What award would you give yourself?

If you were to give yourself an award for this year, what would it be? 

The end of the year is upon us and it's time for a little reflection. 2019 was a big year of growth for me. I pushed myself harder than I've ever pushed myself before. I stepped out of my comfort zone more times than I care to count. I accomplished things I never dreamt possible. I met tons of new people and built on those connections. I worked hard and surpassed the goals I set at the start of the year, both personally and professionally.

If I was to give myself an award, I'd accept the following...

Dared to Dream the Impossible and Succeeded Person of the Year

What about you? What award would you give yourself?

2019 is almost over and it's time to heap praise on all you accomplished this year.

MRS N

The most precious holiday gift you can give...

I love spending time with my friends and family. The simplest things in life give me the most pleasure: cooking a good meal, enjoying my friends. -- Cindy Morgan

It's the holidays and everyone is running around trying to find the perfect gift for loved ones. There are Holiday Gift Guides everywhere online and even apps to do it for you. While those are lovely and helpful, they do not show you the best gift.

Time.

Companionship.

These are the best gifts you can give another. I love this quote because it is so true. Spending time with a loved one, no matter what you are doing, is rewarding for both of you. You can't find it in a store... only in your heart.

I'm reminded of the time I used to spend with my grandmother. We would bake all the Christmas cookies for the family and it was one of my favorite times of growing up. It would take place over a few days and I loved it. It was where I learned how to bake, and I loved spending time alone with her.

Another benefit to spending time with her was I got to share with her what was going on in my life. I would share with her the struggles I was facing in school. We would laugh, and it was the best time of my childhood.

This holiday season, please take a little time and spend it with the ones you love. Cook/bake with your kids. Go over to your aunt's house and play cards with her. Go shopping with your neighbor. Sit and watch the world go by with your loved ones. It will be the best time you have ever spent, and you'll be building memories.

Your time and love is the most precious holiday gift you can give.

MRS N

Life is a precious gift by @NNP_W_Light

Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more. -- Tony Robbins

Did you know that your life is a precious gift?  It is more sought-after than any piece of jewellery or electronics.

Read the quote above and ask yourself, "Am I living my life like that?"

I try my best to live in the moment and to bask in the glow.  But sometimes stress and worry creep in and I turn away from the glow into the darkness.  I become a stressed-out porcupine.

A small voice inside me nudges me and I take a few deep breaths.  I turn my face and I am back in the glow of life's magical rays.  I remember life is a gift and I need to refocus my perspective.

Life is a gift and every moment is a gift too.  Cherish every moment and be aware of what is going on around you.  Look at what life has to offer, and you will see beauty all around you.

Don't worry about the past for it has already happened.

Don't worry about the future for it hasn't happened yet.

Live for the present as it is a gift.  Moments come along once so capture them and enjoy!

MRS N

A little Grinchy reminder by @NNP_W_Light

Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn't come from a store. -- Dr. Seuss

I know this time of the year can be very stressful, but this little Grinch reminder is for all of us.  

No matter what you must do, take a moment to relish in the things that matter...

Friends

Family

Love

Light

Relaxing

Giving of ourselves

Peace

Joy

Cookies

MRS N

Embrace forgiveness by @NNP_W_Light

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Do you need to forgive someone?  Have they done you wrong and crushed you?  Is your heart broken and you are filled with anger?

Forgiveness is a hard thing to do.  Many people say that they won't forgive because it will make the other person feel better.  I understand that logic but truthfully, forgiveness is not about the other person.  It is about you.

Forgiving another allows our heart to begin the healing process.  Forgiving does NOT mean that you forget.  Here’s the definition according to Merriam Webster:

1 a :  to give up resentment of or claim to requital (see requital 1) for forgive an insult

b :  to grant relief from payment of forgive a debt

2:  to cease to feel resentment against (an offender) :  pardon forgive one's enemies

Nowhere does it say to forget.  It simply says to stop feeling anger and resentment towards another for an offense, flaw or mistake.

Why should you forgive?

You should forgive because it is necessary to heal.  Once you forgive, you can move on with your life.  What you do after you forgive is up to you.

Today, take a look inside your heart and see if you need to forgive someone.  I bet there is.  I know I need to forgive someone.  Let's not delay and forgive them.  Our hearts will be whole again.

MRS N

Be open to who you are meant to be

Image by Ulrike Leone from Pixabay

We need to forget what we think we are, so that we can really become what we are. – Paulo Coelho

Are you holding yourself back?  Do you look at yourself and think you can't do that because it's not you?

I love this quote because it really speaks to the heart of the matter.  Who we think we are is not necessarily who we are meant to be.  We have to forget our current identity and be open to who we are meant to be.

Scary?

Definitely!

Impossible?

No. Nothing is impossible.

Today is December 3rd and I say it is the perfect time for a transformation.  Be like a butterfly and transform into who you are meant to become.

MRS N

Fed up with life? Go wandering...

Whenever I get fed up with life I love to go wandering in nature. -- Andrea Arnold

Did you know that human beings have been wandering this Earth since time began?  It started with the cave people and we have been doing it ever since.

Did you know that wandering can also be a spiritual exercise?  

Tribes from all over the world have done this.  They wander into a special grove, forest, plains, desert and meditate.  Some go without food or drink.

When was the last time you wandered?  Was it physical, emotional or spiritual?

The last time I wandered was last year.  It was an amazing experience and a separate inspirational thought on its own.  It reconnected myself with my soul and with the world around me.  I had never felt more alive in my life.

If you like to travel, I would recommend visiting somewhere you have never been before.

You can also wander without leaving your home.  You can thank the internet for that.

Whatever way you wander, be sure to do it. It will reconnect you to the universe and you will feel the Light coursing through your veins once again!

MRS N

From our family to yours... Happy Thanksgiving!

From our family to yours... Happy Thanksgiving! 

No matter what you are doing and who you're with, cherish the moment. Find joy in the little things and yes, that includes pie. 

We're thankful for each of you. You make us laugh, smile, tear up and even cry. You motivate us to improve ourselves and to even laugh at ourselves. 

THANK YOU!

Share your smile with the world

Share your smile with the world. It's a symbol of friendship and peace. -- Christie Brinkley

I have a life motto: Keep Smiling!  

It works wonders for dealing with life's ups and downs.  You can't feel depressed when you are smiling.

Don't believe me?  Go ahead and smile genuinely for a full 60 seconds.  I'll wait here while you do it.

See?  You can't feel down when you are smiling!

Whenever I feel depressed, sad, angry, mad or frustrated, I start smiling.  Before I know it, those feelings are gone, and I am happy again.

The world needs more smiling faces.  Will you join me and smile more?  

You have such a beautiful smile and it will change your outlook on life.

MRS N

When the odds are stacked against you...

When the odds are stacked against you, do you crumble or do you succeed?

The 107th Grey Cup took place last night. I'm a huge fan of the CFL and a proud Hamilton Ti-Cats fan. The Ti-Cats were the odds-on favorite to win, is the most balanced team with the best record in the CFL.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers had the Defensive Player of the Year, a quarterback who was a recent addition not more than five weeks ago and a good core of players. Good, not great. Did that stop the Blue Bombers? Did they barely show up to the game? Heck no! The Blue Bombers dominated the game on all three sides. They played smashmouth football and beat the best team in the CFL. After a 29 year Grey Cup win drought, they won.

I was so moved by the emotion pouring out of the Winnipeg players. They never gave up. They disrupted the Hamilton QB all game. They took advantage of opportunities. They crushed their opponent. One of the players (can't remember who) said this:

"I came from the bottom. I worked hard. I rose to the top. Never give up."

What a bold statement and one that can be applied to each of us. We all deal with strife, critics stacking the odds against us. The difference between those who succeed and those who don't can be summed up with these words: never give up.

Congratulations to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers! You are champions and I'm proud of you!

MRS N

Be a beacon of light for those in the dark

Use your knowledge, and your heart, to stand up for those who can't stand, speak for those who can't speak, be a beacon of light for those whose lives have become dark. -- Julie Andrews

We all carry the Light.  The question of the day for you is what do you do with that Light?  Do you let it shine brightly or do you hide it?  Do you use the Light within you to help people or do you hide it and keep it to yourself?

I carry the Light and shine it brightly for the world to see.  By doing that, I can not only be myself but to help others.  I smile at people, I offer encouragement when needed and offer to help whenever possible.

There are so many people in this world who are suffering in darkness.  They are not thousands of miles away.  They could be your neighbor, a family member, a friend, or the cashier at the grocery store.  Will you shine your Light and help them?

Today I ask you to be a beacon of Light.  Help someone.  You may be exactly what they need to get them out of the darkness.

MRS N

Organizing for the holidays... #Thanksgiving

Organizing ahead of time makes the work more enjoyable. Chefs cut up the onions and have the ingredients lined up ahead of time and have them ready to go. When everything is organized you can clean as you go and it makes everything so much easier and fun. -- Anne Burrell

Organization has been on my mind a lot over the past week.  In a few days, it is American Thanksgiving.  Eek!  So much to do and not enough time to do it in.

Are you struggling with organization too?  Do you try to get everything done and wind up running around like a chicken with your head cut off?

I found this quote and immediately felt calmer.  Breathe in, breathe out.  Exhale.  A plan is all we need.

Look at what you have to do today and organize your time with a plan.  Lists and sticky notes work best for me.  Make a list of what you must accomplish and then get it done one task at a time. 

We can do it!

MRS N

Be positive because the alternative is...

Don't see everyone's flaws. Don't listen to everything you're told. Don't speak if it's not kind. Always look for the good in people. Not everything is truth; Only speak words of kindness.

I get asked a lot, "How can you be so positive?"

I smile and say, "Because the alternative is worse."

Some people smile and know exactly what I mean.  Others scratch their head not understanding.

When I say the alternative is worse, I am referring to death.  I have lived a hard life and I have had a few close calls with death.  I am lucky to be alive.  THAT is what I mean.  The alternative is much much worse.

I love this quote.  It illustrates for me how easy it is to be kind and to live life positively.  So many people these days try to make life so complicated.  It doesn't have to be that way!  In fact, people make their lives more complicated.

The solution?  Be kind.  See the good in others.  Try to be good yourself.  Have a positive outlook.

Today, be aware of what is going on within you and around you.  Be kind to others.  Smile.  Be positive.  Write down your observations and see what happens when you are positive.

MRS N