INSIDE-OUT

Within

2010-02-11T13:31:00.000-08:00

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Majorie Pay Hinkley

2010-02-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

I love this lady... what a beauty, what an angel! For our book club we are reading 'Glimpses into the Life and Heart of Majorie Pay Hinkley'. This book captures me as I read of her and the views of the others about her. What a beautiful woman! As I was reading yesterday, I was touched by her words as she spoke to some young adults one day:

"A grateful heart will give you a touch of refinement that can come in no other way. I went to high school during the days of the famous Depression. It was a miserable experience. But, in a way, I wish you could have been there with us. Somehow it helped me to appreciate much more the prosperity we now enjoy. I know some of you think you are on a tight budget, and you are. I am glad if you are. But it is a tight budget because you have nothing else to compare with it. It isn't your fault that you have had three square meals a day, most every day of your life. It isn't your fault that you have never been hungry in your life. It isn't your fault that somehow or other you have always been able to get a new pair of shoes, whether you needed them or not. It isn't your fault that you have at least five or six changes of clothing in your crowded closets. But all of this makes it doubly hard for you to be truly grateful.
Has the fear of not being able to get an education ever struck terror into your heart? Probably not, for you knew that somehow or other you would get here and that somehow or other you will stay as long as you so desire, for this is America, where only your own indolence can keep you from the good things of life.
And when you finally develop a little gratitude in your heart, make up your mind to express it. 'Appreciation unexpressed is not appreciation.' If you can't find someone to say thank you to for something, just take a look at your toothbrush and say, 'Thank you for being, You are a wonderful little gadget.'
'Thank you ' is a wonderful phrase. Use it. It will add stature to your soul. Never let a day go by without saying thank you to someone for something - and especially to your Heavenly Father."

If you can get a copy of this book somewhere, read it! It is wonderfully enlightening and capturing!

Last Day

2010-01-20T19:45:00.000-08:00

Today is going to be the last day I post until our first day of goals, Febuary 1st.

As for the quote of the day:

"When you pout, you miss out."

I say this ALL the time in my house! It was originally intended for my little ones, but I often find myself remembering these words when I'm frustrated about something. The words are so true! We find that we miss out less on the joys of life when we aren't pouting, frustrated, or angry. We have more bright moments and less dark, frustrated hours.

Until Feb. 1st....
Inside-Out

The Now

2010-01-19T22:36:00.000-08:00

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." -- Buddha

It's so easy to get caught up in what HAS happened or ONLY when/if... it's now and lets do something with it and make the best of it.

Until tomorrow...
Inside-Out

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

2010-01-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word." -- Martin Luther King Jr.

Relationships can be healed, changed, improved through love and truth.

Until tomorrow...
Inside-Out

Start NOW

2010-01-17T22:18:00.000-08:00

"How wonderful it is that nobody need to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." -- Anne Frank

One way to do that, is to start improving ourselves, which will in turn help others.

Until tomorrow...
Inside-Out

The Value of Good Books

2010-01-16T10:57:00.000-08:00

"Seek ye out of the best of books words of wisdom." -- D&C 88:118

"Good books are as friends, willing to give to us if we are willing to make a little effort." -- Gordon B. Hinkley

If you haven't read this book yet, I would recommend it. 'The Five Love Languages', by Gary Chapman. It can bring great benefit to ANY relationship if your life when you try to apply it.

Until tommorrow...
Inside-Out

Dinner Time

2010-01-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

"Turn off the TV! Turn off the computer! Even if there are only two of you home for dinner, eat together and reap the benefits of a stronger family bond. When families eat together consistently, everyone wins. Studies show that children who have regular meals with their families typically--
*Eat healthier
*Are less likely to use drugs and alcohol
*Get better grades
*Are more liekly to discuss serious issues with their parents"
--Liz Edmunds, the Food Nanny

Many of us already do this, but lets not stop! Sometimes I don't think we realize the great benefits we are recieving from good habits.

Until tomorrow...
Inside-Out

Temperance

2010-01-14T10:47:00.000-08:00

"A few years ago, I was driving home from work when a large semi-truck, traveling in the opposite direction, it lost one of its dual tires. The tire flew over the median separating our lanes. It came bouncing down my side of the freeway. Cars were swerving in both directions, drivers not knowing which direction the tire would bounce next. I dodged right, and the tire took its final bounce right on the corner of my windshield.

A friend called my wife to inform her of the accident. She told me after that her first thoughts was of lacerations from shattered glass. Indeed, I was covered with beads of broken glass but did not suffer a single scratch. I was definitely not because of my driving skills; rather, it was because the windshield of my little car was made of tempered glass.

Tempered glass, like tempered steel, undergoes a well-controlled heating process which increases strength. Thus, when tempered glass is under stress, it will not easily break into jagged shards that can injure.

Likewise, a temperate soul - one who is humble and full of love - is also a person of increased spiritual strength. With increased spiritual strength, we are able to develop self-mastery and to live with moderation. We learn to control, or temper, our anger, vanity, and pride. With increased spiritual strength, we can protect ourselves from the dangerous excesses and destructive addictions of today's world." -- Elder Kent D. Watson, Oct. 2009 General Conference

After grumbling from the moment I woke up, I read this... and was immediately humbled.
Until tommorrow...
From Inside-Out

Raising Grateful Kids

2010-01-13T10:35:00.000-08:00

LONG-TERM STRATEGY
'Remind yourself to model grateful behavior. When your cookie-muncher goes silent, go ahead and say the necessary "Thank you very much!" for him/her. (At least until he gets older and can be counted on to follow your cues.) In your own everyday interactions, always offer warm thank-yous and praise to grocery store clerks, gas-station attendants, waiters, teachers - anyone who's helpful to you or him/her. You may think your child isn't paying attention to those small moments, but he/she actually is.' -- Parenting Magazine, Jan 2010.

What a great reminder on how we can set a wonderful example to our little ones and those around us!
Until tomorrow...
From Inside-Out

Inside-Out

2010-01-12T18:37:00.000-08:00

Here we are! Hopefully ready to uplift each other, motivate one another to keep going, and better ourselves. We all have goals to accomplish, bad habits to break, pits to come out of, or just looking for something to bouy the soul. My goal here is to to post something each day... a quote, a story, updated research, a fact... something that might instill a desire to better ourselves. Like I have said before, I sincerely believe that when we focus on our inside, the outside comes right along with it. Starting Feb. 1st I am going to post the goals of those who want to find some support or motivation to accomplish their desired goals. (Physical goals, Emotional goals, Spiritual goals, etc.) I will do that weekly, and if you want a 'code' name let me know, for those who would like privacy. At the end of each month there will be a prize for someone who is accomplishing their goals. Something simple, but meaningful. I'm excited to do something like this, but I know it wouldn't be possible without someone wanting to be apart of it. As for me I'm going to start now... my goal is to make a new post each night. So feel free to look at Inside-Out everday.

"Unsuccessful trying is not failure. It is only an experiment to find out what we might be able to do better next time. And better yet, for tommorrow." --- Anonymous

Until tomorrow...
From the Inside-Out

P.S. If anyone has any quotes, stories, research, or insights email me at cinsideoua@gmail.com I would LOVE to hear from you and anything you have to say!