Word for the Year~2009~SHARING

I've meditated on my Word of the Year for 2009. I chose the word SHARING for my Inner Journey team's Word of the Year. I think it would also make a good word for my personal year of 2009. This years word would have been Control for me. I took control of ME and my life, my journey. Now it is time to open up and share my life with others. As I was seeking control, I did draw back a bit from family and friends. I'm ready to seek them out and share my new self with them. I didn't isolate myself, but I also avoided certain situations. No more avoiding for me in 2009. I can face things head on knowing I am capable of handling any situation. I also want to share what I have learned with those who are going through the same things. We can learn so much from each other. I was Great in 2008!!!!!

2009 will be Mighty Fine!!!

This will explain in detail why the word Sharing is a good word to focus on in 2009:

INNER JOURNEY WORD FOR 2009:

SHARING

Why sharing you may ask? It doesn’t sound like a strong word or a motivating word. What benefits are there from sharing? Why should it be Inner Journey’s Word for 2009?

Inner Journey’s Mission Statement:


~We are all on a journey...to create ourselves, to lose weight, to be healthy, to further or education and so on. Regardless of our individual journey we are currently involved in, we each have to take responsibility for it, pursue it and share it. Inner Journey provides the opportunity to share our journey’s with others. IJ provides an interchange of information, encouragement and ideas related to maintaining a healthy Mind, Body and Soul. IJ will continue to develop to meet the needs of its team members as we journey through life together.~

As we learn, we have a responsibility to share the knowledge with others. Seneca, a mid 1st Century Roman Philosopher said, “There is no delight in owning anything unshared.” How do you feel after you have learned something new? Do you want to keep it to yourself or is your first thought to call someone and tell them? How do you feel after you have shared it with someone else?

Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C., is quoted as saying, “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” By sharing we can touch thousands of lives. The dynamics of that astounds me! Imagine the possibilities! After all, Sharing is Loving. What good is love if it isn’t given, shared?

The importance of sharing can not be understated. The first step in any journey is taking control, but eventually more must be required to ensure a healthy journey. We control our journey, but we also share it. We are most fulfilled when we have someone to share life and our journey. If someone has touched your life, your journey, and impacted it in some way no matter how small, let them know. Share with them what it meant for their efforts in sharing their journey with you. Daily affirmations are a wonderful way to increase our confidence in our self, but do we offer affirmations to others on a regular basis? Let people know the good things about themselves.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Poet 1803-1882, understood that “Our best thoughts come from others.” Share yours in 2009!

2008 In Review

I survived 2008. That is the most important thing that came out of my reflection on 2008. I faced multiple challenges. I think they encouraged me to look deep into myself and take stock of my life and who I was or had become. I didn't like everything I saw and set about changing it. I couldn't control some of the events happening, but I could control me and my reaction to them. I had become bitter, frustrated, unhappy, depressed and sad. Wow, I saw a person I didn't recognize. So, what did I do about it??

I sought out hobbies, I began my journaling again, I read article after article on depression, healthy living, controlling stress and everything else I could get my hands on that might help me learn and grow as a person. I visited with a counselor who helped me with info on relaxation, automatic thinking and skills to control my thoughts and not let them control me. I started depression medicine which helps me to control my emotions and allows me to think before letting my emotions take over. I began daily affirmations to constantly remind me I am worthy of good things. I slowly began to believe it! I surrounded myself with positive energy and good thoughts. And I shared... I even started a spark team so others like me could share what they have learned. It all worked!!!

I am happy. I am positive. I am in control. However, this is just the beginning of my journey. One small journey has been achieved leading me to my next journey...2009. Someone mentioned they select a word for the year and coordinate their goals around that word. I like that idea. I will meditate on what word best describes my goal for 2009 and continue with my blog.

What didn't work so well for 2008?
**Inconsistent in strength training
**Allowed things to interfere with walking
**Fast Food!!!!
**Poor scheduling of time
**Poor planning of meals
**Exhaustion interfering with healthy lifestyle (hopefully this will be fixed with my sleep apnea discovery and solution)

When I plan my road map for 2009 I will incorporate paths to improve these things.

Happy Journey!

Stress Relief For Women

Are you stressed? Worried about the economic situation? Unsure of what the future holds?

Join the club. Unfortunately we’re all stressed, especially women. The American Psychological Association research study "Stress in America," reports that women are more fearful about the current financial situation than men. Women are reporting more physical and psychological symptoms, including sleep disturbance, headaches, mood swings and changes in appetite. In fact, more than one-third of women currently rank their stress level as "extreme."

Healthwise, stress can impact us in profoundly negative ways. We often react by partaking in unhealthy habits like overeating, drinking too much and smoking. Stress can elevate our blood pressure, affect our hearts, and impact our ability to sleep or concentrate. Emotionally it can make us anxious, fearful, depressed or paranoid. With the holidays here and all the traditional challenges they brings with them, now is a great time to find some stress relief.

How can women reduce stress? First, let’s look at how we process it. As women, we don’t have the male gene that causes a “fight or flight” response. We actually respond with a need to “tend and befriend.” We want to take care of our children and to be with our friends. (More on this in the book: “The Tending Instinct,” by psychologist Shelley E. Taylor.) Also, we are often the primary source of emotional support to children, men and other women – so if we’re stressed, it can impact everyone around us.

Unfortunately we individually can’t do much to stop the economic situation, but we can reduce our stress so we can take better care of ourselves and our families.

Here at Girlfriendology, the online community for women based on female friendship, we believe it is more important than ever for women to look out for ourselves and one another. Girlfriends make us healthier, happier, live longer, feel more beautiful and even reduce stress. These close social ties are therapeutic and healthy, especially in a time of high stress.

So, girlfriends – here are 10 ways women can reduce stress, with help from our female friends:

1. Volunteer with a friend. Animal shelter or senior center, church group or a neighborhood organization--volunteering together doubles the fun. And, knowing that you’re helping others takes your mind off your own stress and reminds you of all your blessings.
   
   
2. Simplify your lives--together. Take turns helping each other get organized. Help your girlfriend with household projects or have her join you in cleaning out your basement. Organize, declutter and to trust your girlfriend to help you make good choices in what to keep and what to donate or toss. Do a little at a time--no need to be stressed by the project!
   
   
3. Phone a friend--still is a great lifeline! Sure, we sometimes send a quick email or forward a funny joke, but it takes personal communication to really connect. People love the sound of their friend’s voice. Give her a call to catch up. Plan a phone date at a time that’s good for both of you. I have a monthly coffee phone dates with a long-distance girlfriend. We plan a time to talk on the weekend when the free minutes are rolling. A few minutes on the phone together can totally erase all our worries simply through a caring, fun conversation between girlfriends.
   
   
4. Start a girlfriend group. Gather friends and start a book club, running club, mommies group or gourmet club. Find a common interest and then meet up on a regular basis. Like a vacation, it’s something great to anticipate!
   
   
5. Make plans to do dinner or lunch. Food + girlfriends = fun! Try a new restaurant or share appetizers at your girlfriends’ for a happy hour with the girls. Take a wine tasting or cooking class together.
   
   
6. Take a yoga or Pilates class with a girlfriend. The exercise will help you physically, the girlfriend will help you emotionally – both wonderful outcomes for an hour of your time. Plus, you’re bound to find things to giggle about in class, which is worth the effort simply for the comic relief!
   
   
7. Try some animal therapy. Pets, like girlfriends, are also a proven source of stress relief. Put the two together and visit a dog park with a girlfriend. You’ll laugh at the dog antics, personalities and owners. Or, take a dog for a walk together. That combines exercise, animals and friendship--add a nice day and you’re set for a super stress-relieving session.
   
   
8. Be creative. Enjoy time together and forget about the stress in your lives by getting creative. Take a knitting class, plan a day to scrapbook, make cards, bead or try a new craft together. Crafting is also a wonderful way to get your mind thinking creatively which can lead to new solutions for your stressful life. There’s a reason women are so passionate about their pastimes--find your passion and some girlfriends who share that hobby with you and you’re on your way to happiness. And, you can make gifts for your girlfriends!
   
   
9. Plan some together time for pampering. Go shoe shopping, get haircuts or massages, or share a cup of tea--together. Allow yourself some time together to take care of your inner girlie-girl.
   
   
10. Get healthy together. The fact is: weight gain or unhealthy habits often accompany stress. Find an approach that works for both of you to get healthier. Get her to sign up for SparkPeople too and track your progress together. Hold each other accountable for eating right, exercising, encouraging each other and celebrating your successes. Stress diminishes when you’re healthy, happy, beautiful and with your girlfriend!

You see? Spending time with your girlfriends is an excellent way of reducing your stress and that of your friends. By taking this pre-emptive, proactive approach, you’ll both be healthier, calmer and even have happier holidays. Stress-relief by spending time with your girlfriends … it’s a great way to respond to whatever stresses you!

Girlfriendology is the online community for women based on inspiration, appreciation and celebration of female friendship.
Founded by Debba Haupert in 2006, Girlfriendology inspires women to make new female acquaintances, spend time with their girlfriends, and appreciate those friendships that are vital to women’s health and happiness. Girlfriendology.com features inspiring women in semi-weekly podcasts, contests to share girlfriend stories and provides videos, shopping, reviews, blogs and more.

New Beginnings

December is here! How did it get here so quickly?? It was just January 1, 2008 a few days ago. December brings thoughts of new goals for the next year and meditating on what happened this year. We learn from the things that happen so there is nothing wrong with reviewing the year. What did you learn about yourself, good or bad? How did you do on achieving your goals? What do you need to adjust for 2009? Now is the time! Reflect and Plan!

Over all I am very pleased with 2008. It included many difficult challenges for me, but I survived them and over came them. I learned so much about myself and how I can still help others without draining myself. I learned that I am strong. I can be happy with myself while I continue to grow. I'm a bit lazy with my exercises so it gives me new goals to work on for 2009. I can write a novel though I did not complete it during the November Novel Writing challenge. I learned I am smart. My spirituality is important. I am not an island but need others in my journey though I don't depend on them for my happiness. I love my husband. I learned I can paint. I learned I can dance. I learned I can play drums. I can lead an online community. I have much to share with others that can benefit them as it has me. I have learned that I am Fabulous!!

My Road Map for the next Month

My Road Map for the next Month:

**Walk 30 minutes 3 times a week
**Add strength training 2 times a week
~After I have traveled for 2 weeks on this road, I will take a side road and...

**Walk 30 minutes 4 times a week
**Strength train 3 times a week
~Two weeks on this trail and then I will...

**Increase walking time to 40 minutes per day
**Strength train 3 times a week
~I will take a rest stop and re-evaluate my road map and mark new routes as needed.

+++I will reward myself along the way with a virtual tour of different cities/countries that I am interested in, printing out information and maintaining a "Virtual Travel Journal" for the places I have experienced via the Internet.++++

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Daily Affirmations:

~I am strong.
~My breathing is slow and calm.
~ I think thoughts that uplift and nurture me.
~The world around me is full of radiant beauty and abundance.
~I am filled with love and share it easily.

Thought for the Day:

“Everyday courage has few witnesses. But yours is no less noble because no drum beats for you and no crowds shout your name”. --Robert Louis Stevenson

Tuesday's Treats

Today I am going to treat myself with good thoughts, positive feelings and many affirmations. I feel great about the novel I am writing this month for National Novel Writing Month. I plan on participating again next year and hope to attend the all night writing session the organization holds in the middle of the month in San Francisco. I wasn't able at attend this year, but I am setting the goal for next year.

My Spark Team, Inner Journey, has grown almost overnight. There are 48 members now. It blows my mind. The small team that started off with just me has almost 50 people. Not everyone participates regularly, but there are a few who do. Researching information to share has been extremely beneficial for me. I've learned a great deal. The interaction of thoughts expressed in the team forums helps to keep me motivated and strong. It is a lovely group of ladies. They are smart, creative, funny and strong.

I just found this quote on a picture at work: Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... it's about learning to dance in the rain. In my life it is one storm after another, with few breaks in between. I have had to learn to dance in the rain. It is about looking for the fun and good times that can be had with the storm pouring down around you. If you try and wait out the storms, life passes you by. Make the most of whatever your storm is and find the silver lining in that storm cloud. It is there though it may be hidden or hard to find.

Dance~Sing~Live!

Road Maps for Motivation

"Writing down your goals creates your road map to success. Although just the act of writing them down can set the process in motion, it is also extremely important to frequently review your goals. Remember, the more focused you are on your running (substitute exercising) goals the more likely you are to accomplish them." ~TheRunningAdvisor.com

It is easy to think of goals and plan things out in your mind. The problem is sometimes we forget them or just push the thoughts aside and think about them later. When we write down our goals, we have effectively drawn a road map for our journey.

In the instance of motivation for exercise, a road map can keep us on course. On the days we just don’t feel like exercising, if we look at our road map, our goals, it sends a spark of energy to give us that extra push to maintain our course. With a road map posted in a place of visual prominence, it is a constant reminder to motivate us to take action and to navigate our life in the direction we have planned. Map your goal to walk every other day, to strength train three times a day or participate in Yoga or Aerobics once a week. Every map will be different. Each person’s goals are individualized for their life, their journey.

The more your road map of goals are before you, the more you will start to focus on them. Each advancement on the map will, in turn, motivate you to continue forward until you reach your destination.

Have you mapped your goals? If not, brush up on your mapping skills and get moving. Map your goals, your exercises and anything else that will aid you on your journey to exercise, lose weight and/or be healthy. Success is just a road map away!

Happiness...

Happiness...

"All the happiness you ever find lies in you." Anonymous

"Happiness is acceptance." Anonymous

If you put these 2 quotes together you come up with:

"Happiness is accepting yourself." Kellzie

The pursuit of happiness is something every person has been involved in at one time or another. We look for it, we search for it. It seems like we never find it. It might be because we are looking in the wrong place. Happiness IS inside of us and it IS in accepting ourselves.

I am so much happier since I have accepted myself. Yes, I have made some changes, tweaking myself and making sure I was living up to my potential. We should always seek to better ourselves, but it doesn't mean that we are not accepting the person we are. Sometimes we just have to accept that we will never be 95 pounds or that we don't look like Angelina Jolie. It doesn't mean we can't be happy about who we are.

Happiness comes from giving our best and knowing we have. Happiness is wanting the things we have. It is sharing smiles with others. It is loving our life even if it isn't perfect. Imperfections often add spice and variety. Embrace them instead of despising them.

My name is Kelley and I am happy with me!

Ghandi Quote

"Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory." ~Ghandi

Ghandi stated that every worthwhile accomplishment has a beginning, a struggle and a victory. My pursuit of a healthy lifestyle and a happy life based on the person I know I am inside had a beginning. I recall distinctly when I knew I could no longer continue my life as it was. I made the distinct and conscious decision to change my life and control my emotions. It wasn't a gradual decision, it was an epiphany. I can look into my journal and see the beginning.

Things were moving along very well and I was quite proud of myself for the ease of my transitions. Was I fooling myself, or did I really believe such drastic changes could be so easy?? It wasn't long before the struggle part Ghandi spoke of became apparent. It is more of a struggle to maintain healthy eating and regular exercise. Occasionally, the hurdles of life slow me down and discourage me. I now have this quote to remind me that these struggles are normal and victory is my next step in my journey. Victory might not come tomorrow or the next day, but it is in sight.

I will continue to grow as a person and to develop the inner me. I will continue to make adjustments as the struggles affect my healthy journey and I will brave on knowing what awaits before me.

What stage of your journey are you in now? Whether you are in the beginning, the middle or near the end, don't give up and remember that others are right there with you. After all, every worthwhile accomplishment has drudgery and triumph.

Picture reference www.uweb.ucsb.edu/~lain/ghandi2.jpg

Fantastic Friday

Friday's are fantastic days! You are anticipating the weekend and hopefully satisfied with the past week. It is a day of reflection on what might need adjusting for the next week in your life. Let's just say I have lots of adjusting for next week...

My husband is home for a few days. We have much to discuss and made a small start yesterday. Sometimes I have this sparkle of hope everything will be okay, and others I am convinced they never will. I want them to be okay. I want Russ to be okay. Send positive thoughts my way for a positive discussion from our hearts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Affirmations:

I will be positive
I will be calm
I will respect myself and others
I will honor who I am
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The variables in life are uncountable.
Our plans for the future are never fixed in stone.
We must be constantly flexible,
ready to adjust at a moments notice.
While we are diligent in pursuing our goals,
Our goals may hit obstacles.
Negativity may seep in unnoticed.
We must keep on guard of this
and maintain our positive attitudes.
It is not failure to adjust our goals.
It is failure to give up.
Keep walking, step by step
pursuing your journey.
Flow with the bends in the road
and adjust your path as needed.
Hold your head high
and be proud of yourself.
You are Fabulous in every way!
Live life fully, enjoy your journey,
and smile from your heart.

24 Steps to add to your Journey...

I stole this from Laura's Losin' It~

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, ‘My purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________.’

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

14. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You’ll be smiling before you know it.

Scared Witless

This weekend my daughter was involved in a car accident, where a woman hit her from the side. Victoria, my daughter, was in her Jeep and the force of the hit rolled it twice before sliding around and landing upright. This all happened in a parking lot!!! How fast could the lady have been traveling to knock the Jeep over in a parking lot?? Vic hit her head on the window and knocked her shoulder against something as the Jeep tumbled. She has little cuts from the glass shattering and hitting her. She was pretty bruised and hurting. When I was called I was scared out of my mind. I didn't know how badly she had been hurt and only knew they had taken her to the hospital and were doing x-rays. They were concerned she had a concussion, but I think she avoided that. She banged her head hard and has a huge lump. Her x-rays were okay, but her neck is hurting her now. They gave her pain meds. If she hadn't been wearing her seatbelt, she probably would have died or been hurt severely. It is very scary.

I'm so thankful there were nice people there that came to her aid and helped her. Thank you to the man who managed to get her door open and get her out of the car. Thank you to the lovely woman who sat with her and comforted her. She even offered to go in the ambulance with my daughter so she wouldn't be alone. It is so wonderful to see random acts of kindness being extended to my daughter.

Here I was so upset and worried and thankful my daughter was okay and then what does my husband, her step father say... It was probably her fault and they should take the pain meds away so she will remember the lesson. I was shocked! How cold must a person be to insinuate a 17 year old should learn a lesson through pain??!! It doesn't matter whose fault it was and I actually don't think it was my daughters fault, you don't teach a lesson by taking pain medication away!!!!!! My husband and I have had some problems in our marriage. But this...how do I handle this? Can a person make comments as cold as this and I still have the hope he will make the changes necessary for our marriage to survive?

This quote was the thought of the day on my company email: "It is lack of love for ourselves that inhibits our compassion toward others. If we make friends with ourselves, then there is no obstacle to opening our hearts and minds to others”. --Author Unknown

I thought it was rather timely considering what my husband said. Perhaps he has no love for himself so he can't show compassion to others, even his step-daughter. Regardless, I am left feeling rather cold inside knowing I have a lot of thinking to do about my marriage. There have been on going problems for some time now that I have been desperately trying to solve with no help from my husband. I'm still feeling the effects of the fear regarding my daughter as well. I am determined to get control of my emotions and not let them control me. My daughter is okay and that is the bottom line. I still have my baby girl.

Freaky Friday

What a Wacky Week it has been!!

This week has been a challenge! Either my allergies are messed up or I have some kind of cold or viral infection. I have been sneezing my head off and wishing I could cut my head off. heh! It has been difficult to remain focused the last couple of weeks. I think when I feel better the focus will return.

I will be drumming again at the Actor's Cafe Saturday night. I might get to dance too, but as the dance routine was designed for groups of 3 dancers, it may not work out. There are 4 of us wanting to dance. Most likely since I am drumming, I will step aside and let the other 3 perform. That way, we all get to participate. I am posting some pictures from last month's event.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Affirmations:

~I will heal myself and feel better
~I will have a Wonderful Weekend
~I will allow myself to be happy
~I will eat healthy
~I will take care of myself
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My goals for my Fabulous in Fall challenge on SparkPeople team Inner Journey were very simple. I wanted to lose 5 pounds and live a healthy lifestyle. To that end, I planned on more cardio and strength training and a few other little steps along the way. I believe you cannot be healthy if you are not taking care of all of you...mind, body and soul.

Here we are near the end of October and I have gained 4 pounds!! Not what I had planned at all. This re-evaluation of my goals mid way through is an excellent time to correct where I have strayed off course.

MIND: I have done well in this area except for in the workplace. I have allowed certain emotions to prevail instead of recognizing them for what they are. I do now and will make these corrections:

Mind Goals
I will not allow my work to stress me out.
I will speak with my boss regarding concerns within the company as they come up.
I will include work issues in my journaling.
I will continue to express myself through painting and dance and drums.


BODY: This is the area I need the most work on at this point. My eating habits have taken a back slide and my strength training has stalled. I now have 9 pounds to lose. These are my corrections and new goals for my body:

Body Goals
I will strength train at least 3 times a week.
I will include pilates/yoga in my cardio.
I will walk every day.
I will eat healthy foods.
I will track my eating and exercise in sparkpeople.
I will reduce the amount of Dr. Pepper I drink.


SOUL: My soul is the essence of who I am. I am very proud of the person I am becoming and allowing myself to free part of who I was that had been stuffed into the dark corners of myself. While I have no corrections to make, I do have additions:

Soul Goals
I will pamper myself every 2 weeks with a professional manicure.
I will continue to create myself through new experiences.
I will dance with abandonment and paint with my inner flair.
I will respect myself and set the example of how I want to be treated by others.
I will share my life and experience with others.
I will make the difficult decisions in life with confidence and determination.

Abandon, Balance & Stealth

"In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth." -Patti Smith

I found this quote interesting and confusing. Abandonment is a complete surrender to our natural impulses without restraint or moderation. In art and dream we leave reality behind and allow our minds the freedom to expand our horizons and dabble in the unknown. In life, I find that I restrain myself and control my impulses in order to be balanced in all areas. As an obsessive compulsive type personality, it is very easy for me to dive head long into something and become completely unbalanced as I pursue my single tracked mind. In my painting and dancing I am able to give in to those impulses and allow myself to surrender to the moment without restraint. My dreams take me in directions my conscious mind would not allow. Art and dream add dimensions to our lives we would otherwise suppress.

If we lived our life with complete abandon, it would be chaotic at best. Life requires that we maintain balance in every area of our life in order to fully enjoy it and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Living life with stealth, though, is an interesting concept. When I first thought on the word stealth, pictures of stealth planes popped into my mind. The ability to prevent detection is their greatest asset. We as humans, on the other hand, want to be on the radar and involved with others during our life’s journey. Other connotations of stealth would include being secretive, covert, or hiding something. I hope we don’t live our lives in this way, hiding who we are, out thoughts and beliefs. Such a double life produces stress and anxiety which would greatly imbalance our lives.

That left me with a third characteristic of stealth…the act of stealing. How could we apply stealing to a balanced life? I pondered on it for a while and it suddenly occurred to me…we have to steal time to live a balanced life. Numerous outside sources continually rob us of our time leaving us unbalanced as we devote more and more time to work and other activities. Women especially find themselves short on “me” time and opportunities to stop and smell the flowers instead of rushing headlong to another appointment or commitment. It is imperative that we steal time from unimportant areas and apply it to living a healthy life that incorporates care of our mind, body and soul.

Allow yourself times of abandonment, letting your spirit soar free expressing yourself through art, dance and dreams. The importance of this cannot be overstated. A balanced life includes these times of indulgence to our natural impulses. The other aspect of a balanced life involves restraint and maintaining focus on our goals and our journey, stealing time for the important things in life…our family and ourselves.

A cute side note…Abandon, Balance and Stealth = ABS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday's Affirmations:

~I feel beautiful
~I take care of myself mind, body & soul
~I respect myself and set the standard by which others should treat me.

Monday's Meanderings

Take a walk inside your mind.
You'll be surprised at what you'll find.
Dreams unspoken and deepest desires
patiently await you to light their fires.

Unfettered hearts fly free and high
floating up and through the sky.
Limitless are the possibilities
If you forget the probabilities.

Dreams in the night arise in the day
Sunshine warms us with its rays.
Our hearts desire is our goal
accomplishing it soothes our soul.

Take a walk inside your mind.
It will be your greatest find.
Meander often with open heart.
In life we all play a part.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Each new day offers opportunities to re-evaluate and make adjustments in our life's journey. Looking forward, we always move ahead one step at a time. Leave yesterday behind. Today is a new day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today's Affirmations:

~I will eat healthy
~I will maintain an exercise program that works for me
~I appreciate the positive people and situations that are currently in my life
~I fill my mind with positive and self-nourishing thoughts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I attended an outdoor wedding this weekend that was truly beautiful. It was held in my father-in-laws backyard which is an incredible tribute to nature. Fall leves gently fell making a memorable backdrop to the ceremony. The vows were traditional with a unique flair to them. They touched me deeply and I hope they touched my husband as well. It is no secret that he and I have had problems during our marriage. I want so much for us to draw close and live the life our wedding vows spoke of and promised. I don't know how to achieve this goal as my husband will not really discuss it. I shed a couple of tears during the ceremony as I longed for the sentiments expressed to be in my marriage.

I was able to spend some time with my daughters boyfriend and was very encouraged. He appears to be mature and responsible. I want the best for my daughter and wish her all her dreams in life.

I'm feeling very sentimental what with the wedding and my daughter bringing her boyfriend. Even my son has a girlfriend!! My babies are growing up and I am not ready for it yet. I know I have to let go the apron strings, but they have been mine for so long. I hope they understand how much I love them.

Children grow older
and we parents grow a little colder
until we realize the warmth
our children return as they mature
bringing new blood into the family
with spouses and children of their own.
We don't lose them,
we gain new children and grand children.
Children grow older
and we parents smile.

Adventures in California

My trip to California was lovely. The journey there was uneventful and I was able to leave earlier than expected. Thursday afternoon was spent with my husband, kicking back and enjoying being together. We ate awesome Chinese food and went to bed early. Friday was going to be a very full day!

Friday was spent at the Aquarium in Long Beach. It was the most amazing place. I saw my first Sea Dragons, which are incredibly cool, and we ran around to each of the embossing machines to stamp our aquarium booklet. The seal/sea lion show was enjoyable as was the shark feeding. I had never heard of Lorikeet’s, but they had an enclosed area full of them. I’ve always loved birds and there was one Lorikeet named Penny that gave me kisses. Of course, she also had a mean streak and bit the crap out of my arm. LOL Don’t you just love birds?? The highlight of the day though was the petting pools. I touched and petted Bamboo Sharks and StingRays! (Pictures above) It was the coolest thing! Some of the StingRays were gravely on top while others were smooth all over. The sharks were smooth as well. The Bamboo Sharks lay the neatest eggs. They are in a hard case (like bamboo). In an exhibit they had pulled off part of the hard encasing and you could see the embryo in its translucent bag. We could see it moving around. We also saw the eggs that had been laid in the petting pool. We were told they would be gathered and brought in for their hatching. I bought a thimble (It has a Sea Dragon on it) like always for a memory keepsake.

Saturday we got physical! That is, we went Kayaking! We kayaked all over Naples. It is a lot of hard work and I was exhausted after we were out for 2 hours. My arms were not very happy with me. Hehe The coolest experience of the day was playing with the Moon Jellyfish (Picture above) in the bay. There is an area where there are hundreds of Moon Jellies that you can touch. They aren’t poisonous to humans. I held them in my hands and touched dozens of them. They are slimy and gooey. There is a pretty flower pattern on them that almost glows purple. We came back to the house that afternoon and enjoyed steak my husband grilled for us. We rested and watched TV until it was time for him to take me to the airport. I flew out on the midnight (12:55) flight. The upside to that was I got bumped up to first class. That is the way to travel!!

I arrived back home in Texas about 5:00 pm Sunday. It was a quick trip, but well worth it! I was able to check mark off a couple of things on my “Things I want to Do List.” The whole experience made me think of more things I would like to experience I need to add to that very list. Swimming with the Dolphins to mention one...

Marvelous Monday

Quote from Helen Keller:
"Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another's pain, life is not in vain."

I have seen 3 versions of the movie about Helen Keller's life and have read various articles and parts of books about her. She was one of the most incredible women of history. Helen Keller was in inspiration to us all. Considered blind, mute and dumb, she overcame obstacles we can't comprehend to become a profound speaker and role model.

Her quote above has great meaning to me. Even at our most unhappy moment we can have an effect on someone else. We can help to sweeten their pain or ease them from it if only for a moment. Yet, that moment has great worth to that individual. By sharing our experiences, others can learn from them or compare them to their own. Sometimes, just realizing that we are not alone in what we struggle through every day helps. Our life is never in vain if we have touched another for the better. If not for us, that person would continue on without that simple benefit we provided.

Who of us can not search and find someone in worse shape than us, with a worse home life than we have, or suffering from greater tragedy than we ourselves? Even at our worst, there are others worse off. Reach out and touch their lives in some way.

The great thing is that when we do this, even when we are most unhappy, the benefit touches not only the other person, but rebounds and touches our own lives for the better. Doing good brings good things and feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Affirmations:
~Be my best
~I eat nutritiously
~My body and mind feel good
~I have much to look forward to this week
~I will be happy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had a quite weekend, never leaving the house except to run to the little market to get a Dr. Pepper and bag of tortilla chips. I was able to accomplish many things I wanted. I created my own drum beat for class: DD TTTK TTTK DD -- I like to call it Kellzoom

I practiced my dance routine for Liz's class. I have a few questions for her about a couple of places in the song. I am trying to write my notes on the choreograph sheet to help me while practicing. I may miss this week's class to fly to CA since flight benefits have been restored.

I painted 2 pictures with acrylic paint, both florals. I enjoy the process greatly and am learning along with just having fun. I have much to learn though and hope I can take an art class one day. I think I have a new thing to do to add to my list. I will try and take a picture of them to post.

I was able to get much accomplished for my 2 spark teams. Finding enough time to do everything is becoming a problem. It is important to me to share with others what I am learning. I hope they will continue to share with me and the teams as well. That is what life is about...sharing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm going to write a novel in November. Check out www.nanowrimo.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday Scribblings

My parakeet was speaking with a bird outside the window. They were chirping back and forth. I wonder if they understood each other. It brought a smile to my face. I've decided that today should be a day to be creative. I want to pull what is inside of me out and express it through paint. I plan on journaling and writing poetry. I hope to come up with some new ideas for the 2 teams I am leader/co-leader of so that others might be motivated in some way.

Satisfaction
Up-lifting
New Ideas
Dynamic
Affirmations
Yearly Goals
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Affirmations:

I will be creative.
I will express myself and enjoy the experience.
I will dance today and work on my routine.
I will be happy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steps to happiness

You can't be all things to all people.
You can't do all things at once.
You can't do all things equally well.
You can't do all things better than everyone else.
Your humanity is showing, just like everyone else's

So:
You have to find out who you are and be that.
You have to decide what comes first and do that.
You have to discover your strengths and use them.
You have to learn not to compete with others.
Because no one else is in the contest of being *you*.

Then:
You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness.
You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions.
You will have learned to live with your limitations.
You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due.
And you'll be a most vital mortal.

Dare to believe:
That you are a wonderful, unique person.
That you are a once-in-all-history event.
That it's more than a right, it's your duty to be who you are.
That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish.
And you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today is a day to be creative. Paint, Draw, Write Poetry or a Novel, Develop ideas that you can share with others...

Today is also a day to be active. Ride a bike, take a walk, strength train, cardio, dance...

Authenticity

I am having a new journaling series sent to me from writingbliss.com called Write Memories: Relive and Create Your Life Memories and Perspectives through Journaling.

It is about living your life authentically. Is there synergy between your inner world (feelings, values, beliefs, needs, passions) and the outer world (relationships, job, home)? There should be congruence between these two worlds. It is about closing the gap between who you are, what you do, and what you want others to get about you. When you speak from the heart and walk the talk others will get the real you.

Authenticity and personal power go hand in hand. Living authentically requires honesty and a willingness to accept what you know to be true for yourself in every situation. It means not succumbing to the pressures to do what society views "right" or "acceptable." It involves self-trust and a deep conviction.

Here are the guides for authentic journaling:

~Make a list of words that describe your Authentic Self. Are the words in your list the words that others think of you or know of you?

~How do you practice authenticity in your life? For instance, you practice authentic living when you speak up for something you're passionate about at the risk of not being liked by some. Grow a list of personal ways to be authentic.

~What creative gifts do you possess? Do other people know about it or have you been hiding this from them? Do you only manifest these gifts to a select few, perhaps to one person with whom you are most comfortable?

My Authentic Self can be described with these words:

*Empathetic
*Trustworthy
*Caring
*Inquisitive
*Anal Retentive
*Reliable
*Diplomatic
*Detailed
*Obsessive Compulsive
*Intelligent
*Poet
*Creative
*Spirit of a Dancer

I think people identify many of these words with who I am. There may be some they don't know suit me because I have not allowed them to see that side of me. In fact, I never applied the term creative to myself until recently. Because I can't draw and I am such a detailed, organized person, I didn't consider myself creative. It was brought to my attention from someone recently that they considered me very creative. I was shocked and had to really think on it. I am creative in many ways. I write poetry, I dance, I drum, I take my journal and turn it into an expression of who I am with both words and colors, I develope interesting ways to share with others motivating thoughts that will help them in their own journeys and I can decorate my home with colors and items that express myself and the feelings I want my house to express when others come in it. I am creative!

Perhaps other people would add different words to my list. I would love to know what they are so I can meditate on them and learn something about myself I haven't seen that others have. There may be words others would remove from list as they don't agree with my selection. That is okay. They just don't see that side of me and I know it is there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Affirmations:

*Be happy
*Be active
*Be motivated
*Be calm
*Be inquisitive
*Be me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful
~ for the lovely weather.
~ my children are healthy.
~ my husband loves me.
~ for the opportunity to write a novel.
~ an understanding boss.
~ for good friends.
~ for the health I have.
~ music and dance.
~ the positive feelings coming my way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Affirmations:
*I am a wonderful and worthy person.
*I appreciate the positive people in my life.
*I practice the relaxation methods that I enjoy.
*My mood is calm and relaxed.
*I control how I feel.
*I think thoughts that uplift and nurture me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weak is a 4 letter word. Strength is a strong word. Which one are you?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday's are always an exciting day for me as I have drum and dance class. I am determined to excel and to learn the moves with grace. In other news, my husband has an interview with another airline that he has long desired as an employer. He hopes to be hired, which will mean relocating. I have mixed emotions regarding it. It would be awesome for him to work for this airline. The thoughts of trying to sell our house and move away from my family here are saddening. In the end, my husband will decide what is best for the family. I'm sure he will make the right decisions. It's been a busy day and I have several things to finish before leaving for drum class. I wish you all a wonderful evening. Keep reaching for your goals and living your dreams!

Inner Journey Dip~Module 5

What sound is most comforting to you?

We have ears to hear sounds for many reasons…to enjoy stimulating conversations or to hear our children’s cries for help or sounds of joy. In these times of daunting stress, we need comforting sounds to engulf us and free us from the clashing sounds of daily life around us that grate on our nerves and push us farther away from our inner calm we greatly desire.

There are many comforting sounds like the ocean waves crashing onto the shore, the coo of a dove or the happy giggles of children. What comforts me most is nature, so I must say that various sounds of nature are most comforting. Of those sounds, it is almost impossible to choose one. When I hear doves coo it drops my heart rate and brings a smile to my face. The waves lull me as they roll onto the beach again and again. The repetitiveness of it maintains a calming effect. Hearing the wind blow through the trees and then feeling the breeze upon my face brings satisfaction that all is right with the world, even if it isn’t.

There are those unable to hear sounds of any type. While they may be protected from the horrible sounds we are bombarded with daily, those without hearing miss out on the beauty of nature sounds. Or do they? They are able to “hear” sounds that come from vibrations. Deaf people are able to dance to the vibrations of music if the speakers are turned up and directed to the floor. I hope they can feel the vibrations of nature. Perhaps someone hearing impaired will share their version of comforting “sounds,” so that we can gain some knowledge of their world. Through knowledge we all grow.

What is your most comforting sound?

Tuesday's Tattlings

Tuesday means dance class! I love my dance classes!! Tuesday is probably my busiest day at work. I don't mind keeping busy as it makes the day fly by. I have a stack of papers today that is huge. It will take me a while to process them all. I really hate being a paper pusher. I would much rather be a librarian or elementary school teacher. I would also love working at a museum or becoming an archaeologist. I love old things and learning about different cultures.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Affirmations:

I will eat healthy.
I will dance today and feel good about me.
I deserve good things to happen.
I will treat others with respect.
I will treat myself with respect.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reach for the stars
capture one in your hand.
Now, reach for your goals.
They are even more attainable.

Never feel your goals
are as far away as stars.
They are as far away
as your hands and feet.

Move your hands
Move your feet
and you will find success
and your goals met.

Remember, you are a star!

Monday's Meanderings

What sound describes you?

I love sounds! I guess I should clarify that and say I love wonderful musical sounds, and nature sounds. Grating, annoying sounds...not so much.

This question really intrigued me. What sound describes me? It seems such an easy questions, but when you start thinking about it...again, not so much. At first I wanted to say I was a symphony. A harmonious expression of several instruments combined together in a beautiful musical symphony. However, in all honesty, I don't think I could be called a symphony.

I'm more a steady drum beat that keeps rhythm with an occasional missed beat, then I'm back on track. Sometimes the beat grows louder into a crescendo and then softer, varying as my life does.

I feel I have to be the backbone of my family and be a steady beat for them. Always here to guide them when needed and to let them go alone when they are ready. My drum beat will always bring them home as they know I will always be here for them.

I don't mind being a drum beat as long as I can play a solo now and again.



This question was from the Inner Journey Dip Module 5 program. The drum pictured is what the drum I am having made for me will look like. I thought it went well with the topic. I love the Inner Journey Dip and the thoughtfulness the questions invoke.

What sound describes you?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday night at the Actor's Cafe was wonderful! For some reason I keep calling it the Artist's Cafe. I enjoyed playing the drums and watching the dancers. They do this once a month. I plan on dancing the current routine I am learning next month. It is a very small place with a laid back atmosphere. I took pictures and hope to add some here when I get them developed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today's Affirmations:

*My mood is calm and relaxed.
*I deserve to feel good right now.
*I eat a well balanced and nutritious diet
*I will dance this week.
*I am filled with energy, vitality, and self-confidence.