Inspirational Courage

“Courage doesn’t always roar.  Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow’”

Mary Anne Radmacher (1957 -) American Artist

Inspirational – Kindness

More than 1,000 people share an act of Kindness.

One woman’s kindness to a fellow Starbucks patron resulted in more than a thousand others spreading the holiday-season generosity in the northwest Washington town of Marysville.

A regular patron at the chain had paid for the person in line behind her a few times before, according to the Everett Herald.  But on Wednesday, her good deed set off a chain of 1,013 customers paying for the next person’s drink.

The spontaneous pay-it-forward run ended at 6:20 a.m. Friday, a store employee said.  The name of the iced-tea drinker who started it remains unknown at the store.

- Associated Press

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.  One never knows when a smile, an encouraging word, or a small act will touch someone…then to touch someone else…then to touch someone else…then to touch someone else…

Attitude of Gratitude

Having an attitude of gratitude may seem like such a cliché, but it is so true.  It is the perfect time of year to think about it, also.  Thanksgiving leading into Christmas and counting one’s blessings…  Lately though I haven’t had an attitude of gratitude.  I feel like I have been planning a sympathy party for myself and inviting whoever wants to feel sorry for me or themselves.  I have been focusing on what I don’t have and my problems instead of what I do have and how wonderfully blessed I have been.  The amazing thing about it all is that how I feel all has to do with my attitude.  I have been reading the book The Power of a Positive Mom and it has really made me stop and think.  Your level of contentment has to do with your heart, not what you have, what you have accomplished, or how many friends you have.  It is a matter of the heart and what you focus your thoughts on.    How do you view the world?  Do you see your circumstance through the eyes of faith, trusting God will see you through?  Or do you see your circumstances through eyes that only see what is wrong with the situation?  Ultimately, the quality of your life and mine depends on the way we view it.  Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll puts it this way in The Power of a Positive Mom:              The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.  Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.  It is more important than the past, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other other people think or say or do.  It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.  It will make or break a company…a church…a home, or an individual.  The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.  We cannot change our past…we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.  We cannot change the inevitable.  The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.  I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it.  And so it is with you…we are in charge of our attitudes.

Inspirational Tee – KINDNESS

“Three things in human life are important.  The first is to be kind.  The second is to be kind.  And the third is to be kind.”  Henry James (1843-1916) American born British Novelist

Inspire people to use every moment as an opportunity to have positive thoughts, use powerful words, and act upon them to make a difference.  I’ve Got Character can help inspire yourself and people around you with our Kindness line of clothing which says No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

Visit our store at http://www.ivegotcharacter.com/

 

Holidays are here

It is hard to believe, but it is that time of the year again…the hustle and bustle of October thru the first of the year.  We all start the celebration of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  We are putting up decorations and then taking them down, replacing them with the next set, we are doing lots of cooking and baking, we are going to lots of parties, and we are doing lots of shopping.  However during this busy time, how much of the actual time do we spend with our families, how much of the time do we spend giving thanks, how much of the time do we stop and smell the turkey, how much of the time do we spend tasting the food we labored over, how much of the time do we actually enjoy during this time?  I think for many of us, we get so caught up in the preparation and anticipation that we forget to take it all in and enjoy it.  We forget that this is the time our families will treasure most. 

Keep in mind, we will forget the decorations, the food, the presents, and the things, but we won’t forget the relationships, the love, the memories, the joy, the togetherness.  Our children won’t remember the presents of the year or the food they ate or the money spent, but they will remember the time you spend with them, the hug you give them, the gift they give to another child whose parents can’t afford one, or the meal they serve to a homeless family.  These are the things remembered during this time of year, these are the things this time of year is supposed to be about.  So let’s try to remember to stop and appreciate those around us, to use this season as a time of giving, whether it be a smile, a word of encouragement, a gift, to use every moment as an opportunity to spread the joy of the season.  Forget about the rest…you might surprise yourself, you may actually find some joy yourself.     

Character Education

As the school year is getting ready to begin, everyone is thinking about getting their school supplies, going school shopping, and finding out their teacher or schedule.  However, I am thinking about how many choices my children and I will make this year and whether they will be good or bad choices.  When you really stop and think about it, we each make hundreds of choices every day.  Some, I know, are more important than others, but nonetheless, they are still choices.  I am trying to impress upon my children how important it is to think about each and every choice they make-how they treat others, how hard they work in class, how they take a test, how they take care of their classroom, how they treat their teachers and principal, how they talk on the bus, how they act out on the baseball field…it could go on and on and on.  But what about me?  As a mom, how am I treating my children or other moms or my child’s teacher that I’m not too happy with, am I helping out the school as much as I can, am I staying involved, am I keeping quiet at the soccer game?  The list could go on and on and on for me, as well.  The kids are watching me and modeling after me.   So let’s start the school year off right.  Let’s use every moment as an opportunity to make positive life changing choices. 

Without love

I just finished reading an article titled, “What Remains The ‘Love Chapter’ for parents,” and it was awesome.  In it, Cindy sigler Dagnan said, “If I have the gift of knowing which child attempted to flush the Hot Wheels down the toilet and which one pushed her sister, and if I have faith that somehow we’ll survive life’s emergencies, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I save all my box tops for school and give outgrown clothing to the local shelter, and if I surrender my body to stretch marks and under-eye circles, but have not love, I gain nothing.”  These are all so true, aren’t they?  We can appreciate these moments, though, really by…1. keeping things in perspective, 2. laughing (a lot),  3. focusing on God’s love and 4. giving back the same type of unconditional love.  

Love is patient when someone spills his/her milk, love is encouraging when your husband has a hard day, love is okay with the fact that your best friend just bought a new house.  Love is not impatient or angry or snapping at your loved ones because something did not go your way.  Cindy Sigler Dagnan puts it best when she wrote, “  Where there are sleepless nights, they shall end.  Where there are diapers, Little League and dioramas built from shoeboxes, they will cease.  Where there is knowledge of babycare trends, discipline strategies and boy-girl problems, it will pass away.  Now these three remain:  faith, lived out in my daily circumstances and instilled in my children; hope, of one day rejoicing with my family in heaven; and love, which covers over a multitude of less-than-perfect moments.  But the greatest of these is love.  It is what remains…long after I am gone.” 

It is truly amazing what God can do once you let go of all the “stuff” that doesn’t mean anything and focus on the “stuff” that means a great deal.  Take every moment and make it the best moment ever, use it to be the best you can be, use it to encourage those around you, and thank God for it because it is a gift.   

How will you be remembered?

Truly amazing and touching…We were watching the Dayton Air Show when one of the planes went down, and the pilot died.  It was a grim reminder of the fragility of every day, but it also reminded me of what is important.  We need to live every day like it is our last and ask ourselves how will I be remembered?  Can you imagine what our world would be like if each one of us lived with this attitude?  Remind yourself that people will not remember what kind of house you lived in, or the car you drove, or the things you accumulated.  People will remember you for your words, your actions, and your character.  People will remember you for your devotion to God, your dedication to your friends and family,  and your commitment to serving others.  How will people remember you? 

Visit our store at www.ivegotcharacter.com

character in sports

I just finished reading an article written by Dan Wetzel posted on Yahoo Sports.  As much as I love sports, it is extremely frustrating and disappointing to me to read about these athletes who are constantly getting in trouble with the law and who are role models to so many of our children.  It is also extremely disturbing to me that it seems to be okay or tolerable?  When are we going to step up as spectators to say that this is unacceptable behavior?  What happened to the concept that one’s character matters?  I think it is time to start a movement that one’s character still matters.  Unfortunately, Dan wetzel is correct when he said, “People cheat in every walk of life…,” but that doesn’t mean that it has to be okay.  Let’s take a stand and start with our own character.  Challenge:  try to use every moment as an opportunity to develop character that counts, that makes a difference.  Remember:  what you do matters, one person can make a difference.

Shop at www.ivegotcharacter.com

   

Character Education Clothing

Our line of I’ve Got Character clothing is perfect for schools, churches, or organizations who encourage and spend time on developing certain character traits.  I’ve Got Character tees allow individuals and groups, children and adults, to advertise and reinforce the traits they are trying to develop and how important having character is.  I’ve Got Character clothing is comfy and simple, yet stylish and meaningful.  I’ve Got Character also offers other character related items and inspirational items such as mugs and jewelry.

Ask us about our group sales and fundraising opportunities, as well.

Go Shopping at www.ivegotcharacter.com