world to the speaker.
Damage Done. Words Matter.
To see the pain inflicted and the wound torn open was too much for her not to speak up and out. She was attempting to reach parents and teachers regarding the importance of choosing words that built up others not tear them down.
An important message not just for teachers and parents.
Every soul is beautiful and precious;
is worthy of dignity and respect and deserving of peace, joy and love. ~Bryant Mc Gill
What we do, what we say, and how we do or say it matters.
History honours exceptional humans in a positive way through generational stories. We need to enable others to learn good character, how to be strong, to live with dignity and display grace towards others.
Give.
Never take a person’s dignity. It is worth everything to them and nothing to you.
Dignity is more important to the human spirit than wealth.
~ Jaqueline Novogratz
Life sucks. Sometimes it just does.
If dignity is my compass, then I must carry on and not give up.
There will always be challenges ahead. If I have the ability to choose my response to them; I have a response-ability.
My father spoke a great lesson into my life years ago. I was upset with him. He wouldn’t bail me out of a problem. I was 24 at the time and my first business failed.
While I expressed my frustration, he remained calm. When I finished my rant, he said, “Son, I am sorry I can’t help you with this, but if you have a problem best face it.”
At the time I was unable to accept his wisdom.
Weeks later and many times since, his wisdom has rewarded me many times over when I took his words to heart and honoured them.
The times I don’t; strife is my shadow.
I need to be mindful of my shadows. Are the internal or external words I am using; positive or negative?
We have choices each day to use words as a positive force or a negative force in our lives and the lives of others. This goes beyond just positive thinking. It is positive doing.
I read earlier this week about a person who after waking, washes his face, looks in the mirror and states emphatically, I LOVE YOU, and I WILL LOOK AFTER YOU TODAY.
What we say to ourselves matters. Words really do matter.
"Getting the most out of life isn’t about how much you keep for yourself,
but how much you pour into others."
~ David Stoddard
This video can be a bit disturbing to watch, but the words are powerful and so true.
Just a snippet of the lyrics to Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror.
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that
Change!
A quote I am pondering...
“I am fundamentally an optimist.
Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say.
Part of being optimistic is keeping
one's head pointed toward the sun,
one's feet moving forward.
There were many dark moments
when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but
I would not and could not give myself up to despair.”
—Nelson Mandela
This week, I seemed to listen a lot to a new album by Lang Lang. Bach Goldberg Variations. Dozens of artists have recorded these works. It is a unique interpretation of this classic classical piece of music. Take a sample listen here.
Wishing you a nice weekend.
Taking care of business: Every week we put up new gift box ideas. Click to see.
Take care and stay safe.
With Love from Prince Edward Island,
Bruce & Millie
Ps. Your Morning Smile
Grade school children were asked the question, "Why did your mom marry your dad?"
These are some responses:
- She got too old to do anything else with him.
- My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
- My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world, and Mom eats a lot!
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