I feel compelled to write about sisterhood...mainly out of sheer gratitude. I have never had a biological sister but throughout my life have been blessed with many soul sisters.
As far as my early experience with female relationships, my mother was never really there for me emotionally. If anything it was vice versa. I felt like I had to be a mother to her since I was five. So a void was created, not having that strong mom to turn to. I still feel that void especially when I am having troubles, sometimes I want that "mom" but she is not there. Furthermore, I was a tomboy growing up and bonded with boys much easier. It's not until I was about nineteen that I started to embrace the beauty of having female friends that I loved as sisters. These beautiful women have inspired me. There are too many amazing memories to count. The best part is knowing that you can have healthy friendships that don't cave into drama and jealousy, which often happens with women.
We are stuck with our biological families but we can choose our friends and choose them wisely. Eventually friends can become family, even closer than blood. When romantic relationships fail miserably, friends are still there to pick up the pieces and dry the tears. When I need something, I know I can pick up the phone and have someone really listen to me and tell me what I need to hear even if it's tough love. That is the most amazing blessing to know that someone cares for you and supports your dreams. Please don't take that for granted.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Your Relationship With Money...
It's amazing how much of our life revolves around money. What is your relationship with money? Is it healthy? Money is energy. It flows. It can allow us great freedom and lack of it, strips us of our dreams. Some things to look at: Are you careless with your budget? Were you raised with the idea of constant lack and scarcity?
Some Helpful Tips
I wrote a list of some ideas that might help you save for the things that really mean a lot to you. I don't like seeing people struggle. If you can't make your bills or are in financial strain, maybe consider some of these tips:
1. Open up a savings account & stash money in there every paycheck, even if it's just $25, it adds up after awhile.
2. Sell what you don't need anymore or things you've outgrown.
3. Trade/barter with a friend.
4. Create a vision board with things you'd like to work towards (if you need help with this, let me know).
5. Make use of whatever free resources you have like the library. Consider doing some things outdoors that are free when the weather cools down.
6. Don't eat out as much. It's pretty common to waste a ton of money on dining. You can cook at home and even make a date of it. This also includes skipping a few nights at the bar, you can drink at home. It is much cheaper & it's not going to kill you to make a small sacrifice.
7. Skip the mall once in awhile and consider second hand stores like Buffalo Exchange. I can understand the desire to have brand new things, but sometimes consigned items can be great.
8. Prioritize your time and see if there is a way to make extra cash with a skill that you have. (as long as it's legal) ;)
9. Visualize prosperity. Any time you panic that you don't have enough, re-wire your thoughts. Like attracts like. Maybe use a positive affirmation. "I am surrrounded with wealth." "All my needs are always provided for."
10. Take a chance and look into making an investment, like stocks.
11. Skip the $4 lattes and make coffee at home. Think about it, if you buy 15 lattes a month, that's $720 a year! Good lord, that's alot of money!
12. Negotiate to have your bills lowered. Sometimes if you call your insurance companies, you can lower your rates. Maybe look at your cell phone plan and see if you are paying for more than what you actual use. This goes for cable too. If you are never home, then why would you pay $60 for something you don't even use.
13. Really re-consider big financial decisions before taking the leap. Always look at what the chances are that you will have a high return on investment. The worst thing you can do is make a hasty decision like buying a home or racking up a college tuition bill that you'll be paying until your 80. A little patience & reconsideration may save you some serious grief.
14. Don't buy into the idea that the economy is terrible and that we are all doomed to be poor. Stay positive. There are alot of people out there who are doing amazingly well financially. You are just as capable as they are, so believe in yourself!
Hopefully some of these tips are helpful to you. If nothing else, I hope that maybe you can reconsider your attitude around money. Furthermore, if you do end up with more than you need, remember to share with those who genuinely need it & keep the good energy flowing. I would love to hear your thoughts!
Some Helpful Tips
I wrote a list of some ideas that might help you save for the things that really mean a lot to you. I don't like seeing people struggle. If you can't make your bills or are in financial strain, maybe consider some of these tips:
1. Open up a savings account & stash money in there every paycheck, even if it's just $25, it adds up after awhile.
2. Sell what you don't need anymore or things you've outgrown.
3. Trade/barter with a friend.
4. Create a vision board with things you'd like to work towards (if you need help with this, let me know).
5. Make use of whatever free resources you have like the library. Consider doing some things outdoors that are free when the weather cools down.
6. Don't eat out as much. It's pretty common to waste a ton of money on dining. You can cook at home and even make a date of it. This also includes skipping a few nights at the bar, you can drink at home. It is much cheaper & it's not going to kill you to make a small sacrifice.
7. Skip the mall once in awhile and consider second hand stores like Buffalo Exchange. I can understand the desire to have brand new things, but sometimes consigned items can be great.
8. Prioritize your time and see if there is a way to make extra cash with a skill that you have. (as long as it's legal) ;)
9. Visualize prosperity. Any time you panic that you don't have enough, re-wire your thoughts. Like attracts like. Maybe use a positive affirmation. "I am surrrounded with wealth." "All my needs are always provided for."
10. Take a chance and look into making an investment, like stocks.
11. Skip the $4 lattes and make coffee at home. Think about it, if you buy 15 lattes a month, that's $720 a year! Good lord, that's alot of money!
12. Negotiate to have your bills lowered. Sometimes if you call your insurance companies, you can lower your rates. Maybe look at your cell phone plan and see if you are paying for more than what you actual use. This goes for cable too. If you are never home, then why would you pay $60 for something you don't even use.
13. Really re-consider big financial decisions before taking the leap. Always look at what the chances are that you will have a high return on investment. The worst thing you can do is make a hasty decision like buying a home or racking up a college tuition bill that you'll be paying until your 80. A little patience & reconsideration may save you some serious grief.
14. Don't buy into the idea that the economy is terrible and that we are all doomed to be poor. Stay positive. There are alot of people out there who are doing amazingly well financially. You are just as capable as they are, so believe in yourself!
Hopefully some of these tips are helpful to you. If nothing else, I hope that maybe you can reconsider your attitude around money. Furthermore, if you do end up with more than you need, remember to share with those who genuinely need it & keep the good energy flowing. I would love to hear your thoughts!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Letting Go & Allowing Abundance
First of all, Happy August! Today was Lammas which was "the early harvest". It's a time when the grain begins to ripen and we can start to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Before we can harvest anything though, we have to create space. If we do not let certain things go in our lives that are unhealthy, then the same lessons will rear their ugly heads over and over again until we realize that we are in the stranglehold of self-defeating patterns.
Life is meant to be bountiful. If you feel like something is lacking from your cup, then it's time to "clean house". I love using affirmations to help me with situations like this. How about trying, "Today I lovingly let go of things that no longer serve me and allow the new to enter. I trust that the universe has a greater plan for me." You might to need to let go of a negative thought pattern, fear, the need for control, or a relationship/friendship that is unfulfilling. The irony is that you may look back and realize that something you put your energy towards was a complete waste of time and now you are freeing up energy for greater, better opportunities.
Trust me, I know it's not easy. If you have something you are struggling to let go of, journal it and burn it. Have a small ceremony to say "goodbye" to that habit, that person, that negative thought that is holding you back. Ask for the support of your friends or family in helping you let go. Tears could fall, let them out for they are cleansing. There is so much love to be had & there are enough resources to go around. You might even see that you are the only thing standing in the way. Get out of your own way & begin to fill your basket.
Life is meant to be bountiful. If you feel like something is lacking from your cup, then it's time to "clean house". I love using affirmations to help me with situations like this. How about trying, "Today I lovingly let go of things that no longer serve me and allow the new to enter. I trust that the universe has a greater plan for me." You might to need to let go of a negative thought pattern, fear, the need for control, or a relationship/friendship that is unfulfilling. The irony is that you may look back and realize that something you put your energy towards was a complete waste of time and now you are freeing up energy for greater, better opportunities.
Trust me, I know it's not easy. If you have something you are struggling to let go of, journal it and burn it. Have a small ceremony to say "goodbye" to that habit, that person, that negative thought that is holding you back. Ask for the support of your friends or family in helping you let go. Tears could fall, let them out for they are cleansing. There is so much love to be had & there are enough resources to go around. You might even see that you are the only thing standing in the way. Get out of your own way & begin to fill your basket.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The gift of risks...
There are two ways to view choices. You can look at everything through the eyes of fear. Or you can take a risk and choose what makes your soul sing even if it's a more difficult path. It could mean saving up for dream vacation rather than playing it safe and staying local. This might entail scrounging up change and making some sacrifices but if it's what you want, write a list of what it would take, set your intentions and support them with actions. Easy doesn't always mean better. Can you think of a time you took the safer route and it backfired?
This is a painting I did today. It's a 24 X 36 acrylic on canvas.
It's really inspiring when someone takes a risk that is in alignment with their authenticity, isn't it? I ask you to devote yourself to something that might make you uncomfortable at first but may have long term benefits. You never know unless you try to launch that business, take that trip, give a new relationship a chance or go back to school which you've been meaning to but keep putting off. Do it and allow yourself to transform as you take in new experiences. Failure is the inability to give movement a chance.
This is a painting I did today. It's a 24 X 36 acrylic on canvas.
It's really inspiring when someone takes a risk that is in alignment with their authenticity, isn't it? I ask you to devote yourself to something that might make you uncomfortable at first but may have long term benefits. You never know unless you try to launch that business, take that trip, give a new relationship a chance or go back to school which you've been meaning to but keep putting off. Do it and allow yourself to transform as you take in new experiences. Failure is the inability to give movement a chance.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Receiving and believing...
For some reason, I really struggled this time with sitting down and writing. I felt like whatever I needed to say this month, really needed to come from heart because I know that it is the place where the genuine words really come from. I feel like everyone is really shifting & changing right now. If you've noticed, some of the people that are closest to you end up being on the same page as you and are going through the same type of process or feel similar energies. Like attracts like.
We just had a New Moon on Monday and we have entered a new cycle of change. There are a few things that have been coming up a lot for me and perhaps you can relate. First thing, if you want to bring something new into your life, you can't hold onto the old with a death grip. Make the space otherwise whatever you choose to manifest will only deflect as it will have no place to go if you don't let it in!
The second thing is, allow your yourself to receive. Receiving is synonymous with success. If you set your clear intentions, what you need will show up for you on your path but you must open your arms. I heard several times that if someone offers you something, gracefully take it and be grateful for it. It keeps the good energy flowing! You can't always give. The pendulum swings both ways.
The last thing is, that we need to have faith. The phrase "false hope" confuses me. Isn't hope pure? It's never false. Maybe we feel defeated before we even start sometimes. What is the difference between hope and faith? Hope is a light in the darkness. Faith is: knowing that no matter what even in the worst of times, you never give up. Faith does not waiver. It is constant. When life has bullied us, that's when our faith should be the strongest.
With that said, I decided that there is never a time to fear success or being able to receive exactly what we need, when we need it most. Anything is possible.
We just had a New Moon on Monday and we have entered a new cycle of change. There are a few things that have been coming up a lot for me and perhaps you can relate. First thing, if you want to bring something new into your life, you can't hold onto the old with a death grip. Make the space otherwise whatever you choose to manifest will only deflect as it will have no place to go if you don't let it in!
The second thing is, allow your yourself to receive. Receiving is synonymous with success. If you set your clear intentions, what you need will show up for you on your path but you must open your arms. I heard several times that if someone offers you something, gracefully take it and be grateful for it. It keeps the good energy flowing! You can't always give. The pendulum swings both ways.
The last thing is, that we need to have faith. The phrase "false hope" confuses me. Isn't hope pure? It's never false. Maybe we feel defeated before we even start sometimes. What is the difference between hope and faith? Hope is a light in the darkness. Faith is: knowing that no matter what even in the worst of times, you never give up. Faith does not waiver. It is constant. When life has bullied us, that's when our faith should be the strongest.
With that said, I decided that there is never a time to fear success or being able to receive exactly what we need, when we need it most. Anything is possible.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Laughter & Summer dreams...
Lately, I find that humor is the not only a reflection of intelligence but also a means to survive life. I can't tell you how many times lately that I have broken out in complete laughter when I was at the breaking point of stress. With my busy schedule, sometimes I am spread thin. Imagine this scenario: rough morning, running late, baby daughter decides to take off all her clothes when I am on my way out the door. She looks me in the eye and pees on the carpet. I think, oh my god...this is my life! I can choose to be angry or I can find the beauty that exists in the horrible moments. It goes back to gratitude. If you can remind yourself that every time something bad happens, it could always be worse. Laughter is so cathartic, especially if you are laughing and crying at the same time. Let it out! You can always reach out to your friends if you are struggling.
the ocean is calling my name...
I decided to commit to the daunting task of writing a book because I have completed my physical goal of finishing my half-marathon which was an *amazing* experience. I will continue to train for another event in the future but I am allowing myself to rest a bit. I'd really love to write satire. If I can squeeze a small vacation in and write my heart out this summer, I will be happy. I'm learning to trust again. I'm learning the importance of refining, cleansing and making space for the new. I'm learning how to balance. As we approach June, I am asking you this: what are your summer dreams? Is there anything out of balance that you would like to see straightened out? I would love to hear what you are wanting to create. Let's share.
the ocean is calling my name...
I decided to commit to the daunting task of writing a book because I have completed my physical goal of finishing my half-marathon which was an *amazing* experience. I will continue to train for another event in the future but I am allowing myself to rest a bit. I'd really love to write satire. If I can squeeze a small vacation in and write my heart out this summer, I will be happy. I'm learning to trust again. I'm learning the importance of refining, cleansing and making space for the new. I'm learning how to balance. As we approach June, I am asking you this: what are your summer dreams? Is there anything out of balance that you would like to see straightened out? I would love to hear what you are wanting to create. Let's share.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Richness and time...
I took a little hiatus from my writing in order to replenish my "well". In order for creativity to flourish, you need to fill yourself with richness. How do you do this? As I get older, I realize the value of trading temporary pleasures for lasting fulfillment. What fills you with satisfaction that doesn't leave you with a nasty hangover, an empty bank account, guilt, regret or an influx of mental garbage? We are constantly barraged with a strong focus on materialism and temptation to all kinds of addictions. It becomes typical to lose our grasp on what really matters.
So how do you fill your well when you feel that the clock is your enemy? When I do yoga, I am 100% completely in the moment, not worried about what task I need to accomplish next. Did you notice when you are completely in the moment, that time extends itself to you? I get asked constantly, how do you find the time for everything? You create the time. You are the creator of your life. If you value certain things, then prioritize them. I talk to people who struggle with this every day and it causes a lot of grief. It simply could be a matter of sacrificing a few things that aren't fulfilling to create time for ONE thing that really is. Can you do this? I wish for all of you: relentless focus, the ability to prioritize and the support of those who value positive choices. Simplify and always choose love.
So how do you fill your well when you feel that the clock is your enemy? When I do yoga, I am 100% completely in the moment, not worried about what task I need to accomplish next. Did you notice when you are completely in the moment, that time extends itself to you? I get asked constantly, how do you find the time for everything? You create the time. You are the creator of your life. If you value certain things, then prioritize them. I talk to people who struggle with this every day and it causes a lot of grief. It simply could be a matter of sacrificing a few things that aren't fulfilling to create time for ONE thing that really is. Can you do this? I wish for all of you: relentless focus, the ability to prioritize and the support of those who value positive choices. Simplify and always choose love.
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