Miracles

Today's Happiness Quota: 8 – fun, productive weekend – always makes it easy to enjoy life
Today's Happiness Quote: by Albert Einstein “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle”
Today's Thoughts: I am humbled and blessed that my life is the result of so many miracles. I came across a list of miracles that I started some time ago, probably the result of some journal suggestion, and it was certainly a pleasant find. It was also fun to add to the list, a great way to reflect on the year in the cusp of the holiday season. How many miracles would make up a list of miracles in your life?

Beautiful Hair - Beautiful Life

Blue Hour: – missed it – slept in ignored the alarm clock and the three phone calls, didn’t realize how tired I was until I crawled out of bed after 9am – almost 10am.

Today's Happiness Quota: on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest I’m about a 7. I never feel great after sleeping in, but I usually feel fabulous going to bed early and waking up early.

Today's Happiness Quote: by Buddha - All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

Today's thoughts: I am a brunette again. I love my new hair cut. I needed to make a statement that demonstrated I was on a new path and I am amazed, well not so much, at the effect a new hair cut can have on a woman. If you need a boost to make you feel great – go see your favorite stylist today and do something daring!

Blue Hour Balance

Blue Hour - Spectacular - I figured out that I should try blogging immediately after admiring the wonder of rising sun.

Today's Happiness Quota: High – I have a busy day. I get to see a couple of wonderful friends. I’ve had a great productive week. And, I am getting my hair done today – yep it’s going to be a good day

Today's Happiness Quote: by Robert Anthony - Most people would rather be certain they're miserable, than risk being happy

Today's thoughts: I am feeling hopeful. Things are finally starting to feel balanced again. I knew it would happen but I’ve been out of whack for so long that I has taken longer than I anticipated. It’s taken a heavy dose of vitamins, water, sweating, and sleep but I am there. I even managed to get up in time to enjoy the blue hour without strain.

Homework Daze

Today's Happiness Quota: Good. I had a very productive quiet Monday in the office, came home to a clean house, hubby stopped at the store on the way home and brought home dinner and groceries. This perfect "non-storm" means I can do homework at a reasonable hour - Yes!!

Today's Happiness Quote: If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes - A. Carnegie

Today's thoughts: I am at the moment in my homework assignment where I am certain that I will not be able to complete it in time. There just seems to be so much left to do, even though I have already put in several hours of research and writing over the last couple of days. History has proven time and time again that this is simply just part of the process. I don't recall ever turning in an assignment late, but I've been in college since 2001, so I'm sure it has happened. Some assignments may have had typographical errors in them when I rushed to finish them by the deadline, but those that escaped all my editing attempts are few and minor infractions that don't take away from the paper's message or demonstration of my knowledge and understanding of the topic.

I have learned to appreciate an instructor's notes when these errors appear and to forgive myself and accept that I turned in the best work I possible could in the time I had all while taking care of day job, home, family, volunteer responsibilities, my current writing project, and myself. 

Okay - break over - pep talk done - back to the business at hand - bye for now

Reflection 10 02 2010

Today's Happiness Quota: High - wrote this morning well exceeding my daily goal. Life is so good in so many ways.


Today's Quote: by Aristotle -To live happily is an inward power of the soul.

Today's thoughts: Today's date October 2, 2010 made me think about mirror images and how they are just different enough to matter. Actually it was the process of writing the date numerically that made me think. Sometimes the physical being I take care of, my body and my appearance, tells others that the mental and emotional being I am is sure, confident, and feeling great. Sometimes, though when I look in the mirror I can tell my mental and emotional self is not matching up with my physical appearance and vice-a-verse.

It's true I may be able to hide my issues from some people some of the time, but I know I don't do it all the time. If however I take care of myself mentally and emotionally the same way I take care of my physical appearance and physical body then those images would be less skewed from one another.

Productivity - a great feeling

Did you know that happy people have more energy?
Happy people have more energy and are therefore more efficient at everything they do. Check out http://bit.ly/cCQBqV

Motivation found

I had been meaning to exercise for days and days. My motivation was gone and the scale crept up a few pounds. Finally I decided to try something new when a friend posted a remark about her Zumba class. I checked out Zumba and liked the idea of dancing and joining a party. That led me to searching other dance videos - then I remembered I already owned a few. I've been enjoying a nice variety of 30 minute videos and trying new programs on-demand. I've had a great time.

I don't need any motivation to dance except music.

I may never Zumba (okay, I probably will someday) but I am at least going to get some traction with the videos I have, my exercise.tv on demand, Palladia, and of course - going out and having fun.

Why Second Chakra

My whole adult life I have been in a battle to feel grounded and find my place in this world. Facing this battle, this journey, has gifted me with so much to be grateful for. I have a beautiful home, but I had to learn how to
make it and keep it that way. I have a strong marriage, but I had to learn to work to make it and keep it strong. I have a wonderful career and I've reached so many personal and professional goals, but I've had to learn how to listen and honor my hopes, dreams, and desires.

I know when I take care of the mundane day-to-day chores in life that my energy is better, I accomplish more, I am happier, and my stress level comes down. When I get too busy to take care of these day-to-day mundane things in life, I am less effective, edgy, and I struggle to be in the present moment.

I know I am not the only one who experiences this dynamic and I want to help myself and others take care of the mundane to enable them to strive and thrive to meet their wildest dreams.

No Time to Rinse

This morning moments after I decided what I wanted to make for breakfast I was forced to reflect on how easy it is to convince myself that I am too busy to rinse the dishes - how quickly I can say - "I'll do this later" as the dishes clone and reproduce like weeds in a garden until I cannot cook until I take care of them. And how once those weeds begin to take over, other items begin appearing on the regularly cleared counter space. Items like groceries, grocery bags, coffee, coffee filters, stuff from the car, and other stuff from projects we're working on around the house. Is this really how I want to live? I had to ask. Do I really want to spend 20 to 30 minutes cleaning the kitchen before I make breakfast? No. Especially when after a meal I need a measly 3 min - that's right 3 minutes - cleaning and getting my beautiful kitchen ready for the next meal. That's about the same time it takes me to make my bed. I would rather be 3 minutes late to work or miss 3 minutes of my favorite television show then let those weeds grow again. I do have time to rinse - no one is that busy! Not really.

You Never Know Who You Will Inspire

John Wooden Dies at 99

For years I have kept a John Wooden quote near and dear to my heart. Although I have never met the famous coach - I am forever grateful that I came across his life changing advice - never let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends. As do my condolences that I let a busy week interfere with posting my simple, brief thoughts - the irony of life goes on.

TEDxDU-William Espey-5/13/2010

10 Minute Miracles

Funny way to start the exploration - so much has happened in the last two months that account for very little except life.

I am a little closer to getting my degree.
I've grown professionally and personally by being pushed and facing difficulties.

I have discovered that my home needs very little TLC to be able to offer me a sense a comfort.
The other day, I expected it would take me all weekend to clean the house. I started, made my way through every room while I listened to great music and solved a few problems "mentally" for my job.

Before I knew it, less than two hours later, my home was looking good enough for company.

The only real thing I had done to the house over the last few weeks was spend 10 minutes or so in each room keeping it picked it but not worrying if every thing was in the right place.

Those 10 minute sessions  really paid off.

Instead of spending a weekend cleaning, I cleaned, did homework, went for a nice drive and breakfast on an outdoor patio, slept in, and even took a long walk - almost 90 minutes.

Simple Things

It doesn't take much for a room to come to life: a little sunshine, a little dusting, and a fresh bouquet of flowers.

Make one room in your home come to life today.

Why I am so interested in this topic

My whole adult life I have been in a battle to feel grounded and find my place in this world. Facing this battle, this journey, has gifted me with so much to be grateful for. I have a beautiful home, but I had to learn how to
make it and keep it that way. I have a strong marriage, but I had to learn to work to make it and keep it strong. I have a wonderful career and I've reached so many personal and professional goals, but I've had to learn how to listen and honor my hopes, dreams, and desires.

I know when I take care of the mundane day-to-day chores in life that my energy is better, I accomplish more, I am happier, and my stress level comes down. When I get too busy to take care of these day-to-day mundane things in life, I am less effective, edgy, and I struggle to be in the present moment.

I know I am not the only one who experiences this dynamic and I want to help myself and others take care of the mundane to enable them to strive and thrive to meet their wildest dreams. 

Creating Basic Space

We work so hard to own, decorate, and fill our homes. But it is important to remember that everything we own is tied to us energetically as if an invisible power cord plugs us into it. The cord allows energy to flow both ways. Due to the laws of Thermodynamics everything that is stagnate is in the state of entropy, therefore it is dead or dying energy, and if it is connected to us it is drawing energy away from us.

In order to keep energy flowing in your home, it is important that you keep everything from reaching the state of entropy. How do we do that? Use of lose it.