Happy Friday

I wish everyone the happiest of Fridays from me and my Minions!

Just because I'm feeling nostalgic

I was just thinking about the song When You Wish Upon a Star. It's a song from the cartoon Pinocchio which is about a toy puppet that wants to be a real boy. I always rather liked that cartoon and that song because to me it's about dreaming big and following your dreams until they become reality.  It's lovely to know that dreams are possible. If you have a dream, I hope it's a big dream and that it becomes a reality for you. I send you best wishes and much love always.

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."-Oprah Winfrey

To all who read this I hope that each day brings you something to celebrate. For me today, the thing I'm able to celebrate is that I got everything I wanted to complete today completed and that feels really good. I send everyone best wishes now and always.

Accentuate the positive!

My choir director sang this song at a variety performance called "Ac-Cent-Chu-Ate the Positive" and it's a rather lovely song because, well it's all about being positive and not worrying so much about little things.  Plus, it's cheerful and I find I can always do with a bit more cheer. Anyway, I send everyone much love and best wishes now and always.

Accepting ourselves as we are

"Our entire life - consists ultimately in accepting ourselves as we are."-Jean Anouilh

This quote made me think of how it does take some work to love and accept yourself for being who you are. It's something I continue to work on because I figure the more I can love myself, the more I'm able to love others. I hope that wherever you are reading this that you can accept and love yourself for being who you are because it's the best way to be.  I send you best wishes now and always.

Two funny ladies

It's the comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres's birthday and this got me thinking about a clip I saw of her talking with a woman named Gladys over a phone that was on speakerphone. I just thought the interview was so funny and I hope it has the same effect on others. I send everyone warmest wishes now and always.

A fun night with Polymnia Choral Society

I had so much fun singing with Polymnia Choral Society this evening. As always everyone sang so beautifully and I'm so pleased to be part of this awesome chorus!

Tightrope or feather bed?

"Life is always a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope."-Edith Wharton 

Don't get me wrong, I love me some feather beds but there is something to be said about living on the more adventurous side of things. I'm working on challenging myself in different ways. For example, tomorrow I'm singing a solo as part of a concert the chorus I'm part of (Polymnia Choral Society based in Melrose, MA). Singing a solo in a concert isn't something I've done before and I'm glad I have the opportunity to do it. I hope that if you're reading this, that you choose to do things that you know will challenge you and help you grow. I send you best wishes now and always. 

PS: Now here's my shameless plug. If you'd like to come to the concert tomorrow-1/25/20 and help raise funds for the Polymnia Choral Society the concert will be at Temple Beth Shalom-21 East Foster Street Melrose, MA) Tickets can be bought here:  https://polymnia.org/tickets/.

Something to never forget

"This is what I learned: that everybody is talented, original and has something important to say."-

Brenda Ueland

My hope that for all who read this, that if you have something to say that you really care about and feel needs to be heard, I hope you say it. If you have talent I hope that you choose to use it for something good.  Regardless I send you best wishes and much love always. 

Something to be

“Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life. The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray.”-Lord Byron

I hope that wherever you are reading this that you choose to be someone who helps people smile. I send everyone best wishes and much love always.

Makin' a move

I heard this awesome song by the Singer Lady Bri called "Makin' a Move" which really lifted my spirits and got me moving! Wherever you are reading this I hope each new days brings you new motivation. I send you much love now and always.

In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.

 As it's Martin Luther King Day in the US, a day that celebrates the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., I thought I'd share his most famous I Have A Dream Speech demonstrated in American Sign Language. To me, Martin Luther King Jr was all about including everyone and ensuring everyone received equal rights. Thus, it's important to me to show this speech being interpreted in American Sign Language because Martin Luther King Jr's message should be shared as widely as possible, including to the deaf and hard of hearing community.  To all who read this, I send you best wishes and much love always. 

A nice warm hat!

I got a belated Christmas present from my cousin and this hat made me particularly happy because it was knitted and depicts a minion! All these things make me super happy! Anyway I send everyone best wishes now and always.

Give with joy

There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward."-Khalil Gibran

I find a lot of joy in giving things and providing help to others who ask for my help. For me, seeing people happy and knowing that I might have played a part in creating that happiness is a lovely feeling. I hope that wherever you are reading this that you spread joy wherever and whenever you are able.

What is happiness?

"But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?" Albert Camus

I think this quote rings true for all people. I figure as long as people feel they're who they intend to be and are leading the life they enjoy, that's a cause for happiness. I hope that wherever you are reading this, that there are many aspects of your life that help you feel happy. I send you best wishes now and always.

Strategy for accumulating photos

"Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs"-Susan Sontag

I like the idea that travel gives opportunities for photographs because I've always liked taking photographs because they remind me of good things that have happened in my life. I think  one of the most interesting and beautiful places I've been to is Bangkok and the picture below is from the trip when my family and I went there to go to a family member's wedding. Thailand was really fun to visit and it's a place I'm really glad I got to see. If you have the opportunity to travel, I hope you take that opportunity and go exploring! I send best wishes to everyone.

A dog’s journey to a park

I saw this story that I thought was rather fun about a dog who regularly rides the bus to a dog park. The dog started making these solo trips when one day she felt her owner was taking too long to go to the park so the dog jumped past its owner and got on the bus and went to the park. The owner met up with his dog at the park. Since then the dog has taken multiple trips on the bus to the park and even takes the bus back to her home. What I liked about the story was the fact that the dog’s presence on the bus helped to make other passengers feel happier. Plus, I admire the dog’s adventurous nature. Anyway, as always I send best wishes and much love to everyone and to traveling dogs especially.

To succeed

“If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.” -Maya Angelou

I feel like the best thing people can do for each other is care for each other. There’s something nice about doing nice things for others. Doing such things feels good. Plus, I really believe the good things  we do come back to us, sometimes in the most unexpected ways. If you’re thinking of doing something from your heart to help others, I hope you act on that impulse. I send you best wishes now and always.

I

Wassup?!

I saw this clip of a father making his baby laugh by saying wassup and it really made me laugh so I had to share it here. I wish everyone a very funny Monday and an even funnier Tuesday to come.

A mistake

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he thought he could do only a little."-Edmund Burke

I also feel like it's a mistake to think that doing something small doesn't matter. I'm a  firm believer in the fact that every little thing we do makes a difference and can help change things for the better. The way I see it, if people are willing and do do things that help others it makes a huge difference when taken all together. So if there's something good you want to do, I hope you choose to act because you never know how much good you can do just by doing something nice that you think is only a small thing. I send you best wishes and much love now and always.

A classy song for a Saturday

Somehow I always feel like Saturdays are particularly suited for jazz music. Accordingly I thought I'd share  some jazz music that I think is really nice. I wish everyone the happiest of Saturdays and even better Sunday to come.

To live happily

"To live happily is an inward power of the soul." -Marcus Aurelius

I think it does take a bit of inward power to be happy. Finding happiness isn't always easy but maybe happiness feels good because it's something that needs to  be found and doesn't just come automatically all the time. Anyway, to all who read this, I hope that you find something happy in each day and I wish you the very best now and always.

Some encouragement for today

"Do not be dismayed by the brokeness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you."- L.R. Knost

I thought this quote really is lovely and I post it here in the hope that it inspires people to always have hope for better things to come and to love more.  I send everyone much love and best wishes now and always.

A Favorite Elvis song

The singer Elvis Presley was born today in 1935 and this got me thinking about an Elvis song I rather like called “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. I heard a recording of the song sung by the singer Kina Grannis that I think is really pretty so I felt like sharing it here. I wish everyone the happiest of Wednesdays.

A wish for a Tuesday

I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone the happiest of days and an even better tomorrow. Further, I send everyone best wishes now and always.

Kangaroos enjoy hugging too

I saw this story about a kangaroo in Australia  who apparently loves to hug the keepers who take care of her. I just think it’s lovely that hugging isn’t just a human thing and I like the fact that this sign of affection can be shared and appreciated by animals. As an aside, I want to send love to people in Australia who are suffering from the effects of the recent wildfires there. Those who wish to donate to help people in Australia, visit: https://www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/disaster-relief-and-recovery-donate.

There's always something people can do that's good

“There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is hope.” –Stephen Hawking

I firmly believe that there's always something people can do and there is  always hope. Those ideas have sustained me throughout my life. It's nice to know there's always something to succeed at.  For example,  I always knew that although it isn't always easy for me to do, I can write well and I've used that ability to work to help others whether it's through this blog or more professionally. I hope that wherever you are reading this, that you find what it is that you're good at and that you enjoy doing and use that talent to do something good. I send everyone best wishes now and always.

How I want to live in the new year

I heard this song called "Learning to Fly" by Kate Earl and it talks about how this woman has learned a lot about life and how that's helped her feel like she can fly. I like the idea of the fact that after going through difficult things, it is possible to come out better for having those experiences. After going through something hard, it's nice to look forward and see that flying can be possible.

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...'-Isaac Asimov

I like this quote because it shows there’s always something new to learn. To all who read this, I hope you find many funny things to learn about.

Hope for a happier year

"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, 'It will be happier."-Alfred Lord Tennyson 

It's a great comfort to me to know that there is always hope for better things to come. What I wish for everyone is that this new year is happier than last year for them. As always I wish everyone the very best now and always.