The Best Moments of Your Life!

So what are the best moments of your life so far? I bet there are many.

Here is a picture of my sister Kelly and I. I'm the one in the pink!

I recently got back from Tucson, Arizona and had such a great time visiting my sister & her family! I've been doing a lot of thinking about what the best moments of my life have been. I've had many ofcourse, but this trip to Tucson was definitely at the top of the list! It was fun to take a trip by myself, (I don't do that too often and I plan to do it more!) it was wonderful to see my sister & her kids who I miss greatly, and I got to visit one of my favorite places: Arizona! It's not just all of the fun things we did, it's about spending some great quality time with the people you love. What matters most is giving people your time. It's priceless! To see my sister so happy when I arrived at the Phoenix Airport made me feel really good. To see my niece light up when I took her on some rides at the Old Tucson Studios, put a big smile on my face! To be there for my niece at 4:00am when she was having a nightmare was a really good feeling for me. The fact that she thanked me the next day (twice!) for being there for her almost made me cry! How sweet! To watch the baby and his funny little morning routine (Teletubbies) was so special. To go Bridal Dress shopping with my sister (also my maid of honor) and find the perfect wedding dress was a great experience! To sit out at Starbucks with my sister and just have some time to talk and enjoy eachothers company was awesome! To get to know the man in my sister's life a little bit better was great. He is one of the nicest and most thoughtful people I've ever met! (and a wonderful dad too!) I couldn't be happier for her! Taking the time and enjoying life with the people you love is truly what it's all about. As I've gotten older, it's become a much bigger priority for me!

Don't forget those that are important to you! Don't let too much time pass by before you make that phone call or pay a visit to someone you love. Life is short! Enjoy every moment of it! I am!!!!

"Treasure your relationships, not your possessions."

-Anthony J D'Angelo

"Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the gratefully and appreciating heart."

-Henry Clay

Happiness

I hope you are all having a wonderful and fun summer! I've been having a very busy summer so far! In less than 2 weeks I will be flying off to Tucson, Arizona to see my sister Kelly. She moved there at the end of May and I really miss her! We are going to be doing some bridal dress shopping and just enjoy some good quality time together. I can't wait! I am hoping to move to Arizona myself someday very soon. It's such a beautiful place with incredible weather and so many great things to do. I love the desert!

For those of you who don't know already, my new wedding date is April 25th, 2009. It is so much nicer to have a year engagement! Everything is falling into place and Russell & I are enjoying every moment of our engagement.

Until I can find a little more time to write, I wanted to post this article that I feel is very powerful. I hope you enjoy it too! Thanks for stopping by.....

Happiness Quotes.....

"In the pursuit of happiness you will become free from stress and worry.The art of happiness is to be content with what you have and with what you don't have. Happiness allows the mind to nurture the positive qualities in the self and others.Happiness allows the sparkle of the mind to touch the heart of others."

If you want to be happy, be.

~Leo Tolstoy

"No matter what happened to you yesterday, your attitude is your choice today."


Happiness

Happiness, roughly speaking, is a comprehensive term for a state of mind that is usually comprised of and probably much more than the feelings of contentment, achievement, fulfillment and peace of mind. It is a kind of tickling, tingling, zinging, singing and a dancing sensation accompanied by a healthy and a joyous change in heart beat resulting from the faster circulation of blood. Each cell and tissue of the human body gets activated and experiences this pleasant sensation. There is a spring in the feet and also perhaps in the body and the person wishes that this experience should continue for ever. Happiness occurs at various states and depth of intensity and acquires different characteristics which accord with that state.

Various states, shades or feelings of happiness can be described as: bliss,
joy, jubilation, exultation, gratification, uplifted spirits, cheerfulness, playfulness, amusement, fun, gladness, delight, elation, ecstasy, thrill and lot more.

Some people are happy because of their ‘sanskars’, the intrinsic nature. They refuse to go down the dumps whatever the circumstances. They do not need to be taught to be happy. They do not make any conscious effort to be happy and undisturbed. The shadow of gloom over them occurs only for a short time and they return to their jovial self soon thereafter. Normal shortages and deprivations of life cannot cow them down. They are made up of brave and lively hearts. Happiness exists in their genes and attitude. They take life in their stride. If you study their nature closely, you will find that such persons are always inclined to forget and forgive. They do not take any unpleasant situation or occurrence to their heart. It is in their nature to fly with the wind, to flow with the current and not to impose their will to oppose or change it. The result is that they can enjoy the feeling of flying—a metaphor for happiness-- or flowing effortlessly. Just imagine the case of person lying blissfully in a boat which is being carried away by the cool current of the stream on a hot summer day. On the other hand, visualize the picture of a person panting, huffing and sweating even in the cold wind trying to paddle hard going in the opposite direction of the current in the same stream. This is not to denigrate the value of struggle to improve one’s circumstances. It is these brave souls that bring about the development and progress in the world. Probably both are happy in their own way. Some people enjoy struggling while others are happy at avoiding it.

Happiness lies in the attitude.

There is a third category as well. It consists of those persons who like being sad and morose. They enjoy gloating and wallowing about in the muck of sadness, probably like pigs in the poor lands. They are always ‘moody’, ’philosophical’—continually peeling off the layers of an onion.

Happiness is a matter of attitude.

We must, however, understand that we deserve to be happy.
Happiness is our birth right. It is a biological necessity for healthy living. Unhappiness is a state of mental and physical sickness. We should not let our happiness evade us what ever the state of our health and circumstances. We should not allow others to forfeit it.

If it is not in our intrinsic nature - sanskars - to remain naturally happy, we should make conscious effort to develop an attitude that is compatible and conducive to being happy.

Happiness is an antidote to the poison of sad circumstances in our life.
Happiness is the best and most nutritious and vitalizing food.

It is a positive biological process. Happiness, whatever its level, shade or hue, creates certain enzymes and chemical changes in our body which are conducive to our health, well being and longevity. If it is a golden rule not to give sorrow to anyone, it is a diamond rule not to receive sorrow from anyone or any situation.

Kimberly

The Importance of Gratitude

Ever since I learned the importance of gratitude, my life has never been the same. I first started writing down 5 things I am grateful for everyday. (An idea I got from Oprah!) I began to see and truly appreciate how much I had in my life. It's so easy to see all that we don't have, but what about what we DO have? It's a much more empowering thing to focus on! After seeing the movie The Secret, (by the way, everyone should see this movie!) I started carrying a gratitude rock with me as a constant reminder to be grateful. I don't need reminders anymore because it's just so automatic for me now. I wake up every single day feeling grateful! I still enjoy writing down the things I feel grateful for from time to time, but mostly it's just something I already feel!

Even during challenges in your life, you can still find many things to be grateful for. That is actually the best time to practice gratitude- it reminds you that you still have so much to be thankful for no matter what happens. You will be okay! My wish is that everyone can feel more gratitude in their lives because if they could, it would bring them so much more.

Let me tell you about a time when I felt extremely grateful. One morning (many years ago) I was driving home from my boyfriend's house. We had been together for a long time and we were going through a break up. I remember feeling sick and totally heartbroken. The tears wouldn't stop running down my face as I was driving home. Directly in front of me was a school bus filled with kids. I looked up as the tears were flowing and noticed a little boy staring at me. He then smiled and blew me a kiss! I thought that was the sweetest thing ever and somehow after that, I just knew everything was going to be okay! I felt extremely grateful that morning. I tell this story because it shows how such a simple thing can be so powerful! It was for me anyway and I've never forgotten it.

Don't forget to notice and appreciate the special moments, people, and things in your life!

So what can you feel grateful about today? Start with one thing if you'd like, but you will be surprised at how the list will grow. And eventually, you will feel constant gratitude in your life. There's no better feeling if you ask me! Everyone one of us has so much to be grateful for..... it's all what you choose to focus on. I have been a much happier person ever since I discovered the power of gratitude. I am very lucky and have an amazing life!

All the best,

Kimberly

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

~Marcel Proust

If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.

~Gerald Good

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.

-Anne Frank