Friday, December 31, 2010

Goodbye 2010 - The Countdown is on!!

 
photo credit - dinikusuma.com
Well they say all good things must come to an end and it so happens that today is the last day of the year 2010. Wow! Time certainly flies! I remember distinctly just sitting on my front porch last year around this time reflecting on the past year gone by and silently making my New Year’s resolutions for this year. A-m-a-z-I-n-g! Some friends of mine tell me I think too much and I’m too deep for my own good but my mind sometimes works overtime…I was thinking to myself once that right here in this moment is all we have, and it will never come again…. and how quickly it passes…and poof! It’s gone and now the past. Every single moment that we have is seemingly fleeting. If we try to grab on and hold on to a single moment it is self-defeating because the truth is you can’t. The most you can do is try to cherish and fully enjoy it. Last night I was at a Maroon 5 concert and if I look back in my mind’s eye…I was just there standing in the crowd singing along to their songs and thinking wow what a great way to end the year…these guys are super talented musicians in every sense of the word and although my feet hurt and I sorta wanted to get to put it up…I don’t want it to end. And now that moment is gone and I’m sitting here at my computer. I did indeed enjoy it to the max and will do it over again in a nanosecond (but probably with sensible shoes:). It seems like time is just racing faster and faster without us even being aware of it. It’s sort of bitter sweet. On the one hand you sometimes want time to progress so you too can move forward and then there are other times when you want to savour every moment and wish it could last forever. Like if you have a child that you want to grow up and have kids of their own and yet you want to savour the little moments…the developmental stages from first words and steps as a baby to toddler to adolescent, teenager and young adult. Sometimes you can’t have your cake and eat it to. You have to experience and endure it all…it’s all a part of life and learning.

Have you ever thought that something in your past feels like just yesterday and yet it seems like soo much time has passed in reality? Call me nostalgic but time is an enigma that I can’t seem to relinquish. I don’t often sit and reminisce but in the fleeting silent moments I reflect in awe of this magical creation and universe. I guess that’s why I am a writer. I observe the little things that people don’t usually talk or even think about…. if they do it’s in their quietest moments of solitude. This year has been a good year for me though. A lot of milestones and events, I am grateful and happy to have experienced it all. Every year is an opportunity to start anew and try to make it better than the last. Each year is unique and it will bring with it, it’s ups and downs, joys and sadness, disappointments and blessings in disguise if you want to look at it that way. Each unique experience is an opportunity to find a lesson and meaning from which we can grow and transform it into something positive or creative. Life is an adventure and it’s up to you to make it work in your favour. Every moment is to be savoured and enjoyed so that we can pass on our lessons and joy with others. The negative ones are put in our path for a reason and it is up to us to turn inwards and find that reason so that we can move on and make way for the positive ones.
 
The Christmas season is also almost over and we take with us those memories of celebration and reflection. So as I say goodbye to all of my experiences of 2010, I tuck away those memoirs in a very special place in my mind so that I can visit them often and draw from them so as to help me in the future. Time will tell where we would be in another year’s time. Keep on living in confident faith and love and you would be exactly where you need to be at any given moment.

Wishing all a very introspective New Year’s Eve or Ole Year’s as we say in these parts (amidst the celebration) and may God smile on you in 2011 so you may have a blessed and bountiful New Year with the best of health, strength, love and peace with all your nearest and dearest dreams coming true!!! :-) ©

Cheers!

photo credit - sodahead.com


Sunday, December 26, 2010

Merry Christmas!!

I did not get a chance to blog yesterday – Christmas Day since my Internet was down but the sentiments remain true and I would like to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas!!! Hope you had a wonderful day! As we celebrate with our family and friends, we give thanks for all our blessings and living to see another Christmas with special people to share it with. May this Christmas bring you all the things you wished for and may you create memories to last not only at this yuletide season but also throughout the New Year 2011 and beyond!

My vacation has officially kicked off and I look forward to blogging even more regularly and sharing with you my thoughts and feelings on issues that present themselves in my consciousness and day-to-day life. I changed the name of my blog and from here on end it is no longer “Reflections” but “Moment to Moment.” I wanted “A little bit of me, a little bit of you” but that was already taken so Moment to Moment it shall be until I think of something that can better encapsulate what it's about. Look out for a year’s end article coming soon as 2010 winds down and we reminisce on the good times and look forward to major breakthroughs, revelations and goals realized. Life is wonderful! …. Can you even wait to find out what is in store for us in 2011?!! Hold onto your seat and enjoy the ride cos it’s only gonna get better. ©

Think it, believe it, live it!!

Peace/


Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Where is your Christmas Spirit?!

Four more days for Christmas 2010…. and somehow the Christmas spirit is now kicking in…. despite the fact that I spent the entire day Saturday shopping for gifts. Is Christmas moving further and further away from Christ and becoming more materialistic I wonder? This mad rush that happens every year…somehow is not reflected in our respect for humanity…. simple things like how we treat fellow motorists and pedestrians on the roads among other things. How come I’m not really feeling it this year despite the decorations, ham and grog, Christmas music and fandangle? Our tree was actually up since late November and I usually feel that feeling in the air as early as September when one of my favourite radio stations starts to play carols and parang on the radio.

On another note, we had our Annual Christmas Gift Exchange and Birthday Club celebration today at the office. While hosting it, I realized I really like doing this and I should be doing it full time…as a business perhaps?! Apart from the joy on people’s faces and laughter emanating from the room, people comment (sometimes not to me) on how much they enjoy it and I like to recreate nostalgic moments. So I have individual prize giveaways and team games based on a particular theme from the 1980s and 1990s ….I am obsessed with the 80s actually…. love the music, television, movies and fashion.

Christmas is right around the corner and I have so much to do still. It seems like just last year I was studying for my final postgrad paper and barely had time to enjoy the season and now it’s all behind me. God is good and we must remember to give Him thanks. By next year round this time…we will be in totally different situations and circumstances, a year older and wiser hopefully progressed from our former state(s) and having accomplished much more. So whatever our desires whether it is a new home, new job, new baby or relationship we have to set our sights and release it into the universe for with perseverance and faith it WILL happen!! Even if it takes a little longer than expected, if we really desire it, I’m sure it will be well worth the wait and the sweat and sacrifice. ©

May all Your dreams come true this Christmas. All the best to you and yours for the season and beyond!~

photo credit - vocationvibes.franciscan.org

Sunday, December 5, 2010

What does Christmas mean to you?


photo credit - istockphoto.com

The days are inching closer with the events leading to the culmination of the Christmas holidays. We are now in the month of December and it’s raining every day in these parts. Yet life must go on and we all must brave the rain and put in an appearance at our various destinations. It all depends on your perspective, rainy weather (or snowy in some cases) can be a magical time and it’s up to you to make the most of it. It can be a cozy time indoors if you bundle up with warm clothes and heated beverages and think warm thoughts. People all over the world are making plans, some have been planning months in advance to spend Christmas with their loved ones at perhaps a far off exotic location or a winter wonderland. Others may be just going back home to spend the holidays with the parents or grandparents, aunts, uncles or otherwise.


photo credit -christmaswallpapers.info
Times like this deserve someone to share the festivities of the season with even if it a neighbour, a close friend or a distant relative. Our life is such that we must cultivate and foster close relations for the old saying rings true “no man is an island.” Christmas is a wondrous time of year where all little kids fantasies come true and are usually granted by their parents. Although we are now adults, and we don’t have a fairy godmother to wave a magic wand as in the fairy tales, we can attempt to make our dreams a reality one day at a time whether it is personal, career/business or leisure. For Christmas we can treat and pamper ourselves with a day at the spa or a day of shopping. If we can’t afford to do that we can make our favourite Christmas treats and invite friends over to watch our best holiday movies over teas, liquors and wines or listen to carols or parang while we decorate and reminisce over the good ole days. We can volunteer our time at a soup kitchen or children’s home. Christmas brings back memories and if we can’t spend it with the ones we love we can share it with those in need of love.

Remember Christmas is about thanksgiving for a second chance given by our Saviour whether you celebrate it at this time or in this way, the sentiments are universal. It’s about love and sharing and peace to all men and most of all inner peace. We have to find ways to make Christmas special because it is not about you and it's not about me - it is about selfless giving especially to those less fortunate. Like everything in life, we have to work at it to make it magical and keep the fires burning long after the last Carol has been sung and the last gift opened. May your light shine bright during this month of December and may your Christmas 2010 be special beyond words. ©


photo credit - deplicque.net


Saturday, November 27, 2010

Break the Monotony

photo credit - grzegorzmilos.com
I haven’t written a full-length article in a while and I’m thinking maybe I should revisit this. I miss writing but life is such that there is little time for the things that matter the most to us. Everything is just rushed as we try to squeeze in the many things that encompass a typical day. You get up early, get ready for work, for those of us with families we hurry to get our kids ready for school all packed and ready to face the day equipped with all the necessary tools to have a productive day. All set, we hit the road…literally. Some days the traffic is better but some time or another we encounter some sort of discomfort on our travels. I have found it worth the sacrifice (of sleep) to leave at least fifteen minutes earlier on mornings and afternoons to avoid the agonizing delays and frustration spent in jams…not to mention less fuel consumption…it’s amazing! You hear me going on and on about traffic but the plethora of cars on the roads these days is just horrific! I know everyone wants to be independent in terms of their daily commute but it is frustrating at times (forgive me for saying this) especially with all the “bad drives” you have to dodge on a daily basis.

When you get to work you juggle many tasks, meetings, deadlines, phone calls, projects and the like in an effort to get everything done before it’s time to hit the road again. Some days it passes faster than others…other times you can’t wait for it to end so that you can just spend some quality time with loved ones, relax or get to your after work activities. Some may have classes, some may have hobbies such as exercise or sports. Others may not have it so easy and have to pick up the kids from school and make drop-offs to after-school activities and help with homework - leaving little time for much else. Most of us get home at nightfall with just enough time to prepare for the next day, whether it’s meals, ironing or other household chores. By this time you are just praying for your bed to put up your feet and catch some zeez. Before you know it …your alarm goes off and it’s time to do it all over again and you feel like you're trapped in the movie “Groundhog Day.” For those of us that haven’t seen this 1990s movie, it’s about the actor Bill Murray’s character who keeps reliving the same day over and over until he finds redemption. Then the weekend goes so fast sometimes you wish there are less workdays and more of the weekend.

My point through all of this is that it’s easy to get stuck in a rut and forget to enjoy life. You get bored with life, work and those around you. You hear people complaining about this all the time. It’s the little things though (that we don’t stop to absorb) that makes you thankful and bring a smile or laughter to your countenance. It may be a scenery of trees or flowering poui that you pass by everyday on the way to work and never take the time to notice until you are stuck in traffic one day and you suddenly notice it, or a bird, a breathtaking sunset….or rainbow that just catches you by surprise. This has happened to me on several occasions and it brought such joy and appreciation for life. To think that all these things were there all the time and I did not realize it until that moment. Every time I pass by the foreshore and the sun sparkles on the water as it sets, I can’t help but slow my pace a bit and thank God for the ability for my sense of sight. I was giving a colleague a ride home yesterday and without prompting, she said to me as we both passed this same spot: "don't you just love it when the river meets the sea?!" We both looked across and watched it in silence (someone else notices I thought!...although mute). At work it may be an eccentric co-worker that breaks the monotony of the day. Or at home, a pet that greets you when you open your gate…we must all find ways to get a little enjoyment from life…it’s the simple pleasures that makes your life unique and worthwhile. Whether it is a nagging spouse or sibling that you constantly argue with. Thank God that you have a spouse or brother or sister to nag you sometimes, for there are many lonely people out there that long for the experience and wish they had someone in their life. If you hate going to the gym like me, stop to give thanks that you have the ability and means to exercise, for there are many that can’t for one reason or another. And when I think about it, it is for my benefit and I do get some enjoyment when all is said and done and I am grateful that I find the energy and willpower to rally through and maintain a healthy fitness lifestyle for the past 8 years.

No matter how busy your life gets though, you must make the time to do something for 'you' regularly. Whether it is sewing, baking, caring for your automobile, listening to music, playing an instrument, talking to your best friend on the phone, sharing a joke from the day with your neighbour or spouse, watching your favourite television show or writing in a journal. I haven’t watched television in almost two years as I was studying and it did not bother me, now I have re-discovered what I was missing. It is an escape from reality for half an hour or more as you enter into a make-belief life with your favourite characters. I have found that I like old movies maybe from a decade or two ago (no not black & white!), sitcoms, comedies and action/drama. Just three times a week I like to escape to a private world. Nikita and The New Adventures of Old Christine are some of my favourite shows on TV right now. Recently I have watched Home Alone, Pretty Woman and Willy Wonker and the Chocolate Factory and for those few minutes I don’t think about anything else which is a simple pleasure for me. I am not fond of television but it takes me back to a time when life was simple.

These are just some of my favourite things that I like to do to break the monotony when I am not out enjoying the outdoors. I thought that I would share, so you too can pass on what you like to do to make life fun. Remember it’s not the big things that make you happy, but little moments that add to your joy and form part of the whole picture. When you look back at your life you would not remember that one 'big thing' that suddenly caused utopia, but snapshots of a good life well lived to the fullest. Live it in a way so that you can testify to this. ©

Peace.




Thursday, November 25, 2010

A Special Feeling

Today is exactly one month away from the big day. There’s a certain feeling in the air now that Christmas is drawing nearer and nearer.  Not just the darkening of the sky a bit earlier or the slight drop in temperatures and rainy days around these parts but it’s a special feeling…Maybe of nostalgia of Christmases past or maybe of all the planning and preparation. But underneath it all do we remember why we are doing all of this? Do we remember to keep Christ in Christmas no matter what denomination or religion? Do we remember the ‘reason for the season’ while we hustle and bustle and spend it all in a hurry as if it won’t mean as much any other time of year? Christmas is not about the presents or the ham or turkey, snow, mistletoe, stockings or punch de crème. It’s about the feeling it invigours, the people around us that we share it with, it’s about the sacrifices that were made for us to enjoy a better life.  How we spend it is up to us but we need to give thanks that we have life to spend another Christmas with our loved ones for there are many others who were not as fortunate.  I am alive!  You are alive! No greater gift than that. We are privileged beings to be present in this era. We need to give thanks and live every moment as if it is a gift. Give of ourselves freely and we will appreciate the feeling it creates. ©

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Startling Discovery

photo credit - pongoresume.com
I don't know how come I did not realize this before, but I am discovering new things about my blog everyday. I made this discovery quite by accident while watching an episode of "Gossip Girl" last night....How weird is that? I've discovered "stats" on the site!! This from someone who has been blogging for the past 2 years and wondering if there's a way to track hits, thinking this was only tracked by page views on my profile! I'm sort of embarrassed to admit this:( And here I thought no one was reading my blog :S........Anyhow, the purpose of this post is to thank all my readers whether you comment or not, I'm glad to know that you're out there. So to my readers in Russia, Turkey, Slovenia, Netherlands, Hong Kong, The United States, Canada, Jamaica and last but not least Trinidad & Tobago....I thank you! for making the time to stop by! Please feel free to leave your comments and ratings....so I know what you're thinking! Can you relate...what are your experiences on the issues like? Now I know I am not just rambling and talking to myself :D
Love you all!!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Have you answered the call?


photo credit - sgforums.com
November is upon us…and it’s the second anniversary of my blog:-) Yeah I know what's the big deal right? No, but seriously it is a milestone since I have enough things to say to keep it going this long...and I got to thinking: did I accomplish all the things I wanted to with my blog? For the most part, I think the answer is yes. I am my own author of my own website (someone just pointed that out last night) and my own publisher…independent of when, where and how I am published. I can edit, delete or redesign anytime I want…I think it’s great. But have I reached the audience that I want to? That’s the question at hand. If my writing has reached 5 persons I think that I have accomplished what I set out to do. I can’t change the world all at once! (which is my greatest wish by the way…however grandiose that is). I long to transform and touch lives, to bring about changes in thought patterns, behaviours/modus operandi... inspire, motivate…the sky is the limit. I think writing is one of the greatest talents in the world…that along with song, dance, theatre and the arts. I am humble yet, and know there are many others like me out there…perhaps even better…but I even inspire myself sometimes…so I think that’s impressive, once you have confidence in your own work…that’s important. And I thank God everyday for this ability and zeal that I have to see it through to the end. The adrenaline never ends...passion never wanes. If I can do it full time that would be even greater….but hey there’s a divine reason behind everything in your life…you are exactly where you need to be at any given moment. And each of us has that gift deep inside us, whether we have discovered and realized it as yet is another question, but we have a force working within us to touch another soul and enhance lives, making it richer and more fulfilling if only we look inside, and live it every day. So I urge you to find your calling and answer it…don’t just go through the motions...then suddenly your whole world would open up and change for the better and life would become more worthwhile. ©

Peace.


Sunday, October 31, 2010

The count down has begun

photo credit - whenwegetthere.com
The days are counting down to the end of the year…are we putting together our Christmas Wish List for things we want to see materialized in the new year? For life is a work in progress. Where would we be if we stop striving to be a better person and live a more fulfilled and rich life? Life is such that our position on matters are constantly changing and adjusting to our purpose. What was once important may not matter as much with the progression of time and may be replaced with new goals as we focus our energy on matters of greater priority. Each year is a gift as we challenge ourselves to greater heights spiritually, emotionally and physically.

As the year draws to a close we ask ourselves if we have accomplished what we set out to do when the year began. And as the old meets the new, we make provisions for exciting things to happen as we begin anew. ©

Are we ready for the ride of our life?




Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Joie de vivre


I couldn’t just blog once about the enjoyment of life and stop! Where’s the joie de vivre in that?! So I had to write a follow up to the previous blog post…about what I said about enjoying work. Now let’s face it – to most people work is not enjoyable if it’s working for “da man.” Two important elements missing from this equation if you’re having a ball of a time everyday at the salt mine: either you absolutely LOVE what you do for a living or you work for yourself. The latter is twice as much the work but to know that it is yours, you tend to give it your all because 1) you’re comfortable within your own surroundings and can work as late or early into the wee hours if you so desire and 2) you want repeat business through word of mouth and the pay is good…hey you’re your own boss! You can afford to give yourself a raise this month and then next month rough it and skip a salary altogether…. it’s flexible that way. A lot of people strive for that sort of freedom where and when they can break free from the mental and financial bondage of the "rat-race." Someone was saying just today that you spend 8 hours sleeping, 8 working for “da man”, 4 in commute (usually in traffic especially with all the rains and floods we’re been getting these days, on a day like today where people waited till nightfall just to avoid gridlock traffic outside their door) and the other 4 involved in miscellaneous activities part of which consists getting yourself ready to face the next day which usually begins with more traffic.

So if you can’t go off on your own just yet, we must find something we’re good at and love to do and find a way to get paid for it. Sometimes the money is not important once you get fulfillment from your job or make a difference somehow in the lives of others or made someone else happy...better yet if your work has brought about the improvement in the quality of daily life. To hear that you made another’s day or maybe saved a life or allowed someone to live their dream is fulfillment in itself and priceless beyond words. And each of our jobs are important and at times we don’t realize it and don’t give it our all. But don’t get me wrong…we all need $$$ to survive so you don’t want to give away your talents, skills, time and resources for free unless you have a back up plan…maybe a wealthy great uncle or a money tree in your back yard. Cos everybody needs the paper to survive and live a decent life. It doesn’t make us happy but without it we would be homeless, hungry and deprived of things needed to make life comfortable and livable for our family and ourselves. ©

So the moral of the story is: Find something you love to do and you never have to work a day in your life. You would be opulent in all the ways that are important to mankind.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Live life to the fullest!!

Photo credit- harmonicflow.com
It just dawned on me that I haven’t blogged yet for the month of October….so here I am. The months just seem to be flying by…to me summer just ended and now October is almost thru…wow! I have family visiting again and sometimes it’s nice just to get away….it’s refreshing. I was just telling a friend that there’s so much I wanna do with my life…. and it’s just finding the time and resources…life is so exciting to not enjoy it. I don’t know how some people can get bored with their life. Life is made to be enjoyed to the fullest....I just love it!!! And it’s not because I have the most exciting life…but it’s because I get pleasure from the simplest things in life. Every little moment is made to be savoured….music, the outdoors, animals, work, travel, hobbies, people: family, friends…LIFE! ©

So people enjoy it cos you’ve only got one life to live! Live it up to the max:D



Monday, September 27, 2010

When I Grow Up...

Photo credit - picture-book.com
How many times have we wondered where we’d be in 5, 10, 20 years time. Wow! Are we there yet?! The progression of the proverbial time line of life is one to be marveled at. When I was a child I thought all grown-ups were old…now I’m a grown up! My, oh my! Did I live up to all of my childhood expectations? Do all of the tangible things make my life a grown-up fantasy to some child or teen looking on? Or do I need to conform to the societal norms to be an adult? Do I need to have a child of my own to arrive at some sort of shared place where adults cohabitate?! Maybe I’m not making any sense to those that are already there, but hey blogging is liberating. Not one day goes by without one of my co-workers or acquaintances trying to convince me that you haven’t lived until you have bore your own offspring and dare they say aloud: doomed to a lonely life without that little person completing you and fulfilling your role or destiny in life. I can’t help but beg to differ. Whether I decide to do this or not does not dictate my fulfillment in life. I affirm that my destiny is contingent on me making myself and others happy… making a difference by touching another life by living my own… whether it is a spouse or family, friends, a child or another body in need of comfort, reassurance, consolation, mentouring, guidance or hope through my daily interactions, travels or my life’s work. Sometimes you fulfill your destiny by deviating from the norm or if you so desire - conforming to the norm. Most times you have to do what’s right for you at any given moment. Life is a choice and you can’t surrender your right to choose which path your life should take. There’s no right or wrong. It’s through it all you learn to make it better and grow wiser each and every day. It’s a mix of destiny, chance, free will and choices. ©


What’s your choice this day?



Friday, September 10, 2010

Re-think, Re-group, and Revamp!

Well I changed the look of my blog and boy am I loving it! It makes you feel good sometimes to try something different whether it is re-arranging a room, a new purchase, a new haircut or something like this. The time will come when you feel the need to also rethink your position about things in your life. Simply your direction and where you're headed; the things that are important to you and the lengths you would go to achieve and maintain them or who you thought were real but really wasn't. With most of the year already behind us, we tend to look back and determine if we need to regroup in order to get where we are going. What is really important to us? Are we willing to sacrifice our position on matters or our ideals to get ahead? Or do we stand up for what we believe in and wait for the right opportunities to come along where we can really exihibit our true potential? Is it worth it just to "tow the line" until something better comes along? Or do we abandon ship in search of that dream? Each of us will answer differently to these questions but whatever we choose, we must ensure that it's the right decision for us at the point in time. How many friendships, relationships and acquaintances have been lost along the way this year? We also need to look inside and examine what makes us tick, our likes and dislikes, our strengths and weaknesses. I think I heard on television once that sometimes what we can't stand in others is the very thing that we ourselves are guilty of.
Photo credit - tearstantrumsandjoy.com
We need to look at that and only then will be able to move on and grow; see where our shortcomings lie and decide who we want to keep around us. There be many temptations around as well luring us back in, but sometimes it is wise to just to say "no" to people who are just not healthy to be around. With that in mind, we look to the future with a focus on trying to maximize the next few months before year's end as much as possible to see where we can mend fences with someone (if we think it's worth it) or just finishing up a project or being that one step closer to achieving a dream of ours for 2010 because it's not too late! © 

Whatever it is, we just need to affirm to ourselves and the universe: Watch out world...here I come!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

September is here!

This is a post just to mark the day...couldn't let September 1st go by without blogging. Summer vacation has officially ended, we have celebrated Independence and another year has almost come to a close. I hope we are that one step closer to accomplishing what we set out to do when the year first began. It's easier said than done but sometimes you just have to put your mind to it and don't let anything stand in your way. I can't say I have any complaints, I have met some of my goals, I got to catch up with family this year and I travelled to a new land. On the personal front, I have wrestled with some demons and came up the winner. As human beings we are always striving for new ways to transcend our limitations and surpass our previous record to make this journey more exciting and fulfilling. Seldom do we want to remain in one position but rather constantly evolving into a state where we find ourselves content and free. The only thing constant is change and change we must in order to survive in a fluid world full of emotion, energy and motion! ©

Happy September all :D
Big Ben, River Thames-London/July 2010

Memories to keep you warm 
Sandcastle fun 


Sun, Sea & Sand/Summer 2010

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The world that surrounds you

Photo credit - jeffbeebe.ning.com
Time is a marvelous thing. It allows us to grow and evolve into beings capable of adapting to any situation; to look at life from a different perspective; to heal our wounds and angst at times. Time makes us appreciate what we have in our life and be present for all the things happening at any given moment. Yesterday a very wise person told me that sometimes, perhaps something you were hoping to happen did not, because you were not ready for it to occur and maybe you needed to rid yourself of something for it to happen. It added a whole new twist on the saying: “nothing happens before its time.” At first I was like: “what are you really saying…that is not true!” I always thought: “what is for you, is for you” but then I figured that this young guy maybe really knew what he was saying! Mind you this hasn’t the slightest hint of anything remotely romantic or sappy as that! All I am going to say is that time after time we think we need to be in the right place at the right time or know the right people but sometimes it’s just your aura and what you project. Sometimes what you are putting out into the universe is greater than anything physical. You may have all good intentions to get where you’re going but sometimes something subconscious that you haven’t dealt with as yet is preventing that connection between what you want and you. ©


Food for thought: Sometimes we need to clear ourselves of the clutter in order to make room for the surpises. What you give is what you get.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Milestones


Photo credit - theaccidentalcommunicator.com

We often think of milestones as that one big achievement…that once in a lifetime dream coming true…but these can be found in almost everything we do in life. Whether it is the birth of a child, landing our dream job, visiting a new place, owning our own home or living to see another birthday. For most of us, we want to revel in our achievements - to savour its sweetness so the memories linger on. But others try to downplay its importance and deprive themselves of feeling that joy. Maybe because of the fast pace of life, we forget to give thanks for all of our accomplishments and then the moment is gone. It is important to give conscious thought to everything around us and experience life for what it is: a precious gift to behold. Even if you think there is nothing to be thankful for, the mere fact that you have sight to read the words on this page or enjoy a breathtaking sunset; to smell a rose, the aroma of a loved one’s cooking or the scent of rain on a newly pitched road, we must be grateful. The ability to walk or talk; if you have a talent to sing, dance or play an instrument, we must be appreciative for there are many others that can’t do any of those things and long for our blessings. Sometimes we go through life searching for that one big thing that would make us feel satisfied or keep us on par with the Joneses, but we ought to remember to be aware of our blessings and do what is right for us. Satisfaction can be found in the gaze of a small child or a hug from a friend that you haven’t seen in years. It can be found in our daily activities at work: making a customer’s day or completing a project that would enhance the quality of life of others. I recently saw a baby on a flight that almost brought tears to my eyes…I sat and I stared in awe and smiled peacefully to myself, for children are one of God’s greatest gifts. So behold the world around you: the people, places and things in your life. Ask yourself if it was taken away, which one you would miss the most and why. Give thanks for them all. Preserve your talents, skills and abilities. Cherish your youth and don’t waste it. Make the most of your privileges and never take anything for granted. Do what makes you happy and you will always have inner peace and strength to make it through to the end.©
“Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching.”
Satchel Paige (1906 – 1982)


Friday, May 28, 2010

A Look Within


They say time flies when you're having fun. But I wasn't having nearly as much fun because I was neglecting my blog...but I'm back. So many things going on, personal and otherwise. The old folks used to say, "after one time is two" but I never really understood this until recently. Things that you thought mattered so much before, feelings you experienced, people you encountered in your life: are all but points along a journey. They come and go and never stay the same as you progress through life. Every day we evolve a little bit more, events happen in your life, you meet new people, you run into old ones you knew at another time, you experience new things (perhaps old things in a different way), encounter new opportunities that changes how we perceive the world.  As our world view changes, we step out of our little private (comfort) zone and it influences how we react to certain situations...things that may have bothered us at an earlier time. Perhaps it opens our eyes to something we were blind to before and allow us to wake up to a new reality. Maybe it enables us to learn something new about ourselves, our environment or the people around us. Whatever the outcome, we need to slow down and be cognizant of the situations that present themselves in our lives. After all, if we believe in the reasoning that everything in life happens for a reason, we would stop to take note of every single moment that we experience daily, for it is then that we are able to truly understand ourselves, our relationship with others and our purpose on this journey.

"Lost time is never found again." Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

One Step at a Time

This a follow up to the previous post...
a journey to my fitness goals...
Join me by clicking on the title link to read more.

On exercise:
"...But without that inner desire and strength to do it on your own and cognizance of your purpose for doing it, you will fall by the wayside and it's even harder to get back going again. It is indeed a lot of work and although it's not one of my favourite things in the world it's worth it in the end, as you reap not only physical benefits but overall well-being..."

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Turn over a new leaf

So I decided to turn over a new leaf when it comes to healthy living...I joined a new online network in an attempt to give it my all when it comes to eating healthy and exercise especially. What prompted this metamorphis, you ask? My trainer gave me a strong reprimand the other day at the gym. His complaint: my complaining! In all seriousness, I need to take heed. Although I am not overweight, there are some things I need to work on. So this time, I am going to try to keep it zipped and just do the exercise! I try to eat healthy most of the time, but sometimes you need to reward yourself and cheat a little, just don't make it a habit. Cardio is also a weak area of mine...that I need to work on, so once I condition my mind to do more of it, it should be okay.  Bread and pasta has been absent from my diet for some time now, so too have been carbs and sugars after 6:00 pm and I have seen an improvement. It is my goal to start cooking up some healthy and creative recipes that promote even more healthy living!
Anyhow, check out my new find!: http://www.wholeliving.com/

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Top 10 List of things you hate about social networks!

Okay this post is a diversion, but the whole idea of a blog is for it to be “cathartic” and have a release/purge of emotions/thoughts and this is simply that. 
Do you hate those fake social networks as much as I do? Don’t even utilize it much anymore except for maybe short glimpses to retrieve something of vital importance that I did not store anywhere else or to wish someone Happy Birthday...gone are the days of just remembering someone’s birthday or storing it in a diary!
Anyhow, I compiled my Top 10 list of things most despised about social networks:


1) The way random people add you for no apparent reason except to mind your business or to buffer the quantity of friends on their friends list!
2) When you log on and your supposed “friends” do a disappearing act from your profile for no apparent reason except maybe jealously, falseness or snobbishness and you wonder how those very people ended up on your friends list in the first place!!!
3) The way the said persons who disappeared are the same persons that sent you a friend request!
4) People who throw a hissy fit for months on end because you did not accept their friend request!
5) Why persons send you a friend request and then block out portions of their profile after you have given them “whole hog” access to yours and you discover it randomly while trying to send them a birthday greeting!
6) People who delete you then still try to mind your business!!
7) The way you log on just for a minute, then end up getting caught up for periods on end in everyone’s status updates before finding what you came on to do in the first place!!
8) The way persons on your friend list feel the need to announce every single thing under the sun that they are doing at any given moment in time, like if anyone wants to know what they had for breakfast, lunch AND dinner or how they can’t seem to find the right partner or job! It’s like: “why are you airing your dirty laundry in public and do we even care???" For heaven’s sake be a woman/man, suck it up and DEAL WITH IT!!!! Nobody likes a crybaby who is moping all the time!
9) Those damn virtual hearts, pillows, friends circles and sorority girl requests that “pull” all your personal information and those non-stop status updates for mafia points, potatoes that need harvesting or golden eggs that were laid!!
10) And last but not least those FAKE PEOPLE!! If you are truly my friend pick up the phone and call me, send me an email/text message or drop me a line the old fashioned way!! I still have all my old letters and cards from my long time friends.
It's a vicous cycle out there folks, let's not get caught up in our virtual worlds and forget the essence of what friendship is all about. Lot's of people are getting themselves into serious trouble through social networking...It's time we start acting like friends instead of letting the click of a mouse dictate our pace when it comes to choosing and keeping friends...for the most part we don't communicate with our real friends soley on networking sites.