Beautiful People

- Elizabeth Kubler Ross

Thanks to Fatimah for submitting this quote. Visit her at Forever Fatimah.

Laugh

(Submitted by Victoria)

Whispered the heart.

[Quote submitted by Krishna]

A Transformation

Winner of the Inspirational Giveaway!

For the last two weeks you guys have submitted several lovely quotes and entered a little inspirational giveaway from The Inspiration Tree and CSN stores.

I want to say thank you to all of you who entered for sharing such beautiful quotes. I enjoyed every single one and will definitely be using some in future posts : )

Tonight, as promised, a winner was randomly drawn! 

Drum roll pleaseeeeeeeee.... 

and the winner is Therese!

The quote she shared was:

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

 – Roald Dahl

Again, to everyone who entered (and all the other readers), thank you! And congratulations to Therese : )

☮ & ❤

Samm

Live Magnificently

[Quote submitted by Wendy]

Laugh & Love

Thank you to Abi for the lovely submission! 

Colorful Climb to Perspective in Collioure

The following is a lovely and inspirational article written and submitted by Meg (ViewfromthePier.com).

"Be careful how you interpret the world:
It is like that."
- Erich Heller, 1911-1990

On a misty morning last summer, in a French village with the motto Sempre endavant, mai morirem or “Always forward, we’ll never die,” I found myself in an ancient cemetery.

In an unusual burst of early morning ambition, I had decided to go for a walk after waking just before daybreak. A block or two from my hotel, I wandered into an alabaster acre packed with miniature marble mausoleums shoulder to shoulder, and rows of ivory crosses that resembled outstretched arms touching fingertips.

In the midst of this pale sacred space, the air damp with heavy fog, a black cat scampered across the chalky gravel. Startled, I shrieked and jumped several inches in the air. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I bolted through the elaborately scrolled wrought-iron gates. Reaching the main street and recovering from my palpitations on a bench, I segued from spooked to crestfallen.

Collioure is shaped like the arc of a palette and encircles a poetic port, its perimeter dripping with delicious pastels. Matisse is reported to have said “No sky in all France is more blue than that of Collioure.” He and his fellow painters Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali had been drawn to the quality of light here, and like them, I sought to capture the town’s rich shades, albeit with my camera rather than a paintbrush. When I had arrived the prior evening, even at dusk I could see the promise of lush hues hidden in the shadows of the tropical foliage, cubist architecture and picturesque harbor.

My sunny expectations were now dissolving. With the sky hazy and thick with humidity, the day I had envisioned for myself seemed destined to be a washout. Disheartened, I dragged myself off the bench and began walking toward the water, navigating through the narrow, maze-like streets, empty at this early hour. Ruminating as I rambled, my pace quickened with my temper. I fumed that I had driven the better part of a day in the height of Europe’s summer holiday season, only to have my photography party spoiled by the certain rain.

With each step my disappointment deepened and then made a hard turn down the emotional dead end that is resentment and anger. Taking long, purposeful strides propelled by frustration, practically at a run and breathing heavily, I turned a corner and shot out from a cobblestoned alley into open space. The scene in front of me stopped me short.

Beyond the deserted plaza and small sandy beach was a study in shades of peach, tangerine, and apricot. Against the backdrop of a glowing sky layered with mist lay the shimmering waters of the Mediterranean, the color of ginger tea. The long curled arm of the centuries-old defensive bastion encircling the harbor was a shade of deep rosy tan.

Standing on a paddle board, a lone figure using a single oar skimmed along the surface, heading out to sea. With each stroke that sliced the water, the sun rose higher above the horizon line, its rays wringing out the fog. Watching the solitary oarsman gracefully glide away, my breathing slowed to the lull of the lapping waves, and my anger sputtered out like a snuffed candle.

Rustlings along the perimeter of the harbor awakened me from the brief and unexpected spell of enchantment. An elderly man in bathing trunks, towel thrown over his shoulder, appeared on my right, walking down to the beach. A few feet from me, a father and son with fishing poles emerged from the warren of densely-packed buildings. Far to the left, a trio of teenage boys dove from the sea wall, their splashes followed by three wet heads surfacing seconds later, ringed by ripples in the water.

I moved along the waterfront and nodded at the other early risers who had appeared: a matron stood with hands on hip peering at the church bulletin posted outside its open door, out of which another black cat sauntered. A man paused to take in the view, three fresh baguettes under his arm. Looking up, I saw a naked toddler wander out on to a second-story balcony, plop down on her behind and stare back at me.

Taking my pick of the network of intersecting lanes that wound their way up the hillside, I discovered one artistic flourish after another adorning the exteriors of the quirky buildings. Someone had sprinkled the surface of a tattered shutter with tiny hearts, sketched in chalk in a tic-tac-toe pattern. A statue of a Madonna and child nestled in a niche embedded in an old wall. Outside a cubbyhole-size storefront, a heart-shaped satchet sweetly stitched with the word Amitie rested among an artful display of brightly-patterned linens.

I made a slow climb up the steep, crooked streets, fronted with houses in Crayola colors and wreathed in fragrant bougainvillea. At Collioure’s heights, I looked out over terra cotta rooftops and enjoyed the same azure expanse that Matisse had so prized.

Collioure illustrated for me a lesson I seem to need to learn and re-learn. Life is not black and white, or all or nothing; it is the multi-hued shadings and contrasts that give a day its texture and meaning. Nothing is static, and any given situation can be seen differently, given a little time and some perspective.

Today, I aspire to remember the “Always forward” battle cry of Collioure’s residents. While seeing the big picture sometimes involves a bit of an uphill slog for me, I am moving in the right direction when I can recognize that expectations will only cloud my view.

For more images of Collioure, see here under Travel Photos.

[To read more of Meg's journey's in life including both inspiration and travel, visit her blog at ViewfromthePier.com]

Now, Make it True..

Submitted by Bridget.

Forgive.

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain. And most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.”

—	Dale Carnegie

Sail away from the safe harbor,

Submitted by Maribeth, visit her at

A Believer in Better

(photo taken by Maribeth in beautiful Jamaica)

Imagine yourself sitting on a cliff..

Thank you to Bridget for another lovely submission : )

An Inspirational Giveaway!!!

I want to give a little something back in the form of a giveaway in order to say thank you to you for reading and in hopes to inspire you. The winner of this small gift can use it in several ways, it's up to you!

You may want to use it as a motivation to change a living space in even the smallest ways, a beautiful lamp or new Pendant Lighting to light up a dreary space, some decorative wall stickers, a new fleece throw or an interesting clock?

Maybe instead you'd like to give a small gift to a special person in your life as a token of your gratitude... NHL memorabilia for that team fanatic or a lovely jewellery box?

Or my favourite, inspire yourself to be creative, use your imagination with this small gift to produce something beautiful; using colourful bead sets, painting supplies, picture frame kits or modelling clay.

This gift I’m talking about is $15 for use at any CSN stores online. You can use this $15 to purchase any of the above things I listed, among many more items (the site offers SEVERAL different sections of products and several awesome things which can be found for $15 and under, including many items I’ve listed above) or you can use the credit towards a larger purchase, your choice!

There is only 1 requirement to be eligible to win this small gift giveaway from The Inspiration Tree:

1.       You must live in US or Canada, as the site only ships to these countries.

To enter this giveaway all you have to do is comment on this post with an inspirational quote that means something to you (make sure to include your name & email).

The deadline is 2 weeks from today (March 19^th, 2011). On this day your names will be entered into a draw; a winner will be randomly picked and you will be notified via email.

I’m looking forward to reading all your quotes. : )

Thanks for reading The Inspiration Tree guys!

☮ & ❤,

Samm

It's Not too Late..

- Care Bears

Quote submitted by Elyse, visit her at

www.prettyhappybusy.com

Hope

Wake up.

Pay It Forward

Submitted by Ashley. 

~

I was given an assignment in class today, to do something for three people that they can’t do on their own and to pass it on; it’s the movement called “Pay It Forward”.

 I want to take it to the next step and try to reach more than just three people. I want everyone to know that even if their having a bad day, someone somewhere loves them, is thinking about them, and is keeping them in their prayers. That when you've had enough with frustration and hardship, that there will always be something that’s going to change for the better.

 So smile, its scientifically proven to put you in a better mood by releasing serotonin. So become a serotonin junky, hug some one who needs it, or just offer encouraging words, make a new friend, live life.

 I believe in humanity, I believe in you, so pay it forward, the universe will reward you kindly.

I love you and have a phenomenal day!

“My humanity is bound in yours, for we can only 
be human together."

❤

Think Good Thoughts..

Give Me Sympathy

You're gonna make mistakes you're young

Come on baby play me something, 

Like here comes the sun

"The birds chirping in the background always make me feel happy"

Thanks for the submission Maggie : )

It's Only Life (Kate Voegele)

Thanks to Paula for the submission! 
"I listen to this video whenever I feel like crying. It always make me feel better. No matter what."

Don't look away 
Don't run away
Hey baby it's only life
Don't lose your faith
Don't run away
Hey baby its only life
Yea it's only life

Find the courage

Thanks to Jen for the submission.

Visit her beautiful blog; Ms Morphosis.