Play Every Day

I took these photos when I was visiting a small town in France, called Beynac. It's located in the Dordogne region and overlooks the beautiful Dordogne River. I was there exploring the small village that also sits beneath a castle high up top a steep cliff which was built in the 12th century. Apparently the castle is one of the best preserved in it's region, and the views from the castle looking down upon the river are absolutely breathtaking. The fountain in the picture sits along a narrow cobbled road in the old village across from a cafe where I was sitting and enjoying my morning coffee and croissant. I was enjoying the warm summer morning as I looked across the path and noticed this little girl completely intrigued with the water fountain. She stopped and played for at least a good ten minutes, discovering everything she could about it. Then when she was finished, she skipped along merrily and followed her family up the path. My take away from this wasn't anything deeply profound, or insightful, but just a sweet and simple reminder to take a moment and make sure to play every day.

Ode To My Spandex Running Pants

All I can say is that I'm very grateful for my spandex running pants. If there was not that important element in the fabric in running clothes, I don't think I'd set foot outside my front door for my daily run. Spandex is my saving grace, it's that miraculous and magical fabric that can make everything appear where it should be ...especially after eating pizza and wine last night! When that cold weather finally arrives, both excitement  and a certain sense of comfort and relief settle in. I no longer have to watch every single calorie that I consume, or run that extra mile to make myself feel more comfortable wearing my shorts, or worse yet... my bikini! What woman over the age of thirty-five, or more like twenty, isn't somewhat reluctant to accidently catch her backside in the mirror with the fear of what she might see when wearing those summer shorts?  Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy eating healthy and taking good care of my health and body. But I'd be remiss to say that I don't feel some sense of freedom when this new season arrives so I can pack away my summer clothes (with a liberating giggle), and just throw on a nice big comfy sweater.  I actually think we should just start up a new women's holiday, celebrating the coming of our new comfortable season. We could celebrate it and establish a new tradition on that first day of autumn ...a nice elegant celebratory lunch with our closest girl friends and of course a day of fall clothes shopping. After all, with three summer months of putting it all out there, we deserve it!

Good Intentions

Always give people the benefit of the doubt. Believe in good intentions. Focus energy on the good.  If you don't than what's the point?

Discounts for Seattle Moms (and non moms too), Yay!

My latest great find: Plum District
It's a website for super savvy moms, and for gals like me who aren't moms but always love a great deal. They offer discounts (yay!) on everything from restaurants and spas, to kids and family activities, to hotels and weekend getaways and more. They are currently serving San Francisco, and Seattle very soon!

The icing on the cake?

When you refer a friend you get $10 Plum dollars! (Another yay!)

How do I refer a friend?

It's easy, just go to the website Plum District and subscribe for Seattle (or your city) and then refer a friend!

How do I get my $10 Plum Dollars?

When your friends purchase their first Plum Deal, you will receive $10 Plum Dollars to use toward your next Plum Deal purchase. They will track all of your referrals and store your Plum Dollars in your account.

When will they be serving Seattle?
Now! So make your wishlists and refer your friends!

How cool is that?
Very cool!

Life = Risk

Three powerful words...

trust in yourself

Choice and Consequence

I heard something very cool today, and it was a reminder that every choice we make results in a consequence whether we want to acknowledge that fact or not.  This is in relation to everything from how we treat the environment to the food we put in our bodies, to the words that come out of our mouths and the actions that we choose to take. I also firmly believe that trying to create a consequence of punishment especially between adults is highly disturbing and can often be downright crazy behavior. Consequence is a natural force that just happens as result of a choice and is above our own human control. For instance in acting lazy, selfish, cruel, angry, hateful, dishonest, ignorant,...all of those types of behaviors will always bring forth a consequence whether we agree with it or not.  It doesn't have to be in the form of something visibly profound or rage from an other's response to be a consequence. It can actually be much more powerful in the effect of your own health, or another person's feelings toward your choices which can result in a more permanent effect; such as dislike, resentment or even completely removing individuals out of their life from those toxic behaviors. Not even excuses can evade the ever impending power of consequence.  I think that in reminding ourselves of the concept of consequence related to personal choice finds us a much more realistic, honest and wonderfully gratifying state of being. So on that note, ...choose wisely my friends!

Ignorance

Ignorance is not bliss, its just stupid.

Enjoy Your Special Day Moms!

Thank you for everything you do!

It's all Good

We all experience ups and downs, trials and tribulations, and gains and losses, but at the end of the day life does just keeping getting better. 

If all else fails, laugh!

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.”

 ~ Audrey Hepburn

Do you listen?

So the question of the day is: Do you listen, do you really listen? If someone comes to you about an issue that bothers them, do you listen or do you instead attempt to dismiss their truth? Do you scramble for excuses for reasons to tell them why they should not feel that way? Do you immediately come to the defensive and rattle off excuses why you or someone else acted inappropriately?  Is the truth so uncomfortable for you that you dismiss their feelings and words? The bigger question here is what are you afraid? Are you afraid of the thoughts or admitting the truth? The reality is there are never valid excuses to treat another poorly. There are some who just complain for attention through insecurity and fear, and then there are those who walk with love and truth. The difference between the two is obvious, so trust those who drive their life through integrity and respect. Don't hide behind excuses for past bad behavior, but instead give the respect, honor and ear to those who deserve it. If we genuinely want to understand and be more connected to others, we must first be honest with ourselves.

Peace

I wonder, I just wonder if we rid ourselves from individual hatred, could we really rid the world of its evils? Could our individual devotion to love and kindness reduce crime, cruelty and wars? One by one, soul by soul, recognize and rid ourselves of hatred and replace it with love, kindness and compassion. We must first have the universal understanding that there is no rationalization for hate, and it hides behind excuses, weakness and fear. We have a world full of so many peaceful and loving people but there is still an enormous amount of hatred. Can a changed person radiate enough love and peace to affect just one other person to change, then continue to proliferate through our neighborhoods, our communities and our world? Could our individual approach to transform only ourselves have enough power to revolutionize our world toward peace? It wouldn't hurt us to try, we have nothing to lose, and we most certainly would benefit profoundly from the gain.