Expressing gratitude

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
- William Arthur Ward

I don't know how many of you remember me mentioning that I had won a weekend away for myself and my wife? Well, this past weekend was that weekend. And in this weeks article, I just want to express my gratitude. Firstly, thanks to God for blessing us with such an awesome prize and secondly to Misty Mountain Reserve for treating us so well. They really have a stunning place and extremely friendly and helpful staff, if you need a relaxing weekend I highly recommend looking them up. Click here to view their website.

Below are a few photo's of the weekend;



Above - the view from our deck.
Below - my lovely wife in front of our chalet.





Above - my lovely wife relaxing at the pool.
Below - the view from a walk I went on.





Above - sunset from our deck.

I now have one more thing to be incredibly grateful for, we just went for our 20 week scan and Baby Thomas is perfectly healthy. So thanks again to God for entrusting us with a new life, and thanks to my wife for looking after Baby Thomas so well.

Did you know, the more you are grateful for, the more you will receive? It's a law, that if used wisely, will bring happiness and abundance into your life. So what have you got to lose, start being grateful and watch your life change.

Next week I'll continue with more on decisions.

Have an awesome week.

“Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.”
- Eileen Caddy

Decisions

“Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.”
- Keri Russell

We seldom realize the importance of decision making until it's too late, but did you know, we can learn to become great decision makers. And it all starts with understanding our emotions.

Did you know that every single decision we make is emotional, some more than others. And there is research to prove this theory.

Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio studied people who had received brain injuries to the emotional part of their brain, in all other respects they seemed normal - they just lost the ability to feel emotions.
The interesting thing he found was that their ability to make decisions was seriously impaired. They could logically describe what they should be doing, but in practice they found it very difficult to make decisions about where to live, what to eat, etc.

I believe 90% of us make decisions when we are in the wrong emotional state, the other 10%, well they are the successful people in the world. And of that 90% a lot are too scared to make decisions, in case its the wrong one.

“We can try to avoid making choices by doing nothing, but even that is a decision.”
- Gary Collins

I used to think emotional intelligence was just another gimmick, because like most people, I chose to be ignorant, but after doing a bit of reading and research, (deciding to educate myself), I have come to realize it is actually an important life skill.

If we can learn to understand our emotions, we can also learn when to make certain decisions and our lives can only improve.

This is a fascinating topic and one that requires a bit more discussion, so until next week, watch your emotions...

“A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion”
- Chinese Proverb

The truth about disease?

“Your lifestyle - how you live, eat, emote, and think - determines your health. To prevent disease, you may have to change how you live.”
- Brian Carter

I am so glad I am not the only person on the planet who believes this, unfortunately, very few do, which is why there is so much disease. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN HEALTH! And if you have any children younger than ten, you are responsible for theirs too! And I don't mean just protecting yourselves and your children from viral infections, I'm talking about the serious diseases as well, the most common one being cancer.

Most people will blame something or someone for their disease, it's far easier than taking responsibility. I don't mean to offend anyone with this article, just educate. But if you are offended, it's probably because I have hit a nerve, sorry about that. Anyway, most people who contract a serious disease will blame genetics, it runs in the family. Maybe it does, but do you know you have the power to change that.

Another big blame is our lifestyle and what we eat. Most of the time we have no idea what we are shoveling into our mouths. I often hear people say, 'What I don't know can't harm me'. How naive! The next time you bite into a juicy fruit think about this, unless it's organic, you are eating poison. You washed it, well done, but some of the poison is on the inside, it gets absorbed through the roots of the tree. But it's such a small amount, how much fruit will you consume in your lifetime? And the next time you turn on the tap, be wary, be very wary. You have no idea where that water comes from and if it has been treated correctly.

So what can we do about all this? Firstly, open your mind, because what I'm about to tell you will challenge your thinking. Secondly, open your mind, and thirdly, open your mind. Yes, it's that important.

Your body is a very finely tuned instrument which is constantly giving you feedback. So when you get ill, your body is trying to tell you something. Even the common cold, is your body telling you there is something wrong. But I am going to focus on the more serious diseases, and the most common one is cancer. Did you know that every single living organism can contract cancer, even plants? So why are us humans, the rulers of planet earth, the ones who are suffering the most? It's because of our ability to think!

I watched a DVD some time ago, 'You Can Heal Your Life' by Louise Hay, and in it a woman who was suffering from cancer did some research into finding out what all those who were cured had in common. Her findings weren't what you would expect, all these people changed the way they thought, changed their attitude towards life, and changed their diet.

I also read the book 'You Can Heal Your Life' by Louise Hay, and according to her findings, the most common cause of disease are anger and resentment. And this can be towards others and yourself. And the sad thing is, most of us are so used to living with anger and resentment we aren't even aware of it.

When you talk about other people, are you saying nice things or bad things? Bad things = anger & resentment.
When you talk about your life, is it good or bad? Bad = anger & resentment.
When things don't go as planned, can you see any good in the situation? No = anger & resentment.
Can you let go of the past, something you have no control over? No = anger & resentment.
Can you forgive, something God does for you all the time? No = anger & resentment.

The list goes on, but you should get the idea by now.

Unfortunately some people are past the point of any help, but I am so grateful I have learned that I have control over my own health. And I must say, it is a scary responsibility to have, but the scariest part is that soon my wife and I will be responsible for our child's health as well. You see, until the age of about ten, your child is unaware of the power of it's thoughts and attitude, it's all your responsibility!

And if after all this you are still unsure of your powers, there is a new book out, and I can't wait to get my hands on it, 'The Biology of Belief' by Dr. Bruce Lipton. Stunning new scientific discoveries about the biochemical effects of the brain's functioning show that all the cells of your body are affected by your thoughts.

At last, some proof, isn't that what we all need? After all, faith is wavering...

“We are the carriers of health and disease - either the divine health of courage and nobility or the demonic diseases of hate and anxiety”
- Joshua Loth Liebman

“The deviation of man from the state in which he was originally placed by nature seems to have proved to him a prolific source of diseases”
- Edward Jenner

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”
- Thomas Alva Edison

Bring on the homeopaths!!!

The most powerful force in the universe

"Live to love, and you'll love to live" - Brynn Thomas

Back in 2001 I submitted this quote to an inspirational website, and to my surprise it was published. Back then I meant it as loving your partner, or finding a partner to love. I am now a bit older and a bit wiser. I now believe it applies to all aspects of your life, ALL relationships, business, health, etc.

- Firstly, you need to love yourself, if you can't love who you are, how can you expect someone else to.
- Secondly, you need to love all those close to you, family, friends and pets, what you give you will receive.
- Thirdly, you need to love what you do, and if you don't love what you do, take baby steps towards loving what you do. You will never be successful unless you love doing what you are doing most days of your life.
- And lastly you need to love what you have, your house, your car, in fact all your earthly possessions. If you don't love it, let it go.

You see, love is the most powerful force in the universe, and the more you radiate it, the more you will receive it. (if you disagree, I would love to read your thoughts on the matter, so post a comment on my blog, I dare you!)

Let me use an example. There have been reports of mothers moving cars when their child is in danger, and this is explained as an adrenalin rush. But what caused the adrenalin rush, fear? Maybe, but that fear originated from the love for their child.

My wife sent me an email which helped to explain a few questions I had about life. I just wish I knew where it originated so I could give that person credit. Here it is:

Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The Six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'

- Live simply.
- Love generously.
- Care deeply.
- Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

- When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
- Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
- Take naps.
- Stretch before rising.
- Run, romp, and play daily.
- Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
- Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
- On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
- On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
- When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
- Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
- Be loyal.
- Never pretend to be something you're not.
- If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
- When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Us advanced humans complicate life so much that we forget to take pleasure in the simple things. Remember as a child how all the new things we experienced were absolute bliss. But sadly as we grow older we are told to grow up and start behaving a certain way. What a load of rubbish!

When you wake up in the morning, give thanks for another day of life on this beautiful planet, and tell those close to you that you love them, and at least once a day, do something that makes you feel good inside, and for goodness sake, practice smiling, it's infectious.

Have an absolutely awesome week. :-)