Say Something

To speak and to speak well are two things.  

A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.  

~Ben Jonson

Say Something

Many times we decide not to say the things we know we need to or even more important what we ought to. We hold back on what we are feeling. We may fumble to try and find the right words and so we end up not saying anything at all. By not speaking though, we run the risk of losing out on opportunities or even on people. The price we pay for not saying something may make all the difference. Don't let this year pass without saying what needs to be said and by doing what needs to be done.

Blocking

You block your dream when you allow 

your fear to grow bigger than your faith.  

~Mary Manin Morrissey

Blocking
No more excuses, it's time to block everything and everyone that doesn't bring positive energy and joy into your space. Stop making it okay to put yourself in an environment where you compromise your values, your feelings and most importantly your precious time. It's okay to say no, to give your time to only that which brings you joy and to block all of that which does not bring you to a better place.

Enjoy

Do not take life too seriously.  

You will never get out of it alive.  

~Elbert Hubbard

Enjoy
Sometimes we get overwhelmed by being pulled in several directions that we forget to just enjoy the moment, the people and the possibilities of each day. Life, although it can seem stressful at times, is not meant to be that serious.  Remember to stop, laugh, enjoy the moment and never fight just going with the flow!

Gifts

Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.  

~Oren Arnold

Gifts
This is the time of year that we truly think about other people.  What they need, what they could use or what they want.  Our goal is to put a smile and some warm cheer into that person's life and to make sure they know that they are thought about and loved.  While you exchange gifts throughout this season, don't forget to give the most important gifts to yourself as well:

1. Peace - stay calm and centered. Don't allow yourself to get stressed even when others may be getting undone around you. Stay in that state of peace.

2. Love - in everything you do, make sure it's out of love.  Love can heal as long as you lead with that intention in every way.

3. Joy - we are meant to have some fun here so kick up your feet and enjoy everything around you, oh and everyone too!

4. Harmony - keep your space a no-drama zone.  There is no time for gossip and drama.  Cut it off quickly when it happens.  Stay in a place of true harmony.  There is only room for that.

5. Hope - always believe that there is something bigger and better waiting for you ~ because there is!

6. Believe - never doubt your power, your intentions and what you can accomplish.  

7. Family - keep your loved ones close and use them for support.  They can and are your biggest cheering section.

8. Faith - never let doubt creep in for even one second that something bigger than you is at work.  When you can sit back, let go and enjoy the ride of life your world will open up tenfold.

9. Dream - never lose hope or sight of living your dream.  That's what you were put here to do.

10. Cherish - take notice and appreciate all that is around you, be it family, friends, pets or precious things.  

11. Wish - surround yourself with positive thoughts and positive outcomes will follow.

12. Noel - take time to celebrate the holiday but remember to celebrate every day as though it was a holiday!

Hurricane

Photo taken by my sister Colleen right after Hurricane Sandy 2012

"Everything's gonna be alright"

~Bob Marley

Hurricane
There comes a time in each of our lives that a hurricane will descend upon us, be it literally or figuratively. We may not be able to get out of its way but we can let it teach us some valuable lessons, especially when we have lost everything that makes us feel safe and secure.  
It can teach us to:
-appreciate our loved ones more
-experience the joy of playing an actual card game again
-learn the art of having deep meaningful conversations
-appreciate a hot shower
-learn how to say I need help!
-reach out to those in need before they have to ask
-respect that which we cannot control, like the weather
-connect to our inner voice without any distractions or noise around us
-open our eyes to what matters, who matters and who shows us that we matter too.

Hurricanes can teach us a lot about life and even more about ourselves. Remember, you can weather any storm as long as you stay calm, stay grounded and stay open to life taking you in a new direction if needed.

Betrayal

The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.  

~Ferdinand Foch

Betrayal
When someone betrays you, it is the most stinging feeling.  It can be paralyzing. You world gets flipped upside down in an instant. You grieve what was and what could have been. Once you know this feeling, you never want it to happen to you again.  

So why do you betray yourself almost every single day? Why do you allow your voice to be diminished?  Why do you allow your contributions to be stifled?  Why do you allow yourself to live in a small way when your heart and soul yearn for a big full life? Why do you let others dictate the direction of your life?  By not speaking your truth, living in the space of true peace with yourself and living present in each moment, well you are in fact betraying yourself. 

This is your moment to pause and say, enough! Let your soul guide you. Let your inner voice show you the way. Have faith that no matter what decision you make, if YOU make it with the best of intentions for you, everything will be okay. You know who you are.  You know what you are capable of. It's time to shed the armor and show the world your greatness.

Shutdown

SHUTDOWN;

— n
1.	a. the closing of a factory, shop, etc
	b. ( as modifier ): shutdown costs
— vb
2.	to cease or cause to cease operation
3.	( tr ) to close by lowering
4.	( tr ) (of fog) to descend and envelop
5.	informal  ( intr; foll by  on or  upon ) to put a stop to; clamp down on

Shutdown

Times such as these makes you want to point the finger and say that you would be doing things differently, like compromising, instead of being so immovable if only it were you in that situation. Before you go ahead and do that though, stop and take a step back.  Take a good hard look at where maybe you have decided to be shutdown in your own life. What areas have you become so immovable about?  What in your life have you chosen not deal with?  What situations or feelings have you chosen to hold on to so tightly that it's making your life toxic?  

Don't point out what others should be doing anymore ~ you be the walking, living, breathing example of what being open looks like, feels like and sounds like.  Stop building your own walls.  Stop being so defensive.  Stop being so angry.  Stop making excuses.  Stop retreating. Stop waiting for someone else to fix it. Stop chipping away at your integrity.  

Learn how to tear down you own walls. Learn how to be vulnerable. Learn how to find peace from listening. Learn that it's okay to ask for help. Learn that you are not the only one that brings ideas to the table. Learn that there is a difference between having values and judging. Learn how to truly love who you are, no excuses, no strings attached and certainly no parameters.

Comfort

You don't choose your family.  

They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.  

~Desmond Tutu

Comfort

There are times in your life when you need to give comfort to those in need.  Then there are times in your life when you are the one who needs to be comforted.  It's in these times that you see the true face of humanity and compassion.  Let yourself be open to receiving all forms of support. Let someone give you strength when you can't muster up your own.  Let someone provide you a shoulder to rest when you are too tired to keep your head up. Allow your heart to feel all of the love that is surrounding you and never underestimate the capacity of another human being to lift you up in a time of great pain.  

Roar

I got the eye of the tiger, the fire, dancing through the fire

cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me ROAR

~lyrics from Katy Perry's song "Roar"

Roar
You have sat silent long enough. It's time to let your voice be heard. You matter in this world. Your thoughts matter.What you do matters. How you feel matters. What you say matters. Do not let yourself be silenced. Do not let the fear of change stop you. Listen to the fire within and finally let yourself roar!

Take It All In

The place you are right now

God circled on a map for you.

~Hāfez

Take It All In
We are going at such a fast pace most of the time that we rarely take the moments to stop and feel the full impact of where we are, what we are doing or who we are interacting with. In the hastiness of trying to accomplish so much, we numb ourselves to our daily interactions or just see certain accomplishments as a quick thing we were able to do and now on to the next thing! Not stopping to connect to what you are doing is cheating yourself out of having the full experience of life. Not being fully present in any given moment robs you of the true happiness and connection that you were meant to feel.  It's time to show up in all that you do and not only be present in the moment but take it all in. Let yourself feel connected to each second. By doing this you not only connect to the moment but to everything around you and you will walk away with a heart full of joy.  

One Thing at a Time

Between saying and doing many a pair of shoes is worn out.  

~Italian Proverb

One Thing at a Time
Sometimes life hits us with so much at once that we don't know what to do or where to start. We can even get paralyzed by our list of to-do's and then become the opposite of productive. It is in these moments that we must tackle what we can first before we try and handle anything else. When you can accomplish the biggest task that is on your list, all of the other ones will fall right into place. Don't look at the entire list at once, just go one by one and feel the accomplishment of finishing each one. The more you can stay positive and feel yourself being productive, the more you will be. Remember, nothing is worth the stress ~ nothing.  Do what you can and do it to the best of your ability. And remember to have a great day while accomplishing all of your goals!

Having it All

I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything 

they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer.  

~Jim Carrey

Having it All
Lots of times we look at the lives of celebrities or really successful people and we envy their life, the cars they drive, the houses they own and the vacations they seem to endlessly take.  But how do we know they are really happy?  What if it's just "more stuff" that they have but just as big of a hole in their heart as everyone else?  What can fill that  space?  How about love!  How about filling your own life with hope, happiness and above all love for yourself, for those around you and for life in general.  Maybe that's the true key to having it all.  Maybe it's not about what you accumulate or how much you can stuff inside of your closets but how much love you can stuff in your heart.  Maybe just maybe love is the only things we need to feel whole, successful and truly happy.  Try it on, it just might be the perfect fit!

Fun.

If it's not fun why do it?

~Ben & Jerry's brand motto

Fun.
It's time to infuse some fun…period!  You work hard but you also need to enjoy life.  When you only work to live you are actually doing just the opposite, you are working to survive and that's not what you are supposed to be doing.  Working is a part of life BUT 1.) if you love what you do it doesn't feel like work and 2.) if you take time to play then you will certainly enjoy your days more.  So find something that brings you joy, that makes you smile and go have some real fun for once!  

Evening Quiet

Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak. 

~Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati

Evening Quiet
Every evening there is a space after you get home from work, or put the kids to bed or just collapse on the couch that there is a quiet and a stillness that surrounds you.  Normally we quickly fill that silence with turning on the TV, getting lost on the internet or calling someone to chat.  The next time you go to do that though, stop for a moment and let yourself feel the quiet and stillness.  Take a few breaths and relax into the moment.  Let your mind, body and soul decompress from going a hundred miles a minute.  You owe it to yourself to go into that sacred place of stillness only for yourself.  This is where you will recharge your batteries, get centered and feel connected to yourself.  Don't let a day go by where you are to busy to stop and enjoy the miracle of stillness in your life.

Our Greatest Fear

Our Greatest Fear

by Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

-----------------

If we all just got out of our own way, we would be unstoppable!  It's our fear that holds us back, plain and simple.  Take away the fear and you take away any self doubt with it.  It's time we all stop concentrating on why we can't do something and instead say why not me!  ~Mary

I Dare You

The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.  

~Author Unknown

I Dare You
I dare you to
…dream bigger than what you have envisioned for yourself.
…reach beyond your comfort zone in every situation.
…be flexible with life and with people.
…learn to listen more than you speak.
…say thank you to everyone who does something nice for you.
…walk tall with your head high throughout the day.
…speak out first and let your voice be heard.
…be a mentor to someone who needs it. 
…help before someone needs to ask.
…take care of yourself in every way.
…never lose your values.
…learn a new skill.
…say I love you at every moment you get.
…strive to be a better person with every breath.
…just be you ~ the best version of you!

Be Responsible

You must take personal responsibility. 

You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, 

but you can change yourself. 

~Jim Rohn

Be Responsible
You, and solely you, are responsible for the energy your put out into the world.  The words you choose to say, your attitude towards others and they way you live your life are all a reflection of the energy you choose to exude.  If it's positive, then you will feel love and peace in all you do.  If it's negative, then you create chaos, drama and toxicity within yourself and your environment.  Other people are not responsible for that, only you are.  It's time to take ownership and stop pointing fingers at other people for your bad attitude, for your misfortunes and for your bad choices.  If you are blessed to take the next breath then in the same second you can also take responsibility and start to move forward in a more productive way.  It's time to take responsibility over your life.

Turn the Corner

There is no telling how many miles you will have to run 

while chasing a dream. 

 ~Author Unknown

Turn the Corner
You have come to a place in your life where it's time to turn the corner.  By going completely in another direction you will change the trajectory of your life for the better.  If you continue to stay on the safe path, well you stop challenging yourself and without stretching your comfort zone you cannot grow.  Don't just peek around the corner, turn into it with excitement, enthusiasm and determination.  Don't second guess it and don't ask for permission to do it.  It's time to experience the next chapter of your life so go ahead and turn that corner.

Better Choices

(Picture from Iyanla Vanzant's page and her tweet is what inspired this DP)

Life is the sum of all your choices.  

~Albert Camus

Better Choices
Often times you see a parent or teacher putting a child in "timeout" because they were making a choice that was either hurting them or someone else either physically or emotionally.  Well, it's not just children that need a space to reflect, adults need one to ~ maybe even more than kids!  When you do something wrong, do you step away and take the time to think about what you could have done differently?  Do you apologize when you should?  Do you change your approach?  Do you learn and move forward or do you get stuck in the past?  The more we can start to recognize when we need a timeout and give ourselves the chance to reflect and hit the reset button, the more we can start to make better choices every single day in our lives.

Passion

Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night.

~Terri Guillemets

Passion
What are you passionate about? What in life motivates you? What is your driving force or do you even know?  Now is the time to figure it out! When you know what your passionate about, then you can focus and align yourself with a goal and there will be no stopping you from being successful. Your talents and skills are constantly tugging at you to pay attention. The more you can believe in them and in your passion, the more connected you will be to everything! Don't just do things because you feel stuck, you are afraid or feel you have to. It's time to ignite that fire within and follow that path.

Choices

Scars are tattoos with better stories.  

~From a Toyota advertisement

Choices
Every day you are filled with choices from what to wear to who you interact with.  Decisions are being made constantly that project you on many different paths.  Have you ever stopped to think about how your choices are really creating your future though?  Whether big choices like taking a new job or smaller choices like picking out what socks to wear, every choice you make is creating your story.  So what are you trying to tell that world then?  What are you creating for yourself and everyone else to see?  Are the choices you are making truly reflect your character or even better, your soul?  Before you make another decision, take the time to stop and reflect if that choice is really what you want to put on your storyboard of life.

Joy

You were born with wings, 

why prefer to crawl through life? 

~Rumi

Joy
Every single day there is something that happens, no matter how "small", that can bring you a bundle of joy. That's right, a bundle.  Joy is endless.  It doesn't have boundaries.  From something that makes you smile to something that makes you cry from laughing so hard, joy is all around us.  Even in our darkest moments there is some joy to be found.  Don't let today go by without stopping to acknowledge that which makes your heart sing.  If we always looked for the joy and not the fear, your world would open up beyond your imagination.    

Lean Back

You block your dream when you allow your fear 

to grow bigger than your faith.  

~Mary Manin Morrissey

Lean Back

When a stressful situation (or any situation that makes you feel uneasy) finds itself swirling around you ~ lean back and let the energy keep moving on by you.  If you don't let it pass, you will absorb this energy and it will bring you down.  You won't be able to focus on a solutions when stricken with fear or anxiety.  Once you learn to lean back and let it pass by you instead of sticking to you, you can then see it for what it is and with it, a clear solution and a path to proceed forward on.  

Unagi

[Episode of Friends: Rachel and Phoebe have Ross pinned to the ground after he tried to scare them back] 

Rachel: Say it. Say we are unagi. 

Ross: It's not something you are, it's something you have! 

Unagi
Did you ever have a connection with someone that knows what you are thinking before you even do?  They seem to connect to you on a level beyond the surface.  They know when you are truly happy or upset.  They call you when you are not feeling up to facing the world just because they "sensed" that something was wrong.  These are our Earth Angels.  They are in our lives to teach us that not everything can be seen.  Sometimes we need to believe in the power of connections no matter where we are or what we are doing.  Cherish these relationships for what they are, a way to bring us closer to each other, ourselves and the universe.

This Daily Pearl is dedicated to my Unagi partner in crime, Lisa Slomin.  Thank you for always being one step ahead of me and looking out for me always.

Curve Ball

We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, 

only to learn that it is God who is shaking them.  

~Charles C. West

Curve ball
Life has a way of throwing us curve balls, sometimes multiple ones all at once. We can choose to either get paralyzed by the obstacles or use them as motivation to get closer to knowing who we really are. Every single challenge is a lesson, a life lesson. When you choose not to learn ~ you are choosing not to grow and ultimately that is what we are put on this earth to do. That is our job. Everything is there to teach us more about ourselves, our values, how we connect to the world around us and ultimately, how we view ourselves in the bigger picture of life. It's not always smooth sailing nor perfect but it teaches us how to hit the curve balls in the right direction when they're coming 90 miles at us!

Backbone

Illegitimi non carborundum 

Latin for:

"Never let the bastards grind you down"

Backbone
There comes a time in your life when you have to put aside your funny bone and let your backbone shine. That doesn't mean that you must flex your muscle around just to prove a point. Finding your backbone means that you know what's right and what will work for you and you are going to finally go for it. It might be scary but what is it that you are really afraid of? Is it that you are finally finding your voice and making your way in the world based on your rules and nobody else's?  Well if that's the case then know you are headed in the right direction. It's time to live the life you have dreamed of. No apologies necessary.

This Daily Pearl is inspired by words of wisdom from my friend Joy DeDonato who always knows what's going on beyond the surface, even when you don't.

Awards

The only people with whom you should try to get even 

are those who have helped you.  

~John E. Southard

Awards
Lately it seems that you can't turn the TV on without seeing some kind of award show.  Actors, singers,  directors, writers and the like spend this time of year celebrating the best in their respective fields.  But what about all of the other heros in their fields like the best teachers, advisors, doctors, partners, parents, etc.  No, there may never be an actual awards show for these categories but that doesn't mean we can't honor all of the people in our own lives that make us better.  Let's all take some time to say thank you to those who have cared for us, loved us, shared with us, supported us, healed us, laughed with us and gave us an open door to walk through.  They deserve an award and even if it's not a trophy, a simple acknowledgement of how they made our lives better will certainly brighten theirs.  

Keep Going

Give thanks for what you are now, 

and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow.

~Fernanda Miramontes-Landeros

Keep Going
Life can get hard sometimes.  It might even get overwhelming and frustrating but never let that stop you.  You were meant to keep going in a forward motion.  Whenever you feel like you just want to collapse or say I can't....stop yourself.  Nothing that happens is meant to derail you from your path.  Everything is a lesson that builds upon itself to make us stronger, more connected and see life in much broader scale.  So remember to keep going no matter what challenges present themselves to you.  Don't ever stop evolving!

Birthdays

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey 

around the sun.  Enjoy the trip.  

~Author Unknown

Birthdays
Every year you get one day that is designated as "your" special day ~ your birthday.  Maybe you choose to celebrate it in a big way or maybe you choose to be quiet about it but either way, you do feel something special that day.  The challenge is to take that feeling and let it follow you every day throughout the year.  You should feel loved, special and cared for more than one day a year and it starts with you.  Honor yourself.  Take care of yourself.  Treat yourself well all of the time.  You deserve it far more often than just on your birthday.  Start today in finding what's special every single day of your life and that will make every day a reason to celebrate!

30 Seconds

Dance......Dance or your fired!

~Meredith Grey, Grey's Anatomy

30 Seconds
What can you accomplish in 30 seconds? That's easy, a dance party! You take yourself way to seriously most of the time. Life is meant to enjoy, have fun and let loose, at least some of the time anyway. Allowing yourself to turn up the music and let yourself have a 30 second dance party is the cure for the most stressful situations. Nothing is worth getting anxiety or losing sleep over.  Find your inner rhythm and give yourself the opportunity to just dance! It will bring a smile to your face and put everything back in perspective.

Compromise

Life is a compromise of what your ego wants to do, 

what experience tells you to do, and what your nerves let you do.  

~Bruce Crampton

Compromise
Over the last few weeks we have heard a lot about compromising. We look to our leaders to be able to step aside and find common ground. Well, where do we need to show some compassion, understanding and compromise in our own lives?  It's easy to look at someone else or another situation and point out where compromise can be made. It's more difficult when the person who needs to compromise is us! But if we are open to seeing the need for it in other areas, there is also a great need for it in our own personal lives. Compromise doesn't mean we give up our values, it means we see the bigger picture and are willing to give a little for the greater good. Most of the time what we find is by giving a little, we gain much more in return, even though it's hard to see at the time. By finding compromise where we can and we will also find the much needed peace we all seek.

Resolutions

One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this:  

To rise above the little things.

~John Burroughs

Resolutions
It's easy this time of year to come up with a list of resolutions that you feel will make your life better. Whether it is working out, eating healthy, balancing your life or even stopping a bad habit, you feel more motivated this time of year to finally work on improving your life. That is a good thing! But did you forget to put "YOU" at the top of resolution list?  The "you" being referred to is not the physical shell of who you are but the spiritual being that lies inside. By putting your spirit at the top of your list, you will automatically work on all of the other things. Feeding, nurturing and healing your inner self is the best gift you can give to the one person who matters most, you! Remember, doing the work to find your inner peace is hard but it's worth every moment of your time.