QUOTE FROM THE HEART
In each issue of Heartsong, I will open with a quote, poem or lyric, which I have found inspiring and uplifting. I hope they will inspire you, as well! Since we just celebrated Valentine's Day on Thursday, I thought I'd share this beautiful quote with you today. Enjoy!

"Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love. The real miracle is the love that inspires them. In this sense everything that comes from love is miracle."
Marianne Williamson

A NOTE FROM KIM
Welcome to today's issue of Heartsong, {!firstname}! The last couple of weeks have been chaotic here, to say the very least. Two weeks ago, moisture damage was discovered under the floor of my home, most of which was located directly underneath my bedroom and office. I had no choice but to move all of my furniture out in order to get the weight off of the effected area. The incessant hammering, drilling and sawing to repair the damage, not to mention the discomfort of sleeping on my floor, has been an interesting experience. And yet, it has helped me to acquire a little extra patience, and to remember to take nothing for granted!

In this issue, I've included content related to the miracle of love. And since I always associate angels with the purest form of love, I included one of my favorite angel prayers for your inspiration. I hope you enjoy the newsletter, and I wish you a happy belated Valentine's Day! I love you!

Until next time, enjoy the rest of today's issue, and I send you all my love!

Abundant Blessings
Kim, the Spiritual Fulfillment Coach

FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE, WITH LOVE
A lighthouse serves as a beacon of hope in a violent storm. A lighthouse sheds light on our worries and troubles, and brings us joy and peace. Therefore, in each Heartsong issue, I will include an article, which will help to guide you through the dark and troubled times, or lighten and brighten your heart and life in a special way. In today's Lighthouse article, we're discussing self-love, and it's importance to our overall well being.

Love: The Sweetest Ingredient
One of my clients, who I will refer to as Maggie, went through a period last year where she felt completely drained, totally stressed out and extremely overwhelmed. "I don't know what to do!", she exclaimed to me during one of our sessions. "I feel like I've hit a brick wall."

I encouraged Maggie to remember the importance of self-care. We live in a hectic, fast-paced society. There's always something going on, whether it be working, social activities or taking care of our families. In the midst of our busy lives, we tend to overlook how crucial it is to care for ourselves, too.

Think of self-care like a yummy recipe. It requires several key ingredients in order to turn out just right. These include the right amount of sleep for us, healthy foods, exercise, time spent around supporting people, and plenty of inspiration in our lives. But there's one ingredient that really makes this recipe truly magnificent.

The sweetest ingredient in the self-care recipe is self-love. If we don't love ourselves, we aren't going to bother to care for ourselves in the first place because we don't feel worthy of doing so. Just as God cherishes each of us, we must also learn to cherish ourselves and give ourselves the best possible tender loving care. Being busy people, this is not always easy to achieve. Here are a few tips to help you to give yourself the love and attention you truly deserve.

Don't beat yourself up! Ah yes, the blame shame game! We've all done it. "Gosh, am I ever stupid." "If I had only done this differently." Or, my personal favorite, "But I'm not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough", etc. What are you achieving by beating yourself up over past events? You're simply making yourself feel worse, and that will only decrease your motivation. Why not try forgiving yourself instead? Say to yourself, "Tomorrow is another day, and I can learn to do things in a way that I can appreciate and in a way that makes me feel better about myself and my situation." Look into a mirror and remind yourself that you are a beloved child of God. Tell yourself, "I have the courage to make positive changes in my life." Find the support you need to help you to shift your attitude from negativity to empowerment and contentment.

Next, treat yourself! Engage in an activity you enjoy, at least once a week. This doesn't have to cost you a lot of money. You could take a stroll through nature's splendor, cuddle up with a good book, or volunteer for an organization you appreciate. As long as it brings a smile to your face and a song to your heart, that's what's important.


Finally, reach out! The power of friendship to bolster our confidence and remind us how wonderful we truly are is huge! Have you ever had someone say to you that you made their day or that you made them happy in some way? How did that make you feel? Did it make you feel better about yourself and your importance in the world? That's part of the wonderful power of friendship. When we discover how much other people love us, it helps us to love ourselves more, in the process.

In closing, let me share a great website link with you. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your face. This site is called the Automatic Flatterer. Get ready to smile! Click here! If you'd like some extra help in learning to love yourself more, I'd be honored to witness and explore with you as your coach. Together, we can find tools and techniques to help you recognize just how lovable, beautiful and incredible you truly are.

I wish you all the love in the world.

HOME AND HEARTH
In this section of the newsletter, I will provide tips to help you to bring your own creativity, spirituality and unique talents into your everyday life, and, more specifically, into your home.

A Valentine's Wish
(I originally posted the following poem on my blog, on Valentine's Day. Be sure to check out the blog for inspirational and thought-provoking posts, each and every week).

I wrote the following poem as a symbol of my love and gratitude for each and every one of you, my readers. I am so honored and grateful to be journeying with you and for your presence in my life. I send you my heart-felt thanks, and lots of love, today and every day.

May your heart beat wildly with happiness,
May your arms always have someone to hold,
May your voice ring out with rich laughter,
May your face hurt from smiling.

May your days overflow with bliss,
May prosperity and success enrich your life,
May your eyes be bright with joy,
May your thoughts be calm and serene.

May your spirit know the assurance that God loves you,
and that you are ever so beautiful, worthy, wonderful.

May you open to receive love,
Blessings,
Fulfillment,
Endless, glorious, fabulous possibilities.

May you remember your Divinity,
May you reach for your dreams,
May you touch all whom you meet with love.

Today and every day,
May you recognize how amazing,
astounding,
outstanding you truly are.

May you extend your hand and grasp your true potential,
And use it to empower yourself and others.
Through your example,
You can assist the world to shine more brightly.

Blessings to you, my beloved Valentine's, today, and every day!

PRAYER FROM THE HEART
Each issue of Heartsong will feature a prayer, either from my own heart, one which I hold dear in my own life, or one suggested to me by others. I hope they will speak to your spirit, as well.

A Catholic Prayer to the Angels
"Angel of God, my guardian dear
To whom God's love commits me here;
Ever this day be at my side,
To light and guard, to rule and guide."

HEARTSONG REFLECTION
Until our next issue,

Love, Light and Blessings,
Kim

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Heartsong is a biweekly publication, and is published on the first and third Sunday of each month. All content is copyright Kim Loftis, unless otherwise indicated.

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Thank you for being a Heartsong subscriber! Please tell your friends, family, and anyone whom you feel would be interested, about Heartsong. They can subscribe right on the "newsletter" page of my site.  http://www.kimloftis.com/news/news.htm  It's quick and easy, and it's free to join.

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Feel free to pass this newsletter on to others, as long as nothing is altered and all notices are kept in tact. If you would like to reprint any individual articles from Heartsong, please email me. Thanks!

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Have any questions or comments about this issue, or about Heartsong in general? If so, please don't hesitate to email me. Kim@KimLoftis.com   And who knows? Your questions may inspire an article for an upcoming issue! Your questions and comments help me to make Heartsong as engaging, fun and inspiring as possible, and I thank you in advance!

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For compassionate, personalized spiritual healing and coaching services straight from my heart, please visit my website: http://www.kimloftis.com

I would be honored to serve you today!

Until the next issue of Heartsong, let your heart sing, and I send you all my love!

Kim Loftis
828-675-2401
Kim@KimLoftis.com
http://www.kimloftis.com