Special Select Story: Obstacles Overcome
What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. — Henry David Thoreau Each month, Succeed and Soar shares a short video chosen to lift the heart and spirit, awareness and humanity. This select story short [below] is about the meaning of obstacles. Here are more encouragements, Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, of time. — Marabel Morgan Never, never, never give up. — Winston Churchill Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success. — Napoleon Hill I can, therefore I am. — Simone Weil Click Here to View. 2 Minutes Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford The Best Journey presents wisdom for a well-lived life. The book is illustrated with vibrant photographs taken at Latrobe, Pennsylvania’s Amtrak station. The book is also a journal with space for personal notes. For groups, Illustrated Wisdom journaling workshops are available either in person or online. Preview this book. See all Radiant Tree Books Thanks for your support!
Bouncing Back
Every strike brings me closer to the next home run. – Babe Ruth 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 these words of wisdom encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. I hope the Succeed and Soar web site gladdens your heart. Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure. – Napoleon Hill I am not what happened to me. I am what I chose to become. – Carl Jung Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. – Winston Churchill You don’t drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there. – Ed Cole Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great. – John D. Rockefeller Shop Succeed and Soar Inspirations and 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: 8th of 12 – Fun & Fascination
Find three hobbies you love: one to earn money, one to stay in shape, and one that allows you to be creative. Anonymous Author Phyllis McGinley said, “A hobby a day keeps the doldrums away.” Winston Churchill advised, “To be really happy and really safe, one ought to have at least two or three hobbies, and they must all be real.” What are hobbies? Essentially, they’re work that we do for fun. Along the way, hobbies can sharpen our thinking, enrich our personal-emotional lives and improve health. Why are hobbies important and a Path to Joy? They: Relieve stress by focusing attention on pleasant activities Make us more interesting and build bonds with others Help us grow spiritually and expand mentally Read More Here’s a list of 101 Hobbies to consider this year, which include physical activities, sports, travel, arts and more. For the practical-minded, here are 65 Hobbies That Make Money. If you’re seeking new ways to handle these Stay At Home times, check out these Ten Fun, Quarantine Friendly Hobbies A personal favorite is learning magic tricks. See how to perform The World’s Best Card trick [amazing!] in the video. A Path to Joy Arts Meditation #8: Hobbies What I like best: The multi-colored shooting stars with their fantastical tails. Why I like the image: The many talents and possibilities sailing to the star. What the picture teaches about Hobbies: Each of us is the star of our universe. Like the sun holding our solar system together, hobbies can add to our brightness. The insights gained about the 8th Path to Joy: There’s an old saying: All work and no play makes Jack [and Jill] dull folks. The sun’s shape reminds me to be well-rounded. Beyond the efforts needed for survive, I can thrive by finding time for refreshing challenges and as many enriching, uplifting and inventive possibilities as possible. Hobbies are the work that brighten and lighten life. Musician and artist Graham Coxon said, “My hobby is my job. It’s a jobby.” What a happier world if everyone had jobbies! What joy! 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.
Path to Joy: 3rd of 12 – Words
Make yourselves nests of pleasant thoughts. None of us knows what fairy palaces we may build of beautiful thought — proof against all adversity. Bright fancies, satisfied memories, noble histories, faithful sayings, treasure houses of precious and restful thoughts, which care cannot disturb nor pain make gloomy, nor poverty take away from us. John Ruskin 1819-1900 According to neurosurgeon and spiritual teacher Don Miguel Ruiz, each of us live in worlds built by our words. In 1903, James Allen published a pamphlet using Proverbs 23:7 as the title, “As a man thinketh.” The little book opens with, “A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts. As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of a man springs from the hidden seeds of thought … Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits.” Over a century later, Allen’s little book remains among the top five reads for those who motivate and inspire. Download a free copy of As A Man Thinketh. This Post’s Featured Art, “Words,” A Visual Meditation. What I like best about the art: The blue rings that build what I see as a cone-shaped beehive. Why I like the image: I like the serene blue structure because it represents the mind, which can be a beehive of activity. According to Laboratory of Neuro Imaging at the University of Southern California, the mind generates about fifty thoughts each minute or 70,000 per day. I like this beehive because it shows loving, uplifting [butterflies] thought-words rising to the surface. What the picture teaches: Though the golden planet Saturn travels through cold, dark space far from the sun, its fascinating rings teach me to: Set limits on words, spoken and thought, especially about myself and Establish boundaries for the influences of others The insights gained: Yes, life has its shadows. African proverbs and Winston Churchill are credited with saying, “If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do us no harm.” Author and teacher Sally Kempton adds, “It is hard to fight an enemy who has outposts inside your head.” Joy is a word composed of concepts like happiness, peace, satisfaction, contentment, lightness of being, brightness, smiles, embraces and engagement in nurturing, nourishing, uplifting activities. When these kinds of words and actions are part of life, they pave a path to joy. 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. Shop Sandra’s Online Art Gallery