Golden Thoughts: Anita M Ashworth

All photographs, unless noted, are my copyrights.

"To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place." ~Elliott Erwitt

Quotes are sourced from the Inspiration Line founded by Chelle Thompson, The Friendship Book of Francis Gay, The Happy Guy by David Leonhardt, Quotes by People on Stamps, Inspirational Quotations by Barbara J Olson and from other various sources that trickle my quotable interest.

"A fine quotation is a diamond on the finger of a man of wit, and a pebble in the hand of a fool." ~Joseph Roux

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving " ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

“What is it in the melody of sound...which calls such visionary beauty forth from every tone?” ~R.E. Salaman

"The thoughts of the day become the dreams of the night." ~Anon

"Try to make at least one person happy every day. If you cannot do a kind deed, speak a kind word. If you cannot speak a kind word, think a kind thought. Count up, if you can, the treasure of happiness that you would dispense in a week, in a year, in a lifetime!" ~Lawrence G. Lovasik

~ Max Ehrmann ~

A Prayer

Let me do my work each day;
and if the darkened hours
of despair overcome me, may I
not forget the strength
that comforted me in the
desolation of other times.

May I still remember the bright
hours that found me walking
over the silent hills of my
childhood, or dreaming on the
margin of a quiet river,
when a light glowed within me,
and I promised my early God
to have courage amid the
tempests of the changing years.

Spare me from bitterness
and from the sharp passions of
unguarded moments. May
I not forget that poverty and
riches are of the spirit.
Though the world knows me not,
may my thoughts and actions
be such as shall keep me friendly
with myself.

Lift up my eyes
from the earth, and let me not
forget the uses of the stars.
Forbid that I should judge others
lest I condemn myself.
Let me not follow the clamor of
the world, but walk calmly
in my path.

Give me a few friends
who will love me for what
I am; and keep ever burning
before my vagrant steps
the kindly light of hope.

And though age and infirmity
overtake me, and I come not within
sight of the castle of my dreams,
teach me still to be thankful
for life, and for time's olden
memories that are good and
sweet; and may the evening's
twilight find me gentle still.

(The Desiderata of Happiness)

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms
with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater
and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let not this blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the council of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labours and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life
keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful, strive to be happy.

~Max Ehrmann~

Source: Internet

Silence in Harmony of the Night

What lies in the horizon
Where luminescent sunset streams?
Does it reconcile my restless frame
In cohabitation with silence
And harmonize a dreamy night?

What sets in that iridescent sky?
Where precious heavenly gem emits
Beauty and wisdom of the eventide
A cohort’s advocate of divine insight
Transfigured in a space of endless time.

What draws the opalescent light?
To kiss the incandescent liquid face
And call upon his love in penchant peace?
As sunset drifts to its blissful home
There’s silence in harmony of the night.

Words Copyright@2009, Leah C. Dancel, All rights reserved

Title Credit: Mia N of Finland as inspired by her photography of Sunset.

Trilogy

Rock, My Fortress

On top of this big broad rock,
I found a seat to sit upon;
Watching the blue ocean,
Calm and peaceful in its depth;
There’s no trace of vanity.

The waves keep tossing
relentlessly caress the shore.
Every lap sounds a rhapsody
for every note of the wind.

As the waves confront the rocks
They spray in random motion,
Pacing fast, medium and slow,
Each tempo harmoniously flows.

This rock is my throne and my shelter,
Away from the world where I falter;
My fortress from life’s distress,
Here I found solace and peace.

On this big rock I ponder,
What lies ahead and yonder?
Meditating and contemplating
For every travails besetting,
I let them go through the wind.

Copyright@2007, Leah C. Dancel, All Rights Reserved
FOT, The Entrance, NSW Australia

A Tribute to All Mothers

A Poem My Mother Taught Me

SOMEBODY'S MOTHER

The woman was old and ragged and gray
And bent with the chill of the Winter's day.

The street was wet with a recent snow
And the woman's feet were aged and slow.

She stood at the crossing and waited long,
Alone, uncared for, amid the throng.

Of human beings who passed her by
Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.

Down the street with laughter and shout,
Glad in the freedom of "school let out."

Came the boys like a flock of sheep,
Hailing the snow piled white and deep.

Past the woman so old and gray
Hastened the children on their way.

Nor offered a helping hand to her -
So meek, so tired, afraid to stir

Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet
Should crowd her down in the slippery street.

At last came one of the merry troop,
The gayest laddie of all the group;

He paused beside her and whispered low,
"I'll help you cross, if you wish to go."

Her aged hand on his strong young arm
She placed. and so, without hurt or harm,

He guided the trembling feel along,
Proud that his own were firm and strong.

Then back again to his friends he went,
His young heart happy and well content.

"She's somebody's mother, boys, you know,
For all she's aged and poor and slow,

'And I hope some fellow will lend a hand
To help my mother, you understand,

'If ever she's poor and old and gray,
When her own dear boy is far away.'

And "somebody's mother" bowed low her head
In her home that night, and the prayer she said

Was, 'God, be kind to the noble boy,
Who is somebody's son, and pride and joy!"

~Mary Dow Brine~

Source: www.amandashome.com

START WHERE YOU STAND

(Inspiration Line Beginning)

Start where you stand and never mind the past,
The past won't help you in beginning new,
If you have left it all behind at last,
Why, that's enough, you're done with it, you're through.

This is another chapter in the book,
This is another race that you have planned,
Don't give the vanished days a backward look,
Start where you stand.

The world won't care about your old defeats
If you can start anew and win success,
The future is your time, and time is fleet
And there is much of work and strain and stress.

Forget the buried woes and dead despairs,
Here is a brand new trial right at hand,
The future is for him who does and dares,
Start where you stand.

Old failures will not halt, old triumphs aid,
Today's the thing, tomorrow soon will be;
Get in the fight and face it unafraid,
And leave the past to ancient history.

What has been, has been; yesterday is dead
And by it you are neither blessed nor banned,
Take courage, man, be brave and drive ahead,
Start where you stand.

~ By Berton Braley (1882-1966)

*****************

HEARTPRINTS

Whatever our hands touch
We leave fingerprints —
On walls, on furniture, on doorknobs and dishes;
There's no escape, as we touch we leave our identity.

Wherever I go today
Help me leave HEARTPRINTS —
Heartprints of compassion,
Of understanding and love.

Heartprints of kindness and genuine concern —
May my heart touch a lonely neighbor
Or a runaway daughter, or an anxious mother
Or perhaps an aged grandfather.

Send me out today to leave heartprints —
And if someone should say "I felt your touch,"
May they also sense the love
That is deep within my heart.

~Author Unknown

Prayer

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” ~Reinhold Niebuhr

"Prayer is an essential tool for us to talk with God and to build a closer relationship with Him, so we can become more like our Father. " ~Douglas S Winnail

"Prayer is our pathway not only to divine protection, but also to a personal, intimate relationship with God." ~ Shirley Dobson

"Prayer is the wing wherewith the soul flies to heaven and meditation the eye wherewith we see God." ~ Ambrose of Milan

"Having a life time of prayer, talking to God become natural as breathing...it's the presence of God ... moment by moment reality" ~ Anon

"Prayer is and remains always a native and deepest impulse of the soul of man." ~ Thomas Carlyle

"In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart." ~John Bunyan

*****
"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." ~ Charles M. Schulz

From My Desk

I feel so honoured to find that there are websites who sourced some of their materials from my blog as I have sourced mine from others. It is great to be able to channel some wonderful thoughts of my great friends to be shared to many others, hoping it will give them some uplifting words to live by.

Learning words of wisdom from people helps me to be philosophical and practical in my approach to life. Of course, I follow my own conviction trying not to compromise any conventions. I certainly do not lean on my own understanding either. We all need divine inspired guidance. My parents were my first teachers who taught me some "nuggets of wisdom". To them, I am indebted my knowledge of life to which they molded my intellectual and spiritual well-being.

About Me

"To thine own self be true, , Thou canst not then be false to any man."~ William Shakespeare

A Hebrew origin, means 'the joyous one'

Leah is magnetic and seductive
She carries a sense of her own power
She has a great skill for teaching others
She sees the ironies of life all too clearly
Her capacity for sympathy is celebrated
She is a mistress of persuasion
Her strong powers of endurance set her aloft
Her home is haven of security
She may be prone to exhibitionism
Nothing is free from her scrutiny.

Leah ~ also means "weary" relinquishing her heart to love, for she is a hopeless romantic, putting others before herself, for she knows no other way but to give a helping hand, her reassuring smile is there for all to see, no cause is too great, for giving up is unknown to her, she loves a challenge to do her best.

You are calm and rational.
You are also GIVING and KIND - a Great FRIEND.
You are EASY GOING and TRUSTING.
However, you are too SENSIBLE to fall for MIND GAMES.

"What is a friend? I will tell you, it is someone with whom you dare to be yourself." ~Frank Crane

"Friendship is a sheltering tree." ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) English Poet

"The essence of a perfect friendship is that each friend reveals himself utterly to the other, flings aside his reserves, and shows himself for what he truly is." ~Robert Benson

"Beauty is power; a smile is its sword." - John Ray

"A woman whose smile is open and whose expression is glad has a kind of beauty no matter what she wears."~Anne Roiphe

"Basic beauty lies in the way a woman walks; it is health and an attitude to life." ~Nancy Astor

"Goodness is beauty in the best estate." ~Christopher Marlowe

"Integrity reveals beauty." ~Thomas Leonard

"Of life's two chief prizes, beauty and truth, I found the first in a loving heart and the second in a laborer's hand." ~Khalil Gibran

“Real beauty is about looking life right in the face and seeing all its magnificence reflected in your own.” ~Valerie Monroe

"A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside."~Denis Waitley

"A warm smile is the universal language of kindness." ~William Arthur Ward

"Beautiful isle of the sea, Smile on the brow of the waters." ~George Cooper

Just Enjoy Life

Work hard at what you like to do and try to overcome all obstacles

Laugh at your mistakes and praise yourself for learning from them

Pick some flowers and appreciate the beauty of nature

Say hello to strangers and enjoy the people you know

Don't be afraid to show your emotions laughing and crying make you feel better

Love your friends and family with your entire being they are the most important part of your life

Feel the calmness on a quiet sunny day

Find a rainbow and live your world of dreams always remember life is better than it seem

A Friend

A friend is like a flower
A rose to be exact,
Or maybe like a brand new gate
that never comes unlatched.

A friend is like an owl,
both beautiful and wise.
Or perhaps a friend is like a ghost,
whose spirit never dies.

A friend is like those blades of grass
you can never mow,
Standing straight, tall, and proud
in a perfect little row.

A friend is like a heart
that goes strong until the end.
Where would we be in this world
if we didn't have a friend?

© 1990-2010 Adrianne Goff (All rights reserved)

~~~ AND REMEMBER ~~~

It's not wise to count your friends
on a bright sunny day,
when the sky is blue
and smiles come so easily.

Instead wait for a storm,
when the clouds are dark and
the day grows cold,
and laughter is not heard
in your heavy heart.

Then when a friend comes
and stands beside you
and lifts your spirits to the sky
and laughter is in your heart,
he or she deserves the name ...

FRIEND.

Thank you, my Friend,
for braving the storms with me
and for making the sunny days so much brighter.

You are You

You are strong when you take your grief and teach it to smile.

You are brave when you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.

You are happy when you see a flower and are thankful for the blessing.

You are loving when your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others.

You are wise when you know the limits of your wisdom.

You are true when you admit there are times you fool yourself.

You are alive when tomorrow's hope means more to you than yesterday's mistake.

You are growing when you know what you are but not what you will become.

You are free when you are in control of yourself and do not wish to control others.

You are honorable when you find your honor is to honor others.

You are generous when you can take as sweetly as you can give.

You are humble when you do not know how humble you are.

You are thoughtful when you see me just as I am and treat me just as you are.

You are merciful when you forgive in others the faults you condemn in yourself.

You are beautiful when you don't need a mirror to tell you.

You are rich when you never need more than what you have.

You are you when you are at peace with who you are not.

~Anon~

*****

Stand Up in For Yourself;
Stand Up and be Yourself

Stop hiding!
Stop holding yourself back and playing yourself down!
Stop worrying about how you look and what people are saying.
Stop listening to what people are saying and trying to find out if they are whispering about you.
Stop waiting for someone to tell you that you are okay or to make you feel special.
Life is special!
It is a special gift.
This is your life!
Now take your gift and live it out in the open!
Decide today that you are going to live out loud!

Living out loud means having the courage to be exactly who you are without apology.
It means admitting your mistakes without beating yourself up.
It means not taking who you are and what you have for granted.
Release all shame!
Release all guilt!
You cannot live out loud if you are hiding behind what was.
Living out loud means focusing on what is, right now, and that is you!

To live out loud means showing up as your authentic self, without your makeup or your toupee.
It means acknowledging your shortcomings and celebrating your strengths.
Living out loud means broadcasting your needs, your likes and your dislikes as they relate to your fears and frustrations.
It means that you let people know exactly who you are and expect them to be as thrilled as you are about who you are.

In order to live out loud you must have faith in yourself and in the process of life.
You must have principles you live by and standards by which you can govern and gauge yourself.
Most important, in order to live out loud you must love yourself enough to tell yourself and everyone else the absolute truth about you.
When you can do that, you can live out loud and be very proud about what the world will hear about you.

Until today, you may have been living your life in a whisper.
Just for today, take one step toward pumping up your volume.
Stand up in yourself! Stand up and be yourself!

~Iyanla Vanzant~

TO WONDER

To wonder, to know,

To explore, always asking:

What am I?

Who am I?

What will become of me?

Of my knowledge?

Am I squandered on the world?

Cheapening existence through vanity?

How long before I am fit to say, I know this!

Rather than, I think this.

That in itself questions self,

Whether our thought and mind is

Our own knowledge and assurance.

At what point in time do we stop marching?

Pencil upon paper, sight upon colour and light.

A fixation upon what we comprehend

And that, which is incomprehensible.

Are we gambling with the gifts we are given?

Are they gifts?

The ability to question choice, life, the air we breathe;

The sun, the moon, clouds, stars, the earth, wind, rain, height.

Re-reading leads.

Random, our teachers abandon us,

Fending for all you are on your own

'Tis a lonely path all humans follow, trying to fill the void

With relationships, contact with others, family, friends.

I advanced myself only through victory.

Victory against what?

If there’s nothing to fight against,

How do we advance at all?

Do we fight against self-doubt?

From the Original Manuscript Written by Lily

Poetic Concept:

Remember today all the blessings you have

Remember today that you are alive.
Sometimes we tend to forget.
You have a purpose that is all your own.
No one else is you.
You have dreams and hopes and desires.
Listen to your heart for a while.

Remember today all the blessings you have.
There's beauty in every direction you look.
Enjoy the abundance that is already yours.
The world is a wonderful place and you're here.

Remember today that you get what you give.
Your world is a mirror of your inner self.
Love will be yours when you give it away.

Remember today that life is creation.
As long as you live you can always contribute
your own special voice.
Remember today is a special time.
Make the best of it while you can.

No String Attached

I've nothing else to offer,
So, to you, it's love I'll send,
It's nothing that I borrowed,
And it's nothing that I'd lend.

It has no dollar value,
And it can't be overused;
It isn't fragile, so it can't break,
Though, often it's abused.

I've given it to others,
But each time it's unique,
Its meaning's always different;
It depends on what you seek.

It's something you can store away
To feel when you're in need,
But never is it on display;
Its beauty can't be seen.

I'm giving it "no strings attached,"
No costly warranty;
This love that I am sending
Has a lifetime guarantee.

~Anon~

A VANISHED FRIEND

Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.

And I never see my old friend's face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.

And he rang mine but we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.

'Tomorrow' I say! 'I will call on Jim
Just to show that I'm thinking of him.'
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner, yet miles away,
'Here's a telegram sir,' Jim died today.'
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.

~Anon~

Remember to always say what you mean. If you love someone, tell them. Because when you decide that it is the right time it might be too late.

Seize the day
Never have regrets.
And most importantly,
stay close to your friends
and family, for they have helped
make you the person that you are today.

SMILE, even through your tears! ~JBY

10/14/12

Anita M Ashworth - loving hands