Stop and Smell the Roses

On a recent walk, I passed a neighbor’s house and a rose waved to me in the sunlight. I could not help it; I had to stop to sniff the beautiful scent of the rose. The rose gave me a magnificent gift that day, as it beckoned me to enjoy her beautiful aroma.

Another couple walking towards me saw what I had done, and yelled out, “That’s the spirit, stop and smell the roses, we never take time to that.” I joyously laughed and as they passed me, they too, stopped to inhale the beauty of the rose.

As I continued on my walk, I began to ponder the phrase stop and smell the roses. We often do not take time to enjoy simple pleasures. We live in such a hurried and harried society, running in many different directions at once. Mores the pity, that such a simple thing to do seemed like such a novelty that day.

I promised myself to make time for more moments like the one I experienced that day. I urge you to make a pledge today, to stop and enjoy the moment at hand and if you see a rose waving at you…Stop and say hello!

As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round. ~Ben Hogan

Wealthy Beyond Compare

I had an interesting conversation with friends recently. As we were kvetching about the state of our personal finances, I said that I needed to work through money issues. My friend gently bitch slapped me into reality and told me how wealthy I was.

As I was forced not to look inside my wallet but into the core of my being, I came to the realization of how true it is. It is so easy to get sucked into the “Ain’t it Awful Club” and participate in the general lamenting of the economy and the ills of the world.

Truth be told it is much more difficult to buck that trend and stand in my truth. I am wealthy when it comes to knowing my purpose in life, pursuing my dreams, and living each day to its fullest.

Yeah, I am wealthy indeed. I thank God for the Abundance of knowing my true self-worth and I am blessed to have friends to call me on it when I steer off course.

Today, I declare to all of you I am spiritually wealthy, my cup overflows, and I give thanks and praise. Peace

Happiness comes from spiritual wealth, not material wealth... Happiness comes from giving, not getting. If we try hard to bring happiness to others, we cannot stop it from coming to us also. To get joy, we must give it, and to keep joy, we must scatter it. ~ John Templeton

Maximizing Opportunity

I know I have been silent on the blogosphere. I have been very busy. My book “In Memory of A Saint: Lessons from My Mother I Didn’t Pay attention To Until She Died” has been published. http://tinyurl.com/InMemoryofASaint

I was speaking to a friend today, and she reminded me that although I feel as if I have been slow; I have been very busy maximizing my opportunities.

My mother always told me the race is not for the swift nor the strong but for the one who endures. Thus, I have been steadily working on my own goals and dreams, so that I can be a better cheerleader for all of you.

Are you a making the most out of your opportunities today? Better yet, would you take advantage of a new opportunity if one came your way? To work on your goals, you should explore every opportunity for you never know when you will be motivated to take a chance and leap into something new.

“Life's up and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals - Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want” ~ Marsha Sinetar

Reflecting On 2010

As I reflect back on this year, I am grateful to all who have positively touched my life. I had seven major accomplishments this year. They were from the simple: to exercise regularly and take care of my health to the more complex: write a book, and become a published author.

Thus, my goals this year were to be healthier, walk straighter, smile brighter, love deeper, dream bigger and to BELIEVE!

Happy New Year! I wish you all a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2011.

Glimpses Interview

Check out Jenny’s interview with me on The Dreamweaver's Cottage blog. It is never too late to dream. Come on...I Dare You!

http://jennykellerford.wordpress.com/glimpses/interviews/sandra-elaine-scott-author-of-i-dare-you-to-scream-your-dream-out-loud

Oprah's Favorite Things

The joy of giving and receiving.

Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10

Happy Hanukkah

As this year's celebration of Hanukkah comes to a close, it is the perfect time to reflect on miracles. Hanukkah is the observance of the miracles that G-d can provide.

The Maccabees miracle was because they had oil was sufficient to light the Menorah only for one day. By G-d's miracle, it continued to burn for eight days, until new oil was made available. That miracle proved that G-d had again taken His people under His protection.

By having absolute faith in G-d I know that miracles do occur.

Do You Believe?

To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle; Every cubic inch of space is a miracle. ~Walt Whitman Leaves of Grass