Blog Archives
Best Quotes Ever!
Nothing turns around a really bad day like changing your focus to being grateful for what we have instead of what we don’t. Positive emotions and reliving happy memories give us a boost like no other and certainly improve our mental health. We live in crazy times that shout out for positive rather than negative thinking. There is always something to be thankful for, even on our not-so-great days. Let’s concentrate on having an attitude of gratitude, positivity, and encouragement that we can share with others who usually need it as much as we do. Here are a few quotes from people you may or may not have heard of but might give us a new perspective after an especially difficult day.
Solitaire
Honor our Heroes this Memorial Day!
Thank you! May God Bless You!
As we celebrate Memorial Day Monday, May 29th, 2023, let us remember to take a moment to honor those who have given their lives in service to our country. No matter what we do this Memorial Day weekend and on Memorial Day itself, the holiday offers a chance for the solemn remembrance of those who served our country and are no longer here with us, but who are in our hearts forever. To the brave men and women who have fought valiantly to keep our country free:
John F. Kennedy –
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
Harry S. Truman –
“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.”
Elmer Davis –
“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”
Gen. Douglas MacArthur –
“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
Unknown –
“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.”
Solitaire
Fall has Arrived!
We in Arizona have made it through another hot summer. We have had more rain this year though, which is a good thing when so many have endured drought. Now we can enjoy the cool Fall days and spend some quality time outdoors with friends and family. Hike or take a bike ride on the trails and take in all the beauty in this great cool weather. There are numerous Fall Festivals that are held every year that can be found in almost every city or town.
Grab a good book and go sit out in the cool air and enjoy this time of year. If you’re looking for something to read, check out my website. For something chilling try– Vengeance of the Wolf, for an adventure with dragons and time travel – The Dragomeir Series, or my new book The Atrium, which reveals the inner reflections of a man examining his life, not knowing if he will live or die. You’ll find other books and extras that might interest you as well.
Whatever you do to experience the Fall weather, fill up your days and weekends with the things that make you feel refreshed and balanced. It’s always a great time to count your blessings and be grateful for everything and everyone around you.
Solitaire
10 Ways to Promote Happiness
Happiness – the often elusive thing that nearly everyone is searching for. We all have different ideas, preferences, and desires for our lives. But after years of scientific research, it has been suggested that certain things make the good majority of us happy. To be more specific, happiness does not result from reaching “bigger and better” signs of success, but rather from looking for contentment from new and fresh experiences in our quest for a life that is considered well lived. So, what kinds of experiences provide the best happiness benefits? Well, scientific study has discovered that these 10 ways will increase your everyday overall happiness:
- Make little changes in your daily routine, such as getting more sleep, exercising, getting out into nature, and meditating.
- Read more books. Read books to learn—research suggests that lifelong learners remain healthy and engaged, and live long lives. Read books as an escape from your everyday life, Read books—it will make you happy. (One of my personal favorites. I have always loved to read, and write as well. Check out my books at www.solitaireparke.com)
- Find your right fit or match, both personally and professionally. If you love what you do and who you are with, you’ll position yourself for personal happiness and professional success.
- Be grateful. Two specific activities help foster a greater sense of gratitude. First, keep a daily gratitude journal. Second, pay a “gratitude visit” to someone from your past that has had a significant impact on your life, and let them know how you feel.
- Smile more—even if you don’t feel like it. Research shows that the simple act of smiling can trick your brain into a happier state.
- Take pleasure in simple, everyday moments. Appreciating life’s small moments, such as a beautiful sunny day, plants sprouting from the ground, and skipping rocks at the beach, teaches you to be more grateful for what you have, especially during moments of stress and anxiety.
- Perform random acts of kindness. Do good deeds. Volunteer. Be charitable. Shop for someone else! Studies have shown that you can help yourself by doing good things for others.
- Spend money on experiences versus things. Studies have shown that buying an object—a car, handbag, or kitchen gadget—can quickly lead to buyer’s remorse. On the other hand, investing in experiences—a concert, a camping trip, music lessons—leads to greater happiness. Experiences create “happiness residue,” and our perceptions of them often get better over time.
- Avoid comparisons. Whatever you may think of someone else’s life, particularly as viewed through the phony, filtered lens of social media, it’s almost certainly messier than you imagine. It’s easier to embrace and learn to love your own imperfections, if you don’t conjure up myths about how perfect everyone else’s lives seem.
- Build and maintain close relationships. Having a small number of tight, meaningful relationships is one of the highest predictors of happiness. (Pets are wonderful companions too!)
We all lose sight of some of the happiness priorities, so don’t feel bad if you do. In this world we battle on a daily basis the relentless marketing and expectations of society that attempt to lead us down paths to happiness that lie somewhere else. We don’t need to over-complicate things. It’s the simple things in life that matter most. Live each moment with purpose and intent – live each moment as if it were your last and enjoy the people around you. You have one life – so live each minute to the fullest!
“Attaining lasting happiness requires that we enjoy the journey on our way toward a destination we deem valuable. Happiness is not about making it to the peak of the mountain nor is it about climbing aimlessly around the mountain; happiness is the experience of climbing toward the peak.”
Solitaire