This lovely passage is by Nikki Banas and it is entitled "Always Gentle:" Always Gentle My beautiful friend, be gentle with yourself and your soul...Be kind to yourself when you feel like you've failed or when you feel like you just can't get things right. Know that your mistakes only feel big right now, but soon they'll just be little moments of the past. And also know that they don't define your future; you can still grow and become in every way that you want to.... Be ge

We live in a society where we are over-committed and over-consumed. Where the amount of likes we get on social media has the power to affect our mood, where we strive for the 'next best thing,' where we function at a pace that eventually brings us to that place where we are simply going through the motions. We are much better served to create a balance - for our calendar, our time, for what we spend our money on. Here are some things to consider: “Simplicity is not about depr

When life begins to feel like its dragging its heels, when we are faced with a challenge, we can often lean into the negative feelings that come with those types of situations. Although we need to be able to be comfortable with discomfort, we always run the risk of following those negative thoughts down the rabbit hole. Here are some wise words from Marianne Williamson on the process of finding light in the dark: "The darkness is an invitation to light, calling forth the spi

We all love the iconic Peanuts gang; here are some of my favourite quotes to brighten your day: “Happiness is anyone and anything that’s loved by you.” – Charles M. Schulz , Charlie Brown. "All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!" – Charles M. Schulz, Lucy. "It’s just human nature…we all need someone to kiss us goodbye." – Charles M. Schulz, Marcie. "In the book of life, the answers aren’t in the back." – Charles M. Schulz , Charlie Brow

I have quoted Morgan Harper Nichols many times on this blog. I love the way she composes her words to reach how we can feel on any given day. This quote wraps up our small series on resilience: "There will be days when you are certain you are over it. There will be days you feel everything all over again. But no matter the day, there will be songs to listen to. And when you don't feel like singing, there will be rhythms to breathe to, for grace is still at work in you." - Mor

When I get fluttered feelings of anxiety, I like to remind myself that "No matter what, I will be okay." It is also important to focus in on the simple things in life as that is where we will gather the most contented feelings. I rather appreciate reading Brooke Hampton quotes for this reason as she reminds us about what in life, really matters: "Fancy things never appealed to me. I like the sweet, simple things. I like to watch the sunrise on my old front porch with a warm c

I saw this passage on Instagram at myspiritualpath and thought it was a lovely reminder that being true to ourselves is the highest form of self-love: I will start filling my own cup. Being my own muse. Knowing my own worth. Loving my own skin. Praising my own existence. Validating my own journey. Speaking my own truth. Admiring my own reflection. Experiencing my own love. Enjoying my own company. Extending my own energy. Creating my own paradise. Photo by Tron Le on Un

I saw this story and it resonated with me as to the importance of simplicity: The rich industrialist was horrified to find the fisherman lying beside his boat, smoking a pipe. "Why aren't you out fishing?" asked the industrialist. "Because I have caught enough fish for the day." "Why don't you catch some more?" "What would I do with them?" "You could earn more money. Then you could have a motor fitted to your boat to go into deeper waters and catch more fish. Then you would

I came across this lovely passage by Emily McDowell: "Finding yourself" is not really how it works. You aren't a ten-dollar bill in last winter's coat pocket. You are also not lost. Your true self is right there, buried under cultural conditioning, other people's opinions, and inaccurate conclusions you drew as a kid that became your beliefs about who you are. "Finding yourself" is actually returning to yourself. An unlearning, an excavation, a remembering who you were before

I came across this quote by Anne Lamott: “It's funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools - friendships, prayer, conscience, honesty - and said 'do the best you can with these, they will have to do'. And mostly, against all odds, they do.” ― Anne Lamott, Traveling

We all need the wise words of Disney characters once in awhile. Here are some favourites: "Never let your wings be stolen from you." - Maleficent "The cover is not the book, so open it up and take a look." - Mary Poppins "Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it." - Rafiki "You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - Winnie the Pooh "Happiness is the richest thing we will ever o

We are often told to not sweat the small stuff, that it is the simple things that matter. I came across this poem that captured that sentiment well: Dance beneath the moonlit sky, With stars as your guide, Let laughter be your compass, Your heart forever wide, For when the chapters close, And memories softly rise, You'll find the little things, Were treasures in disguise. - Adriana Poloz Photo by malith d karunarathne on Unsplash

I love this passage by Kahlil Gibran: "He said, "And what is it to work with love? It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth. It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house. It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit. It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit. Work is l

I especially like this poem written by Ralph Waldo Emerson: He said, "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered

Who doesn't need a few chuckles first thing in the morning? Here are a few funny quotes for us to enjoy: "The hardest years in life are those between ten and seventy.' - Helen Hayes "I really don't think I need buns of steel. I'd be happy with buns of cinnamon." - Ellen DeGeneres "Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet to see who they really are." - Will Ferrell "Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone."

I came across this poetic writing by Rania Naim: "For a long time, I held on to everything to make sure it didn't end. To make sure I didn't say goodbye. To avoid another failure. To stop letting my friends and family down. But I learned to look at endings inversely. I learned that endings don't always mean failures, goodbyes or deaths. I learned that endings can sometimes open new doors for better beginnings and close old doors that weren't going to lead us anywhere in the f

Love comes in many forms; it is far-reaching, encompassing, it crosses time and space. Love has the ability to heal, to bring joy, to protect. Love brings with it mercy, compassion and grace. Today let us celebrate love: "Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." - Mother Teresa "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." -Lao Tzu "Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others,

I came across this poem by William Martin: Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives. Such striving may seem admirable, but it is the way of foolishness. Help them instead to find the wonder and the marvel of an ordinary life. Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples and pears. Show them how to cry when pets and people die. Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand. And make the ordinary come alive for them. The extraordinary will take care

I read this poem the other day and it reminded me about the power that a smile has: He didn't know her but she smiled, and he needed that today and he smiled back and she walked past and carried on their way. And he walked on and he kept pace and other people passed his way and he smiled and they smiled back and they needed that today. And they walked on and he walked on and other people passed their ways and they smiled and they smiled back and others walked towards and the

I came across this lovely quote by Laura Jean Truman emphasizing how we can be there to support someone: You can't heal the people you love. You can't make choices for them. You can't rescue them. You can promise that they won't journey alone. You can loan them your map. But this trip is theirs. Be gentle with yourself - it's hard work to be present to the freedom of the other. Laura Jean Truman When we try and save someone, it never works. I especially appreciate the line "