When the Stars Align

Sometimes I can think so much, plan so much and work so hard to get to what I think I want... but then other times, I can just be... in the right place, at the right time, with everything I need.  It's times like that I realize that it's not that the stars suddenly aligned... but that I did.

Mental note... The stars are ALWAYS aligned... act accordingly.

Today's Silver Lining

"See the stars align, And you know it’s all for you, Down were you before, Now you come alive for this, There’s calm inside the storm, If you know just what you’re trying for, See what you could be, And you know you shine for me, why not now."  Stars Align- by Kaskade  

Blah, Blah, Ah ha...

I was thinking about all the things people will tell you these days... from the president, to advertisers, to your friends.  It's so easy to tell people what you think they want to hear.  "This product will change your life," or, "I can change this country for the better," or the classic, "I'm so busy, next time for sure." It's rare however, that those things said are proven to be true.

I find myself doing that often times with life, the difference is, life is no sucker... it's not gonna buy the dreams I'm selling... life isn't listening, it's happening... based on what I DO.  I can talk about going to the gym as much as I want, but the only thing that is gonna get me in shape, is going.  There's a great story about a man who went to church everyday and prayed to win the lottery.  "Please God, Please, just let me win this week!"  He did this for years, and finally God replied, "Please, Please buy a ticket."

We want things to happen, to change, to amaze us, but at the end of the day, it is up to us to listen to what we are saying... and then do it!  We can't rely on words alone, the proof is in the pudding.  If I was to tell you that I could do 5 backflips in a row, you'd want to see me do it... otherwise, you wouldn't believe me... I hope!  It's the action that gives words value.  One of my favorite lessons from The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz, is, "Be impeccable with your word." Doing what you say creates trust.  Like the little boy who cried wolf... after so many times, no one believed him when there was a wolf, because his previous actions proved otherwise.

When we start listening to what we're saying and compare that to what we are doing... it's easy to see why things are or are not happening.  If there are things you keep telling yourself, or others, make them happen!  Like the old saying goes, "Don't just talk the talk, walk the walk."  And if you're enjoying the walk, why not run every now and again?!

Today's Silver Lining

"Saying "I love you", Is not the words I want to hear from you, It's not that I want you, Not to say, but if you, only knew how easy, It would be to show me how you feel, More than words, Is all you have to do to make it real, Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me, Cause I'd already know." More Than Words- by Extreme

Use it or lose it

I know so many talented people out there, that have let fear get the best of them.  Bills, security, and judgement have become their master.  I watch as they try to convince themselves that what they're doing is the best option, because it is the most practical.  They create stories about how there is no way other things would work, and how those things they love to do, and were born to do, are silly.

I too have fallen into this trap.  I've given up my dreams for someone else's advice... luckily, my pesky little dreams won't let me forget them until they get the attention they deserve, regardless of how hard I try to ignore them.  It's still tough sometimes to listen to them though, even when I know they are right.  It's still a struggle to take risks and know how hard you may fall, because there's always that chance you may not be able to get back up.  What I have learned though, is that when you try, you'll always make it up somehow, but you'll never be able to answer the "what if's?" if you don't.

I read a quote today that said,


"It's not important what you have, it's important what you use."

I couldn't agree more.  You could have a golden ticket, but unless you use it to go to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, what good is it? (Oh man would I use that, btw!)  If you buy lots of veggies and eat out all week, they go bad. (guilty, workin on it! Yay!)  If you're a great writer, but never even write a letter, well... you get the point.  As the song goes, "Shake what your momma gave ya!"

So this week I'm adding a 'to use list' on my 'to do list', because on top of my veggies in the fridge, I also have clothes in my closet, and ideas in my head that have been sitting around for a while!

Today's Silver Lining

"I said hey, you, what-cha gonna do, Time's run out on you, Use it or lose it, Sweet time is it on my side?  I said hey hey hey hey hey, Better use it before you lose it, You better use it don't throw it away." Use It Or Lose It- by Motley Crue

What's Love Got to Do With It

Love, sweet love.... the same love that creates fear, and then allows us to overcome it.  The same love that rocks our world, then breaks our heart.  The very love that makes us blissfully happy and then lost and hopeless. When we feel that love, we are happy...  people skip, hum, do things with the slightest of ease, and breeze by all shiny and new... smiles are sure to follow... as The Beatles say, "all you need is love."  There have been many studies done on happiness that show that no matter what people's end goal is in life, their motivation in having it is generally because they think it will make them happy.  Which me leads me to the question... when it comes to happiness... and what's love got to do with it?


Buddha says, "There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way." Well if happiness is the way... I say that love is the thing that keeps you moving.  So many times I've heard people wanting love, seeking love... but from my experience love can only be experienced, not held... it is not a noun, (for those of you who don't play madlibs, a noun is a person, place or thing), but a verb, (again, just incase, a verb is an action:-).  We cannot expect anything to make us happy, we can only do things which keep us happy.  When we look as it as a noun and try to hold it, we stand still, and often lose that love, as well as our happiness... but when we keep the wheels turning on the love train, we keep moving along on our happy way :-)

Today's Silver Lining

"What's love got to do, got to do with it, What's love but a sweet old fashioned notion, What's love got to do, got to do with it, Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken." What's Love Got To Do With It- By Tina Turner  

Why, Thank You

The more I choose to be thankful for, the more life seems to open its doors and welcome me in.  I meet people who seem to be exactly what I need in that moment.  I'm in the right place at the right time.  It's not that the things in my life have even changed that much, but there is a difference between having a life, and having a life you're grateful for.  And the more I am thankful for… the more I have to be thankful for. Life is full of the same things for everyone in different costumes.  Joys, sorrows, loses, gains, struggles, victories... but what makes some people enjoy things more than others, is the way they choose to view these things.  We can choose how we view our lives and react to our circumstance.  When things get tough, we can choose to learn from them and move on… or play victim.  When things are good, we can choose to enjoy and be grateful for the blessing, or worry about what's gonna happen next. 
 
Now I'm not saying you have to be grateful for everything that happens, (or maybe I am), but at least looking at everything in relation to it's place in the bigger picture.  You may not like going to the gym, but you'll probably like the results.  It's not easy to be thankful while watching a loved one suffer, but it makes you more grateful for them. Change is sometimes tough, but it enables new exciting things to happen.  To be grateful is to really value and embrace everything on the path of our life's journey, and that allows us to keep moving along.  Thank you is like the "Open Sesame," to the  secret door of life's abundance.  I try to wake up with one "thank-you" everyday, and have seen how welcome I am into a whole new world of possibilities!

Today's Silver Lining:

I drank too much last night, got bills to pay, my head just feels in pain, I missed the bus and, there'll be hell today, I'm late for work again, And even if I'm there, they'll all imply , that I, might not last the day, And then you call me and it's not so bad, it's not so bad and I want to thank you for giving me the best day of my life, Oh just to be with you is having the best day of my life. Thank You- by Dido 

The Mysterious Next

I'm always talking about how much I love change.  I embrace it good or bad.  It keeps me going, growing and feeling like I'm making progress... I don't however always have a smile on my face when I'm in the midst of it.  Especially during the dreaded stage of... "What next?"  I've probably been there more than most.  (In fact, for all of you digital socialites out there, if "what's next?" were a place on foursquare I'd be the mayor!)  However, even at the space in between I can't help but feel excited for what's next.


I've heard it many times before and often wondered it myself, "How do I know I'm doing the right thing?"  And every time I've ever done something, no matter what it was, it's lead me to realize that you can only do the right thing.  No matter what the outcome was, somehow, whatever step I took was exactly what I needed to get where I was; which is also a part of where I am now.  It's easy to look into the future and do something to try to get a certain result, then be disappointed when the expectation isn't met, but as I learned from Russell Simmons:

"Always focus on your effort, instead of the results of that effort."

Such great advice.  Just focusing on what can be done now. Life as it is.  Where it is.  Because it is. There's always another and, if, or, what, but for now, you can choose to live it. What's next?  Whatever happens once the next step is taken... but until then it is crucial to remember to keep strutting your stuff... Because no matter where you are now, if you're here, there's still another next to your what in life.

"Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If you're alive, it isn't."~ Richard Bach

Today's Silver Lining:

"Welcome to your life, There's no turning back, Even while we sleep, We will find you, Acting on your best behavior, Turn your back on mother nature, Everybody wants to rule the world, It's my own design, It's my own remorse, Help me to decide, Help me make the most, Of freedom and of pleasure, Nothing ever lasts forever, Everybody wants to rule the world." Everybody Wants to Rule the World- by Tears for Fears

Old Fears, New Years

It seems the years come and go faster and faster, and while we chase the future trying to catch up, a lot of things seem to get left behind.  Around this time of year everyone scurries around trying to catch up on their vices before swearing them off in the new year.  "This is the year I'm gonna... lose weight, get a new job, exercise more, be happy, etc."  We begin to focus on all the things we can't do anymore, all the sacrifices we have to make, and convince ourselves this is the year we can... well, for a few weeks anyways... then we decide we'll try again next year.  I can't tell you how many times I've made the same new years resolutions... but I can tell you I've never managed to see them through.  I start strong, but I seem to always let myself off the hook, and go on as if nothing ever happened. The year on the calendars may change, but somehow the same old fears seem to find me here, again.  


Fear.  Around this holiday it has been used by marketers and gyms everywhere to try to get people roped in.  Somehow it has been established that in the New Year there needs to be big changes... or else.  Fear, I have looked it straight in the eye and seen what it can do, and yet it still gets me when I least expect it.  It's that time of year again, and as I started thinking about how I wanted to go into 2011, my old fears stopped in for a visit.  The fear of failure, the fear of not being able to change the things I should, the fear of becoming complacent... and then something drastic happened. Love won.  


All of a sudden as I looked at all the amazing things that I have in my life and realized... I don't need to focus on change, only growth; change is a natural bi-product of that.  I don't need to get rid of anything, just enhance everything; things that no longer fit will naturally fall away!  Most of all, there is nothing I need to fear, when I decide to do everything out of love!!! 


As I was surfing around the world wide web the other day, I found a great video from Brian Johnson that gives great advice on how to set yourself up for a year to remember... I highly recommend taking the time to listen to his words of wisdom:





So as the time is upon us to prepare for the year ahead, let's move forward with the things that inspire us and challenge us... let's do a year end clearance of all that fear left over.  Last year gave us everything we need to make this the best year ever... After all:

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us."  ~Hal Borland

Today's Silver Lining:

"Our rights, our wrongs, a moment, a love, a dream aloud,  a moment, a love, a dream aloud, so stay there, because I'll be, coming over, and while our blood's still young, it's so young, it runs and we won't stop until it's over, won't stop to surrender." Sweet Disposition- by Temper Trap