on being true to yourself...

Along the lines of listening to your inner voice, is the thought or the committment, of being true to yourself. Being true to yourself is honoring YOUR thoughts, values, morals, and beliefs. It means not going along with what everyone else things, when you know deep in your heart, you feel otherwise. Being true to yourself is knowing what you stand for, and standing up for it. Being true to yourself is being able to get a good nights sleep, because of the good choices you've made throughout your day. Being true to yourself is recognizing that what you think or may believe is different from your family and friends thoughts, but still being okay with it. Being true to yourself is eliminiating negativity or negative people in your life, because having them in your life makes your inner body crumble! Being true to yourself is PEACE OF MIND. It is knowing that you are doing your best, being yourself, living through love, and feeling good, really good about the life you live!

Today's activity: be true to yourself

Today I encourage you to be true to yourself. Again, this does not mean that it is ok to hurt others, or be uncivil to the world around you, but rather, honor the person who YOU are. Honor the person who you have worked so hard to become. Honor your morals and values. Be true to what you believe, because at night, you will sleep soundly and peacefully. While you may not believe it what everyone around you thinks, it is okay to respect their inner being, and them being true to themselves. Today, dive inside of you, be true to your beating heart, and watch the incredible person who will reveal himself/herself to the world. Be at peace....it is one of the most incredibly rewarding feelings in the world!

on writing, part 2...

Ive recently read numerous books that have talked about how the art of writing is going away, and when I say writing, I mean hand writing. The days of hand written thank you notes, and hand written poems or short stories seem to be a thing of the past. With texting, emailing, voice recording, and pc's in general, people are opting to put down the pen, and pick up the keyboard. Personally, I think this is very sad. For starters, I love paper! I truly do. I can get lost in a paper store for hours, selecting the perfect greeting card, or thank you note. In addition, it has taken me many years to find a writing instrument, in my case, the perfect felt tip pen, to write with. In addition, we have talked a bit about the importance and personal value and appreciation behind a hand written thank you note. Today, I am talking a bit more, like how about a short story? Something quick and fun. Words, let's say 500 of them right off the top of your head. Fun or not funny, serious or silly, what would your short story look like. Right off the bat you might think that you hand/wrist will hurt if you had to write a 500 word short story, not to mention, the amount of brain juice you might have to use to compile a story line, but think about what an accomplishment you will have made as you HAND WRITE the words...."the end"!

Today's activity: write a short story

Today I encourage you to write a short story, no more, no fewer than 500 words. Subject matter is your choice, and if you long for a subject matter, you're probably thinking too hard! You must hand write this story, paper and pencil, in case you've forgotten. Feel free to take a break if your hand begins to hurt, but set a deadline, or a time frame for you to have your story complete. I will help you out with the first line, and then the rest is up to you. And, by all means, don't forget to conclude with, "the end".

Here you go, have fun....

"Once upon a time.........."

on YOUR book cover...

Seeing that we all are kind of like a book, we all have a cover, and several hundred pages inside! I am wondering, if your life was a book, what would the cover look like? Would your cover be in black or white or in color? Would it be a hard cover or a paper back? Would it be in glossy or matte finish? Would there be text, photos, or both? Would you be the author, or would it be a biography? If color, what colors would be represented on the cover? What time of photos? What type font? Remember, this book, or this book cover is a representation of you, so you want it to speak volumes, or at least umbrella the hundreds of pages that follow on the inside. This is your book, the facade to your life, and your life story!

Today's activity: design your book cover

Today I encourage you to design the book cover to your life story. How do you want your life to be represented via a book cover. This is an activity you can create in your mind, or even one you can put on paper. I want you to think long and hard about what would be represented about you on the cover of the book. Im assuming you'd want to highlight the very best things about you, but that may not be the case. Think about photos, color, black & white, text, font, etc. Really think this through. This should be a really fun project that will get you excited about he person you are, and how you would like yourself to be represented to others. Remember, this book cover is much like a first impression, so in any case, you'll want it to be your best work. Think about it, visualize it, and who knows, before long, your book may be on the New York Times Best Seller list! Enjoy!!!

on the outside cover...

I am sure we have all heard the saying..."don't judge a book by its cover", and I am here to tell you...this is an absolutely true statement that we all need to live by! A couple of weeks ago a dear friend of mine was having a couple of bad days. She was remembering her dad, who had passed away a few years ago. With that being said, it is obvious that she was a little sad and depressed, not to mention, that the Thanksgiving holiday was upon us. While my friend went about her day with a smile on her face, she was truly sad and suffering inside. I know this to be true because she even went to the extent of talking to me about it, when she is typically a very strong person who does not let her sadness show. A couple of her co-workers were really giving her a rough time, thinking all along that they were playfully teasing her, when in reality, she was taking the unkind gestures to heart. Although the two pranksters were not aware of her sadness, they really did not know when to lighten up on her. While my friend carried a smile on her face the entire day, she left work feeling beat up, and more sad than ever before. Because I deeply care about my friend, I was really disturbed by these happenings. Yes, my friend has a very happy go lucky attitude, and typically the life of any party, but that is not to say that she doesn't have feelings of her own. Like any other person, my friend feels pain, cries, gets sad, and depressed. On the flip side her highs or joys of life are very large, and perhaps this is why people who surround her, often take her for always being happy, and never suffering inside. This is just one example of how we are all real, and we all feel a realm of different emotions in life. While we may walk with a smile on our faces, we may actually be suffering inside. While at work, or out to play, we may have a "game" face on, but when at home, or by ourselves we may actually be very sad or depressed. This goes back to each of us having a story, a personal story. We never really know what pain or suffering one may be going through, so the bottom line...."Never judge a book by its cover"!

Today's activity: never judge

Today I encourage you to be kind to everyone, and avoid being judgmental. If someone appears to be sad, or full of joy, this may just be a cover for what really may be going on inside of them, in their personal life. Someone may appear to be very poor, but may be a millionaire, or someone who may seem very pulled together, may be filled with turmoil. Our job in life is to go about, minding our own business, and to not be judgmental to or about others. We all have a story, and we are all human beings. At the end of the day, I have the same inner workings as my neighbors, my friends, and my enemies. I truly believe it is how we go about using our inner gifts that makes the real difference in life. After all, a book that may be seemingly unattractive on the outside, may be the VERY BEST read you have ever stumbled across! 

on inner voice...

Just like the inner power, we all have an inner voice. Our voice never really speaks "out loud", however, he or she speaks to each and every one of us. Our inner voice may also be known as...our intuition, or listening to our hearts, or our gut feeling. All of these words or sayings refer to our inner voice. This is the voice inside of us that tells us what is right or wrong for us. Our inner voice kind of silently leads us, or points in the right direction when we need to make decision, or are in a quandry about life. Our inner voice often gives us the gumption to take risks, speak up and out, and to overcome personal obstacles with ease. Often times people say they do not have an inner voice, truth be told...you do! If you don't think you have an inner voice, then you probably aren't listening close enough. While the inner voice speaks softly, he/she is powerful. So often, when we don't listen to our inner vocalist, we find ourselves making mistakes, and then saying to ourselves..."I should have listened to my gut feeling", or "I should have followed my heart". Sometimes is may be difficult to listen to our heart, because we may find that we will disappoint other people. The bottom line is....you must listen to our own personal inner voice. He/she is always correct. Even if, in the moment, you may fear that you will hurt or disappoint someone else, your inner voice truly knows the way, and that knowledge will help you to overcome any obstacle that comes into your path. I firmly believe, you must listen to your heart to follow YOUR personal dreams, which will lead you to having a full, complete, and joyously loving life!

Today's activity: listen to your inner voice

Today I encourage you to listen to your inner voice. Listen quietly and carefully to the strong, loud, yet subtle person or voice inside of you. You may think that he or she is not in there, but she is! Just quiet yourself, bring peace around you, and be intune to the voice inside. Your inner voice will guide you through difficult times, or times when you find it hard to make a decision. Often times, your inner voice acts like a guardian angel, helping you to make split second decisions that can save your life, or guide you down the right path. Once you've tuned into your inner angel, you will wonder how life ever existed without being in touch with the inner being. Truth be told, your inner voice has always been there, guiding you, and protecting you, even when you may not have been listening. So much like your favorite song, tune into the voice inside of you, and listen to her sing her heart out for you!

on the journey...

Life, in itself, is a journey. We go about our days doing our thing; working, tending to family, perhaps school, or other activities. Throughout our days, or at least mine, I often find myself thinking..."I can't wait until my work day is over" or, "I can hardly wait until I'm finished reading this book", or "I can't wait until Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter arrives". I always seem to be waiting for something to end, but in reality, I am wishing my journey of life away. A while back I was living in a state of constant renovation in my living space. Wherever I turned, there seemed to be construction going on. I felt like I was living out of boxes, and complete disorder. I remember saying "I am so tired of living under renovation, I can hardly wait until the work is complete". It was then that a very wise man said to me..."what's your hurry? what's left in life if you finish all of your projects...death?" And yet another time in my life, I was wishing a long car ride away, when the driver said to me..."relax, part of the fun is in the journey"! Both of these individuals were so right. Part of the fun is in the renovation process, or the long car ride. Part of the fun is in the uncertainty or the unknown of life, so why wish it away? Even during the worst times of my life I was able to experience some of the best, most memorable, times of my life. So what would have happened if I had not rode the waves of pain? Welp, I would not have been able to enjoy the waves of joy! As I grow up, and grow wise, I am desperately trying to enjoy each and every moment of the journey of life. On days like today, when it's 20 degrees and blistery cold outside, it is hard to not wish for Spring, but on the flip side, the day is filled with beautiful snowflakes falling from the sky. The journey of life is amazing, all of the little details of life that we pass along the way. Rather than wish the journey away, I vote for becoming more aware, or wide eye'd, at the excitement, and wonder of life, and hope and wish that the journey will never end!

Today's activity: enjoy the journey

Today I encourage you to enjoy the journey or ride of life. Rather than wish the time away; when the kids grow up, when I get my degree and high paying job, when I get married and settle down, ENJOY TODAY. Enjoy the moment, enjoy the environment, enjoy the kids, enjoy your messy house. Rather than wish it away, look for ways to celebrate your current place and state of life. Enjoy the mess of the renovation, this time is enabling you to be more laid back about house chores! Enjoy your home full of screaming, crying kids, because one day your home will be so quiet, you will be wishing for screaming, quiet kids. Enjoy the traffic jam,  perhaps your favorite song will come along on the radio! The bottom line is...enjoy the journey, the amazing journey of LIFE! Don't wish the time away, because one day, you may find yourself wishing for that time back! Life will pass you in the blink of an eye, if you are not wide eye'd and aware of the amazement that surrounds you!