Today is both the old and the New

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:
Today is a special day! This day comes but once a year. It is a day that holds both the remnants of the old and the excitement and promise of the New.


Today is a day of Release! Releasing all that you no longer need; struggles, misery, hardship, loss, lack, criticism of self, victim-hood. Anything that weighs you down. Anyone who holds you back.
It is a time for clearing out that which no longer serves your greatest good.

Today is a day of acknowledgment. Acknowledging how far you have come! All the steps you have taken towards your personal goals. All that you have been through and made it - made it to today! Take the successes - big and small, take the enlightenment gained, the lessons learned, take You and pat yourself on the back and say "Congratulations on all you have accomplished!"

Today is a day of Vision. Creating the Vision of You and Your life in the New Year.

Today is a day of Preparation. Preparing for a great New Adventure! Just like packing for a trip or a vacation you cannot take it all so you have to prioritize what you will pack and take with you.
Take your favorite things, things that give you comfort, support and encouragement. Take a support network with you - edit your phone book and keep only those numbers that bring a smile to your face and comfort to your soul. Add in any numbers of new friends and soul supporters.

Put in a change of address form with your Higher Authority and make your Intention clear that you are moving on up to a bigger, better and Higher location.
Take only the memories that warm your heart and sustain you in peace, love and joy.

Today is a day of Action! Let this day and all the steps above galvanize you into taking the actions necessary to create a positive, powerful New Year!
You have earned it, You deserve it and You are Worth it!

Affirm:
Today I am clearing out the old and making room for the Positive, Powerful New ME in the New Year!

Have a safe, peaceful and joyous New Years Eve!
Consider yourself hugged-
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Gear up in Serenity for New Years!

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

One holiday is over and another one will soon be upon us. After all the high frentic energy, the fast pace of all the recent activities, the peaks, the valleys of interacting with family and friends - STOP! - take a deep breath in ....and let it out.....do it again...releasing all stress and emotional back up. NOW breath in peace, serenity, love and joy.
As you gear up for the next holiday- New Years, remember to take a little time out for you. Break the momentum of stress, tension and emotionality by giving yourself the gift of a mini retreat simply by sitting right where you are now and breathing in - peace, love and joy- and breathing OUT all stress, fear and negativity.

However you travel during these holiday times; by car, plane, train or Brain - decide to Enjoy the trip!

Affirm:
     I generate positive energy today and I choose to be positive and peaceful.

Have a Terrific Tuesday!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Just Lighten up and Laugh!

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

An average five year old child laughs more than four hundred times a day. An Adult? Fourteen.
Do you think that's why so many adults need laxatives? Loretta LaRoche

Your mission today and this holiday is to find reasons to laugh. To Lighten up and enjoy yourself. Find the humor in the little things. Laughter is not only good for your soul but is healthy for your heart. Laughter de-stresses our entire system not to mention providing a wonderful attitude adjustment for ourselves and those around us.
So this Holiday go for it! Find a reason to laugh!

Have a laughter filled Wednesday!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Too Blessed to be Stressed!

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Whenever you feel yourself being anxious, frustrated, overwhelmed just STOP! and tell yourself:
              I am too Blessed to be stressed today!
                    (Repeat as often as needed.)

Have a Blessed Tuesday!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Everyday in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Scatter Joy Today!

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Your mission should you decide to accept it is to Scatter Joy today!
A smile on your face to all you meet. Saying "Happy Holidays!" to strangers brings the most wonderful results. The most powerful of all words is "Thank You." Try saying "Thank You" to as many people as possible today. Random acts of Kindness are very powerful, especially at this time of year.
Whenever I see bell ringers outside of a store I always say "Thank you for braving the cold to help other people." Sometimes I even come out of the store with a cup of hot coffee or cocoa and hand it to the person and say "Just a little something to help keep you warm"
Try it for yourself and see the immediate surprise of joy that follows.

Affirm:
     Today I greet everyone with a smile and an attitude of Joy.

Go for it- have a Scatter Joy Monday!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every day in Every way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Replace your To Do list with a Things Done List

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought :

I woke up this morning and my first thoughts went to how much I have left to do and how little time I have left to accomplish it all. I made up a to do list to get organized and felt more overwhelmed as I saw the enormity of it all in writing. Then I said to myself "STOP!" I took a deep breath, put on my solution cap and got a cup of coffee and paused for a moment. Then I got a blank piece of paper and wrote at the top Things Done List. Then I started my day. Everything that I did from making the bed, feeding the cats, putting clothes in the hamper, starting laundry, emptying the dishwasher, I put on my Done List.
My day had just started and I could see how much I had already accomplished and instead of feeling overwhelmed I felt energized and ready to accomplish more. I took a couple of things from my to do list, did those and added those to my Done List. Wow! Suddenly I felt like today was going to be a great day filled with lots of productivity and accomplishment!

So try some reverse thinking on yourself. Keep your to do list however make a separate Things Done List and add everything you do on it. No matter how small or insignificant it may seem when you look at it all together you will realize just how much you are really getting done!

Affirm:
     Today I keep track of ALL the things I am accomplishing to motivate and inspire myself!

Have a Wonderfully Productive Weekend!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Tis the season to Choose to be Jolly

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:
They say "'Tis the season to be jolly."

I say 'Tis the season to CHOOSE to be jolly. Today make the conscious choice for joy and happiness. It's an inside job so start within and begin to feel happy and joyful and let it radiate out. As you go through your day encountering other people and circumstances remind yourself that you chose happiness and joy today instead of being right, being a victim, being perfect, stressed out, being critical or judgmental.

Affirm:
    Today I choose to be jolly, happy and joyful!

Have a Happy inside and a Joyful Jolly out Wednesday!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

I am the common denominator of my life

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

How is your day going today? The common denominator in all your experiences is You. If you are unhappy, stressed or aggravated about anything today just examine how you have been thinking about it. Then ask yourself if you keep thinking the same way, the same thoughts, the same attitude will you really have a chance to feel better, happier or more peaceful?

Affirm:
     I choose to change my thinking and my attitude to regain my joy and serenity.

Notice that you feel better when you think better thoughts.
Have a Thoughtful Tuesday
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Be True to You holidays

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

It is very stressful, especially at the holiday times, to try to live up to everyone else's standards for you, to people please, over commit because you're afraid to say No, do things out of guilt rather than free will, hold back your own thoughts and feelings because someone may not like or agree with you.

Just for today try something different. Be your version of you, please yourself, commit only to what you really want to do, speak your thoughts and share your feelings with truth and love.
Just for today - relax and Be You! After all no one can tell you you're doing it wrong because you're the expert on you!

Have a Be True to You Monday!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Everyday in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Take charge of you Thursday

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Today is a reminder that you and only you can bring yourself happiness. Happiness IS an inside job and who better than you to know what makes you happy! So today focus on all those things that make you happy and bring you joy.

Affirm:
     Today I am in charge of my own happiness!

Have a Terrific Thursday and don't let anyone steal your joy or happiness today.
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in yourself, Anything is Possible!

Give yourself a Time Out.

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

It's time to take a deep breath and sloooow down! All the hype from the radio and tv and newspapers telling us that time is running out - everyone around us, including ourselves feeling inadequate as we focus on all the things we haven't done and wondering how we will accomplish it all.
Feeling overwhelmed causes stress and stress causes the need for acceleration - as though if we could somehow speed up, quiken our pace, we could do more, be more, get more done.

When I think I have too much to do and therefore don't have the time to take a break for me it is like driving my car and seeing that I need gas but keep putting it off to get one more thing done. If I don't take the time to stop and put gas in my car - then the law of Cause and Effect will kick in and I will be forced to take a break -
while I walk to the gas station or call someone for assistance.
And I will not be in a great mood either!

By choosing to take time out for myself, I am in better spirits, have a better attitude and have more positive energy to do all the things I need to do - with a "light" heart.
So take a break for yourself today and recharge, refuel and re-energize! Fill your "gas tank" with time for yourself!
You are worth it and You deserve it!

Affirm:
     Today I deserve a "time out" just for me!

Have a Me time Wednesday!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Be a Secret Angel this season!

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

They say this is the season of angels and miracles. This holiday season consider becoming an angel yourself. Miracles don't have to be big and have lots of fanfare they can be small, simple and anonymous.

There are so many ways to become an anonymous angel for someone else.

Get your family and friends to fill out Holiday cards and take them to a nursing home and have the staff give them to the residents, who don't always get a lot of mail.
After it snows, go shovel or snowblow an elderly neighbors driveway. If you can't do it yourself, see if you can get one of the high school students to do it as their contribution to spreading holiday cheer.
Put together a food basket and put it on the doorstep of someone you know is having a hard time.
Offer to babysit for free for a relative, co-worker or neighbor who needs to go holiday shopping but might have a hard time getting someone to watch the children.
See if you can get some of your family, co-workers or friends to join you in becoming Secret Angels. See how many creative ideas you can come up with. The more Secret Angels there are out there the more Holiday Miracles that can happen!

Affirm:
     Today I look for ways to become a secret blessing to someone else.

Have a miracle filled Monday!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

New Batch of Affirmation Rocks

I just love how these new rocks turned out. I get to be more creative every time I do a batch. Since it is the holiday season, I did several snowmen that turned out excellent on very small rocks. I did a couple with outdoor trees and even repainted over a couple that I did not like. It takes a long time however it is well worth it when I see the finished results!

Have an adventure Weekend!

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Make this weekend an Adventure Weekend! Do something different.

Make snow angels and go for hot chocolate. Play a card game or a board game with your family or friends. Listen to some different music just to try it out. Go for a drive in the car and go down streets that you haven't been to before and check out the Holiday lights.

If you're doing your Holiday cards pack them up and take them to the bookstore and write them out while having a cappuccino in the cafe.
In the winter time we can feel a lethargy that comes from doing the same routine. So shake up the winter blahs and try something new, something different.
Go on an Adventure this weekend!

Affirm:
    Today I create new energy and fun by having a sense of Adventure!

Have an Adventurous Weekend!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Today is your choice

Get Jazzed & Joyful Thought:

Today is a great day! A day of unlimited possiblities. A day filled with your potential for peace, love and happiness! It is the season of Joy and Gratitude.

With Possibility, Peace, Love, Happiness, Joy and Gratitude how can your day be anything but Great!

Affirm:
    It's my choice and I choose to have a Great today!

Have a your choice Thursday!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!

Holiday Ideas for the Little kid inside of you

Get Jazzed & Joyful Daily Thought:

Today's Daily Thought is for the Little kid inside all of us - (attention adult -this is worth the read!)

It's the holiday time. The time when we make a list to give gifts to people we love and care about. A time when we see children excited about the season and the anticipation of wrapped gifts.

Here is a fun idea. How about putting yourself on your gift list. After all there is a little kid inside each of us. So why not think about something you could get for your inner child? Like a paint set, a pair of fun pajamas, some legos or a constructor set, a stuffed animal or perhaps a journal, cool pen or fun stationery? How about a Santa or Snowman mug with a favorite cocoa, tea or coffee packet inside?

When you are out shopping let the kid inside guide you to something special - just for you. Then wrap it up and put it under the tree or with your other gifts that get opened for Christmas, Hanukkah or for whatever special holiday, season or faith you celebrate.
Every year I get a fun gift for Little Me and put it under our tree. I address the tag "To: Little Me" From: Adult ME". I get it early enough so that by the time I open it, it triggers the fun memories of picking it out and the knowledge that "Cool now I get to use it!"

It is also a wonderful tradition to hand down to the next generation. It reminds my children who are now in college and my grandkids (seven of them from my husband's side!) the importance of keeping in touch with the inner child, the fun, spontaneous, creative and adventure side of our adult self.
It is an excellent tool for adults to use that allows us to lighten up, let go of some stress and to change our perspective from being overwhelmed by the season to actually enjoying it and participating in it with a softer, warmer heart.
I have been doing it for many years now and my kids and grandkids are used to it. Instead of saying "What's up with this?!" they say "Oh look here is one for Little Me!" In fact my husband does it too and we even give fun gifts to each other's inner child. There is a fun gift for Little Jimmy from Little Me and vice versa and so there is a genuine surprise gift (like one year it was a Zbots build it yourself Space station for Little Jimmy and a Sparkly stuffed Teddy Bear for Little Me which I still have).

How about exchanging names with some of your friends or family and getting fun gifts for your inner kids?

It may sound corny and ridiculous (and that would be the serious, "I'm too old for this" adult in you talking) but the fun, joy and love it generates is real and lasting!
Come on 'Fess Up! You know you want to! So go ahead! This year let your inner child have some fun too!

Affirm:
    'Tis the Seaon to be good to Myself and my Inner Child! And I am Worth it!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!
Mary Ellen
Get Jazzed & Joyful About You, Every Day in Every Way!
Believe in Yourself, Anything is Possible!