Easter Redefined................

Hello Dear Readers! I hope your Easter celebration was full of family, fun and memories to last a Lifetime.

Imagine my surprise as I woke to this delightful burst of Easter & Spring in my kitchen. 

Clearly the Easter Bunny knew exactly what I needed. Family time, looking festive, done by someone else. With our sons now 15 and 19, we may no longer decorate eggs or hang bunny decals in the windows, but we do still enjoy celebrating Easter with a special breakfast consisting of sweet bread (specially made by my sister who has mastered the elements of yeast and they are now friends)and strawberries. It's simple and it's delicious! 

The rest of our Easter day was in fact shared with extended family, rejoicing in happy and healthy hearts. Something we should never take for granted. Life can change in an instant and it is up to us to be aware of the moments that truly matter, because it is those moments that build a Lifetime worth remembering.

It's In You..........

"When you practice mindful connections with others, your Life feels meaningful and so it is".  ~ Mbali Ntuli

This quote made me smile when I read it because I do feel my Life is enhanced by incorporating into it a mindful connection with others. 

The connection can vary from simply stopping long enough to hear the reply when we offer a quick " hi, how are you?" to making time to visit and connect with a loved one we haven't seen in a little while. 

The potential of Life's routine can cloud our connections, resulting in a loss for both us and the lives we can touch. Be mindful today dear readers of making a true connection......knowing not only your heart will thank you!

Encouraging Jumping..........

Previously in my blog posts I have referred to "jumping in without my floaties." Describing times of something new, something overwhelming or something that is totally out of my comfort zone. For me  my "Connect With Your Life" public speaking talk this past week was that exact scenario. Bit of a racing heart...questioning many outcomes.....tossing around "what the heck am I doing?".....and jumping in just the same. Well, I just have to offer this piece of advice...GO FOR IT! The scary, overwhelming, questionable moments are so worth the outcome of what you are left with.....a sense of accomplishment!

Taking the chance provides such insight and reassurance of what you are capable of. Now I'm not saying it always happens with the greatest of ease or without glitches...but just remember, it's the bigger picture that holds value and rings true in the end....you believing in you!

Today dear readers, I encourage you to give some thought to selecting your own goal...your own "jumping in without your floaties" moment. Organize your thoughts...see what you need to do to, make it happen...and GO FOR IT! Over thinking, excessive questioning, and avoidance because of fear can have its own place. However, for today store them on a shelf....climb the steps....get on that board.......and jump!

Illustration courtesy of 
http://www.lovethywall.com/parisienne-mer-1926-la-vie-parisienne-print-leonnec.html

In My Heart......It's Time......

Believe in your heart!

You know when you know something to be true, but all indications are telling you differently? You're left with bewilderment and confusion. Well, that's what it is like for us folks here in New England today. The calendar tells us it's the first day of Spring, however early this morning the thermometer read 28, there was snow on the ground and roads were icy.

I want to believe Spring is here...I NEED to believe Spring is here. It is time for all that Spring means. Waking to the sound of birds, ice cream shops opening their take out windows, lighter clothes.... ahh my light blue poncho with darker blue fringe from when I was 7...I can still picture it! Walks after dinner, furry buds on the magnolia tree, mud, robins looking for worms, a skip in everyone's step. OK not literally a skip, but you can really see it in people. It's as if everyone is sprinkled with a bit of happiness that winter is over.

So until Mother Nature cooperates and sends us the appropriate weather for Spring, I am just going to pretend it is here.....as best I can...probably too soon for flip flops...but I will put a skip in my step, go for a walk after dinner and find an ice cream shop ready to open their take out window.

When you believe in your heart something is right.....you just have to make it happen! Today I believe it is Spring. More lightness, less darkness.....It is time for new beginnings.....time to grow.........time to spread my wings and soar!

What does your Spring hold?

Attention Email Subscribers: It has come to my attention that due to technological aspects beyond my knowledge...lol (we all have our strengths...computers.....so not mine)....when some subscribers receive an email with my latest blog posting, and read the post in the email you may not be seeing photos I include with the blog.

My recent post on March 10th may have seemed a bit off,  if you were not able to see the flyer that announced my upcoming talk this Thursday 3/21/13. I am including it again now.

For full blog reading experience you may want to click on the blog link at the bottom of each email to read my posts on the website itself.

Thanks for your continued support and sorry for the inconvenience!

My Hall Pass......

Hello Dear Readers,

Sunday evening is upon me, and I'm not going to kid you, my thoughts are scattered and my mind is unfocused. Not ideal timing when I have a blog post to write. So let's just cut to the chase and call it like it is.....we can't do everything all the time......We all need a break sometimes! 

But the thing is this: Knowing when to let go, modify the expectation/commitment and not consider it a dud, is the best remedy ever!! We teach our kids to "Just Say No" to drugs, strangers and peer pressure and for them not to feel guilty, because ultimately it is what is best for them that matters! 

Ah Hello?? That can't be just for kids! So I am initiating the adult version of  "Just Say No". When we need to, we can "Say No" to PTO cupcakes, fundraisers, attending charity events,  joining committees, running back out to the store for chemistry project supplies, whatever is tipping our scales of sanity.

Let's be in this together.  If we agree to not pass judgement and let each of us "Just Say No" when it becomes too much...the implied pressure will dissolve and we can use that hall pass to recharge and clear our minds......that way we can jump back in at the next rodeo...and keep on going!

So for tonight this is my More Than Mom Thoughts post....I am going to curl up in my jammies with a cup of lemon tea, a book and recharge...with no guilt..so I can be back on the horse by Wednesday's post!

Cheers and Be Well ~  

Feeling Grateful..........

                            Grateful for at this moment

the warmth of the sun on my face

the snowdrops standing proudly near our "lucky rock"

our snow free, pine cone free, branch free clean patio

the smell of outside in the upstairs hall from the open bedroom window

 sauteed red peppers in my yummy sandwich for lunch

phone call from a friend who just had to share a heartfelt moment

the instrumental music in my car that relaxes me

the thought of my whole family being home tonight when I get in from work

Yikes....it's happening...My next "jumping in without my floaties." Speaking in public! What I want to share just feels so important to me, as does no longer wanting to be held back by my fears. Such baby steps I am taking....but taking them I am! Additional information is available here at the Seekonk Public Library link. Once on the page, just click on the the 21st on the calendar in the upper right corner. Registration is not required.

Bring a friend and join in the fun!

Down To The Wire..........

...and we're back. There is now Internet in our house again. Three days without it was just enough to feel uncomfortable, yet feel the benefits of being without it. There was more conversation and engaging in small talk among family members......Ok some of the talk was complaining about being without Internet service, but still, there were also conversations about more substantial things like college mail and "where do you picture yourself going", with my almost 16 year old...answer, in case you are wondering "away."...More on that in another post.

I never realized how having Internet was imposing a pressure of being connected, needing to reply to emails, staying up to date with Words With Friends ( it is so addicting) and poking around on Facebook to see who is doing what. All those things I do enjoy, but it had somehow crossed over from enjoyment to expected.

It was a nice break that caused me to get back to basics and slow it all down just a bit. So here I sit thankful for modern technology once again to post on my blog.....while at the same time realizing after getting past the uncomfortable feeling, I liked being disconnected a bit from the other aspects of the Internet.

This goes back to the thought of balance. Looking at a situation and getting everything out of it I can. I'm glad to be back that's for sure...the thing is, it's so much easier to handle when I am the one making the decision when to be connected and when to be disconnected. 

Now my plan is this, I am going to incorporate a bit less technology in order to disconnect (certainly not from my blog...I love that too much) so I can enjoy a bit more connected in my Life!

The Optimist.......

***Hello readers....today's post is the result of not having Internet this weekend and using a post I have in reserve....hence the delay too. Fingers crossed I am up and running again by Wednesday's post. As amusing as it is sitting in the parking lot of a local wifi hot spot after hours......I prefer the comforts of my home to compose.
~~~~~~
This past week I have been preparing for an upcoming talk that I will be giving mid month. In doing so I was reflecting on excerpts I have found that keep me motivated. The one I will share today is timeless. It was written in 1912 and in my opinion still holds true today.

                       
                    The Optimist Creed 

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. 

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet. 

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. 

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. 

To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best. 

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. 

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future
. 
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile
. 
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. 

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. 

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words but in great deeds. 

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.   

Christian D. Larson - The Optimist Creed
The Optimist Creed was authored in 1912 by Christian D. Larson, appearing in his book Your Forces and How to Use Them. It was adopted as Optimist International's creed in 1922.