What's your greatest wealth?

"Even the rich are hungry for love, for being cared for, for being wanted, for having someone to call their own".

Mother Teresa 

I saw this photo quote this morning on somebody's facebook wall with their comment "health is the most important thing".

"Yes" I thought. Being disabled and in chronic pain everyday I could totally relate, but then I had a thought about my thought. "Is that really how I feel?" I questioned.

After pondering for a moment I decided that health isn't the most important thing to me. An admission that surprised myself. I realised that if I had a choice between being perfectly healthy, mobile and pain free or loving freely and being loved unconditionally as I am I would pick love any day.

I get so excited when I have a lightbulb moment that changes the way I think. From this simple photo I now know that I won't pay half as much attention to my body and pain levels as I currently do.

It can be really liberating to realise what you want more than anything else in the world, especially when it turns out to be something different than what you thought you desired most of all.

Give yourself some thinking time to acknowledge what your heart's greatest desire is. I would love it if you would share either here or via our facebook page

Today I have received liberation through love and it's a beautiful feeling.

Treasure your friends

“A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same”. Elbert Hubbard

I recently started playing an online game with an old friend from my teenage years. Although we have always intermittently been in touch, as the years have passed contact has been sketchy.

We were talking how enjoyable it was to catch up. It can be comfortable to fall back into an old friendship with someone who has known you for so long where you have complete confidence to be yourself, secure that you won't be judged.   

When I expressed this they agreed. "Good people in your life are always the good people no matter how long it's been" they said, "true friends are islands in the sea of life".  

This statement really struck a chord with me. I believe people come into our lives for many reasons. It's only natural that as we progress and develop there are those we grow apart from and new friendships are formed which suit our mutual needs.

But there are however, those precious friends, those ‘can call with a crisis at 3am’ friends, who are unwavering in their love and support whether it’s been six hours or six years since you last  spoke to them. As Oprah famously said “there are plenty of people who want to ride in the Limo with you but what you really need is someone who will ride the bus with you when the limo breaks down”.

If you have someone like this in your life and it has been a while why not give them a call? It really can make someones day to know they have been thought of.

Share this with your friends.

Schoolboy leads with kindness

“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness”.  William Arthur Ward

Josh Yandt and his family were relieved to move to Ontario to escape the relentless bullying Josh endured at school owing to his lisp. Making a conscious decision not be remain invisible during his fresh start Josh started holding the door open and greeting his schoolmates. Initially shocked it wasn’t long before the teenagers started greeting him back and appreciating the gesture each day. 

Josh’s Mum reports that whereas Josh was always very withdrawn at home and never wanted to go to school, he has had a complete turnaround and is eager to attend each morning.

There have been various responses to this story online with a minority expressing a concern that Josh may feel this is all he is good for after being bullied. 

Josh himself has stated that he is happy and has not been bullied at his new school. He said that he wants to make a difference and it is clear he has achieved this. 

Other students have been filmed saying since Josh joined and started holding doors open and acknowledging them they are far more willing to approach people they don’t know and the whole school is a much happier, more sociable environment. When a student recently dropped all his files in the hall rather than walking over or around the papers a flurry of kids all helped to pick them up.

Josh has now been voted student with the best personality and Prom King. 

Kindness breeds kindness. Be kind. Always.

Dog loves dog

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.”  

Milan Kundera 

Some of my happiest times were spent with my dog; loving, loyal and such fantastic company. I don't believe there is such a thing as a 'dumb' animal and I am a sucker for a happy canine tale.

Ben, the mixed german shepherd picture above was adopted from an animal shelter and although taken home with a loving family Ben pined for Jade another German Shepherd cross he had formed a strong bond with.

Attempting to run away twice, he succeeded the third time in making the 10 mile trek, mid-winter to find his friend.

Realising how strong the bond was Ben's new owners decided to also adopt Jade and they now all live happily together. 

Love is always the answer.

10 reasons you should be K-I-S-S-I-N-G

1.  Kissing increases the body’s level of ocytocin (a natural calming chemical) which reduces anxiety. 

2.  Kissing can equate to a surgery free face lift tightening 30 muscles each time you lock lips.

3.  Kissing can burn off 2-6 calories a minute; not much? Depends how long you smooch for.

4.  Kissing makes us feel desirable thus increasing our self-esteem.

5.  Kissing can boost immunity, the bugs swapped from mouth to mouth makes our immune systems more resilient.

6.  Kissing increases endorphins which fight pain, along with making you feel happy.

7.  Kissing relieves stress by lowering your body’s stress hormone (cortisol).

8.  Kissing creates adrenaline which causes your heart to pump more blood around your body making it great for cardiovascular health.

9.  Kissing for thirty minutes of reduces levels of IgE (an allergy antibody) increasing your body’s resistance.

10. Kissing, as all the best things in life, is free :-)