For You.

When you think you can’t, you can.

For you…

Yes, you. I am writing this for you.

You stumbled, searched, happened upon or returned to this blog for a reason.  Nothing is by chance and it is no coincidence that you are reading this. It was written for you.

Whether you are walking through life with your heart closed off to love or you are afraid of stepping outside of your box, this is for you.  If you are stuck in sadness and feel there is no way out, this is for you.  When you can’t get out of bed, and the world seems too big to face, this is for you.  And if you are bogged down by anger and ego, this is for you.

Yes, life can be hard. Each day can be a challenge.  Smiling feels like torture sometimes.  We have a hard time forgiving, moving on, letting go, loving.  It’s part of being human.

This. Will.  Pass.

I promise you, it WILL get better. 

 You deserve to feel validated, safe, surrounded by love.  You also deserve laughter, silliness, fun and happiness.  As a soul, living a human life – these are your “soul rights.” 

As a beautiful, bright soul, you deserve true, pure happiness.

Nobody can take away your happiness but you.

They can lie about you, passively aggressively strike out at you, try to make you feel like you don’t belong, abuse you, bully you and try their best to bring you down and keep you there.

But the power to rise above is inside of you.  You get to decide if they control your happiness or if YOU do.

You control your own destiny.  You decide if your life is going to be lived with happiness and an open heart.

If your heart is closed off to love, happiness, adventure, positive change – you can change that!  YOU HAVE THE POWER!

Decide today that you are worthy of all good things.  Believe it.  Know it!  Because it’s true – you are!

You are wonderful and worthy, beautiful and blessed and deserving of every good thing life has to offer.

My heart sends out love and compassion to everyone struggling.    

I believe in you.  Now it’s your turn to believe in yourself.

Choose Love.

11-11-11 and Intuition

Faith is a passionate intuition. - William Wordsworth

11-11-11

If you’re a quirky person like I am, you add these numbers up.  And if you’re quirky like I am, you see that they add up to the number 6.  That is my lifepath number.  It’s a number that I’ve had a connection to since I learned what numbers were.  There are few favorites that I can answer for sure, my favorite number is one I can most definitely answer.

Going quirkier, you add the 11-11-2011.  That equals 8.  Then you break it down.  2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8.  Those darn even numbers bring me comfort.  Yet another quirk that I’ve done since I knew what numbers were.  I base many of my decisions on how I feel about the number itself, broken down, added up, etc.  The address of a house I’m buying, the date of a function I am invited to, a friend or mates birthday, etc.

It’s just another tool God gave me to help me listen to my intuition.

Intuition comes in many forms.  Gut instinct, signs in nature, answers in the tarot or runes, angels and/or guides whispering softly or prayer that you feel was answered. 

Today is 11-11-11.  Does this date tell us something?  Is this a special date?  I usually make a wish at 11:11am or pm if I catch it.  Why?  Again, it’s another tool of releasing what you want to the universe and trusting the universe to manifest it to you.  Does today tell us to do that?  I believe it does.

Trust your intuition.  On this day, make a wish – a want – a need.  Say it out loud.  Write it down on a piece of paper and burn it or bury it.  Talk to God, tell the universe what you need.  Guidance, answers, a decision, etc.  Let it go and trust that it is done.

Then – listen.  Trust your intuition in whatever form that comes to you.  Does your gut tell you whether or not to answer yes or no?  Trust it! Do you see a hawk soar and know that your loved one is still with you?  Believe it!  Does a long lost friend call you with wonderful news?  Celebrate it!  Does that address add up to the number that you know is comfortable for you?  Go with it!  Trust your intuition!  You have all the answers and guidance you will ever need.  God made sure of it.

It’s no mistake that today is 11-11-11 AND a full moon!  All that wonderful energy waiting for us!

Pray/ask.  Let it go.  Trust that it is done. Then listen.

Choose Love!

God Bless our Veterans, past and present.  May you be blessed with all good things.  We thank you, wholeheartedly for your courage.  We thank your families for their sacrifice as well.  Much love!

You "Feelers" aren't alone!

Just as there are degrees of cerebral intelligence, there are degrees of emotional feelers. There are people who are more intelligent than I am.  However, I feel more deeply than most people.  This is authentically true for me.  

I may not have the gift of super intelligence.  I’m pretty smart, but Mensa won’t be courting me anytime soon.  I sure as heck don’t have a photographic memory.  Heck, I couldn’t tell you what I had for breakfast this morning.

But I have a high degree of emotional feeling.  God blessed me with a very tender heart.  This is a wonderful gift that I so often embrace.  It helps me see things differently, from a more compassionate place.  It’s what allows me to forgive those that have hurt me or hurt others, as I can see the good in people.  Sometimes long before others do.

It also means that I tend to be more like weeping willow tree.  Melancholy and fragile at times but able to withstand unusual surroundings and encompass those around me with my love and protection. 

There are times that I truly don’t understand why things happen the way they do.  I suppose I could just let it go, move on, accept it.  But that isn’t in my nature.  I fight for understanding.  It’s part of who I am.  It’s why I always fight for the underdog.  Always.  It’s why I feel compassion for people that most don’t.  It’s why I am able to love, still, after being hurt.  And it’s why I don’t judge others, regardless of where they are on their path. 

Feelings are a funny thing.  I believe they are indicators that help guide us through life and bring us closer to God.  Feelings are the map of life.  They are the rainbow of the soul.  It’s what makes us beautiful and unique.

The purpose and intent of this blog post, is to let other “feelers” know that they aren’t alone.  Sometimes we feel like we aren’t of this world.  We cry easily because we feel deeply.  We get hurt easier because we love quickly and with our whole heart and give trust before it’s earned.  We forgive easier then most because we feel compassion for those wanting another chance to do better.

My hope is that if someone reaches out to you that may seem rather sensitive and down, you will try to lift them up.  Validate them.  Accept them as they are and love them right where they are on their path.  Understand that we are all different with varying degrees of cerebral and emotional intelligence.  None better or more important then the other. 

Exercise your emotional muscle.  Reach out with your whole heart.  Take a chance.  Love yourself as you are.  NEVER give up trying to understand and learn about other people, other souls.

And as always, Choose Love.

Do you show your true colors?

I see your true colors

And that’s why I love you

So don’t be afraid to let them show

Your true colors

Are beautiful, like a rainbow.

 - Cyndi Lauper

You know what gives me comfort?  Knowing that the people in my life are people I can show my “true colors” to.  They love me because I am real, flawed, screwed up and still learning and questioning life.  I don’t have to pretend or censor myself around them.  My “true blue” self can shine (or muddle its way) through. 

It gives me great comfort to know that I can be silly, goofy and dorky at times.  Yes, even at 40 years old, I still love to laugh and pretend I’m not a day over 15.  My soul doesn’t feel 40, that’s for sure!

Don’t we all deserve those kinds of people in our lives?  People we walk this path with; crying, talking, laughing, screaming.  But also, people that really “see” us.  They see our struggles, our silliness, our weaknesses and our quirks and they love us anyway!  They love us because of those quirks!

Life is too short to be lived with people that hold you back rather than life you up.  The people who love you should help you build bridges through hardship and teach you how to fly when you've forgotten how.

This is my wish for all of you.  That you find accepting, loving, non-judgmental, amazing people in your life.  I call them my True Blues.  My wish is that you walk with your truth openly and that your colors shine brightly and are celebrated and loved!

Open your heart and show your “true colors.”  You may be surprised at the “True Blues” you’ll find along the way!

Choose Love

The "Love Place"

The greatest weakness of most humans is their hesitancy to tell others how much they love them while they’re alive. – Orlando Battista

Sometimes I wonder why it’s so hard for people (myself included at times) to let go and just, love.  Why do we let our egos get in the way?  What stops us from being the bigger person, reaching out, loving?

It's been said that when you are truly balanced and at one with God/Spirit/One, you are at the place between thought and ego.  That place is love.

When you are in the “love place” it’s easier to love yourself and others.  It’s easy for you to express that love, that part of you that is pure soul.  Your ego isn’t allowed to enter that space; therefore, nothing stops you from sharing that authentic part of yourself.  Your true self. 

Ego is everywhere.  It’s that little voice that tells you that you’re always right.  It’s that hurt that you feel when you feel you’ve been wronged.  It’s that place you go to when you feel that you’ve been victimized.  It’s in the walls we build, the space we create and the distances we place between us and those around us.

To go to the “loving place,” close your eyes.  Focus on what you are thinking.  What are your thoughts?  Now focus on what you are feeling.  Are you happy?  Sad?  Frightened?  Hurt?  Angry?  Finally,  focus on that space in between.  There is a space between thought and feeling that is the core of who you are.

That is the real you.  That is soul.  That is connection to God/Spirit/One.  That is the "love place."

Once you’re there, peace reigns.  You are now connected to every person and living thing around you.  The trees, the animals.  You are pure love.  You are connected to the divine.  Allow yourself to remain in that space as long as you can.

Try to do this as often as you can throughout your day.

The more often you do this, the more centered you’ll be in your authentic self and the more peaceful you’ll be.

Then, you don’t even have to Choose Love.  You ARE love.

Time spent with loved ones is the most precious gift of all.

What we remember from childhood we remember forever – family, good friends, talking till dawn, laughter, eternal imagination, sharing secrets, making up games and running until we can not breathe.  The candles, the cake, the presents are only second best to the memories we make with those we love.  - Cynthia Ozick

My twin boys are turning 10 years old on Monday.  When asked what they wanted for their birthday, they were very clear.  They wanted a party with their friends and a special dinner with their family.  No presents were even mentioned.  Like me, they prefer experiences, spending time with people over stuff.  Yeah, stuff is fun, nice.  But wow, the memories we create while celebrating life just can’t be beat.

Right now, it is VERY loud in my house.  My children have their cousins and their closest friends over for a slumber party.  So far they’ve had the typical birthday fare:  Chips, soda, brownies, chicken and cheese quesadillas, popcorn.  They’ve played a plethora of made up games: Chase, haunted house, dance party, crazy man, etc.  The laughter that permeates these walls also fills my heart.  My children are having the time of their life.  And really, what better birthday gift can you ask for your child then laughter?

Tomorrow they will have a party at a local laser tag/bouncy place with all their friends.  Jacob’s cake will be decorated in a Halloween theme, Noah’s with a big picture of – himself and the words HAPPY in all different colors.  Because he is, well, happy.  They both designed their own cakes.  Being twins, we try to give them the opportunity to decide separately on things that are often expected to be decided as one.  Red and blue are the colors they choose.  But most importantly, they will have their friends to run and play with.  They’ll make up games and run and bounce until they drop.  And they will go to sleep with a heart full of happiness.  Happy because their friends were there to celebrate with them.

Sunday I will make them their birthday dinner.  Both boys requested lasagna.  They want grammy and Uncle Mike and grandma and Pap over.  I’m praying that will happen.  We’ll have a nice family dinner and be grateful that we are all alive and healthy to celebrate 10 years old with these precious souls.

Monday, their actual birthday, my husband and I will take cupcakes up to their school.  They both want chocolate and thankfully it’s been approved by the teachers.  After school we’ll go out for dinner – their choice.

Yes, it’s a big birthday weekend.  They are turning double digits – that’s a big deal in our family.  They won’t get a bunch of gifts from us, but they will get lots of time, love and laughter.  And that is what they’ll carry with them through to their next birthday and beyond.

So tonight, as I sit here cracking up at the computer at all the silliness and laughter that surrounds me, I thank God.  I thank God for my rainbows, these precious souls that I am so blessed to call my sons.  Oh how hard we fought to conceive our sweethearts.  7 years of IF heartache, all erased the moment I held my beautiful sons.  I am so grateful that I get to walk through life with these amazingly compassionate, funny little guys.  Every time they reach for my hand, they touch my heart and it feels like MY birthday all over again.  I get to be a mommy!!!! 

They are wanting me to come and play hide and seek so I must go.  But before I do, my final thought is this –

Do not take for granted the time you give up spending with those you love.  Remember, things do not matter, people do.  MAKE the time to spend with people you love.  Time is the best present you can give another...

And as always, Choose Love.

When you are hurt...

When people:

• Create problems when there are none.
• Talk behind your back, rather than to your face.
• Choose self righteousness when speaking with you.
• Walk out of your life and feign victim mentality.
• Judge you without knowing you.
• Judge you once knowing you.
• Play the holier-than-thou card incessantly.
• You thought would be there, aren’t.
• Choose lies over truth.
• Are passive aggressive.
• Choose cruelness over kindness.
• Hurt you without reason (as if there is ever a reason to hurt someone.)
• Pretend like you never existed.
• Take but rarely give.

Remember:

• A friendship that ended never really began.
• Nobody can hurt me without my permission.
• Don’t stress about the people from your past. There’s a reason why they didn’t make it to your future.
• I must learn to love the fool in me the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries.
• I have no need to conform to the stereotypes others have defined for me.
• If someone wants to be part of your life, they’ll make an effort to be in it.
• In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
• Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.
• The soul that is within me no man can degrade.
• No person is your friend if he demands your silence or denies your right to grow.
• The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
• Being silent isn't being strong, it's being a victim.
• No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
• Love comes to those who still hope even though they've been disappointed, to those who still believe even though they've been betrayed, to those who still love even though they've been hurt before.

Live your life with forgiveness, compassion and kindness, for yourself and for others.  Choose to rise above the hurt in your heart and know that you are a good person with good intentions.  Know that you have a place in this world, a mission.  Be confident in the fact that there is a positive reason you are on this earth and that you are part of the greatest love of all, God.  Celebrate the lessons that living life with an open, innocent and adventurous heart has taught you.

Hold your head high – beautiful soul.

Choose Love always – in all ways.