Summertime - Take Time To Smell The Roses

I AM SO GRATEFUL for the time to smell the roses.Lying in a hammock between two shade treesOr wandering through a multicolodred rose garden,Sitting quietly and communing with natureBeholding something beautiful in each person I meet.

I AM SO GRATEFUL for a walk with no destination.A choice pair of tennis shoes cushions my feet,Pretty plantings in the neighborhood catch my eye,A leisurely chat provides a welcome, short break,And a nonchalant jogger says, "Have a nice day."

I AM SO GRATEFUL for the sounds of summer.A bicyle beeps a warning from behind,A hard hit baseball implants a resounding whack,Lawn mowers drone while cutting the grass,And booming fireworks light up the night sky.

I AM SO GRATEFUL for the lazy, hazy days of summer.The click of croquet balls rebound across manicured turf,The cool tingle of a root beer float satisfies a deep thirst,Straw bonnets tug against their ribbons on a breezy day,And barbershop quartets harmonize in the good old summertime.

I AM SO GRATEFUL for a stroll through the park.Skateboards hum as they roll down the sidewalk,Live music fills the air at an outdoor concert,Shrieks erupt when a Little Leaguer hits his first home run,And hands clap in unison to the beat of the band.

I AM SO GRATEFUL for relaxing under an oak tree.A bird's sweet song murmurs in my ears,Children's laughter drifts through the air,Before dozing off for an afternoon siestaI think to myself, "It's a wonderful world."

Excerpted from "Gratitude Works: Open Your Heart to Love" by Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodoh.

Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodoh are authors of "Gratitude Works: Open Your Heart to Love." http://www.gratitudeworks.com

MORE RESOURCES:

» Inspirational drama anything but #39;Broken#39; - Chicago Daily Herald

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0i-0fd=Rurl=http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/movies/09brok.html%3Fref%3Dartscid=1290894160ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNErMEV7TkmthHcFE7EQFGDPJhfJMwimg src=http://nt1.ggpht.com/news?imgefp=0fZnEGRie0AJimgurl=graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/01/09/movies/09broken.6001.jpg width=80 height=48 alt= border=1brfont size=-2New York Times/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-0fd=Rurl=http://www.dailyherald.com/story/%3Fid%3D262690cid=1290894160ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNGI-J3IWCeUuxCz5TFuzD1HYXhU3A» bInspirational/b drama anything but #39;Broken#39;/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fChicago Daily Herald,nbsp;ILnbsp;-/font nobr15 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1This movie is based on the binspirational/b book by Bishop TD Jakes, which might explain why Duke treats it like an overripe project for the Lifetime cable b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-1fd=Rurl=http://thephoenix.com/Providence/Movies/74627-NOT-EASILY-BROKEN/cid=1290894160ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNHKRVPNuJOLT6q1r_So3L12jQ4UbQBill Duke#39;s Not Easily Broken/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Phoenix/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1290894160hl=ennobrall 111 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

John Lewis hails #39;inspirational#39; sales effort - Times Online

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-0fd=Rurl=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article5485105.ececid=1291345319ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNGkjvv-yUtjwv_EWmDgwVxEnJj2mgJohn Lewis hails #39;binspirational/b#39; sales effort/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTimes Online,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr52 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1John Lewis emphasised that the sales figures were inflated by calendar effects but hailed a “truly binspirational/b” performance. Sales of electricals and home b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Local Sports Hero to Share Inspirational Story at Business Club of ... - PR.com (press release)

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-0fd=Rurl=http://www.pr.com/press-release/125272cid=1291345238ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNHk5SNy8n35FQuHqa-rHCZx63UQKQLocal Sports Hero to Share bInspirational/b Story at Business Club of b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR.com (press release),nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Raleigh, NC, January 09, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Logan Aldridge, a top national wakeboarder from Raleigh, will share his binspirational/b story at the Business Club b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Gerard Lucien Gaudreau, inspirational speaker - Baltimore Sun

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/3-0fd=Rurl=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bal-md.ob.gaudreau08jan08,0,7998006.storycid=0ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNHKZYei-KbTJei2dtoHyst6QlB2cQGerard Lucien Gaudreau, binspirational/b speaker/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBaltimore Sun,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrJan 8, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Frederick N. Rasmussen Gerard Lucien Gaudreau, a former partner in a Baltimore real estate firm and an binspirational/b speaker and teacher, died of heart b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Tyler Thompson, inspirational JCJC student, dies - Laurel Leader Call

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://www.leadercall.com/local/local_story_007111014.htmlcid=1290691744ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNGx-32zjI9Bm_hRpAv9wly2cTACEgTyler Thompson, binspirational/b JCJC student, dies/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fLaurel Leader Call,nbsp;MSnbsp;-/font nobrJan 7, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Jason Niblett, newseditor@laurelleadercall.com A Jones County Junior College student who symbolically became an inspiration during the 2008 Jones County b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Dr. Phil: Movie critic? - Los Angeles Times

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-0fd=Rurl=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2009/01/the-first-criti.htmlcid=0ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNGI4qfWuWw1p3LG_jNdZ6b3xHG_cQDr. Phil: Movie critic?/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fLos Angeles Times,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobr4 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1That#39;s what Sony has done for its new movie, quot;Not Easily Broken,quot; which is not only being touted by Dr. Phil (quot;bInspirational/b, hilarious and deeply movingquot;) b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational Deborah Riedel soprano dies of cancer aged 50 - The Australian

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6-0fd=Rurl=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24889996-16947,00.htmlcid=0ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNGp0MxmwGoCu1I4nRn0PQl8we2TrgbInspirational/b Deborah Riedel soprano dies of cancer aged 50/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Australian,nbsp;Australianbsp;-/font nobrJan 8, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Matthews described Riedel as an binspirational/b singer. Riedel grew up in Sydney and was a schoolteacher before successfully auditioning for a place in the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational coach sharing her experiences with local girls - Chinook Observer (subscription)

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-0fd=Rurl=http://www.chinookobserver.info/main.asp%3FSectionID%3D3%26SubSectionID%3D14%26TM%3D34244.65cid=0ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNH-GkAnCTFm_OPCiDrLzkQQF6OuuwbInspirational/b coach sharing her experiences with local girls/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fChinook Observer (subscription),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobrJan 8, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1ILWACO — On June 11 from 10 am to 3 pm, girls in grades sixth through 12th have a rare opportunity to spend a day with an binspirational/b leader of young b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Who inspires you? - Examiner.com

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE5086CU20090109cid=1291277465ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNHktEFXBEPwlA9y7ejf5bRaL5gZpQimg src=http://nt2.ggpht.com/news?imgefp=ctBNpSviIf0Jimgurl=www.reuters.com/resources/r/%3Fm%3D02%26d%3D20090109%26t%3D2%26i%3D7796545%26w%3D192%26r%3D2009-01-09T211524Z_01_BTRE5081N2Q00_RTROPTP_0_PEOPLE-SWAYZE width=80 height=53 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Reuters/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://www.examiner.com/x-1699-Adventures-of-a-Nobody-Examiner~y2009m1d9-Who-inspires-youcid=1291277465ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNHVmONMRStbzg5C1V_BlxBpckYSgwWho inspires you?/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr12 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Being in the public eye can be extremely draining and to see Swayze battling the disease with such grace is binspirational/b. (Interview with Barbara Walters) b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-1fd=Rurl=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/columnists/lorraine_kelly/article2116387.ececid=1291277465ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNGDZfO16103yNZehx5aRsTEopCH5gSwayze showed it is OK to be scared/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Sun/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1291277465hl=ennobrall 291 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Rudy Nutrition Mutually Agrees to Terminate Merger into Marshall ... - Business Wire (press release)

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-0fd=Rurl=http://www.businesswire.com/news/google/20090109005344/encid=1291430744ei=Pc9nSbaiE9mpmQfU2ezVDAusg=AFQjCNEo3NCD8XRi4BK_nS6t56gvRdKDngRudy Nutrition Mutually Agrees to Terminate Merger into Marshall b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBusiness Wire (press release),nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobr1 hour ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1“Rudy” was recently named the 54 th greatest binspirational/b movie of all-time by the American Film Institute. Rudy Nutrition is focused on creating, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational - Google News

RELATED ARTICLES

Giving Life Meaning
Have you thought about what you want people to say about you after you're gone? Can you hear the voices saying, "He was a great man." Or "She really will be missed.

Information -- Schminformation, Enough Already!
We are drowning in it, our grey matter is swollen with it, half the time when we need a piece of it and we know it is "in there" somewhere, we can't access it because the poor Grey Matter Computer is so jammed it takes forever to search for the file and then it's usually "just lost" or was mistakenly deleted. And that's just our brains.

Everybody is Somebody
I wrote about my life and all that I have had to go through. I also ended that story with a little bit about how my life has since changed, but I want to take it further.

Voices Inside My Head
Have you ever wanted to do something really major-something stupendous-something totally different and so down right incredible that the fact that you created the idea has you stimulated and excited?Like, for instance, you decide to open your own business. You have the idea of exactly what you want to do and how you want to do it.

One Woman's Story of How Her Smile Increased Her Confidence
For one who takes pride in being involved with different community organizations, possessing a high level of confidence is essential. Especially when that involvement includes speaking to large and small groups requesting donations for numerous non-profit organizations.

Death Wish
I tremble at the thought that millions of people suffer enough to entertain a death wish. Perhaps it is as common a component of the psyche as suffering is a widespread phenomenon among humans.

How I Get Joy as a Value
*In the last couple of months, I have been fortunate to be able to share the troubles of others. Why fortunate? I believe that the ability to be very close to the pain and fears of others has allowed me to realize how utterly fantastic my life is.

Inspiration From Jack Dempsey
I really like Jack Dempsey's great one liner: "A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."It summarises, as powerfully and as swiftly as one of his explosive left hooks, the spirit of anyone who refuses to accept limitations and defeat whether they are a boxer or not.

How I Made $10,000 In One Day By Swimming Underwater!
"Without health, life is not life; it is only a state of languor and suffering," RabelaisIf you want to be wealthy, it's best to get healthy. A salubrious lifestyle is worth the effort.

Have a Green Day, Every Day!
Green symbolises growth. Growth requires change and transformation.

The HUGE Deposit of Diamond in You
Something happened to me some years back that is worthy is sharing with everybody all over the world. When I started running my business, things were very tough for me to the point that I could hardly afford to have a dime on me.

Why Be Great?
Have you ever thought of what it would take to make you "truly great" at what you do?Look around you at your employees and co-workers and ask yourself whether or not any of them are "truly great" at what they do. No doubt some of them really excel at their jobs and at life, while others just seem to get by.

Bad Blood
Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 26, 2002Recently my father passed away. My problem is he never filed a will through the court, but he did have a holographic will, which is an unwitnessed, handwritten will.

For Old Times Sake
Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 19, 2002I am currently going through a divorce, and we've been negotiating the terms of the settlement for a year and a half without agreement. I have started a relationship with another woman, but I'm in a saddening, irresponsible situation that was mischievously planned by the ex.

Innovation Management - Being Receptive to Inspiration
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

Lewis And Clark Pay Attention
As I write this Southern California has just ended its second week of triple digit temperatures. The intense heat changes the way we live and alters the rhythm of our days.

No More Frustration: The Thorns of Opportunity - Part II
The quest for the ultimate victory.In part one I shared with you how not knowing what you don't know, much like the "thorny" gardener, can rob you of your time, and keep you from enjoying and living the life you want.

I Hate My Computer and Other Inspirational Thoughts
The New Year has not started out very well for Yours Truly. After the first day of the new year, my life went south for the rest of the winter.

Are You Afraid of Change?
Change, no matter how you cut it, can certainly be adaunting task. There are so many ways to change; yourimage, attitude, environment, perceptions, addictions, andhow you treat others.

Believe In Yourself And Become a Winner: Lessons from Hollywood
Copyright 2004 Priya Shah A while ago I made it a point to watch the movie "Legally Blonde." Not just for the bright, chirpy and eminently watchable Reese Witherspoon, but also because I loved the message it sent out.