%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |   Theses are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call life. |
|
These are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call Life. I blog with these groups:     "Blogging Circle of Friends "  [E] 
|
| I have decided as part of my blog to comment on each of Preston Smiles's ways to Love Louder. He has written an intriguing little book or 33 Ways To Amplify Your Life. The full title is Love Louder: 33 Ways To Amplify Your Life. I bought the book recently and was going to just fly through the pages, but the first one rang true... so I am devoting a bit more time to it. Love Louder - Amplifying My Life Day 2 - Intention "Intention is the beginning of every idea... the common misconception is that we can intend something and just sit back and wait for it to happen... (it) is not wishful thinking, airy fairy thinking, but rather like an arrow flying toward a target when we are clear and focused." Preston Smiles concept in Love Louder is that is to live a purpose-driven life. That means being intentional with our thoughts, words and actions. He compares it to planting a garden and tending it. "Intention is the planting and your thoughts, words and actions are the nurturing." We can't plan one kind of seeds and expect something else just as "we can't plant the seeds of fear and expect love to magically appear in our lives." It is all about what we focus on... if we want love, but focus on our fears and worries, love will never come... instead we worry and that interrupts our true intention. Preston talks about our ability to use our reticular activating system. What the heck it that, you may be asking... well, it is a system that acts like a "filter between our conscious mind and our subconscious mind." That sounds a little hooey until he gives an example... "have you ever noticed that when you're hungry, you begin noticing restaurants, billboards, and ads about food?... The billboards... have always been there, but now because of your reticular activating system, they come into your awareness more frequently." So what has this got to do with intention? Well, consider when you worry about being late. You don't intend to be late... but your worry attracts everything that seems to work in concert to make you even later. Slow traffic, red lights, people getting in your way. I know that if I had left ten minutes earlier this stuff would not be bothering me... because I probably wouldn't be noticing it as much or at all. This happens whether we are aware of it or not. What we focus on becomes magnified and we notice it more. He believes "when we to focus on that which is positive in our life, our reticular activating system will show us more of the positive." Now, that I truly believe. That arrow that is pointed to the target is only going to hit what you are focused on... our intention must be "crystal - clear and in alignment with our thoughts and actions in order for us to hit the target." Preston gives four steps to harness the power of intention: 1. Make it real for yourself. Begin with small intentions in order to develop your ability to manifest your intentions on a daily basis. It must be something small and achievable. Baby steps toward a grander plan. 2. Schedule it. Take five minutes in the morning to visualize what you want that day and also what you desire your larger dream or goal to look like. Bring in your senses - what does it look like, smell like, taste like, feel like, sound like if you already achieved that goal. Then throughout the day take time to check back in to bring up the visualization again. This visual reminder is similar to a vision board to help keep the dream alive and present in your conscious mind. Preston suggests setting an "intention alarm" on your phone to remind you... 3. Take Action. Intention cannot be reached with words and thoughts alone. It's not real until you put movement behind it. "Moving the intention into action magnifies the power of the intention and creates momentum and movement toward making it a reality." You can't just sit on your duff and expect things to happen for you, you got to get out there and grab it. Do something about it if you want it enough. 4. Sharing is caring. Make your intentions known to others. It strengthens and builds momentum and it makes you instantly accountable for what you have shared. Having said I intent to blog about these 33 Ways To Amplify Your Life, I feel compelled to read and comment. I read the section before bed and let it percolate... then in the morning, after breakfast, I come down and write my blog. For this I am following 3 of the 4 steps... the most challenging will be #2 Scheduling it... but in my own way I do that... just not as focused as he describes... but I'm getting there. #LOVELOUDERCHALLENGE Set an intention with one or all of these below: Today I stand for... Today I chose to... heal myself and rediscover who I am and what I want out of my life. Today I am a possibility for... Today I am a demonstration of... Today I am committed to... writing this blog each day for each of the 33 Ways so that I may Love Louder and in sharing my journey I hope to inspire others to join me. In doing this I will hope to visualize, write, share and act in ways that will gather all the forces of the universe to support my intention's manifestation. |
| I have decided as part of my blog to comment on each of Preston Smiles's ways to Love Louder. He has written an intriguing little book or 33 Ways To Amplify Your Life. The full title is Love Louder: 33 Ways To Amplify Your Life. I bought the book yesterday and was going to just fly through the pages but the first one rang true so I am thinking of devoting a bit more time to it. It may also make an excellent blog... so... Love Louder - Amplifying My Life Day 1 - Let go and take the ride: The power of trusting the journey "Some people get so caught up in the destination that they miss that life is about the journey. They're so focused on the finish line that they miss that the beauty is in what and who you become on the way to the destination," What it the destination anyway? The final one is death. Who wants to rush towards that blindly? Certainly not me. Even if he means getting through each bit of life as it comes, I would rather not rush through the good things, the bad things I could do without... but... Preston Smiles talks of blessings in disguise - health scares, the death of loved ones, breakups, breakdowns. He makes his way through by trusting in the journey.... that all will be okay on the other side of the trouble. He says there is always more that meets the eye in every situation... when we trust and believe all will be well, even if it doesn't appear to be, we open ourselves up to new possibilities that we can apply to our lives. We just "need to be present to the experience of it." Whatever is happening we must trust that what is unfolding is going to be for our greater good... even the Bible tells us that. Trust in the process and follow the path you are on... things come and things go... we carry on and learn and grow from our experiences. We need to have faith. Some of these experiences test our faith and if we do trust, we will be okay, we come out the other side stronger for it. "Sometimes certain people or circumstances aren't meant for our lives, and we often don't realize it until we look back, years later." This resonated with me. As my marriage crumbles, many of my family and friends have expressed comments that I was not the same person with him as I was when I was on my own. That should not be the case. You should not have to change who you are to be with someone... particularly if how you change takes away from who you are. I loved my husband, I wanted to be what he wanted, but I have learned I will never be the tidy freak who cleans whenever she has a free moment. I find comfort in having some organized chaos around... and being a creative soul with a writer's heart often finds me focused in places he didn't understand. As a teacher, he also didn't get how I could spend so much time planning for my students... 'they're done at 3:30 why are you not home until 6 pm?' I also modified my comments, as I found he took offence to things my family and friends would find funny. I also gave up a lot of my independence to be there for him... now I struggle with worry... can I make it on my own? I was with him for 22 years, married for 14 of those before I moved out... Now the worry circles like wolves... Who will fix my car? Who will fix my computer? Will I be okay? I loved him and I wanted to be loved by him, but at what cost? I feel selfish and can't help feeling like I used his generous heart... but is that the truth? We were married. I did my part, didn't I? I think I did, just not to his standard and that irked him. Our differences could not be overcome unless I was willing to change for him... and that to me, is not living. "When we trust the journey, we can rest assured that every breakdown is a catalyst for a breakthrough." I want to believe this... and know that I will be okay... in time. The #LOVELOUDERAFFIRMATION: Today I am available for all the good that is happening right now, regardless of how it may appear. |
Blog City - Day 841 Prompt: We all think we know what truth is; however, what if truth is really a collection of feelings and attitudes? Or do the emotions and attitudes affect truth in some way? What are your thoughts on this? Perception plays a big role in our truth. What I experience and bring to the table is different than everyone else... it colours my perception and my attitudes to how I interact and view the new experience. So I would have to say feelings and attitudes play a role in truth, but there is also our beliefs... We each hold these as self evident truths... truths that guide our way of living. But even within those beliefs there are variations. All religions have their beliefs and truths.... most follow one God, but view that God in their own way - Loving Heavenly Father, Unmerciful Tyrant or some other entity... how you view that, affects how you live. Most who believe in God, believe God is Love... yet some, the more radical factions, see their truth as having to destroy other nations and ways of living and believing. They let their hate guide them... and to me that is just wrong. We all all mere humans trying to make sense of our world. Some used to believe that religion was the opium of the people - I believe that was Lenin or Stalin, but I find comfort in my spiritual beliefs. I won't tell others what to believe or how to believe, but I also don't want to be told my way is the wrong way... who really knows the full Truth. Organized religion can be oppressive... but it does not have to be. I think when people interpret their religious teachings that is when our own personal truths seep in and cloud what the Truth really is... does anyone really know what is truth and what is not. I don't believe they do. |
| Okay... a blog.... this quote inspired me... so here goes.... Blog City - Day 839 " I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want."~ Muhammad Ali What do you think he meant by this famous quote? Has his struggle made a difference in society? Do you have that same kind of conviction about your own beliefs? As I read this I can't help thinking about it in terms of being a woman. When you are young, society expects you to be a certain way and want certain things - marriage and children. When you get older society doesn't seem to care anymore... once you are out of child bearing years you become a 'sexless' entity. Those of us that never dreamed of marriage or children often have to deal with those expectations. We are seen as somehow wanting or deficient for not wanting those things... selfish, even, but the thing is I love children. I love teaching, but I don't see myself as a good mother because that requires a level of devotion that is 24/7. I am not sure I could do that, maybe I could, but I feel that both the children and myself would suffer in some way for it... I am an only child and one who love to write... I find I require down time that is my own... with children you do not get that - even if they are not around, you worry. I applaud people that can do that. Coming from a family of divorce and seeing that kind of upheaval... I would never want to put my own children through that... I also did not have confidence in my own marital match to see it as a guarantee... So I am quite content to teach... be there and understand the children that struggle. I can see and feel their need... I want to help them in my own way, without the pressure of being so completely responsible for their full growth and development. Being a teacher that cares and advocates for them is where I feel most secure. When I got married, I remember feeling like I was expected to do that... did I really want to? Not really. I even remember my ex complaining that I had not been so absolutely ecstatic. We had been together for so long already. By the time we got married it was two weeks before our 8 year dating anniversary. Now, over 14 years beyond that, we are separated and I am dealing with the fallout and emotions that go with that... I recently saw an interview with Oprah Winfrey and Shandra Rhimes. Both women spoke of not wanting to get married and feeling like it was expected. That resonated with me. Both are powerful woman who have taken charge of their own destinies and followed their hearts and their dreams... They embraced Muhammad Ali's quote and became what they wanted to be. I feel like I gave my true destiny away by giving in to societal expectations. Now I sit on the cusp of my life trying to put the pieces back together and wondering if I will be okay. I wonder where my stronger, younger self went and if she will come back to me if I cultivate my life again. I can only hope and take it one day at a time. |
Welcome To My Reality - April Prompts 1) Being April 1st and April Fool’s day, what is the best practical joke you have ever pulled on someone? What is the worst or funniest one you ever fell victim to? Yesterday I was gotten. Over the announcements at the school I was teaching at for the day, they announced they were cordoning off an area so that the grass could grow wild and they could fence the area off for a couple of Alpacas. The children were warmed to stay away as Alpacas are not overly friendly and will bite and spit. The secretary saw me considering this and got a laugh at my face... I was halfway down the hall when they said April Fools and I could only groan. When I mentioned it to the secretary she had a whoot laughing. Oh well.... it was seriously funny. 2) Who do you spend the most time with? Is it a beneficial or harmful relationship? Is it more one sided than the other? I have recently moved out... my husband and I are separating and I am moving in with my Mother. Things with my husband fell apart... due to what exactly.... midlife crisis? Who knows. A year ago he decided he didn't like me anymore and he wanted to do his own thing. We had been growing apart for quite awhile and I think he wanted me to prove to him I loved him and was willing to work at our marriage, but I was torn... torn by what I should do and what I really wanted to do. The great unknown beyond marriage was a frightening place and I had lost much of my independence by being with my husband. I gave up too much of my power and my confidence had eroded... taking back my life felt like the right thing to do. Not having children makes it easier. I hadn't wanted to add children to a mix of uncertainty... I love children, but I am far more comfortable with other people's kids.... they can go home to their parents and I can have my life back. That's what makes teaching so great. I get to interact and inspire and learn from young minds that are usually eager to gain knowledge and discover their world. Moving on will be scarey, but I am prepared. Moving back in with my mother will be an adjustment. She is at an age where I am able to help her. |
Blog City - Day 752 Prompt: What if the moon suddenly ceased to exist? What do you think would happen and how would you react to it? Answer in any form or style you wish. If The Moon Ceased To Exist The moon Holder to changing tides and cycles Slips off thinking to be unnoticed A new moon Held in sustained animation Leaving a blank, black sky Inky and dark. The stars blink and twinkle Trying to add more to the night sky But their attempt is futile Even the North Star seems lost. A sense of doom holds the land Curdling the souls Of those tied to the moon's cycles Unable to release their pent up hostilities They lash out Unpredictable and vile. The world seems to implode Pulling in on itself Like it needs to protect its soft underbelly There is no safety; Violence rules Runs rampant over the land When the sun makes is morning appearance The land it scraped and burned Raped and pillaged With the nights entanglements. People huddle Traveling in groups Trying to hold on to some small measure Of security They pray the moon, the so casually ignored, Will return And bring normalcy back To this ragged land Parched and yearning For the ebb and flow Of the moon's constant cycles. I have been uninspired lately. This prompt helped. The real world has been impinging my creativity and I feel a little lost. This prompt helped bring me back to myself. |
| I better post these before I forget I did them... Welcome To My Reality - PROMPTS FOR MARCH 2016 5. Do you like dolls, toys or stuffed animals, or do you think these are best left behind in childhood? I have a collection of dolls, a box of old toys from my childhood and a spare bed covered in stuffed animals I cherish. There is only a select few of each... each with a story and a time full of memories that are held dear. I see nothing wrong with holding on to a select few items. My mother still has her Betty Jane doll - a doll with a porcelain head.... with a crack in it from when she fell out of bed when I used to sleep with her. 9. What is the last new skill you learned? How and why did you learn this new skill and how have you put it to use? I learned how to access the Waterloo Region's Learning Library so that I can use it to show educational videos and have access to other digital resources. This is vital to know as it comes in handy when I go in to supply and am asked to access a certain file. Not being overly tech savvy I found myself using any available time asking other staff and students to help me set things up. Knowing how to do it myself takes some of the stress out of a day of supplying.... because some teachers use the resources quite a bit. I have used it a few times since wrapping my head around it.... and I like that I can access it and practice it at home so I don't forget... it also allows me to see what is available and what I can access if I ever need to use it as 'filler' if what the teacher has left is not going to work.... or if I can't find their plans.... and yes, that does happen. 13. So many of us struggle with change. Do you see it as an obstacle to be overcome or an opportunity to break out of your comfort zone? How do you deal with change? What is the biggest change you have had to deal with this year? I am like the ostrich who buries its head in the ground at the slightest provocation. I know that is the worst way to deal with things... and with a failing marriage I know it has gotten me nothing but pain. So as I press on into the new chapter of my life, I must make some changes. I must regain my power. Take it back. Stop giving it over to my husband who no longer wants the responsibility. I should not have given him so much anyway. I feel like a new chick, freshly broken from its shell and floundering. I need to get my strength up and reclaim my brain. Take things head on and face facts. I am the one who can make or break my life. I might be moving back in with my mother... we can help each other, but I am still my own person. I have bills to pay, supply work to do.... I need to find summer employment to make sure I have some kind of income when the supply work stops for the summer and is slow in the fall. This move has made me reassess my life. I have gathered too much stuff around me and it is time to clear it out. I have been reading Marie Kondo's little book - the life - changing magic of tidying up. I managed to clear out half my clothes - 7 garbage bags full (nobody is ever going to wear those bridesmaid dresses again - I had my time, now it is time for someone else to have it and enjoy it). I have also managed to set out 5 boxes of books for donation. There are also 5 boxes of Christmas things that have not been out of storage for years. I feel a little lighter but I also know there is still so much to do. Bit by bit I will pare back my life and rid myself of the bits and pieces that have trapped my into indecision and a dying incompetence. 16. What profession did you aspire to enter as a child? Did you succeed? I have always wanted to be a teacher and a writer. I am still trying to get a teaching contract. I supply teach in elementary schools and love it, but there are too many days where there is uncertainty as to when I wll be working. The income is not steady. As for being a writer. I am a writer.... just not a published author... but time will tell. 17. What is the favorite part of your body? I love my eyes. They are blue... the colour varies between silver blue and dark blue depending on my mood. The outer rim of my irises are dark blue. They have been called cat like. I actually had some guy ask me if they were real shortly after colour contacts came out. I also like my hair.... or I did before my gold strands changed to silver. I still have blond and light brown strands - tri toned. 18. Do you dance or tap your feet to songs or do you just quietly listen? Dance and sing and do most anything. I cannot sit still. Even when I am driving I will sing along and dance in my seat. I enjoy having the radio on for company. It is nice to listen to music and sing along... makes the day go so much better. 19. Do you blog everyday or randomly? Do you address several things in an entry or keep each entry for a specific topic? I go through phases. There are times when blogging is an everyday occurrence. I have taken on 30 day challenges and met them, but lately I have been keeping to myself. Things are a little stressful these days and I am dealing with some huge personal issues. I have been writing about them, but I don't feel able, at this time, to share... when things are not so raw, I may feel able to share, but for now.... I know I have friends who care... and they will be there for me when I do reach out with my words. I prefer having prompts to guide my thoughts and words... I often find myself writing about things I would not normally consider. 28. Do you keep your house clean and tidy, clean but cluttered, as clean as possible but you really only clean up for company, not so clean or it's a complete disaster area? Give details to back up your choice. Things are clean, but cluttered. I tend to clean more if I know people are coming over. I hate to clean. It is something that must be done, but it never feels good enough. I have a lot of books and papers and magazines and other things that I need to sort... I need to pare back and keep those things that please me... and give away or sell those things that no longer bring me joy. I am reading Marie Kondo's book on the art of tidying up. I am also living in a house that is riddled with renovations. The upstairs bathroom had a whole in the floor for 2 and a half years before my husband finally covered it – the new flooring is still piled in the hallway for when he will install it. The main floor has a wonderful new flooring, but I went over a year without it done... the Christmas tree did not go up for 2 years – and who starts renovations in November in Canada! The flooring in the bathroom is still not done... hence there is a pile of flooring and tools sitting under my dining room table looking like an eye sore. My husband also put in a new sink which is lovely, but he needs to add in the hard water line and put the garbage back under the counter – this means I have to walk to the back door to throw anything out and I need to go downstairs to refill my hard water container twice a day (at least). My husband is anal and is also a perfectionist. I do not complain, but it drives me nuts. I expect after I move out he will complete these jobs within a month or two so that his friends don’t see the dumpage we live in. My mother's place, where I am moving is very tidy. I will have to step up... clearing out a lot of excessive stuff will help and I look forward to being less weighed down by things. |
** Image ID #2070673 Unavailable ** Bring on the Comedy - February 29 Day 29 Gotta love the fun stuff. A nice way to end off the month... short and sweet. Comedy - Robin Williams discusses golf.... this has language.... I love this comedy routine. Robin Williams was a great comedian. He will be missed. And for our literary sensibilities.... Weird Al's Word Crimes |
** Image ID #2070673 Unavailable ** Precious Few Week - February 22 to 27 Day 28 You Lead by Jamie Grace More Christian favourites, You lead, I'll follow. Some lyrics: I've got waves that are tossin' me, Crashin' all over my beliefs, And in all sincerity, Lord, I wanna be yours, So pull me out of this mess I'm in, Cause I know I'm wanderin' Lead my soul back home again, I've always been yours, And this world may push, may pull, But your love it never fails, You lead, I'll follow, Your hands hold my tomorrow, Your grip, Your grace, You know the way, You guide me tenderly, When you lead, I'll follow, Just light the way and I'll go, Cause I know what you got for me is more than I can see, So lead me on, on, on and on, Just lead me on, on, on and on, An extra: This Is The Stuff by Francesca Battistelli |
** Image ID #2070673 Unavailable ** Precious Few Week - February 22 to 27 Day 27 He Knows My Name by Francesca Battistelli Knowing God's got my back. His mercy is a balm and a saving grace for all the real world trauma that comes at us each day. He is Peace in a chaotic world. A soft place to fall when things are going out of control. We all have our stories... mine involves being an only child from a broken family. I also involves sexual abuse at an early age from a family friend and I also lost my father to cancer when I was only 12. There is strength in coming out of all of that... and at the time I hated God for taking my father, but eventually I realized it was not God, but the world that created these things and they were moments that made me who I am today. I have come to terms with my past and I have also found peace in knowing God. Life is not easy, but with God it is less overwhelming. Some lyrics: I don't need my name in lights I'm famous in my Father's eyes Make no mistake He knows my name I'm not living for applause I'm already so adored It's all His stage He knows my name oh, oh, He knows my name oh, oh I'm not meant to just stay quiet I'm meant to be a lion I'll roar beyond a song With every moment that I've got True to who You are You saw my heart and made Something out of nothing Longer version - |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
