Eliminating the Weeds in Your Life

I don't know about you but over the years I've had to let a few relationships die along the way to get to where I am today. While it wasn't easy in the moment, it was so necessary. If certain friends or family members aren't willing to love, support, encourage and uplift you or are just really negative and toxic, it's time to stop watering those relationships and spend time pouring into those who feed you. Sometimes it's a person that is extremely needy and just sucks the life out of you with their constant problems and often drama they bring upon themselves. Life is too short to be held back by those who aren't happy in their own life and take it out on others, looking for company in their misery.

Some will argue "but she's my sister" or "I've known her since kindergarten" and feel a sense of obligation.  While these things might be true, if you're not being treated right by the person in question of you don't feel happy, at ease or yourself around this person any longer, it might be time to have a talk. Many times in friendships and other relationships simply making a point of discussing something that is bothering you will remedy the problem. Other times, they might be too prideful to admit their wrongdoing to repair a relationship so it can continue. When you've been patient then taken it upon yourself to tell the other person how they are making you feel and there is no response, it may be time to move on. It doesn't mean you cannot ever be friends in the future, it just means that perhaps you both need a break. Maybe the other person will realize that they miss your friendship enough to work on themselves to repair what was once a beautiful and treasured relationship. Other times it may in fact be the best to move on and not look back.

It's definitely not always easy, but when you do this you'll feel a lightness as if a huge burden has been lifted off your shoulders. If you feel that and don't really feel a sense of the friendship missed, it's pretty clear that they weren't meant to be in your life any longer. It's liberating to live authentically, know what you stand for, what's important to you and to act accordingly, that you will not continue to put yourself in a negative environment that feels more like work than enjoyment.

As we prepare to enter a new season in just a few weeks, now might be a good time to look at your life and determine what's working, what and who bring you joy as well as those that do not and move in a direction that allows you to get the most out of your life so you won't become entangled by any weeds that exist. You deserve to be HAPPY! :)

Is there anyone right now that is a 'weed' in your life instead of a flower. Are there any flowers that aren't getting enough of your time because it's being spent watering the weeds?

Happy Weekend!


XO




*image credit

Inspiration for your Week!

How is everyone doing? We're half way through the week and I hope you are making progress, realizing your dreams and conquering your fears!

As summer quickly approaches, and for some of you the kids get ready to finish school, it's easy to get distracted and lose focus of your goals. I have found myself distracted by necessary and unnecessary things lately and when I realized we've been home from our vacation for a whole month now and I've not seen the kind of progress in certain areas of my life that I had originally planned on for the middle of May, I decided to kick it into high gear!

Yesterday I watched a few Tony Robbins videos via his YouTube channel which actually helped a lot to re-train my mind to be laser-focused and start taking massive action by turning my shoulds into musts! I've followed Tony well before he began the Breakthrough series on Oprah's OWN Network. If you haven't seen it yet, it's a fabulous 6-episode series!


This morning a song from the 90's was playing in my headed that I couldn't help but google the words to so I could it share with all of you to get moving and take charge of your day. If nothing else, it's a great workout track!

My hope is that it is a reminder to you that you can do anything, nothing can stop you  if you keep on moving and putting one foot in front of the other. The key is to keep momentum going and take action daily. As Tony says, Progress = Happiness!

We sometimes get so overwhelmed with large goals that we don't even know where to begin. Break your goals down into bite-sized pieces. If you are trying to get in better shape, commit to walking/jogging for 30 minutes every single day before dinner or early in the morning. If you are a writer, make the decision to write just one page per day and see where it leads. Perhaps you've a student and you feel like graduation is so far away, just take it class by class, test by test focusing on each as if it is the most important and before you know it, you'll be holding your diploma!

If you fall off the wagon, get back on! Don't reprimand yourself for not having done better, for procrastinating or for not having had enough focus in the past. We can only live in the here and now. Love yourself and be proud every time you choose to take action. If you need some inspiration to get you going as I did, invest in yourself by watching these Tony Robbins videos:  New Year, New Life!  , Why Some People Take Massive Action & Others Don't , Create a New Story You'll be glad you did! :)

Did the song inspire you? What are you working towards right now? What helps you stay focused or motivated?

Have a blessed day ladies!

*images via: (1) , (2)

Appreciating What You Have

A few months ago I stumbled across a quote by Epicurus (below) that I had never heard before and I just love it! We live in a world where we worry about the next day or deadline, think about the next holiday, plan for the next home we wish to own, save up for the next car we can't wait to drive but if we stop for a moment we will realize that much of what we currently have is what we once longed for. Sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in the bigger, better, faster, now kind of mentality. Like a child with a shiny new toy, sometimes we push aside the worn and familiar forgetting about its beauty and relevance in our lives as we give a new item all of our focus. If you've been reading this blog for a while, you may remember this post I wrote last year where I shared how I once struggled to love and truly appreciate our current, 50-yr old home and how I came around to actually enjoy it.          

I am a big dreamer and I love vision boards as a tool to draw myself towards that of which I hope to achieve, experience or own but there is something so humble and grateful about appreciating what you have and reflecting back on what it took to obtain those things and asking yourself if the things you are lusting after are really a true need in your life or just a passing 'want'.

One of the first things that comes to mind is our car. Sure, I'd love to have the newer model of the car we currently own but I love her story, we sacrificed for her. In the summer of 2008 my hubby was hit by a drunk driver and it totalled our car (thankfully he was alright!) and as a result we had to replace the one and only car that we share. We drove rentals for months as we tried to not rush in and buy just anything. We fell in love with the Hyundai Sonata and focused on finding one in our area.

We finally decided upon one that was in mint condition, the color we wanted, had all the features we desired and was the right price. We worked hard to get her though. We scrimped and saved and made payments of nearly hubby's entire teaching paycheck per month plus a down payment to pay her off in just four months. It was an intensely stressful time but she became ours and we love not having a monthly payment. Anytime I see a shiny new ride on the street I remind myself of what we have. One day we'll have a second car when we need one and it will be something great but in the meantime we're just enjoying what we have.


What things had you once only hoped for at one time but are now enjoying?
 



*image, quote

Your Greatest Beauty Asset

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We women spend a great deal of time primping ourselves to look good. I don't know a single woman that isn't trying to reverse the aging process in one way or another.

You could be the most well dressed, most fit and physically beautiful woman from the outside but if you are missing than inner sparkle that shines though, then you are missing the point of true beauty. The world wants to see your SMILE. It lets others know you are happy, that you choose to be content with who you are, where you are at in life and brightens the day and often the lives of others.

It's such a simple thing-it doesn't cost a penny, we don't have to search for it or try it on to see if it fits-a smile is the perfect accessory for every outfit. Don't let the stresses of  the day and your frustrations and worry cause you to hide your best asset. A smile can add a pep to your step and will cause others around you to wonder what you're so happy about. It really is contagious!

My hubby is good at getting me back on track when I'm in a funk. Sometimes when I have one of those days where everything seems to be falling apart, I forget to smile as I try to piece everything back together. At those times Paul will usually tell me he misses my smile and it's enough to make me smile and it's a good reminder not to take everything so seriously.

It's alright to be true to what is happening in your life if you're enduring a sad time or going through something difficult. Just don't live in that place. Sometimes we don't feel like smiling or don't feel like there is a lot to smile about, but that's just the time when we need to give it a little extra effort. Fake it until you make it, as they say!

Who in your life always looks beautiful, not because of their outer appearance, but because of their contagious smile? For me it's my hubby. I chose the photo of Tenley Molzahn above from The Bachelor, Bachelor Pad as she always has such a positive outlook on life and is such a warm person. While she is a beautiful woman in terms of her outer appearance, for me it's her huge smile that I find so endearing and gives her a real sparkle. She is a true classy woman.

Have a beautiful weekend ladies!

Happiness is an Inside Job!

I came across this quote the other day and how true it is! Many people often look for happiness in things, people, their children or an event. The truth is that we cannot be happy until we make the decision to be just that. It's easy to get wrapped up into thinking, "I'll be happy when __________" fill in the blank, and miss the moment that we're currently in.

It's okay not to be perfect or have everything figured out, because the truth is that nobody else does either.

Try to quiet your mind today, be still and breathe in the present moment. Can you hear the birds chirping? Do you delight in the little squirrel on your front yard stuffing it's little face with nuts? Beauty is all around us if we simply choose to focus on it. 

I spent last week in the San Francisco bay area visiting my father and everyday I was overjoyed to take in all that I could whether it be a drive along the coast to inhale the ocean air, watch the sea lions flop around by the Pier in Santa Cruz or take in the beautiful redwood trees in Palo Alto.


Today I'm happy to spend the day with a dear friend who is visiting from out of town. While we have some loose plans in place so that she can make the most of her 3 day visit, we're both open to what the day has for us. We look forward to delighting in each other's company and having some girly fun.

If you are in a frustrating, winter season of your life and are  looking for inspiration I encourage you to read this post.

I hope you'll make your day a happy one, no matter what it holds for you!

Bouquet-a-Month

Last August I started a tradition of sorts in our home. It was something I wanted to do for myself for a while and that my husband could enjoy too. This all started before my last birthday when I was feeling rather reflective on what I had accomplished to date, what I still desired to conquer and the small things that really make me happy. Flowers were at the top of that list.

Sometimes you'll go to a nice hotel or visit an upscale salon or office where beautiful blooms are prominently displayed. Maybe it's an oversized white potted orchid or a stunning assortment of seasonal stems. I just love how fresh flowers make me feel. So, I decided that I would give that gift to myself every month in the form of a flower bouquet.

Flowers can be quite expensive so I am careful not to go to pricey floral shops but rather look to nature for some inspiring vase filler and take advantage of supermarket, farmer's market and roadside sales. About 10 minutes from my house off of a main road, a local orchid grower sells a multiplicity of healthy orchids at amazing prices starting at $5. Who can resist? But my main source is our local grocery store which often sells a dozen roses for less than $6. I try to buy beautifully scented and long living flowers to maximize my monthly gift. Alternatively, you can clip some flowers from your garden for the same effect.

As women, I think this is such a wonderful gift to give to ourselves. You need not limit them all to one vase. Especially for mixed bouquets, I'm notorious for splitting up each type and placing a vase on our kitchen table, one in my office, one in the bathroom, you get the idea. I just really love both the scent and femininity of flowers. Some days they have such a tranquil, soft quality and other days I love their ability to exude perkiness and vibrancy. Currently, I have some sunflowers displayed in both our kitchen and my office, which were a gift from my hubby when I first came down with a cold. They sure do have a way of cheering you up!

Have you ever thought of giving yourself this gift? If you follow my $6 plan, that's 20 cents per day! Less than a cup of coffee! What other gifts do you give yourself on a regular basis? Do you enjoy monthly massages, pedicures or special gourmet chocolates? We are worth it ladies! If money is tight, you could save up the cash in an account first and reserve it especially for yourself for the months ahead.

Let us know if you decide to give it a try!