I was a vegetarian for 8 years followed by a time when I was a pescetarian (fish eater). A couple of years ago during incredible periods of stress and family loss I fell completely off my wagon and began eating meat. The obvious changes came in weight gain, digestive difficulties, and mood swings. This is quite typical for omnivores, but I fought hard not to connect the problems my body was having to what I was eating: Read more…
One phrase often referred to after the Haiti Earthquake is that of Haiti’s “fragile infrastructure.” A country’s infrastructure refers to, among other things, the stability of schools, water, public safety, waste management, and transportation. Post-quake, all of these were damaged almost beyond repair, but they were all indeed fragile many years before this tragedy. Take the Port Au Prince airport for example. As the world watched and wondered why planes with much needed aid could not land, those in Haiti understood the structural and staffing limitations that the airport suffered from in the first place. It is said that prior to the earthquake, the airport typically had little more than 30 incoming flights daily. Suddenly there were hundreds expecting to land on broken soil. This is just one example. Read more…
Take 10 minutes and watch this clip of Will Smith’s best moments of the positivity he is well known for. If this doesn’t get you focused on the greatness of your own potential–well then watch it again!
What I’ve always found remarkable about Will Smith, is his almost unflinching belief in his ability. This is demonstrated here, but what is telling is that his belief does not seem founded in arrogance, but in a simple personal philosophy. “I know who I am. I know what I believe in. I am willing to die for it. It’s that simple.” Truly we complicate our lives by allowing others and their motivations to interfere with our path. Yet, when we achieve focus and confidence in who we are and what we believe in, the universe respects this and allows us to achieve personal greatness. The greatness that is of our own definition. Smith talks about the ability to focus on a goal as being essential, and I really love it when he says that having a plan B takes the focus away from plan A. Failure should not be an option.
It’s funny that many critique Smith by saying that his views are such because he has success. I say he has success because of his views. Are you willing to test the method? Focus. Believe. Stay as positive as you can, regardless of what others say. Take note in those who are negative only to note the misery that they bring on themselves. Everyday we have a choice as to what we will do with our life. The glass always starts empty and ready for the days experience of life. What will you fill it with?
My four-day qigong experience in Miami (general photos of the workshop) left me on such an emotional high, I felt it wise to come back down to earth before speaking on it at length. I figured I should return to my day to day challenges and life before blogging on the practicalities of what was probably meant to be a lifestyle shift. Lifestyle shifts are pretty regular for me and are typical surprises. I never look for them. I rarely say anything like, “This year I’m going to…” It’s more like they fall in my lap and I say, “I think I like this.” Some last, and some don’t. Some take me to the door of another experience. Some drop off with nothing in its place and I flounder without direction for who knows how long. Read more…
I’ve added a few new categories to the blog. Hope you enjoy the content to come. Remember you can click “I’m Blogging On..” in the sidebar to see category related posts.
North Carolina- I was born here and spent nearly all of my childhood here. The road less traveled beckons me to explore my state through adult eyes and revisited experiences.
Road Trips- When I head off, I’ll be writing about the journey. Who knows what’s next!
For the Love of Food- Ah yes. From my struggles to return to vegetarianism, weight conscious food choices, or just musing about my favorite meals and restaurants I discover on adventures. It will all be here.
Raleigh Restaurants- A subcategory of “For The Love of Food,” especially for locals. I live here. Therefore I eat! (These local posts will not be posted to the homepage. They can be accessed at the sidebar. )
I am a planner. Some would call this being a control freak and on many days, I might be inclined to agree with them. I come from a long line of planners, most evident being my mother, who went to her passage with notebooks full of ideas and unfinished dreams near her side. I too have such notebooks, and if I’m not writing plans out there, I admit to having a dry eraser board tucked in the corner of my office for those moments when I need to see my grandiose ideas drawn out on multicolored mind map diagrams. I actually never knew what a mind map was until my daughter had to draw one for a middle school project. I was smitten. What a way to dream. What a way to plan! Read more…
