Monday, December 27, 2010

Simplify to magnify

Sometimes simple is better and simple changes can make magnificence results.  Whatever you are focused on, thinking about, dwelling, appreciating-is magnified.  If you want your life to change-change your life.  It starts with your thoughts and beliefs first.  Nearing the end of the year, it's a brand new year-what could be better?  Instead of dwelling on the past, I like to dwell in the possibilities

~If you want to feel peaceful, read/watch/surround yourself with peaceful things.  Let silly arguments go for the sake of peace, especially if the other person can't see the error of their ways.  It's not even about meditation or yoga, it's about maybe taking quiet time to drink you coffee in the morning or going for a walk.  If you are constantly busy, the TV is always on, constant stimulation overload and it works for you-great-maybe it's exciting for you.  If you want more peace, make it for yourself, don't wait for it to happen to you.



~If you want to be happier, more positive, have more fun-FIND it!  Surround yourself with those kind of people that make you laugh and feel good.  How do you feel with the though-I'll be happy when...or I am happy when...  You can find it NOW.  OK, so your boss is a jerk, your kids misbehave...whatever it is...you can think about something that makes you happy.  Even food, shopping, or TV that makes you happy good.  Not that you should go overboard with any of that-but ENJOY your life.

~If you don't like people judging you or talking negatively about you-take a look from a different perspective.  Find the good in others, judge and gossip less, be kind to yourself and see things change.

~It's nothing new.  If you want to be accepted, accept others.  I you want people to respect you, respect them, even if you don't agree with them.  If you want to be loved, love yourself and others.  Whatever you want more of, focus on that.  Einstein said, "Problems cannot be solves at the same level that created them."  Think from a deeper perspective or a higher perspective to makes the changes.

~If you want your life to change-you just don't know how-write in a journal.  Write a letter to yourself in the past, present, or future.  When you write, your inner wisdom comes through.  If you feel like you are stuck-in any part of your life-write from the future.  What would it be like from the place of having your goals accomplished or being happy.  

If things are going great for you-WONDERFUL-appreciate it!  I believe that creates more good stuff.  Try it as an experiment.  I've learned if I thinking negatively, I find more things I don't like.  If I am feeling good, I find more good things popping up to appreciate!  It's the Law of Attraction.  If you are in a good mood are a vibrational match to people in a good mood.  If you are in a bad mood, the people in good mood annoy the crap out of you.  It's the same with positive/negative, happy/annoyed, healthy/sick, prosperous/poor,etc. And remember it's all relative.  To someone in a third world country-you are rich!  If you hate your job-change jobs or make peace with it-someone else wishes they had a job.  It's all perspective.  Today, it was freezing in parts of my house (45 degrees), I put my robe over my pjs, made hot chocolate-at least I don't live in a hut!  LOL  I'm not going for being perfect all the time-I'm just going for HAPPY!  That's works for me-do whatever works for you!

I'm super excited about 2011, I love the idea of the newness and fresh starts!!!  It is a great time to be alive.  Wishing you all the best, there's more than enough to go around!  :)

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Fran, the Man.

My Daddy is Fran and he's the MAN!  He use to drive me crazy, now he amuses me.  We live in different worlds, mine has feelings and rainbows, his has facts and sports.  I always look for the good in people and he was always trying to protect me from getting hurt.  He has taught me to not care what others think and I have taught him to think about other people's feelings.  It's an interesting job for fathers to try to relate to their daughters and daughters to figure out their dads...or is that the other way around?  What we have in common is a LOVE for our family, food, laughing, oldies music, and Neil Diamond.  That's all you need right?  If it were up to him maybe I'd be a meat eating, sports playing, quiet person.  Haha!  He would have nothing to tease me about then-that's how he loves me-busting my chops.  If he likes you, he makes fun of you with a big smile on his face.  He means no harm.  Don't worry, you'll know if he doesn't like you, he just won't talk to you.  He's been known to get into an argument with guys thirty years younger who back down from him.  It's his mob vibe-he's always given off this mobster feeling, especially when he's in a suit.

What he also taught me are sayings and words that no one else uses.  I call them: Franisms.  Some come from back in the day maybe or where he grew up in Philadelphia (Fishtown) but here's a sample. Pretty much almost every day, we'll be talking about someone and he says, "Somethin' not right there."  He has a good  good people radar though, from his years of bartending.  If you are ever sitting next to him at church, you'll be cracking up. He will comment about someone's baby, "that baby looks like Abe Bagoda" or someone we have never heard of.  Or "that kid looks like he was hit was an ugly stick."  He is never quiet and if someone notices I just smile, what are you gonna do, he's funny!  He has that razor sharp wit.  "She ain't no box of chocolates" when he's referring to people, we do or do not know, that are not perfect.  Because we of course are perfect.  This can be used with celebrities or politicians also.  "He's losing his feathers," means a man is going bald.  "Soup coolers" are big lips.  "Double seaters" are people with a little junk in their trunk.  My Dad, mind you, is very athletic but not thin.  He means no harm, my grandmother use to tell it like it is also.  "Bum wheels" is when you have bad feet.  He's got some "bad Chiclets" (remember that gum) means teeth.  If a little kid wakes up from a nap in hysterics, they are like "a bag of cats."  Totally true!  If you ask him too many questions, he says, "Whada writin' a book?"  If you put a second helping on your plate, "The governor called," as in you will not be executed.  When we watch vacationers on the beach, who are letting it all hang out, "I guess they don't have mirror."  One time we were walking on a sixty degree day and this older lady had ear muffs and gloves and he say, "She looks like she is going to a snowstorm"  Not Alaska or Antarctica, a snowstorm!  My husband and I laughed out loud. 

You never know what he's gonna say, it keeps things exciting.  My kids are quite amused by him also-he is a wonderful grandfather.  I'm glad they bring him so much joy.  And he gives them the best bear hugs.  My dad, Francis Xavier Glenning is your modern day Archie Bunker and like Archie, loves his family, he knows what's best for everyone-and he's going to tell you. He's one of a kind.  I love my Dad!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Holiday sparkle

If I could, I would glitterize and bedazzle the world.  Not nature, but abandoned, dilapidated buildings, even though there is beauty in them also.  Nature is sparkly, like the glistening snow, light dancing on the ocean as the waves flow, and remember gems come from nature.  Every day, the world takes my breath away in some way, the awesome Universe unfolds more magically and miraculously than the day before.    The sunshine brightens the sky everyday making the clouds happy and sunsets feel their worth.  I see angels form in the clouds and even rainbows. 
Aww...and my flowers which are a reason in itself to be born into a body to see, smell, and enjoy.   As much as I like sparkles, I LOVE colors.  I love mixing paint to create new colors, the giant box  of crayons with the amazing names-oh the possibilities.  What blows my mind every spring is the different colors of flowers that bloom, there are neon!  I know that there are fish and other sea creatures that are electric, shimmering, and bright-I'd nice to see you up close one day! 
There's more colors and sparkly things this time of year than any other time-I LOVE it!!!  The holidays also bring me back to that child-like wonder at life.  All the lights twinkle, making my heart sing, making me believe in all that is good.  People hold the door at the store, wishing me a wonderful holiday-the whole world begins to feel like one big family.  Christmas carols have this secret power to raise the energy of the room.  Holidays movies all have a message of hope and remind us to really cherish our families-dysfunction and all.  Even making the Christmas cookies remind us to play-create-get our hands into making something FUN.   Take time to appreciate...whatever you LOVE!  Lots of Love-to you all!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

That damn 10 lbs.

Everyone knows what I'm talking about.  Wanting to lose 10...or however many pounds for this new year.  It's never about the weight. it's the way it makes you feel.  When I was 10 pounds lighter, I felt sexy and good about myself...but then there was the part that still felt that I needed to lose more, that was hungry, had to workout of beat myself up.  I saw an actress, Jessica Alba, on The Talk and she explained how she lost 50 lbs in three months for a job.  She worked out 6 hours a day (yes- 2hrs in morn, mid-day, and night) and had 1200 calorie a day program.  She said she was so hungry and crying all the time.  I was so glad a celebrity was honest about it. 

Do you say, screw it, I give up.  No, I tried that, you just get really fat and feel worse.  Realizing that what I want is the feeling that I would get from flat abs.  Confidence, self-esteem, feeling flirty & fun about yourself.  It's like wanting more money, why do you want more money.  Money brings freedom, peace, sense of security, and opportunities for fun and being able to really enjoy life.  Well, find ways to get the feelings you want instead of waiting til that day when it all comes together.  Then they'll be something else you want or need to work on.  Life is growth and change constantly.  So instead of the new year resolution of the losing 10 lbs, I could list the 10 pounds of excess mental baggage.

1.Fear
2.Doubt
3.Need for control
4.Playing victim
5.Self criticism
6.Judgment
7.Feelings of lack
8.Worry
9.Stress
10.Resentment

WOW, tall order.  I feel lighter already!  Holding negative feeling to me is not for me.  I am on a quest to always let go and move to a better place, ALWAYS!  Get mad, hug it out, move on.  Life is meant to be lived!  Moment by moment, in any situation, find the pocket where it feels better and slide into it and then again.  Looking for the silver lining, letting go, surrendering, and the struggle eases up.  My wish for the New Year is that everyone gets what they want and find what they are looking for.  And when in doubt, look within,, past in inner cynic and you know.  You can look above but God is all around.  Find a way to be happy now and you will find more to be happy about. 

Weight loss tip (I've had to lose it many times)
MODERATION!
Dance for exercise or do what is fun to you for exercise.  Make it a challenge, not a struggle with setting weight loss goals.   Find good for you food and enjoy them. If you want to eat something "bad", relish it!  It's not acuially bad, it's just freakin' food. It has no power, unless you give it some. Be grateful for you food, bless it, or just be happy eating it-why not feel good about life even when you are trying to lose weight.  Don't call it a DIET, to me it's a four letter word.  I'd chose to LOVE myself instead.  Choosing to say to people when you are passing up some crappy food you don't need, say I'm not in the mood for that or I'm eating healthy, making changes (whatever feels empowering to say.)   Look in the mirror and smile, tell yourself you ROCK, you're fabulous, you love yourself, you are....(fill in the blank for what you want to be called.)  No one's looking-  do a little dance.  Dance to the music in your head.  I have Bootylicious playing in mine.  :)
Why not just love yourself today. Wishing you LOVE & LIGHT!!!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Blooming

I love to plant seeds wherever I go.  Encouraging others to believe in themselves and thinking that maybe things can change.  Change starts with the seed which is your thoughts.  I know I was meant to help people.  I always try to see the good in others and I'm trying my best. One of my wishes is for everyone to live their fullest potential, their true nature.  I have to be myself to encourage others.  My true nature is to be silly and spiritual.  I can read self-help books and loves fashion.  Drive a min-van while wearing high heels.  Meditate and then watch Real Houswives of wherever.  (Me, no?)  LOL  Whatever.  Who cares?  Usually no one does but you think they do.   

Start with baby steps or just put it all out there.  Your real friends will understand and encourage you.  In fact, your real friends probably think you are even cooler than you think you are.  I have been blessed to have family and friends that love me deeply.  I thought I had to be serious and be who I thought everyone wanted.  I would never want anyone to be anything but authentic.  An example would be that I would agree when I didn't.  If people do not like me because I have a different opinion, that is on them.  I send them Light and Love, wishing them well.  I have to practice what I preach to my kids.  I have written before and feel it is very important- be a thought COP.  No Comparing yourself to others.  Opinions of others mattering more than you own.  People Pleasing-ugh!  I did this for 32 years and it got me nowhere but lost!  I have made changes to my thinking over the past year.

I read a lot, listened to many amazing teachers there are out there.  I have learned, you can blend being a spiritual person in real life.  I have also learned so much, internally, from meditating every day.  That is where we can connect with God and our intuition.  One message I got last night was: You are becoming who you are.  I am being the real me.  I believe in angels and all that woo-woo stuff and I am a happy person.  That doesn't mean everyone else does because I respect others rights to be themselves.  I also got that: There is a sunset in your heart of the old you and the sunrise of the new.  Pretty cool!  I have been getting really clear about what I want and dealing with my "stuff".  Does this mean I am perfect?  No!  That's not the goal.  My intention is to be happy and help people. I would like to publish my fiction book and eventually write a non-fiction book that can help people.  I'd love to be a healer, speaker, and whatever way God can use me.  Why?  Why not?  It is a always fun to think about the possibilities...for blooming.  And like they say...Bloom where you are planted. 

I hope all your dreams come true!   

Saturday, December 4, 2010

The Metaporical Closet of your Life

I don't think I know-it-all but I think everyone knows something.  Sometimes you think you've learned your lesson, only to repeat it again.  I'm a like to reflect on life-never regret-dwell-or any of that.  What's done is done, move on...but I like to sort out closet of my mind (every once in a while.)  Sounds crazy...but it's my way of seeing where I am at and how I've grown, what I change.

When it's time to clean out your closet-you find many things.  Things you have outgrown (whether by eating to much, change in style, or you got bored with it.)  There are things you forgot you had-that you really like and are going to start wearing them again.  There are your go-to things that you use often and you might not even LOVE them...but they are comfortable in fabric or style.  You may see that you lack certain things, with an overabundance over others.  It feels so good hauling out bags of clothes and stuff to donate to Goodwill.  I am not a hoarder but very sentimental, so if I found out my grandmother's gaudy cocktail ring was worth $10,000 I wouldn't even sell it.  Your closet tells a story of your life, what you are about...there most likely is history there.  I even still have my prom dress.  Now I love nostalgia, there comes a point where you have to let it go.  Reflecting on whether it serves you or not.  My best friend, Tricia, and I were discussing the parallels of life and our closets.

When I take stock of my life and wrap my mind around it, I find my thoughts arising.  Thoughts of what I think about myself, my parenting, my goals, my faults, and my strengths come up.  I do this with the goal of detachment, of not judging but observing.  You can look at picture of the past and think who thin you were, how young you were, and how happy or unhappy you were.  I make mistakes, grow & learn...rinse and repeat.  That's life!  If you are smart, you try not to keep repeating the smart mistakes but it happens.  I'm always on a quest for new ways to look at or deal with situations that bother me.  As a parent, you are always in adapting mode, trying to guide without controlling...managing....without losing your mind.  If I am wrong, mess up, or yell, I apologize.  That's not who I want to be.  If I feel jealousy, competition, self-doubt, I steer my thoughts in another direction.  You are the master of your thoughts, you can decide to change to a new way of thinking.  It takes focus to do this but it is so worth it.

If you don't like drama...walk away from it.  You are thinking how mad you are and there's conflict but you decide the anger isn't worth the price, especially the feelings getting hurt.  Every day is that new fork in the road to choose your path.  I have found for myself, writing down negative feelings I have felt and changing them into a positive helps me.  If you feel you are too fat or something external, you still have a choice.  You can chose your thoughts.  Go in your literal closet and put something on that brings out your eyes or your best attribute.  Look in the mirror and say, "You are fabulous!"  Laugh at the silliness of it or just smile.  People will think you are fabulous-you have nothing to lose.  HAVE FABULOUS-FUN-FILLED DAY!  And clean out your closet, you'll feel better.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Journey to Journaling

When I'm feeling lousy, confused, or need some insight-start to write.  There are many different perspectives you can come from: your ego/negative feelings, your Higher Self/positive self, or just a different angle of thinking.  I don't advise to stay on the negative, just get the negative out of you head - onto paper and then switch to a lighter perspective.  Say for instance, you had a fight with someone, you can get out your frustrations and then see from a higher perspective where they are coming from, until you feel forgiveness and let go-feeling lighter.  Or if you are feeling bad about yourself, being a perfectionist or confused about your purpose/gifts you bring to the world.  In this scenario: list all the things that are good about you, which you may not feel to be totally true but embrace the good stuff people say.  God shines through us all and everyone has so many unique and wonderful qualities about them if we can cultivate them- we shine!  Another tip on the journey is: If you are feeling boo-hoo about having enough cash for Christmas or in general about all the stuff the "Joneses" have, list what you are grateful for.  You will feel better, I promise!!!  We are so blessed and lucky in America, if you are reading this on a computer, breathing with ease, with a least one person who thinks you're alright-you are blessed!  ;)  (Side note: I knew Joneses that we skinny blonde and rich-LOL)  

Some other ideas are if you want to change something in your life, figure out what's next-Ask you guardian angels for some help, I ask for Truth, Clarity, and Understanding all the time in my prayers or meditation.  If you need more info, comment and I'll get back to you.  Also, we are all so damn smart and wise so feel free to comment on something so I can learn from you.  What can I say, God gave me the gift to gab and write, but I promise I can LISTEN!!!  :)  Enjoy the magic of Christmas!