monday motivation - speak your truth

This isn't the post I was going to write today. But I think it's important enough to change my plans.

I woke up today knowing that I would get to chat with him and looking forward to it, even though I know we aren't exactly on the same relationship page right now. That's just how it is. I love discussing things with this man. It's interesting that with him, I can speak more freely than with anyone else. I know that I can express my wants and needs and wishes and dreams and he doesn't seem to judge them or me. He asks questions in a way that makes me think, and then sometimes, makes me face something I don't necessarily want to admit even to myself. I'm not even sure he realizes what he's doing.

Today, he asked me a fairly simple question. And in just thinking about the answer, a simple truth hit me, and the tears started to roll down my cheeks, and I fell apart.

"What do you want right now?"

The truth is, I want to NOT know how a broken heart feels. Maybe it's the time of year, the upcoming anniversaries of friends lost but never forgotten, but the cracks and wounds left by old heartaches are sore and tender. I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had and the love I've had for anything. But sometimes, I wish I still had the innocent ability to fall in love without reservation and without caution.

motivation monday - it's about time

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 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. 

a simple cure

monday motivation - forever

Today is not that day.

monday motivation - love

The only way love can last a lifetime is if it's unconditional. The truth is this: love is not determined by the one being loved but rather by the one choosing to love.
  Stephen Kendrick

What is unconditional love? Love given freely, without demand. It is kindness, compassion, honesty, loyalty. Unwavering in its truth, unconditional love doesn't fade. It's not infatuation or romance. It's so much simpler, and so much more meaningful. It can be shared among family, friends, even strangers.

My life is full of unconditional love. For the friends and family who choose to love me unconditionally, I am grateful beyond words. And I choose to love you back, regardless of circumstance or distance. In the quiet of your heart, my friend, know that you are forever loved.

monday motivation - pick one

monday motivation - control your own destiny

monday motivation - talent

monday motivation - remarkability

I found out the other day that someone I admire and respect has been talking about me behind my back. In a good way.

monday motivation - good enough

This applies to several areas of my life today!

monday motivation - live

Just a little reminder. Don't worry about others so much. Live your own life.

monday motivation - pause

The sun is out today, after the 3rd rainiest March in the record books. So this seemed appropriate:

Monday motivation - Leap!

Years ago, I wandered into an art gallery down on the waterfront in Portland. There were a number of pieces by a local artist/poet/calligrapher, Mary Anne Radmacher. I spent the better part of my lunch hour reading and recognizing myself and other loved ones in her work. I've purchased several prints over the years - one holds a place of honor in my entryway, and one was my wedding gift to Rochelle and Dave.

Last year, Mary Anne treated some of her fans to a special Valentine image - using words we had chosen. Bet you can't guess what mine was!

monday motivation - you choose

For today's Monday motivation - a little reminder of the power of personal choice. You can't control what others do, what happens to you, or the things people say to you, but once it is part of your life, you get to choose the direction it sends you in.

monday motivation - I am

A little motivation for Monday morning. A sweet answer to the childhood chant, "I know I am, but what are you?"

monday motivation - truth

How about a little motivational quote for a Monday morning?

40 things I’ve learned – a collection of personal observations, truthsand some quotes that have shaped me into the person I am

I recently turned 40. A milestone event for sure, but not traumatic as many would want you to believe. I feel stronger, healthier, more centered at 40 than at almost any time in my life. My life is in no way perfect, but it is generally good. I came up with a list of 40 things that make up "me" and wanted to share them with you. Who am I kidding? This is my first blog post - no one is reading it yet...

1. “Should” is a word that we use too often.


2. The rhyme we learned as children “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” isn’t necessarily true. Words can hurt. It’s what we choose to do when someone uses a hurtful word that means the most.


3. A lifetime’s not too long to live as friends.


4. Sometimes, boys are stupid. I’m not saying girls aren’t, but you can write your own list if you want to say that.


5. Laughter heals. So do tears.


6. You can love someone with all your heart and they can still walk away.


7. “Don't pole vault over mouse turds.” Excellent advice about keeping life simple and not overdoing things if it's not necessary.


8. I hope I’m never too old to remember what it’s like to be a kid.


9. "A bad habit never disappears miraculously; it's an undo-it-yourself project."– Abigail Van Buren


10. I really am stronger than I think I am sometimes.


11. Watching the news is not good for my outlook on humanity. Watching children play is.


12.  Chocolate and peanut butter will always be my favorite flavor.


13. Grief is hard work. And even when you’ve walked it yourself, you don’t know what someone else’s path through it will be like.


14. “You don’t get to choose how you are going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you are going to live. Now.” - Joan Baez


15. Just because I like plants doesn’t mean I have a green thumb.


16. My dog has taught me more about myself than I thought possible.


17. Qualifying an apology with an excuse destroys the apology. Never say, “I’m sorry, but…”


18. "If you judge people, you have no time to love them." Mother Teresa


19. Having a friend who will look you in the eye and tell you something you don’t want to hear, especially when it’s something you need to hear in order to grow, is a gift.


20. Popcorn and wine for dinner is okay once in a while.


21. Action is as important as words.


22. "The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself."– Anna Quindlen


23. I’m extremely grateful for my childhood, my hometown, and the community I grew up in. Even if I tell stories that make it sound otherwise sometimes.


24. Self esteem is not about anyone but me. It’s not friend esteem, or job esteem, or family esteem, or physical appearance esteem. No one else is responsible for how I feel about myself.


25. “We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” – Dr. Seuss


26. It’s possible that I watch too much tv.


27. The poem “Live with intention” by Mary Anne Radmacher changed my life.


28. I don’t keep track of how many best friends I have – but there are a lot of them. I’m lucky that way.


29. Life isn’t always fair.


30. Sometimes, you just need to get out the paper, scissors, and glue and have a craft day.


31. The smell of juniper, sage brush, and pine all together smells more like home than anything I know.


32. “Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit." --E.E. Cummings


33. Being single doesn’t mean that something is wrong with you or that you’re incomplete. It can be a blessing at times. I’m one of the happiest people I know. I can paint my walls any color I like and buy new towels whenever I want.


34. Nothing beats a good belly laugh. Especially one that involves snorting and crying.


35. If you don’t end up with marshmallow in your hair, you aren’t making s’mores correctly.


36. When I was about 6 years old, a dear family friend told me I had music in my heart, and I should always remember to listen to it and sing my own song.


37.  If you think you want to run a marathon, go cheer on a friend at mile 21. If you want to feel that “good,” go ahead and sign up.


38. “Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think.” – Randy Pausch


39. Avoiding telling someone the truth because you don’t want to hurt them does more damage than telling them.


40. “Live imperfectly with great delight.” – Leigh Standley (Curly Girl Design)