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!

Celebrate Mondays

Hello and happy Monday evening! A new day, a new week, yet another chance to do something different….  I’m still on my quest to find meaningful work.  And boy, can it get draining some days! So, I thought this would be a good time to revive my “Celebrate Monday” postings.  J

I consider celebrating ~ expressing gratitude. After all, it has been said if you are thinking about what is good in your life, whether big or small, then more goodness may flow in.

Here are 8 things I’m celebrating right now.  (I have an affinity for the number 8):

v  Exercising without going to a gym, thanks to Comcast OnDemand. They have a variety of free workouts that you can try right in the comfort of your home. I’ve tried several. Kickboxing segments are my favorites!  It’s great, because now I can still get my heart rate pumping and burn some calories even when I am not motivated to head to the gym. Whoo hoo!!

v  A good laugh! Sometimes just hearing my husband’s “hee, hee, hee, hee or HA!” makes me laugh. J

v  Discovering a delicious Caribbean restaurant in Atlanta (Little Five Points). Stir It Up has warm, stylish décor, scrumptious Jamaican food, and attentive servers. I’m a sucker for good food AND great service. The curry chicken rolls were my favorite. Tasty chicken with fresh vegetables wrapped in a filo type crust; a unique take on egg rolls; with a side of perfectly spiced curry for dipping. Yum!!

v  Reconnecting with a childhood friend. Nothing compares to a true friend. J

v  Detoxing from my “vice,” sweets, for the next 3 day. Thank God for fruit, vegetables, ice and blenders!

v  Anything that inspires me to create. Most recently it was Fat Chef, a new weight loss show on Food Network. Stay tuned to what develops....;-)

v  Speaking to my cousins. They make me smile!

v  My health. That is worth more than gold. Very grateful that the only pain I have is from doing 50 squats during my OnDemand workout today. J

Is there anything you’re celebrating right now? Do share!

Sending good vibes your way. Tag you’re it!

Ride the Tide~

Hello out there! Happy 2012. I know, I know. It’s nearly February, already.  J I hope so far your year is all you want it to be.

It’s been a heck of a few months for me -- marriage, moving, new role as a wife, new home, new city, and even loss.  Change is good but sure isn’t always easy. I’ve always thought of life as an ocean, sometimes calm, sometimes exciting like a catching a big wave and being carried back to shore, sometimes scary like when the wave is so huge is takes you out into the sea farther than you wanted to go. I am learning to ride the waves and sustain a steady balance. It takes effort, but it is possible, right? J

(I took this picture because I saw a heart in the middle of the rocks. Sedona, AZ. Path to the Stupa.)

Last night, my hubby was sharing his intrigue about the Northern Lights. He was energized as he explained to me how phenomenal it would be to see this dazzling radiation storm in the sky up-close and personal, specifically in Iceland. J This is after all the strongest solar storm since 2003 (according to National Geographic). I must admit when I saw the first photos of the ultraviolet sky show, I thought the photographer enabled special effects on his camera.( lol, silly me)  It Is quite amazing to see what happens when a giant wave of charged particles from the sun slam into the earth’s magnetic field.

My point in mentioning this is that life is overwhelming interesting. The world is so wide and wonderful and captivating and wild and delicious and chilling and mysterious and mystical. Yet, there can still be times when we feel so far from all the fantastical stuff. While looking at websites about the Northern lights and Iceland, a banner ad caught my eye. It read “make every moment an experience.” Of course, it was promoting all the great adventures you can experience in Iceland, like taking a dip in the hot springs, whale watching, or simply spotting a glacier (just to name a few). How awesome! But, what about on an everyday basis, how can we make every moment an experience? For me, when I read that statement, I thought of “an experience” as being something grand or memorable or exhilarating.  I suppose experience could be defined in less mind-blowing terms. Because, honestly can every moment really be that way?  I suppose I could make every moment an experience by appreciating every moment for what it is.  Most moments are simply more breaths that allow me more time on this planet. Most moments I don’t think could be my last. Most moments go by so quickly I fail to relish in them. Most moments I’m figuring out what to do next from the menial to the major decisions in life….Most moments I don’t even realize I could make the most of it simply by being OK and grateful. I suppose no matter what is going on in my teeny spot in the world, there is always something to be grateful for. Something or someone to appreciate.  I’m thinking that the key to me making every moment an experience is to not let certain challenges keep me down. I’m thinking if I can find a way to quickly and easily connect to the light within, I will be making more of my moments an experience. And I’m thinking one of the simplest ways to make this connection is to believe  it’s ALL (life and the stuff that goes on) happening as it should.  So, for now, I think that those moments that I can smile and feel some sense of all is well (or at least make someone else feel that way), then dang on it—I’ve honored that breathe, and in doing so made that moment “an experience.”

I am surely a work in progress. And I’m open to hearing how or if you make most of your moments marvelous. Let the sharing begin! J

Sending solar-powered, radical streams of good energy your way. Tag you’re it!

                     

Beginning to exhale...(a poem)

Even though I feel one way, I will profess the way I choose to feel.
Feelings they seem to rule me.
Think they always have.
I've got something to say. Is anyone listening? God. Divine One. Creator of the Universe.
I am a child of God. I am a Divine Being. It's time to embrace it. I am a piece of the highest love.
I love. I laugh. I give.
I have something beautiful to give. I have something wonderful to do.
I have love to bestow. I have thoughts to share.
I am a kind being. I am a good listener. I am a smart woman.
 I am a caring friend. I am strong. Stronger than I sometimes think or feel.
I am confident. I am moving through this phase of the journey, being drawn closer to the God within.
I forgive my mistakes. I ask for the lesson to be learned through it all.
I give thanks for breath right now. I am worth loving.
I let go of judgement, isolation, comparisons.
I can. I am.
I can feel joy. I can spread it.
I am love.
I am love.
I am love.
I am smiling. s.m.i.l.i.n.g. smiling. And so it it!

Sending love your way