“Today I am open to the presence of miracles”

After my meditation today, I was filled with thoughts about packaging.  So often I believe we picture what our lives are supposed to look like and become discouraged when things don’t mirror our “package”.  We receive new miracles daily and miss their presence because we’re looking for something different.

While on your journey, take time to appreciate the miracles that you receive.  Look for them, expect them, and appreciate them.

While watching T.V. tonight, there was a scene in which friends with benefits (error number 1) decided to enter into a committed relationship with each other.  The woman, obviously the dominate member, made this decision after becoming jealous because the man began flirting with another woman. (Error number 2).

The couple went grocery shopping and while in the store, a friend of the woman asked the man, “what do you want to be when you grow up”?  The man responded that he was already what he wanted to be and had no aspirations to be anything else.  This upset the woman and when the couple got home, she questioned if he was joking in the store.  He explained to her that he was completely happy with his current career and did not want to change it in any way.  She proceeded to tell him things changed when they decided to start a relationship and she was starting to feel something and could never marry a man in his field.

Soooo…does this scenario sound familiar?  Have you ever entered into a relationship because you thought he/she would change/evolve?

If your answer is yes, you have successfully created your own fairytale. Friends with benefits is not the same as a romantic relationship.  It’s a friendship with sex and usually nothing more.  Often times in this type of relationship, you refuse to see the person right in front of you, you miss out on getting to know who they really are because you believe you already know them.  The woman on the show only saw what she wanted from the man.  She thought he was like her because of the friendship they had.  When he didn’t measure up, she wanted to walk away.  He was confused by her reaction, he didn’t understand what changed.  In the end, he left and went off to become a man she would marry, thus, leaving her single.

In your quest for love  remember it starts and ends with you.  You should begin with a solid friendship but that alone doesn’t make them the perfect partner.   Be honest with yourself and don’t turn your partner into a perfect being.  Give them room to be their authentic self and stop being so quick to walk away.

Photo from Carlo’s Bakery, http://www.carlosbakery.com/

Well it’s no secret that I’m a Princess so, what better way to celebrate the first day of my birth month than with a castle cake 🙂

Here’s some special things I discovered about my special month…

• National Blueberry Month~this must be the reason I love blueberries soooo much!!!

• National Anti-Boredom Month~hence all the FUN in the sun!!!

• National Cell Phone Courtesy Month~ummm does that mean I can’t use my cell phone while in the presence of others?!?  What about CANDY CRUSH???

• National Ice Cream Month~bring the butter pecan, mint chocolate chip, and red velvet!!!  Ooh and don’t forget the lactaid..LMBO

You say you love me but, it can’t be true because every time I see you all we talk about is you.

You say you miss me but, that can’t be a fact since each time we’re together, you run to get back.

If this is love, show me hate because this love must be fake.

You say you hate them but, I can’t see how because they are  first and those you love are left out.

You say they cause you pain but, I’m not so sure since you dance with them in the rain.

If this is hate, show me love because I’m confused up above.

In your heart, the truth will be revealed.

Which will you choose, time won’t stand still.

Matthew 6:24

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Time passes whether we want it to or not, this is why it is important to “Stop and Smell the Roses”….

When you were a kid, you may have always thought tomorrow was a guarantee.  As you grew older, hopefully you noticed that each new day is indeed a gift.

Everyone should make it a priority to enjoy their life to the fullest.  This doesn’t mean do any and everything you think you are “grown” enough to do.  It simply means appreciate every aspect of YOUR life.  You have been given everything necessary to live a happy, fulfilled life.  It is up to each individual to live their best life.  Just because you can’t afford a trip to Jamaica, doesn’t mean you can’t take a vacation.  Even if you can’t afford a five-star restaurant, you can still go out for dinner.  The happiest people plainly love the life they live.  They are too busy living to dwell on what they don’t have.

Never take a moment for granted, LIVE LOVE LAUGH WITHOUT LIMITS…

My Chorus for Today: “Back when I had a little, I thought that I needed a lot.  A little was over rated, but a lot was a little too complicated.  You see zero didn’t satisfy me, a million didn’t make me happy.  That’s when I learned a lesson, that it’s all about your perception.”~India Arie

Thanks to Tropical Storm Debby, I had to take numerous detours on my way back home from visiting my family.  The route added almost 2 hours to my trip but said I was driving the same distance.  At first I was a little sad because it was going to take me so long to get home and I was traveling on unfamiliar roads.  A friend told me “As long as you get there, that’s all that matters”.

In life we will experience many obstacles, trials, and what we perceive to be negative situations. There is no way around this, no one is exempt but God makes provisions for all these “storms”.  Often times we experience what we feel are setbacks in life but they are actually God’s “detours”.  He has planned out a path and even when we end up off course, He will bring us back home.  The great thing about God’s detour is we will end up exactly where we should be therefore, we’ve traveled the same distance.

The next time storms rise in your life, appreciate your detour because what matters most is that you get to your destination.

“You is smart, you is kind, you is important”~ The Help

Many people are stuck in the same position, relationship, location, all because they don’t feel worthy. Life is about growth, the mistakes of your past do not determine your future. Everyone has struggled with, fought through, and overcame something. What sets us apart is the attitude in which we approach life.

You have to admit, accept and adjust. Admit that things didn’t go as planned, admit you’re hurt by the outcome, admit you made poor choices. Accept that something different needs to be done, accept your role in the matter, accept that you can’t go back and change anything or anyone. Then you must adjust, focus on the things you can control and the only person you can change.

Knowing that you deserve better is the first step and when you know better, do better. You should not depend on anyone to treat you better than you treat yourself. You are the only person responsible for your happiness.

No matter what happened, no matter what was done to you and no matter what “they” say…”you is smart, you is kind, you is important” You are Worthy!!!

I looked everywhere but still could not find. I’ve searched the world over, wondering if it was all in my mind.

I sat on a bench and waited patiently. I knelt by my bed and prayed for what could be.

The one constant thing is that you have my heart.  The sad part about it is I don’t know where to start.

I’ve heard of all the things you do.  When I find you, I will see if it’s true.

When I wasn’t looking, it is then you crossed my path. You made me smile again, taught me how to laugh.

Now that I know you are out there, I’m really curious. I want to know all about you, make it just the two of us.

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference…”

True change comes from within, therefore, we can not dictate or force someone to change.  Often times the things we want to change in others is the very thing we need to change within ourselves.  My honest belief is that the only way I can change those around me is to change myself.

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ~Gandhi

“You don’t know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have”~Unknown

This week a young lady told me her house was broken into twice this month, two friends died this week and her best friend got robbed at a red light.  She could not concentrate on any one task for too long and found it hard to sit still.  She complained about not needing to be at work and wanting to just cry all day.  I saw a story about a woman who contracted a flesh-eating disease earlier this month and has had her leg, a foot and both hands amputated.  She is reported to be in high spirits and responded “Lets do this” when told about her amputations.  Her father says every breath she takes is a gift, she sat up for 5 hours when doctors only expected about an hour out of her hospital bed.  Not to make light of either situation but the reactions are very different in comparison.  Throughout life you will experience trials, heartache, and loss.  Your reaction is what determines your outcome.  Life can give you a thousand reasons to throw in the towel, many reasons to walk away and many more to give up on life itself.  These times are when you find out things about yourself you may have never known. “If you think your problems are big, listen to someone else’s and you will see yours are small in comparison”.

My chorus for today: “Found hope in my heart, I found the light to light my way out of the dark.  Found all that I need, here inside of me.  I thought I’d never find my way, I thought I’d never lift that weight, I thought I would break.  I didn’t know my own strength and I crashed down, and I tumbled but I did not crumble.  I got through all the pain, I didn’t know my own strength…”~Whitney Houston