Are your dreams too big? #goals @NNP_W_Light

Set daily, monthly and long-term goals and dreams. Don’t ever be afraid to dream too big. Nothing is impossible.  If you believe in yourself, you can achieve it. – Nastia Liukin  

Are your dreams too big?

Mine aren't.

I learned a long time ago I can do anything and be anyone, no matter what the critics say.

Did I ever think I was going to be happily married, a published author and wake up every day excited to see what happens?

No!

Growing up, I thought I was probably going to end up alone, unhappy and miserable.

When I turned thirty, I was still single and working in a bookstore. I decided to make changes and the first thing I did was create a list of goals (both short and long-term). I told myself that anything was possible. They included:

Meet future husband and get married

Write a book

Get published

Travel

Wake up every morning happy

Looking back on the list, I'm impressed that I have completed all my goals. So, it's time for a new list of goals.

I'm dreaming HUGE and you should too.

Nothing is impossible. If you believe in yourself, you can achieve it.

MRS N

Life is too short to wake up with regrets...

Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don’t. And believe that everything happens for a reason… if you get a chance, take it; if it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it would be easy… they just promised it would be worth it.

Life too short to wake up with regrets.

That is my mantra for this week.

Last week was a hard week for me. Over the weekend, I did a little retrospection and caught myself mulling over regrets. Here are some of my thoughts:

I wish I did better in school.

I wish I stood up to the bullies.

I wish...

I wish...

I wish...

The thoughts went around and around. It wasn't until MR N took my hand and said softly,

"I love you."

Silence.

I smiled at him.

I'm tired of living with regret. So today, I'm releasing all my regrets like little sparrows.

"Fly away," I say.

Are you living with regret?

Gather all your regrets and release them like little birds. They no longer have any hold over you.

MRS N

Each day is a new canvas to paint upon

Each day is a new canvas to paint upon. Make sure your picture is full of life and happiness, and at the end of the day you don’t look at it and wish you had painted something different.

Are you happy?

I used to think that certain people and things defined happiness.

If only I had a dream job, then I would be happy.

If only I was married, then I would be happy.

If only I was friends with this person, then I would be happy.

If only I had my dream house, then I would be happy.

The reality is happiness comes from within. When you're content in your current circumstances and with yourself, happiness floods your life.

Every day is a fresh start to live a happy life. Make it count. You don't want to regret what you did with your day.

Today, look deep within yourself at who you are and the life you're living. Be grateful for what you have and set goals for what you want to change. Let happiness ooze out of you and you will soon be living a happy life.

MRS N

Are you cultivating a merry world?

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

Are you cultivating a merry world?

The world is full of greed and those seeking wealth. More times than not, gold does not bring happiness. No, seeking happiness is a decision you must make every single day.

One of our resolutions is to be happy and to not let anything or anyone steal our joy. Over the past few weeks, I've had to release anger and annoyance in order to keep my happiness. And you know what? I've never felt better in my life.

Here's my secret: Every time I run into a circumstance which would annoy me before, I smile and push the negative thoughts in the trash bin. A snarky comment, an unexpected expense, a boss throwing more work than humanly possible, torn pants, yelling kids, broken dishes, are everyday occurrences which used to drive me round the bend but now have no power over me. I simply shrug and continue on with my day.

Take Professor Tolkien's advice and value what matters most: good food, good drink, companionship and music. 

MRS N

Don't just sit there... DO IT! @NNP_W_Light

You are never too old to move forward and make the rest of your life the very best of your life.

You're never too old to be inspired, pursue your dreams and live the very best life you can!

Every time I go for a walk, I pass two elderly women walking. One of them is very old She's in a wheelchair and looks to be close to 100 years old.  She has lost the use of her legs but her spirit is as strong as when she was in her twenties. They both smile at me and I smile back. These women inspire me to go for my walk, even when my body complains. 

You're never too old.

Is there something you want to do? Is there a dream that beats wildly in your heart?

Don't just sit there... DO IT!

Life is short and you are never too old to pursue it. You are the only person who can make the best of your life. Yes you.

Don't wait, for life will soon pass you by!

MRS N

Are you surrounded by negativity?

Beautiful things happen when you distance yourself from all the negative things.

Are you surrounded by negativity?  Are your so-called friends bringing you down or reminding you of all the mistakes you've made?

Each of us deals with negative things and negative people all day long.  It's everywhere.  It's the car honking behind you as you're driving down the street.  It's the cranky bank teller who needs to take a break.  It's your boss who had a fight with his/her significant other before coming into work.

The key to uplifting yourself is to distance yourself from the negativity.  It can be as simple as showing kindness.  It can also be physically distancing yourself from the negativity.  It's hard to do but sometimes it needs to be done.  Friends come and go in your life.  It's your choice if you want to be free from the negativity.

Take a look around.  Are the people you're associated with blanketing you with negativity?  Maybe it's time to let them go.

Beautiful things happen when you distance yourself from all the negative things!

MRS N

What's your joy? Find out where your joy resides...

Find out where joy resides, and give it a voice far beyond singing. For to miss the joy is to miss all. – Robert Louis Stevenson

What do you think of when you hear/see the word joy?

When I think of joy, my mind floods with images of pure happiness.  My wedding, MR N, swinging on swings when I was little, Christmastime... these are some of the happiest events in my life. Helping others. Making someone laugh. Being near bodies of water. 

Joy is nothing more than pure, innocent happiness.  There is no agenda and there is only Light.

Find your joy and hold on tight!  See joy in the little things and you will surely see a miracle.

What's your joy? 

MRS N

Learning how to love is the goal...

Learning how to love is the goal and purpose of spiritual life – not learning how to develop psychic powers, not learning how to bow, chant, do yoga, or even meditate, but learning to love. Love is the truth. Love is the Light. – Lama Surya Bas

No matter what your spiritual belief, spiritual love with a higher being is another example of unconditional love. (If you are an atheist or an agnostic, this inspirational thought may not be for you and I'll see you tomorrow) But for those who have a spiritual love, listen up!

The purpose of being spiritual has nothing to do with learning how to pray, chant, do yoga, meditate, etc. but with learning how to love. All religions/spiritual beliefs teach their followers how to love.  Love your neighbors as yourself. Love is patient and kind. Love God.

Love is Truth and Light.

I love God. My first experience in unconditional love was when I learned how much God loves me. He doesn’t care what I have done in the past or what I look like. He loves me for me! He's been with me through all the bad times and rejoiced with me in all the good times. He has never let me down and I love Him.

I love my neighbors as I love myself (more so on some occasions). Through spiritual love, I learned how to love my fellow human beings. I don't judge anyone and I try to see the good in each person. Nowhere in the Bible does it say to hate those who are different than I am. It says to love.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” – Matthew 7:12

I follow the Golden Rule and continue to spread the Light! Who's with me? 

MRS N

To be inspired is great but to inspire is...

To be inspired is great; to inspire is incredible.

No matter where you live or what you believe in, inspiration is all around you. It may be something you read or someone you talk to. Inspiration is just waiting for you to discover it. For me, I hunt for inspiration like mushroom foragers hunt for truffles. I focus all my energy and sniff it out. Here is a top ten list of things/people that inspire me.

1- My husband, MR N, inspires me each and every day. Together, we came up with the idea for each of our books as well as our business. He inspires me to work hard every day. He empowers me to be the best I can be. He continues to inspire me each day. “Spread the Light, darling,” he whispers to me as he kisses me good-bye before he leaves for work. 

2- The Walking Man inspires me every day. Who is that? In my debut novel, Mary meets a man known in the town of Golden Lake as the Walking Man. He is a homeless man who walks. He is based on a real homeless man I discovered in my neighborhood. I don’t know much about him except that he shuns contact and walks everywhere. Even though he doesn’t talk to me, I show him kindness. He inspires me to spread the Light so I can help others just like him.

3- Twitter inspires me. I have over 10,800 followers and throughout the day, I get tons of inspiring photos, tweets or quotes. It lightens my heart, feeds my imagination and sets my mind on fire.

4- Nature inspires me. I go for a morning walk and I surround myself with nature and wildlife. It inspires me to grow beyond my fingertips and to persevere no matter the weather.

5- Past/Present authors inspire me. No matter what I am dealing with, it is helpful that scores of successful authors have dealt with it too. Publishing is a small community and my fellow authors inspire me each and every day to be bold with my writing.

6- My father inspires me. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him and wish he was here with me. He passed away in 1998 and he inspires me to believe in myself. “You can do anything, angel.” I still hear his voice echo in my head.

7- My faith inspires me. I follow the Golden Rule and I do unto others as I would want them to do unto me. I don’t expect anything in return for being kind but it inspires me to be kind despite others.

8- The Naysayers inspire me. There have been people in my life that have told me that I couldn’t do something. To them, I say thank you. If not for them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. The constant negative wave surges me forward to achieving my dreams.

9- Music inspires me. My personal favorites include Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Kacey Musgraves, Gov't Mule, Alanis Morissette, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jars of Clay, Vivaldi and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

10- Art inspires me. No matter the form it takes, I have always found inspiration in art. Instead of ink and paper, they tell a story with paint and canvas. So beautiful!

No matter what form inspiration takes, allow it to inspire you to be the best person you can be!

What inspires you?

MRS N

What will you learn today? @NNP_W_Light

If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.

Do you wake up each morning and wonder what you will learn today?

The world is full of wonder and there is always something new to learn.

I used to be afraid of learning. Instead I just sat in my own corner with my arms crossed.

When I graduated from high school, I chucked that old mentality.  I didn't want to be in a rut and stagnant.  I wanted to spread my wings and experience as much as I could.

Five years ago I was in the midst of learning all the ins and outs of self-publishing. At first, I was scared.  I mean, I only had five days to figure everything out. But with today's technology (and my friend Google), learning was easy and I picked it up in no time.

Learn something new today!  It's good for your mental and emotional self. You'll feel great and you can share what you have learned with others.

If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.

MRS N

A time management hack by @NNP_W_Light

Managing your time without setting priorities is like shooting randomly and calling whatever you hit the target. – Peter Turla

Time management is something that each of us struggles with.  We have a never-ending list of things to do and places to go.

This week, I have a lot to do and not enough hours in the day to complete them. How am I not running around screaming like Chicken Little? I manage my time.

Read the above quote.

Sounds silly, right? But it happens all the time.

I take full advantage of each and every minute of my day.  I have a list of things to do and I stick to it.  When there is a little lag time, I try to incorporate two things at once.

Need help with managing your time? Get a daily planner, write down what you need to accomplish in the day and as you complete each task check it off. You will feel so much better than running yourself ragged.

Manage your time or it will manage you.

MRS N

Words can be deadly by @NNP_W_Light

Always be generous with your encouraging words, you may find they will inspire others to be the best they can be. – Catherine Pulsifer

Words can be deadly.

Don't believe me? I see it all the time on social media.  Online bullying with words can kill and it happens more than with guns.

Spreading the Light doesn't mean you can use your words like bullets, hurting and injuring people.  Spreading the Light is all about inspiring and encouraging others. Read the quote again.

Always be generous with your encouraging words, you may find they will inspire others to be the best they can be.

Today (and everyday), let's use our words to uplift each other instead of tearing each other down!

MRS N

Hanging on when others have let go...

Success is largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.

Success is easily defined as hanging on after other people have let go.  Take a look at some of today's successful people.  Everyone from Bill Gates to the Pope have gone through a lot to get the success they have today.  They hung on and had a dream.  They worked hard and believed in themselves.  They ignored their critics and watched as others let go of the same dream.  Success is all about determination and perseverance.

Are you pursuing a dream?  Success is within your grasp.  All you have to do is be patient and to hang on.

I believe in you and know that you will be very successful.

Now go conquer the world.

MRS N

If you’re unhappy with the colors of your life, grab a new canvas...

If you’re unhappy with the colors of your life, grab a new canvas.

Are you unhappy with your life and the way it is going?

There are so many unhappy people running around.  It breaks my heart because I used to be that way.  One day, though, I got tired of being unhappy and started to make changes.  I am in charge of my happiness and if that meant making big moves, so be it.  I started with myself and worked outwards.  I fell in love with myself and soon met MR N.  I moved over 3,000 miles away and got married.  I switched careers four times and am now living a happy, healthy life.  

How about you?  

Are you living a happy, healthy life? No? 

Take a moment and write down all the things you want to change.  Need some help getting started? 

Write at the top of the page:

If money and time were no object, what would make me happy and healthy?

Let it all come out on paper and then look at it.  Take each idea and write down a few ways you can incorporate it into your life.  It may seem impossible at first but nothing is when you make the commitment to change your life for the better.

If you're unhappy with the colors of your life, change the canvas!

MRS N

Happiness is a verb... @NNP_W_Light

Happiness is being content with what you have, living in freedom and liberty, having a good family life and good friends. -- Divyanka Tripathi 

Happiness.

Many people in this world see happiness as a noun, something to take hold of. I see it differently.

Happiness is a verb. 

For the past week, I have been overwhelmed with work and home tasks. This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving and all week long, I have been going, going, going. There's so much to do and not enough hours in the day to get everything done. My inbox is overflowing with potential clients as well as my VIP clients. I've taken on a few freelance editing clients. That's just the business side of my life. On the personal side, I've been getting in all the food, making sure we have enough chairs, decorating, cleaning, organizing, baking, cooking. Somewhere in the midst of all that, I get to collapse in the evening and snuggle with my husband. 

Why am I doing this?

Don't get me wrong, it's stressful juggling my business, my marketing job and my personal life in addition to getting ready to host the family for Canadian Thanksgiving. No time for procrastinating and at the end of the day, I'm utterly exhausted. Just before I drift off to sleep, I whisper to myself...

I love my life.

When you take your eyes off what you have and let happiness move throughout your life, you will love your life too! Happiness is a verb, not a noun.

MRS N

Spread the Light in your corner of the world

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it. – Edith Wharton

Are you spreading the Light in your corner of the world?

I live in an old neighborhood in my town. The houses and buildings are established with trees towering over the streets. I love it!

As someone who walks every day, I run into a lot of elderly people. Many of them smile and are friendly. I stop and chat with them for a moment or two.

Why?

It makes their day and it's my way of spreading the Light. It doesn't take any effort on my part and their faces light up.

Want to make someone's day? Stop what you're doing for one second and say hello. Acknowledging another person and wishing them a good day is a great way of spreading the Light inside you.

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it. 

MRS N

What's your playlist of the decade?

Music can change the world. ~ Beethoven 

I read an interesting article this morning. In it, it listed the top 200 songs of the decade (2010-2019). The author opined these songs shaped our lives of the past ten years. While I didn't agree with most of the songs, it did get me thinking.

What song or songs defined my life over the past ten years?

I thought long and hard. It's hard to sum up your life in one song. But then it came to me.

Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves

My favorite lyric is:

It's different now
'Cause I love the light that I've found
In you

© Kacey Musgraves, all rights reserved

I asked Mr. N what his song is and he answered right away.

Resolution Come, Revolution Go by Gov't Mule

My favorite lyric is:

Smile in the face of your enemies
They can't kill your dreams

© Gov't Mule, all rights reserved

What's your playlist of the decade? What songs define your life the past ten years?

It's to look back on life and see how far we've come.

Mrs. N

Problems are like washing machines...

Problems are like washing machines, they twist us, spin us and knock us around, but in the end we come out cleaner, brighter and better than before.

Did you wake up this morning feeling like life's problems are piling on top of you like dirty laundry?

I feel you.

That's why this quote is perfect for today.

I love the visual it puts in my mind Sure, we all have problems.  Sure, those problems can overwhelm us.  Your body and soul get kicked around with no end in sight.

But what if you looked at it from another angle?

Think of your problems like a washing machine.  It may hurt at first but the end result is a better and more improved sparkling clean you.

Hold on tight, here comes the rinse cycle.

MRS N

Do this one thing every day... @NNP_W_Light

Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again. ~ Og Mandino

Want to change your life?

Treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight.

How will this change your life?

Think about it. If you knew someone was living their last day today, you'd treat them with kindness and love. You'd let go of misunderstandings and offer forgiveness. You'd do anything in your power to make their last day on Earth the best it can be.

Now, take all those feelings and incorporate it into your everyday interaction with others. Infuse others with love, kindness and understanding. Let go of the small irks and forgive when necessary. 

"But MRS N, my co-worker drives me nuts. How can I be nice to her? She's never nice to me."

This mentality only works if you do it without any thought of your feelings and actions being reciprocated. I get you have trying people who love nothing more than to push your buttons but do you think that gives you freedom to behave the same way? No. Be the better person and share a kind word or three. It's not about the other person but about you.

I challenge you to treat everyone you meet today with kindness. Try it for 24 hours. I guarantee you'll see the difference in your own perspective and life. 

MRS N 

Are you waiting for the right time to pursue your dreams?

“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right’. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” —George Herbert

Are you waiting for the right time to pursue your dreams?

The time is now.

I spent most of my twenties telling myself I wasn't ready to be a full-time writer. I needed to pay off my student loans, save money, take more classes, etc. The truth is I was frightened to take the leap. When the opportunity came along, I had a choice: take it or keep shuffling my feet with more excuses.

We have all the tools we need to get started on our dreams. We only need to strap on our tool belt and get to work.

Stop making excuses by saying, "it's not the right time" or "I'm not ready yet". Those are just excuses brought about by fear. There isn't a "right" time when you're on the road to success. So strap on your toolbelt and get to work!

MRS N 

8 quotes on the importance of unplugging #quotes

When was the last time you unplugged? 

Last night, MR N and I sat down on our love seat with our feet up, put in a romantic CD and held hands as we listened. We didn't check email or watch tv, we just unplugged. It was a great experience and one I highly recommend.

Here's eight fabulous quotes on unplugging for you to ponder today:

Work is important, but you also need to disconnect, to unplug at times, in order to be even more concentrated when you do work. ~ Massimiliano Allegri

In this media-drenched, multitasking, always-on age, many of us have forgotten how to unplug and immerse ourselves completely in the moment. We have forgotten how to slow down. Not surprisingly, this fast-forward culture is taking a toll on everything from our diet and health to our work and the environment. ~ Carl Honore

We get sucked into the Internet and streaming information, and it's time to just unplug and look within. ~ Jonathan Cain

The more ways we have to connect, the more many of us seem desperate to unplug. ~ Pico Iyer

We're plugged in 24 hours a day now. We're all part of one big machine, whether we are conscious of that or not. And if we can't unplug from that machine, eventually we're going to become mindless. ~ Alan Lightman

I am going to spend more time face-to-face with my friends and family. I am going to unplug more. ~ Shervin Pishevar

The biggest thing I try to do is to unplug and give myself time away from social media and the Internet. ~ Franchesca Ramsey

I have those moments with my kids and family where we try to unplug and just be in the moment. We put everything else to the side and just be there with our family. ~ Soleil Moon Frye

MRS N

Words have the power to hurt or heal

Your words have the power to hurt or to heal. Choose to be an encourager; the world already has plenty of discouragers.

Words have the power to hurt or to heal.  <--- This is a true statement.

Question: Do your words hurt or help others?

I'm a writer so I always strive to have my words heal.  I never want my words to hurt another.

Read the quote above and choose right now to be an encourager.

The world is overflowing with discouragers.  We need more kindness, more compassion, more Light, more encouragers.

Be an encourager and use your words to heal.

MRS N