Book of Inspiration

I have been keeping a journal since late 2008 that I have filled with inspirational quotes, poems, stories, pictures, etc. etc. etc. I also keep record of my bucket list. There is not a day that goes by that I don't add to it or read it. It has definitely helped me through the more difficult times and reminds me to focus on goals and that anything is possible. I hope you enjoy some of my favorites and please feel free to share some of what inspires you! I encourage you all to keep a book of inspiration! Please check back frequently for updates!

"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it." William Feather

"Each experience through which we pass operates ultimately for our good. This is a correct attitude to adopt and we must be able to see it in that light." Raymond Holliwell

"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury; and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy not respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with an open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasion, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony." William Ellery Channing

"For success, attitude is equally as important as ability." Harry F. Banks

"Purpose is the place where your deep gladness meets the world's needs." Frederick Buechner

"I raise up my voice--not so that I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard." Malala Yousafzai

"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it." William Feather

"Success is never final and failure never fatal. It's courage that counts." George Tilton

"Our passions are the true phoenixes; when the old one is burnt out, a new one rises from its ashes." Goethe

"All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible." Orison Swett Marden

"Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them." Washington Irving

"And all people live, not by reason of any care they have for themselves, but by the love for them that is in other people." Leo Tolstoy

"To change one's life: 1. Start immediately. 2. Do it flamboyantly. 3. No exceptions." William James

Shake it Off and Step Up author unknown

"A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule braying-or-whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery. Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a though struck him. HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP! You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. THAT'S LIFE!!! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity...THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US! Remember that FORGIVENESS--FAITH--PRAYER--PRAISE and HOPE...all are excellent ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in which we find ourselves!"

"In every endeavor, it is man or woman with unbreakable will who excels." Eknath Eswaran

"The world began when I was born and the world is mine to win." Badger Clark

"If the whole world followed you, would you be pleased with where you took it?" Neale Donald Walsch

"You will live to fight another day" Ron Roseman

"Power is the ability to do good things for others." Brooke Astor

"Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things even if we do not get anything in return. It is the joy of our life to do them. When we do good things from this inner desire, there is kindness in everything we think, say, want and do." Emanuel Swedenborg

"When we extend ourselves to another human being in any way at all, when we positively touch the life of one person, we benefit the whole of humanity." Gail Pursell Elliott

"Love the life you live, live the life you love." Bob Marley

"Your life is your message to the world. Make it inspiring." Lorrin L. Lee

"The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." Ayn Rand

"My darling girl, when are you going to understand that being normal is not necessarily a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage." Practical Magic

"In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you." Buddha

"...But poetry, beauty, romance, love...these are what we stay alive for." Dead Poet's Society

LIVE. LAUGH. LOVE.

"I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep."- Pablo Neruda

"Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others." Christian Larson

"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is a sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it." Mother Teresa

"The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge." Bertrand Russell