Crater Lake, an Unforgettable Journey

The year was 1993, and I was just graduating from college, and getting ready to move out of state. I convinced my younger Sister Angela, who was 21 at the time, that a road trip from California to Oregon would be a memorable way to spend a few of our summer days.

As we made our way to Oregon, we stopped in several little towns along with way, mingling with locals, sipping our coveted mochas and chatting with each other, like there was no tomorrow. At the top of our list was a visit to Crater Lake, known for being the deepest and most breath-taking lake in the United States.

As we wound our way around the Cascade Mountain Range, we finally reached the crest, where we found a place to park and explore. Feeling like we were kids again, we excitedly ran to the viewing area, and almost simultaneously, dropped our jaws in awe. There before us, was the most spectacular view I had ever seen. I could finally understand why this historic lake has inspired hundreds of people that flock to the site each year.

The water was the deepest blue, almost purplish color. The fluffy white clouds that hung in the sky vividly reflected their images upon the water. There were still small patches of snow around the top of the six-mile wide caldera and you could hear the wind whispering through the pine trees, almost if they were talking in some unfamiliar language.

As I paused there, with my sister, I reminisced upon our years of growing up; the times we had played together, the times we fought, the years that we had perhaps taken for granted. I made a mental note to frame that moment of togetherness in my mind, which I still reflect on to this day. You see, the memories we associate our vacations with, aren’t just about the trip, it’s about who in our lives we share it with.

Lab Love

This past weekend, as I was relaxing with my steamy cappuccino and pouring over the Sunday newspaper ads, Jack, my rambunctious yellow lab, thrusted his wet nose into my leg begging me to get up from my comfy chair to play ball with him. Normally, I don’t hesitate at the opportunity to run around the house and burn a few extra calories; however on this particular Sunday morning, I didn’t want to break the unbelievable air of silence and inner peace I was feeling inside. But, knowing I didn’t want to disappoint my crazy mutt, I slowly let the caffeine take over and felt my energy level increase as Jack sat patiently, watching me, puzzled. I managed to muster up enough energy to swipe the soggy, red, tennis ball from his mouth. I made the decision that the newspaper could wait.

As I got up from the kitchen chair, I quietly hunched over and sashayed in stealth mode, in my socks and jammies, to creep behind the couch and out of Jack’s site. This always marks the beginning of our little ritual. I pretend that I can’t see Jack and he pounces around the corner of the couch, then I let out a surprised, loud howl that seems to satisfy him in his own doggy way.

My husband, who is now parked on the family room sofa, rolls his eyes as to imply, ‘here we go again’. This quiet sarcasm of his does not phase Jack or I as we continue to circle the room in our warrior dance; Jack strategizing how he will sequester his red, round, squeaky ball and me plotting to outsmart the dog. Just then, I lift my hand far back behind my head, holding Jack’s red ball in position, like a sling shot waiting to shoot. Jack is now in a bent stance, his right paw pointing towards the hallway where I usually throw his ball so that he can get a head start, as if he’s stealing a base. Within seconds, I propel the soggy ball which zooms across the room, barely avoiding a tall vase on its travels through the house. Jack takes off like lightening speed. I could almost see his face drawn back as if he was in a wind tunnel. As he leapt for the ball, I positioned myself in defensive mode as I readied myself for my ritual workout.

Jack ran furiously around the coffee table holding the ball in his mouth, like he was an overworked farmer trying to churn his own butter. Meanwhile, I’m jetting from side to side not quite letting him make his full turn as I deeply lunge, with each back and forth motion, to work my upper thighs, while pretending to go after the ball. This really is a great form of exercise. My husband, as if he knows what will be asked of him next, places his leg on the coffee table to form a bridge in Jack’s path so that with each passing from side to side, Jack has to leap over his leg like a horse jumping barriers. We continue this dance for about 5 minutes as Jack’s leaps turn to crawls under my husband’s leg to avoid yet another jump over the barrier.

Jack’s slobbery tongue is now hanging from his jaw as he’s panting of pure exhaustion. I look at him feeling exhilarated and satisfied and still full of energy. He gives me a tired puppy dog look and plops onto the cool, wood kitchen floor, panting heavily as he extends his arms and legs, preparing for his nice, cat nap. I manage to find my camera and snap my victory picture of him just before he dozes. As I’m reviewing the photo, I hear a small snoring coming from below me. Jack is now sound asleep, the ball tucked in with him and his leg twitching while in his dream state. A peculiar smile rolls across his sleepy face and then I knew he must have me beat.

I walked quietly back over to the kitchen table where my newspaper was waiting and the coffee was still steaming and sat back to finish where I left off.

Waves of Laughter

"The human race has only one really effective weapon, and that's laughter. The moment it arises, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place." Mark Twain

Yes, laughter is a wonderful cure, but what about when it truly comes at the wrong time? As I silently sat in the pew during Saturday evening mass with my two daughters and my Mom, whom was visiting from out of town, I glanced around the Church and noticed the serene, but packed pews surrounding me. I was happily surprised that the Saturday Vigil had drawn such a crowd that evening. Was it a religious holiday that I had forgotten about? I scanned my memory bank, but could not recall a holiday on Saturday, November 8th. So, I let it go, as a smile draped across my face with the contentment knowing that God just happened to have a great turnout that evening.

As Church began and the priest motioned to everyone to greet each other, my littlest threw her body into me, buried her face in my sweater and said, “I love you Mommy”. Life just couldn’t be any better. It was a wonderfully tranquil moment. We sat down and listened to the opening prayer. Within what seemed like seconds, we were back up again in full standing position. This is very common if you haven’t been to a Catholic mass…you’re up, you’re down, you’re kneeling. You really get a dual workout with each attendance, one for the soul and one for the body. As I intently listened to the priest I noticed that he started walking to the far right side of the church. He grasped what looked to be a small broom in his hand. It was probably the length of a ruler, only it was much bulkier. The bundled bristles appeared to be straw, though I soon found out, whatever it was; it was much more absorbent than it looked.

As the priest dipped the mini broom in the bowl of holy water I thought to myself excitedly, we’re reliving our baptism. I always cherish these types of events at Church, such as the blessing of the throats or Ash Wednesday. It’s like a bonus gift at mass knowing you get that extra little blessing for the week.

The music was blaring and a cantor was singing at the front of the Church with a beautiful, angelic, voice that made the priest’s every move appear to be in slow motion. As he removed the mini broom from the holy water bowl and began to flick the tiny little drops of baptismal blessings over the crowd at the far right side of the church, my heart stopped in terror. As if time had stopped, I witnessed a slow moving wave extend over the whole pew area. Quickly glancing at the crowd, who was still smiling and singing, it was apparent that they didn’t see the terror that was quickly approaching them. As if in disbelief, the stunned crowd stood motionless, dripping with water, jaws wide open. The priest, completely unaware of the reaction he was drawing, was already on his way to the main pew area, where we just happened to be sitting, helpless. As he drew his broom, which looked like a gun in a western movie, I tightened my closed eyes and braced for aqua impact. Each second seemed like an eternity as I awaited the wave of my baptismal dunk and moved to protect my littlest from the blow. Then it happened, impact. As I opened my eyes, I felt water dripping from my hair, my sweater and my face. I turned to assess my fellow pew mates. The woman in front of me was swooshing waves of water off her leather jacket. The elder couple stationed at the far right end of the pew, were looking in disbelief at their seat, which was completely sprayed with water. Surveying the area, it looked like a small tsunami had hit. Then, I felt a stirring inside. As I caught eye contact with the elder lady, the laughter started as we looked at each other and began to giggle. Surely, it would subside, I thought to myself as the singing continued and I could hear small gasps from the people behind us as the priest continued circling the church, which made me laugh even harder. I couldn’t stop the uncontrollable hysterics. I truly felt like I was in some dream, like the kind you have when you’re giving a speech, standing in front of a crowd without any clothes.

At this point the priest was finishing his round and headed toward the far left side of the Church. These unfortunate souls had witnessed the entire drama unfold and were already bracing for impact. My eyes settled on a tall man whose expressions truly captured the moment. He winced as his head drew back over his right shoulder. His elbow slightly came up as if to block his face from the collision. Then, just like a recurring nightmare, the clear wave traveled across the bunch, not one but two waves. The priest must have thought that particular area needed a little extra blessing. My laughter continued almost nervously as I witnessed more people laughing, strangely enough it looked like they couldn’t decide if they should laugh or cry. I saw men wiping their brows and women shaking their heads to rattle off the beads of water. At this point, I mustered up everything I had inside me to control my laughter. It was though it felt like I was trying to swallow an elephant and I tried to contain myself so as not to draw a stare. I settled back into my damp seat as the priest walked up to the alter and continued with mass. I sat content once again, and smiled, knowing how happy I was to be part of this extraordinary extended family.

Through the Looking Glass

What is it that drives each of us to move forward? Is it our past, the vision of how we want our future to be or the inner flame inside us that continues to burn and create the energy we need to move forward? I was sipping my Irish crème coffee this morning, and in a rare moment of pure silence, eyeing the beautiful, crisp and quiet city scene outside my window, pondering this very thought and trying to see through the looking glass. The quote below inspired my reflection:

"Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful."

This quote, by Mark Victor Hansen, sums up the internal dilemma that has been inside me at times during my life regarding the career piece of my balance pie. Thinking back to my childhood memories, I would relate this sensation to the feelings I had inside after my parents announced they were taking my sisters and I to Disneyland and then having to wait 6 weeks for the trip. That giddy, overwhelming, awesome, anxious, funny pit in your stomach, impatient, feeling that was with me until the moment I entered the Disneyland Park and it exploded into a feeling of euphoria. This is symbolic of the passion I feel for starting something of my own, something that I, ultimately, create. The hurry up and wait, the when is the right time feeling, the hope that knowing it will happen some day and then trusting in God’s plan.

I consistently battle the drive of self entrepreneurship versus happily employed corporate life, the driving need to start something on my own, versus the reality of the financial and personal responsibilities in my life. This internal battle sometimes holds me back from taking the steps I need to take in order to move forward. There feels like no right time to start. Life isn’t perfect, and it comes down to what we make of it. I know the future is in my power and it’s what I do with it now that will keep my flame burning inside.

I have a personal project that I’ve been contemplating taking on. It’s rather daunting, but I know that once I actually start it, I will push it to completion, whether or not it is successful. So for me, this is the inner reflection I needed to experience today to began this journey, and take the steps needed to grab hold of life and to feed the entrepreneurial tiger inside. I feel so blessed to have a loving husband, wonderful children and a supportive family environment that why shouldn’t I move forward and have it all? There will be more to come on my personal endeavor, and nourishing that inner child-like spirit inside.

A Perfect Day

"You have not lived a perfect day... unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

By Ruth Smeltzer

This quote says it all. And, although I’d like everyday to be a perfect day, it really is hard to find the time to give back, but when you do, the sense of happiness is exhilarating.

This year I made the commitment to volunteer at a local nursing home. I have a passion for helping seniors. Two of my grandparents, who both had Alzheimer’s, spent their last days in nursing homes, out of town, and it was so hard not being able to be close to them. I am forever grateful of the caregivers that made their last days bearable and comfortable.

So, my time is spent with the “Apple Valley Gang”, as I like to refer to them. Marlin, Jean and Nancy are my favorites; however, the whole gang is really an unforgettable bunch. Alzheimer’s is so devastating, yet my gang somehow finds a way to appreciate life even through the shadows of the darkness cast upon their own lives. It’s strange how Alzheimer’s affects people in different ways. Helping the gang eat their lunch and realizing just how fragile they are, always gives me a sense of sadness wondering how one makes the transition from a healthy, vibrant, adult life to one of being completely dependent upon others for simple tasks.

Marlin is as happy as a clam and every time I see him he thinks it’s a wonderful coincidence that we happen to ‘meet again’. He absolutely loves tennis and couldn’t be happier when there is a match on TV. He makes my heart smile.

Jean is a wonderful lady who doesn’t talk to many people. In fact, the first time I met her, I was told not to expect her to talk at all. When you look in her eyes you see this deep, truthful soul that just wants to find a way to express herself. When I get through to her and she utters a few words back to me, I feel alive.

Nancy always has a good story about her youth and her vibrant career as a nurse and she loves taking walks. She may not remember me right away, but when I remind her about the stories she’s told me, it’s an instant connection that we share.

I love my gang and I try not to think about the day that one of them will pass away. I some times wonder why I’m putting myself through what will ultimately be a sorrowful loss, but then I realize, maybe in some way, I can make a few minutes of their life a little bit better.

Stress Away

Stress is the body's reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response, according to the website, about.com. It can come in many different forms, whether it appears as headaches, belly aches, high blood pressure, nausea or another unpleasant symptom. Unless we’re really in tune with our body and emotional spirit, we may not even realize the undue pressure we place on our physical and mental health by allowing stress to eat away at our core.

In delving into the distasteful topic of stress, I decided to poll some family and friends and find out how they personally and solely embrace their stress and what solutions they use to overcome the beast.

Laughter – It truly is the best medicine. Put on a funny show, call a friend who makes you laugh or read a funny book. Any time you can add laughter into your day and release the coveted happy pills, or endorphins, your day will be that much better.

Inspiration – Read an inspirational book, such as ‘The Secret’, attend a religious service to find renewed spiritual balance or find a way to jump start your inner energy through positive thoughts.

Exercise – Too often our lack of physical health interferes with our happiness and contributes to our stress. Get refreshed with a good workout or a long run. Being physically fit impacts will impact your emotional happiness.

Pamper Yourself – Indulge in a little inner gratification and treat yourself to a relaxing bubble bath with candles, spa treatment, manicure/pedicure or other self satisfying ritual. The relaxation will be good for your soul.

Furry Friends – Renew your energy through spending some quality time together with your favorite pet. The happy spirit of your furry friend will lift your own spirits and swell your heart.

Mocha - Of course, one of my favorites, grab a mocha and feel the jump start of your tasty mood enhancer. The caffeine will put a spin on your unhappy mindset and revitalize your outlook.

Take these ideas to heart and sample one of these delicious solutions next time your feeling blue. If you have a favorite stress reliever, post a comment below and share your idea.

Getting Through A Rough Patch

This week I was confronted with a heartbreaking circumstance in my personal life that was virtually out of my control. It not only involved me, but my family as well. I experienced anger and sadness, wishing that the situation was different. Mere thoughts of this situation caused me to feel disheartened inside and searching for answers and a different outcome.

While sipping on my java this morning, I decided to park myself downstairs at my computer. I could tell I was breathing uneasily and I could feel my heart palpitate in my chest. Jack was nearby, which always seems to provide me comfort. He’s loves so unconditionally.

This problem, which was nibbling away at my happiness, had become slightly evident in my outward personality, as a few people close to me had been gracious enough to point out. This caused me to do some soul searching. Doing what I love to do, I decided to ask for some advice from my good friend Google. It was then that I came across this very inspirational quote by Edward de Bono:

"Sometimes the situation is only a problem because it is looked at in a certain way. Looked at in another way, the right course of action may be so obvious that the problem no longer exists."

This quote is so simple, yet this morning it seemed to make so much sense to me. I decided to dissect my specific problem into parts:

1) What was the real issue driving my sadness and anger?
2) Was the situation a real problem or just a point in time that I had to overcome?
3) Could I look at this problem a different way to achieve the outcome I hoped?

After dissecting my problem I did some more inner soul searching by referring to my PMS. My Personal Mission Statement continues to be my roadmap for guiding how I want to live each day. As I read my PMS, I contemplated the situation and began to take great comfort in feeling overwhelming gratitude for the unbreakable and spiritual bond I have with my family and my faith. My family is my rock and this situation that I needed to overcome did not even slightly alter the bonds that I have with my husband or my children. Yes, it was a point in time that I didn’t like, but in the greater scheme of my life, I have true comfort in knowing that no one can break my family ties and this rough patch I was going through seemed not so rough any more.

Dance Like There's No Tomorrow

As I unenthusiastically climbed into my car this morning to head to work, I sensed that I wasn’t feeling like my normally chipper self. I attribute my mornings blue mood to lack of sleep and dreary weather.

To top it off, I had the pleasure of crawling along the freeway in bumper-to-bumper traffic. I began studying my fellow driver’s multi-tasking. It was mind-boggling. One woman was talking on her cell phone, holding what looked to be directions spread across the wheel in one had and had a coffee in the other hand. I also witnessed a black Honda cut off a driver in a green minivan. An eruption of honking ensued followed by hands with lonely fingers flying in the air. I took in a deep breath and realized that it’s up to me to change my outlook for the day.

So, I reached over to the console, let my fingers channel surf, and found an energetic tune on the radio. Surprisingly, it just happened to be one of my favorites. Slowly, my fingers started tapping the steering wheel and my head started bopping to the beat. Before I realized, my hips were shaking, my shoulders were shimmying and my body was moving. Next, the song started flowing from my lips. I belted out the words as if I was singing for my life on American Idol. I felt like a star.

Just as the second chorus started I became startled, and as I surveyed the cars next to me, found that I had an audience. Sheesh, what have I gotten myself into now? My mind raced back to my college speech class, feeling as if I was standing on the stage, completely naked, out there for people to see, to judge me and to laugh. It was devastating. I had a choice in front of me, I could succumb to the feelings that made me cower with embarrassment, or I could choose to put myself out there and dance like there was no tomorrow. So I did. I was rocking out, singing as loud as I could. It felt great, refreshing, my lungs felt invigorated. Surprisingly, one of the suits in the car next to me, let out what looked like a good laugh. Hey, if I could inspire a chuckle or two in someone’s day, it was worth it.

As I neared the last corner before turning in to the parking garage at work, I felt a sense of relief. It was a blissful feeling. I blurted out an enthusiastic “GOOOD Morning” to the parking attendant, who usually has a frown on her face, and waved to her as I drove up the floors to park and start my day. Today, I said to myself, will be a great day!

Appreciate You

The flavor of the day was a Coconut Crème coffee with a splash of low-fat milk. It reminded of a sun-kissed tropical day, lying on the beach, feeling the warm sun smother my entire body, sipping on a Pina colada, and hearing the waves crash against the beach…okay, back to reality! As I thought about my dreamy virtual vacation, it made me realize that it doesn’t take much to appreciate what we have and appreciate ourselves.

Learning to appreciate ourselves can be a difficult venture. A good first step involves having self-respect and a good self-esteem. A close friend of mine recently sent me the lyrics to the song “Realize” by Colbie Caillat, which prompted my topic for today. The song talks about taking time to realize about what is right in front of us. But, how can we accomplish this with the demands of our every day existence? We can start by becoming aware and appreciating ourselves, to be cognizant of the demands we place on our life that contribute to self-doubt or lowering our self esteem.

In my efforts to find a way to taking the time to realize, I stumbled across this amazing website, and although it is geared for K-5 learning, it included in a very simple and succinct format, the steps of learning “How to Appreciate Yourself” and I thought it was worth sharing today. So, take a few minutes, breathe in deeply and remember these simple steps to appreciating you.

• Be careful about comparing yourself to other people. Sometimes that can make you feel good or even inspire you to improve in some way. But sometimes it can make you overlook what's truly good about yourself and cause you to feel bad.

• Think about times when you've done something good. Include those times when you've made a difference to somebody else by being helpful, kind, or thoughtful.

• Take part in activities that make you feel good such as hobbies, reading, sports, or spending time with good friends.

• Don't be so afraid of failing that you're not willing to try something new. New experiences can help you grow and discover wonderful new things about yourself.

• When you do fail at something, don't get down on yourself. Think about what you can learn from the experience and how you can do better next time.

• Think about things you do well. Take pride in your successes.

• Remember, the most important thing about people is what we're like inside, not what we own or what we've accomplished.

(Copyright Elkind+Sweet Communications / Live Wire Media. Reprinted by permission. Copied from http://www.goodcharacter.com/.)

Unbreakable Bonds

Friendship amongst two individuals is the single most complex and beautiful union between the heart, mind and soul. The bond of true friendship can withstand very difficult times and experience the closest bond two souls could ever feel. It truly is part of the meaningful energy that keeps us going.

I have found that the demands of a friendship vary over the course of ones life. It is at these defining points that your friends may require more support, care and love from you than at other junctures. Or, perhaps you are the one in need of their passionate energy. This unconditional response is one of the greatest benefits of true friendship. A true friend is completely available for you through life’s ups and downs; however, you are most vulnerable with your friends because of this interdependent reliance.

As I sat, sipping my Irish Crème coffee this morning before getting ready for my daily grind, I thought about some of the qualities that describe true friendship:

v Loyalty
v Support
v Trust
v Caring
v Commitment
v Love

It is the combination of these qualities that creates this intertwined existence between two people, called ‘Friendship’. The emotional and mental exchanges that occur between friends can be felt similarly in every language and culture. Even the unspoken word allows true friends to connect on several levels, such as the friendship bond between an individual and their beloved pet or the kiss you give your mate. Friendship is one of the greatest gifts that you can give, and the ultimate gift you can receive.

There are so many emails that are forwarded about friendship, but when was the last time you opened up and told your true friend how YOU feel. Life’s too short to sit on the sidelines. Use today to communicate how you feel and be thankful for people or pets in your life that are your true friends!

Happy, Happy Times

“The foolish person seeks happiness in the distance; the wise person grows it under his feet.”
James Oppenheim

I ran across this quote at a very interesting website: http://www.worldofinspiration.com/. It’s a simple site where you can click on the category of your choice and find inspiring quotes with which to live by.

I chose the theme of happiness today because this one, powerful emotion has the ability to govern the attitude we outwardly portray to our family, our friends, and our business associates. How we each define happiness for ourselves can be the attitude we ultimately project on our lives. It can alter our life’s path or provide the map for our lives. The choice is yours.

Some of us live in the past, concerned with what we should have done differently, ‘I wish I had gone to college, my life would be different now’. Some of us tend to live in the future, ‘after I get that next promotion, I’ll be happy and life will be good.’ Where we should be living is in the ‘Now.’ Let go of the past and create a vision for the future, but live in the present. Here are a few mantras with which to remind yourself:

1) Treat yourself kindly; treat others kindly and with respect. This goes back to the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
2) Focus on the perceived reasons for your unhappiness. Whether it’s anxiety, a low self-esteem, or depression, isolate the issue and work to repair these negativities.
3) Give yourself the compliments you deserve and reward good behavior.
4) Simplify your life and remind yourself of what you’re really living for. Refer to your PMS or Personal Mission Statement.
5) Lastly, be in the present. Wear that perfume you keep saving for a special occasion, tell the special people in your lives how you feel about them and tell them often and lastly, give smiles often. You’d be amazed at how one little smile or hello to a stranger creates a chain reaction and 99 out of 100 times, you’ll get that smile right back.

Living happily is a state of mind, an emotional well being and it’s within your grasp. Let yourself live!

Green Dreams

It was Sunday afternoon and time for the dreaded weekly grocery shopping excursion. I enticed my husband with the bribe of a Pikes Place Roast coffee from Starbucks on the way, if he were to accompany me to this wondrous event. Coffee to him is like candy to a baby. Just as I suspected, he willingly agreed to go and be the cart pusher, happy as a clam sipping his liquid gold.

As we waded through the madness and finally checked out, we both had a happy glow on our faces for our use of our new found ‘green’ shopping bags. It felt great as we strolled out of the store, knowing that we were helping to preserve the environment. I could almost here background music playing, announcements over the intercom, yes, ‘thank you, thank you’ I would say to all the people commending our green ways. All this, until we came to an abrupt halt at our large gas guzzler SUV. Okay, maybe we’re not there yet, but one step at a time.

I stayed back as my husband surveyed the trunk. His wheels turning, speculating at how he was going to fit our groceries in with the Costco load that we had picked up at the stop before. Usually, I’d just start in putting sacks in the back, moving things around as necessary, but this time, I decided to wait and watch. Within 30 seconds, the two backseat doors were open and bags were flying everywhere. It was like musical chairs, only with our bright blue ‘green’ bags. I sipped another taste of coffee, felt the breeze on my face and the warm sun on my head and took time for a moment of reflection as I watched him in his efforts to organize the bags perfectly for our five minute trip home.

Once finished, I gave him the congratulatory ‘I’m proud of you’ smile and parked the cart. It’s moments like this that really make me realize how much I love that guy!

Sticky Future

“The past cannot be changed, but the future is still in your power.” I’m not sure who to give credit for in regards this compelling and introspective quote that sits on a sticky note adhered to my laptop at work. I find myself pausing to reflect on it often, especially today, as I savor my daily selection of a French Vanilla blend of deliciously roasted java. It really is an inspiring quote. The future is truly in our own power and with God’s help it’s amazing that once we set our minds to something and visualize it, it’s very likely within our reach, especially if we can see it happening in our mind and ponder the steps of personally achieving it.

I try to envision this quote in my mind when I’m making decisions in my life and whether or not my decision will work to create balance for me. I can easily get bogged down with the hustle and bustle of my every day responsibilities and commitments, and lately, I’ve actively tried to think, prior to committing to an event or block of time, if it truly 1) supports my personal mission statement and 2) if it contributes to embracing balance in my life. This is a challenging feat for me at times.

It’s true that at certain points in your life, the slices of the balance pie of career, family, relationships, and community weigh differently than at other times, as it should. But making sure you allocate time for yourself in that pie is ever so important. How are you able to give back to your family, your career, your relationships and your community if you, yourself, are spent?

I have found, through my life’s journey, that being organized at home and work is a good start. I recently ran across a website with a plethora of information on organization: http://www.getorganizednow.com/. The site, founded by Maria Gracia, provides excellent tips, organization treasures, and a blog on how to get your life organized. This coming from a gal who can spend literally hours in Office Depot. Okay, maybe I’m an organization nerd. Did I just really admit that?

Once your home and workspace are organized, it will feel like a weight has been lifted off of your shoulders and might even spark a bit of creativity in your life to pursue that passion you’ve put the way side. Until next time…make the most of today!

PMS

Today’s delectable coffee choice was a steamy choco-raspberry flavored coffee that I grabbed in the lobby of the building where I spend each week day. As I headed up to work, I took notice of people rushing around with snarled faces, brisk moves and unfriendly postures. I’ve heard that it actually takes more energy to frown, than it does to smile. I remembered that today was the first day (of the rest of my life) and that I was going to read my personal mission statement at the start of each day. This daily ritual will help me to visualize how I want my life to be and how I want to be remembered.

Speaking of being remembered, you know all those emails that go around and most of the time where you just end up hitting delete? Well, I read one the other day that talked about how life is about the dash in between your years. So that when you cross to the other side, people won’t remember what kind of car you drove, how much money you had or even what prada handbag you carried, (okay, the Prada may be something to leave to your fav gal pal), but they will remember the kind of person that you are and how you spent the years between your birth and your death, in other words, the dash.

In creating my Personal Mission Statement, or “PMS” as I like to refer to it, I thought about the dash. How would I want to be remembered? There’s lot of great research on the internet about creating a Personal Mission Statement, just Google it. I started with the process of determining my Core Values from a lengthy list of values given to me by a good friend who really helped to explain this process to me:

CORE VALUES: Peace, Integrity, Power, Wealth, Joy, Influence, Happiness, Love, Justice, Success, Recognition, Spirituality, Friendship, Family, Career, Fame, Truth, Status, Authenticity, Wisdom, Acceptance, and Health

You may have other Core Values that are important to you, but not on the list, go ahead and add them. The process is to go through the list and choose those items that are meaningful to you. Once completed, go back through the list and narrow it down to only the six most important. Lastly, go through the list again and narrow it down to three. These would be the three most important things in your life.

Take each of the three values individually and answer the question of how your personal satisfaction will be measured by fulfilling the expectation of living up to these values. This is the hard part. Once you’ve done that, hop on your laptop and meld the three together into a PMS. This part may take some time, but be patient, it will come to you.

Having finished my PMS, I felt a sense of renewed enthusiasm for life, a surge of energy and a sense of well-being and calmness. It was like the pieces of my life that I truly cherish were blended together in a refined statement of happiness. My hope is that each day when I read my newfound purpose, I will feel all those feelings and tingles inside knowing that I’m living my dash to the fullest!

(A special thank you to http://www.octopz.com/ for the great photo on this post!)

Doggonit

Girl’s best friend, or should I say, my loyal Jack-a-loo, as I like to refer to him. Jack’s almost 2. His birthday is July 20th. He’s my devoted and spunky yellow lab. Aside from the teething years and the residing we still have yet to complete due to his munching on the outside of our house, Jack’s a great dog. Talk about unconditional love, if we could just all be like Jack, giving love all the time, never getting angry, even when your dinner’s late, being a best friend, giving out kisses like there was no tomorrow…our lives would be like a slice of heaven.

This morning, as I stumbled still half asleep down the stairs towards Jack’s room, as I do each morning, I greeted Jack with a groggy hello and although he had just woken up himself, his tongue was already out and tail was wagging as if he’s telling me he’s ready to go for a run. Using his four-legged body, he bumps into my legs and just about propels me across the room as I reach to give him his morning hug. As I’m sitting on the linoleum, I feel wet kisses over my face and hands. This is how it is every morning. Jack needs his daily dose of love. Don’t we all?

How is it that dogs have such a friendly and loving demeanor, and I mean, all the time? Or, maybe it’s just my Jack? As I filled his doggy bowl with some morning munch and gave him some fresh water, it made me visualize what coffee selection I’d choose today. It also caused me to reflect on my prior day’s event, which was creating a personal mission statement. More about that later. Time to get primped for my day.

Where's Your Passion?

Have you ever really thought about the meaning of the word "Passion"? How many words in our English language can provoke multiple emotions from one word? Passion is referred to in thoughts of love and desire, plots for romance novels, various hobbies and interests, the Last Supper and Crucifixion of Jesus, and can be described as a single, intense emotion.Passion is an ingredient to life that many people seem to lack. I see it everyday, people get up, go to work and lead lack luster lives just wading through each day, waiting for the road to happiness. Why is it that some people find the passion in their lives and others just strive for mediocrity? How do you find passion in your life?

The answer to that question lies within. The first step is to take some time for your self. Use this time for deep soul-searching. Create a journal and write down your thoughts. What is it that you enjoy doing? What interests you? What motivates you? What captivates your thoughts? If you listen to the thoughts within, you will find the clues.

Next is turning those clues into a positive energy that creates an inspiring plan for your life. Maybe your plan is not something that is achievable today, but what are the steps you need to do now to get to where you want to be so that you can fully enjoy what life has to offer? Create a life goal list. What are the goals you want to achieve before your time on earth is up? Think hard about this one. It's not that you have to pick up the dry-cleaning or take the dog to the vet, what will bring happiness to your life? Vizualization is an amazing guide to achieving what you want to do in life. Write down a list of things that interest you and read that list often. Tell yourself, this is where I will be. Is it sports, being a resource to others, writing, painting, family, or spirituality? What is it that compels and inspires you?

Whatever your passion is, use the energy derived from those emotions to create a better life. Take the risk and let your energy help to guide you. Create a timeline and achieve one task at a time to lead you to your ultimate goal. Procrastination is the enemy, but by taking one step at a time and setting a realistic first goal, the achievement of that goal will put you on the right path and motivate you to achieve a second goal, then a third goal. If at first you don't succeed, try again. Don't give up.

One thing to remember as you waltz down your path to passion in your life, if you veer off the road it's okay, maybe it's your inner energy leading you a slightly different way. Listen to your thoughts, and remember that only you can make the difference in your life, only you can change your reality!

Ping Envy

What is ‘Ping Envy’? It has nothing to do with Pong. It has nothing to do with male ego. Ping Envy is the emotion you feel when you hear the whack of the ball off the tee…when it’s not your tee! It’s the cringe and tightness you get in your shoulders when the other half of your two-some throws their arms in the air and let’s out a self-congratulatory wail. It’s the brief moment you close your eyes trying to mentally calculate your lye while begrudgingly sputtering out your obligatory ‘Way to go Man’.

Ping is a good thing when you own it. It’s what you live for and dream about the minute your spiked foot hits the green. It’s the sound you visualize as your tee is inserted into the earth and your ball is set up.

What is this simplistic game that requires so much inner concentration and repeatedly challenges one’s self and one’s ego? It’s the game of GOLF.

‘Ping’ is the savory sound the club makes when it smacks that little white ball in what feels to your body like the most technically intelligent shot of your life. When you see your ball cradled as it makes its way through the clouds and your ball sails in for a landing just short of your next birdie shot. You don’t have to be an expert at the game to feel the shot, you know it was a good shot or not the second that sound radiates from the club. There’s good Ping and bad Ping and we’ve all felt it.

SIDE NOTE FOR THE LADIES: The old adage that GOLF stands for ‘Gentleman Only, Ladies Forbidden’ is no more. This game is fair game for everyone. And Ladies, we do have an advantage. While men’s egos’ are crushed by slices and hooks, our outlook remains steady. Sure, we would love to be the next Annika, but we know there’s always another hole ahead of us and the game doesn’t get our spirits down. Walking the course, smelling the fresh mowed green, hearing the birds chirp, feeling a slight breeze over your body, feeling the sunshine on your head…it’s the best kept secret in the world and now we’ve got a piece of the pie. A word to the wise for you gals though, barbering is not a good thing. So, in other words, don’t partake in a mocha before you play. This game requires mental concentration and it’s not good to gab. So, if you want to hang with the gents, don’t get bent.

Parting is such sweet sorrow, as is the last hole played. What can I say, until next time…may good PING be with you.

Mocha Reality

The power of a mocha...It is always so interesting to me how a mocha can transform my mood. I may feel down, or just blah, but when I make the decision to buy a mocha my mood gets an immediate perk.

Entering the coffee shop is the beginning of the ritual. One step in the door and the whiff of coffee, chocolate, and sounds of chatter sends tingles to the senses. The sound of the bean grinder, the churn of the mocha machine, the recognizable sound of the whip cream canister sends me into another place. I forget about everything I was thinking about before I entered the shop and my only focus now is that first sip.

Isn't it also interesting that you never see people arguing at coffee houses? You don't see frowns or bad moods (ok, maybe standing in line to get the coffee, before the caffeine hits), but not at the tables. I think it's the power that coffee has over people. The jolt to your senses, the sure feeling of knowing how you'll feel after that first few sips. The conversation starter it creates.

Coffee is a link of communication between friends, family and lovers. It's a daily ritual, a weekend treat and most of all, it's a mood enhancer all for the price of $3.50.