Alas, sitting down as if in a heap as I collapsed onto the sofa. It is my favorite part of entertaining, known by me and those who know me best as, "the after party." I have an oil painting of me and my Daughter that hangs above my sofa in which I sit and it is titled as such. It is the moment in which I will lose myself as if I were in attendance and bask at all around me. It is liken to homework for me, self inventory perhaps, looking through another's eyes taking what is familiar and mine and stepping away to see as from an outsider. This notion caused me to wonder why we do not do this more so in our every day lives? As when entertaining you have the lists going on to check off, the stress and pressure of sudden hiccups and time slipping away and attending to each detail of your moment although I am immersed as a pig in mud during all of which however; nothing can compare to what I feel in my after party. This is when I will pour myself a potion and flit about with glee, giddy with delight I will sway and twirl to my music losing myself in this moment of my hard work rewarding myself to enjoy drinking in all of it's wonder and then I will take my seat and just gaze beholding all of the details I sweated over, knowing that this one more element was going to just knock it out of the park. There is a rush of satisfaction that soars through my being and I will lose myself in my thoughts while posting notes in my head of the to do's better next time. Why in this world would I not reflect on my days and mere life and inventory what I missed or could do better tomorrow?
Yesterday was Monday and I felt exhilarated just on fire as if it were a Friday. Sunday's are MY day, always have been but Monday's normally find me wanting to fast forward straight through to Tuesday. I suppose perhaps I am wallowing in melancholy pouty because MY day is over. But not yesterday, it was as if the veil was lifted and I could see through perfect vision crystal clear on how to capture my dreams and desires in this New Year. I had been reading some poetry and writings by some of my favorites Jane Austen, Edgar Allen Poe and then this one ignited my soul “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson I was struck by awe as lightening, I could smell the burning remains as if the intensity was far greater than imagined commanding me to take note of it's Passion. What better day of the week than to venture out where there is no path and leave a trail than the beginning of the work week? Why yes, how perfect and elementary yet profound and articulate. He went on to say in another reading “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” This isn't just someone singing "Merrily, Merrily, Merrily life is but a Dream", that is on Wednesday or perhaps Thursday if we are lucky, no, it is purposeful and powerful, like Aretha Franklin bellowing from deep soulful passion, "Whoop, what you want? Baby I got it....
R-E-S-P-E-C-T...sock it to me..."
Words are very powerful, but laced and fueled with action propelled with passion is like a wildfire that cannot be quenched or extinguished. Get a game plan just as if entertaining for a house full of guests and lose yourself in your creativity and go after those dreams and desires. Understanding there will be those inevitable kinks to work out and tweak; often times spring boarding us into an entirely different direction however fueled with your Character staying true to yourself alone allowing the path to be unveiled sometimes not until that foot is raised to step out there but your dreams and desires will be the verb definition of character which is to engrave or inscribe on your life as a beautifully themed party; well then my dear friend, you will have left something worthy to behold for others in an after party just by living your life. What a better party to ever plan or be the Host or Hostess to entertain than your Life? Real Life? Now THIS is The Wonderment of Life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRh-vBOS-dU
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
LEAVE THEM GUESSING WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN UP TO
Hovering over my cup of coffee eyeing my thermos calculating how much is left, savoring the delicious moment I am delighted to find myself basking in. Day 24 of 365 the gift of another day of an intoxicating year that I do not recall having such expectancy of what is to come as I do this year. 2017 is going to be one for the record books and for me, the story of the life of Tammy Elmore Cox I am treasuring every second. Instantly as I am typing I begin to hum that song by Aerosmith, "I don't want to miss a thing." Actually, today is "just Tuesday" however purposefully it is going to be one that I will be proud of because I made the conscious decision to drive it to being something of a Terrific Tantalizing Tuesday. I nod in acceptance with a little "hmm" audibly heard yes, I like it. This will do, in fact very nicely it suits me; a smile from deep within welled up and appeared on my face. I found myself in my routine speaking to a bestie as she is on her way to work out realizing I hadn't even thought to make coffee this morning and it is a cold one and I didn't even notice I didn't have it with me as I drove my daughter to school, in fact I left my phone, my purse, you get the point it was looking as if it was going to be that kind of day. Yesterday left me dumbfounded then it occurred to me to mix it up, perhaps it is the cold, crisp air inspiring me, but I dashed to the coffeepot and while it was brewing I was engulfed with excitement of what this day could just possibly have in store for me. Just like that I had my picnic basket filled and off to find a place to ponder and lose myself as I take a different route for my morning walk to clear my head and invigorate my soul.
A chill just caused me to shiver to my bones, as I close up my jacket a little more snug and bring my hat down just a little lower, sitting on the side of a stream watching all of Nature around me. Fascinated and Enthralled in the majestic beauty and adoring the awe this moment finds me as my eyes are treated with beauty too intense for mere words. I feel free as one of these beautiful birds reflecting on some beloved poems by Maya Angelou, Robert Frost and others thankful of what all I am beholding is teaching me. Reflecting on my story and chapters that had been forgotten are taking center stage reminding me and fueling me to make that difference not only for myself but for the one I am showing the gift of this life by simply her watching how I conduct myself with mine. Above all I want to make her proud it fuels me to be a better person. We snuggled watching Mr. Church the other evening and we laughed and we cried by it's beautiful story and we discussed afterwards the powerful choices we are given to make that difference in someone else's life. Why settle for "just Tuesday" or the expected? The Wonderment of Life is simply Living in Wonder, moment by moment. Couple synonyms for wonder is surprise, uncertainty. The surprises that are waiting to be unveiled are enthralling, luring us to get out of our comfort zone and dare to go for what you were created to be or do. The uncertainty is there regardless so there is no room for failure only if you dare not try. There is no limit of fulfillment by living a passionate life deeply lived relishing in this moment...satisfied. Oh how it is Well with my Soul today.
I leave with you a song that oddly enough isn't anything but enjoyable.I so wish I had video of that night to share with you but you can imagine. I am obsessed with how my daughter and her gal pals get into it with all their little beings they move me as they act out the lyrics. They introduced me to this band a couple of weekends ago, here in Alabama we were getting some snow flurries and although I was quite certain we wouldn't come across any, we heard there was some spotted downtown. It was later in the evening, we piled in the car, my daughter and a car filled with her besties and we were filled with Wonder. Celebrating this Moment stopping to take random pictures and we put the bass all the way, singing to the tops of our lungs, dancing and grooving to this song giggling with one another just getting lost in it while we rode and rode. No snow was ever spotted that evening but I have an inkling it didn't really matter I am so thankful for the memory and the surprise that I felt so satisfied by venturing out and going. ...This is The Wonderment of Life. What is your Life waiting to Wonder and be surprised by?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZKbcptpU3c
A chill just caused me to shiver to my bones, as I close up my jacket a little more snug and bring my hat down just a little lower, sitting on the side of a stream watching all of Nature around me. Fascinated and Enthralled in the majestic beauty and adoring the awe this moment finds me as my eyes are treated with beauty too intense for mere words. I feel free as one of these beautiful birds reflecting on some beloved poems by Maya Angelou, Robert Frost and others thankful of what all I am beholding is teaching me. Reflecting on my story and chapters that had been forgotten are taking center stage reminding me and fueling me to make that difference not only for myself but for the one I am showing the gift of this life by simply her watching how I conduct myself with mine. Above all I want to make her proud it fuels me to be a better person. We snuggled watching Mr. Church the other evening and we laughed and we cried by it's beautiful story and we discussed afterwards the powerful choices we are given to make that difference in someone else's life. Why settle for "just Tuesday" or the expected? The Wonderment of Life is simply Living in Wonder, moment by moment. Couple synonyms for wonder is surprise, uncertainty. The surprises that are waiting to be unveiled are enthralling, luring us to get out of our comfort zone and dare to go for what you were created to be or do. The uncertainty is there regardless so there is no room for failure only if you dare not try. There is no limit of fulfillment by living a passionate life deeply lived relishing in this moment...satisfied. Oh how it is Well with my Soul today.
I leave with you a song that oddly enough isn't anything but enjoyable.I so wish I had video of that night to share with you but you can imagine. I am obsessed with how my daughter and her gal pals get into it with all their little beings they move me as they act out the lyrics. They introduced me to this band a couple of weekends ago, here in Alabama we were getting some snow flurries and although I was quite certain we wouldn't come across any, we heard there was some spotted downtown. It was later in the evening, we piled in the car, my daughter and a car filled with her besties and we were filled with Wonder. Celebrating this Moment stopping to take random pictures and we put the bass all the way, singing to the tops of our lungs, dancing and grooving to this song giggling with one another just getting lost in it while we rode and rode. No snow was ever spotted that evening but I have an inkling it didn't really matter I am so thankful for the memory and the surprise that I felt so satisfied by venturing out and going. ...This is The Wonderment of Life. What is your Life waiting to Wonder and be surprised by?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZKbcptpU3c
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
GOING ROBUST
The boisterous alarm seemed to come quite early this morning, I felt like a cartoon character as it's blaring ruckus was rocking me to and fro as it clamored out causing pandemonium to my warm and dreamy world underneath the layer of covers. Hitting the snooze button repeatedly sinking back down into the pillow as if my head was the weight of a boulder pulling my covers up and over my head as if to shield me from the harshness intruding my pillowy world. Alas I sauntered to the coffee pot, strumming my fingers wiping the sleep from my eyes as I impatiently await for that moment that for me just starts my day. That beautiful brewing sound and magical aroma were delighting my senses as if reassuring me today was going to be an amazing day. As I raise my cup to my mouth I inhale not with a whiff but savoring as my eyes close my mouth curls up with delight as I anticipate the glorious first sip. It is my favorite moment of the day. I remember many years ago sharing with coworkers at the office how nothing beats that first sip in the morning and I built it up to them sharing this momentous moment and then I sipped it, all eyes waiting entranced in the delight and feeling and like a needle scratching a record; it was rancid and I spit it back out! We all just laughed and laughed, it still makes me belly laugh all these years later. How often in Life we go through the motions and do not savor the little blips in our day that really are the game changing moments?
My daughter had been gone for the long weekend returning home last night, I scurried around and cleaned making it fresh and inviting. Washed her bed clothes and favorite blanket, candles lit all around downstairs and upstairs to usher her in and welcoming her back to her familiar blip of her day. She wiggled and snuggled with the familiar smile I had missed for the weekend, she sighed after breathing in the air as if life sustaining that moment and she said there is no place like Home. Her eyes closed as she nodded her head as she spoke the words piercing my heart with the weight of her words fueled with emotion. You see it was conscious action on my part to aid in the details of making her moment Momentous. Just a few synonyms of Momentous are, earth shattering, significant, pivotal, critical, chips are down. Another example I was sharing with some friends recently was, I had dated a fella many many years ago however he left his mark and for me, a standard set on dating. He invited me over for dinner to his home when I walked in I was greeted with the delightful aroma of dinner cooking, he met me at the door with a glass of wine, Sade playing in the background, Candlelight filled the room and a beautiful table was set. He was from Iceland and for him, his culture it was his "norm." But his added efforts to enhance our just dinner made it something that all these years later I still savor. I have Sade on my iPod in fact because it somehow transcends me back in time to a moment I will forever relish in. Another example that pushes it's way to the forefront of my thoughts, I have a friend and on Facebook he uses lyrics to songs to describe how he is going to work out, it is amazing how it super charges me as I too am starting out my day trying to muster up the mojo. You see, we are leaving people with something imparted of us whether it's flippant or intense. As we are chasing our Dreams and Obtaining our Goals, all of these moments in between is the crazy thing called Life.
The Wonderment Of Life to me is the impartation of the depth of these moments is what I felt. My daughter felt the soothing, familiar, expected things that she finds comfort in renewed. My Islandic friend I couldn't recall one thing we ate, I remember feeling inspired to do the special touches and the depth of conversation and the beauty of friendship. Lastly, my friend posting on Facebook allows me to feel inspired and hopeful of obtaining my own dreams and goals as I am watching him fulfill his own. As I journey on my way I am lured by the depths of emotion that people possess. Recently I was overcome with fear, I explained to a friend that I was like a little child as they want to jump into a pool of water and they are afraid, so clearly you see how they stick one toe in and draw it back out instantly, they will gaze into the water, even bending forward to examine seeing their familiar reflection and then they will step back several steps walking facing the water but going away from it. This was me. I read a quote that said, "When it feels scary to jump, that's exactly when you jump. Otherwise you end up staying in the same place your whole life. And that I cannot do." You see, as we are tackling to live this Life going for our Dreams and Goals, it can be daunting and if we are not careful we will give into the disbelief. We have to delve deep, swatting away the spider webs and dusty areas that have been closed off to disappointments life has brought. Resuscitating these parts with vibrance sweeping through your being the renewed confidence that you can do it because it is something you feel, you know. Give it your all, half way is not momentous; go for the earth shaking, weighty, notable moments and just see the difference. Those are the ones that simply cannot blend in they are stand outs in the crowds simply believing and feeling what they were created to feel.
There are two new movies I am obsessed to see one is The Book of Love and the other is Mr. Church. I encourage you to youtube the trailers for both. Both of these seem to be about what I am feeling and sensing to go beyond and further and live with all the depths you can find.What has me pondering is how we go about our lives just living and doing our "norm" how is it effecting those around us? What will they remember about you later? Not that we have to die but as life transcends us into other areas we lose touch but we visit one another in our hearts through memorable moments. Just blips of our days that somehow will cascade our world into Momentous changes. Don't just go through the motions when living your Life and day, get down and dirty and in tune and feel it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q91hydQRGyM
My daughter had been gone for the long weekend returning home last night, I scurried around and cleaned making it fresh and inviting. Washed her bed clothes and favorite blanket, candles lit all around downstairs and upstairs to usher her in and welcoming her back to her familiar blip of her day. She wiggled and snuggled with the familiar smile I had missed for the weekend, she sighed after breathing in the air as if life sustaining that moment and she said there is no place like Home. Her eyes closed as she nodded her head as she spoke the words piercing my heart with the weight of her words fueled with emotion. You see it was conscious action on my part to aid in the details of making her moment Momentous. Just a few synonyms of Momentous are, earth shattering, significant, pivotal, critical, chips are down. Another example I was sharing with some friends recently was, I had dated a fella many many years ago however he left his mark and for me, a standard set on dating. He invited me over for dinner to his home when I walked in I was greeted with the delightful aroma of dinner cooking, he met me at the door with a glass of wine, Sade playing in the background, Candlelight filled the room and a beautiful table was set. He was from Iceland and for him, his culture it was his "norm." But his added efforts to enhance our just dinner made it something that all these years later I still savor. I have Sade on my iPod in fact because it somehow transcends me back in time to a moment I will forever relish in. Another example that pushes it's way to the forefront of my thoughts, I have a friend and on Facebook he uses lyrics to songs to describe how he is going to work out, it is amazing how it super charges me as I too am starting out my day trying to muster up the mojo. You see, we are leaving people with something imparted of us whether it's flippant or intense. As we are chasing our Dreams and Obtaining our Goals, all of these moments in between is the crazy thing called Life.
The Wonderment Of Life to me is the impartation of the depth of these moments is what I felt. My daughter felt the soothing, familiar, expected things that she finds comfort in renewed. My Islandic friend I couldn't recall one thing we ate, I remember feeling inspired to do the special touches and the depth of conversation and the beauty of friendship. Lastly, my friend posting on Facebook allows me to feel inspired and hopeful of obtaining my own dreams and goals as I am watching him fulfill his own. As I journey on my way I am lured by the depths of emotion that people possess. Recently I was overcome with fear, I explained to a friend that I was like a little child as they want to jump into a pool of water and they are afraid, so clearly you see how they stick one toe in and draw it back out instantly, they will gaze into the water, even bending forward to examine seeing their familiar reflection and then they will step back several steps walking facing the water but going away from it. This was me. I read a quote that said, "When it feels scary to jump, that's exactly when you jump. Otherwise you end up staying in the same place your whole life. And that I cannot do." You see, as we are tackling to live this Life going for our Dreams and Goals, it can be daunting and if we are not careful we will give into the disbelief. We have to delve deep, swatting away the spider webs and dusty areas that have been closed off to disappointments life has brought. Resuscitating these parts with vibrance sweeping through your being the renewed confidence that you can do it because it is something you feel, you know. Give it your all, half way is not momentous; go for the earth shaking, weighty, notable moments and just see the difference. Those are the ones that simply cannot blend in they are stand outs in the crowds simply believing and feeling what they were created to feel.
There are two new movies I am obsessed to see one is The Book of Love and the other is Mr. Church. I encourage you to youtube the trailers for both. Both of these seem to be about what I am feeling and sensing to go beyond and further and live with all the depths you can find.What has me pondering is how we go about our lives just living and doing our "norm" how is it effecting those around us? What will they remember about you later? Not that we have to die but as life transcends us into other areas we lose touch but we visit one another in our hearts through memorable moments. Just blips of our days that somehow will cascade our world into Momentous changes. Don't just go through the motions when living your Life and day, get down and dirty and in tune and feel it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q91hydQRGyM
Friday, January 6, 2017
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN RIGHT HERE ON EARTH
As the steady rain falls and the temperature drops I am moved to embrace this moment, just as the hunters love when a cold front comes in it causes their desired targets to move so as I feel it puts a proper pep in my step and billows of gusto blow through my hair as I go about the things I need to do around my home. As I toss another log on my beautiful fire and behold it's majestic show it woos me, entrancing me to gaze at the flames as they promenade and flicker, as they dance and prance about as if hypnotizing me bewitching me under their spell. My thoughts interrupt their cavorting moves as in breaking in to dance and lure me to ponder over the glorious New Year and all I search from deep within of what I truly desire to experience and become. I absolutely love Resolutions, they are goals, dreams, mile markers... it is the humbling of the admittance that I could be better, do better. It is the allowance to say with a fresh slate with clarity that success is certain. New beginnings are magical and invigorating it is an awakening to your heart and soul touching senses and dazzling them with uncharted paths. Reminding me of the last few verses of the poem The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost:
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
This New Year brings an abundance of Glee, and I am intoxicated by the resounding assurance of so many in person, on social media and in reading that This New Year is Special, full of Hope and expectation. I have my new favorite obsession song playing in the background, The Weekend song is "I feel it coming." So many are embracing this New Year and finding themselves wanting to make their Moments Matter. I feel as if I am being waltzed around a beautiful ball room where everyone is in black tie and long gowns. A gentleman takes my hand and bows kissing my gloved hand and I in return curtsy and slowly nod my head. The Orchestra is delighting the senses overwhelming our beings to move as gliding or floating across the glorious marble floors, inhaling the most beautiful aromas of floral, candles flickering flames causing the enormous crystal chandeliers that hang above to come to life, whirling around to trip the light. It is in description a feeling of what my mantra is this Year. There is a song that my close friends know has been my favorite for quite sometime but this year it is different. It isn't just about love with someone it's living in a moment I would die for and as I was soul searching on New Years Eve and saying prayers what should be my "theme" if you will this is what quickened within and I am delirious with it.
I am the one that generally receives the eye rolls or the shaking of heads because this is me normally, just everyday life so for me I feel I am in the right place at the right time. The appointed time. This is one of my gifts and I Celebrate them lavishly, daily. I turn a ho hum moment into one of splendor and majesty that turns my home into what feels like a castle. It is making your surroundings pleasing even if only for yourself, light candles, play music set the tone you will be surprised how much more delighted you will be to push that vacuum about with the added effort. When drop in's occur it is as if I am expecting someone and I just shrug my shoulders nah just me! This year I share my yearning of celebrating moments and highlighting those that you would die for. I just am moved by the lyrics it is a song by Ty Herndon although I have a buddy that sings it much better but one of the lines sings "and when they carve my stone all they need to write on it is once lived a man(woman) who got all he ever wanted, tell me something, who could ask for more than to be living in a moment you would die for." So I am taking some verses and adjusting their meaning to my everyday life as I have those dearest to me and only a very few that I only long to breathe their same air. Variables do not matter just that. Same principal to me The Wonderment in Life is being able to embrace our gifts of those around us, of our very own lives in fact and instead of only at Christmas and certain Holiday's give ourselves a hall pass to linger all year through until it burns within your being and saturates your every move.
I used to work at 5am at a gym in town, I adored my members I would call them my Morning Crew and I knew of their families and they became more than just me reporting in (always tardy) and doing a job. The hours were difficult with my other jobs so the hours were very trying on me but I decided to celebrate that moment and I would bake all different kinds of cakes and treats and bring in the mornings and it made that moment full of meaning something more personal we all felt it and speak of it this many years later. That is what I believe this New Year is the year to seize the everyday moments and raise the standard to make it memorable. Me and my daughter's most treasured moments aren't in far off travels, exotic or fancy special places they are in our everyday moments that I journal of and will reread as I am older. As you chase your dreams and make this year as Huge as you possibly can, I see these Memorable Moments using their Magic like stairs ushering us in step by step, moment by moment to our desired Dreams and Goals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUFs_1vKYlY
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
This New Year brings an abundance of Glee, and I am intoxicated by the resounding assurance of so many in person, on social media and in reading that This New Year is Special, full of Hope and expectation. I have my new favorite obsession song playing in the background, The Weekend song is "I feel it coming." So many are embracing this New Year and finding themselves wanting to make their Moments Matter. I feel as if I am being waltzed around a beautiful ball room where everyone is in black tie and long gowns. A gentleman takes my hand and bows kissing my gloved hand and I in return curtsy and slowly nod my head. The Orchestra is delighting the senses overwhelming our beings to move as gliding or floating across the glorious marble floors, inhaling the most beautiful aromas of floral, candles flickering flames causing the enormous crystal chandeliers that hang above to come to life, whirling around to trip the light. It is in description a feeling of what my mantra is this Year. There is a song that my close friends know has been my favorite for quite sometime but this year it is different. It isn't just about love with someone it's living in a moment I would die for and as I was soul searching on New Years Eve and saying prayers what should be my "theme" if you will this is what quickened within and I am delirious with it.
I am the one that generally receives the eye rolls or the shaking of heads because this is me normally, just everyday life so for me I feel I am in the right place at the right time. The appointed time. This is one of my gifts and I Celebrate them lavishly, daily. I turn a ho hum moment into one of splendor and majesty that turns my home into what feels like a castle. It is making your surroundings pleasing even if only for yourself, light candles, play music set the tone you will be surprised how much more delighted you will be to push that vacuum about with the added effort. When drop in's occur it is as if I am expecting someone and I just shrug my shoulders nah just me! This year I share my yearning of celebrating moments and highlighting those that you would die for. I just am moved by the lyrics it is a song by Ty Herndon although I have a buddy that sings it much better but one of the lines sings "and when they carve my stone all they need to write on it is once lived a man(woman) who got all he ever wanted, tell me something, who could ask for more than to be living in a moment you would die for." So I am taking some verses and adjusting their meaning to my everyday life as I have those dearest to me and only a very few that I only long to breathe their same air. Variables do not matter just that. Same principal to me The Wonderment in Life is being able to embrace our gifts of those around us, of our very own lives in fact and instead of only at Christmas and certain Holiday's give ourselves a hall pass to linger all year through until it burns within your being and saturates your every move.
I used to work at 5am at a gym in town, I adored my members I would call them my Morning Crew and I knew of their families and they became more than just me reporting in (always tardy) and doing a job. The hours were difficult with my other jobs so the hours were very trying on me but I decided to celebrate that moment and I would bake all different kinds of cakes and treats and bring in the mornings and it made that moment full of meaning something more personal we all felt it and speak of it this many years later. That is what I believe this New Year is the year to seize the everyday moments and raise the standard to make it memorable. Me and my daughter's most treasured moments aren't in far off travels, exotic or fancy special places they are in our everyday moments that I journal of and will reread as I am older. As you chase your dreams and make this year as Huge as you possibly can, I see these Memorable Moments using their Magic like stairs ushering us in step by step, moment by moment to our desired Dreams and Goals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUFs_1vKYlY
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