Tag: inspiration

words of wisdom

Words of Wisdom from Michelle L.

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I think it’s time for a word of wisdom. This time, however, I’m not sharing a celebrity or historical figure.

This time, the words of wisdom comes from my dear sisterfriend, Michelle. She mentioned this poem during a particularly painful time in my life, and I found the words encouraging. She told me that this poem was her favorite of all time. Once you read it, I’m sure you’ll understand why.

According to Patrick Wanis, the title of the poem is “Comes the Dawn”, and it was discovered in a craft store by advice columnist Ann Landers who went on to quote it. It has been credited to Veronica Shoftstall, but this is likely erroneous, as it was originally a part of a poem attributed by Jorge Luis Borges. But even that may be inaccurate: it has also been credited to Colombian poet Yamira Hernandez.

I loved the words and felt like sharing it with you all (many thanks to Nermeena for posting this lovely poem for all of us to enjoy).

Comes the Dawn by an Unknown Author

After a while you learn
the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn
that love doesn’t mean leaning
and company doesn’t always mean security.
And you begin to learn
that kisses aren’t contracts
and presents aren’t promises
and you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes ahead
with the grace of woman, not the grief of a child
and you learn
to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow’s ground is
too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down
in mid-flight.
After a while you learn
that even sunshine burns
if you get too much
so you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone
to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure
you really are strong
you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn
with every goodbye, you learn…

 

Happy Friday, my friends. I’ll talk to you all soon.

life curation

Preparing for 2018: Releasing Tolerations

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Happy Monday, friends! Can you all believe that we are just a few days away from the LAST month of the year?!?! I am in awe of how quickly 2017 has passed. This was a good year, but I’m excited for how awesome 2018 will be!

As part of the Preparing for 2018 series, I want to share a very powerful tool for clearing mental/physical/emotional “space”. This practice can really help make room for all of the good stuff that you want to come into your life.

The practice is, of course, releasing tolerations. This involves removing anything that doesn’t enhance your life or boost your energy. The energy drainers may be physical (living with lots of clutter is a good example), emotional (perhaps some unresolved issues around self-worth) or mental (maybe a colossal to-do list that never seems to shrink). Additionally, this is a way of “clearing the deck” so you have more energy to focus on the things that you enjoy. If you’re curious about learning what tolerations are, check out this post and this one, over at Good Vibe Blog. Jeannette Maw has done an excellent job of explaining tolerations and how they affect your ability to create the life that you want.

To prepare for the upcoming year, I’m going to work on clearing my physical space even more. I have some big plans for the upcoming year and reducing my possessions is one thing that needs to happen in order to best realize at least two of those big goals (I’ll share more about those goals in 2018).

I’ll be doing the 30 day challenge as mentioned by Terri Savelle Foy in the video I’m linking below. Information about the challenge is at the 21:30 mark (start at 19:35 for all of the tips related to releasing tolerations):

Every day in the month of December, I’ll discard an item corresponding with the date of the month (one item on the 1st, two items on the 2nd, 3 on the 3rd, etc.,). I will keep going until I reach December 31st, by which point I would have eliminated nearly 500 items from my life. Some items will be thrown away, while others will be donated to charity or given away to family and friends. In any case, the items will be leaving my space for good.

You can either try this particular challenge, or maybe try one of Jeannette’s recommendations. No matter what you decide to do, eliminating tolerations is a great way to prepare for the upcoming year.

Have you missed the other Preparing for 2018 Posts? Check them all out here:

Preparing for 2018

Preparing for 2018: Before Setting Your Goals …

Preparing for 2018: Commit It In Writing

Preparing for 2018: Listening to Your Intuition

Preparing for 2018: A Resource for Developing Your Vision

Preparing for 2018: Prioritizing Fun

 

international · travel

Dreaming of Costa Rica . . .

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With this recent string of cold days (what other weather would I expect in November in Virginia? I digress), all I’m thinking about is getting away to somewhere warm and sunny. Somewhere like . . . Costa Rica.

expedia costa rica

(photo courtesy of Expedia)

I’ve dreamed about a Costa Rican vacation for well over a year now. Aside from the tropical weather and beautiful water, I really want to see the sloths.

I mean, what’s cuter than a baby sloth?

dailymailsloth

(photo courtesy of Dailymail.co.uk)

The Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica makes it possible for visitors to tour and learn more about sloths in a safe, protected environment. I can’t wait to visit!

I won’t be going to Costa Rica this winter, but I may make it happen during the early months of 2019. I have a different adventure planned for this upcoming year (specifically, February 2018). I’m staying mum on the details of trip until after I’ve purchased the tickets, hotel rooms, and travel visas.

I can’t wait to share that with you! But in the meantime, just dream of Costa Rica with me . . .

Talk to you all tomorrow!

 

life curation

In Case of Emergency . . .

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If you have never felt despair, frustration or sadness, then you may not need this post. In fact, if you’ve never felt these feelings, please leave a comment below: I’d love to know how you make that happen!

However, if you have experienced those emotions – or some other unhappy feelings – you may be able to relate to what I’m going to write.

Sometimes, you need QUICK relief. A temporary shot of relief can give you the boost that you need to keep going. It won’t take away every pain, but at least it’s a sort-of bandage: it’ll mend you for the time being.

In the midst of one of these dark times, I created an emergency self care kit.  The idea behind the kit was to put things in it that can give me relief when I need it most.

I made sure to select a beautiful box that would bring a smile to my face as soon as I saw it. I also wanted to make sure it would be large enough to accommodate all of the items that I intended to put inside.

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My kit contains tissues, a journal and pen, chamomile tea, hot chocolate, a mug for my tea, a copy of “Rejuvenate: It’s Never Too Late” by Eartha Kitt, some crystals, and photos of loved ones. There’s a lot of empty space in my box: I have plenty of room to add additional comforting items.

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Funny enough, I find that just looking at the box can create feelings of calm and relaxation. Crazy how that works.

Would you ever consider making a self-care kit? Let me know in the comments below!

 

life curation · relaxation

Currently Listening To …

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I was JUST talking about my love of Oprah yesterday (in my Words of Wisdom post). So it should be no surprise that I’m currently listening to pretty much every episode of the SuperSoul Conversations podcast (I listen on iTunes, but it’s also available on iHeartRadio, Podbean and Podbay .

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I love being able to listen to SuperSoul Sunday without having to be physically located by a television set. I also love that I can have little bits of inspiration everywhere that I go.

My current fave episodes are the ones with Phil Jackson, Iyanla Vanzant and former Vice President Joe Biden. I’ve listened to each of them more than once, as I try to glean all of the wisdom that they offered.

 Do you all have any favorite podcasts? Let me know all about them in the comments below!

words of wisdom

Words of Wisdom: Oprah Winfrey

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oprah everyday power blog

(photo courtesy of Everyday Power Blog)

As far as modern day women that truly inspire me, I don’t know if there is any living icon that has impacted me as much as Oprah Winfrey.

oprah2goalcast

(photo courtesy of Goalcast)

A dirt poor childhood, sexual abuse, and occasional career setbacks didn’t hold her back from becoming a media monolith. I love how she parlayed her successful talk show career into a thriving media empire, including OWN (The Oprah Winfrey Network), O the Magazine, Oprah.com, lots of books and an acclaimed acting career.

oprah success stories dot com

(photo courtesy of Success Stories)

For those that don’t remember (or who may not have been aware), OWN was floundering during its first years on the air. But, true to Oprah’s style, she turned it around and it is now a total success, creating inspirational and entertaining programs that appeal to a wide variety of TV watchers.

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(photo courtesy of Goalcast)

My favorite show on OWN (on those rare occasions when I watch TV) is Super Soul Sunday. Oprah’s interviews with thought leaders always leaves me feeling inspired, encouraged and motivated.

oprah-winfrey-quotes-paperblog

(photo courtesy of PaperBlog)

Oprah has turned her unique appeal into an impressive career and touching legacy. I hope you all have enjoyed these quotes as much as I enjoyed compiling them.

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(photo courtesy of Scoopwhoop)

culture · words of wisdom

Words of Wisdom: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

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I mentioned earlier this week that I’ve been experiencing some not-so-happy times. At this point, I’m thinking it’s just a little bluesy period that will pass, but even when I anticipate a short period of discomfort and sadness, I like to turn to role models who can encourage me. So this week, I want to shine the spotlight on Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis,, who experienced more heartbreak than I can fathom, but also curated a beautiful life and incredibly touching legacy.

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Who more perfectly embodies courage and composure than Mrs. Kennedy Onassis? Twice widowed, an unconventional beauty, and a brainy woman during a time where women were rewarded for merely being pretty arm candy, Jackie had her share of difficulty. However, throughout it all she remained elegant, cool and focused on creating JOY at every step of her journey.

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I find it inspirational that she never just “faded away”: from debutante to First Lady, to perfect business wife to editor extraordinaire, everything she did was done with excellence. I love that she found her strength through her pain and left her mark on history.

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Private, poignant, and focused, Jackie is the kind of woman that we can all aspire to be, during good times and bad. I love how she focused on what really mattered and let the rest fade into the background.

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She came, she saw, she WON.

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(Photos courtesy of Pinterest and Town and Country Magazine)

life curation

Preparing for 2018: Prioritize Fun

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Oh, you thought that the Preparing for 2018 series was done? Not hardly, mes amis!

Despite all of the more “serious” posts in the Preparing for 2018, I want it to be clear that preparing for the upcoming year is FUN! You should be enjoying this process. If you aren’t having fun, then it’s time to prioritize fun and indulge in it regularly. The best way to get what you want – in an enjoyable manner – is to approach it all with a sense of fun and hopefulness.

I mean, you could work hard, hate making certain moves, and eventually get to the end goal that you desire. Lots of people trudge their way to their goals, and embracing extraordinary difficulties is often praised in our culture (so much so, I’ve seen people go out of their way to make things harder for themselves!).  I’ve seen the notion that the only way to have an “authentic” journey, worthy of a grand goal at the finish line, is to experience many pains and hardships, along with zero happiness as you make those critical moves.

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But how much nicer is it when you punctuate your journey with joy, levity and adventure? Every day may not be a party, but we’re shooting for, at minimum, periodically pleasant. Having some fun can often give you the push you need to keep going forward with your plans.

And if your plans are constantly depressing, draining, or drudgery, it’s time for new dreams. Seriously. Sometimes what we want has changed and we don’t even know it. Or, we’ve invested so much to get to this point that we’re afraid that we’ll lose everything if we switch gears.

Only you can answer whether your investment (of time, energy, finances or other resources) is worth continued misery. For some, a short period of misery may be worth it. But sometimes, it’s better to scrap the entire plan and start over.

In any case, start prioritizing fun. Remember to do things that make you laugh, warm your heart, or give you a sense of satisfaction.

And do it TODAY. Tomorrow is promised to no one.

 

life curation

Keep In Mind

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Happy Monday, friends! I hope today is the beginning of a wonderful and prosperous week for you all!

After having a tough couple of weeks, I came across a photo that I took after eating a fortune cookie. Sometimes, inspiration comes from the most random places . . .

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Full disclosure: I’m generally always working on two or three goals at a time. My bucket list is extensive, so I only do “hyper-focusing” when it’s a big deal. Constantly working on some goal or dream can take its toll: you can feel burnt out and exhausted. It takes a lot of energy to go for what you want out of life.

So, I decided to put them all of my dreams on hold for a while as I explored other options. Sometimes,  putting your attention elsewhere gives you some time to rest and restore before you handle the next leg of your journey. I was hoping that the other options led me to the place and circumstance that was meant for me.

Sadly, it didn’t work out that way.

I felt like I’d wasted my time and energy. I felt kind of low and drained, and not particularly motivated. Worst, I felt frustrated, because I hadn’t made any noticeable progress.

Then I came across this photo. And I remembered who I am, what I’m doing, and that there’s no such thing as wasted time.

That’s worth repeating, so let me say it again: There’s NO SUCH THING as wasted time. There are wins and there are lessons, nothing more. So I may not have had any wins, but I certainly got some lessons.

Now, it’s time to make peace with those lessons, move past my fear of failure, and take my next big step.

The lessons have prepared me. I’m ready.

 

music

Currently Listening to . . .

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I’ve really been into Dua Lipa and her sound. “New Rules” played so much during my last road trip that I decided to check her out and see what other music she’s created. Her music puts me in mind of the many vintage inspired artists from both the US and England (Meghan Trainor, Adele, Amy Winehouse, etc.,). I’m really fond of when she sings in a lower register and channels a really soulful sound.

When I watched the videos, I found another reason to adore Dua: the visuals are striking and innovative without being cheesy.

Here are two of my Dua faves: “New Rules” and  “Blow Your Mind”. Enjoy!