“Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” ~ Lao Tzu
At this time of year I find that I seek silence, a yearning to retreat to the calm place deep within my being, that asylum where deep hope resides. To dwell in this space allows time for reflecting upon that for which I am most grateful, and there is much.
We have all heard the expression “count your blessings”. When we take time out of our busy lives and journey to that place inside, we are reminded of all our blessings, for this is the place where that little voice that speaks to us of all that is lacking in our lives cannot be heard. My gratitude list is long – family, friends, a higher power to guide me, health, the gift of life, nature, hugs, laughter, sunrises and sunsets, volunteer opportunities, etc., etc.
Today I hope that you take a few moments to allow that little voice to speak to you, particularly if you are currently navigating troublesome terrain. Practicing gratitude for all that is good around us can be life-changing. When we embrace all that we have with an open, grateful heart, we bring more of what we want into our lives.
May 2015 be a time of abundance for us all. Happy New Year!
Paint Your Landscape 
Wishing you safe travels and a very happy 2015!
And to you as well! 🙂
Happy New year to you both 😀 30 minutes to go here in southern Spain ! Oooh ! Hugs. ❤
Happy happy New Year Ralph! 🙂
That’s pretty deep and so true. Wishing you all the blessings that you deserved LuAnn and Terry.
Cheers to more adventures and the gratitude to experience them all in 2015.
Have a great year ahead!
Thanks MonaLiza! We hope you and Steve have a wonderful 2015, full of adventure and abundance! 🙂
Lovely LuAnn! I hope you reached your calm place and it brought your much happiness! I am grateful that your continue to write beautiful blogs and visit others. Wishing you hope, peace and happiness n 2015!
Thanks Sheila! I have reached my calm place and I am liking it! 🙂
Amen!
Wishing you both a safe, healthy and wondrous 2015.
Thanks Marsha! The very best to you and Paul in 2015.
We look forward to seeing you two sometime in 2015. We will be at San Elijo for March, April, May and June. Send us an email about where you are presently spending this winter season. We have lost the exact place where you are located near Temecula. Hope you have a great New Year and we will see you down the road………….Rog and Gayl
Love this quote and picture. Wishing you a very Happy New Year and safe travels all year long.
Thanks so much and grand adventures to you both in 2015. 🙂
To be content with what we have must be the best new year’s resolution we could make. Wishing you a happy and contented 2015, LuAnn. xx
I couldn’t have said that better Sylvia! The very best to you and your family in 2015. 🙂
Happy new year LuAnn lots of love to you and your family xx
And to you Mike! 🙂
Cheers to a wonderful New Year 🙂
Happy New Year to you and Al. 🙂
Life is overly full at the moment with family visiting, holiday festivities, a new trailer, and preparing to head south after a long stretch in Ashland. So thank you for reminding me of the peaceful place within that is always available, no matter what is going on outside! I’m taking a deep breath right now and counting my blessings. Wishing you all good things in this coming year, LuAnn. 🙂
Thanks so much Laurel. I hope you and Eric have a fabulous 2015. What kind of trailer did you get?
Happy New Year
Happy New Year to you!
Beautiful written, Lu!! Love the photo:)
Happy New Year to you and Terry! Wishing you both the best for 2015!
Looking forward to meeting up soon:)
Thanks Pam. Happy New Year to you and John.
I wish for a very healthy year for us all…. and may the year be all we want it to be…. I have a lot to be grateful for and it took your post to make me think on it all rather than what I’m hoping 2015 will bring…
Thanks Bulldog. Sometimes in the midst of the struggles it is difficult to count our blessings. I wish I could say that I take the time as often as I should to remember all that I have to be grateful for.
LuAnn we have just returned from a friend’s funeral. Your message of gratitude is so apt for how we feel today especially. Wishing you all the very best in the year ahead!
Sue, I am sorry to hear that you had to attend a friend’s funeral but I guess this is part of the cycle of life. I hope you and Dave have a very blessed 2015.
LuAnn, what a lovely reminder to give oneself time and space to contemplate and practice gratitude. And it sounds like you’re in the perfect place for that. Wishing you and Terry a glorious new year filled with love, health, adventure, and gratitude. All the best, Terri & James
Thanks so much! We are in a lovely place and meeting some wonderful folks. I hope you two have a blessed 2015. 🙂
Oh, what a beautiful post, and such a wonderful place to set ones intentions to begin a brilliant new year! All the best to you for 2015!
And to you Suzanne. Hope to cross paths with you one day. 🙂
Beautifully written and so true! Happy New Year to you and Terry!
Thanks Brenda and a blessed 2015 to you and Hector! 🙂
Happy New Year!!
Happy New Year to you!
A nicely written reminder to help start off the year. Thanks LuAnn. 🙂
Happy New Year!
{Hugs}
It seems I can’t quit counting my blessings. It’s been one precious moment after another and even the few less than perfect moments have been minor blips. Almost want to hold my breath for fear of it ending. Wishing you all the very best for the coming year…. perhaps we’ll finally connect some day?
One of the many things, for which I am grateful, is your friendship and support. May you have the best year, yet!
Thanks Joan. May 2015 be magical for you. I am grateful for the gift of your friendship as well.
Wonderfully put, as always. For me contentment is wandering around Bloggaria enjoying all the magical words of my wonderful friends and of course looking wistfully at the price of plane tickets as well. Happy New Year my dear friend. xx
Thanks Ste J. Wish you were over on this side of the pond but I know your day will come. Have a wonderful 2015. 🙂
Happy New year to you.
What a beautiful post, you are a talented writer to be able to convey that message the way you did.
I’m glad we got to meet at Jojoba Hills and play pickleball together.
Thanks! I am so glad we met up as well. Please come back and see us again some time and have a fabulous 2015.
Beautifully said LuAnn! I attribute my practice of yoga as reminding me of gratitude and quiet stillness. Wishing you a beautiful year!!
Yoga is a great way to do that Nicole. Wishing you a magical 2015. 🙂
Wishing you a happy New year. 🙂
And to you Arindam. 🙂
Thoughtful eloquent words, beautiful thoughts and expressions from a truly beautiful soul, my friend. Once again a very Happy New Year to you and Terry. I hope this year brings to you much peace, happiness and a renewed joy of life, LuAnn! (It’s the same wish I wish for myself, btw) all my love to you! xo
Thank you Penny. It has often been your encouragement and those inspirational words of yours dancing in my head that have brightened some of my darker days. I wish all the very best for you Penny, every day. 🙂
😀
I do hope that 2015 is so much better for you than 2014 was, and I hope it brings you all you desire and deserve.
I am wishing that for all of us Al.
Thank you so much for the reminder, LuAnn. 🙂 Great quote. Happy New Year!
Thanks Amy! Happy New Year to you and your family. 🙂
check out my muic blog cliffsofdover123.wordpress.com
Happy 2015… what a beautiful post!
Thanks Nancy!
FTW image. The very best wishes to you this year. I have learnt the power of reflection. And yes, most esp. thinking how blessed I am.
I hope you have a year of abundance Rommel.
Happy New Year, LuAnn. May you find many happy journeys and bounds of blessings. 🙂
Thanks Angelia! Happy New Year to you and your family. 🙂
Happy new year and best wishes to you and yours for health, happiness, peace & prosperity in 2015!
Thank you Russell and to you! 🙂
Wishing you the best of 2015! Have a great year my friend!!! 🙂
Thank you so much, and a prosperous year to you! 🙂