“It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien

Love like fire. October sunrise from a sacred place.

Hope is held in the beauty of the eternal. With the courage of faith, the spirit is lifted. Rise with an open heart.

“Promise Yourself -
To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.”

― Christian D. Larson, Your Forces and How to Use Them

Hold on to Hope by Jim Crotty on Flickr.

To stay on the path of hope and thankfulness.

“A few steps away from your true path are pits of self-pity and despair, plateaus of pride and self-will. Stay on the path of Life.” - Sarah Young

“For Equilibrium, a Blessing:
Like the joy of the sea coming home to shore,
May the relief of laughter rinse through your soul.

As the wind loves to call things to dance,
May your gravity be lightened by grace.

Like the dignity of moonlight restoring the earth,
May your thoughts incline with reverence and respect.

As water takes whatever shape it is in,
So free may you be about who you become.

As silence smiles on the other side of what’s said,
May your sense of irony bring perspective.

As time remains free of all that it frames,
May your mind stay clear of all it names.

May your prayer of listening deepen enough
to hear in the depths the laughter of god.”

― John O’Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings

I am thankful for the power of a blessing in lifting and banishing any and all curses.

Let it go. Let it flow. And let it return to you.

Like life, light flows continually while always returning to the center, a center of grace and thankfulness.

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Morning on Broad Creek #hiltonhead

“… or divulge our simple desire to smile.”

“Rules for Happiness:
something to do,
someone to love,
something to hope for.” ― Immanuel Kant

“Walk on with hope in your heart, and you’ll never walk alone” ― Shah Rukh Khan

I am thankful for the gifts of this day (even when I don’t know what they will be yet).