"Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from."
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Monday, February 21, 2011
I ran across this quote tonight
And thought I would share...
"Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from."
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
"Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from."
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Hope...
When the prospect of tomorrow can seem overwhelming, you must look for Hope in the little things...
Every year I watch this tree for the first signs of Hope...Spring!
I was so happy to see the beginnings of Hope today.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
18 months....
I remember this day last year wondering how we had made it through 6 months without my beautiful mom. I cannot believe an entire year and a half has gone by without her.
I'm looking at a photo of you, mom. Wondering how I got to be so lucky in this lifetime to be your daughter.
You are loved and missed equally as much today as the very first day you were gone.
Sometimes I still wonder how in the world I can go on another day without you, though I know I have to~ We continue to get up and face each morning with a huge piece of ourselves missing. It is hard to describe to someone else. But the loss of you is so great that I feel it inside my heart every single minute or every single day.
I know that I have to continue to adjust my life without you physically here, but it is only because I know you are always with me that I can do anything!
I love you mom~
Always your daughter,
Tiffany
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Some of the coolest moments of my life...
Diving with Dolphins~
Diving with Sharks!
It's been almost a year since I have been in the ocean and I miss it so much. It is an incredible world that is a secret to most. Calm, peaceful and amazing...
Diving with Sharks!
It's been almost a year since I have been in the ocean and I miss it so much. It is an incredible world that is a secret to most. Calm, peaceful and amazing...
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
I found this article today~
I really needed it so I thought I would share!
20 Easy ways to be happier....
1. Make Your Bed Every Morning
I’ve heard this one before, and not just from my mother. For most people, outer order leads to inner calm. And making your bed is one quick, easy way to get some semblance of a tidy room (even when your closet is anything but).
2. Shorten Your Commute
Okay, this one may not be a cinch. But if there’s any way you can shorten your commute, it’s certainly worth the effort. Spending two hours a day in gridlock traffic is enough to drive even the most Zen commuter up the wall. Not only is the drive itself infuriating, a long commute eats up time that could be spent on proven happiness boosters, like sleeping or interacting with other people.
3. Find a Rocking Chair
You know it works for babies. Now it seems that rockers bring similar comfort to elderly sufferers of dementia. Researchers at the University of Rochester encouraged twenty-five residents to rock as much as they like and they became less upset and anxious and required less pain medication. Who’s to say it couldn’t work for you?
4. Make Lists
Writing it down (whatever “it” may be. is a successful tool for managing stress. Just make sure your list doesn’t get out of control. After all, your list is supposed to help with your stress, not add to it. Remember that you can always adjust your priorities.
5. Paint Your Toenails … Even in the Winter
In the winter months, it’s easy to ignore your feet until they morph into a Shrek-like monstrosity. Who’s going to see them anyway, right? Wrong. You are! So give them a soak, a scrub, a bit of moisture, and a dash of color. You’ll feel better instantly.
6. Wake up the Right Way
Are you coffee lover? Wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee by investing in a percolator with a programmable timer. Tired of waking up to the shriek of a buzzer or the irritating voice of the talk radio host? Get yourself an alarm clock that wakes you up with natural light and sounds.
7. Talk About Something New
People tend to get stuck on the same old topics of conversation. Stimulate your mind and encourage others, too, by finding one little interesting tidbit a day and starting a conversation by saying, “Did you hear about _________? What do you think?”
8. Refuse to Give Advice
The easiest way to get sucked down the negative spiral is by participating. Do your friends a favor: when they start unloading their problems on you, let them figure it out on their own. The reverse is also true—don’t bore your friends with your problems. Focus on fun!
9. Rearrange Your Furniture
It may sound silly, but even the tiniest shift of a kitchen table or couch can make all the difference. It’ll make the room—and you!—feel new again. And the best part? It doesn’t cost a thing. (Tip: If you need to move a large item on your own, stick a dish towel under each leg and push; or if you’ve got carpet, use furniture sliders.)
10. Smile on the Outside
Even when you’ve got nothing to smile about. Forcing a smile can trick your body into changing your mood. You’ll also find that other people will react better to you when you’ve got a smile on your face. Voilà! You’ve just created a snowball effect of fuzzy feelings.
11. Gaze at a Photograph
If the photograph is of a loved one, it can stimulate blood supply to the brain, says researcher Andreas Bartels from University of London. Imagine them giving you a hug.
12. Turn off the TV
Happy people don’t watch TV. Instead, they socialize, which brings them more long-term satisfaction. We’re not saying to skip your favorite shows altogether. But if the choice is between watching something just because it’s on, and grabbing a friend for a last minute dinner date … well … you know what to do. Delicious and good for you!
13. Get Informed
Stuck on a problem that just won’t go away? Try Googling it. Reading up on how other people have handled your situation may give you some clues on how to tackle it yourself.
14. Eat Avocados
Avocados are good for your skin, your hair, and—more importantly—your heart. But did you know they’re also good for your mood? They’ve got monounsaturated fats and tryptophan, which boosts feel-good chemical endorphins in the brain.
15. Sing or Hum a Tune
Listening to music can make you feel good, but singing or humming your own tune is even better! Try making up the words to one of your favorite songs, and sing it out loud. Even if your cat is the only one who appreciates it, you’ll feel good about it.
16. Break the Rules
Here’s a little known confidence booster: when you follow your own path, (especially when you go against the grain. it’s incredibly intoxicating. We’re not advocating anything illegal, just saying that you should do exactly what you want sometimes and not what you think you should be doing.
17. Invigorate Your Senses
A quick spray of lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, or lemon can clear your head quicker than you think. For an extra-calming treat, take a nap on a pillow scented with lavender—either in fabric spray form, or crumble some of the plant itself and put it in your pillowcase.
18. Visit a Quiet Place
Libraries, museums, gardens, and other quiet places can give you a break from the frantic pace of everyday life. Find a secret spot and make it your sanctuary, whether it’s in your backyard or the Reference section.
19. Forgive Someone
Research shows that those who are able to forgive are less stressed, less angry, and more optimistic than those who aren’t. So, if you’re holding onto old grudges for the sake of it, it might just be time to let go.
20. Spend More Time with Your Happy Friends
Misery loves company. Too often, we find ourselves surrounded by soul-crushing negativity. The good news? Happiness really is contagious. Research shows that happiness, even when removed by three degrees, can make you happier than an extra $5000. Focus on spending time with the optimistic people in your life and you might just become one of them.
I'm adding one more of my own~ Soak up the sunshine and warm weather any time you get a chance. Let the sun warm your face...Soak it all in!
20 Easy ways to be happier....
1. Make Your Bed Every Morning
I’ve heard this one before, and not just from my mother. For most people, outer order leads to inner calm. And making your bed is one quick, easy way to get some semblance of a tidy room (even when your closet is anything but).
2. Shorten Your Commute
Okay, this one may not be a cinch. But if there’s any way you can shorten your commute, it’s certainly worth the effort. Spending two hours a day in gridlock traffic is enough to drive even the most Zen commuter up the wall. Not only is the drive itself infuriating, a long commute eats up time that could be spent on proven happiness boosters, like sleeping or interacting with other people.
3. Find a Rocking Chair
You know it works for babies. Now it seems that rockers bring similar comfort to elderly sufferers of dementia. Researchers at the University of Rochester encouraged twenty-five residents to rock as much as they like and they became less upset and anxious and required less pain medication. Who’s to say it couldn’t work for you?
4. Make Lists
Writing it down (whatever “it” may be. is a successful tool for managing stress. Just make sure your list doesn’t get out of control. After all, your list is supposed to help with your stress, not add to it. Remember that you can always adjust your priorities.
5. Paint Your Toenails … Even in the Winter
In the winter months, it’s easy to ignore your feet until they morph into a Shrek-like monstrosity. Who’s going to see them anyway, right? Wrong. You are! So give them a soak, a scrub, a bit of moisture, and a dash of color. You’ll feel better instantly.
6. Wake up the Right Way
Are you coffee lover? Wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee by investing in a percolator with a programmable timer. Tired of waking up to the shriek of a buzzer or the irritating voice of the talk radio host? Get yourself an alarm clock that wakes you up with natural light and sounds.
7. Talk About Something New
People tend to get stuck on the same old topics of conversation. Stimulate your mind and encourage others, too, by finding one little interesting tidbit a day and starting a conversation by saying, “Did you hear about _________? What do you think?”
8. Refuse to Give Advice
The easiest way to get sucked down the negative spiral is by participating. Do your friends a favor: when they start unloading their problems on you, let them figure it out on their own. The reverse is also true—don’t bore your friends with your problems. Focus on fun!
9. Rearrange Your Furniture
It may sound silly, but even the tiniest shift of a kitchen table or couch can make all the difference. It’ll make the room—and you!—feel new again. And the best part? It doesn’t cost a thing. (Tip: If you need to move a large item on your own, stick a dish towel under each leg and push; or if you’ve got carpet, use furniture sliders.)
10. Smile on the Outside
Even when you’ve got nothing to smile about. Forcing a smile can trick your body into changing your mood. You’ll also find that other people will react better to you when you’ve got a smile on your face. Voilà! You’ve just created a snowball effect of fuzzy feelings.
11. Gaze at a Photograph
If the photograph is of a loved one, it can stimulate blood supply to the brain, says researcher Andreas Bartels from University of London. Imagine them giving you a hug.
12. Turn off the TV
Happy people don’t watch TV. Instead, they socialize, which brings them more long-term satisfaction. We’re not saying to skip your favorite shows altogether. But if the choice is between watching something just because it’s on, and grabbing a friend for a last minute dinner date … well … you know what to do. Delicious and good for you!
13. Get Informed
Stuck on a problem that just won’t go away? Try Googling it. Reading up on how other people have handled your situation may give you some clues on how to tackle it yourself.
14. Eat Avocados
Avocados are good for your skin, your hair, and—more importantly—your heart. But did you know they’re also good for your mood? They’ve got monounsaturated fats and tryptophan, which boosts feel-good chemical endorphins in the brain.
15. Sing or Hum a Tune
Listening to music can make you feel good, but singing or humming your own tune is even better! Try making up the words to one of your favorite songs, and sing it out loud. Even if your cat is the only one who appreciates it, you’ll feel good about it.
16. Break the Rules
Here’s a little known confidence booster: when you follow your own path, (especially when you go against the grain. it’s incredibly intoxicating. We’re not advocating anything illegal, just saying that you should do exactly what you want sometimes and not what you think you should be doing.
17. Invigorate Your Senses
A quick spray of lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, or lemon can clear your head quicker than you think. For an extra-calming treat, take a nap on a pillow scented with lavender—either in fabric spray form, or crumble some of the plant itself and put it in your pillowcase.
18. Visit a Quiet Place
Libraries, museums, gardens, and other quiet places can give you a break from the frantic pace of everyday life. Find a secret spot and make it your sanctuary, whether it’s in your backyard or the Reference section.
19. Forgive Someone
Research shows that those who are able to forgive are less stressed, less angry, and more optimistic than those who aren’t. So, if you’re holding onto old grudges for the sake of it, it might just be time to let go.
20. Spend More Time with Your Happy Friends
Misery loves company. Too often, we find ourselves surrounded by soul-crushing negativity. The good news? Happiness really is contagious. Research shows that happiness, even when removed by three degrees, can make you happier than an extra $5000. Focus on spending time with the optimistic people in your life and you might just become one of them.
I'm adding one more of my own~ Soak up the sunshine and warm weather any time you get a chance. Let the sun warm your face...Soak it all in!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Half....
My friend and I signed up for our first half marathon!!
It is in 2 months~ I am so excited to put my shoes on and run beside her for 13.1 miles!
I'll update as the race nears!
It is in 2 months~ I am so excited to put my shoes on and run beside her for 13.1 miles!
I'll update as the race nears!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
I finished it!! I finished it!!
I finally finished my quilt~
It will be a gift for one of my nieces this Spring! I can't wait to give it to her.
It is not perfect by any means. But it is my very first one and I am happy with it.
I love how bright and happy the fabrics are.
What projects are you working on?
It will be a gift for one of my nieces this Spring! I can't wait to give it to her.
It is not perfect by any means. But it is my very first one and I am happy with it.
I love how bright and happy the fabrics are.
What projects are you working on?
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Reading...Writing...and dragonflies....
This is the story of how I found the current book I am reading...
A woman came in to my work and commented on my dragonfly necklace/locket I wear every day that holds photos of my beautiful mom.
She then told me that she loves dragonflies and had a tattoo of one, which she showed me (which I am still considering and it was on her should near where I would want mine). I asked her if she knew the meaning of dragonflies because I had lost my mom and that is why they became so important to me.
She then told me of a Memoir called "Paula" by Isabelle Allende that I should read... so I ordered it the very next day.
Oddly enough this all coincides with a decision I made recently to take a writing class called "Write Your Story". A class on writing a memoir, which I have been considering ever since I started to connect so much with writing, and how much it has become such a big part of my healing journey...
It makes me wonder sometimes if the right things are put in front of you just screaming at you to listen.
How many of those things do we pay attention to?
How many do we ignore?
A woman came in to my work and commented on my dragonfly necklace/locket I wear every day that holds photos of my beautiful mom.
She then told me that she loves dragonflies and had a tattoo of one, which she showed me (which I am still considering and it was on her should near where I would want mine). I asked her if she knew the meaning of dragonflies because I had lost my mom and that is why they became so important to me.
She then told me of a Memoir called "Paula" by Isabelle Allende that I should read... so I ordered it the very next day.
Oddly enough this all coincides with a decision I made recently to take a writing class called "Write Your Story". A class on writing a memoir, which I have been considering ever since I started to connect so much with writing, and how much it has become such a big part of my healing journey...
It makes me wonder sometimes if the right things are put in front of you just screaming at you to listen.
How many of those things do we pay attention to?
How many do we ignore?
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
A runners log...
I bought one of these for my friend and I~
It is a great place to keep tract of running, but it is also filled with inspiration~
This is the quote I came across this week and I LOVE IT.
"I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be."
~George Sheehan
It is a great place to keep tract of running, but it is also filled with inspiration~
This is the quote I came across this week and I LOVE IT.
"I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be."
~George Sheehan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)