The heart is like a garden... @NNP_W_Light

The heart is like a garden. It can grow compassion or fear, resentment or love. What seeds will you plant there? – Buddha

What seeds are you planting in your heart?

Love

Fear

Happiness

Pain

Compassion

Jealousy

Your heart is like a garden and whatever you concentrate on will be sown.

I must admit when I make a mistake or mess up, my natural reaction is to beat myself up. I spew out hurtful and harmful words to myself, calling myself stupid or ignorant. It's something I'm working on and I have to fight against my own insecurities.

MR N told me the other day, "I wish you would show yourself the same compassion and kindness you show others."

It made me stop and think.

Why don't I?

I am going to try to sow seeds of compassion when it comes to my own self. I don't want to have bitterness and pain sprout from my heart. I only want to be filled with love, compassion and kindness.

Are there seeds of doubt and resentment growing in your heart?

Start today and weed out what you don't want in your heart. Just remember to pull everything out, including the roots.

The heart is like a garden. It can grow compassion or fear, resentment or love. What seeds will you plant there?

Mrs. N

Do you follow the Golden Rule? @NNP_W_Light

In the end, nothing we do or say in our lifetime will matter as much as the way we have loved one another. – Daphne Rose Kingman

What's the most important thing we do in our lifetime?

Love one another.

I'm a firm believer in the Golden Rule (treat others like you would like to be treated). I try to spread kindness and love to everyone I know, meet and interact with. I smile at the person who cuts me off in line. I love people who hate me. I encourage those who need it, even without them telling me.

Why do I do this?

I was taught from the time I was small to love everyone, no matter what. It didn't matter if the person I loved reciprocated or deserved my love. I couldn't control anyone but myself.

I've had friends come and go in my life. Even though they aren't in my life anymore, I still love them.

I know what you're thinking...

C'mon MRS N, nobody is that perfect! Don't you get hurt or angry when people leave you or lash out at you?

Sure, I do but that doesn't mean I don't love them. I'm human and I make mistakes. I cry and curse. But when the dust has settled and I meditate/pray about it, love comes pouring out of me. It's who I am as a person, at my core.

What's the most important thing you do in your lifetime?

In the end, nothing we do or say in our lifetime will matter as much as the way we have loved one another.

Mrs. N

Let your Light shine! @NNP_W_Light

‘Cause there’s a spark in you. You just gotta ignite the light. And let it shine.

What is the secret to life?

Light.

Every human being on this planet has a spark of Light inside them. Some keep it hidden, some don't know it exists and some let it shine. The difference between those who keep it hidden and those who let it shine is clearly seen in their outlook on life. Those who are content and happy are those people who let their Light shine.

Think about people you admire and love. Something drew you to them; they have a special something you can't explain. Psst, it's their spark.

When I let my Light shine, I'm my most happiest. I feel at peace and smile.

Are you hiding your Light or are you letting it shine?

Mrs. N

Let go of exhaustion and breathe in @NNP_W_Light

I let go of exhaustion and allow peace and tranquility into my life.

Are you exhausted? Do you wake up tired, wanting only to go back to bed?

For the past week, I have woken up tired. I look in my reflection, only to see black circles and lines of fatigue around my eyes. My summer vacation starts Thursday at 5:00 pm and it can't come soon enough. I have never worked so hard in my life. MR N is going through the same thing.

How do I combat fatigue?

Every weekend, MR N and I go out to sit together in our solarium. We try to do it as the sun is setting and sit out there for a full thirty minutes. Sometimes we talk but sometimes we don't. I take deep meditative breaths and let go of the day. I clear my head and can feel the exhaustion seep out of my pores.

Life can get busy and many of us try to deal with it. Some exercise, some party, some ignore it, etc. I've found the best thing that works for me is relaxation. When I am sitting down with nothing to do but watch the outside world (trees, birds, kids playing, trains), my mind shuts off and my body relaxes.

How about you? How do you relax?

It doesn't matter what you do; all that matters is that you relax. When you give yourself permission to let go, you'll find the exhaustion leaving you.

Mrs. N

Focus on what makes us human @NNP_W_Light

No two leaves are alike, and yet there is no antagonism between them or the branches on which they grow. – Gandhi 

Equality.

This word has been running around my head the past few days. We are all equal. Each of us has a brain, heart and body. We feel love, hope, pain and grief. So why is there such animosity in the human race?

We are all equal in the eyes of the Universe.

Really!

Each person is a leaf on the big tree of Life. Some get more sun then others. Some change direction. Some are attached and some are not. Some blow one way and some blow another.

No two leaves are alike,

and yet there is no antagonism

between them or between

the branches on which they grow.

Focus on what makes us human instead of focusing on what makes us different. We are all equal and to me, that is what it means to be human.

Mrs. N

Are you content? by @NNP_W_Light

A contented heart is a calm sea in the midst of all storms.

Are you content?

In this day and age, it goes against our nature to be content with what we have and who we are. We must have the latest fashion, houses, cars, careers... the list goes on and on.

I just read the latest trend in houses: two kitchens. One is for show and the other one is for use. I shake my head because I bet the homeowners do not have contentment.

A contented heart is a calm sea in the midst of all storms.

I am content because I have everything I could possibly want:

A roof over my head

Food to eat

A man I love

A career I'm proud of

Friends and family I love

If something happened and I lost it all (home, food, career, friends, family), I would be content living under a bridge with MR N. I'm a simple woman and my soul is filled contentment.

When life throws you a curveball, does your soul become your lifeboat and you float along until the storm passes? Or do you drown in the storm?

Fill your soul with contentment and surround yourself with what really matters. Everything else is just fluff anyway.

MRS N

Embrace your fear today! @NNP_W_Light

The amazing can only be created by facing fear, risk and failure during the process.

Do you have a fear of failure?

Many writers/artists do and I used to. Well, if I'm honest, I still do. No one likes to fail.

Anything worth doing has risk and the potential for failure. It's how it works.

This year, I've pushed myself and our business in new directions. The monthly author events is one of those projects which pushed me to the brink. I had never done this kind of thing before and let me tell you, fear kept nudging me.

You can't do this.

You'll be a failure and will be the laughing-stock of the blog community.

You'll look like a fool.

You're no good and all you'll be is a quitter.

On and on it went, but I stuck with it. By May, I was ready to quit. No one would blame me, if I quit.

But I would know.

So, I continued. I pushed through and I am so glad I did. We're halfway through the year and our reputation has grown exponentially. Sure, it's a lot of hard work but the results are worth it.

I faced failure in the face and instead of quitting, I winked.

Failure isn't the big bad monster everyone says. Even if I had quit, I would have survived. But I stayed the course and I defeated my fear.

Are you facing failure in the face in the midst of life's challenges?

The amazing can only be created by facing fear, risk and failure during the process!

MRS N

When the world says no, say yes! @NNP_W_Light

Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle. – Christian D. Larson

Growing up, I heard no a lot.  Don't touch that.  No, you can't go there.  No, you can't have that toy.  No, you can't draw properly.  No, you can't be a part of our clique.

At times, I needed to hear the word no.  I learned to not touch a hot pot or the stove.  I learned artwork is for looking, not touching.  I learned the value of money and in order to get the toy/book I wanted, I had to earn it.

But there were some no's that were told to me for negative reasons.  A teacher telling me I couldn't draw.  The popular girls at school telling me I couldn't be their friend. People telling me I couldn't do something. No. No. No. No.

Every time I heard the word no, my skin prickled.  I got tired of people telling me I couldn't do or be something.  I looked deep inside myself and there sitting in my heart was...

DETERMINATION

What is determination?  

Determination is the belief in yourself and your abilities.  Determination is shutting out the negative voices and moving forward.  Determination is looking obstacles in the eye and saying loud enough for them to hear, "YES I CAN!"

Are you facing a few obstacles in your life and the word No?

You are filled with strength and you can do it.  Don't listen to the No's.  When the world says NO, believe in yourself and all that you are.

YES, YOU CAN!!!

What do you do when faced with a world of no?

Mrs. N

Are you chasing your dreams? by @NNP_W_Light

Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.

What are your dreams?  Are you chasing them or are you stuck in place?

Dreams can be scary.  They take us out of our comfort zone and sometimes the fear stops us from achieving our dreams.

My dream of being a published author was a scary ride but I wouldn't change it for the world. I learned so much.  I've met some incredible people. It brought me to where I am today, helping writers and authors achieve their dreams. 

There comes a time when you have to decide if your desire is stronger than your fear.  Only you can make that decision.  If you decide to forgo your fear, you are one step closer to living your dream.  I encourage you to focus on your dream and your fear will fade.

Mrs. N

What will people remember about you? @NNP_W_Light

Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you. ~ Shannon Adler

The major league baseball world was stunned when pitcher Tyler Skaggs was found unresponsive in his hotel room early this week. His death shook everyone including his wife, his family, his friends and his teammates. He was only twenty-seven. My thoughts and prayers go out to Tyler Skaggs' wife and family. Tyler was a selfless man who loved to laugh, so his teammates say. 

While this is a tragedy and no one knows what happened, his death reminds us all that life is short and we never know when our number will be called. It's so important to live life to the fullest as well as to tell people you love them. 

If today was your last day on this planet, what would your legacy be? What would people remember about you?

I hope people will remember me for my kindness, my smile and my generous nature. I hope people will say to themselves, "She lived a full life without regrets."

What's your legacy?

Go out into the world today and make your legacy known. Don't be known as someone who ignored what was important. Live without regrets. 

MRS N

Take time to unplug by @NNP_W_Light #4thofjuly

Are you taking time to unplug, fully relax and just enjoy the moment?

Last night, we watched a couple episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. In one of the episodes, a gentleman's car breaks down two miles outside of Mayberry. He walks into town and asks Sheriff Taylor to take him to a mechanic to get his car fixed. He's in a big hurry and needs to get home right away. 

Andy Taylor tries to explain to the gentleman that since it's Sunday, no one is working and even the phone line is tied up. The gentleman frets and tries his best to get his car fixed but to no avail. No one will listen to him and instead of relaxing, eating Aunt Bea's fine cooking and unplugging, he paces and lashes out. It isn't until Gomer fixes his car and the Taylors heap kindness on him, he finally understands what it means to unplug and just be in the moment.

After watching this poignant episode, I realized we, as a people, need to unplug more. Sometimes it takes an event like a car breaking down for us to see the value in putting down our devices and being in the moment.

Instead of walking down the street with our eyes on our device, look up at the trees, birds and sounds of nature. Take a few deep breaths and relax. Slow down and just be in the moment.

Happy 4th of July to all our American friends and followers.

Mrs. N

Are your patience wearing thin? @NNP_W_Light

Are you struggling with something today?  Are your patience wearing thin?

Patience is a trait I always seem to be working on.  I'm not very patient and I have to force myself to be patient.

I read this quote and it really spoke to me this morning.  A light came on in my head and I realized I was approaching patience in the wrong way.

Patience is not the ability to wait.  We all do that, no matter if it's waiting in traffic or in line at a store.  Patience is the ability to keep smiling while waiting.

Keep smiling!  It not only makes the wait seem shorter, it improves your attitude too.

MRS N

Canada Day patriotic thoughts by @NNP_W_Light

"Canada was built around a very simple premise. A promise that you can work hard and succeed and build a future for yourselves and your kids, and that future for your kids would be better than the one you had." ~ Justin Trudeau

Yesterday was Canada Day and Canadians all over the world celebrate the 152nd birth of this great nation. Sure, Canada is fairly young as a nation but we're a great one too. 

I'm proud to be a Canadian. I'm proud that one can speak their mind about their leaders without censure. I'm proud anyone can marry anyone. I'm proud everyone is free. I'm proud of our immigration policy and hope our borders continue to be open to anyone around the world but specifically those persecuted. I'm proud the Canadian Dream is alive and well. Anyone who works hard can succeed. 

Look, I know our government isn't perfect and our Parliament has made some mistakes. But they're trying and that's all anyone can ask. I know I can pick up the phone and talk to my MP/MPP. I can make my voice heard. 

Every citizen should feel this way about their country. If not, maybe it's time to raise your voice with others and change the regime. Don't be passive and give up. You have the power. 

Happy belated Canada Day to all the Canadians reading this. Let's be proud of our great country. 

MRS N