Archive

Bring It On 2011

posted 31st December 2010    Written by: Alisha    CATEGORY: Alisha, All Posts, Family, Inspiration, Job/Career/Work, Love/Relationships, Money, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 3, Spirituality

Last week I finally realized that I am worthy of good things in my life.  In light of  this new realization I have dreamed up some goals for 2011.  I hesistate to use the word “resolution.”  Resolutions sound so absolute and are hard to keep-in fact I think they almost set you up for failure.  But goals, goals are measurable.  I can do goals.  Goals motivate and inspire me.  Here is what I am working on in 2011:

Real Life

Work It

Lovers and Friends

With Sprinkles on Top

So bring it on, 2011.  I have a feeling this is going to be my year.

divider

I Have Faith In What I See

posted 30th December 2010    Written by: Marian    CATEGORY: All Posts, Life Lesson, Marian, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 3, Spirituality, What I've Learned

One of the issues with being a blogger is that your minister might read that sex post your wrote. Or your mom might see that picture of last Spring’s night in Cancun. You know, the usual difficulties of a life led online.

In this case, what I’d really like to talk to you about is actually inappropriate given the medium in which I write. My struggles with religion and my inability to have faith in anything other than what’s in front of me are deep-rooted and have been part of my quarterlife crisis even before I reached my quarter life.

So instead of causing a rift with folks I don’t want to rift with, let me boil down the basics for you: As I get older I see more and more bad things happening in the world because of religion. War and prejudice. More negativity than support. More judgment than forgiveness. It’s both this and the way I’m wired – for me, faith just isn’t enough.

I have faith believe the sun will come up in the morning. Because I’ve seen it every day for over 23 years.

I have faith believe I will wake up and Sam will be there. Because he always is.

I have faith believe my friends will always support me. Because they’ve never let me down.

I have faith believe my parents will always love me. Because they put up with my crap and are nothing but supportive.

What do you have faith in no matter what? What do you believe because there is always proof?

[photo credit: David Gallagher]

divider

I am WonderWoman

posted 29th December 2010    Written by: Nikki    CATEGORY: Events, Inspiration, Job/Career/Work, Love/Relationships, Money, Nikki, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 3, What I've Learned

It’s about to be a new year, y’all, and I’m ready.  I have loved this last year, loved every frightening thrilling minute of it and I haven’t forgotten the lessons it taught me: trust, be patient, plans may change & get busted up & that’s ok.  But I feel a calmness & an energy that I haven’t felt in a long time; I know some of the major things I want in life, and I’m ready to take steps toward them.  Some may be missteps; I might fumble; I might fail.  I’m ok with that.  I’m taking action this year.

I am a superhero in 2011.  I am action-girl, Nikki of new ideas, make-it-happen-momma.

I am going to put myself out there & trust that good things come of it.  I am going to tell people what I want, even if I have no idea how to get it or what form it will take.  So here goes:  I want a creative job; it might be a career, it might just be a job, but I want to make money doing something I enjoy.  I want a serious relationship; it’s been a long time & I’m ready.  I want a home that feels like mine; it’ll be a while before I can own one, but I want a place that feels like my own.  I want financial stability; I want adventures and a savings account to be equal priorities.  These may sound like little things, but they’re big things to me.  After a long time wandering & wondering, I’m feeling clarity.

I feel like I’m on the cusp of an explosion of awesomeness in my life.  Bring it, baby.

I’ve already told you my intentions for 2011, now here are some of the seemingly-innocent-but-totally-superhero actions I’m gonna take:

I’m making it a habit to write every day.  POW!

I’m launching and developing my new, improved personal website, The Grateful Sparrow (follow me!).  ZOOM!

I’m paying off all my credit card debt by my 30th birthday (May).  BLAM!

I’m learning to edit video on my computer.  SMACK!

I’m honest in all my relationships and not letting fear of vulnerability get to me.  BOOM!

I’m finding a living situation that better suits me.  ZIP!

I’m saying yes to opportunities for new adventures that come my way.  CRUNCH!

I’m expressing my authentic self, everyday, and following my joy.  BAM!

I’m making a profit from my art & creativity – writing, acting, blogging, sculpture, design, etc.  ZAP!

I’m taking time for myself, treating myself with respect, but NOT accepting excuses.  I’m better than laziness & ambivalence.  CRASH!

I’m living to the full extent of my fabulousness this year, and I’m not letting fear get in my way; in 2011, I’m trying.  I’m giving myself a fighting chance.  It can’t be harder than what I’ve already been through, in fact, I know things are only getting better.  2011 is going to be amazing; a year from now, I’ll hardly be able to believe how far I’ve come.

Cheers to a new year.  Let’s do this.

[WonderWoman photo source]

divider

30 Tips for an Extraordinary Life

posted 27th December 2010    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: Life Lesson, Molly

This one is for you.   Yes, you.

I know that life can be frustrating and scary and overwhelming sometimes.  I know that pulling up the covers, or numbing the pain with one too many glasses of wine, or distracting ourselves by always being busy doing insignificant shit, is tempting.  I know that rousing ourselves to believe that we are enough and deserving of love can seem exhausting.  I know that having big, bold, audacious dreams can seem lonely sometimes.

Believe me, I know.

The thing is, gorgeous, that this is our life.  This is our shot.  This is our chance at being kind and brilliant and compassionate.  Our time to love hard, and kick our heels up, and create art, and change lives.  Our time to nurture family, and believe in the underdog, and dance naked in the moonlight.

You don’t have to be perfect.  You don’t have to be right. You just have to be as fully YOU as you can be, because that is your gift to share with the rest of us.

Just you.  You all of the time: in celebration, in pain, in joy, in acceptance.

And on that note, I’d like to share 30 tips to help you lead an extraordinary life by embracing YOU in all your glory. Get ready to glow, sunshine!

  1. Practice radical acceptance towards yourself and others.
  2. Stop trying to control everything.
  3. Laugh.  A lot.
  4. Balance your input (reading, watching, learning) with your output (creating, giving, leading).
  5. Take amazing care of your body: eat clean, floss, practice yoga, don’t smoke, breathe deeply, be mindful of alcohol, visit the doctor, eat less, move more, sleep 8 hours, get massages, and learn to listen to your inner signals.
  6. Celebrate your successes. Celebrate others’ successes.
  7. Embrace your strengths and stop worrying so much about your weaknesses.
  8. Tell the truth.  Even at work.  Especially with those you love. Most importantly, with yourself.
  9. Set boundaries with your time, energy and money.  Respect them.
  10. Be colorful.
  11. Create meaningful connections and nurture the heck out of them.
  12. Save a chunk of your money and give away another chunk. Use the rest on things, adventures, treats, and necessities that truly please you.  Be a conscious consumer.
  13. Stop freakin’ comparing yourself to others.
  14. Speak up, sing loudly, and raise your voice if something needs saying.
  15. Don’t be afraid to love with abandon.  Love is a renewable resource and yes, your heart is resilient.
  16. Go outside and play.
  17. Ignore the haters. It’s your life, your legacy, your choice.
  18. Explore your spirituality.  Connect with something larger than yourself.
  19. Share your story.
  20. Get clear on your top 8 values.  Honor them daily.
  21. Find your balance of deliberate action and spontaneous fun.
  22. Challenge the status quo.
  23. Be a hero to someone.
  24. Practice kindness.
  25. Stop taking yourself so seriously.
  26. Take your dreams very seriously.
  27. Act with personal integrity and be quick to admit mistakes.  Clean up your own messes.
  28. Cultivate mindfulness.
  29. Seek and spread inspiration.
  30. Fall in love with yourself a little more each day: treat yourself kindly, protect your passions, allow yourself space to grow, believe in your gifts, tend your gardens. Fierce love, baby, fierce love.

p.s.  Need a little jump start to putting all these tips in practice?  Why not join a 10 week session of awesomeness?  You + Me + 5 other wonder women will be starting group coaching over the telephone January 18th and 19th.   Whether it’s personal action or professional action you’re seeking, let’s knock it out of the park.  Extraordinary indeed!  MORE INFO + REGISTRATION HERE!

p.p.s.  Never considering coaching or group work before?  It’s time to reconsider.  Seriously, at least humor me, and check it out.  What if it’s exactly what you need to do for you at this moment?  GET IN ON THE ACTION HERE.

divider

My Traditional Christmas Tree

posted 26th December 2010    Written by: Lindsey    CATEGORY: Family, Lindsey, Season 3

My family had a fake Christmas tree that we were experts at constructing. “Bend the branches upwards, like they are reaching for the sun!” my mother would instruct my brother and I as we assembled the prickly, metal and plastic tree. Then my dad would string the lights. And we’d all hang the ornaments – familiar ones, used each year. My dad always played music – everything from the Sesame Street Christmas album to orchestral renditions of Silent Night.

In college, I missed the annual tree assembly but always returned home to the same tree, in the same corner, with the same ornaments I had grown up with.

My first year spending Christmas alone was last year. I worked at a hotel, and I was recruited to decorate the tree. My boss gave me a huge box of lights for this little tiny tree with instructions to use all the lights. I had never strung Christmas lights before! I spent my entire shift wrestling with the fragile-but-still-lit-lights, tying them in knots around the trunk of the tree, and working outwards. They remained brightly lit for all of five minutes before – sizzle! – out they went and along with them, my Christmas spirit that movies always glorify.

I spent my next shift with my head buried in richly scented pine needles, seeking out the 2 or 3 broken lights amongst the thousands, grumbling bah-humbug to everyone in my wake.

I worked the hotel on Christmas, too. A strange experience, besides a quick call with my family, I spent the day mostly alone at my desk, reflecting. It marked a year since I had left home. A lot had changed. A lot was going to change.

This year, I’m even farther from my family. I don’t have to string lights on a stupid hotel Christmas tree, but I’ve found my fair share of trees. I attended the holiday boat parade in Jacksonville, Florida and stood under a towering tree while cheesy pop holiday music played. In Miami, I ended up at a fancy party with another big tree, bedazzled in the lobby. Now I’m in the Bahamas and there are no pine trees to be found. We left the Christmas lights back in Florida, which I don’t mind, because something tells me I’d be the one dangling from the mast of our sailboat, stringing lights. Who knows what Christmas will be like this year. There will probably be some lit up sailboats and maybe even a fake tree in whatever port-of-call we anchor in on the 25th.

I don’t put much meaning into the actual date anymore. My life doesn’t really allow it now, but I don’t mind. The holidays stress me out more than anything – PRESENTS PRESENTS PRESENTS – outside of familiy time that’s all this time of year seems to be about. And movies that make it seem like not being with family on Christmas is the worst thing to happen in the history of EVER. I get my family time when I can make it home. It doesn’t matter if it’s the 25th of December or the 4th of July… it happens when I can make it happen.

But I know that back in my hometown, for the whole month of December, that same fake tree will be in the same corner of my living room. The same ornaments will be hung there. The same Sesame Street album will get broken out, despite the complete lack of children. And every tree I meet along the way, I will compare it to the one standing in Michigan, and think: “Those branches are TOTALLY not reaching for the sun!”

divider

Next Page »