Welcome to Mirth and Motivation!
Before you leave a comment, STOP, consider this: Our comments are part of our digital footprint on the internet. They tell the world how we think and respond to information. I know YOU took time out of your busy schedule and landed here. I’m rooting for you to say something inspiring that will help others who read my posts. THANK YOU! ❤
Photo Challenge: ELEMENTAL
“The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood, and the sound of outer ocean on a beach.” Henry Beston
Photo Challenge: ELEMENTAL – Revisiting the Hudson River and vicinity
Photo Challenge: ELEMENTAL – Revisiting the Hudson River and vicinity
For this week’s photo challenge on – Elemental – I went back to familiar territory and took photos of the Hudson River and some of the life around it. I included a few photos of movements including a shot of a field where the tornado of last fall had stripped the trees of life… I will upload a bigger photo later. I’ve also shared part of a poem by Walt Whitman on the subject. I think he does a better job of speaking about it than I could. Enjoy!
Photo Challenge: ELEMENTAL – Revisiting the Hudson River and vicinity
Elemental Drifts. by Walt Whitman
1
ELEMENTAL drifts!
How I wish I could impress others as you have just been impressing me!
As I ebb’d with an ebb of the ocean of life,
As I wended the shores I know,
As I walk’d where the ripples continually wash you, Paumanok,
Where they rustle up, hoarse and sibilant,
Where the fierce old mother endlessly cries for her castaways,
I, musing, late in the autumn day, gazing off southward,
Alone, held by this eternal Self of me, out of the pride of which I utter my poems,
Was seiz’d by the spirit that trails in the lines underfoot,
In the rim, the sediment, that stands for all the water and all the land of the globe.
Fascinated, my eyes, reverting from the south, dropt, to follow those slender winrows,
Chaff, straw, splinters of wood, weeds, and the sea-gluten,
Scum, scales from shining rocks, leaves of salt-lettuce, left by the tide:
Miles walking, the sound of breaking waves the other side of me,
Paumanok, there and then, as I thought the old thought of likenesses,
These you presented to me, you fish-shaped island,
As I wended the shores I know,
As I walk’d with that eternal Self of me, seeking types.
More Below! Read more…
Motivation Mondays: Life Is a GIFT
“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” Tony Robbins
Motivation Mondays: Life Is a GIFT
What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it – would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have. Ralph Marston
To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all. Oscar Wilde
Life is a precious gift, do you love yours? Today is National Purple Heart Day, Raksha Bandhan Day, and a birthday for all of us who share this day. While some don’t give much thought about the day they came into this world, life is precious and worth our motivation to make the best of it. We must stop and think about the beauty and great gift that life is… our human life comes after many months of preparation, celebration, and love. We need the connections we make with one another to create and nurture life. Without our agreement, life becomes meaningless so, be grateful and make your life something you can be proud of.
Why the Purple Hearts? I mentioned the Purple Hearts recipients because life and death are equal companions and whether we choose to enjoy or fritter away our lives, we can learn a deeply profound lesson from those who earned their purple hearts. When people join the service in any nation, they do so because they believe in the principles of their country and want to do their part to protect what their country stands for. In their tour of duty, some end up giving their lives to protect and save others and do it under the most selfless and trying conditions. It is this great act of bravery and ultimate sacrifice that earns them a purple heart. In some ways, we can see the potential exists in each of us to give selflessly to others so they too can thrive and grow. So whenever we are feeling unmotivated and ungrateful about our lot, we should pause to consider our brave military who earned purple hearts because they made the ultimate sacrifice – they acted bravely in the face of great danger and lost their lives so others can live. Please consider this carefully when you treat your life with disregard. Why don’t you express your gratitude for the life you have daily? How can you use your life to help others?
READ: On the History of the PURPLE HEART
A Story: The Porcupines on Life is Short
It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm. This way they covered & protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions. After a while, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone & frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth. Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive.
The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others & can admire the other person’s good qualities.
Moral of the short story: Life is short, and it is up to you to make it sweet. Via Inspirationvideos.net
“To me, life is a gift, and it’s a blessing to just be alive. And each person should learn what a gift it is to be alive no matter how tough things get. ” Tony Bennett
Motivation Mondays: Life Is a GIFT
Motivation Mondays: Life Is a GIFT
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. Mark Twain.
Life is a gift. Never forget to enjoy and bask in every moment you are in. Unknown
Each day is a gift, open it. celebrate it, and enjoy it. Stuart and Linda McFarlane
In that moment I understand that I have the power to create the situation right here, right now. I could walk past and say nothing, I could stop and talk, I could do whatever, and create a moment. Every moment is my moment to create. Gregg Korrol
Why Does Life Matter? It matters because we come into this world to serve an important role in the lives of those who cross our path. Every life is a valuable one and until we begin to appreciate our relationships, interactions, and the opportunities we get to express ourselves and to serve each other, we are wasting our lives. Some folks think that life is all roses for some and nails for others but, the truth is that everyone faces some sort of challenge. Even if the grass looks greener in our neighbor’s yard, our neighbor has his/her own struggles and challenges that we are not aware of. So instead of spending time bemoaning what we don’t have, we will be better served to show gratitude for what is and then work at improving our lot. There is no success without some effort and since our lifespans are finite, we might as well put all our energy into making the best of it so our eulogy won’t be filled with regrets.
As Mark Twain aptly said above, the day we were born and the day we find out why we are here; to have a responsibility to respect, honor and serve each other, are the most important days in our lives. We can improve our lives by helping others and making changes that help us become better. We can also make a choice to see the good in each day while working to overcome the not so good. All of life is about effort, service and love and without moving our feet, not much can be accomplished. Start living your life today.
READ: Writing Challenge: Gift Of 1000 Hugs…
A Story: A Father’s Special Gift
Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate.
The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son’s trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world. As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country.
After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again. Within days, his fears were confirmed, the young man had died while carrying a fellow soldier to a medic.
Distraught and lonely, the old man continued his life with anguish and sadness. The joy of art collecting, that he and his son had so enjoyed, would no longer be the same.
One winter morning a knock on the door awakened the depressed, old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hands. He introduced himself to the man by saying, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you.”
As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man’s son had told everyone of his, not to mention his father’s, love of fine art. “I am an artist,” said the soldier, “and I want to give you this.” As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man’s son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the picture above the fireplace. A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars’ worth of art. His task completed, the old man sat in his chair and spent the rest of the day gazing at the gift he had been given. Continued Below...
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for July/August 2017 are:
07/04 – Independence Day,
07/11 – World Population Day, 14 Bastille Day
07/16 – National Ice Cream Day, 18 Nelson Mandela Day
07/23 – Parents Day, 28 World Hepatitis Day
07/30 – International Friendship Day
08/01 – TBC
08/07 – TBC
08/14 – TBC
08/24 – TBC
Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2017?
– Join the Daily Post Post-a-day or Post-a-week Challenge.
— Join the BlogHer Writing Lab
More Below! Read more…
Try The World: A Taste Of MEXICO
“Mexican cuisine is a fusion of multiple cultures which involves a lot of gastronomy and religion. We go back more than 1,000 years in the history of food…” Chef Abraham Tamez
Try The World: A Taste Of MEXICO
Mexican food is one of the best culinary experiences that people can have. Karla Souza
Mexican cuisine is a fusion of multiple cultures which involves a lot of gastronomy and religion. We go back more than 1,000 years in the history of food with the combination of indigenous people like Aztecas and Mayas, as well as with the union of Spanish, Lebanese, French, and Italian people. Mexico unites this – religion, historical moments, and culture – and exposes it in cooking. Chef Abraham Tamez
Mexican food is far more varied than people think. It changes like dialects. I was brought up in Jalisco by the sea on a basic diet – tomatoes, chillis, peppers of every size and rice, which is a Mexican staple. The Pacific coast has a huge array of seafood. Gael Garcia Bernal
Try The World: A Taste Of MEXICO: Mexican Cuisine has a very long, varied, and rich history that dates back over 1,000 years. Like Mexico, the foods fuse influences from the Aztecs, Mayans, and Europeans especially Spanish, Africans, and Asians with indigenous cooking traditions/techniques. When I think of Mexican food, I see myself at a dining table having a feast of Tamales, Pescado, Sopes, Ceviche, Arroz Rojo, Fruta, Flan, and many other mouthwatering Mexican dishes. If you’ve never ventured into the beautiful country of Mexico but would love to try some of their popular, satisfying, comfort foods with your friends and family, then the TTW – MEXICO subscription box has your name on it.
“My mother and my grandmother are pioneers of Mexican cuisine in this country, so I grew up in the kitchen. My mom, Zarela Martinez, was by far my biggest influence and inspiration – and toughest critic.” Chef Aaron Sanchez
Try The World: A Taste Of MEXICO
Try The World: A Taste Of MEXICO
As a kid, my happiness came from knowing that every Saturday we would cook an amazing feast for family and friends … We’d eat from the vendors at the market, traditional Mexican dishes like pozole, quesadillas with mushrooms and epazote, menudo or barbacoa. Chef Abraham Tamez
People like to blame Mexican food, but look at what’s happening globally, look at all the fast foods and products filled with trans fat. Before the Mexican Revolution, a hundred years ago, people were eating what now macrobiotics tells us to eat, corn, black beans, rice. That’s what people were eating – and chile peppers. That’s a healthy diet. And also they ate a lot of vegetables. Sandra Cisneros
What’s inside my Try The World – Mexico Box? Every box of curated gourmet items includes a spice, sweet, traditional food that folks love and cherish in the country of origin, a Culture Guide that walks you through the history of each item, the family behind the farm or company, and a few recipes to try with your food items. If you so choose, you may use the items to create your own recipes or add them to your favorite foods… that is the beauty of enjoying foods from around the world. My Mexico box came with nine (9) carefully curated items selected by Chef Abraham Tamez of the highly regarded Estrella Restaurante in Cabo San Luca in Mexico City. You can see them in the photographs above and below. Stay tuned for a full description.
Sign up today for your first journey into Try The World’s gourmet items to enjoy. As an Ambassador for this extraordinary brand, I’d like to remind everyone about our special deep discount. SPECIAL OFFER: Try The World has made a special offer of a 15% discount off the first subscription box to all my readers. As a reader of this blog, you can use the discount code on purchasing your first $39/box subscription option and/or on all gift boxes. Use the coupon code MMTRAVELS15 during your checkout to get your awesome discount.
What about pricing? Subscriptions now start at $33/Box.
A bi-monthly subscription is $39/box charged every two months
A 6 monthly tour subscription is $35/box charged every six months
A year tour subscription is $33/box charged every year
People have the option to order a gift single box and/or gift tours.
If the MEXICO Box calls you, sign up today, save 15% on your first box and a new box will be shipped, every other month, when it becomes available.
More Below! Read more…
