This reminds me of my mother. She has always believed in magic. And so do I.

Today’s inspiration:

Note: I found this via Pinterest so I can not attribute it to the rightful creator.
If you know of them, please leave a comment so that I can give credit. It is lovely.

Where do  you go for inspiration?

When circumstances have beaten you down and you are drained emotionally, physically, spritually and mentally… what do you do? How do you fill your tank back up?

Me? I go to nature.

In fact, it is 5:00 in the morning and I am sitting on my porch writing this blog. The birds are announcing the day with vigor. The air is warm and inviting. My soul feels full.

I am inspired.

Nature does it for me. When I see a blooming flower or a forest begging to be explored, I am filled with creative energy.

We all have periods in our lives when we feel indifferent or confined by our circumstances. When your every day is filled with the same routine (kids to be fed, bills to pay, commitments to honor) it can be difficult to feel inspired.

Four Simple Tips To Help You Find Your Inspiration:

1. Reach out - Pick up the phone and schedule lunch, dinner, coffee, or a catch-up conversation with a friend or mentor  who you admire and has great energy. Feed off of their spirit.

2. Bring on the affirmations -  Your happiness (and success) in life is determined by the thoughts you cultivate in your subconscious mind. Positive affirmations are powerful statements that  create positive subconscious thoughts.  For 30 days focus on affirmations of happiness, abundance and prosperity.  Many experts assert that it takes  21 days to make a perceptible change in your mental image. Use affirmations frequently and you will soon find yourself in a completely new state of mind.

3. Lose yourself – Books are your friend. When I am in a funk I find that my best course of action is to lose myself in the written word. Depending on my mood, I’ll either reach for a book in the self-help/motivational genre or a fictional one that I can completely immerse myself in. I’ve found renewed energy as a result of the most unexpected storylines.

4. Get Physical – Get out and move! Go for a walk. Hit the trails. Get on your bike. Clear your head. I am always amazed at the phenomenal ideas that present themselves after I get moving and get physical.

Where do YOU go for inspiration? What fills YOUR soul? I’d love to hear!

I recently stumbled upon some profound instructions for life from a gentleman (Michael Catt) that used to be a minister in a youth camp. His rules for the teens at that attended were simple:

1. Be where you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be there, doing what you are supposed to be doing.
2. When in doubt, don’t.

Simple and yet extremely complex.

It got me thinking – Am I where I am supposed to be?  Am I doing what I am supposed to be doing when I am  supposed to?  Maybe physically I am, but mentally (at least lately) NOTSOMUCH.

How many times have you personally taken work home with you? Do you find yourself mentally checked out when you are with your family? Perhaps you, like me, are too busy creating your to-do list for the next day. Or maybe thinking about an email you need to send or a deadline you have to meet? Or multi-tasking every minute of every day like a mad man?

Such a sin to waste precious moments with the ones that you love by not being where you are supposed to be.

I’m really trying hard to be cognizant of what I am supposed to be doing at all times. I’m not always successful but I am finding that when I do,  each moment is that much more rewarding.

This is the second post filled with uplifting advice from women across the internet. These two posts (the first of which can be found here) are dedicated to my 16 year old niece Kelsi and are indeed relevant to any teenage girl navigating her way through life. (I must say, however, that I find great inspiration in these words myself and I am almost 40.)

Enjoy…

“The hardest lesson I had to learn as a young woman was to be true to myself. Too many times I let a boyfriend or a co-worker, or a so-called friend tell me what to think about a specific topic or situation and I didn’t want to rock the boat and so I would agree. Too many times I was a follower and not a leader. Too many times I didn’t listen to the truth I held inside me and respect myself enough to live it.” - Sunday

“Dwell in possibility” -  Emily Dickinson …  I love that three words holds so much meaning–stop and really think–and think hard–about what you can do, what the future holds, and what your place in that future is.

And I cannot help but share one of the very first things I ever memorized, aside from the Hail Mary and Our Father, of course. . .
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the rain fall soft upon your fields,
the sun shine warm upon your face,
And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. – Amy

“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…” (Romans 5: 3-4) Know that when you are faced with adversity, you are being refined and perfected for the task which you were purposed. Take all hardship and suffering with the mindset that it is readying you for what great task lies ahead. Know that you will come out of your trials with a brilliance that a life of ease could never produce. You will shine and the world will see the fruits of your perseverance.” - Kadi

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”  (Dr. Suess) – Mary

“Nothing beats a failure but a try.” My mother ingrained this in me at a young age and did not accept me giving up on myself under any circumstance. I had to complete everything I started and I have to say I am a better person because I’ve listened to her advice.” – Renee

“Remember that in any relationship – either with a boy or a female friend – YOU always hold the power. YOU control whether someone is worthy of the pleasure of your company. YOU get to decide whether they are worth your time. You are the gatekeeper. YOU are priceless. - Jessica

“I remember reading a quote once that said, “”Wherever you go, there you are.” For some reason, the notion really hit home with me. I was struck by the fact that the only constant in my life would be ME, so I better become a person that I could be proud of. Life changes, friends change and people come and go. But, you? You are in your life forever, and the most important thing about it.” - Jill

Amazing words from amazing women. Thank you all!

I found the following paragraph in a magazine and I just HAD to share. This hit me to the core, so much so that I retyped it and pasted it on my vision board. Hope that it inspires you as much as it did me!

BE FEARLESS

If you make only one resolution this year, let it be to live boldly. You control this moment: Rather than cautiously test the water, dive straight into life with freeing abandon. Imagine the person you want to be and the life you want to live, then simply commit to them. Believe in  yourself. Embrace your beauty. Discover a new passion. And whatever you do, wherever you go, don’t be afraid to make a splash.

Note: I can’t. for the life of me, remember the magazine I cut this out from.

I would attribute it if I could!

Ever find yourself in one of those moods?  Yeah.  You know what I mean.  That FUNK in the middle of the day.

Next time you are  in need of a little lift, try one of these tactics out for size:

MOVE IT! – You heard me. GET. OUT. OF. THAT. CHAIR. NOW.  The unique combination of florescent lighting and hours of computer screen gazing have an uncanny ability of sucking the life (and enthusiasm!) out of you, don’t they?  There are literally tons of studies that suggest that even the smallest amount of exercise can improve your state of mind.  Get off that chair and take a quick walk around the building. Or, even better, the block.  (I’ve always envied smokers who manage to take a “smoke break” every hour. So I try to fit in a “sanity break.”)

BRIGHT COLORS= HAPPY CAMPERS – Keep the blues at bay by wearing (or decorating your office and/or house in ) bright colors.  Colors have the ability to instantly alter your mood.  Orange adds excitement while yellow is purported to naturally lift your spirits!  I, personally, like to wear bright pink.  How can you be depressed if you are wearing something that obnoxious and cheerful?  (Then again, I tend to gravitate towards things like “Hello, Kitty” so what-do-I-know-anyway?)

SHOW A LITTLE GRATITUDE, SISTER – You might need a reality check.  Give yourself a moment to jot down things that you are greatful for in your life.  Go deeper than the standard “my husband and my children” response.  The deeper you dig, the more you discover.  Instant mood lifter!

IMAGINE YOUR WAY OUT OF IT – Visualization is an amazing tool.  When you find yourself in a funk, imagine your way out of it.  Visualize yourself scooping up all of your problems and locking them in a chest. Then go ahead and toss them into the ocean and watch them sink!

INDULGE – Buy yourself something fun, colorful and impractical … flowers?  Or maybe those Jimmy Choos?

EMERGENCY TACTIC – Call a friend.  Pick that phone up and call your favorite Chatty-Cathy and let her guide you out of your morbid state.  Hey, that is what girlfriends are for!

OTHER GOODIES:

Six Easy Lower Body Exercises To Do At Work

Fitness Facts & Tips

This is the first of a new series I’m calling  “Stuff You’ve Just GOTTA Have!”

I don’t know about you, but when I find something that I think is terrific I’ve just gotta spread the word.  Have something you want to share?  Feel free to recommend your favorites to me by using the contact form found here.

STUFF YOU’VE JUST GOTTA HAVE: Julie Boonshaft Jewelry

My friend Julie Boonshaft is a true inspiration.  She is stunningly beautiful and tremendously joyful.  I am not-so-secretly-convinced that she can do anything – be it wrangle her four kids (Yes, I said FOUR!) or create delightful jewelry.

Julie is like so many of us mothers – although we relish every hectic day with our children, our aspirations to do something unique with our individual gifts aren’t always fulfilled. 

Julie found her artistic outlet in the creation of jewelry.

“Ultimately, I absolutely love being a mom, but I’ve also never had a more challenging job! There are so many times in the day where you question- Did I teach them all I could? Are they going to remember all the acitivities we do? The playdates? The swim lessons? The picnics in the basement just for fun?! I found that my days were absolutely consumed with the joys and perils of mommyhood. Selfishly, I needed something of my own- an outlet for my creativity, a tangible result to something that I had done.”

“I make jewelry in the middle of the night when the kids are asleep, my own time, just for me… and yet, ironically, the very first jewelry I created was “mommy” jewelry…  a name bracelet for myself.  Little did I know, the ‘Jared and Josh’ bracelet I wore so proudly would be the beginning of this incredible journey. They are and always will be my inspiration.”

Through her online website, Julie Boonshaft Jewelry, Julie offers stunning and unique personalized jewelry pieces that range from Yoga-inspired to bridal adornments and one of a kind commemorative necklaces and bracelets.  I dare you to find something you don’t love!  BTW – THIS is my favorite.  LOVE IT!

A mother's inspiration!

This is the fourth post in a series to focus on

Fitness Fridays! (More here…)

I’ve found some new fitness inspiration this week. I’m giving myself permission to take BABY STEPS. You see, I can’t run right now. I have some sort of injury which has caused me to lay off the running for awhile.

Instead I am focusing on three things:

• relaxation
• water consumption
• high concentration of vegetables & fruits

I’m shooting for 9 glasses of water per day, 60% of my diet from veggies & fruits and heavy doses of sleeping in and walking/meditating. I’m even taking an afternoon break from the office to go outside and walk around the block. It definitely clears my head. And I’ve been working on spending more time with God.

You know, it is amazing the progress that you can make when you give yourself permission to take it slow. My body is responding well, too. The bags are gone from under my eyes, I have a spring in my step and I even feel lighter.  As a matter of fact, I’ve lost 2.8 pounds!  Yippie!

Next week I will add weight training back into the mix along with more walking/cardio, water and veggies. I am hoping to report some good weight loss next week as well!

And just like that, when I needed a little running inspiration, I found it.  Shall I share?

Isaiah 40:31:

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Hebrews 12:1

Let us run with endurance, the race set out before us.

“Run the first 10 miles with your head, the second 10 miles with your legs, and the last six miles with your heart.” - Starshine Blackford, according to Runner’s World magazine.