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

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

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

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

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

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 

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

Need a little encouragement? @NNP_W_Light

The struggle you're in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. Don't give up!

Do you need a little encouragement?

This week has been a series of missteps and falters for me. I'm totally exhausted and in need of a rest. I've been working my tail off and yesterday was feeling a little low. Without me saying a word, I had three friends, two clients and MR N all tell me the same thing:

You're doing amazing work and I'm so proud of you.

Those ten words uplifted and encouraged me. It was the boost I needed.

Each of us is dealing with one struggle or another. We're trying to make it through the day. Some days are harder than others. The truth is, we need to go through these struggles to deal with what comes tomorrow.

MRS N

Are you lost at sea? by @NNP_W_Light

The entire water of the sea can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. Similarly, negativity of the world can’t put you down unless you allow it to get inside you.

Do you ever feel like you're lost at sea surrounded by negativity?

I feel that way sometimes.  It's hard not feel a bit seasick when you are constantly bombarded with wave after wave of negativity.  But I have the answer.

Imagine yourself (mind, body and soul) like a ship.  You have to waterproof every inch of yourself so that water cannot seep in.  The same goes for negativity.  They are everywhere and they are just looking for the tiniest of holes.  Seal yourself with the Light!! The Light is the only armor you need to be protected.

So, the next time you are faced with negativity, have faith and ride the tide.

Psst, the more you spread the Light to others (and uplift, encourage and bless), the weaker the negativity and darkness becomes.

MRS N

Be a kindness confetti canyon @NNP_W_Light

Kindness is your soul’s way of finding a place inside other people’s hearts. It is a shelter fortified in gratitude.

Are you a kindness confetti canyon?

On Twitter, fellow followers launch confetti in the air with their own virtual confetti canyon whenever something exciting happens.  When I saw this quote, I thought immediately about my own confetti canyon.  I try to show encouragement and kindness to everyone I meet.  It doesn't take any effort but it makes a huge difference.

When you are kind to someone, you are opening a door to their soul and even if they don't tell you they are grateful.

Kindness is another way to spread the Light.  

What are you waiting for?  

Smile at people today, be kind, hug those you love and wish everyone you meet to have a great day!  

Spread that kindness around like a confetti canyon.

MRS N