"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."
- Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, (121 AD - 180 AD),Roman Emperor, Philosopher
Need more morning inspiration? Read our entire Fresh Morning collection!
One of the great ironies of writing this feature, Fresh Morning, is that I am sooo not a morning person and never have been. When I was in elementary school I recall loving the Garfield quote "I will rise, but I refuse to shine."
And here are a couple more that you might relate to if your engines are exactly full-blast when your feet hit the floor:
"I'd like mornings better if they started later." - Author Unknown
"I don't think jogging is healthy, especially morning jogging. If morning joggers knew how tempting they looked to morning motorists, they would stay home and do sit-ups." - Rita Rudner
"Early morning cheerfulness can be extremely obnoxious. " - William Feather
"Dawn: When men of reason go to bed." - Ambrose Bierce
"Luxury is an ancient notion. There was once a Chinese mandarin who had himself wakened three times every morning simply for the pleasure of being told it was not yet time to get up." - Argosy
Et tu? Night owl? Early bird? In between?
Need more morning inspiration? Read our entire Fresh Morning collection!
I forget who was the first person to really get across the importance of three deep breaths to me. But, man, life-saver, for real. So today, try this: Before eating, take three slow, deep breaths. Before picking up the...
Do you wake up feeling great? You should! Getting healthy should be simple, so I compiled 21 easy ways to make healthy habits part of your every day. How many do you do on a regular basis?
The other morning as I was racing along my way, I thought I saw someone who needed help lifting something and realized she was fine. And then I had the thought: "What if I started every day with the question: "How...
A message dream is so simple, it stays with you all day. You try to figure out what it means--if it means anything at all. Have you ever had a "message dream?"
Love After Love by Derek Walcott The time will come when, with elation you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror and each will smile at the other's welcome, and say, sit here. Eat....
I just ran across this lovely article on how to heal your heart, and it struck me as a great "first thing meditation" for the morning.
I came across these lovely prints on Design Sponge, one of my favorite eye candy blogs. This print by artist Jeff Friesen just struck me as a soft, calm way to start the morning--to think about the day ahead...
"We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise if we have waited in the darkness." I can't find exactly who said this quote, but I can hardly conjure a more inspiring thought for a Monday morning. Wait through...
I've been all internally drama-rama lately and in the midst of a particularly turmoil night over the weekend, I decided on three things I need to do to get myself unstuck. Top of the list? Meditate. It is simply...
We all could use a good stretch in the morning, and this video gives us some sun salutations, a mild sweat, and a whole lot of body-opening in exactly 10 minutes.
"What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. It is always the same step, but you have to take it." - Antoine De Saint-Exupery Need more morning inspiration? Read our entire Fresh Morning collection!...
Are your sleep patterns healthy? You might not realize how important getting just enough sleep is for your overall health, sense of well-being, and daily energy level.
Oatmeal is obviously really, really good for you (read 6 reasons to eat oatmeal). And very delicious and versatile. But this is going to be a long winter, and it can't hurt to add some morning hot grain variety....
"Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening," said Gandhi. Do you begin your day with a prayer? Is it a quote or scripture, or just whatever is in your heart? Please share your...
"May the sun bring you new energy by day, may the moon softly restore you by night, may the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength into your being." -- Apache Blessing Need more morning inspiration? ...
Many of you shared your delectable oatmeal mix-in combinations in my 6 Health Reasons to Eat Oatmeal post. I thought I'd share the love by posting some of your yummiest ways to warm up a cold morning. Enjoy!"I add...
I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air. - Nathaniel Hawthorne...
Friday was my 10th wedding anniversary. So many memories, such a journey, so much more, we pray, to come. To celebrate, I want to share some words from a StoryPeople print my mom gave us in our first year...
"It's necessary to be slightly underemployed if you are to do something significant." - James D. Watson, co-discoverer of DNA Need more morning inspiration? Read our entire Fresh Morning collection!...
From our sister blogger Janice Taylor over at Our Lady of Weight Loss, this sweet idea for building what she calls "awareness muscle":"A simple and fun way to start integrating "being present" into your daily routine is in the...
Well, ok, if they insist, we can give it a shot. Found this on Boing-Boing. Love....
"It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice." I found this quote from an unknown source on this lovely blog, and I'm going to carry it with me all day.Be nice. The most important thing...
It's that time of year ago here in four-seasons land: "Brr, it's too cold to get out of bed!" So what's a warm-blooded, East Coast dwelling human to do? Here are a few thoughts for luring yourself into the...
Included in the Inspiring Quotes for a Woman's Soul gallery is this thought from Jenny Craig: "It's not what you do once in a while, it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference."What do...
One of my favorite musicians is the amazing Donna De Lory. She once upon a time was a backup singer for Madonna before making her devotional music full time--sometimes in Sanskrit, sometimes English. Spiritual but not religious. And she is...
I just discovered this beautiful photography-and-ruminations blog, Beyond the Fields We Know. One of the best things about the web is surely its riches in the inspiring, just-because-it's-beautiful department. This site qualifies.One of the author's regular features is Wordless...
"The answer is never the answer. What's really interesting is the mystery. If you seek the mystery instead of the answer, you'll always be seeking. I've never seen anybody really find the answer -- they think they have, so...
In some ways, today is about a man who guided a team of explorers across the ocean in search of new lands. But in another way, today is about the idea of exploration, the notion of discovery. In that...
I just found this cool sticker, for a car bumper or window, with this beautiful quote from Albert Camus: "Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower."What an uplifting morning thought! Happy leaf-spring, everyone! Need more...
When I was little my mom made yummy cinnamon toast--on Wonderbread with refined sugar. Having eschewed those ingredients, especially the white bread part, cinnamon toast dropped from my memory for years. Until the other morning I was making my...
What's better on a chilled fall or winter morning than a bubbling pot of oatmeal? I try to have a bowl for breakfast 2-3 times a week during the cold months (when I'm not eating my favorite peanut butter...
M.C. Yogi just came up with this inspiring happy video about how we can contribute. At the end of his concert in NYC on Friday night he asked everyone to think about doing one thing, even small, to contribute,...
"The happiest part of a man's life is what he passes lying awake in bed in the morning," said Samuel Johnson. Do you agree? When you're awake but not yet out of bed, do you meditate and set an...
I came across this book by Brook Noel, "Good Morning: 365 Positive Ways to Start Your Day." In her introduction, she writes these uplifting words:"Something great happens each and every day. And because I am aware, I never miss...
These are some of the awesomely cool personal business cards I created and ordered from Moo.com, my new favorite create-a-card site. And nope, they're not paying me, I just think it's a great site and product. And a nice...
If you're a tea drinker like me, you'll feel your spirits lift when you read this quote from Catherine Douzel: "Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage." The meaning deepens further when you type Catherine Douzel's name into...
Can't stop playing with the Wordle! This one was made by pasting in the URL for this very blog--and it ended up being all about morning. Neato. Good morning! ...
"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile." -- William Cullen Bryant, from our beautiful new gallery of uplifting autumn quotes.How will you make this autumn day a lovely smile?Need more morning inspiration? Read our entire Fresh Morning collection!...
When you wake up, do you remember your dreams? I find it incredibly helpful to jot the details down before I do anything else--especially if the dream is disturbing or unpleasant. If I have a bad dream and don't...
Healthy breakfast recipes? Check. Uplifting quotes? Check. Morning meditations? Check. This is my not-so-subtle invitation to have you explore a brand new Beliefnet gallery, 11 Ways to Energize Your Morning, a best-of-Fresh-Morning collection put together by Valerie and me...
These cool fall mornings make me want to snuggle a few extra minutes in my soft, warm sheets. But that blissfully relaxing feeling is never farther away than when one is shopping for those sheets. The choices are endless,...
I will not die an unlived life I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to...
It's become my husband Rob's annual tradition to get up early one morning when we're out on Cape Cod in late summer, get on his bike, and pedal to the Atlantic to watch the sun rise. The photos he...
I woke up this morning humming Neil Diamond's song "September Morn" because, well, it is one. Why is September such a wistful month? Perhaps it's the little back-to-school fresh start that we all crave well into adulthood. Or maybe...
On my vacation to Cape Cod last week, I happened to glance down off the porch and see an extraordinary sight: a bird's nest carefully built into the vortex of a thorny, busy climbing rose. I couldn't stop staring,...
"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer." Albert Einstein "Eighty percent of success is showing up." - Woody Allen "Perseverance is the hard worl you do after getting tired of the hard...
The week-after-Labor-Day may or may not be a time of getting back to work or school after a break, but it's definitely a good time to think about changes--of seasons, of jobs, of grades, of life. How do you handle...
I came across this proverb that I'd never heard before:"No river can return to its source, yet all rivers must have a beginning."Labor Day weekend, the official (if not celestial) end of summer, is a good time to think...
For your calm, slightly-cheesy-but-nice, waking enjoyment....
There's something about the end of summer that makes me think wistfully about sunshine. True, autumn sunshine is gorgeous--and maybe my favorite kind--but after that comes (sorry) winter and its dearth of Vitamin D. So in celebration of the...
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,...
As you read this, I am literally on vacation, but if you're going about your usual daily routine in a non-vay-cay-way, I wonder if you might like to try putting on "vacation mind" this morning to see if it can...
How much sleep do you get every night? How much sleep do you need? If there's a major difference in the answers to those 2 questions, you might have an issue. But how do you even answer the "need" question? ...
The other day Holly posted on Five Ways to Have a Good Morning. Happily a bunch of you added some lovely thoughts, things like, silence, gratitude, prayer reading something you love, plus the things many of us try to...
I found on eHow.com a curious list of 5 ways to have a good morning. Click here to read the whole thing, but here's the gist:5 Ways to Have a Good Morning1. Wake up rested.2. Don't rush.3. Get energized.4. ...
"On Monday mornings I am dedicated to the proposition that all men are created jerks." - H. Allen Smith "Your idea of bliss is to wake up on a Monday morning knowing you haven't a single engagement for the...
In my desire to get as much into beach mode as is possible while seated in front of a computer (did I mention I'm coming up on vacation?), I came across this video that immediately downshifted my morning into...
As summer continues to blossom and fill the farmer's markets with fresh, seasonal produce, I was inspired to come across this quote from the Roman poet Ovid:"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop."Did you rest...
You hear and see it again and again: Most news in the media is bad news. There's a reason for the journalism cliche "If it bleeds, it leads." But increasingly, poeple are creating outlets that filter for the good...
I am not generally one for witnessing sunrises; I'm usually clinging to sleep at that hour of the day. But every now and then I wish I saw more of them, because they are so very magical, so peachy and...
It may seem odd to talk about an exercise you do at the end of your day at the beginning, but bear with me.One of my job perks is that many cool books land on my desk, the latest...
Eeeehn! Have you yawned yet this morning? Yawning is a reflex, sort of like a Control-Alt-Delete for the brain and the body. When you yawn, you inhale deeply and oxygenate your blood. You also stretch open your ears and gain...
"Smile, breathe, and go slowly." -- Thich Nhat HanhNeed more morning inspiration? Read our whole Fresh Morning collection!...
I was at the National Zoo in Washington, DC this weekend with my nephews, and the best time to take such an outing is in the morning, before the staggering heat of a mid-Atlantic summer day sets in. In...
This song's been running through my head lately--thought it'd be nice to rise to: Morning Has Broken As Sung by Cat Stevens lyrics by Eleanor FarjeonMorning has broken, like the first morning Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird...
Sometimes in our desires to spring forth into a fresh morning, I think we forget that some mornings are slower, more pleasantly plodding, than others. So my thought for this morning is, linger. Let the lazy hazy-tude of summer...
I'm on a gentle little yoga things kick. One small pose done before breakfast can change your whole day. These two are very simple, gentle poses that almost anyone can do. They're usually called Cat and Cow. But at...
Egun on! Pévevóona'o! Shubha prabhaat! These are the words I'd use if I wanted to wish you a good morning in, respectively, Basque, Cheyenne, and Hindi cultures. I found these beautiful, mysterious words on this website, which lists the...
On my vacation a massage therapist who specializes in lymphatic drainage told me my lynphatic system was "challenged." Oy. But one of several suggestions she gave me for keeping it pumping and lively was a super-simple yoga pose that...
What products do you use to wash your face? I'm in love with the ritual of splashing warm water on my sleepy face and waking myself up with something that feels good, is good for me, and smells really...
"Be patient. When you feel lonely, stay with your loneliness. Avoid the temptation to let your fearful self run off. Let it teach you its wisdom; let it tell you that you can live instead of just surviving." --Henri...
Starfish! Or sea star!--as a naturalist corrected me yesterday. These guys are everywhere here. Purple starfish. Really there's not much more magical. Except standing still and watching how sloooooooowly they move and getting inspired to slow things down myself....
"Don't postpone joy until you have learned all of your lessons. Joy is your lesson." --Alan CohenWhat can you do today to learn the joy lesson? If you need more inspiration, check out our collection of uplifting quotes about...
This is an image from my vacation--in lieu of heavy posting here you'll be seeing a few of these this week. It's of a sound in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Canada--through a round window in a little...
On Friday, we achieved an exciting milestone--100 Fresh Morning posts! What began as an experiment to see if we could find tidbits, images, recipes, quotes, and ideas to help you (and ourselves) start our day with joy and purpose...
This morning, I'm thinking about what reader Gwendolyn wrote in response to the Fresh Morning post about completing tasks every day. She wrote that each day's task list should include some "I want to," and never just "I must,...
I was just feeling kinda kittylicious.... "When I play with my cat, how do I know that she is not passing time with me rather than I with her? - Montaigne "Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as...
I'm thinking this morning about this quote from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: "Each morning sees some task begin, Each evening sees it close; Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose."I love the cleanliness with which Longfellow describes a...
I'm so inspired by this description of the perfect silent morning day-starter, from reader Cherie. The idea of "getting over sleepy mind" is so perfectly worded. Here's her beautiful routine:"For me waking up in the morning is with chirping...
One of the best ways to keep a "Fresh Morning" feeling going all day is to give yourself little surprises. Making your day unexpected in some way can wake you up to the present moment, and remind you that...
Do you like to wake up and dive into your day, or relish the last few moments of silence before the bustle sets in? I am definitely in the latter category--whenever possible, I like to ease into my awake-itude,...
"Perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave." -- Rainer Maria Rilke For more Inspirational Quotes, click here....
If you need a smile this morning, I have a question for you. Do you remember this one?"It's such a good feelingTo know you're aliveIt's such a happy feelingYou're growing insideAnd when you wake up, ready to say"I think...
"To be awake is to be alive." -- Henry David ThoreauClick here for more inspiring quotes. And read about Thoreau's Walden Pond here.Are you awake this morning?...
"The heart is cooking a pot of food for you. Be patient until it is cooked." -- Rumi For more quotes from Sufi poet Rumi, check out this gallery....
Is there any flower that captures the hope, potential, and beauty of a new day better than the Morning Glory? This photo, from the fabulous Talking Plants Blog on NPR, captures the climber at its most glowing, effervescent, fragile,...
"Do at the beginning of day what would make your day worthwhile if you did nothing else." -- Alan Cohen...
"I believe in America because we have great dreams--and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true." -Wendell L. WilkieClick here for more patriotic quotes in celebration of July 4. Let freedom ring!...
Our American values are not luxuries but necessities, not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself. Our common vision of a free and just society is our greatest source of cohesion at home and strength abroad, greater than...
Do you start your day with excuses? Don't judge yourself....but knock it off! Get started with these uplifting affirmations from Wayne Dyer. If the excuse is, "Today will be difficult," meet that toxic thought head-on with the affirmation, "I...
Tip: Be Gentle with Yourself Give yourself a lot of space. When you lose someone you love, parts of you go crazy. Your emotions go on a rollercoaster. Let them go crazy. Cry when you need to cry, laugh...
It took me months to learn how to flip my single over-medium breakfast egg without a) using a spatula or b) making a splattering mess all over my kitchen. But now that I (usually) can do it, it's a skill...
"If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with."-- Michael JacksonRest in peace, M.J. And thank you for being the soundtrack...
In the spirit of Valerie's awesome Songs About Rain playlist, I thought it would be fun to compile a list of songs about morning. Here are 5 to get us started--please add to this list!1. Brand New Day--Sting2. Morning...
I remember reading this in a Garfield comic strip when I was a kid and deeply relating. And now you can actually buy it in mug form....
What color wakes you up? We just published a fun gallery on how color affects emotions and energy, and here are some options for your best wake-up color. Use these colors on your bedroom walls, bedding, PJs, teddy bears,...
"Be free all worthy spirits, and stretch yourselves, for great and for height." -- George Champman...
On the first day of every month I try to say "rabbit rabbit" first thing--an old wive's tale says it's supposed to bring good luck. Other mornings I try to catch myself when the first words out of my...
What was the first thing that you did this morning? My answer to that question is almost always that I think something. I think, "What time is it?" "Did I sleep wrong on my shoulder again?" "What should I...
The Mamas and the Papas famously sang, "can't trust that day" about Monday, and as you start your week, you might agree. After a relaxing (or busy) weekend, Monday can loom, scare, exhaust. And that's before you even get...
I know it's a little hokey, but this made me giggle this morning. It's a quote that's attributed to "Garfield" creator Jim Davis: "If people were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters."So if you're...
I snapped this in a New York City subway station recently. It's Urdhva Dhanurasana, the full wheel pose in yoga--or just a backbend in gymnastics. It's a pose I've been struggling with lately so a friend reminded me to...
I've recently come back to starting my day with a 5-minute audio meditation from renowned Buddhist mindfulness teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Beliefnet first published the meditation, called "The End of Suffering," years ago, but it remains one of my...
I was feeling the need to collect these as reminders...."Don't postpone joy until you have learned all of your lessons. Joy is your lesson."-- Alan Cohen "Joy is the feeling of grinning inside."-- Melba Colgrove "Joy is a net...
I started drooling when I saw in this month's Everyday Food the idea to top toast with wilted spinach and a delightfully oozy soft-boiled egg. A vibrant patch of ready-to-pick spinach in my garden sealed the deal, and this...
Remember in grade school how we learned that good writing should answer "the 5 Ws"--who, what, where, when, and why? Try giving yourself that assignment as you set your intention for your day this morning.Who: Whose life will I...
"You virtually guarantee a charmed life when you give yourself as fully to doing the dishes, and tending to the other miscellanea of living, as to some grand adventure. You can count on the dishes. They'll be there alongside...
Good morning. If you start your day by watching this sweet video of students singing "Landslide" for their teacher, you will have a sunny day, I almost guarantee it....
What wakes you up? The question could apply to what gets you motivated in the morning, what perks your spirit after the 3 pm doldrums, or anything in between. It strikes me that most wake-up triggers are connected to...
Lately I've been waking up in the morning and just lying in bed for a while, listening. My ears fill with a rush of... nothing. Just a rich silence. I can almost see it. It's like a dense meringue...
Perhaps the most beautiful morning song ever written, set against photographs of spring flowers, sunrises, and other beautiful images. Might be the most inspiring 1 minute 29 seconds of your whole day.......
From the incredibly inspriring graduation speech by Paul Hawken given last week at the University of Portland:"There is invisible writing on the back of the diploma you will receive, and in case you didn't bring lemon juice to decode...
"The only thing that can fulfill you is being yourself and that's inseparable from now, the field of now. That frees you, it liberates you from the world...then you walk around with much less heaviness...at the moment humans are...
Did you know that in the original Middle English, morwening (the word we say today as "morning") meant the coming of sunrise? In other words, according to Wikipedia anyway, in its original meaning, morning was a verb. It was...
"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique.... You have to keep open and aware directly...
"Put your faith, and not your fears, in charge. Courage isn't the absence of fears but how you wrestle with them." -- Noah benShea, in his gallery of 10 Inspiring Thoughts for Tough Times...
"Disease is solely and purely corrective; it is neither vindictive nor cruel, but it is the means adopted by our own souls to point out to us our faults, to prevent our making greater errors, to hinder us from doing...
My grandfather was a champion of manners, and one of the most basic ones he advocated was that the first thing you said to family members in the morning should be, "Good morning." Not "What's for breakfast?" or "I'm...
Ahh. Hello, sun. You can take that in and also check out our new feature, "10 Reasons to Wake Up Early," just in case you have a not-so-great relationship with your snooze button....
Our sister blogger Therese Borchard recently shared a beautiful reflection from her morning meditation book. It's from Jesuit priest Jean-Pierre de Caussade, and this part of it really touched me:"Even that which most upsets our spiritual plans turns into something...
"Spring is when life's alive in everything." --Christina Rossetti Click here to read more inspiring quotes about spring....
There's a Japanese proverb that says, "Fall seven times, stand up eight." Try to carry that intention into your day today--starting now, in the morning before you've had a chance to "fall" at all....How do you stand up again after...
I spotted these NYC subway ads for Dentyne gum recently and they made me smile. Facebook terminology, real-life contact. I'm not especially in the technology-is-ruining-our-connections camp. But I do appreciate that a computer can never suffice for a cuddle. At...
What an inspiring video from a woman who sees beach running as a way to practice physical fitness, happiness, gratitude, prayer, and art all in one. I love how she ends each morning's run by writing "Amen" in the...
"There is one great truth on this planet:whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do,when you really want something,it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe.It's your mission on earth."-- Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist...
If you're reading this, then you've taken the first step of the day--getting out of bed. Some days that's easier than others, depending on how well you slept, what the weather is outside, and how you're feeling physically and emotionally.So...
How do you "live fresh?" In other words, how do you find joy in every new day? We asked, you answered. Here's reader LadyofLight's response:"Acknowledge nature - take a walk or look out the window. Write something every day....
"Watch for an opportunity today to notice that you're planning on buying something. Choose to do the Tao and listen for guidance. Be grateful that you have the choice to make the purchase, then practice listening to yourself and...
Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, "Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent." So as you start your day, ask yourself, am I giving self-defeating thoughts safe passage into my psyche? Or, am I only giving affirming energy...
I have this taped to my computer monitor. Such a great reminder. "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon...
In some ways, a good morning is like a spring bud--it holds all the promise in the world, and you really don't know what it will look like until it unfurls into the leaf or flower you hope it will...
I just came across this lovely quote from Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron about meditation and accepting ourselves, craziness and all."When people start to meditate or to work with any kind of spiritual discipline, they often think that somehow they're going...
We all have dreams, big-picture life goals that we imagine will, someday, come true. Sometimes, though, those dreams actually hold us back, keep us from moving ahead with our lives because all we're doing is dwelling on how they...
Even though it's allegedly spring, many of us are still being pushed around by gales and chills and storms. So this Mark Strand poem, posted yesterday on my new friend Laura's blog in honor of National Poetry Month, seems very apropos: ...
I just came across a lovely book called "Silver Linings: Meditations on Finding Joy and Beauty in Unexpected Places," in which author Mina Parker shares a lovely way to bring mindfulness back into your day. She writes:"I was at...
"With the wind beneath your wings, do you need to flap?" I love finding wisdom-tidbits in random places, and the makers of natural products from iced tea to hair care seem to especially love tucking such snippets into the...
My friend Dave just posted this to Facebook--he's the boy in the striped shirt, all growed up now. I thought Big Bird might be a nice way to start the day. And I love love the album title--it actually makes...
In response to the "Your Day, in a Word" post, you shared simple, singular statements about the emotions, hopes, and intentions you carry into your day. I made a Wordle out of them, so good morning! How are you today?...
It's still poetry month and so I thought I'd share this lovely, beloved, well-read poem to start the day. When I was sick I made my ex read it to me again and again because it helped me stay...
Our friend Dr. Norris, author of the Dr. Norris Chumley Satisfied Life blog, offers a visualization to do in your morning shower to start your day with both a clean body and a pure spirit:"Imagine that the stress from your...
This is a lovely quote about having compassion for people most in need of it: "What we do from joy expresses love; what we do from fear calls for love." -- Alan CohenIt's so easy to forget that most...
Early spring is a great time to think about light. Light is back after the long winter, it is finally warming to our bodies and the earth. I caught this moment in my garden in the afternoon when the...
My amazingly talented friend Jennifer just returned from a trip to India. An art teacher and artist, she just posted this gorgeous Ganesh plus many other stunning drawings from India on her website.Check them out and enjoy. And if...
Thanks to Fresh Living reader Mary Beth for sharing her inspiring morning routine: she wakes up around 4 a.m., starts the coffee, drinks a large bottle of room temperature water, feeds her cats, and enjoys a cup of hot coffee...
The other night I wasn't feeling so well, so I made myself stay home. But knowing the potential dangers of a cold, damp, Saturday day and evening spent alone, I wrote this note on my kitchen whiteboard. The idea was...
The sparkling Janice Taylor of the Our Lady of Weight Loss blog feels strongly that skipping breakfast is not a good idea. She further believes that dehydration can cause irritability and headaches. To solve both problems (feed two birds with...
For the days when you feel like, "Is it me?" Alas, maybe not. "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Jiddu Krishnamurti ...
Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh said, "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."Which comes first for you today - joy or the smile that projects your...
Awaken to Spring And Spring arose on the garden fair, Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere; And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast rose from the dreams of its wintry rest. --Percy Bysshe Shelley Happy National...
If you need a reminder that there are good people in all sorts of places in the world, watch this video of a commuter train station announcer who infuses love, light, and goodness into his announcements of schedules and weather.He...
"The season of failure is the best time for sowing the seeds of success." - Paramahansa Yogananda For more prosperity affirmations, check out Victoria Moran's inspiring blog....
In her beautiful "Healing Foods to Balance Your Chakras" gallery, Deanna Minich writes, "The heart chakra emits a loving, compassionate rhythm that translates pure feeling into emotional wisdom, discernment, and kindness. A healthy heart chakra will funnel love into a...
I snapped this bumpersticker on a morning walk last weekend. A nice reminder to start the day. Wag, wag, wag....
Fresh Living reader Merriel says she starts her morning by taking a garlic/parsley tablet and a vitamin C. This has kept her cold-free for 25 years, so it's worth a try!Click here for more natural remedies for the common cold....
I feel like I just uncovered a major secret--how the Dalai Lama deals with stress. Here's his wonderfully honest, simple prescription: "Every day I experience the benefits of having peace of mind. It is very good for the body. As you might...
Are you looking at your day and feeling frazzled, over-committed, and stressed? Try to set some better boundaries to rein in the frazz. In her "10 Ways to Say No" gallery, Therese suggests that you fill your calendar with...
I wanted to share this lovely poem by Rumi, the ancient Sufi poet. If you're not aware of him, his poems are about divine longing, the sweet yearning for a gigantic, bigger-than-earth-and-humans love. Some Kiss We Want There is some kiss we...
Here's my recipe (I use the term loosely) for a delicious, fiber-packed breakfast. It's sweet, creamy, crunchy, and healthy in every bite. Good morning!Peanut Butter Banana Crunch ToastToast a slice of whole-grain bread (I use 12-grain). Slather with creamy peanut...
If you had just one word to describe your day, what would it be? Would it be about your day as it is, or as it could be? Would you find something positive to say no matter what, or would...
"Bitter is made sweet through love; copper becomes gold through love. Through love dregs become clear; love heals all pain. Through love the king becomes slave; love brings the dead to life." - Rumi Click here for more from...
Bring a little "Centering Mountain Pose" into your commute and make the most of standing around. From our "12 Yoga Poses for Your Workday" gallery:"Sit or stand tall. Feel lift through the center of your body, from the base of...
"Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving" --Kahlil GibranStay tuned for more quotes on gratitude and happiness in an upcoming feature by Janice Taylor. Meanwhile, what what is your "winged heart" grateful...
"I'm convinced that Spirit is trying to get kindred spirits together, like some cosmic social director. Help out by talking to the people who talk to you. Or start up the conversation when someone looks interesting, or gives you some...
What did you dream last night? Was it a single image or a story? A feeling? A color? A word? Try starting a dream journal, or share your dream and ideas about its meaning below. "It may be that those...
"The moment we begin to seek love, love begins to seek us. And to save us." -- Paulo Coehlo, from his book, "By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept" More gorgeous, wise quotes from Paulo Coelho are in...
Some helpful hints for a tea-riffic (sorry) morning: A typical cup of tea is 5.5 fluid ounces, and should be brewed with 2 grams of tea leaves. Water should come to a full boil for black tea, but should be...
"We are all affecting the world every moment, whether we mean to or not. Our actions and states of mind matter, because we are so deeply interconnected with one another." -- Ram DassCheck out Beliefnet's videos of Ram Dass, Sharon...
By the end of this month, the "lamb" of spring will be rising to meet us. Today I'd like to share a photo of the beauty of nature in winter as a reminder to find joy in every season. It's...
Breathe in the loveliness. And have a beautiful day. This photo is from our Green Parenting gallery if you want to poke around some more....
Therese Borchard's fun, snarky collection of fear-busters teaches us that fears will leave you alone if you don't take them too seriously. So try some of these out on your fears today and see if they won't take a...
From Victoria Moran, Beliefnet's incredibly talented Life Coach blogger: "I don't always bound out of bed with grand expectations about the day ahead, but when I can hear my grandmother saying, 'This is a day the Lord has made: I will...
The poet Robert Brault said, "I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar." Think about your friends today. What makes them "cherished" rather...
"Make a list of all that you're grateful for. Gratitude will further magnetize good things to you. It will also open your heart and assure your unconscious that you are capable of having a beautiful life, because in fact,...
Why not start your day with an "expanding life force breath?" Called "ujjayi" in Sanskrit, this yogic breath can bring energy and purpose into your morning. Especially useful for sleepy-heads: making your inhale slightly longer than your exhale really wakes...
"The sun shines down, and its image reflects in a thousand different pots filled with water. The reflections are many, but they are each reflecting the same sun. Similarly, when we come to know who we truly are, we will...
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