Spontaneous Delight . . . .

We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that something deep inside us is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.
--E.E. Cummings

Fifty Things

ML--remember the conversation we had yesterday? Well, this is for you.
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Sometimes I need to be reminded. . .

We CAN Do It

Between conference sessions yesterday, I re-read this book by Virginia H. Pearce. I love its sweet message.

"Be not faithless, but believing." Believe in yourselves. Believe in your capacity to do some good in this world. God sent us here for a purpose, and that was to improve the world in which we live. The wonderful thing is that we can do it. --President Gordon B. Hinckley

Be happy now.

Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.

Earl Nightingale

Rapture

Rebecca Thuss. . .Oh, what rapture fills my bosom!

IKEA

I am complete. IKEA opened in Draper today and once the masses have departed, I will take my own private tour of the European-based sanctuary.

We Are Powerful Beyond Measure

You all have to read this blog entry by Cathy Zielske . . .perspective.

Maybe I should give up my ridiculous 2007 aspirations and focus on just shining as I am.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." --Marianne Williamson

My New Strategy

Someone (annie-net) this morning reminded me that we make our own happiness. It doesn't just come. It's not like calling in a pizza delivery. Happiness must be cultivated, searched for, and embraced before we can experience it. You can't give someone happiness like you might offer them a gift. Sure, you can take them to Lagoon, shopping in Park City, or to a tropical island. . .but utimately, they decide if they're happy. The real heroes in my life are those that find happiness in the darkest of places. . . heartache, pain, disappointment, and defeat.

Take whatever it is that you have and look at it through God's eyes. There you will discover true happiness.

So this is my new strategy. Spread the love!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

Quick to Observe

I usually listen to music on my morning runs, but today it was dark and autumn cool and I craved something more. So I listened to a talk given at a BYU Devotional by Elder Bednar entitled "Quick to Observe." I heard it in its original form last year, but this morning it hit me. . .I'm slow to observe. Sometimes I don't listen. Sometimes I hesitate to act on impressions. Sometimes I'm stubborn and selfish. Sometimes I just "get by." Sometimes I need a explanation to obey. Always I can do better.

So, today I'm going to reevaluate. I'm going to make an everyday effort to observe and discern. If you get a minute or two, review this talk. It's inspiring.