When I lose my way, the following quotes keep me on track. They remind me of what is important. They illuminate a path to a profound spirituality: a way of living in the world, a way of being. In addition to appearing below, you can also encounter them in the daily Pause For Beauty, and will be in an upcoming journal/daybook, “Love, Gratitude And The Beauty Of Wild Places.”
I hope to add to them over time and welcome suggestions from readers.

. . .

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
- Melody Beattie

 

As with all commandments, gratitude is a description of a successful mode of living. The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us.
- James E. Faust

  

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.
- Epictetus 

  

If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.
- Rabbi Harold Kushner

  

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

  

Gratitude and attitude are not challenges; they are choices.
- Robert Braathe

  

Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
- Charles Dickens

  

Make it a habit to tell people, “thank you.” To express your appreciation sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it.
- Ralph Marston

 

Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.
- Voltaire

  

The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more of is people to appreciate and enjoy it.
- Michael Josephson

 

For my part, I am almost contented just now, and very thankful. Gratitude is a divine emotion: It fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms it, but not to fever.
- Charlotte Bronte

  

This is a wonderful day. I have never seen this one before.
- Maya Angelou

  

When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in.
- Kristin Armstrong

  

It’s a funny thing about life: Once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.
- Germany Kent

  

If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.
- Frank A. Clark

  

Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.
- Rumi

  

There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.
- Ralph Blum

  

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.
- Aesop

 

Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty.
- Doris Day

 

When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.
- Willie Nelson

Two things define you: your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything.
- George Bernard Shaw.

 

Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.
- Ovid

 

Patience is when you’re supposed to get mad, but you choose to understand.
- Anonymous

  

When you look at the dark side, careful you must be. For the dark side looks back. . . Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you, it will. . . Your path you must decide. . . You will find only what you bring in.
    – Yoda

  

Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence.
- Hal Borland

 

Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.
- Yoda

  

To be Jedi is to face the truth, and choose. Give off light, or darkness, Padawan. Be a candle, or the night.
- Yoda

 

To answer power with power, the Jedi way this is not. In this war, a danger there is, of losing who we are.
– Yoda

 

When you look at the dark side, careful you must be. For the dark side looks back. . . Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you, it will. . . Your path you must decide. . . You will find only what you bring in.
     – Yoda, Star Wars: The Jedi Path