March Madness

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.  ~ Tony Robbins

Uh oh, you're thinking.  Surely you must know where I'm going with this quote, and if you think we need some drastic changes to make differences in our lives, you'd be right.

Damn, I hate it when you're always right.

In a day and a half, the beautiful month of March will be upon us.  I love March for many reasons...

My mom's birthday is in March.
Spring-like weather usually begins in March.
Hockey season ends, and that usually means that work becomes way quieter.
Lacrosse begins.


This year it's also going to be my own personal March Madness to kick my butt into gear and out of this funk.  I am going to create my own 30 Day Challenge for different areas of my life, because I've been wasting way too much time lately boo-hooing about life and not enough time doing.  Pick one and do along with me, won't you?

Mo's March Madness 30 Day Challenge

1.  Write 1000 words every. single. day.  I'm already 20K into my book, and figure this will actually take me near the end, and well, who can quit at the end?  Not me.

2.  30 Day Photo Challenge:  Now that we all have our fancy new apps, this will be a fun way to see our world.  This one is actually not even a challenge... just something fun to do everyday!

3.  Health:  On Friday I'll be walking into Court One and making a commitment to myself and my health.  Yes, I should've done it a month ago, but sometimes I'm a little slow on the uptake.  Anyways, I will be participating in some sort of exercise Monday-Saturday with Sundays off for 30 Days.

Is this crazy?  Yes.

Do I need something so extreme or I'll die from boredom or self-loathing?  YES.

I am so sick and tired of complaining about myself and decided I just need a kick in the pants.

Of course I'll check in here to let you know how it's going, and I sincerely hope you decide to challenge yourself in some way.  It doesn't have to be big... just something that will get you outside your thoughts.


Happy Wednesday!

Bestest

True, you won't find this word in Websters, but it doesn't stop me from using it all the time.  Probably not as much as I should lately, but I'm working on that starting here.  Trying to see the best in any situation is a tough skill to learn, and once you do, it's even tougher to maintain.

Sadly, I can only relate it to a diet.

When I look back, I can clearly see that my moods, like my diet, are on some sort of crazy mood pendulum, swinging from really happy/positive to my-life-has-no-purpose.  Am I manic depressive?  Possibly, :) but I think I just lose focus of the big picture from time to time and slip into seeing only the bad around me.

When you take the time to just count your blessings, no matter how small, life really isn't so bad.  I know, I know, easier said than done.

So taking a cue from my favorite website, I'm going to copy one of their ideas and make a list of Best Evers.

1.  Best Song:  What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.  Yes, it's corny, but it's true.  This was our wedding song, and to this day it will bring a smile to my face.  I will have to say that At Last by Etta James (I'm listening to it now) is a very close second.

2.  Best Book:  Really?  I have to pick just one?  Well most of you could probably guess that it would be the last Harry Potter, The Deathly Hallows.  I have had an obsession with Harry since I started reading them ten years ago.  Close second will have to be Charlotte's Web.  There is still something about that story that literally made me want to live on a farm when I was little.  Love.

3.  Best Movie:  You've Got Mail.  If I ever win the lottery, I will reopen The Shop Around the Corner... and add a coffee shop with it.  Love, love love.

4.  Best Life Moment:  This is the hardest one because there are so many!
-I would have to say that the first time you hold your child is one of the most amazing moments God could ever give you.
-Walking down the aisle towards Toby who couldn't stand still because he was so nervous.
-Writing the last paragraph in my first book.  It was a moment when I realized how important it is not to give up on something you want to do.
-Being surrounded by friends, love, tears, and laughter on the night of my mom's funeral.  It was sad and beautiful at the same time.

5.  Best Advice:  Make all of your choices out of love, not fear.  Don't do anything because you're afraid of what will happen if you don't.  Yes, you need to be wise, but when you start living in fear, you really just stop living.

So that's it.  Start today to see the best in your life.... even if it's just the best cup of coffee you've ever had.  Starting small - baby steps - is sometimes the best way.

I hope you have the bestest day ever.

Bradley

I've always been a fan, but not really in love with Bradley Cooper like a lot of women are.


Sure, he's charming, funny, and well, those eyes are a little distracting too.  But he doesn't usually interview well... at least that's what I thought.

I happened to find these videos, yes- on youtube- and well, let's just say I sat and watched all four in one sitting.  I don't think I even got up.

And now I kinda get it.... all the hype.

I'll put them on here and hope you watch them.  I think if you watch the first one you'll be hooked like I was.

I really wish I had gotten to see Silver Linings Playbook now.... sigh.

Happy Saturday!

faith

Today isn't about advice, complaining, or even hating work (which, for the record, I still kinda do).

No.  Today is about the fact that it started out horrible... not what I was expecting, and somehow, someway, it all turned out okay.  

And tonight I just wanted to remind you to have FAITH that no matter how bad it all seems, there is  something bigger going on for us to learn from.

We just don't know it yet.

Sometimes we just have to stop resisting and give in to whatever the hell is going on.

I will leave you with two things:

1.  My favorite board on Pinterest.  It literally makes things okay sometimes.

2.  This Video that should make you giggle, especially after today.

If all else fails, try playing Jack Johnson on Pandora and bake some brownies.

No judging....

Stay warm my friends.

clarity.

Every now and again, I have a moment of clarity when the noise and clutter of my usual thoughts are quiet enough for my creative thoughts to bubble up to the top.  One thing I have learned over the years is that I'm an artist at heart, and my job, what I get paid to do, tends to have a drowning affect over my creativity.  I get bogged down with business details and stuck in my thinking.

And I hate that.

Like... a lot.

So, when it gets to be a week or two that I haven't written, it's usually because the first week (or last one) of learn to skate is lurking.  Or it's month end.  Or website issues are making me crazy.

Well, you get the picture.

When work is pressing down on my shoulders, my favorite thing to do is ... drumroll, please.... Pinning.  Yes, I love to pin.  I love to find people far more creative than me with far more time on their hands, posting projects from their well-maintained websites.

Bitches.

But I do love their work, and it does get me out of my head to dream a little and at least wish for something better.  For instance, a couple weeks ago I found a pin that boasted tricks for taking quality pictures with your iPhone.  She claimed she doesn't even use her big, expensive camera any longer because her pictures with her phone turned out just as good.

Things that make you go Hmmmmmm.  Check it out here if you don't believe me.
Then download the apps.
Then start taking pictures.

Soon you'll start thinking that you actually are a photographer.

Keep in mind, I'm not really a photographer.  I just like to pretend.  And I'm sure someone somewhere will scoff at these, but I really like them.  

Never mind these were taken with an iPhone.
Never mind these were 'edited' with an app.
Never mind these were taken from a moving car on the way to St. Johns.

I just like the fact that instead of burying my nose in a book, which is what I love about road trips, I stopped and looked around.  I became aware of the world around me for a change.

And it was really, really pretty.

Short story long:  The part of me that really wants to be a photographer instead of a skating director actually gets to play the part more often now.  And I didn't have to spend $599 on a new camera.

Not sure there was really a point here.  A pin, maybe, but not a point.

I hope you like the pictures, and hope you find yourself looking around your world and taking more pictures of your own.

Have a happy Tuesday.

Go GREEN!

karma

Why do we always give karma such a bad rap?

Karma kicked my ass today.

That's usually what we think of when we hear the word karma.  We believe that when bad things happen to us, it's karma for something we did to someone else.  Why are we always so quick to believe the bad in us and our lives, and yet we so easily dismiss the good things we do?  I'd like to believe that when good things happen, karma is working for us and letting us know we're making the world a better place.

Take, for instance, my #makesomeonesday Lenten goal I made to myself.  I have to believe that putting out all that good is going to come back to me at some point.  Now that's not why I'm doing it, but hey if it's going to come back to me, then all I have to say is bring it on.  At this point in my life I could use all the help I can get.

How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours. ~Wayne Dyer

This was waiting for me when I got to the office today :)

Ok, so I will often get awesome gifts like this for most holidays and/or skating events.  Sometimes alcohol is involved, sometimes jewelry is involved, and chocolate is a always a given.  Today a journal was included, and how in the world she knew I had been looking for the perfect one lately is beyond me.  

I'll just call it Jenny, Karma, and accept the gifts with a grateful heart.  

So go out there and get some karma working for you.  

Make someone's day.

#makesomeonesday

It's really no secret, although most of us forget it from time to time.

When you take the time to make someone's day, your day instantly becomes better.  The trick is to make it your choice to help others, and not something that's an obligation or expected.

Today, for the first time in years, I bought some Valentines for a few people who I know will love them.  I giggled through the store, and had completely forgotten how fun it is to send cards in the mail.

An actual card with a stamp and return address.

Genius.

Enjoy the rest of your day, and don't forget to spread the love tomorrow!

Giving

As in giving up.

As in 'What are you giving up for Lent?'

This is a question that plagues me every year, and now that it's the night before Ash Wednesday, it's officially crunch time.

I sometimes have difficulty in understanding the whole giving something up for lent.  I get the whole need to sacrifice during this time and making our lives a little uncomfortable, but what if we flipped the whole idea?  What if instead of giving something up, we chose to do one good deed (more if you're so inclined) a day?  What if you chose to make the world, at least your little corner of it, better by simply giving instead of giving up?

I like to think that Jesus would approve.

Perhaps, for Lent, you try something new and give one thing up and give one thing away.

You could give a smile.

You could give advice.
You could give a much needed hug.
You could give the gift of time.
You could give thanks.

I know the past few months I have zeroed in on my faults and lack, and honestly,  I'm ready to turn that around.  I'd like to turn my focus on others and see how I can help make their lives better.  I know karma has a beautiful way of giving back to me when this is done, so I am going to go for it.  For the next 40+ days, I am going to find a way to make someone's life better every single day.  I'd love to say that I'll blog about it every day, but you know me better than that.  I will try to as much as possible, but every and day are two words that haunt me.

They are words that procrastination laughs at.

So what am I giving up?  Well, that's a bit more challenging for me.  I'm leaning towards candy and snacking in between meals, but who knows.  I'll wake up tomorrow and know what it will be.  I know that a good night of sleep will lead me in the right direction of what I need right now.

"Once there was a tree.
And she loved a little boy."

I wish you all a wonderful Ash Wednesday, and may you find more ways to give during this time.

6-Word Wednesday

Dream a little dream for me.

That's it.  That's my 6 words for today.

I woke up today thinking, knowing, I'm not doing enough to make any of my dreams come true.  For whatever reasons I tend to waste any free time I may have.

Too much TV.
Too much surfing the web.
Too much procrastinating.
Too much wanting, not enough doing.  (There's another 6-words)

I also spend a great deal of time lately stewing.  Stewing about how crappy life can be, about how little money there always is, and honestly can there be a a bigger waste of time?  (10 points for you if you read that last part like Chandler)

I know many of you feel the same way.  The hardest part of all is figuring out and knowing what it actually is you want in your life.

Then you have to be brave enough to claim it as yours and go for it.  It's not easy, but in my heart, I know this is what is going to make life worth living.

Have a fabulous day my friends... yep, that's another 6 words.

Instagram

No, I am not a 12 year-old girl.

But I do love Instagram.

I have found it to be more fun that Facebook at times, because it forces you to 'see' the world, your world, differently.  Things you wouldn't think were interesting can look completely different with a change of filter or color, and presto-chango, you're a photographer!

I do realize that I take all together way too many pictures of Goldie, but seriously, her face is too cute, and my life isn't the most exciting on most days.  I'm working on it.  Recently, I have been trying to take at least one picture a day... kinda makes for a really interesting photo journal of sorts.

So do me a favor and join Instagram and follow me.  I'll do the same.

And together we can learn to appreciate the little things in our lives.

Teamwork

Well, in 2013 fashion, we have had another one of those weeks.

There are so many different things going on right now, and it reminds me of my statement back in December... Crazy is the new normal.

This weekend's events with hockey seems to be sitting with me and bringing up a very important message that I think we all need to be reminded of from time to time.

TEAMWORK.

This video still can bring me chills even after watching it hundreds of times.  It's one of those perfect moments in movies that can inspire.  Blake's team has been struggling for the past couple weeks, mostly because they had forgotten they are a group of boys playing for one goal.  Not individual players who think they can do it on their own.  I'm pretty sure the lesson was learned last night as we watched them warm up by them selves, and heard of a pre-game locker room pep talk from each player... no coach involved.  Listening to Blake (who was clearly moved) talk about it made my eyes water with pride.  And an 11-1 Win is a pretty strong statement from a team.

"I love my team," he said, wrapping it up.

Me too, Blaker, me too.

But of course, this lesson isn't just for the team.  Our lives - our 'goal' - seems to be about handling one thing after another, preventing the almighty stay-in-the-moment feeling we're searching for.  Some of us are handling BIG things and some of us are handling smaller things, and I, for one,  think I can handle problems on my own much better than sharing with a friend.  I am the classic loner when life is in chaos.  I stop answering the phone, make many excuses to get out of social events, and hide behind work.  I try to avoid people at all costs so I don't have to pretend to be happy.  In this world when everyone is trying to be perfect and appearances mean everything, I know I hate to be the one with depression.  It's such an ungrateful feeling and beating it alone is just what I've always done.

When I look back on my life, I can only wonder why I do this to myself.  Teamwork can apply to life too, and our friends and family are the team mates who can carry the load and support us when we fall.  We don't have to be alone with we're "losing" and instead, we should be rallying with people who are on our team... allowing them to help us through the game of life.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do 

so much." ~ Helen Keller

I am glad I have you all on my team.  

Have a fabulous Sunday!