My Gratitudes - Thursday, July 30, 2020

"A day without laughter is a day wasted!" ~ Charlie Chaplin

It has been said that laughter is the best medicine.  And I, for one, sincerely believe that.  I actually did a little research on this subject and discovered that there are actually physical, emotional and mental benefits to good laugh. 

Many experts agree that laughter is a great stress reliever.  We all are very well aware as to what stress does to the body, not to mention your emotional & mental health.  Everything in the body gets all tense and tight.  But when you laugh, it actually induces a physical change in your body. 

According to the Mayo Clinic Laughter can:

Stimulate many organs.  Did you know that laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air?  It's true!  Laughter stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and it increases endorphins that are released by your brain. 

Activate and relieve your stress response.  Laughter fires up and then cools down your stress response! Not only that, it can increase and then decrease your heart rate & blood pressure.  The result?  A good, relaxed feeling! 

Wait!  There's More!!!  There are actually long-term effects to laughter!  Oh yes!!! It isn't just a quick pick-me-up!  Oh No! 

Per the Mayo Clinic, Laughter may:

Improve your immune system.  Now as most of us know (or should know) negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can, and do in many cases, affect our body.  It does this by bringing on more stress into our system, decreasing our immunity.   Positive thoughts on the other hand can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and ... potentially more serious illnesses!

Relieve pain.  I really love this one!  According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers. 

Improve your mood.  Now this one... I truly believe!!!  It's really hard to be in a bad or sad mood when you laugh.   Laughter can help lessen your depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier!  I do believe that!  I really do!

 click HERE  to read the entire article about Stress relief from Laughter

(Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/)

Laughter is truly a gift that has some great benefits.   I enjoy the sound of laughter.  And I really love a good laugh!  Especially one that has me rushing to the nearest bathroom!

In these trying times it can prove difficult to find anything to smile about let alone laugh about!  But I bet if you try you can find something that will get you laughing. Start by turning off the news and putting on some comedy shows!  But just for today, find something that makes you laugh!

 Gratitude and laughing and smiling go hand in hand.  When you are truly grateful, you will find yourself smiling and yes, even chuckling at life's little twists and turns.

I Am so Very Grateful to be able to laugh.  I enjoy the sound of laughter, mine and others!  I love how laughter soothes my nerves, calms me down, and puts me in a really good mood!

I Am so Very Grateful for how Laughter makes my heart and lungs take in more oxygen.  Improves my heart rate and my blood flow! 

I Am so Very Grateful for Laughter.  I Am so very, very Thankful how Mother & Father God Creators bestowed us with this incredible gift. 

I Am so Very Grateful for each day I can find something that makes me laugh!  I love to laugh!  And I love to see and hear others laugh!

I Am so Very Grateful for This day!  This here!  This now!  I am so Very Grateful!

I Am So Very Grateful for all the comedians that work so very had to bring us laughter!  Their gifts are so very much appreciated!

I Am So Very Grateful for all the writers of comedy who share their talents, their gifts and their bliss with the world.  Thank you for the laughs!  Thank you for the Smiles!

I Am so Very Grateful for each of You!  I Love your smiles!  I Love your Laughter!  I Love You for being YOU!

I Am So Very Grateful for all my comedy shows.  So Very grateful for the good feeling that laughing from their story lines have given me, and continue to give me.  So grateful for the memories of those shows--brings a smile and a chuckle or two! 

I Am So Very Grateful for the venues such as Netflix, Hulu, CBS All Access, and other on line streaming that brings us new comedies and allows us to watch all of our old comedies!  So very grateful for these!  Thank you! 


Embrace ALL that you are! 
For YOU ... are ALL that there is!








Known as The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape, Julia has made it her personal mission to put Reality back into Spirituality™. Julia sets out to assist people in expanding their conscious awareness through her rather unique and personal take on the human experience. 

In the style of Erma Bombeck, Julia utilizes her own brand of humor and down to earth demeanor to get her messages across in an all so delightful way. 

PLEASE NOTE:  All artwork, unless otherwise specified, are the property of the individual artists themselves. The author of these blogs claims no ownership of the original artwork, but only of the sig tags created using said artwork. Each sig tag shown on these blogs include the appropriate copyright information of the Artists and the unique licensure for use.

Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited

Giving Thanks~It's Not Just For Turkeys! "OR" I'm Thankful To Be ME and Not Somebody Else cause then I wouldn't be ME and THAT would REALLY SUCK!!!!

Today, I will share with you a few of the things I am thankful for.  These things come from my Things I am Thankful For list.  Which I do daily.   Why?  Because every day is a day of giving thanks.  Yea, laugh and mock if you will. I know how corny it sounds.  But it's my personal belief, my way of life and how I roll.   That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

So why make a list?   Helps me from leaving anything out for starters.  More importantly, it puts things in perspective.   Having a literal list allows me to actually see how much there is to be thankful for.    Speaking of which, there is so much we all take for granted.  So much we don't even think about because we're so use to having it around.  You know like running water, indoor plumbing, electricity; having a stove and refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker.  A bed, a pillow, sheets and blankets.  To name a few.      And yes!  These are on my ever growing list.

Being thankful for these very things brings you into a state of knowing.  It generates  this really fabulously wonderful feeling that can only be described as blissful.   According to EFT Master and Teacher Carol Look, genuine thankfulness can change lives!  And it increases our ability to manifest what we want.  Which isn't really the point, but it is a pretty phenomenal perk!   

This feeling of gratitude is something you just have to experience for yourself in order to truly understand.    Try it! And who knows?  You might actually enjoy it! And get in the habit of doing the daily thankful list too!

Be sure to Click HERE to Check out Carol's newsletters on Giving Thanks and other great subjects!  And for some really fantastic EFT scripts! 


Here are three of things off my list of  Things I am Thankful For.

I am Thankful for the Internet.  Without it I would not have met some incredibly special people.  I wouldn't have been able to make friends with people on the other-side of the world.   Thank you Internet!  Thank you to all those who make the Internet a reality! You know who you are!

I am Thankful I have been able to use my anger to better a situation that I believe and know to be unjust; I am So Very Thankful that I have learned to use that anger to create more uplifting, powerful and long lasting solutions.

I am Thankful for all the truly stupid and ignorant people of the world. You show me where I need to improve myself.  But most importantly Without you I wouldn't be aware of how truly fortunate I am that I'm Not YOU!  So thank you! 

So what are YOU Thankful for?

The Gratitude Gap™

 The Gratitude Gap™ happens when we fail to express appreciation for the goodness in our lives.

The Gratitude Gap™  occurs when we show lack to no appreciation for the challenges, problems and pain that comes into our lives.

The Gratitude Gap™ takes place whenever we show a lack of appreciation.

* Lack of appreciation for things ... great or small;
* Lack of appreciation of the painful things;
* Lack of appreciation for anything and/or anyone we may dislike or causes us pain.


The Gratitude Gap™ isn't about liking or loving everything and everyone. It's about showing appreciation for the gifts EVERYONE and EVERYTHING brings into our lives. Situations, words and deeds that enrich us in ways we never believed possible. No matter how painless or how painful they may be.

Bottom line... The Gratitude Gap™ is about being thankful for every single opportunity to learn and to grow past our own short-comings.

Gratitude strengthens our emotional, mental and spiritual muscle. Whereas, The Gratitude Gap™ creates a weaken state within our selves on every level of being. When we have a Gratitude Gap, we are left vulnerable to the challenges that come our way.

By showing gratitude for any challenges, you build stronger 'muscles' that can help you get through the toughest situations.

No, it isn't easy being thankful for pain. No one said it would be. But the more you do it, during the times it is happening to you ... you will soon discover how smoother it is to get past those little annoyances that come your way.

You Don't Miss The Water 'Til The Well Runs Dry"

How quick we are to accept the good that comes our way. How quick we are to call it our blessing when everything is going smoothly.

How quickly we forget the priceless gift our painful experiences are.
 
Be honest with yourself. Where would you be without your painful experiences? What kind of person would you be in this moment ... without them?

Many believe they would have had a better and happier life if only ... if only there hadn't been so much pain -- so many hardships -- so many "road-blocks" in their lives.

What the majority fail to understand is this: Our hardships and pain help mold us and nourish us just as much as the goodness and the joy does.

As a race, human experiencers are wired to come into a true appreciation only when something and/or someone is no longer available or 'something' has been withheld. Sad, but true.

We have left many clues for ourselves to remind us of this. Clues that can be found through our 'sayings' ... such as 'the forbidden fruit' is more desirable, 'you don't miss the water 'til the well runs dry', 'the grass is always greener on the other side.' These are only a few ... can you name others?

In truth, there are people and situations that drive us absolutely insane! There are people in our lives we would love to see just disappear entirely. I have a list of those types of people myself! But if you were to step back and really see past the irritations, aggravations, annoyances and hardships ... I would be willing to bet that you would see how much you have learned from it all. How much you have grown as a person.

Take a few moments and see for yourself the valuable lessons these annoying situations and irritating people have brought into your life. Express your gratitude for the opportunities it gave you to grow up emotionally, mentally and most importantly... spiritually.

Communicate, Appreciate and Validate

Take a moment, each and every day, to Communicate your Appreciation for all those who have help you grow! No matter how insignificant you think/believe it is, no matter how painful it may be, Validate those (including situations) who have come into your life, who took the time and energy in giving you that much needed growth spurt!

Notice the difference in your own energy when you do this. See how much lighter you become. How much stronger you feel.

Take stock in how far you have come because of --and in spite of-- those people and situations.

In doing so ... you will close The Gratitude Gap™.

A Simple "Thank You" goes a LONG way! 

 But don't take my word for it! 

 Try it Your Self!

SIMPLE ACTS OF KINDNESS MEAN THE MOST

This is a wonderful story that should be passed around as much as possible.  SheKnows Home & Living Editor Kelli Uhrich shares her moving experience with a stranger who offered her kindness.

Please share and cross post on all your Social Networks!  

*~*~*~*~*

Dear Stranger,

Today we stood next to one another in line at the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, waiting to move through the security checkpoint. You probably don't remember me, but I will never forget you. I was the woman with the frazzled hair, the sweat-dripping brow and the large plastic bag — the latter of which was clearly unplanned. I was the woman in the back of the line who thought she had adequately prepared for her business trip but quickly discovered she hadn't. You, on the other hand, were composed, collected andearly for your flight. You owed me nothing. You didn't have to help me, but you did — and I don't know how else to say thank-you.

You see, this all began last night as I was packing for my trip. I wanted everything to be in order and nothing to be overlooked. I wanted to wake up this morning, throw my hair into some elegant curls and put my best self out into the world — but when I discovered my single oversight, all of my planning was for naught.

Business cards. An entire box full of them sits in the upper right-hand drawer of my desk at work, yet somehow, only three of them made it into my wallet. Three business cards for a business convention. Three opportunities to spread the word about SheKnows and network with other media outlets. Three. Only three.

That's where everything went wrong. Instead of heading straight to the airport, I was left with no choice but to drop by the office to pick up more cards. I left my home at 8 a.m., arrived at my office by 9 and then was off to the airport, arriving at Sky Harbor at 9:45.

The ticket in my hand explained that my flight departed at 11:05, but what I hadn't noticed was the boarding information: 10:25 a.m. That was the time I should have referenced in all of my planning, but I didn't.

But it didn't stop there. While checking my bag, I was informed that my items were too heavy. Fifty-seven pounds was seven pounds too much, which is why when you met me, I was carrying seven pounds worth of my luggage in a plastic trash bag. It's also the reason I was twitching anxiously as we wound in and out, moving like snails through the security checkpoint line. Perhaps I looked desperate enough that you took notice of me, standing amid hundreds of other travelers. Maybe you caught how frazzled I appeared and wondered if something were wrong.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

I am Grateful For EVERYTHING! 

 The Good as well as the Bad!  The Wonderful and The Challenging.  The Best and The Worst.  And everything like that there!

I Love Because I Can!  I Raise Hell whenever the opportunity lends itself!  I weeble and wobble and yes I do fall down.  But I Always get right back up!  A little slower now -- but I make it eventually!

I have people in my life who Love me despite of AND in spite of my many flaws.   I have people in my life who hate me and oppose me because of my numerous short-comings.    And I LOVE THEM ALL!!!  Not because I HAVE to -- but simply because I WANT to!

Even though I get really aggravated with some of the freeze dried bullshit that goes on both On and Off line --all around the world -- I am truly thankful for the experiences.  


All That We Behold Is Full of Blessings! ~ William Wordsworth


Happy Thanksgiving One & All!

 


























Known as The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape, Julia has made it her personal mission to put Reality back into Spirituality™. Julia sets out to assist people in expanding their conscious awareness through her rather unique and personal take on the human experience. 

In the style comparable to Erma Bombeck, Julia utilizes her own brand of humor and down to earth demeanor to get her messages across in an all so delightful way.  

Currently, Julia only does consultations either on the telephone or through online chat.  To schedule a personal one-on-one session with Julia, or to inquire further of the services she provides, and pricing of her consultations, please send an email with the subject heading: PERSONAL SESSION to JuliaKCole@yahoo.com

  *~*~*~*~*~*  

PLEASE NOTE:  All artwork, unless otherwise specified, are the property of the individual artists themselves. The author of these blogs claims no ownership of the original artwork, but only of the sig tags created using said artwork. Each sig tag shown on these blogs include the appropriate copyright information of the Artists and the unique licensure for use.

Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited

The Empress on Being Thankful

So What are you thankful for?

Whenever I am asked this question, the first answer that pops into my head is ... I'm  thankful for not being one of these people who walk around with their head stuck up their ass!

While that answer, for some, may come across as crass -- it is my sincerest  heartfelt feelings.  And I don't make any apologies for it.

It is my hope  that one day,  I can say with conviction ... I am thankful there are no more people walking around with their heads up their asses!

I can dream -- can't I?

I could go on and on about what I am thankful for ... but I won't.  The list is enormous and  there isn't enough room on this note to list every single thing I am thankful for.   Sufficient to say ... I am one very  thankful person. 

I'll be spending the last Thursday in November helping those in need.  Paying it forward by continuing my work in doing all I can to relieve the Earth of the gruesome  burden  of this ever increasing epidemic known as  cranial uppitus gluteus maximus malfuctionus more commonly known as ... head up the ass disorder.

And yes, before you say anything ... I realize I have my work cut out for me. 

At any rate ... I wish to express my utmost thanks to ALL of You for being a part of my journey!  Granted, Some of you, I really think I  could have done without.   Irregardless, know that I am thankful for the time we shared -- even more  thankful that it was a short length of time!  Not to mention,  I am extremely thankful knowing our paths will never cross outside this virtual world.  

For those of you who have been with me the longest, and continue walking with me on this path ... you are some really twisted and  sick so and so's!  Something I truly appreciate in a person!    I am so very thankful that you are MY  twisted and sick so and so's!

 With sincerest gratitude ... I am compelled to say in closing,  that no matter how far your head may be up your ass ... no matter how sick and twisted you are ... no matter  how long you may be in my life or how short that time may be ... I am Thankful for each and every one of you! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!