Mood boosting 101 ;-)

Tired of everyone's moaning and groaning?  These few pointers might help you get through today:

• In less than two months' time we're celebrating Christmas! If life's getting a bit too much at this stage, decorating your Christmas tree might just lift your spirits, getting you in the groove for the season of sharing and kindness.
• It's silly season...which means that we have official permission to be, well, silly!
• If you haven't noticed it - it's full-blown summer! Which means happy hour drinks, sun-filled days, pool parties, thunder storms and a feeling of 'it's actually a lovely day, why not getting up early'? (or am I pushing it a bit too far now?) ;-)
•  It's okay to feel overwhelmed and stressed this time of year - it's the one time when you do fit in with the crowd.  The feeling is mutual.  Let's remind ourselves again that that well-deserved break (for most) is around the corner.
• This week's 'bad and uglies' will probably be long forgotten next week.  Even if this is not the case - remember that there's always someone worse off than you.

None of these 'pointers' are anything new, I know - but hey, I'm looking for the silver lining of the dark cloud today.  Hope you do too!

The world according to...you!

Words of wisdom written or spoken by smart people seem to amuse us.  We get inspired by other peoples' words or actions and think that we should remember and apply it to our own lives.  This is a good thing - we should learn from others' insights and mistakes. 

But have you ever really thought about the life and legacy that you will be leaving behind some day?  What will people remember when they think about miss mentor?  Are there any quote or act that you will be remembered for? It might be that people remember our acts and quotes of kindness but we will most probably also be remembered for the not so kind - the harsh and mean things that we did or words that we've spoken.

The important thing is that we will be remembered for something - good, bad or ugly (a combination of these three is perhaps the most likely outcome).  That we felt strong enough about certain issues that we had the guts to raise our voice and have our say.  That we shared our thoughts and made suggestions, knowing that many people will disagree.  That we've established our own way of viewing the world, our own style, our own motto.  

Let's share our life - inspired by numerous people, books, events and experiences, but, according to me!
  

Inspiring quotes by Madiba - the man of the moment!

While we're celebrating Nelson Mandela's birthday and his wonderful legacy of peace, humility, justice and freedom this whole week, I thought that you might appreciate famous words spoken by the man himself. 

Inpiring, uplifting - wow!

"It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership".

"If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner".

"It always seems impossible until its done".

"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart".

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear".
"I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself".

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world".

And one of my personal favourites:

"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination".  Remember, each small gesture does make a difference!  Let's keep on giving, sharing and being kind throughout the year!
Source:  http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nelson_mandela.html

Funny Friday edition: Words for women to live by (guys take note ;-)

I have to admit that there is nothing original about today's post but I found it so funny (and spot-on, I have to admit) that I must share it with you.  (Thanks for the e-mail Isobel - you've made my day).  And this is not only for the girls. Guys, you'll be able to make the world a better place if you can understand (and remember, and agree) on this ;-)

1. If the shoe fits - buy them in every color.

2. Take life with a pinch of salt... A wedge of lime, and a shot of tequila.

3. In need of a support group? Cocktail hour with the girls!

4. Go on the 30 day diet. (I'm on it and so far I've lost 15 days).

5. When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with it.

6. Let your greatest fear be that there is no PMS and this is just your personality.

7. I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here.

8. Don't get your knickers in a knot; it solves nothing and makes you walk funny.

9. Forget about the perfect man - he's living in Cape Town with his boyfriend.

10. Keep your chin up, only the first 40 years of parenthood are the hardest.

 Have a great weekend!

little miss mentor's muse...among others ;-)

It just wouldn't be right if little miss mentor does not commemorate what would have been the 76th birthday of children's author Roger Hargreaves, the original creator of Mr. Men and Little Miss series.  Google celebrates this event with a series of homepage doodles depicting characters from his popular Mr. Men and Little Miss books (I'm sure you've noticed today).

Google doodlers have crafted more than a dozen versions of the company's logo featuring the cartoon characters from Hargreaves' books, from Little Miss and Mr. Tickle to Mr. Happy and Mr. Messy.

According to Cloe Albanessius in PCMAG.COM Hargreaves' career as a children's book author started in 1971 when his young son asked him, "What does a tickle look like?" To explain, Hargreaves created Mr. Tickle, a small orange man with a big smile, tiny blue hat, and very long arms. That spawned five other characters—Mr. Greedy, Mr. Nosey, Mr. Happy, Mr. Bump, and Mr. Sneeze—the books for which were first published on August 10, 1971.

The books were an instant success, selling more than one million copies in the first three years. By the mid-70s, Hargreaves' books were turned into a BBC cartoon series. In 1981, the Little Miss Series appeared, and it too was turned into a BBC series by 1983.

Mr. Hargreaves inspires thousands of fun-loving, creative Mr.'s and little misses around the globe, including this little miss mentor ;-)

Just to show that out of the box thinking as main ingredient coupled with a generous dose of humor, rounded off with simplicity might stir up an innovative idea - pure inspiration!

I love Mondays!

All around me (okay, let's be more specific - on facebook and twitter) I see positive quotes and sayings, people trying to motivate one another which, of course, is a wonderful thing.  I get the idea that many of us are really in need of uplifting, inspiring stuff - be that thoughts, words or actions.  I know that I am.

So I'm trying to narrow things down for the moment - hoping (and believing, may I say) that a 'back to basics' approach is more often than not the solution to many real life dramas -  the search for fulfillment and  meaningful experiences (packed as positivity and inspiration in this case).  I'm therefore focusing on the small things - the break in a pattern or routine, a compliment, an unexpected smile or even being proud of myself for not getting angry about something that upsets me usually.

I think that I'm starting to sound like a 'nag queen' - pushing these thoughts on seeing the 'silver lining of every cloud' down people's throats.  That is not the idea at all.  I'm just realising that thoughts lead to words which lead to action, which then again, becomes behaviour patterns that are difficult to change.  And because I'm very much aware of this fact lately I'm trying to think like a 'little miss sunshine' and maybe be a 'little miss mentor' to someone in the mean time.

But I'm also saying that positivity and 'living a good life' is still a subjective perception and experience.  Having said that, let's shake things up a bit and dreads the thought that the weekend is nearly upon us - I'm looking forward to Monday already!