OUR VALUABLE STORIES

Hope you all had a great weekend and yes, they do go way too fast.  Onward and forward to another week for us all.  Hit the ground running comes to mind but that expression doesn't resonate with me.  I will have a busier week than usual but that's what it is.  Nothing to complain about, just do what needs to be done.

Today's quote, "We all have a story of equal importance to tell," reflects that everyone's story is as important as the next person.  No one person is more important than another.  We all work hard, we all have struggles to overcome, and we all have hopes, dreams and ambitions.  Do you know someone who is constantly telling you how hard they work, how difficult their life is and how unfair things are?  How do you respond to that or do you?

There are those among us who may truly have a more difficult situation than someone else.  There are those among us who seem not to catch a break, as they say,

but of those people, how do they handle their lives?

There are many ways to approach life's problems.  One way is by placing blame on anyone and everyone.  Another way is blaming yourself.  Yet another way is taking responsibility.  Know that getting there, wherever there is for you is what is important.  How you get there is completely up to you.

Your problems are no bigger than my problems.  What we need to have in common is mutual support.  Tell your story, share your story and let's all be excited when each and every one of us has the life we wish for ourselves and remember that all our stories have value!

Have a wonderful day everyone!~Love, Amy

PICK A GENRE

Good Morning and happy Friday.  First it's Monday and before you know it, the week is up.  Overall it's been a good week for me.  I hope it was for you too!  It feels good to be back at my blog.  I actually love writing so for me,

this has been a perfect way to return to something else that I love doing.

Today's quote, "You are the author of your novel - what genre will you create," is about all of us.  I will begin by answering this myself.  I am writing an adventure novel.  New things seem to be happening in my life all the time.  Some that I have been working very hard at such as my book, my website, my Guided Meditation classes and my Reiki sessions and some have been unexpected and wonderful surprises.

What is going on in your life at the moment?  Is it something that you would want to write about?  Is it something you would want all the world to see or something for yourself like a diary.  Writing is a great way to get things sorted out.  It's like talking to yourself but on paper.  There are many ways we sort things out with ourselves.  Talking to ourselves, (yes, I do that a lot), writing, dreaming.  But my real query if you will is what the genre that suits you right now it.

What would you like it to be?  How would you like it to end?  All that is up to you.  You are the designer of your life and therefore the author of your great novel.  The wonderful thing is that you have plenty of time to complete it but don't put it off for too long.  Days are slow, weeks are fast and years are even faster.

Here's to adventure, suspense, romance, comedy, mystery and everything in between.  Have a wonderful Friday everyone!~Love, Amy

SUNLIGHT EQUALS NOURISHMENT

Good Morning!  Yay! We made it through a rainy day and the sun is back.  Welcome to Thursday everyone.  I'm feeling much better today.  I don't know about you, but I was exhausted the past two days.  A combination of dreary weather and getting up REALLY early.

I know I'm not alone in that but I think there are days where I just need more sleep!  My quote for today is a perfect reflection of the weather for today, "Let sunlight nourish your soul - let the breeze of a new day revive your spirit."  Awesome right!  Yea, if I do say so myself.

How wonderful do we feel when the sun beats down upon us.  How good does a warm breeze feel.  We don't even realize how our spirits are being revived.  What is it that revives you if not a beautiful day.  Of course we all have to go to our work places and most of us will be indoors but make sure  you get some of that sunshine and vitamin D.

If you can, meditate for a few minutes.  Find a quiet place to just be.  This is the kind of day where you can simply appreciate nature.  Look at the buds on the trees.  Notice the color of the grass.  Listen to the birds.  These are the things that bring as much life to us as our surroundings.

Today's quote is really a simple one that doesn't need much explanation.  Enjoy the day, feel the sun and know the Universe is smiling on all of us today!  Have a great day everyone!~Love, Amy

REPLACE JEALOUSY WITH GRATITUDE

Good Morning and happy Wednesday.  Thankful for yesterday's sunshine as rain is in our future for the rest of the day.  I'm already jealous of yesterday.

Today's quote, "Release jealousy from your life and replace it with gratitude for you have so many blessings to be thankful for."  I suppose I could look at the rain as nourishing the soil and helping my daffodils grow.

Have you ever driven by a big beautiful house and thought about what it might be like to live there?  Have you ever walked by someone you thought had the "perfect" body and whished you could look like that?

The truth is  you don't know what goes on inside that big beautiful house.  Maybe the people living inside are miserable and on the verge of divorce.  Maybe that person with the "perfect" body has a health issue we can't see on the outside.

The point is, you never know what the real truth about anything unless it is freely and willingly shared.  Stop for a moment and think of what is in your life.  And yes.  I mean the material things too.  There is nothing wrong with being grateful for "things".

I have beautiful art work, carpets and glassware that I love, that I think are exquisite and bring me joy when I look at it all.  Have I been envious upon seeing a friend's gorgeous bathroom while mine are stuck in the 60's.  Yes I said it.  The 60's.  They are so old they are literally making a comeback!

Would I love to redo my bathrooms.  Yes.  Would it be more beneficial to pay my children's college tuition?  Absolutely!  I am grateful that I have bathrooms that work!  I am grateful that my children are happy where they are. I am grateful that I have a home filled with not only beautiful things but love as well.

Try your best to let go of envy and jealousy and look at the riches you have been bestowed with.  I'm not kidding about my bathrooms.  They are mid-century modern and didn't cost me an extra dime!
Have a great day everyone!~Love, Amy

BE HERE NOW

Good morning.  Hope Monday was a good day and today will be even better.  We will be blessed with another nice day before the rain comes so enjoy it while you can.  We all are so focused on the weather but there is nothing we can do about it but accept what it is.

Today's quote, "You can't live in yesterday for it is now gone - today is here and tomorrow will arrive before you know it."  This is an easy one.  We all know that living in the past prevents you from being present in your life.  Of course we all have memories that we cherish and good times we remember but to constantly relive past events whether pleasurable or painful, stops us in our tracks.

Today is here.  Everyday we are faced with a new today.  What are you going to do with it?  Tomorrow comes up very quickly.  We can't accomplish all we want in one day but do what you can.  Do all that you can to focus on the present moment of today.

All too often we talk about tomorrow.  What we will do next, always thinking about the future without being in the moment.  We lose so much by doing that.  We are never "here."  How can you be "here" when you are focused on "there?"

Think about your work day.  How many of you sit at work thinking about what you will do when you get out?  How many of you look at the clock waiting for the day to end?  Guilty!  Yep.  I do that too, however; when I recognize that that is what I am doing, I tell myself to stop and find something good about the moment I am in.

I just had the best moment ever.  Mia came to sit next to me and wanted some attention.  Instead of ignoring her, I stopped what I was doing (writing this blog), to pet her!  It may sound like nothing but when your beloved pet looks at you with those beautiful eyes they all have, how could you ignore them?

It is moments like these that we need to enjoy.  Moments we come across in our day.  A joke with a friend, a conversation with a colleague that we like.  A really great cup of coffee.  The first step outside on a beautiful day.  Don't rush tomorrow.  I promise you it will come!

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone and some even more wonderful moments! ~Love, Amy

BOYCOTT THE BLAME GAME

You knew it was coming!  Monday.  Here it is.  The beginning of the work week for most of us.  At least we are being welcomed by a beautiful day so we have that to be thankful for.  I am thankful that I have Guided Meditation class tonight at Golden Prana Yoga.  I am grateful that I was invited to give classes at such a beautiful space.

Even though it is Monday, and let's be honest, we'd rather it be Sunday, there is always something we can be thankful for.  Interestingly today's quote has nothing to do with being thankful.  It is about something very negative and damaging.  Blame.  Here is it, "The blame game is the longest one on the shelf - people are forever buying it even though in the end there is never a winner."

Do you know someone who is fond of that game?  I do.  We all do.  Where has it gotten them?  Probably the same place as the people I know.  No where.  Blame is perpetual.  You start with one thing and move onto the next.  If you live your life blaming people, circumstances, events and never take responsibility, you will live in that eternal state of misery.  

There are times when people, circumstances and events are to blame for some sort of misfortune but if blame is a pattern for you then that is a definite problem.  Always ask yourself what your role was in any situation before resorting to blame.  Blame is the easy way out.  It lets you off the hook.  It tells you the world is against you and therefore you are just an innocent bystander but in the end you have to really look and see where this has gotten you.

I love reading stories about people who have had really horrible, difficult lives and how they overcame those hardships.  The common factor of most if not all of those stories is that blame has never been an issue.  This is the hand they were dealt with and they deal!  

I don't wish hardship on anyone but if a difficult person, event or situation comes your way, don't go into the mode of blame.  Rise above it and be bigger than the problem.  Take a deep breath and face it head on.  Reach into luminous yellow!  You are stronger than you think and more courageous than you know!  Have a wonderful Monday everyone!~Love, Amy 

SMILE TODAY AND EVERYDAY

Good Morning!  It is a gorgeous Sunday!  About time.  Sorry for the late post today.  I just could NOT get out of bed.  That's what Sundays are for.  Taking it a little bit easier than we do the rest of the week.

Poor Mia.  She's just going to have to wait until I have my coffee before we go on our morning walk but we just had a lovely greeting.  She hears everything including my feet coming down the stairs.  I hear everything too.  I think it comes from being a mom.  As soon as she spots me her tail starts going and of course as soon as I see her the first thing I do is smile and give her lots of kisses.

Today's quote, "Smile for no reason - you will change the mood of everyone you see."  I'm not saying to walk around with a perpetual smile on your face.  What I am saying is that when someone crosses your path, when you get a few feet away from someone, instead of looking down at your feet, smile.

It's really not that hard.  Why do we all look at our feet instead?  It's like we are all afraid of some sort of confrontation.  Smiling is so much nicer and really does make people feel good.  Think about when it randomly happens to you?  Just because you don't know someone does not mean you can't say hello or just offer a simple curl of your mouth.

If you bump into someone don't you say excuse me?  Or sorry?  You should if you don't but I will assume we all have manners.  We all get lost in our own thoughts but get out of yourself today.  Walk with a clear head and greet those you see with a smile.  You really will change their day and you will definitely change yours as well.

With a big smile for everyone today, have a great Sunday~Love, Amy

IT'S YOUR LIFE

Yay! Saturday.  A busy day for everyone, I'm sure.  As promised, the sun is coming out today.  Enjoy every minute of it even if you are busy doing errands.  Yesterday's request I had for everyone was for all of you to find one thing to do for yourself.

Today's quote, "Live for yourself, for your hopes, dreams and wishes."  Certainly you can find an hour for yourself and it can be any time of day you choose.  That is the beginning of adhering to today's quote.  The most important person you need to please is yourself.

Some of you who are reading this may be thinking that it is impossible when you have little kids.  You know what?  Parenting doesn't end when your kids grow up and I say grow up quite lightly.  Your kids are your kids no matter how old they are and when you are happy so is everyone else.  That goes for a boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse.  My point is to make yourself a priority.  Kids leave, people divorce.  Living for someone else leaves you out.

Invite yourself to the party.  Be the star.  Be the main attraction.  It's not selfish.  You matter most.  Think of what you want for yourself.  What exactly are your hopes, dreams and wishes.  And you know what?  If at this moment in time you don't know.  Guess what.  That's OK!  Take time to find out who you are and what it is you want.  It will come.

Just remember the importance of you!  Have a wonderful Saturday everyone!~Love, Amy

THE HEAVENS SMILE ON US ALL

Good morning and happy Friday!  We made it through the week.  Hope it was a good one for all of you.  I took good care of myself yesterday.  The meditator meditated!  I practice what I preach and I really needed that time and that self care.  So important. 

With the weekend hours away, I hope you all find some time for self care even if it just means taking yourself for a walk.  The long awaited sun promises to come out.  I'll keep my fingers crossed!  Even if the weather is not the greatest, try not to let it get you down.  I'm feeling just like you all are.  Tired of the cold, the rain and the winter that is the new spring.  Today's quote fits that feeling.  "Looking up at the heavens she was comforted to know there is so much more." 

Let's begin by knowing there really is more spring to come.  More flowers to grow.  More birds chirping in the morning.  I miss that.  I love hearing the birds at 5:00 in the morning.  Yes, I really do.  I find it so inspiring.  The energy of those small creatures waking with the dawn, there to greet you every day.  How could you not love that?  It also represents newness and freshness.  New beginnings.  Spring is the time for new beginnings.  Letting go of the past, leaving the old behind and welcoming the new.

Knowing there is more ahead of you.  That glorious combination of spring time and sunshine are rejuvenating and what we all need to propel us forward.  Whether you look up at the heavens or straight ahead of you, know that there is always more.  Don't just know there is more.  Know you deserve more!  Promise me you will do one wonderful thing for yourself this weekend and please tell me!  I would love to know!  Have a wonderful day everyone!~Love, Amy

LISTEN TO YOURSELF

Good morning on this dreary Thursday!  Rain is good for the earth and good for the flowers and when the sun shines upon us we will appreciate it that much more!  That's not even a quote.  That's just me saying the rain won't last forever!

It's good to be back to my blog but before I get into my quote of the day, let me share my fear with you.  I wrote on this blog last night for the first time in a REALLY long time.  I had a dream that someone wrote back to me that I was naïve and criticized my blog in other ways as well.

Here's the thing.  I am human.  YES!  I am like everyone else.  I have feelings of strength and joy and power but I also have feelings of insecurity and at times, anxiety.  I understand that when I write not everyone will be in agreement, on the same page or even get what I am trying to say and you know what?  That's OK.  What I was doing was working out my fears in my dreams.  The bottom line is that here I am.  I am back, I will write and I give my self permission to continue whether someone likes it or not!

Here goes today's thought, "And when someone comes along and tells you what you are doing is wrong, let them know it is wrong for them but not for you."  Holy Cow, is that perfect for me or what?  Ahh, the Universe is at it again!  This is me!  These are things I think about and I know, I honestly know that I am not alone.  I truly believe that when I come up with one of my quotes it resonates with someone and lots of someones out there!

It is the old story of people trying to tell you what to do.  What is right for you when they may not even have a clue.  Your inner voice will always speak to you and that is the only one you need to listen to.  Who knows you better than you, except maybe your mother and even then, you are the one who knows your true capabilities and desires.

Be aware of the guise of, "I'm just trying to help."  Sounds lovely but be firm with yourself.  Never, never let anyone talk you out of something that you feel in your heart is right for you!  I may have another "scary" dream or nightmare tonight regarding my new venture but I know this is what I need to be doing.  I know this is right and I will let no one convince me otherwise!  Have a wonderful day everyone!~Amy~

OK, I Was Wrong

Wow!  It's been awhile.  Sorry about that but now I'm back!  It's amazing how you can be so devoted to something and then......nothing!  I don't know why I stopped.  Hopefully you will all come back too.  Let me introduce you to the Reiki quote of the day for today, "It takes strength to admit weakness and defeat." 

Does it ever!  It is basically admitting you are wrong.  When I wrote this quote I had no intentions for it but that's how it reads to me.  Raise you hand if you like to be wrong.  I can't see but I bet not one of you reading this raised your hand.  I don't like to be wrong either but you know what?  It happens to all of us.  Whatever it is or was that you were wrong about, learn from it.  How else can you move on and grow.

When we are stuck in being right at the expense of ourselves, we don't win.  We lose.  And we lose big time!  Life is a learning experience.  It is the ultimate learning experience and being wrong is a learning experience as well.

Do you know anyone in your life who is unable to admit a weakness?  I certainly do.  How do you feel when you think about that person?  I can share that the person I know who cannot, absolutely cannot admit their weakness ends up looking ridiculous at times.  Who wants that?

Admit your weaknesses.  Admit your defeats.  Only then will you learn and only then will you grow!  It feels good to be back.  A little strange to be honest but I promise I will not go away again.  I am here to stay!  Have a great night everyone!~Love, Amyhttps://amykaufman.co