"Living Positively"

 

By Annette White

A couple of  days ago, Greg and I went to the annual Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon, Virginia, not far from where we live. We enjoyed seeing the different arts and crafts done by the various talented participants at the festival.

One of the artists was Annette White from Alabama who paints beautiful, unique pictures on pieces of slate from a church roof that was over 100 years old! (See above photo.) 

She started painting to help her cope with a personal tragedy. Not only does she paint well, but she is a really nice person. I think that her inner beauty shows in her lovely artwork.

Here are a few quotes for living positively, which is important, especially now-

~"Surrounding myself with people who don't make me feel good is not healthy, so I avoid those who don't bring joy into my world. I've learned that when you're surrounded by kind people, everything will be okay." -Beth Stern

~"Karma-think good thoughts, say nice things, do good for others. Everything comes back." -Eckart Tolle

~"This is unjust!" -Angela Carini (We need to stand up for ourselves. as well as for others, to right any wrongs for a positive outcome.) 

We noticed the American flag flying in front of The Martha Washington Inn & Spa in Abingdon. Several artists' booths were on the grounds of "The Martha" during the Virginia Highlands Festival.

~"When we honor our flag, we honor what we stand for as a Nation-Freedom, Equality, Justice, and Hope." -Ronald Reagan

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

~"Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you." -Mary Lou Retton

~"The power of positive thinking can change your life." -Devin McCourty

~Pet Feature-

A few weeks ago, Greg and I were visiting Sevierville, Tennessee when we saw a man with a pretty white bird sitting on his shoulder. The man with the bird was getting all kinds of attention. No wonder! It is somewhat rare to see something like that.

The white bird was a parrot, the man's pet. The parrot was very tame, as a woman went over and stroked its head like you would a dog or a cat.

When I feature pets on this blog, it's always either a cat or a dog, but this time, in honor of birds, I want to announce that next month, on September 17, it's National Pet Bird Day!

~"Birds are the best pets around." -Bird

~"God loves you, I love you, God bless you, and have a wonderful day." -Julie Green

Positive thought: "Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may be actually falling into place." -Unknown

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, September 7, 2024, Becky

"How to Be More Positive"

 

Sometimes, it seems hard to get and maintain a positive frame of mind, but there are things we can all do in order to be more positive. We just have to do those things that feel right for us.

I feel more positive and uplifted when I occasionally get to hear "The Constitution Minute" on our local radio station. Also, I can always go anytime to www.constitutionminute.com to hear the same messages that are on the radio.

"The Constitution Minute" is a positive, patriotic message from Dr. Larry Arnn, the president of Hillsdale College. "The Constitution is key to securing liberty for all Americans..." In addition to an uplifting message, you can also request a free pocket-sized copy of our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. These documents contain important information that all Americans need to know.

Greg and I recently went through about two weeks of challenges that began when our television suddenly stopped working. We're thankfully getting everything satisfactorily resolved, and as we're looking back on everything, these so-called negative events actually turned into something positive. 

("Every problem has a gift for you in its hands."- Richard Bach)

For instance, Greg discovered some skills that he didn't realize that he had. Also, we got to take a break from our usual routine of busyness, and as a result, we got to go and do some enjoyable, relaxing things that we hadn't made time for in a while, like walking in the park.

(Let's have some fun!"- Jesse Kelly)

You can meet the nicest people and pets in the park-

Get a best furry friend, like Iris.

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."- Roger Caras

We also recently enjoyed our town's fireworks for the first time since we've lived here-

Finally, if you'd like a super-easy way to be more positive, etc., be sure to "Immerse yourself  in soothing, healing sounds of the handpan infused with a pure frequency of 528 Hertz."- Malte Marten

528 hz handpan music my favorite healing meditation. It is supposed to promote positivity as well as other good qualities.

Also, please check out my memoir, "Down Memory Lane" by Becky Arnott. For more information, just click the widget above.

~Positive thought- Positive thinking is "only thinking thoughts of what you want. And it makes sense because negative thoughts hurt us. Negative thoughts attract what we don't want, they make us feel bad, and they harm our health. So why on earth would anyone indulge in them? ...think only of what you want!"- Rhonda Byrne

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, August 3, 2024, Becky

"Some Positive Ideas"

 

These days, especially, it's important to get and stay as positive as possible. Being positive helps us to better handle anything that comes our way.

In this blog post, I'll give you some positive ideas that have helped me be more positive.

One thing that has helped me be positive is to read and apply the ideas of author Rhonda Byrne. For example- "When you direct your thoughts to the positive-which are simply the thoughts of what you want-you will be in awe of how the Universe lines everything up for you, one thing after another."

Try to be around people who are positive. There are three people in particular that I know who are really nice to be around. They all have the same traits- They are kind, thoughtful, and respectful. They make you feel special. They have a positive outlook about things. 

Also, it's good for us to try to find the good in everyone. Look for the good, and you will find it.

If you are positive, you tend to attract more people and situations into your life that are positive. 

Having the kind of pet that is right for you can help you be more positive. Greg and I are cat people, so having cats is right for us.

"What greater gift than the love of a cat." -Charles Dickens

Taking care of your health, like getting plenty of sleep, and eating right, etc. should help you on your road to positivity.

On the Road to Positivity

A positive emotion is happiness, and to feel instantly happier, I found an easy way is to put some nutmeg into a small empty jar that has a lid. When ready to use, just take off the lid and sniff the nutmeg for a minute or two. You can do this throughout the day. Doing so should help you feel happier, and also more focused! It's a type of aromatherapy. (Helpful hint: Be careful that you don't sniff the nutmeg up your nose, and don't use it if you are allergic to nutmeg.)

"Knowing the Power of Words"- www.jgminternational.org

Words are so important. Are our words positive or negative? How do our words affect other people and ourselves?

Being positive instead of negative is a lot more enjoyable, a lot more fun!- "Try it, You'll like it." -From a popular 1972 Alka-Seltzer commercial

"And what is so rare as a day in June?"- James Russell Lowell

 Wishing you a happy, positive June!

Positive thought- "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade."- Elbert Hubbard (These words encourage optimism and a positive can-do attitude in the face of adversity." -From Wikipedia)

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, July 6, 2024, Becky

"Some Positive Thoughts"

 

Hope you are doing positively great!

Lately, we have had some beautiful, warm spring days where we live, but for this week, we are supposed to have mostly rainy, stormy days, and in about a week, the weather forecast says that it will be rather cool.

Looking at this positively, we do need rain here right now. If we wear a sweater or a jacket, we can still go outside during the cool spells. Besides, there's always something to do inside. We can even make plans for future trips, etc. for when the weather is better.

Everything will be greener and the flowers will look even prettier after the rain.

Recently, one man was interviewed about helping clean up from a recent storm, and he said that he enjoyed working with other people, that he had made several friends as they were all working together with a common positive goal. 

"Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day." -Alice Morse Earle

We have a relative who loves cardinals. She and her husband recently had a health miracle come into their lives, so she sent an email with a few pretty personal photos she had taken of cardinals in their back yard, along the lovely quote, "When cardinals are near, angels appear."

Encouraging words and pictures like those can help make our lives more positive.

I especially like robins since they traditionally represent spring, new beginnings.

You can learn more about the symbolism of birds, animals, and reptiles that come into your life, even if only briefly, in the fascinating book, "Animal-Speak" by Ted Andrews. It tells about "The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small."

Kit-Cat, Enjoying the Spring Sunshine

What does "Animal Speak" say about your type of pet?

Just last night, we had a little creature visit us, a possum (opossum), that came up on our front porch and peeked in the window. It didn't stay very long, but just long enough to intrigue us. I'm anxious to look in the book later to see what the presence of that little guy means, what it has to teach us.

As I mentioned above, I really like new beginnings. Every morning, I'm thankful for a brand new day that is full of the promise, an adventure, a chance to have something wonderful happen during the day. I like to start the day with the affirmations, "This a wonderful, awesome day." Also, I think, "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." -Psalm 118:24

Doing this really seems to start the day off right.

Did you know that reading books for enjoyment can make you more positive?

I occasionally like to read "Woman's World" magazine since it always has such positive, helpful information.

For more positivity, you might want to check out my memoir, "Down Memory Lane," which is on Amazon in both the paperback and Kindle formats.

Also, if you are into the paranormal, you might find my Kindle book, "Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind," interesting. It has over 100 paranormal photographs that my brother, Nick, my husband , Greg, and I have taken.

For more information about my books, please click the widgets above.

"Day Spring" magazine is a positive publication. One recent issue was, "Brighter Days Ahead."

If we're negative, we just drag ourselves and others down, and make ourselves and others miserable, and that can make any seemingly negative situation a lot worse. 

I think that being positive is by far the best way to be so we can attract more positive situations and people into our lives. 

Simply put, it's the law of attraction. You attract what you think and feel. It's really that simple, but it does require diligence. Believe me, it's so worth the effort!

Positive thought: "Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with a great and strong purpose in your heart." -Gordon P. Hinckley 

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, June 1, 2024, Becky

"Positive Bits and Pieces"

 

Take time to smell the flowers.

Sometimes it may seem hard to maintain a positive attitude, but for a better, more positive life, we need to work (or play, which is even better!) at being more positive.

Here are some positive bits and pieces that have helped Greg and me be happier and more positive-

~I love positive quotes, especially those with nice pictures, so we have calendars in several rooms of our house that are similar to my example below-

"Each moment of the year has its own beauty" -Ralph Waldo Emerson

~Being outside in nature can reduce negative thoughts and make us feel better about ourselves. Greg seems to be happiest when he can get outside and work in the yard. I love going out and taking pictures of nature. This spring has been especially nice with all of the pretty blooming things.

~Another thing that we enjoy is watching old comedies on TV at least once a day. Shows like "I Love Lucy" make us laugh and remind us to not take things so seriously. Laughter is really good, actually healthy!

~A few days ago, Greg and I went on a little trip, and when we got back home, we noticed that we had traveled exactly 100 miles! I wondered if that number had any important significance. I then remembered an old book I had that told the meaning of  numbers, so I looked up the number 100, and it said, "Keep you thoughts totally aligned with God's love and light. Your positive thoughts and actions make a huge difference-especially right now." -From "Angel Numbers" by Doreen Virtue

(Wow! Is this a timely message for today!)

~I really love the "Constitution Minute" on the radio which is beautifully read by the president of Hillsdale College. It is a patriotic message about our great country, accompanied by inspirational music that can bring tears to your eyes. You can also hear this message on www.constitutionminute.com . You can even request a free pocket-sized copy of The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence on their website.

~Helping others in some way is good, not only for those you help, but it can also make you feel better about yourself. We like to support our local animal shelter.

~Do things often that you truly enjoy doing whether it's reading, traveling, or doing sports, etc.

I've listed some of the things in this post that make Greg and me feel more positive. Hopefully, they have inspired you to maybe make a list of your own. If so, have fun becoming more positive!

~Cute Pet Feature- 

Someone sent me the above photograph of a pet they want me to do in pastel. This cute dog should make a nice portrait!

Positive thought: "Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life." -Mark Twain

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, May 4, 2024, Becky

"Positive Thoughts and Images"

 

Especially now, it's good to be as positive as possible. We need to expose ourselves regularly to positive thoughts and images, etc. for a better life.

Here are a few photos,* along with quotes, that might help put us in a better frame of mind-

"Be pawsitive!"

"Love lives here."

"Live life in full bloom."

Greg and I enjoy wall calendars with pictures that have quotes. For Christmas, I received a cute animal calendar with quotes, which I love. I gave Greg a famous-artist calendar featuring some of the artist's work, as well as his quotes.

Funny videos of  animals can put you in a really good mood. Someone recently sent us an email that featured baby monkeys. It was hilarious!

We love the old comedies on TV, and we even have a large collection of old comedies on some of our DVD's.

Also, the Hertz frequency videos on YouTube are supposed to be very healing. The music and images are really beautiful! The different frequencies are supposed to be good for different things.

Special kitty feature-

Here's our Mitzi, a few weeks ago, trying to warm herself with a heat duct. She, along with a lot of us, are looking forward to spring, with it's warmer weather. Spring is just a couple of weeks away!

Wishing you a very happy spring, and a happy, pawsitive life, no matter what the season!

Positive thought- "Let the sunshine in!"

*All photographs and written words on this, and all blog posts, for both "The Art of Positive Living" and "Spirit Photographs," are under the copyright of  Becky Arnott Artist and Becky Arnott Photography.

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, April 6, 2024, Becky

"Positive Signs"

                                                                           WELCOME!

(All photographs and text on this blog are under the copywrite of Becky Arnott Photography and Becky Arnott Artist.)

I am so glad to be back, writing my monthly blog post. I've had technical difficulties for over a week so I was unable to post until now. I really appreciate your understanding!

This blog post was inspired by the large sign which is outside of each of Pal's Sudden Service restaurants. (Pal's is a local drive-thru restaurant chain in Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee. They feature such tasty items as Chili Buns and Frenchie Fries.)

Pal's changes the messages on the signs daily.

I've often wondered what life would be like if you followed the suggestions on their signs every day. I betcha our lives would be a lot more positive since the messages are always so positive!

I thought that for this post, I'd come up with some ideas of my own for messages that are similar to those that Pal's might put on their signs.

Here they are-

~TAKE YOUR DOG FOR A WALK~

Recently, Greg and I got a carry-out from a local restaurant in Kingsport, Tennessee. We took our lunch to a nearby park where we had a fun picnic in our car.

While there, we went for a walk since it was warm (around 60 degrees) for this time of year. While on our walk, I took pictures, as usual. We noticed that a few people were walking their dogs.

One dog was particularly interesting since part of the fur on top of its head was dyed red. It's personable owner, Brittany, gave me permission to put its picture on my blog post, and here it is-

Boone, with Brittany

Boone got his name from beautiful Boone Lake which is a TVA reservoir located in upper East Tennessee.

~EAT LOCALLY~

Here's a new restaurant, Hen House, inside the new business, The Commons, located in Abingdon, Virginia-

It's a farm-to-table restaurant that has wholesome tasty food from local sources.

Greg and I both had the cheese sandwich which was absolutely delicious!

~VENTURE OUTSIDE THE BOX~

It's exciting and fun to occasionally step outside your comfort zone, and do something a little different, like-

-Read a book that is a little way-out-there, like a book that prolific author, David Icke, has written. His latest intriguing book is "The Dream." You'll probably never look at life the same after reading that one!

-Laten to late-night radio and/or visit a great paranormal news show website, www.coasttocoastam.com for some mind-boggling stories.

~BELIEVE IN YOURSELF~

(Love this one!)- "Believe in yourself even if no one else does." -Bigfoot

~PAY SOMEONE A COMPLIMENT~

It seems that paying other people a compliment is not done that much anymore. A few weeks ago, a woman I met by chance gave me a really nice compliment about my hair which made me feel really good. Now, I'm trying to give sincere compliments to other people to help them feel good about themselves. How wonderful it would be if we could all do this every day. We just might help change the world for the better, one compliment at a time!

Positive thought- "Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."-Hamilton Wright Mabie

Thanks for visiting! Until (Hopefully!) Saturday, March 2, 2024, Becky