And so here it is, a brand new year!
Welcome 2016! I can see great things coming ahead and not so great things left at the curb of 2015. I find it funny that one year ago I was looking forward to 2015 but as it progressed, way too fast in my opinion, and came to an end, I welcome the opening of a brand new chapter. I'm not quite sure of every change I plan to make but I am quite sure of a few. I was never one to make "new year' resolutions - I made them daily, weekly, monthly but this is a year for major changes. If I don't change, who will? I have learned that the only one we can change is ourselves. We can wish, hope and pray but in the real world, we are only in control of what we do personally. One of my favorite persons of all time, among several, is Einstein and one of his quotes on insanity: "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results". I'm changing my way of doing things; changing my life. I will stumble, I might fall, I will keep getting up and moving forward to where I want to be. Only I can feel what I feel, see what I see, dream what I dream and be what I plan to be. In the same respect, only you can feel, see, dream what you dream and be who you wish to be. I'm taking a leap into the unknown and getting to know what it can do for me. Taking that deep inhale...........................and letting it GO! Ahhhhh..........................
0 Comments
I haven't been on social media a lot lately; I've been in person socializing. I've been visiting friends & family; especially those who are not well and need uplifting. I recently received a postcard in the mail asking where I've been and since they're physically not close by, they look forward to my postings on social media. That certainly uplifts my spirit as I know that what I share helps others feel connected and loved. My apologies for being 'absent'. Christmas is just days away and that means that the new year is right around the corner as well. The new year is a great time to start over, as is every single day of the year. I'm not quite sure of what changes I'll make for 2016 yet, but I do have a scribbling of ideas floating around my mind. How about you? Have you decided that you'll make at least one change this year? How committed are you? As I move through this busy week celebrating Christ's birth, I'm thankful for all the friends, family, weather, food, any sleep I get or don't get and even the chaos. I'm thankful because I'm here to experience all of it. I'm here for a reason as you are; take a minute to appreciate all that you do have and all that you plan to accomplish in the coming days. Be a friend, be physically there for others just as you are virtually - be there for yourself too. Love, smile, hug, share, sympathize & empathize and be thankful. ~Dawn In the past we have gotten a real tree for Christmas but about three years ago I decided on a good looking artificial tree. I decided on that because it was tall and narrow and didn't occupy much space; I got many compliments on the tree as many thought it was real. This year however, trying my hardest to accept that summer is gone and Christmas is just a mere two weeks away, I decided to get a real tree once again to harvest the spirit of Christmas. Upon going to the local shop and searching for the perfect tree for this Christmas, I proudly brought it home, cut the base about an inch or so and stood it in the tree stand. As I stood back to admire it I burst out laughing at its perfect shape and limited height. Five feet sounds tall to me whom just stands at 5'3" - add a stand and it should be great right? Not so much. So, we have come to an agreement to build a 10" platform for our pretty little tree to stand upon for all to see from the room. The thought of my artificial skinny tree, and my real but short tree opened my eyes to how I must feel about the Christmas celebration. I think that instead of the season being happy and joyous with friends and family it has become tense and uncomfortable in our family for some unnecessary reason; and so my Christmas trees display that. I would love to get back to what Christmas truly is and celebrate as we should. We should be happy we have each other, happy we are here to celebrate another Christmas together and happy to share our time and joy with everyone without judgement, without excuses, without bitterness and with open arms. Being thankful, showing and giving love, friendship, appreciation for life and eternal life is what Christmas and every day of the year is about. Harvest kindness, joy and love - start now. My how time flies! I'm not sure if it just feels that way because I'm getting older, I doubt it because I hear people of all ages saying the same thing! Thanksgiving came and went like a flash! For me it was busy, exciting and exhausting but I wouldn't trade that for anything. I cooked for 10, family and friends and all had the company of 6 dogs as well. Our turkey was delicious, the gravy not lumpy, the potatoes mashed nicely and the cranberry sauce and veggies were a prefect accompaniment to the spread. Now here we are into December with Christmas just 3 weeks away! We have three weeks to decorate, shop and plan - then before you know it it will be a blurred memory and we will be into a new year. We all need to take time each week...each day to slow down and notice things around us and experience the magic and joy of the season. I know I'm guilty of squeezing things in to the point of head-spinning confusion. Significant other and I have decided to begin a new tradition this year in order to help us get into the Christmas spirit. We're not 100% sure what we will do yet but we're working on it. Those details will follow ;) Share your plans, your thoughts, your frustrations, happiness and such; what fills your spirit or drains your being? I'm preparing to host Thanksgiving dinner for 10. I'm not stressed as I've done it before and since I think that's what I do best - hospitality. At 52, I still wonder what my gifts are, what is my purpose in life and too often it comes down to serving others, making sure others are happy, comfortable and at peace. I've never accepted being hospitable as a gift and especially not a purpose in life. As I go forward though, I feel it stronger and more apparent but I still fight it. How can I make a living being kind, caring and comforting? I don't plan on working in a hotel - ever, and I can't see myself running a large Bed & Breakfast...though I have imagined a small cozy 2-5 day retreat cottage that would bring my health coaching work more to life. Sometimes you have to stop fighting it and go with it if even just to see where it takes you. These are things to ponder, things to reach for and things that make dreams reality; but for now, I remain somewhat lost in my purpose and focused on my natural gift of wanting to help people be happy and find a slice of peacefulness in their lives. I see the cup half-full, I thrive on smiles and warm hearts and I try to cultivate peace wherever I am and with whomever I encounter. Happy Thanksgiving! I've come to learn that friends are the siblings of our souls. I've always appreciated and cared greatly for all of my friends and I hold them very close and dear to my heart. I've only recently come to realize that friends are the sisters of my soul, soul sisters (and brothers for those guys who are truly and strictly friends). For so many years I felt 'left out' of the sister world but as many of my friends have been in my life for so long sharing each others ups and downs, I have opened my eyes and my heart to the fact that we are all brothers and sisters in God's eyes. My closest friends know who they are and whether we talk daily, monthly or less, we will remain soul sisters. Life is too short and too precious to take for granted. Life is important and we must be thankful for each minute and each person that has been put in our path. Some friends stay for the long-haul and others for just a while. However long each friend is on our lives is exactly as long as they should be - there's a lesson to be learned from each one, once we learn the lesson, they move on or stay. It's up to us to accept it and make use of what we have been given from that person. Some people that have come into and gone out of my life have taught me the biggest lessons; mostly about myself. For some I was heartbroken when they left but I soon came to realize that their leaving is what made me grow stronger and what helped me get myself back; their leaving was a blessing. For some others, they could not have left fast enough, and I still appreciate not so much them but the lessons I've learned from them. Friends are the ones who have been and will be there for the rest of your days...always. Those who have passed too soon, are still in our paths daily, they will never leave us. I love my soul sisters and soul brothers and I'm blessed to have been given the chance to recognize that we are meant to be friends to one another as family. Sometimes living in the moment means frustration over something big or even something small. I have learned that I don't have to respond to negativity and I don't have to respond to anything right away if at all. The best thing to do is to take a breath, step back, let my immediate emotional response sink in an possibly pass by. Some people feed off of belittling others only to make themselves feel better or smarter; that's their stuff, I don't have to let it become my hurt, neither do you.
Take the negative digs and replace them with the positive things that happen in your life. Remember those who truly love you and others for who they are and put your love and energy into them. Most importantly, be there for yourself. Nurture the little person inside who doesn't realize that she (or he) is safe and all grown up! Take a breath, smile and be. |
Hi!
My name is Dawn. I'm nutritional & lifestyle coach, hairstylist, home cook, writer, blogger, mother, friend. Archives
April 2016
Categories |