Three Laughing Monks
Consider “…And remember, my sentimental friend, that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” The Wizard of Oz Hear the words here One of my delights is finding special, short videos. Here are comments from the 8.2 million who’ve seen “The Three Laughing Monks.” A wise person once said: I don’t smile because I’m happy, I smile because I want to feel happy… Your joy is what makes you alive!” Beautiful story. Thanks for passing it along. Enjoy! 5 minutes, 05 seconds. Click Here to View. Comment. What are your thoughts on this video? Also, suggest some short videos that Succeed and Soar could share. Candidates could be about the human experience or inspirational-motivational or simply beautiful or fascinating. Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting art to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thing and inspire. This Month, Shop Sandra’s Art on Face Masks as well as tote bags, tee shirts, journals, puzzles, phone cases, ornaments, tote bags, phone cases, towels, blankets, cups, pillows, shower curtains and more When will we ever get back to plain, old flu season? In the meantime, safety is a great policy. Why not do so with style and pizzazz? This Face Mask is an Illustrated Wisdom from the Paths to Joy series The face masks produced by Fine Art America are: 100% polyester Two ear loops with adjustable grommets for comfortable fit Sizes: Adult Large, Adult Small,/Youth Large Styles: Flat or Pleated NOT surgical mask grade See more details with item Price: $17.00 CUSTOMIZE. Use tools with item to: Enlarge, reduce size of art Change placement of art and text Choose background colors Purchase featured Face Mask HERE. Shop All Collections HERE. Thanks for your support!
Soul Words: Conditional Love
You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. –Buddha This year, Succeed and Soar explores eight, enlightening words. The first was Traumatic Wisdom, when hurtful experiences can elevate and enrich.This post considers, Conditional Love. Of it, Donald Miller said, “No love is conditional. If love is conditional, it’s just some sort of manipulation masquerading as love.” Conditional Love has strings attached. It can exist between friends and within families. WildSimpleJoy says that in these situations, the ‘loved one:’ Rarely feels good enough Is adored in public but not in private Read more If wondering whether a relationship involves Conditional Love, ask: If the ‘loved one’ lost their job, would you stay with them? Would they stay with you? Do you [or they] take more than is given? More questions To avoid being a Conditional lover: Use conflict as a learning experience [rather than to control] Practice non-judgment Learn the other’s love language. Nine more methods As Romantific says, “conditional love is not much better than unconditional love. Usually, with unconditional love, you were iin love in the beginning and now are able to accept the flaws of another person. With conditional love, true love was never there because you were only in the relationship because you wanted to “get something” out of it (more money, a higher social status, etc.). Here’s more With spring approaching, romance in the air and the world brightening, think of Kim McMillen’s words. “When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn’t healthy. This meant people, jobs, my own beliefs, and habits – anything that kept me small. My judgment called it disloyal. Now I see it as self-loving.” Remember Courtney A. Walsh’s invitation, Dear Human: You’ve got it all wrong. You didn’t come here to master unconditional love. That is where you came from and where you’ll return. You came here to learn personal love. Universal love. Messy love. Sweaty love. Crazy love. Broken love. Whole love. Infused with divinity. Lived through the grace of stumbling. Demonstrated through the beauty of… messing up. Often. You didn’t come here to be perfect. You already are. You came here to be gorgeously human. Flawed and fabulous. And then to rise again into remembering. But unconditional love? Stop telling that story. Love, in truth, doesn’t need ANY other adjectives. It doesn’t require modifiers. It doesn’t require the condition of perfection. It only asks that you show up. And do your best. That you stay present and feel fully. That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU. It’s enough. It’s Plenty. Courtney Walsh’s book Dear Human: A Manifesto of Love and Invocation to Humanity is currently out of print. Copies can be found at alibris, biblio and abebooks. Here are Five powerful ways to love yourself more Succeed and Soar! The Wisdoms Collection Shop Enriching and Beautiful Posters Click Here to Visit
Inspirations Worth Remembering
The heart is indeed the abode of the soul. – Michelangelo For decades, I’ve gathered precious insights. Each one I read is like a breath of life. They lift my spirit and remind of the good we can do and marvelous things we can be. I hope this web site’s words and images encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. I hope these wisdoms and inspirations gladden your heart. A generous heart, kind speech, and compassion are the things that renew humanity. — Buddha Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. — Confucius I think it not improbable that man, like the grub that prepares a chamber for the winged thing it has never seen but is to be — that man may have cosmic destinies that he does not understand. And so, beyond the vision of battling races and an impoverished earth, I catch a dreaming glimpse of peace. — Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. Silence is also speech. –Fulfulde proverb An early morning walk is a blessing for the day. – Henry David Thoreau Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford SkyScapes Metal Prints Bring artwork to life while decorating with stylish lines and depth Details Image printed directly on 1/16” thick aluminum Select sizes from 6″x8″ to 30″x 40″ Aluminum print offset from wall by ¾” thick wood frame attached to back The high-gloss aluminum compliments rich colors with stunning results See All Metal Prints Thanks for shopping!
Reaching the Ocean & Buddha Wisdom
As is said, A picture is worth a thousand words. These two, short and special videos offer much more. Please enjoy. Succeed and soar! Shop Sandra’s Art on Onesies As well as tote bags, tee shirts, journals, puzzles, phone cases, ornaments, face masks, towels, blankets, cups, pillows, shower curtains and more The high quality and unique Onesies produced by Fine Art America: Come in four sizes [6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months] Are 100% pre-shrunk cotton Offer choice of 12 colors [including white, gold, pink, red, Kelly green and more] Are machine washable Price: $26 CUSTOMIZE. Use tools with item to: Enlarge, reduce size of art Change placement of art and text Choose from twelve, onesie colors Purchase this onesie [choose from 4 sizes] Shop All Art and Collections HERE. Thanks for your support!
Path to Joy: 9th of 12 – Where the Stars at Night are Really Big and Bright
I believe very much in the idea of kindness. … It lies at the core of beauty. – Jan Morris One of my happiest memories is of driving around the big island of Hawaii with a Swiss woman who taught me to sing, in German, “The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas!” My goal was to surprise a darling friend made during those six weeks on Hawaii’s eastern side, in the rainy jungle. Karin rehearsed me over and over, insisting that I get the Germanic pronunciation right. Two days ago, I asked my German friend to remind me how to write those words. Thorsten EMailed back at 2am Hamburg time: Die Sterne in der Nacht sind groß und hell, tief im Herzen von Texas! Twenty-plus years after circling Hawaii’s gorgeous coast, I think of the 9th Path to Joy and how we can all be stars in our own worlds while shining big and bright in the lives of others. As Bishop Desmond Tutu said, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” Benevolence is good will, good wishes and wanting good for others. Beneficence is the joy of putting those intentions into action. Seek joy and stay safe! PS Jan Morris’ full quote is: I believe very much in the idea of kindness. I think kindness is the answer to all our problems. It lies at the core of beauty. Source: Battleship Yamato This Post’s Featured Art, “Beneficence,” An Illustrated Wisdom “Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” Howard Zinn 1922-2010 What I like best about the picture I like the starbursts that, on second thought, look like fireworks. Why Ever since I first saw the Leonid Meteor Showers [behind the screen of a drive-in movie] and saw those shooting stars sprinting across the sky, I’ve understood how spectacular and uplifting unexpected lights in the night can be. Fireworks displays have the same effect. They’re such gifts to the eye the heart and the spirit. They’re so uplifting. So joyful. What does this picture teach me? Shooting stars are natural parts of the universe, just like kindness. How joyful if our lives glittered with lots more. How can these insights lead to joy? I think these words answer best, If you light a lamp for someone else, it will also brighten your path. — Buddha NOTE: These ‘Paths to Joy’ are adapted from The Treasure Chest, an old book I found years ago. Page 117 contained “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” Of special delight is using paints markers and ink to illustrate meditations inspired by this wisdom. The technique is adapted from the book Visual Journaling, Going Deeper Than Words, by Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox. THE ART: For information and to purchase the Paths to Joy art, visit Sandra’s Galleries.