"Random Positive Thoughts"

 

This is a photograph of the beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Today in this blog post, I'd like to give you a few random positive thoughts, which I'm sure most people would enjoy since we need to "accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative" (From a song by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen), especially right now.

Here are some wonderful thoughts from some famous people that might be helpful as affirmations, to put somewhere to view often, or as part of a treasure map.*- 

~"Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful." -Annette Funicello

~"We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents." -Bob Ross

~"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one remembers to turn on the light." Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Agkaban."

~"It isn't what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it." -Dale Carnegie

~"I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health." -Voltaire

~Be grateful-a grateful heart is a magnet for miracles

~"Life is short, do what makes you happy." -From Amazon

~"Believe you can, and you're halfway there." -Theodore Roosevelt

~"Small steps every day create the life you want to live." -Unknown

~"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

~Every day in every way, I'm getting better and better.

~I am happy, healthy, and positive.

~I deserve love and respect.

You might even think up some affirmations, positive thoughts of your own.

I'm happy to announce that my new book about Southern Appalachia is finally published! Here it is-

The complete title of the book is "Life in the Southern Appalachians, The Mountain Culture, Sayings, Traditions, People." The book has almost 300 pages, and there are 26 chapters. It's about a wide variety of things. The titles are in alphabetical order. The first chapter is "Animals" and the last chapter is entitled "Weather." A few of the other chapters are "Appalachian Mountain Words and Sayings," "Haunted Appalachia," "The Performing Arts in Appalachia," "Quilts," and "Vittles." There are some guest authors and other contributors in the book, as well.

Here's what people have said about "Life in the Southern Appalachians"- "Very interesting!" "An easy read." "Great!" "Loved it!"

If you'd like to see it for yourself, it's now for sale on Amazon.

 

A Great Idea from Pal's in Abingdon, Virginia!

Positive Thought: ~ "There is always music in the forest, but our hearts must be very still to hear it." ~Unknown

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, September 5, 2026, Becky

*A treasure map is a board with positive thoughts and pictures of things you would like to have or be or do. I have one that I made a few years ago, and it's amazing the things that have come true in my life because of the map that I made. I study it regularly, so I guess that's why it's been successful.

How Can We Make a Difference?

Many people are wondering what we might do to help with the situation that we all find ourselves in right now in this country. How can we make a difference?

Something that Greg and I are trying to do is to support small business all that we can, especially locally since many are struggling right now.

(Food for thought: Why were the big chain stores considered essential, and allowed to open when most of the small businesses were not?)

Small businesses might include restaurants. The following four restaurants are in Abingdon, Virginia:

Greeko's Grill & Cafe, Serves Authentic Greek Food, Inside or Out

Bella's Has Delicious Italian-Style Food

Pal's is a real success story. The first Pal's opened in Kingsport, Tennessee in the 1950's, and now there are 29 Pal's in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Their architecture is unique, and they always have a daily message on their signs. A large American flag flies over each Pal's. One of their menu items is Frenchie fries.

North Carolina is not that far from where we live, so we go there occasionally. This restaurant had just reopened the day we were there. They remodeled while they were shut down.

Besides restaurants, there are other types of small businesses:

This garden shop also has food items for sale. It would be a great place to buy Christmas gifts.

We found a pretty old Victorian-style floor lamp here in Abingdon for a bargain price.

I got three items here in Hansonville, Virginia for only $11.00, totally! Many small businesses operate in this antique mall.

This is one of the three items I bought, and it was handmade!

If it's vitamins and herbs you need, this is the place!

The woman who owns this sewing shop did a nice job making us a couple of valances out of some old fabric that we already had.

Statuary, anyone? Here's a nice piece at "11-W Concrete &Statuary" in Blountville, Tennessee.

Besides shopping at small businesses, we listen to talk radio to find out what's really going on, and then we share our newfound knowledge with others. Another good resource is www.philvalentine.com .

We also work to get rid of ineffective political leaders via recall elections, and we actively work to help the good guys win political office.

Positive Thought: "When it rains, look for rainbows. When it's dark, look for stars."-Author Unknown

Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, August 2, 2020, Becky