Today is Halloween and while many people love this day, I'm personally not a fan; I'm not actually sure why since I don't mind seeing the kids dressed up as their current hero or fairy tale character making believe if only for a day that they're someone they admire. I don't mind handing out treats (I'm not a trickster) while listening to everyone crunch through dried leaves giggling. I've even dressed up myself to hand out candy a few times. Halloween is just a celebration of fun-filled festivities, a reason to eat candy, to dress up and to attend less formal parties. Of course the definition goes deeper than that but the general idea is that. So, why don't some people, like me, dislike Halloween? According to An article in Psychology Today, it's an extrovert holiday. HA! Curiously funny! Be brave behind a mask? I remember one year in my single days I went to a party with my best friend. She dressed up as a "Lady of the Night" to which two of her older brothers told her to go home and change! That was funny, what was most funny was her rebellion toward their request, she is and always will be a spitfire! I love her for that. Anyhow, me being shy, dressed as a "Mime" so that I didn't have to talk :) The sure costume for the very shy, introverted type person who doesn't like the spotlight; I give my spot in the light to those who hunger for it. So, as the day progresses into night, I do my very best to be in the spirit of all things Halloween and I'm hoping that a bad hair day counts as a costume!
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Yesterday I wrote about beginnings; today I learned about a dear friend's ending. With a heavy heart I write so if my thoughts seem jumbled, anxious or sad, please understand.
With each passing life I am again and again reminded that life won't wait for you to be ready to be in it. It won't make sure everything is lined up perfectly before you're ready to follow your dreams and it won't slow down for you. Life is now, this very moment, this very breath you are taking. Life is much of what you make it but one thing for sure is, it's never long enough; life is too short. Life is too short to put on hold. Life's too short to hold grudges, to be angry, to be held back, to be put on the back burner...life is too short to just sit idly by and coast through it without taking in all that you can from what it has to offer. Life is precious. Each and every moment is a blessing, a gift. Life isn't to be taken for granted. As I remember all the conversations and all the fun outings I spent with my friend, I try so hard to keep it all together and to never forget those times. I will always love and cherish her. I won't let the fact that we drifted because I moved away ever come between the friendship love we shared. I honor the person she was. She was warm, loving, caring, passionate and strong and I dedicate this post, these words, to Michele. I'm not there yet, I do tend to put off my dreams for the convenience of others but I'm coming closer to realizing and trusting that dreams and TODAY is all we have. Don't ever put off until tomorrow what you can and want to do today because there may never be a tomorrow. I love beginnings. I love each new day. I love the sunrise, the sunshine, rainy days and the opportunity to start over. Every day, every hour, every moment is an opportunity to start over. It doesn't matter what you said or did a minute ago - what matters is what you say or do right now.
I used to dislike my name since too many people thought I was a boy or had a boy's name when I was a tiny child; but as I began to embrace my name as its definition, "new beginning", I've grown to love my name as it's a daily reminder of every moment bringing new beginnings. EACH MOMENT WE START OVER IS LIKE BEING GIVEN A NEW CANVAS TO PAINT UPON The more I focus on the moment of each day, the further away I get from pains of the past. The past is never gone from memory but it becomes harder to reach with each moment of focusing on right now, today, this minute - that feels like peaceful freedom. I'm beginning a new journey each day. I'm leaving my mistakes behind, taking my accomplishments ahead, I'm forgiving myself and apologizing to my targets for slips of the tongue, swings of my mood and misunderstandings. In forgiving and apologizing, I can leave it behind and move forward. Every day I'm a work in progress; you are too. Beginnings offer a fresh start, a clean slate...endings offer the opportunity to make a new beginning - so while some endings are sad, many endings are happy. Choose to be present in every moment and learn to begin again each new day. Living in New England has so many charms; there's nothing like autumn in New England for one. There are so many vibrant colors, cool, clean air with the sweet scent of falling leaves to fill your senses. A rainy day in the fall brings equal delight as the colors sparkle off the bright red, orange and yellow trees. Fall brings me the desire for one pot meals, scented candles burning and quiet treks in wooded trails to gather my thoughts and welcome calm - not to mention a softly crackling fire in the wood stove. As I welcome fall, I prepare myself for what seems like an everlasting winter season filled with snow and snow removal chores. I make an effort to enjoy each and every day of fall to ensure I don't miss a moment and won't look back in wonder of where time went. Take a moment each day to slow down, breathe, sigh out loud and enjoy what is. Think of at least one thing that inspired you each day and be thankful for that one moment. Take in what fills your spirit and senses with calm and wonder. Be in it. |
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My name is Dawn. I'm nutritional & lifestyle coach, hairstylist, home cook, writer, blogger, mother, friend. Archives
April 2016
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