Questions are the answer

I was recently re-reading Tony Robbin's Awaken the Giant Within and found myself on chapter 8: Questions are the Answer.

This chapter is my favorite in this book. Why? I'll tell you. (See? Questions are the answer).

The questions (and our willingness to answer them - prove we are seeking and open to the answers).

Tony Robbins offers power questions (for self reflection) for both morning and night. He teaches: Our life experience is based on what we focus on.

At the end of the day, I like to answer his 3 evening power questions -

1. What have I given today? (in what ways have I been a giver today?)
2. What did I learn today?
3. How has today added to the quality of my life or how can I use today as an investment in my future?

He has morning power questions too. These questions help the reader to focus on what's good and productive in life.

If you have not read this book, add it to your 2014 'to read list' ... you won't regret it!

Cheers to questions & answers and the ways we choose to focus our energy!

a touch of yellow ...

Amazing what a little yellow can do ...

Thank you daffodils - you make me happy when skies are GRAY!

A mug of love ...

Mint hot chocolate ... Always a warm boost on cold, gray January days! :)

The laundry moment -

It happened on Saturday. It was a great moment. I had to document it with a photo.
What was so great? All the laundry was completely done. 

Yup, the washing, the folding, the putting away and even the ironing.

It was a great moment.
Worth celebrating.

change.

Amazing what a new haircut and some color can do ... The little changes we make really add to the forward motion of life. :)

Cheers to change and good days ahead!

Believe you CAN!

|Believe you can and you're halfway there|

Belief and can are so connected. Our beliefs - positive or negative have so much power. As Henry Ford put it ... Whether you think you can or can't. You're right. This simple, yet poignant quote is so very true!

We are halfway through January of 2014. Did you set a few goals? How's your mental toughness?
Do you believe you can or can't achieve the desires of your heart?

I believe you can. Keep moving forward ... one day at a time! :)

Happy halfway through January day!

Tossed cranberry, mandarin and feta salad

Tossed cranberry and mandarin orange salad with a hint of feta 

Ingredients:

Tossed greens (I usually use a spring mix)
Baby spinach
Crumbled feta cheese
Dried cranberries
Mandarin oranges (I buy the baby ones, drain them and toss them in)
Croutons or cashews (adds a nice little touch of crunch and salt)
Dressing (I like Ranch)

Perfect blend of happy, crunchy and yum! Enjoy ... (I always do!)

Pink on a gray day ...

"I believe in pink." ~ Audrey Hepburn

Sharing pink happiness ... (this photo made me smile and think of spring!)

The thief of joy ...

I believe we are put on this earth to create, share and find joy. Joy is the thing that makes life well, enjoyable! It's the element that makes life worthwhile and meaningful.

When we stop finding joy - we stop really appreciating and living life to its fullest.

I agree with Theodore Roosevelt - Comparison is the thief of joy.

Life is too beautiful and short to spend it comparing. Today, appreciate who YOU are and what YOU have to offer.

This day if full of joy and happiness. See it. Enjoy it. Share it!

Be strong.

Love this ... Be strong - your life matters and there are those who need your strength, character and love.

Do you drain or inspire?

We're 8 days into the new year ... I bumped into this quote/saying on Pinterest and I agree completely!
This year, pick wisely whom you'll spend your time with and decide now if YOU are going to be one who inspires or drains.

For more inspiration ... visit my quotes board on Pinterest.
Happy Wednesday!

What is special to you?

Spe.cial: especially important or loved

It's Tuesday. Yesterday was Monday ... I've had my family home for the Christmas and New Year's holiday for 2+ weeks! My husband works in education so he's off when the kids are off. It was a wonderful break. We enjoyed every moment together and when everyone goes back to 'school' I miss them. And the house is extra quiet.

Luckily, my oldest, has a break between his school schedule and stops in each day to regroup and have lunch. I make sure I'm here because I love our lunch times together!

I was folding laundry when he walked in and he asked me a simple question - Mom, what's special to you?

Great question. There are a lot of things that are special to me. But the most important and special things in my life are not things. They are people. People are special.

So here's a little list of what's special to me -

My husband. My children. My relationship with Heavenly Father. My family. My life. My ability to make a difference. The ability to become and grow. The ability to lift another person along their journey of life. The ability to laugh, love, live and learn. 

All in all, life is special. Every day is a gift and what we choose to do with it matters.

Thanks for lunch Kade and thanks for being so special to me and my life!

I love you -

Mom

Little suggestion for 2014 -

Suggestion #188 from H. Jackson Brown's "Life's Little Instruction Book" -

Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

Brilliant. Simple. Powerful.
What if we all focused on this one suggestion in 2014?
Can you imagine the possibilities? I can.

Romance Matters ...

Taking a walk around the orchards ...

The Cameo Heights Mansion - Bed & Breakfast

I love you ...

My husband is so romantic. I find his style so very charming, fun and wonderful! We were able to have a little get-away together and it reminded me how important it is to create time with those we love.
Especially a spouse. The romance helps keep love alive and helps make the tough days doable :)

2014 - fill it with love, with surprises and with romance!

The Secret life of Walter Mitty -

Ground control to major Tom
Ground control to major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
(Ten) Ground control (Nine) to major Tom (Eight)
(Seven, six) Commencing countdown (Five), engines on (Four)
(Three, two) Check ignition (One) and may gods (Blastoff) love be with you
~ Space Oddity / David Bowie

The last movie I saw in 2013 turned out to be my favorite of the entire year.  The movie - starring Ben Stiller was really quite amazing and it surprised me how much I liked it. I laughed really hard on the shark scene. I was moved by the ‘Major Tom’ singing moment when Walter jumps into the airplane and mostly, I was inspired by the movie’s message.

Don’t all of us have dreams and hopes we wish to accomplish? Don’t we all have something that stops us from taking the risks and achieving the ‘deep down desires’ of our hearts?

This year, I’m making some of those deep down dreams become REAL. And if it takes me singing ‘Major Tom’ out loud to do it – I’ll do it…!

Cheers to ground control and jumping into the unknown!

Happy 2014.