People whose actions do not match their words are very frustrating to deal with on a personal level. I do not like dealing with those that do not follow through — whether it be in word or deed. grrr… If you say you’re going to do something, do it. “Say what you mean and mean what you say” is a very simple concept.
:: le sigh ::
I am probably horribly guilty of this very same trait since it irks me so. I guess I’ve stumbled across my “Heart Lesson” for today. Kind of humbling when that happens, isn’t it? But it definitely takes the edge off my irritation.
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Happy Friday, folks! I’m going to be right over here, learning my lessons, staying humble, and most of all making sure that I’m following through on all that I’ve promised. After all… compassion, “following through,” and CHANGE starts at home… with me.
I have been using BioCell Collagen since last August and Jusuru Life Blend since November (2013). After just three weeks with the Collagen, my husband was astounded at the changes in me. Simply astounded! And after 90 days with the Jusuru Life Blend? Well, let’s just say that he simply had to try it out for himself. Now he loves the way he looks and feels and all of the lines on his forehead are completely eradicated! My husband is 54 years old and gets asked everyday, “What is your secret?” Chuck is an iRep now too because, well, you just can’t keep something this good all to yourself!
As for me… I had a total hysterectomy six years ago. Because of the scope of the surgery, I was immediately slammed into surgical Menopause – and old age it would seem. My face started melting (i.e., sagging) and I developed cellulite for the first time in my life. Cellulite? Oh Myyy! And my once flat tummy? Poof! Gone! I didn’t even recognize myself in the mirror anymore. Without my body’s natural production of collagen (and other vital support elements), I aged 20 years in six months. Jusuru literally gave me back “Me.” Jusuru is my best friend.
There were two of them. One blonde and the other brown. Newly born, the baby kittens and their equally tiny Mother were stranded in the middle of a rushing stream. Helpless and afraid – the earlier rains surprising her with a sudden flooding – the tiny Mama Kitty was stranded and loudly mewling now for help. I was amazed that such a loud voice could come from such a small body. Splashing through the rocks at the shoreline and fording water up to my hips, I finally reached the shivering little family. As I scooped them up one by one out of the freezing life-threatening water, I held them close to my bosom, cuddling the whole squirmy bunch warmly in my towel.
And then I woke up…
That was this morning’s dream. No doubt at all but that this was about my oldest daughter, Stephanie, and her little ones. I’ve come to know a few things over the years about dream interpretation and rushing water, generally, means emotions. Yesterday, my Stephanie was in her first car accident. As she sat at the red light waiting to turn left, a man – high on something – struck her forcefully from behind. He was going fast enough to shove her car across the entire intersection totaling her company’s vehicle in the process. She was taken by ambulance to the local Hospital Emergency Room as he was being arrested for drug intoxication. Talk about emotions with a capital ‘E!’
My daughter lives 800 miles north of me. She is 31 years, 1 month, and 5 days old. Last week… she had her very first cast removed from her very first broken arm. And now this? Oy vey! She is going to be right as rain though because Stephanie is the strongest woman I know. Despite the recent broken wing, my angel bounces. She does not break.
As for me though, I feel… Well, have you ever wanted a ‘Mulligan’? A do-over? Well I want one. I think we should just give May another go-around. So… I want a Mulligan. Moreover, I want to go see for myself that she really is okay. And a warm towel to hug them close when I get there.
I do hope the man that hit her finds a lighter path to follow.
I learned of Maya Angelou’s passing this morning while in the waiting room of the doctor’s office. It was at that precise moment in time when I realized just how much this remarkable woman meant to me. I never had the pleasure of meeting her in person. Maya Angelou was a stranger to me. And yet… I immediately began to cry.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
There was a long wait in that waiting room this morning (they are called that for a reason) so I had quite a bit of time to wipe my tears and reflect on this amazing woman. I had time to think about her beautiful spirit and the strength of her wisdom; I had time to remember her lovely poetry and inspirational writing; I had time to remember the peacefulness of her serenity and the strength of her femininity. I had time enough to know that I am feeling this loss personally.
I look around my office and I feel her presence everywhere. I see her quotes on my wall and in the books on my shelf. I see her name in the tags attached to my blog and on this post. My fourth post on WordPress was one of the quotes taken from her book, “Letter to My Daughter.” [Be a Rainbow in Someone Else’s Cloud posted on 04/11/2014] Her name is on the news, on your lips, and in my head. I feel her everywhere but, most especially, I feel her in my heart.
Maya Angelou taught me how to be a strong woman. Her words have lifted me on days when I didn’t even have the strength to raise my eyes in prayer or close them in meditation. In her writings, I have found the will to go on for just one more day and to love again even when all hope was lost. Maya Angelou taught me to find the joy in Life and in who I am — as a person, as an artist, as a woman, and as a Mother. Through her, I’ve learned the true definition of success.
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
Maya Angelou taught me how to be a creative writer and a hell of a lot about being a strong confidant woman. Maya Angelou showed all of us, though, how to be a compassionate, loving, wise, and supremely beautiful Human Being. What an incredible legacy.
We’re going skydiving tomorrow. Oh my! That sounded very nonchalant, now didn’t it? Ho hum! Just another Saturday in the life of me. La-tee-DA! What shall we do? It is not, though, just another Saturday because on this particular Saturday we’re going skydiving. (“Skydive” aka “fly, Fly, FLY like a bird” if you’re inside my head … or if you’re 4 years old.)
I have wanted to skydive (::cough:: FLY) ever since I was about nine or ten years old. And we are going. Tomorrow. In the Morning. To skydive. Obviously I am beyond the moon excited about this little adventure and when I came across the word “vorfreude” {FOR-froy-dah} earlier today, I thought…“Could there be any word more perfect than vorfreude to describe how I am feeling?”
I’m turning 50 years old soon. Oh no, I don’t mean “next week” kind of soon. I’m talking about the “soon enough” kind of soon. It is “soon enough” that I think about turning 50 every. single. damn. day.
But… here’s the thing. I figure that if I’m going to have this thought in my head all the time, well then, it’d better be a good one. So… I’m choosing to be happy about this upcoming birthday. (My daughter says I’m weird about this ‘happy’ thing but I don’t mind that she thinks that.) This birthday is a big milestone and it is NOT necessary to be sad about the occasion. I mean, come on?! We only get to turn 50 once in our lifetimes, right? Therefore, let’s have some fun!
I am “taking the road less traveled” (aka “You’re weird, Mom”) and I am celebrating my birthday every single month of the year 2014 because… one 50th birthday? Au contraire mon frère!
And beginning on January 1, I put action to words and started celebrating my 50th Birthday by choosing JUBILANT as my “One Word” for 2014. Words have always mattered very much to me. I am an empath, an introvert, and a voracious reader. Truly, you wouldn’t believe the vibrational impact words have on our psyche. So… three years ago I decided to stop making New Year’s Resolutions in favor of the “One Word” approach. One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. One word that you can focus on every day, all year long. In years past, I’ve chosen KIND, GRATEFUL, and MINDFUL. They were wonderful choices and did indeed color my whole world for that year.
This year, the year 2014 and the year in which I will turn 50 (my jubilee year if you will), I chose JUBILANT and it has been extraordinary the impact this one little word has had on my mindset. I AM overjoyed, exultant, triumphant, joyful, rejoicing, exuberant, elated, thrilled, gleeful, euphoric, ecstatic, enraptured, in raptures, walking on air, in seventh heaven, and on cloud nine!
Tomorrow… I am skydiving for the very first time and I am jubilant! But I am also savoring the anticipation like a fine wine… or a good Kombucha. And to think that it is only May. What’s in store for the rest of the year? Oh my but there are so many wonderful things yet to come!
Here’s to moving forward in our journeys with much Vorfreude!
FitFlop USA is having a contest and they’re offering a pair of SHUV™ Clogs as the winning prize. This is my entry. If you’re interested too, here is the Facebook linky-dink: WIN A PAIR OF SHUV™ CLOGS! Please keep in mind that I have no affiliation to FitFlop USA whatsoever and will receive no monies for any submissions. This was strictly a creative endeavor for me and because I happen to really like FitFlops. Plus… FREEFitFlops are even more likeable.
As is our wont, the Hubs and I took in this morning’s sunrise. What an absolutely glorious start to Good Friday!
It occurred to me this morning – and not for the first time – that I have seen more sunrises with this man than I have seen in my entire life. It truly makes my heart sing with love to be able to share these precious waking moments with my best friend.
Maybe it’s just this current stage of life I’m experiencing where 5 AM isn’t an unreasonable waking hour anymore. (Hello! 50th birthday in a mere 4 months!) Or perhaps it’s simply the nature our life together. I’m sure living at the beach has something to do with it, that’s for sure!
No matter what it is that’s wrought these circadian changes though, waking up early has simply become the most special part of my day and a truly wonderful addition to my life! Besides… I like knowing that the birds start their songs 5 minutes before first light. I truly learned this recently. Isn’t that the coolest? Almost 50 and still learning.
I’m turning 50 years old soon. Oh no, I don’t mean “next week” kind of soon. I’m talking about the “soon enough” kind of soon. It is “soon enough” that I think about turning 50 every. single. damn. day.
The Serene One 