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Grant Me the Serenity to Accept the Things I Cannot Change: the 1st Seed of Hope

adaptable courage hope kindness kindness to self seeds of hope May 27, 2015

Welcome to this very 1st Seed of Hope.

I am sending this Seed to you with the hope that it brightens your day with kindness. If it is helpful to you, please feel free to share it with others who need some help too.

Here is the 1st Seed for you:

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.

Years ago, a friend gave me this quotation printed on a small pink plastic card. It was a time when I had no idea of what my own values were. I was finding it much easier to live my life to other’s values. I put the card in my wallet and carried it with me everywhere.

While reflecting on what “the courage to change the things I can” meant to me, and being honest with myself about what I could change and what I couldn’t, over time I found some clues to what really matters to me.

This has been especially helpful while I have developed a career as a writer and publisher of books about choosing courage, a journey begun in 2000 when I had to get through some serious health issues. Learning to “know the difference” has been essential to deal with each of the many road blocks along the way.

The web page for my first book looks deceptively simple. The story of the book’s creation is a whole book in itself!

Knowing and appreciating my own value has meant that I can be much more helpful to the people around me. Even today, I continue to repeat this quotation to myself when something challenges me, from small events like missing the bus to life-changing events like a major illness.

I hope that this Seed inspires you towards your purpose with kindness.

Wendy

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After receiving this Seed, some people sent me quotations that are meaningful to them which you might also enjoy:

The things you keep to yourself you never own, but what you give away is yours forever.
….Anon.

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.
….Eleanor Roosevelt.
Please click here to read more of Eleanor’s quotations.

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
….Lao Tzu.

If you have food, shelter and warmth, you have contentment. If you have something to do; something to look forward to; and someone to love, you have happiness. All the rest is window dressing.
….Anon

Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.
….Dolly Parton.

Our Father who art in heaven, as you walk into my home, please take all my worries, diseases, and fears; and please protect my parents, brothers and sisters, my children, my friends and all my family, in the name of Jesus! Amen.
….from Roz.

I have a nice little, round, smooth pebble, which I picked up at a, for me, meaningful place. And now I carry this pebble in my pocket all the time, and whenever I put my hand in the pocket and feel the pebble, its purpose is to remind me to think of something I should and can be grateful for. And there are millions of these things: it is a lovely day and the sun is shining ; we are fortunate to live in a free country; I am fortunate to have a beautiful wife and two fabulous children; I had a nice breakfast this morning, etc, etc, etc.
…from .Ulrich.

I came across this article. Kind of resonate with it. Click here
….from Michael.

Last but not least, please click here for this sharing from a dear friend.

What does this blog mean to you? Click here to ask for your free Discovery Conversation with Wendy, our Kindness Queen. She is waiting to hear your answer:-)

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