So Often Forgotten

As my American friends, family + blogging "family"

approach Thanksgiving, I thought I would share some gratitude

quotes from some my favorite writers

Trade your expectation for appreciation

and the world changes instantly

(Tony Robbins)

For me, every hour is grace. And I feel gratitude in my

heart each time I can meet someone and look at his or her smile

(Elie Wiesel-Holocaust survivor)

When you practise gratefulness, there is a sense of 

respect towards others

(The Dalai Lama)

No small gesture is too small when done with gratitude

(Oprah)

Showing gratitude is one of the simplest

yet most powerful things humans can do for each other

(Randy Pausch)

The miracle of gratitude is that is shifts your perception to

such an extent that it changes the world you see

(Dr. Robert Holden)

Makes me cry every time I see this image

We think we have to do something to be grateful

or something has to be done in order for us to be grateful,

when gratitude is really a state of mind

(Iyanla Vanzant)

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was

"thank you", that would suffice

(M.Eckhart)

Apart from the obvious such as family, health etc, what are you

grateful for today (however small I would love to hear)?

Happy Thanksgiving America

x

p.s the lovely Michelle Barbary from http:// whateveryousay.wordpress.com 

won our subscribers October draw. See her with her prize here

So don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (top right of this page) and be entered into November's monthly draw 

Could You Live Without It?

It started as an experiment when I left Spain in the

summer to live back in the UK

It started as a dare from Hubs who said it could never happen

Yes, I am talking about living without a mobile phone.

It's now been 3 months, and I can't tell you how liberating

and wonderful it has been "sans" a mobile

It's been liberating not feeling obliged  to check

e.mails just because I have my phone with me.

It's been wonderful reading a book on the underground,

whilst waiting for someone, whilst waiting for an appointment

without feeling I "should" be replying to someone's message

It's been funny watching people's reactions when they ask for

my mobile and I reply I don't have one. Looking at their

expression you would think I had just told them I had drowned

a family of puppies!

I never realised quite how stressful it was having a mobile; the need to

answer e.mails, your mind constantly churning over responses

to questions, speaking on the phone (usually at the most

inopportune time)  instead  just enjoying the silence.

I still use my laptop, BUT

I've decided to limit time on social media

I only answer e.mails once a day (in the afternoon)

I schedule time for blogs and Pinterest

And do you know what? It's been wonderful.

I am feeling really "switched on to being switched off".

Would you dare go without  a mobile for 1 day

..........1 week......... 1 month?

Flowers outside my favorite London store

I promise it gets easier the longer the duration.

And all those emergencies we say we need our phone for

...............they very rarely happen ;-)

What do you think?
Would you dare?

p.s the lovely Michelle Barbary from http:// whateveryousay.wordpress.com won our subscribers

October draw. 

So don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (top right of this page) and be entered into November's monthly draw 

Saddle Up Girlfriend

Sometimes it's easy to feel when you have to
start over and over again on the same goal,
that it's just not meant to be

But then I have to remind myself that
anyone who has done anything amazing or worthwhile,
has always had to get back up and start again
(sometimes many, many times)

I have to remind myself

those people made mistakes too, slipped up,

and got lazy and distracted 

You see, here's the thing. I have never believed in

the overnight success stories. Apart from

some rare exceptions, 

if you just dig a little deeper you will

find it was never over- night.

Sometimes successful people or

people you admire have been

plugging away for years in the background;

we just haven't seen them.

So gorgeous girl, if you find yourself

re-starting a project........ starting something

over for the umpteenth time

Congratulate yourself! Congratulate yourself

for having the courage it takes to move forward

after stumbling.........maybe even falling.

It really is an act of bravery to not throw in

the towel at the first or second or even twentieth

hurdle and  to recognise

what you did/didn't do..............

and to take the necessary action- however small and

after however many coffees ;-)

image from A Brit Greek via Pinterest

It will make a difference and you will

subsequently make a difference to someone

with the dreams and goals you have in mind.

Not only that, when you finally
reach the finishing line, success
will be all the more sweeter

Saddle up girlfriend. It's time to 

get back on that damn horse ;-)


As always would love to hear your thoughts
on my random ramblings ;-)

p.s the lovely Michelle Barbary from http:// whateveryousay.wordpress.com won our subscribers

October draw. Her "sparkly" gift is winging it's way to her.

So don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (top right of this page) and be entered into November's monthly draw 

p.s all images from Pinterest