Inspiration On A Rainy Day

"Your only identity is I AM undefined and infinite. Any label you give yourself limits yourself. - Deepak Chopra"

"Imagine loving yourself the way you would love your own child. What can you do to express this love? Brainstorm a list of tangible things you can do today, this week and this month to pamper, honor and nurture yourself. Write yourself a love letter and read it over daily."

I am not sure who wrote the last one, but writing myself a "love" letter to read over daily would be a bit difficult for me to do.  Does that mean I don't love myself?  I don't think so.  I have gotten so much better about allowing myself to accept gifts, compliments and to even pamper myself in ways I never thought I would do before.  Yesterday I was out running errands.  My hair looked pretty good and I decided to stop and get a passport photo done since mine will expire in March and I want to get it done before holidays in December.  They do not allow smiling for these photos so I always look like a thug anyway... but wow, was I ever surprised that the thug with the nice hair looked so haggard in the face!  It is time for a makeover, is what!!  

On the way home I stopped at Merle Norman and set up an appointment to get my makeup done.  I need new cosmetics anyway.  As I was driving home I was about to pass a neighborhood spa and made a quick turn and rolled the dog around in the back seat as I did so.  (She hates it when that happens.  I forgot she was back there.)  I went in and asked if I could get my brows waxed and a manicure.  The girl that does it won a grand prize in all of Canada for her work with waxing and nails but she is working with her mother who owns the salon.  She also has a love interest in town as well, so she isn't marketing herself as you might expect.  She was just finishing up with a client when I walked in and she took care of me right away.  I also set up an appointment with her for some pampering next week.  So how is that for pampering and nurturing myself?  I didn't make a list as suggested above and I didn't plan it when I left the house.  It just happened.  I didn't think about it too much and didn't have to talk myself into it as I would have in the old days when I believed it to be too selfish and that perhaps I was not deserving.  

I am different and I like feeling deserving.  I like myself and I am still working on the love part.  I am open to it, but I didn't get like this overnight.  Progress is happening.  

I totally believe the first paragraph of this post.  I have limited myself with labels in the past.  It is so simple and so freeing.  

I am.

Life is Good

Sometimes it is just the simple things in life that can make us grin and feel good, even if it isn't our best day.  

We live in a city with a big network of paths and trails and this is a town that loves it's dogs.  When I look outside my home office window, or when I am driving past any entrance to the park across the way from us, there are always a lot of people out walking with their dogs.  But what really makes me grin is seeing the dogs who are carrying whatever beloved ball or toy in their mouths, straining on the leash, tail up and wagging, a trot that can't be mistaken for anything other than a happy swagger, and heading for the park.  I saw one today with a deflated basketball in it's mouth, standing next to his master while waiting for the light to change so they could cross over into the park.  I don't know what the dog thought was so cool about that ball but he was obviously proud of it.

It's not a wonder that science has shown that having a pet brings down high blood pressure for their humans.  How could you not forget your stress for a moment when a dog comes along to show you that Life Is Good?

My Poem to Andy Dooley

Excitement and gratitude of something exciting

The trip of a lifetime, so inviting

I feel the presence of the law of attraction

Pulling it all together, setting off a chain reaction

Closing my eyes and sensing faraway places

The thrill of adventure and friendly new faces

Allowing myself to breathe in thrilling inspiration

Memories will last forever from my dream vacation

(Andy said I was an "epic" poem writer.  I laughed, but it did remind me how I used to enjoy writing.  I mostly write goofy stuff these days)

Getting Started

Yes, another blog.  I am getting my feet wet with this first post and hopefully be able to express my gratitude for all the wonderful blessings in my life.  I would love for this to be my blog of positive energy.  I will still write in my other journals but here, I want to feel nothing but the positive energy that comes with gratitude.  I hope this blog to always be upbeat, joyful and kind and hopefully I will become an upbeat, joyful and kind person..