Inspiration – Page 3 – yourhappyplaceblog

A great, big question for you!

Published on July 7, 2015July 7, 2015 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

“A hundred years from now will the world be any different because I was important in the life of someone?”

I don’t know about you, but I always am hoping of touching someone’s life, whether it is through my writing, sharing a story, giving something of myself to a friend, sharing life lessons with my daughter. I am always seeking and hoping that little parts of me will make a difference some how. But, I do often have a greater yearning of doing more and often my heart becomes troubled wondering what I am missing to share. I often question if I will ever be selfless enough that I will not miss opportunities, that I will be in tune to my greater purpose, that I will not miss every moment that is suppose to bring something greater to this world. I am constantly inspired by great stories of others who sacrifice, who give unconditionally, so this week I am going to be sharing a few different stories that move my heart & prove they are making the world a little better through their giving hearts.

Here is a great example of someone making a difference to his family each and every day—My heart was truly stirred as I was watching a re-run of American Ninja Warrior a couple of nights ago. The Kansas City qualifier was on & there was a story that moved me. I have tried to find the actual video that was on ANW, but to no avail. The actual story was so good—a husband that was out of shape, turned Ninja through the necessity to move and carry his wife since she couldn’t walk because of a quick genetic disorder that is slowly taking her life. They drove over 24 hours to wait in the walk on line because she was not sure she would be around another year to watch him. Wow!! I didn’t even hear or understand that the couple was from my home state of Utah, so here is their story. http://www.ksl.com/?sid=34855384

Here are a some little ideas that will make a big difference to someone else…SMILE. Teach a skill you have to someone who would like to learn. Give HUGS. Give a sandwich to someone in need. Send someone a nice note of thanks, encouragement or just a friendly hello. PRAISE people. Spread a little LOVE by putting together a Bag of JOY (fill it with things that will lift or inspire, a funny movie, comfort food, a great book, uplifting music, etc). Just be there to listen. Offer to babysit someone’s kids that just needs a break. Share a sincere compliment. Volunteer at your child’s school or for a community program. Buy someone lunch. Pay a toll. Always say Thank you with a smile. Write and article or post that will influence others in a positive way. Take your family and pick up trash at a local pond or park. Donate your old clothes and toys to a good charity. Bake up something for your co-workers or neighbors. Ask lots of questions in a conversation and then just listen. Choose to strive daily for ways to inspire others. Listen for inspiration and direction that will touch others lives. Just LOVE.

Life IS Beautiful

Published on June 23, 2015June 23, 2015 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

Over the weekend we saw the movie Inside Out with our daughter and the greatest lesson from the movie for me…you have to HAVE the good with the bad in life. Together life is sweeter, so with that, here is a great video about LIFE and how beautiful everything about it is! Enjoy.

Have a beautiful day. -H

In honor of His day

Published on June 18, 2015 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

I awoke this morning & the house was quiet. It was six a.m. & I decided to sit and have some time to do a little reading. I opened my book & began to read. The chapter I began was all about compassion for all living things, I continued reading only to be stirred within my heart of a conversation I had just had the night before with my daughter. We had been to a family dinner with her cousins who were sharing their details of killing the local nuisances in their yard. The parents had been frustrated by the voles and golfers, so the kids were talking about how they were shooting them during a dinner discussion.

Later that night, my sweet daughter, innocently brought up the discussion & shared how she couldn’t believe they were shooting the animals. My heart sank at such a conversation.

This morning as I read I came across a very sweet story that accompanied this very topic…here is the story.

“Every creature is full of God and is a book about God.” -Meister Eckhart

Albert Schwitzer tells of the moment his reverence for life’s creatures came within full consciousness. As a boy, Schweitzer was with friends who proposed that they go up into the hills and kill birds. Reluctant, but afraid of being scorned, he accompanied the group. Arriving at a tree in which a flock of birds was singing, the boys prepared for the kill by putting stones in their catapults. But then Schweitzer heard the church bells begin to ring—mingling music with birdsong—and to him, the music was represented a voice from heaven. Shooing the birds away, he went home, his priorities clear: reverence for life was more important to him than any fear of being taunted or laughed at by his peers. Notes Schweitzer, as the bells rang, he remembers how deeply moved and grateful he was that, on that day, “they rang into my heart the commandments ‘Thou shalt not kill.” [taken from The Heart of Goodness by Jo Ann Larsen]

I was pondering further this morning & thinking of the upcoming Father’s Day holiday. What greater time to honor the greatest Father of All. I pray that as you celebrate those fathers you love this week, that you will take a sweet moment and also think of all the great gifts and blessings that are bestowed upon you and your family by the most loving Father of all. I think a great way of honoring our Father in Heaven is to see the beautiful things all around you and give praise and appreciation. I think listening to the song of birds and marveling at their existence, their heavenly voices, the small miracles they are and finding a deeper sacred reverence for life itself would also be a great gift. I think teaching our innocent children about having a greater respect for this sacred reverence and then taking a quiet moment in the solitude of the day, filling our hearts with gratitude and joy to be able to experience this world as a whole–that would be a beautiful way to honor Him.

-Peace to you. -H

LIFE LOVES ME!!

Published on March 6, 2015 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

I recently started watching Hay House’s “Tales of every day Magic” mini movie series & watched a great interview with Louise Hay and Cheryl Richardson. My greatest take away…LIFE LOVES ME!! I love that.

Say it over and over at any given moment & you will feel a rush of joy. I smile every time I say it. Try it & see what happens. Here are a bunch of affirmations that “affirm” good things. enJOY!

Hopefully you were able to find some good things within these words. Make them your own, so they may lift and inspire you daily & help affirm that LIFE LOVES YOU!! Peace to you. -H

Spread the LOVE

Published on February 5, 2015 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

With Love week around the corner I thought it would be good to spread some LOVE. Our hearts yearn to share LOVE, to ignite a spark of connection, to spread goodness and radiate a light so bright that the world would see a glimmer of HOPE, a sea of positive change, a peace that would domino, a grand song that would play in the hearts of every single person who needed a little LOVE.

This morning I sat around our breakfast table & asked a question—“If you could change three things, what would you change?” We went around the table sharing different ideas, and I instantly thought of how different the world would be if we had a change of heart throughout the world. I immediately thought of times throughout my life that if I needed any advice, any direction on an idea, any encouragement and I asked complete strangers for their help, how amazed I continually am to see people open their hearts wide open and give. They give for the sake of helping someone’s dream grow just a little, an idea to blossom into a possibility, they give their knowledge, their time. It never ceases to amaze me.

When we look at the world through media lenses, we are often jaded by the stories, the misery, the broken parts of the world, but when we step just outside ourselves, we begin to see people all around with open hands and giving hearts. I have recently been working on an idea to possibly put into museums & had no idea where to begin, so I reached out & you know what happened? People from all over the country stopped, took time, gave me direction and did not hesitate to give. i have seen this over and over again because I know people give from their hearts and that is the perfect place. I genuinely think people are good and want to help if they have something to give.

I challenge any of you to try it for yourself. Don’t be afraid, be brave. Is there an idea you would like to see come into view, is there a dream you have been holding onto, is there direction you need, is there something you want to do, but just need a little nurturing. I encourage you to reach out and give someone else an opportunity to spread some love to YOU. Give someone the opportunity to share their knowledge, to share their contacts, to enlighten you with their experience…Let them help you, let them give to you and then when you are feeling connected and loved, find some way that you can also spread some love to someone who may need you, your smile, your time.

I do believe this is a big reason why we are on this snow globe of life—to give, to help one another, to learn this greatest gift.

Peace and LOVE to you. -Heather

Follow your heart

Published on November 3, 2014November 3, 2014 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

If you ask yourself, “Do you follow your heart” what do you feel? Do you feel good about the direction your life is going? Do you feel lit up by the work you are doing? Do you feel a strong connection with those you love? Are you doing things that make you feel congruent with where you want your life to be? Are you following the compass of your heart, your values? I think if we could each ask ourself that one question, we would be surprised with the answers.

Here are some great stories of people following their heart and doing things they believe in. Follow your heart and see what happens.

A girl creates a solution that creates an even better solution for the homeless

A headphone company making a difference

Toms Shoes doing great things

Guy feeding the homeless with some magic

I searched “follow your heart” on youtube and came across this song by a Christian group. The song made me see and truly understand that people who are usually trying to “follow their heart” are successful when they follow something greater, which then creates a place of doing something greater. All of these stories are perfect examples of people getting outside of themselves and doing something for the greater good. It is truly following their hearts to a higher place.

Peace to you. Begin to follow your heart & that will lead you to greater places doing even better things with your life.

Here is the song if you would like to hear it.

Cup of God

Published on October 13, 2014October 13, 2014 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

I love metaphors and Russell Simmons (Media Mogul) shared a good one during his interview with Oprah. “If God were the ocean, You’d be a cup of God.” I thought that was beautiful…to imagine being a piece of God, oh how that would bring PEACE to everyone. I have heard Wayne Dyer talk about God being like a pie & we are each a piece, but to envision the beautiful ocean was even better for my soul. Beautiful.

Now, I do not know very much about Russell Simmons, but he shared some pretty profound thoughts & I can always admire someone who is trying to make the world a little better—especially when they have all the worldly things of success. Many people just keep trying to acquire more and more, and get stuck in a selfish cycle, but he seems to be a man that is trying to share a message of things that have helped his life and made it a little better. You have to appreciate that.

Here are some other take aways from his great interview…

Happy Monday to you. -H Peace Out!

A Special Tribute

Published on October 6, 2014October 6, 2014 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

I recently watched Oprah’s interview with Paulo Coelho, the writer of The Alchemist. I was drawn to this book years ago & read it while traveling through the beautiful Montana backcountry. The story of the Alchemist, to me, was a rich story of personal longing, finding deeper meaning and following one’s “Personal Legend.” While I was on my Montana trip I made a special purchase of a silver ring, that I still wear to this day, to remind me of the beautiful story held within the Alchemist…the story, the reminder to constantly be seeking my own ‘Personal Legend.’ If you have not read this book, I strongly suggest it. It is a true gift to your soul.

I loved hearing the story of how this small book was a hidden treasure that took many years for people to find. This little book has a story of its own…Paulo had it published for the first time 25 years ago & it did not sell, so the publisher told Paulo he was done with the book. Paulo had written the book in two weeks & knew that it had something to share with the world, so he did not give up on this book. He had faith that doors would open & his book would find its way into the world. He found another publisher who was willing to take a chance on a book that had already been published and had few sales.

25 years later, over 65 million copies, and the most translated book…The Alchemist has won over the hearts of the world. Thank you Paulo. Thank you for a sweet gift that has touched many.

After the Oprah interview their was a sweet movie short that was shown & I wanted to share it with you…in the alchemist the main character is a shepherd boy, so this short is a different kind of shepherd or ‘guardian.’ Enjoy.

My favorite line from the movie short…“We are often asked if we think they are happy, that question assumes that natures goal is happiness. Caring for animals has shown me a much deeper objective, which may apply to all living things, so this is my answer…I watch them care for something outside of themselves and that purposefulness creates contentment.”

I LOVE that. I hope this post has brought you a little contentment to you today. Peace to you. -H

A shout out to Everyday Heroes

Published on October 1, 2014 by goforthegood11 Comment

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU. This post is to all those everyday heroes that don’t hesitate to help someone in need, people who dedicate hours to make a small difference in the lives of others, people who have huge hearts & a desire to help animals, people who take the time to teach our children, people who protect our communities, people who step forward in a life mission to change something for the better in our world, people who give, people who care, people all around us. THANK YOU. I heard this great song & felt a need to create a visual image of people doing everyday things that make a difference. Hope you enjoy!! I then followed this video with some additional info. about some of the great people in the video.

Lou Wegner: Started volunteering at a shelter in Los Angeles & was astonished at the high rates of euthanasia, that he knew he needed to do something. From this inspiration, “Kids Against Animal Cruelty” was started. This organization has grown to 50,000 plus members and has chapters across the nation that are soley run by teenagers. You go Lou!! Here are some additional links about Lou and his work: Article in National Geographic http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/01/14/a-discussion-with-teen-actoranimal-activist-lou-wegner/ 2013 Pet Hero Award Winner http://www.petphilanthropycircle.com/louwegner.html

Janine Licare: helped start this organization at the age of 9 with two other childhood friends. http://kidssavingtherainforest.org

Chip Paillex: I LOVE his story. It was featured on CNN heroes. Check it out!! Great beginning. Wow!! http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/04/living/cnnheroes-paillex/

There were a few more stories I added in the video–I found them in a great CNN article. Here are the rest of my heroes and then some. Enjoy their stories. People making a difference. http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/01/us/top-10-cnn-heroes/

Anything GOOD is always a good thing

Published on August 26, 2014September 10, 2014 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

I just wanted to put some GOOD stuff out there for any of you who have seen or not seen the following videos. These all hold something GOOD you can take away. I have included a little bit of everything–a movie, inspiration, a beautiful go pro ad…hope you Enjoy.

One of my favorites!! The Butterfly Circus If you have not seen or even if you have–check it out again. It is beautiful…the short movie “Butterfly Circus”

Scott Hamilton We all know Scott Hamilton, but I am sure you do not know all the struggles he has been through. His is an amazing story of struggle and triumph that he is still living. Check it out.

Jim Carrey’s Secret of Life We all know Jim Carrey & you either like him or he may make you crazy. This powerful message may help you see his deeper side & hopefully you will walk away inspired. Video done by the Journey of Purpose

Beautiful Whale Fantasia GoPro Ad: This is just a beautiful ad, including inspiration by Alan Watts, while underwater…well done.