©iStockphoto.com/HansUntch

We all know that to give is to receive, right?

But, remember to receive is to give, too. 

It’s not always easy to be on the receiving end. In fact, most of us are usually much more comfortable with giving than we are with receiving. 

However, [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/HansUntch

We all know that to give is to receive, right?

But, remember to receive is to give, too. 

It’s not always easy to be on the receiving end. In fact, most of us are usually much more comfortable with giving than we are with receiving. 

However, to not allow someone to give to you is to rob them of the joy of giving.

So, give the gift of receiving:

Give yourself a break and joyfully receive with your paws open wide. 

     “. . . If you let me, here’s what I’ll do, I’ll take care of you . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/101cats

C   H   A   N   G   E 

 Choose the change I intend to make

Honesty with myself about what it’ll take

Adjust any thinking that gets in my way,

Notice the paths of opportunity as they appear

Grab with courage the wheel of [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/101cats

C   H   A   N   G   E 

 Choose the change I intend to make

Honesty with myself about what it’ll take

Adjust any thinking that gets in my way,

Notice the paths of opportunity as they appear

Grab with courage the wheel of possibility and steer

Expect to be the change I’ve envisioned, as I look in the mirror. 

“I’m gonna make a change for once in my life, It’s gonna feel real good, Gonna make a difference, Gonna make it right . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/49pauly

Worried about how you’re going to reach your goals?

Put an end to your anxious thoughts and feelings and instead, think from the end. 

In other words, visualize the end result that you’re desiring, and then, of course, trust in the end.

Trust [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/49pauly

Worried about how you’re going to reach your goals?

Put an end to your anxious thoughts and feelings and instead, think from the end. 

In other words, visualize the end result that you’re desiring, and then, of course, trust in the end.

Trust me, that’s how we who have the world by the tail do it!

” . . . Suddenly I see this is what I wanna be, Suddenly I see, why the hell it means so much to me . . . ”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/SoopySue

 Even though I have no feet, I’ve learned how to keep up with my prime mates by teaching myself how to walk and run on only my hands.

The “impossible” typically requires NOT having your two feet planted firmly on the ground.  [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/SoopySue

 Even though I have no feet, I’ve learned how to keep up with my prime mates by teaching myself how to walk and run on only my hands.

The “impossible” typically requires NOT having your two feet planted firmly on the ground. 

It stands to reason then, that we who accomplish the impossible stand out from the crowd even when it seems that we don’t stand a chance!!!

“ . . . This is my quest, to follow that star; No matter how hopeless, no matter how far; To be willing to give when there’s no more to give . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

photographer unknown

The holidays are over and it’s time to relax, so I’ll take a few minutes and stretch out on my back.

Perhaps for my resolution this year, I’ll try at least one thing that in the past I have feared.

There’s no need to get [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

photographer unknown

The holidays are over and it’s time to relax, so I’ll take a few minutes and stretch out on my back.

Perhaps for my resolution this year, I’ll try at least one thing that in the past I have feared.

There’s no need to get crazy or to flirt with danger, maybe everyday I’ll simply help out a stranger.

” . . . If you want a friend then be one, a little bit of kindness, show some; You’ll be surprised at how much finds its way back home; It doesn’t matter what it is, if you want it, GIVE . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photographer Unknown

This time of year there’s tons to do shopping and cooking and family gatherings, too.

Remember no matter where you may be, take a little lesson from the de-stressed kitty:

Relaxing is easy as one, two, three!

Distressin’ is for the birds, whereas de-stressin’ is for [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photographer Unknown

This time of year there’s tons to do shopping and cooking and family gatherings, too.

Remember no matter where you may be, take a little lesson from the de-stressed kitty:

Relaxing is easy as one, two, three!

Distressin’ is for the birds, whereas de-stressin’ is for the whole herd!

“. . . Take it easy, take it easy, don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive me crazy . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photographer Unknown

Don’t worry about the HOW.

Just envision the direction you’d like to go, be open-minded, keep your paws peeled and, of course:

Trust that the appropriate ride (aka taxi) will appear to take you where you need to go. And of course remember, that your “taxi” may look nothing [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photographer Unknown

Don’t worry about the HOW.

Just envision the direction you’d like to go, be open-minded, keep your paws peeled and, of course:

Trust that the appropriate ride (aka taxi) will appear to take you where you need to go. And of course remember, that your “taxi” may look nothing like you pictured in your mind.

So hold on baby, and enjoy the ride!

“I’ve just closed my eyes again, climbed aboard the dream weaver train, driver take away my worries of today and leave tomorrow behind, oh, oh, oh, dream weaver, I believe . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photographer Unkn

When in need remember that sometimes the most snuggley of comfort can come from the unexpected ones in our lives.

In my opinion, all wee critters with hearts share the same basic parts.

I guess birds of a feather don’t always [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photographer Unkn

When in need remember that sometimes the most snuggley of comfort can come from the unexpected ones in our lives.

In my opinion, all wee critters with hearts share the same basic parts.

I guess birds of a feather don’t always flock together after all.

“I have been here many times before, be my friend, wrap me up and hold me, unfold me and breathe me . . . “

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/webstuff

Spread yourself wide so that all of your vibrance shines.

The more you express yourself, the better you feel and the more often you’ll attract others who feel joyful and delight in expressing themselves, too.

After all, birds of a feather flock together, right?

Oh, and did I [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/webstuff

Spread yourself wide so that all of your vibrance shines.

The more you express yourself, the better you feel and the more often you’ll attract others who feel joyful and delight in expressing themselves, too.

After all, birds of a feather flock together, right?

Oh, and did I mention, remember to shake your tail feathers, my friend! 

“Express what you’ve got baby ready or not, express yourself, you’ve got to learn to express yourself, hey, hey, hey, hey . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/Savushkin

Because every critter is important, necessary and inspires awe,

Paws and reflect on the significant contributions made by those of us without paws.

You so fly . . .

“. . . I want to thank you, show my gratitude, my [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/Savushkin

Because every critter is important, necessary and inspires awe,

Paws and reflect on the significant contributions made by those of us without paws.

You so fly . . .

“. . . I want to thank you, show my gratitude, my love and my respect, I want to thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/dageldog

When I find the courage to make some time for me,

up turns the energy to lead those in need.

Really, it is that easy!

Rouf, rouf!!

“. . . like a drifter I was born to walk alone,

And I’ve made up my mind,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/dageldog

When I find the courage to make some time for me,

up turns the energy to lead those in need.

Really, it is that easy!

Rouf, rouf!!

“. . . like a drifter I was born to walk alone,

And I’ve made up my mind,

I aint wastin’ no more time . . .” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

photographer unknown

Sometimes circumstances are simply out of our control.

In these times, I remind myself that April showers bring May cat nip and flowers . . .

Besides that, Suave does wonders for my fur coat!

” . . . so [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

photographer unknown

Sometimes circumstances are simply out of our control.

In these times, I remind myself that April showers bring May cat nip and flowers . . .

Besides that, Suave does wonders for my fur coat!

” . . . so let me take you by the hand and lead you on this dance . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you’re thinking is negative, you’d better think again!

What we place our attention on is what we create.

“You’d better stop and think before you think, You’d better think, Let your mind go and let yourself be free . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you’re thinking is negative, you’d better think again!

What we place our attention on is what we create.

“You’d better stop and think before you think, You’d better think, Let your mind go and let yourself be free . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/scottdart

Strength is a simple presence that resides within vulnerability.

As I open my paws wide to the opportunities that come my way, and I say “YES!”, I remember that I have the strength to succeed.

(HINT: The coolest of cats know that success is in stepping [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/scottdart

Strength is a simple presence that resides within vulnerability.

As I open my paws wide to the opportunities that come my way, and I say “YES!”, I remember that I have the strength to succeed.

(HINT: The coolest of cats know that success is in stepping outside of the cat box and saying “YES!”  What happens after that is just icing on the cake or mice-ing on the steak, depending on your tastes).

“Rising up, straight to the top, Had the guts, got the glory, Went the distance, now I’m not gonna stop . . . the eye of the tiger”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/GomezDavid

Doubting your beauty?

Trust me, you’re a ten, inside and out.

In fact, you’re a purrrrfect ten!

You otter know that by now, Lovely.

“. . . I am beautiful no matter what they say, words can’t bring me down, I’m beautiful in every single way [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/GomezDavid

Doubting your beauty?

Trust me, you’re a ten, inside and out.

In fact, you’re a purrrrfect ten!

You otter know that by now, Lovely.

“. . . I am beautiful no matter what they say, words can’t bring me down, I’m beautiful in every single way . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/TravisPacheco

What’s healthy to do with anger?

Try hopping in the car and screaming at the top of your lungs.  Or, how about going to a batting cage and picturing the ball as the energy leaving your body.

The point is . . . don’t repress it, stuff [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/TravisPacheco

What’s healthy to do with anger?

Try hopping in the car and screaming at the top of your lungs.  Or, how about going to a batting cage and picturing the ball as the energy leaving your body.

The point is . . . don’t repress it, stuff it, or tell yourself that it’s bad to feel angry energy. Instead, allow it to move through you.

Then you won’t end up beating a dead horse.

Now, that’s the truth; you heard it straight from the horse’s mouth.

“. . . my heart is under arrest again, but I’ll break loose . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Self-reflection is where IT can always be found.

What is IT, you may wonder?

What you see as wrong in someone else, silly willy.

“I’m looking at the man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways, no message could’ve been any clearer . [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Self-reflection is where IT can always be found.

What is IT, you may wonder?

What you see as wrong in someone else, silly willy.

“I’m looking at the man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways, no message could’ve been any clearer . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/Suchan

I’m always very picky when choosing the friends I turn to when I’m in need of support.

My supportive friends not only know how to pick my brain to help me find out what’s bugging me, but they also examine “the bug” with me, and then help [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’m always very picky when choosing the friends I turn to when I’m in need of support.

My supportive friends not only know how to pick my brain to help me find out what’s bugging me, but they also examine “the bug” with me, and then help me to let it go. And then, voila, I’m able to pick up where I left off.

When we’re picky with whom we find support, we tend to become bugged way less often.

So pick away, baby, pick away.

“. . . though I’ll never lose affection for the people and things that went before, I know I’ll often stop and think about them, In my life I love you more . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Often when we’re involved in difficult or emotionally charged conversations, it can seem as though we’re speaking different languages, and that the space between is much larger than it really is.

Remember though, that all of us at our core and in our hearts simply want to be heard and validated. [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Often when we’re involved in difficult or emotionally charged conversations, it can seem as though we’re speaking different languages, and that the space between is much larger than it really is.

Remember though, that all of us at our core and in our hearts simply want to be heard and validated.

So, do like I do, and approach difficult conversations with heart, because if there’s one thing that can bring out the best in someone, it’s speaking from the heart.

After all, one thing we all have in common is a heart, no?

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine, and my tunes were played on the harp unstrung, would you hear my voice come through the music, would you hold it near as it were your own . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whatever I’m afraid of doing usually feels too risky when my thoughts continually focus on the possibilities of what might go wrong.

But, what if I focus on everything that’s gonna go right?

Now that’s exciting!

Excitement and fear create the same physiological experience; the only difference is [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whatever I’m afraid of doing usually feels too risky when my thoughts continually focus on the possibilities of what might go wrong.

But, what if I focus on everything that’s gonna go right?

Now that’s exciting!

Excitement and fear create the same physiological experience; the only difference is that with excitement, we’re focused on how much fun we’re gonna have.

Today, I’m gonna choose excitement cuz it really is that simple.

“Take it to the limit, c’mon and take it to the limit one more time . . . “

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to feel younger? Reignite your playful and imaginative side? Challenge your ideas about how things are “supposed” to be?

Hang with some youngsters.

They’ll have you drawing purple polkadot trees, singing silly songs about somersaulting bees, and leave you questioning why you believe what [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to feel younger? Reignite your playful and imaginative side? Challenge your ideas about how things are “supposed” to be?

Hang with some youngsters.

They’ll have you drawing purple polkadot trees, singing silly songs about somersaulting bees, and leave you questioning why you believe what you believe.

“May the good life be with you down every road you roam; May sunshine and happiness surround you when you’re far from home; May you grow to be proud, dignified and true; And do unto others as you would have done to you . . . “

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/artworkbyme

BUMBLE BEE:

Bee-ing

Understanding

Makes

Bringing

Love

Everywhere

Both

Effortless &

Enjoyable

“Let me tell you bout the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees, and the moon up [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/artworkbyme

BUMBLE BEE:

Bee-ing

Understanding

Makes

Bringing

Love

Everywhere

Both

Effortless &

Enjoyable

“Let me tell you bout the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees, and the moon up above . . . let me tell ya bout love.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOPE: The feeling that what is wanted can be had or that the events will turn out for the best.

FAITH: Strong or unshakable belief in something especially without proof or evidence.

The nice thing about having faith or feeling hopeful is that once I take the flying leap [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOPE: The feeling that what is wanted can be had or that the events will turn out for the best.

FAITH: Strong or unshakable belief in something especially without proof or evidence.

The nice thing about having faith or feeling hopeful is that once I take the flying leap I’ve been contemplating, I’ll be able to see all the things I couldn’t see before I left the ground.

Nothing beats a bird’s eye view.

“. . . You say you don’t know, you won’t know until you begin . . . I might as well jump, go ahead and jump . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/lucato

A good friend of mine recently told me that healing is like a winding staircase. With every two steps we take, we may just take one back.

Sometimes the steps may seem bigger than we can handle, and at others we race up them three at [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/lucato

A good friend of mine recently told me that healing is like a winding staircase. With every two steps we take, we may just take one back.

Sometimes the steps may seem bigger than we can handle, and at others we race up them three at a time with ease and agility.

She told me the important thing to remember is that even when we feel like we’re moving downward, in the grand scheme of things, we’re actually always moving upwards on the stairway of healing.

“And a new day will dawn, for those who stand long, and the forests will echo with laughter . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/expictura

When I’m missing someone it seems like all I do is watch the time, Sitting around waiting for them to arrive.

So, at times like these I repeat to myself a couple of things:

First, I remember that time is nothing but an illusion, this frees up [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I’m missing someone it seems like all I do is watch the time, Sitting around waiting for them to arrive.

So, at times like these I repeat to myself a couple of things:

First, I remember that time is nothing but an illusion, this frees up my mind and straightens out any confusion, Then I remind myself of the most important thing I know,

No matter time nor distance love is always carried in our souls.

“. . . the second hand unwinds, If you’re lost you can look and you will find me, time after time, If you fall I will catch you, I’ll be waiting, time after time . . .”

I love you, Mhamai!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Relationship systems thrive using the same teamwork we geese use when flying in a V-formation.

When I’m in the leading position and I tire, I fall back into a position that requires less energy. Then one of the more rested among us slides up to take the lead. And when that [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Relationship systems thrive using the same teamwork we geese use when flying in a V-formation.

When I’m in the leading position and I tire, I fall back into a position that requires less energy. Then one of the more rested among us slides up to take the lead. And when that one tires, she falls back and another takes the lead.  And so on, and so on.

Relationship systems have a natural cyclical life, so celebrate the ebb and flow of your relationships.

Start gettin V-V with it and vacillate you silly goose, you!

“I want to fly like an eagle to the sea, Fly like and eagle, let my spirit carry me, I want to fly like an eagle til I’m free, Fly to the revolution . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When you’re feelin’ any doubt, just watch wee fuzzy pals, to give you some answers and show you how:

We trust that we have all we need

within our reach

to feel safe, strong and free,

cuz we always act on our instincts. [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When you’re feelin’ any doubt, just watch wee fuzzy pals, to give you some answers and show you how:

We trust that we have all we need

within our reach

to feel safe, strong and free,

cuz we always act on our instincts.

“Oooh, I-I believe. Fate, smile down, destiny. With love, with patience and with faith, you’ll make your way . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/WilleeCole

Every dream contains a special message just for you. About who you are. About who you would like to be. About your vulnerabilities. About your strengths. About your deepest desires and dreams.

So, do like I do and listen to your dreams. They give you a different perspective [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/WilleeCole

Every dream contains a special message just for you. About who you are. About who you would like to be. About your vulnerabilities. About your strengths. About your deepest desires and dreams.

So, do like I do and listen to your dreams. They give you a different perspective by showing you your underbelly.

“These dreams go on when I close my eyes, every second of the night, I live another life . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometimes saying goodbye can stretch you farther than you thought you could reach.

So, do as I do and willingly release relationships that no longer serve your growth.

Cuz when you do, you’ll be making room for new relationships that’ll lift you [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometimes saying goodbye can stretch you farther than you thought you could reach.

So, do as I do and willingly release relationships that no longer serve your growth.

Cuz when you do, you’ll be making room for new relationships that’ll lift you to levels you never knew existed.

“Saying goodbye, going away, seems like goodbye’s such a hard thing to say, touching a hand, wondering why, it’s time for saying goodbye.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/JohnPitcher

When you feel like you’re hanging on by a thread, or when it seems you’re losing your grip on something, take a look around.

You’ll most likely find someone who’s already hanging, or is willing to hang, right by your side.

“Oh when [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/JohnPitcher

When you feel like you’re hanging on by a thread, or when it seems you’re losing your grip on something, take a look around.

You’ll most likely find someone who’s already hanging, or is willing to hang, right by your side.

“Oh when you’re cold,  I’ll be there, Hold you tight to me.

Oh when you’re low,  I’ll be there, By your side . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/Freder

It’s quite simple, really. That is, the answer to your question.

Between the opposites lies the path.

It really is that simple.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/WilliamJMurphy

Only those of us with fur can claim that we’re fluffy rather than fat.

My fluff and my fat exist to help me survive through rough winters.  On top of that, my diet is completely organic and vegetarian.

Most of your kind don’t need to save up for [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/WilliamJMurphy

Only those of us with fur can claim that we’re fluffy rather than fat.

My fluff and my fat exist to help me survive through rough winters.  On top of that, my diet is completely organic and vegetarian.

Most of your kind don’t need to save up for harsh winters, so being overweight is not healthy.  Therefore, feed yourself and your children proper portion sizes of organic, healthy food. And be sure to get generous doses of daily exercise.

Healthy is cute.

Obesity, heart disease, and other weight related issues are not.

“Teach your children well, their father’s hell, will slowly go by. And, feed them all your beans . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/Enjoylife2

  Because our first love experiences were not romantic love, how bout we extend our Valentine’s Day celebration to honoring where we learned how to give and receive snuggles, cuddles, kisses, kindness, friendship & love.

Remember in elementary school how we made Valentines for everyone we knew, no exceptions?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/Enjoylife2

  Because our first love experiences were not romantic love, how bout we extend our Valentine’s Day celebration to honoring where we learned how to give and receive snuggles, cuddles, kisses, kindness, friendship & love.

Remember in elementary school how we made Valentines for everyone we knew, no exceptions?

That’s what I’m talkin’ bout.

Love it up, baby, love it up!

“Wookin puh nub in aww da wight pwaces …”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/shalamov

Since our eyes are the windows into our souls,

never underestimate the effect that your direct eye contact and a little smile have . . .

Just this wee effort on your part can change the course of someone’s day, and even someone’s life [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/shalamov

Since our eyes are the windows into our souls,

never underestimate the effect that your direct eye contact and a little smile have . . .

Just this wee effort on your part can change the course of someone’s day, and even someone’s life including your own.

Trust me, look how itty-bitty I am, and my adorable little self put a little spring in your step, wouldn’t ya say?

“In your eyes, the light the heat, Your eyes, I am complete, Your eyes, I see the doorway of a thousand churches . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The word “smothers” is spelled with m-o t-h-e-r-s, not l-o-v-e-r-s. Smothering comprises much more than the really obvious suffocating or protective behaviors.

So, remember to internally (and of course, externally) respect and honor your partner’s thoughts, beliefs, morals and values especially when they are very dissimilar from your own. [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The word “smothers” is spelled with m-o t-h-e-r-s, not l-o-v-e-r-s. Smothering comprises much more than the really obvious suffocating or protective behaviors.

So, remember to internally (and of course, externally) respect and honor your partner’s thoughts, beliefs, morals and values especially when they are very dissimilar from your own.

Respect is at the heart of unconditional love.

Remember too, that saying you respect someone can be completely different than actually feeling it within yourself.

” . . . each had their own charm, buried beneath a solid piece of armor, or a steel plated vest . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

iStockphoto.com/Smileus

No one knows better than I how roo-tine life can get. Or, how easy it is to leap into the new.

Want to jump into something different?

Relax.

Picture it.

Feel it.

Let it go.

Hop.

Be Patient.

Skip.

Patience.

Jump.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

iStockphoto.com/Smileus

No one knows better than I how roo-tine life can get. Or, how easy it is to leap into the new.

Want to jump into something different?

Relax.

Picture it.

Feel it.

Let it go.

Hop.

Be Patient.

Skip.

Patience.

Jump.

Patience. Patience. Patience.

“All we need is a little patience, yeah, yeah. Just a little patience, yeah, yeah . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/narcisa

This time of year is about rejoicing in all the little things, the precious things.

Tis the season to celebrate the itty-bitties!

On the twelfth day of Solstice the Universe gave to me:

Twelve hummingbirds hummin’, eleven piglets squealing, ten froglets leapin’, nine ferret [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/narcisa

This time of year is about rejoicing in all the little things, the precious things.

Tis the season to celebrate the itty-bitties!

On the twelfth day of Solstice the Universe gave to me:

Twelve hummingbirds hummin’, eleven piglets squealing, ten froglets leapin’, nine ferret kits prancing, eight calves a milking, seven tadpoles swimming, six spiderlings climbing, Fiiiiiiive Haaaaaaawk Haaaaaaatchliiiiiiings, four beetle herds, three baby wrens, two lightening bugs, and a fuzzy kitten nuzzled into me.

“Oh little things, oh little things, much pleasure doth thou bring me . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/stanley45

The best formula for life your math teacher probably didn’t teach you:

Hanging out alone

+

Doing something I enjoy

=

Increased Feelings of Balance and Joy

Nothin’ straightens me out quite like a little time in solitary alignment.

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©iStockphoto.com/stanley45

The best formula for life your math teacher probably didn’t teach you:

Hanging out alone

+

Doing something I enjoy

=

Increased Feelings of Balance and Joy

Nothin’ straightens me out quite like a little time in solitary alignment.

“Sometimes I need some time on my own, Sometimes I need some time all alone, oh, Everybody needs some time on their own, oooh, Don’t you know you need some time all alone . . .”

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©iStockphoto.com/RussDuparcq

Usually it’s hard to see while they’re occurring, but challenges show up to stretch us from our original dimensions.

Not only are they fantastic opportunities for growth, but they help us to view the world from elevated perspectives.

So, let’s get growin! Alpaca bag and you [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/RussDuparcq

Usually it’s hard to see while they’re occurring, but challenges show up to stretch us from our original dimensions.

Not only are they fantastic opportunities for growth, but they help us to view the world from elevated perspectives.

So, let’s get growin! Alpaca bag and you pack an ample supply of strength and open-mindedness.

“You grieve you learn, you choke you learn, you laugh you learn, you choose you learn, you pray you learn, you live you learn . . .”

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©iStockphoto.com/Dr-Strangelove

Need an answer to your question?

You don’t have to be all ears to hear what the Universe is trying to tell you.

Simply pay attention to the little things going on around you and don’t let that information go in one ear and out the other.

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©iStockphoto.com/Dr-Strangelove

Need an answer to your question?

You don’t have to be all ears to hear what the Universe is trying to tell you.

Simply pay attention to the little things going on around you and don’t let that information go in one ear and out the other.

Hint: It’ll sound a bit like music to your ears.

“Do you hare what I hare, Do you hare what I hare . . .”

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©iStockphoto.com/luvhotpepper

Excuse me, my friend. I have a favor to ask. Please remember that millions of my friends and family members gave their lives so that millions of your kind could enjoy their friends and family on Thanksgiving.

So, how bout this year, you take care in purchasing your [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/luvhotpepper

Excuse me, my friend. I have a favor to ask. Please remember that millions of my friends and family members gave their lives so that millions of your kind could enjoy their friends and family on Thanksgiving.

So, how bout this year, you take care in purchasing your de-feathered friend from a company that raised him in a pasture, fed him properly and treated him with respect.

It’s not like it will literally cost you an arm (aka wing) and a leg.

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©iStockphoto.com/KeithSzafranski

Surround yourself with those you look up to.

Hangin’ with those you admire will keep you growing and have you singing your own praises.

“. . . you’re the poet in my heart, never change and don’t you ever stop . . .”

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©iStockphoto.com/KeithSzafranski

Surround yourself with those you look up to.

Hangin’ with those you admire will keep you growing and have you singing your own praises.

“. . . you’re the poet in my heart, never change and don’t you ever stop . . .”

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©iStockphoto.com/FourOaks

When your life is turned upside down, be like me and try doing only what’s necessary.

Trust me, we’ve all been there so no one will bat an eye!

“Upside down, who’s to say what’s impossible and can’t be found. . .”

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©iStockphoto.com/FourOaks

When your life is turned upside down, be like me and try doing only what’s necessary.

Trust me, we’ve all been there so no one will bat an eye!

“Upside down, who’s to say what’s impossible and can’t be found. . .”

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©iStockphoto.com/maiteali

Ya know why I love Halloween so much?  Because costumes allow us to express the not-so obvious as well as oh-so obvious aspects of our personalities.

This year I’m expressing the inner dopey, grumpy, sneezy, bashful, sleepy, happy and doc-ish parts of myself.

Even the fairest one [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/maiteali

Ya know why I love Halloween so much?  Because costumes allow us to express the not-so obvious as well as oh-so obvious aspects of our personalities.

This year I’m expressing the inner dopey, grumpy, sneezy, bashful, sleepy, happy and doc-ish parts of myself.

Even the fairest one of all (aka The Princess of Pawsitivity) is much more than just a pretty face.

“I’m a bitch, I’m a lover, I’m a child, I’m a mother, I’m a sinner, I’m a saint, I do not feel ashamed . . .”

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©iStockphoto.com/inhauscreative

I’m here to answer the age-old question ‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’

The answer:

Because in order to go after what I wanted I had to be bold!

If I didn’t chicken-out, imagine what you can do.

“Carefree highway, Let me slip away, slip [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/inhauscreative

I’m here to answer the age-old question ‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’

The answer:

Because in order to go after what I wanted I had to be bold!

If I didn’t chicken-out, imagine what you can do.

“Carefree highway, Let me slip away, slip away on you . . .”

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©2010 Arabella Winters

 Deer Diary,

I know I haven’t written in a while, but I want to write today because I feel incredibly thankful for everything big and small in my life.

Like my doe-mate who fawns all over me, being surrounded by the deerest of friends, and, of course, for [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©2010 Arabella Winters

 Deer Diary,

I know I haven’t written in a while, but I want to write today because I feel incredibly thankful for everything big and small in my life.

Like my doe-mate who fawns all over me, being surrounded by the deerest of friends, and, of course, for the grass. It’s always greener and tastier than the grass on the other side.

“I want to thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you . . .”

Hoof On,

Bambo

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©iStockphoto.com/BlakeFord

Whenever something is sealiously weighing on my mind, or when I feel like I’m carrying around a burden, I remind myself of a couple of things:

First, BURDEN stands for:

Being Unable to Recognize Doing Everything isn’t Necessary.

Second, if I scoot out from under the burden [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/BlakeFord

Whenever something is sealiously weighing on my mind, or when I feel like I’m carrying around a burden, I remind myself of a couple of things:

First, BURDEN stands for:

Being Unable to Recognize Doing Everything isn’t Necessary.

Second, if I scoot out from under the burden and gain a different perspective, I’m usually able to see that it never needed me to hold it up in the first place.

“I can see clearly now the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way, Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind . . .”

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©iStockphoto.com/salihguler

If you have learned how to disagree without being disagreeable, then you have discovered the secret of getting along whether it be business, family relations, or life itself.

~Bernard Meltzer

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©iStockphoto.com/bjmc

I’m sure I’m not bearing startling news when I remind you that sleeping is essential to a happy and healthy life.

As well as regulating immune response and metabolic balance, deep sleep ensures the proper operation of mental functions such as learning and memory, attentiveness, and emotional equilibrium. Basically, sleeping [...]]]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©iStockphoto.com/bjmc

I’m sure I’m not bearing startling news when I remind you that sleeping is essential to a happy and healthy life.

As well as regulating immune response and metabolic balance, deep sleep ensures the proper operation of mental functions such as learning and memory, attentiveness, and emotional equilibrium. Basically, sleeping helps us keep our bearings.

So be like me and sleep like a baby, a bear, and a log so that you’re not sleepwalking through your life.

Trust me, life is much more bearable when supplemented with generous doses of sawed logs.

Bear in mind, I am a top expert in the field.

“She swims the secret sea of sleep’s cocoon, Its soothing hands caress her dreams . . .”

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