Kaleidoscope of Advice - Reflections on life

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
From the beginning…to the end

He noted that first came the date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
Know what that little line is worth

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering this special dash
Might only last a little while

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent YOUR dash?

By Linda Ellis

Your life is what you create it to be,
Only by becoming aware of your feelings can you be free.

If you think your soul has completely died,
It hasn’t, it’s just asleep… temporarily set aside.

Challenge the emotions that bring you the most pain,
If you don’t, they’ll stay hidden and your pain will remain.

When you are in touch with your innermost feelings
You’ll find places inside yourself that need healings.

Your most vulnerable feelings, when recognized, become the force field of your soul.
Until you get in touch with these feelings, you cannot begin to be whole.

Feelings will take you, one by one, to every part of your personality
Then and only then can you become what you were meant to be and face reality.

By Ann Leyh

Some people make life a garden… and growth they seem to nurture,
Their presence warms, inspires, and waters the dry rows.. that’s truly a virtue.

They are so radiant, so funny, so kind, they are like a lamp in any room.
Everything they touch seems to light up, blossom and burst into bloom.
Their optimistic outlook brings a smile to your face,
They always see the good in friends and in the entire human race.
They seem to know that the more you laugh, the less you fret,
And the more you give, the more you get.

So why not do as they and arrange whatever pieces come your way.
Try to make every day of the week your very best day.
Life is ten percent what happens to you in this unpredictable world,
And ninety percent how you react to it when in your face life’s problems unfurl.

So have an attitude to succeed, no matter what you undertake,
And you too, can be the sunshine that makes life’s mishaps so easy to take.

By Ann Leyh

Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes through which we see.
Your world will be as wide or as narrow as you make it to be.
Day by day, take whatever pieces come your way
And arrange them so that you always have your best day.

Make everyday your best day for this chance will not come twice.
You won’t have this moment again in this or another life.
Everyday you have a choice regarding the attitude you embrace.
Take change, or your life choices will hit you square in the face.

How you react to situations you encounter day to day.
Reflect your attitude towards life, and that’s here to stay.
It’s more important than the past, than money, than failure or what others think of you.
So, be in charge of your attitude, it affects every single thing you do.

By Ann Leyh

I’ve got to find a reason to make my life livable again,
To enjoy every day and see beauty where ugliness has been,

I’ve got to know that I’ve done all I could,
To make my life return to being full and good.

Others, I can’t rely on; It’s my outlook that makes me complete.
I can only be happy if I know that attitude controls defeat.

I’ve got to soar high like the birds… happy and free,
And begin anew to rely solely and confidently on me.

Soaring, that’s what I want to do.
Soaring far, far away from you.
Soaring, that’s what I am doing,
Soaring far, far away and life pursuing!

By Ann Leyh

Laughter is like internal jogging,
It keeps everything internal free from clogging.

It’s the cleansing agent for the body and the heart.
Laughter gives your body a much needed “jump-start”.

One of the things that goes the farthest toward making life worthwhile,
That costs the least and does the most, is just a smile.

If you can laugh at yourself, you’re healthier by far,
Then the person who thinks he is a shining star.

So, remember, a smile is the lighting system of the heart.
You won’t forget that if you want to be called smart.

By Ann Leyh

Music, smiles, flowers, birds, animals, babies….how great they are,
They do more than medicine to renew your health and spirit… by far.

It’s so easy to forget how quickly life goes by,
And time can be gone in the wink of an eye.

Hustling, bustling, everyday work and grind,
And at the time, they seem so important in your life and mind.

No time to play, no time to sit and talk,
No time to pick flowers, to laugh or take a walk.

Appointments to keep, bills to pay…no time to just sit and play.
Everything’s put on hold… you’ll do it another day,

But that day, inevitably never seems to come,
And suddenly, when all life’s chores are done,
You’re left waiting, wishing someone would come.

The cycle goes on… realization comes too late,
How can you save others from a similar fate?

Tell them there’s more to life than work and money,
Tell them to stop and to savor all of life’s delicious honey!

By Ann Leyh

Death is like sugar… it sweetens life and makes it more precious for the living.
It brings one back to the essentials of life and that is loving and giving.

It makes one realize that the greatest possession you have is the 24 hours directly in front of you.
Use that to show people you care in everything that you do.
Forget yourself for others and they certainly won’t forget you.

This life is nothing but a test,
So give to it only your very best,
Life is a succession of moments and to live each one is to succeed.
Be true to yourself, let your life go forward and you’ll fulfill every need.

Even in the depth of winter, learn to sing,
And you’ll find that there was within you an eternal spring.

By Ann Leyh

Life is a risk and safety is an illusion.
There is no safety in this world of confusion.

When old habits are changed, focus on your goals,
Forget the risks.. they can’t renew your soul.

The only real risk lies in never having lived the way you wanted.
Failure to change old behaviors or take risks will leave you forever disappointed.

You’ll always wonder…what if…
Remember, time is short and life is a gift.

Only when patterns are broken free,
Can new worlds emerge… that’s the all important key!

By Ann Leyh

Happiness is a state of mind,
Not a set of circumstances.
It is a serene feeling that you must find
Deep within yourself.

You cannot find happiness by searching and having good luck,
Because this implies that happiness is found outside yourself.
It is the natural feeling of your healthy psychophysiological make-up.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
What you think is what you become… from your mind you cannot hide.
Happiness is so intangible that it cannot be taught.
The mind can direct you to a peaceful inside, regardless of what’s happening outside.

By Ann Leyh