My Guest Post – An Angel Visit

When I started aplaceforthoughts.com I was blessed to cross paths with some beautiful people. Betsy Henry was one of the first few and today I am grateful for her continued support and friendship. Betsy’s site, The Zen Mama’s blog, is peaceful and encouraging. She shares so much with all of us. She reminds us of the benefits of laughter and of smiling. She encourages us to let go of worry. She talks about parenting, acceptance, gratitude, peace, love, compassion and so much more.

Betsy has published two books. How To Be A Zen Mama and The Zen Mama’s Book of Quotes and I am happy to say that they both have a place on my nightstand. Shortly after meeting Betsy I ordered How To Be a Zen Mama and loved it! When I found out that her book of quotes was in the works I just knew I’d have to have a copy! Although I don’t use as many quotes as Betsy, I am quite the quote fan myself.

In October I shared this story. Betsy’s response? {This post gave me the chills! I so believe in angels. You got a powerful message through your son. I’m going to share this.}

And so she did.

This weekend Betsy posted An Angel Visit. Be sure to stop by to read it and spend some time on her site. You’ll be so glad you did!

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Walt’s Wisdom

Re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss what insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem. ~Walt Whitman

How does this quote make you feel?

What thoughts came to mind after reading it?

…dismiss what insults your own soul…

Love that. It almost gives you permission to let go of something that weighs you down. Or perhaps it provides the strength to stand up against the dismissing force that keeps you from being you. From being at peace. If nothing else it allows you to feel what is home to your soul and reminds you to acknowledge that peace. To let go of the stress in your day and be at peace.

…and your very flesh will be a great poem.

Yes. Yours. A great poem. Feel impossible? It isn’t.

Whether you realize it or not; it already is. Recognizing it is what is key.

If you feel calm, balanced, and at home in your soul then be grateful for that blessing.

If not then take a break. Go for a walk, or sit down with a cup of tea, perhaps go for a drive, pray, read a book, call a friend or family member, unwind, do something that relaxes you. Something that brings you to your peaceful place. You deserve that blessing. We all do.

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All You Need Is One

Years ago my grandmother gave me a worry box. I was going through something fairly difficult and this gift was more than a blessing to me. She couldn’t realize just how much it meant to me. At the time my grandmother was more interested in talking about what was happening at the neighbor’s house than anything sentimental.

Inside the box were three angels with a passage written that read: This box is for your worries, the aches within your heart. A place to tuck away your fears, where love and hope can start. So keep this box beside you, and know how much they care, for when you need peace and joy the angels will be there.

Throughout the years there have been times when this box was tucked away in a safe place. At other times it has even been forgotten but earlier this year I came across it on a day that I really needed to. Then the next day someone else came across it. My toddler.

As quick as he could he started shaking the box. By the time I got to him the angels were in pieces. Between lack of sleep and feeling sad I really didn’t study what was left of them because it seemed that they were all broken. I quickly skimmed for the sharp pieces of glass, got rid of them and then I closed the box and placed it on my dresser.

The other day my son grabbed the box again and walked towards me with it saying, “Angols, Angols!” With a smile at the way he says angel, I opened up the box to look at what remained. I gently pushed through the pieces and there it was.  One angel. Unharmed. Beautiful. Strong.

And I was reminded that all you need is one.

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Giving Thanks

I just thought I’d post something simple for tonight. Tomorrow is already Thanksgiving and I just can’t believe it. It seems as if it was just August.

During this time of thanks I thought it would be nice if we could all share something we are feeling grateful for. So whether you are reading this tonight, tomorrow or in two weeks feel free to share something that you are currently feeling gratitude towards.

At this moment I am grateful for the random hug my little guy gave me while we were reading books this afternoon. I am also thankful to know that those dear to me are safe and warm in their homes.

Wishing you and yours a Thanksgiving full of peace and hope.

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart. ~Seneca

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Traveling Comfort

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like you are trying to just survive? Where you feel like if you allow your heart and mind to go where they are drawn that you’ll just spend the time choking back tears and trying different breathing techniques in an effort to calm down? It has been one of those weeks for me. Not every single moment of the week, but definitely much of it.

This morning when I got up I tried to think of a few things to do to bring peace into my day. I took an extra minute or two in the shower, had a cup of coffee while spending a few minutes reading something inspirational and I called my grandmother. Not to talk about anything specific but just to check in as I often do. Then this afternoon rolled around and I felt it necessary to do something else to relax. My little one was napping and I had a few minutes. So I made a cup of tea and decided to write a letter. (Do you remember my post Snail Mail earlier in the year?) I guess I can’t really call it a letter. It was fairly short as it was written on a card. But it was a paper and ink type of note. One I’ll place in my mailbox tomorrow morning, raise the red flag, and two business days later someone will have a surprise in their mailbox. Initially I was thinking how it would be a nice surprise to receive something other than bills in the mailbox, but as I was writing I realized it made me feel good just to sit down and do so. It was peaceful and it was just what I needed to bring an extra touch of comfort to my day.

To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart.  ~Phyllis Theroux

What do you do when you are in the midst of a difficult day or time in your life? How do you cope? What little things do you do to brighten your day?

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Inviting you

I wanted to take the time this morning to thank all of you for being here. Thank you for the support and faith you’ve shown towards this site and to me. If this is your first time here I’m glad that you came by. I hope you enjoy the site and that you’ll be back.

Many of my visitors have their own blogs but I wanted to take this opportunity to invite you to submit something to aplaceforthoughts.com by going to the submit your story tab at the top of this page. As you know many of my posts are fairly short so it doesn’t have to be much. But I invite you to share a little something. You can do so anonymously or as you and I could link your post right back to your site. You could even think of it as a guest post. Or if you’ve wanted to write something and get it off your chest but you don’t want everyone in your whole world knowing than this would be the perfect place to do so.

I invite you to share something that is in your heart. Perhaps a childhood memory, a dream or story of yours, or even just one of your favorite quotes and what it means to you. Remember that this blog belongs to you too.

Wishing everyone a day full of great joy and peace.

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Calm in your heart

peace. it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work, it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. (unknown)

I’m sure everyone has seen them. The quotable magnets. Now they have cards, mugs, etc. Well, I shouldn’t say now. They’ve had them for a while. Anyways, I have a couple of them. The above quote is one. It makes me think about how I am not calm in my heart. Sometimes I am; I guess. But not all the time. Not all that often in fact. Isn’t the point to actually be able to feel that way at all times?

I often think of the things that I need to do to achieve this and I’m not yet positive whether I have the strength to do them yet. But I do know that I need to work towards them. And more importantly that I am trying to.

Wishing everyone a day full of the things that bring peace and happiness to your heart.

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