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Category Archives: Fullness

Giving From Our Gratitude . .

28 Saturday Nov 2015

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Attitude, Christmas, Compassion, Fullness, Giving, God, Goodness, Gratitude

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Generosity, God, Stewardship

Giving isn’t just monetary; there are opportunities to give our time, to share our talents, our abilities, to make meals, to help friends as well as soon-to-be new friends who we know need a hand. There are ways to give from the heart at every turn of the calendar, clock face and sun rising. Giving of oneself is a way to truly show gratitude for life’s bounty! For it is by our acknowledgement of how truly blessed we are in all manners and ways, that we grow in our desire to share with others our blessings of all kinds!

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I enjoy baking, cooking and providing comfort for others, so when I have that opportunity, I do so with a happy heart and a glad spirit! I often bake dozens of cookies for a local long-term care nursing facility at Christmas, as the patients and staff appreciate such gestures. Whatever way it is that you can give from the heart to all those around you, can truly provide a great way to share with others the many blessings in which your life has been enriched! Some of us are amply blessed monetarily, and so we have the chance to share in money. Others have time to give to people who need a hand, and so they share their time by being a blessing to others. Some might make gifts or treasures by which they might either directly offer gifts or raise funds.

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Gratitude in spirit always leads to giving, for it is only in sharing that we can truly appreciate the value and meaning of our blessings! God has been so good to us, providing all His richness of bounty to us over our lifetimes in the form of materials goods, possessions, comforts and wealth; our gratitude and giving is the way we exemplify our stewardship for those treasures to Him!  Signature02

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A Life Honored . . Anew Each Day!

08 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Attitude, Choices, Contentment, Family, Fullness, God, Life, Love

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God, Legacy, Majesty, Nature

Yesterday I had to have something precious cut down and removed because it was no longer viable or thriving, but rather dying by degree. It was hard to part with the Purple-Leaf Plum tree I first planted out back right after my dad passed, nearly a quarter century ago, in his honor. He adored nature; and it was the closest tree I could find in Phoenix back then to the brilliant hues of Red Maples which he adored! oshimoto_e45_018

I must admit, I got a bit sad thinking of the tree being cut down after all this time, and then again seeing it piled up in freshly cut pieces. I had to accept its slow demise over the last few months just to get to this point where I could even consider having it cut down! It surely seemed to be the right time to remove this beautiful specimen, which once was so glorious and colorful; but it surely wasn’t easy to accept it, lying there in pieces! At some point in my observation of the tree’s remnants, my emotions shifted from sadness to a stable contentment; there was a shift in mind and mood, in realizing there was so much more than just this one failed tree of honor connecting me with my dad’s passion for nature!   bible-verses

I realized that all of my life I’ve sought the refuge and peace of nature, enjoyed the wilderness and appreciated the beauty in almost every plant because of my dad’s influences and preferences! He shared his heart and soul’s passion for growing plants, gardening, landscaping, exploring the wilderness and seeing all the beauty found in God’s majestic natural designs with me; so I now have that same appreciation in my soul by which to honor his life’s legacy every day! God blessed us all with hearts, minds and senses by which we may appreciate the wondrous natural world around us; and I surely witnessed that in my dad’s life by example! And in the place of that beloved tree, I will create an edible garden around an old wooden picnic table I inherited just yesterday from a dear family friend. Everything continues in its seasons, for its reasons and for God’s purposes!  Signature02

Nature’s More Subtle Reminder . .

14 Saturday Mar 2015

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Celebration, Choices, Contentment, Fullness, God, Gratitude

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Contentment, Nature, Peace of Mind

Such a fabulous morning with windows open to let the cool air in; the birds are again delighting me with their magical songs and all the world seems filled with Saturday’s magic! I used to find the same type of magic on this particular day of the week as a child just by turning on some silly, familiar cartoons; but now I look to nature first as my source of entertainment! 1240126_703685716311915_1942277022_n

 

It’s easier I suppose to be distracted by the human world these days, to the point of being caught up in its chaos and busyness; it’s easier to be entertained to the point of neglecting our own peace of mind and our own comfort by all the new devices and instant access. I have even learned how to procrastinate to a whole new level because I so readily give my attention and time to things which cry out with buzzing, beeping, ringing, vibrating, or through notifications! We’re a distracted society now, busy and seemingly quite pressed for time; but nature soothes my soul and constantly reminds me of how life is so much more than tv, phones, all the stuff we have and even this silly box! I value those tools of human creation for what I am able to do and how I am able to connect to the world; but I value what God has created far more these days!

All those humans whom share my life each day, all the creatures outside my window on mornings such as this, as well as all the glory of everything under and around the sun, moon and stars has profoundly filled me with the most intense love and gratitude for God! I have learned that everything is a convenient trap, in that the more we have, the more we think we need. And often, what we think we need in a particular moment ends up being something which we readily forget about and set aside even a day later. Perhaps the trap is set by someone who wants us to forget how easily we can connect to God in other ways? Maybe if we put the stuff down, letting go our urge to amass things and focus on the persistent material things in nature (even though it usually doesn’t beep, buzz, or notify us as intently!), we will find more peace and contentment again.  I enjoy having all my stuff, being connected to the world through the man-made devices, all while being entertained; but I have realized if it all went away tomorrow, my value and that of the world is and always will be found in so much more! We came to life with nothing; and that should remind us that our value isn’t found in anything but us, what is around us in the form of other human beings, other creatures and what lives on in the world in nature!      Signature02

Are You Content?

28 Friday Nov 2014

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Attitude, Choices, Contentment, Fullness, Gratitude, Happiness

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Contentment, Gratitude, Peace

Are you content? On this day, when we see people clamoring to add more to their stockpiles of possessions because they don’t yet have enough, can we answer that question for ourselves? Am I content in life? If this were all I were to have, or to be, or to make, or to accomplish, or to be given in terms of longevity . . if this were all, would I be able to say I am content as is?

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Contentment is the secret to peace and happiness, for it affords to us the assurance that we are accepting of our own lives, our own accomplishments, our own journey’s events and steps taken. We can still aspire to make our yet-unaccomplished goals a reality; but our contentment is an appraisal of the here and now, based on the past unchanged and the future yet unknown.

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If we’re not content, we often look for things outside of ourselves to bring us joy; but things or other people apart from us cannot manufacture peace of mind or be our source of joy or contentment within us. It is up to us to discern within, am I content; so that we ourselves might deem this life as acceptable! And if not, why? As Paul states in the Bible, in the Book of Philippians 4: 11-12 . . Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

 

No manner of Black Friday purchase or addendum of any person can change our sense of contentment with life for the long-term. All that we discern as meaningful for our lives and about our lives must be formed from within our grateful hearts and our peaceful minds, here and now!

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We Owe It To Ourselves . .

10 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Attitude, Character, Choices, Commitment, Courage, Discipline, Exploration, Fullness, Life, Self-Respect, Strength

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explorer, growth, Learning

We owe it to ourselves to understand the way things are, what we believe about the world and our place in it. We do no one, most especially ourselves, any good when we accept the opinions of others on face value or live our lives as echoes of others whom we view favorably or by fandom for their supposed celebrity. This is our life, our journey and our passage through it. If we aren’t going to make choices which reflect what it is that reflects our inner core of values and beliefs, then we aren’t going to have a life which feels comfortable and is meaningful to us. 01 Life Quote

 

Someone dear to me never ceases to amaze me in her insistent and persistent endeavors. She moves through life individually, and purposefully as such, attempting, learning and developing herself. She has a full life of experiences as a result! She might not be the master of any one thing, but she will be able to relish her participation in each and every manner in which she participates. Life is meant to be savored, tasted, tried and experienced. We’re meant to learn, to practice, to endeavor, to attempt, to challenge and to develop skills through all the challenges we master. We might not be proficient enough at some of those things to earn our income or to rely upon them for providing our sole support; but we can qualify ourselves as ably and aptly learned in such matters.

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But for those who don’t love or respect themselves enough to take the time to explore their own hearts and minds; to find preferences, skills, talents, abilities and acceptable beliefs, nothing is learned at all! Without first knowing a thirst from wanting to develop and grow because we believe ourselves worthy such endeavors, we won’t push ourselves beyond the familiar or the simple. And often the simple is to take what others say or do rather than to work on developing those preferences for ourselves.

Moving into the “explorer” mindset is as easy as knowing we’re worth such an effort! That person who is dear to me does what she does because she is feeding her soul. She is learning, developing and growing her mind, her talents, her abilities and her experiences because she is compelled by a desire to be a full, learned individual! Don’t accept what others have done or limit yourself to living vicariously through others. Find a way to challenge anew your heart, mind and your spirit to grow, to learn and to develop something new; and to realize who you are and what makes you tick! Imagine the life you can have when you assert your belief in yourself?! Just igniting that fire within you is to empower yourself to have the fullest, most interesting and experienced life possible.

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Confidence From the Creator

02 Saturday Aug 2014

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Attitude, Character, Choices, Confidence, Fullness, God, Humility, Lessons

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CatLion-50When you’re confident and have developed your self-worth from within, based not on anything external such as looks, current position, what others tell you, what society tells you, what clothing you wear or by other material or external measures – you can walk through this world with humility, but also with an insulation that others are lacking. Confidence is the awareness and assurance that you’re just fine as is, you don’t need validation, approval or acceptance of who or what you are by way of anyone or anything external! And it’s the most attractive quality you emit each new day, because it confirms to the world outside of you that you are absolutely fine with and comfortable as you are. And if you love and accept yourself, why wouldn’t they too love and accept you? And if they don’t, so be it! Self-confidence prevails when accepting responsibility for ourselves, and for all we do well or in all which we err; and by realizing others don’t define us. Beware the trap we humans often make of placing the burden for our self-appraisal in the hands of others or at the feet of other means of measure. It doesn’t work that way!
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When you know from where and from Whom you come, how can you think any less of yourself?
Psalm 139:13-14 . .
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 27:3 . .
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident
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Hebrews 10:35-39 . .
35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For,
“Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
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Its A Chance For Discovery…

29 Saturday Mar 2014

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Character, Choices, Ethics, Faith, Fullness, Gentleness, Happiness, Inspiration, Integrity, Joy, Kindness, Life, Love, Wisdom

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Remember today as you go out into the world of discovery, that some souls might be fragile, heartbroken, saddened in grief, feeling fear or suffering in some other way. Inside, they may be impacted by events in which we haven’t any knowledge or awareness, nor for which we see any obvious signs externally. We might not know exactly what others are enduring, but we can be compassionate in our journey, kind in our steps thus giving others respect, patience, our love & our best first so that if they’re suffering in some way, we seem to them to be safe waters in their already stormy lives.

I remember the days right after my father died unexpectedly so many years ago . . I was feeling so vulnerable and broken that I felt I was operating at a different speed than the rest of the world, into which I had to venture out routinely, especially since it was fairly close to Christmas. But when I encountered – amidst the busy-ness and frenetic pace – kind people with loving hearts and gentle smiles, I felt somehow safer and less fragile.Being kind, compassionate, gentle, patient and loving isn’t always easy and sometimes seems in opposition to the events of our day and perhaps even our moods as a result, but we truly never know what others are enduring! We should endeavor to give the world our best for one day it might be us who needs theirs in return.                                                                         kindpeoplearebest

We should endeavor to give the world our best for one day it might be us who needs theirs in return. And we should try to see and to believe the best of others because we don’t know their full story. What might seem standoffish to us, may be someone trying to hold themselves together for the sake of not breaking down!s fragile. Being kind, compassionate, gentle, patient and loving isn’t always easy and sometimes seems in opposition to the events of our day and perhaps even our moods as a result, but we truly never know what others are enduring!

fruit-of-the-spirit_25These are the fruits of our spirit from Galatians 5:22-23, nine things in which we already are amply endowed, may we practice them today and everyday when we meet one another as strangers or even as friends: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

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Positivity – Miss Goody Two Shoes!!!

21 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Change, Character, Faith, Fullness, Gentleness, Happiness, Life, Love, Peace, Romance

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Goody-GoodyPositivity!! Maybe I try too hard, maybe I want to see things through rose-colored lenses too much or too often, perhaps I am too hopeful a romantic – stopping to smell almost every rose and listen to every bird’s song. I am all those things, wanting not to change to fit for negativity’s sake nor for the hope of fitting in with those who snipe, constantly complain or bitterly engage with others.

I’m the product of a lifelong struggle to not be beaten down by life, so why should I let it do that now? Life is a once-around kind of thing, there’s no do-overs once it’s done. There are infinite do-overs during life, but in this one lifetime I don’t want to choose to live in a pessimism of spirit and soul.

How is it that we have so much in us and near us all of our lives, and yet we grow to faithfully believe in so little, especially ourselves or our own dreams? Perhaps someone would argue that being a realist precludes dreaming, that dreaming is the act of a person deluded and out of touch with reality. I guess that could be said, especially by those who’ve given up their dreams or on life itself.

It’s not enough, however, to change my heart or my mind. I’m going to stay focused on trying hard with faith; viewing life with a grateful heart because I see, feel and know blessings for which I haven’t any explanation! I’m not going to stand in anyone else’s footprints of pessimism   because for me, there is simply too much abundance all around me and too many miracles evident to give up on dreaming.

Call me a fool, I don’t care. I’m here every day hoping with faith, believing in earnest, loving without end & endeavoring to make things even more as I see them – positive, hopeful, worthy of all my efforts. If this makes me a goody-two-shoed, rose-colored-glasses-wearing, beacon of faith & hope, then so be it! That’s what I want to be!

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Steps of Life

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Character, Choices, Courage, Fullness, Giving, Integrity, Opportunity, Passion

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heavy-burden-25If someone is faltering in their steps, don’t watch them at a distance crumbling with the weight of their burdens. We are our brother’s & sister’s keepers. We are meant to find supernatural strength & fortitude not only for ourselves but especially for those we love & those whom are in our care. What is the world if we forget that first & foremost we are humans connected in & by our humanity? What will it mean to the world if we forget to nurture, love & value through our compassionate care those whom are nearest & within arms reach?? Do we want to become so self-involved as people that we allow our singularity in being to resonate as loneliness or isolation instead? Do we want to forget what is common & similar within all of us because we are so dead set on having what we ourselves want first & foremost?

 

I see so many selfish & soulless pursuits in life anymore, so many people trampled on during the daily parade of rats seeking the cheese. There was always more than enough cheese for us all, no need to become one of the rats by forgetting others are in the maze with you. People are slowly eroding & vacating any hope for their own prosperity as a species .  We are forgetting our humanity & what matters. We are so much more accepting & complacent about things which denigrate us all & which do nothing to encourage the betterment of mankind in general. It is like we’ve grown numb to all the outrage, we just don’t care as much anymore. If all of humanity loses too much of its intrinsic & God-given humanity, it evolves into a life form lower than any creature of which I am aware. Humanity only prospers one heart, one hand, one smile, one gesture of kindness & one unfettering, unfaltering willful step at a time!

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The Community of Humanity

03 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Character, Choices, Fullness, Gratitude, Joy, Love

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There’s no reason to take delight in anyone else’s misfortune, for in due time, you will find your own. We show our interior motives of love, compassion & humanity when we earnestly know that our success in not taken through someone’s failure, but rather just a desire to see ourselves as well as others succeed. We’ve grown accustomed to wanting to see someone fall hard. Like gladiators, we “duke it out” to take it all but we fail to see that there is actually more for the taking if we would just see the whole picture of abundance.
We watch our reality shows hoping to see humiliation in defeat, the self-destruct button of life coming down hard on our opponent’s side while we are lifted to some fleeting place of self-glorification. That is not how life is meant to be lived. Although competition is a healty &  perfectly-acceptable part of our interactions, we aren’t meant to take what isn’t meant for us, or to win at any cost. We are truly meant to be a part of our communities, of interconnected “families” which strive to make things good for one another, not to slam one another down to take what wasn’t ours fairly.
We’re meant to love ourselves not to the point of excluding the others around us in some narcissistic way, but rather so that our self-acceptance enables us to do not only what is right for ourselves as well as to see what might be best for others. We are meant to share the lessons learned in life, often the hard way truly, not by taking them out on one another but rather by using the lessons to guide one another, offering our expertise to one another & by serving one another in mentorship. We forget that in our great promise lies the reward not for only ourselves & those closest to us, but our success in life offers great rewards to others through our abilities to provide more, to do more, to create more, to be more thoughtful & wise.
None of us should hope for the demise of others for the sake of our success, but rather we should use our success to inspire others as a way that they too can be successful. If your intention is to harm others in pursuit of your dreams, then you will never find your dreams realized. You must want the best for yourself, but also for those with whom you are associated. That is how the community of our humanity works best, for that is how we humans are designed to function. God did not intend, I believe, for our differences to make us isolated, but rather for them to make us more interested in one another! You can be all you can be & still let others be their fully-actualized selves too! Encourage, instill & never let your character suffer for the life you choose to live!_Sign01
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