Endings

Life is like riding a bicycle - 
in order to keep your balance, 

you must keep moving.  

~Albert Einstein

Endings
Very few things in our lives are permanent.  We get comfortable, sometimes more comfortable than we should, so when things change or end, we panic, get unfocused and even can become unmotivated.  We get too attached to the familiarity of situations that sometimes life has to shake it up in for us to keep going on our paths.  We've heard it many times before but it is the truth; endings are just doors to a new beginning.  It's easy to get stuck or shut down when an ending occurs but that's not what its meant to do.  We are supposed to keep going, keep moving forward, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable it may feel at first.  We will never know if something even more fantastic lies ahead for us if we let ourselves get paralyzed in the fear of change.  Realize that although an ending is not always wanted or something that you even saw coming, it can be the greatest blessing if you let it just be.  

Listen

Listen or thy tongue will keep thee deaf. 

~Native American Indian Proverb

Listen
We love to talk and give our opinions about everything to everyone but when was the last time we truly listened to what someone else was saying? More often than not, we are quick to forget that it's not all about us!  Just as we think our experiences need to be shared and our thoughts are the most brilliant ones, there is so much to learn from everyone else that is around us.  The problem is that we usually can't keep quiet long enough to really hear their opinions or stories.  We all can learn from each other but it's hard to do that when we are always trying to interject ourselves into their experience.  Realize that the more we can shush ourselves when others are speaking to us, the more we can learn about them and build stronger relationships.  Sometimes the best thing we can do it to just sit back and listen with our ears instead of our mouths.

Acceptance

Put your future in good hands - your own.  

~Author Unknown

Acceptance
You are who you are.  There is nobody who is exactly like you.  You have talents, gifts and skills to add to this world.  You are a life force, a ball of amazing energy that is constantly connecting to others.  You have thoughts, opinions and a voice in this world.  You matter.  It's time to accept all of these things about you.  It's time that you give yourself some credit.  Stop the negative banter in your head for that's your ego talking and not your truth.  The quicker you embrace your wonderful nature and what you can contribute to this world, the quicker your life will start aligning up for the better.  You have to love yourself, all of yourself, in order for the world to also love you back how you deserve to be loved.  So for today, accept your awesomeness, smile big and walk in your own truth and light.

Nutrition

The trouble with eating Italian food is 

that five or six days later you're hungry again.  

~George Miller

Nutrition
What we put into our bodies will either make us stronger or weaker.  It's that simple.  There is no special trick when it comes to taking care of our bodies but we seldom want to hear or, for that matter, feel what really works for us.  We only get one body and by not listening to it and taking care of it, we are not honoring ourselves or our life purpose.  We know what we need to eat in order to feel more energy, to stay healthy and strong and to be ready for anything that comes our way.  Instead though, most of us eat away our emotions, stuff down food made up of ingredients we can't even pronounce and expose our bodies to anything but the real food that will make us run better and feel great.  


Well, here is your push.  Here is your "no more excuses".  By feeding your body the right nutrition, you are also feeding your soul and the better you will feel about everything in your life.  You will gain focus, clarity, energy and above all, yourself back.  Food is meant to fuel us, to keep us going, to enrich our bodies.  It is not meant to slow us down, make us feel sick to our stomachs or so bloated that we can't move.  If you are not sure where to start, ask for help and watch what guidance comes along to support you.  The time has come to take your nutrition seriously and get your body and soul back on track.  

Sunshine

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, 

always bring your own sunshine.  

~Anthony J. D'Angelo

Sunshine
Sun is good for the soul!  It helps us relax, it feeds vitamin D to our body and it lifts our spirits.  As Astrid Alauda said, "The sun is nature's Prozac".  So go outside and enjoy it today, if even only for a little bit.  It's also a great day to pull your own sunshine along and spread it to everyone you meet.  It's amazing what a little smile, a little warmth and a whole lot of love can do for you and all of those around you.  So on this sunny beautiful day, take a moment to enjoy the benefits of the sun and in turn be the sunshine for those people in your world today too!

Complaints

I will not be as those who spend the day 

in complaining of headache, 

and the night in drinking 

the wine that gives it.  

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Complaints
We all have a million things we could complain about BUT we also have a million things we could be happy and grateful for.  Complaining does nothing for your soul ~ nothing!  It does not help a situation, it does not enrich your life and it certainly doesn't make someone else's day any better.  So before you start on the negative train, think about why you feel a need to go there.  Maybe it's easier than looking at the things that are going well in your life but really, that's just being lazy.  Realize that when you are negative and complain, you create an energy around you that becomes toxic, to you and others.  That certainly isn't worth it!  Now, that doesn't mean you can't complain every now and again, that's being human, but when you make it your daily business to find everything negative with your life and the world, I challenge you to change your perspective.  You'll be amazed how much less there is to complain about when you stop looking for the bad and start looking for the good.  You just might make some more friends along the way too!

Times They Are A Changin'

The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; 

he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me.  

The rest go on with their old measurements 

and expect me to fit them.  

~George Bernard Shaw

Times They Are A Changin'
Wow, has your life felt like a roller coaster ride so far this year. There has been so many highs and so lows that you stopped counting! The one thing that has remained constant is this overwhelming feeling that times are changing and rapidly. There has been a shift in your life, in the universe, and you are feeling a renewed sense of purpose. Despite the struggles, ultimately you know that your life is taking some dramatic shifts to put yourself back on track and in balance. You can sense the change that is inevitable which is exciting and yet a bit scary as well. But there is no need to feel the fear, only the balance, love and opportunities that are now being presented to you. This is a time of great courage, great resolve and great intuition. Embrace the changes that are occurring, lean into the waves of newness that presents itself to you and believe that it will enhance your life in ways you can't even fathom.  For the times they are a changin!


Bob Dylan's Times Are A Changin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCWdCKPtnYE

Chains

Drag your thoughts away from your troubles... 

by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it.  

~Mark Twain

Chains

Have you felt the weight of the world on your shoulders recently?  Or even more so, do you feel that you are constantly repeating the same patterns no matter where you turn?  Today is the day to change that.  Today you will break those chains.  Only you have the power to decide to be free from your past, the hurt and pain, and walk forward in the overwhelming belief that your life is going to get better in leaps and bounds.  Sometimes we are meant to repeat life lessons in order to learn and grow but sometimes the lesson is being able to find our own inner strength and forcing positive changes to occur through our words and actions.  Find those areas in your life that aren't working as you would like.  Look to see what patterns have a hold on you.  Once you realize what they are, break them.  Picture them being lifted off you.  Find the resolve to make those necessary changes in order for your spirit to feel free again.  

Supported

God gave burdens, also shoulders.  

~Yiddish Proverb

Supported
You are not alone, contrary to what you might think or feel.  You are loved and cared about by people here on earth, by your guardian angels and by a much higher power.  It's easy to feel like you are on this journey alone but that is not the truth.  You are supported every single day and in every single moment.  When life is going well and there is reason to celebrate, you are being supported.  When life gets unbearable and burdensome, you are being supported.  Recognize those people in your life who love you, cherish you and will always be there for you.  Sometimes you just need to reach out and say, "I need a shoulder right about now".  But don't discount the help and support coming from your inner soul and the universe too.  We are all connected and sometimes you just need to close your eyes and feel the love coming from a much higher place.  You are, and will always be, supported.  Don't ever forget that.

Meditation

The power of the mind is your power.  Use it.  

Don't let it use you.  

~Terri Guillemets

Meditation
Before the chaos begins and your mind goes in a hundred different directions, always start your day with some peace, gratitude and a little meditation.  Don't be intimidated by that word!  Meditation is just letting yourself quiet down your mind so that you can feel serenity and focus for the day.  Meditation for you may mean thinking of 3 positive things  before you get out of bed.  It could mean playing some soft music while you visual your achieving your goals and dreams.  It may even mean taking as much time as you need either in the morning or at night, to connect with your spirit.  Whichever way you choose, know that if you start to infuse this in your life at least once a day, you will find yourself more focused and calm.  Our minds are incredible, but sometimes they need to be quieted down to hear what our soul is saying.  Connecting to yourself, to the universe and to each other will help you gain joy, perspective and the peace you crave.

Enjoy

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune.  

~Walt Whitman

Enjoy
Life, your life, should be enjoyable.  There are many reasons to celebrate today.  You have been working hard at making positive changes and manifesting wonderful things.  You have planted the seeds to these new beginnings and now you can relax a bit, nurture them, and watch them start to grow!  Breathe a sigh of relief, let go of all the worry and just enjoy this magnificent day.

Manifesting

Every intention sets energy into motion

Whether you are conscious of it or not.

~Gary Zukav

Manifesting
What you desire, hope for, dream about, becomes your reality.  What you fear, worry about or think negatively about also becomes your reality.  You are a powerful being whose intentions and energy shape your journey here.  If you go around being fearful, worrying all the time and going to the "worst case scenario" in your head, then that's the life you will create around you.  Stop before you think about something.  Make sure you are putting a positive spin to your thoughts.  If you desire a new job, yet you question being good enough to get it, then guess what?  You most likely will not get it.  But you if you hold the intention that you are truly worthy of this new job and infuse love into it, then see what happens!  Life gives us what we desire, both good and bad.  We manifest things on a daily basis and yet you complain most of the time about the cards we are dealt.  Instead of lingering on the negative, try stopping those thoughts and truly change them for the better.  You have the power to manifest either your dream life or one that is full of fear.  Try it for one day or even better, one week and see how changing your perspective can make your dreams a reality.

Beyond

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, 

love leaves a memory no one can steal.  

~From a headstone in Ireland

Beyond
When tragedy strikes, you are left paralyzed, speechless and emotionally undone.  You don't understand how or why this could have happened.  You start to question everything including your faith in something greater.  But it's during times of tragedy that we must hold even tighter unto that which we cannot see.  Especially our connections to those we have lost.  Although we can no longer physically hold our loved ones, that doesn't mean we aren't connected to them.  Love cannot be seen but only felt.  Love has built permanent connections that stretch way beyond this realm.  We just need time to quiet our mind in order to see and hear with our spirit and no longer with our eyes and ears.  It's hard to find peace or comfort when there are so many unanswered questions but by holding tightly to the belief in something greater, in connections that can never be severed, in communication that takes on another form, it will eventually ease our pain enough so that we can feel the love again between two souls and really, isn't that what this life is about?  Learning the meaning of love and realizing that it can never end.  Let yourself feel all of your emotions but don't be afraid to let yourself feel the love as well.  For that is when we find our inner peace in the face of great adversity.

A human life is a story told by God.  

~Hans Christian Andersen

Simple

Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough.  

~Author Unknown

Simple
Today's message is short and sweet, keep it simple.  Stop over analyzing, stop getting stuck in your head and start appreciating the simple pleasures of life; sunshine, flowers, laughter of children, humming of the a/c, a day off, a new opportunity, etc.  It doesn't take much to sit back, relax and enjoy all that is simple, so do so!

Acceptance

Accept what you can't change;

change what you can't accept.

~Anonymous

Acceptance
Too often you accept that state of your life. You think that this is the best that it can be.  You get comfortable in the uncomfortable. But who says it has to be this way?  You know that ultimately, you are the only one person in control of your life. If you don't like something, it's time to say enough! Accepting what's beyond your control is important, but if you are just letting life run rampant over you, that is not acceptable ~ so change it.  Nothing is stopping you or holding you back form creating positive change in your life.  Raise your expectations.  Think higher of yourself.  See no boundaries in your future.  Know that you are worthy of a great life.  Once you set the bar higher for yourself and others, your life will rise up to meet you.  So isn't about time you move that bar?

Inner Child

Kids: they dance before they learn

there is anything that isn't music.  

~William Stafford

Inner Child
Your heart has been heavy lately so now it's time to lighten up a bit.  Your inner child is calling you to come out and play!  Do something fun.  Do something that will make your inner child soar and will bring a smile back to your spirit.  Life can be serious but it also can be a giant playground if we let it.  So today, build a sand castle.  Swing on a swing set.  Take a nap in the sun spot.  Draw with chalk on the sidewalk.  Skip along as you walk.  If you have or can be around children, do so.  Let your spirit be light with laughter today.  Happiness is usually the best medicine for the soul.

Broken

Maybe part of loving is learning to let go.  

~From the television show The Wonder Years

Broken
Sometimes there are things in your life that are broken and may not be able to be fixed.  You put band aids on them making them appear to be better than they really are.  Maybe you even begin to believe that this will work.  But somewhere, deep down, you realize that they are broken and that no matter how much you try to fix them, they aren't yours to fix.  Maybe this is the time you need to just let go.  If there are things in your life that aren't helping you grow as a person, then it's time to step aside.  The more you hold on to something that is not letting you flourish and grow, the more stifled you get and after awhile you don't even recognize yourself anymore.  So as you move forward in your life, start to clear away the debris.  Start de-cluttering your space as well as your heart from those items that are becoming obstacles instead of stepping stones.  You must learn to take care of yourself first, to the best of your ability, and mend what's broken in your own life.  That's how you heal.  That's how find your truth.  That's how you reach your full potential.

Giving Up

(A space shuttle at the Air & Space Museum in Northern Virginia)

God brings men into deep waters, 

not to drown them, 

but to cleanse them.  

~John Aughey

Giving Up

It's so much easier to give up then to fight.  How many challenges in your life have you walked away from?  How many missed opportunities have gone by?  How many promises have you not kept?  And why?  Somewhere you decided that it was easier to either throw your hands up or just ignore the obstacles hoping it would fix itself or just "go away".  But life doesn't work like that.  We are presented with challenges almost every single day in order to learn more about ourselves.  Without struggles we would never know how brave we are.  Without embarrassment we would never know how to have grace.  Without pain we would never know how to empathize.  See everything we go through is not random, it has been designed to get us to be aware of our potential.  Challenges are opportunities for us to grow.  It's when we give up on ourselves that we end up repeating cycles, feeling depressed and even lost.  Look at today as an opportunity to change all of that around.  Today is going to be different then any other day before.  Today is the day that we are not going to give up.  We are going to push ahead with everything we have to give.  We will watch how our lives start to transform for the better because we decided that we were worthy of being here.  Even more so, we are worthy to see how much potential we truly have inside of ourselves.

Truths

We hold these truths to be self-evident, 

that all men are created equal, 

that they are endowed by their Creator 

with certain unalienable Rights, 

that among these are Life, 

Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

~The Declaration of  Independence

Truths
We all want a good and productive life, the freedom to pursue it and we want to be happy while going after all of these things.  Sometimes it may feel like to much to go for all at once but we all deserve to be happy, to define our own lives whichever way we choose and to make no apologies for enjoying the ride along the way.  We also deserve to surround ourselves with those who hold similar truths.  Life is too short not to go after your dreams.  Life is to fragile not to embrace and enjoy every moment you have with your loved ones.  Life is not going to wait for you to join it, it will roll you over if you stay still.  As we celebrate our nations independence day, also remember to celebrate your own.  Toast to your truths, never apologize for seizing every day to the fullest and stop pursuing happiness and just be happy already! 

Quality

If you're alone, I'll be your shadow.  

If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder.  

If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow.  

If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile.  

But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me.  

~Author Unknown

Quality
You may be surrounded by many friends and family in your life.  You have a great time with them, a lot of laughs and sometimes even way too much fun.  Having a good time is important.  Smiling is essential for your soul.  Just make sure these relationships you are cultivating are based on quality and not quantity.  You can spend everyday with someone but if the connection is staying on the surface, you are not really getting to know who they are and therefore you are missing out on learning and growing.  The more quality relationships you can have with others (be it one or ten) the more you will fill your heart and soul with even more love and purpose.  People have stories.  They have experiences.  They have something you can learn from them and you have experiences that will help them grow as well.  The next time you make time for another person, make sure it's of substance and quality.  They are worth so much more and so are you.