Awaken the Authentic You Blog

Take time to open your heart with awareness to create inspiration in your life each day.
Create one a day for a 'new beginning'…and feel great all week!

DAY 1 – Why put yourself down when you can lift yourself up?

DAY 2 – Time spent with YOU is special.

DAY 3 – Pass on some positivity. SMILE !!!

DAY 4 – Remember…YOU have so much to offer!

DAY 5 – Any day is a good starting point for success!

DAY 6 – You’re beautiful – in mind, body, heart and spirit!

DAY 7 – Dream bigger. YOU deserve the very best!

In Gratitude for inspiration every day...
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

Photo of Angel Oak Tree near Charleston, SC
by Linda Kay Holden

My heart is full of pride for my son…a U.S. Navy Seabee who recently returned from deployment service in Afghanistan. Over these last months, his safety filled me with daily concern yet in my soul I knew that he was safely guarded and lovingly guided by our Maker.

Now back home to his beautiful wife and adorable baby son, he is grateful for the many experiences and thankful to be settling back into the routine of life in America.

Yet he has changed… grown into a new maturity that such experiences have given him. There is much he has seen and more that he participated in that created the channel for growth. It is there in the depths of his eyes, the calmness of his voice, his heightened awareness and his open heart. My son has traveled to another level on life’s journey. It is precious to see and joyful to feel his evolution.

We are blessed to have spent a week in California with our son and his family… delighted to have cared for our amazing grandbaby while his Daddy took his Mommy on a quiet trip, just the two of them.

So grateful to everyone for all the positive energy and loving prayers sent to all of us, we now continue to send our positive energy and heartfelt prayers onward to all the military men and women in Afghanistan, Iraq and all the other areas of conflict in the world – that they soon return safely to the loving arms of their family and friends.

Thank you to the brave young people serving in the military who guard and protect America, and preserve our freedom we so enjoy each day. Blessings and honor to every one of them.

In Gratitude...
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

In life, it is easier for us to be selfish than it is for us to think about someone else first. It’s easier to judge than it is to love unconditionally. It’s easier for us to gossip than it is to stand guard around someone’s reputation.

So as we go through life in this state, we often ‘hurt’ each other.
We have tender hearts, yet we can easily injure each other with our words and our actions. The wounds we inflict leave marks.

It is inevitable that we will be ‘hurt’ by others in the journey through life. At some point, someone will say something that wounds you deeply; someone will offend you, neglect you, or step on your toes. Some hurts will be deeply felt and the trust is betrayed. In some situations, an apology won’t fix things or heal your heart.

When people ‘hurt’ or offend you, you have the opportunity to be open and more loving, even though you may be feeling the pain that someone else’s decision caused. Be more forgiving – release them from the wrong done to you. Remember that they may be hurting just like you, so give them grace, love and forgiveness…and then pray that healing will restore what has been wounded.

The best way to avoid hurting other people is not to be self-focused. Don’t expect others to meet your needs. Instead of thinking about what others can do for you, focus on what you can do for them.

When you do hurt someone, as happens in life, share your regret then learn from the experience. Focus on the positive qualities in others instead of dwelling on the differences. Move forward from anger and self pride and share in a stronger relationship. Be kind and compassionate to one another.

Our relationships in life are much more valuable than holding on to hurtful situations…or the pride that gets in the way of growth and abundance.

Move forward with joy sharing love and forgiveness as you travel the road to a peaceful life.

In Gratitude for Love and Forgiveness…
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

Do you stop and appreciate the beauty of nature each day?

Are you grateful for the world around you…even the ‘lilies of the fields’?

Our small town in western North Carolina has been a joyful source of beautiful blossoms since the beginning of spring. The trees, bushes and flowering gardens bring peace and beauty to celebrate the ‘new beginnings’ of each day.

Beginning late May and now into June, the town is enveloped in orange and yellow lilies. Some of these beauties have been carefully planted and cultivated, but so many of them are wild. It is said by the locals that the town is built on fields of lilies.
I must say, I totally believe them.

These gorgeous creations are infused on every street and country road, in private and public gardens, and in the surrounding fields. What a joy to see the lilies open anew each day…the start of a ‘new beginning’ of their life… and a precious gift to all who take moments to appreciate their beauty. And their blooming is only beginning… it will continue all summer.

As we consider the lilies, let us become more aware of the ‘new beginnings’ we are given each day. Embrace these opportunities as gifts to be opened and shared with others, and as special moments for us to appreciate and to grow into the amazing and authentic women we were created to be.



In Gratitude for the New Beginnings of Life…
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

Photography by Linda Holden Originals

Appreciation is an incredibly powerful force…and walks hand-in-hand with gratitude.
Try it out yourself…experience its astonishing impact!

Start your day with appreciation. Decide to continue throughout the entire day appreciating everything and everyone you come in contact with.

Start by appreciating your bed, the warmth under the covers, the soft pillows under your head, the quiet and security you feel there. Then look at the window…the sun shining on your face or the subdued color of a cloudy day. As you get up, feel the softness of carpet under your feet or the texture of a special rug on beautiful wood floors. As you wash your face in the morning, appreciate the bathroom and running water, feel gratitude for the inventors of this facility, of all the workers who build it and the resources that allowed it to be purchased.

Continue this way - as you walk to work, appreciate the sidewalk and all the people who built it. If you are driving or taking the train, appreciate your means of transportation that made it comfortable for you to arrive to your destination.

Appreciate your shoes and clothing, the people who designed and made them, the shop that sells them.
Appreciate every person you meet, see the positive in them.
Appreciate the postal delivery person for bringing your mail each day, your colleagues at work for their interaction, the lady in the coffee shop serving you…appreciate everyone and everything and feel the empowering joy this brings.

Appreciate yourself. Look at your beautiful amazing self in the mirror and appreciate the strength and uniqueness of you, the food that nourishes you, your parents who nurtured you and guided you, your power and freedom to do what you wish and to be the woman you were meant to be.

Keep appreciating…it’s truly LIFE CHANGING !!!

In Gratitude...
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

Blooming, blooming, blooming…
The blossoms and first flowers of Spring surround us as they burst forth in the vibrant colors
and sweet smells of ‘new beginnings’ of the season. It’s always refreshing to see the new life
peeking out from the earth or popping out on the trees as the plants wake up from their winter rest!

Pink and white cherry blossoms, yellow daffodils, yellow gold forsythia, rainbows of tulips,
red bud trees, white Bradford pear trees, lavender willow trees… all herald the first breaths of Spring.

Here in the South even more blossoms unfolding are the bright pinks and reds of azaleas and
the delicate white and pink dogwood trees… sights to cherish and hold in your heart as the
promises of new birth, new life, new beginnings.

Listening to the sounds of birds singing, crickets chirping, frogs croaking, bees buzzing…and
seeing butterflies floating in the warm breeze…confirms that Spring has a firm foothold in the
mountains of western North Carolina.



I hope all of you are enjoying the awakening of the season.
Happy Spring and joyful days to all!

In Gratitude…
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

Are you inspired every day to be all you can be?
Take one day at a time…one positive thought…and feel great all week!

DAY 1 – Any time is a good time to be happy!

DAY 2 – It’s a fresh new day. Enjoy it!

DAY 3 – Positive thinking works wonders!

DAY 4 – There is something to be gained from every challenge!

DAY 5 – Start living your dreams today. Why wait?

DAY 6 – Happy endings happen all the time!

DAY 7 – You’re off to a great start! Keep going and growing!

In Gratitude...
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

Today, March 8, millions of women across the globe will join in the 100th celebration of International Women’s Day.
Hundreds of events occur today to honor this special day, and also the entire month of March is dedicated to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women.

We’ve made monumental strides during the last 100 years, but there is more work to be done. Now is the time to renew your commitment to unlocking the potential of girls and women everywhere…to create awareness for all the opportunities of ‘new beginnings’ in every woman’s life.

The centennial celebration is the moment in time to honor all women…especially the oldest women you know.

Today is the day to make a difference, to think globally and to act locally.
Do your part to insure that the future of all girls and women everywhere is empowering, hopeful, equal and rewarding.
Make everyday special for women…an International Women’s Day!

Visit www.internationalwomensday.com for more information on the events near you, plus the CARE Conference in Washington, DC featuring Melinda Gates and Mrs. Laura W. Bush.

In Gratitude...
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

March is National Nutrition Month in the United States.

It is a month dedicated to a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored annually
by the American Dietetic Association. The campaign is designed to focus attention on the
importance of making informed food choices, developing sound eating habits and creating
better physical activity habits.

The National Nutrition Month also promotes the American Dietetic Association and
its members to the public and the media as the most valuable and credible source of timely,
scientifically based food and nutrition information.

The theme for March 2011 is “Eat Right with Color.”

Remember that every day is important to eating for a healthier You…to make changes in your
roadmap of eating patterns and to color your plate with salad, vegetables and fruits.
Pack more nutrition into your day with ‘brighter’ food choices! There are multitudes of
nourishing foods for you to discover as you explore the world of color in your foods!

Enjoy the opportunities for 'new beginnings' to a healthier you!

In Gratitude...
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

Put on your dancing shoes, get ready to dance the night away…and paint the town red!
Saturday – February 26 – is the National Day of Dance! It was founded by the Spirit of Women organization, a nationwide network of hospitals and heathcare facilities dedicated to promoting women’s health.

On this Day of Dance for Health, participating hospitals around the country invite their local communities to dance and celebrate their health…and offers free dancing lessons, heart-healthy activities, health screenings and refreshments.
Visit – DayofDance.org – for more information about this special day.



Have fun....and dance!!!

In Gratitude...
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

There are many ‘gifts’ in life…however All of Life is a Gift!
Every experience, person and moment is a precious gift to us.
Did you know that the Gift of Gratitude is the first step to receiving and actually experiencing what you desire? Gratitude “seals the deal”, so to speak. When you are in the state of gratitude, you are genuinely, enthusiastically grateful for what you have, what you anticipate to receive and where you are.

Gratitude is a daily practice…it allows you to be present in every moment. For many, it is a way of Life…and the only way they will live. People who practice gratitude live happier, more abundant and peaceful lives.

There are several important things to remember about Gratitude…

Gratitude is about being present.
It is waking up in this present moment and being here now – really here – and noticing what’s around you…being aware of all that is happening…and participating in this moment. The only moment we have is right here and right now. Wake up and fully embrace it!

Gratitude is about honoring your life.
Do you ever compare your life with someone else’s? Do you wish your life was better or more like another’s? Often times we can easily lose ourselves in comparing our life or wondering if we “measure up” to standards set by someone else. Gratitude creates the awareness to validate your own life because everything in life is a precious gift. Gratitude helps you to keep focus on your life…as that which we put our attention and focus on grows.

Gratitude is about attracting all that we desire.
It is known and said that all things come to those who are grateful. One cannot attract abundance and joy if you create negative energy around you, are saying “no” frequently and criticizing yourself or others.

When you allow yourself to be fully present, you say “yes” and create a powerful shift of positive energy around you that flows with more Gratitude for all that you have and for that which you deeply desire. Gratitude attracts exactly what you desire and allows you to receive it quickly.

Gratitude is being in love with Now.
The key in accepting everything you already have, whether good or not, is to love the present moment. Love all of it because it is the present….this is all we have now. Doing so will place you into a state of calm and feeling good where you will actually see, hear and experience life’s most precious gifts.

Gratitude needs no explanation.
Gratitude is magical…it doesn’t need to be explained. It is inside of you and not something to go out and find. Therefore you have instant access by connecting to all that is within you.

Gratitude allows you to understand yourself at a deeper level…then you have a clearer understanding about the path ahead and have no resistance to the journey to come. Once you bring yourself to a place of gratitude, you will look at everything more clearly and see yourself as the incredible person you are.

In Gratitude...
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

On February 15th, President Obama awarded the prestigious Medal of Freedom to 15 recipients at the White House in Washington DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor – presented to individuals who have made valuable contributions to the security or national interest of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

"These outstanding honorees come from a broad range of backgrounds and they’ve excelled in a broad range of fields, but all of them have lived extraordinary lives that have inspired us, enriched our culture, and made our country and our world a better place," said President Obama. "I look forward to awarding them this honor…"

Dr. Maya Angelou was one of these extraordinary recipients, along with President George H.W. Bush, investor Warren Buffet, cellist YoYo Ma. An outstanding honor for an inspiring and celebrated woman, she was hailed by President Obama as an author and civil-rights activist who “has inspired countless others who have known injustice and misfortune.”

She is one of the most renowned and influential voices of our time…hailed as a global renaissance woman, a prominent and celebrated author, poet, educator, producer, actor, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. Maya Angelou has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Arts in 2000, the Lincoln Medal in 2008, and has received 3 Grammy awards. She has also received over 30 honorary degrees and is Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina.

Maya Angelou has served on two presidential committees, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Arts in 2000, the Lincoln Medal in 2008, and has received 3 Grammy Awards. She has received over 30 honorary degrees and is Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina.

Congratulations to BraveHeart Woman, Dr. Maya Angelou! You are inspiration to us all!!!

In Gratitude...
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

I recently received this beautiful story about the rules to be happy.
Enjoy its message….

~~~~~
A 92-year-old well-poised and proud man, who is fully groomed and dressed by 8:00 each morning even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, he was escorted by an attendant who provided a visual description of his tiny room, including details of the curtains that had been hung on his window.

“I love it,” he stated with the enthusiasm of an 8-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

“Mr. Jones, you haven’t seen the room yet…just wait!”

“That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” he replied.
“Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture looks or is arranged…it’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.”

“It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I may have with the parts of the body that no longer work or I can get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes are open, I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away… Just for these later years in my life when memories are so precious.”

“Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you’ve put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!
Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank. I am still depositing.”

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
~~~~~

My wish for you is that you continue depositing beautiful loving memories in your ‘bank account’ each day. They will serve us well all the years of our lives.

In Gratitude…
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

One winter morning recently, I left home early for an appointment. The sun was rising behind me as I drove along a winding road. As I neared the beautiful mountain before me, the radiant stillness of the morning spoke to me. It rose on the mountainside ahead, penetrated the road noise of the tires, and pierced the movement of my mind as I was thinking of the busy day ahead and where I was headed on my journey for that day.

Morning had arrived to me in humble majesty and invited me to pause and take it in. Yesterday was gone forever…only the memories remained. The present moment was all there was…the gift of a new day.

The morning said to me, “All is new; all is forgiven; it is a fresh canvas to paint; all is Light. And through the shining Light, I could see and hear the message and I was profoundly moved and grateful.

I had not stopped to take it all in, but it seemed that the morning had really stopped to take me in, graciously surrounding me with its beauty and radiance as I continued to drive. The rest of my journey, that morning’s gift, was an acute awareness of the transformation that comes from within us when we truly open our eyes to see, our minds to appreciate our world, and our hearts to love and share with others.

The Light of that morning remains with me, still guiding me each day and reminding me of the change in the way I now see the world.

In Gratitude…
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

This morning in my daily meditation, I read a passage from the book of Philippians
that spoke clearly to me about my journey….and relates to each of our walks in life.
It says:

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me to do…
All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point
you think differently, that too will be made clear to you. Only let us live up to
what we have already attained. ”

We so often reminisce about our past...the special events and the not-so-special times.
It is important for us to remember the past and to learn from our experiences, but not to
allow it stand in the way of pressing on with our future.

Holding on to troublesome memories does not serve us in our present or for our future.
Thankfully all of our memories can benefit us in the lessons learned from our experiences.
Cherish those experiences for the light they bring to the present and the
hope they provide for our future.

In Gratitude…
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

http://braveheartwomen.com/forum/New-Beginnings/Welcome-Page/1000184

Here we are getting closer to mid-January…and every year, along with so many others, I make New Year’s resolutions. I resolve to improve my health, go on daily walks to slim down, beef up my savings program, finish all the projects started, read more inspirational books, and be a better wife, mother, woman and friend.

I love the idea of a clean slate, a fresh start with ‘new beginnings’. I believe that’s why so many of us make New Year’s resolutions.

But usually by February (or even sooner), I have broken one or more of my resolutions. I stopped my walking program, eaten too much chocolate, and my projects are still left unfinished. So not chocolate-coating the truth…out of exhaustion and frustration, I throw in the towel and revert to my old ways.

So this year, I have a new idea…a different approach. I’ve not made resolutions. I trust the process that I am being led by a Higher Power -- named God for me – to becoming the woman I was born to be. Instead of resolutions, I am starting a ‘revolution’ in me.

I’m dedicated to loving more and living more, to surrounding myself with the sparkle and warmth of positive energy, to creating and sharing laughter and joy, to becoming stronger in confidence and faith, to gaining even more clarity in the steps of my journey, to relying on and trusting more deeply in my own decisions and knowledge, and to taking time to appreciate the beauty and peace of life.

The revolution has begun!!! But I still need help with the chocolate issue!

In Gratitude…
Linda Kay Holden
New Beginnings Community

Special Note: Isn’t there a ‘scientific report’ that dark chocolate is GOOD for you!?!?