Think, Be, Glow

Being thankful is so easy, but because it is so easy...it is also so easily forgotten. Without much trouble, we can go hours, days, even weeks and not thank anyone. We have built a society in which it is too easy to not even think thanks.  Sad. Really sad. 
Today I'm dedicating this post to grace; to being grateful. By thinking thanks you not only ease stress and by default, enter a state of optimism, but also glow thanks. It's true. Thankful people look different. They smile more, walk taller, and glow. Keep watch for this. And the more conscious a person is about this phenomenon, the more potential they have to glow. And that's just thinking thanks.
By being thanks you run your life. You are the leader. Being grateful means sharing grace. And sharing grace is to truly understand thanks and live it. Let yourself feel thankful and let others know when you do. Being thanks is thinking thanks to the fullest.  Reflect upon actions, happenings, events. How did someone else impact you, your day, your time? It is amazing what you'll find. 
Being thanks is to truly glow. To shine. To sparkle with presence, optimism, and grace. Being thanks means carrying yourself differently in a world lived differently. It is a life of peace. Being thanks simplifies the world into a society of ease, of nice, of beautiful.  *Simple*, small alteration have the potential to change your life. Be thanks today. Share your grace. Glow.

Beautiful brownies... EVERY TIME!

Make the most perfect looking brownies every time...the trick? Cut with a plastic knife! *Simple*, easy, free! Next time you bring home take-out, be sure to pick up an extra plastic knife. Keep, cut, and then save for your next brownie batch.  Promise, it works every single time! Yum Yum! 



PS - M & A - hope you enjoyed these beautiful brownies! :)

Easy, long lasting, beautiful blooms

Super easy, super long lasting flowers...the trick? Corn syrup! Add a teaspoon to a vase of flowers, dissolve and enjoy! Results - not only better blooms, better for you too. Such a healthy way to use up corn syrup from the holidays. Enjoy!

Hope (with a smile)

This quote found me today; funny how somethings happen just like that - at just the right time.  I couldn't help but take it in and then send it along.... perhaps it will find you in just the same way. Applicable to every single person - amazing. (Especially calling out to all with migraine!) Maybe these words came today for a reason? I think they did.


One day you will see that it all has finally come together.
What you have always wished for has finally come to be.
You will look back and laugh at what has passed and you will ask yourself,
"How did I get through all of that?"
Just never let go of hope.
Just never quit dreaming.
And never let love depart from your life. 
~ J. Campi


Powerful. True. Peaceful. Happy. Hope. Enjoy!

Today's wisdom

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful. - Buddha

Life's a Roller Coaster (or is it?)

Roller Coasters.....the ups, the downs, the turns, the tunnels - some anticipated, some unanticipated - the anxiety, and the fun....except, when the 'ride' isn't at an amusement park, it's at 'home'.  Many deal with the 'roller coasters' of everyday life with such ease - the ups just float above and the downs are so well taken. I admire those individuals.  


I found myself 'fighting' with either the roller coaster Driver or the roller coaster Track this week. Whichever, I didn't like how my 'roller coaster' life was going and I found myself using all of my energy trying to 'halt' what was completely out of my control. Why? I didn't simply let myself accept my life. I was fighting against accepting that the roller coaster was too big for me to move myself, and too heavy to set it on a new course.  


Life is like a roller coaster...we've all heard it before. But with the willingness to accept sadness, grief, difficulties, loss, the unknown, the 'roller coaster' suddenly transforms into a 'train'.  The life ride that was so uncertain, filled with fear and tears, has the ability to become a ride that is slower and calmer, a ride that sways rather than scares...roller coasters can turn into trains.


We have the power to make this change - to turn the roller coaster into a train - by practicing acceptance.  While life most definitely will remain a 'roller coaster', we can 'take the train' route. When we accept that there will be ups and downs, it becomes a decision to live the uneasy life, always riding on the edge, or to live the calmer life, acknowledging the ups and downs. Acceptance and acknowledgment remove unnecessary life anxieties. Life is life and many situations are out of our control - but without worry and fear we are able to truly live. 


My choice - to accept cancer happens and chemo follows. I choose to accept that I can not control cancer or chemo or the good and bad days that result. And I choose to accept that everyday is a new day and that each may not be easy - easy emotionally or easy physically.


The power of acceptance offers us all this same choice - to ride the Roller Coaster or take the Train. 

Daily goals offer opportunities for Daily Success

Did you set a goal today? A mini goal - nothing big, nothing too hard, not a 'goal of the world'...an achievable goal. Why not? 


Today seems to be a life of big, better, best....always. A life of more, faster, now....always. No matter what, the world today instills 'dream big', rather than, 'dream to achieve'. We are constantly set up for failure - and we set ourselves up for making it almost perfect, just a second too late, not quite good enough. Why work towards disappointment?


Perhaps we are trying to do too much? Be too much? Own too much? Hard to confess too - especially today - in a world where the standards are set miles above the clouds.  Perhaps we need to be reminded of *simplicity*. When life was *simpler*, did it go wrong? - No.  So what caused the change from *simple* to go, go, go? To be, be, be? To do, do, do? .... we did.


This week I too found myself 'stuck' in this cyclic bout of sadness.  Why wasn't I smiling enough? Laughing enough? Controlling my emotions enough? Yesterday I realized how sad I had made myself.  I know I smile everyday, and have been recently laughing more than I have in years. But I came down on myself for crying.  Crying? What's wrong with crying? 


Reflecting today, I realized that I was being too hard on myself. Crying is fine. Crying is extra fine during the ups and downs of cancer and chemo.  Rather than letting myself really cry, I held back because 'if I cried then it would alter my healing'....what the heck was I thinking? Crying is natural. And cancer is scary, chemo is difficult and it is my Dad with two types of cancer. Not to mention how much my migraine was pounding.


Dad reminded me yesterday about the little things that are often overlooked. I had become caught up in fear. Fear about my healing just because of a little set back - one bad migraine.  And without knowing it, I let my fear spiral and my energy was spent in anxiety rather than in living and without knowing it chemo scared me more than ever.  


Thanks for the chat Dad - today I'm back on track and setting daily goals. Goals that I can achieve without being swept up in the world of the 'unachievable' or the world of 'perfect'. Goals add self-esteem, self-worth, and a sense of satisfaction, especially in world of healing.  They slow the world down, even for a second, to help be in the moment.  And the best part - fear doesn't exist in the moment. 


Have you set a goal today?  

What are you scared of?

This week brought a bit of scare to many, especially for those 'virgin' to earthquakes. There was an immense amount of chatter online, between friends, in passing at the market, walking up to the yoga studio door...all about THE earthquake, and how scary it was, how long it lasted, and how extremely rattled everyone had become. The "Did you feel its?" have been endless. Why?


Once again, we are faced with a challenge that is 100% out of our control. Mother Nature shook the world (or at least Mexico and San Diego), and She does what She wants to do.  We have no control, no say, no timing, nothing to do with Mother Nature's behaviors.  


What 'shook' me far more than THE earthquake, as it has been unanimously labeled, was everyone's gossip reaction....WEEK LONG reaction. Puzzling?! There are no decisions to be made over THE earthquake, definitely no reason to hike up any existing anxiety, nor cause unnecessary anxiety.  Of course appropriate 'check-ups' on family and friends near the quake's range or fault line is not the 'chatter' being focused on here.  When subject talk overflows into every conversation, everywhere, all that comes about is anxiety....should I too be worrying about the earthquake? Yikes, THE earthquake?!!!!  Suddenly we have created a society encompassed in the drama, the necessity of fear for the situation, and self-developed anxiety. Why such emotional chaos?


I acknowledge that for many, fear was their natural reaction during the shaking, and rightfully so in that case - especially for those not native to San Diego.  But why cause fear in those not nerved by the quake? I loved the earthquake. I was resting and absolutely fell in love with the shaking. Despite the banging of my shower door, I was completely lost in Mother Nature's power. There was plenty I could have been anxious about, but I choose to enjoy...to relax, to absorb the moment (or what seemed like minutes) and enjoy the tranquility of the shake. 


I have learned an immense amount about myself this week. I am proud that I was able to 'be'...to truly be during THE earthquake. To me, it wasn't THE earthquake, but rather, an earthquake  - a change to a Sunday afternoon.  I learned that my healing has come a long way - from a chronic nervous wreck with a total loss of trust in the world, to a worry-free gal in a time which caused most and unlimited amount of fear.  I also learned that subconsciously I have the power to decide what energy I want to spread. I chose to say a blessing for anyone suffering from the earthquake, but not to join in creating THE earthquake madness. 


Mother Nature does as she pleases to teach us lessons.  We can not determine what will happen next or when it will happen or what is in stock for us to learn. But for this week, for me, it was a lesson of trust. Trusting myself in an atypical situation. And an opportunity for optimism - a chance to enjoy the  serenity Mother Earth has offered.

Have you had your dose of Green Therapy lately?

So *Simple* - Green Happiness
Some Green Therapies to enhance wellbeing, help protect Mother Earth, and automatically create a sense of satisfaction, with a smile!

• Anti-anxiety trick - Dump out a 'junk drawer' or weed through a dresser drawer you haven't opened in a while - just one at a time. Purge and donate, recycle and/or reuse in a new way. How can you possibly 'worry' while going through so much stuff! And doesn't it feel good to be 'reorganized'...a new found 'rejuvenation'.
• Enjoy a natural candle - soy based, essential oil sent - no toxins involved. Enjoy while reading a book, while re-organizing your drawer, while sending an email.
• Send a hand written card to a friend. Remember how exciting it was to receive 'real mail'? Creates an instant smile at your friend's mailbox and again while your letter is being opened...nothing like the surprise of appreciation.
• Enjoy some sun everyday. Not to get burned or to over tan, but to feed your body the necessary vitamin D it needs. Plus how easy is it to replace your vitamin D supplement?! Remember to wear sunscreen!
• Take a deep breath while you're enjoying the sun. Another anti-anxiety automatic!

Ready, set, go....please enjoy and smile....all while enhancing your Greener Self. So *Simple*!

A few favorite quotes

From Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now...

The pain that you create now is always some form of nonacceptance, some form of unconscious resistance to what is. On the level of thought, the resistance is some form of judgment. On the emotional level, it is some form of negativity. The intensity of the pain depends on the degree of resistance to the present moment, and this in turn depends on how strongly you are identified with your mind.

and.. 

The psychological condition of fear is divorced from any concrete and true immediate danger. It comes in many forms: unease, worry, anxiety, nervousness, tension, dread, phobia, and so on. This kind of psychological fear is always of something that might happen, not of something that is happening now.

It just makes sense, doesn't it?  So now, to practice Acceptance and not thinking...instead let's just Enjoy and Be. 

Sending Easter Joy

heaven

    peace

         soul
 spirit

     blessings

         renewal

I found an Easter card with this blessing - couldn't be more perfect to send to my parents.  I was so touched by the simplicity and depth of the saying and want to share this *Wish for Happiness* to all. 

Happy Easter come this Sunday!

Did you smile today?

Be honest. A real Smile....even though the checkout line was too long and you were grumpy to finally be conversing with the Checker?, to a neighbor simply driving by?, to a co-worker you pass in the hallway whom you don't even know?, to the drivers you blame your anxiety on for being in a 'rush'?....Reflect. Did you Smile today?

Greetings have amazing powers. Power that is so strong it doesn't matter if the greeting was verbal or not. A simple Smile can without doubt make someone's day. And Smiles are contagious - extremely contagious. You have no idea the real reason the grocery line was so long and so slow, or how your neighbor's day has been or where they are headed, and perhaps the new coworker is experiencing their first day on the job (always a bit awkward). And the slow driver - are they sick? Lost? Grieving?

Imagine the impact a single Smile would have on each of these situations we all share daily. Just a Smile from a friend or stranger eases tension and anxiety immediately. Smiles cause a sense of friendship, of relation, of ' it's going to be ok' - in problem, sickness, or in health. Smiles don't discriminate.

Smiles mean so much, travel so far and take less than a second to give. I challenge you to offer a Smile everyday - you'll be amazed at how many smiles you receive in return. And even deeper, how much of positive impact such a *Simple* act can be (suddenly your anxiety or 'bad day' disappears). Smiles are a tablespoon of free happiness that everyone can enjoy. Here's a Smile from me to you. :)

It's MY life, I can cry if I want to!

Today I wanted to cry. So I did. And I'm ok with it - even as a 29-year old. Life happens and emotions result, but for some reason, we are taught not to show certain emotions. Today, as a 29-year old, I cried and cried. I cried because cancer doesn't go away. I hold strong hope, remain positive and truly, truly believe that cancer heals, but the fear of the unknown doesn't go away. It is there when I wake, follows me through the day and accompanies me, along with special prayers, back to bed at night. Today, I accepted that as a 29-year old, I can be scared to death. It's ok. And so I cried. And cried. And cried. And cried.

And then, all of a sudden everything turned positive. My fear had turned to tears and without choice overflowed. But reflecting back, it was a good thing. Emotions happen just as life happens. And emotion -  fear, scare, anger, anxiety, happiness, cheer - are all ok. The healthiest part, is that I've learned through my struggles, that the more you hold back, the more backed up emotion becomes. I have experienced such back-up and suppression that I became slave to my own emotion. Not healthy.

It's my life, I can cry if I want to! So today I cried my eyes out. And I cried until I felt better. Might sound silly, or seem immature, may be interpreted as childish, but for me crying today was therapeutic. I cried all of my fear, anger and sadness away. The result, a carefree, happy me, living again. And it feels so GOOD!

Why judge emotions? God's tears make rainbows - of which are both so beautiful. So let loose, and then honor the joys life has to offer.

Best Friends Create the Power to Heal

Who is your Best Friend? Think deep. Who can you always rely on? Who is always there for you, through sunny days and mud slides, through laughs, tears, fear, worry, true happiness? The one that shares your hopes and dreams and challenges you everyday? Who is your Best Friend?....

Many are quick to think a favorite girlfriend, a spouse, even their Soul Mate. But going deeper, would these relationships exist if you were not your own Best Friend first? The power of self-belief, self-esteem, self-worth is priceless. And realizing, seeing, understanding your inner self is the key to all relations. For how can you offer yourself to others if inside you are not 'worthy'?

And once this idea is captured, it's power is limitless. The Self has no boundaries, no borders, no stop signs. Once the Self is released, a new 'person' is born. Confidence has a new meaning. Not pride. Confidence. Knowing that no matter what, you can get through. And that no matter what you have all of the tools to live, to be, to survive, to master yourself, to master your life.

Would you ever leave your best friend's bedside during terminal illness? - No. Be that Best Friend to yourself. The Self has incredible healing powers - all just waiting to be trusted. Have faith and take a leap; let go. You'll find the Self has amazing offerings. Believing in yourself alone opens doors for healing and growth.

Trust yourself. Be your own Best Friend. Accept all hope and inspiration from within. Create your own power to heal.

Update by studio mr

Many new and exciting additions are in progress in studio mr! Please hang tight and continue to send support, subscribe, and share my site with others. 


In the meantime, please visit the new Inspiration Journal and Gratitude Wall. Join me in giving thanks and sharing inspiration via 'comments' on this post and the previous post officially introducing the Gratitude Wall. I look forward to both ongoing 'open' projects! 


Thank you again for your support, consistent readership, and don't be shy - share your 'thank yous' and 'inspiration of the day'....and get EXCITED for the future of studio mr! 

Come visit the new renovations of studio mr!

Introducing the Gratitude Wall, by studio mr. Please take a visit (link is listed on the right) and share your Thank You's, Lucky's, and Appreciation. Take a second and reflect on your day, your life, opportunity for a delicious lunch outside, an extra great yoga session, and/or the wonderful people in your life ...friends, family and those who inspire you....the wall is open to all gratitude.

Please feel free to visit anytime and share the things you're grateful for....this project is an ongoing *Thank You Simple*.

This post is dedicated to everyone who has helped me through this website. I am so lucky to have such an awesome readership - thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Perfect. What is Perfect?

Seems we throw the idea of 'Perfection' around in every aspect of life. How did this happen? Where did it come from? Why is 'Perfect' so important; all the time?


Yesterday a great friend reminded me how obsolete Perfect is. Nobody is Perfect. No need to be Perfect. No need for anxiety to reach Perfection. Rationally all makes sense. But Perfect exists everywhere. How can this be if Perfect isn't even 'real'?

What was everything but a conversation about Perfection, has had me thinking about Perfect all day. What is Perfect? I think I've figured it out. Perfect is everything but what we make it to be. Perfection is not reaching the 'perfect weight', having the 'perfect pair of jeans', baking the 'perfect batch of cookies', hosting the 'perfect party', 'color-coordinating perfectly (the decor, this evening's outfit, every kitchen towel)', owning the 'perfect home' or looking outside at a 'perfect backyard'.

Perfect is a realization. Perfect is being conscious of the moment and grateful for that moment, in that moment. Perfect is a sense of awareness - an understanding of time and true being. Gratitude, consciousness and Perfection are hand-in-hand. Without gratitude Perfect does not exist. And without realizing how much the 'now' has to offer, Perfect does not exist. Living 'now' revels true Perfection. We can not 'live' for a Perfect world - rather let's 'live' the Perfect world.

I thank you Friend for reminding me about Perfect. It is amazing how easily we can become (and how easy it is to fall) so out of touch with something so, so, very *simple*.

*Simple* Cool Candle Tip - Part II

So your favorite candle holders have been in the freezer, right?  Check. Wax gone? Check.  Here is one of my favorite re-uses of one of my favorite pieces - my own 'candle holder-recreation'....the possibilities are endless!

So *Simple*. So Green. 

How to be 'extra' Irish + blessings and luck

   

Sending a few of my favorite Irish blessings...

For each petal on the shamrock

This brings a wish your way-

Good health, good luck, and happiness

For today and every day.

May joy and peace surround you, 
Contentment latch your door, 
And happiness be with you now 
And bless you evermore.

Dance as if no one were watching,

Sing as if no one were listening,

And live every day as if it were your last.

Tips to be 'extra' Irish today - appreciate all you have, the world around us, family and friends....

Wear GREEN today! (and be sure to pinch anyone not)

Take a deep breath of nature...and appreciate it; even for just a moment.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle

Share an Irish blessing with someone you love

Spend as much time enjoying nature as possible today

Drink a beer!

Wear GREEN :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Are you Soul Mates?

Tough question - Easy answer....

And when one of them meets with his other half, the actual half of himself, the pair are lost in an amazement of love and friendship and intimacy and one will not be out of the other’s sight even for a moment.

-Plato (2,500 years ago)  

You know you've found your Soul Mate, Twin Mate, Perfect Other Half when:

1. Laughter is part of everyday; no matter what - rain or shine, tragedy, loss, pain, pleasure - laughter comes natural.
2. This person makes it into every thought you think, everyday....somehow!
3. You have utmost trust in each other.
4. You've found your Best Friend. Someone you can always count on.
5. Sharing is so easy. Share hopes, dreams, chores and dishes, funny times, sad minutes (hours, days, years)....and somehow the laughter is still surfacing daily.
6. Silly has a new meaning and a permanent part of life.
7. Random days are so much easier because you know you're so in love with your Perfect Other Half and at that very moment, your Soul Mate is thinking the exact same thing.
8. You've found a happiness that you never knew existed.
9. Growing old (even 30!!) is now so exciting - Imagining all time together has to offer undoubtedly makes you smile.
10. Laugh together in the morning, laugh together in the evening, and secretly laugh together every minute in between.

I dedicate this to my Soul Mate - I love you. And I send hope and patience to everyone still searching for their Twin Mate. Patience pays off.

Be a survivor

My Dad is my Super Dad. He is living through both brain cancer and colon cancer...isn't one cancer enough? Through the past 4 years I have learned more from my Dad than ever. Most of all, I learned the importance of a strong soul and that positive pays off. I read these few bits and pieces from a couple of articles today and don't think the thoughts could be better said.

Life is both magic and tragic. We all have to face loss, failure, and disappointment sometimes. People who are optimistic find a way to recover. They develop resilience. Life is a series of recoveries. 

Dad you are my inspiration everyday. I've seen proof that smiling more, believing in the 'unbelievable' and looking forward to miracles not only strengthens daily life, but it gives hope to everyone you touch. You are so much more than a 'survivor' to me - you're my Super Dad. I look forward to everyday and the lessons I'm going to learn from you. I hope this collection of words give hope, faith, and a smile to everyone 'recovering' from any of life's twists and turns.


Most of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dad! I love you.

*Simple* Green Kitchen

Brighten up, cheer up, add a splash of color....the possibilities are endless - and Green when eliminating paper napkins. Go for bold color, fun design, holiday festive, seasonal decor....again, endless possibilities.  The best part, cloth napkins can be so easy and fun to make; and you don't need to be the super-sewing type!

Fat quarters (pre-cut 18" x 22" fabric) make for perfect cloth napkins. Typically craft stores (even Walmart) sell bundles of 4 designs; differing yet, coordinating patterns. Quilt stores sell bundles of numerous fat quarters as well as offering singles by the design.

 

Choose your decor, fold over the raw edge anywhere from 1/8" - 1/2", iron flat, fold over again and iron (so everything stays in place - makes for much easier sewing) and sew straight across. Repeat with all 4 raw edges.

Even easier, no-sew, fat quarter-to-napkin creation, use fusing tape (found at at fabric store)....follow packaged instructions...and in seconds you'll have perfect, hand-made cloth napkins!

  

Have fun with all of the fantastic fabric designs!  And best of all, very Green and super *simple*!

A favorite *Simple* - Luxurious Pampering & Super Practical

How many vacations do we take and hotels do we book....and yet to bring all of our 'own', 'have-to-be-brand' toiletries? Hum...I confess too, EVERY vacation!  And yet, the irony, I think all of the resort 'goodie' soaps, mini shampoos and conditioners are too cute!  I LOVE them all. Plus, each with exotic scents, high-class brands, and special aromatherapy.  So, why was it crucial to run around shopping for the mini Aussie hair products, sweetest smelling bath gel????

My *simple* here, is just enjoy all of the pleasures the resorts offer. If you have to 'brand-name-it' while on vacation, do what you have to do and then bring the guest goodies home. Enjoy sweet smelling bubble baths, varieties of luxurious lotions and healthy botanical spa treatments at home!

The catch - DON'T just pack them away with all of your travel bag - USE them!! Pamper yourself clean and ENJOY!! Enhance your Greener Self while loving every moment of it!

Cool Candle Tip

....or at least I think it's cool! Next time your candle is 'burned out' and you love the glass votive, or jar, or ceramic holder - it's not trash!!  Place the 'used' candle, wax-filled holder, in the freezer for an hour or so. Give the bottom of the container an easy hand pound and 'poooooof', wax is gone. And best of all - your  favorite candle holder is saved!!

Sometimes there is a tiny bit of way residue left after the candle pops out - just fill the holder with hot water and a drip of dish washing soap. Let it soak for a while and then a sponge clean.

Pretty cool huh?!!!!

Fear Hurts

Fear - more than scare, than uncertainty, more than fright. Yesterday, out of occasion, I had the opportunity to have a 'life talk' with a new doctor I'd never met with. After the tears and laughs about my past 4 years (and after his several remarks to be sure I wasn't on a TV show, or out of a movie!) he caught me quite off guard. He asked me "What are you scared of?".

I couldn't answer. I couldn't believe I couldn't answer. So, he asked again, "What is it that you are scared of?" I had no answer other than "I'm scared of everything". Not a satisfactory answer.

The Doctor asked again, "What is it that you are scared of?" After several deep breaths it came to me. I'm scared that I've lost hope. Correcting myself, "I'm scared that I am 'missing' hope". Somewhere living through suicide, death, cancer, homicide, marriage and now more cancer....I am scared to trust. How do you fill your life with Hope when Trust has fallen again and again and now it almost seems out of reach? I am scared to live because I know Trust can crumble at any second.

The Doctor knew by looking in my eyes, I was healthy; I was just so filled with Fear.

Often times 'fear' is thrown around as a move genre, a joke, a game - but true Fear is none of that. True Fear hurts. Thank you Doctor for the 'life talk'. I learned more yesterday about myself and about my health than the reason I had gone to office in the first place. And I was also reminded, "It is what it is". So now my task, to practice acceptance and trusting the moment. Every second alone is filled with 100% Hope.

Don't look back, don't look forward....BE now.

Recycle to cure cancer

Why not recycle to help save lives? To help cancer research? To help cure ALL cancer patients?  Cans for Cancer does just this....weekly gather cans, glass, and plastics from curbside in our neighborhood. So easy and for such a great cause! Please visit the link to learn more about how you too can participate in recycling for research, for cures. The organization offers assistance at the workplace as well.

Thanks Cans for Cancer - You've built community around social responsibility and most of all help families in need.

http://cansforcancer.org/

Make today a *Thank You Thinking Day*

Gratitude - There is so much in this world we are all so lucky for....and probably never think twice about it. Have a *Thank You Thinking Day* today. It's the little things that really mean the most....a hot water shower, friends near and far and family, even those you haven't talked to for years. They care. Just take a second a *think thanks* for these people. Feel lucky for the flowers that you thought would surely die that are now in full bloom. And for (in my case, that the rain didn't completely overflow the my backyard - 'our bog').

Everyone is entitled to sadness. So let yourself have a sad day - but be thankful that sadness comes and goes and think an extra thought of thanks for your health.

Today I feel lucky that my orchids are growing! Blooming? - No.  Do orchids ever re-bloom?  But they are loving life...no worries, no let downs, no gripes. Nature has a way of taking full advantage of *thank you thinking*. Something in our face daily, and yet why is it so hard to learn from? Maybe take all that's needed is a 'closer look'.

And I'm also thankful for the ability to realize 'thanks'. So easily overlooked. Today, stand still for a second. Look around...and enjoy. And more than ever enjoy your *Thank You Thinking Day*.

PS- No thinking about tomorrow....*thank you thinking* is about the now. For me again, thanks for reading! I'd love, love to hear about your *Thank You Thinking Day" - feel free to leave a comment.

Cancer hurts, but we all have the inner strength to aid the wounds

This is a poem I wrote while sitting in the hospital waiting room during my Dad's most recent emergency cancer surgery. Hospitals are difficult, after being on both sides, I think the hardest part is for the 'waiter'. Family is much more than a 'role' - it the strength when your loved one is struggling to hold onto strength. Family are those who are there for you. Blood ties do not matter in hospital waiting rooms.....we all hold on tight to each other and gather strength for those who need it most.


Poem poetry writing words;
emotion anger hurt hate.
Let go.
Let go.

Rip tear shred burn;
lose emotion anger hurt hate.
Be free.
Be free.

Poem poetry writing words;
emotion calm happy real.
Live on.
Live on.

I'm not going to pretend - Hospital waiting rooms are anything but easy. They are not silent, calm, serene......rather filled with overwhelming emotion of every sort. Perhaps silent, but in scare. This poem describes my therapy to write my feelings, to assist in tending to the heavy air and long sit waiting for the surgeon to say Dad has amazing strength and is going to be ok.  Ok. Ok. Ok.

And now to call on my own strength to rip and burn my scare and move forward. To be. To live. To care for Self to best care for others. I send blessings to anyone in need of a bit of hope, an extra prayer, and a hug.

Today is Today is Today

So....ENJOY!  There is only one February 26, 2010.  Think about it, you can live TODAY or 'be' the day-away. Breathe fresh air, enjoy the rain, love the sun, and pay extra attention to the moment; the second. Not only is conscious living healing for the mind, but it heals the body, the soul, and the Self.  Results, a new appreciation of the Self and the world. Automatically enhance your Green Self and community. Take this opportunity and LIVE TODAY....after all, this is a precious gift that most of us take for granted. For me - bundling up for an adventure to collect beach stones!

Bonus: Now take a second and feel within....don't you feel healthier now?

The Power of a Nap

The below article is right on.... especially since I too am a 'napper'!! Naps are not solely for babies, kids, dogs, the elderly....EVERYONE is entitled to a nap. Give your body a break - a chance to keep up with life! And accept the enjoyment of a nap. In sickness or in health, YOU deserve it!

There is new information out of the University of California at Berkley that indicates that napping during the day boosts cognitive power. I like this! I am a napper. I don’t always get the opportunity for a short afternoon nap, but when I need it I take it. It might just be a few minutes before dinner or an evening class but it helps. When we go through chemotherapy or radiation one of the most distressing side effects is fatigue. Usually I worked in the morning and then went to Chemotherapy in the afternoon, returning to work the next day. This resulted in only a half day off from work. After a couple of months I would take the day after chemo off as I began to feel thecumulative effects of months of treatment. That would give me the whole day to rest.

I then learned that if I could get a nap in during the day when I was working I could sail through the day much easier. Problem is, most people don’t get the opportunity or have a place where they can get a nap in. I had an office so I could put my head on my desk and close my eyes which resulted in a 15 minute nap. It really did help. On warm days, I was not above napping in my car during lunch hour. It’s still a good idea.

I no longer need naps to get through breast cancer, but I don’t rule them out during stressful times. I started out with breast cancer treatment thinking I was a superhuman but soon learned that I am only human. Naps are a good thing and now we have the science to back them up.

Kathy-Ellen

February 22, 2010

Breast Cancer and the Power of Napping

www.everydayhealth.com

Cultivating Compassion

This beautiful meditation helps us see others and ourselves through the eyes of the heart. Take a few deep breaths and rest your hands tenderly on your heart as you softly repeat the following phrases:

May I remain in peace and let go of expectations.
May I acknowledge my anger, fear, and sadness without thinking it makes me bad or wrong.
May I offer unconditional attention and care to others knowing it may be met by indifference or anger.
May I find the inner resources to truly be able to give freely.
May I be filled with compassion and loving kindness for myself and all beings.

by Karen Sothers

It is so easy to get LOST - lose your mind, lose your temper, lose your keys. The difficult part is finding what's lost.  The easiest way - look inside yourself. Remember, Self's powers are indefinite, even in the utmost uncertain times. So, take a peek. Invite the compassion into your day. You'll find an amazing snowball effect; the awareness of a brighter day, more smiles, and a new found appreciation of yourself and the world. 

Patience

It takes practice....practice, practice, practice. Especially patience with yourself.  I find this the most difficult 'patience' there is. Funny we often find ourselves recommending, suggesting, encouraging, inspiring our friends, family, co-workers, and community to 'be' or to 'do' or to 'relax'.  When the irony of the situation really lies within - we would never accept this advice. The Self has great powers, oftentimes much overlooked. The Self knows right from wrong, healthy from toxin, moral from immoral, and most of all the truth from lies. Why is it so easy to use this amazing power to help others while being so easy to discriminate against ourselves?

Successful Self Patience
Yeild: Your Own Best Friend - Connection with Self

Ingredients:
* 2 Heaping Cups of Self Love
* 1 Cup of Self Worth - because YOU are Worth It
* 2 Heaping Tablespoons of Self Belief - even in unsure times (believe in yourself in situations when you would console others)
* 3 Teaspoons each of Hope, Kindness, and Faith

Method: Sift Self Love with Self Worth. Slowly add Self Belief (if necessary, add more, you can never have too much). Promptly incorporate Hope Kindness and Faith until rich. Enjoy and accept your enjoyment. But practice, and be patience, each batch may most likely be one of it's own.

Om (Aum) is the Hindu or Yoga symbol of the Absolute. Chanting Om with hands placed in the universal form of prayer, gently pressing against the chest, allows a connection between Self, Consciousness, and Spirit.  Prayer may also be dedicated to a person, group, cause as hands open outward and/or upward while chanting Om.

Testing, testing

3, 4, 5...

Help again *please*? Does anything look different this time around?  Ability to subscribe? Links work? Attempted to feed rss through a separate tab on my wall.... any success?  Totally open to all feedback - thank you, thank you!!

Preferences - rss or atom feeds? Can you tell I'm a TOTAL newbie?!!

Testing, testing...

1, 2, 3

Rain, Rain...

go away...no wait PLEASE stay! The last few nights have been filled with such delightful rain. I love it, love it, love it, love it! Of course, plan ahead so you don't have to leave home and enjoy. For whatever reason, a rainy day without a long list of to-do's is one of the most relaxing pleasures.  One of my absolute favorite 'simples'.

My Life {today}

smile, laugh, love, learn, glow, anger, inspire, create, dance, sing, joy, cry, be, hurt, friends, freedom, cheer, breathe, peace, family, happiness.
to live.

Why?

I learned this week to just not ask.  My great friend, mentor, aunt showed me how unnecessary it is to ask 'why'. 'Why' complicates just about everything. She taught me to 'be', to'accept', to move forward because 'why' didn't matter. Cancer doesn't discriminate. It doesn't care who it hurts, who is effected, or what lives it breaks. So, why ask 'why'?  There is no answer. It just is. And so I'm spending all of what could be my 'why energy' instead as hopeful energy. Not only is this approach healthier for me, but it brings such incredible positive energy to those who are fighting the cancer. Dad, I'm still keeping my promise to you. And when I find my mind wandering, I bring myself back to positive thoughts.

Nicky, you're the best. Thank you for all you have taught me. I am so lucky to have your in my life. I love you.

Medicine Maddness

Migraines Suck!!!!! And from experience, medicines can be a double headed sword.  What is supposed to release muscle tension, relax nerves, heal headaches can often times lead to headaches. And for a migraine person, meds can not only cause headaches, but migraines.  Be careful and read your body.  Unfortunately in my healing I have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly from the medical world.  And a super simple tip - ICE!  Doesn't sound enticing to layer bags of ice on your head, but it WORKS!  Not only numbs the pain, but releases the nerves.....and no meds involved!!  Holistic happiness!

Lemon-aid

Lemon is a fantastic fruit...besides gorgeous in color and tangy in taste, lemons are a natural detox. So, add an extra slice to a glass of water, cup of hot tea, or simply pour hot water over lemon slices and melt in a teaspoon of dark honey....delicious and nutritious!

Sunny Days

I used to live easy,
I was, I did, all
thought-free.

I used to live easy,
I played, I laughed, all
thought-free.

But one day
the sun did not shine.
I could not see,
I could not be,
I could not live.

Tears, tears, tears
Scared, scared, scared
Tears, tears, tears.
Cancer hurts
everyone involved.

And then one day
the sun came out.
I saw a new day
and the lessons I learned in the dark.

Now I live easy
I play, I laugh, all
with thought and awareness
of hope, of health, of love.

Now I live easy
I am, I be, all
with thought and awareness
of hope, of health, of love.

And now I understand what it is to live.

Cancer Sucks

Bottom line - cancer sucks, sucks, sucks.  I share a prayer with anyone suffering any cancer and send a special healthy blessing to those diagnosed with brain cancer and colon cancer.  Dad is my inspiration to 'not think' this weekend.  And Dad, I am keeping my promise, no worrying yet or to come.  Wednesday is going to be a day to courage, strength and conquer for you, Mom and me. And I'm sending these affirmations to Dave too. 

Denver Me-Day

Denver - yes, DENVER....a no-worry, no-thinking, long weekend.  Today, hot tea, reading, relaxing, shopping, and now, a nap.  What a healthy Michelle-day.  I love it....but, can't wait for Jason's work day to end and to share a glass of wine.  Cheers to a me-day....I recommend to all.  Take a me-day, and take it often!

Hope

Definition*
1 : to cherish a desire with anticipation
2 : to desire with expectation of obtainment
3 : to expect with confidence : trust

*Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Day at the Grove, LA

Thanks again Katy - the real star! Katy Regnier Photography

Mad = Happy that is hurting

I Hate, Hate, Hate....and my pillows still seek love and comfort.

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.  ~Buddha

Undercover

I wrote this poem for a poetry contest about headaches in 2009. I hoped to share the emotions of sadness and feeling of guilt and loneliness that migraine creates.

Broken.

Scared, scarred

A vision appears in the mirror, a pond, through tears.

The vision resembles me,

my character, my mannerisms, my name.

And I try

to smile, to love, to laugh

I try to be.

Those outside can't hear my scream.

I cry for help - the knives hurt,

stabbing deeper into my head, my neck and puncture my eye.

I try to be.

I smile, I love, I laugh

The knives hurt.

Seconds become infinite.

Pain blankets all concentration and Anxiety begins to join Pain.

The knives hurt.

The knives hurt.

The knives hurt.

I try to be.

My eyes close and the dizziness slows

Tears run down my cheeks.

Tears of sadness, of hurt, messengers crying from the pain within.

Seconds took hours, yet the hours have flown past me.

I open my eyes to darkness, to night,

my eyes close.

The knives slowly break for today.

Now I can lay, I can sleep

Now I can be.

Garden of Greens

No, I am not going to tell you that the best way to be 'green' is to grow all of your produce!  Rather plant a few rosemary and lavender bushes.  SUPER easy to grow - drought tolerant, they'll own their space...and in no time, fresh, organic herbs!  I love to roast veggies with my rosemary and enjoy vases of fresh lavender in the house.

Tea Time

My new favorite michelle time, enjoying a hot cup of Extra Sleepy Time tea by Celestial Seasonings. What's better than a little chamomile, mint and valerian root...ahhhhhh! And how simple is that?

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Perfect for beginner me!!

studio?

I titled my blog 'studio m.r.' because this is my 'studio', my 'art room.'

Ready. Set. Relax.

Relax. Breathe. Relax. Breathe....
Seems simple? Not for me. I tend to stop breathing. So I'm practicing deep, slow, relaxing breathing. I think it's getting easier. Tip: Practice breathing in a hot bath with epson salt and bubbles!

How to start a blog?

I have no idea. Can't be too difficult - seems like just about everyone and anyone has one. But then again, I can't even decipher what most blogs are even about! So, here it goes...please enjoy a cup of hot tea in my Studio.

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color change?