some see treasure in everything,
while others die believing
everyone else struck gold but
never finding any for themselves —
how sad for those lost, bitter beings
who were ever blind of heart
—Terri Guillemets
gratitude
How to shine
it’s not that the people
with nice shiny attitudes
haven’t been banged up —
but they buff out their
dings and scratches with
gratitude and positivity
perspective and grace
resilience and courage
with purpose and faith
—Terri Guillemets
Rays & flickers
Some things in our lives are as constant as the sun and others as fleeting as a shooting star. But we are thankful for all light that brightens our paths.
—Terri Guillemets
Emanate
You don’t always have to pray for something, or to someone — you can just simply pray.
—Terri Guillemets
None excluded
Prayer is for the grateful and for the
—Terri Guillemets
Whole body, whole spirit
We thank
on our knees
with folded hands
for full bellies
and fuller hearts
—Terri Guillemets
Let every blessing strengthen you
You can’t count the bad things that happen. They don’t count against life. They are life. Only count the good things. Let every blessing strengthen you.
—Terri Guillemets
Kicked happy, fallen grateful
Some people say that I’m too damn cheerful. They assume I haven’t been knocked around enough in life. Well, I have had many blessings. But if those people only knew the struggles I’ve had too: sharp, excruciating, gnawing, vicious; external, internal; brutally quick and achingly ongoing; lightning strikes and hammer blows, tripping falls face-to-ground. If only they knew the many forms of pain I’ve endured. If only they would realize that most people endure lots of painful struggle in their private lives, even if they never show it.
But despite that, and despite them, I say: Why nurture the negative? With each adversity and graying year comes a brighter, giddier laugh and a more sincere, deeper smile. My heart gets both weaker and stronger with each blow, and every knockout convinces me that I don’t want to spend any more time, not even mere seconds, being miserable or resentful or smeared with the filth of the past.
I wash myself clean each morning and try to brave the new day. I’m not going to let hard times steal my happiness — not while there are still beautiful skies and green trees and good people left in the world. If I were to give away my contentment to hardships — if any of us did — we would be giving away that which remains and makes life worth living. So, I’ll take whatever I can get in lessons and give whatever I can in smiles. And yes,
—Terri Guillemets
Peaches & health
Do not take anything for granted — not one smile or one person or one rainbow or one breath, or one night in your cozy bed.
—Terri Guillemets
Hard life, good life
Life can be hard, but if you’ve got somebody to love — Yay!
—Terri Guillemets
Waking to a newer than new day
Each morning begins with the triumph and celebration of waking to a new day and the blessing of being able to get out of bed. What better way to start the day than with a success like that?
—Terri Guillemets
Year-round gratitude
Spring is being blessed and happy,
with blooming flowers.
Summer is being blessed and hot,
with abundant sunshine.
Autumn is being blessed and reflective,
with colored leaves.
Winter is being blessed and chilly,
with sparkling snow.
—Terri Guillemets
Morning routine
Breathe, thank, pray, rise, stretch, move, live!
—Terri Guillemets