Something to Help Inspire and Aspire

Have you read this?

If you've talked with me during the past few months for more than five minutes, you've probably heard me rave about it. I posted a basically this same post on my personal blog, and thought that our writing blog could use a few more posts, so I copied and pasted what I wrote basically because I love, love, love the quotes at the end and want to share them with whoever will read/hear them.  

Because of the inspiration I found while reading this book, I have a totally different perspective now towards each day, and the way I choose to view things. I realized I WANT to be a positive person. And that it's more than okay to have a happy-go-lucky, Pollyanna attitude, because in the end it is just better, healthier way to live. It can be challenging sometimes to always be optimistic, but, you feel better and attract more positive and good things when you live a happy life. 

I was also inspired by the author, Gretchen Rubin, to start doing a few things. So in the middle of reading a sentence a thought would pop into my head and I'd get up and write someone a note, or call my mom, or kiss and play with my baby, or do something nice to surprise my husband, or find that recipe I've been wanting to make for dinner for a while and actually make it, or start writing more like I've been wanting to for years, or put together a play group, or finally write that plan to organize my days I've been meaning to write...etc. 

I loved the last sentence on this page:

 "Happiness," wrote Yeats, "is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that, but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing."

Here are a few quotes I wrote down that I found inspirational: 

"Imaginary evil is romantic and varied; real evil is gloomy, monotonous, barren, boring. Imaginary good is boring; real good is always new, marvelous, intoxicating."- Simone Weil

"One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy.

One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy."

"When one loves, one does not calculate." - Saint Therese of Lisieux

"If money is to enhance your happiness, it must be used to support aspects of life that themselves bring happiness to you."

"Money. It's a good servant, but a bad master."

"Nothing can make our life, or the lives of other people, more beautiful than perpetual kindness" - Tolstoy

"What's fun for other people may not be fun for you"

"When I was feeling unhappy, I felt dispirited, lethargic, defensive, and uninterested in other people; even worse, when I felt angry or resentful, I searched for excuses to feel even more angry and resentful. On the other hand, when I felt happy, I was more likely to be lighthearted, generous, creative, kind, encouraging and helpful"

"The days are long, but the years are short"

If you've read it, what are some things that you've found to be inspiring? Is there anything that you've changed in your life as a result? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Also, I'm looking for new good reads, so if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear great recommendations!