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! Today, I'm sharing a marvelous little poem with you, guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Enjoy!

"Smile Virus"

By Russel H. Conwell
Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu.
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling, too.

I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin
when he smiled, I realized I'd passed it on to him!

I thought about that smile and then realized its worth,
a single smile, just like mine, could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected,
let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected!

Note: I found the above poem at this terrific site.

A NOTE FROM KIM
Welcome to today's issue of Heartsong! Sorry that it's been longer than usual since you've heard from me. I spent an entire week virtually incapacitated by illness, and it's taken me a while to get back into the groove, so to speak. But I'm better now, and am thrilled to be back in touch with you.

In today's Heartsong, we're going to discuss tips to keep us focused as we complete our daily tasks, so that we can do what we need to do with as much thoroughness and efficiency as possible. We're also going to learn about the importance of keeping a smile on our face as often as possible. Finally, in honor of one of my favorite holidays tomorrow, St. Patrick's Day, I've included one of the many beautiful Irish blessings for your enjoyment.

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 three ways to get and stay focused as we complete our daily tasks.

Got Focus?: Three Surefire Tips to Help You Get Focused and Get Things Done

"They may say I'm a dreamer," States John Lennon in a line of one of his most famous songs, "Imagine." Can you relate to that yourself? I've certainly been accused of being a dreamer often enough in my life. I love the thrill that comes with planning, creativity and letting my imagination run wild in delight. But there are practical things that must be attended to in life, and with some of these, it's hard to keep that wonderful dreamer's mindset and still accomplish them effectively.

So what's the alternative? I've found that if we don't particularly enjoy completing a task, then the only real effective methods are to either find a way to enjoy it, or get focused on it and get it completed as thoroughly and as quickly as possible. I know, it isn't easy to focus on a task that we don't enjoy doing, but here are five surefire ways to help you make that process easier. Using these strategies, you can complete tasks more quickly, while still giving them the attention and efficiency they require.

One task at a time! If we're only attempting to do one thing at any given moment, we're able to give the task our full attention and concentration, thus making it easier to complete in a thorough and timely manner. It's easier to spend five minutes completing one task then it is to try to complete that same task while talking on the phone, reading your email and trying to make sure you don't burn that pizza you have in the oven. Don't scatter your focus, and you'll be surprised how fast you can get things accomplished.

Don't get mad, get determined! When we don't enjoy performing a task, we tend to get frustrated, annoyed and angry about completing it. But those emotions are only impeding our progress. The angrier or more frustrated we become, the greater our tendency is to procrastinate or rush through a task. Rather than getting upset at the thoughts of diving into a task, go about it with a mindset of dogged determination. Grit your teeth and do what needs to be done with determination. When you have a mindset in place that you're going to do something and do it to the very best of your ability, you'll not only do your work thoroughly, but you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment when you're finished, because you'll know you gave that task 100%.

Gratitude is key! Having gratitude brings us true fulfillment, no matter what task we're undertaking. If you're involved in completing a task you dislike, remember to be grateful. Let me explain what I mean by this. Say you really dislike paying your bills... most of us do. Be grateful for your phone, your internet, your TV, your electricity, your running water, and all those other wonderful things in your life that need to be paid for each month. Think of how much nicer, easier and more convenient these items make your life. Remember those individuals who don't have such luxuries. When we live life from a place of gratitude, it helps us to always keep our blessings at the forefront of our minds, and to recognize just how fortunate we truly are.

The likelihood that we're going to enjoy every task that life sets before us is very slim, indeed. But if we can remember to take one task at a time, complete each with determination, and keep gratitude at the forefront of our minds for all our rich blessings, then even the most mundane tasks will give us a great sense of accomplishment.

HOPE AND HEALING
All of us need to take the time to be gentle with ourselves. Therefore, in the first issue of each month, Heartsong will include tips with which you can nurture, pamper and transform all aspects of your life. Enjoy!

Keep On Smiling
You know those situations in which you feel totally stressed out, flustered and overwhelmed? You may have no idea how to gain control of the situation. Perhaps it's a job setting, or just one of those days where everything just seems to be going wrong. The next time you find yourself in that situation, I want you to do me a favor. Stop what you're doing, take a few slow, deep breaths, and smile!

That's right, smile. There are numerous benefits to putting a smile on your face. Smiling helps us to reduce stress, lower our blood pressure and even boost our immune system. When we smile, we're more relaxed, and we can even trick our bodies into changing our mood for the happier! Smiling also makes us more attractive to others around us and gives them a reason to smile, too. Smiling is contagious!

So the next time you're feeling at your wits end, or just want to brighten your mood, put a smile on your beautiful face. It's good for you, in more ways than one!

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.

An Irish Blessing
"Wishing you always...
Walls for the wind,
A roof for the rain
And tea beside the fire.
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all that your heart may desire."

HEARTSONG REFLECTION
Until our next issue, try to perform your daily tasks thoroughly, and with determination and gratitude. And keep a smile on your face while you're doing it... you'll benefit immensely!

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