"Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude."Ralph Waldo Emerson Dear BB's, If I was to name the one thing, the one attitude, the one secret that has helped me have a life that I am proud of it would be the spirit of gratitude and thankfulness to the others that have brought me here. Zig Ziglar had a wall of gratitude in his office and on that wall were about 27 men and women who had a great impact on his life… starting with the cross. He even laughed when he explained that he had one fellow on there that he did not especially like but the man did change his life for the good.
There is something about taking a moment and saying thanks to the people that make your life better. Thanking people just releases something MAGICAL in both the person thanking and being thanked. When I was struggling, quite broke and working at Bay Point as a cart girl, many of the women there knew that I was working full time, had 3 kids and was going to school. Many of them took the time each day to pat me on the back and say, "WE are so very proud of you, we think you are going to do big things." Two of those ladies have been able to see those blessings on my life come true. I wonder what an impact those words made on my life. Thank you Libby Sipple and Karen Wakestein!!!!
They did not just say them in a passing moment they took the time to repeat them to me. They looked me in the eyes and told me how smart I was, how sweet I was and how I was going places. They celebrated my successes as I worked my way through school. You can bet that I looked forward to seeing those ladies all the time. I spent much of my time back then speaking AS IF and imagining what it would be like when I was able to support myself and my family and not struggle so much. In my heart and in my spirit I said over and over …. I CAN DO IT!!!! God put wonderful uplifting people in my life to remind me of the wonder that was to be my life and I believed them.
When Oprah Winfrey was about 6 years old a lady in church just stopped her and told her, "Do you know what a pretty girl you are?" Who knows what that may have released in her to build her self esteem to do the things that she has done.
Why don't we thank BIG this week!!!! Lets thank all those who have helped us get to where we are today. None of us are here without the help of many others making our life brighter and sweeter. Let our every encounter be one of gratefulness and praise of others. It is impossible to uplift another without lifting yourself.
Blessings upon blessings to you and heaping amounts of praise to all of you for being such an amazing part of my life. You make my life so much sweeter.
Grateful,Karen