Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Judy Mosley

You would think it would be easy.

Standing up for truth.  Making the right choice.  Taking full responsibility for what has been given to us.  It should be easy, right?  And yet when we’ve done the right thing, we might end up disappointed because the effects of those choices aren’t at all what we had expected.

We lose weight and then come face to face with the issues that have been plaguing us our entire lives.  We quit smoking and have to deal with the discomfort of breaking the addictions that our bodies had formed with the cigarettes.  We speak the truth in a toxic relationship, hoping for healing, yet having the relationship end while we are left feeling a loneliness we hadn’t anticipated.

Growing up, I had believed that if I really did the right thing I would be enveloped with some mystical feeling of love or joy - triumphant music playing in the background - which would keep me from feeling anything negative.

It doesn’t happen.  It’s just not that easy.  And I don’t want anyone to lose heart, but to be prepared for the road ahead. Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Marie Monroe

Out of the mouths of babes…

A friend recently told me a story about a little boy who, in the spirit of this holiday season, declared that he was making his New Year’s Revolutions.  I loved that and resolved to take that meaning and intent as my own in the New Year.  Ever since hearing that story I have thought about what a personal revolution would mean in my own life.  Even more, what would multiple personal revolutions mean?!

It’s been only a couple of weeks, but this story has become a touchstone of sorts in my thinking.  I find myself turning it over in my mind from time to time, trying to understand it more.  It’s become a sort of holiday meditation for me that I do anywhere:  in traffic, at work, standing in check-out lines.

New Year’s Revolutions…

Re-Inventing Ourselves

As I’ve meditated on this little boy’s understanding of what one does in the New Year, I’ve returned again and again to the idea of re-inventing myself and my life.  I think of revolution, personal revolution, as a way of turning things upside down in order to create a new and better life, be a new and better version of who I want to be.  It has been an exciting and interesting way to think of what I want and how I might grow. Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Blake Cothron

“It is time to speak your Truth … banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.  All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.”

These words spoken by an unnamed Hopi Elder summarize the heart of this article – that our words create our future.  In this excerpt, the Hopi Elder is urging for us all to become conscious of our words and attitudes.

How much thought and care do you put into the words you use? Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Marie Monroe

“Gathering groceries is a life sustaining activity.  It can also be a ritual of affirming life rather than a chore of struggling with life.”

I have been a fan of what I call “Spiritual Economics” for a long time.  It has seemed to me that the better my frame of mind, the better able I am to make financial ends meet.  And even without the bottom line changing at all … when I am more optimistic I seem to see and feel my wealth instead of my lack.

A few changes in thinking and in habits have gone a long way to keeping me focused on gratitude for what I have instead of feeling bad about what I don’t have. 

These changes have helped me see that I have enough, indeed more than enough.  I literally went from not having enough to a sense of abundance without any change in income.

Creatures of Habit

I am a creature of habit and making changes is not always easy for me.  But when I discovered that I could actually create greater abundance in my life with a few changes, I became more motivated.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about high finance here … although I am convinced that this approach works in that arena too. Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Derrick Torrens

“You can’t grow when people can’t be themselves around you and express their opinions.  This is true whether you like what they have to say or not.” 

The scene is set a smoky, dimly lit gym.  This gym resides in a dilapidated neighborhood, downtrodden, and dangerous.  Crime and refuse is more prevalent than grass and blue-skies in our community … and our gym is its social center.  Inside people are gathering, sitting in their rusty folding chairs in great anticipation of another title boxing bout.  Title is the operative word because down here there isn’t any real glory in winning.  Just the satisfaction of knowing you put a licking on your opponent and they’ll think twice about facing you again, if at all. 

Our fighters are approaching, climbing the ragged wooden step stools into the sweat and blood stained canvas of the ring.  The ropes are tattered and worn.  They won’t hold the weight of your towel let alone your body if you are unfortunate enough to be pinned against them, but no one cares.  This fight will be toe-to-toe, no holds barred and right at center ring. 

I’m ready to win.  And you know what?  So is she.  This is just another argument in the Torrens’ residence.

Now to be truthful none of us should view our disagreements with one another in quite this fashion … Read More »