"Positively Inspired!"

 

"We love, because God loved us first." (1 John 4:19)

This is such a wonderful time of the year, with the beauty of nature and the Easter holiday with its special church services, Easter baskets filled with colorful eggs and chocolate bunnies, and special traditional meals shared with loved ones. 

Some people celebrate the holiday in non-traditional ways, like celebrating on another day of the weekend, or having a meal at a fast food restaurant, etc. ( It's okay to just celebrate it your way! We can be creative!)

All of these special things help to make us feel positively inspired. They can keep us from being in a rut.

To be inspired generally means to create a positive feeling.

We don't have to wait to be positively inspired because we can feel positive every day of our lives! During challenging times, it's good to have things that inspire us.

Here are some things that have helped inspire me be happy and positive-

~Walking, taking pictures, etc. in nature. (Once while on a walk, Greg and I came upon a woman who was painting a picture of the beautiful scenery.)

~Being with happy, positive people

~Watching funny shows, DVD's, etc.

~Planning and doing special nearby trips. You don't have to go abroad or across the country to have a wonderful time. There are so many nice things to do in our own back yards!

~Doing things often that I enjoy, like writing, crafts, etc. (What do you really enjoy doing?)

Beautiful music can be inspiring. I especially like these two songs- 

~"Hero" by Mariah Carey- ..."Look inside you and be strong, And you'll finally see the truth, That a hero lies in you."

~"Unstoppable" by Sia- ..."I'm unstoppable today..." -I first heard this heartfelt song on the Dr. Bob Martin radio show.

(These two talented women, who write songs, as well as sing, overcame adversity to share their great talents with the world.)

Here are some inspiring thoughts from other people-

~"Today is another chance to get better." -Unknown

~"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." -Henry David Thoreau

~"All dreams are within reach. All you have to do is keep moving toward them." -Viola Davis

~"Prayer is powerful." -Julie Green

~"If you have zest and enthusiasm, you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind." -Norman Vincent Peale (His wonderful book is "Enthusiasm Makes the Difference.")

Here are a couple of inspirational people and their websites-

~ www.Intuition-Physician.com (Dr. Laura Koniver, who has a background of abuse, helps others overcome various illnesses with natural healing techniques, etc.)

~ https://ct.liveyourtruth.com (Carol Tuttle, who had a rough childhood, helps others dress better, look more beautiful, and live better lives.)

"Easter is a day rooted in faith, in gratitude, and in the quiet reminder of what matters most." -Good Ranchers

~Positive thought: "If you are feeling good, it is because you are thinking good thoughts." -Rhonda Byrne, "The Secret"

~Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, May 2, 2026, Becky

"Spring-New Beginnings"

 

And Welcome Spring!

If our new year's resolutions have not worked out as well as we would have liked, spring is a wonderful time to start anew!*

~"Spring with its blooming flowers, warmer weather, and longer days, is often associated with new beginnings and fresh starts." -LPI Legal Professionals, Inc.

Although spring doesn't officially start this year until Friday, March 20, Greg and I are getting a bit of a head start on spring this year-

First of all, we are still working on our circadian rhythm which I mentioned in my last two blogs posts. Although we are the wolf type, which stays up later than the other chronotypes, we were staying up way too late at night, even for our type. Working on this was our new year's resolution this year.

We had made some progress on this, but we're doing even better now since daylight savings time started a few days ago, and we're also inspired by spring which does represent new beginnings.

In fact, we have not done this well, turning in to sleep at an earlier time in years! Since we are so happy that we are so close to achieving our goal, we decided to reward ourselves with a fun trip in a couple of weeks. It's really good to reward yourself for a job well done!

However, our best, most important reward is that of improved health, physically, mentally, and emotionally, as we continue to follow our circadian rhythm type, getting the right amount of sleep we need during certain hours of the night. We hope that meeting our personal goal will inspire others to do the same.

Spring is also a wonderful time to work on the place you call home.

~"Spring is the time of plans and projects." -Leo Tolstoy, "Anna Karenina"

Greg recently changed our kitchen faucet, and I decided that this was a great opportunity to organize the things under our sink. It didn't take that long, and it was very rewarding. Things are much easier to find now.

Spring can inspire you to be more creative.

I'm planning and working on a new art/craft project. I thought of the idea while I was writing my book about Southern Appalachia that should be published in a few weeks, in the spring!

Happy Spring!

*Actually, any time is a good time to start or even restart something if you feel like you are ready.

~Positive thought: "Spring is far more than just a changing of seasons; it's a rebirth of the spirit." -Tamara Myers

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, April 4, 2026, Becky

"Love Yourself, as Well as Others"

 

 

It's February, and I guess most of us think about Valentine's Day on February 14, when we buy or make valentines, and when we make or buy gifts for the special people in our lives which is, of course, wonderful that we think of our loved ones on this special day.

However, there is also a little-known, more recent, unofficial holiday in February, on the 17th, My Way Day. This is a special day to do whatever you would like to do. Wow! Imagine doing that!

If you could spend the whole day any way you'd like, what would you do? You could plan ahead by making a list of things that you'd like to do that you haven't done in a while, or maybe even something that you've never gotten to do!

You could just do the things you'd enjoy doing by yourself, or you could even go with a friend or a relative or your spouse somewhere, and you could do your fun things while the other person does what she or he might want to do. You could work out a plan. Sounds like fun!

For the first time, Greg and I will be celebrating My Way Day together this month. We have planned to go to a place we both like for lunch, and then afterwards, we can go places and do things we'd individually like to do. For instance, I'm planning to visit a new shop in town while Greg enjoys his favorite coffee shop. He said he'd like to try out a new coffee there. 

Then, back at home, Greg plans to see a DVD he's never had time to watch, while I'll curl up on the couch in the study to enjoy a book I'd been wanting to read.

Should be a memorable day! Adventure awaits!

We may decide that we don't have to wait until My Way Day next February to do things that we'd like to do. We might even have a My Way Day once a month or even once a week, if we plan it into our schedule. Why not? 

Wishing you a very happy My Way Day on February 17, as well as many other My Way Days!

Just remember to love yourself, as well as others.

Pet Feature-

How to be cozy on a cold winter day!-

Our Mitzi knows how to enjoy My Way Day every day!

Also-

~And, here's an update on following our chronotype each day-It's still a challenge for us since we have been used to our old schedule for so long, but we're making good progress. We'll continue to update you each month on how well we're doing. For more information about chronotypes, check out my blog post from last month-"Some Ideas for a Happy New Year!" published on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

~Positive thought: "I give myself space to breathe in the moment and recognize there is beauty in life's pauses." -cupofcharisma.com

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, March 7, 2026, Becky

"Some Ideas for a Happy New Year!"

 

A Visit at Christmas 

2025 is now behind us, and we look forward to a brighter, more positive new year!

Have you made out any new year's resolutions for 2026?

I made out my resolutions a couple of years ago, and I review them almost daily to help me stay on track. I change them as needed.

This year, Greg and I decided that we need to follow the circadian rhythm a lot more. Most specifically, and importantly, we need to turn in earlier at night. We researched, and discovered that people are four different chronotypes. Our type is the wolf. A wolf stays up later at night and likes to get up later in the morning. That's fine, except we stay up too late at night, even for our type. (My parents were both night people, so I come by it honestly!)

We're working on that now, and we're gradually doing a lot better. In a couple of nights, we should reach our time goal. We just need to maintain it.

If you'd like more information about chronotypes, just do an online search. You might even want to take the chronotype quiz to discover what type you are.

Would you like to make some improvements in your life? If so, here are some ideas that you might want to consider, words of wisdom from some experts in their fields-

~"Point your words, your energy, your life in a clear direction, and everything starts to organize around that choice."-Carol Tuttle  https://ct.liveyourtruth.com

~"We cannot let our past destroy the future that God has for us." "2026 is blessed."-Julie Green

https://www.jgminternational.org

~"Don't let 2026 be another year where your desires fade with the holiday excitement, allow it to be the year you see lasting transformation."-Rhonda Byrne, author of "Countdown to Riches."

Greg and I wish you a wonderful 2026. Let this be our best year ever!

(Also, I'll let you know in my February blog post how well Greg and I did on following our chronotype.)

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, February 7, 2026, Becky

"A Positive Christmas!"

 

Mike and Betty's Farm at Christmas

This is a short, but (hopefully) sweet (Think candy canes and red velvet cake!) positive Christmas blog post.

Here are some ideas that might help make your Christmas even more enjoyable- (You can do these alone or with others.)

~Make Christmas crafts, like these that were made by a relative.

Pretty Christmas Balls

These handmade crafts can be given as gifts, used for decorating your home, or even sold in shops, etc. to make extra money.

Besides giving homemade gifts, we can shop for gifts at places that offer nice, unique things at reasonable prices, like-

The Antique Barn in Abingdon, Virginia

~Homemade goodies make nice gifts, or you could even host a Christmas party or a dinner. 

~Donate to local animal shelters, food banks, or local charities.

~As we're working on Christmas cards, wrapping gifts, or decorating, it can be fun to listen to Christmas music, our own, or from the radio. One of our local radio stations plays Christmas music every year from Thanksgiving until Christmas. Listening to Christmas music can put us in the Christmas spirit.

~Sing Christmas carols. Sing in a Christmas cantata, or go to one. Go to a Christmas church service.

~Watch a wonderful Christmas movie on TV, on a DVD, or online, such as "Home Alone" or "It's a Wonderful Life."

~Decorate your vehicle-

~See a Christmas parade, or even be in one.

We enjoy just driving around the different neighborhoods and looking at the Christmas decorations.

Here is one of my childhood Christmas memories-

"As a child, I still remember coming down the stairs on Christmas morning. I felt the excitement of Christmas in the air, especially if snow were falling outside and accumulating on the trees and ground. I felt breathless as I saw the toys and other gifts under the Christmas tree that Santa had left for my brother and me: a pretty doll, a decorative rocking horse, and oranges and nuts in our Christmas stockings. It was really exciting when I noticed that the cookies and milk that we had left for Santa were gone. I imagined that he had really enjoyed those!" ~An excerpt from my book, "Down Memory Lane"  which is on Amazon. For more information, please see the widget above.

~"May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve."- Author Unknown

 ~Positive thought: "Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts."-Janice Maeditere

 Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, January 3, 2026!, Becky

"A Few Positive Thoughts"

 

I'm still working on my new book about Southern Appalachia, and I also have a new coal jewelry order to finish, so I'm limited on the time I can spend writing my blog posts, etc.

However, I have a few positive thoughts I'd like to share with you.in this blog post today.

Here they are, in no certain order-

~Because of the dry weather this year in our area, most of the leaves on the trees have not been as vibrant as usual, but some of them are really pretty-

If we look for the good, for the beauty, we can find it!

As I was working on this blog post last night, I was also half-way listening to an interesting radio show that comes on earlier than usual on Sunday nights, "Coast to Coast AM." I got to hear part of an interview that the host, George Noory, had with a guest. 

She was an expert on the way the brain works, and she told about an experiment in which there were two groups of people that were taken to Las Vegas. One group was very positive, happy, and friendly, and the other group consisted of people who were mean and very negative. Guess which group did a lot better in Las Vegas? 

Before we try something like this experiment ourselves, we just need to be positive, so our lives and the lives of others will be happier and more fulfilling in all ways. This positive attitude must become a way of life, like being nice to other people, thinking well of others and ourselves. We need to look on the bright side of things, and to expect the best. We should then attract better people and things into our lives, including material things. ( I certainly don't promote compulsive gambling though!) Your life should flow a lot better with a kind, loving, calm, positive attitude. Just try for yourself, and see!

Another thing that Greg and I both heard was that if your have a positive attitude, even toward your computer printer, that it will work a lot better!

Something very important that I wanted to mention was that if you have an election in your state tomorrow, Tuesday, November 4, 2025, please vote as if your future depends on it, because it does! Good can overcome evil because good is much stronger than evil!

Here is something that I could have put in my book about Appalachia, but I didn't. Instead, I decided to save it for this blog post- 

One time, at a family holiday dinner, I bit into a mini tomato (that we call a tommie toe here in Southern Appalachia), that squirted my cousin who was seated across from me, right in the face! I was appalled, but thankfully, everyone, including my cousin, just laughed! (I wouldn't be able do that again even if I positively tried!)

A Basket of Tommie Toes

Wishing you and your loved ones-

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Positive thought: Greg and I were out shopping last week when we saw this beautiful rainbow (above) in the sky. It was the closest we'd ever been to one. Other people came by, and we all marveled at the beautiful sight. A rainbow traditionally symbolizes hope, peace, and new beginnings, even after difficult times. We took that to mean a better, more positive life for all of us here on our Earth!

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, December 6, 2025, Becky

 

 

"Becky Arnott Artist"

 

This is a special blog post. I have some positive quotes from some special people, and I'll also tell you about my business, most of which I've hardly ever mentioned.

First, here are some positive quotes and ideas that have helped me be on, and stay on, the track of positivity.

One of my favorite authors is Rhonda Byrne who believes that a positive mindset attracts positive outcomes. She has many wonderful thoughts on being positive-

~"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."

~"Gratitude is a powerful process for shifting your energy and bringing more of what you want into your life."

Rhonda Byrne is a prolific author. Just a few of her helpful, inspirational books are: "The Secret," "The Magic," and "The Power."

Rhonda's latest book is "Countdown to Riches" which is about attracting wealth.

Here are some more inspirational quotes from others-

~"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible.'!" -Audrey Hepburn

~"If you can dream it, you can do it." -Walt Disney

I like to say- "I'm a positive thinker, feeler, doer, and speaker." This is my own quote that helps me be more positive. I got the idea from a talented psychic several years ago who told me that I was a positive thinker, but not a positive feeler. Just thinking positive isn't enough. We need to feel positive, too.

I'm currently studying a website about the importance of being on a high frequency level. I'm working on the areas I need to improve. You might find it useful, too. Are you a high- or a low-frequency person? This website can help you decide. It's-  

 https://www.yogkulam.org/blog /common-traits-of-high-vibration-people

Here is a brief description of the types of art that I do-

I come from a family of artists, so art comes naturally to me. I have been involved with the arts since childhood.

~I do pencil portraits of people and pets from photographs-

I also create unique Southern Appalachian Mountain coal jewelry and magnets-

Some of my work is in shops in Southwest Virginia-the June Tolliver House in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, and The Clapboard House in Wise, Virginia. Also, my coal jewelry, etc. is at Coal Miners Daughter Mercantile at two locations in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

I've written two books-

My first one, "Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind," is full of paranormal photographs (over 100!) that I, my husband Greg, and my brother Nick, have taken throughout the years.

 My second book is "Down Memory Lane," which is "A Nostalgic Memoir of Life in the Southern Appalachians."

Please see the widgets above for more information about my books.

Also, I'm currently finishing a third book about life in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Many of my photographs are on a Getty Images stock photography site. I'll have more information about that at a later date.

Positive thought: "Thoughts are magnetic and thoughts have a frequency. As you think thoughts, they are sent out into the Universe, and they magically attract all like things that are on the same frequency. Everything sent out returns to the source-you." -Rhonda Byrne

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, November 1, 2025, Becky