Life is Not a Race - But a Journey

I attended a funeral today for my sister-in-law's mother.  I didn't know her very well - in fact I had very little interaction with her.  But I wanted to go to support my sister-in-law.  It was a beautiful service and a wonderful celebration of her life. Listening to all the wonderful memories people shared of her and the tremendous faith she had, I wish I had the opportunity to know her better. 

It was a beautiful day for the 2 hours drive into Pennsylvania to attend the service at a quaint Lutheran Church in Chambersburg.  It gave me time to reflect on my way up and back home - something I don't always make time to do and need to do more.

You know, we often get so hung up on external circumstances that we have no control over and allow those things to effect the way we think and feel - thus pulling that negative energy into "our world," and thus effecting the things we do, things that we can control.

That's why I feel so strongly that "Thinking Right" is one of the MOST important things you can do - because it is the FIRST thing you have control over - your thoughts.

M. Catherine Thomas in her talk "Zion and the Spirit of At-one-ment" said:

...we truly reap what we send out: "For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored" (Alma 41:15).  If we don't like what we're getting...we may have to check out what we're sending...Thoughts and feelings have energy and travel from their origin to affect people and things; but mostly they affect the person with whom they originated...What happens to us enters our systems as energy and takes effect through our energy systems, but what we send out in response seems to have a much more powerful effect on us...Would it be an overstatement to say that during our waking hours we are either generating negative energy or positive energy?

I've been working on creating a Vision Board - and I came across something I hope you will take a few minutes to ponder on --

Life is not a Race -- but indeed a journey.

Be Honest.

Work Hard.

Be Choosy.

Say "Thank You", "I Love You", & "Great Job" to someone each day.

Go to church, take time for prayer.

Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper.

Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental.

Search for your purpose and do it as best as you can.

Dreaming does matter.  It allows you to become that which you aspire to be.

Laugh often.  Give a Smile to everyone you meet.

Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them.

Some of the best things really are free.

Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming.

Forgive, it frees the soul.

Take time for yourself -- plan for longevity.

Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know.

Live for today, Enjoy the moment!

I don't know who put this together, but there's a lot of good advice in those lines - and most of them not hard to do - and any one of them will help you to "Think Right" - or more positively.

How many do you already do?  

Which ones will you try to implement better every day?  

Try it and see what a difference it can make.

On a side note - The talk quoted in this post is an awesome one that I have read many, many times.  I've given you the link above.  It is well worth your time to read and ponder - it is full of wonderful "gems."  It's one of my favorite all time talks.