Upgrade

He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul's estate.  

~Henry David Thoreau

Upgrade
We all need to upgrade be it the technology we use, the clothes in our closet, our hairstyles or even our jobs.  Upgrading is a way to improve upon our lives.  While we spend time improving our "outer" selves though, we cannot forget that the biggest upgrade we can do is to be constantly updating our very own spirit.  Improving upon our inner soul is the way to truly grow in leaps and bounds.  Getting to know who we are, what we like, what we are good at and who we want to spend time with all leads to us living a much healthier and fulfilling life.  Giving ourselves the time to soak in new knowledge, read inspirational books, learn healthier ways to eat, discover new exercises or ways to relieve our stress all leads to our spirits growing.  By allowing ourselves to connect deeper to our inner spirit and get to know ourselves better, that's when we shine the most.  Let's not forget to take the time to upgrade our "inner" self as much as we upgrade our "outer" self.

Plans

I plan on living forever. So far, so good.

~Author Unknown

Plans

You have gotten yourself psyched up and ready to go. Then plans change in an instant and you have to adapt accordingly. How many times in your life does this happen? How many times must you shift in order to move forward? Probably a lot! Well plans are just that. Something we are hoping to do but because of many different reasons, most of the time they get altered in some shape or form. Does this mean we shouldn't ever make plans? No, it just means that we must plan but remain flexible. Life is unpredictable and when your plans consist of other people, they get even more unpredictable. Maybe there was a reason for the change that's even bigger than you can see. When you learn to adapt to life, to situations, to changing plans, you will learn to be more peaceful when other situations needs some flexibility too.

Something to Say

In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.

--Pastor Martin Niemöller, 1945

Something to Say

You have a voice. You have an opinion. You have something to say and it's time that you broke out of your silence and start taking the reins over situations that are within your control. Many people may have tried to stifle your voice along the way telling you that your opinion does not matter, how you feel does not matter, what you say does not matter. Well these are all lies. Nobody has your experience, your thoughts, your heart or your spirit. This alone gives you a unique perspective on life. Find the strength from deep inside to let your voice be hear.

You know when someone is out of line ~ say something.

You know when someones is not speaking the truth ~ say something.

You know when your values are being questioned ~ say something.

You know when it's time to say enough ~ say something.

You know when someone has crossed the line ~ say something.

You know when another person is being wrongly accused ~ say something.

You know when you have more experience to lend to the conversation ~ say something.

Stop standing idly by. You have a strong voice that is meant to be heard. It's time to say something!

Stop

Without enough sleep,

we all become tall two-year-olds.

~JoJo Jensen, Dirt Farmer Wisdom, 2002

Stop

It's okay to stop going at a hundred miles an hour. It's okay to put down your work and take a breath. It's okay to get in your pajamas early and cuddle up with your favorite pillow pet. You deserve to turn off everything, unplug from the world and just be. You have recently given more than your share of energy, time, commitment and stamina. It is now your time to relax and recuperate so that you can be recharged in the morning. You deserve a night of peace and rest.

Learn

You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.

~Clay P. Bedford

Learn

One of the greatest treasures of life is that you never stop learning. Whether you are in school or not, life is our greatest teacher. You learn from so many situations, whether it's from each other or what we read or hear. Learning makes us grow as individuals. Learning makes us aware of what's happening in the world around us. It keeps us connected to something bigger, something greater then just our own little sphere. If you feel that you have "stopped" learning then you are truly giving yourself a disservice. You deserve knowledge and to expand your world. You deserve to be a sponge and to soak in everything life has to show you and experience. Never stop being a student of life!

Release

There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go.

~Author Unknown

Release

Why are you still holding on to that which no longer serves you or is not yours to keep? What is it about this current situation that has you grasping so tightly to it that you can't fathom letting go? What would happen if you finally released it? Well, the truth is that the universe would rush in to support you. When we hold on to something that we are not meant to, it sucks up all of our energy and attention. We cannot completely move forward until we are able to put down the baggage we have been carrying around for days, weeks or even years. Releasing these burdens from your heart will allow that space to be filled by something much greater. Releasing the pain, anguish, fear or anxiety about a certain situation or person allows us to see it more clearly. We gain a sense of freedom we could not feel before and that makes us more able to cope with life.

Your Story

Trouble is part of your life, and if you don't share it, you don't give the person who loves you enough chance to love you enough.

~Dinah Shore

Your Story

Each one of us has a story to tell, a life experience to share but how many of us actually tell it? What you've gone through is important. What you've learned is priceless and by sharing these tough situations with another soul, you can help heal their spirit. Who knows, you might even help to heal yours even more. Don't every be ashamed of your past or what's currently going on in your life. Discussing life situations and connecting to other people is why you are here. If you never reached out, if you never told your story to anyone, then you have given yourself the greatest disservice. Be proud of your voice, be honest about what you know to be true for you and share your experiences with those in your life that are ready to hear it. Go on, it's time to tell your story to the world.

Body Care

Health is a

relationship between

you and your body.

~Terri Guillemets

Body Care

You haven't been listening to your body lately have you? Your food choices went from all natural and cooked the night before to whatever you can grab in five minutes. The most exercise you've been getting is walking from your office to the car and coffee has become not just a morning friend but an afternoon and evening one as well. You feel sluggish, bloated and tired and you wonder why! You know better so it's time to take control back of your wellness. Taking care of yourself is not just about making money and spending time with loved ones. It's just as important, if not more, to take care of your body. If you don't have your health, you have nothing. Start listening to what your body needs and treat it with as much kindness and care as you would something that's priceless because it is. Stop making excuses, stop looking for motivation and stop thinking of it as work. Give your body the time and attention it deserves!

Traditions

(me and my sisters on Christmas morning. One of my favorite traditions!)

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

~Buddha

Traditions

Ah the word traditions! Every person has grown up with them or has created them and you my friend are no exception. Some traditions may make you feel all warm and cozy. Like getting into your pajamas when you get home from work or seeing your friends for dinner every friday night. These we cherish and want to continue on. Some traditions may not bring so much joy to you but out of obligation (and some guilt) you feel that you need to go through with them anyway. Well, maybe not so much anymore. Traditions are created out of love (or should be). If you are not feeling that then it's time to create a new one! You have spent so much time and energy making sure you are a part of these obligations yet you end up stressed, tired and even sick. What for? Is that something you need to be doing then? Changing it up might disappoint some people. They may not understand your needs right now. But that's okay. They are not living your life and they are not feeling the same burdens. It's time to put down the guilt once and for all and start living a life full of traditions that bring you a deeper sense of meaning and fulfillment. Embrace the ones you love and create new ones for the those that no longer bring you joy.

Wow

Life is not measured by

the number of breaths we take

but by the moments that take our breath away.

~Anonymous, attributed to Hilary Cooper, used by George Carlin

Wow

What in life amazes you? What takes your breath away? What makes you stop in your tracks in total awe? Maybe it's the beauty of nature that sneaks up on you as you are walking through the parking lot. Maybe it's watching your baby belly laugh for the first time. Maybe it's a total stranger looking you right in the eye with a smile that goes straight to your soul. Maybe it's the double stuffed oreo snack pack that you have been waiting all day to eat. Or maybe, just maybe, it's when you do something that utterly amazes yourself like reaching a goal you never thought you could.

There are so many wow moment to behold. Are you opening your eyes wide enough to see them? Or are you missing them because you are too focused on looking towards the ground? Pay attention today. Don't miss all of the wow moments that are happening all around you. Stop. Look up. Take a moment. Realize that you have already had one major wow moment so far today ~ you woke up! Wow moments are just that, the things in life that make you realize that the world if far bigger and greater than you can ever imagine. So go on and have a day full of wow moments!

Soulmate

In a soulmate we find not company but a completed solitude.

~Robert Brault

Soulmate

When two beings connect on a deeper level, we refer to them as a soulmate. They can finish our sentences, share the same values and most of the time, understand what we are going through without having to say a word. But a soulmate is more than just that. It's knowing that you share something much more spiritual. They sense when you are in need, they love you unconditionally and they make sure you feel supported even in your darkest hours. They also lift you up, believe in you sometimes more than you believe in yourself and make you an overall better person. A soulmate does not just have to be your partner in life. It can be a friend, a family member or even a beloved pet. Who in your life is your soulmate? Have you told them how special they are to you? Have you let them know that you are a better person because of knowing them? Take the time today to send a special message to those soulmates in your life that have made all the difference.

Chin Up

I wish I was a glow worm,

A glow worm's never glum.

'Cos how can you be grumpy

When the sun shines out your bum!

~Author Unknown

Chin Up

Situations in life are going to occur that may not be so pleasant. It's not what you envisioned or may have even wanted but you find yourself in the middle of yet another life challenge! This is the time that it's most important to keep your chin up and your eyes focused on the future. You may not know why life is unfolding as it is but there is a reason for it far greater than what you can fathom. So instead of giving in to the temptation to be grumpy, complain and let it ruin your day, find what you can be grateful for. You will soon find that your list of positive things far outweigh the negative ones and that alone can make you smile from ear to ear. There is no reason not to feel good today and be thankful that you are lucky enough to have such problems. It sure beats the alternative!

Power Through

I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.

~T.S. Eliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

Power Through

Some days are just tough to start. It's hard to wake up and even harder to motivate yourself to actually get out of the bed. It's only a few minutes into your day and you're already looking forward to climbing back into bed tonight. Stick a fork in yourself because you just feel done.

Well, you have to get up and function even on your not so great days so what do you do? You learn to power through! Find your energy and motivation from deep within. You don't have to be full of energy every day, all day but you do deserve to give yourself the best day possible despite how you feel in the morning. Before you pick up that cup of coffee to get you started, take a few minutes and center your thoughts and your spirit. Acknowledge that today is going to be a bit harder and that's okay. Acknowledge that you are going to do the best you can today and be gentle on your body because it obviously needs some more rest in order to feel more alive. Acknowledge that maybe you can't be everything to everybody but you can be kind to yourself. That's powering through.

Legacy

Don't live down to expectations. Go out there and do something remarkable.

~Wendy Wasserstein

Legacy

What is it that makes you unique?

What do you have to offer the world that no one else has?

How can you leave the world better than you found it?

You are here for more than just to exist, we all are. You are meant to leave your mark on this world, not just survive in it. You know what you are capable of inside, you can feel it deep within. You know what you are passionate about. You know what you're good at. You know what skills you have to offer. It's time you put them all together and start thriving. The more you put your energy into changing your life and others for the better, the more your world will expand and explode with such abundance. By truly giving, you gain a beautiful life and that's more than just making your mark, that's leaving a legacy.

Patterns

When patterns are broken,

new worlds emerge.

~Tuli Kupferberg

Patterns

We spend most of our lives repeating patterns. Oh does this get so gosh darn tiresome! Patterns are just that though. Situations in our lives that keep repeating (usually not pleasant) and extremely energy draining. Why do they repeat on us? The answer is simple, because we have not learned from them yet! The only way to break a pattern is to face it, head on. Breaking a pattern is not easy. It usually requires us facing our deepest fears and pulling back the layers of who we are to get to the core of the problem. If we can go there though, we will find the peace and serenity we are all so badly looking for and thus finally break the pattern. If we keep ignoring these situations in our lives that keep showing up over and over again, if we keep running from the truth of our patterns then we will never fully grow or reach our potential. Look at them, listen to what they are trying to teach you about yourself, learn from them and live a happier life! Patterns are our ultimate teachers in life. Embrace what they can teach you.

Boundaries

To free us from

the expectations of others,

to give us back to ourselves -

there lies the great,

singular power of self-respect.

~Joan Didion

Boundaries

There are times that you are tested, pulled, or pushed. People will try and take your power away by telling how to be, what to do and how to do it. It is in these times that you need to find your inner power and create boundaries for yourself and others. Boundaries are just that, places where another is only allowed to go if you let them. If you learn how to use boundaries in the right way, you will protect yourself from other peoples projections, anger and opinions. No one is the ruler of you. No one can take away your power ~ well only if you let them. Too often it is easy to let it go, to relinquish it over to a "stronger" personality. But this action only makes you suffer more. Don't confuse building walls with having boundaries. "Walls" are built because you have had a painful experience and you refuse to let your heart get hurt again. "Boundaries", on the contrary, are what you place around your spirit so that you let only love in. Others will clearly feel what they can or can't get away with when it comes to your time, your feeling and your experiences. Setting boundaries with family, friends, co-workers, children, pets, etc. is one of the healthiest things you can do to make sure you never lose your inner power and strength. Take a look at your life. Where do you feel that you've lost control; that your opinions don't matter; that someone else is ruling your life? Start putting up some much needed boundaries out of love today and watch how your inner voice and strength come rushing forward.

Integrity

(Pic by my sister, Colleen)

Your life may be

the only Bible

some people read.

~Author Unknown

Integrity

Who you are matters.

What's at the core of your spirit matters.

What you say matters.

How you walk through life matters.

What you do matters.

Who you inspire matters.

How you react matters.

Who you surround yourself with matters.

How you think and feel matters.

What you project out into the world matters.

How you conduct yourself matters.

How you live matters.

You cannot put a price on your integrity or character. Live in a way that you never have to apologize for who you are, how you feel and how you live.

Cautious

A ship in harbor is safe - but that

is not what ships are for.

~John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic

Cautious

What makes us cautious in life? Why is it that we miss experiences because we are too busy worrying about them instead of partaking in them? Maybe it's because the idea makes us uncomfortable or maybe it's just fear that is creating this invisible wall between us and life. It's not bad to be cautious of people and situations. That's normal and it's protection from getting hurt. Being cautious is just fine. Letting yourself remain paralyzed is not. There are so many things to see, experience, enjoy and be a part of in life that you have to find a way to know when it's just fear of the unknown that is stopping you. Sometimes you just need a little push in order to take flight. Here is your push!

Procrastination

To think too long

about doing a thing

often becomes

its undoing.

~Eva Young

Procrastination

There are some small and big things in your life that you have been procrastinating getting around to completing. Putting something off is what most of us do but when you keep saying that you'll get around to it "someday" is usually when that someday never comes. You have missed out on some great experiences and opportunities waiting for someday. Well not anymore! Your someday has now arrived. Stop waiting and just finish what you started or take control of that in which you let go to the way side. Don't waste anymore precious time and don't waste your life procrastinating those tasks, jobs, experiences and commitments that you have lingering out there. Life doesn't like loose ends and neither do you. Stop putting it off and go for broke today!

Leadership

Leadership is action, not position.

~Donald H. McGannon

Leadership

You are a leader. Let me repeat that, you are a leader. Every single one of us has leadership skills and potential and you are no exception. A leader is someone who has a vision and acts on that vision. Whether you are a leader at work, in your home or most important, to yourself, you need to start seeing yourself as someone who has control over your own destiny. Within yourself their is strength, courage, caring and a voice. You have something to contribute to this world greater than what you can even imagine. The time has come for you to look in the mirror and see yourself as the true leader you are meant to be. Start taking ownership over your life, find your voice outside of yourself and help lead both yourself and others into greatness!