Wednesday, July 24, 2013

wise word wednesday

Since I missed motivation Monday... here's a little wise word for Wednesday instead.


The other night, we were looking at some boudoir photos that one of my besties just had done for her upcoming 10th anniversary. One of the girls made a comment about how amazing she looked, and that as women, we should all be able to embrace our bodies and love ourselves without fear of judgment. I believe her words were along the lines of - our bodies are amazing, we make babies for pete's sake, and we should celebrate that every day.

I agree. I think we should spend more time loving ourselves. Knowing who you are inside and out and loving yourself not in spite of your imperfections, but simply with your imperfections. Unconditional love. The outside world does enough to shame women (and men) into feeling less than enough. Don't you start doing it to yourself too.

Monday, July 15, 2013

monday motivation - the key to me?



 Or... is it...

the key to me = happiness? 

No matter what seems to be heading my way (this last weekend was difficult to say the least), I can still honestly and truly say that I am in a happy place. Dealing will illnesses, unexpected expenses, stress and loss has taken a toll, but because I have an amazing group of friends and family, I have been supported and loved through the chaos and upheaval. And that makes all the difference. It's true that crisis amplifies emotions and brings out people's true character, for the good or the bad. Friendships that had been strained are healed and strong again. Trust is growing among those I love, and relationships are getting healthier. 

Being happy does not happen by chance. It happens by choice. I choose to look for the good in the world. I choose to surround myself with people who lighten my load and make my heart feel fuller. Happiness happens when I focus on moving forward through hard times, when I don't allow myself to get stuck, when I empower myself to make choices from the heart, even if others may not think it's the right thing to do. And when I do that, when I allow and encourage happiness in myself and others, I feel truly and authentically like myself. 

That is about as motivating as motivation can get. To be myself. 

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

moving on


There's a certain point where rehashing the problems and the blame is just plain crazy. It's never going to be fixed and there's nothing more to be done than to stop, drop, and move on. Don't look back. It's not going to change, I promise.

Monday, July 8, 2013

the silence is so loud

On September 13, 2000, my best friend was born. He weighed exactly 16 ounces and was the second biggest in his litter of 12 chocolate lab puppies. I didn't meet him for another four weeks, and I didn't bring him home to live with me until four weeks after that.


 
Twelve years and nine months later, on June 29, 2013, we said farewell and I stroked his fur for the last time.

I knew my time was limited and I was as prepared to let him go as I could be. And I knew it would hurt and I'd miss him like crazy, and I do. I never thought about how silent the house would be. I didn't realize how it would feel to come home and not have to walk to the back to let him in from whatever place he was napping in the yard. How lonely it would be to not be woken up by a cute little face peeking over the mattress, letting me know that he needed something (a cookie, a restroom break, or just a kiss).


I can get used to sleeping in again. I can get used to the freedom of being able to not go straight home from work or coordinating to make sure someone could take care of him. But the silence? I don't know if I can get used to that.