Motivational Monday~

Hello friends.  Is it just me or is 2017 off to a very fast paced start?  I mean, it's already February 20th.  Weren't we just celebrating the New Year???

Today I thought I'd share what I am currently reading, as it fits the "motivational" category.  My #2 gifted this book to me for Christmas, as she knows I love the two other books I have read written by Shauna.

Below is a brief summary from Barnes and Noble.

Returning to the theme of decluttering everyday life and concentrating on what is truly important, Niequist (Savor) weaves together a series of essays concerning her personal experiences overcoming a life overwrought with busyness, stress, and feelings of inadequacy. After years of frantic living, Niequist has come to the realization that she’s missing out on the beauty of everyday life with her husband and children—that it will all speed past her if she doesn’t slow down and simplify, learn how to say no to demands on her time, and stop worrying about others’ opinions of her. “Present over perfect living is real over image, connecting over comparing, meaning over mania, depth over artifice,” she writes, explaining along the way that she’s found a new “strength” in embracing quiet surroundings and in spending time alone. To emphasize her points, she quotes Scripture, but does so sparingly and intentionally—more often than not, her included references to her faith are intended only to bolster her own experiences of mindful living. Her style is conversational, friendly, inviting, and never heavy-handed, making the book accessible to people of all faiths. Women will find the advice hits closest to home. Niequist’s latest book is her most satisfying blend of mindfulness, scripture, and self-help to date, offering readers the blueprint for a life lived in the real instead of the ideal. 

I am thoroughly enjoying the book.  

Two others I recommend:

This is a great book with stories of shared meals around the table, and includes some wonderful recipes.

And, I love this devotional book by Shauna as well.

Motiviational Monday~

Tough loss for our Atlanta Falcons last night.  Congratulations to the New England Patriots, and to Tom Brady for an outstanding game.

I think we can all agree, that whether you win or lose at something, there is always something you can learn from the experience.

It's how you chose to handle the loss that can make all the difference however.

Have a blessed week friends.

Motivational Monday~

I am sure many of you have already heard this, but even so, it's worth listening to over and over again.

We need Him now more than ever. Amen.

Motivational Monday~

As we enter into the new year, many of us have organization on our mind. I stumbled upon these quotes on Pinterest, and thought I'd share them with you all. Just a few things to ponder this week.

Happy Monday!

Motivational Monday~

Good Monday morning friends!  I hope most of your are enjoying the day off.

I stumbled upon this quote this week, and felt it was appropriate given many of us have either made a list of New Year's resolutions or set goals for 2017.

This quote really spoke to me.  It is so easy to give up on our resolutions and goals when things don't seem to be working out; we aren't seeing results fast enough, we set our expectations too high, we don't have the  time to devote to them or we just flat out give up.

Well, what if we asked ourselves this simple question when that happens?  "What if  I am going about it all wrong?"

For example:

You decided to work out in the mornings, but you're not a morning person.  Instead of quitting, find the time of day that works for you.

You want to eat healthier, but rush out the door in the mornings and choose fast food instead.  Plan ahead.  Make lunches on Sunday for the week, or plan extras for dinner so you have leftovers for lunch.  It's easy to just pack it up when cleaning up from dinner and put it in the fridge.

You want to cut back on your spending, so you say no to any "extras", yet you then feel deprived. Pick one guilty pleasure (within reason) and enjoy it once a week rather than every day (such as that fancy coffee).  Or, find a way to do that same thing at home yourself.  Buy a pretty new bottle of nail polish and paint your own toes.

Sometimes it's not the resolutions or the goals we set, it's that we are going about them all wrong!

Just something to ponder this week (as this is the week most will quit what they just started).

Motivational Mondays~

Hello friends!  Yes I do realize it is Tuesday, but my inspiration for Motivational Monday didn't occur until late last evening.  So, I decided it would be okay to share it on Tuesday.

Most of you know we had some icy weather this past weekend here in Atlanta not the pretty snow that our unreliable weather folk predicted.  Well due to said weather, our mail and garbage service has been a bit off.  We have yet to get mail since Friday our mailman of 20+ years retired before Thanksgiving and hasn't been replaced so we have subs.  It was dark and cold last night when our final garbage truck entered the neighborhood.

Our new neighbors across the street (moved in last week) had placed a TON of boxes out for pickup.  Nothing wrong with that (honestly recycling should have taken them but didn't), EXCEPT...they didn't break any of them down.  I am sure you can picture what that crazy pile that took up half their yard and oh the contractors had blocked with cars all day looked like.  It was his last stop in our neighborhood...our garbage man got out of his truck and hand loaded ALL of them into his truck.  I just felt I needed to say something.

I didn't have any disposable coffee/hot cocoa cups on hand (and honestly didn't think even with my Keurig I'd get it made in time), so I did the next best thing.  I grabbed a bottle of Coca Cola and ran across the street to thank him.

The look on his face said it all.  To be recognized for going above and beyond on a cold night, working a mostly thankless job.  It was much appreciated.

Of course after the fact I prayed I had grabbed the bottle with the fancy new pull top :-0

So with that, I encourage you to find some small way to make someones day just a bit brighter today.