Thought For the Week

I love thoughts. Maybe you can tell that. Anyway, here's one I found and I wanted to share it with you.

Outside my window, a new day I see
And only I can determine what kind of day it will be.
It can be busy and sunny, laughing and gay,
Or boring and cold, unhappy and grey.
My own state of mind is the determining key
For I am only the person I let myself be.
I can be thoughtful and do all I can to help
Or be selfish and think just of myself.
I can enjoy what I do and make it seem fun,
Or gripe and complain and make it hard on someone.
I can be patient with those who may not understand
Or belittle and hurt them as much as I can.
But I have faith in myself and believe what I say
And I personally intend to make the best of each day.

This is so true. Only we can determine what kind of life we will live, how we will treat others, and whether to be happy or sad.

Don't you agree?

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://.www.KRBailey.com

Great Advice

Great Advice to Live By

A friend gave me the following and as I read through it again tonight, I found myself thinking it is so true. I don't know who wrote it, but I wanted to share the thoughts with you.

DO FOLLOW YOUR PASSION
Every super-successful person's gotta do what they love.

DON'T BE AFRAID
You'll never walk if you don't take the first step.

DO JUST DO IT
You can dream, you can talk, but at some point you have to do it.

DONT EVER GIVE UP
Tenacity: you're gonna get knocked down. Take your knocks and get right back up.

DO GET A YES
You might get a hundred doors slammed in your face. So go to door 101.

DON'T OVER PROMISE
You have to keep your credibility.

DO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SMARTER THAN YOU.
That's the Ronald Reagan School of Management.

DON'T LISTEN TO NAYSAYERS.

Some people live in the negative. They are the naysayers. They say it can’t be done. They say it will never be good. Ignore them. Think for yourself. You can do it.

HAPPY READING!

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

Live Every Day!

Once in awhile I come across a thought that just inspires me and this is one I found in a magazine. I'd like to share it with you.

Live Every Moment
Laugh Every Day
Love Beyond Words

I know many of you will say, I live every moment. We're alive. We're living. But I ask, did you make the most of every minute of every day? Too often I think we just go through the motions of getting up, getting dressed, go to work, come home and veg in front of the TV. When my husband and I first married, we talked about life in general, things like Christmas, birthdays, etc and decided that life can be boring or hard, but it is up to us to make special occasions.

Have you laughed today? I don't mean a smile at a friend, I mean a big laugh, the kind that makes you wiggle with happiness, the laugh out loud kind of laugh. Most of us don't laugh. I see people every day and it's hard to even coax many of them to smile. Every one is in too big a hurry to even enjoy what they are doing. Laugh is good for our souls. Take a moment and laugh.

Have you ever loved beyond words? I thought about that statement and wondered if any of us ever really love beyond words. That is so overpowering to even think about, isn't it? But then I thought about how I feel about my grandchildren and the love I have for them is beyond words. I lost my mother over ten years ago but the love I still have for her is so powerful that I'd say I love her beyond words.

I urge you to think about the thoughts and live every moment of your life. Take time to laugh, and whatever else, find someone or something or even a place and love it beyond words.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

www.KRBailey.com

Why Is The Grass Always Greener?

Have you ever noticed that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?

Are you the "swinging single" who has all your paycheck to spend as you desire? Who lives your own life, never having to report to anyone when you do something, who works when you want to and plays when you want to? Are you the one everyone envies because you have control over your own life?

You're also probably the one who struggles to pay bills with one paycheck when all your married friends have two incomes. You're probably the one who hates social functions because you face going to them alone or with a "new friend" who is a gorgeous hunk, but in reality that hunk is either boring or unfamiliar and you envy those "couples" who always attend functions together, always knowing how the other will react.

You're probably the one who lives the "exciting life" when in fact you're bored and restless, wishing for some of the contentment your couple friends enjoy.

Or, are you perhaps part of the married couple that has everything going for you? Who has so much in common? Who has a couple of lovely kids? Who has all the nice things like a big home, new car, boat, ATVs, etc?

You're probably the one who envies the excitement of meeting a new man like your single friends do. You're probably the one who envies the freedom and the control of your life your single friends have. You'd love to just once spend a paycheck on you rather than the kids and necessities. You'd love a change rather than the contentment (maybe boredom sometimes) you think your life is today.

Why is it we never are satisfied with our lives? Have you noticed everyone feels someone else lives a better life?

I wonder how many of us really sit down and realize that we are the reasons we're happy -- or not. Everyone, no matter what lifestyle they live, faces problems and frustrations and depending on how they react, can be happy.

I know it sounds too easy, but it really is.

The following are my philosophies but I'd like to share them with you.

1. Decide what you want. It's up to you to take the steps to achieve it.

2.  Don't blame others.  You made the decision to be where you are in life. It's up to you to change it.

3.  Where are you? Look closely at yourself.

4.  Have you tried to improve or change? If not, why not?

5.  Talk to people (friends, relatives, etc)

6.  Do you really want things different?

7.  Accept things -- go for it if you really want to change. 

8.  It's up to you to be happy --- make the decision to look at things positively.

I love these thoughts:

You can achieve anything but
sometimes it comes at a cost
      ....Annie Oartman

When you say yes to something
You say no to something else!
    ....Unknown

Okay, I'm done. Have a great day -- decide to be happy.  You deserve it!

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

www.KRBailey.com

Don't You Love Old Barns?

I remember going to visit my grandparents in Cache County and passing a big old barn with a sign painted on its side.  I was always fascinated with that old barn.  It made me wonder what types of tales it could tell me. 

 Last spring I took a two week road trip with my sister back to Kentucky, and we passed many cool old barns.  Most of the ones I took pictures of were called “quilt barns”.  Now, I had never heard of the term “quilt” barns but my sister is an avid quilter.  She has a long-arm quilting machine and lives and breathes quilting.  Needless to say, I get to talk about quilting a lot when we’re together.  I’m not complaining because I love spending time with her, and she gets to listen to me talk about writing, so in the long run, I think we’re even.

 I remember spending time with my mother as a young girl and helping her hand quilt the beautiful quilts she made.  Now, I hate making quilts, but I definitely do appreciate all the hard work that goes into them.  So, when we were traveling and came across some cool old barns with quilts painted on them, I couldn’t resist taking a few pictures.  As I thought about the barns, I got to thinking that they remind me of the life we live and the lives of those who have passed on.  They are so rich in history.  Wouldn’t you just love to hear about their history?

 Here’s a beautiful old barn. 

 

Notice how pleasing it is to look at.  It’s painted and well kept up.  It’s obvious the owner loves his barn and is proud of what he has.  Wouldn’t you just love to go inside and see what treasurers are housed in it?  Keeping this barn looking so meticulous definitely would require a lot of work, and that is my first thought:  You have to work hard to succeed.  It doesn’t matter if you want to write a book, sew a beautiful quilt, look nice, keep your house and yard up, or become the CEO of a company.  Everything takes a lot of hard work to obtain it.

 

This second barn is big and sturdy and well made.  Even though it’s not fancy, it looks trustworthy.  That’s my second point:  Be trustworthy.  Whether it’s in your dealings with others, writing a book, borrowing money, or just in your everyday life as you work and play, you have to be trustworthy.  Make your word your bond.  Let everyone know they can trust you, depend on what you say, and rely on you when you say something.

 

This third barn is definitely old, but it has character.  It’s one of a kind.  My third point is:  it doesn’t matter how old you are or how young you are, build your character.  Let each day help you become the person you want to be.  You are unique.  Enjoy your differences.  Everything you do helps you become a unique person with character that makes you that much more interesting.

 

One thing they all have in common is they are great to look at and each one is different from the other.  They bring joy to anyone who passes by with their bright colored quilts painted on them.  So my last point is:  Be happy.  Bring joy to others and to yourself. 

 

I hope you enjoyed seeing a few of my quilt barn pictures.  If anyone has pictures of interesting old barns they’d like to share, I’d love to see them.   

For more about me, visit my website at http://KRBailey.com

Have a great day!

Life is not waiting for the storms to pass ....
It's about learning how to dance in the rain.

I don't know who wrote the above but I loved it. How many of us take the time to enjoy today, no matter what the day brings. If its raining, take time to read a good book. If the sun is shining, how about a walk to enjoy the beautiful things nature gives us. If you're alone, enjoy yourself, do something just for you. Stay in touch with friends, family, or perhaps an elderly relative who you haven't talked to in ages. Most of all, be grateful for what you have and learn to enjoy each day. None of us have any guarantees about tomorrow!