Embrace God's truth with our new book, The Lies that Bind

Donate
OUTREACH & PARNTERSHIPS
Return
Shop
Return
Seasonal sale

Spring’s promise begins here

See the new spring collection. Get 20% off all orders using code: SPRING.

Shop now
Spring’s promise begins here
Articles
Return
Featured Article

‘The Star Thrower’ and the Difference You Can Make

In 1978, author Loren Eiseley published an essay called “The Star Thrower.” It recounts a beach walk by a narrator...

Read More
Abide
Return
The Abide App

Find Peace and Rest in God's Presence

Devotions, prayer, sleep stories, Biblical meditations, and more — all designed to bring you peace and draw you closer to God.

Learn More
Find Peace and Rest in God's Presence

5 Jigsaw Puzzles to Keep You Busy All Winter Long

Posted on by Olivia Abel

Let’s face it: the entire country misses Betty White. The beloved actress and comedian died on New Year’s Eve just weeks before her highly anticipated 100th birthday celebration. Some are coping by watching reruns of The Mary Tyler Moore Show or the classic ’80s sitcom The Golden Girls. Me? I’ve just ordered my 1,000-piece Golden Girls Jigsaw Puzzle.

Paying tribute to famous personalities is certainly not the only reason to do jigsaw puzzles. Study after study confirms: doing jigsaw puzzles sharpens your brain, improves your memory and can help you cope with stress. Mostly, I think they’re fun. You can do them alone or make a night of it with friends and family. It’s no surprise that sales of jigsaw puzzles have soared during the pandemic. I love opening a new puzzle, running my hands through the pieces and settling in to spend some serious time with the image in front of me.

Check out these five puzzles that are perfect to tackle in 2022.

Golden Girls 1,000-Piece Puzzle. This puzzle by the Toynk company rates high on the nostalgia factor. When completed, you’ll have a colorful and stylistic design of one of TV’s favorite foursomes. Betty White and the three other actresses—Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty—may all be gone, but they do not have to be forgotten.

I’m a Puzzle Online Site. You can play thousands of puzzles—think animals, landscapes and more—for free on this site. Pick your puzzle and the level of difficulty or upload your own image and they’ll turn it into a puzzle for you lickety split. If you tire of the traditional rectangular puzzle shape, try experimenting. You can request a puzzle in a different shape. How about a heart for Valentine’s Day?

Ravensburger Krypt Gradient Puzzle. Gradient puzzles, which feature a design that doesn’t use an image but instead shows a slow color shift from one side of the board to the other, are everywhere this year. We like this 631-piece option from the German puzzle powerhouse company Ravensburger. Part of their popular ‘Krypt Gradient’ series, this one, which is recommended for ages 14 and up, will test your ability to distinguish between different hues.

2022: Year of the Tiger. This year’s Chinese lunar calendar is the Year of the Tiger, a creature known in the culture as the king of all beasts, representing confidence, strength and bravery. You’ll roar with delight when you finish this challenging puzzle by Zazzle; choose from seven different sizes—starting with 30 oversized pieces right up to 1014 pieces.

Gray Malin The Beach Double-Sided. Photographer Gray Malin is famous for his aerial shots of the world’s most exotic beaches. This 500-piece puzzle from Galison features sunbathers on one side and snorkelers exploring an ocean reef on the other.

7 New Year Planners and Devotionals to Help You Start This Year Right

Posted on by Kaylin Kaupish

Like many people, you may be longing for a fresh start in 2023. Luckily, Guideposts has many resources to help you stay kind, positive and inspired in the new year. Whether you are buying something for yourself or giving one as a gift, these new year planners and devotionals will help you both be productive and slow down to connect with God in 2023.

Cover of Walking in Grace 2023 new years devotionalWalking in Grace Devotional 2023

Make time with God a positive habit with America’s favorite new year devotional! In just five minutes a day, Walking in Grace 2023 helps you find the spiritual richness in your life. This year’s theme is Filled with Praise which offers a powerful and comforting day-by-day reminder of God’s greatness. Enjoy writers like Edward Grinnan, Rick Hamlin, Julia Attaway, Marci Alborghetti, and Debbie Macomber; each one shares what it means to them to rest in God’s hands. Buy at ShopGuideposts.org

Cover of All God's Creature 2023 planner for the new yearAll God’s Creatures Daily Planner 2023

Life can sure get hectic sometimes! Fortunately, you can stay calm, get organized and remain peaceful throughout the year with our new All God’s Creatures Daily Planner 2023. This 13-month calendar is brimming with the stunning beauty of God’s beloved animals—great and small. With a colorful and fun design, this new year planner is filled with adorable animals, heartwarming stories, uplifting Scripture verses, pet care tips, and more! Buy at ShopGuideposts.org

Cover of Finding God in the Garden new years devotionalFinding God in the Garden Devotional

Tending a garden awakens something deep in our hearts. Perhaps that’s because the joys and trials involved in nurturing, protecting, and growing beautiful plants have so many parallels to tending the garden of our souls. Finding God in the Garden will help you celebrate the metaphors of the garden, quiet your mind, celebrate each day, and be in awe of God’s creation each day of the new year. This undated devotional offers a bounty of spirit lifting devotions that will speak to your heart in a unique and inspiring way. Buy at ShopGuideposts.org

Cover of Running in Faith devotional for the new yearRunning in Faith Devotional

This unique devotional combines expert tips to help you run longer and stronger with inspiring true stories to help deepen your walk with God. Week after week, you’ll be encouraged by inspiring stories of ordinary men and women who have become both spiritually and physically fit. Inside this undated devotional you’ll find training tips from a veteran runner, enlightening scriptures that speak to your heart, thought-provoking questions to help you reflect, room for you to journal, and even step-by-step training plans for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. Buy at ShopGuideposts.org

Cover of Guideposts Daily Planner 2023 new years plannerGuideposts Daily Planner 2023

Take time for your faith every day with this beautiful 12-month calendar and prayer planner in one! Guideposts Daily Planner 2023 features daily Scriptures, moving devotions to start each month, plus a three-year calendar and holiday planner. Pocket dividers let you store your personal prayer requests, cards, notes, and daily to-do’s in one place. Order now and receive a free Guideposts Pocket Planner 2022— the perfect way to take your plans and prayers with you wherever you go. Buy at ShopGuideposts.org

Cover of Mornings with Jesus 2023 new years devotionalMornings with Jesus Devotional 2023

Start each day of 2023 with encouragement for your soul! Every page in our newest Mornings with Jesus contains a Scripture quote, an uplifting devotion that demonstrates how Jesus’ life and teachings apply today, and a Faith Step that will inspire and challenge you to apply the day’s message to your life. With humor, humility, and grace, the writers share relatable insights that allow you to center yourself with Jesus’ guidance on a daily basis. Buy at ShopGuideposts.org

Cover of All God's Creatures 2023 new years devotionalAll God’s Creatures Devotional 2023

These daily devotions are perfect for animal lovers everywhere! All God’s Creatures 2023 features 365 devotions about God’s gift to us—whether they are furry or feathered. Each entry includes enlightening scripture to help you reflect on God’s goodness, uplifting animal stories from your favorite authors, and faith-in-action steps to help you live in God’s world. Get the hardcover edition or order for your favorite eReader. Buy at ShopGuideposts.org

5 Easy Ways to Make Gratitude a Habit

Posted on by Pablo Diaz

A grateful attitude is good medicine. However, the busyness of life, financial issues and work stress can distract us from all that we have to be thankful for. As humans, we have a tendency to focus on troubles and not on blessings, but there are practical things we can do to help boost our appreciation for our life and start a gratitude habit.

1)  Start the Day by Making Gratitude Your Attitude

When we wake up each day, we have the choice to have a grateful mindset and spirit. Begin each day by stating what you are grateful for and be thankful in prayer. In doing so, we can positively affect how we experience the rest of the day. Here are a few things you can do to begin your gratitude habit in the morning

2)  Say “Thanks” More Often

This one word has the power to uplift the attitude of the person you thank as well as your own. Let others know they are appreciated, and you’ll feel good, too, as a result. Say “thank you” to those who help you at work, your doctor, the supermarket staff and others.

3)  Create a Gratitude Journal

Be intentional. Journal every day about the things, people, experiences, moments, events and meals you are grateful for. Over time you can look back and see the goodness of God in your life. READ MORE: Start a Gratitude Journal

4)  Be Uplifted by Others

Read stories or watch videos about people who have overcome great challenges in their lives. These stories can help us realize that even in the worst of times we have a lot to be thankful for. READ MORE: Inspiring Stories that Will Leave You Feeling Grateful

5)  Spread Thanksgiving Throughout the Year

Enjoy a meal with people you are grateful to have in your life. Make it a positive practice of being with those who fill your heart with love and gratitude.

A wise person once said, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” It takes positive habits to ensure that we remain cheerful and grateful in the different seasons of our lives. How do you make your gratitude a habit? If you have any tips on how to boost one’s thankfulness, please share with us.

Lord, thank you for the gift of gratitude; help us to be intentional and develop practical habits to boost our gratitude.

5 Benefits and Perks to Improving Your Spiritual Wellness

Posted on by Daisy Urgiles

In addition to your physical health, your spiritual well-being is important and can have a strong impact on your overall health. Spiritual wellness can be obtained in many ways—through meditation, mindfulness, journaling or prayer—and significantly contributes to your life’s meaning and purpose. Here are five benefits of improving your spiritual wellness, as well as activities you can do to get started.

The opportunity to reflect

Often times, we become so caught up in our busy lives that we forget to take a moment to pause and evaluate our decisions, actions and choices. For example, a busy mom may be preoccupied with errands and school drop-offs and pick-ups to pause for a moment to reflect or appreciate the people, things and events around her. Taking time to reflect will help deepen the connection with oneself and create a stronger sense of self-awareness and mindfulness. So, the next time you find yourself overwhelmed with the day’s tasks, try taking time—in the morning or night—to say a prayer of thanks or use a journal to write down your thoughts and expectations of the day ahead.

Reduces stress, anxiety, and depression

Spiritual wellness can have an impact on your health by reducing stress and improving mental illness. Some spiritual practices such as yoga, walking or meditation can help manage stress while improving your mood. Whether it’s with your family, friends or by yourself, take a walk around your neighborhood or a local park to embrace the outdoors and feel a stronger connection with nature.

Brings you closer to God

A great way to improve your spiritual well being is by praying. Through prayer, you become closer to God and are more aligned with your faith values. Prayer can provide a clearer view of what’s important by offering a new perspective. It can help you focus on all the good things in your life rather than dwelling on the failures and problems. You can pray in the morning, at bedtime, or even take a few minutes throughout your day to say short, one-word prayers that will strengthen your faith and help you feel centered.

Gain a better sense of peace

A peaceful mind is a great benefit of spiritual wellness as it brings forth a sense of calm and reconnection. Find quiet places, such as a backyard or a park to gather your thoughts and feel more at ease with yourself. With a clearer mind, you’ll be more capable of handling tasks or responsibilities, be happier and concentrate better.

Improves relationships

People who are spiritually balanced can have deeper, more meaningful relationships with those around them. They are often better at handling conflict, offering support to those who need it, and having a good balance between their own needs and the needs of others. For example, a young couple navigating marriage for the first time can benefit from spiritual wellness because it allows them to have better communication and understanding of each other’s needs as they begin a new chapter of their lives.

4 Ways to Protect Your Relationship with God

Posted on by Michelle Cox

I’m always impressed when a baseball player slides into a base—but I don’t recommend that action for grandma types. I can say that from experience. Yes, in a graceful move of epic proportions, I recently slid down an embankment at my son’s church and landed halfway under our SUV.

Thankfully, nobody but my husband saw my slip and slide, so my pride was spared. My foot was another matter. When I got up, I saw the little toe on my right foot sticking outside my sandal.

When I slipped my shoe off, four toes pointed straight ahead. The little toe stuck out to the side like a right turn signal. There was no doubt it was broken—especially when it started screaming “OUCH!” at me! Bruising started halfway to my ankle.

Read More: Inspiring Billy Graham Quotes

I have a long history of (ahem) gracefulness. So, from previous experience, I knew to put a piece of gauze between the toes and to use first aid tape to secure the broken toe to the ones next to it.

But, oh my, it’s been impressive how much that little toe has hurt—especially since I had to leave the next week for a lot of walking at The International Christian Retail Show.

My feet always hurt after that event, even when I’m not injured. My broken toe did some serious talking to me by the end of each day at the convention center.

I can’t tell you how much I’ve protected that foot, tucking it behind me whenever anyone walks nearby, choosing the chair at the dinner table where nobody will be near my injured toe, and constantly reminding my husband and grandchildren, “Don’t get near my foot!”

And then it was as if God whispered to me, “What if you took care of your faith and soul that carefully?”

Read More: 12 Prayers for Summer

Wow, that hit me. I’d never thought about that before, but I want to be proactive about protecting my heart from influences that would derail my faith. How can I do that?

I came up with 4 ways to start:

1) I can spend time in God’s Word. He’s included first aid tips there for anything that would injure me.

2) I can surround myself with people who also love God. We’ll be far more likely to protect our faith if we hang out with others who have similar values.

3) I can pray and ask God to guard my heart so that I won’t make wrong choices.

4) And just as I taped that broken toe to the strong ones next to it, I can attach myself closely to God so that I can feel His presence in every circumstance.

That broken little toe has been a great reminder of how much one move can impact my life and soul.

4 Things Succulent Plants Can Teach You About Life

Posted on by Holly Lebowitz Rossi

I’ve been on a journey to improve my skills in caring for houseplants, and in recent months, that’s drawn me to succulents—a category of plant defined by the ability to store water in broad stems (think of a cactus) or in thick, juicy leaves (think of an aloe plant). Succulents are famous for being easy to care for because they not only enjoy, they actually prefer to spend lots of time in a dry, untended environment.

Part of the pleasure of learning and exploring the wildly diverse spiky, smooth, pointy, round, squat and spreading world of succulents is that it gives me the opportunity to see my own life—in all my hopes, worries, victories and challenges—reflected in those tiny pots of green. Here are four lessons my succulents are teaching me these days:

1) Roll with Mistakes
Don’t get me wrong—there’s ample room for error in caring for succulents, from over-watering to setting in a too-sunny or too-shady spot to using a soil mix with poor drainage. I’ve made every mistake in the book, and each time I do, I wait for that moment when disappointment and frustration morph into learning and hope for something new to understand, something different to try.

2) Let It Be
Sometimes, the best thing we can “do” for a growing thing is to leave it alone. Let it be—whether “it” is a succulent that likes its soil to get completely dry before having another drink, or a new routine or habit that needs some time to take hold before you adjust, fuss and study it closely again.

3) Trust Inner Resources
A particularly satisfying aspect of succulent care is to give its leaves a gentle squeeze. Unless the plant is badly in need of a deep drink of water, the leaves will surprise you with their balloon-like juiciness, the inner nourishment it is able to draw on in its own time, when it needs to turn inward and support its own growth using the resources it has collected over time.

4) Reach Out with Roots
Propagation—using a cutting or even a single leaf to create a new plant—is easier with succulents than with many other plants. Some plants, like the other-worldly “Mother of Thousands,” sprouts “pups” that send out roots while they’re still attached to the parent plant. Other succulents, like jade can be propagated by letting a clean 4-inch cutting or single leaf dry out and callous before sticking it into a well-draining mix of perlite and soil. From there, the plant knows what to do. Letting it reach for water, extending its roots with almost no effort on your part, is perhaps the ultimate metaphor for our own strength, the potential that lies within each of us to grow, to expand, and to find beauty and comfort wherever our roots can take hold.

What do you love about succulents?

4 Reasons Why Hugs Are the Perfect Gift

Posted on by Michelle Cox

One night while I was out of town, my husband, Paul, attended the church where our youngest son is youth pastor. He enjoyed snuggles during the service from Ava, our 7-year-old granddaughter, and Nolan, our 3-year-old grandson,.

When church was over, Paul said his goodbyes to everyone. He headed down the hallway to the exit when he heard Nolan’s little footsteps running behind him and then, “Granddaddy! Granddaddy, don’t leave! I need another hug before you go.”

Yes, a definite heart-melt moment.

And that got me to thinking about the gift of hugs.

1) Hugs give comfort.
After my dad’s suicide, a woman I didn’t know came to his visitation. She softly said, “My dad did the same thing.” And then she wrapped me in a hug that gave so much solace.

2) Hugs say what we can’t.
I recently attended the funeral of a man who was very special to our family. There were so many things I wanted to say to his sweet family, but the words simply weren’t there.

3) Hugs show love.
Does anything feel better than a child’s arms wrapped around you? Or what about the hugs from a soldier’s family as he returns from deployment? Hugs speak volumes.

4) Hugs provide security.
A hug before a child leaves for school says, “I love you, and no matter what happens at school today, you have someone at home who cares about you.”

Those kinds of hugs are wonderful, but the best hugs are the ones we get from heaven—the ones God sends to us in those moments when we’re hurting or when we need to know we are loved. I’ve had many instances in my life like that. Times when things were falling apart or when my heart was breaking—and then I’d feel His sweet presence wrap around me like a holy hug. I can’t describe the comfort that brought.

A friend once told me about a female co-worker who came to her and said, “Would you mind giving me a hug? No one ever touches me.”

That was so sad to me. There’s a deep need in all of us to feel loved—and human touch is part of that. So today my challenge is to find someone to hug—a senior citizen who lives alone, a single mom who has the weight of the world on her shoulders, a friend who’s lost someone she loved, a child who doesn’t receive love at home, our spouse, our children—the list could go on and on.

Just do it—because a hug is a gift from the heart, and it’s always the perfect gift for someone who needs it

4 Reasons Why an Interruption Can Be a Blessing

Posted on by Michelle Cox

I’m one of those people who hates interruptions. I make my daily to-do list with every intention of working through it until each item is completed. And inevitably the phone will ring or the clothes dryer will buzz or my computer will freeze, and I have to pause and reboot it. Or there’s the flu that never seems to arrive at a convenient time, usually right in the middle of a tight deadline.

But as all of us have learned, interruptions are a part of life. It’s how we respond to them that makes the difference—and I’ve found that often there are good reasons for the disruptions that come along:

1. For Our Protection
There have been many times when I’ve driven somewhere and traffic came to a stop because of road work or a wreck ahead. Or there’ve been instances when I’ve had to take a detour or been stuck at a red light because the cars in front of me were slow about moving when the light changed. Those moments used to make this full-speed-ahead gal impatient, but then one day, God showed me that those minutes I waited at the red light or behind stopped traffic might have protected me from the danger ahead.

2. To Teach Us That We’re Not in Control
I’ve made numerous plans and had big dreams that I thought would be awesome. Then I’ve seen it all fall apart. I’ll be honest, there were times I grieved the loss, wondering what God was doing, why He wasn’t blessing my plans. But with the beauty of hindsight, I’ve realized that my plans would have been a mistake; I was so much better off with God in control.

3. To Make Us Listen
Sometimes God has to interrupt me so I’ll slow down long enough to hear His whispers to my heart. It’s in those be-still moments that I can feel His presence.

4. To Cause “U-turn” Moments
Sometimes God interrupts our plans because He has a “U-turn” for us. That can be difficult when our lives are disrupted by job losses or broken relationships, but we can rest assured that God always has something better for us. I’ve learned that His dreams are always bigger than anything I’d imagined.

Are you aggravated by the interruptions in your life? You just might discover that God means them as blessings.

4 Prayers for Money Worries

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

We’re not the first people in history to face economic challenges. Far from it. But still. These days it feels like our volatile economy, soaring unemployment rates, financial uncertainty and worries about finding a job, keeping a job or managing on a fixed (or disappearing) income make our current circumstances more, well, frightening than many of us have ever known.

“These are the times that try men’s souls,” we may cry with Thomas Paine. Or we may loosely paraphrase him: “This really stinks.”

It’s easy to spout platitudes, even to ourselves, but it’s harder—much harder—to think, believe and pray in such a way that actually helps. We should, of course, give ourselves permission to pray, simply, “Help!” or “Get me out of this,” which are similar prayers to the way our Savior prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. I pray those a lot, myself. But there’s another kind of prayer I rely on in scary economic situations. I call it “a Zarephath prayer.”

It’s based on an incident in the life of Elijah, when God sent him to a widow in a town called Zarephath. She lived with her son, and had only enough flour and oil in the house for one more meal. Her plan, she told Elijah, was to “make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die” (1 Kings 17:12, NIV). She was exhausted and out of options.

But Elijah told her to cancel her plans:

Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah (1 Kings 17:13-16, NIV).

That account has often inspired my prayers when I’ve felt financially exhausted and out of options. In fact, as I look back in my prayer journal, I see a succession of four prayers I have used—sometimes in quick succession, other times over a period of weeks—in times of need:

1) Lord God Adonai, let it be to me as it was to the widow of Zarephath. Let the jar of flour not be used up and the jug of oil not run dry until the day you send showers of blessing on me, my home, my land, my life. Amen.

2) Abba, Father, Yahweh Yireh, my Provider, I know that what looks to me like severe cash flow challenges in the weeks and months to come are no different to you than a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. What you did for the widow of Zarephath through your servant Elijah, please do for me and, more importantly, for my household, in Jesus’ name, amen.

3) Lord God Adonai, my defender and provider, I pray once more as I have prayed before: let it be to me as it was to the widow of Zarephath. You know my need of the moment; you know my need in the future. You know what is yet to come in, and what is yet to go out. You know the state of my jars, the condition of my pantry. I lean on you still, I depend on you to make much of little and enough of not enough, in Jesus’ name, amen.

I’m grateful and reassured by a fourth Zarephath prayer that I have also prayed on occasion, giving thanks that God answered:

4) Lord God Adonai, You have been to me as You were to the widow of Zarephath. You have supplied and sustained and showered Your blessing on me, my home, my work, my life. Please let Your faithfulness to me through these scary times of need and adjustment and faith be remembered in the future whenever I am tempted to doubt Your provision, amen.

These prayers help me believe that, if God replenished a poor widow’s store of flour and oil, He can also see me through times of scarcity and want.

4 Positive Ways You Could Be Using Social Media

Posted on by Jessica Toomer

Billions of people around the world use social media. There’s no doubt that popular platforms like Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook offer incredible opportunities to connect with others and build community. However, along with the benefits come negative side effects. Stories of cyberbullying and trolling grace our news feeds daily and all of that negativity can make what was once intended as a fun and empowering pastime seem just not worth the effort anymore.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Social media, for all of its faults, isn’t inherently bad. In fact, these sites can be the perfect places to spread positivity and hope. Here are four ways to change the conversation on your news feed.

1. Post an inspiring quote or Bible verse

Vision boards are tools that keep you focused on a goal and give you a bit of daily inspiration. Some people write quotes on their bathroom mirror or hang beautiful photos at their desk at work to keep them inspired. Social media may just be the perfect place to share your vision with others. Like to start your day off with a motivating quote? Share it on Instagram! Find a powerful Bible verse in your morning devotion? Post in on Twitter. Dreaming of an exotic vacation next summer? Create a board on Pinterest to share with friends and followers. Whatever’s motivating and inspiring you every day will probably do the same for someone else. Why not share the love?

2. Stay in touch with friends and family

Facebook was created with the goal that the website would make it easier for people to become friends, stay in touch and be active (online) participants in each other’s lives, even if they weren’t able to see each other face-to-face. But Facebook isn’t just about connecting with friends and family anymore. Now, we can follow pages of celebrities we like, magazines we read – we can even get caught up on what’s trending in the news. What’s slowly happened as a result is us forgetting to use Facebook for what it was created for – connecting. So the next time you see a friend post a status asking for help, announcing a new job promotion or maybe even complaining about their day, comment on it. Let them know you care by showing them they haven’t been lost in your news feed.

READ MORE: 5 WAYS TO PRAY FOR OTHERS ONLINE

3. Share charities and causes you follow with others

One of the great things about sites like Twitter and Instagram is the ability to plug into organizations and programs you wouldn’t have ever known about otherwise. Being able to share real-time updates on marches and fundraisers, photos of mission trips to other countries and posts announcing the launch of new campaigns are just a few reasons why the whole social media boom has been beneficial to companies and charities doing great work. If giving back is something you’re passionate about, or if you just happen to stumble upon an article detailing a new ministry doing amazing projects you think people should know about, share it on your own feeds. Not only do you get the opportunity to promote goodness and change in the world, but you also might be able to connect a friend or follower to a cause and charity that may end up changing their life.

4. Follow inspiring people doing good work

One of the added benefits of social media is being able to track what some of the most important people in the world are doing and even converse with them. While celebrity Twitter rants and feuds usually make the news, there are plenty of great people quietly doing amazing things that you wouldn’t know about if you didn’t follow them on Instagram or visit their Facebook page every now and then. Identify the people and the causes that mean something to you and be sure to give them a follow. Having your news feed flooded with meaningful postings by people you admire can only bring inspiration in your own life and as a result, may propel you to do some inspiring deeds of your own.

4 ‘Pillars of Happiness’ for Older Adults

Posted on by Holly Lebowitz Rossi

Three quarters of Americans report that the pandemic has inspired them to reconsider their priorities in life, dedicating themselves anew to their most cherished values, according to a new survey.

Are you among them? Especially for retirees and older adults, the uncertainty and disruption of the pandemic has opened many doors for self-reflection.

The research, conducted by a partnership between Harris Poll, the consulting firm Age Wave, and the financial firm Edward Jones, points to four “pillars” that connect with happiness and peace of mind among retirees.

1) Health
“At least I have my health,” goes the old chestnut. Whether you live with a chronic condition or are simply facing the realities of living in an aging body, overall health is a central predictor of happiness for older adults—as is each person’s attitude toward their health and wellness. One interesting finding from the survey was that despite the disproportionate risk of the COVID pandemic for older adults, a majority (61 percent) expressed a less anxious, more optimistic mindset, agreeing that the pandemic gave them “more appreciation for what makes life meaningful.”

2) Family
“Having friends and family who care about me” was a top priority for more than 75 percent of respondents to the survey, and “having a positive impact on family and others” had the particular attention of retirees when asked how they define success. Especially after a year of unwelcome distance from family members, restoring connections and reinvigorating relationships are of paramount importance.

3) Purpose
An interesting finding of the survey was that more adults (67 percent) named “spending time with loved ones” as a primary source of purpose than those (40 percent) who identified giving back to the community. Especially after a time of isolation and loneliness for so many, this highlights the primary importance of relationships in happiness.

4) Finances
Health care costs, providing for future generations and other post-retirement financial anxieties are deeply embedded in retirees’ happiness. A majority (61 percent) said they wish they had prepared for their retirements more robustly. If you are a pre-retiree, this finding might inspire you to invest in your future in a new way.

Do these resonate with you as “pillars of happiness?”

4 Fun and Easy Crafts to Make with Leaves

Posted on by Holly Lebowitz Rossi

“Autumn is a second spring,” wrote the author Albert Camus, “when every leaf is a flower.”

As the air turns chilly and crisp, we are drawn simultaneously outdoors, to marvel at the changing season unfolding before our eyes, and indoors, to cozy up with warm cider and perhaps the first fire of the season.

Why not combine the two by working on nature-based crafts while sipping from your warm mug? Here are four fun and easy ways to incorporate autumn leaves, in all their “flowering” glory, into handmade crafts.

1) Leafy Wreaths

Perhaps the easiest fall craft to make with leaves is a wreath. A foam or pressboard wreath form is very inexpensive, or better yet, a cardboard form can be thrown away along with the leaves, at the end of the season. Some fresh, bright leaves, a little hot glue and a few minutes will get your home or mantle ready to embrace the fall.

2) Pressed Leaf Art

Pressing leaves is a time-tested way to preserve autumn leaves at their most vibrant. Follow a tutorial like this one to press and dry your leaves. From there, the crafting options are limitless! Glue pressed leaves onto card stock and frame, or glue them onto folded paper to make a cheerful seasonal banner.

3) Leafy Mason Jars

A Mason jar, a bottle of Modge-Podge or other clear-drying, sealing glue and a sponge are all you need to make beautiful leaf-lined jars that are stunning votive candle holders or autumn vases. Be sure your jar is clean and dry, and that your leaves are either freshly fallen or gently moistened so they will bend to the right shape. Brush the outside of the jar with glue, attach your leaves and coat with more glue.

4) Leaf-Printed Table Linens

Freshly fallen leaves are beautifully shaped and, with their veins still plump, ready to use to make prints on paper, pillowcases or table linens. Use some acrylic paint to coat the back of a leaf, then press it onto the fabric or paper of your choice, being sure to cover the leaf with waxed paper as you press so it doesn’t slip or smudge.

However you choose to savor Autumn leaves, take a minute of gratitude for the blessing of fall.