Start With A Smile

“It's time to shine! So shine your shoes, and you'll wear a smile. Shine your shoes, and you'll be in style. The Sun shines East, and the Sun shines West — Griffin Polish shines the best!” - Griffin Shoe Polish

Andy Williams, at age 11, sang on the 15-minute Time to Shine show at 8 a.m. before going to school. the little advertising jingle for the radio show was a simple way to start your day with a smile.

How you decide to start your day is your choice and not that of someone else. If you choose to be dour as you rise from bed, it is your choice and only yours. By starting the day in a bad mood sets a tone that will likely result in the day not going very well.

If you choose to start the day with a smile, your mood will be better prepared for all that will happen. A smile does not keep 'stuff' from happening, that is life. Yet a prepared mind and attitude will give you the needed tools to get through any circumstance.

So take a moment, relax and smile! Your day will be better for it.
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Tchaikovsky

“Truly there would be reason to go mad were it not for music.”
- Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky



Enjoy something truly wonderful and different. Experience great classical music and let your mind wander to far off places.
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Reaching Dreams

I speak of creating a vision for your life. A goal that you can keep focused on and move towards. A friend of mine does that with her music. She is a singer and songwriter; doing what she loves and staying focused on her goals.

Recently she released a new Christmas album titled "Snowflakes, Prayers and Memories" that is a perfect early gift to listen to during this holiday season. It may seem like a 'shameless plug' for her efforts, but the efforts of others and building support of another persons dreams is a very good thing for each of us to do.

Have a listen: Snowflakes Prayers and Memories by Marjorie Whitley

As you move through your own life, looking out towards a horizon upon which your vision awaits; know that there will be people entering your life to help. The people that come in and out of your life will have an impact. You have that ability to impact others, the lives of others that you move through. Share something with that person, help them along on their journey.

Tis the season and reaching out to others with love and support will do so much for them. What gets returned to you may seem imperceptible, but it is there.
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Final Days

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." - Charles Dickens

December 1 is the 335th day of the year or 336th in leap years. This means that there are only 30 days remaining until the end of the year. Only 30 days left to finish those New Year resolutions set way back on January 1.

Astronomical terms have the seasons begin at the solstices and equinoxes. In a conventional United States calendar, Winter begins on 21 December, the winter solstice.



In meteorological terms, the seasons are determined by temperature. So, in meteorology terms, winter begins in the Northern Hemisphere on December 1; summer beginning of course in the Southern Hemisphere.

The thing to consider is that Christmas is nearing and the calendar year is getting close to the end. With only 30 days left, how did you conduct your year?

Did you accomplish what you wanted?

Did you make life a little bit better for those you came in contact with?

Use these final days of the year 2008 to prepare for the coming holiday. But also use this time to reflect on what you might still be able to accomplish. The new year will bring new promises and new resolutions. So complete what you set out to do this year and finish the year strong.
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