MY MAYFLOWER

This is something I have in my Kitchen all year round. It is my Anthem, it is the Standard in which I am desperately trying to raise my Daughter by. I delight in one word sentences,(notice the period) I am a wordy person normally so when something can be summed up in just one word it is like a windstorm to my Soul. John F. Kennedy expressed it eloquently when he said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” I am not a big Thanksgiving fan, never really have been. I have always found myself since High School either Downtown feeding the Homeless or less fortunate, even when often times I fit that less fortunate bill, or at a Nursing Home giving to the elderly and visiting with them as they ate as often times no one came to sit with them. The Spirit of Gratitude is something we should allow to resonate within our being. The Golden Rule on an Adult level if you will; putting others first, sometimes lighting their own fire so that not only are they encouraged but in turn they themselves will show the same to another ."At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." Albert Schweitzer


 To me when I am operating in the Spirit of Gratitude I feel my innermost parts begin to swell and surge forth from deep within so that therefore my actions and mere words are fueled with such intensity that not only do I feel it but delight as it is imparted into another. To give with such depth is one of the most incredible Wonderments of Life because often times, most do not allow it to permeate their beings. I love this quote, "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." William Arthur Ward. It is something we should be mindful of and practice if you will. I read that if you only prayed one prayer it should be that of Gratitude. Amen.
"Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world." John Milton

In order to obtain those Dreams that burn within our beings, I cannot fathom seizing them without the Gift of Gratitude. I believe it is the underlying Depth and Strength needed in order to achieve our truest selves. Life is overridden with obstacles and daunting challenges, however;through Gratitude we dare to do and feel the impossible and experience the savoring flavor of Life we were created to sit and dine and enjoy at every meal. Why do we allow ourselves to drift through Life haphazardly swatting at our Dreams when we could bask in the Crescendo of the Moment? "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend." Melody Beattie


In these Thanksgiving Moments allow yourself to take note of all the Wonderments of Life around you that you are indeed Grateful for.  Bask in the beauty of Feeling the overwhelming sensation of Gratitude; and allow it to alter and change your mindset you will be pleasantly surprised with Gratitude you can put away the Rose Colored Glasses. I leave with you one of my most treasured songs, in my Home we Celebrate everyday moments allow me to share one of my favorites. This song along with other lullaby's would be played as my Daughter would go off to sleep and as young as a toddler, she would not want me to go out and alas sometimes bedtime would go longer than I anticipated as any of you parents can relate; however, anytime or every time this song would come on the mischievous smile that I knew all too well would appear on her face if I wasn't still laying with her perhaps I am hitting the door to walk out and that smile would sear my back as lightening had struck me and as I turned around she would be untucked, standing on the edge of her bed and waiting with arms stretched out beaming with all the overwhelming emotion words fail to describe and we would Dance. Oh how Thankful I took those extra two minutes with her and we still to this day will do so. Happy Thanksgiving for This is The Wonderment Of Life. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDrzKBF6gDU

FLY ME TO THE MOON

Today Is Friday and I have Wet Willie Blasting Loudly today "Friday Evening What A Feeling.... Weekend, Do what you wanna do Weekend..."Ironically enough same group sings another Favorite "Keep Smiling" guess that is for us to play to chase away the Melancholy Monday Madness that is sure to be here sooner than desired. Truth of the Matter is, we can carry the same Liberations regardless of what is amidst us and shame on us when we fail to do so.  I had someone tell me that I looked like a super hero in my fashionable workout attire and as I giggled later I realized, behold, I am a Super Hero, in fact, we all are. 

When we are Chasing after our Dreams indeed we often need Super Hero Ability, Christopher Reeve was quoted as saying, "So many of our Dreams seem Impossible, Improbable, and then we will Summon the Will they soon become Inevitable." Clark Kent was maybe not a lot to many people as himself except for Lois Lane, and somehow I believe that was enough for ole Clark; but how Marvelous that his alter ego was indeed the one everyone Swooned over or coveted to become. Still do this many years later. What I take from this is that we all have the Super Hero Alter Ego Opportunity there for the taking to Capture our Dreams and Lasso them into existence. When situations arise that seem impossible whisper to yourself the words, "This is a Job for Superman" and just see what happens, the spark from deep within that ignites your very core, it permeates your entire being and the smirk or smile is Electric as if bolts are sparking from it as the corners of your mouth rise and curl up,  the glisten in your eyes is as Powerful as a Transformer and ironically enough it transforms you into a Caped Crusader.

In order for our Super Powers to evolve I believe you have to Own that Alter Ego, that ability to Defy and Conquer.  That no matter what happens, you are NOT giving up and giving in to Settle.  "A Hero is an Ordinary Individual who finds the Strength to Persevere and Endure in Spite of Overwhelming Obstacles" again quote from Christopher Reeve. I truly am deliriously in Love with Life and all the Astounding Opportunities that simply are there for the Taking and what is so Eye Opening is the very  Moment that our Dream becomes inherent it is then that our Passion for the Dream erupts like a volcano and as the lava and ash explodes and detonates, that is Energy like no other. 

Today is the best day; right now, to let your hair down and loosen up that tie and take a gander at your alter ego and what it is that drives you. The Wonderment Of Life is Living beyond what is Attainable within your regular reach, Moreover that settling is full of Complacency, Dullness and becomes down right boring. "You are much stronger than you think you are. Trust Me." -Superman 
This may be one of the best videos...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIm1GgfRz6M

EYES WIDE OPEN

I was recently mulling over Life with a friend, that is probably my utmost favorite Past time, indeed, Alas it is true, I am a Ponderer. I just get lost in it. I am free to Roam and Venture wherever my Heart and Thoughts take me and at times it is quite the adventure I must say.  I just love to watch People we are all so unique and funny creatures honestly, I like to delve in from afar as to figure out what makes them tick or what stands out about them the most to me, a complete stranger yet taking notice of them and taking the time to assess. Even more so, I wonder what am I projecting to those I pass by?

I passed a Family of three the other day that struck me odd at first glance; they seemed as if they should be hiking the French Alps in Europe yet they were merely walking along the sandy shore of the beach. Picture if you will, this Mother, Father and little boy, the child is in a backpack liken to what hikers use, both parents were walking with Trekking Poles, yes I did a double take to say the least and giggled quietly under my breath. Dismissed almost instantly from the perimeters of my brain and ceased to allow my thoughts to continue any further because I found them to be so out of place, obscure if you will. Truth is, this peculiar little Family continued to  stay in my head as if the last lingering party guest has overstayed their welcome.  Inquisition set in like a Mighty River flowing with fury; flooding my thoughts and holding me Captive to the bewildering notion of what was this Families Story? 

This Pesky little Family had over run my thoughts and dominated my attention. I liken them to us pursuing our Dreams and Goals. You see, this Distinctive Family may have missed the Mark, by a long shot on the sandy beaches, I have never been hiking but I know the hiking sticks are there to help brace when going downhill or to aid in going up hill and I haven't been on a beach that wasn't flat. So again...what is their Story? I said hello as I gaped past them, and His voice is still with me today. It was Peppy and Effervescent with the Enthusiasm I coveted. Who knows if this Family merely lost a bet to Truth or Dare and that is all it was about but what I want  you to take away as you read this, merely is; what are you telling others about yourself without uttering a single word? You assume everyone sees life perhaps through your own eyes and clearly sees you the way you do, meanwhile it is a whirlwind of confusion from their vantage point. How do you handle yourself when you fall flat on your face and mess up? What about when your Dream you were Chasing evolved into a Night Mare? 

If you are gut wrenching honest with yourself, you might not like what you see at times. I have my hand up for sure probably several times a day in fact. You see it is not that these things happening is the problem at all, because it is simply Life and we are very unperfect people no matter how hard we try. It is soley in how we handle them with the honestly and liberty to be true to ourselves and bare that to those around us. I am inspired by this Family because they left me changed and I want to portray that as I set forth to obtain my Dreams.  That whether it all works out or goes bust I dust myself off and grab the smallest of dabs if that is all I possess and I Dream and go forth and muster up the Inspiration of the Unknown. My Mother was so right, "Your Attitude is your Altitude". Here is a portion from a wonderful article in The Huffington Post titled just that. 
"There is nothing more exhilarating than being around people who exude the energy of endless possibilities. These kinds of people are needed in our lives if we wish to see what is attainable. When we surround our environment with people who believe in the harshness of life we are drained of energy and vitality. Therefore, the choice is really up to us - do we want to reach the stars or do we want to stay on the ground constantly looking up secretly wishing that we were among the dazzling jewels that grace the heavens. A strong, positive and resilient attitude will help elevate you to unimaginable heights." This my friends is The Wonderment Of Life. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avU2aarQUiU