Defining Success

A great conversation with my friend and confidante really got my brain wheels turning today. What is the measure of a persons success? I've come to the conclusion most times it can't be evaluated by anyone other than the individuals themselves. I believe the ultimate success is satisfaction that causes joy concerning what is being evaluated.

As a business owner who spends a lot of time in a competitive sports environment, the measure of a team's success is often viewed as the final score. Who won? Sweet success! Or is it? I've spent years around various experts who have given me greater light in evaluating what's going on. For example, they often feel if they had the most talented kids competing but mitigating factors led to a loss, they consider the team successful. Success for our coaches is contingent upon talent and skill.

I recently had a heart to heart with my children. We were discussing a kid we know who consistently makes very poor choices. Lying deception and manipulation for personal gain, once you understand the ramifications, are serious character flaws in my opinion. I expressed to my brood the measure of my success as a mother is if they turn out to be caring, compassionate, loving people.

I'll have opinions and suggestions on their careers. I'm trying to model a healthy relationship with my husband so they can gleen what they will for their own future partners. I'm hoping they live somewhere I can readily visit when it's time to fly from the nest. But, all of those circumstances are for THEM to navigate. Just give love. Build people up as well as the world around you. Do your part to make the world a better place. That's what will make me feel like every sacrifice I've made was worth it.

I'm surrounded by visionaries, healers, and prophets in my life. My circumstances are ever evolving. My measure of success when it comes to certain goals is as also. But the greatest measure of my life's work at any given time revolves around the joy rooted deeply in me based on my current body of work. Today I declare myself successful. Peace and love friends xoxo....

Rambling Morning Thoughts

I am not emotionally stunted. But my emotional investments toward most people are definitely blunted... Let me unwrap that for you. I have spent most of my life entrenched in exploring and developing my emotional attachments to people. I love deeply. Be it friendship, family, or relationship based, if I love you, then I love me some you!

I've always considered the risk of loving someone more beneficial than harmful. The love outweighs the pain. So I would love through disappointments when others let me down. I after all am flawed. I've caused my fair share of pain as well.

However, as I mature and grow, I see that not everyone loves the same. Some people don't even love you at all. "I love you" is not a phrase that triggers my automatic loyalty anymore. I used to interpret those words to mean a person was committed to moving in my best interest. I used to believe that phrase would result in a mutual kinship and cooperation in blessing each other.

A more relevant definition of love in my opinion is that love had been replaced by actions emotions and deeds more closely correlated with general fondness. If I therfore can expect you to operate in such a manner, I'm fine with that. But my actions and emotions for you will rightly correspond.

I guess what I find somewhat strange is that people who act in fondness still expect you to move in love. That's the one part of the equation I still find confusing. We should all expect to get out of a relationship only what we are willimg to invest.

I am not emotionally stunted. I AM emotionally blunted. Most people no longer get from me the connection or commitment I'm capable of giving. I consistently and regularly check in with myself. I don't want to slight those who I'm in a relationship with. It's very important to me that I support the people in my life who truly love and support me. I'm told by them that I do a good job. I'm also told by them when I miss the mark. That's one of the best parts of being in a relationship. Adjusting what's needed to maintain your compatibility and grow together with someone. Quality connections with quality individuals makes life wonderful and worth living.

Blunting my emotions towards those who aren't willing to give me the same has been wise. That's not to say that I don't operate in kindness and respect. I try to do that to everyone. But the sacrifice, commitment, and risky investment of love is now reserved for those in my life who are willing to be equally yoked and give me the same thing. Peace and love my good people xoxo...

I Hear You

To whom much is given much is required. These are some of the few words that I have auditorily heard God speak to me. It was years ago. Before I was ever a mother or a wife. Heck I was barely an adult. It was before knew that to be a bible scripture. Or at least before I had it memorized :-)

Happy New Year! No new resolutions to share for I am convinced that I need to stay the course I'm currently on. But I can tell you that when the gravity of the responsibilities that I am currently entrusted with seem too heavy to bear, those words come back to mind.

Prayer, meditation, quality relationships, and faith are the tools I'm using to build my life's work. Learning how to utilize these tools properly is no doubt a learning process. But, what I see when I stand back and evaluate the work is a solid foundation. Moreover I'm FINALLY seeing a structure form beyond the foundation. That makes me both happy and grateful.

So here's to 2016 friends. Whether you're starting over from scratch and coming up with a new life plan, or forging ahead with your current plan, be blessed. Peace and love friends...xoxo

Revelation---> Elimination---> Elevation

I had a cool dream last night. I found myself in my childhood bedroom. It's a space I claimed as my own until I was 20 years old. I loved that room. It was extremely spacious. It had two windows with lots of natural light. My closet what huge. I was able to crawl out of one of the windows and sit on the roof of the patio below. It was just a fantastic place and space for a girl and young woman to grow up.  Important things took place in that room. I had many happy experiences and plenty of sad ones as well. But all things considered, it was for many years my safe space as well as one of my favorite places to be. 

Last night I dreamt that I was packing up that room. In all actuality I packed up that room in 1999. In 2001 when I bought my first house I went and collected everything that held any semblance of sentiment and took it to my own home. This wasn't about packing any specific things. In fact, I didn't really want any tangible items. This was much more about disconnecting myself from the room, and preparing it for someone else. It was about releasing claim to what I once held as my own. 

Interestingly enough I was happy and excited about the process. I was very much enjoying myself. I decided to paint and decorate. I chose a color palate of pale gray and vibrant yellow. To me symbolism is everything so I of course had to look up the meaning of this during the course of readying my children for school this morning. You see...I woke up with a smile on my face as the alarm went off. I took this dream to mean that I am in a place where I finally feel safe and secure in this present life I'm building. I am feeling confident enough to let go of what has always been my safe space, my fallback, my safety net. I can now comfortably open my hand fully and let go of all of that, reach forward and grab onto what I have. 

The results are as follows: To dream of cleaning your bedroom may represent your choice to be more conservative or objective about a personal or private matter. Alternatively, it may reflect how you are getting your personal or private matters in order. To dream of light grey represents situations in your life that are less than terrible. You may be surprised that a bad situation hasn't gotten worse. Positively, a light grey may reflect acceptance of an alternative or that a problem wasn't as bad as you thought it would be. Lighter shades of grey may also represent the intuition. The color yellow in a dream represents noticing something happening or noticing yourself thinking in a certain way. Yellow animals, objects, or clothing all reflect beliefs, feelings, or situations in your life that you are aware of yourself having. Positively, the color yellow represents good luck or positive experiences that are automatic or happen effortlessly. Noticing yourself liking things or having an easy time.

I think that lines up fairly well with how I am feeling and what I thought. So pinky up...I lift my glass (it's a coffee mug it's 9 am lol) to the future and toast what lies ahead! Peace and love friends xoxo...

Cheers

Loose Love

Have you ever come across someone who will hit ya with an "I love you" as seamlessly and effortlessly as they breathe? People need to calm down with all of that loose love. It's not real. Please pass me a namaste. You see my spiritual element and can appreciate it? Yeah I can dig that. Let me look into your spiritual being and admire as well. Love...it's more than a notion and soooo much more than the empty habitual words some people throw around. Be careful with that. Make your words as special as love itself actually is. Word of advice: If you can't truly back those words up, leave them for the person who will truly do just that...

*Turns the page

I had the strangest occurrence this past week during my meditation. I was in the process of self examination and total honesty. In my meditative state I am 100% open with God about my feelings, my intentions, my actions, my hopes etc... I prefer to go through the disciple of going through the exercise of examining "my chakras". It's an opportunity to look at any spiritual or emotional baggage that may be interfering with my productivity and purpose.

This week as I was going through the 7 chakras I was a combination of surprised and confused that the baggage I have been working so hard to clear was...gone. I have spent so much time trying to keep my chakras clear of this clutter. I actually almost panicked at the feeling of emptiness that they were not there. What now?!?!? I thought. I am clear the clutter, and I am empty. I sat in shock before relief set in. I remembered my goal has been to remove everything that had dissipated.

When you're able to stand back and objectively look at situations, you realize everything is connected, and very little is happenstance. This all happens during the winding down of the course my life has been on for a season. Tomorrow marks the dawn of a new age. Life as I have known and become comfortable living it, is drawing to a close. I am starting a new chapter. My chakras are open and free so that I have room for new people, and new situations.

I have noticed that everything I have been open to receive has materialized lately. It's an exciting time and I am open to the growth, abundance, and success that is on it's way to me. I solicit love, light and prayers as the new phase of my life unfolds. Peace and love friends xoxo...

Happy Anniversary

Today marks the 1 year anniversary in our new home. I have loved everyday here! My husband and I drove through our old neighborhood yesterday. That house looks great. The new owners are taking great pride in it. As much as I loved that house, we both agree making a move was for the best. 

As nostalgic as I am, I was able to let go of my attachment. The one thing I noticed was that as much as I loved the old place, the house I grew up in always felt like "home". But now that we moved, THIS house feels like home. Because of that, I wake up every single day feeling happy, secure, safe, cozy, and content. All of those things confirm we made the right choice.

 I remember a conversation I had with my aunt years ago. Her daughter seemed to have trouble settling. She moved around from state to state. When things didn't work out, she would move back to town regroup, and try to move away again. There's nothing wrong with moving away and living in a different geographic area where people talk, dress, eat, and even think a little different. We've all got to figure out where we fit in, and our purpose. But my aunt made a valid point. You can move to the other side of the globe. Wherever you are, you'll still be YOU. We have to settle in our hearts and minds who we are and what we want. Then and only then can we set out on a path that will bring us peace and joy. I am still finding my way. But my soul tells me, I'm definitely on the right path. Peace and love friends xoxo...