I met with someone yesterday who seemed so down, her life had sucked her into this sad place.  I kept thinking of all the great things she had going for her, but she didn’t see it that way.  Sure there were some tough parts about her life, but she was letting these consume her.  She was there to discuss nutrition for her son, but instead we spent most of the time talking about her life.  I kept thinking she would get up and leave, but she stayed.  She wanted to talk, and more importantly to be heard.  I could see the wheels turning and we started to find a few simple things she could do to improve her current situation.  I kept asking her, “What is it that you want?”  Lets start there and work backwards.  It’s up to you to create your destiny.

At the end of the day it is up to you to create your reality.  Lack of passion is fatal to ones wellbeing.  The core of a man’s spirit comes from new experiences.  Find your passion and embrace new experiences.  What do you want your story to be?

Find beauty and enjoyment around you.  Make small changes to improve your current situation.  Create happiness.  Happiness is a choice.  Be happy xo

Its one of those days, I have so much to do and yet I keep going in circles.  The day started off fantastic with coffee, a great workout and chat with friends.  But then it proceeded like this: I check one thing off the list and start something else, dog barks, baby cries and I forget what I’m doing; I get sidetracked for 30 minutes which means I am basically back at square one!

You know these days?  Sometimes I need to remember to stop, take a breath and get organized.  Put thoughts and ‘to do’s’ on paper, give my mind some room to breathe.  Once you get de-cluttered you can move forward in your thoughts, as opposed to feeling like you’re treading water.  It’s such a beautiful thing.

Have you stopped and actually thought about anything recently?  What’s really going on with You?  Or, are you in the whirlwind of going moment to moment, plowing through the ‘to do’s’.  Perhaps it would be nice to stop and sit outside for a moment, have a cup of tea and think about what is going well in your life.  Then, take another moment and think about what isn’t going so well. What is something you can do to make this better?  Gain some clarity, the to do list can wait..

xo

xxo

Wake up and be grateful for everything you have, not everything you do not. Nourish your body and spirit each day, as this is essential to your wellbeing. You cannot expect to feel good if you don’t take care of yourself inside and out. Take charge of the things you can control in your life and stop obsessing over that, which is out of your hands. The universe has a wonderful way of presenting you with what you need and want, but you must keep your eyes open, your heart engaged and your spirit strong.

The only way out, is through.

Making our way through life and being pushed to become the person we were destined to be all along is sometimes what we call Failure.  Instead, you must embrace the hard times, the times when you question your existence, you wonder why.  You do this in order to gain perspective, to truly See the positive and to feel light again.  This allows you to continue moving forward in life.  It’s not about being positive all the time.  Its about going through the darkness, the despair, the sadness, to come out a little wiser and a little more beautiful on the other side.

Its about trusting that this is where you are supposed to be all along. xo

Its been quite some time since I have spent some blog writing time. One of the most significant things I have become aware of as of late, is the fact that so many people expect things in their life to happen a certain way. Its as if we are the rulers of our own universe. We forget that the universe may have something else in store for us. We forget that its not just about us and our world.
Continue reading…

We do the best we can with what we are given, or at least that’s the idea. Life is filled with obstacles and stresses for all of us – jobs are trying, households require cleaning as do pets and children, relationships take time and work, friendships need love too, then there’s money, and most of all we place pressures on ourselves – but amidst all of this, try and take moments to appreciate the journey. Remember to enjoy what is being presented to you and have fun. What would your life be like if you had no home? No food? No friends? Plus, does it really matter if your house is immaculate? And do you ever look back and think, “gee that was such a great time in my life,” yet maybe you wish you had enjoyed it more..I can honestly say “I do.”

I was talking to a friend the other night about his break up, and because this is something I have most certainly been through I could relate to how heavy his heart felt. There was nothing all that special I could say because loss of any kind is so painful, and heartache hurts like hell, but the more we discussed ‘appreciation’ the better we both felt. Had he not met her he wouldn’t be the person he is today. Instead of being so hurt, he became more appreciative of all that he experienced with her. I understand this doesn’t remove the pain, oh I understand, but it makes it more bearable when you can see the bigger picture. Not to mention, we both decided that allowing love into your life is such a beautiful thing and well worth all the turmoil we risk each time we open our hearts. These are the experiences that make us grow the MOST.

It is so easy to rush through each day non-appreciative, yet it’s so important to spend a few minutes each day being grateful for everything you do have. When you do this you may find more meaning and value in your life, and more appreciation for yourself. Even if you are unsure as to why something is being presented because it feels uncomfortable, instead of resisting, try and allow it into your life knowing that there is a likely reason you are going through whatever is facing you. Each of our lives is beautiful in so many ways.

Have faith in your path. xo

Emotions swirl under my skin as I spend time exploring more and more of Panama. I am in constant awe of this country, of course it is physically gratifying but there is also an underlying vibe that is warm and intriguing. As I bike around Bocas with the sun beating down on my back my eyes scan the bright houses, the little ‘tienditas,’ the kids gossiping as they walk home from school, and I can’t help but reflect on this world and my own. There is a beautiful rawness that pulls me in.

I can’t help but wonder how different my life would be if I had been born into a Panamanian household. There is part of me that walks, or floats around in awe of how simple the lifestyle is – such few expectations, judgements, hurtles, not to mention the lack of material distractions. Children go to colorful schools, play outside, grow up, and raise families. There is a lot of sitting around, talking, singing, church and praising God. People grow old together. Days consist of school and work, laundry and household chores. Nights consist of cooking, kids playing till the stars prevail, elders telling stories. Families help each other wind through the valleys and rivers encompassing their lives. People need one another. I see people meandering the streets with iphones, but I know that doesn’t necessarily mean they have access to the internet. In fact, I would say many do not have access, at least not nearly as readily as we do in much of the U.S. Can you imagine going back to the days without computers, without the internet, without constant communication?

Although I have much appreciation for this simple lifestyle, the other part of me is telling myself over and over how grateful I am for all that I have. I have opportunities to be whatever I want to be, whomever I want to be, I can live wherever and wear whatever. I can cook the kind of food I choose and the quality of food I desire, if something breaks I can usually fix it, get it fixed, or buy a new one. Everything is replaceable in our world. Is this a good thing?

I realize that on a day-to-day basis what often frustrates me is a direct correlation to the fact that there are so many possibilities in my little-big world. It is the many choices I have that overwhelms and can lead to confusion, or a feeling that I am not doing as much as I should be doing. It can create a feeling of ‘lacking,’ in a culture that can never seem to have or do enough.

The good news is that this awareness brings me back to my eternal philosophy believing in balance and blessings, in turn this brings peace, gratitude and forgiveness into my little world. Every time we have these thoughts of not doing enough, we must remember that we are lucky to have as many opportunities as we do. It is up to each of us to set the boundaries, the goals, the desires, ultimately to remember what is important.

Peace – Gratitude – Forgiveness xo

Did you know that if human thoughts are directed at water before it is frozen, the crystals will either be beautiful or ugly depending on whether your thoughts were positive or negative. So if you expose water to positive stimuli — like beautiful music, pictures of people in love, words of praise — and then freeze it and under a microscope, you get ice crystals that are symmetrical. On the flip side, if you play a Hitler speech to your water or pictures of people being murdered or say “I hate you” and then freeze it, the crystals are jagged and distorted. The thing is that our bodies are made of more than sixty percent water. If positive thoughts can impact an eight ounce glass of water, imagine the effect they might have on all of us.

Just something to think about..

Explore / Extrapolate / Expand on your thoughts..

..and do it with just a little love xo