~ Swimming ~

"When life gets you down, you know whatchya gotta do?

Just keep swimming , just keep swimming,

just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!"

~Dory ... Finding Nemo

I absolutely LOVE Dory!  She's always upbeat, a cheer leader of sorts, a loyal friend and she doesn't give up. 
Even with her short-term memory, she still conquers!

I've been swimming laps lately and I just love being in the water.  It's a refreshing sanctuary for me - relaxing, peaceful and simply my own little corner of the world for a moment in my day.

Funny thing.  There is a quote from the movie: Eat Pray Love, that has been going through my thoughts for the past few weeks that says:
"If you want to live in the castle, you have to swim the moat."

I posted that quote this morning on Facebook and one of my friends replied:
"Well, if that's the case, I'm going to swim laps!"

Ha!  It was just then that I realized why that quote has been on my mind!  And then adding the final puzzle piece of Dory ... funny how things come full circle in life.  Even when we don't realize that we have been doing something, how it all comes around at the perfect time in our life.
 Just when we really need it the most. 
And what I needed in my life today:
"Just keep swimming."

So!  Here's to swimming our personal "moat" today ... whatever that may be.  And remember to kick hard, breathe, stretch those arms out in front of you as far as you can reach ... and to
"Just keep swimming!"
><(((( *> 

~ What Matters Most ~

Out of everything we do in life.  Everything we have -

everything we are, everywhere we go. 

There is one thing that matters most .

What is it for you today?

Happy Sabbath ♥

~ The Pineapple! ~

"A most delicious fruit ...
spiny and thorny on the outside
juicy and sweet on the inside!
  Who would have ever known?!!"

In celebration of "Aloha Friday" I bring to you the Pineapple! : )

I would have to say that one of the most delicious, sweet, heaven-sent treats, has got to be the pineapple!  Our family loves pineapple and have it ever so often.  There is even a pinapple sitting on my kitchen counter right now.

If you've ever wondered about the history of the pineapple, it is very interesting - especially who first discovered it and where!

And for some really good news - pineapple is actually good for you with some pretty incredible health properties!!  Check it out!!

For a little treat on how to carve a pineapple, watch this video.

And if you're ever in Oahu, Hawaii ... be sure to stop by the Dole Pineapple Plantation for a tour and a tasty treat!

Have an "onolicious" Aloha Friday!  Treat yourself to some fresh, ripe, juicy, sweet, delicious pineapple today!  : )

~ Sweetness ~

"Dolce Far Niente" = The Sweetness of Doing Nothing

Eat Pray Love ♥

There is a scene in the movie: Eat Pray Love, where an Italian man is expressing how: "you American's make yourselves feel so guilty!  That you don't just enjoy life moment by moment and how you make yourselves feel that you 'deserve' a break to feel enjoyment in life."  When he said that I thought, "wow - he's right!" 

Do you naturally enjoy life, or do you feel like you have to get your "to-do-list" accomplished first, to 'deserve' you have the right to feel enjoyment?  Now, I'm not talking about becoming lazy and not caring about the daily task's that do need to get done ... I'm talking about 'enjoying life' even while going about our task's during the day.  The Italian man in the movie continued on by saying, "we Italians know how to enjoy life - moment by moment.  We don't need to be told that we deserve a break!"  Wow!  Isn't that a refreshing awakening??!!  So, I must heartedly agree that once in awhile - it IS okay to enjoy "Dolce Far Niente!" 

Carve out a moment today, just for you to enjoy this "sweetness!"  Even if it's simply sitting on your front porch with an ice cold drink of lemonade in hand for 15 minutes or so...or as long as you want! 
YOU DESERVE IT!  Life is meant to be enjoyed, and not feeling "guilty" about "deserving" to enjoy it!! 
Your spirit will be re-charged and you will be a much better person to be around!  Not only for yourself, but for others too.  And don't feel like you have to be told that you deserve a break.  You do. 
The Italians have it right!!  : )

Major vs. Minor

"Those who fail in love, life and relationships -

are those who Major in the Minor things of life!"

Whoa!  It's been awhile since my last post!!!  The days are flying by too quickly - and with a few projects under my wing ... my thoughts and energy have been gathered up in that!

So, quick post.  The quote above found me yesterday.  It came at a perfect time in my life right now - which quotes usually do for me - and really helped bring me back to what IS important in life!

Funny thing about "major vs. minor" is that in music, major chords are more upbeat - the "happy chords" as my piano students would say.  Now that's something to think about, isn't it?

So - today - here's to remembering the "Major" things in your life - those things that bring you joy, love, a full life ... and not dwell on the small, stupid, ridiculous - void of value - energy wasting junk ... the "Minor" things in life.

And also remember:

"Don't sweat the small stuff.  It's all small stuff!"

~ Stand up eight ~

This post was going thru my thoughts this morning -

and I felt inspired to re-post it again. 

A message I can always use myself ... hope it inspires you as well.

How is it that some mornings - like for me today - are more difficult than other mornings to get up and get going?  What happened during the night?  Did the mood snatcher hover over me while I was sleeping and put some kind of un-motivated mood curse over me?  What is it?!!  I mean, c'mon - yesterday, I was up and ready for the day before my alarm clock sounded, in a really good motivated mood!  Today ... totally different story.  Wanted to go back to bed the second I awoke.  "Just 5 more minutes ... ok, give me 10 ... how about the entire day?!" Ya!  Only in my dreams!

Well, I eventually got up.  I randomly reached for one of my little inspirational quote books that sits on my desk ... and without thinking, yet hoping to find some sort of positive immediate guidance for my tired mind today, I just "happened" to open right up to this quote which I've read before and really like - and for me this morning was just what I needed!:

"Fall seven times, stand up eight."

~Japanese proverb

Okay.  So I kind of laughed at the "God Wink" humor of it all ... and thought - this might just turn out to be a good day - with effort on my part - (more than usual) if I just stand up one more time.

  So, I went about my morning duty of preparing lunches and breakfast, a little slower than normal, taxi'd my kids to their various school destinations, and somehow by magic - the "standing up" helped me get going for the day.

I know that some days are meant for me to reach for the sky.  Other's are just standing up one more time.  And as I stand - step by step, I realize that "today is another day I've been given.  A gift really, sometimes in disguise.   And now that I'm 'up' - what can I give back?"  These are the days that make me stretch out and reach beyond myself, even when I don't feel like it.  And when I do - the reward is ten fold, then when I do reach and am in the mood to do it.  Hmmmmm ... is this a test to smooth one more edge of my sometimes jagged spirit - to help mold and create me into something more ... better ... of who I am created to become?  I can just hear the echo: "This is a test of the 'eternal' broadcast system ... This is only a test!" - lol!!  : ) 

So, days like this have a purpose beyond what I "feel like doing."  Days like this urge me to "stand up eight," and see what I'm capable of doing regardless.  Reach, stretch, grow.

Here's to standing up one more time today!  : )  

~ Create ~

“It is better to create than to be learned,
creating is the true essence of life”

-Barthold Georg Niebuhr

Do you consider yourself to be creative?  What do you create? Okay ... so ... how do you define "creativity?" 

Is it being able to play a musical instrument - or paint - or sing - dance - cook good - build things - gardening - public speaking - photography or write? ... What is your own definition of creativity?

What would you say if I told you that no matter what you believe or think about yourself in conjunction with creativity, that you ARE creative?!  Every single human being on this earth has some sort of creativity within their spirit. 
We were all meant to create.  We all have the capacity - whether you believe it or not about yourself - to give something of ourselves in a creative way, back to the world and those around us.

I love this quote that 'found me' a couple of days ago.  When I read it - it really jumped out at me with such an "ah-ha" awareness that I just HAD to share it with you!  It also pretty much helps define creativity and puts to rest any doubts  you may have about whether or not you think you are creative!

“Creative living does not mean only the creative life of the artist.  To make art is wondrous, enriching, and indispensable.
But it is just as essential to enjoy the freedom to live creatively whatever we may be doing, whether it’s slicing carrots, cutting flowers, trading bonds, baking bread, taking a walk, drawing a breath, riding a bus – or writing poems, symphonies, or novels.
The portrait of the artist is really about the creative spark that exists in each of us, young, old, and in between, that is enlivened by solitude.
When that spark is ignited, our lives feel rich and meaningful;
when it stays buried, we go about the business of living ready-made, compliant, rule-dominated lives,
wondering what went wrong and how to change it. “
-Florence Falk from On My Own~

You see?  There is something that exists in YOU.  Now your obligation to your life and those around you is to keep "that spark ignited" and share it!  Don't bury it.  Nothing good comes of shrinking or hiding ourselves from what we can give back.
Even if it's being creative in raising your kids - the way you dress - do your hair - set the table - play ball with your son - braid your daughters hair - hang out with your friends - decorate your house, apartment, work space, car ... the list is endless!!!

Here's to sharing today - your own creativity, whatever it may be.  Even if it is simply listening.

♥