Kitty!!!

I'm adding some new photos to my MEOW page!  Check them out!  :)

NYC!

I am SO lucky to have the opportunity to travel some with my job. I LOVE my quick NY trips! It's so much fun, so fast paced, so different than the daily life that I'm used to. Although I've been to NYC a few times, I still act like a tourist. :) I was able to capture a few shots from the office!

What was even more awesome was that this was around Christmas! AND it ended up snowing!!!!!!!!!! My best friend came up for the weekend too! See details from our trip in my NYC tab at the top of my blog!



If you've been to NY I'm sure you've received a long list from multiple people on where to eat, what bars to go to, who has the best steaks, etc. Although having that list is nice, I find it more enjoyable to just wander and pop into places.  The night before my best friend arrived I had a free evening on my own.  I was craving Italian and I saw a place called Pasta Lovers.  How perfect!  I ended up sitting at the bar and told the bartender to order me something amazing.  He did!  The bolognese pasta was amazing, and so were the bartender's pours!  :)

Some places may surprise you! Depending on your travel preferences, walk, wander, explore! NYC is a big place and not everyone knows everything! Discover on your own! 

Solo Travel

Traveling solo can seem daunting.  Your first trip could be a little scary, but once you realize how much FREEDOM you have you will quickly fall in love with traveling by yourself.  If you want to eat cookies and ice cream all day - DO IT!  If you want to read in a Starbucks all day - DO IT!  YOU have the freedom to do as you wish, for as long as you wish.  Here are a few tips to keep you comfortable when traveling solo.

Someone once told me money spent on travel is money never wasted, and I could not agree more!

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/07/travel/solo-travel-tips/index.html?hpt=tr_c2 

Know The World?

Take the ignorance test! 

"In the 1990s, a professor at a medical university in Stockholm decided to test his students' knowledge about the progress of global development. He was staggered to discover the class, some of the brightest people in Sweden, scored fewer than two out of five on average.

 

Chimpanzees randomly choosing answers would likely have done better, scoring half right."

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/10/world/gapminder-us-ignorance-survey/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Connections & Leave Behind?

Time evolves.  Connections are made.  What will you leave behind?

Today I saw the most amazing movie, The Words.  A movie about an ambitious writer that could never catch a break, until he made a decision that would change his life forever.  The emotions that started to pour out of me shook me to the core.  I immediately reflected on all the amazing moments and connections I've made in my life.  The story line was so real, so relatable.  It created one of those moments where I FELT my outlook on life, and REALITY, change.  A couple hours later I had to watch it again.  

Have you ever met someone and you felt like you've known them forever?  Have you had that friendship or romance that blossomed out of nowhere, took you to places you've never been, then quickly dissipated into thin air?  Where do these people go?  Where do these situations go?  Why were they so short lived?  Why did it end?  How and why did I meet them in the first place? 

These moments ARE amazing.  Some are lucky to have them last longer than others. These "moments" are forever sacred and can never be taken away.  No matter how long or short, each second of ecstasy, of pure bliss, is a blessing.  We must cherish those feelings forever.  Understand that our lives are better for having experienced something so beautiful, even if only for a second. 

I grew up hearing stories that ended with "happily ever after."  I've longed and planned on being married, having that story book life that everyone knows about.  Well, it's not the 1920's anymore.  Think about how people "connect" these days.  Texting.  Emailing.  Snapchatting.  Dancing.  Talking.  Skyping.  Facebooking.  There are more ways to "connect" with others than ever before.  Since the opportunity to connect is so plentiful, do we cherish and appreciate our connections the same way as we did years ago?  Think about it, in the 1920's there was no internet, no texting.  True connections, authentic and long lasting, forever bonded those in that era.  Divorce didn't happen.  Families stayed together.  Why?  Fast forward to today, people rarely talk on the phone anymore.  The US Postal Service could potentially go out of business because people don't write letters or use standard mail as much.  Everything is digital and expedited.  You can book a flight and schedule a dinner reservation by the click of a button.  The divorce rate is also above 50%.  Is there a weird correlation here?  Do exponential opportunities to connect reduce the authenticity and appreciation we have for those associated with these connections?

With all that, we all do our best.  Life is scary, life is beautiful, and life is worth it. 

I never considered myself much of a writer, but this movie inspired me to write this.  What lasts through generations?  What can be passed on forever?  Stories.  Books.  Teachings.  Writing.  My outlook on life is constantly evolving, and I often cant make sense of all the thoughts swirling around in my head.  This blog has been a fun outlet to share MY view of the world and my thoughts.  I do know something that is constant, and what is universal, and that is LOVE.  We all feel it.  We all need it.  Feelings and connections with other people - that is what's real and that's what makes the world go round.  Every interaction, no matter how small or short lived, changes everything.  

Embrace every moment.  Be kind.  Write about it.  How will you change the world for the better?  What will you leave behind?  

I hope to inspire you, challenge you, and put at least one smile on your face.  Never underestimate the power of a smile.    

Curious?

How curious are you about life?  

Life After Dating

Being single has its perks, like watching unlimited back to back shows of Real Housewives with no grunts, sighs or comments from the peanut gallery.  But being in a relationship has its perks too, like sex as often as you like and someone to rub your back at night. 

But what about those friends that have been with you throughout the whole process?  Your single girlfriends that are still single?  Now you are in this relationship and it feels like everything has changed?  Or has it?


http://www.thefrisky.com/2013-11-11/life-after-dating-an-open-letter-to-our-single-friends/

Travel!

Is your next trip planned yet!?  :) 

What holds you back?

Top 10+ Cities In The World!

Have you been to any of the below cities?  WHY NOT?  I had the pleasure of visiting Florence, Bruges, and Barcelona over my month long backpacking adventure in Europe.  I must say Florence was amazing I extended my stay for a week there!  Bruges was absolutely cute like something out of a fairy tale.  Barcelona has incredible history and umm a beach!  Check out details of my trips on my blog - pages are above!   

Here's a small selection of the rankings.

 

Top cities in the world:

 

1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
2.= Budapest, Hungary
2.= Florence, Italy
4. Salzburg, Austria
5.= Charleston, South Carolina, United States
5.= San Sebastián, Spain
7. Vienna, Austria
8. Rome
9. Siena, Italy
10. Québec City
11.= Cape Town, South Africa
11.= Bruges, Belgium
13. Vancouver, Canada
14. Kyoto, Japan
15.= Prague, Czech Republic
15.= Kraków, Poland
17.= Victoria, Canada
17.= Sydney
17.= Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
20.= Seville, Spain
20.= Beirut, Lebanon
22.= Paris
22.= Melbourne, Australia
24.= Venice, Italy
24.= Barcelona, Spain

 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/16/travel/cn-traveler-top-cities/index.html?hpt=tr_c2 

 

 

CA Earthquake On The Horizon?

Recently two large oar fish washed up on the shore in California.  According to Japanese lore and fisherman, this could be a sign of a major earthquake to come.  Do you believe?

Read more below..


http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/california-s-beached-oarfish-could-spell-disaster-160424233.html

This ride IS your life

"Hang on tight -this is the ride of your life. Like literally- this ride, IS your life. As we all know there are times you’ll want to hold on, let go, scream at the top of your lungs or sit quietly in a corner. One minute you’re on a paddle boat drifting around in the middle of a lake, then next you’re being thrown around on a roller coaster feeling nothing but raw fear and hanging onto the stranger next to you.




But whether you’re in a hot air balloon floating above the world or deep sea diving into the depths of solitude remember that this is YOUR ride, YOUR life and YOUR chance to embrace it all.

May your week with all it’s twists and turns, mountains and cliffs take you gently by the hand and show you all you need to see. ~ Ian and Meg."


www.soulseeds.com 

Too Good To Be True?!

Why do we think things can be too good to be true?  Are we not allowed to experience something exceptional?  Something amazing?  Something wonderful?  Are we so use to settling for "average" or "good" that we think anything beyond that is unattainable?  WHY IS THAT?

Why is it when something awesome comes along do we question it?  We think, this isn't normal, this cant be right.  What is triggering that thought?  Is it fear?  Is it just your body processing this amazing thing b/c its so use to processing average things?  Or maybe it could be a gut feeling that this isn't right....

Time will tell...  But I challenge you to strive for the exceptional.  Why be average?  I don't want an average life.  I want an exceptional life!  I don't want to live a boring life.  I want to live a fun and exciting life!  Don't you?

“If we study what is merely average, we will remain merely average.” — Shawn Achor

 

Do not let...

BELIEVE

Heartache

Situations in life can be so interesting.  So deep but yet so inconclusive at times.  You can have months of confusion, pain, excitement, sadness, love and exhilaration all at the same time that can cause quite a drain on your heart and mind.  The pain of the unknown can be so daunting.  But what I think is worse, is the final pain.  The pain you feel in your heart when you have that moment of realization...  The realization that the unknown is now the known.  Or what you have been trying to hide from yourself this whole time is finally revealed.  The ache in your heart of FINALLY, now I know.  But at the same time the ultimate feeling of sadness when your inconclusive situation reveals itself. 

On the other side of the coin though is freedom.  A chapter closed that once left you excited and hopeless.  A feeling of knowing your life will now move forward and into other directions.  Life.  Does.  Go.  On.

A heartache can really feel like your heart and chest is aching.  Your collar bones feel like they want to cave forward as if they are giving your tears less distance to fall.  But that is the last and final pain you will feel, on your way up and onward to better things.  BE STRONG.  :)

Stay Positive! :)

"When I went through my last breakup (before my current, very happy relationship) — I think I was on breakup #72 in my dating lifetime — I was like, game over. I’m not doing this anymore. Because at a certain point, after enough relationships bomb, you just don’t have the will to keep trying anymore. I know I didn’t. I was like Wile E. Coyote when he gets flattened by the Roadrunner, only without the motivation to get back up. It wasn’t that I was so heartbroken over this guy; it was that I was so heartbroken over constantly getting my heart broken. While I was peeling my soul off the asphalt (read: drinking lots of Malbec and doing lots of hot yoga) a friend said something helpful to me: Where there is driftwood."


http://www.thefrisky.com/2013-08-27/dating-donts-where-there-is-driftwood/




 

SPEAK dangit

How many times in life have you wanted to say something, but didn't?  How many times have you wanted to tell someone you love them, but didn't?  And the days, weeks, months and sometimes even years go by and you wonder, WHAT IF!?  That friggin blows. What does it take for someone to get the courage to really say how they feel?????

In my opinion it takes life experience. Experiences in comfortable and uncomfortable situations. Experiences in pain and joy, so you really understand the spectrum of what is awesome, and what isn't, and how you can articulate your desired direction towards joy versus pain. You have to have gone through some bad and interesting times to finally get the courage to say HEY, I don't want to deal with this anymore. Or, this is what I want, what I like, etc. Or how about, I LOVE YOU and I want to be with YOU. Oh how beautiful those words sound, but oh how difficult they are to say. 

In 2013 this world is an interesting place, and its ever so difficult to REALLY connect with someone. If you find someone that makes you smile, laugh, or even feel uncomfortable...TELL them. There is always a respectful and mature way to SPEAK to and discuss your feelings.  Life is too short to go another day without being true to what makes your heart smile. ❤

And as much as I am speaking to everyone else, don't we often need to take our own advice!?  

Really???

Wow - In the year 2013 this article was really written?????

Why don't you have any black friends?  http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/19/opinion/colby-black-friends/index.html?hpt=hp_t4

Where in the heck are they polling this question, po-dunk town in the country or something?  I experienced many emotions when reading this article:  sadness, confusion, blasphemy, and an eagerness to prove this article wrong. 

THANK GOD my family never spoke of race growing up.  Not once did my parents ever defy or mention someone by the color of their skin.  Never hearing about race created an open environment and open mind where labels were never created.  It allowed me to truly have an open mind and experience people for people.  I will forever thank my parents for this.   

 

:)

Life is short

Wow - I just read an article in the newspaper that a local executive died unexpectedly.  When I opened the article and saw the picture I was stunned.  I know this woman, she lives in my building.  Actually, I just saw her a couple days ago in our lobby.  She supposedly died while on a business trip and it appears to be of natural causes.

To see someone so close to the time they pass, especially when you KNOW them - is a very eerie feeling.  Was death really staring me in the face days ago and I didn't know it?  Thousands of thoughts it creates in your mind.... 

Why does it take times of strife, grief and sadness to incorporate change in our lives?  Why do you not know what you have until its gone?  It boggles my mind that so much of life can pass you by before you actually start LIVING. 

Take those chances.  Say I LOVE YOU.  Feed your soul what it's asking for.  Life is too short.  Don't delay.  Start now.  <3

Laugh at the sky

 

How many times throughout the day do you find yourself wishing you were somewhere else, or wanting this, or wishing you had that?  Probably often, right!?

We are all guilty of this. For some reason it seems more common to loathe and long for what you don't have, versus reflecting on your current situation and appreciating what we do have. 

I see this all the time with friends and family, and even catch myself doing this. We are only deploying negative energies into our subconscious the more and more we long and loathe for things. Our subconscious tracks all thoughts and feelings, positive and negative, and truly creates our emotional DNA of how we are each day.  We should all do ourselves a favor and create a strong foundation of positivity versus negativity. :)

Things could always be better, right?  Things could also be a lot worse. 

I dare you to try to spend a day not wanting for a thing, but truly appreciating what you do have. I bet if we all could make this a habit we would be living in a more upbeat positive environment. Try it. 

20 Biggest Travel Mistakes!

Traveling soon?  Going international?  Check out these travel tips!

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/02/travel/20-travel-mistakes/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

 

Spain Train Derails

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/25/world/europe/spain-train-crash/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

"Security footage shows the horror of the moment an express train derailed as it hurtled around a curve in northwestern Spain on Wednesday, killing at least 78 people and injuring 178, local officials said."

This is so sad.  I actually took a Renfe train when I was backpacking in Spain.  This really hit home for me.  What if my backpacking trip was NOW and I was on that train?  I really don't know the purpose of me writing this, only to express my condolences for the innocent travelers going to work or exploring the world. 

Life is short.  Say and and do all that you feel.  Spread your love and light, for you never know when it will be dimmed. 

Amsterdam anyone??

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/17/travel/amsterdam-travel-legal-parameters/index.html?hpt=tr_t2 

"Decades before anyone else considered legalizing marijuana, prostitution or gay marriage, the Dutch stood -- as they still do today -- at the forefront of change on many controversial social issues, legalizing or tolerating a range of activities that other countries placed squarely outside what they consider legally and socially acceptable."

Ordinary? No thanks.

Truth

EMPLOYED!!!

Your girl is employed!!! 

The past 6 months have been eye opening.  From having the perfect life, to suddenly it almost being taken away.  The mental struggle for "what next" and when and how have been heavy and tiring.  But I must say I was tested in the best way.  I decided to follow my heart and things just magically fell into place, as perfect as they could be.  

My definition of life and how its supposed to be continually changes.  And I must say now I cherish every amazing moment, and every challenge because that is the only way you truly grow.  

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  :) 

LOVE

"We are as attracted to love as we are intimidated by it. We are motivated by love, controlled by it, inspired by it, and destroyed by it. Love is the fuel of our physical and spiritual bodies...  We are not born fluent in love but spend our life learning about it. It's energy is pure power."

Vacation Ideas Anyone?

You're welcome.  :)

World's 100 Best Beaches!

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/28/travel/100-best-beaches/index.html?hpt=tr_t4 

STAR

"Fitting in" can be such a complex analysis.  Ultimately what type of person am I?  How do I categorize myself?

WHY THE FUCK DOES IT MATTER?

It takes wisdom, experience and time to understand that we are each unique.  And the stars and shakers cannot be boxed in.  There's always that one person crazy enough to think they can change the world, and sometimes they do.

Why fit in when you are born to stand out?

:)

Embrace your radiance

What's Real?

"I love when people are drunk and crying and cannot be anything but honest in that moment. I love the look in people’s eyes when they realize they’re in love. I love the way people look when they first wake up and they’ve forgotten their surroundings. I love when people close their eyes and drift to somewhere in the clouds. I fall in love with people and their honest moments all the time. I fall in love with their breakdowns and their smeared makeup and their daydreams. Honesty is just too beautiful to ever put into words."

Yep

Nothing lasts forever. Live it up. Drink it down. Laugh it off. Avoid the drama. Take chances. Never have regrets. Because at one point everything you did was exactly what you wanted. ♥

SCAN

I think life can be a lot like the preset radio rations you have in your car. You flip through the stations wondering why it's the same ole ish...when actually all you need to do is press SCAN and be open to new stuff that's actually been around you the whole time.  :)

Backpacking ends..

As my backpacking adventures come to an end I am feeling waves of different emotions. I have met so many interesting people and experienced so many amazing places. My friends and family back home are excited to hear about my trip but I'm wondering how I can even put it into words.

I have learned:
- In Lisbon, they call their rush hour, point hour.
- In Barcelona, even though they are part of Spain they do not consider theirselves Spanish people. They call themselves Catalan people, which was an old colony they were associated with before Spain.
- I met a German guy and we were talking about sandals and he called them air shoes!!
- I've learned that Amsterdam is actually a beautiful place, not just a place to smoke weed.
- I've learned that young people from other countries are passionate and opinionated about politics, world events and others.

Another thing I do know is, I am so tired of looking at maps and site seeing. Please no more trains, buses, metros, or even pictures. I am so tired of discovering. I only want to discover what I already have. :)

Backpacking was such an eye opening experience for me. I pushed myself emotionally, physically and spiritually. To go further than you've ever gone before in any of those arenas is a very emotional experience and good for the soul. :)

Direction..

Sometimes no direction will lead you to the most amazing places...   #thatisall

Expensive!!

I heard Switzerland was expensive but DANG!!!  $15.09 for a Burger King value meal in Zurich!  And $20.39 for a green curry chicken Thai dish in Interlaken!  Does it really cost that much to fly meat over the Swiss Alps?!?!  Must be! 

EVERYTHING is expensive here.  A friggin magnet is $10!  Cheap sunglasses on the street $25!  A pin for my backpack is $8!  #nobueno

Weird Vibes

The other day marked my exact halfway point of my backpacking trip, while in Amsterdam :) The first 2 weeks were exhilarating and exciting!  However in Amsterdam I started missing my friends some. Just wishing they were there with me!

After Amsterdam I decided to go to Berlin last minute b/c everyone kept raving about it. Germany was not originally in my set travel plans.  Honestly I never had a "pull" or desire to go to Germany.  Just didn't.  Even with all that I decided I would check out Berlin!  I must say though that I do not like the energy here.  Don't get me wrong Berlin has been through A LOT and today I stood in some very historic places.  But I am here and I do not like it. Just seems heavy, negative, sour, or like something bad could happen. I do not know why I have such feelings when I am such an open minded person. Maybe I was German in one of my past lives and its telling me to get the hell out?? Who knows! I am headed out of here tomorrow though, most likely to Switzerland then Italy!!

Barcelona!

I've added a page about my AMAZING trip too Barcelona!  Please check it out!  :)

Madrid!

I've updated pics and stories about my time in Madrid!  Check it out!  :)

PORTUGAL!!

I've added a Page on my blog about my time in Portugal!!  Please check it out!!  :)

Europe!!

I've finally landed in Europe and have started my backpacking adventure!! Ill post details of my first stop soon!!!! :)

Travelling Solo

I finally booked my Europe backpacking trip!!!!!!  I am so excited!  And what a coincidence I find this article about what other solo travelers have learned about themselves when travelling solo.  :)  This is going to be beautiful...

http://solotravelerblog.com/learn-travel-solo/

Hip Hop & Spotify

For all my Hip Hop & Spotify lovers - the DJ Drama radio station on Spotify is THA BUSINESS!!  Yessssss.  #thatisall 

“Life is divine chaos. Embrace it. Forgive yourself. Breathe. Enjoy the ride.”
-Solbeam

We all want to control our lives, to some extent, so that we can feel safe. But the reality is that life is wonderfully, frighteningly and surprisingly unpredictable. Embrace it. Splash around in it- all of it, the whole of life; the nice crystal waters of life and the thick stinky mud of life. Get in, get dirty, get clean. Just make sure you’re IN it!

Befriend chaos, and you will befriend change. Befriend change, and you will unlock the secret to a peaceful life. Some days we don’t know where the other side is, or if we even want to reach it! The whole thing is an adventure. We have no idea the depth, temperature or currents of change. Stay present. Know who you are. Wade in with wide open optimism ……… although diving head first is not recommended. Come on in- the water’s (probably) fine.  
-Ian and Meg

....THANK YOU Soulseeds  :)

CHANGE

Challenge spawns growth.  But does challenge always mean change?  Yes and no.  Depends on how you define change.  Change of perception?  Change in location in where you live? 

For the past few months I've been forced to contemplate change.  STRAIGHT FORCED, AKA LAID OFF FORCED.  My whole life defines change actually.  Parents divorcing, remarrying, moving, moving out, moving in, college, moving out of state, and back home.  Change is what I'm use to, and I thought I would always be OK with change, location change that is.  Until now. 

Being an ambitious and responsible individual, I've always been able to land on my feet.  So naturally when getting laid off, I jump on my resume and get the job search rolling.  And what do you know, after a month I have TWO AWESOME job offers...out of state.  I've lived in this place before, so naturally I'm like YEAH, LETS GO!!  However when I started to get moving quotes and communicating with a property manager to rent out my FIRST HOME that I absolutely love, something hit me.  It could be a combination of things hitting me at this time in my life actually.  That, and at 30, a lot is happening with you AND your friends and family around you.  People are getting married, having kids, divorcing, buying homes, slowing down.  Around this age you start to think more strategically, and about what's really important in life.  How many times do you just want to up and move and start over?!  If you ask me I've done it too many fucking times. 

WHY is this change being forced upon me at this time?  WHY am I being presented with great jobs out of state?!  Am I supposed to go there?  WHY is my life trying to make a hard left turn right now?!  I do feel the universe tries to guide you, to put you in certain places at certain times.  But I also feel the universe challenges you, so you will take the courage to challenge yourself, to challenge THEIR want.  Follow me?? 

The past couple of months have been extremely fun and extremely stressful.  But I finally feel like I've felt what it feels like to LIVE.  That might sound crazy if you know me, because I've had the wonderful opportunity to visit beautiful places such as Thailand and Bora Bora.  However, living in the moment, of day to day not knowing what will happen, is such an interesting feeling.  A feeling that I have learned to love and desire more of. 

So you know what I choose?  CHANGE.  Not in location, but in state of mind.  I am changing the way I live, the way I look at this world.  And you know what, it feels amazing and is a lot of damn fun!!!  

I challenge you, to look at your life.  Are you happy?  Are you living the LIFE you want to live and be remembered for?

Happiness, here, now, REALLY!?

Yes, happiness is here, NOW!  All you have to do is open your eyes and CHOOSE to see it!

Too often we surround ourselves with negativity.  Think about it, when you go out with your friends, how often do you talk about what awesome things your friends are doing?  Or do you normally talk about people?  What's wrong with this person, this situation, etc?!  Can you believe what happened to HER!  Negative energy is so bad, we need to push less of that around! 

All you have to do is CHOOSE to look for the positive.  CHOOSE to look at what's going great in your life, versus not.  CHOOSE to be grateful.  Because I promise you, you will be surprised how many awesome things you will see surround you, if you just take the chance to look. 

Smile.  :)

Awesome Beaches in Europe

WHEN I finally take my ass to Europe, I will definitely be checking out one of these beautiful beaches! 

http://www.globalgrasshopper.com/travel/10-beaches-europe-travel-snobs/

Supposed to do WHAT?!

In life, often we feel pressure to do certain things.  Our parents want us to be in business, our Mom wants us to be a nurse, our Dad wants us to get our PHD, our friends think we should act and do things a certain way.  He wants me to work out more; she wants me to call her more.  There is no friggin rulebook for who does what.  What if I want to sit around and be lazy all day and only work 3 days a week?  Ha!  I'm sorry if I don't call you or love you the way you prefer.  I.  AM.  ME. 

We are all different.  We all have different perspectives, different opinions, different life experiences that shape the way we do and look at things.  The beauty in life is to find those missing puzzle pieces.  Find those who YOU enjoy being around and those who enjoy being around YOU.  Seeing, appreciating and discovering other people, culture, and things in life that open your mind to new places are treasures most hope to find.

Life is precious.  Make sure you are in a place where you feel happy.  Make sure you are able to give and receive love, appreciation and kindness.  Life's too short to spend wasteless energy on those who will never understand your light. 

 

Feel Fear and Leap Anyway

Via Soulseeds.com
 
We spend sway too much time waiting for the right conditions to take steps. When the spring comes, I’ll start running again. When the kids are old enough, I’ll start my dream business. When my finances are secure, I’ll travel. When the work stress ends, I’ll give up smoking. When, when, when….. a constant search for certainty and perfect conditions. Perfection is nowhere and certainty is an illusion, fueled by fear.

To be fearless is to live without certainty. It is to dip at least one toe into the future without knowing how it will feel (how potentially good it will feel) or where exactly it will lead you (potentially some incredibly exciting place) or who will join you (potentially some phenomenal people). In other words every step is a leap of faith, opening up incredible potential. But not even one step offers certainty.

Take steps NOW. Feel the fear and leap anyway. Re frame fear in your mind. Instead of fearing fear, and submitting to it like a school yard bully, stand up to it. Maybe even think of it as your friend. Pema Chodron said, “Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.”

 
WHAT DO YOU FEAR??  WHAT COULD YOU BE MOVING CLOSER TO, VERSUS AWAY FROM?  


Read the full article here:  http://www.soulseeds.com/grapevine/2013/01/feel-the-fear-and-do-it-anyway/


 

Learning To Trust Love Again

Another beautiful article from one of my favorite websites, soulseeds.com.

Here are a few excerpts... 

It’s natural to protect yourself from the elements, but you don’t need an umbrella under blue skies. The same is true in life and love. When you've been hurt, you naturally protect yourself from intimacy. You don’t want to go through it again. There comes a point though, when you let your guard down enough to see that the only thing raining down on you is love. You never know if it stops raining if you don’t peak out from under your umbrella to check the sky. Take a peak. When you feel strong enough, put away the umbrella, open your heart and receive the love on offer. It’s elemental to who you are to trust love. You just have to remove the protective layers to receive it.

The Sufi mystic Rumi said, Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.

Remove the barriers to love one at a time and enjoy the bliss; not just romantic love, but also platonic love for friends, the love of parents and grandparents, love that includes other species, love that includes yourself. Love is not something that comes down from above or from outside of ourselves. Love is something that is discovered from the inside out. You don’t even find love. Love finds you when you remove all the barriers within yourself and allow love to flow.

The crazy thing is that it actually takes more effort to resist love than it does to surrender to love. Building walls is exhausting. Give yourself a break. Stop resisting and surrender to love’s lead. If you’ve been hurt, betrayed, exhausted and misunderstood, love your humanity and persistence and let it grow from there. Love is your nature.

You know that you will be hurt again. Life stings. That’s the nature of life when we bump up against each other’s walls. Keep loving anyway, because it’s your nature to love. In any case, being trapped inside your fortress of self protection will quickly suffocate you in a cocoon of isolation.

Trust yourself. Open your eyes, put away some protection and unclench your heart. Trust others to do their best to love you. There is so much love to receive, and all you have to do is open yourself to it.

Check out the full article here: http://www.soulseeds.com/grapevine/2013/01/learning-to-trust-love-again/
 

You Are Beautiful

Excerpt from a BEAUTIFUL article on Soulseeds, Jaycee Lee Dugard - Her Inspiration and Example.

...As you are liberated from your own fear, your presence automatically liberates others....
 

Like millions of others I was captivated by the Jaycee Lee Dugard interview with Diane Sawyer. After 18 years of isolation, abuse and outright torment that started when she was kidnapped at age 11, she could be forgiven for being bitter and broken spirited. In the interview, Jaycee was unbelievably composed and at ease with her situation. She displayed a sense of inner peace that most of us, who have suffered far less, only wish we could experience.
No doubt Jaycee has her difficult moments. However I was incredibly inspired by this woman and offer her as an example of so much of what we describe as spiritual qualities; inner peace, poise, forgiveness, kindness and wisdom.

Maybe the feature that stood out most for me was her authenticity. She seems at ease with herself. Her book is called A Stolen Life and the mind boggles at the things that were stolen from her; her innocence, her childhood, her family, her development, her sexuality, her freedom…Yet in the interview she said something that stayed with me. When asked if she was angry, she said

"I don’t feel like I have this rage inside me that is building… I refuse to let him have that. He can’t have me… [if I felt rage] it means that he won..….he didn’t get all of me."

We could all take this last phrase to heart. People and circumstances can steal things from us; our possessions, our ideals, our opportunities. However there is a part of us that no one can touch, a spirit that no circumstance can dampen.

This is the true self, which so often gets buried under the dramas of life. For most of us these dramas are minor, like career setbacks or injuries. For others like Jaycee, the dramas are substantial, like abuse or major illness. The lesson of Jaycee is that no matter what happens TO us, there is a part of us that can’t be taken FROM us or damaged. It is always there, and the journey to authenticity is to recover that true self. It is the most important part of you, and it’s not at all egotistical because it doesn’t desire anything other than acceptance for yourself and others. It doesn’t compete or compare, judge or divide. It wants only peace for everyone.

This true self doesn’t seek vengeance. It wants wholeness, for everyone. It understands that hatred eats at YOU more than the person you hate. It recognizes that anger is only one letter short of danger. Your authentic self lets all resentment go, surrenders all hostility and enjoys the freedom of a light spirit.

Jaycee Lee Dugard is a truly great human being, an inspiration to all of us to be at ease with who we are, no matter what happens. It’s easy to spend time trying to fulfill an impossible image of greatness, when all you need to do is be more yourself. To paraphrase a famous Jewish proverb, when you reach the next world, God will not ask you, “Why were you not like Moses?” Instead the question will be, “Why were you not more yourself?”

You, right now, not after some spiritual makeover or earth shattering enlightenment; you as you truly are, without any pretence and with the layers of drama put in their rightful place. This is your true greatness.

In the words of Marianne Williamson,

Who are you not to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. You are meant to shine, as children do. You were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within you. It’s not just in some; it’s in everyone. And as you let your own light shine, you unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As you are liberated from your own fear, your presence automatically liberates others. (Marianne Williamson, A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles)

Just as Jaycee Lee Dugard’s example has liberated many, so your authentic essence is a gift to the world. Dare to be yourself today. Shine! You are beautiful, or if you break the word beautiful down it reveals authenticity’s mantra- BE YOU TO THE FULL!

http://www.soulseeds.com/grapevine/2011/07/jaycee-lee-dugard-her-inspiration-and-example/

:)

I've just had one of the best weeks ever. Sometimes the universe just aligns things that makes you notice all the beautiful things before you. From new people entering your life, amazing time with your girlfriends, to just noticing beautiful clouds and skies, I've had more happy moments in the last week than I can ever remember. Having all of these type moments compacted on a daily basis for a week makes for a lot of smiles. I must say I love my friends and I love my life. :) #thatisall

New Year New You

This article is from one of my favorite websites, The Frisky: http://www.thefrisky.com/2013-01-06/5-tips-to-be-a-better-you-this-year/

A new year is upon us and with that, a time to turn over a new leaf and make some tweaks to ensure this year is better than the last.  New Year's resolutions are great and all, but they are usually superficial (lose weight, quit smoking, stop procrastinating, etc.) and don’t lead to lasting changes since it’s all over the first time you slip up. Getting what you really want out of life requires internal changes that in turn, change the way things work out in your life.  To help you get more happiness and satisfaction out of your life, I’ve rounded up five essential tips to help you be at your best. 


1. Gratitude
It may sound cheesy, but a little gratitude goes a long way when it comes to your overall well being. Most of us are trained to look at what’s wrong in our lives, rather than what’s right. We yearn for a better job, a better relationship, better friends, a better body, we hone right on on what’s missing and overlook what’s right there in front of us.

It may sound simple, but learning to be more grateful is actually quite challenging. Don’t believe me? Try keeping a journal and writing down two things you’re grateful for every day. The catch is you can’t write the same things, everyday you have to think of new things to be grateful for. This may come easy to you at first, but after the first week the real work will begin and you will be forced to train your eye to pick up on the good. Doing this can be enormously transformative and soon enough you’ll find greater joy and satisfaction in everything.

2. Giving
When someone is feeling down, be it about their relationship or just depressed, I always tell them to go out and give. This could mean doing volunteer work or just trying to give something to someone (it doesn’t have to be material, it can be as small as giving someone a listening ear or giving advice). Giving takes you outside of yourself, outside of your own needs, forces you to look at what someone else needs.

This can be especially beneficial when it comes to your relationships. The trouble with most relationships is people are completely focused on what they can get from the other person, not what they can give. As a result, people are left feeling constantly frustrated with their partners. This also sets the stage for neediness because you will be focusing on a lack that your partner needs to fill.

A lot of women claim that they give their man everything, and this might be the case, but true giving is when you recognize what your partner needs. For instance, let’s say a guy is super into electronics and to him, electronics are everything. So for Christmas, he buys his girlfriend the most expensive, high-tech power drill on the market. He certainly gave her something that to him was significant and valuable, but to her, it’s utterly useless.

Most people engage in a selfish kind of giving- they give what they would want to get. To truly experience the joys of being a giver, you have to give what the other person wants to receive. This isn’t only true of material things. You can also give when it comes to emotional support. Some people need tough love, some need a listening ear, some need to be understood. Try to tune in to what it is the people in your life truly need and try to provide it in the best way you can. You won’t only be a better friend/partner, you’ll be a better person overall.

3. Be genuinely happy for others
This one is much harder than it sounds. Your best friend gets engaged and you want to be happy, but all you’re really thinking is how badly you wish it were you. Your friend loses a ton of weight and you secretly hope she’ll put it all back on. It is so, so hard to be genuinely happy for people, even the people we love.  I think when someone gets something you want, there’s a sense that they’re taking it away from you, as ridiculous as that sounds. Just because you’re best friend found the perfect guy doesn’t mean you never will. Just because someone else landed a dream job doesn’t mean you’ll find a job you love. Someone else’s’ good fortune should serve to inspire you, not discourage you.

Going forward, try to be genuinely happy for other people and realize that you have everything you need to get what you want in life. Don’t despair over what others have because no one has it all. We all have a set of skills and circumstances unique to us and as a result, can’t compare ourselves to others.

4. Let go of past pain
A new year is a time for a fresh start and this entails letting go of the ghosts of your past. Be it a guy who broke your heart, a parent who never made you feel good enough, a friend who betrayed you, try to let go of the pain they caused and forgive them for it. This doesn’t mean you need to keep that toxic person in your life, just try to forgive them and move on.

A good way to do this is to visualize yourself back in that difficult situation. Try to imagine the scene exactly as it happened. Only this time, react with calmness and clarity and tell the other person you forgive them and wish them all the best. Try as hard as you can to send some positive energy their way as well. I did this exercise to release the pain I was carrying over a guy who cheated on me and believe me, it wasn’t easy. However, when I was able to push past the hurt and anger, I actually did manage to get to a place to understanding and inner peace and I was able to successfully forgive him for what he did.

You may think that the person who hurt you doesn’t deserve your forgiveness, fair enough. However, by holding onto the anger, you’re only hurting yourself, so being mad at this person really isn’t the best revenge, being over it is.

5. Be nicer to yourself
Most of us are our own worst critics and cut way more slack for the people around us than we do to ourselves. If you have a constant stream of criticism playing in your own mind, you will train yourself to pick up on criticism from the outside, even where it doesn’t exist. Start by being nicer to yourself, be more accepting, don’t get so down on yourself if you do something wrong or make a mistake.

If one of your friends is trying to lose weight and you see her eating ice cream, would you blow up and say “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you have any self-control? You’re gonna be fat forever!” Probably not, so why do you talk to yourself this way?  Instead, you would tell her that it’s OKAY to slip-up, she’s doing great and she should be proud of herself and she can easily get back on track. You would be nice, kind, and encouraging to your friend, so why not try and be the same way to yourself?

When you learn to be nicer to yourself, outside criticism will have no power over you. People only react to criticism when they believe it to be true. When you stop feeding yourself this negativity, you’ll have a lot more clarity and will be less vulnerable to the opinions of others.

Blue skies

Long road trips always make time for reflection. And at the top of a new year my mind is flowing with so many thoughts.

Seeing these blue skies peek through the clouds after an amazing new year followed by a rainy day illustrate how my thoughts are unfolding and revealing themselves these days. CLARITY. The older I get the more I understand ME and can more consciously and comfortably make decisions that create my life. To me, that's what life us all about. Being happy and comfortable.

Remember, we choose our life. I wish for everyone to have clarity and strength to create the life of your dreams. :)