These are few of my favorite things...

When ever you may find yourself down in the dumps it is great to think of the things that make your happy.  I personally love when something I enjoy comes into mind randomly because it simply puts a smile on my face.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens may be on Julie Andrews list; however, a few of my favorite things include....

niece, Nica, & nephew, Toriano



...the puppy I will some day have...

Letting the rain hit my face.

Or

Dancing in the rain

Wine & Chocolate (need I say more?)

...my toes in the sand with the hot sun beating down on me...

 

When your feeling sad
Simply remember your favorite things
And then you don't feel so bad!

What is Your Vision?

On Monday remember when I discussed THE SECRET?  Well, throughout the book/dvd there is discussion of creating a vision board.  The point of the vision board to the place words and/or pictures of things you would like to have in life.  Once you have accomplished/received a vision you then take it off the board.  I.E. Up until last April I had "Job" on my vision board because I was going to be losing my current position and I was actually PROMOTED!

Here are some examples of vision boards that I found on Google :

Here is my very own personal Vision Board:

I know that it is a little hard to read, but my board has: happy & healthy everyday, money, an ideal balance, happiness, energy, health, inspiration, to connect with myself, motivation, family forever, believe: trust your instincts, total serenity, smile, live, and some quotes.

If you decide to create your own vision board make sure to make it your own personal style!  I decided to put mine on a picture board because my favorite sayings are on it: "Cherish Yesterday, Live for Today, Dream of Tomorrow" & "Believe in Yourself".  Once your have completed your board make sure that you display it somewhere where you will see it EVERYDAY!  I hope you fun making your board and while you are doing it make sure you pour yourself a glass of wine because you deserve it! 

Tuesdays with Morrie

One of my favorite quotes comes from Mitch Albom's book Tuesdays with Morrie.  It seems so appropriate to share with you since today is Tuesday.

"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."

If you have not had the opportunity to read this yet put it on your list.  The book is a great easy inspirational read.  Find it here on Amazon

Do You Have Positive Energy?

According to a little quiz I found through my google search I have 89% positive energy.  My results are the following:

Your positivity score is 89%. You are really getting the hand of putting negativity behind you as you are able to enjoy the gift of positive energy flowing in your life. Click on the link below to start reading Dr. Orloff's strategies for creating even more positive energy in your life.

(I'll admit it I didn't click on the link)

What about you? Do you think you have positive energy?  Why not take the test?

Positive Energy Quiz

Remember the craze in 2006 when The Secret came out (there is no denying it here I have both the book and the DVD).  The book reveals how you can change every aspect of your life.  It teaches you that everything is possible.  There are no limits.  Whatever it is you dream it can be yours, when you use The Secret.  However, you can be the judge of that.  It is worth watching the DVD (I had a hard time reading the book).  Let me know if you want to borrow either of them!

The Book, The DVD

Below are a few examples of when you emit positive and negative energy:

You're emitting positive energy when you:

1. Stay in touch with your dark side and weaknesses, and are willing to grow towards healing and strength. Positive energy is about movement.
2. See the positive qualities in other people. Positive energy values other positive qualities.
3. Feel compassion towards yourself and the world (we're all doing the best we can!)
4. Listen to – and try to understand – other perspectives, regardless of how different. Positive energy is open minded.
5. Give the benefit of the doubt. Positive people don't judge quickly.
6. Express your true self in thoughts and actions, gently and honestly (and free others to do the same!). Positive energy is honest.
7. Share your negative thoughts and emotions. Positive energy admits the negative.
8. Celebrate the success and happiness of other people. Positive energy appreciates success.
9. Feel fear and defeat, and keep persevering anyway. Positive energy doesn't deny negative emotions.
10. Follow your dreams and desires

You're not emitting positive energy when you:

1. Ignore your dark side and weaknesses (and then act them out). Negative energy isn't honest.
2. Focus on other people's mistakes and weaknesses. Negative energy is critical.
3. Obsess about being perfect; whether it's at work, at home, or with your appearance (or other people's!). Negative energy strives for perfection.
4. Try to change other people's perspectives and opinions. Negative energy wants everyone to be of one mind.
5. Try to please people constantly and ignore your own needs. Negative energy isn't balanced.
6. Let other people's moods and energy dictate your own.
7. Swallow your negative thoughts and emotions.
8. Resent the successes and joys of others. Negative energy is jealous.
9. Allow fear and cynicism to harden your heart and color your perspective. Negative energy revolves around fear and bitterness.
10. Ignore your goals, plans, and passions. Negative energy suffocates your dreams

You can pick your friends.....

....but you sure as hell can't pick your family.

I don't know about you, but I LOVE my family as crazy, dysfunctional, strange, annoying, overwhelming, overbearing, controlling as they can be, I love everything about them!  They complete my life.  I can honestly say that I don't know where I would be without them.  I am SO blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life.  Now, the great thing is that we are growing in size!

I have a niece and nephew who are my world!  Their pictures are displayed all through my apartment, a photo of them is my background on my laptop, and I display a photo of them at work!  When I go "home" they are who I spend the majority of my time with.  They make me laugh - just thinking about them right now puts a smile on my face!

I don't get to see my family as much as I would like, but that just makes those times I do that much better!  I enjoy our adventures together whether it is a group of us flying across the country for a wedding, playing beer pong in homemade costumes after Christmas or Easter dinner, taking yearly trips to Martha's Vineyard, or dressing up for our annual golf tournament.  But the best times are sitting around the table with a bottle of wine (we usually consume much more than a bottle) and just talking.  It doesn't take much to entertain us - just give us a blood pressure machine and we will have a blast!  Seriously, one night after drinking a few during dinner we decided to take our blood pressure to see whose was the worst.

I know I can always count on my family.  When I am upset I know I can count of someone to make me laugh.  I have learned, however, that if you don't want EVERYONE to know something don't tell ANYONE.  We are not good at keeping secrets from each other.

When was the last time you sincerely told your husband, wife, partner, children, mother, father, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, or friend that you truly loved them?  Why not do it today? Tomorrow? The next day? Every day?  We toss those three simple words around half heartedly - the next time you say it make sure you mean it!

There are many people who don't realize how lucky they are to have such wonderful people in their lives and they take that for granted.  I hope you are not one of those people. Appreciate everything that is given to you - the good and the bad.

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family."

-Anthony Brandt-

Think Happy Thoughts

Did you know that the "average" (I had to put it in quotes.  Really what is average?  Your average may be different from my average.  Opps, getting off track here - you will find through time I enjoy to do this) ... the "average" person generates roughly 50,000 thoughts a day!!  Two thirds of those are positive happy thoughts - that is if your name isn't Negative Nancy, Debbie Downer, Gloomy Gus, or Bitter Betty.

Alright so if you think happy thoughts, you create a happy perception, which then creates a happy aura, and leads to happy events and generates more happy thoughts!  It sounds so simple! 

Happy thoughts trigger a happy life.  Happier thoughts give you the stability, foundation, and control to be tossed around in this crazy thing called life....   

In other words THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS!!

....I simply leave you a song....