ROAD TRIPPIN

Think back if you will to a moment where you were taking a trip, or embarking on a route that you haven't yet traveled. Close your eyes and let the emotions sweep in and invade your senses. There is the liberation and freedom from your normal routine and schedule, time off from work and you are able to navigate how the next few days will go. Excitement percolates within your being of the unknown and of  the destination you have chosen to travel to. Certain expectations bellow within of what you will encounter and experience. Life is like a Road Trip, like the Greatest Road Trip (I feel like Forest Gump)We have certain portions of our Lives Mapped out with our Routes and even Pit Stops in check. What happens once engaged in your travels and you hit the unexpected road blocks? Nerveracking at times because you have certain aspirations and planned out arrivals and you begin to feel stressed and anxious at times. The moment begins to fade and the melancholy sets in... you sometimes doubt yourself as if you shouldn't have even went there or next time you will most assuredly fly. It is at that precise moment that you embrace that Road Block and do as this quote says by Mastin Kipp inspires, "Instead of asking Why did this happen to me? Learn to ask what is the Lesson in this?" Within this mentality you will supersede all notion and propel yourself into a sphere that will take you to your desired destination with all the fervency and force unimaginable. 

I liken this to our Dreams and Purpose. This year our word for my Non Profit girls group is Purpose and Urban Dictionary defines it as The Force that drives us. I never was a Star Wars fan but didn't escape the classic statement "May the Force be with you". There's something to this of a deeper notion than most observe. Just as in our travels we too have a GPS within us to help drive us towards our ultimate Purpose and Dream. As you notice the GPS will often times reroute you and you are placing all your confidence within the fact that it will succeed and get you to your desired destination, we need to have the same Confidence and Assuredness that we will follow the force that drives us to our Dreams. I am obsessed with people who move with Passion in such a way I am spellbound. They are locked in and loaded with all the key elements that will undoubtably have you attest that they will surely succeed. Force defined is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together. That means all of us possess this force. The living field of energy, from Star Wars. I love this!! I am swept away with Merriment that as I am driven I will be  surrounded, penetrating my innermost being and binding me to my desired Dream. BAM! 

So today, embrace those road blocks and unexpected pit stops. So what that there is this delay or rerouted course allow that Force to drive you onward in such a way that others around you will undoubtably say, "that is a force to be reckoned with." A dear friend had me watch a show by Tony Robbins and I love what he shared, he spoke about the "bad" things that have occurred in our lives that they are there for a designed purpose and for him he had a not so great home life and Mom but he said without having that he wouldn't be able to love his wife and be all that he needed by what he learned from the unlovely moments. So get jiggy with these moments while others are missing the treasure be that force and  show them that The Wonderment in Life is when you can relish and bask in the Road Blocks for they are preparing you for your Dream. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru0K8uYEZWw&list=RDru0K8uYEZWw 

"LOVE FOR ALL SEASONS"

This weekend has me Delirious, Enthralled with the Beauty of Simply Nature itself and the various elements that can change so quickly as in the cool, brisk weather that whisked in and awakened my Soul. The mere Wisdom that the Seasons show us as in especially here in the South, we can become Weary by the Incredible heat that once that cool breeze blows in you are mesmerized and transformed as you allow this change to entrance your senses as if dancing the most beautiful of Waltz's with all of it's soft, round, flowing movements. Slowly Metamorphosing by moving to the symphony of illustrious melodies as you find yourself awakened and revived. We need to allow ourselves to embrace these moments instead of resist or retreat because that Passion will emerge from deep within as we release and go with where this moment or Season takes you. I liken it to the dancers that are uptight and rigid,stopping and going counting their steps and trying to perform so perfectly they missed the feeling behind why they were even dancing. So many times that is us in pursuing our Dreams and Goals so afraid of failure that we will try to control our movements when in essence we were to be led by our hearts and us simply follow. 

It is an awakening to our truest selves when we can embrace our season and drink in all of its libations. Roll with the moments when you need to hibernate and refuel, or bundle up when bracing for the coldest months or you find yourself barefoot and fancy free on the shores of the beaches. As you relish in these times you are moving in such an effortless way towards your Dreams that you will have the staying power needed. You always hear there are the movers and the shakers it's meaning is defined as; People of energetic demeanor, who initiate change and influence events. 

We are the music makers,

And we are the dreamers of dreams,

Wandering by lone sea-breakers,

And sitting by desolate streams; 

World-losers and world-forsakers,

On whom the pale moon gleams:

Yet we are the movers and shakers

Of the world for ever, it seems.

 Arthur O'Shaughnessy's 1874 poem 'Ode', from his Music and Moonlight collection.

So today, whatever Season you find yourself in allow yourself to step up and take the dance floor by storm. As Right Said Fred sang the Song Love for all Seasons; throw caution to the wind and just Dream and then follow after it as if your very Life depended on it; for This is The Wonderment Of Life. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4jnaznUoQ&list=RD9G4jnaznUoQ&index=1

TRANSFORMATION TUESDAY

A Friend posted on Facebook today something that got me thinking, it said; "If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you." The Cambridge English Dictionary defines Challenge as this, (the situation of being faced with) something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person's ability. How many times do we succumb to slowing our stride or detouring or completely getting off course because we just don't want to duel? Often times we are our worst contender. Perhaps it is deep rooted within our physcie that in our innermost parts of our Souls we lack the Courage to believe in Ourselves. But the invaluable truth is we all have the Courage, but for some of us it is simply out of shape and needs to be worked out and exercised. In order to Possess what drives us and ignites our Passion is to have the courage of your convictions,
to be brave and confident enough to do what you believe in. 

Think of it as a fitness routine, you can go to the gym all day long every day but not exert the Progression you will leave unchanged or hit a Plateau. No! In fact we are doing Super Sets, Interval Training, Isolation Exercises; adding protein and avoiding gluten we are Beasts about it but how often we avoid who we were designed to be in our Core in the depths of our Soul that embodies the Truth of who we truly are. Although we do not see our DNA that chemical, present at the centre of the cells of living things, that controls the structure and purpose of each cell and carries genetic information during reproduction that is who we really are. It is what defines us. Just as there are the many different body types, for instance the Pear or Apple shaped so are our Passions intricately woven unique to the each of us. We need to have the Courage to be Us. To be as Honest and Bare our Soul to Ourselves, liken to  as we stand in front of a mirror observing our outer body evaluating what needs to be "worked on" we need even so more importantly to do this with our Passion and Dreams within us. 

So come on! Get out of your Rut, Pack up and leave your Plateau and change up your Routine and get your Courage on! It is so intoxicating even more so than that rush of an incredible workout, it is effervescent which defined as an adjective it is A liquid that produces bubbles of gas and defined as a verb (I just love this) it is Active, Positive, and FULL of energy!! Holy Smokes! When we truly have our Passion chasing our Dreams in Shape, Possessing our Courage to be Confident of what we believe in,  it is Noticeable to all and that my Friends is The Wonderment of Life. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo-gB0_F2aE

TWO MINUTE WARNING

I read something last night by Joel Osteen that Sparked something, opened my eyes if you will and it said this, "There are goals that God has put in you. Dreams, (he listed others but for the sake of my point I'm listing only the relevant)  they're lying dormant. When you can't seem to get a good break, you have to remember that those promises are still alive. You have to start calling them out." I looked up the word dormant and it means; sleeping, quiet as if asleep, inactive.  ME? Inactive? No Way! Well let me just tell you, I couldn't have been more surprised by myself!  I looked up inactive nothing pivotal there, then went to the synonyms of inactive and the one that popped up to me was sidelined. BOOM! Well, well, with Football around the corner by George, I got it! 


On the sidelines means just this:

Observing rather than taking part, out of the action, 
This idiom comes from sports. The sidelines are the two lines defining the sides of the court or playing field and the area immediately beyond them where, in such sports as football, the non-playing team members sit. It hit me like a Concussion, here I thought I was the Super Star Quarterback in my mind, running to score my Dream and Goals and ironically I was merely observing.


The number one thing that attracts me to someone is their Gumption and their Passion to see it through. No Matter What. You know the ones,  they would rather get penalties or flags thrown than not go for that ball and take it to the end zone. I just love it, and I thrive to have it and see it as the air I breathe.  I don't know if you today find yourself tackled or intercepted but get back in the game and bench anything stopping you from calling out that Dream or Goal today! Relish in delight that you are going to dance in that End Zone and go all the way down that field with the cheerleaders and the crowds roaring with excitement to allow that Passion to Propel you to your Dream. This is the Wonderment of Life. 

Now here's a little something to light your fire...you don't wanna miss this one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEc1m-r_0gM

ROCK ME AMADEUS

I recently watched an old favorite movie of mine titled, "How Stella got her groove back." I have always loved this movie but it got me thinking about what groove meant. I looked up the definition and found myself all the more enthralled to it's meaning. It says groove is a long narrow furrow or channel. The spiral track cut into a phonograph record for the stylus to follow. A situation or an activity that one enjoys or to which one is especially well suited. I just love this! A groove is not something you halfhazardly happen upon as is a lot of life's moments, moreover, it is precisely designed and eloquently tuned. I truly believe that we just like these grooves, are made up of Desires and Dreams that are purposefully given to the each of us. I recently renovated my daughter's playroom and one thing I put in there was a quote, "Be yourself, everyone else is already taken." I want her to read that everyday honestly. I believe a lot of us are not fulfilling our Dreams and Callings perhaps because we see the uniqueness of ourselves in comparison to those around us and if not careful we lose our truest selves all together. Just as there are different genres so the same is said of the each of us. Could you just imagine this world that we live in without Country Music? Then from there you have the Old Classic Country, The New Country, Mainstream Country and on and on. I relate that back because the complexity that we are woven together in the very depths of our existence are so unique yet blend together harmoniously just as the music. The thing about groove is that it is all our own. It is the manifestation of who and what we are in the deepest parts of our beings. Haven't you ever been out and just watched someone dancing that moved you?I mean they weren't counting their steps or robotically moving, it was soulful. There was a connection deep within and they were in their element and it radiated off of them. That is how I want to live my life. So focused on my long, narrow furrow or channel moving to the etched spiral track that the stylist is playing the music that awakens the depths of my heart and soul and my movements flow   without any hesitation or thought. I believe when we do this not flailing around amidst all the distractions and doubts that Life can sometimes blow in, but keeping that precise groove, we can enjoy ourselves even when our desired goal seems unobtainable. Furthermore, inspire all of those around us to get their own groove on.

Allow me to share an example of this. I am reading a book Titled, "Napkin Notes."It is written by Garth Callaghan and I highly recommend it. He is sharing how he himself grooved amidst a terrible illness but inspires on Creating a Daily Connection with those you love. My daughter is now aware that a lot of movies are written after books and novels and she was telling her friends that were over last weekend that she cannot wait to watch Napkin Notes! Them being girls were trying to find a movie that moved them and made them cry and she sees me reading this and alas she has been inspired. She is touched when I am reading and the questions just flow like a Mighty River from her. She is trying to figure out why this is impacting her somewhere in her being is my opinion because I have created this type of environment  as he shares within her own Home and she identifies with this. That is the Wonderment of Life to me that as we pursue our Lives and hone in to our specific callings, it will awaken and encourage those around us to live beyond the surface and go to the deepest of their beings and reside. So whether you are in the moments that your Dreams and Desires will never seem to happen or you are deliriously happy doing the back stroke swimming - just Groove. 


This is where I believe our Grooves are being etched in. I believe as we dig our heels in just a little bit deeper, strive just a little stronger, that long narrow farrow or channel is being dug within us. To be groovy the definition also stated it is  to take great pleasure or satisfaction; enjoy oneself. Allow me to add, in EVERY stage of our Lives. The good, the bad and the ugly are all there to teach and instruct us to prepare us. May we embrace the current Stage we find ourselves in this moment and may we have the Fortitude to get our Groove on and dance in the Rain if that is where we are today. Dare to dig deeper that furrow and find out what drives you and go for it and Get your Groove on, This is the Wonderment Of Life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KlRznM81Jw

LIFE IS BUT A DREAM

 As my eyes slowly opened this morning, I was not disappointed with all the Splendor my eyes drank in. The beach was drawing me,  the breeze, the sounds of the water reaching the shore and alas going back out. As soft whispers wooing,  they were awakening me to frolic with delight and granting me the permission to allow my heart the Merriment it longs for during the school months. Those months that restrict me,  causing my absence in those months to be felt instantly as I breathe in deep inhaling all the beauty around me. This moment embraces me and allows my being to stretch in its glorious splendor somehow trying to savor this enough to last me all the months ahead. My cup of coffee is more caffeinated it appears this morning, thoughts dance about and whisk me away, somehow stirring my Heart.  As we find ourselves on the downhill slide of Summer, I proclaim that I will delight in  Today and arise to meet the challenge of Making the last of this intoxicating time something to appreciate and long for next Summer. Such I liken this to Life itself. Oscar Wilde was quoted as saying, "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist." Although I will miss terribly the simplicities of Summer once school is back, I will be better by the discipline and structure. As to Life, so may times we want to whisk away from the humdrum and melancholy moments when we must choose to not Exist but to Live in those times as well. Maybe even more important during those times...


As the weekends wouldn't be as sweet if we didn't have the week, so is Life and Living not Existing. Make those goals, strive to obtain that which you first thought was not possible. Make a difference. The Wonderment of Life is allowing the Dream to emerge as it should. We do our due diligence but Life when Lived will shape it as it was Truly designed to be. I ponder over what Oscar Wilde meant, why did he find that to Live is the rarest thing? We all were designed with a purpose and uniquely created to be no one but our best self imaginable. A beautiful dear friend texted me the other day about me  being a mentor with her becoming a Mom herself with her daughter, as humbled as I was, it brought such acute awareness, if I were being anyone other than myself and not driven by my purpose I could not be this to her. Same applies to you, people are watching how you Live your life. I will share with you what she said to me because I believe I am not the only one this applies to. She said, " break down the iron walls and be who you are supposed to be." I needed that inspiration to charge after self doubt, inadequacies and the other blockades that prevent me from Living and cause me to Exist. Identify what is causing you from Reaching that Dream and LIVE this could be the last chance you get so this time might be the charm! Be a Trendsetter and go against the Norm and be one who truly Lives....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh1RBDBxMZY

DON'T STOP TIL YOU GET ENOUGH

I sit slumped down as if I have melted into my Porch Swing sipping on sleepy time tea allowing the herbs to help usher Mr. Sandman to my door, as everyone else in the neighborhood appears to be asleep. I am entranced, watching my new purchase of lights as these lights drip down in my tree in front of me, my mind begins to Dream.  I bought these lights from a spot that Inspires me, an Oasis for when I need that spurring deep within, for me to come back and impart in my own surroundings.  This place is located in Fairhope, AL and I encourage all to stop in, expect to be inspired at Green Gates.They know when I come in I shall get a cup of coffee and draw from all around me lingering over to the spots I find delight in and drinking it all in waiting for something to connect in my inner making.  Touching and smelling, envisioning this, yet adapting it  to the coveted spot I desire to impart it's charm. Now, I am basking in not only the spell bounding lightshow before me, I find my Inspiration has come to Life. Now, I allow my thoughts to stretch and take flight without my effort. Delighted to see where these thoughts may take me, I feel the excitement billow within me like a tickle in my stomach. Perhaps these thoughts will remind me of things I have forgotten or missed. Conversations, Moments, Places in time, but oh how I enjoy to see where my Heart takes  me. Its as if I too have the Peter Pan ability to fly, which we all possess we just have to allow ourselves to connect to Our Wonderments of Our Own Lives. Sometimes I am not going to the yonder years but trying to identify myself in the days or times to come. Not literally, but in my Soul, above all else I want my Soul to be Satisfied. 
In the day in which we live, what an impossible feat for most. Pompous and Arrogant if you whisper your Satisfaction, yet unappreciative and greedy if you are not.  


Truth is, isn't this the basis of most Childhood Tales and Movies?  I am rapidly approaching fifty and I am not through Dreaming nor should you at any age you find yourself now reading this. I have said having a daughter has allowed me to relive my second childhood as I go through Life with her and rediscovering all The Wonderments Of Life I had forgotten. Perhaps Life itself has taken my attention away from stepping out on that Living on a Prayer notion your heart stirs of. We hear this time and time again, Life doesn't stop until we take that last breath. I saw in a movie recently about the analogy of the Grave itself and how there are two dates you will see listed. Our lives, it said, are consisted between the dash of the two dates and to make that time matter. See, I knew back In December I wanted those certain lights I had seen in Green Gates, but it wasn't until May that I had them. Whether because I was saving the money, not sure where to put them, regardless the reason I am so thrilled that I waited now, because the timing could never be more perfect! I never sat on my front porch  until recently, upon finally giving in (and I am so glad I did!) to purchasing my porch bed/swing. Now we live out front and these lights couldn't make my view any more wonderful! So this is with Life. Strive for the  Dreams just be careful not to detour too early in hopes of arriving sooner, that you get lost from the Dream itself. Stay true to your inner compass and convictions and know that in the due time needed it will prevail. Noting that as you travel, you may be far from that Dream itself, or think you are; however you are making your story and fulfilling your Destiny within your Dash. What could be more Satisfying than this?! 


I leave with you the one and only Bon Jovi, you cannot be in a bar, at a Mardi Gras Ball, or shoot even in your car and this not Excite you, Motivate you and Fire you up. When hearing this song with others, strangers even; it is like the Hope of All Mankind is Sparked and United.  It is as if we are linked arm and arm  as woven and knitted together for the betterment of us all. Everyone is dancing and jumping with hands in the air and at the top of our lungs we proclaim -  We are only Half way there, living on a prayer! This is the Wonderment of Life...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynHQf3Bv0-0