Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Chris Bennett

Editor’s Note: It the difficult times we are facing with financial and job crises, the need for volunteers in every community is growing.  We are tempted to focus on ourselves because of the fear and uncertainty seemingly in the news every day.  It is our hope that after reading this article you will see that volunteering not only helps others, but it helps each of us.  Approaching volunteering with gratitude will leave each of us feeling better and greedy for more of this feeling every day.

Even to most amiable of people, mental ruts seem to find their way to the forefront of any given personality.  Signs of such an impersonal emotion are strong amounts of irritability and discontentment mixed with downright ill tempered attitudes.  These traits more than likely do not represent who you are, hence the term ruts.  

For me, mental ruts are extremely frustrating because I am consistently on the go and my life moves very fast.  So I ask … how is it possible to not only find a simplistic way of relieving that unwanted crabbiness but also find a way to channel that off-putting energy to good use? Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Derrick Torrens

Perspective is truly the word of the day when it comes to our ability to survive these tough economic and emotional times. 

The old adage “Life is what you make it” or other cliché statements about keeping a positive attitude don’t hold much weight when you’re about to lose your job, retirement, or home.  Sitting in the dark because you have no electricity may truly be a great opportunity to get some sleep, but I doubt seriously we will look at it that way.  I know that I don’t. 

Having said this, I have to admit there is truth in the fact that changing our perspective will allow us to not only cope, but maybe even thrive in the midst of turmoil.  I say this from personal experience.  And I am thankful I am able to say this at all. Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Marie Monroe

“I am worthy and deserving of a good life.”

“I am responsible for my life.”

“I am responsible for my own spiritual growth.”

Each of these is an affirmative statement, or affirmation.  Affirmations can be about health, love, respect, God … anything that you want to affirm within yourself.  They send powerful messages deep into our minds.  Written purposefully and said regularly, these statements penetrate levels of our psyche that typically seem to be out of reach, operating beyond our conscious control. 

By using affirmations, we can not only reach the deepest levels of consciousness, but once there, actually change our consciousness as a means of improving our attitude, our feelings about ourselves, and ultimately our lives.  

Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Judy Mosley

Stop.  Take a moment wherever you are and listen. Close your eyes.  Let yourself be quiet.  What can you hear?  What have you been missing amidst all the daily hustle and bustle that weʼve all fallen into?  Now, take a deep breath.  Draw it in like a cool drink of water.  Let it out slowly with intentional delight. The next breath is yours as well.

I want to ask you something.  You will need a pen and some paper.  I want to know . . .

Whatʼs right with your life?

Itʼs so easy to be negative.  Every day, we are bombarded with whatʼs wrong in our world.  Today it’s the economy, jobless claims, fear of recession to name only a few.  We listen to the news, hoping for valuable information, but walk away feeling powerless. We take it mostly because we think itʼs what we should be doing, but also because weʼre used to it.

So … how will you respond?  Whatʼs right with your life?

Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Jennifer Snelling

You probably do it all year and don’t even think about it.  If you don’t, you’re starting to think about it now.  The holidays are that time of year when a magnifying glass is held over our lives, our financial status, and our generosity.  Often, it isn’t just the fact that we’re expected to give at this time of year – that many of us are shopping for gifts, being asked to help with fundraisers, or hearing those Salvation Army bells tolling on the corner – but also that we, for some reason, feel compelled to do something to participate in the general warmth of the season.  In fact, it can be very depressing when we feel apart from it.

There are all kinds of ways to give, and they don’t necessarily have to be monetary.  Here are seven simple and inexpensive ways to make you feel like you’ve helped someone or improved the world, without traveling to exotic places or spending a lot of money. Read More »