The DISAPPEARING Act

Time comes, time goes.

Nowadays, time seems to mostly go.

Hard to beleive that we are entering the month of November. I mean, where did the past 10 months go? Have I really blindly walked through alomst 300 days this year?

I could swear I was just holding up a champagne flute toasting the new year in and swearing to a list of two dozen well intentioned resolutions. I can happily say I have crossed 2 off of my list, which leaves only 22 to toast to this year!

I came across this quote recently and it really struck a chord with me. We know we have time each day outside of work and sleep, but where does it go? I seem to be stuck in this rut of life that accounts for each day being a repeat of the one before; a lot like the movie Groundhog's Day!

"For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight hours supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work." ~Doug Larson

Now, granted, this assumes that we work and sleep 16 hours. But even if we work a little more and sleep a little less, we are still missing out on some time.

So rather than wait for the end of the year to celebrate the new and swear to the resolutions that seem to creep onto my list each year, I am going to do something now, today. I promise to change it up a bit and step out of the ho-hum, same old routine and appreciate a few moments each day to do something. Maybe it's just a short walk to the mailbox and back, but it will be different now. I will take in the sounds of nature, the color of the sky, the smell in the air. But I need to account for each passing minute in that moment.

I NEED to be in THE moment!

What can you do?

Life is SHORT (Really Short)

I often find myself going to this blog, The Happiness Project, for some much needed grounding and inspiration. The blog author is an actual book author working on a new project. Her site contains a short 2-minute movie that is a must watch, especially if you have children.

Watch it. Absorb it. Think about it. But most of all, allow it to make you feel happy. Life is short (really short). Don't put off all of those things today that you may not have time for tomorrow.

www.theyearsareshort.com

Click the link and take your own 2-minute bus ride today. You'll be glad that you did!

Change and tokens not required!

Blessings :)

Travel Near, Travel Far...But TRAVEL

It has been a short while since my last post. First, I decided to take some much needed time off from work to celebrate my birthday (translation: 2 days). And then it was back to the grind stone and the traveling to and fro.

I can handle the traveling and living out of a suitcase. Every time I travel someplace, I try and learn something about where I was that I can take with me and become a bit more enlightened. My travels today are mostly in the US, but can sometimes take me farther away. I am amazed by how differently we all live right here in the US.

Having just been to Dallas, I returned home to step off the plane into a cloud of haze and humidity- just lovely- and the familiarity of the palm trees and golf courses. But I smiled as I recalled the cowboys and cowgirls I encountered in Texas. They beat to a very different drum than the one I often dance to, having been raised in a coastal, Northeastern city. The differences are as night and day. And when it comes to politics in this state, you won't find too many folks who don't enjoy bending your ear a bit.

I didn't know line dance from the Irish jig, but was game to try. And the folks were just about as nice and helpful as could be. And a few drinks here and there didn't hurt.

Rhinestones, lassos, and boots galore, it was a pleasure to get away from my every day norm and step out of the comfort of my life for a bit. And I guess that is really the point: to not always do what feels comfortable and familiar. It's perfectly acceptable to get out there and explore the terrain, the people, the culture, and the food. And heck, maybe even I can find a good ol' cowboy. Let's just hope his favorite song isn't "Achy Breaky Heart."

MEAUSURE of Life

We are always quick to celebrate job promotions, new homes, cars, etc. But what about life's little moments that get tucked away into the pockets of our memories? Why do we fail short on celebrating these? And why do we often forget them and fail to pay hommage to them?

The following list was created by the Dalai Lama. Notice that he never once speaks of material or worldly possessions. Rather, he focuses on teaching us ways in which we can live our best life possible, and still be rewarded; just not monetarily.

Measuring your life by your good deeds as opposed to how much money is in your bank account will provide for a much richer life experience. Money is good to have; it pays the bills. But it shouldn't be the primary focus of anyone's life.

Rich in the bank and poor in the soul is not the bedrock of happiness.

I ask you to put one of these strategies to the test. Start off adopting one or two and gradually increase as you begin to master them along the way. Your soul will begin to sing; a greater reward than any material item.

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self, Respect for others, Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realise you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

10.Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

WEEDS Be Gone

I have been looking out at my backyard for the past few weeks and have been postponing (a.k.a. procrastinating) my weeding responsibilities. Yesterday, my mom and dad stopped by for a short visit.

Upon close inspection of the yard, my dad exclaimed, "holy cow, you could start selling tickets to your own safari back there!"

Needless to say, I donned my gardening gloves and hat and got to weeding today. It isn't so much the idea of weeding that makes me think of other more pleasurable things to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon, it's more that I don't particularly care for the creepy crawlers I inevitably encounter while digging and whacking and pulling and pruning.

Last time I did this I was surprised by a very long and colorful snake....yikes.

Anyway....

The weeding process got me thinking.

Weeds are like wildfire; let one too many get away and the next thing you know they have multiplied by the hundreds. And they aren't so pretty to look at. And it struck me that all of the "to do" lists and piles in our lives we never seem to get around to are just like weeds. So we will take the time to do the gardening, especially when we know company is coming, but we don't always take the time to address our own "weeding" process. Maybe it's because we know we can hide that stuff a little better. Maybe it's because we just don't make the time.

So the next time you are out gardening and pulling weeds and planting seeds, remember that just as the Earth needs our tender loving care, so too does our soul. A little weeding here and there, a little pruning, and a little seeding, will go a long way. And yes, you may even encounter a proverbial snake or two- deal with it, make ammends, and pull the weed. Otherwise, its just going to hang out in your soul's garden a little longer.

Blessings :)

Instructions on LIFE

Wouldn't it be great if we received an instruction book when we are born? I mean, it would certainly take away some of the guess work. Of course, many of life's moments are unique and inspiring and meaningful because we didn't expect them or know how we would handle them. But what if we had a few daily guidelines to try and adhere to?

I was the surfing the web and came across the following list that I think really captures the essence of life's purpose. There was no author or anyone taking credit for the list. But kudos for getting this right!

"One thing I can give and still keep...is my word"

"Ideas won't work unless I do"

"If I lack the courage to start, I have already finished"

"The happiness of my life depends on the quality of my thoughts"

"I lie the loudest when I lie to myself"

"One thing I can't recycle is wasted time"

"My mind is like a parachute...it functions only when open"

"The heaviest thing I can carry is a grudge"

Wow. I think this list really packs a punch. What do you all think?

Love & Light :)

My JOURNEY, My Step- Revisited

My very first post stated that I would keep note of my "new" first step- my new beginning, chapter, journey. And so with that, I have decided to provide an update.

This journey that I have embarked upon is completely about me- taking care of, taking charge of, taking full responsibility of my life. And with that, I knew I needed to get back to my center, my core, my essence, my spirit.

Spiritual well being also provides mental, physical and psychological well being. And, boy, was I in a rut. That rut was a result of neglect. I was taking each day for granted, and with that I was also taking myself for granted. Putting things off until tomorrow. And the tomorrows became the next tomorrows; before long, I had a pile of tomorrows and no great accomplishments.

My first small step, part of the bigger picture also known as my well being, was to start writing again; hence, my very first blog. And what a pain in the ass it was at first. I didn't know blog from fog; many times I felt like I was in a fog! One day I added a widget and my posts disappeared. Geez....

I am certainly no master of the blogging community, or the html universe for that matter, but I have learned the basics of navigating around and making my way. And I find accomplishment and satisfaction with blogging about things that happen to me, strike me, amuse, disappoint, surprise, and irritate the crap out of me.

The time for me in now, no longer tomorrow. No more excuses to do the things that are important enough to be at the forefront of my mind. Maybe an email or a voicemail has to wait a little bit longer for a reply, but I can live with that.

Blessings :)