Fill Your Cup

Morning!

Yesterday was one of my worst days ever. Why? Because I forgot that Superwoman is not my middle name. I am not alone; most women suffer from this syndrome. Men seem to have a mechanism that does not allow for this kind of foolishness.

We have to remember that if we don't take care of ourselves in the midst of taking care of the world, we will eventually suffer a breakdown, mentally and/or physically.

What should we do?

Take time out for you, and I am here to tell you that shopping is not a part of this agenda. Think about this. If you didn't have a dime, what could you do for yourself? Last night I put on some relaxing music and sat quietly in meditation and gratefulness. Then I moved on to a bubble bath with candles and music. Add to that an early bedtime and you've got the makings of a great morning, but don’t stop there.

Spend some time with yourself. Get out and enjoy nature--it doesn't cost a penny. It doesn't matter if it is cold, raining, or snowing; just take a moment to marvel at the universe and its workings. Stay off the phone, shut down the computer and just be alone with you. Don't think, just breathe.

It's amazing how little it takes to refill your cup and feel whole again, but doing this regularly is required. And please, don’t make the mistake of waiting until your cup is empty. Take a few moments and make a list of what you can do for you right now. My sister just recently went ice skating, something she has not done since she was a teen and the result was not only exhilarating, it was empowering.

Now just like you take care of everyone and everything else, take the time to take care of you. Your cup is waiting for a refill.

Grounded or Anchored?

Morning!

Dreaming is essential to life but you should also be grounded in reality. Yes, you want to follow your dreams but the reality is you’ve got to achieve them in the now. Some people let that thought kill their dreams. Those people might as well have an anchor tied to their ankle. They let life define them instead of designing the life they want. Their conversations are full of words like but, I can't, that’s impossible--you know the drill.

There are others that dream of pie in the sky, but there is nothing in the now that says they are working toward getting the ingredients let alone baking the pie. They are blowing in the wind like a runaway balloon.

And then, there are those that are grounded and at the same time dreaming a conscious dream. They can see the dream and yet, they ground themselves knowing or learning what they need to do to reach it. When the opportunities present themselves, they take them. The best visual of this is imagining that you are a small child standing on a bus looking up at the strap and when you see how high it is, you know you've got to grow before you can reach it. Get it? You've got to grow to reach your dreams. Now untie that anchor and do something today toward the life you dream about.

Get grounded.

To the Ladies: Your Power Awaits!

Morning!

Whenever I look up at the sky, I am totally blown away. I mean one minute I am walking along in my little world thinking that me and my problems are so big and my little band-aid solutions are all that is and I look up and BAM!

I am reminded. Here is the sun heating us from 93 million miles away with these clouds that hang in the sky like solid, immovable mountains and yet can dissipate like a puff of smoke. The moon, the stars and the alignment of the planets with no visible means of support, dynamic in themselves, but then they work with each other with a mathematical precision, and never fail in this precision, day after day since the beginning of time. The messages there are many and powerful—an endless wellspring of wisdom from a source much greater than ourselves.

I believe that we, as women, are more in touch with this sky show than anyone or anything on this earth. Our cycles are ruled by the moon. Our moods are affected by planetary alignments and we are as magical and mystical as the universe itself yet we don’t see it. As a result we don’t believe in ourselves--and I am no different than you.

I, a proclaimed writer, have words for everyone else; especially when I see someone is in pain. I dispense them like a salve or an invocation to soothe, heal and motivate. But what people don't know is that my words are messages to me as well. I believe they come from the same source as that interplanetary, mathematically correct design and spill into my head. And don’t look at me funny because I am not special in this—you’ve got it too—you just need to listen. It is how I started writing because I didn't really know what else to do with them. I too am amazed at their power especially when I see that someone is physically moved by them to feel or do something differently.

While looking for a document, I came across an old recording of an interview of me from the Valder Beebe Show (www.valderbeebe.com). Her tagline is "Changing the way we look at things so the things we look at will change." She is an amazing woman who is a source of light and positive thought in the world that interviews people who are doing things that she finds interesting. At the time, I was working my business and had put out a press release about a partnership I was forming with another entrepreneur, Charlene Turner. That seems so long ago right now, but I digress…

One of the things I talked about throughout the interview was my experience with women and their lack of belief in themselves, no matter how educated, skilled or accomplished they are. The last question in the interview was, "What do you know to be true in your heart?” My answer was, "What I know to be true is that if women realized the power they possess, right now, without doing anything else other than believing in who they are, and what they are, some very potent and powerful things would be accomplished in their lives and in the world." Whoa--this is something I needed to hear right now, and I am the one that said this!

I mean this is truly not a coincidence. I have been examining the word belief with a magnifying glass because I know that a lack of it will stop you cold just short of success every time. It is impossible to accomplish something unless you believe that there is even just a remote possibility that you can do it. It doesn’t matter whether it is to earn a certain amount of money, accomplish a task or start a business. Let’s break down the meaning of belief: “a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing.” Now you can sit there and count up all the reasons why you can’t believe in yourself, or you can sit there and count up all the reasons why you should. Which case do you want to make?

Look up ladies! Your power awaits.

The Source of Inspiration

Morning!

I am always ecstatic when I wake up. Some people didn't make it to this day, but I am happy I did. And that is before I have my coffee.

For two years straight, I've been writing about coffee every week for BellaOnline. It is not always easy coming up with something to write about and yet that difficulty only comes if I think lack--like I am not going to be able to do it.

As long as I believe I will come up with something, something comes. Why? Because inspiration is everywhere. It helps that I really love coffee, but the wealth of ideas and the source of ideas is immeasureable. That's because it comes from God. You just have to open your heart and mind to it and know that the Universe is supporting you. It can come while reading, during a shower, a conversation, a walk, a moment of quiet, an argument--you just need to know it will come.

The day after I post my coffee article is always just a bit sweeter. Coffee, writing and writing about coffee--could it get any better?

Enjoy this moment--there is no other.

Falling in Love with Starbucks
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art33655.asp