A friend said it best, “Life is like a dance, sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow, sometimes you step on toes and sometimes you just move with the rhythm.” I think it’s a good way to look at our experiences and lessons. I look forward to the days I dance with ease but right now I’m still learning the dance and stumble a lot.
One of my favorite authors is Iyanla Vanzant who has written several books, but one I refer to daily is “Until Today.” She has lessons and things to think about for every day of the year. Today’s message was all about forgiveness and for believing that I have the power to create victims. Here’s a brief look at what the message is:
“We have all done something that has caused someone pain or discomfort. Often, we are aware of the consequences or our actions. Then there are those times when we don’t have a clue about what we’ve done until someone brings it to our attention. When they do, we feel bad. We believe that we must forever be indebted to the people who have been the victims of our thoughtlessness, neglect or abuse.”
Vanzant goes on to say that we can not see people as victims of something we have done or they will allow us to continue to feel bad. She writes “If you see people as your victims then you are declaring yourself to be more powerful than you have a right to be in anyone’s life. Seeing someone as your victim says that you are somehow responsible for what people believe and do. Thinking this way or feeling this way is going to cause you a tremendous amount of unnecessary grief.”
She talks about the dance of life and refers to the fact that some of us are accomplished dancers and some can’t find the beat. “If you step on toes, ask for forgiveness. DON’T BUY THEM A NEW PAIR OF SHOES! If the experience leaves them with the impression that life is not worth dancing, ask for forgiveness. DO NOT SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE TRYING TO FORCE THEM TO DANCE AGAIN! You have no victims! Ask for forgiveness. Make amends if you can. Then, waltz away.”
Today I’m devoted to forgiving my errors and to acknowledging that there are no victims in my life!
TODAY I’M GRATEFUL FOR my job.
TODAY I’M ATTRACTING peace with those who dance to a different beat than me.
QUOTE: “I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life dose go on and it will be better tomorrow.” Maya Angelou
ARBONNE: means, “Good from the Earth”
June 26th, 2008
I love all the comments and quotes people are sending. In fact I’m getting hits from all over the world. The following is from England! It hits home because we choose our own reality!
Reality is how I choose to see my world, not an image dictated by others! There once was a time when I saw my life as never meeting expectations. I wasn’t young enough, slim enough, tall enough or smart enough. I didn’t have the right car, clothes, house, income, attitude or career. I wasn’t raised in the right community I didn’t hang around with the right people, have the right ethnic heritage, nor go to the right school. I was foolish enough to believe this was reality.
Reality… I was a failure, an odd ball, an outcast. Then one day I felt this gentle nudging. I can’t quite pinpoint the event or moment. Was it created in loss or was it realised in a moment of joy? But I began to see through the barriers of the world and there, just beyond them, I discovered “Hope.”
Here is what is real in my world today. The warmth of someone lying next to me at night giving me a sense of security and reminding me of love. The sound of children’s voices confirming that all is well with them and knowing that they are a great contribution to the world.
My cat waiting for me when I come home…he is happy to see me. Some times the only one.
The velvet touch of a rose petal between my fingers and the sweet smell it leaves behind, reminds me that the finest things presented to all my human senses, are not manufactured but created by God. The brightness of the sunrise cries out “Celebrate!” You are born again into a new day.”
The gentle touch of a strangers hand when first we say hello and connect palm to palm. Considered a ritual, a formality by some. I find it a moment of connection on a spiritual level.
The sounds of life carried by the wind; the cries of Bottom of Forma hawk,
The waves crashing on the shore,
The chatter of an anxious squirrel, and the bells on a distant ice cream truck carrying with it the sweet
cream treats of childhood memories.
The tears I shed for someone’s pain!
The smell of fresh cut grass.
Laughter.
The wisdom of someone older than I.
The wisdom of an innocent child.
The taste of mashed potatoes and melted butter.
The smell of a turkey roasting in my oven producing instant flashbacks of family gathered around in celebration of life.
The sound, “You have mail!” on my computer.
The words, “Thank you!” “My friend” “Love” and “Hope.”
Watching commercials about fast cars, designer clothes, being thin, being young, being wealthy and knowing they aren’t as important as being happy with who I am…in reality!
TODAY I’M GRATEFUL FOR my car!
TODAY I’M ATTRACTING all things good!
QUOTE: “Today I’m devoted to stepping into my greatness.” Iyanla Vanzant
ARBONNE: ARBONNE does not use any animal products or biproducts in its formulas. Google “rendering plants” and find out what REALLY goes into your name brand cosmetics, chapsticks and face creams. ARBONNE is 100% pure, safe and beneficial.
June 20th, 2008
A friend broke down and cried on my shoulder because her relationship with her significant-other may be coming to an end. It made me reflect on how everything has a beginning, middle and end, just like chapters of a book. Although she can’t see it now, a new chapter is starting that maybe better than the last one.
A few hours after my friend left, I received a post on the website from another friend who is going through a divorce. She wanted to share the lessons she continues to learn from this experience.
I thought it was more than just a coincidence that she emailed me her lessons the same day my friend broke up with her boyfriend. Was it a coincidence, or did God wink? By the way, check out the book God Winks by Squire Rushnell. It was given to me by a stranger who just happened to think I should read it. Humm. This Universe is mysterious.
Below are the lessons from a friend!
When a loved one leaves you it feels like you’ve been punished. Like they have taken your memories, your heart, your hopes and dreams with them.
It feels like your body has been sliced in half. You must grow back the parts that were severed.
I can live alone and like it.
I can take care of myself and no one else and still like it. (I never thought as a Mom I would find fulfillment in this.)
I can survive without sexual relations and not miss it, well not to much!
I can overcome feelings of hatred, depression, envy, resentment, guilt and the intensity of failure and STILL SURVIVE!
I can train my mind to think posivite thoughts and focus on the present moment.
Life isn’t fair, but it is still so good.
People you love change, and not always for the best.
Love your friends unconditionally.
the pain associated with intense grief is so overwheleming it feels disabling, but it is not permanent. GOD heals. Time heals.
Character counts
THINGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk everyday. When you walk smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning cdomplete the following statement. “My purpose is to (fill in the blank) today!
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds and walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires and issues of the past, negative thoughts or things that you can not control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a princess and dinner like a college kid.
9. life isn’t fair but it is still GOOD!
10. Life is to short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Dont’ take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. you don’t havfe to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
14. Don’t compare your life to others’. You don’t have any idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except for you.
16. Frame every so-called disater ith these words: “In five years, will this matter?”
17. Forgive everyone for everything
18. What other people think of you is NONE of your business.
19. GOD heals everything
20. However good or bad a situation is it will change
21. Your job won’t take care of you hen you are sick. Yoru friends and family will. Stay in touch!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: “I am thankful for (enter it here). “Today I accomplished (enter it here).
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
TODAY I’M GRATEFUL FOR my cats who love me unconditionally.
TODAY I’M ATTRACTING a safe drive to and from Toronto this weekend.
QUOTE: “During times of great uncertainty coincidenes are signs of comfort and personal reassurance.” Squire Rusnell
ARBONNE: What is fueling ARBONNE’s HUGE success? A result oriented produce line and a system for success. Ask me about it and it will CHANGE your life.”
June 19th, 2008
I received an email yesterday from one of my high school teachers who wanted to let me know of another teacher’s retirement party. When asked who she wanted at the party she mentioned my name. Wow, I have only seen the teacher less than a dozen times in the past 20 years. It completely made my day and also made me reflect on what an impact we may have on another’s life.
I think back on my high school experience and remember how uncomfortable I was in my own skin. It seems a life time ago. I also think back with fondness on how much I respected all my teachers.
My sixth grade teacher asked the class to memorize a poem called I AM ME. The poem has stuck with me throughout the years and at a time, many years ago, when I was contemplating ending my life it was the one thing that reminded me I AM OKAY!
I AM ME
“I am Me. In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. Everything that comes out of me is authentically mine, because I alone chose it –
I own everything about me: my body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions, whether they be to others or myself. I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears.
I own my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes.
Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me.
By so doing, I can love me and be friendly with all my parts.
I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know — but as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles and ways to find out more about me.
However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically me. If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought, and felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that which I discarded. I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me. I own me, and therefore, I can engineer me.
“I am me, and I am Okay.” Virginia Satir
TODAY I’M GRATEFUL FOR my job!
TODAY I’M ATTRACTING time to relax tonight.
QUOTE: “Focus takes the raw power of a dream and directs it towards victory.”
ARBONNE: ARBONNE was established in 1980 and is Based on Botanical principals. It is part of the direct selling industry which attracted 58-MILLION salespeople with over 102 BILLION in sales world-wide.
Ask me how ARBONNE can help you!
June 18th, 2008
I proved it! You can change your attitude and turn a negative situation into a positive one. It’s not easy, but I did it yesterday!
Let me explain. I’ve been in a working relationship with someone for several years and I feel I’ve given my heart and soul to this bond we share. I asked my partner for something a few months ago which they agreed to supply. I reminded them of this pact a few days ago only to be told it would no longer work out. They reconsidered and thought I didn’t need this item to make our relationship more productive.
I was counting on it, in fact almost relying on it! Immediately I was angry and bitter. My heart beat fast and I grew flush. I wanted to have a confrontation and imagined how it would play out in my mind. My jaw hurt from grinding my teeth! I took a deep breath and instead of focusing on this negative I started to think about all they have done for me. It wasn’t easy. I was angry and didn’t want to think about the positives. My ego started to interrupt the positive thoughts to say, “yes, but…you did this, and this and they never….” I stopped my ego from going any further. I swallowed my pride and just concentrated on all the good. There is a lot of good in our relationship. When ever my ego started to pop up I wouldn’t let it. I only focused on the positives. I tried to think of as many good things between us as I could. By the end of the night I was okay. Today, I’m happy because I know it wasn’t meant to be. I didn’t get my way but the world hasn’t ended. I’ll be okay!
TODAY I’M GRATEFUL FOR all my friends. I love you all!
TODAY I’M ATTRACTING a productive evening.
QUOTE: “Successful people remember their vision for life and ignore day to day distractions.”
ARBONNE:
One can ask the question, “Why ARBONNE?” for any individual product, but the difference is in an understanding of the products themselves and the company that stands behind them. The amount of research and development that ARBONNE puts into each and every product is astounding. Each individual ingredient was selected for its specific properties and has been tested repeatedly during the processes and again within the final product.. We own all of our own formulas
June 17th, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008 In A Split Second
I was reminded Sunday how precious life is. Mom and I were sitting on her front porch, which overlooks my parent’s horse pasture and long driveway. We were having a relaxing afternoon when suddenly mom screamed and in a split second I saw and heard it too. A car, which was traveling to fast for the dirt road they live on, lost control and went into a culvert. It then launched into the air and crashed down, front end first, into my parent’s huge rock pile which greets visitors at the end of the driveway. Smoke was billowing from the front end of the vehicle. I immediately ran the 200 yards to where the car was; dialing 911 as I ran. The front end of the vehicle was gone; it was pan- caked into mess of fiberglass and steel. I saw an empty baby seat in the back of the car and my heart sank. Inside the mangled wreck I saw the driver slumped over, blood ran from his head and feet. My first thought he was dead; my second thought was the car was going to blow up. The neighbors ran to get a fire extinguisher while I opened the passenger door to access the situation and see if the driver were alive. His foot was stuck in the mangled wreck. He couldn’t get out but he was moaning. By this time my step dad arrived and he immediately removed debris and jumped into the car to hold the guys head and comfort him until the ambulance arrived. Jim, my step-dad, asked the driver if he had been drinking because he could smell alcohol. The driver said he, “had a few beers” and he “was sorry.”
It felt like an eternity before the ambulance and fire department arrived. It took them nearly ten minutes to remove the man using the jaws-of-life. At least he was alive! We were all thankful for that!
We don’t know the condition of the driver except for the fact he lived. He was in rough shape when they finally removed him from the car. All we could do is pray he will recover. We did find out he was driving on a suspended license and the car wasn’t his. The authorities said, “If this guy recovers he’ll be in a lot of trouble.”
The rest of the afternoon we cleaned up the mess. Glass was everywhere. We were all still trembling from the adrenaline serge and spent the rest of the evening talking about how lucky we are to not have been anywhere near the end of the driveway. My parent’s spent the day before weeding the gardens where the car landed. Thank God the accident didn’t happen a day before!
It was another reminder just how powerful speed is and to NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE. It also reminded me to pay attention while driving. I can’t tell you how many times I look down to dial the cell phone or to text. Yesterday was a lesson and I was paying attention!
TODAY I’M GRATEFUL FOR my parent’s. It’s nice to come home and relax.
TODAY I’M ATTRACTING health and wellness for the man involved in the accident.
QUOTE: “Today I will be happier than a bird with a French fry.” Take a moment to visualize that little bird in a fast-food parking lot finding a French fry on the ground….he has struck it rich! -Phyllis Fox
ARBONNE: When a friend recommends a movie and you go see it the motion picture’s director doesn’t send you a check for experiencing their product. Yet as an Independent Consultant District Manager every time I recommend ARBONNE to a friend who then starts using it I get paid. Makes you think!
June 16th, 2008
I love food! The taste, texture and feel of it in my stomach bring comfort to me. Even when I’m full I often continue to eat just because it tastes good. That’s when I get in trouble. I feel lethargic, gross and unmotivated with no energy. But yet I repeat the cycle, only to ask myself later…, why did I do that?
I guess it is human to want more, even though sometime “more” isn’t good for you. I’m reminded of this as I sit here wanting more. Not more food but more money. When I have excess money I’m still not satisfied. I want more, to spend more. When I spend excessively I don’t appreciate what I buy. It’s another cycle!
I guess life is like a teeter-totter. When you have excess you weigh down one side of the board. As a kid on the playground I always remember trying to find someone my weight to balance the teeter-totter because it was always fun to dangle my feet suspended in air at the same time my partner was.
TODAY I’M GRATEFUL FOR my house which gives me comfort.
TODAY I’M ATTRACTING balance!
QUOTE: Remember that the nicest thing you can do for yourself is to do something nice for someone else. “If you were to go around asking people what would make them happier, you’d get answer like “a new car,” “a bigger house,” “a raise in pay,” or “winning the lottery.” Probably not one in a hundred would say “a chance to help people,” and yet that is what brings about the most happiness of all. George Burns
ARBONNE: ARBONNE does not use animal or human byproducts!
*Rendering is a process that converts waste animal tissue into materials. Rendering can refer to any processing of animal byproducts into more useful materials, or more narrowly to the rendering of whole animal fatty tissue into purified fats like lard or tallow.
The majority of tissue processed comes from slaughterhouses but also includes restaurant grease and butcher shop trimmings, expired meat from grocery stores, the carcasses of euthanized and dead animals from animal shelters, zoos and veterinarians. This material can include the fatty tissue, bones, and offal, as well as entire carcasses of animals condemned at slaughterhouses, and those that have died on farms (deadstock), in transit, etc. The most common animal sources are beef, pork, sheep, and poultry.
The rendering process simultaneously dries the material and separates the fat from the bone and protein. A rendering process yields a fat commodity (yellow grease, choice white grease, bleachable fancy tallow, etc.) and a protein meal (meat & bone meal, poultry byproduct meal, etc.). These are often used by the cosmetic industry in lipsticks, chap stick and make up powder. *(From Wikepedia)
June 15th, 2008
Five years ago I was fortunate enough to represent the city of Lansing as part of a delegation visiting St. Petersburg, Russia. The historic Russian city was celebrating its 300th anniversary and we were there to mark the momentous event.
My excitement was over-the-top as the long flight ended. What would the city be like? Would I be able to communicate with my host family? I spoke broken Russian; having studied the language for only three years at M.S.U.
As the plane made its final descent I looked out the window and noticed broken helicopters and rusty planes lined the runway. It wasn’t like anything I’m use to seeing at domestic airports.
When it was time to leave the plane we didn’t have a jet bridge to step into. The doors opened and we walked down the aircraft’s stairs to the pavement below. The airport was a remnant of the Communist era; cold, large, intimidating. It wasn’t like other European airports I had visited.
The city was mammoth, gorgeous buildings with a mix of Ionic, Doric and Corinthian columns. I was beyond impressed! The cities administrators prepared for the celebration months ahead of time. This was going to be great!
Within minutes the scenery changed! The beautiful architecture came to an end and cold, dark, Communist era buildings surrounded me. My excitement was replaced by fear and hope that any minute I would begin to see the European beauty again. It didn’t happen.
My host families’ house was on the 8th floor of a cement building that looked more like a post world war II bomb shelter. The tiny elevator that took us to my new home didn’t have any lights and smelled of stale urine. It moved slowly, straining to make it another foot above the ground floor. The apartment was as large as most American families’ living rooms. It was in that instant that I craved to be home again. I made up my mind I would immediately take a taxi back to the European splendor in central St. Petersburg and find myself a beautiful Western hotel. And just as fast as that thought entered my mind I was reminded that I was an Ambassador representing my city and couldn’t insult my hosts.
St. Petersburg residents, during the summer months, don’t have the luxury of hot water. The city shuts it off for reasons that escape my memory. All I wanted was a shower, a nice bed and sleep. My host insisted that I eat before fulfilling my plans. I sat at the small kitchen table, as my host prepared a meal of fish and borsht. I started to relax and look forward to filling my belly with Russian cuisine. Then she pulled out the eating utensils and a flurry of large cockroaches fled from the drawer to the floor below, escaping to unknown parts of the home. I wanted to scream, run and get the hell out of that home!
There are many more experiences from that trip I will write about. It was the first time I realized how fortunate and blessed I am to live in America and to be able to afford the luxuries I take for granted. Today I’ll drive my new car, eat a large meal out, visit amazing stores and remember more than half the world doesn’t even know what those experiences are like!
TODAY I’M GRATEFUL to be an American; and even though I don’t have lots of money, I do have opportunities others only dream about.
TODAY I’M ATTRACTING relaxation.
QUOTE: Be there when people need you. “If someone comes to you asking for help, do not say in refusal, ‘Trust in God; He will help.’ Rather, act as if there were no God and no one to help except you.” Zaddik
ARBONNE allows you the opportunity to leverage your time. When you work just 10 hours a week and find four people to do the same, you benefit from 50 hours of earning power.
June 14th, 2008
I was waiting for a friend at an outdoor café yesterday afternoon when all of a sudden I felt a plop on my head. A millisecond later white and black material exploded into the air landing on my shirt. Oh my gosh a bird pooped right in the middle of my head. My first thought was, “Oh my hair.” Then I burst out laughing. I mean belly laughing, by myself, at a table. A woman at a table nearby just stared at me so I told her, fighting back laugh-tears, what had happened. Her facial expression made me laugh harder. She drew back the corners of her mouth and her eyes went in, the kind of expression you make when someone says or does something off beat.
I ran into the café to use the facility, but of course someone already beat me to it. So I used a napkin to try and clean the mess in my hair and on my shirt. People just looked at me as if I were crazy. It made me laugh harder!
I love all the comments about my website. Please feel free to send me yours and if you agree we can post them on here. The goal is to have lots of people send stories that producer laughter, “ah-ah” moments or inspiration. My friend had such an experience she agreed to share.
I just had a great morning with eight year old son. He is trying out for the travel soccer team and he has to run the soccer field five times during the tryouts. So when I decided to go out for a run he thought he might like to join me.
We ran about one mile and he had to stop. He yelled to me, “Mom, please run slower and I will walk and catch up.” I ran backwards, slow, and talked to him as we went along. We talked about pushing yourself to do something you want to do and how you feel great after. We got to the end of the sidewalk by our house and he said “I don’t think I can make it home.” I said, “Yes you can, tell your self ‘I can, I can, I can…’” We joined hands and ran the rest of the way together. He finished with a smile on his face and said, “Mom, can we do this tomorrow morning?” ABSOLUTELY!
These are the times that make being a mother worth it!
Thank you for helping me to save these moments! 
TODAY I’M GRATEFUL FOR the bird that pooped on my head and made me belly laugh. I love to laugh!
TODAY I’M ATTRACTING the ability to not feel rushed.
QUOTE: “Personal focus comes before financial freedom.”
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*Beneficial and specific to each skin type.
June 13th, 2008
When I was in elementary and middle school I wasn’t very popular. It was my fault because I really didn’t know how to just relax and be myself. So I ended up closing up and spending a lot of time alone, secretly wishing I could be with other people. By the time I reached high school I started coming out of my shell and making friends seemed easy. All those years being the “quiet kid in the corner” suddenly exploded by the time I reached college and I was a social butterfly. My goal was to be involved in as much as possible; I loved it and had the energy to maintain a huge social schedule. I remember my mom saying to me more than once, “Slow down and smell the roses. You do way to much.” I knew with my entire being that she was crazy. I would never want to slow down. I wasn’t like her; so I thought.
As an adult (okay, I don’t really feel like one but according to everything I’ve heard I am now officially one) I still have the feeling that I want to be involved in as much as possible, but I don’t have the energy. And lately all I want to do is go home after work and just relax inside my house, often times alone. If you would have asked me five years ago if I would ever think I would want to be home alone, not around my friends, not being involved in something, I would have said you are nuts!
The past five years I’ve been learning the word NO. It’s a hard word to learn because often times I get myself involved in things that I just don’t have the energy to do. But I don’t want to disappoint anyone. I’m learning though, that the only one I disappoint is myself. So I’m taking it day by day. I still want to do everything…. but for today I’m saying NO!
TODAY I’M GRATEFUL FOR summer. I LOVE this weather! It makes me smile.
TODAY I’M ATTRACTING more time to “smell the roses.”
TODAY’S QUOTE: Successful people say “YES” to their dreams and “NO” to distractions.
ARBONNE TIP: ARBONNE University is FREE to ARBONNE consultants. You take online classes to learn all about health and wellness. In 2005 close to 400,000 people had enrolled.
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SAFE: ARBONNE voluntarily takes our products to task to make sure the consumer, or client, is not put at risk by using them.
BENEFICIAL: All of ARBONNE’s 300+ products benefit the person using them.
June 12th, 2008
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