Summertime - Take Time To Smell The Roses

I AM SO GRATEFUL for the time to smell the roses.Lying in a hammock between two shade treesOr wandering through a multicolodred rose garden,Sitting quietly and communing with natureBeholding something beautiful in each person I meet.

I AM SO GRATEFUL for a walk with no destination.A choice pair of tennis shoes cushions my feet,Pretty plantings in the neighborhood catch my eye,A leisurely chat provides a welcome, short break,And a nonchalant jogger says, "Have a nice day."

I AM SO GRATEFUL for the sounds of summer.A bicyle beeps a warning from behind,A hard hit baseball implants a resounding whack,Lawn mowers drone while cutting the grass,And booming fireworks light up the night sky.

I AM SO GRATEFUL for the lazy, hazy days of summer.The click of croquet balls rebound across manicured turf,The cool tingle of a root beer float satisfies a deep thirst,Straw bonnets tug against their ribbons on a breezy day,And barbershop quartets harmonize in the good old summertime.

I AM SO GRATEFUL for a stroll through the park.Skateboards hum as they roll down the sidewalk,Live music fills the air at an outdoor concert,Shrieks erupt when a Little Leaguer hits his first home run,And hands clap in unison to the beat of the band.

I AM SO GRATEFUL for relaxing under an oak tree.A bird's sweet song murmurs in my ears,Children's laughter drifts through the air,Before dozing off for an afternoon siestaI think to myself, "It's a wonderful world."

Excerpted from "Gratitude Works: Open Your Heart to Love" by Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodoh.

Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodoh are authors of "Gratitude Works: Open Your Heart to Love." http://www.gratitudeworks.com

MORE RESOURCES:

Inspirational Folk Music Legend Odetta Dies at 77 - Associated Content

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2008/12/03/2008-12-03_odetta_folk_singer_who_gave_voice_to_son.htmlcid=1277071964ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNERVhOTC8otvpKPYXWWgfukubpA0Aimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=oPCfHPIXpMcJimgurl=assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/12/04/amd_odetta2.jpg width=56 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2New York Daily News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-0fd=Rurl=http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1266418/inspirational_folk_music_legend_odetta.htmlcid=1277071964ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNFaNmjI9ydDL7vVQJTlhsweWSSCYQbInspirational/b Folk Music Legend Odetta Dies at 77/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAssociated Content,nbsp;COnbsp;-/font nobrDec 3, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Sarah F. Sullivan, published Dec 03, 2008 Odetta, the mighty-voiced folk singer and champion for the African-American civil rights movement, died Tuesday b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-1fd=Rurl=http://www.shewired.com/Article.cfm%3FID%3D21063cid=1277071964ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNHpUpqW1aLkMIU7h9-7klFx2t4xrQFolk Singer and Civil Rights Icon Odetta Holmes Dies/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrSheWired/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1277071964hl=ennobrall 638 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational Hematologists Honored With Mentor Awards From the ... - MarketWatch

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-0fd=Rurl=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Inspirational-Hematologists-Honored-With-Mentor/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B0EEF7475-761E-4E11-A4F2-48F848BEAF5E%257Dcid=1277290776ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNE6eq9LEvQvlHCDCSaGC9eWTjxynQbInspirational/b Hematologists Honored With Mentor Awards From the b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobrDec 3, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 03, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- In recognition of the value the American Society of Hematology (ASH) places on mentorship, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational women - Metro Spirit

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-0fd=Rurl=http://metrospirit.com/index.php%3Fcat%3D1211101074307265%26ShowArticle_ID%3D11020212084007803cid=1277185480ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNFHTfeJgq5UqQpEVrHXhmrHRgXQIgbInspirational/b women/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMetro Spirit,nbsp;GAnbsp;-/font nobrDec 3, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Now in its second year, Anthony Page expands his Sister CEO celebration. And, in doing so, he hopes to do more than honor success stories. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational readings bridge generations at WHAT - Wicked Local Orleans

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/3-0fd=Rurl=http://www.wickedlocal.com/orleans/fun/entertainment/books/x541374439/Inspirational-readings-bridge-generations-at-WHATcid=1277378274ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNFK-lHeOO_hmSN9ZqjxrmuAkh2PzAbInspirational/b readings bridge generations at WHAT/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWicked Local Orleans,nbsp;MAnbsp;-/font nobrDec 3, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Melora B. North More than 50 years ago Edward R. Murrow hosted a radio program called “This I Believe.” It wasn’ta show highlighting the talents of such b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational Lisa visits church - Romford Recorder

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/content/havering/recorder/news/story.aspx%3Fbrand%3DRECOnline%26category%3DnewsRomford%26tBrand%3Dnorthlondon24%26tCategory%3Dnewsromford%26itemid%3DWeED05%2520Dec%25202008%252010%253A44%253A00%253A630cid=0ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNEdOZdv_X0WGOle46TWKBIDQNwVAgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=j3bxcDlPGOUJimgurl=www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/london24/assets/images/dynamicFeed/Blacke5385122008.P02.jpg width=80 height=57 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Romford Recorder/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/content/havering/recorder/news/story.aspx%3Fbrand%3DRECOnline%26category%3DnewsRomford%26tBrand%3Dnorthlondon24%26tCategory%3Dnewsromford%26itemid%3DWeED05%2520Dec%25202008%252010%253A44%253A00%253A630cid=0ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNEdOZdv_X0WGOle46TWKBIDQNwVAgbInspirational/b Lisa visits church/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fRomford Recorder,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1A CROWD of around 200 listened to the inspiring story of a former nursery teacher whose life changed forever when machete-wielding paranoid schizophrenic b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Volunteers dedication is inspirational - Sunshine Coast Daily

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/dec/05/volunteers-dedication-inspirational/cid=0ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNEQP_0oFeAWSox__Hzh-pq2K0LDAwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=9M-PcmfAKGkJimgurl=media.thedaily.com.au/img/photos/2008/12/04/volunteer_500x500_t350.jpg width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Sunshine Coast Daily/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-0fd=Rurl=http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/dec/05/volunteers-dedication-inspirational/cid=0ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNEQP_0oFeAWSox__Hzh-pq2K0LDAwVolunteers dedication is binspirational/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSunshine Coast Daily,nbsp;Australianbsp;-/font nobr16 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;Their dedication is binspirational/b and they truly do make a difference to the everyone in the hospital environment,quot; Mr Hegarty said. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Says PeaceHealth#39;s stance inspirational - Bellingham Herald

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6-0fd=Rurl=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/letters/story/699978.htmlcid=0ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNER6cesh9uNODrJ1FUBqP93yJTXWQSays PeaceHealth#39;s stance binspirational/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBellingham Herald,nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobrDec 3, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1PeaceHealth is being resilient and unwavering, due to a moral conviction, especially in the midst of sacrifice and suffering is a quality that inspires most b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational Gift for Any Occasion - Extra Newspaper

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.extranews.net/news.php%3Fnid%3D4409cid=0ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNGlOtsqee7P_bbB8RalCChEHkxSigimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=_Gru_TLgnggJimgurl=www.extranews.net/uploaded_pictures/4409_1.jpg width=80 height=68 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Extra Newspaper/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-0fd=Rurl=http://www.extranews.net/news.php%3Fnid%3D4409cid=0ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNGlOtsqee7P_bbB8RalCChEHkxSigbInspirational/b Gift for Any Occasion/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExtra Newspaper,nbsp;ILnbsp;-/font nobrDec 3, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1One way to do so is with the beautiful and binspirational/b 18 karat and sterling silver jewelry available through the “My Angel” collection from Christian b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

High Tech Wellness Inspires Louisiana - SYS-CON Brasil

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://br.sys-con.com/node/768384cid=1277493792ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNFhEg5Cnp04-k7kFE2Y3AbViGTYOAHigh Tech Wellness Inspires Louisiana/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSYS-CON Brasil,nbsp;NJnbsp;-/font nobrDec 4, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The site used binspirational/b team competitions and fun interactive tools to get citizens active. The focus of the program was weight loss; it offered tools b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

quot;Sergioquot; to Premier At Sundance - UN Dispatch

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-0fd=Rurl=http://www.undispatch.com/archives/2008/12/sergio_to_premi.phpcid=1277538699ei=hVI5SfzONZWO9QSX0LWlCQusg=AFQjCNH4ap_P3JEbYwHvDLCdB_1cHPx2rwquot;Sergioquot; to Premier At Sundance/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fUN Dispatchnbsp;-/font nobr22 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Along with War Child#39;s DC premiere on Friday, this has been a great week for binspirational/b humanitarian films! Long before Susan Rice was Obama#39;s pick for b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational - Google News

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