What can't you live without? . . . .

Valentino once said, 

"Enthusiasm is what I cannot live without. It gives me the joy of working and collecting the things I love. I cannot live, either, without passion.... I never want boredom to become part of my life."

What can't you live without?

Photo via Google Images

I am in New York City at the moment, and after hearing about the  Ace Hotel (29th St. @ Broadway), we popped in for a cocktail to check out the much talked about atmosphere.  We fell in love with the relaxed lobby scene, which immediately invites you in and you realize that this is a place where you can just hang out. It has been described as a "too-cool-for-school bohemian chic." 

There are graphic signs that get your attention such as the one below. I loved how they incorporated their Exit sign with an inspirational thought. Next time you're in New York, check it out. Their website says "our rates are cheap for New York hotels and motels, even if you book at the last minute. They are some of the cheapest NYC rooms you will find. It's like knowing a little secret." 

"There's a trick to the "graceful exit." It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, or a relationship is over -- and let it go. It means leaving what's over without denying its validity or its past importance to our lives. It involves a sense of future, a belief that every exit line is an entry, that we are moving up, rather than out."

-Ellen Goodman

Got "perfect" plans? . . . .

It's Friday! What are your plans this weekend? Are you going to a neighborhood barbecue? Graduation party? Or are you hosting a dinner party of your own? Whatever the occasion, remind yourself to let go of the notion that everything has to be "perfect." If you embark upon any occasion with your expectations set too high, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. There are too many variables that are out of your control. Unfortunately, you cannot control the weather, the fact that the food is not being delivered in a perfectly timed matter, nor can you control family dynamics, such as the fact that your Uncle often drinks too much. Things happen, and if you go into it expecting everything to be perfect, you will be let down the very moment things don't go according to plan. If you expect life to be tailored to your specifications, you are inviting frustration. Try to remember why you are attending (or planning) this event in the first place. It was obviously to celebrate an occasion or to simply have some fun. Hang on to your sense of humor and remind yourself to be somewhat flexible. Don't let your hopes be shattered when things don't follow a "perfect plan." Relax. You'll have a great time. I promise.

"The best things in life are unexpected,

because there were no expectations."

-Eli Khamarov

Shhhhhh . . . .

Photo via Patterson Maker

Nurturing possible passions . . . .

I ran into a friend the other day and she was telling me that she walked into her 13-year old daughter's room, and found her cutting up her clothes. She was fitting them on to a little mannequin doll, pinning each one meticulously, and creating new outfits of her own. Hopefully these clothes were pieces that could have gone to the Good Will drop box!  Otherwise, many Mom's would have reacted in shock! Honestly, my first thought was that perhaps she had a fashion designer in the works. My friend agreed, and said she had already begun to research sewing lessons. I absolutley loved that she looked at it that way. I told her a similar story about my son, and about how dramatic he was as a child. Everything was bigger than it needed to be.  So I signed him up for theatre. He loved it and found himself in the lead role in several productions throughout his high school years. He moved to New York, got a fine arts degree in acting, has done television commercials, and even found himself in an off-Broadway production. Since then, he has found complete satisfaction behind the camera as a Photographer, still nurturing his creative side.  My point is this.......when you can recognize something in your child that is a possibility, nurture it. Don't let the opportunity of discovering a passion pass. Nurture it, and watch to see if that passion emerges. No worries if it doesn't work out. All you did was rule out one possible career, very likely creating a  hobby. Continue to watch & explore. Pay attention to all the possible passions that could be buried deep. When you find a passion, it releases energy, which in turn creates the biggest chance of success. 

"Chase down your passion like 

it's the last bus of the night."

-Glade Byron Addams


Photo via Most Beautiful Darling

It's a brand new week . . . .

Have a little too much fun this past weekend? 

Eat too much? Drink too much? Play a little too hard? I've said this many times.....it's a new day! Don't beat yourself up.... just make sure you get back on track immediately. Albert Einstein once said, "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." You and I know better. If we want change, we can't expect it if we're repeating old habits. You now have in front of you a brand new week! No excuses.  Slip right back into those healthy habits that leave you feeling strong & satisfied. I promise, you'll be so glad you did.  

"Motivation is what gets you started.

Habit is what keeps you going."

-Jim Rohn

Photo by Nicole Hill Gerulat

-Unknown

Photo via Olive Juice

Think good thoughts.

Speak good words.

Take good actions.


Three steps that will bring more to you 
than you can ever imagine.

Honor yourself and your dreams . . . .

Can you believe that we are literally half-way through the year already? It has reminded me to think about the goals that we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year. How are you doing? Are you staying on track with the promises you made to yourself? Are you staying committed? ....honoring your passions, your dreams, and your heart? If you've not done so well, it's probably time to re-commit to those goals, or move on. Or perhaps you're sticking with your commitment, but just feel like you're not there yet. Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway. Stay the course and remind yourself of the enthusiasm you felt at the beginning of the year when you made those resolutions. For me, I made a firm decision to stay active, honor the healthy habits that had finally become a lifestyle for me, and to reach for the next level of fitness. There is nothing so satisfying as reaching a personal goal, or following your dreams & your passions. I was also determined to stay committed to writing this blog 5 days a week, and I'm grateful there are not too many days when I don't feel inspired to share encouraging thoughts. It truly is a passion of mine. What is it for you?....your career, your fitness level, your relationships? What matters most to you? Honor that! .....and stay committed. Remind yourself that you can live the life you've always dreamed about! Your dreams are an expression of your heart and soul. It doesn't matter that half of the year has passed! It's a new day, and from this moment forward you can create a whole new life for yourself!

Any dream worth dreaming, 

is worth the effort to make it come true.

-Evan Gourley


Dreams Digital Print
by valentina design
via etsy

"Whenever you're in conflict

with someone, there is one

factor that can make the

difference between damaging

your relationship and deepening it.

That factor is attitude."

-William James

Photo via One League Artists

 (Stylist REBECCA VAN REHN)

Supercoolhappy . . . .

How you feel is more important than anything else. 

And this is something you get to choose, 
moment by moment. 

Supercoolhappy 

works for me!

Happy Monday!

Make it a great week!

Via Notes from The Universe

lovethislife Kid . . . 

is about celebrating our moments

and how i rock to a rhythm all my own

and i just may teach you more

than you teach me

and like you....i'm a miracle

lovethislife Kid . . .

is honoring that my dreams

aren't obligated to fulfill yours

and since i had no say in being here

you'll provide a safe space

where i can innocently unfold

even if i take up the drums

lovethislife Kid . . .

is the inevitable embrace

that all we are is Love

so unconditionally love me

while i imperfectly become me

without promising you the same

when i hit my teens

lovethislife Kid . . .

as we grow together and apart

let's rock.

________________________

parental signature(s)

*reluctance to sign challenges 

suitability for parenthood

By David Culiner

LovethisLife

Photo by Nicole Hill Gerulat

Photo via One League Artists

Stylist Crystal Birch

Look ahead . . . .

"To dwell upon what 
might have been 

is perhaps the greatest sin."

Before you, just up ahead, lies forever. It's a sparkling, magical time and place filled with smiles, laughter, and new friends. A place filled with second chances and new circumstances, where every dream you've ever dreamt will come true. A place of endless discovery, boundless potential, and blissful peace. It's opulent, it's colorful, and it's easy. It's sunny, shady, and breezy. Happy, carefree, and infinite, and you're going to be there for a really, really, really long time. So lighten up, get over it, look ahead, and get jiggy!

And don't you know it? Yet you still look back! Well, next time you do, give yourself some credit. All things considered, you did a great job. You did your best, given what was then your understanding of life. And because of where you've been, conditions are now perfect, you're poised for greatness! Everything that had to be learned, you learned. You're now ready, willing, and able. And oh, my gosh, you're going to be so happy!

From the book

Choose Them Wisely

Everything's a gift . . . .

......and watch as your entire outlook for the day is completly turned around. This has got to be one of the most profound, simple thoughts that I've heard in a long time. Because quite frankly, our turn will be over one of these days, and we'll WISH we could go grocery shopping, pick up the dry cleaning, rush to our hair appointments, or wait in line at the BMV...ok, maybe not that one.

What do you "get to" do today?

A daily choice . . . .

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gifted ability, or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace from that day. We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing that we can do is play on the one string that we have and this string is Attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90%t how I react to it. And so it is with you.....We are in charge of our Attitudes.

-Charles R. Swindoll  

"You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you."

-Brian Tracy

Passion is energy . . . .

What puts a smile on your face? Is there a particular topic that excites you every time you think about it? Do you find yourself devouring certain magazines, or researching the same topic over and over again on the internet? Do you feel like you just can't get enough information about it? This is a good sign that you have a passion. Passion is experienced when you do what you love. Having a passion is what launches you out of bed in the morning, and puts a spring in your step for the day. Albert Einstein once said, "I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." I love that! Passion is energy! It truly is. Once you determine what your passion is, and focus on that, I promise you, you will find new meaning in your life. We all want to live a life without regret, right? I believe there is nothing worse than arriving at the end of our life full of regrets. This is why realizing what your passion is, and doing everything in your power to make it a part of your journey is so important. Live your life so that you do not have regrets! 

"Find your passion, whatever it may be. 
Become it, and let it become you 

and you will find 

great things happen FOR you, 

TO you, and BECAUSE of you."

-T. Allen Armstrong

How 'bout a hug? . . . .

(Due to a pesky little gremlin in my internet service this morning, I am reposting an earlier entry.)

Have a wonderful day!

The New York Times has reported that in the United States "the hug has become the favorite social greeting when teenagers meet or part these days." I'm smiling just thinking about that! I'm a hugger, so that just warms my heart to know that hugs are on the rise. Most humans enjoy contact, although I do know that it is very uncomfortable for some. A hug can be the ultimate sign of trust, so some like to reserve hugging for family, friends or lovers. By hugging someone, you remind them that you care about them and support them. Personally, I think it is a wonderful way to express affection. I do, however, pay close attention to the receiver's responsiveness. It only takes a second to determine if they are receptive to hugging or not. I believe you don't have to smother them, but giving someone a meaningful squeeze shows that you appreciate them, and can help foster closer relationships.

"A hug is a handshake from the heart."

-Author unknown

Love in action . . . .

Encouragement is a card sent for no reason, a cup of tea and a listening ear, being loved for who we are. When the world with all its pressures takes the heart out of us, we need to hear that someone cares for and believes in us; and we need to do the same for others. Encouragement is taking the time to appreciate everyone we meet. Dare to dream for yourself, for one another, for your community, and for our world. Today, you can make a difference in your own corner of the world.

"Flatter me, and I may not believe you.

Criticize me, and I may not like you.

Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.

Encourage me, and I will not forget you."

-William Arthur Ward

Go on, now. 


Photo by Grace Ann Leadbeater