In Giving We Gain

“When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.” ~ William Arthur Ward

There are moments in our lives when a friend is feeling down and we try to remind them of their own qualities that make them such a great person and good friend. We take time to try to understand what they are going through to help them see their own internal strengths and beauty. In those moments of selflessness we bring forth in ourselves our own internal and true nature. The desire to lift others up, to not try to compare ourselves and let our ego get in the way, but instead to help them discover within themselves their own internal beauty. In this action we bring forth an amazing quality of caring and kindness that sometimes gets lost behind our ego and our need to compete. Gratitude and giving are the core elements or our nature and reveal to ourselves and the world our true potential.

To Get We Must Give

“To receive everything, one must open one's hands and give” ~ Taisen Deshimaru


Everything starts with gratitude. When we are grateful for what we have now, we are able to open ourselves to more. There is something in everyone’s life if only your breath that you have to be grateful for. Start there and then look outside yourself. See the sun that rises and sets for you. See the moon and the stars that shine at night for you, the rain that falls to offer water for you. When we recognize the smallest of things we have in our lives to be grateful for we will notice more opportunities as well. When we take inspired action towards those opportunities then we are offered even more to be grateful for. When we offer assistance to those that we can help instead of just what we are trying to accomplish we open more opportunities. Life can be as big as we want it to be, but it has to start with gratitude and the willingness to give thanks to where we are and where we can be.

Its Never Too Soon To Create A Legacy

If we take our time we can find inspiration all around us.  A website http://www.idealist.com/ offers a list of organizations started by children.    Emily Douglas started an organization called Grandmas Gifts. 


Inspired by the memory of her grandmother who lived in Appalachian Ohio, 9 year-old Emily Douglas established a nonprofit organization called Grandmas Gifts. Since 1992, Emily has raised over half a million dollars worth of food, clothing, toys, books, and educational field trips for schools, children, and organizations in the area. Emily hopes that Grandma's Gifts will raise awareness of economic hardship in the Appalachian Ohio region, bridge the cultural gap between Appalachia and the rest of the United States, and show other young people how service to the community can be a fun and worthwhile endeavor.
 

This is so inspiring.  To see someone so young making a difference enables us to believe in our own potential to make a difference.  Is there something you want to do and have put it off.  Consider if a child can do it maybe you can to. 
 

How A Ripple Becomes A Legacy

Ripples are the affect of an object being dropped into a body of water and creating ripples.  As the ripple begins to span out, it creates additional ripples.  We have the potential as individuals to create ripples.  Our actions can have an affect on others.  I can help out a friend by giving them a ride to their job.  They can then help out someone at their job that can affect that person.  We each have the potential to affect other people.  We don't always know the affect of our ripple.  I can start a business and someone can read my story in the newspaper on online and be motivated and inspired to follow a dream of theirs.  A simple act like a compliment or a thank you can have a ripple.  We have the ability to change a bad day into a good by changing the way we look at the day itself.   

Remembering Hope

History can teach us so much.  The one thing it can teach us the most is that hope has power.  Throughout our own history there are moments when life wasn't going according to plan. When we had doubt over how a situation would work out.  There are periods of time that we doubt we will ever be happy again.  That life will offer some ray of sunlight behind the emotion we are feeling at any given moment.  However, if we move forward and have hope it always does. 

If we move on to history we again see hope.  In almost every battle there are periods of doubt will we win?  Periods of time when the economy seems to be at its worst.  Then there is a shift and things swing back around to the positive.  Life teaches us if we have hope and move towards that hope there is almost always another path to take.  A new opportunity.  So in moments of doubt, reflect on your history.  Realize that things can always get better if you remain hopeful. 

Hope To Find Our Own Greatness

“How do we inspire ourselves to greatness? We must exceed our own expectations.” ~ Invictus

As children we are taught to believe. Believe that reindeers fly and elves build toys. Believe in the Easter Bunny, Fairy Tales and that someday we could be anything. It is possible to be a famous actor, the president or a major athlete. We aren’t given limitations; instead our dreams are encouraged through stories, movies and dreams.

Somewhere this all disappears. We are taught about limitations and are flooded with news about what is wrong in society. We begin to doubt what life has to offer and even worse we begin to doubt ourselves and our own potential.
“I am the master of my fate the captain of my soul.” ~ Henley, William Ernest

However, there is hope. Inside every successful person is a person that overcame their own doubt. They realized they were the master of their own destiny and the captain of their own soul. They focused on what was possible not impossible. They took action toward attaining their dreams and with each action a new opportunity was born.

Our success is within our own hands. It is up to us what we do with it, the choice to pursue our dreams with all our heart. To be open to the potential opportunities that arise or to find reasons we must settle. To find opportunities or to look for what is wrong instead of what can be. Hope inspires us and enables us to become the person we are meant to be.

Cheryl ~ Day 112; 253 to Go

48 years ago the idea of Earth Day was born. Until then there was no organized day to dedicate the appreciation of our planet. Of all the things we have to be grateful for I think one that we all tend to take for granted is our Earth. It isn't until nature reminds us of it's power do we even recognize that we are on this big beautiful ball traveling through space. We have deserts, valleys, mountains, rivers, waterfalls and oceans. We have sunrises and sunsets, rainbows and rainfall. Our Earth is so much apart of our lives and I am very grateful today and everyday for all the Earth provides us. This is my daily inspired thought.

Cheryl ~ Day 111; 256 to go

So there is this website I discovered a few weeks agot called 1000 Awesome Things and the persont that wrote it has a book out called "The Book Of Awesome" and just the cover makes me smile. Basically his site is dedicated to finding the awesome things in life. So today I run into the supermark to pick up a few items like bread and milk and there in the front of the produce section are these BRIGHT RED STRAWBERRIES! One of the downfalls to moving from California to New England was the limited access to fresh fruit and produce all year like I had there. However, the site of those STRAWBERRIES made me smile. I immediately thought of his website and that made me smile even more. Then my daughter and her boy friend come home and he's like "guess what I did today?" I'm like okay "what?" He said "I sharpened a pencil and the first try it came out perfect, and I thought AWESOME." I realized this one man with this one blog has created a ripple. I had shared the site and some of his blogs with my teenage daughter and now not only was I noticing what was AWESOME but them as well. He started a Ripple of appreciation and gratitude and it has spread to me and then down to my daughter and her boyfriend. Never under estimate the power of one positive action in this great big world. This is my daily inspired thought.

Cheryl ~ Day 109; 256 to Go

Sometimes there are moments when we try to analyiz a situation to understand it , or to find out what we have done to cause a change. At work, in a relationship with family members. There are times that no matter how much we try to understand why things are changing or what we have done wrong it isn't about us. There is nothing we have done wrong. The truth is we seldom know the entire story to things that happen within our immediate circle let alone understand those outside that circle. We have to sometimes put ourselves first. Do what is best for us and if those in our life or situations come back around again to where they once were then they were meant to be that way. However, we each must respect ourselves and not allow ourselves. In doing this we will attrack those to us in our lives that will also respect us.

We Declare 2010 the Year of Gratitude

Waves of Gratitude founders Cheryl Nordyke and Kim Wierman believe that the expression of gratitude has the power to change the world. With that thought in mind, they are declaring 2010 the Year of Gratitude and launching their new blog “Inspired Thoughts” with 365 days of uninterrupted blogging about the subject they hold so dear.

“The purpose is to show our followers that we are just like them. We have everyday joys, challenges, struggles, and triumphs and through it all we strive to find the gratitude and inspiration in these experiences, that’s what keeps us strong” says Cheryl. Kim adds “What you’ll see is the real deal as we relate our day’s experiences and reflect upon and find the inspiration and gratitude that will make us better the next day.  We invite you to travel with us and look forward to your comments and insights and hope that together we can all grow from this experience.  Let the journey into 2010 begin!”

Visit “Inspired Thoughts” today to get inspired and visit wavesofgratitude.com to buy the Inspired Jewelry and Apparel and wear the symbols of gratitude created by Cheryl and Kim that are both beautiful and meaningful!

Why Get In Touch?

The Get in Touch Foundation was established by Mary Ann Wasil Nilan in 2004 to encourage women of all ages to “Get In Touch” with their bodies as part of an ongoing crusade to educate them about the importance of early breast cancer detection. Mary Ann met Waves of Gratitude co-founder Kim Wierman at the Make Mine a Million Conference.

“At the conference we were learning about how women’s attitudes about money and their earning power were affected by the women in their lives,” Kim recalls.  “I stood up and told a story about my grandmother wrapping her spending money in aluminum foil and putting it the freezer and then telling my grandfather it was cheese she was putting in her purse in case she got hungry while she was out.  Mary Ann approached me at a break to tell me how the story really made her laugh, but it was her incredible story of survival, hope and faith during her battle with breast cancer that touched us and prompted us to follow her progress and reach out to her almost a year later.” Their immediate connection back in 2008 resulted in an amazing partnership now.

In an effort to share their gratitude for early breast cancer detection and prevention, Waves of Gratitude will donate $3 from every purchase of a signature Large Branches of Hope necklace to the Get In Touch Foundation through February 28, 2010. Individuals who want to purchase the necklace can visit the Waves of Gratitude website to learn more and get a coupon code to receive 15% off any Large Branches of Hope necklace. Pictured below is the Large Branches of Hope necklace with Rose Quartz Swarovski Crystal. also available with Clear Quartz, Aquamarine, Ruby and Amethyst Swarovski Crystals.

The Get In Touch Girls' Program & Daisy Wheel© teaches girls in grades 5-12 the importance of, and how to do a breast self-exam for life with the proprietary and effective 8-step Daisy Wheel through lectures in open community settings that facilitate comfort and discussion.

Mary Ann Wasil Nilan (pictured above) says, “The Get In Touch Foundation® is delighted to have been chosen by Waves of Gratitude to be a recipient of their philanthropic commitment to making a difference in our world! Each dollar that Waves of Gratitude donates to Get In Touch means one more Daisy Wheel© makes it into the hands of one more girl. Kudos to Waves of Gratitude for joining us in our mission to “change the world one girl at a time!”  Hope Lives!”

“With each Large Branches of Hope necklace purchase, you are affecting the lives of three girls” says Cheryl Nordyke, Waves of Gratitude CEO.” Kim Wierman adds, “We are so excited to give back to The Get in Touch Foundation. I am grateful for Mary Ann’s strength and inspiration, and I know she is going to affect so many people."

Get more information about The Get In Touch Foundation at www.getintouchfoundation.org. Don’t forget to visit www.wavesofgratitude.com to get your 15% off coupon code and tell all your friends that they can help Waves of Gratitude give back by giving the gift of a beautiful and meaningful Branches of Hope necklace available exclusively from Waves of Gratitude.

Recognize Someone’s Extraordinary Life TODAY

At Waves of Gratitude, we couldn’t think of any better way to celebrate the spirit of the season, reflect on 2009 and start 2010 on a positive note than thinking about the people in our lives who express their gratitude with extraordinary personal style.

That’s why we created Expressions of Gratitude, an exclusive Waves of Gratitude award given to one lucky individual nominated for expressing their gratitude with extraordinary personal style.

Nominate someone TODAY to give them a chance at winning the exclusive Waves of Gratitude Expressions of Gratitude Award. Use this link (http://wavesofgratitude.com/nominate.php) to nominate someone by submitting their name and a brief description of how they expressed their gratitude with extraordinary personal style.

One deserving Expressions of Gratitude nominee will win the exclusive Waves of Gratitude Expressions of Gratitude Award on January 15, 2010. To remind the winner about the importance of expressing gratitude, they will receive a stylish solid sterling silver 1 1/4" Branches of Hope Pendant with a clear Swarovski crystal on an 18" Genuine Black Leather necklace (Retail Value: $104.90).



Don't forget to nominate someone who has expressed their gratitude with extraordinary personal style (either yourself, a friend, family member, or colleague) before January 14 at 11:59pm EST for the exclusive Waves of Gratitude Expressions of Gratitude Award.

Gift Recommendations from Waves of Gratitude

Looking for a perfect gift for that unique friend, colleague or family member? The Waves of Gratitude team makes your holiday shopping experience easy! With just a few clicks, you will have a printable GIFT CERTIFICATE that will help you take care of everyone on your list.

• Who reminds you of HOPE? Give them the WAVES OF GRATITUDE BRANCHES OF HOPE pendant on a bracelet or necklace. Waves of Gratitude also created the HOPE Signature Top. 

• For YOGA enthusiasts, try the WAVES OF GRATITUDE YOGA WAVE necklace or bracelet. The solid sterling silver piece combines the Health and Strength Waves to make a beautiful, fluid and sculpted form that aligns with the lifestyle.

•  Try the WAVES OF GRATITUDE DANCING WAVE necklace or bracelet for those that love to DANCE, or DANCE to the beat of their OWN drum.

•  Who has made a MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT this year? Remind them to express gratitude for their accomplishments with our ACCOMPLISHMENT WAVE on a bracelet or necklace.

• Give nurses, doctors, or all-around HEALTH enthusiasts the WAVES OF GRATITUDE HEALTH WAVE necklace or bracelet.
  

Recommend the items we recommend, pick your own gift from our website, but ultimately give THEM the choice with a Waves of Gratitude Gift Certificate.

Don't forget to visit www.wavesofgratitude.com to give the gift of gratitude this holiday season.

Visit the New Waves of Gratitude Website

We are proud to debut the new Waves of Gratitude website and new image at www.wavesofgratitude.com. We encourage all our readers to visit the NEW website to view our beautiful and meaningful Inspired Jewelry and Inspired Apparel.

http://www.wavesofgratitude.com

Waves of Gratitude was founded by Cheryl Nordyke and Kim Wierman on the strong belief that everyone should have the opportunity to “wear” symbols of gratitude that have style and meaning. The mission of Waves of Gratitude is to offer products that inspire people to remember the importance of expressing gratitude.

"After finding myself unemployed for the first time at the age of 42, I went searching for a piece of jewelry to remind me to be grateful regardless of my situation," said Cheryl Nordyke, CEO.  "When I was unable to find anything that spoke to me, Kim and I decided to create our own products that inspire and express our gratitude."

To view the new website and new image of Waves of Gratitude, go to www.wavesofgratitude.com.

For press inquiries, email pr@wavesofgratitude.com.

Expressions of Gratitude – An Inspired Award from Waves of Gratitude

Do you know someone with Style That Inspires? If so, Expressions of Gratitude is an exclusive Waves of Gratitude award given to one lucky individual nominated for expressing their gratitude with extraordinary personal style.

Nominate someone TODAY to give them a chance at winning the exclusive Waves of Gratitude Expressions of Gratitude Award. Send an email to Expressions of Gratitude (pr@wavesofgratitude.com) with your nominee's name and a brief description of how they expressed their gratitude with extraordinary personal style.

One deserving Expressions of Gratitude nominee will win the exclusive Waves of Gratitude Expressions of Gratitude Award on January 15, 2010. To remind the winner about the importance of expressing gratitude, they will receive a stylish solid sterling silver 1 1/4" Branches of Hope Pendant with a clear Swarovski crystal on an 18" Genuine Black Leather necklace (Retail Value: $104.90).

Don't forget to nominate someone who has expressed their gratitude with extraordinary personal style (either yourself, a friend, family member, or colleague) before January 14 at 11:59pm EST for the exclusive Waves of Gratitude Expressions of Gratitude Award.