Said the butterfly ...

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson

I agree with the butterfly! We are having one of the most gray, dark weeks that I can remember. Apparently, we're having problems with air movement and therefore are stuck in 'gray zone' until the brilliant sunshine can break through the darkness and dispel the gloomy madness!

Sunshine, please hurry back to us and bring the butterflies and the little flowers and the magical signs of spring :) ...

Brian Regan

Next week, my husband and I (and our 2 sons) are going to see Brian Regan live! WE can hardly wait! :) I like Brian's clean, fun and uplifting comedy style. Our family gets such a kick out of his material and his facial expressions. We are looking forward to laughing out loud next week with his funny, class-act!

If you get a moment visit the official Brian Regan site and read "Two Guys on a Bus." WARNING! You might laugh and cry... (I did).

PS: Slow down and say "I LOVE YOU."

"Two Guys on a Bus" by Brian Regan

Why do we fall?

Thomas Wayne: And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.
~Batman Begins

I love that line and there are times when I use it for myself. We all have this wonderful thing called self talk – it runs constantly at a rate of about 800 words a minute. Even when we talk or watch TV, read or are listening to someone else talk ... our self talk is constantly going. Have you ever paid attention to the thoughts and chatter running through your mind? Try it this week. Tap into the stuff that is playing on your mind stage. It might surprise you. Could there be room for a shift or a reprogramming? If you find that your mind chatter is constantly sending you negative messages – you might want to change them!

How? You ask. It takes energy and work and most of all a desire to change them. I like to use quotes from movies, books and other inspiring things I bump into!
For example – A couple of years ago, a local gift shop asked me to create a card line for them. I did and on the day I took them in for their review and approval – the response was not the one I had anticipated! In fact, I found myself standing in the store with thoughts like this:

“What were you thinking?”
“Never try this again!”
“I’m so not cut out for this!”

And then a little question crept up from my mind ...
Do you like the cards? “Yes!”
Self talk – Then that’s all that matters. (Thank heavens for that positive note from inside my head)!

No need to feel bad. I thanked the Owner for her time and told her I had a great adventure creating the cards and went on my way. No hard feelings. She gave me some insight as to what she was looking for and I assured her that one day – I might just create such a thing!
I hope to one day have my own line of inspirational cards, books and CDs. I continue to learn that the only way to make a dream real is to take action. Win or lose – in order to get somewhere you have to keep on trying!

I chalk that ‘card day’ up as one of the best lessons I’ve learned. You try. You fall sometimes. You try again. Or you don’t.
Ultimately we each decide what we will think and do

Positive energy from the fridge ...

When we surround ourselves with positive energy, we have positive energy to share! I like to post quotes up in my house – especially on the refrigerator!

Feel free to post these ‘fridge notes’ up at your house:

“We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all of the power we need inside ourselves already.” ~J.K. Rowling

“Your worth consists in what you are and not in what you have.” – Thomas Edison

“The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese.” – Spencer Johnson, Who Moved My Cheese?

“The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.” – Richard Bach

What quotes do you have around that motivate you?

YOU are right ...

Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right.
~ Henry Ford

Commentary: This quote is so simple, so true and so to the point. What we choose to focus on (via our thoughts) will ultimately come true in our lives.

This year, fill your mind with positive thoughts and use them to move forward towards your goals. When you find yourself in that 'low point' of disbelief and negative thoughts - say out loud: I think I can. I think I can. I think I can!

Use your self created positive energy to climb a little higher, reach a little farther and to act with love a little longer... Your thoughts give you the power to move in new directions or to continue on a path you want or don't want. Get clear with your vision for this new year and then make your dreams real - one thought and act at a time.

Don't miss the magic ...

(A magical afternoon - sledding with my family)

During the holidays, my family and I attended a live magic show (for kids). And something the Magician said really spoke to me. Have you ever had a moment like that? You’re just living life and boom – along comes some inspiration! I love the ‘inspiration boom’ moments.

Anyhow, back to the magic show and the words that stuck. Here I was sitting in the auditorium laughing out loud and enjoying the show as much as the six, seven and eight year olds when all of a sudden the room grew quiet and the Magician said: “Don’t take your eyes off the red handkerchief … or you might miss the magic.”

I couldn’t help myself – my eyes were glued to the red handkerchief … I didn’t want to miss one second of the magic!

After the show ended, I made sure to jot down his great line and since that time I’ve reflected on why those words affected me so deeply.

Here’s my conclusion:
Don’t take your eyes off the red handkerchief has so many meanings … Our lives are like that red handkerchief and if we don’t pay attention to right now (and the people that matter, and the miracle of this day) – we will miss the magic that they have to offer.

This year, don’t miss the magic … stay focused on what matters most to you!

The Gift of LIVING!

It's the beginning of a new year! And at the start of each new year, I find myself filled with a million new ideas, renewed energy and lots of goals. This year is no different!

I feel like the first of January AKA New Year's Day is such a gift ... and we can open it and enjoy it or dread it and never really accept it as a chance to grow and become. I don't know about you but I'm opening the gift of this year and I'm going to live, love, learn and enjoy every moment of it!

YOU CAN TOO ...!

About the blog photo posted above: I love Rachel Ashwell's style and enthusiasm for life and recently finished reading a couple of her books: "The Shabby Chic Home" and "The Gift of Giving" (both were great) ... I would love to meet her someday!