Monday Morning Wisdom ~ November 30, 2009

Happy Monday everyone! I hope your week is not only special but a week where you make a difference not only in your life but in the life of another.

I watched 60 minutes last night and the story of gold and the Congo in Africa and how children and adults work for $1 a day to mine for gold. Harsh conditions and physical labor that is beyond belief. How lucky we have it here in America.

I watched the the highlights of shoppers on Black Friday rush and run through stores just to outrace another and get that item advertised on TV.

Later I watched CNN Heroes at awards program of sorts that rewards 10 people that are committed to making a difference in the world. Whether providing shelter for homeless vetarans or a bartender who helps 3rd world countries with digging for fresh clean water. How inspiring ordinary american's can be.

We mine for bargains at our local store

We mine for coupons to save a few dollars at the store.

How lucky we are to be here in America.

So here is my thought, maybe this year we can promise ourselves to mine a smile upon our heart to help not only ourselves but help another who just may need one of our smiles shared upon them.

What do think? Think we could that for ourselves and others?

I pray so! Make a difference this year. Help someone who just may need that lift in there step, or spirit.

Yes you can make a difference.

Yes I hope you and all you come in contact feel compelled to say enough with our gluttony lets make a difference with someone else.

Even if it is just a simple smile.

Till next time.... share a smile, raise a spirit start with you and work upon another.

www make me smile online dot com

Some Thoughts on a Sunday ~ November 29, 2009

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope your Saturday was a great one! I hope your Sunday is even better.

Yesterday I wrote about how some things change after 29 years and how some just stay the same. How true. Had a blast last night at the performance of Earth.

Earth is a local high school band top 40 and rock and some southern rock mixed in. About 100+ turned out to a local bar/restaurant last night. I helped out as I did so many years ago mostly with light show. I had 4 20 oz Red Bulls (sugar free) to keep me going. I did not get to bed till 4:30am. What a great night.

Pictures and Video coming soon. (facebook and You Tube)

Everyone had a great time and danced the night away!

Memories are awesome. Watching the show so many great ones came flooding back.

The more we think how things change the more they really stay the same.

Life is like that often.

"You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. You can make the best of it or the worst of it."

- Author Unknown

That is how life often is. Last night we all made the very best! So many smiles on the dance floor and the tables. It was so refreshing to see.

This was a true gathering and a reunion of not just a band but old friends.

Like a trusted sweater or a fine pair of jeans it just felt and seemed so comfortable.

The music and the mood rocked. Life is good... no great!

So enjoy your day!

Enjoy your smiles!

Make some memories!

Sit back relax with your warm and comforting sweater or jeans and enjoy what changes and what really stays the same.

Till next time.... take the time to Smile!!

www make me smile online dot com

Saturday Morning Reflection ~ November 28, 2009

Happy Saturday everyone! So how was your Black Friday experience? Did you get everything you wanted? Where people polite? Did you share your smile with anyone who just may have needed it?

I stayed away from the stores. I did some shopping but Amazon is just a click away and it already has shipped. My son and daughter wanted Rock Band 2 and yeah they know they are getting it. Thats the big gift that they wanted they have some other stuff coming but don't want to spoil it here.

Had some Turkey leftovers wow it tastes better than the day before as usual.

Today is a big reunion of sort at a club/bar near where I live.

Some 29 years have gone by since this band rock/cover of sorts has performed. I helped them with setting up and the lights as I will tonight.

How we all must have changed over 29 years? How some of us have stayed they same in some ways. I am looking forward to it. Wow 29 years seems hard to fathom sometimes.

Today I share with you a post from the past, a reflection of sorts. I hope you enjoy.

April 24, 2009

When in doubt Smile!

When you smile the whole world smiles back at you. Mother Teresa said it best when she was quoted

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~Mother Teresa

A gift that someone may need at that moment. Indeed an action of love that is given without any cost and most importantly sets your state of mind in a proper frame.

When you walk with a smile the word sees strength and as Greta Garbo put it.

" Anyone who has a continuous smile on his face conceals a toughness that is almost frightening" ~ Greta Garbo

Power that you have and control with a simple action, the smile. It may be the easiest way to defuse a grouch, a few weeks ago I spoke of the 'energy vampire' and how they can drain the spirit with or without any malice in their motive. The best way to deal with any loss of happiness is to be grateful and smile and know that a better minute is on its way.

Gratitude, we all can be grateful for something as this quote reveals.

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful. ~Buddha

Take this minute to be thankful, take this second to me happy and take this day to smile! A good thought for today and all of our tomorrows.

Power Action Thought for Today Number 77 Be Thankful, and grateful and above all be aware that your smile is the sword that cuts through anothers grief.

Make a difference today and be the Smile advocate at your place of work, school or home.

You will be grateful that you did and be fortunate that you were able.

Till then Smile! :)

Please send any comments to vyakin@makemesmileonline.com Thanks

Flowing Into Friday ~ Black Friday~ November 27, 2009

Happy Black Friday Everyone! How will the flow be today for you? Hurried or slow I hope your day is a safe and sound day.

In Michigan a couple who met at a black Friday six years ago married in front of a Best Buy early this morning. How fun is that??!?? I do hope it works for them, the television or appliance they buy has some type of warranty, right?

How was your Thanksgiving? Ours was great, plenty of food and quiet times, it was just us three the family celebration is great no matter how big the size, just a lot less dishes and cleaning up. We did get to partake our nap and we all are very grateful for each other and for the grace of God that is felt each and every day.

This Friday take time to look into the eyes of your family and understand that they will be the best gift this holiday season. Their health and safety, smiles and the twinkle in the eyes. Enjoy the basics this holiday season and enjoy the very special gift you awake to each and every day.

Life and family!

Take time to smell the leftovers today. They taste even better don't they?

Stay safe everyone and when you spend those dollars today make sure they are green and not backed with plastic and high interest.

Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money. ~Author Unknown

May you all smile today and take nothing for granted.

Till next time, smile and enjoy your day!

www make me smile online dot com

Giving Thanks on Thursday ~ November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you enjoy your time with family, food, fun and memories that will be created for years to come!

I want to express my gratitude for today of course but please don't let this season be the only reason that you let your thankfulness flow or that wonderful smile of yours.

Make sure you let that smile flow into that mirror each morning!

With a audible proclamation that you are indeed a special person filled with love and potential for greatness.

My prayer for you today, you the reader that this day be a special day that ignites first a spark but then a blazing flame of expectations, not hope. Daily gratitude not just on Sunday or at meal time. Appreciation for nature and blessings bestowed on us each and everyday.

Love yourself first and then pass the torch of love to others.

Share that smile and above all enjoy life.

May you all have a blessed day! Enjoy the video for this day ......

So what does the Gratitude Dance inspire.....

Smiles for those who see or do it

Movement and motion and energy for those who dance it

and a reason to think of gratitude in ones life not just for one day but everyday.

Do the dance......

Till next time.....Smile and Enjoy your day!

www make me smile online dot com

Some Wednesday Wit ~ November 25, 2009

First of all Happy Wednesday everyone!

I hope your pre thanksgiving shopping is done. Some stores are open tomorrow and I think it is sad that with all the 24 hour stores out there we as neighbors and consumers should not have to make anyone except emergency personnel work on Thanksgiving. Here is an idea, if no one shopped on Thursday they would not open. So think about that before you go out anywhere on Thursday.

Yesterday was L through S on 'My A-B-C's Making a difference and staying happy as we do it'. Today we bring it on home T through Z.

Always Be..... Thankful, not just on Thanksgiving and when we say grace but when we first get out of bed and later at night when you put down your head.

Always Be.....United with your core values and core beliefs. We are a country of values, founded on principles like faith, love and trust in God and our neighbors. Yeah some have lost these along the way but that does not mean we have to follow them down the wrong path.

Always Be....Value Driven, what are your values in your life, your family. A resource I found that I hope you visit. Click here and watch the video at www.valuesdrivenfamily.com Enjoy and we can make a difference!

Always Be .....Winning, in life and in any time based effort there are winners and losers. Be winning! By the way is life time based? You betcha! We all have so many years, months and weeks in our life. Make the best of yours by having a winning attitude. Look in that mirror in the morning and claim your day as being a great one!

Always Be......Xcellent. Ok a play on the silent E but hey what else was I going to use....? X-ray? Xanadu which hey is not that bad of a poem... I'll share it here.....

Always Be.... Yourself, you don't have to fit in to anyone. Be real and true to yourself, be happy when others are not so happy. Be caring when others really don't seem to want to care. Lastly be honest when those around you try to cut corners with the truth.

Always Be.....Zealful in the pursuit of your cause what ever it may be. Our cause here is to make you smile, have you understand the power of the smile and hopefully encourage you to share the smile with not only yourself but with others!

That's it A through Z on how to make your life a difference maker and happier along the way. Stay happy.... Stay real.

Lastly my Wednesday Wit... A video I want to share....

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Till next time Smile!

www make me smile online dot com

Giving Thanks on Tuesday ~ November 24, 2009

Happy Tuesday everyone! Hope your Tuesday is a special one. Only a couple days to Thanksgiving are you ready yet? I have some last minute shopping to do for the day.

Most of the big stuff is already bought, the turkey 25 lb check, the olives and cranberry sauce check, the stuffing check, yams check. Place scoped out for nap after it all settles check!

Tuesday thought on what I am grateful for:

~ Our Christmas Tree it looks great Missy and Tori did a great job with the trimming! I helped get it into place and some with the lights.

~ Memories from Light up Night last Friday! What a great night filled with lots of lights and fireworks.

~ You my Gather friends and your kind comments and the fact that you keep coming back. My sincere thank you! You make a difference in my life! Smiles sent to you.

So yesterday was A through K on 'ABC's of Making a difference and staying happy as we do it.'

Always Be..... Loving. Yes that is another one you saw coming but Love many times is what makes the smile come to light, the gratitude surface. Without love we as people feel lost. Loving yourself is perhaps the single most important person to love with out that how can you understand love for another.

Always Be..... Moving! Motion is a key to making things happen and truly if you are going to make a difference you have to put the effort out. Making a difference in your life and the life of others makes everyone move a bit happier and smoother.

Always Be.....Nice. Even to those who see short and uneven tempered. Are they really being mean to you or is it just overflowing from inside of them?

Always Be....Open. When we truly walk through life with an open spirit we tend to see the ones who are in need of a smile and a kind word.

Always Be....Polite. A big P here often in the rush of the season, heck any season we often forget about manners, holding open a door, allowing the other to merge ahead of traffic, gosh we have crosswalks at stores so people can cross with safety.

Always Be....Quiet enough to listen to nature and listen to another tell their story.

Always Be....Reverent to the season. As we go into the holidays understand the true meaning of Christmas and Thanksgiving be respectful and never forget the reason for the season.

Always Be...Sincere to yourself and to others. A smile sent with haste and not a true meaning is nothing, an empty gesture that leaves the sender and receiver a bit empty as well.

Thats L through S we will wrap up the rest tomorrow with along with a little wit on Wednesday!

Hope your day is a great one....fill it with smiles and love!

Till next time.....share that smile and enjoy the season!

www make me smile online dot com

Monday Morning Wisdom ~ November 23, 2009

Happy Monday Everyone! A new week and a short work week for most. We bought our Turkey yesterday and today it starts to thaw. Yes it has some weight to it and I guess we will have some leftovers which is the best part of course.

Also Black Friday is right around the corner. I don't go out for this. I know for some it is a passion but I try to do all of my shopping online. The packages are so easy to wrap boxes are included.

Today I wanted to do something a little different the ABC's of Making a difference and staying happy as we do it.

Today is A through K..... I hope you enjoy them!

Always Be..... Aligned with Prayer and quiet reflection with God

Always Be..... Better than you were yesterday, we make mistakes but we can improve.

Always Be......Complimentary to others, a word of caution here, they may like you for it.

Always Be......Delighted with live. How great it is to be alive and free in mind and spirit.

Always Be......Excuse free, you and me were made to succeed and to be happy and enriched

Always Be......Friendly to all, full of sincere cheer to the world.

Always Be......Grateful, yeah ok you knew that was coming but gratitude makes your world spin a little more smoother.

Always Be......Harmonious with what is around you, do know harm, only look to make the world a bit better.

Always Be.....In touch with loved ones, family and your friends, stay aware of their love.

Always Be.....Joyous, life is full of joy you don't have to find it you have to live with it.

Always Be.....kindhearted, yes we learned how to be kind but kindhearted is also kind to ourselves.

Ok A through K tomorrow we will start with L and go from there.....

Have a great day everyone......

Share that smile with yourself first in that mirror and others watch when they give one back to you!

Till next time.....smile!!

www make me smile online dot com

Some Thoughts on a Sunday ~ November 22, 2009

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope you have a great day with your family and friends. Today is a great day to share with others.

Make a difference with your smile and brighten someones day.

I was channel surfing late last night and stopped on a PBS program for Dr. Wayne Dyer's new book 'Excuses Begone'. I watched and came upon a segment on a young man name Dan Caro.

I encourage you to take a closer look the the video enclosed within Dan's web site. His story is so inspiring it is hard to give it justice in words here. The link with his story is located here.

DAN CARO ~ The Man, His Story and His Music

Dr Dyer share his story on this program and it gives much inspiration. His new book, 'Excuses Begone' is worth the purchase. I bought it for my Kindle APP on my Iphone and thus far from what little I have read it shows much promise.

Take a close look at this one.

A quote on Excuses:

For many people, an excuse is better than an achievement because an achievement, no matter how great, leaves you having to prove yourself again in the future; but an excuse can last for life. ~ quoted by Eric Hoffer

How true this resonates for some. Why, don't let your life be splattered with excuses. Take a moment right now and shift those excuses that hold you back and reword those excuses so that they empower your thoughts. Have faith as that of a small child and follow your dreams.

Take hold of your reins and lead yourself where you really truly want to go.

May your Sunday be blessed

May your smiles be even better!

Till next time... Smile and share your smile with another, make that difference today!

www make me smile online dot com

Saturday Morning Reflection ~ November 21, 2009

Happy Saturday everyone! I hope your weekend is a great one! Friday was a special day for me. LIght up night kicking off the holiday season down in Pittsburgh. Fireworks galore and a great time.

On my Youtube sight I posted a couple video's if you want to go there here is the link:

Makemesmileonline You Tube

We had a great time, the weather was great, bought a few holiday ornaments for the tree.

This weekend we are putting up our tree. My daughter and son will both be in Texas for Christmas this year so we are doing our celebration a little early.

Today is Saturday and as you know I like to share with you a post from the past. Many of my earlier post's received under 20 views and now with more of you stopping by I wanted to share some from April and May 2009.

From May 07, 2009:

Just a quick post and a link to some cute pictures to make you smile. But first the Top Ten Reasons to Smile!

Reason # 10 The gift of life once again today is yours!

Reason # 09 You have the gift of the mirror, no matter what when you smile it smiles back at you!

Reason # 8 A good way to show off those dimples!

Reason # 7 It just looks better than that scowl!

Reason # 6 It will make others wonder what you did last night or what your up to!

Reason # 5 A frown adds wrinkles!

Reason # 4 A smile is contagious and it won't need a trip to your Doctor!

Reason # 3 It can lower your blood pressure and stop you from getting mad!

Reason # 2 It will not only cheer up you it will cheer up others that are around you!

And the number 1 reason to smile ~ A Smile is Free it won't cost you a dime!

Click here for pictures that will make you Smile!

Have a great Day and Smile! :)

www make me smile online dot com

Flowing Into Friday ~ November 20, 2009

Happy Friday everyone! I hope all have a very blessed and happy weekend! Always know that you, yes you have every possible resource you need to have a spectacular day! Full of memories to cherish, and playback whenever you need them. If you can read this or have this read to you then you are at the very edge of discovering pure joy!

Ok so what do I mean by that? How can I be so sure? What do I mean by every possible resource? One at a time lets cover it.

Every possible resource ~ your alive, you have the ability to think and the ability to interact with others. The ability to take action.

Sounds simple enough right..... It is!

Many times we want and desire more than we have and we forget to focus on what we already have.

A couple of quotes I like that fit well into this discussion..... Here they are.....

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” quoted by Albert Einstien

and

"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death." quoted by Robert Fulghum Author

We all have the resources, even if all that is open to us is our thoughts, we can overcome just about any obstacle put before us.

So many times we look for what we don't have, what we don't possess.

We have much more than we ever need.

All roads whether easy or difficult start with our thoughts and actions. All roads in our lives have no end they continue with us at the lead.

So as we flow into Friday understand this simple statement.

If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Believe in yourself, understand that no matter what there is 'THE' answer to overcome any obstacle. 'THE' answer lies within ourselves. The reflection in the mirror has the ability we just need to tap into it.

A while back I shared this video called "Dream Big" I wanted to share it again. I hope you enjoy and I hope you bookmark and listen to again. You may never know when the next time you hear it inspires your next action.

Enjoy.....

May all your dreams be big!

May all your days be filled with smiles!

May you always strive to make a difference with another!

When you dream ..... Dream Big!

Till next time..... Always Smile...Always Dream Big and always share that smile....

www make me smile online dot com

Giving Thanks on Thursday ~ November 19, 2009

Happy Thursday everyone! A little rain in the burg today. But imagine the thought of snow at this time.

Last year the light up night in Pittsburgh was in the low 20's with windy conditions. The weather cut through you it was cold we even left before the fireworks were over. This year the weather will be in the mid 40's by late evening so it should be much more comfortable. I am very thankful for this. It is so much more enjoyable when your not freezing.

Does your city or town have a light up night?

So another day to give thanks. This is your day! A day to take hold of your thoughts, your actions and get feedback from your results.

I liked yesterday's quote by Clint Eastwood regarding 'if you want a guarantee by a toaster'.

How true this is, there are no guarantee's in life. When we think or assume that there are we often get very disappointed. Life for sure has its twist and turns and peaks and valleys.

Our attitude and gratitude play a very big part in how the world interacts with us.

We have the stage when we are participating in the game of life.

Yes life is at time a game or at the very least a live performance on a stage. We are the main character and we have many supporting characters that help us along the way.

We should always choose wisely of course, who we interact with. Does the supporting cast support us and enhance or are they toxic and detract from our basic goal.

Do we get enough sleep? How is our diet and are we getting enough of the right food in the correct proportions? We are in control and as always we need to monitor our contributions to our game or performance.

I am very grateful today for these things in my life.

~ my passion. My passion for life and belief that no matter what storm is hitting in my life it does not last forever. It will move on and I can play a part in how I look at my performance, my passion and drive.

~ my vision. Not just the health of my sight of course but the curious nature of how can I make this better. What can I do to improve the outcome and more importantly what should be avoided at all cost so as not to get in the way of a successful outcome.

~ my belief that all people are inherently good. Now of course there are bad people out here and they are not always out for our best interest. But I do believe in trusting my inner spirit to weed them out or at the very least be wary. How sad it would be if we are always skeptical or worried that someone is trying to undercut us from our goals in life. We are the controller, and the master of our plans. We ask God in our prayers for wisdom and insight to a particular matter but we must use his principles and teachings to aid us in making the right actions.

Prayer and deep thought with a large portion every day of Gratitude. When we mix our day with healthy portions of these ingredients then we are sure to come out with our best game.

Live is a game my friend. We should always be playing to stay in it. Play to win and always work on how we can make a difference in some one else's day. A smile, a kind word or a simple random act of kindness will go along way, longer than we may ever really notice. Longer than we ever my realize.

What we do each and ever step of the journey of life can change a life, a moment.

Reach out and stretch and make a difference.

Share that smile!

Share that kindness that naturally exists in your spirit.

Till next time...... Smile! and Share your life's Joy!

www make me smile online dot com

Some Wednesday Wit ~ November 18, 2009

Good Morning everyone and welcome to Wednesday. Its been a couple weeks since we had a little Wednesday Wit so I hope you enjoy todays selection. I have some humorous quotes, a joke or two and a video so enjoy.......

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

~~~~~~~~~~~

Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.

~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a grandmother and her grandson in the car cruising around.

The grandma stopped at a bookstore and found a bumper sticker that said Honk if You Love Jesus. So, she bought it n put it in the back of her car.

She got in the car, pulled out and then stopped at the red light.

Suddenly, people started honking and she says, "Gosh... lots of people must love Jesus. Here grandson was thinking to himself, "I think they are mad because the light is green, but I don't want to make grandmas feel bad."

Suddenly a guy swerved around her car and buzzed by holding up his middle finger.

She asked her grandson what that meant and he said it must be a Hawaiian peace sign (although he knew what it actually meant).

Then she noticed the light was green and she drove off waving the Hawaiian peace sign to everyone!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Things people actually said in court, word for word:

Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July fifteenth.
Q: What year?
A: Every year.

Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke that morning?
A: He said, "where am I Cathy?"
Q: And why did that upset you?
A: My name is Susan.

Q: Did you blow your horn or anything?
A: After the accident?
Q: Before the accident.
A: Sure, I played horn for ten years. I even went to school for it.

~~~~~~~~~~

The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

~Author Unknown

~~~~~~~~~~

I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes. ~Author Unknown

~~~~~~~~~~~

"If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster."
- Clint Eastwood

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope you enjoyed it all... Have a great day....

Till Next time..... Smile and laugh a little along the way!!

www make me smile online dot com

Giving Thanks on Tuesday ~ November 17, 2009

Happy Tuesday to you all! Yesterday went very fast, but the weather has been very nice and unseasonable in the Pittsburgh area. Today is expected to be nice as well with sunshine in the upper 50's.

What are you grateful for today? I know some of you have weddings planned this week, I wish the very best to you and your families. That is indeed something to be happy about.

Some of you may be expecting newborns, that is always something to be very thankful for.

A new life or a new bond formed in love how very positive is that to those around you.

Many of you will be planning your shopping this year have you started yet? No, I have not but at least we know what we want just waiting for the right price to purchase it. Can't tell you what I am getting anyone, they do read this ya know. So that will have to say a secret for now.

Gratitude is perhaps the best gift you can give yourself. The spirit of being happy with what you have been given. My wish for everyone who reads this is that you have the following during the next 40 days of our holiday season.

My wish for you:

~ Good health a true gift that is precious to behold and hard to maintain with the flu season around us.

~ Good Love and Friendships are another work in progress, may you special someone be close to your side and closer to your heart.

~ Smiles and laughter that rolls through your home and hovers over your life like a puffy white cloud flows over a beautiful day. Soft yet gracious and picture perfect.

May your Tuesday be special and may you never forget that gratitude is more that an attitude but the one way to understand the flow of happiness.

I wanted to share this video with you I hope you enjoy it..... I hope you learn a little more about how gratitude can make a difference in your life and others. I hope you choose to believe ! Enjoy......

May your smiles be wide and full today. Take the time to make a difference send a smile and watch the mood change with someone who just may need that mood change today!

Tis the season......and till next time.... Smile!

www make me smile online dot com

Monday Morning Wisdom ~ November 16, 2009

Happy Monday another week is here! I hope your weekend was good filled with laughter and smiles!

Pittsburgh had a big weekend of sports Saturday the Penguins played and won in overtime over Boston in hockey. And the Panthers cruised over Notre Dame in college football. But the Steelers could not find a way to beat the Bengals yesterday. Sigh, two out of three is not bad.

That was a song huh?

This Friday is also light up night in Pittsburgh and we always go downtown to watch the fireworks and lights. We also shop a little for Christmas and have some Hot Chocolate. A great time filled with many memories.

One thing we all can create for our children or grand children (none of these for me yet thank you, grandchildren that is) is memories.

I still cherish many things from my childhood. The freedom I obtained when I bought my first car, used mind you but it was still freedom. What memories I had, then I purchased a Pontiac Trans AM red in color, how I would polish and shine those wheels. My dad helped me with the second purchase and he helped me shine and wash it as well. Great memories.

We also had traditions, my mom and dad would both slave over the oven and kitchen and bake many hundred nut horns and several dozen nut roll. Grinding the nuts and adding the honey I do remember watching that but I remember the eating of those nut rolls more. I used to pull the spiral apart, like eating a Oreo cookie the best part was inside.

We always put the tree up over thanksgiving weekend, big shiny blue green aluminum tree. With the little ball that shined up light onto the balls and tree with multicolor wheel spinning about. Even the tree stand had a motor and turned that metal tree. What hours I spent as a little kid watching that tree and light.

So what memories do you have? What was your families signature cookie or pastry? Will you go to any light up nights or parades this week?

What ever those memories where or who ever you created them with they are yours. Make sure you make some new memories this year for the ones you love. Take time to spread joy and smiles for sure but make sure you create a lasting memory for future posts and blogs and Monday morning trips down memory lanes.

May your day be blessed today. May the smiles stretch with happy thoughts.

And till next time.... take the time to smile and make a difference!

www make me smile online dot com

Some Thoughts on a Sunday ~ November 15, 2009

Happy Sunday everyone! Another beautiful day in Pittsburgh and I hope where ever you are the weather will be kind to you.

As I stepped outside this morning to breathe in the sights and sounds I stepped out and looked down on myself and listened to all the sounds around. The quiet, the running squirrel and the far off birds and barking dogs. How quiet nature and the wind can be this time of day.

I hope and I know many of you do get to take some time for yourself every morning even if it is just for 10 minutes just to sit and listen to nature, your thoughts and quiet. How refreshing that sound can be.

So as I listened to the quiet and nature I started to reflect back on this year. Wow how fast it seems to go. Is it because I write every day? Maybe I think. I look forward with joy the time that I take each morning to share my thoughts about the smile and importance of gratitude in ones life.

Yes I am a christian and I do believe so in the power of prayer. No doubt about that but I am also as I think God would want us to be in tune with what we have been given on the inside of our minds and bodies. How are we meant to use it? Why do we do the things we do when many times it is harmful to our existence? Why don't we step out on faith in our abilities to take some risk whether it be saying hello and starting a conversation or trying something new with careful abandon.

Why ? The question for today is why don't we?

I write here on Gather because I enjoy the feeling that I am making a difference. Even if only with a few for now I read you comments. They resonate with my soul and inner being.

I thank you for that.

I write here and then repost the content on Make ME Smile Online. (www.makemesmileonline.com)

MMSO as I shorten it was launched on March 18, 2009 of this year almost eight months ago this Wednesday. We have 27 members on the home sight and another 24 members on the Network Blog section of Facebook. (if your a facebook member look for me or email me at vyakin@makemesmileonline.com I would love to get to know you more and add you.)

I enjoy looking at the stats and visitors that stop by MMSO. I have had people from all over the world. India and Sweden and Germany to name a few. How exciting it is to see the message and smiles spread all over. I like that too.

But most of all I pray every morning that I will reach out to a few and shape their day. Not in a literal way but in maybe reaching out and giving them something to pray on. Think on and change their state or frame of thought just or a minute or so.

Much like a painter does with their work at an art gallery. My canvas is here at Gather and MMSO.

Much like a singer who uses their voice to comfort or excite the soul. My voice is typed out and etched into history one word and thought at a time.

My goals are lofty for MMSO. I know it takes time. I don't get any monetary gain out of typing each morning and I know many friends and those who know me wonder why I do it.

Why to I wake up every day so early and type out my thoughts they ask. Why because it feels right. I don't hope this will make a difference to anyone. I type with expectations that it will. I don't pray that I will keep doing this I instilled in myself true passion that I will.

Do I want to make a living doing what I have so much passion for. Sure I do.

The book has been started I know I don't take time to formulate it now but my goal is to have it done next spring.

The style and shape of MMSO is still a work in progress I have some grand idea's for that.

But the message is simple and will always flow from my soul and spirit to you through these words on Gather and MMSO. I hope if your not a member of MMSO take time to look it through. It is free, it is fun, it will make you think and hopefully make you smile or laugh.

But above all I hope it makes you share and teach others about gratitude and its power and the power of the smile.

Till next time..... enjoy you day....and smile!

www make me smile online dot com

Saturday Morning Reflection ~ November 14, 2009

Good Morning and welcome to Saturday the 14th of November. Ok so any stories about how good your Friday the 13th was?

This week like all flew by pretty fast. I hope your weekend is a great one and filled with time spent with family.

Today also marks the day that many of the fallen soldiers will have memorial services or laid to rest. Please take a moment in your prayers for these brave men and women who did not deserve to die like this, not on home soil. May the families find comfort in knowing that they are among the stars in heaven and stars in our hearts.

Saturday I look back on some posts that are still relevant today as they were in April or May of this past year. Many of you did not get to read these so I share them again here.

I hope you enjoy and again thanks for all your comments.

From April 26th:

Inner Voice

Our spirit and everything we do is without question moved by our ‘Inner Voice’. When we are in tune with our inner voice and listen closely we are more aware and have a better understanding of our self. The very words we speak and actions we do are often directed by our that voice. How many times have you ignored your inner voice only to find that, “I should have ( fill in the blank). Often that moment is lost or missed and gone and sometimes this is a opportunity missed to make a difference in that moment.

Our inner voice is a guide for us, and if you listen closely, a trusted friend that is looking out for our best interests. It reminds us to make that call to a special friend, or helps us to take the time to listen to rain on a porch roof. It has the power to push, prod and pull us in a direction that can make us better but often out of boredom or lack of interest we take the easier road and ignore it. How sad to have a friend that is looking out for you and to push it away for an easier path.

That friend is within you and that is your ‘Inner Voice’.

How does this impact our cause here at Make Me Smile Online?

As you read these words, hopefully on a frequent basis, you have a few options that often come to mind. You can agree, disagree or have no real opinion at all.

The members of our cause hope that you agree or disagree at the very least. For with an opinion, we at the very minimum have a conversation with our thoughts. To have no conversation is to have become numb to a new idea or even one tread upon before. With conversation, we share and amplify our idea’s. We hope you share these idea’s or feelings to us through the use of an email.

We do appreciate your comments. It helps us with content and direction and helps us focus on our future with all of you.

We hope your inner voice guides you to visit us often. We hope in some way our mission touches you in away to want to join us in making that difference in our world.

A smile, your smile can brighten the day of someone. Just try it out today, work those cheek muscles and show your smile to someone.

Today is a beautiful day, sunny with a gorgeous sun. But I am sure we could find beauty in a rain cloud that nourishes our plants and water supplies. So it does not really matter does it. Enjoy your day today, have fun, adventure out and smile.

Power Action Thought for today - - Number 174 Today, venture out and make a difference with your smile!

Simple enough? Listen to your inner voice today.

Till then Smile!

Flowing Into Friday ~ November 13, 2009

Good Morning everyone and welcome to Friday! It is going to be a great day today!

Ok how do I know this? Well.... I don't but guess what what is the alternative?

It is going to be a lousy day? No I don't think that, so why start out trying to lose your way.

Yesterday I spoke about making a difference with a smile, and showing gratitude to ourselves everyday not just on the holidays.

If you read the comments Len yesterday commented on something that he noticed.

"I've noticed something strange recently. Walking down the street I'll smile and offer some greeting when I pass someone. It's almost depressing that many people won't return the greeting and I almost never get a smile in return."

"When I do, it feels really good."

First I appreciate his comment and more so I appreciate him sharing how he feels when the smile is returned or not. Thanks for taking the time to share your smile and kind words Len. I know many of you do share your smile, but since he commented yesterday I want to mention a little something here.

Here our my thoughts on this, you never know what random thought goes through this persons mind after you walked on by after you said hello. You just may in a few seconds made him stop and acknowledge that someone cared enough to say hello.

How many times have you heard someone say.... What's good about it .... after you say Have a good day... Or Good Morning.... How sad huh? Well guess what everyday is a great day! Number one we are alive, the world around us is operating at a constant speed. Most everything is moving as it should forwards and for the good. So why is this persons day not moving that way. Maybe some of it is fortune, but maybe more is attitude.

Maybe your smile will make the difference. Maybe a kind word will change it even for a second or two.

A couple of great quotes here:

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ~William James

and

There are two ways of spreading light - to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. ~Edith Wharton, Vesalius in Zante

Be that candle with your smile and words and through your daily actions be the mirror that reflects and shares its desire to uplift, enrich and share joy.

Love is what this hurting world needs at times. A smile can send love, a smile can enrich another persons life. Even for just that moment, and really who is to say how many will be enriched for more.

Till next time... enjoy your flow into Friday and share your smile with another!

www make me smile online dot com

Never forget to say thanks.... Part 3 of 3 ~ November 12, 2009

Happy Thursday everyone! Two weeks to Thanksgiving and 42 days until Christmas. The calendar and time march on.

Life marches on!

Wednesday is usually set aside for some Wit but with Veterans Day yesterday I kept the message to having gratitude to our son's and daughters who serve in the military. I fell they deserved and have earned that.

Next week I will return with a little wit for you. So look for that next Wednesday.

Today, I wanted to finish up my thoughts on Never forgetting to say thanks....

Often we lose sight of our veterans. Unless we have a close friend or relative in the armed forces over seas or in harms way we go about our day as if it is all about us.

I do understand that feeling, we get wrapped up in the moment. One of our 1440 minutes are very important to us. Are they not? Of course they are important. Each minute can only be lived but once.

I believe that living each day with gratitude is so important and key to our lives.

We set the tone for our day with our thoughts. Actions from our thoughts impact others.

Living a life with deep rooted feelings of grateful thoughts about our life, our troops and our possibilities for success will help each and every day produce actions that will be well received by others.

Life is too short my friend. Life is the one gift that we all should cherish the most and protect each minute and plant seeds of gratitude so that we can harvest moments of joy and share that joy with those we love.

Take time to make a difference with yourself first today. Look in that mirror and admire your greatness, what God created you for to share yourself and your talents with others.

Make that moment each day an important one for you so that you can make a difference with those around you.

Never forget to say thanks....... To God for what he gave you!

Never forget to say thanks....... To family for love that is constant and the memories shared.

Never forget to say thanks....... To friends who always seem to be there when needed.

Never forget to share gratitude with others, just a smile. Just a glance, a kind word, a door that you held open. A compliment well received. Kind moments that fill not only your minutes but the minutes of others.

Enjoy your day, enjoy your moment and time to share a smile with another.

Never forget to say thanks.......

Have a great day everyone and until next time...... Smile!!!!

www make me smile online dot com

Never forget to say thanks.... Part 2 of 3 ~ November 11, 2009

Good morning everybody and happy Veterans day! Yesterday I talked about what the American soldier does for us each and every day. The sacrifices they put aside to cover us with the blanket of freedom we all enjoy.

We don't have to run through the streets to avoid enemy fire to get to our destination.

We don't have to worry about armed check points to go to our neighboring state.

We don't have barbed wire that divides us from the enemy.

Our shores are our beaches, and our havens to relax and rest.

Our mountains are not our lookouts or hideaways, they are our back ground to a beautiful day.

Our skies are not littered with bombs and planes falling out of the sky they are filled with blue and clear sun shine.

Our soldiers everyday want nothing more than to come back home to us.

They do a job that has no clock to punch in or out. They do what they do and often just want safety for their brothers in battle.

I found this video that puts into perspective what a soldier really wants. They want to be loved and remembered not put into the middle of a political battle or story.

I watched all 5 minutes of this video and I think it does a very good job telling that story and making that point. Enjoy it. Keep those political barbs out of today and know that the only story is the one about the soldier and the veteran who serve and have served for our freedoms.

Enjoy! Stand proud America and don't forget to smile!!

Happy Veterans Day all......Thanks to the American Soldier where ever you are....

God Speed and stay safe!

Till next time and every time don't forget to smile ! ! !

www make me smile online dot com

Never forget to say thanks.... Part 1 ~ November 10, 2009

Good morning everyone and welcome to Tuesday. As you may know I have a very special place in my heart for veterans who have served our country. My dad, who passed away in August of 2002.

My tribute to him is located here.....

My thoughts on giving thanks I talk about every week here on Tuesday and Thursday. I think it is the most important part of any day to show gratitude for what we have.

What the American soldier gives us every day of the year is probably one of the greatest sacrifices a son or daughter can give. To serve their country and protect.

So I wanted to give thanks not just tomorrow which is veterans day but today as well.

I found this video which I think does a great job in putting things in perspective.

If you see a veteran today I hope this reminds you all to say thanks!

God bless all of you..... Enjoy the video

Till next time....take the time, to smile and give thanks!

www make me smile online dot com