Success and Sacrifice

So what do these surfboards have to do with success and sacrifice? They are the visible signs of an entrepreneur in process! A young man started a water toy rental business near where we keep our boat. He is fully committed! I believe that to be successful you do need to make some sacrifices..for example it you own a business you need to be there and on top of what is going on in that business or you lose out. However, it is much better if you are doing what you love. the young man who owns this business loves surfing. It is an amazing thing to watch his business take shape and become successful. What is his sacrifice? He is at the shop instead of surfing! I think that is what success is about..knowing what to do next and what not to do next....

Now, how's that for inspiring?

Apples, Pears, Oranges, Bananas

How lucky I am to be able to have so many different fruits at the same time during the year. Not to mention the melons and berries. Fruit is very good for us and especially in the morning. That's my positive thought for the day!

The Unexpected

Mischief is on the left with her little sister, Minka on the right.

Sometimes unexpected things happen and they make us sad. Last night a raccoon attacked one of our cats, Mischief. She was backed into a corner and got badly mauled. She was put down. She was in her later years being 13. It was sad and unexpected. Moments like these make us pause and appreciate the times we had with Mischief. She will be missed. It's the good memories that should linger now...nothing can be done about the past....but the mourning is still needed. A Time to feel sad is needed for healing and to remember the good. Her sister was not hurt because she happened to be out of the area at the time.

Rest in Peace, Mischief.

A Bird of an idea

While this bird may not be real it certainly has some appealing qualities...the sparkly purple feathers, the ability to put this on a display and not have it fly away and maybe even the fact that it might make someone look twice and get their attention. Sometimes even things that aren't real can have a very real impact. I never underestimate the power of a sparkly object to attract my attention. All said, real birds have always fascinated me. The difference is that real birds have the power to fly..while birds like the purple one in this photo have the power to make our ideas and thoughts fly.

I imagined several things when I purchased this little bird such as the bird of paradise in a tropical setting, the little white doves on wedding cakes, the white feathered birds I place on my christmas tree each year just to mention a few. The bird in the photo was part of a display I had at a recent craft show where I showcased my cards and photos. It did bring me luck..I sold my first large framed and matted photo...:)

D Bells are Ringing

You may wonder what in the world this entry has to do with being positive. I started playing church bells less than a year ago. Church bells have always mesmerized me and when I had an opportunity to learn to play I jumped at the chance. Here are two of the 'D' Bells....middle D's..one a natural D and one a D#. This entry is about following your passions and desires. It's been a great experience and well worth the committment of practicing every Tuesday night. Ringing D bells and other bells is one of my passions now. I find that keeping an open mind to new experiences is important for growth....now to figure out how to shed some of the old passions to make room for the new. That subject is reserved for another entry. The bells have it and for that matter they have me for now!

Stick with it!

When you believe in something...stick with it! Sometimes it's easy to get discouraged when noone notices your accomplishments or when you feel a loss of energy to go on with a project. What I've found is that despite all the barriers to success that can occur the one thing that overcomes it all is persistance and stick-with-it-ness....is that a word? The future is not going to quit coming at us so stick with your goals. One step at a time ..sometimes these may be very little steps but it doesn't matter...moving forward even an inch at a time can add up and encourage you to accomplish some really cool things.

The bird that made this nest needed two things: sticks and stick-with-it-ness....Persistance paid off and now there is a nest for the little babies when they come. Even birds intuitively know what to do.

The choice is yours, the time is now and the next step is up to you. I decided to make an entry tonight after many days of absence..why? Just felt that this blog was a good idea and am sticking with it!