Commas

 

Commas

Most of us view situations that happen in our lives as permanent.  A door closes and that’s it, or so we think. We do not see that our life is unfolding as a continuation of our thoughts and choices. We move on from situation to situation without seeing the thread that connects it all together. We view our lives in periods where commas ought to be instead.  Commas show us there is a connection between everything we do, everything we say, and what we put out there into the world. It also shows us that we are connected to each other, so when we hurt others, we are truly hurting ourselves as well. Learn to lean into the commas of your life, they will make you a better human.

Masks

Masks

Halloween is a perfect day to be someone else. We dress up and take on a new persona. When in reality, we do that every single day of our lives. We walk around wearing different masks for different people. Why do we do this? To protect ourselves, mostly our heart, from getting hurt so we put on these protective layers. We choose to show the world a version of ourselves and very few, if any, get to see who we really are.

But what would happen if we showed up as ourselves all day, every day? What would happen if we start living our life in such a way that our inside matches our outside? What would happen if we start living authentically, not afraid to be who we were meant to be? Most likely, our world would open up in miraculous ways because we are finally being true to ourselves. When you show up in the world as you, pathways open up, opportunities present themselves and your life becomes in alignment with your soul. 

Try it. Take off the mask. See how life unfolds. You just may realize that you never needed to wear it in the first place.

Missing

 

Missing

When you love another person, that love gets interwoven into every single fiber of your being. When they are no longer here with you, the love is still there but it just feels so different. It becomes this bittersweet sadness that you carry every single day. You long to hear their voice one more time.  You wish you hugged them tighter when you had the opportunity. You live in this constant state of flux in your mind going from past memories to the present and realizing over and over again that they are no longer here. 

It's amazing how the mind works. It can protect us fiercely but at the same time it can trick us into thinking we are not in our own reality. It may ease over time, that's what is said, but maybe it's really more like this sadness becomes more familiar to you. It may never lessen over time, instead it may change as you continue to carry it with you ... and maybe that's not a bad thing. Maybe, just maybe, that feeling is the reminder of how much we miss this person and ultimately, how much we can now understand the depth in which we loved.

Connection

Connection

Our connections are so important to our well being. Having those souls we connect with makes us feel grounded and like we are not alone in this experiment called life. Whether it's family, friends, partners, or even pets, having that bond makes us feel connected to something greater ... because we are. We are here at this time, living through our experiences to learn not just life lessons but soul lessons as well. We are more alike than we realize and by seeing ourselves in others, we see humanity in all. That's the connection that binds us. That's the universal experience we are all having and to be able to talk to someone about that, well that's priceless. Use today as your catalyst to replug back into your life and your connections.
 

Boundaries

Boundaries

It's time you set clear and unmistakable boundaries. You want more time in your day? Set boundaries. You want to be able to infuse the things you want to do in life? Set boundaries. You want to not be taken advantage of? Set boundaries. You want healthy fulfilling relationships and friendships? Set boundaries.

Boundaries are about your personal space and what you allow and do not allow in that area. If you don't like something about your life or a person or a situation, it's time to set those boundaries and change the narrative. The only person you ever have control over is you. Let me say that again for the people in the back ...

THE ONLY PERSON YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER IS YOU!

If you don't like what's happening in or around your life know you have the power, and have all along, to make a different choice. Setting clear and intentional boundaries protects your space and it also gives permission for others to do the same. It's about time you stop allowing negative vibes and bad behavior into your personal space. It's time to boundary up!

When You Understand

When You Understand

When you understand that life is not what you can get but what you give...

When you understand that there is enough room in this world for all to succeed ...

When you understand that being human and kind serves all humankind ...

When you understand that lifting others lifts yourself as well ...

When you understand that we are all collectively having a human experience ...

  ... well then you understand that we are all connected to each other. 

It is our job to lift each other up. It's our job to provide assistance wherever we can. It's our job to make sure we are leaving a positive impact on this world. It's our job to take care of each other.

It's just that simple.

Stand in Your Power

 

Stand in Your Power

For too long you went along to get along.  For too long you put other people before yourself. For too long you have acquiesced to situations, even when it meant silencing yourself.

Not now and not anymore.

There is no more time to shrink yourself to fit another persons mold of who they think you should be. There is no more time to pretend you are anyone else other than your truest most beautiful self. There is no more time to waste waiting for someone else to say something.  

You have a voice. It's time to stand in your own power. It's time to call out bad behavior. It's time to stop covering up other's bad decisions. It's time to embrace and trust the you that's always been there. It's time to finally show up - as you!

Rush

 

 

Rush 

Why is everyone always in a rush ? We are constantly being pushed around daily, especially while driving! Everyone seems to want everything NOW. There is no more patiently waiting, not when you can pre-order almost anything on an app or get something almost immediately. Being in a constant state of rushing around means you are missing ... well the entire point of life. If at the end of the day you can't remember what happened, what made you smile, what mattered most then it's time to start asking yourself why are you speeding through life? It's not like you are going to get a trophy for the most accomplished in a day!

What would happen if you actually drove a little bit slower and took in everything around you? 

What would happen if you put your phone down and went through your day with everyone having access to you 24/7 or you having access to everything as well?

What would happen if you said yes to only ONE thing in your day instead of a handful and then not getting to spend any quality time at anything or with anyone?

What would happen if you took a day off and NOT filled it with chores and to-do-lists but just actually let yourself just BE?

It just seems that the more convenient things become, well the more inconvenient life becomes. It's time you pump the breaks and start driving the speed limit in your own life.

Trust

Trust

Trust is a funny thing. We are born trusting in ourselves and along the way by trial and error we also learn who we can trust. As we get older that seems to flip. We end up trusting others more than we do ourselves. Why? Where did we let go of our own power and gut instinct?

Look back on your life and the really big decision moments. Were they your decision or someone else's? They can be in consultation with others but ultimately, did you lean on yourself to make the decision? When you did, did life answers in a bigger way than you could have imagined and that's because you ultimately trusted YOU?

It's time to stop putting decisions on other people. It's time to also stop making decisions FOR other people as well. When you are about to ask someone, "what would you do", instead look in the mirror and ask that question to yourself. When someone asks you the same question, "what would you do", ask them back the same question. Help them hear their own voice in the situation. 

 We have an incredible life force and guide within. Start to trust in yourself, in your decisions, in your life and you will start to watch it unfold in miraculous ways.

Weeds

 

 

Weeds

In every garden, weeds will grow. You can plant all types of beautiful flowers and yet weeds will still find there way in all spaces and sometimes even take over. If left alone, they can overshadow the flowers, taking precious nutrients and eventually they will overtake the entire space. They longer they are allowed to grow, the stronger the roots become making it that much harder to pull out. At that point, it can take so much time, energy, and strength to clear that space again.

Our lives are just like a garden. We plant beautiful flowers every day with ideas and goals. Yet weeds will find a way to grow in our lives when we allow negativity, fear, and unhealthy decisions to be present. The longer we allow these thoughts, feelings, and actions to swirl around, the stronger those roots become and eventually they overtake our thoughts. It then feels like an insurmountable task to pull out the weeds to clear our path to once again allow or ideas and goals to flourish. 

Our job is to continue to pull out the weeds every single day and to not allow them to overtake our lives. If they do, it's also our jobs to ask for help. Some people are great at weeding. Call upon them to help clear your space so that you can once again see the beauty that is before you. What will take up the space that the weeds were inhabiting? Well that's an easy answer - flowers you didn't even know where possible to grow. 

So go on, be the gardener of your own life and create the most beautiful version of yourself.

 

Moments

 

Moments

All we have are moments - 

• Moments of pure joy
• Moments of unbearable heartache
• Moments of sheer fun
• Moments of indescribable pain
• Moments of unconditional love
• Moments of uncontrollable laughter 
• Moments too precious for words...
  

Be present in each moment. Put your phone down. Listen to each other. Really look at someone and see them. Time is precious. It is going at a pace faster than you realize and by not being fully engaged, with your attention half diverted elsewhere, you are missing out on the full experience of life. It's the greatest gift you can give to yourself and to someone else. Practice being present every single day until it's no longer something you have to think about and it becomes a part of who you are.

2024

 

 

2024

Here is your motto for 2024 - Live it.  Live ALL of it. Don't shy away from anything:

• Learn & allow growth
  
• Experience the pain, the joy, ALL of it
  
• Love hard
• Walk through the open doors to opportunities
• Do something that scares you
  
• Be authentic with your time and who you spend it with
• Cultivate those friendships
• Release connections that are taking up space
  
• Find your purpose
• Engage in positive connections and groups
• Build community
• Lift each other up to be better and stronger 

Let this be your year to engage with life in a way you haven't in a very long time. It's okay, your loved ones no longer here are routing for you. They want you to live, to let go, to be fearless and most of all, to move throughout life in the spirit of love.

So go on, in 2024 just live it.  Live ALL of it!

Note: Today's daily pearl was inspired by my nephew Cooper.  Sometimes the young ones provide the most insight into how we should be living.

 

Grief

 

In memory of our dad, John Sierra. We love you always and forever! 

Guest Blogger, Karen Boggess (my sister)

Grief

I wanted to share something very personal because it may be helpful to someone else. It is also helpful to me to express what I cannot seem too verbally articulate. Not helpful in the sense that everything will be ok but helpful in being honest about grief. As many of you know we recently lost our dad to pancreatic cancer. A disease that when diagnosed is often terminal. Our dad got one more year of life but it was filled with pain, hospitalizations, and lots of medication. 

Our dad had other medical conditions as well but he somehow miraculously, through the beautiful support of our mom, combatted them … but the pancreatic cancer did not care about his will, determination, or strength. This brings me to grief. 

I thought I had prepared my head and my heart for this day. I mean it happens to all of us. Most of the time we outlive our parents. I knew this day would come and especially after my dad was diagnosed, it was that much more real. We had some practice runs with him almost losing his life, but he always was able to “bounce back”. It was like we got used to the circus and the emotional and mental roller coaster. With my dad’s last hospitalization, we had long conversations of his bucket list and things he wanted to do. We talked about him authoring a book of his life. The man had quite a life. I digress, that is a story for a different day! One thing was crystal clear, he did not want to die. He desperately wanted to live, but unfortunately his body said otherwise. I realize all the preparation I did in my head and with my heart went right out the window. I have never been so crushed and rocked as I am now. It is like a part of my foundation and my roots are gone and will never come back. It is a very surreal feeling. I do not like it. Quite frankly, it sucks. I know in time it may not be this intense or it will be – somehow, we all just learn to live with it. I have never prayed more for a chance to hear my dad’s voice saying “Hi Kaz, I love you” or feeling his arms wrapped around me in a bear hug. I find myself a scattered mess, not as sharp as I was, and completely an emotional ball of feelings that can spring at any time. I now feel bad for not fully understanding this or knowing this, what others have gone through, but you do not really know until it happens to you. It is a club you do not want to be in and one you can never get out of. 

I do have faith that I will see my dad again, I know not everyone shares this but I do. Until then I will live a life of fullness because my dad would want that, I want that, and I have a son counting on me to love him like my dad loved me.