More Encouragement, Bad Habits, Two Left

Good Morning from winter wonderland in a thaw, 

Written in Last week’s blog, I shared my 2020 word “encouragement.”

I since researched a bit about where, when and how the word originated and is used. 

Interestingly, the first time it was recorded as being used was in 1548, the same year that Jubilate, Book of Common Prayer and the Lord’s prayer was used in the English lexicon. 

The Greek word for “encourage,” parakaleo, appears 105 times in the New Testament.

Everyone needs a little encouragement. 

The root word for encouragement is courage.

When we encourage someone, we help to inspire someone to do something they might not have otherwise attempted to do.

Is there anyone you could raise your courage for and encourage today?

“Courage is fear that has said its prayers." - Dorothy Bernard

Encouragement is a noun; encourage is a verb. 

Similar words include, 

hearten

buoy up 

uplift

inspire

motivate

egg on

Stimulate

invigorate

vitalize

revitalize

embolden

fortify

lift the spirits of

raise the morale of

stiffen the resolve of

give a shot in the arm to

light a fire under

spirit someone up

hopeful

positive

responsive

enthusiastic

Appreciative

I am making a list of folks that could use some encouragement. Perhaps you might as well.

If you can’t be with them in conversation, or if you can’t call them, you can send an e-card if they have an email, if you can’t do that give a prayer for them, if you don’t want to do that, at least give them some time in thinking about them in a positive light. 

For ecards I use, Blue Mountain or Jacquie Lawson. 

In reading this week, Atomic Habits, a great book by James Clear, I found several nuggets of truth as it relates to the subject of habits. Here are just two.

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.” ~ James Clear

“All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.” ~ James Clear

Three More Reasons I Love Prince Edward Island

1. A Stranger Pays for Child’s Medications 

Kate Normand of Charlottetown is asking Islanders to show strangers some extra kindness after she received a stranger's act of generosity this week. Story Here. 

2. Horses are helping kids with autism on this P.E.I. farm.

Alisha Wolf has developed a free program to help children with autism on her horse and hobby farm in York, P.E.I. Story Here. 

3. Charlottetown immigrant overwhelmed with support from co-workers. 

Although a devastating earthquake has shaken the foundation of her hometown in Albania, a Charlottetown resident's faith in people remains unshaken following heart-warming and unexpected support. Story Here.

Hope everyone had a great first ten days of 2020. 

Signing off and hit the market to get a loaf of this fantastic sourdough jalapeno and cheder cheese bread a weekend toast treat! 

Have a great weekend and take care of each other. 

Today while writing, I have been listening to an album by Isata Kanneh-Mason called Romance - The Piano Music of Clara Schumann. Listen here. 

With love from Prince Edward Island, 

Sincerely, 

Bruce

Ps.

The arithmetic teacher proposed the following to the class,

"If there are three crows on a fence and one is shot, how many would be left?"

After a short time, Little Johnny shouts out, "Two left."

The teachers' response, "I'm afraid you don't get the point. Let me repeat the joke.

There were three crows on a fence and one is shot, how many would be left?

Johnny replied again, "Two left."

Teacher, "No, none would be left, because when one is shot, the other two would fly away."

Johnny, "That's what I said, TWO LEFT!!!"