Soul-Wise Living
Soul-Wise Living

Best Friends: Why are they so wonderful?

       I’ve spent much of the last decade appreciating my close friends who CHOOOSE and EMBRACE HAPPINESS and therefore lead much more ABUNDANT lives.  I’m forever amazed at what they accomplish in life, how much they give and how amazingly joyful they feel. I’m blessed to be able to call them friends. I’ve discovered that each of these wonderful people have these traits:

They Express Gratitude. –By being grateful for what they have in their lives nad by EXPRESSING that gratitude, they have a deeper sense of happiness.  When they appreciate what they have, what they have appreciates in value.

They Cultivate Optimism. – No matter what they are going through (and WOW! Some have gone through so very much) they  always find a way to put an optimistic spin on it.  They look at a challenge as a chance to learn and grow from whatever they are facing ~ (from a broken nail to a broken heart!)

They Don’t Compare. – They know that there is no gain in comparing themselves to someone else. That that attitude only breads resentment if they see that they have ‘more’ and breads a sense of superiority if they see them as having ‘less’ . Neither are good places to be inside one’s head.

They Practice Acts of Simple Kindness. – They are amazing actually. They give simply. They don’t give HUGE things ONCE in awhile but they give LITTLE things  ALL of the time! Sometimes, they give simply by listening. But, they always selflessly give with no expectation in return except the knowing that they are somehow making someone else’s life a little better. I, however, do know they DO get something in return. They feel better about themselves and this leads to amazing health benefits!  Selflessly helping someone is a super powerful way to feel good inside.  And feeling good inside just makes their wonderfulness exude even more

They Nurture their Relationships with friends and family. – Of course they do, they are my friends! They have deep and meaningful relationships with family and friends. They get and give that “I’m loved Feeling”  and feel connected.

They have Learned to Forgive. – They know that keeping feelings of hatred is terrible for themselves and their well-being.   This did not come easily as they were younger but as they have grown in wisdom, it now comes naturally.They know that keeping negative emotions inside of them cheats them from feeling wonderful and so they forgive to be better to themselves. (This is the one that I am working on now feverishly!)

They Savor Life’s Little Joys. – They know how to “BE IN THE MOMENT” and appreciate the simple events of their day ~ a child’s giggle, the color of daffodils and the taste of ChocolateJ It’s the simple things in life that can be the most rewarding and they know it.

They Practice Spirituality. – Some go to church but most of us believe in the art of beach walking for inner peace and connecting with the Universe. They get a sense of “YES! That’s why I’m here and thank you for reminding me of all there is and all I am supposed to be doing. And, the most accomplished people I know feel that they’re here doing work they’re “called to do.”

I took the time to share this today, because I wanted to celebrate my friends ~ they don’t need to be named here because they know who they are and do not need the accolades of ‘name dropping’. But also, remember that  no matter what part of “THE” journey any of us are on, we can always develop and magnify any and all of these traits within us. I’ve already told you the one I need to work on. Which one will best help magnify your life’s happiness?

7 Comments »

  1. Oh..I so love this! How beautiful Laura… I feel so fortunate that you’re in my life. To think it all really started one year ago at a little workshop that changed so much for me. I’m so thankful that you thought to ask me!

    Hugs!
    Jeannie

    [Reply]

    Laura Clark Reply:

    Jeannie~
    Isn’t it great to have like-minded friends who support and help you grow in whatever direction we choose.
    I so enjoyed having you at the conference with me. It’s when you say YES to what life offers you that you
    can relish in all what it gives us and YOU know how to say YES!!!!!!!!! Hugs back to you 🙂

    [Reply]

    Laura Reply:

    Jeannie~
    Isn’t it great to have like-minded friends who support and help you grow in whatever direction we choose.
    I so enjoyed having you at the conference with me. It’s when you say YES to what life offers you that you
    can relish in all what it gives us and YOU know how to say YES!!!!!!!!! Hugs back to you

    [Reply]

    Comment by Jeannie Spiro — April 1, 2012 @ 8:09 pm

  2. What a beautiful post – thanks for sharing and yes we must celebrate our best friends!

    [Reply]

    Laura Reply:

    Thanks, Marilyn! Just WRITING this reminded me to call and set a date to spend time with some of them 🙂 KEEP SMILING

    [Reply]

    Comment by Marilyn Schendel — April 2, 2012 @ 6:50 am

  3. This is a lovely list I would like to share with the teens in my social skills practice. For kids who are challenged at building relationships, this is a wonderful set of skills to remember! (and aren’t we all challenged at building relationships sometimes?)

    [Reply]

    Laura Reply:

    Claudia!!!! Yes, please share it with the teens you work with ~ I love that idea~ it is so powerful to learn some of this at that age 🙂 And, yes, we all are challenged at
    building relationships ~ I think it’s called “life”!! Let me know how it works with the teens! KEEP SMILING

    [Reply]

    Comment by Claudia Neely — April 2, 2012 @ 8:35 am

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