Finding Joy!

It's Time to Exhale!

One of my favorite things to do during the summer is to do a Road Trip. I love hitting the road, map in one hand, destination in the other. There's something about spending time on the road in great conversation, good music and also in your own thoughts that you just can't get on a plane.

So, I did it. Just like that; I woke up one morning and decided it was time to get back on the road; set the destination  in one day. Got a map, filled my Thermos with Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee,  jumped into the Sahara,  Jazz CD's,  and headed to Cape Cod.

The Enroute Gas, food stops and Cracker Barrels became like Light House Beacons, calling drivers of the Interstate highways to fill up, stretch and grab a fresh cup of hot coffee for the journey ahead!

This was living the dream for me. Although I loved road trips I had given them up, but that day I realized that I  had made up my mind that my life was mine to live.

Hyannis, Province Town,  Martha's Vineyard, sand dunes, cedar houses, lobster and crab cakes, mmmmm.

Life Lesson; enjoy your life, it is a Blessing!

Live On Purpose!

Travelling Music

HAPPY MONDAY

It's Time To Exhale!

Whenever I travel on a long Road Trip I like to have a few things along; a Thermos, a map and good music. It seems that when I'm travelling on those long roads, certain songs permeate my journey. I just know that in the future, when I hear that particular music, I'll remember exactly where I was when I was listening to it and the joy it brought me. Whether on the I-90, 407, 401....where ever! 

Music  compells the senses and crystallizes memories.

Another great thing to listen to are audio  books and stories. On a few trips we took old radio shows like The Flash, Alfred Hitchcock, The Twilight Zone....amazing! They bring out your imagination through sound and dialog.

Finding Your Joy is a self discovery  journey unique to you. It's not about your parents, spouse, child, or friends. It's essential to good emotional and physical  health.

If you like to drive, then plan a trip now and go for it. Visit a friend, family, re-visit or find someplace new that you always wanted to go to.  Take someone along and enjoy wonderful conversations.  The act of planning will bring you joy, excitement and increase those feel good endorphins!

Live  On Purpose!

Isn't It Time You Exhaled?

Happy Monday!

In every life there comes a moment when you have to make a decision to  EXHALE...

Exhaling is the choice to Let go and move forward in your own life.

The 1995 iconic movie, Waiting To Exhale based on a book by Terry McMillan exemplified this term.

Four friends; Savannah (Whitney Houston), Robin (Lela Rochon), Bernardino (Angela Bassett) and Gloria (Loretta Devine) each had differing perspectives on relationships. All begin their stories New Year's Eve. We follow them through one year; ending the subsequent New Year's Eve.

All friends seeking love eventually come to the realization, over that year, that they must truly love themselves in order to find the right man for their life.

Whether it's a relationship, career or any other major decision in your life, it's important to know who you are first  to make a choice that's best for you. You will have various opinions and thoughts from others but ultimately you must do it alone.

By doing this you will truly know what's best FOR YOU.

Isn't it time you EXHALED?

Live on Purpose!

Empathy vs. Sympathy

I had the opportunity to research on the topic of Empathy vs. Sympathy.

I would like to share this clip with you by Brent Brown...It's short, sweet and life changing.

Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/1Evwgu369Jw

Live on Purpose!

That Trial is The key to Your Destiny

I remember watching a story of a woman who was incarcerated for a crime. She was so distraught because she believed that she had ruined the rest of her life. In this despair she asked if there was any hope for her.

The answer was profound. She was advised that it was this adversity that would be the foundation to her greatness.

Only she could speak to others who had committed a crime and needed a second chance.

Only she could relate to those in despair because of a crime they committed.

Only she could show that you can rise above that particular circumstance.

There were steps she had to do first though:
1. Recognize what she had done; be honest
2. Apologize to those who she had hurt if possible and if they would allow it
3. Forgive herself
4. Attempt restitution if possible
5. Be open and honest about her life going forward, within reason...no big secrets
6. Look for the Life Lessons from her experience and learn from them
7. Begin to help others; be intentional
8. Despite and in spite, be determined to live a great life!

There would be no easy way around it; she had to go through it one day at a time.

This is a lesson for all of us. We all have trials and circumstances that we would love to change but there are no 'do-overs'.

Work through 1 to 7 and then embrace number 8!

Live On Purpose!

🎵You're Gonna Make It After All🎶

HAPPY MONDAY!

If you're old enough you'll remember this T. V. Theme song...it's actually called Love is All Round by Sonny Curtis. 

Can you guess the show?

Yes, it's the Mary Tyler Moore Show!  For those of you who don't remember or never knew,  the program, named after its name sake, MTM is about a thirty-ish young woman named Mary Richards. She moved to Minneapolis after a break up and begins working at WJM-TV as an associate producer.

Unlike today's sitcom which focus primarily on sex and relationships, this 1970s program was a significant show of its era due to its female lead. It depicted an independent woman who strove for career significance  in a male dominated news room. Although she had male interests from time to time, she appeared to enjoy her singleness in her Studio apartment.

Louis Grant, Murray Slaughter, Ted Baxter, Sue Anne Nivens, all co-workers at one time or another needing direction and sage advice from Mary. Who can forget Rhoda Morgenstern her beloved friend upstairs.

Life is not a sitcom but, as a woman you may be able to relate to her character; single, a lost love, a new job, a major life change, no mister right, financially making it on your own..... it's tough but, you're resilliant, smart, courageous and cute too!

Dont give up! Dont quit, your best days are ahead!

🎵"Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?
Well it's you girl, and you should know it
With each glance and every little movement you show it

Love is all around, no need to waste it
You can never tell, why don't you take it
You're gonna make it after all
You're gonna make it after all

How will you make it on your own?
This world is awfully big, girl this time you're all alone
But it's time you started living
It's time you let someone else do some giving

Love is all around, no need to waste it
You can never tell, why don't you take it

You might just make it after all
You might just make it after all"🎶

Live on Purpose!

It's Time To Get Ready For Summer

Happy Monday!

I can't believe that the first long weekend of the summer is almost here.

Take some time this week to map out your summer activities; concerts, road trips, festivals, events, getaways, vacations, activities, great restaurants and picnics.

Planning a BBQ? Send out your 'Save The Dates' now, summer weekends are few and precious. On that note, don't leave all the fun for the weekend; Tuesday is the new Thursday and Thursday is the new Friday....in the summer, every day and evening feels like a Saturday!

For starters check out:
Seetorontonow.com
Ontariotravel.net
150th anniversary of Canada https://g.co/kgs/ggUlTG

Most of all, have fun. The act of planning stimulates endorphins in your body; the 'feel good'  hormone that's great for your mind and body. The sunshine increases Vitamin D.

This is all about Finding Your Joy!

The summer count down is on☉

Defining Moments

Happy Monday!

It was 3am in the morning. I cracked open the window to hear the rain steadily dropping in its melodic sound....truly beautiful.

Rain has always been a joy to me; walking in my long yellow rain coat and rubber boots, splashing in the puddles and looking upto the sky allowing the cool rain to drop on my face. I bought my rain coat one Mother's Day as a gift to myself and use it faithfully in the rain.

One of my favorite quotes is, "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain" by Vivian Greene.

Living in 'what if's' and  'I think' can be imobilizing.  You will survive and thrive through fears and apprehensions when you courageously move forward.

Through trials and experience you learn  to call things as they are and move within that reality. You begin to listen to that inner voice that has guided you for years and trust your instincts revealing truth and direction.

Truth is
Revolutionary to your life. You are
Unique.
Trust your instincts and have
Hope; you have great purpose!

Live On Purpose!

Life Lesson From The Garden II

Happy Monday!

It's so lovely to see a beautiful garden; one that has been cared for and maintained.  Beautiful, bright vivid colors of blooms contrasted with lush shades of green and dark brown earth.

However, no matter how nice your garden is, you will always get weeds. Vigilant gardeners regularly survey their gardens and pull weeds out from the root.

One major mistake is to attempt to cover the earth with mulch without pulling weeds or laying landscape cloth. If you miss these important steps it you will have weeds growing through your mulch and you will have to constantly move the mulch aside.

Removing the weeds and laying landscape cloth then adding soil and mulch will greatly reduce weeds although I am amazed to see the odd weed poke through.

This is like life, the more you anticipate and prepare, the more successful you will be. Although there are no 100% guarantees, your chances for success are higher.

Measure twice, cut once.

Live On Purpose!

This Is a Test of The Emergency Broadcast System

Happy Monday!

Doesn't it just bug you when you're watching a perfectly good program on T.V.  and the Emergency Broadcast System signal interrupts without warning?

Brother, just as you were watching your favorite show! You can't even turn the channel, it stops everything and you're forced to watch and listen to what to do 'if this was a real emergency'. Then comes that annoying tone that drones on for an  eternity; relentless.

What a relief when it stops and you can go back to watching your show...

Isn't life like that. You go along life nice and easy and then someone or something 'interrupts' it causing some type of issue that you didn't plan for or expect,  just when you wanted to go on living with no (more) problems.

Like that alarm warning on the T.V., 'interruptions' are a test of your emergency response system. It makes you stop. It makes you think. It makes you plan. It makes you act. These life tests create a pause in the flow of your life, allow you to reflect and then make decisions which will change your life.

Truthfully life is not a straight line but a series of ups and downs. You can't change the channel when issues arise. These ups and downs build two essential life muscles, strength and resiliency even though you didn't know that was happening during your crisis.

At the end, you're like superman, all buffed and shiny. When people have problems and you soar through the skies to come to their rescue, they wonder how you can be so strong, wise and calm. With hands on your hips, cape flying in the wind, muscled legs firmly apart, lips parted with a smile as a sparkle reflects off your teeth;  you can help because you've been there, done that!

Every interruption is a test, a test of who you are; your character, your integrity, your je ne sais quoi!

So the next time your interrupted by the Emergency Broadcast System just chuckle and think of Your life, you're going to make it!

This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.....

Live On Purpose!

Happy Monday! - Rainy Days - VLOG

My Perfectly Imperfect Life!

Happy Monday!
Happy First Day of Spring🌷

I give up! So tired of trying to make imperfect matters of life look perfect. There's nothing like the disappointments and difficult times in life to pull you off the airy fairy pedestal down to ground level....maybe even the basement.

When you're down there in the basement  looking up you begin to realize that there's a lot of people down there...

It's part of life's practicum.

That's where you learn a lot about yourself and others; the good, bad and the ugly. You learn about love, resiliency, what makes you afraid, people who support you and just how strong you really are...

The key is not to stay in the basement  too long. You don't want  to get too comfortable, start setting up house; buying a new rug and stacking the fridge.

We ALL live imperfect lives...no matter what it looks like on the outside. Everyone of us has made mistakes, doesn't like something about ourselves, wish we had done things differently or not where we'd like to be....

Importantly, make those difficult times and disappointments your platform for a greater life. Rather than becoming dissolutioned become illusioned about what those experiences have taught you; how you will become greater AS A RESULT of it, not in spite of it.

Your Perfectly Imperfect Life is what makes you real and even great if you use those experiences to create strength in yourself and invest it in others when they are weak.

Begin to embrace your Perfectly Imperfect Life, make the necessary changes, forgive yourself and others but commit to loving hard along the journey starting with yourself!

Love your Perfectly Imperfect Life.

There's 92 Days before Summer!

Live On Purpose!

My Picnic Basket

Happy Monday!

A couple years ago I started carrying a picnic basket on my back seat...not just in the summer but year round.

I love to pack it and go for drives or just sit by the lake with a nice treat, Thermos, lantern; day or evening.

There's something special about packing a basket. It forces you to take time for you or you and someone else

Now, I know we have winter BUT have you ever driven your car and parked by the water on a windy, rainy or wintery day?

Try it. Bring a warm blanket, a Thermos of your favorite hot beverage, wrap yourself up, roll down your window and listen...it's amazing especially at night! Water crashing against the rocks and spraying  into the air!

I did this with a friend recently and she was in awe! So relaxing and exciting all at the same time.

About 4 years now I've started, "Dinner by the Lake" in the summer.  I pack a picnic and have Dinner by the Lake until it's dark. We sit under the stars with only lamp light and.......mosquito repellent of course

I've done this on the beach too. It's magnificent to look up to the stars late at night while you toes are caressing the sand on a warm summer night!

I guess what I'm saying is....Find Your Joy! For me it's my basket? For you its.....

Life is about creating moments of joy to appreciate life. These Joy  moments serve as wonderful reflection opportunities when you're going through challenging times.

Life's too short...

Live On Purpose!

Life Lesson From The Garden ; Sometimes Weeds Look Like Beautiful Trees and Plants

Happy Monday!

As we are approaching Spring, yes Spring, my mind turns towards the garden...

Have you ever noticed that some weeds look just like great plants. They are vibrant, strong and sometimes even beautiful. It can be hard to discern which is which at times.

An avid gardener is able to tell quickly though. They waste no time plucking them out by the roots in fear that the weed will spread and infect the garden or use up the good nutrients in the soil so that good flowers have a harder time prospering. Avid gardeners don't get melancholy about the weeds beauty, they just do what needs to be done for the greater good.

Weeds can be likened to toxic relationships; they appear to be vibrant and strong but if kept, like the weed, they can destroy your prosperity by draining your time, energy and positive disposition.

You are known by your friendships. Is there someone in your circle that comes to mind right now, who affects you in a negative way? When you think of them, is your first thought critical or uneasy? Has their influence added challenges to your life? If yes, ask God to gently move them out of your life without a fight, argument or disagreement, just in love and peace.

People are in our lives for a reason, season or lifetime; choose them carefully, they can affect  how beautiful your garden grows!

It's almost Spring....Live On Purpose!

Happy Monday! - Change Your Mind! - Life Matters VLOG

Happy Valentine's; Love God, Yourself and Others

So many people see Valentine's as a day for Eros love; the romantic love that you can only share if you have a loved one.

The month of February is filled with Movies, Chocolates and Roses idealizing intimate love relationships.

I've always seen Valentine's as a time to remember to Love God, Yourself and Others. Now, I know that there are many of you right now thinking, give me a break, Valentine's is strictly for lovers but I beg to differ. If that were the case, only a select few would have an opportunity to celebrate.

Take the time this February season to thank God that you are alive to see another Valentine's Day. If no one is acknowledging you, love yourself by taking care of yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually. Express to family and friends your appreciation for them by words and/or gift.

Love is in the air❤