Completely awesome . . . .

The video below was recorded on the Bob & Tom Show when Ingrid Michaelson stopped by to talk about her gigs with The Dave Matthews Band, and to play this special rap remix version of the hit song, which has been featured on Grey's Anatomy & Old Navy ads.  But here is the real reason why I am posting this today!  You often hear about "karma", serendipity, or things happening that you can't explain, etc., and I apologize if this story is too detailed, but here's what happened yesterday...........

I woke up in the morning, still groggy, eyes closed, with one of Ingrid Michaelson's songs playing over and over in my head.  It's called "The Way I Am," and is just a sweet, sweet song.  I have no explanation as to why it was in my head because I hadn't heard it in quite some time. Later in the day, I was on my way to the market to shop for dinner that evening, and for some reason, I decided at the last minute to turn a different direction, and shop at a store that I never go to. Once in the store, I ran into a friend whom, once again, I hadn't seen or heard from in quite some time. And by the way, she also told me that she never shops at this store.  As we were chatting she happened to mention that she was heading out soon to one of our neighborhood bars to hear this singer by the name of Ingrid Michaelson, who  happened to be putting on a free concert in just a few hours. I was completely surprised! I had this song playing in my head all day, and here she was in my neighborhood?  Long story short.........I went to see her. Had I not made the decision to shop at a different store, I wouldn't have run into my friend, nor would I have known that Ingrid Michaelson would be performing that night. So needless to say, I ended my day the way it began, listening to the sweet voice of this singer that I had woken up to that very morning. So call it coincidental, just a fluke, karma or whatever you like, but I'll call it  completely awesome.

Enjoy!

I have a question for you. What are you doing to continually rekindle the passion of your life? What kind of inspiration are you providing for yourself that will keep you pursuing your dream? And if that passion dies, who's to blame? It's sad, but true.....passion will die without constant inspiration. In Zig Ziglar's book, "Better Than Good" he writes...... 

If you think of passion as the flame that burns white hot in the heart of every person, inspiration is the fuel that keeps that flame alive. Often I meet people in whom the fire of passion seems to have gone out. You can see it in their eyes---there's no spark of life! It's like someone came along and flipped off the passion switch while they weren't looking. The big mistake is thinking that regaining passion is a passive event--something we just have to wait for until we're moved once more to become passionate about life. Not so! Passion is a flame that has to be fed in order to keep it burning bright. And inspiration is the fuel that keeps the fire alive. 

Who is responsible for feeding inspiration to the flame of passion? You are! And if you don't, trust me--passion will, over time, become a distant and only occasional visitor to the house of your heart.

Here are 4 practical ways to inspire yourself--to feed the fires of passion burning within:

1. INVEST IN INSPIRATION

The more time, talent, and treasure you invest in your passion, the more you will fight for it, defend it, and protect it from everyone and everything that would attempt to steal it from you. Let's say your passion is to own your own flower shop someday. Right now, you're not involved with flowers except as a hobby. If I were to come to your house and spend an hour talking with you about your passion, I'd be looking for signs that you're investing your time, talent, and treasure. I'd be looking for bookshelves full books on flowers, books on running a small business, magazine subscriptions on the same subjects, your class schedule for the course on entrepreneurship and small-business management, check stubs from your payment of dues to the appropriate floral associations, your applications to several local flower shops where you plan to work as an apprentice in order to get experience. . . . . and on and on.

2. INQUIRE FOR INSPIRATION

Find a mentor--someone who has the same passion--and make some kind of arrangement to meet with that person on a regular basis for inspiration. There is nothing more inspiring than meeting with someone who is already successful at what I have a passion to do. Inspiration is caught better than it is taught.

3. GET INVOLVED TO FIND INSPIRATION

Sometimes we have to get up and get involved in order to find inspiration and keep passion alive. And the bigger the movement is in which we choose to get involved, the more inspired we are. Which inspires you more--being the only person sitting in a football stadium or being one of seventy thousand screaming fans who are just as excited as you are about the same home team? The bigger the crowd, the more inspired you are. Why? Because you feed off the energy of the thousands of people who are looking for the same things in life that you are: success, inspiration, encouragement, and motivation. If you are passionate about writing, attend writers conferences where new books are displayed. Join a writers group, attend book signings or readings, or volunteer at your public library. Whatever your passion, get involved in it at a level that is bigger than you are. When you become part of something bigger than you are, you become accountable. You become inspired to do your best. You become motivated to not let others down. And that fuels your passion in ways that can't be described--it can only be experienced.

4. IMAGINE FOR INSPIRATION

The power of imagination is one of the greatest untapped resources in the human tool kit. It's amazing that mental images have such power--but they do. Some people are born with more of an imagination than others, but it can, by hard work be cultivated--not by mere daydreaming, not by lazy wondering, but by hard study and earnest thought. Whatever your passion is, turn your imagination loose and let it inspire you to keep working to make your dreams become reality. 

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club."

-Jack London

Happy Friday!

Wishing you 

an inspirational weekend!

Make an effort today . . . .

What kind of effort are you making to reach your goals, to nurture that relationship, or to get the job done? And how hard are you willing to work to get there? We set goals, then we sabotage them by not making an effort.  How badly do you want it? We say we want things, but we so often find that we aren't willing to put forth the energy it takes to get them.  Will Rogers once said, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." We have to try! We can have the best intentions all day long, but unless we make even the smallest effort to move toward our goals, our dreams, they will always be just out of reach. When we put our heart, mind, intellect and soul into even the smallest acts, that is when we reap the benefits of success. Pull up your bootstraps today and make an effort!

"The worst thing one can do is not to try, to be aware of what one wants and not give in to it, to spend years in silent hurt wondering if something could have materialized - and never knowing."

-David Viscott

Be the producer of your own life . . . .

Every decision you make is not a decision about what to do. It's a decision about who you are. When you see this, when you understand it, everything changes. You begin to see life in a new way. All events, occurrences, and situations turn into opportunities to do what you came here to do. Choosing to be a producer who causes things to happen will set you apart from most other people.

-Steve Chandler

It's Friday . . . .

Ihopeyourweekendrocks!!

Graphic via workisnotajob

We are absolutely surrounded by beauty, every single day. Please don't ever take it for granted.

Enjoy!

Above graphic by NayArts via etsy

Focus! . . . .

Happy Monday to you!  Are you feeling motivated today? Are you willing to do what it takes to reach your goals this week? It's easier than you think! Mark Twain once said, "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." Stay focused today! Imagine yourself completing your project, stepping on the scales and seeing the progress, feeling stronger than you ever have, and mustering up the confidence to face your fear. It takes so much energy to worry or to dwell on the negative! We can easily allow it to blind us as to what is possible, or we can transfer that energy to the positive, concentrating on the good, moving forward and actually visualizing the end result. Imagine yourself congratulating yourself at the end of the week!....celebrating your successes! I can already see it for you! Choose to see it for yourself!  

"Our thoughts create our reality -

where we put our focus is the direction we tend to go."

-Peter McWilliams

Photo via Getty Images

Pure pleasures . . . .

Porches.

Sweet potato fries.

My own pillow.

Dancing.

Accidently hearing someone say 

something nice about you.

Enjoying a yummy meal, 

and realizing just how healthy it really was.

Thinking it's Thursday, when it's Friday!

Happy Friday!

Have a lovely weekend!


All photos (except Porches) via Google Images
Porches photo via Southern Living

You have the power . . . .

Passion, excitement, and confidence are the important medicines that we need every day. At some time or another, all of us have encountered people who seemed to be larger than life somehow, people whose experience of life was filled with color and excitement. In short, they were excited about life and were having a ball. Through them we catch a glimpse of what the authentic life is like. Is it possible that you are an excitingly unique individual with the need to do and be all of who you are, yet you are denying that powerful individuality, and you remain bogged down and buried in a world of "responsibility traps" and "don't make waves" conformity? Think back to when your own life was the most interesting one you knew, and you couldn't wait to see what would happen next. Perhaps most important was the fact that you accepted your self for who and what you were. Whether you know it or not, you will always have a tremendous power to determine your life. You can make your life hum if you will link up your true self and your world. To do that you have to get intimately in touch with you. As you address the question of you, starting now, stop dealing in opinions or assumptions, and start dealing in facts. That fact is, it takes so much energy to be what you are not, and it takes so little to be what you truly are.

Compiled from a Self Matters calendar
Photo via Google Images

workisnotajob . . . .

I was blog surfing recently, perusing holzdesign, when I saw the graphic below that I thought was extremely clever. Turns out it's from a company called workisnotajob.....a design studio dedicated to creative inspiration, typography and visual communications. They tell us "we're pretty busy, splitting our time between our own art, independent projects, music, and well, cups of coffee."   

The more I read about this company, the more I was intrigued! Their charming attitude and appealing philosophy is what prompted me to continue reading. Here,  let them explain........

workisnotawhat?

Good question.

"Work" is the transfer of energy. We enjoy transferring our energy into something creative and inspiring. In fact, we'd like to think it's a wonderful opportunity. 

We go about this by following one basic rule: work

If you are active, it will lead to something, something you can work with. We creatively consider 'work' as pleasant activity that offers free development and individual contribution. 

We make little distinction between work and play and strongly believe in inspiration as the magical power to change the world. Your every day activity and commitment, talent and dedication that exceed business hours define your work. Now, what defines a job again?

For us, this is the pursuit of a dream. We feel that workisnotajob..........Oh and who are you not to live your dream? Whatever yours is, start now. 

We hope you feel it too.

Keep up the good work! (andthankyou).

Photo via Getty Images


Happy Friday!
Have a lovely weekend!

A little etsy ♥ . . . .

I am loving the work of this graphic designer that I discovered on etsy.com.  Please allow me to introduce Susana Parada, the artist behind Parada Creations. She states in her profile that she believes that every single person should have one piece of art in their home that makes them smile. I would say it is fairly easy to find one in her collection..........

And everybody needs a a little extra Love! 

(in 35 languages)..........................

Great work, Susana!

I am a big fan of  philosophy skin care products and their way of celebrating the human spirit. Their promise is to "bring its customers products that inspire them to live a better life by being better to themselves." Are you looking for a special gift? Look no further. These products make it easy to celebrate a friend, a family member,  or co-worker.   While out shopping the other day, I found myself in the philosophy section of the department store, and completely lost track of time while reading their labels (one example below). . . each bottle offers a different message that will truly inspire all who read them.

Happy Friday!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Choose to believe . . . .

Choose to believe in the originality of you.....

your willingness to stand out from the crowd.....

your unique perspective on what's happening in the world and in your life.

Choose to believe in the wisdom of you.....

the way you trust your intuition......

your unfailing commitment to doing the right thing.

And most of all,

Choose to believe in the heart of you.....

the genuine compassion, empathy, and friendship you offer to everyone you know.

Photo by Justin Cooper
at 2C 

Photo RF Getty Images

Photo via Google Images

Accepting the challenge . . . .

My schedule is ramping up with a few new commitments that I'm very excited about. One of which is that I have begun dance rehearsals for my local Dancing with the Stars fund raiser event that will take place in November. I was nominated to dance, accepted the challenge, and hope to raise lots of money for this great charity. As I have said before, I have chosen to live a 'no regret' life and dancing in front of 1,200 people at this event is something I might have walked away from just a few years ago. Walking into the unknown is scary (I'm dancing hip-hop!), but I am psyched about doing something new and looking forward to the challenge. Bernice Johnson Reagon once said, "Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you. They're supposed to help you discover who you are." Begin to look for your challenge and choose to make that discovery about yourself.

Photo via Google Images

From Brooklyn with love . . . .

I came across this sweet video clip via VSL (Very Short List), which is a collection of distinct, free, must-see, one gem-a-day e-mails. VSL writes.....watch Danny & Annie, an animated web video about an elderly couple from Brooklyn that will, in five minutes, show you true love (and possibly make you cry).

Photo via Google Images

Whether you realize it or not . . . .

Photo by  Petrina Tinslay

via 2C

An angel on earth . . . .

I am so inspired by this little girl, Jackie. I'm not a big opera fan, but it is hard to believe she is only 10 years old. Her voice is incredibly mature for her age. Not to mention....she is just so adorable!  Enjoy!

Photo via Google Images