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SUNRISE, A NEW DAY, NEW BEGINNING revisited

As we are in the Holy Week of Easter, I thought I would revisit some of my posts which pertain to new beginnings and about special sunrises. May each of us do our best to contribute to this world and not always be consumed on what we can take from life. Let’s give, Let’s give of ourselves, and Let’s Give to the benefit of Others.

The featured image above is from a previous post which applies to this message:

Screen Shot 2018-02-15 at 7.02.57 AM
Betty Burkhalter is the photographer for this illuminating photo. Thanks Betty!

GOOD MORNING! It is a brand new day and let’s start with a brand new way of thinking. Positive thoughts bring positive results. We have had enough gloom and doom for a lifetime. Where is the joy? Let’s start the parade of happy thoughts. Let’s put aside the negativity in this world. Look at the sunrise, watch a child play, follow a bird’s flight into the sky, imagine characters you see in the clouds, listen to the singing of nature and bask in life. I am feeling better already…..How about you?

Below is an excerpt from a great article which can be found in its entirety by clicking on this link:

Article dated February 18, 2017

Positive thinking: Stop negative self-talk to reduce stress

Positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve your health. Practice overcoming negative self-talk with examples provided.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Is your glass half-empty or half-full? How you answer this age-old question about positive thinking may reflect your outlook on life, your attitude toward yourself, and whether you’re optimistic or pessimistic — and it may even affect your health.

Indeed, some studies show that personality traits such as optimism and pessimism can affect many areas of your health and well-being. The positive thinking that usually comes with optimism is a key part of effective stress management. And effective stress management is associated with many health benefits. If you tend to be pessimistic, don’t despair — you can learn positive thinking skills.

Understanding positive thinking and self-talk

Positive thinking doesn’t mean that you keep your head in the sand and ignore life’s less pleasant situations. Positive thinking just means that you approach unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way. You think the best is going to happen, not the worst.

Positive thinking often starts with self-talk. Self-talk is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through your head. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of your self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that you create because of lack of information.

If the thoughts that run through your head are mostly negative, your outlook on life is more likely pessimistic. If your thoughts are mostly positive, you’re likely an optimist — someone who practices positive thinking.

The health benefits of positive thinking

Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:

  • Increased life span
  • Lower rates of depression
  • Lower levels of distress
  • Greater resistance to the common cold
  • Better psychological and physical well-being
  • Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
  • Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

It’s unclear why people who engage in positive thinking experience these health benefits. One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body.

It’s also thought that positive and optimistic people tend to live healthier lifestyles — they get more physical activity, follow a healthier diet, and don’t smoke or drink alcohol in excess.

Even though we face a lot of obstacles, a positive attitude will keep us focused on the good things in life and not the good life busters that come our way. Always keep in mind, the memory of the deep sigh of relief when a tense moment or event is over and we move forward.

Until we read again…..Arline Miller, blogger and positive thinker. LIVE LIFE; LOVE LIFE; AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST BY LIVING IT TO THE MAX.

(C) Copyright 2012-2021 Arline Miller with all rights and privileges reserved. Third party material is sourced to original location for credit references. Photos are not exclusively property of Sipping Cups and sources if known are credited

INSIDE MY HEAD

I usually post frequently on my Facebook Page so I thought I would copy a few posts for everyone to get inside my head. I don’t ask for anyone to agree with me. That is the beauty of our individuality but I love seeing and reading others’ posts and figured a few of you might like a change of pace. Here are a few of my latest posts:

Thursday Morning Thought: Jesus is the true symbol of Unconditional Love which means He Loves Everyone without conditions. This means no matter what color of the skin, intelligence, physical appearance, social standing or poverty driven, education, or where anyone is born, and religious preference. Think about that and now apply it to what people who want to divide us by those same things. We are unique and to try to dissolve any factors of God’s creations is to diminish His World. Looking at the world as a whole, people are weak and people are not ever going to be perfect or even close (me included) and feelings of hurt and disappointment are part of being human. Forgiveness is a part of being Godly. If all of the focus is placed on whether a person welcomes another because of the skin color, what about what people do to hurt people of the same skin color? It doesn’t have anything to do with just skin color, it has to do with the state of our hearts. Let us begin with understanding the Love of Jesus. I will be blunt….I don’t understand how Our Merciful and Loving God can love us with all of our faults (and that comes in all colors), with our hurtful words to each other, and the disregard for those struggling (which also comes in all colors). I fear that our problem is not skin color within itself, it is the lack of true love for our family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and yes, even strangers. May God touch our hearts of all colors, wipe away the sinful beliefs that one is better than another, and beg for forgiveness for any bitterness against anyone. Hate the sin; Love the sinner.

Photo courtesy of Alexander Pope

Tuesday Morning Thought: I saw an ad with a place setting of some beautiful dinner setting so I clicked on the ad and then came the sticker shock. On sale, one place setting, ONE mind you, was over $200. How quickly my mind went from that is really pretty to why on this earth would I spend that much money and couldn’t even have another person eat with me. Remember, ONE place setting! I use this as an example of how we can lose our common sense in life and “spend” our life dollars foolishly. Why not invest those same dollars on more quality than quantity? Why try to obtain the items of life that may impress others but does nothing to our inner selves? Why not take a walk in the park with a picnic with paper plates, but oh the lasting memories of children laughing and yes, adults too, making sure no ants or bees, but laughing if you have to outrun one. Sharing the cookies and/or cakes and pies and loving the beauty God created without placing a big entrance fee to his amusement park. You may love those plates, I loved the design, but looking at all of the free stuff God has given us to look at, why not help someone in need, or just be generous with what you have. Live Life; Love Life; and Live and Love Life to the fullest by taking advantage of God’s Free Stuff!Photo courtesy of Greg Miller

Today is a great day to encompass the reality of life. When trials, challenges, heart breaking situations, or other plights of life stare us in the face, we have to choose whether to stand up straight, stare right back at it and say, “If I succeed, great….if I don’t, I will have this experience to draw from and learn from it” No one is assured that we will make the right decision but we have to give it our best. ALM on Facebook

Morning Thought: It is a wise person who has had some disappointment, hurt, and/or loss who doesn’t expect to be fine instantly. The quote: It takes time to heal a broken heart means the equivalent of a physical injury. It has to have time to form a scab, get stitches out, and apply the proper ointment so that even though the injury will usually leave a scar, it is a reminder of the event and in life, little reminders are implanted in our minds. We must nurture, not wallow in pity but relish in life allowing us to live and experience love, success, adventure, and faith. Live Life; Love Life, and Live Life to the Fullest by taking care and time for all of life’s events to resonate and restore us. God will furnish the gauze to patch and protect the wounds until they heal. ALM

So that you really get inside this blogger’s head, I love to cook and bake, decorate, and take more picture than I should when I have the best photographer as my husband, but I love to photograph food I make. Here are some photos from those cooking episodes.

Additional goodness…Greg made a pan of Jiffy Corn Muffins perfectly baked. Yummy 🤤 Early to bed early to rise makes a good soup with great family ties. Making this big pot of soup gives at least 3 meals after the initial meal that I only have to warm up. YummySaturday night note: soup was separated and a big food seal bag BBC was filled and into the freezer it went while we have enough for some lunches during the week. Nice way to double the pleasure when I want soup later and all there is to do is take it out and warm it up

My homemade double pecan pie when we had a moment of craving sweets. My cajun seasoned boiled shrimp prepped and then part of a great salad plate.

Now, you see there are many facets to our minds, especially a blogger and/or writer. Never is it a single channel and a single interest. I hope you enjoy the journey your life takes and turn down several roads of adventure. Thanks for allowing me to share “Me”. Side note: I probably drive my friends on FB crazy but I cannot bypass a lost pet post and share it in hopes my post might be the one that signals the owner. We can only do our part and our part is a big section of our life puzzle. Live Life; Love Life; and Live and Love Life to the Fullest by filling it with fun, love, charity, and kindness.

(C) Copyright 2012 – 2021 Arline Miller of Sipping Cups of Inspiration with all rights and privileges reserved. Third party material is sourced, if known, to the original source for credit reference.

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