I have realized that there are three times a year when my typical, every day, busy schedule of raising three kids, gets off-kilter and leans towards the truly chaotic: the start of the school year (http://serenitygoddess.blogspot.com/2012_08_01_archive.html), the weeks leading up to Christmas, and the last month of the school year.
Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week. This means I had to have three kids prepared with special gifts for 5 days for their teachers (yes - elementary math tells you that I had to have 15 gifts ready to go). Add to this same week, a 'Star Student' week for daughter C, with special items to bring in every day, and then throw in the stomach flu for 4 days (just for fun) for said 'Star Student'! Then fast forward to Sunday, after completing that exhausting week, and add hubby getting the stomach flu and daughter B coming down with a horrible cold. This, of course, was Mother's Day. Instead of going out to dinner (which was the original plan), I went grocery shopping and made dinner at mom's house with my girls. We ended up having a good dinner and a nice evening, for which I am thankful.
Looking ahead to the remaining three weeks of the school year:
- Orchestra concert this Wednesday evening for daughter A,
- weekend orchestra trip (this weekend) for daughter A,
- Pulmonologist appointment next Monday morning for daughter C,
- baby shower next Monday, after work,
- Band concert next Tuesday evening for daughter B,
- End of year teacher gifts,
- Dentist appointments for all three after school on the second to last day of school,
- Dance classes for all three daughters, preparing for the recital, which is June 1st.
The school year ends on Friday, May 31st. Right after school that Friday, we rush to Dance Recital rehearsal (really...rehearsal on the night of the last day of school - seriously?!), and then comes Saturday, June 1st:
- Dance Recital for all three girls,
- husband's best friend's wedding,
- graduation party of best friends daughter,
- day before 8 1/2 hour drive to our beach vacation.
I can't believe how many conflicts we have that day, and all are pretty significant life events for those involved. 'When it rains, it pours', is the saying that comes to mind. All I can say is, I am thoroughly looking forward to some serious beach down time at the end of all that!! :) So excited!
In closing, I want to send a heartfelt wish for peace for my sister who has lived through five, devastating miscarriages. I know Mother's Day is always heart-breaking for you, for which I am sorry. I wish you faith in your path in life; I wish you love for who you are and for your life. I love you.
To my mom: words can not adequately express the love and appreciation I have for you and all that you do. I thank you eternally for the love you give to my daughters.
To my three, awesome daughters: thank you for your beautiful, handmade cards and gifts. Thank you for your hugs and for making me laugh. I love who you are and what you add to my life.
Motheringly Yours,
Me
Motivational Moment:
To all you moms out there, here are some quotes (from http://www.quotegarden.com/mom-day.html) to make you laugh and feel good about what you do and who you are:
- Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. ~Author Unknown
- Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love. ~Mildred B. Vermont
- A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after. ~Peter De Vries
- A mother understands what a child does not say. ~Author Unknown
- Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories. ~John Wilmot
- A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. ~Irish Proverb
- Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. ~Oprah Winfrey
- It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't. ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
- All mothers are working mothers. ~Author Unknown
- Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly. ~Ambrose
- Sing out loud in the car even, or especially, if it embarrasses your children. ~Marilyn Penland
- You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back. ~William D. Tammeus
May you love your children with all your heart and be filled with joy throughout your life.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
In Search of the Fountain of Youth
I caved. It's so disappointing. I caved to cultural expectations. To youthful appearance - or the lack thereof. To societal norms. Yep, I colored my hair again. I said I wouldn't do it. (http://serenitygoddess.blogspot.com/2012_10_01_archive.html) I was going to stand strong with my goal of pure living (better, preservative-free eating; no longer putting toxic chemicals on my head). If men can do it, if they can 'age naturally', then why can't women?! But alas, I caved.
My mom is a cosmetologist. She has been doing hair since she was in high school. She has done my hair my whole life. She keeps her grays happily hidden under dye. To say that she is a fan of keeping a youthful appearance would be an understatement. She is a beautiful woman, on the inside and the out!
Today when I told her I 'caved' to societal norms, she literally raised both arms in a victory pump and said "Yes you did!". She was jubilant. She said I was too young to look so old. And I said, "but mom, we should be happy to age naturally". And she said, "No Way! That's why they made hair dye!". She is a believer of fighting aging with all the tools available to us. I love you Momma! You are the best!! :)
This is the first time I have seen the top of my head since I stopped coloring my hair in October (6 months ago) and I can't get over how many grays are up there. (I always thought grays came out when you were in your 60s - not 41! It's all that false advertisement from all the women dyeing their hair!! And what's with the big space in my part between my bangs and the rest of my hair. This aging is for the birds.)
The fun "foiling" highlighting process!
The finished 'wet' look.
The finished 'dry, frizzy' look (yes I know, it needs product or to be straightened).
A Sucker for Society,
(aka Shallowly Yours,)
Me
Motivational Moment:
I decided to look up some quotes on beauty (http://www.goodreads.com) and I have to say I am pleased that almost all of them referred to inner beauty (note - I did not google 'inner beauty' - just 'beauty'). I was completely humbled by these quotes; how silly to be concerned with going gray, honestly. See for yourself:
“Sometimes people are beautiful.
Not in looks.
Not in what they say.
Just in what they are.”
― Markus Zusak, I am the Messenger
Not in looks.
Not in what they say.
Just in what they are.”
― Markus Zusak, I am the Messenger
“It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness.”
“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
“For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.”
― Sam Levenson
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.”
― Sam Levenson
May you spread your beauty to others today and in so doing make their life a little easier.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
For the Love of Sleep
Have you ever realized that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. This can apply to so many things in life: relationships, jobs, money, etc. But my topic today is a much simpler one...SLEEP!
I have realized that I am a lover of sleep. I LOVE sleep. Really, I do. I am someone who likes getting the full 8 hours of sleep. My husband and brother-in-law exist on 4 - 5 hours of sleep. Yuk. No thank you. My brother-in-law has even said that he feels he is wasting his life if he sleeps too much. (Which I think is crazy because I know I feel so much better when I get a good night's sleep versus when I don't.) Some people say they will catch up on their sleep when they are dead. I say, if you are not getting enough sleep, you will die sooner.
I didn't realize how much I loved sleep until I didn't get a good nights sleep. Last night, I was really tired. I started falling asleep while watching TV a little after 9. I headed up to bed (of course, by the time I go through the whole bedtime routine, over an hour has passed.). I laid my head on my pillow. I was luxuriating in how good it felt to be laying in my bed. I got to enjoy that feeling for a whole 60 seconds. And then I heard 'the cough'. The deep cough of my youngest daughter, who has a cough-variant asthma. The deep cough that means she is not going to sleep well (typically for several nights), and hence, I am also not going to sleep well. It also means running into her room with the bucket while she throws up from said deep cough.
------ A tip for new parents: have buckets around the bedroom areas of your house. For some reason, night time is a popular time for stomach flu's and bad coughs to kick up unexpectedly, requiring the immediate need for a bucket. ------
As I was laying there at midnight - awake - next to my coughing daughter, who I had propped up on pillows in an effort to alleviate her sleep-stealing cough, I was lamenting my missed night of sleep. Hubby - by the way - was able to sleep through this deep nasty cough - even though our daughter was pretty much coughing right at him. (Lucky are the deep sleepers!) :)
There have been two other times in my life when I realized my love of sleep: being in the last trimester of my pregnancies and during the first 6 months after the delivery of said bundles of joys. During those wonderful last months of my pregnancies (and yes, this is said with extreme sarcasm), I remember laying in my bed at night absolutely adoring it (my bed). I am not kidding you, my body was all aches and exhaustion and my bed felt absolutely heavenly!! It was as if my body was melting into my bed. The first couple of months after having twins, I remember feeling like I was going to lose my mind from being so tired. I had a love/hate relationship with going to bed. I would go to bed at night, completely exhausted and sleep deprived and wanting a long, good night's sleep but feeling like I was going to go crazy because I didn't know if I was laying down for an undisturbed 5 minutes or 2 hours, until one of the twins woke up. No wonder sleep deprivation is a top torture technique (as if I have any clue what torture techniques are popular, (thankfully!!) other than watching TV, that is). Simply stated, sleep deprivation sucks!
Those who have experienced insomnia couldn't agree more with this subject. I have a couple of friends who are experiencing insomnia right now and they also have a love/hate relationship with going to bed at night. They are exhausted and want a good night's sleep but also dread going to bed just to lay there for hours not being able to sleep. I have only experienced insomnia a handful of times in the past couple of years, thankfully. I remember thinking I was going to go crazy laying there and wanting to sleep but not being able to; freaking out the longer I couldn't sleep, knowing how tired I would be in the morning.
Here's to everyone getting good, restful, restorative sleep. Sweet Dreams!
Sleepily Yours,
Me
Motivational Moment:
Ironically, even though new parents don't get much sleep, newborns sleep most of the day and there is nothing more peaceful to look at then a sleeping baby!
(Baby pics from http://www.magickalgraphics.com/ )
And of course cats! They are fellow sleep-lovers and have perfected napping!
I have realized that I am a lover of sleep. I LOVE sleep. Really, I do. I am someone who likes getting the full 8 hours of sleep. My husband and brother-in-law exist on 4 - 5 hours of sleep. Yuk. No thank you. My brother-in-law has even said that he feels he is wasting his life if he sleeps too much. (Which I think is crazy because I know I feel so much better when I get a good night's sleep versus when I don't.) Some people say they will catch up on their sleep when they are dead. I say, if you are not getting enough sleep, you will die sooner.
I didn't realize how much I loved sleep until I didn't get a good nights sleep. Last night, I was really tired. I started falling asleep while watching TV a little after 9. I headed up to bed (of course, by the time I go through the whole bedtime routine, over an hour has passed.). I laid my head on my pillow. I was luxuriating in how good it felt to be laying in my bed. I got to enjoy that feeling for a whole 60 seconds. And then I heard 'the cough'. The deep cough of my youngest daughter, who has a cough-variant asthma. The deep cough that means she is not going to sleep well (typically for several nights), and hence, I am also not going to sleep well. It also means running into her room with the bucket while she throws up from said deep cough.
------ A tip for new parents: have buckets around the bedroom areas of your house. For some reason, night time is a popular time for stomach flu's and bad coughs to kick up unexpectedly, requiring the immediate need for a bucket. ------
As I was laying there at midnight - awake - next to my coughing daughter, who I had propped up on pillows in an effort to alleviate her sleep-stealing cough, I was lamenting my missed night of sleep. Hubby - by the way - was able to sleep through this deep nasty cough - even though our daughter was pretty much coughing right at him. (Lucky are the deep sleepers!) :)
There have been two other times in my life when I realized my love of sleep: being in the last trimester of my pregnancies and during the first 6 months after the delivery of said bundles of joys. During those wonderful last months of my pregnancies (and yes, this is said with extreme sarcasm), I remember laying in my bed at night absolutely adoring it (my bed). I am not kidding you, my body was all aches and exhaustion and my bed felt absolutely heavenly!! It was as if my body was melting into my bed. The first couple of months after having twins, I remember feeling like I was going to lose my mind from being so tired. I had a love/hate relationship with going to bed. I would go to bed at night, completely exhausted and sleep deprived and wanting a long, good night's sleep but feeling like I was going to go crazy because I didn't know if I was laying down for an undisturbed 5 minutes or 2 hours, until one of the twins woke up. No wonder sleep deprivation is a top torture technique (as if I have any clue what torture techniques are popular, (thankfully!!) other than watching TV, that is). Simply stated, sleep deprivation sucks!
Those who have experienced insomnia couldn't agree more with this subject. I have a couple of friends who are experiencing insomnia right now and they also have a love/hate relationship with going to bed at night. They are exhausted and want a good night's sleep but also dread going to bed just to lay there for hours not being able to sleep. I have only experienced insomnia a handful of times in the past couple of years, thankfully. I remember thinking I was going to go crazy laying there and wanting to sleep but not being able to; freaking out the longer I couldn't sleep, knowing how tired I would be in the morning.
Here's to everyone getting good, restful, restorative sleep. Sweet Dreams!
Sleepily Yours,
Me
Motivational Moment:
Ironically, even though new parents don't get much sleep, newborns sleep most of the day and there is nothing more peaceful to look at then a sleeping baby!
(Baby pics from http://www.magickalgraphics.com/ )
And of course cats! They are fellow sleep-lovers and have perfected napping!
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Ultimate Blog Party 2013
I was surfing the top stories on AOL tonight (because I was, of course, supposed to be doing actual work, but procrastination is SO much more fun!) and I came across this hilarious blog: http://crappypictures.com/parenting-i-quit./ by Amber Dusick. (And for the record Amber, quitting and running away sound so fabulous right now!) And while on Amber's page, I discovered the link to the Ultimate Blog Party 2013 http://www.5minutesformom.com/75741/ultimate-blog-party-2013/, which just so happens to be going on right now!! (I love serendipity being at play here, in that I didn't notice the link the week after it closed!! Thank you Amber! Murphy's Law didn't get a chance to bite me this time. Yay!)
The Blog Party sounds like an awesome experience - so, I will do as the lovely two "5 minutes for mom"s suggest and tell you a little bit about myself and my blog.
I am a stressed-out mother of three (awesome girls)! I work full time, have a house that is constantly winning the clutter war (I have yet to even come close to winning one battle since I have had kids!), and I never seem to have enough hours in the day.
I mainly blog about whatever current rant is going through my head. I think way too much and way too deeply about life. My blog name - Serenity Goddess - is my ultimate goal! :)
I like ending each blog with a Motivational Moment because even though life is stressful and hard at times, it is also beautiful and amazing and goes by way too fast. I love beautiful pictures, songs, and words and find that beauty and people inspire!!!
Enjoying the Blog Partying 2013,
Me
Motivational Moment:
I love the two new sites I discovered tonight (http://crappypictures.com/parenting-i-quit./ ; http://www.5minutesformom.com/75741/ultimate-blog-party-2013/ ) and all the exciting, new connections they represent. I think it is so cool (and inspirational) that so many people can connect over something like blogging. We are all in this thing called 'life' together and we are sharing our time here together. We might as well help each other out and make the absolute best of our time here for as we all know, it ends way too soon!
Here's to meeting new friends and connections, the joy of blogging, and getting the absolute most out of our lives!
The Blog Party sounds like an awesome experience - so, I will do as the lovely two "5 minutes for mom"s suggest and tell you a little bit about myself and my blog.
I am a stressed-out mother of three (awesome girls)! I work full time, have a house that is constantly winning the clutter war (I have yet to even come close to winning one battle since I have had kids!), and I never seem to have enough hours in the day.
I mainly blog about whatever current rant is going through my head. I think way too much and way too deeply about life. My blog name - Serenity Goddess - is my ultimate goal! :)
I like ending each blog with a Motivational Moment because even though life is stressful and hard at times, it is also beautiful and amazing and goes by way too fast. I love beautiful pictures, songs, and words and find that beauty and people inspire!!!
Enjoying the Blog Partying 2013,
Me
Motivational Moment:
I love the two new sites I discovered tonight (http://crappypictures.com/parenting-i-quit./ ; http://www.5minutesformom.com/75741/ultimate-blog-party-2013/ ) and all the exciting, new connections they represent. I think it is so cool (and inspirational) that so many people can connect over something like blogging. We are all in this thing called 'life' together and we are sharing our time here together. We might as well help each other out and make the absolute best of our time here for as we all know, it ends way too soon!
Here's to meeting new friends and connections, the joy of blogging, and getting the absolute most out of our lives!
 |
| http://www.5minutesformom.com/75741/ultimate-blog-party-2013/ |
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Live a Life Full of Love, Not Regret
Live in the moment. Live Mindfully. There is no past, there is no future, there is just now. This is what zen masters, meditation guru's, self-help books, etc. will tell you. One of my favorite dialogues from the movie "Peaceful Warrior" is the following: "Where are you? Here. What time is it? Now. What are you? This moment." All of this practice in mindfulness is to help you live a simple, peaceful life. Its purpose is to help you eliminate all worries in your life and help you enjoy the present; help you to live in the moment, for that is all you have.
With that said, I recently felt a great regret. (I am very new to this practice of mindfulness and hence still need much practice). We found out that an elderly neighbor of ours, from our previous neighborhood, had passed away. His daughters reached out to us because they knew how much their father loved our kids. We were only neighbors for about 5 years, but in that time we had three girls and there were many, sunny days spent hanging with Mr. Tom, in his front yard. He would always sit in his driveway and we would visit, almost daily, from when the girls were babies until we moved away when they were 4.
At Tom's funeral, I was told by another neighbor that we broke Tom's heart by moving away. I knew this. In fact, when we were about to put the house up for sale, the hardest obstacle I faced, was telling Mr. Tom. I knew it would devastate him. His daughters told us that he had pictures of the girls throughout his house and he still talked about them all the time (we had moved away 6 years earlier). So this was a devastating regret for me. I was heart-broken over not making the effort, not finding the time, to visit with Mr. Tom with my daughters. I am always saying how short life is. We get too busy with the daily schedules of raising children and working full time. Somehow I lost the perspective and importance of visiting with a loved one. We went to the funeral and I saw a couple of the framed pictures of my girls that had been throughout Tom's house. I am so sorry Tom that we didn't visit you in the last 5 years. If I could have a re-do, I would make it a point to see you every summer and spend the evening talking with you, sitting in your driveway. I know you are having fun flying with the angels now!
Spread love not hate. Make sure your loved ones know you love them. Hug freely and generously! None of us know how long we are here for; all the more reason to spread your love every single day.
Mindfully (and Hugging-ly) Yours,
Me
Motivational Moment:
Tonight when I was surfing the top AOL stories of the day, one from Huffington Post caught my eye. It was a husband's photojournalistic memoir to his wife, who died from breast cancer (Angelo and Jen Merendino). Just 5 months after they were married, they received the horrible news that Jen had breast cancer. The pictures are a wonderful, touching memoir of Jen and Angelo's Journey. It was heartbreaking to see her tombstone at the end of the photos! (It was also a reality check to see that Jen was born the same year that I was and a reinforcement to live for each day). Thank you both for sharing your journey. Check it out at: http://mywifesfightwithbreastcancer.com/ . I am sending out love and hugs to Jen's family and friends who have had to endure the loss of her.
My mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago; she was considered a survivor. 5 years ago, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which she finally succumbed to a year and a half ago, after one hell of an impressive battle. I always told her that she made cancer look easy. She never complained; never seemed to be in pain. She was one of the strongest women I have known. Throughout her battle, she was a wonderful grandma to my daughters, and that was priceless.
I was also really touched by the movie 50/50 which is based off of the real life experience of Will Reiser's battle with cancer and how his friend, Seth Rogen, helped him through it. When I went to this movie, I really did not have high expectations. My thought was that Seth couldn't really be there for a friend going through cancer - right? Boy, how wrong I was. It was an absolutely inspirational movie and I gained a whole new respect for Seth.
This Motivational Moment is dedicated to all people who have received the devastating diagnoses of a terminal disease as well as to the friends and family of those people. It is for the love and strength and hope that overflows during these difficult times.
With that said, I recently felt a great regret. (I am very new to this practice of mindfulness and hence still need much practice). We found out that an elderly neighbor of ours, from our previous neighborhood, had passed away. His daughters reached out to us because they knew how much their father loved our kids. We were only neighbors for about 5 years, but in that time we had three girls and there were many, sunny days spent hanging with Mr. Tom, in his front yard. He would always sit in his driveway and we would visit, almost daily, from when the girls were babies until we moved away when they were 4.
At Tom's funeral, I was told by another neighbor that we broke Tom's heart by moving away. I knew this. In fact, when we were about to put the house up for sale, the hardest obstacle I faced, was telling Mr. Tom. I knew it would devastate him. His daughters told us that he had pictures of the girls throughout his house and he still talked about them all the time (we had moved away 6 years earlier). So this was a devastating regret for me. I was heart-broken over not making the effort, not finding the time, to visit with Mr. Tom with my daughters. I am always saying how short life is. We get too busy with the daily schedules of raising children and working full time. Somehow I lost the perspective and importance of visiting with a loved one. We went to the funeral and I saw a couple of the framed pictures of my girls that had been throughout Tom's house. I am so sorry Tom that we didn't visit you in the last 5 years. If I could have a re-do, I would make it a point to see you every summer and spend the evening talking with you, sitting in your driveway. I know you are having fun flying with the angels now!
 |
| We love you Mr. Tom!! |
Mindfully (and Hugging-ly) Yours,
Me
Motivational Moment:
 |
| http://magickalgraphics.com/ |
Tonight when I was surfing the top AOL stories of the day, one from Huffington Post caught my eye. It was a husband's photojournalistic memoir to his wife, who died from breast cancer (Angelo and Jen Merendino). Just 5 months after they were married, they received the horrible news that Jen had breast cancer. The pictures are a wonderful, touching memoir of Jen and Angelo's Journey. It was heartbreaking to see her tombstone at the end of the photos! (It was also a reality check to see that Jen was born the same year that I was and a reinforcement to live for each day). Thank you both for sharing your journey. Check it out at: http://mywifesfightwithbreastcancer.com/ . I am sending out love and hugs to Jen's family and friends who have had to endure the loss of her.
My mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago; she was considered a survivor. 5 years ago, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which she finally succumbed to a year and a half ago, after one hell of an impressive battle. I always told her that she made cancer look easy. She never complained; never seemed to be in pain. She was one of the strongest women I have known. Throughout her battle, she was a wonderful grandma to my daughters, and that was priceless.
 |
| http://magickalgraphics.com/ |
This Motivational Moment is dedicated to all people who have received the devastating diagnoses of a terminal disease as well as to the friends and family of those people. It is for the love and strength and hope that overflows during these difficult times.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Spread Love Not Hate!
It completely enrages me when I hear about people who spread hate and not love, particularly when the person is a spouse or a family member. Isn't life hard enough without those close to you making it harder?!
A good friend of mine is going through a tough time in his marriage right now. And when I say tough - it is as bad as it gets with his wife telling him she wants a divorce. I get divorces. People are different. Shit happens. You grow apart or never should have married in the first place. But as anyone who is worth their weight in freaking sugar (purposefully NOT saying gold here - because even average Joe should understand this) - it takes TWO to tango. It is not one person's fault (granted I am not talking extreme cases such as abuse or addictions) when talking about two average, every day people. I mean freaking relationship 101 is you don't try to change someone - especially going into a marriage. If you don't like who the person is, well then for Pete's sakes - DON'T MARRY THEM!! If you do marry them, don't tell them that they need to change while you think you are freaking Princess Perfect (or Prince Perfect). Because if there is one absolute certainty in this life - it's that NO ONE is perfect!!
Life is hard. There is death (another certainty) - with so many miserable ways to go (the worst being a slow torturous disease). There are illnesses and stress and money issues and job issues; the list is endless. But if the people who are supposed to be our biggest supporters (such as family and friends) end up being our biggest enemies - then I say - free yourself of them! Life is too short. You have to be you and enjoy the unique, special gifts that you, and you alone bring to this world!
The people that are supposed to be here to help and support you should do just that! Which leads me to another thing that enrages me when I hear about it - and that is therapists or psychologists or psychiatrists or any mental health professional who is supposed to be here - in their professional role - to support you and help you get through your troubled times! When I hear stories of them making people feel bad about themselves or make them think they are crazy - it makes me sick - (that also makes me think that the so-called professionals are crazy and should certainly not be in that role - ruining others' life when they most need help and encouragement!). I have been to therapists when I have gone through my "crisis panic" years and there are two facts that I can say from my experience. The first fact is that you need to find the right therapist that fits you. If your personalities don't mesh, or if they rub you the wrong way; if it doesn't feel right, you need to get the hell out and find the right one for you . The second fact that I know from my own experience, is that a good therapist makes you feel good about yourself, about who you are. They give you hope and coping skills. They make life seem brighter and do-able. THAT is how a mental health professional should be. If they make you feel like crap about yourself - get the hell away from them and don't go back to them! There are good ones out there and there are ones that will mesh with your personality - whatever it is.
Can you tell I feel strongly about these two topics?!
I just met an amazing man (David Fiala) who is a hands on healer. (Ahh - I so wish he could simply lay his hands on me and say "You are HEALED" but alas - the work must come from within me). Meeting him was fabulous because he was all positivity and love. For the first time, someone made me think about having a soul and what that truly meant and that we are here to spread LOVE to one another...NOT hate or negativity. It was eye opening, anxiety-freeing, and a breath of fresh air. Here is his website if you are interested: http://thepowerofyourawareness.com/
Lovingly Yours,
Me
Motivational Moment:
For my Motivational Moment - I wanted to post some pictures from my newest favorite website: http://www.magickalgraphics.com/
Enjoy!
Sending Love to you all!
A good friend of mine is going through a tough time in his marriage right now. And when I say tough - it is as bad as it gets with his wife telling him she wants a divorce. I get divorces. People are different. Shit happens. You grow apart or never should have married in the first place. But as anyone who is worth their weight in freaking sugar (purposefully NOT saying gold here - because even average Joe should understand this) - it takes TWO to tango. It is not one person's fault (granted I am not talking extreme cases such as abuse or addictions) when talking about two average, every day people. I mean freaking relationship 101 is you don't try to change someone - especially going into a marriage. If you don't like who the person is, well then for Pete's sakes - DON'T MARRY THEM!! If you do marry them, don't tell them that they need to change while you think you are freaking Princess Perfect (or Prince Perfect). Because if there is one absolute certainty in this life - it's that NO ONE is perfect!!
Life is hard. There is death (another certainty) - with so many miserable ways to go (the worst being a slow torturous disease). There are illnesses and stress and money issues and job issues; the list is endless. But if the people who are supposed to be our biggest supporters (such as family and friends) end up being our biggest enemies - then I say - free yourself of them! Life is too short. You have to be you and enjoy the unique, special gifts that you, and you alone bring to this world!
The people that are supposed to be here to help and support you should do just that! Which leads me to another thing that enrages me when I hear about it - and that is therapists or psychologists or psychiatrists or any mental health professional who is supposed to be here - in their professional role - to support you and help you get through your troubled times! When I hear stories of them making people feel bad about themselves or make them think they are crazy - it makes me sick - (that also makes me think that the so-called professionals are crazy and should certainly not be in that role - ruining others' life when they most need help and encouragement!). I have been to therapists when I have gone through my "crisis panic" years and there are two facts that I can say from my experience. The first fact is that you need to find the right therapist that fits you. If your personalities don't mesh, or if they rub you the wrong way; if it doesn't feel right, you need to get the hell out and find the right one for you . The second fact that I know from my own experience, is that a good therapist makes you feel good about yourself, about who you are. They give you hope and coping skills. They make life seem brighter and do-able. THAT is how a mental health professional should be. If they make you feel like crap about yourself - get the hell away from them and don't go back to them! There are good ones out there and there are ones that will mesh with your personality - whatever it is.
Can you tell I feel strongly about these two topics?!
I just met an amazing man (David Fiala) who is a hands on healer. (Ahh - I so wish he could simply lay his hands on me and say "You are HEALED" but alas - the work must come from within me). Meeting him was fabulous because he was all positivity and love. For the first time, someone made me think about having a soul and what that truly meant and that we are here to spread LOVE to one another...NOT hate or negativity. It was eye opening, anxiety-freeing, and a breath of fresh air. Here is his website if you are interested: http://thepowerofyourawareness.com/
Lovingly Yours,
Me
Motivational Moment:
For my Motivational Moment - I wanted to post some pictures from my newest favorite website: http://www.magickalgraphics.com/
Enjoy!
Sending Love to you all!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
What If...
"What If"... Isn't that such a fun phrase? There are so many possibilities with "What If"; so many places to go with the mind, both good and bad. It could lead to fabulous dreams as well as horrid nightmares, all which start with the thought "What If".
I recently pulled out a book ("If...(Questions for the Game of Life)" by Evelyn McFarlane and James Saywell) off my book shelf that is a fun one for philosophical dreamers such as myself. It is a compilation of questions. The authors say it best in the Intro:
"If is the ultimate book about fantasy. Each of its questions is meant to spark and tantalize the imagination. They are a celebration of the human spirit, which loves to dream and needs to hope, but which can also fear and even grow angry. Our ability to imagine is the remarkable gift we have been given to lead is into joy and aspiration and out of despair and sadness, because common to all of us is the idea that there could be a different world, perhaps a better one...We all fantasize and we all dream...Fantasies are what inspire us all; to work, marry, raise families, create, improve our world. It is why we lose ourselves in books, go to movies, watch television, go to the ballgame and on vacation...without our fantasies we would be lost. We imagine in order to learn, to understand, to strive, to attempt, to predict, to avoid, to correct, to describe, to solve." "And so, aside from the truths that are revealed, the contemplation that is provoked, the confidence or anxiety that surfaces, the self-knowledge that results, or the understanding that might be gained, above all we hope that asking these questions inspires optimism, since no matter who or what we really are, we share the ability to travel together the unpredictable journey of the imagination, which leads us through the wonderful game of life."
"Spark and Tantalize the imagination." I just love that description; it is delicious to my mind. Anything that sparks and tantalizes the imagination sounds awesome to me! May you have many things that 'spark and tantalize' you!
"They are a celebration of the human spirit, which loves to dream and needs to hope". "Loves to dream and needs to hope"; that is something I would not have thought of or put into words myself, but when I see it written, it makes me think of how true it is. "Needs to hope". Do all of us need to hope? Do we all have hope? Without hope, is there nothing but despair? I know for me and what I am currently going through with all this nasty joint pain, I sure as hell hope it will get better. I wish I knew exactly when, or if, the end was near (as I write those words, I should specify that I wish the end of the pain was near - not the end of my life). And I also hope that my kids have a good, happy life. I hope I can enjoy retirement and my grandchildren. I hope my husband's company doesn't close. I hope to not have financial worries. The list really can go on and on; thus there is a lot of things that we do hope about in our lives. World peace, end to hunger and poverty...all that good stuff!
"Fantasies are what inspire us all...to create...to improve our world". If fantasies bring about beautiful works of art as well as inspire those to make the world a better place, well then I say, bring on the fantasies.
May you all have wonderful fantasies, dreams, and inspirations!
Lost in Fantasy Land,
Me
Motivational Moment:
I thought I would pick out some of the questions from the "If..." book mentioned above for you to have fun with and get lost in thought and dreams. Enjoy!
- If you were granted one wish, what would it be?
- If you could eliminate any one type of insect permanently from the earth, what would you get rid of?
- If you could permanently alter one thing about your physical appearance, what would you change?
- If you could change one thing in the world right now, what would you alter?
- If you had to lose one of your five senses, which would you give up?
- If you could have any one specific power over other people, what would it be?
- If you could possess one supernatural ability, what would it be?
- If a photograph of one part of your body were to be used in an advertisement, which part would you want to be used, and for what product or service?
- If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
- If you could cure any disease, what would it be?
My wish for you is peace and happiness for who you are right now!
I recently pulled out a book ("If...(Questions for the Game of Life)" by Evelyn McFarlane and James Saywell) off my book shelf that is a fun one for philosophical dreamers such as myself. It is a compilation of questions. The authors say it best in the Intro:
"If is the ultimate book about fantasy. Each of its questions is meant to spark and tantalize the imagination. They are a celebration of the human spirit, which loves to dream and needs to hope, but which can also fear and even grow angry. Our ability to imagine is the remarkable gift we have been given to lead is into joy and aspiration and out of despair and sadness, because common to all of us is the idea that there could be a different world, perhaps a better one...We all fantasize and we all dream...Fantasies are what inspire us all; to work, marry, raise families, create, improve our world. It is why we lose ourselves in books, go to movies, watch television, go to the ballgame and on vacation...without our fantasies we would be lost. We imagine in order to learn, to understand, to strive, to attempt, to predict, to avoid, to correct, to describe, to solve." "And so, aside from the truths that are revealed, the contemplation that is provoked, the confidence or anxiety that surfaces, the self-knowledge that results, or the understanding that might be gained, above all we hope that asking these questions inspires optimism, since no matter who or what we really are, we share the ability to travel together the unpredictable journey of the imagination, which leads us through the wonderful game of life."
"Spark and Tantalize the imagination." I just love that description; it is delicious to my mind. Anything that sparks and tantalizes the imagination sounds awesome to me! May you have many things that 'spark and tantalize' you!
"They are a celebration of the human spirit, which loves to dream and needs to hope". "Loves to dream and needs to hope"; that is something I would not have thought of or put into words myself, but when I see it written, it makes me think of how true it is. "Needs to hope". Do all of us need to hope? Do we all have hope? Without hope, is there nothing but despair? I know for me and what I am currently going through with all this nasty joint pain, I sure as hell hope it will get better. I wish I knew exactly when, or if, the end was near (as I write those words, I should specify that I wish the end of the pain was near - not the end of my life). And I also hope that my kids have a good, happy life. I hope I can enjoy retirement and my grandchildren. I hope my husband's company doesn't close. I hope to not have financial worries. The list really can go on and on; thus there is a lot of things that we do hope about in our lives. World peace, end to hunger and poverty...all that good stuff!
"Fantasies are what inspire us all...to create...to improve our world". If fantasies bring about beautiful works of art as well as inspire those to make the world a better place, well then I say, bring on the fantasies.
May you all have wonderful fantasies, dreams, and inspirations!
Lost in Fantasy Land,
Me
Motivational Moment:
I thought I would pick out some of the questions from the "If..." book mentioned above for you to have fun with and get lost in thought and dreams. Enjoy!
- If you were granted one wish, what would it be?
- If you could eliminate any one type of insect permanently from the earth, what would you get rid of?
- If you could permanently alter one thing about your physical appearance, what would you change?
- If you could change one thing in the world right now, what would you alter?
- If you had to lose one of your five senses, which would you give up?
- If you could have any one specific power over other people, what would it be?
- If you could possess one supernatural ability, what would it be?
- If a photograph of one part of your body were to be used in an advertisement, which part would you want to be used, and for what product or service?
- If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
- If you could cure any disease, what would it be?
My wish for you is peace and happiness for who you are right now!
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