Author Archives: Guest Blogger
Forgiveness, Giving Back, Goodness, Gratitude, Hanging In There
GRATITUDE: LOST AND FOUND
Many years ago, I found myself at Disneyland under duress. Yeah, yeah, it’s the Happiest Place on Earth and I’m fortunate enough to live an hour away from it and it always made my son so happy when we went but this was just one of those rainy, dark Saturdays when the Happiest Place on MY Earth was the couch in the living room, a book and the dogs on my lap and “Dirty Dancing” on TV. Woe to Princess… Read More
Change, Courage, Hanging In There
THEN AND NOW
In honor of the winter Olympic games in Sochi we have a special guest blogger Tai Babilonia, who was a two time Olympian and World Pair Champion with her partner Randy Gardner. Tai has generously shared some of her feelings with us here at Gratitude and Trust. And boy are we grateful. Thank you Tai. A couple of weeks ago, I attended an event to celebrate 2014 Olympic athletes and cheer them on as they marched in the Sochi… Read More
CREATION IS THE PLAY OF LIFE UPON ITSELF
When it comes to fear, there are a number of things I observe in my own behavior and the behavior of others. When the forms of our lives disappear we get scared. No form is permanent and at some point in everyone’s life, all forms, no matter how substantial they look or how important they may be, will disappear. The forms of our lives, our relationships, careers, health, wealth, our bodies and stuff we own, even the feelings we’re having… Read More
THE GIFT OF LETTING GO
Doing the right thing can sometimes break your heart. When there is no way around but through, when the obvious act of Love is Sacrifice, the only way I can honor the higher angels of my journey is to act upon what I know is called for. Life has shown me there can be a profound difference between comfort and contentment. Chasing comfort at all costs lies near the core of any of my selfish and addictive actions. Acting… Read More
Change, Gratitude, Living Fully, Love
GRATITUDE IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER
The secret to creating the feeling of gratitude is to be consistent in keeping an open and receptive mind, a believing heart, and a natural, sane and expectant nature. This is what creates confidence and the kind of strength measured in your connection with the Divine and your feeling of oneness with the world in which you live. Some people posses this type of consistence; most do not. Overwhelmed with fear, many live in a very noisy mind, dominated… Read More
SHAME vs GRATITUDE
Shame is a powerful thing. It locks things up inside of you that, if released, could free others of their own. It hides you away from the things that truly matter. Nothing has ever changed quite so much for me as it has in 2013. And that’s saying something, because I’ve seen a lot of change. I spent my childhood on television sets and my adolescence in lockdown treatment centers. I’ve bounced around from state to state, never quite… Read More
Moving Forward, The Right Stuff
NOT A GIFT
THIS POST WAS WRTTEN BY SETH GODIN ON HIS BLOG YESTERDAY We felt it was worth not just linking but sending out in it’s entirety. Have a great weekend. Paul and Tracey Here are attributes many of us value in co-workers, bosses, employees, friends and vendors: Honest Punctual Curious Proactive Flexible Thoughtful Generous Fun Committed Respectful Organized Interested Creative Likable Positive you get the idea. These are things that turn someone from ordinary into a star. They are even attributes… Read More
Addictions, Forgiveness, Happiness, Kindness, Living Fully, The Right Stuff
ON FRIENDSHIP
After all this reflection, I came to the conclusion that I am lacking the gratitude and trust that friendships require. I am taking my friends and friendships for granted. I am expecting way too much from those around me and possibly not enough from myself. I believe I need to change my perspective on what it means to be a friend. Right now, my expectations within friendships are somewhat unrealistic. This includes holding friends up to standards of inclusion and sharing… Read More
The MASK OF FEAR
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. ~ FDR ~ I’m one of four children. I have two older siblings; the oldest, a brother, the second in command, a sister and a younger brother who was born when my parents decided they didn’t want to deal with “empty nest syndrome”. But for a good while I was the youngest. Somewhere in the research of family personality tests, the youngest child is suppose to be the spoiled one… Read More
The Right Stuff, Understanding
COMPARE AND DESPAIR
I have spent a lifetime creating an image of relative ease. I’m seen as happy, fun-loving and it looks like I have risen above struggle. All of this is true, and all of it is an exaggeration if not a lie. A partner once pointed out to me that my perfectionism was not only driving me crazy but it was hard on him. He felt pressured to live up to my standards and always felt like he was failing. … Read More