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New year, this 2013, looking ahead with positive thoughts about living better, not just making my home prettier:
Cleaner (recycle and clear out what is harmful)
More positive (concentrate on what is positive in life)

Eating better (always think of this, and each month, year I get closer to eating healthier foods and making better choices)

This video we watched this morning made DH and I proud of our food choices we have made and will continue to venture towards better and better ways to nourish ourselves in our home.
Thought I would share this because it is current and watching it to end is definitely upbuilding! Takes you through all the sources for what we 'think' is good for us. nutritionally.

Affirmations are so much better than New Year's resolutions!

Do not do 'DO NOT's'
INSTEAD DO: add to your food experience with natural foods, Build your body and your mind by adding more reading, more nature walks, more meaningful conversations with friends, etc.

SO ADD: not subtract... the good things you do will take over the bad habits without withdrawal. So Have a happier new year than ever before!

http://www.wikihow.com/Love-Yourself

Love yourself.
Create LOVE in your life, gives some steps to read and contemplate how you can increase love in your own life.

Wishing you all so many POSITIVE things in the year ahead! And you can multiply them!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,

My 2013 Resolution is to drink more champagne this year. And so far, i'm well on my way to surpassing last year's quota

I have been shredding lots and lots of paper, trying to clean my office and try to maintain the paper in here, but i had to select champagne as a resolution since, i'm pretty sure that one i can do!

I try to be positive in my outlook and to eat healthy too. I like what you say about "affirmations" instead of "resolutions". Never could stick with resolutions!

Mary Ruth, I applaud your positivity! (Not that you need my applause or approval.) Recognizing the positives, celebrating them and living in a positive light is a practice all of us are capable of. There is a lot of power in positive choices and energy. I am a believer.

Thank you ladies!

I hope this spreads and everyone can add even more happiness to their lives!

Designer quote of the day:
"Tackle the design of every room, even if you can't put it all into practice at once. You will benefit from having a complete blueprint to refer to when the time comes."

--Kelly Hoppen

Once you get your mind into a direction, you see and notice what can help you stay on course!

Having a plan really saves money, time and effort! Even if items in your home are only place-holders till you can upgrade.
You even save money because you are not always 'shopping', you have specific items in mind your family and house need, so you might actually 'find' more money in the new year staying on track!

This is a nice thread, Mary Ruth. Thank you for starting it. I like the idea of framing changes I wish to make in a positive manner.

Yes Gracie,
Our cup is half FULL!

Good thread! I guess this year will be a more peaceful, quiet year for us. The past 3 years have been hectic with a wedding in our home and lots of new building and renovation. Landscaping is taking a backseat and small projects are in sight for this year.

I've been getting a lot of great ideas from Pinterest. I don't know which site is more dangerous for the DIY'er, HOUZZ or Pinterest! LOL!

zone9alady,
I Know!!!
I have my plan for my house and my budget, so that eliminates a lot of styles! Once we decided on one area, the level of work was set, so I just picked that level to follow through with rest the of the house.

Found this on Pinterest, thought it was helpful.

It is so hard to remember we make our own worlds. Hard to imagine that everyone has a unique perspective and viewpoint. And the MIRACLE in life is that we somehow FIND a way to get along!

I am not surprised when I hear of w*ar and human ev*ils (won't bother to list, we all know them too well), those are easy to do with faulting back to un-evolved animal instincts (for survial).

The MIRACLE is when people reach UP and out of a debased state and find love, a*gape (general love of humankind)and create beauty and lo*ve in the world! I am sure that is why the old saying is repeated over and over... 'Love makes the world go round' and provides a catalyst for it to survive!

Hanging on to my POSITIVE attitude and affirmations for 2013, GOOD positive thoughts and kind words to all who read this!

I absolutely love this Quote Mary Ruth. So very true! Thanks for sharing.

Nice,
Most people think that people are Good; so a great way to example that is to always assume they mean no harm when it 'looks' like they said or did something offensive to you.

I am no Pollyanna, but let's just say 'I paid for my happiness quota'! LOL

I saw a documentary on what makes people happy, and they said 'people are born with a certain amount' and they can level off there after recovering from different tests in life.

I think it has to do with brain chemistry. Some people do not always 'look' outwardly happy, but each person must find their own balance of happiness and level of 'crap' they put up with in their lives.

I read a quote once that said 'Why wait till you say "I have had enough"? Why not make 'enough' be less than what you used to go to the level of, each time... eventually you won't have that trial again.
Something to think about! WE really can adjust our thinking and our lives to HAVE more happiness! I see it as purging the CRA*P and making room for more good things! We are the only ones who can determine what good things we need!

What a REVELATION! Affirmations instead of resolutions (which are all about what you can't do and can't have)!!! We CAN HAVE SO MUCH MORE!

I definitely concur that positive is better than negative!

quote:

Originally posted by wendek:
My 2013 Resolution is to drink more champagne this year. And so far, i'm well on my way to surpassing last year's quota

Well, good luck with that (I think!) LOL So good to have a sense of humor.

quote:

Originally posted by Maine Lady:
Recognizing the positives, celebrating them and living in a positive light is a practice all of us are capable of. There is a lot of power in positive choices and energy. I am a believer.

I'm sure you are especially after the events you've had to face recently. Glad everything is going well.

IMO there are so many things one can do that can increase one's happiness. Even smiling brings the feeling which is perceived the same by the brain and body as happiness from any source. So the more you smile the happier you will be. Smile at strangers in the street. You may get some odd looks but you'll get more smiles returned. As an independent woman I can open my own doors but whenever a strange man holds the door for me I smile and say Thank you, because it makes him feel better and they always smile back. I could go around town like a grouch but I feel better if I show friendliness and others feel better also.

I don't choose to believe we are born with a certain amount of happiness tho. I think it is limitless depending on what we do. Otherwise it's just a cop-out to believe we've used it up and can never again be happy. That way leads no where good.

Since I have no good info on whether there is karma or not I cannot buy into Dyer's statement. Too many variables even if karma is true. However like any other quote if it means something to anyone then hang on to it. I save quotes all the time and love many of Einstein's and Twain's. Those guys were brilliant but had such a great sense of humor.

You are so right Mary Ruth that diet plays a large role in health and happiness. More important to mood than many realize.

I adore Pinterest and Houzz even more but I'd never get anything done if I didn't severely limit my time there. I joined but deliberately didn't start pinning because I knew there would be no end of that!

Wishing everyone a very positive year in every way.

Lucky,
I love what you wrote, wonderfully thought through and so personal and very positive!

With my background (will write a book someday but not now) being happy is survival. If you can imagine someone trying to beat 'happy' out of a child, Yes that was my childhood with my so called mother. That is WHY I firmly believe that IF you make up your mind to be happy, you can be. 'Life is Beautiful' movie shows this phenomenon. Not saying my life was a concentration camp. But... abuse was rampant and I smiled somehow and still smile! A psychologist told me I had it within and it can't be crushed.

The happiness in my life is MINE and no one can take that from me. I choose to expand it and do more to help it grow! That is the idea for this affirmation thing I am doing outwardly now. I have always done affirmations privately, but this year, I want to share and multiply this happiness with my friends too.
BTW, I am on NO medication that makes me this way... LOL

Some people have a chemical shortage of 'happiness' juice (very loose term) and tend towards the negative or depression, that is not something that we can control, that is what is meant by the 'amount' of happiness we are born with.

I also adore Pinterest and Houzz, (Yes, no end to pinning as I reached over 5,000 pins!!!) FINALLY... FREE magazines! I used to buy and read about 6 magazines a month and get subscriptions to keep up with all the creative people out there! NOW I can get so many more pictures to absorb online from these two great sites!

I did go to a meditation retreat (Vipassana) for a 10 day retreat about 20 yrs ago. I learned how to observe and listen. And there I picked up some information and experience with Karma.

And DH and I just went for our check ups, and all our numbers are GOOD (bloodwork). So, we are happy for that, and will continue to try to add to our happiness!

Oh wishing the BEST for everyone in every way too!
Lucky, your post left me with more JOY than I had before reading it! Thank you!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,

[QUOTE]Originally posted by wendek:
My 2013 Resolution is to drink more champagne this year. And so far, i'm well on my way to surpassing last year's quota

We'd get along well...in fact, I bought a shirt at Target today that says "Drinks well with other"...LOL. I just couldn't resist. It was back with the beach towels; maybe it's really a swimsuit cover up...

I just read an article that stated that affirmations are good, we can also use VISUALIZATIONS!

This is something we ALREADY do on this board! Those of us interested in Design, Decorating, Art, Staging, Vignettes, Tablescapes, etc. Are all Visualizers!

That is another POSITIVE thing we DO! WE add happiness to our layers of rich experiences by viewing photos of what we love and try to achieve in our homes!