ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: For Sarturday, January 31st, 2026

THE BRIGHT SIDE

Decide to be happy today, to live with what is yours – your family, your business, your job, your luck. If you can’t have what you like, maybe you can like what you have.

Just for today, be kind, cheerful, agreeable, responsive, caring, and understanding. Be your best, dress your best, talk softly, and look for the bright side of things. Praise people for what they do and do not criticize them for what they cannot do. If someone does something stupid, forgive and forget. After all, it’s just for one day.

Who knows, it might turn out to be a nice day.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

I'm looking out the window
and the day is drab and dreary,
And I'm trying to console myself
by thinking something cheery
I know it's simply horrible
to get in such a slump
And I also know it's up to me
to get across the hump
And I realize I'm selfish
to mention this to you
For, gee, you might be feeling
a little 'low-down' too
but often when I feel like this
I tell myself it's true
That I am not the only one
who feels 'low-down and blue'
And just knowing there are others
who feel the way I do
Renews my sinking spirit
and keeps me smiling through
and know that it's natural
to take a 'spirit-dive'
Provides the spunk and courage
to hang on and survive
And while there are a lot of moods
that we can drive away
by looking on the BRIGHT SIDE
in all we do and say,
There also is a loneliness
that God meant us to feel
But, gee, it sure is mighty hard
to know which one is real
And I'd hate to be a 'sad sack'
who never saw the sun
And just complained that every day
was such a dreary one.
But I know that all the dark days
are just part of God's plan
We should accept them graciously
and do the best we can...
So I'll just keep on trying
for I know it's 'Gospel true'
there never was a cloud so dark
the sun could not shine through!

by Helen Steiner Rice

On the Bright Side Newsletter

I send this little letter out each morning to all my family and friends and even to a few people that I've never met. Many of them send it on to others too. So in order to make it available to more people I post the 'brighter side' of the news here each day in this journal.

The letter began as an effort to keep in touch with my family as they are spread out in all directions. My family, friends and God are the most important things in my life.

You'll find quotes, poems and stories and even a few recipes included in this newsletter. I try to find something new each day to share.

In a world that very often publishes only the dark side of things I felt that others would be encouraged to hear about
'the bright side'.

'On Ya'-ma

Saturday, January 31, 2026

For Sarturday, January 31st, 2026

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 31ST, 2026

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades. May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

Slightly adapted from one of my morning devotionals

In Florida

Sunrise: 7:11 am

Sunset: 6:08
pm

Life is a special occasion !

Hallmark

Today is National Hot Chocolate Day which is when people celebrate with the timeless cold weather beverage, hot chocolate. It is a warm beverage made with ground chocolate, heated milk or water and sugar. In America we often use the terms hot chocolate and hot cocoa interchangeably. However the two beverages are different.

We make hot chocolate with cocoa powder, heated milk or water and sugar. For the thicker more flavorful beverage we make hot chocolate from ground chocolate containing cocoa butter. It is also called drinking chocolate. Hot chocolate has been around longer than hot cocoa. In the early 1800’s Casper van Houten Sr developed a process to seperate the cocoa solids from the butter. His son, Coenraad Johannes made them more soluble in water. Together their process made cocoa powder possible.

Before then, everyone drank hot chocolate. This thicker creamier beverage offered medicinal benefits for stomach ailments during the 19th century.

Humans have been drinking chocolate for a long time. The Mayans likely created the first chocolate beverage 2000 years ago. The Aztecs included a cocoa beverage as an essential part of their culture by 1400 AD. When Europeans began exploring Central and South America explorers brought the beverage back with them to Europe from Mexico.

In the United States, many people enjoy an instant form of hot chocolate. It is made with water or milk and a packet containing mostly cocoa powder, sugar and dry milk.

There are health benefits to drinking hot chocolate. Cocoa contains significant amounts of antioxidants that may help prevent cancer. Studies have shown the flavonoids in chocolate have a positive effect on arterial health and memory.

Celebrate today and enjoy some hot chocolate! It is good and good for you too!

If you cannot see the bright side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Hot chocolate is like hug from the inside.

Cold weather is the time for me to enjoy hot chocolate! I make it with K cups in my Keurig coffee maker. The warm hot chocolate makes us feel better and who can complain about that!

I try not to drink too much of it due to the sugar content. But now and then it’s a cold weather necessity.

Last night I had my first date night in a long time thanks to my two handsome Florida grandsons who took me out to dinner at a Cuban restaurant. I had never had a Cuban sandwich before so that is what I got. It had pork, ham, and swiss Cheese on it and was delicious, but oh my very filling. I brought over half of it home and will have it for lunch today. They made me feel like a very special Grandma!

Tomorrow I leave to go home to Texas. We will both be in the 50’s so not much change in the weather. We are to be in the 60’s today with some rain expected. I will not be posting again until Monday, February 2nd, Ground Hogs day!

I hope you all have a SUPER Saturday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Hot cocoa is happiness in a cup!

I list at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for. There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

14, 014. For hot chocolate! Yum!

14,015. for a candy cane to give me a dash of peppermint in my chocolate

14,016. for a wonderful warm vacation!

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters and EMT’s.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Life happens, chocolate helps!

a smile,a word of cheer,

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

3 comments:

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...: Celebrate today and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate. It is good and good for you too!; January 31, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Mevely317 said...: It was snowing a LITTLE and 29* when I took our girls out this morning -- jsut the right time for a cup of hot chocolate! I love that saying about it being like a hug from the inside.
How nice of your sunshine boys to treat you last night. Cuban cuisine is something I really miss about living in Tampa. I keep saying I'm going to try and replicate their coffee, but have never gotten around to it.; January 31, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Chatty Crone said...: I love hot chocolate. I am wondering if you are home now. It got cold in Texas and GA!; February 1, 2026 at 4:44 PM

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Saturday, January 31, 2026

For Sarturday, January 31st, 2026

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