AYD - Mar 2, 2013 - The message is clear.

"We lift ourselves by our thought. We climb upon our vision of ourselves. If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself. Hold the ideal of yourself as you long to be, always everywhere"
- Orison Swett Marden, 1850-1924
Inspirational Writer


The message is pretty clear.
All the talk about positive thinking is true.  However, sadly, most people are looking for such a Get Rich Quick philosophy, even when it comes to feeling good about themselves.

We often get so hung up on one detail, we forget the tortoise and the hare.

So without getting wonderfully longwinded because I am feeling my passion about this topic rise ... can we just read Mr. Marden's words again?  The message is pretty clear.

We may need a friend, or a like minded person who we can bounce this off of.  Someone you can share it with so they can agree, and together you can remind each other of the simplicity...and the need for consistancy... in believing in ourselves.

We talk about it here all the time.  Take some time to revisit all that is good about you, and what you have achieved.  Purposely drop and squash a couple of negative thoughts per day and it will become natural to you. 

Enlarge your thought of your great life.  And others will see what you see.

Great morning, great day.  Great you, great day for others.
Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, Author... and spending some time looking inside.

AYD - March 1, 2013 - We Begin with a Smile

Laughter truly is the best medicine.
How often to we stutter thru sore abdominal muscles, while we wipe away rolling tears of joy, "I haven't laughed like that in a long time!"

If the week was great, then start your weekend and March off with a chuckle. If you had a tough week, then make today your release valve and leave all the pressure and stress and deadlines on the table, and take a moment to just relax and giggle a bit.

These are some of wit submissions by one of my favorite comedians, Steven Wright. I hope you enjoy, and have a good start to the homestretch of the weekend.

Take care.
Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, Author and Needing a good Laugh.


42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.


A beautiful woman moved in next door. So I went over and returned a cup of sugar. “You didn’t borrow this.” “I will.”

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.


A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.


A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.

All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand.

Everyone has a photographic memory, some just don’t have film.

Cross country skiing is great if you live in a small country.

I had to stop driving my car for a while - the tires got dizzy.

I installed a skylight in my apartment. The people who live above me are furious.

I intend to live forever - so far, so good.

AYD - Feb 28, 2013 - What are you good at?

"People simply feel better about themselves when they're good at something."
- Stephen R. Covey

So... start your day with a positive thought.
Think of something you are good at. 
And Think like noone is judging you.  Your thoughts, your skill, your moment to just like the idea that you are good at something.

Try not to ask someone else to validate what you think.  Just tell yourself what you are good at ... and run with that thought.

Short.  To the point.  Self led positive affirmation.
Ready. Set. Go!

Good morning.
Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, Author.... and pretty good at overexplaining things. :)

AYD - Feb 27, 2013 - One is never Just One.

"One is too small a number to achieve greatness."
- John C. Maxwell

Sometimes they hide in the shadows.
Unrecognizable to the less watchful eye.
Often, they are woven in the folds of daily focus ... as our eyes pass over them like ghosts.

Okay...enough with the dramatic attempt.

You are not successful by yourself.  Maybe the stars aligned, and you were in the right place at the right time, or maybe your worked your butt off .... but along the way you had help.

A movie is great once the editor and the sound man and the wardrobe people and all those others have done their best to apply their special touch so that action hero can run away with all the photoshoots, and media and hype and attention.

He is a successful actor. Sure.  But ... how did he get there?

One is too small a number to achieve greatness.

Look around you.  Ask yourself how the efforts of others in your work, your school, or your over all day ... how does their efforts enable yours to be a little more focussed or easier?

Allow yourself to think outside the box.

And...now... give yourself some credit and review how your actions positively impact some of the people you may not even know in your day.

You are a part of someone else's helpful number needed to achieve success.
They may not even know it.  Much like we often overlook others.  Unintentionally of course, but now we have an awareness, we can put some time in our busy schedule to sit and recognize how we as one,
are assisted by many.

Good morning
Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, Author and Counting names.

AYD - Feb 26, 2013 - Curiosity Builds Dreams

"I'm of the mind that even people who have limitations, if they have a curiosity, they will find a way to explore it. "
- Tish Grier


Somewhere along the way, between being an inquisitive toddler and now, many of us lose our interest in asking questions.

"How does that work?"
"Why is the sky blue?"

More simply...just, "Why?"

Picture one little "Why" as a seed in an open field.  Ask the question, of anyone...or just yourself, and you open the opportunity to planting the entire field.

One question may be intimidating ... but when you get an answer, it is like the first taste of the most delicious Strawberry Sundae.  Your mind explodes on the words you get back, like your taste buds explode and say, "Wait a second... what was that!?"

You need a little more.
So you ask a connecting question, that waters the seed you put in the ground, that makes your spoon reach for a bit of chocolate syrup on that sundae that opens your ears and then your eyes and your taste buds are already salivating in anticipation of what is to come.

Watch a child sit during story time, and listen to the suspense build.  They are engaged and listening.  Curiosity is being fed.  Their mind is already ahead of you picturing the story like a color filled movie in their head.

Think of your goals.  Think of your "How" and "Why" moments that are bouncing your around like a pinball.

Reach for the next level.  Answer the call of Curiosity, and enjoy the questions that take you one step further to knowing.

Good morning.
Happy Exploring... anything.

Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, Author ... and new Examiner of "How".

AYD - Feb 25, 2013 - Fuel for Every Success

"Enthusiasm is the steam that drives the engine."
- Napolean Hill

Approach any task with Enthusiasm and you alter the shape of that task to something more appealing.

This is the Opportunity that is constantly there for us to simply adopt willingly.

"I think I can !  I think I can!"
"Get 'r done!"
"Certainly I can!  I will get right on it."
"No Problem!"
"That looks interesting.  Can I try?"
"I have never done that, but I would love to give it a shot!"

Put your mind into it...and you will see greater results in all you do.

Opportunity Monday.

Good Enthusiasm, good morning.

Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, Author... Building Steam.