A New You

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

2010-02-28T06:44:00.000-08:00

Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain… but all the happiness and growth occurs while we are climbing it. The truth is there is no better time to be happy than now. Recognize precious moments and cherish them.

Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to delight in, not to endure.

Happiness is not born of outward conditions, but depends upon what a person is in the inner fabric of his or her heart. The feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.

We can make our life whatever we want it to be. Create out of it something beautiful and meaningful. Happiness comes from giving, not getting. If we try daily to bring happiness to others, we cannot stop it from coming to us also. To get joy, we must give it, and to keep joy, we must scatter it. Time waits for no one; share it with someone special, special enough to spend your time.

Last night, I set the dining room table with our best china, cloth napkins and I placed fresh flowers on the table. I lit scented candles and played soft music while preparing dinner.

My 9-year-old daughter asked, “Mommy are we having company tonight?”

“Yes” I replied.

When it was time for dinner our three little girls counted the lovely place settings.

Then, they questioned, “There are only five place settings, where are we going to sit?”

Smiling, I said, “Right here next to Mommy and Daddy.”

“But where is the company going to sit? asked the girls collectively.

“You are the company,” I said “this special dinner is for three very special girls…” “Wow…I can’t wait to tell my teacher about this,” my 9-year-old exclaimed.

I do not want to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add joy to my life and the lives of others. If it’s worth doing, I want to do it today. I don’t want to take tomorrow for granted.

Every day is a blessing from God. That’s why we should make a decision to be generous with our affection, love and praise. Last week, I saw a sign in a store window that read, “Only love matters.” So let us be grateful for those nearest and dearest to us, and let’s express over and over again how much we love and appreciate them.
Embrace and hug your children daily and watch their eyes light up with joy as you tell them, “You are God’s gift to me,” “I am proud of you,” “You’re a blessing,” and “I love you so much.”

So today, do that kind deed. Surprise someone with a small gift. Give a reassuring touch. Send a thoughtful card that you intended to write one of these days. Extend your hand and heart. Coach a sports team. Help a neighbor with yard work. Take someone who doesn’t drive to the grocery store. Tutor a child. Or mentor a young person. Your joy will be full, as love flows out, and brightens the life of others.

Let us find time each day to see beauty and love in the world around us. And may we see our future as one filled with love, promise and sweet possibility.

Your own resolution to succeed

2010-01-30T15:33:00.000-08:00

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution
to succeed is more important than any other one thing.” Abraham Lincoln.

We each have the privilege and responsibly to evaluate the roads which lie ahead of us. And if necessary, step off that road into another direction…

If you could create your ideal life, what would you dare to aspire? Reflect in depth, your ultimate goals, for accomplishments do not happen by pure chance. You must have a plan. This is crucial in achieving success. Write down the action steps you will take to attain your goal. And establish a target date for achieving them.

Greatness exists in you. Believe in your worth, reach high and expand your vision. Release your mind to life’s infinite possibilities and open your heart, believing that genuine dreams can be turned into reality.

In the Bible, I Chronicles 17:2 says: “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.” So set high goals and have the courage to continue to try to reach them. The human spirit is remarkably resilient. Therefore, persevere, even in the face of rejection or difficulties. Ultimately, you can triumph over astonishing odds, as long as you do not concede defeat.

And as we resolve, with determination to accomplish our heart’s desires, we will be presented with new possibilities and new opportunities in 2010.

The Creator of the Universe can help to bring all our dreams to pass, if they are sincerely asked in prayer and are to be used for our good, the betterment of others and for His glory.

The best is yet to be.

Blessings,
Catherine

Thank God often for His blessings

2009-11-22T08:02:00.000-08:00

I do it often. I make a list, a record, of the good things that God has done for me.
And then one by one I thank Him for the countless gifts He so generously gives.
By thinking back and reminding myself of my blessings, it builds up my faith, brings hope and strength.

There once was a missionary who was held hostage under terrible conditions. In his first interview after his release, he was asked how he coped with despair. The man responded, “I recalled my blessings.”

“Blessings?” the reporter questioned.

“Yes, I remembered the love of my family; I reminisced about when my children were born, I called to mind an encouraging letter I received at just the right time. And I thanked God continually for the mercies He always had bestowed on me.”

To get past trying or difficult situations we must recall our blessings and remember our past accomplishments. Let us summon up wonderful memories again and again. And write them down, keeping a journal of the little miracles, and reading them repeatedly, so when challenging times come, in these testimonies, we will be strengthened. Let’s keep our list in a place where we can see it every day and when we feel ourselves getting discouraged, let’s check our list and read it aloud. We must focus on all the blessings that God has given us. Then, thank Him for what He has already done and for all that He will do for our future. And as we express our appreciation, God will pour out His blessings in even greater portions.

When we think about all that God has done for us in the past; guided us, restored us, helped us, we have so many reasons to be thankful. So, let us be filled with gratitude and go through our day full of praise and thanksgiving, always remembering the miracles, the wonderful blessings in our lives, for God has done something for each one of us.

He is the giver of all good things. Because, dear readers, what He did before, He will do again.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Catherine

One good turn deserves another

2009-10-18T14:29:00.000-07:00

There was a story in Aesop’s fables about the lion and the mouse. Reading this classic story to my little daughters enlightened us all.

A strong lion lay sleeping under a shady tree when a tiny mouse awaked him. The lion swiftly grabbed the little mouse with his giant paw and held him very tight. “Please, great lion,” the mouse begged, “please let me go this one time and someday I’ll help you.”
The lion laughed to think that a teeny mouse could ever help a great king like himself, but in a moment of compassion, he let him go. “I won’t ever forget your kindness, sir,” the mouse said.

Months turned into years and the lion soon forgot about the promise from the mouse.

In the jungle one morning, some hunters set a net under some leaves and it wasn’t long before the mighty lion came wandering down the path not suspecting anything. The net caught the lion and his roar rang through the forest for someone to help him. The once forgotten, little mouse heard the lions cry’s and went off immediately to help him. “I’m here, dear lion, I’ve come to set you free,” the mouse exclaimed.

With his sharp tiny teeth the mouse gnawed through the ropes, saved the lion and the lion escaped.

The moral of the story is one good turn deserves another. I think of the verse in the Bible, “Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you.”

Aesop was a Greek philosopher, full of wisdom. And much of his wisdom is verified by Biblical truths. Wisdom is wisdom, whether it is told in children’s stories, the weighty toms of philosophers or parables in the Bible. To gain wisdom is of the utmost importance.

I have learned to not hesitate to be good, kind, and courteous to others. It will always come back to us. One can never tell when, yet it surely will.

Never underestimate the power of your benevolent actions. With one small gesture you can help to change yours or some other person’s life. Remember the saying, “I shall pass through this world only once. If therefore there’s any kindness I can show or any good thing I can do let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it.”

When someone does a caring deed for me I cherish it and I will forever remember his or her gentleness and kindness.

God will remember it forever, too.
Have a blessed day!

Pay it… forward

2009-09-07T13:54:00.000-07:00

God wishes to encourage you with an awareness of your purpose in life. You were sent here on a mission, a calling to fulfill, and a destiny to keep.

What a wonderful world this would be if we asked ourselves, “What am I supposed to do to help another?” Just think of how many lives would be changed and consoled. What a glorious place this would be if we all said, “I will not go to sleep until I have lifted up someone.” Think of the joy we’d experience at the end of each day.

And if we all treated others the way that we would like to be treated, what a heaven on earth… for that would mean someone had encouraged us also. Once you have had that experience you will never be the same.

One of the greatest investments you can make is the investment in helping others. Kindness begets kindness. There will always be certain trials to undergo and hardships to overcome. But one act of sincere care can positively pervade everything around us.

You are equipped with more potential than you can possibly imagine to bless this world. Believe larger; dream bigger, make your actions grander. For the richer your experiences, the more people you will meet and assist, the more treasures you have waiting for you in heaven and joy here on earth now.

And as you begin to make helping others your daily habit, you will reap an appreciation that is all you will ever need to feel satisfied and fulfilled in life.

Have a wonderful week!
Catherine

Silence is golden

2009-08-24T06:03:00.000-07:00

You have heard it said that, “Silence is golden” and that is so true. Not speaking, just meditating on the sweet, simple good of life.

Do you remember when you were a child and could wander alone among the bushes, flowers and trees?

You would sit on the green grass and listen to the singing birds or take notice of the white fluffy clouds and the blue sky above a meadow sprinkled with daisies. Moments spent like this were never lost, these same pleasures can relax your mind, ease stress and give you a sense of well being even now.

So spend more time in nature. Plant flowers, play with your dog or cat or simply sit and feel the warm sunshine and the gentle wind on your face. Create a meditation place to calm your spirit and practice breathing deeply, while soothing every nerve in your body. Listen to special relaxing music with no words, take a walk by the shore, or read passages from a gentle book of inspirational thoughts.

You can invest 30 minutes of your day to learn to simplify your life, to enjoy solitude and be alone with your own thoughts. Who knows what wonderful ideas will transpire in silence? Take a lesson from a tiny plant. When it is nourished with rich earth, bathed in sunshine and rain, a new life begins to flourish and grow gloriously beautiful. You need a time of renewal and replenishment, an inner awareness of someone taking care of you and loving you unconditionally. For God “is” love.

How important it is, dear readers, to nurture yourself in this way and to spend some sacred moments in silence.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the steam. It does not fear when the heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jeremiah.)

Time, our priceless commodity

2009-08-02T06:05:00.000-07:00

I like what Thoreau once wrote,
“If I shall sell both my forenoons and afternoons to society, as most appear to do, I am sure that for me there would be nothing left worth living for.”

There never seems to be enough time. Minutes melt into hours, days into weeks and months into years, so suddenly, so swiftly. Time a most precious jewel, a priceless commodity, is our most fleeting possession.

Today, we all need to make a conscious effort to make time for the things that really count, communion with our spouse, a walk by the shore, sincere fellowship between friends, nestling in a comfy chair while reading a good book, saying, “I’m sorry” and encouraging a child.

I remember the story of a man who was about to die. What he said he valued most in his life were not the awards he won at work, the long hours he spent at the office or the size of his bank account. But his great treasures were his children, a devoted wife, the lawn he loved to mow and the hiking trails he and his family explored.

Think for a moment, dear readers, what is most important to you?

Let us learn how to simplify our lives, to enjoy the solitude and be alone with our own creative thoughts. Who knows what wonderful ideas will transpire in silence? We need that balance to reflect, dream, and discover again.

Our time is never more profitable than when we set aside a portion of it to focus on God. Think on Him, and in the sounds of silence you will perceive that you are not alone. Gain rest and strength from your inner dialogues with the Creator.

Our souls will be calm, as we bask in sweet tranquility. For one of the greatest gifts of all is God’s timeless eternity, filled with the love and comfort that He gives.

Have a blessed day,
Catherine

The Echo Response

2009-07-16T05:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

High on the majestic mountaintop with the sun shining brightly, the wind blowing briskly and in the beauty of a clear blue-sky, voices were heard.

“Hello-o-o-o,” a young mountain climber shouted. And in the distance a voice answered, “Hello-o-o-o.” The novice climber looked around; there was no one in sight.

Again he called, “Hello-o-o-o, who are you?” Seconds later the voice said, “Hello-o-o-o, who are you?” And then one more time, he said, “I’m John Doe-o-o-o.”

And the voice answered, “I’m John Doe-o-o-o.” It was at that moment that the young mountain climber knew that the voice he heard was his own echo.

Your life becomes an echo as the years of time pass. It eventually gives back everything that you say, your deeds and your attitude. It returns to you that which you yourself create. That is why we must consider very seriously the long-range consequences of our actions. The thoughts of your mind determine the spontaneous words of your mouth.

Each and every day, in all aspects of your life, remember the echo. A joy-filled, obedient and thankful heart is the best service we can give to God. He knows in doing so we show our confidence in His love. He is our Creator, our Father, so have confidence in your abilities. We each have special attributes that are ours alone, given to us by Him. One person can make a difference. We all remember Thomas Edison, right? He brought light into so many lives.

You are “one” and can change your world.

So let us shout joy, love and exultant bravery from our mountaintops. Give out to others words of encouragement, strength, compassion and understanding, rejoicing in their achievements, sharing laughter in the joy of life. And the rooftops, the hills and the mountains will echo back continually, “Your life is full of joy,” “You are of great value,” “You have been faithful,” “You will make it because you have trusted in God to bring it to pass according to His promise.”

Let your life sing, “He taught me how to watch and pray and go rejoicing every day, oh, happy day, oh, happy day!”

Blessings,
Catherine

The Heart Never Ages

2009-06-28T05:07:00.000-07:00

What would you like to attempt to try?
What is your heart’s desire?
Well, say good-bye to excuses and, “Do it!”

It is never too late. You have something valuable to accomplish, so be up and doing! I like what Norman Vincent Peale wrote, “Neither age nor circumstance need to deprive us of energy and vitality.” History is filled with older individuals that continued to be creative well into their senior years.

Grandma Moses was still painting at 100.
Albert Schweitzer was still lovingly treating patients when he was 90.
Thomas Edison was still inventing when he was 80.
Picasso worked until he was 90.
And Michelangelo was painting Saint Peter’s in Rome at 88.

So how can we say at any age… it is too late to start now? Each year is an added opportunity for adventure!

The longer you live, the greater your experience and wisdom.
Give a gift to the world. Pick up your dream and start today. Pray and begin. And you will find it may undeniably bear the stamp of the Supreme Creator’s divine touch.

Have a happy day! Catherine

P.S. This year, I danced a ballet routine with my girls in their dance recital. It has been many years since I performed… but I said to myself what I am saying to you, “Do it!”

Recital 2009
We danced to the beautiful song, “Because We Believe” by Andrea Bocelli & Marco Borsato. As the lyrics go, “Like stars across the sky, we were born to shine…”“Because we believe…”

Optimist Creed

2009-06-21T09:16:00.001-07:00

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 of 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.

This was written in 1912 by Christian D. Larson, adopted by Optimist International in 1922.

Sophia with our new kitten, Grace.
This is true optimism!

Have a blessed day.

Catherine

Choose to “go the other way.”

2009-06-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had to go out of town on a business trip and I drove my husband’s car because it has a navigation system. Passing through New York City, I took a wrong turn and got off course. Immediately, the car’s navigation system rerouted the way and in a short while, thankfully, I was back on track to my destination.

Likewise, just because we may get off track, make a mistake or miss one opportunity, it doesn’t mean that our dreams still cannot come about. If we fall down, let’s get right back up and try again. If we fail, we must learn from it and begin once more. If we miss the mark, let us keep at it and we’ll succeed next time.

My good friend, Ann told me about the life of Chris Gardner, whose story was made into a movie called, The Pursuit of Happyness. As a child, Gardner’s father left, then he had an abusive stepfather, for a time he lived on the streets, and he even spent time in jail. But Gardner was tenacious, had a strong faith and never stopped striving to make something more of his life and his son’s life.

Today, he is a committed philanthropist who sponsors many charitable organizations; he’s an entrepreneur, owns a stockbrokerage firm and his bestselling book was made into a movie that was nominated for an Academy Award. In an interview Gardner said, “I chose not to become what was in my face. I chose to go the other way.”

Sometimes, sad and unpleasant situations happen and they tend to cripple us. But we can choose to ‘go the other way.’ It is never too late. We create our circumstances thought by thought. Therefore, if someone hurt us or we had a few bad breaks or we’re carrying regrets, let’s decide to leave all this behind and not carry the past into our bright future.

So with unshakeable faith, hard work and unsinkable optimism, let’s persevere through challenges, and do our part to achieve our God-aspired goals.

Until next time!

Blessings,
Catherine

“What more can I do to lift up others?”

2009-06-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

There is a quote that I like from missionary Hudson Taylor:

“When God’s work is done in God’s way,
for God’s glory, it will not lack for God’s supply.”

For when God calls us to serve, He will equip us for the task. And when the time is right, He will bring the desires of our heart to pass, getting us where we need to be.

What an honor it is for me to be able to write a ‘blog’ to you and to tell you a little about myself. It’s my first time attempting this, so bear with me. :)

For 15 years, I have been writing a weekly inspirational newspaper column. In addition, I worked in radio. I loved my career in radio and my clients, but having received so many heartwarming letters from my readers of my newspaper columns and books, I often wondered, “How else can I help people?” as I had questioned time and again. “How can I carry on my message and make a difference in their lives?”

Life can weigh us down sometimes, “What more can I do to lift up others?”

We all need positive reinforcement and encouragement every single day. We need to be reminded that we are winners, and of extraordinary worth. So believe in yourself. You deserve the best and have a divine purpose to fulfill. Don’t give up on your dreams or let situations that happened in the past bring you down. Follow the dream of your heart, for God can help you to make it come true. With God all things are possible.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always loved collecting inspirational quotes, scriptures and Biblical stories. Reading about people who triumphed over their challenges taught me about the resilience of the human spirit, the importance of being thankful and the beauty of life. In my home, office, backyard…and all around me, I choose to be surrounded by inspiration.

My husband and I have been married for 11 years. And having three young daughters, another one of my favorite things to collect is ‘matching dresses’ for them. It also seems that we are ‘collecting’ pets. We have three cats, (could a new kitten be in our future?) a hamster, a bunny, two frogs, a turtle named, ‘Chip,’ and 26 fish.

So back to my question: “What more can I do to lift up others?”

Well, stay tuned: After many years of persistence, patience and sacrifice, there is much in store for you. Whether it’s my inspirational products featured on QVC Television and QVC.com, with each creation designed to encourage you, to comfort you and to fill your heart, your home and your life with hope and inspiration or the release of my upcoming book, God Will Do The Rest my goal is to lift your spirit and help you live a joy-filled life!

May the Lord bless and keep you.
Blessings,
Catherine