New Blog and New Website!!!

Head on over and check out our new website!

www.thegratitudecircle.net

Click on the link on the home page to get to our new blog.

Enjoy!

Holy Heat Wave!

We're in the midst of a heat wave here in the East and it's hot!

My thought for you today is simple--enjoy this beautiful sunny weekend. Be sure to put on your sunscreen and protect your skin!

Enjoy!

Until Monday,
Deanna

Random Acts of Kindness

I was at the bank today and a bank teller came over and said something really nice to me. It really made me feel good and gave me a boost to get through the rest of the day.

Practice random acts of kindness in your day. Did someone do something nice for you? Does the lady next to you in the grocery store have a nice hair cut? Did someone go out of their way to help you? Look out each day for these moments--your day is likely filled with them...give our some compliments and see what comes back to you.

Until next time,
Deanna

You Might Be Rich!

Did anyone happen to catch this new program on Dateline NBC last night called, "You Might Be Rich!" with Tiki Barber? Well, I did and it was moving and inspiring!

The premise of the program is finding people who have unclaimed property, money, etc. Some people had hundreds of thousands of dollars returned and some a few hundred.

I was incredibly moved when they featured one woman who lost her husband last year. He was a wounded Vietnam vet. The long and short is that he was awarded a purple heart for his brave service, which she assumed was packed in a box when she moved. She didn't know that it was being held because the state did not know how to return it to her since they were not able to locate her. They had a beautiful ceremony to return it to her--which included current servicemen and three men who served with him in Vietnam the day of the brutal attack that left him injured. I was sobbing. It was incredibly patriotic and you could see the love this woman has for her husband.

I encourage you to check it out. Click here. It was funny, tearful, and heartwarming all wrapped up into one.

Have a great day!

In gratitude,
Deanna

Monday Morning Gratitude

Good Morning!

I am refreshed and renewed from a lovely vacation of travel and down time. We had the pleasure of spending a few days in Maine, one of the few places we instantly relax. I was sure to enjoy my fill of lobster and good wine. I hope you had a wonderful and celebratory July 4th.

I am obviously grateful this morning for a week of rest! We are constantly on the go. I must admit that I do thrive off of it, however some days seem to zip by and sometimes I wonder where my time goes and how it moves so fast. I wanted to share this quote as it spoke to me today:

"What's the big hurry? You're not ever going to get it done, so what are you racing toward? Every single activity that you're involved in is for one purpose only, and that is to give you a moment of joy. Lighten up. Laugh more. Appreciate more. All is well."

-Abraham-Hicks

Start your week off right, what are you grateful for?

In gratitude,
Deanna

A Note From Judy

Dear Friends,

With great sadness I will be leaving JDDesigns--this has been an extremely emotional year for me with the loss of Wayne. Gratitude for life and JDDesigns has given me the strength to move forward through my husband's illness and after his passing. Life, with its great challenges and inspiring surprises, has put me on a new path that resonates within me and which I feel compelled to follow.

I want to thank Deanna for her understanding, support, and friendship during this very difficult time as well as her dedication in helping make this business a success.

Thank you to all our Friends for your continued support and encouragement.

In Gratitude,
Judy

School's Out!

Okay, so most kids have been out of school for a week now, but we actually went to school until today!

Today I am incredibly grateful for this school year being OVER! I spent the afternoon with friends at an ice cream social for the kids and look forward to spending the afternoon with some more friends tomorrow celebrating the end of school and the beginning of summer.

I love the summer and can't wait for all the fun we have in store this summer with friends and family. I am blessed (and grateful) to have unbelievable friends and look forward to all the fun we will have over the next few months.

I hope you look ahead at your summer and enjoy every moment...because it does go so fast! Take time to breathe in the ocean air if you are at the beach, notice the beautiful blue sky, the lush green grass (until the August sun hits!), and all those little subtle moments to feel gratitude.

In gratitude,
Deanna

Monday Morning Gratitude

I read a really great article this morning on Gratitude and why it's so special.

We are taught from a young age to say please and thank you when we are given something, when someone helps us, etc. It becomes a habit, an involuntary action. It almost is as if we say it and loose a little of its meaning.

If you sat down and thought about (or better yet wrote down) all the things you are grateful for--your spouse, your pet, your home, and on and on, you would feel very full and realize how much you have in your life. I enjoy the days that are tough and I have to dig deep for the gratitude--such as I'm grateful for my air conditioning on a hot day, the heat on a cold day, being able to drive myself to where I need to go--it goes on. It's on these days that you really dig out those not so obvious things and make a shift.

In the article, I found it really interesting when the author talked about a rainy day. Instead of looking at the rainy day and being miserable because it's wet, damp, and dark--think about what that rain does to the earth, the grass, the trees, etc. and how much will grow after it. What a great way to look at a rainy day!

In gratitude,
Deanna

A Quick Thought for the Day

A quick thought for the day:

Count your blessings. A grateful heart attracts more joy, love and prosperity. --Cheryl Richardson

Enjoy this beautiful day!

In gratitude,
Deanna

P.S. I loved this picture of daffodils. It made me think of my grandmother, who will be 90 next week. It's her favorite flower.

Monday Morning Gratitude

I often speak about how important it is to teach Gratitude to our children. In this fast-paced consumer driven world, it's so easy for these simple principles to get lost. You've seen me write before about things that I do with my daughter. She's constantly learning and we are continually re-inforcing. There is so much stimulus these days--much more than I was ever exposed to--that we have to be consistent.

I got this great little article from a Phillipino newspaper this morning in my in box. It's a very simple article about teaching Gratitude to your kids. Read on and enjoy...

Teach Gratitude to Your Kids
By Trinidad Cayading

DO YOU ever feel like your children continually want and expect more stuff? Perhaps they don't respect or take care of the things they already have.

How do we teach our children to be humble and grateful for what they have? It can be difficult sometimes to convince our children how blessed they really are. One way we can help teach gratitude to our children is by showing gratitude ourselves.

Do you ever find yourself complaining about not having enough or are you continually mindful and grateful for what you do have? Children really notice the way we as parents talk about such things.

One way you can show (and teach) gratitude is by remembering to say "thank you" for the little things to family members and others. Another way to show gratitude is through prayer.

By praying out loud, your children can hear you expressing thanks for your blessings. Be sure to thank God for the blessing of your wonderful children -- and be sure to state each of their names!

Many years ago I heard the phrase: "Have An Attitude of Gratitude!" It stuck with me every since. If we have an "attitude of gratitude," then chances are our children will too. It made up a little game to keep us amused and grateful for our blessings.

As we trudged up this steep slippery hill in the dead of winter to attend our classes, we would say something like (in an exaggerated voice of course) "Boy, I am sure grateful to be getting this wonderful education -- aren't you?" Then whoever responded would have to think of something positive back, and so on. Then one of us would respond, "Yeah and we are so lucky that we get to walk up this big hill every morning -- look at all of the free exercise we are getting!" "Yeah, good thing we don't have a car -- I mean then we would have to drive around in circles looking for a parking place." "Yeah, we sure are lucky aren't we!" It was a silly little game but it kept us smiling and cheerful, and it was entertaining to see who could come up with the best responses.

We can play similar "games" with our children. I recently heard a story about someone who used her creativity to display a positive attitude when things went wrong.

For example, if someone cut her off in traffic, instead of becoming angry she would try and come up with the most outlandish story possible about why that driver was driving so fast. She would say something like, "Wow, maybe his wife is about to have a baby any second and they have to hurry and get to the hospital before she delivers in the car..." Then her child might take over and come up with a completely different story about why that driver cut them off. Pretty soon they would all be laughing at each other's stories and forget all about the car that cut them off.

Sometimes it is our kids that teach us these valuable lessons of gratitude. The other day I drove my kids to school as I do every morning and my 10-year-old daughter said, "Thanks mom for driving me to school today!" It was a little thing but it made me feel good!

Then when I started clearing the table after dinner she said: "Thanks for helping us in the kitchen mom!" "WOW -- does she want something," I wondered?

Then today I received a hand-written note that said "Thank you mom for not letting me quit piano..." Was this really my daughter -- the one who complains each and every day about having to practice a measly 30 minutes? Gratitude... maybe there is hope after all...!

In gratitude,
Deanna

P.S. Just remember my saying, "Gratitude is an attitude and attitude is everything."

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all Dad's! What a wonderful weekend to enjoy!

We had the pleasure of going on our annual Strawberry picking excursion yesterday. It's a fun time we typically share with my father-in-law. We all piled in the berry ferry yesterday at Jones' Farm out to the strawberry patch. It was warm and steamy, but not as bad as year's past. We had a fun time as always-Faith and her Papa eating strawberries all along the way. It's always a great memory.

I thought you might enjoy this fun cake recipe that they gave us:

Strawberry Surprise Cake

Oil a 13 x 9 pan. Mix 1-3 oz. pkg. of strawberry jello with 1 pint of thawed sweetened berries. Spread in the pan. Spread 2 cups of mini marshmallows over the strawberries and the jello. Prepare a basic 18 ox. yellow cake mix as directed and pour over the strawberries and marshmallows. Bake as directed. Cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes. Turn upside down on a serving tray. Try other flavors of cake mix--white, lemon, banana--for variations.

I haven't tried this, but gee it looks good!

Enjoy and have a fabulous day!

In gratitude,
Deanna

Guidance

I received an e-mail from a friend this morning with this lovely message that really caught my eye, I'd like to share it with you today:

Dancing With God

When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing 'dance' at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right..
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw 'G': I thought of God, followed by 'u' and 'i'.
'God, 'u' and 'i' dance.'
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
and mercies are upon you on this day and every day.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.
This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached.
If God has done anything for you in your life,
please share this message with someone else.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards;
so let's continue to pray for one another.
And I Hope You Dance!

I know we all have different spiritual beliefs and affiliations, but I thought this was very interesting and quite thoughtful.

May you have a fabulous weekend and to all the dad's, have a wonderful Father's Day!

In gratitude,
Deanna

Feel Good Stuff

I recently stumbled upon a fabulous magazine during my time on-line. The magazine is called Guideposts. It's tagline is "true stories of hope and inspiration." It's a wonderful little digest size, quick reading, throw in your bag kind of magazine.

It features real stories of everyday people and usually one prominent or celebrity type of person. I just got my first two issues. The June issue, which features the story of Bobby Flay, has a section called "Pass It On: People Helping People."

One of the stories really resonated with me and I wanted to share it with you:

TWIN GREETINGS

I was an 82-year-old widower trying to cope with changes and new challenges in my life when a family moved into the house across the street from me--a mother and her adorable twin 10-year-old daughters.

One day I heard a knock at the door. The twins were standing there on my porch. "We brought you something," one said, smiling at me. It was a little pamphlet of recipes. I thought it was such a nice way of introducing themselves--and since my wife had been the cook in our marriage, I sure could use the recipes! And this wasn't just a one-time gesture.

The holidays came around and the girls brought homemade cookies--and told me just how their mother had made them.

After such a great loss, a blessing came into my life in the form of thoughtful new neighbors.

Now I hope that they will know just how much their good deeds mean to me.

Donald Manley
Lincoln, Nebraska

What a sweet story. I see two lessons here--the first being that you need to be open and you never know who will appear in your life or what they are to teach you--second, what a great example these girls are that something small--just a simple gesture can mean so much.

Enjoy your day!

In gratitude,
Deanna

Monday Morning Gratitude

Grateful for Warm Weather (kind of!?)

Ok, so I'm a summer gal--I love the water and dream of my house on the shore (of course with my hubby's boat tied right to the dock), but how did we go from chilly 50's to off the charts 100 degree days? Too quick even for me!

My town had our first "Oxford Day" event on Saturday. I had a booth and it was great to get out and support the community and see so many people that I know and don't get to see on a regular basis...but boy was I hot! I have never torn down early, but I did on Saturday.

My father-in-law took my daughter to the beach yesterday and then they were back at the pool for a day of swimming--this meant a day for Greg and I to spend together. We've had a crazy year and it was great to have a day to ourselves. We took a ride to the shore and spent the whole day in the area where we rent our summer cottage. We were just so excited looking forward to the summer ahead and grateful for all the days we'll have at the beach.

My girlfriend put in a request on Saturday for a Gratitude tank top--it was so hot--who could look at a hoodie!? I guess that's the next one I need to do!

Stay cool and hydrate! Have a fabulous day.

In gratitude,
Deanna

Grateful for Opportunities

Today is a great day!

It was so exciting to watch the Kim Parrish Collection on HSN today and see Kim and the models wearing the Gratitude Collection.

It was an incredibly rewarding feeling and some great exposure for us!

As I travel on this amazing journey with this brand and its message it is remarkable to me the people that I am meeting and the opportunities that are presenting themselves to me. In a world focused on fast paced non-stop life styles, it is heartwarming to meet people who want to help you. They want to help you succeed and believe in you.

I feel that I am on the edge of so much that is before me. To all my supporters and believers, I say thank you.

Have an amazing day,
Deanna

Gratitude, HSN, and the Kim Parrish Collection

Do you love home shopping channels? If so you may know Kim Parrish an 8 year veteran of one of the leading home shopping channels who now has her own collection on HSN. Kim is also the president of the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant, the little sister to the Miss America's Pageant.

Kim is just fabulous and I'm so excited to share that Kim will be appearing this Thursday morning on HSN at 9am with her collection. She will be wearing Gratitude! Be sure to keep your eyes on the models as well, they will hopefully be wearing some of my collection.

This is exciting news and great exposure for the Gratitude Brand! It makes me really think of the post I wrote a few weeks back about perserverance. It's really about moving up and forward a little at a time. Doors will open when they are ready--it's just a matter of keeping strong and moving along.

In gratitude,
Deanna

Living and Learning

I decided to start my morning off proactively today, so when I was making my morning coffee I sent my two best gals an enouraging text message to start the day. Well, as soon as I put my phone on the counter I had a new message on my phone. One of the girls was sending me a positive message at the same exact time that I was sending mine. Funny how the universe works, huh? It was a great way to start my day and it's been great ever since.

My sister recently saved one of her pages from a tear off calendar. Here's what it said:

"We are a process, and the key to living that process is learning. Mistakes are not proof that we are bad or dumb; they are doors to new learning. The issue is not the mistake. The issue is not learning from it.

Unfortunately, if we don't learn, we will just keep doing the same thing over and over."

I was just talking with my Aunt today who is creating her demo for voice over work. She's very inspiring and encouraging. We talked about how much re-inventing we need to constantly do with ourselves. We make mistakes, we learn, times change, the economy changes, your family changes, you change, you age and on and on. We are constantly changing, learning, and growing in motion.

It's all about living and learning. May you enjoy your journey!

In gratitude,
Deanna

Tuesday Morning Gratitude

**Due to yesterday's cable outage, I wasn't able to post this yesterday.

Well, this week's Monday Morning Gratitude, is Tuesday Morning's Gratitude since I gave myself the day off yesterday!

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend.

I am incredibly grateful for the glorious weekend we had and the unbelievable weather. We deserve it, don't you think?

We had my sister's annual Memorial Day Picnic/Parade on Sunday which was a great day with family and friends. It's such a wonderfully pure holiday for us, just good food, laughter, friends and family. No stress of the holiday or out of control gift giving.

I am also grateful to have spent some much needed family time with my husband and daughter. We've been keeping such crazy schedules lately it was really nice to have some down time.

Faith marched in her first parade yesterday for karate. I was really proud! I also had the pleasure of seeing my neighbors' girls in our new high school's band, middle school band, and brownies.

I also am so grateful to our veteran's. My dad being a Marine Corp veteran--I am very proud. These men and women have such a tough job protecting our country, but they do so with dignity and honor. I extend my deepest gratitude to these unique breed of people!

May you have a fabulous week!

In gratitude,
Deanna

You are Responsible

I've been trying to be very mindful each morning on how to start my day. I take a few quiet moments to myself with my cup of coffee to be mindful of how I'd like my day to be.

As I was at my desk, I popped open my Wayne Dyer "Inner Peace Cards" and how appropriate, this is the one staring right at me:

"I am responsible for the day I create for myself. The choice is up to you. It can either be "Good morning, God!" or "Good God--morning!"

Each day as I get Faith off to school I ask her what kind of day she is going to have. She usually (now trained) responds with a booming, "GREAT!" Some days she says in a kind of ho hum way, "Good" and I say "Just good?" She responds "No mommy, GREAT!!" I am then excited for her and feel that she has her best foot forward walking into school.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend. Take the time to relax and enjoy.

In gratitude and peace,
Deanna

P.S. Thought you might enjoy a picture of me and my sister, my best friend, at her annual Memorial Day picnic. I can't wait until tomorrow!

Honoring My Gratitude

I know this may sound repetitive for what I've already written about this week, but I have to say I'm seeing a pattern this week.



I am having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my friends in my life.

Honestly, right now without them, life would be hard. We're there for each other through thick and thin--like sisters in another life. All going through similiar feelings with different circumstances. It's been the high point of my week to see that I have this to rely on. We're all at slightly different stages, with different life experiences...together making a powerful team of women.

My girls, I honor you, I love you, and my life is better knowing you. I hope when you are reading this man or woman, that you have someone like this in your life. Someone to enrich your life, lift you when your down, cry with you and cheer with you.

The comfortable and comforting people are those who look upon the bright side of life; gathering its roses and sunshine and making the most that happens seem the best.
- Dorothy Dix

In respect and gratefulness,
Deanna

The Pathway to Success

I found this lovely poem that Louise Hay included in "You Can Heal Your Life." It really spoke to me about success and I thought I would share it with you:

In the infinity of life where I am,
all is perfect, whole, and complete
I am one with the Power that created me.
I have within me all the ingredients for success.
I now allow the success formula to flow through me
and manifest in my world.
Whatever I am guided to do will be a success.
I learn from every experience.
I go from success to success and from glory to glory.
My pathway is a series of stepping stones
to ever greater successes.
All is well in my world.

This really spoke to me today as my life and successes have had many twists and turns building to this wonderful place I am at today with my work. I am grateful for every experience that has brought me here.

In gratitude,
Deanna

Monday Morning Gratitude

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! The weather is finally turning. I know we got a lot done inside and out this weekend and it felt so good!

I thought I would start this morning with a bit of gratitude.

I woke up this morning and took some time to myself to go downstairs have a cup of coffee and enjoy the silence of the early morning.

If you happened to get our newsletter in March, I wrote a tip about having a "positive energy" or "gratitude" buddy. I am really lucky--I have a few!

One of my pals is really great at sending inspirational text messages (I am addicted to texting!!!) I sat at my computer this morning to check my e-mail and I heard a text pop up on my phone. I opened it, fully knowing who is was from and it said, "Good Morning! Make it great." What a great way to start my morning.

It made me think of how grateful I was for my friends. I must admit, I have really great friends. I really feel that I am at a point in my life where I have finally found friends who will stand the test of time, bring you up when you are down, and celebrate with you when you are up.

It's so great to have this kind of support, especially when you find someone who shares your energy. Not every day is perfect, but when you have someone to pull you up and share their energy "dust" with you when you need it--what a great feeling it is!

Do you have someone like this in your life? How do they make you feel? How do you make them feel?

Try this exercise. The energy you create can be electryfing!

In gratitude,
Deanna

P.S. Here's a picture of me and one of my buddies. Don't you just love the jewelry?!

Perserverance and Determination

My sister gave me a deck of inspirational thought cards a few years back. (She gives great gifts and cards, huh?)

I was sitting at my computer today working on the finishing touches for our latest newsletter and I decided to pull one out. Here's what I got:

Goddess of Perserverance

I ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING I PUT MY MIND TO.

Use this gift when you doubt your intelligence, your memory, or your ability to achieve your goals. Your situation is largely the result of how well you blend your logical and intuitive faculties to direct your actions. Several times a day, focus with relaxed concentration on the mental image of something you would like see come into being.

I have to say that I am someone with strong peserverance. When I put my mind to something I do it. (I am weak in the patience area!) I think however, that so much is a mind/body connection--for example, if you are trying to get in shape or lose weight--you can't have thoughts that you are fat and expect to be slim. The thoughts cancel each other out. I know--it's hard you say! It's a matter of conditioning and training your mind to connect with your body. It certainly doesn't happen overnight!

Perservere and you will see results with whatever you put your mind to doing!

In gratitude,
Deanna

Growing Pains

I have been in a pattern of growth for the past several years. I have embraced a new life philosophy and continue to learn each day. Some days it seems painful! I'm learning and dealing and dealing and learning.

I was listening to Harmonic Wealth today by James Arthur Ray. He says that your results are a reflection of you. You must grow to gain. When you have bigger gain, it presents bigger challenges. Success is messy, but so is life. It really struck me when he said that we grow the most when we are on the border of chaos and order. Wow! Did that speak to me!

I always joke with people that my life is organized (depending on the day) chaos. I have my business which I love! I help my husband with his business...both businesses--mine the baby, his 50+ years young--are in extreme growth patterns. Somedays it's quite a challenge! I have my family, my home, and everything else I seem to get pulled into to manage. Somedays it seems too much, although I would be bored without it.

When I was in high school, I worked for my uncle who was an internal medicine doctor. We had a pharmaceutical rep whose name was Tony. He was the best and would always come in an pull up a chair to chat...those were the good old days...it's not like that anymore! I will never forget what he told me one day when I was stressed and tired from school and work. He told me that I was someone who needed to constantly be busy and challenged because I thrived on it and could handle it. Without it you'll be bored he said! He was right and I will never forget it!

Right now I'm growing and dealing and dealing and growing...but knowing that I am growing to gain makes it better!

Think about your life. Are you in a period of growth? Can you remember such a time? What did you learn? What was at the end of the tunnel?

Some thoughts to ponder.

In gratitude & growth!
Deanna

The Trials of Being a Mom

My sister gave me a beautiful Mother's Day card. The artist is Mara Berendt Friedman. Her paintings honor the Feminine aspect of Spirit and draw inspiration from cultures around the world, from the cylce of the season and from universal symbols and form.

The card my sister gave me had a beautiful illustration on it. Here's what it said:

Mabuddha of Compassion

woman of mercy blossoms within every heart
tender and strong, you heal what tears apart
you offer your children love nectar pure...
easing their pain with compassion's kind cure

Ma--Mother Buddha--Awakened one, awakening

I really thought about this in light of some recent trials I've had as a mom. I often think how hard it is to be a mother today! We have so many more things to protect our children from today than even when I grew up...not to mention any physical ailments that we may have to contend with. Instinctively, though, we just do it--we do what we have to do without a thought...it's just what we do. We are protectors.

So, to all my girls out there reading this who get it and do what they are called to do as mother's--I honor you and I thank you...as this is the hardest, but most rewarding job ever.

In gratitude,
Deanna

Happy Mother's Day!

I wish you all a Happy Mother's Day! Whether you are a mom, aunt, godmother, or just a motherly friend--you should celebrate today!

The sun is shining and the air is warm. What a beautiful day it is!

I found this poem below that resonated with me about the cycle of mothers and daughters and daughters and mothers. Enjoy and be blessed today.

Mothers and daughters
Were daughters and mothers
Not so long ago.
We give and take
And take and give
Along time's endless row.
Love is passed
And love received
To be passed on again:
A precious heirloom
Twice, twice blessed,
A spiritual cardigan.

I'll put it on
And treasure it,
The me I have received,
And when the roles
Reverse again,
I'll have what I most need.

So may our love
Go on and on,
A hundred thousand years;
Mothers and daughters,
Daughters and mothers,
Through joys and other tears.

Deanna

One with Now

Being one with Now

Last September one of my dearest friends gave me the book A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. My friend truly connected with Tolle’s message so I was excited to start reading the book. I read the first chapter and didn’t pick it up again until last week. Since A New Earth is on Oprah’s Book Club I thought now would be a good time to see what all the hype is about.

Tolle wants to take us beyond our own lives to show that now we have an opportunity to birth a new, more loving world. This involves a radical inner leap of consciousness from the current identification with our ego to an entirely new way of thinking about who we are.


Well, the verdict is still out. I’m only half way through the book and to be honest…I’m not sure I grasp his message. Due to some personal inner struggles there was one paragraph that resonated with me…

How to be at peace now? By making peace with the present moment. The present moment is the field on which the game of life happens. It cannot happen anywhere else. Once you have made peace with the present moment, see what happens, what can you do or choose to do, or rather what life does through you. There are three words that convey the secret of the art of living, the secret of all success and happiness: One With Life, Being one with life is being one with Now. You then realize that you don’t live your life, but life lives you. Life is the dancer, and you are the dance.

At this moment I’m being one with Now…..

Judy

The Power of Your Words

Most of us feel that when we're complaining we're just speaking our minds--except something else is going on here, too. When we complain we are focusing on what is wrong with our lives instead of what's right.

Here's an amusing story I found on the internet to put you in the right frame of mind:

A young monk joined an order that required total silence. At his discretion, the abbot could allow any monk to speak. It was nearly five years before the abbot approached the novice monk and said, "You may speak two words." Choosing his words carefully, the monk said, "Hard bed." With genuine concern, the abbot said, "I'm sorry your bed isn't comfortable. We'll see if we can get you another one."

Around his tenth year in the monastery, the abbot came to the young monk and said, "You may say two more words." "Cold food," the monk said. "We'll see what we can do," the abbot said.

On the monk's fifteenth anniversary, the abbot said again, "You may now speak two words." "I quit," the monk said. "It's probably for the best," replied the abbot. "You've done nothing but gripe since you got here."

Realize that you create your life with the words you choose.

Judy

What a Lovely Way to Start the Morning!

This week's guest blogger is Sandi...

Good Morning. :)

This morning while lying in bed looking out the bedroom windows to the backyard and watching the birds feed at the feeders, and listening to the spring bird songs I saw something so sweet :)

First, I will share that John and I have been watching a male cardinal in our little tree behind our back fence for a few weeks...he is all alone... comes and sits in the branches and stays there for long periods of time... 10 or 15 minutes at a time... not singing.. just being quiet.. and looking all around... as if he lost his mate.. or is looking for her... especially near the end of the day just before dark... He is incredibly deep, bright red...one of the prettiest birds ever...

Today I watched a female cardinal come to the feeder...then, a few seconds later, the bright red male cardinal flew into the little tree beside the feeder. The female turned, looked at him, and immediately flew into the same little tree. Then the male flew to the feeder, while she waited on the tree branch. The male picked up a seed or two and flew immediately back to her on the branch, went over to her and placed the seed into her beak. Then he went back and got more food and brought it back to her and fed her...It was so wonderful to see! :) This went on for a minute or so.. and then they both flew off together.....

Ahhhh... don't you just LOVE spring??..... :)


Happy thoughts for a gentle spring day...

Sandi

MANIFEST Your Intentions

Treat Yourself As If You Already Are What You’d Like to Be

As you place more of your energy on what you intend to manifest, you’ll start seeing those intentions materializing. This is an example of the synchronicity of the universe working with you and your highly energized thoughts.
-Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

We’re Excited…

We were thrilled to learn today that our proposal for a program entitled, "Today's Entrepreneurial Woman" was selected by the 2008 WOW! Forum Committee.

The WOW! (Women of the World) Forum is presented by the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce. Past speakers of note have been Gayle King, Susan St. James, and last year author Jennifer Lauck.

The WOW! Forum is excited to announce that the keynote speaker will be Emmy Award winning TV Journalist, Diane Smith. Humorist, Joyce Saltman will address the audience in the morning along with the leadership panel consisting of The Honorable Anne Dranginis, American Mural Project artist Ellen Greisedeick and Patricia Mayfield, Commissioner, Department of Labor. Janet Peckinpaugh, Award Winning News Anchor and Talk Show Host will serve as our master of ceremonies for the day.

We are so happy to have this opportunity to share our experiences with others. We are manifesting our intentions!

In gratitude,
Deanna & Judy

Harmonic Wealth

Judy and I, along with some friends, had the pleasure of hearing James Arthur Ray, author of Harmonic Wealth and featured contributor to the Secret speak last night.

James' new book Harmonic Wealth is a the top of the best seller list. We haven't had a chance to read it yet, but are looking forward to getting our copy.

Last night James spoke about the components of Harmonic Wealth. He introduced harmonic wealth as not just financial wealth, but wealth in harmony of various parts of your life.

James writes that there are five pillars of Harmonic Wealth.

1. Financial Wealth--It's the money in your bank account...the wad of bills in your pocket...your stock portfolio..real estate holdings...or maybe even just the paycheck you'll pick up next Friday.

2. Relational Wealth--This is the state of your personal relationships (including that with yourself).

3. Intellectual Wealth--This is your wealth of knowledge. It's the combination of facts, skills, talents, and life experiences you built up and developed over the years. It's your understanding of how the physical world works.

4. Physical Wealth--This is the health and fitness of your body. What good is financial welath if you can't get around to enjoy it?

5. Spiritual Wealth--This is that hard-to-define, yet unmistakable-when-you-have-it kind of wealth. It's that (usually) untapped, yet incredibly powerful, almost magical kind of wealth. It's your connection to the rest of the universe and the way you tap into its power.

We found it a really interesting way at looking at your life. It really is all encompassing. Try sitting down and writing some goals or things you want in these categories. James had us do that last night and it was a great exercise.

Have a great day!

Deanna

Updates from the Gratitude Circle

Judy and I were thrilled to have the opportunity to be featured on Good Morning Connecticut Weekend on WTNH Channel 8 this past weekend.

A big thank you to everyone who watched it live or saw the feed on their website. If you missed it check out this link: WTNH We appreciate all of the support and well wishes!

We had quite a busy week last week! We had a photo shoot for our brand new apparel collection. We debuted the first design in our line, "be grateful."

We really appreciate the help we got from our friends as they were our beautiful models. A big thank you to, Karen, Jennifer, Taylor, and Meghan. Here's one of my favorite pictures from the shoot.

We are thrilled to be sponsors for the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant in August.

Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, Inc., a little sister to the Miss America Organization that promotes scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community involvement for America's teens, has named TV fashion commentator and entrepreneur Kim Parrish as president.

We were introduced to Kim earlier this year through a mutual friend. If you are a QVC junkie like me, you may remember Kim from her many years as a QVC Host. She now has her own apparel line on HSN. We are so thrilled to be working with Kim to support this organization! Check out her blog, Kim Parrish. Take a look at her website, too at Kim Parrish Collection.

We'll keep you posted as more things come up. Keep writing us, we love hearing from you.

Have a fabulous day!

Deanna

What Does Gratitude Mean to You?

When Deanna asked me to be the guest blogger today, writing about "What Does Gratitude Mean To Me?"--I was touched by it and it has certainly made me think for the last few days.

I discovered JDDesigns, Deanna and Judy through an article in the Litchfield County Times Magazine last year. I loved what they were doing and had to say.

I have discovered so much on my journey, new people and places, foods, sounds and so much more. I have also had to let go of some things, to move on from them and give myself room to grow even with it being very hard to do. We sometimes hold on to things from our past that no longer serve us, are no longer useful because they are a known, a comfort to us and they may have outlived what they add to our life. Whether it is a job, a friendship, an acquaintance, old mail or articles, magazines we "may" need one day or even an article of clothing, it is not an easy thing to give up. Yet sometimes the things that seem hardest to do makes such a big impact on what and how we feel. The little act of giving up something that no longer serves a purpose may free us in so many other ways in our existence. I have learned much, grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years, come out of the dark if you will, in to a light that I had no idea existed. It is there for all of us, if we just open our hearts and minds to it.

Hay House, its authors and http://www.hayhouseradio.com/ have had a huge impact on me. Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret" has taught me much and I continue to grow each day with wonderful teachers, new friends, new tools to work with and so much more.

So to me, gratitude is a blessing, it is a gift that never ends--a circle if you will, it is small sign of Grace when we are down. It is becoming aware and getting to know people like Deanna and Judy, their company and the kind of people they are. It is a new appreciation for friends and for life itself. Gratitude is an attitude that makes all things better and as James Arthur Ray mentioned in "The Secret", I begin and end each day with a few minutes of silent thank you prayers, being grateful for my day, each and every day.

I am most grateful for the opportunity to be the guest blogger today, may you all find and feel gratitude in all that you do each day. I do.

Walt Shepardson

As You Travel on Life's Way

Today is a special day for which I found this beautiful birthday poem below.

"Happy Birthday, gentle friend
have a blessed day
May your heart be filled with wonders
as you travel on life's way

I pray your day is filled with love
and joy of every kind
May the world rise to greet you
I hope these things you find

Joy, peace and happiness
contentment in your heart
May u find all these spirit fruits
the ones that you impart"

Happy Birthday, Judy...

With love and gratitude,
Deanna

Creating the World We Live In

I have a fun card deck that my sister gave me a few years ago. They are cards written by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer and they are called "Inner Peace Cards."

I went to pull one today to see what kind of inspiration I could find today, here's what I pulled out:

"I create the world that I live in. No one can create negativity or stress within you. Only you can do that by virtue of how you process your world."

Sounds so simple, yet makes incredible sense. It almost becomes unconditional with the way the world is today to have a negative response to a stressor in your life. It's amazing when you make the shift to reacting differently to these situations how those feelings begin to shift and they aren't as strong. It does take some training and conditioning but it can be done. I know I've done it in my life, have seen others do it and can say it works!

Deanna

Gratitude Booked on WTNH Channel 8!

Today is a great day!

I woke up in a great mood today, full of energy. I thought it felt really great and wondered how to make that happen everyday--when some mornings I'm so tired. Can I bottle it? :-)

I sent an inspirational text message to my buddies and then called Judy on my way to the gym to tell her that it was going to be a great day. I wanted to spread this amazing sunshine that I was feeling today.

I was so thrilled to get a call when I got into the office from our contact at Channel 8 where we appeared last May when we debuted our business. She wanted us to come in for a spot on Sunday morning, of course we were thrilled! (Talk about a great day!)

If you are in the local area, we will be on Channel 8 on Sunday morning at 7:23 am. If not, we'll post the link when it's up and you can watch the streaming video right from their site.

We were so excited and wanted to share it with our readers. We hope you get to watch!

Enjoy the evening,

Deanna

P.S. I thought you might enjoy a photo of Judy and I from last May behind our display from which we were interviewed by the charismatic Matt Scott.

Gratitude for the Beauty of Nature

I am so grateful today to have just returned home from a delightful Maine getaway. We were definitely in need of a battery recharge after many months of stress and working long days and hours.

My husband and I have found our beautiful place in the world that brings us to peace--the Southern Coast of Maine.

I was speaking with Judy on the phone this morning describing this awesome weekend of family reconnecting, resting, and enjoying life and I found it difficult to describe how we feel when we visit. As best I can describe it, when I stand on the unbelievablely rocky coast of Maine, whether it's at the Portland Head Light House, beautiful Kennebunkport or the breathtaking marginal way in Ogunquit, I feel a revived sense of spirituality and a closer connection to God.

It's truly amazing and literally takes my breath away. It's the only place we have ever gone that my husband is instantly relaxed and at peace. The stress just washes away.

We are so grateful to be able to have this quality time as a family and appreciate the beauty of this incredible slice of nature.

I know many of my friends were traveling for the school break, so I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and recharged your batteries.

Happy Monday!
Deanna
P.S. I hope you enjoy these photos that I took at dusk from the Portland Head Light House. :--)

Monthly Family Time

I found an interesting article on spending family time that is broken down by each month.

I thought this was a neat idea and not too overwhelming, especially with a family that may be larger. By looking at each month and the time of the year (season) you can come up with some fun creative things to do together as a family.

Quite often we are bogged down each weekend with running to activities, attending parties for family or friends, and a multitude of other commitments. Sometimes it's just too much! Lately, I've actually become selective with what I choose to do and have learned that it's okay to say "no" especially if that means I can spend extra time with my family.

Take a look at the link: Twelve Steps to Spending Quality Time With Your Family. Let us know what you think.

Have a fabulous weekend,
Deanna

" SPIRITUALITY "

WHAT'S THE MOMENT THAT DEFINED SPIRITUALITY FOR YOU?

This question was asked in the May issue of O magazine. I had to really think about the question. I believe spirituality comes from being a loving, compassionate, and caring person. It means being open to someone else's concerns, hopes, and dreams.

What moment defined spirituality for me?

The night my husband Wayne passed away; that moment defined or perhaps confirmed spirituality for me. As I stroked his hair, held his hand, and kissed his lips I knew at that moment he was going to be alright. Each day as I move through life I feel him by my side stroking my hair, holding my hand, kissing my lips and whispering in my ear "I'm here with you and everything is going to be alright".

My question to you....What's your defining moment?

Judy

You Can Heal Your Life

I'm reading a great book by Louise Hay called, "You Can Heal Your Life."

Louise recently released a movie based on this book that I have heard is unbelievable. I haven't seen it yet, but I know some of our readers have, so feel free to comment.

I am really enjoying this book. I'm filling it with yellow highlighter and sticky notes as I am continuing to find amazing nuggets of information.

In the fifth chapter Louise says, "Whatever you give out comes back to you." I love this! It's funny, I never understood this years ago and couldn't understand why certain things were drawn to me. Now being enlightened I realize how true this is!

I often listen to people who get frustrated with people around them whether they are friends, family, co-workers or subordinates. They project a negative attitude and that's what they get back. It becomes a cycle. Sometimes it's hard to break--especially when they don't understand or embrace this philosophy.

Think about your life. Do you have any of these relationships? Pay attention and keep your eyes open for this. See if you can change the way you interact with this type of person--put a positive spin on it--and see what happens.

In gratitude,
Deanna

Spring Cleaning Your Personal House

"Better keep yourself clean and bright. You are the window through which you must see the world."
~George Bernard Shaw

This quote truly spoke to me.

My mental and emotional house is in need of a good spring cleaning. 2007 was a year of accumulation. It’s now time for me to get my house back in order. It’s time to toss negative attitudes, clear my head and let in new fresh energy.

And finally, I need to clean the house I call home, where all my stuff is. I’m going to clean the basement, garage, closets, and my desk. Wherever I’ve accumulated stuff that I don't need, I’m going to clear it out and give it away. Clutter causes stress!

The physical action of house cleaning is symbolic of what we are doing on the mental and emotional levels. Clearing out old, useless stuff will get our energy flow moving, which really gets our "house in order."

Affirmation: Good things are coming my way with all the order and space I'm creating."

Stay positive about the cleaning and clearing process, and watch your life begin to sparkle.

Judy

Teaching Gratitude

Judy and I receive an e-mail daily when things pop up on the web related to gratitude. We were really impressed with one of the links and wanted to share it with you.

It is a great blog article that talks about ways to teach your teen gratitude. I don't have a teenager, yet, but I know plenty of friends that are in that stage right now and it can be frustating. Growing up today is so different from even when I grew up. There are so many more challenges and stimulus that these children need to process.

Reaching this group is very important for Judy and I with our soon to be debuting t-shirt and hoodie collection. Putting aside all of the stress and anxiety that they are all under, they should be able to feel good about themselves and express that.

Be on the look out--our collection is being photographed next week! We can't wait to share it with you!

In the meantime, check out this great blog: Dr. Robyn J.A. Silverman.

We'd love to hear what you think.

Make It a Great Day!
Deanna

Spring Has Sprung!

WOW! What a fabulously unexpected warm sunny day here! I had a wonderful day spending time with my daughter. We ran some errands and took time to go in to the Harbor area of one of our local towns to walk with the dog and get some ice cream. It was just delightful.

My husband and I took her to this area Thursday evening. Thursday was also a beautiful day. I was amazed at how warm it was by the water. It made me yearn for summer. I remember saying to him as we were walking the dog looking out at the beautiful scene before us, that it was remarkable to me how much appreciation I had for what I was seeing at that moment. I thought it was funny how I looked off in the distance almost in awe at what I saw and the warmth that I felt. I then said, "Isn't it a shame that once the summer gets rolling we don't see or appreciate this in the same way?" We get busy and it becomes common place.

I made sure to take the time to appreciate it that day and today and breathe it in.

As Spring is blooming take the time to be grateful for these moments. The earth is in a re-birth. Stop to take a few minutes to appreciate that beauty.

Have a fabulous weekend!

In gratitude,
Deanna

Pumping Out the Positive

I typically get my gas a local gas station. It's really small, but a long time family owned business. It's full serve and after a while you get to become friendly with the attendants.

The attendant that usually fills my tank is always so nice and friendly--even on a rainy day. Last week, I filled up on Friday which was a cold drizzley day. I pulled up as I normally do and rolled my window down. I got my customary friendly greeting, "How are you today?" "Great!" I said. "I just wish it wasn't raining--but it's okay--it's a great day!" Well, we got into a conversation about this and I learned that this man who pumps gas is an avid gardener and loves to be outside. He loves looking at the positive side of life and spreads that sunshine to others. How remarkable! I felt like I found this gem in of all places, a small town gas station!

I was very struck by this last week and tabled it as something to write about. Well, today I needed to fill up again and there was the friendly gas attendant. I asked him if he was outside working yesterday on that fabulously warm day. He declared that he was with much excitement and said that he is just loving being outside and digging in the dirt. His passion for the outdoors was pouring out. I felt so happy for him!

I left as I always do, with a smile on my face. I found it truly remarkable that there are many people who come across this man's path and they probably don't get "it." The "it" I refer to is this attitude. How amazing it is to look at life this way--it's so much richer even if your checkbook tells you different.

I encourage you to take a look around you. You probably have one of these "gems" in your life that you encounter on a regular basis. Open your eyes to it, it's amazing what you can learn.

With deepest gratitude,
Deanna

Giving Back

Last night was Idol Gives Back on American Idol. Judy and I both enjoy watching American Idol, although I must admit I'm so busy these days that this year I haven't been watching regularly. My neighbor reminded me yesterday that last night was the Idol Gives Back episode, so I made sure to tune in.

Last year, we had Faith watch it with us so that she could understand how fortunate we are and see how to help others less fortunate. She was so moved last year by seeing as she called them, "the needy children" from Africa. She was stunned to see that some of them had no clothes or shoes.

We had her watch with us again last night and she was glued to the tv with us. I was watching it and planning to donate at some point during the night. When they got to the segment on the children from Africa, I was moved to run to my laptop and make my donation. I was brought to tears by the little family of 4 boys who lost both of their parents to HIV. The eldest was only about 15 and he looked so sad. Annie Lenox, who was the celebrity featured in this segment, was profoundly moved to tears (as was I) when she left the boys who were happily tested to be HIV negative.

I believe that this is a wonderful way to see all parts of the world and our country and the need that exists. I know it made us appreciate more deeply what we have. Faith turned to me towards the end and said, "so you mean some people don't have a fireplace, a couch, a tv, or a rug?" Some don't I said. It certainly puts into perspective the things we take for granted.

We have such a wonderful life to be grateful for! It feels good to know that you have and can help others in this way.

You can still donate to this cause by going to www.americanidol.com. Check it out or decide to help someone in your own way.

Deanna

Quick Tips for Meditation

It's the middle of the week. Are you stressed and tired? The end is near as Friday approaches.

We recently read a great article on The Art of Meditation in a small regional newsmagazine called "Natural Awakenings."

You may not be someone who has ever practiced meditiaton or you may be someone who does it frequently. Meditation doesn't need to be long, but is a great way to focus your mind and soothe away stress.

We pulled some great tips from this article for you to read about:

"-Chant a mantra to yourself: (such as "om" or another repetitive word or phrase that can be personal to you). This will help to quiet your mind and get you focused.

-Breathe easy: Inhale and exhale through your nose, creating a rhythmic pattern that lengthens progressively. Inhale for four counts, exhale for four counts; then inhale for five counts, exhale for five counts, and so on.

-Move and Repeat: Along with your breathing, repetitive movement like walking, jogging, swimming or t'ai chi can be used to induce a meditative state."

You can really do some of these anywhere. If you are at work take some time out at your desk to spend just a few minutes doing some deep breathing. It's amazing what this can do for you. It also gets you to take a few minutes to slow down and practice being mindful.

The Art of Discipline

My daughter has been studying karate for several years now. In the Fall she graduated from the Little Ninjas program to Kickin' Kids. The new program is much more intense and requires more skill and discipline. Faith absolutely loves karate. Her favorite thing is sparing where she has to wear a helmet and hand and foot gear. She looks forward to it every week and if for some reason there isn't class she is truly disappointed!

Last week she had her first Kickin' Kids graduation and she earned her orange belt. I was very surprised at the end of the ceremony when her instructor selected her as the "Student of the Semester." When she left Little Ninjas last year she was selected as the "Student of the Year," so when she was selected again I was truly moved to tears. You see, to me this isn't just an award. She was chosen for her discipline, focus, and drive to help others. As a parent, what more reward could there be than to have your child recognized for these things?

Of course, if you know my daughter, she really doesn't like attention (certainly not like her mom!) I told her how proud I was of her and she told me to stop that it's no big deal! Well, it is a big deal--this wasn't some generic trophy that everyone received. I know someday she'll appreciate and understand this, but it was so rewarding as a parent to have your child recognized for those attributes that you want them to have.

In our own lives much of what we do requires discipline. If you want to exercise or eat a certain way you need to be consistent to see the results and you need discipline and focus to achieve that. Our minds and emotions work the same way. Thoughts are just thoughts. Negative thoughts can be changed--attitudes can be changed. It just takes discipline, focus, and mindfulness to do so.

Reflect on this in your own life. Start small--is there one negative thought that nags at you? It could be something you think and don't even realize that you think about often. Try to counter it with a positive thought and keep doing so. Here's an example, getting out of bed in the morning--do you drag yourself out dreading the day ahead? If so, try before your feet even hit the floor thinking, it's going to be a great day! I'm not saying that things won't happen to you during the day that can bring you down, but what a better way to start off the day on a positive note than a negative one? Try it for yourself and see.

In gratitude,
Deanna

The Simplicity of Sweet Sunshine

I write today sitting in my office with the sun beaming through my three big windows. I can see the ground to the beautiful sky. It's such a warm feeling!

Thinking of something as simple as the sunshine, reminded me of this passage from the Louise Hay book that I have mentioned before, "Gratitude a Way of Life." Sylvia Friedman, a contributor to the book, writes:

"I have always been impressed with the song "The Best Things in Life Are Free." Gratitude is free--there is no cost. Nature's miracles, such as the flowers in bloom, the leaves when they turn bright colors in the fall, or the sky when it's blue, remind us of the simples pleasures in life. I remember a friend of mine who was going through a very sad time telling me: "I'm thankful when the sun is shining, as it gives me a positive feeling." I smiled and told her, "The sun shines not on us, but in us."

Today my gratitude is for these simple things that we often overlook or take for granted.

1. I am most grateful for the beautifully unexpected warm day we had Saturday.
2. I am most grateful for the radiant sunshine today.
3. I am most grateful for the beautiful blue sky with the puffy white pillow like clouds. It's such a pretty sight.
4. I am most grateful to breathe crisp fresh air.
5. I am most grateful for my senses which allow me to take all of this in.

All of this reminded me of the years I spent teaching painting classes. When we started painting landscapes I would tell my students that when they look at nature now they will see things differently. When I first studied perspective, I remember how driving down the road seemed different to me. I could appreciate the perspective of driving down that road and what was ahead. I then could translate that into a picture.

Most days, it's easy to find the big or obvious things to be grateful for. Take some time today to contemplate those small things that may not be as obvious. You will soon have a greater appreciation for those simple things.

With deep gratitude,
Deanna

Working Together Helping Others

I usually like to make our Saturday posts about something family related. The weekends are great times to reconnect in our face paced chaotic world.

I know in our house even with one child in just a few activities, there is little time at night after all of the "have to do" work is done. There are so many demands on our children at such a young age. I don't ever remember homework or coursework like my daughter has in 1st grade.

My husband and I have sponsored a little girl from Columbia for nearly 8 years now. Recently, Faith saw her letter and her latest picture. She asked me about her and I told her that we help her out by sponsoring her. I told her of all the great things that organization does to help her.

She had so many questions and that night said to me that she really wanted to do something. She said she wants to sell something and give the money away to needy children. Like a lemonade stand, I asked? Yes, she said but I have to charge a dollar for everything. We can take all that money and all of your money and give it away to needy children. How profound for a 6 year old.

Thinking about this now, it made me realize that this would be a great activity to "connect" with your family. It doesn't need to be a lemonade stand, but why not volunteer at a soup kitchen, help clean up a park, help an elderly relative--make them dinner or clean up their yard. The ideas are endless and great ways to teach lessons.

Of course, this all brings us back to gratitude and the goal of this type of exercise would be to get at the root of it all and appreciate on a higher level how fortunate we are. No matter how bad you think you have it, someone else is worse off. Take the time to get out and help others. You'll feel good for it.