Sisters at heart

"Sisters" come to us...

     in many different ways.

There are those "sisters"...

who we can talk to for hours...

and who bring out our silly side.

There are those "sisters"

who share our childhood...

who have gone through our ups and downs...

and have known us longer than anyone.

There are those "sisters"...

who shared our teenage years.

There are those "sisters"...

who have lost their battle...

but live in your heart forever.

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My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry;
to get my work done
and try to love somebody

and have the courage

to accept the love in return.

~ Maya Angelou ~

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"I am grateful for all the beautiful, talented, courageous women who share my life."

Thank you!

Doing what's right

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In the past...

I was guilty of ignoring the inner struggle...

between my conscience and my will...

until the pain became too great.

When...

I finally surrendered...

a brand new world opened up...

a world that made my soul sing with joy.

I began to listen...

to the wise, whispering voice...

that had always been...

within me.

My intuition became...

my guide...

my road map...

my trusted friend

I no longer...

close my eyes

and heart..

to my truth...


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A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
- Lao Tzu

 

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We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come.

- Joseph Campbell

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"I choose a life of integrity"

Dancing in the rain

The older I get...

the more I appreciate even the simple things...

a walk on the beach at sunset, a good meal, a warm bubble bath...

I've noticed that I find myself...

thinking less about the past or the future...

living more in the moment.

A deeper sense of purpose emerges as time passes...

a meaningful, joy-filled life...

a daily commitment to my own healing process...

and my dedication to helping others with theirs.

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Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...
It's about learning how to dance in the rain.
- Vivian Greene

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"Life is good"

Things that rob our joy

Freedom: being free of restraints, liberated, room to breath deeply…

                                                          Things that rob us of joy:

Unrealistic expectations of ourselves

Judgement, negative thoughts

Fear of not being good enough, fear of abandonment, fear of failure

The “shoulds"; things you tell yourself you should be doing

People-pleasing: saying “yes” when your heart says “no”

Worrying about money, other people problems, the future, health

I promised myself at the beginning of 2012 that this would be the year of freedom for me. I'm working on it every day. I have no doubt that i will achieve my goal. I hope you are working on it with me. A life of freedom is a life of bliss! Come join me!

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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain

Once we’re thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost,

but it’s only here that the new and the good begins.

Leo Tolstoy

" I am free"

Life is on our side

                                                         Some of my  new photos!

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I love discovering new quotes. Even though I've heard of Leo Tolstoy, (author of Anna Karenina, War and Peace,...) I have a greater appreciation this morning for his talents. The quotes below are all written by him.

“rest, nature, books, music…such is my idea of happiness…”

“Boredom: the desire for desires.” 

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“If you look for perfection, you'll never be content.” 

“Happiness does not depend on outward things,

but on the way we see them.”  

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"Life is on my side"

You are my hero

Buying new art supplies is always an incentive for me to create something new. I spend less time in the stores these days because I have so much already, but every now and then, I mosey out...

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A hero is someone who…

Gets back up when they fall in the trenches

Who looks fear in the face and growls back

Isn’t afraid to show their vulnerability

Doesn’t place expectations on others

Is humble, having no need to toot their own horn

Loves life unconditionally

You are my hero

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We don't stop playing because we grow old;

we grow old because we stop playing.

George Bernard Shaw

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"I'll not let fear hold me back"

Living with FMS- A blessing in disguise

The pale pink leaves on this hibiscus flower was so pretty!

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I don't often write about having Fibromyalgia, but it occurred to me yesterday that there are many women who are living with this painful condition and that it may be helpful to share my experience  with it.

For those who don't know what Fibromyalgia is, Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness of the muscles, tendons, and joints. Fibromyalgia is also characterized by restless sleep, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, sensitivity to lights, noise, cold weather... Fibromyalgia is sometimes referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome and abbreviated FMS.

I was diagnosed with FMS 16 years ago. At that time, there was little known on how to treat it. The doctor sent me home with a prescription for muscle relaxers and no explanation as to what I could expect. I threw away the prescription and went on with my life, totally clueless.

Sometime after that, when I was living with a lot of daily stress, I began to get really sick. Every muscle in body ached 24 hours a day. The pain was bad that it made me nauseous most of the time.  I finally become so sick that I had to leave my job. I thought it was only temporary, but today, I would still not be able to manage what I did before.

I was very frightened back then. I went to various doctors, but it seemed like the only treatment they could offer was pain medication. That wasn't a option for me. So I started doing my own research, finding healthier ways to deal with FMS. It took years of trying different things to find what worked for me. Here are some of the things that helped:

I changed my diet, learning to eat healthier.

I changed my lifestyle, eliminating stress from my life.

 I learned the importance of moderate exercise (yoga has been really helpful).

Because I believe that every disease/condition has an emotional cause, that had to be addressed too. Louise Hay's book "You Can Heal Your Life" taught me that having chronic pain comes from carrying guilt, and issues with muscles had to do with resistance to life. Both of these resonated for me. I had unresolved guilt and I fought any kind of change life brought.

And most of all, I had to change my outlook. If I was going to live with this for the rest of my life and there was no cure, then I was determined to create the best quality of life I could give myself.
  And I have! Life today is really wonderful! Many days I am pain-free.

Before FMS, I was living a busy, unconscious life. Having FMS forced me to change. Today I live a simple, mindful, purposeful life. I'm happier than I have ever been. This experience has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

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Love this lavender-colored rose also!

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There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as if everything is.

~ Albert Einstein ~

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"There is no mountain too high for me to climb"

Reaching for comfort food

A new drawing!

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One of my favorite memories as child was eating ice cream at my grandparents house. Our nightly bedtime ritual was having a big bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with salted peanuts and chocolate sauce. It was comforting! And so was staying with my grandparents; they made me feel special. 

Today, it still feels comforting to go to bed at night with a full tummy, just like back then. But I have developed acid reflux. I'm not suppose to eat for at least three hours before bed. That's a challenge for a night snack-er like me. But I'm doing it! Though it feels odd to go to bed with an empty stomach, it also feels good to take care of myself.

I'm not depriving myself of the joy of eating...Let me tell you what I made for breakfast today.

Buckwheat pancakes with fresh blueberries and a sprinkle of powdered sugar, along with chicken blueberry sausage. I'm smiling right now...a bit of heaven...still love to eat.

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FYI- I recently discovered that I missed several wonderful comments that people have left on my blog. I apologize! I like to respond to comments; I appreciate what you have to say. In the future, I will be paying closer attention to my comment box. Thank you all for the love and support you given me through my blogging experience. It has been wonderful!

I also discovered yesterday that there is a short article about my blog site if you go to www.Crescendoh.com. When you get there, click in the left column under readers share. Then scroll down to the date 1-14-12. Have a wonderful day!

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to be refreshed by a morning walk

....to be thrilled by the stars at night
...to be elated over a bird's nest...

...or a wildflower in spring

these are some of the rewards of the simple life. 
John Burroughs

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"I can change the things that no longer work for me"

Setting an intention for your day

I saw this little bird peeking out among the leaves.

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What do you desire? More love?  A more purposeful life? A satisfying career? Peace? Whatever it is that you want, let yourself imagine what it would be like if you got it. How would you feel? Knowing what you want will help you focus your energy in the right direction.

Setting an intention allows your desires to be known. Your intention tells the wonderful, mystical forces of the Universe to work on your behalf. Once you have stated your intention, you can let the thought go. The Universe is already at work.

There is power in setting an intention for your day. Before I even I get up in the morning,

I set my intention . Here are some examples:

…to see the gift in every situation
…to be present to life
…to relax and have fun
…to see the best in everyone
…to create a day filled with purpose

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 For a Peaceful Life

Make peace with the past.
 Live in the present.

Be hopeful about the future.

"My intention today is one of peace, joy, and purpose"

Healing the lonely child within

The clouds look like cotton balls; soft, white, billowy.

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I think most all of us feel lonely at times. Don't we all desire to feel that sense of belonging?

Our journey is finding our way home; the place where we're deeply connected with ourselves, God, and the world around us. It's a journey though...a process...it takes work to heal our past wounds.
We have to make a Greater effort to reach inward and outward.

I still have a lonely little girl in me. She's been with me since childhood. In the past, I couldn't escape her thoughts of not being good enough, feeling unloved, unwanted....no matter what I tried...until I changed the way I talked to myself...began sharing with others my true feelings instead of keeping secrets...and a lot of writing/journaling. These things have helped me heal my little girl. Although she is still with me, the negative thoughts are gone.

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Just like a sunbeam can't separate itself from the sun,

and a wave can't separate itself from the ocean,
we can't separate ourselves from one another.
We are all part of a vast sea of love..."

Marianne Williamson

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"I feel connected to the magnificent world around me"

Responding with love

Gary Zukav - author of "Seat of the Soul"

In cold or warmth, light or dark, deprivation or abundance,
We can choose to respond with love or react in fear... 

We begin to see the painful AND the joyful circumstances of our lives
As opportunities to expand in love... 

We can experience anger, jealousy, loss, rage, or resentment without acting on it. 
We can act in love instead...

We can choose what we will contribute to Life...

We can greet all the experiences of our lives joyfully and use them all wisely.

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The human emotional system can be broken down into roughly two elements:

fear and love.
Love is of the soul.
Fear is of the personality

~ Gary Zukav ~

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"The purpose of our journey on this precious Earth

is now to align our personalities with our souls.
It is to create harmony, cooperation, sharing, and reverence for Life.
It is to grow spiritually...
~ Gary Zukav ~

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"My contribution to the world is to heal my life, love myself and others, and serve God"

Synchroncity

I love the Magnolia trees. Even when I'm on my bike, I'll stop several times just to smell the flowers.

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Have you ever thought of someone, and just at that moment they call you?

Have you opened a book to a random page only to find the solution to a current problem?

You may pass this off as pure chance, but...

It's the Law of Synchronicity - it is real and has existed as long as time.

Synchronicity is seen as a meaningful coincidence.

It gives us a sense that our lives are connected at every moment...

 ...to a mysterious, wonderful, creative power called The Universe

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I caught the sun peeking through the trees.

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"We have all had experiences that we intuitively recognize as meaningful, though we would be hard pressed to explain them in rational terms. In fact, these "meaningful coincidences" are not coincidences at all but spontaneous realizations of the underlying interconnectedness of all things within the Universe."

Laurence Boldt

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There are no accidents... there is only some purpose that we haven't yet understood. Deepak Chopra

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"Nothing in my life happens by chance"

Setting new goals

I found mommy and baby bird again yesterday. Moments like these are priceless.

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 Goals I'm working on:

Slowing down

Living more mindfully

Keeping things really simple

Staying grounded

Paying close attention to my emotional, physical, and spiritual needs

Practicing more meditation

Keeping my heart soft and grateful

Fearing less, trusting more

Letting go of worry

Being in the moment

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The purpose of life, after all,
is to live it,
to taste experience to the utmost,
to reach out eagerly and without fear
for newer and richer experience.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~

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"I will continue to raise the bar when it comes to the quality of my life."

Being present

Because of a head cold, I've spent a lot of time at home this week. It's not fun being under the weather, but this week has gifted me with a sense of being grounded again. Don't get me wrong! My life isn't usually crazy busy, but I can always find things to do. However, the days when I do very little are the days I get in touch with myself deeper. When I'm still, there is less chatter in my mind, more peace, contentment, even a little bliss...

Although it's easier to practice mindfulness when I'm sick, I am going to do my best to stay grounded when I feel well too. I love the feeling of being connected. Why do I resist something that works so well for me? Maybe I'm afraid I'm going to miss out on something and the world will pass me by.

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“Time isn’t precious at all, because it is an illusion... The more you are focused on time—past and future—the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.” Eckhart Tolle 

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"You find peace not by rearranging the circumstances of your life, but by realizing who you are at the deepest level." Eckhart Tolle

"I will slow down and be present"