Yesterday I received this email from Mark Kokocki, one of the coaches featured in the WelcomeJoy ebook:

Barbra, Thank you for including me in your Welcome Joy ebook. You may have helped changed at least one persons' view of HIV with this simple choice. I will not forget this opportunity.

I responded to Mark by saying:

Mark, it was my privilege. I was enormously touched by your entry. As my husband often says "less is more" and the simplicity of your words carried a big punch. It was one of my favorites. I hope you like the photo that I choose to go along with it.

Below is the photo and Mark's simple but oh-so-powerful entry.

"After living 15 plus years with HIV, I am simply happy to wake up each morning healthy and capable of being a positive force in my world - something many of my friends did not have the chance to experience.....gratitude, joy and peace all rolled into one."

You can contact Mark through his website DropDeadHappy.com

A wise person once said to me, "We become like the 5 people we spend the most time with."

That's a powerful statement.

Think about it: even as adults we are subtly influenced by "peer pressure". We tend to pick up on the attitudes, language and mood of the people we hang out with.

So who are the 5 people you spend the most time with? Do they embody the "Welcome Joy" attitude towards life? Or are they negative, cynical and blaming?

And how do they treat you? Note who you enjoy being around. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself "after spending time with this person, do I feel stronger or weaker?" The answer can give you important clues on who to spend time with.

If you want to feel joyful, choose to have people in your life who:

· Treat you with love and respect

· Want the best for you as you define it

· Help you find out what you want to do and how to do it

· Encourage you to explore all your talents and interests

· Are thrilled when you succeed

· Listen to you when you need to complain

· Help you learn from failure without making you feel like a bad person

I encourage you to spend less time with critical people and more time with those who appreciate you. You'll notice a difference in how you feel about yourself and how much joy you experience.

Note added June 4, 2007: This article was chosen to be included in the following blog carnivals: Powerful Living; Positive Thinking; Observations on Life; Brain Fitness; Happiness Carnival and Carnival of Life.

Lori Radun, Certified Life Coach for Moms writes about how gratitude can help moms get through their day with grace.

How can gratitude help us in our everyday lives as moms? Think about the difference you can make in your family's life just by noticing and being thankful for all the great things they do.

When you express gratitude, you show your love and appreciation. Everyone needs to feel these things every day. But sometimes as moms we feel that no one appreciates us - and it is true that moms are usually last on the list to be thanked.

One way you can teach gratitude is by example. Even on the days when it seems your children or husband are doing everything wrong, find a reason to thank them. Take the time and energy to look for the good. Think about the things that your family does that deserve a thank you. You might say to your husband, "Thank you for working so hard for our family," or to your child, "I really appreciate your sense of humor - it feels good to laugh."

Expressing your gratitude helps family members to understand how it feels to be appreciated. And if they still don't catch on, let them know when you feel unappreciated. You can also tell them how great it makes you feel when they do express gratitude.

Excerpted from the article “The Power of Gratitude” available at iSnare.com