Tag Archives: joy

You Can Change Your Mind

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I used to really dislike cats. I never wanted to be near them and always complained. I thought they were gross and smelly and irritating and they made me sneeze and made my eyes water and generally made me feel horrible.  If one came near me, I would move, which usually meant they would follow me. I think cats have a 6th sense.
My husband had cats when I first met him and I wondered how long they would last. I almost considered not dating him because of his feline friends and my extreme dislike for their presence.  When they passed away from old age, I never wished for cats again.

Flash forward ten years.

  
Look at me know. This cat loves me and wants affection all the time. As soon as I sit for a minute, he shows up. I actually enjoy his company and this surprises me. He loves to sit right on my chest and rub all over my chin and face, giving me kisses.  I allow this behavior and smile.

Who knew that a cat hater could become a cat lover?  This is very odd to me and makes me wonder what other things in my mind might change over time. I wonder if we should get a dog?

How have you changed your mind dramatically? 
Hmmm….

Swirling

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Swirling. 

Isn’t that a fun word?  

It has a great ring to it and is fun to say out loud.

I love to swirl through crowds and to swirl my hair. I love swirling around my kitchen and through my house.  I love it when Jeff comes up and quickly surprises me and swirls me around. Some days there is so much stuff in my head that it gets all swirled together and I feel like my head is spinning.  But in a good sort of way.  

Tonight I was at Juliana’s evening water polo game and captured this fun, swirling image after their exciting win:

  
What’s swirling around in your head this week?  I hope you enjoy the spin and wherever it takes you.

nAMaste

It’s Up To You…

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to BE-lieve.

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That’s what Mendel, from Budapest shared tonight on Oprah Winfrey’s Belief series, after he celebrated his Bar Mitzvah.  If you didn’t get a chance to see the first episode, “Seekers,” I highly recommend seeking a copy and watching it for yourself.  There are 6 more episodes coming up and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

I always talk about my belief in One Love – that we’re all connected, and this series highlights our common humanity weaved together and bound by our different threads of our different beliefs, life stories and journeys, yet still intertwined with love. One Love.

I learned a little bit about the Hindu faith and that the largest spiritual gathering in the world takes place at the Ganges River in India for the Kumbh Mela, where over 30 million people gather and bathe in the most sacred holy river.  Seeing their celebratory joy and soulful connections made me smile.

The evangelical Christian faith was also shared and expressed through immersion cleansing and healing in water. I liked the connection between the two faiths through water.

The connections between the two young boys, one from an Australian Aboriginal tribe who was learning to become the leader and keeper of the songs and dances that have been passed down for over 50,000 years, and one practicing and reciting the Torah and learning the traditions from his father and elder males from his temple really resonated with me.  Both boys were being entrusted with becoming leaders and believers in their given faiths and were highly motivated, trained and disciplined.

It’s up to you to believe. What do you believe?

“Witness stories from around the world, united by one of the most basic human needs: a desire to find purpose and meaning in our lives.”  Read more: http://www.oprah.com/app/belief.html#ixzz3ozOLvueB

nAMaste

Youth Sports

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Sometimes I love them and sometimes I despise how much time they take. Don’t get me wrong. I want my kids to play and be active and to be part of a team and I love watching them. 

I want all the benefits and yet sometimes the work (hours of practices and games and driving all around and interruptions and managing logistics and uniforms) makes me want to throw in the towel.

Although tonight, I was so into the game and the action and watching Juliana’s team gel and work together and play well as a team. I was jumping out of my seat with excitement and cheering and enjoying being in the moment. I loved watching them go from playing conservatively, to full on dominating the game with assertiveness. I am thankful that she is dedicated and working hard and learning and growing and loving it. I am thankful that I was able to be there, to observe and to share in her moment on a gorgeous fall evening and that sports are a big part of our family experience.

  
I love sports and I love athleticism and I know that it’s all worth it. I am reminded that usually what brings us joy requires work and dedication and determination.

It’s all worth it.

nAMaste

Something Other Than A Selfie

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If you were to take a picture of something that made you happy today, what would your picture look like?  Some people keep gratitude journals. Some people write words to express their gratitude in a myriad of ways. And some people take pictures.

I know Selfies are fun, but what if we snapped something other than ourselves? Nothing against Selfies and loving ourselves which is beautiful, but they say happiness is multiplied and true feelings of joy are experienced at a higher rate when we are able to notice and be thankful for what is.

I love Facebook and Instagram for this reason because people share stories and photos of what they love (most of the time).

I was at the car wash when this idea popped in my head, so I’ll share this picture because it made me happy. I loved that my car was finally being cleaned. I loved seeing the American flag. I loved the friendly workers. I loved that it was finally windy and cool and noticing that fall is coming finally. 

 

If I were to have snapped other pictures today that brought simple joys to my life, I would have taken a picture of Susanne at yoga when our personal spaces crossed and I tickled her and she laughed, but I don’t think a digital picture could ever replace the mental picture of being there.
I would have captured Charlie juggling his soccer ball and trying to increase the number of times he could juggle.

When Christian was driving, I would have a snuck a picture too.

And MLs apples that were cut up and sweet and soft and slightly browned, that she shared with me.

Oh, and I’d share my sister’s success on becoming a nurse and getting her first job and I’d screenshot her Facebook update with 217 Likes and 58 genuine, heartfelt love comments.

Today was the best day ever! And so will tomorrow. These were a few of my favorite things.

What pictures did you snap today, digitally or mentally? Go ahead – share and create and be creative!

Life is good. xo

Be Courageous

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The Pope sent a message of courage that I love. I believe in One Love, that we are all connected in our humanity however we choose to believe or not believe as long as we are practicing living with love as our intention.  If we look closely, we are more alike than we are different. The world is especially feeling this with the Syrian refugee crisis and feeling a connection to the family whose little boy drowned on the beach in Turkey.

“Pope Francis and the People” aired on ABC News’ “20/20” on Friday, Sept. 4, at 10 p.m. ET. The event is posted in its entirety on ABCNews.com. http://abcnews.go.com/beta/US/pope-francis-tells-americans-courageous-abc-news-virtual/story?id=33490392

Here are some of the highlights:

“We are all created for friendship in society. All of us bear responsibility for everyone else,” the pope said. “And each one has to make a choice in his or her heart. And we have to help that choice to be made in the heart. ….” Pope Francis

We are social beings and we need our friends and neighbors to walk with us on this life journey.

“What I hope for from youth is for you all not to walk alone in life,” he said. “Life is very difficult. It’s difficult to walk alone. You get lost. You get confused. You can find the wrong path or you can be walking around in circles, in a maze, or worst, you can stop because you get tired of walking in life. Always walk hand-in-hand with someone who loves you, someone who gives you tenderness.” – Pope Francis

BeLoveD.

BeLoveRs change the world, with every thought, every word, and with every action.

One Love.

xo

Perks

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I have a great, life partner who I am so thankful for. Today he worked from home as his new office is being transformed. I was working on my computer too, and I loved that he was nearby. When we first met, we used to work together for several years. I loved the time we spent sharing stories, coffee breaks, lunch hours, happy hours with colleagues, commuting together and working out together. These shared times were many of the perks of my working years.

So today, when we worked from home together, and he asked me if I wanted a coffee in the middle of the afternoon, he made me smile and made me think back to the days when we first dated. The coffee was great. The memories, even better.

Thanks for the coffee, babe! You made my day. I love you.

What are some of the perks of your daily life?

Stay Weird

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Be you. Be wonderful you and shine. Don’t worry what anyone else thinks unless they are praising and lifting you up. And love yourself. And love other weirdos. You are perfectly imperfect and okay, okay?

Stay weird was the advice from a video clip that Lisa sent me today, where kids of every age from 4 to 95 gave each other advice about how to age gracefully. I loved every minute of it and loved that Lisa thought of me when she saw it. 

Here’s the link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sycgL3Qg_Ak

Does she think I’m weird?  I hope so. Because I am.  My motto has always been if you’re not weird, you’re weird.  Isn’t that weird?  Think about it. And if my weird connects with your weird, then we’re lucky!  

Stay weird and spread the love!  We have a planet to change.

  
This is me and my mama at IKEA today, being weird and sending a selfie to Julie so she could see what we were doing while she was at work. Totally weird, so “exciting” and totally happy. I love this life. 

How are you weird? Celebrate wonderful you in all your weirdness and laugh out loud!

nAMaste 

Exploring Open Space

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Being outdoors and exploring new places makes me happy.     

Love this land

 

It was a hot and gorgeous Sunday and I’m so glad we got out to enjoy the views, a chat and 6.6 miles of exercise.  We loved exploring the trails at Fremont Older and finding our way to the horse stables at Garrod Farm.

 

Silicon Valley Cowboy

  

Garrod Winery

  
Life is good.  Hope you enjoyed your week-end.