on ghosts...

Greetings, and Happy Halloween! What more perfect day to write about ghosts than Halloween?!?!? I am not quite sure if I completely believe in ghosts, but I have to admit I am leaning more towards believing than not believing! I went on a ghost tour/hunt over the weekend and while I did not see any ghosts, I found the stories to be quite interesting. While on the tour we visited about five different sites of alleged ghosts sightings. The sites included everything from a school, to a schoolhouse, to a home, to a courthouse, to a jail, and then onto a couple of cemetaries. Many of the ghost stories were centered around children, and lovers.
In all cases the stories were not scary, but very interesting. Everything from pictures falling off of walls, to paint spilling, to footprints, and voices heard. I understand the concept of seeing or hearing a voice can be frightening, but I personally, do not think seeing a ghost is a frightening experience. On the contrary,  I have heard ghost sightings to be very peaceful. In most cases, the ghost, was a person who was present in or on the property they haunt, and they just simply arent ready to leave! Now, I say all of this because I have never actually come in contact with a ghost, so who really knows how I would feel if I encountered a ghost on my path of life...I may go white as a ghost myself!

Today's activity: keep your eyes open...for a ghost!

Today on this very appropriate day of Halloween, I encourage you to be a ghost hunter, or at least think for a moment how you feel about ghosts. Does the thought of seeing a ghost startle you, or have you seen a ghost, and you are fine with it. If you have seen a ghost, do you know who this ghost person is? A loved one, or someone from your past? A stranger? If you have never seen a ghost but have thought about it, how do you feel? Does is scare you, or are you at peace with it? What if, on this Halloween night you had the opportunity to select the ghostly person you could have a conversation with...who would that person be, and what would you say to he/she? Would it be a friend, a loved one, or a public figure, or a superstar??? For fun, think about who might you have a ghostly encounter with, and how might the conversation go? Think about the questions you might ask, and the information you might be interested in knowing. After all,  you really never know when you might run into a ghostly goblin in your real life haunted world...ghosts are out there, go find them....BOO!

on fabulous...

Have you ever had anyone describe you in one word? One fabulous word that sticks in your mind? The word that you can mentally refer to whenever you are down and out? Well, this does not happen to me very often, but it did happen to me not so long ago. I was in a conversation with a woman a bit older than me. I would describe her as a successful, smart, and well pulled together woman. I have chatted with her just a few times, but the last time we chatted, she really left a mark on me. We were in the middle of a conversation, and she stopped talking and looked at me. After a few seconds, she said...'you are fascinating'! Well, needless to say, I looked around the room, and was trying to figure out who she was talking to, because after all, it could not have been me. After a browse of the surrounding area, I took note of no one else being around, and I said to her: 'who me?', and she replied: 'yes, you!' I about fell off my my chair, and I was completely flattered by the comment. She went onto to say that my interests, education, and job are not typical for a woman. She then said I have had many life altering experiences, and great experiences in general, that have molded me into a well rounded individual. She said I am interesting, and interested in many things in life. She said I am bubbly, and fun to talk to. She said I would be a great person to invite to a dinner party, because I life people, and I am not afraid to strike up a conversation with a stranger. By this time, I was pretty much blown away, and was wearing a smile from ear to ear. Me, little old me, FASCINATING!!!??? This was crazy to me, but so, so wonderful! So, I lived in fascinating for a couple of days. While I just see myself as being ordinary, I was so thrilled that a near stranger described me as fascinating. Whenever I tend to slip into sadness, or momentary depression; whenever I doubt myself, or dont feel like striking up a conversation with a stranger, I think I the word fascinating, and before I know it, I am smiling, and making conversation with anyone near by!

Today's activity: what word best describes YOU

Today I encourage you to think about words that people have used to describe you. Or, think about words that you use to describe yourself. Perhaps there are several words, but you must narrow it down to one word that can easily stay in your mind, or one word that you can easily remember and refer to. Think about all of the wonderful things, NOT negative, that people have ever said about you. These are the things that you need to keep in the forefront of your mind. It is super easy to get down on yourself, and remember negative things that people made have said about you, but what about the positive? I am sure there are many, many, many positive things that people have said about you, and those are the things you need to remember. So once you have your 'word' think of about 4 or 5 things to back that word up, and give it some validity. When times are tough, and you are feeling down, think of your word, and think of the wonderful things that people have ever said about YOU, and you will soon find yourself back on track. After all, I don't see myself as fascinating, but somebody else does!

on NOT able to do...

So as I am getting older, and wiser (HA!), I am seeing that I am becoming more knowledgable in understanding the world. In addition, I feel like I am more of a woman each and every day, and I am able to take on new challenges with ease. In addition, I have had many life experiences, or character building experiences that have made me the person I am today. I am happy to be the person I am, and I have very few regrets in life. Recently while thinking about my life, and how I have gotten to where I am today, I began to think of things that I may be too old for, and not really able to do anymore in life. Well, I mean I guess in reality I can still do them, but I am getting to the age where I really am past these things. The first thing I thought of was going away to college, and staying in a dorm! Truth be told, this is my ONLY regret so far in life. While I did go to college, twice, I never went far away from home, far enough away to stay in a dorm. Who knows, chances are I would have hated the dorm life, but now I am too old to see this thru. I know I can go back to school at any time, as a matter of fact, I just graduated, again, last year, but let's face it... I would probably get some pretty funny looks if I checked into a dorm at age 43! I guess for this one, I will have to live vicariously through my daughter who will be going away to college in no time. The next thing I thought of was being a bridesmaid. While I have been a bridesmaid twice over the past year, I kind of feel like I am at the age where I am too old to put on that satin dress, and walk down the wedding aisle before a friend! Don't get me wrong, I was FLATTERED and HONORED to stand up in my friend's wedding, but I am probably getting too old to walk down as a bridesmaid, without being called OLD! Finally, and probably the most difficult for me, is the possibility of having another child. I mean anything is possible, but I am on getting to the age where I might be referred to as an infants grandmother, rather than a mother! I love being a Mom, and I think I do a fairly half way decent job at it. I have been divorced for many years, and I guess as time has passed by, I always thought I may have another child. Well, my 'baby' is now 16, and as I mentioned, I am 43, so adding an addition to our two-some seems pretty unlikely. Don't get me wrong I feel TRULY BLESSED to have the daughter I have, but I will always live in wonderment about what it would be like to be a Mom to another child. I have to admit, there is a bit of sadness around all of these things, but I have to believe that there are more amazing and wonderful things around the bend for me, and for you, too!

Today's activity: what are you NOT able to do?

Today I encourage you to take inventory of your life, and really think about the events, and things in your life that you have accomplished, as well as, the one's that have passed you by. What are you proud of? What, if anything, do you regret? What is still possible? I'm not going to lie, taking inventory may be difficult, as you may be faced with facing some fears, or coming to terms with time gone by. But keep in mind, while some things may have gotten away from you, it is never to late to look to the future, and dwell in the possibilities of what might be ahead. Perhaps your 'ideal dream(s)' may not have come true, what IS possible for your future? While I may be too old to be a bridesmaid, I am never too old to put on a fabulous dress, and be the prettiest, most confident woman at the wedding! So, what's possible for you?! xo

on different...

For many, many, many years of my life I have had an internal battle with myself about being different. When I was younger, I just to get so angry at myself for perceiving myself to be different than others. On one hand, I embrace my uniqueness, but on the other hand, I have struggled with being a misfit in society. For example, when I was in high school, I used to love funky things; I've always had a short stylish haircut, when most girls had long hair; I wore big earrings, when the norm was small; I wore colorful clothing, when most wore black. I can remember being in my senior year retreat, in high school, when one of the retreat leaders encouraged me to open up, to share myself with others, and to embrace the unique me. Well, one might take that as a huge compliment, and be able to make some personality adjustments pretty quickly, but not me! Nope, I struggled with myself, with my uniqueness for many, many, many years to follow. I has not been until recently, like probably over the 5 to 7 years that I have really been able to embrace the person I am, the unique me. Still, from time to time, I feel like a misfit, but I know at those times I just need to quiet my inner demon, and go with the flow. I know that I am colorful, and smiley, and bubbly, which are all very good qualities, so why would I ever want to change or modify my personality or behavior?!?!? What I have discovered is that society is the party that makes us feel like we stand out like a sore thumb, if we do not look the same way as others, or dress the same way as everyone else, or drive the same car as others drive. It is society that enables us to give our personal power up, and make us feel like we are not good enough, pretty enough, or smart enough to fit in. But what the heck does society know?!?!? Society speaks to us through media, through ads, through trends. Trends come and go, but we we are, who we are inside, is what really sticks around forever. If we can focus on what WE like, or how WE feel, and not be swayed by what society tells us we should like, or how we should feel, we will ultimately be happier. Now that I am in my forties, I realize that I like my clothes, I like my shoes, I like that I am creative, and perhaps think a little bit different than others. But when we break things down, are we really different than anyone else? Are we really different than the person in the ad, or the other people at the party? No, deep down inside, we are all pretty much the same. We do have certain characteristics that make us different than others, but that is what makes us all unique. So embrace, and LOVE who you are! After all, it is a blessing to be just a little be different than the rest!

Today's activity: be different

Today I encourage you to embrace your uniqueness and CHOOSE TO BE DIFFERENT! Look in the mirror, look in your closet, look at your car, look at your likes and dislikes, and embrace them! Just because society tells you can't wear white after Labor Day, you can! After all, who made up that rule anyway? Now don't get me wrong, I am not encouraging you to do something rash like drive on the opposite side of the road, I am merely saying, embrace all of the lovely talents, skills, and beauty that our Higher Power has given you! We were created uniquely out of love, therefore, we need to celebrate our uniqueness. Embrace the little things in life that make you smile, that charge your battery, and that make your world go around...these are the things that make you...YOU! Enjoy...xo!