Things that are making me smile right now

Hi and happy new week! Can you believe it’s almost Spring? We’ve had quite a few Spring like days my way in the last month. Just love a day cool enough to deeply appreciate the warm sun shining on my face. Ahhhh. :-)

Ok, today, I just wanted to spread a little sunshine. I’ve been paying more attention to moments, things, and simple but special happenings that make my heart smile.

So here goes:

*I was watching the NBA All-Star Game and I got goose bumps after hearing Shaquille O’Neal say to Magic Johnson “Thank you for teaching me how to be a leader…Never got to thank you. I appreciate you very much!” Doesn’t it just touch the depths of your soul to hear someone sincerely say thank you to another. It’s what living is all about. Let folks know how they’ve made an impact in your life no matter how big or small. ;-) It could brighten their day or life.

*Octavia Spencer winning an Oscar for best supporting actress. I am so HAPPY for her! I feel like she’s a friend in my head. She’s just delightful. It is her time. And I have an affinity to women that are 40 or over winning! Dig it. Love it. Congratulations and keep shining, Octavia! Her speech was sweet too.

*Speaking of inspiring women, I admire much of Viola Davis’ work. I especially love her new ‘do. Naturally beautiful and hip. She exudes confidence and strength. Makes me smile!

*I heard a funky song the other that made me smile and snap my fingers. Love the beat and the feel of this tune. It’s by Estelle, titled Pretty Please. Take a listen. J

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey4mwqzZ7m0

Other songs that give me good feelings: A Long Walk by Jill Scott, Picture Perfect by Eric Roberson, and Keep Looking by Sade. And so many more. But these particular songs have made me smile lately.

*And last but not least, I’m smiling right now because I got chosen in the “Harpo” lottery to attend Oprah’s Lifeclass taping in NYC in April with guest Tony Robbins. YEAH BABY!!!! I am very grateful. The icing on the cake is that I get to visit NYC and spend time with my family and good friends. It’s been almost a year since I left. I miss my sweet, exciting, crazy Nueva York. Yay!!!!

(I took this shot on one of my many commutes to and from Grand Central Station.)

**Honorable mentions: Rock climbing again (tough but fantastic!!) and pretty Atomic Orange nail color on my toes. Color therapy is real! lol. 

So here’s to finding the good in the grit of life. Sending smiles your way. Tag you’re it!

Here's to another year!

Hello and welcome to today! So I recently had a birthday (2/18) yay! Praise God from whom all blessings flow. It was an emotional last week of my last year. Getting older, seeing things I didn't before. Feelings things I didn't before. Dealing with all the thoughts buzzing through my head as I tiptoe into pure, absolute, middle life. But, truly, it's good to be alive! Age is all in the mind...mostly. :-)

I'm realizing that time really does zoom by. I'm realizing that the older I get the more I appreciate the joy of receiving an old-fashioned paper birthday card. I mean, actually, I've always been a gal that gets giddy over a good greeting card. I keep them. They are treasures. I value words on paper. It moves me to read what someone takes the time to write, especially when it written for little ol' me. It's nice to read a card years later too. Many times a card and the words scribbled on it have warmed my heart, years after I'd received it. It's the gift that has the power to keep on bringing a smile to my face, even after the ink has faded away. The sentiment is enduring!

As I am blessed each day with breath, I ask to be better. To listen more. Love more. Laugh more. Be free more. Be stronger ...more. Let go... more. Embrace more.

So here's to a new year of living! I enter with gratitude and courage to get up when I fall down no matter how many times...And I want to add a few more "gotta do's" to my Bucketlist...including:

*Fly a kite.

*Carve my name in a tree.

*Teach someone to read

*Do 25 pushups in a row—check. I can now do this! Thanks to being inspired by Michelle Obama. ;-)

*Explore a cave.

*Paint something funky, beautiful or moving

*Start a group

*Travel to Africa

*Hug more

*Make pottery~

*Read about something totally unlike the usual

*Create more

In the meantime, in between, hoping to do this and preparing to do that, I want to remember this quote by Iyanla Vanzant:

No Regrets Just Lessons

No Worries Just Acceptance

No Expectations Just Gratitude

And so it shall be. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Sending simplicity your way. Tag you're it!

How Fragile We Are

Hello and welcome to a new day. We are here! This may sound silly, but I’m believing that means something. J Today is a blessing! Yet I admit sometimes, I don’t see that so vividly. So, while I am totally well and ticking, I want to say to you, thank you for being YOU and you matter! Be kind to you for me. J 

My heart ached this past weekend, and I’m sure I wasn’t alone, over the loss of Whitney Houston. To say the least, I was crushed to hear the tragic news of her passing. Despite knowing of her troubled past years, I really believed she was on the path to peace—here on earth. She was like a big sister or auntie in my head. So many sweet memories of my childhood/teenage/young adult years are set to the soundtrack of a Whitney Houston song. I adored her. I loved pretending to be her as I belted out lyrics like “ohhh, I wanna dance with somebody,” with hairbrush in hand in front of the mirror. And I loved watching her concerts on TV. There was one where she wore a funky, brown leather jacket as she sang Didn’t We Almost Have it All and she moved the depths of my soul.  As she sang I sang, with all the feeling and emotion a 13 year old could conjure up.  Then, came college and her rendition of I’m Every Woman was my theme song throughout those 4 crazy, wonderful, exciting years of my life. I loved that song so much; I put it on my answering machine. I just got so happy when I heard that particular song! The video is still one of my all-time favorites. Whitney was glowing in that video, pregnant and overflowing with joy. It makes me smile every time I watch. That’s the Whitney, I’ll always remember.  I even produced a memory video the first semester of my senior year in college, and at the end of my “walk down memory lane” I have a karaoke moment singing Whitney’s Love Will Save the Day. I have that on VHS tape. It’s rather hilarious!J

I guess what I’m intending to say here is that I am grateful for the gift of Whitney. I am grateful she shared her gift with us. I am grateful that whenever I hear her divine voice singing the Star Spangled Banner, or Nothing or the Greatest Love of All or Shoop Shoop, I am transported back to precious parts of my life. And because of that, I feel like she was a part of my life. And that’s why I cried like I lost an old pal when I heard the news.

I mourn her death and I celebrate her life. I am sad that she is gone. My heart hurts for her mom, her daughter, and for everyone who truly knew her. I still get chills listening to reports of her being gone and I have to bite my cheeks not to cry when I hear the first note of I’m Every Woman….Yet, I am grateful that she is at peace now. She was a songbird, lovely and fragile. Her passing reminds me that we all are so very fragile. We are human. We hurt. We yearn to be loved and to find and maintain peace on our journey.  We need each other like we need water. <3

Farewell dear Whitney, may your spirit soar as high as the sun and sparkle as bright as the stars. You will never be forgotten.

Lyrics to one of my all-time favorite Whitney songs, Love Will Save the Day:

Sometimes life can make you crazy
It can really put your body to the test
You try so hard to make sure everything goes right
And you find you've only wound up with a mess
It's a common situation
Even though you feel abandoned and alone
Child, you ain't the first to experience the hurt
So don't panic when you hit the danger zone

What you need's a little change of heart
Forget this fear and frustration
Love will always play the greater part
When your battles wear you down
Here's my advice -
When you're feeling down and out
And you've got troubles on you mind
Love will save the day
When you're feeling full of doubt
And fear has got you in a bind
Love will save the day
When your worlds falling apart
All you have to do is say a prayer
And love will save the day
There's an answer in your heart
So let your light shine on my dear
And love will save the day
Love will save the day [X4]

Many things in this world bring you down
It's a wonder you can make it through the day
Well, you can't sleep cause your problems are to deep
And there's always something getting in the way
And when you turn on the evening news
Mass confusion is the only thing you see
Well there's no question that we need a new direction
Cause we all could use some peace and harmony

Love is gonna save the day
You've gotta believe it

Sending love, peace and comfort your way. Tag you’re it!

Pow!

What. For. Why. When. Soon. Near. Patience. Dear.

Breathe. Calm. Stretch. Yellow. Pause. Hope. Be. Mellow.

Kick. Scream. Punch. Bow. Yes. Ease. Welcome. Now.

Might. Want. Need. Wish. Run. Blue. Rise. Miss.

Grace. Triumph. Comfort. Some.  Laughter. Maybe.Will. Come.

Worth. What. When. Why.

Value. Peace. Blue. Sky

Life. Try. Be. One.

Me. You. Shine. Sun.

Sending courage your way. Tag you're it!

Do you really learn something new everyday?....

Hello and welcome to the weekend! Even though, I am not working outside of the home, at the moment, I still cherish the weekend. Everything just feels more relaxed! It’s like my mind gives my body permission to chill out a little bit more on Saturdays and Sundays, without any guilt. Just be. And of course, do what I can to have some f-u-n.

So, I’ve been thinking can one really learn something new every day? Being at home more days than I previously was when I was working and skedaddling all over the most fascinating city in the world (NYC J), I thought probably not. However, I was wrong. I’m in a new phase of my life journey and every day, if I pay attention, I am enlightened by even the tiniest morsel of wisdom I gain about myself, my surroundings, other people, and/or the world in general.

Let’s see, this week I learned…. J

~A new word, pergola: a framework that supports climbing plants. I like saying this word, it just rolls off the tongue, pur-guh-laaa. I like the way it sounds, too! Check out this pretty pergola.

~~There are so many great websites that make it easy for you to help others. One cool site is www.sparked.com, which matches people with online volunteer opportunities.  

~On a spiritual side, I learned that if you can see yourself in everyone, then you can easily forgive and love anybody. :-)

~Arugula is absolutely delish with a dash of extra virgin olive oil, a splash of fresh lemon juice, and a sprinkle of Pecorino Romano cheese. It’s a great option for lunch (at home)!

~That I can cook tasty and healthy dinners for my husband and I, 4 out of 5 nights a week, without going bonkers! It feels good to eat well. I’m eating more veggies than I have in my whole life. Yay!

~Yet again, that we have a phenomenal first lady! Did you see her do 25 push-ups in a row in a friendly competition with Ellen on the Ellen Show? Even better, Mrs. O said she could have done even more. Now, I want to do 25 in a row by my bday which is 2 weeks away. I’ll let you know how that goes. J

~The simplest gesture or kind words really make a gal feel special.  It happened twice this week, unexpectedly, and it made my heart smile.

~Calories keep burning 14 hours after a 45 minute vigorous workout. That’s awesome!

~Hot water with lemon is a necessity to start off my mornings and end my evenings. It does the body good!

That’s all for now. Off to my first rock climbing lesson!  What'd you learn this week?

Sending smiles your way!