To live a well balanced, rewarding life of our dreams by day and sleep restfully at night.
Life is good ! Tonight’s journal writing exercise
Published June 5, 2013 | 
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Why not focus and affirm all the good that we have happening around us? Even when we have had the cruddiest of days, there is always something to remind us of how wonderful life really is. We just have see it, hear it, be mindful of it, and give thanks for all of our good.
Tonight, I invite you to simply write in your journals: “Life is good because…” Then simply write. I guarantee you will feel happier than when you started this writing exercise and will more than likely drift off to sleep with your blessing foremost in your mind and in your heart (now that is the stuff of sweet dreams)!
Ready? I know I am. As I often do, I will start my entry and then you do your own, okay? Okay!
Let’s see…
Life is good because:
1. No two days are ever the same.
2. I love all of the color around me: the green, the flowers (I am sitting outside right now).
3. I am loved.
4. I have many opportunities throughout my day to positively affect another person
5. People are basically kind and good and I see evidence of that all of the time.
6. the birds are singing here in this early Florida evening.
7. My parents who reside in Oklahoma City are safe and sound.
8. I am blessed with many new friends here at The Warm Milk Journal.
9. I have my health.
10. The sun shines after a good rain storm.
11. It is taco night (good stuff)!
12. Doors of opportunity are opening up for me in the business world (very exciting stuff)!
13. After dinner, we are going to watch my all time favorite movie, The Sound of Music, thanks to my 15 year old daughter who is feeling nostalgic tonight.
Your turn, friends.
What we focus on, grows.
May all the good in your lives, expand exponentially.
Hugs and kisses from Florida!
Debra
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A morning journal gratitude list
Published April 11, 2013 | 
As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world. ~ Terri Guillemets
It is a great practice to begin and end our day focused on what we feel thankful for.
This is my gratitude list for my journal writing this morning…
I am thankful for:
1. My life
2. My strong and healthy body
3. My loving and supportive husband
4. My sweet daughter
5. My son
6. My cat, Mew
7. All of the help and support that is always there when I need it
8. My friends
9. The doors of opportunity which are swinging wide open for me right now (it is quite exciting)!
10. All of you here who are visiting The Warm Milk Journal. Love, peace, and hugs to all of you!
Your turn… what are you thankful for right now?
Have a blessed day!
In peace,
Debra
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Our Top Twenty Warm Milk Journal Posts for 2012!
Published December 30, 2012 | 
Yes, 2012 is almost over. It has been a great year. I wish to thank you for all of your support these past twelve months. Out site has grown so much. It is my wish that we continue to support you in our mission of:
To live a well balanced, rewarding life of our dreams by day and sleep restfully at night.
I know we have about a day and a half of 2012 remaining, but I would like to share with you the twenty posts that got the most views these past 365 days. The most viewed page was not a post, but our home page (with over 30,00 views).
Here is the countdown of our most popular posts for 2012 (not including the home page).
20. Anxiety and dealing with our fear bubbles: 3 approaches to take
19. An affirmation for insomnia from Louise Hay’s “Heal your Body”
17. Top Ten Ways To Make Friends On Twitter, One Tweet At A Time
16. Morning Prayer
15. This morning’s intention and prayer
14. Lying in bed and can’t sleep? Here’s what to do…
12. Two Evening Prayers from Marianne Williamson’s Illuminata
And now for the top ten:
Wyatt PR
8. Are you a people pleaser? People pleasing leads to anxiety, worry, and loss of sleep
6. Tweet others the way you want to be tweeted: 15 lessons I’ve learned on Twitter
5. When it’s raining outside, drink wine (or make lemonade): Ten ideas on dealing with disappointment
4. Two Bible Verses Good For Sleep
2. A morning coffee time prayer from Marianne Williamson’s Illuminata: A New Day
The drum roll please… the most popular post for 2012 (and all time) is:
1. A short morning prayer for this new day
I hope you have enjoyed this countdown. Thank you for visiting.
In Peace,
Debra
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Cruising your way to a Good Night Sleep
Published December 26, 2012 | 
This past week I had the good fortune to take a holiday Carnival cruise from my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. We had delightful stops in Key West, Florida and Nassau. It was a great time with my family.
While cruising, I learned a few things (this was my first cruise). I also was reminded that when it comes to getting a good night sleep, universal rules apply whether you are on land or sea.
Today, I offer you seven ways to get you cruising towards a good night sleep tonight and every night:
1. Before you go to bed, write your worries, to do lists, and goals in a journal. That way you get this busy mental activity out on paper rather than having it swimming around in your mind as you lay there in the dark wanting to sleep.
2. Be sure you drink plenty of water and get enough exercise during the day (especially important during the holidays or on a cruise with so much yummy food to eat). Our cruise ship had a wonderful fitness center on the top deck. I was blissed doing the Life Cycle while staring out at the wide open ocean view.
3. Make sure you have one thing to look forward to for the next day. Anticipation is a spirit lifter. Drift off to sleep happily…
Fun is about as good a habit as there is. ~Jimmy Buffet
4. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Get in the habit of thanking others and God for all of the good in your life. I found the staff and my fellow cruise passengers to be so gracious. I could not help but to feel blessed!
5. Praise your partner/spouse. What comes out of our lips makes a big difference in the quality of our most important relationship. I know I don’t sleep well at all if I have said something unkind to my husband. Even thinking unkind thoughts will affect my peace of mind.
6. When things get rocky, go with the flow. Once in a while I would feel the ship move. Instead of letting it make me feel uncomfortable, I consciously relaxed into the movement. No Dramamine even required.
7. Don’t try to do everything. While cruising, there is always so much one can do. If you don’t watch yourself, you will end up coming home exhausted. It helps to schedule unstructured “do nothing” time into each day.
We all need empty hours in our lives or we will have no time to create or dream. ~Robert Coles
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Seven reasons why I feel grateful this morning. What are you grateful for today?
Published May 30, 2012 | 
Focusing on what we are grateful for is a great daily habit to practice. It is of course easy to do when we are in a good mood and things are going well. It is more of a challenge if we are upset or feeling grumpy. I think those are the times we need to tap into a spirit of gratitude and be reminded of all the good in our lives.
What are you feeling grateful for today?
1. A beautiful North Florida morning. The storm has passed. There seems to be sun and a gentle breeze out there now.
2. A good night sleep.
3. The love I share with my husband.
4. My son’s high school graduation last night.
5. My daughter’s restored health after a rough week-long bout with the flu
6. Our beautiful home.
7. All of the new friends who are discovering The Warm Milk Journal. Thanks for joining my list and visiting!
It’s your turn now.
Have a blessed day!
Debra
Today, I am feeling grateful for:
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Posted in anxiety, Gratitude list, Happiness, Journal Prompts, lists, worry | 
gratitude, journal writing, positive morning, thankful | 
Leave a commentI Am Free to… a journal writing exercise
Published May 28, 2012 | 
In honor of it being Memorial Day, I would like to contemplate what it means to us to be free. What does being free mean to you?
In your journal on the top of the page, write I Am free…. then just start writing anything that comes out. In my journal I plan on making a list of things that demonstrate freedom in my life. I can make it an even more powerful exercise by adding gratitude to the end of each statement.
For example,
I Am free:
1. to live wherever I want. Thank you!
2. to pursue any kind of work I want to do. Thank you!
3. I can wear anything I want (so long as I wear something out in public. Ha!) Thank you.
4. I can create, research, and connect with others on the internet without censorship. Thank you
5. I am free to watch anything I want to watch on tv and read anything I want to read without censorship. Thank you
6. On any given day I am free to change anything about my life. Thank you
I will stop there. You get the idea. your turn.
Being aware of our freedoms and what we have to be thankful for is very powerful.
The measure of mental health is the disposition to find good everywhere. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
I dedicate this post to the many men and women who have served their country so that the rest of us may enjoy the freedoms that we have.
Thank you!
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Posted in Benefits of Journal Writing, Journal Prompts | Freedom, gratitude, journal writing | Leave a commentThis morning’s entry in my prayer journal
Published March 23, 2012 | 
Dear God,
Thank you for this morning and new day. As my body wakes up I become more aware of the possibilities that are before me.
Thank you for my family.
Thank you for my health.
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Amen,
Debra
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Little Things, a morning prayer
Published November 13, 2011 | 
Dear God,
Thank you for the “little things” that make life so wonderful:
An unexpected smile from a stranger,
hugs and encouragement from colleagues, friends, and loved ones..
a kind word here and there…
These little things mean so much. As I focus on them I become more aware and appreciative of all the many blessings, love, and support that I have in my life.
Thank you.
Debra
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Posted in Positive living, Prayers, Spirituality | gratitude, little things, morning prayer | Leave a commentFall Abundance
Published October 13, 2011 | 
Fall abundance
plentiful blessings…
If I choose to see the bounty all around me
I will see how rich my life is.
Fall abundance
Your harvest offers beauty, nourishment, and joy.
Thank you Dear Season of change, color, cooler temperatures, and abundance!
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An early Fall morning prayer
Published October 8, 2011 | 
Dear God,
Thank you for this new day. It is early Fall here in North Florida. The season is newly changing. Cooler air brings a fresh new energy. Thank you for this time in the year which serves to remind us to pause from all our busy doings and perhaps slow down a bit.
I am thankful for many things. I can see all around me beauty and impermanence. This combination leaves me with the bittersweet feeling of awe, humility, and gratitude.
God, with your help, may I never take this precious gift of life for granted.
May I feel and express thanks more often than I complain.
May I connect, love, and help others today and every day.
Thank you for blessing me with a good night sleep, a fresh mind, and creative energy.
May I put this energy to good use.
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Debra
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Posted in Affirmations, Positive living, Prayers, Spirituality | Fall morning, giving thanks, gratitude, morning prayer | Leave a comment 
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