Draft & Bee
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Short Stories to Lift Your Spirits
Life's challenges can sometimes bring us down, making us feel overwhelmed and uninspired. During these moments, turning to motivational and inspirational short stories can be a wonderful way to reignite our inner fire and uplift our spirits. Here, we present a collection of the best short stories designed to provide motivation, inspiration, and perhaps even a new perspective on life's hurdles.
By Draft & Beeabout a month ago in Motivation
Relaxation time. Calm Sleep Stories
At first you feel your body begin to release its pent-up tension your breath becomes deeper deliberate calm inexplicably those deep lines in your furrowed brow one by one unfurl as you slowly and gently begin to relax the scent is lavender here in the southeastern corner of france between the foothills of Morwan ii and the village of sow you are in the deepest provence home to perhaps the most famous lavender fields in the entire world and every year between mid-june and early august the green fields burst into a vivid color as the plants come into full bloom first brought over to europe thousands of years ago by traders from what was once known as persia now modern-day iran this aromatic plant has long been revered for its calming properties it can be found worldwide of course from the stone-strewn mountains of the mediterranean spain and portugal to the quaint gardens of britain the pacific states of the usa the lower reaches of south africa and australia's state of victoria but it is perhaps most famous in this southeastern corner of france it was classed as a precious plant by the ancient greeks and romans used to extract its essential oil when bathing its name actually comes from the latin word lavare which means to wash just after the coming of the summer solstice as you drive deeper into the myriad fields that glow almost blue in the early morning light you allow the scent to wash over you breathing it in deeper with every comforting breath following the winding road you weave between the yellows of spelt and wheat fields until you begin to see even more of the colors glowing somewhere between a deep purple and a light blue a whole network of vibrant fields open out before you rising and folding beneath the foothills of moonvon two this limestone peak is famed less for its location above the purple haze and more for its summit roads which each summer see on its northern aspect cyclists determinately riding ascending it on the tour de france race however on its southern flanks the focus is definitely not on speed but on the lack of it for between its slopes and the fortified village of sow the lavender fields spread out offering not only a sight to behold but also a network of walking or cycling paths that you can wander or pedal through on a meandering journey to take in this sublime spectacle at a distinctly slow pace leaving the car behind you hear the reassuring crunch of the gravel beneath your shoe as you tread deeper and deeper into the lavender fields the plants are arranged in pleasing lines of purple which stretch out down towards the ochre washed farmsteads in the valley beyond around you bees land on the buds gathering the amber nectar from within the flowers but though they are working hard even their movement seems to be unhurried they twirl and loop between plants methodically later the honey that they produce from provence's so-called blue gold can be sampled but for now rather than tasting the byproduct of this process you join them by languidly bimbling along the waymark purple promenades strolling from one plant to another gradually you stretch out your arm to touch the silvery green leaves that feel feathery and long moving your hand up to the flower you let it brush beneath your fingertips as you do you can detect each one of the small blooms that make up the head arranged in spirals each time your touch causes a micro cloud of perfume to permeate the air strolling between the farmland save for the slow rhythmic sound of your own relaxed breathing all you can hear is the occasional melodic tinkle coming from the bells that adorn the necks of the goats and sheep that are grazing on the hillsides looking above the sky is becoming brighter as the sun rises above the flanks of the mountain far up above the trees you spy something also moving in slow curves floating on the thermals it's the short-toed eagle soaring overhead gracefully floating as he watches over this indigo patchwork of fields from the air you continue on the path arriving at an old stone-built distillery the air becomes even thicker with scent so strong you stop to savour it with every fiber of your body as you open the old wooden door the stills glow golden in the sunlight inside one a fire is lit it's orange flames licking the wood hungrily heating up great vats of water above as it boils and bubbles it produces dense clouds of steam rising slowly the vapor passes through the clusters of lavender placed ins ide as the flowers heat up they begin to release their molecules from their petals into the mist this is carried up lighter than air into the condenser whereas it floats through a coil it's cooled by water causing it to turn back into a liquid now rich in lavender oil patience is the name of the game as over time the oil naturally rises separating from the water until it's ready to be collected when the time comes and the lid of the still is removed the workshop fills once more with the sweet smelling aroma of over a thousand flowers visiting at peak season you can see local lavender farmers come from miles around bringing their plants to be distilled in such a way the oil is famed for its use in aromatherapy said to elicit calm in even the most stressed soul its delicious and distinct scent not only soothes the senses but also has a sedative effect aiding sleep to come naturally and there's a distinctly sleepy feel over at another famous provost site to the southwest set on the edge of the vocals mountains along the lubaron valley high on a promontory is the hilltop town of gold nestled within is a place called notre dame de se nonc abbey this greystoned building replete with its rounded turret and pyramidal spire was founded in 1148 though lived in by different groups over the years nowadays its ecclesiastical residents are a group of cistercian monks and much like many residents in the region they also grow their own fields of lavender spending their days tending the fields they not only harvest the plants to create their own version of the essential oils for use in aromatherapy soaps or perfume but they also keep bees who like them tend the fields and help them bring in further revenue from their heavenly honey so slow is the pace of life at synong that some guests opt to stay on undertaking a spiritual retreat amid the monks here for up to eight days you can not only drink in the daily fragrance of lavender by meandering in the gardens but also attend the daily meal times and complete and total silence join one of the services in the inner church or spend your time meditating on your own mission to find your inner calm but for many simply strolling the fields can in themselves offer a kind of spiritual as well as physical journey and as anyone knows all journeys have a tendency to work up an appetite luckily in provence even culinary treats are influenced by the purple fields that surround them inside the local shops you find bunches of the flowers tied ready to be taken home and hung up in the kitchen offering a much needed portable portion of the sweet nourishing scent you'll also see little vials of the distilled oil that you can later drop into a bath or drip onto your pillow but look a little closer and you'll also spy lavender infused food from breads to tea salad dressing to ice cream there are so many delectable creations to sample each offering some inner calm to your belly part of the mint family the flowers offer a floral herbal addition to a dish after walking the sherman de levand lavender path try a sorbet to feel the explosion of a sweet yet bitter taste on your tongue or take your time to infuse some dried petals in hot water and drink in its earthy tones slowly in the late afternoon while readying for the spectacular sight of the flowers in early evening as the sun sets the mottled pinkish purple tones begin to paint the landscape into a work of art rivalling any famous painting by one of the many artists cezanne picasso van gogh money who so loved the region they are not alone in their affection for it every year on august the 15th a celebration comes to sow bringing visitors from far and wide to commemorate the end of the season's harvest for 30 years it's taken place and for that one single day and into the evening this quiet and tranquil hamlet comes alive in festivities traditional costumes are worn while the sounds of age-old folk tunes are sung in the valley their tuneful ditties reverberating through the remaining wild dashes of lavender while people dance and raise a glass to the successful yield in this le pei blur the blue country as the music carries on market stalls are set up by local producers who have come to sell their wares from pottery to sacks of dried flowers potpourri handmade cosmetics and soaps and of course freshly distilled lavender made from that same year a market like this has been held on wednesdays since the year 15 15. and tradition continues with the annual highlight the competition where local harvesters take to a field to cut the last of the lavender plants in the traditional way with a plow or sickle as they take to the flowers the air seems to turn a deep cerulean the sound of the sickle cutting in rhythm backwards and forwards swishing swaying almost in time with the breeze it's a mesmerizing show as the last of the flowers are gathered the end of the season is upon this little provence enclave the fields will be plowed and ready to begin the cycle once more preparing the limestone rich soils for the next year's growth for now the fields will lie dormant regaining energy under the autumnal sunlight replenishing nutrients with the onset of the fall rain for a while all will be still and the countryside whose palette has for a few short weeks been a show-stopping shade of purple and blue now returns to the earthy brown and green hues of a landscape lying in anticipation of what's to come as you stand at the edge of one such field you can see it as it once was locked in your memory as though a perfectly composed photograph in your hand you class cluster of lavender and rub its little delicate petals between your fingers the scent permeates your skin lifting your hand towards your face once more that spellbinding scent fills your nose slowing your breathing relaxing every single muscle in your body you long to stay but no you cannot but no matter for from now on every time you smell the reassuring scent of france's blue gold you will be instantly transported back to this site back to sunset where the fields truly do glow in an almost impossibly deep tone of purple haze in these the rolling foothills of ever peaceful provost you
By Draft & Beeabout a month ago in Motivation
How Build Your Confidence
We are dreading things, thinking defeated thoughts, when in truth, we have already been equipped to handle it. We have the strength for all things. When God created you, He put in you everything you need to fulfill your destiny. Now, quit telling yourself what you can't do. All that's doing is draining your strength. Often times, we limit ourselves without even knowing it. We go around thinking that the obstacle is too big, that we'll never get well, that this virus, this illness is going to get the best of us. We wonder why we don't have any strength, why we can't seem to get ahead, see a breakthrough. It's because our thoughts are limiting us. We draw in what we constantly think about. The Bible says, "As a man thinks in his heart, so he is." You can't think defeat and have victory. You can't think weak and have strength. You can't think not able to and accomplish your dreams. Your life is going to follow your thoughts. Instead of thinking weak, defeated, not able to thoughts, you need to start thinking power thoughts. Think about what God says about you. This sickness is no match for me. No virus can stop my destiny. This trouble at work is not how my story ends. The forces that are for me are greater than the forces that are against me. Victory starts in our minds. Success, breakthroughs, new levels depend on our thinking. I'm worried about my finances. I'm stressed over my children. That's drawing in more negativity. That's making you weaker, draining your strength, your energy, your passion. You'll be amazed at what will happen if you start thinking power thoughts. No weapon formed against me will prosper. God has me in the palm of His hands. He's the guardian of my soul. He's made me untouchable to the enemy. When you dwell on these thoughts, you'll feel strength rising up, courage, determination. This is not just being positive, this is your faith being released. That's why the scripture says, "Be careful what you think." It gives us a warning. Your thoughts are setting the limits for your life. All that came to my mind were negative, fearful, intimidating thoughts. I didn't just keep thinking those thoughts because they showed up. I didn't dwell on them, believe that they were truth. I tuned them out and got in tune with God on purpose. I thought, "I can do all things through Christ. I am strong in the Lord. I've been raised up for such a time as this. Father, thank you that I am equipped, empowered, and anointed." Thoughts told me, "Nobody's going to listen to you. You don't have anything to say." Instead of believing those lies, I would say, "Father, thank you that your favor is causing me to stand out." In the scripture, there was a young man named Mephibosheth. He was the grandson of King Saul and the son of Jonathan, David's best friend. Mephibosheth was born into royalty, destined to one day take the throne. But at five years old, his grandfather and father were killed in a battle. When word reached the palace, the nurse who took care of him picked him up and took off running, afraid that the enemy army was coming to kill him. In her haste, she accidentally dropped Mephibosheth, injuring both of his legs. He became crippled for life. And sometimes, well-meaning people can drop you. This nurse had good intentions; she was trying to help him, but she dropped him. Years passed, and Mephibosheth ended up living in exile in a city called Lo-Debar, one of the poorest, most rundown cities of that day. The name Lo-Debar means "without pasture." It was like a wasteland, with no greenery, no place to grow crops. Mephibosheth was the grandson of the king; he had royalty in his blood. He had lived in the palace; now
By Draft & Beeabout a month ago in Motivation
Health in Positive Toward Yourself
I always like to kick things off with a bit of humor. I recently heard a funny story about a reporter traveling to various churches nationwide. In the Northeast, he came across a gold phone with a sign reading, "Calls ten thousand dollars per minute," explained as a direct line to heaven. As he journeyed to Texas, he noticed the same gold phone, but the sign now said, "Calls 25 cents per minute," with the pastor noting, "You're in Texas, now it's a local call." Moving on, let's delve into the importance of maintaining a positive self-image. Your most crucial relationship is with yourself. Many individuals struggle with self-acceptance, focusing on their perceived flaws and mistakes rather than recognizing themselves as a masterpiece, created in the image of God. By being kind, merciful, and loving towards yourself, you pave the way for better relationships and overall well-being. Remember, dwelling on shortcomings hinders progress, while embracing your strengths propels you forward. Start by appreciating yourself and watch how your outlook transforms.
By Draft & Beeabout a month ago in Lifehack
