What is Forgiveness?

 

Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them. ― Bruce Lee

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. ― Lewis B. Smedes 

To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it. ― Confucius

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. ― Mahatma Gandhi  

The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget. ― Thomas Stephen Szasz

True forgiveness is when you can say, “Thank you for that experience”. ― Oprah Winfrey

You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well. ― Lewis B. Smedes 

There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love. ― Bryant H. McGill

It takes a strong person to say sorry, and an even stronger person to forgive. ― Unknown

Love is…

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. – Lao Tzu

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ― Anonymous, Holy Bible: New International Version

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. – Mother Teresa

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable. ― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Where there is love, there is life. ― Mahatma Gandhi

Gratitude

 

Gratitude is the Heart’s Memory. -French Proverb

The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude. -Friedrich Nietzsche

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” – Epictetus

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. -John F. Kennedy 

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. -Oprah Winfrey

If you want to feel rich, count all the gifts you have that money cannot buy. -Unknown

Forget about what you have lost; be thankful for what you still have; look ahead to what is yet to come. -Unknown

The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.
 -WIlliam James

 

 

Be-U-tiful

Inspired by VDAY’s One Billion Rising coming up on Valentine’s day , this week’s art piece is in orange and pink, just like the logo of One Billion Rising.

One Billion Rising is a global VDAY campaign, a Race against Domestic Violence. See VDAY and One Billion Rising ‘s website and get ready to Strike, Dance and Rise!

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Always remember you’re Braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, Smarter than you think, and twice as Beautiful as you’d ever imagined. – Unknown

Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle. – Christian Larson

Be Brave & Be Kind

Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience. ―Paulo Coelho

To be brave is to be yourself in a world that tries to make you like everyone else. – Live Love Laugh ART

Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ― Mark Twain

People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. ― Mother Teresa

This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness. ― Dalai Lama XIV

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. ― Lao Tzu

 

Happiness vs. Joy

Many of us spend our entire life seeking happiness. If you haven’t been too successful seeking happiness in your life. Try turning inward, “seek” or better yet feel the feeling of joy in everyday of your life.

HAPPINESS comes from external sources; whereas JOY comes from within.

What is happiness? Happiness is the emotional state or experience of positive feelings ranging from contentment and/or satisfaction to bliss and/or intense pleasure. It is triggered by external sources such as: events, people, thoughts…etc.
Happiness is often expressed outwardly and is momentary.

What is Joy? Joy is the emotional state or experience of great delight or keen pleasure. For some people, joy may indicate religious or spiritual flavor.
Compared to happiness, Joy is usually displayed less outwardly and longer lasting.

Quotes about Joy:

Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are. -Marianne Williamson

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. – Buddha

Here are some responses to the question: What brings you joy?
When I feel hopeful about the future; my baby takes her first step; after a good nap; the birds sing; know that I am capable; the snow; being alive; feeling loved…

What brings you Joy?

If you want to learn more about joy, check out this article: Joy and Happiness in Relationships from Psychology Today.

 

Belated New Year Greetings

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day. – Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self-assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle. – Eric Zorn

It’s never too late for New Year resolutions. What’s your resolutions this year?

 

Smile, it’s contagious! :)

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. ~Thích Nhất Hạnh

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. ~Mother Teresa

 

Live Love Laugh :)

Live well.

Love much.

Laugh often.