Daring Diva

Going For It!

I just have to say, I love fitness. I am inspired. Who inspires me-Jillian Michaels  pops right into my head. I sometimes will crack up at her sultry voice-giving orders and making no apologies for it. Or watching her with that tight tone little body and saying to myself, "That's right Jillian, I WILL have a body like yours!"

YES, she is TOUGH-but hello; results follow. I understand everyone is looking for their own way into fitness. I know she kicks my butt! I love it! She makes No excuses for how she trains and the strong, vital woman that she is. How amazing that could be for any of us who are training and want to have it-the answer is we can. Anyone can!

She makes me Want it, sooo bad! I just need to work a little harder, push through my flesh and the laziness that can sometimes grip even the toughest of exercising divas and GET what I want! Fit and trim. Full of health, life, and strength. When I have that feeling I just want someone else to get it too!                             

She does that for me! I love the dynamite of her persona and yet she is out there wanting people to be fit. Sure this is her career, but bottom line, people have the opportunity to get out there and take charge of their fitness and the goals they have set for themselves.                  

                                                                                                         

Guess what? You can do it! Set your mind up to do it and do it GREAT! You will see awesome results and get the ball rolling. What's the ball? Having other people in on your excitement over your goals and dreams playing a major role in your life. They are written for all to see. Jillian is an inspiration to me. You may not see it, but  you can be an inspiration to someone else. So, be your best you and get started.

So I say to you, "Go for it!". And take someone along for the ride with you. You will be glad you did! Let me just tell you-Jillian's 30Day Shred DVD-Kicks Major Butt!! You don't need alot of time: It's 20 minutes-but girlfriend, let me tell you-sweating is the beginning! You will be challenged and you gotta just keep going!

Summer and swimsuit season is fast approaching. I don't want to miss out on the cute little fashions and hopefully the tush will be cute right along with it!! All I can say is, Hard Work & Working Hard-it will get you there!

It's All About Me!

Okay, what is it that we all just think about number one, numero uno? I know, the first thought is selfishness. But, it also is the feeling that if I don't take care of me who will? Well, that is a valid thought. But it also needs to be taken apart. Where do we feel let down?

When did this start? Well-from our beginning that's for sure. We were in our mothers' belly kicking and sapping all her energy-making her body contort in ways and have to sleep in positions we never knew were possible. We come into this world, giving our mom's extra padding they never wanted, and work so long(who am I kidding-forever) to get rid of. We're out and it's still about us. We cry and keep our parents up all night with around the clock feedings/changings...... the list just goes on.

This doesn't stop there. We are self-centered. We think about ourselves all the time. Don't get me wrong. We need to! We must to survive, thrive, really live and  make our place in this life.  The point I am trying to get to is this:

When do we think of others? Are they an afterthought? (As a Mom-we all know that's not going to happen-Hello!) What I mean is, do we have a heart for other people? Do we think that someone out there needs us? That they may need what we have inside of us that we take for granted?

It's a part of us that we know is there, we could pull the rabbit out of the hat anytime we want, but do we? Am I so selfish that I give when I feel like it? Only if someone is deserving? At my whim, while someone else could be out there, just trying to get by, surviving on the scrap of life that they have to hold on to--while I sit back, possibly do nothing & yet I let them linger?

I guess what I am trying to get at is this, we have today! We have one life to live-let's do it big!! Whatever we have in us to give and share with others, DO IT! Don't hold back. You have no idea how you will bless other people out there. This does not have to be this huge thing. It can be looking at someone not through them. It could be smiling when you could just look and turn away. It can be to ask someone, can I help you with that? Can I pray for you?

ARE YOU OKAY? Is that so hard? Does it seem like that is asking too much of ourself? I am not trying to rant here, I just feel this overwhelming need to put it out there that the world seems so big-yet is so much smaller when we open ourselves up to the needs and cares of others. To let them know we have a helping hand, a listening ear, hands to give a hug, eyes that cry tears with them, an understanding heart that will be there for them. It can be anyone at any time, does it seem so hard?

Can we be a person who cares, who reaches out? It really isn't hard. If you are a person that this seems a reach-a place that you may not want to venture: try a little thing. Smile.......practice in the mirror if necessary. Give someone a hug. Pray for someone. Write them a note to say you were thinking of them, or tell them what you see in them that is special. They may not know that they are special and not realize what you see inside of them. You will not know the reward of what you do today. But guaranteed-down the road, they will come to you and tell you........you blessed me. I was down and you picked me up. I just needed that hug, you can't imagine how lonely I have been. You wrote me that card and I would read it every day to get me through, I was in such a hard place-thank you.

When you understand the love, connection, joy, peace, friendship, understanding you bring to others when we actually put someone else's need before our own; it's amazing. You bless someone else and I am blessed? It's true. It is a phenomenal thing.

It grows on you. You just want to do more for people. You feel the needs of others and you are eager and ready to help fill them. You just get it!  So I feel that when we start to take care of others instead of just thinking about ME-the places in me where I felt let down, hurt, needing, wanting what I want to happen for me, be fulfilled....yada yada yada......... guess what???? They are. Oh my goodness, and bigger and better than I wanted in the beginning. I found out that in being a servant(does not mean slave), I am being blessed. That ALL those things I want for me are taken care of-and I did nothing to have to work that. It happened. How? God is good! He works it all out. I let my life be open and let His goodness, His love, His mercy, His grace flow through me and reach out to those who need Him and all that He has to offer through me and I get to be a blessing to them and I in turn AM THE ONE BLESSED!

So what I am putting out here is this, be there for someone else! Open your heart and life to someone else you know who needs you and what you have to offer. Look within to see YOU-believe me: YOU have so very much-you may not even realize it!Give of YOURSELF and watch your life blossom in places you didn't realize possible. You will feel so full of life and hope-WOW!

So all of you out there, Have a wonderful day! Be blessed and enjoy your life and those around you. Surround yourself with sunshine and laughter. Brighten your day by giving someone else a piece of your joy-the reward is bigger than you know!Guess what? It comes right back at ya!!

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Do I always have to make it big?

I have been thinking, I need to put another blog out. The only thing is my brain is telling me, make it something big.Yet I wonder why? I sit here and know: Life is made up of tons of small things. Those things in turn are what we remember. They are our memories that last. They give us a sense of life, of who we are, of where we've been, of what we've done.

So, I felt like okay, I am just going to put this out there? Why do I do that to myself? I could have so many blogs entries it would be unbelievable. I have fantastic, cooky, funny, blessed and lovely things that have happened  to me every day. I live and enjoy my life. I have bumps and bruises along the way, yet I make it. I can have fun, or be grumpy, be silly or calm. It could be a slew of things, yet I am so concerned with 'writing a big one'.

Who am I kidding? It's not like the fisherman. Who caught the biggest? Mine was this big? Total exaggerations, but they told their story.

Well, I do have slight perfectionist issues I am working on. Ha-ha. That's a work in progress, but it's a daily thing. I thought that if I write about this silly hang-up, it will seem so small. That I could move on from here and not expect a novel, but what really makes up the essence of my life.

That I can sit here and go on about what it is I live, breathe, move, have my being, and carry on each day for. So here I go. Today is a new day. I have written, hopefully with purpose. I want to overcome this obstacle and make it a stepping stone. I feel better just getting it through my fingertips and out onto this page. 

Thank you for reading and have a blessed day. Now that I have written this........prepare yourself, there's more to come!

A Winter's Eve

Normally, winter is not my thing. Yes, it's beautiful, but is also cold, and I want to be warm instead. I love the idea of snow and how gorgeous it is and how much I love to take pictures of it. So if it snows, it's fun to send the kids out packing to go play. Yea, a short rest from the indoor mania of winter. 

Yet, the other day was a snow day off from school. The morning snow produced almost a foot!! The kids were ecstatic. They could not wait to go out to play. All day the snow had been falling. They were in and out, but they were having the time of their lives. It's kind of been a blah winter for snowfall: in their eyes. Me-I was perfectly happy snow-less! Yet, I know it's a kid thing. Which actually brings me to the entire point of me writing this.

The snow stopped early evening. My husband went out to go clean up and have some fun with the snow. He loves plowing-it's a guy thing!! Well, peace and quiet for a little. Then one of my sons comes in to me--"Mom, Dad wants you to come out in the snow with us. Come out and play."  Me, I look and say, yea--Ok--sure(really I'm saying NOT!) but I also don't want to crush my son. He has this expectant look on his face, c'mon Mom, you know you want to. He doesn't realize-I really don't.

Except at this point, there was this little voice in my head, now realizing- I know it was God! Go, enjoy your family. It's a moment. They will remember it. They'll remember you out there with them, enjoying each other loving the outdoors, the clean smell of fresh snow, of the quietness snow brings. Well, at that moment, I didn't say anything. I guess I was fighting in my head how to get out of it. So before I thought about it for any length of time I went about getting all my outdoor clothing on. Each step I say, what am I doing? Ugh... Yet I did have an excitement that this could be fun. All the while, the other part of my whining brain is saying... it's cold, I don't want to get cold and I want to stay by the fire and just enjoy my 'me time'.

Well, going outside won out.  What I didn't realize is how wonderful our little slice of heaven outside really was. The snow was absolutely gorgeous. It was a feeling of utter joy to see everything so white and pure. I felt alive just a little more at that moment. Well, then my family noticed that I was outside. First, shock and then they were overcome. They were screaming Mom's Outside! Hey, Dad she's out here. Hey, it's not like I am a hermit inside the house, I just prefer warmth to an icicle nose and freezing cold fingers and toes!

I just figured oh well, I'm out here I'll start to shovel the walkway and make paths. But, the cute thing was this. My husband says, Honey, come here. What? Come on, get on we'll clear the snow together. He's so adorable. What he was talking about was the ATV with the plow. We accumulated about a foot of snow. So alot had to be moved.

When it comes to outdoor 'stuff' my Jim, takes it all very seriously. Things need to 'get done.' As a friend of ours always says,"Get her done."  So I jump on the back and there we go. I have got to say, I had fun. I totally enjoyed myself. I felt such an overwhelming feeling of love for my family. I felt like we are having this total family time. Here we are out in the snow and everyone is sledding, and hooting and hollering, and just having a great time.

Me and my honey, we're riding the ATV and cleaning the driveway and it feels like we're having an all out date. It was so great! We're talking and riding and it just transported me back to our dating days when we were on his motorcycle going wherever our hearts took us. That free feeling of riding and enjoying the air and the outdoors and the feelings of freedom. Wow! I have got to say, I was a little turned on.We were thoroughly just shootin' the breeze-carefree!

I was so ready to just stay inside and snuggle up in the fuzzy blankets and wait for them to come in and then I'd make the hot chocolate and hang up all the inside-out wet stuff. Until that moment, I really don't need the whole winter wonderland 'thing'. I never minded it from the inside-it looked beautiful, but I really didn't need the reality of the winter bite. The cold has always been something I avoid. I have many things that can take up my time inside!! Don't we all.

But, I gave into this feeling and I was so completely blessed. I am so glad I did too! I would have missed my family's excitement of me actually being out there with them and feeling the things children feel when they bug you and bug you to go outside in the cold winter weather. To play in the snow like it's not cold at all. To feel free and just be a kid again. I did feel like that. I know my husband did too. FYI, he is still a big kid though. lol

Except for this; I was part of it this time. We had our fun together. Here we were 'working' yet having a fun time. I felt my children were looking at us and really seeing us. Seeing us as people. Not just Mom and Dad. What a feeling I got from that moment. I'm so glad I just DID IT! My family was too!

This snow day has amazed me. It encapsulated us. It felt as though we were in a winter wonderland and it's all just for us. It was a major blessing for each of us. I am so glad Jim sent Jimmy in to get me. This is not to say I will always get on the snow gear and go out. I am enriched for doing it this time though.

My family was happy.and that makes me happy!! Thank you God for showing me a great time with each one of them. I know: the family that prays together, stays together. Also, the family that plays together--has more fun!!! It's doesn't rhyme, so what?!!

It's just my kooky-fun self coming out. I guess it must have been all that fresh air!!!

"The Look"

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, I was thinking of a movie I was watching with my honey the other night. We're all curled up trying to keep warm on a freezing cold New York evening. We were watching  'The Holiday" with Cameron Diaz and Jude Law. It is sooo romantic. I get all warm and fuzzy thinking about it. As I was watching, it brought me back. To my first meeting with my sweetheart.(and beyond too)

In the movie, unexpectedly, Jude Law shows up at Cameron Diaz's door. They are strangers, but break the tense moment with light-hearted talk. They see each other, but not. But then they look at each other, REALLY- 'look' at each other. WOW!My goodness, when they locked eyes, I could feel it. I could sense the urgency of wanting, needing, of feeling: this isn't happening; yet there they were facing each other.

Perfect strangers, set upon by fate. That in their own worlds, they never would cross paths. But circumstances bigger than themselves brought them together. Like magic, they were pulled into one another's universe. The void was filled. The chasm breached. Not knowing what the future held, they took a chance, a step, a risk.....a kiss!

Which brings me to this thought. When I saw my husband for the first time, I thought WOW, I couldn't take my eyes off him. I had so many thoughts going through my brain.

Who is this gorgeous man? What's his name? Is he taken? 'please don't be'. How can I casually meet him? What does he look like with his shirt off? I knew the answer was yummy, but hey; we didn't even connect eyes yet. Well, that is my thought exactly. Looking at him had my mind swirling.

How enriched our lives become from one look. I know, because I felt the love in that 'look'. The feeling of fulfillment in that one 'look'. Not knowing what could be, but wanting it and all that it may encompass. To take a chance of what might me-if we let ourselves.

I know that look. When shy Jim finally looked at me with those big, sweet, puppy eyes; I was completely and totally lost in them. I felt that the world had faded away and here I was all alone and he was soaking me in. That 'the look' has started a much bigger picture from that one second in time that turned into a lifetime of 'looks'.

Love, desire, passion, &fulfillment has found me. That I was all and everything he wanted and was looking for. That I was his forever love, and nothing could change that.

So now as Valentine's is only hours away, do you not only see the 'look' but also feel its power in your life. The look of love. The look of forever.

Feel the freedom of being loved and in love. Receiving love and giving it in abundance. Feeling passion explode in your life. The need to satisfy and be fulfilled.

It's all in the little things-and the big things too. Reach out and take what's yours. Enjoy yourself. Live life to the absolute fullest. Fill your life with passion. Laugh, sing, dance, play, love: Your life will be so full that you can't help yourself. You will cry with the feelings of love and fulfillment you may forget to breathe. Go ahead, make it your own. Tell the story of your life and love.

It starts with a look.