My wish isn’t to mean everything to everyone but something to someone.” – Unknown

What is a wish? A wish is a hope or desire for something.  Some cultures have customs in which people are encouraged to “make a wish”, such as blowing out the candles on a birthday cake, seeing a shooting star at night, tossing a coin into a wishing well or fountain or breaking the wishbone of a cooked turkey. Many believe such wishes can only come true if you keep them a secret from other people. (source: Wikipedia)

We all have wishes, dreams, goals, hopes… Some we share and others we keep secret.  I think it is a myth that for your wishes to come true you have to keep them a secret.  The more you put your wishes/intentions out into the universe by sharing it with others, the better chance you have of finding someone (a hero) to help you fulfill it.

The focus on Wish today is because tonight on The Angie Strader Show, I will interview Dave Girgenti, founder of Wish Upon A Hero and we will be talking about the power of putting your wishes out there and allowing people (heroes) to become involved in your life to make your wish come true.  We will even grant at least one wish live on the show tonight, and that my friends makes me very HAPPY!

Everyone has a wish.  Anyone can be a hero.  ~ Wish Upon A Hero

Tune in and listen to today’s inspirational message!

Today’s Quote

“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.”  ~ Dale Carnegie

Today’s Tip

Is your inner voice or negative self talk sabotaging your life?

To help control your mind instead of your mind controlling you, do this simple exercise for twenty one days.

Take just ten minutes a day to focus and concentrate on a particular item. For example, focus on a flower. Use all your senses to observe the color, scent, texture and design.

At first, your mind will wander, but eventually you will be able to take back control of your mind and focus only on what you decide to focus on.

This will change your life forever.

Have a great week!

~Joanie and Angie

Thoughts? Comments?

E-mail the Happy Wednesday Ladies at HappyHosts.com

We would love to hear from you! Make it a “Happy Wednesday” for everyone & share the Happy Wednesday Broadcast to a friend!

Tip 1

Drink your coffee – The Harvard School of Public Health study of 125,000 individuals who drank 6 to 8 cups of caffinated coffee daily actually found it lowered the risk of type II diabetes risk 50% in men and 30% in women

Tip 2

Get your sleep – Everyone needs sleep. Sleep allows the body to rest and affects both physical and mental health. The amount of sleep a person requires is affected by the person’s age. As people age, they tend to need less sleep.

Tip 3

Learn to forgive – Studies show that people who forgive are happier and healthier than those who hold resentments and the more forgiving people were, the less they suffered from a wide range of illnesses.

I want to wish my Mom a very Happy Birth Day today!

It isn’t my Mom’s birthday, it’s mine, but she is the one that gave birth to me.  It is her birth day just as much as it is my birthday.

You may find this strange, but I believe that we pick our parents.  A little far fetched belief for some, but when I was a little girl I watched an old black and white movie and I remember a scene with these little cherubs up in heaven picking out their parents down below.  Since that time, I have believed that to be so – and I like believing it.  I have a daughter that I thank God for every day as she has been such a blessing in my life and I choose to believe she picked me to be her Mommy as well.

So, today is my 43rd Birthday!  I can honestly say that I am loving my life so much more than I could have ever imagined.  Is it perfect, um, no.  Would I want it to be, um, yes, I mean no.  If my life was perfect, what would I have to strive for?  I enjoy working hard to make things happen.  I love the feeling of accomplishment when I have overcome something or made something work that didn’t seem possible.  The lessons I have learned from my imperfect life have brought me to where I am today and made me who I am today.  I think the idea of a “perfect life” is overrated anyway.  I don’t want perfect.  Great isn’t perfect, and I’m very happy to say I have a great life!

A special message to my loved ones:

To my Mom – Thank you for willing me into existence and for always believing in me.  Even when I made some some not-so-good relationship decisions, you gave me room to grow and learn from those decisions.  It took me a while to get it right, but I did (and how!) and the third time is a charm!  Thank you for all you did over the years to give me everything you could, I do appreciate it!

To my Dad – Thank you for being the most loving Father a girl could ever ask for.  You rarely told me no, but when you did, I knew you really meant it.  I have many fond memories over the years, but the one that really stands out to me right now is when you walked (or as Mom says, ran) me down the isle to marry Tommy.  The time we had in the back before that will always be in my heart.  Thank you for stepping in and being the best male role model a little girl could ask for.

Felecia – Thank you for choosing me to be your Mom!  I was young (and still am by the way) and I know I made mistakes along the way, but you were patient and accepting even when we had to struggle.  I am proud of the young woman you have become and see amazing adventures and accomplishments in your future.  You have an unlimited future ahead of you.  I hope you grab hold and get every drop out of life possible!

Tommy – Thank you for your determination and persistence – although some may call it stalking!   I mean it when I say that you make me want to be a better person.  You are the most loving and giving person I know.  You have given so much love to me and Felecia these past ten years and you have taught me what true love really is.  I am grateful God’s plan came together and we found each other.

To Myself – Thank you for taking good care of yourself over the years.  You may have had some tough times, but those times are what made you who you are today.  Your intentions are good and you strive to always do the right thing – even when that thing sucks.  Your integrity is your prized possession – never let it go.  You are right where you are supposed to be and things are only getting better.  Hold on and enjoy the ride!

Happy Birthday to me and many blessings to you!
~ Angie

The other day I was outside soaking up a little of the spring sunshine and enjoying the sounds of birds and watching a butterfly fluttering around the flowers and this song popped into my head.  All I knew was the chorus and now after reading the whole thing, I like it that much more.  I hope you find a little sunshine on your shoulders today or sometime soon!

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry

Sunshine on the water looks so lovely

Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you

I’d give to you a day just like today

If I had a song that I could sing for you

I’d sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry

Sunshine on the water looks so lovely

Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a tale that I could tell you

I’d tell a tale sure to make you smile

If I had a wish that I could wish for you

I’d make a wish for sunshine all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry

Sunshine on the water looks so lovely

Sunshine almost always makes me high

Words by John Denver, Music by John Denver, Dick Kniss and Mike Taylor

If it’s not fun, tell me, why are you still playing?

Think about that for a second…

Okay, realistically, we cannot have fun 24/7 – at least not in the world most of us live in, but think about the things we do that we don’t enjoy and we don’t even have to do.  Why do we continue to do them?  I bet there are a few people in your life that drive you crazy, drag you down, or just plain annoy the crap out of you, right?  I also bet that when they call, you answer.  When they ask you to lunch, you go.  When they need something, you help.  That’s because you are a nice person.  A nice person doesn’t always have the most fun.

What is fun?  The dictionary defines fun as activities that are enjoyable or amusing.  I can see how hanging with a neurotic Debbie Downer can be amusing – or at least make you feel better about your own life, but the experience and time investment may not be enjoyable.

Who is a friend?  The dictionary defines a friend as a person you know well and regard with affection and trust.  Let’s key in on the affection part.  If you are hanging with people you don’t have a positive feeling of liking for, then don’t do it.  Just say no.  Maybe “No thank you” might be nicer.

Think about those in your life that you should probably let go and let be so that you can enjoy your time with those that actually do bring you joy.  I find that I would rather be alone or in the company of my pets than to be with an energy zapper.  I like myself and even find I can have a lot of fun all by myself.

As we go into the weekend, think about your friends and who you really enjoy socializing or playing with and make a plan to get together and do something fun – like roller skating, bowling, put-put golf, hiking, play a board game, go to a local attraction or event… there is so much to do and it really doesn’t have to cost much to have fun, especially when you are with good friends.

Happy Friday!

~ Angie

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” -William Arthur Ward

What are you thankful for today?  Who can you express a little heart-felt  gratitude?  Be sincere and be descriptive and not only will you make someone else feel special, you heart will fill with joy as well.

~ Angie

Tune in and listen to today’s inspirational message!

Today’s Quote

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

~ Frederick Keonig

Today’s Tip

To enjoy the feeling of peace within even during these challenging economic times, focus on what you are grateful for rather than what is missing in your life.

Keep it simple and get back to basics….

Have a great week!

Joanie and Angie

Thoughts? Comments?

E-mail the Happy Wednesday Ladies at HappyHosts.com

We would love to hear from you! Make it a “Happy Wednesday” for everyone & share the Happy Wednesday Broadcast to a friend!

It’s Friday & time for you to take a little time to do something that makes you feel good.  Here are a few of my favorite things that help me feel good:

• Read a book or magazine
• Enjoy a cup of tea or wine or margarita or….
• Listen to  music or books on tape or catch-up on podcasts
• Soak my feet
• Deep condition my hair
• Put on a cleansing face mask
• Watch mindless TV
• Go to bed early

And since I am a premier member of the Queens of Multi-Tasking Coalition (QMTC), while watching – or just kinda listening to mindless TV, I will enjoy my beverage of choice as I soak my feet and deep condition my hair while wearing my green deep cleansing mask and thumb through a magazine.  Since that will wear me out, I’ll get to bed early!

What are some of the things you like to do to help you feel good?

Happy Friday and I hope you find time to feel good GREAT!

~ Angie

“Look what I got! And I got it on sale!”  That’s me.  I try my hardest to buy things on sale.  I find it difficult to pay full retail for anything when I know it will soon be on sale.  The other thing is I love to shop online.  I find that when I shop online I am less likely to impulse buy.  I cannot even go into a Target store anymore.  I have banned myself!  I can spend hours (and hours) in there looking at everything! Did you know that on the very back shelves behind the linens, lamps and build-it-yourself furniture Target has discount shelves?  It’s always the strangest things on sale, but you never know when you will need a bright orange fuzzy toilet seat cover.  Check it out next time you visit your local Target store – and buy something frivolous in my honor – please!  Anyway, back to online shopping… I will spend a considerable amount of time searching for coupon codes for online checkouts.  My theory, if it says “Enter coupon code here,” there must be a coupon code out there somewhere.  Google it, Bing it, or whatever your search addiction is and find it.  Do not skip that little money saving box!

How about all of the loose change floating around this planet?  It’s Earth Day today and I think that we should honor Mother Earth by picking up all of the loose change that is lying around.  I recently heard that there are people – in fact a lot of people, who won’t pick up pennies they see lying around the streets, sidewalks, parking lots, etc.  WHAT?  That’s is just crazy!  Pennies are money too!  Heads up, heads down – doesn’t matter.  A penny represents a promise of great things to come.  See a penny, pick it up and all the day you’ll have good luck.  Here is another perspective on the lowly penny on the ground… Enjoy!

Pennies From Heaven

- C. Mashburn

Today I found a penny,
Just laying on the ground.
But it’s not just a penny,
This little coin I’ve found.

Found pennies come from heaven.
That’s what my Grandpa told me.
He said Angels toss them down.
Oh, how I loved that story.

He said when an Angel misses you,
They toss a penny down,
Sometimes just to cheer you up,
To make a smile out of your frown.

So don’t pass by that penny
When you’re feeling blue;
It may be a Penny from Heaven
That an Angel’s tossed to you.

Happy Thrify Thursday and Happy Earth Day to you!

~ Angie