Meditation Monday - Love and Gratitude

Today's meditation is probably one of my favorites. It is simple and incredibly beneficial. And you can do it for as long or as short as you would like. Simply find yourself in a nice, comfortable position. My favorite is to sit in a supported half-lotus or cross legged position with a wall or pillow behind me. I place my hands palms up on my knees, but you can put your hands wherever is comfortable to you. You can even do this sitting in your car (NOT while driving) or at your desk.

Take 5 or 6 deep, cleansing breaths and then simply focus on breathing in Love, and breathing out Gratitude. You can focus on simply the feeling of love and gratitude, or you can focus on something you love about yourself and exhale something you are grateful for. I find that I do a little of both. Especially if it is a longer meditation.

When you focus just on being plain old grateful, for everything, and you can feel the gratitude just exuding from you. And as you breathe in all that love, you just fill right up with happiness.

Halfway through you could reverse things, breath in gratitude and breath out love.

However you do it, even if it is just 3 minutes, it is a great way to tune into all the positive, lovely things that surround you. Especially if you are having a hard day, having a hard time getting along with someone or have any stresses in your life.

Give it a try, tell me what you think!

Namaste

Two More Days!

Ok, so I have aaaaaallllllllllll of these posts I want to put up, BUT I am currently without internet at my new place. With only internet at work, I haven't really had a chance to put anything together like I want too.

So I am just stopping by to join in a quick little round of Gratitudes.

I am so grateful to finally be almost  unpacked. Just the dreaded "second bedroom" (soon to be office) and decorating really, and then those straggling pieces of random stuff that we aren't sure what to do with. They usually end up getting thrown away...

Warm weather! I mean, this week has been pretty rainy. But it has been a Spring rain and not a Winter rain. Which means, in my neck of the woods, the smell of rain hitting warm pavement, the humidity bringing out all the fragrances of spring blossoms and cozying up to my hubby while we watch Star Wars.

Speaking of Star Wars, yes. It is something I'm grateful for. Star Wars is awesome. And I have never seen all of the "new" ones. So this week we finally made it through the third one. Totally explains Darth Vader. I get it now.

Most of all, I am STOKED for my cruise! We leave for Disney World on Saturday. After four days in the magic land of Disney we head off for our four day cruise to the Bahamas! That is just two days away. One more work day. I am sooooo excited (and spazzing OUT) about going on my very first cruise.

For all y'all that have been a-cruisin' before, any advice? I'm assembling my packing list right now. Anything I should absolutely bring? Anything that isn't necessary? What was your favorite part of the cruise? I'm so excited and nervous, I need more info!

And does anyone have any request of great/weird/awesome pictures in Disney World. I'm dedicating a few rides to my brother who is in Honduras, and I'll be sending him pictures of me either ON the ride or right before. So, I'm taking requests from other people too. Give me a list!

Alright folks, I'll try to check in soon, but it might not be until AFTER the cruise happens... we'll see.

(Linking up with:  Whatever, Whenever, So What, Black Tag Diaries, It's Ok Thursday,)

Spirit of Adventure

Maybe it is cabin fever. Maybe it is my sense of adventure twitching after being shoved in a corner. And maybe it is my secret daredevil deciding that my life is just to damn boring.

I don't know.

But I feel like I have just woken up after months of hibernation. I have a need to be outdoors. I have a thirst for sunshine (it IS winter. I kind of always have this unquenchable thirst for warmth and sunshine). I want to MOVE.

I don't know if anyone remembers this post. Or if you've read why I'm blogging on my about me page. I have a fun little daily battle with my own personal monster, depression. And it has been in full swing for the past several months. I've been so busy, literally buried in things to do, combined with our freezing winter, horrible air quality and complete lack of sunshine... I've had a hard time keeping my head above water.

You can only procrastinate for so long, hide from life with TV and drown your sorrows in food. I saw my therapist last week (I highly recommend therapists, they are awesome) and this morning I woke up with fire. With hope. With the desire to go climb a mountain.

I feel alive! I want to go and do and be and LIVE. And this is a wonderful feeling after feeling numb for so long.

I'm doing all I can every day to fight back. Working out, making plans with friends, laughing with my husband and getting as much sunshine as I can (fake and real). And I think it is starting to pay off.  I am ready for adventure!

And I am SO thankful for that feeling. And to perpetuate and keep the positivity, loving-life attitude here are some big and little things I am looking forward too!

• Running a half-marathon in August with a good friend.
• Easter!
• Almost being done with the history class from hell.
• Doing THIS this summer (it is going to be EPIC)

• Seeing my brother in August (he has been gone for 18 months! AH!)
• Girls night this Saturday
• The Bachelor EVERY Monday. (don't judge, and I'm not sure what I'll do when this seasons is over!)
• Working out every night with my husband.
• Lasagna
• New books to read, and some time to actually read them!
• Watching Pitch Perfect for the fourth time (the hubs gave it to me for Valentine's Day!, I need to do a whole post on this movie...)
• Sleeping in on Saturday (it is the ONLY day of the week I get to sleep in. We have church waaaaayy to early on Sunday morning)
• Making my husband laugh.

What are you looking forward too? What are you thankful for? Is there any daredevil activities you wish you could do?

(Linking up with: It's Almost Friday Thursday Blog Hop, Black Tag Diaries, It's Ok Thursday, Thankful Thursdays)

Gratitudinal

Isn't this time of year just a little crazy? I wish it wasn't. I mean... I love the family time, the good food and seeing people, but I wish it wasn't stressful. I think that is one of the reasons I try to get my Christmas shopping done as far in advance as humanly possible.

But that isn't what I want to talk about. 

What I want to talk about is my birthday!

I LOVE my birthday. I think it should be a national holiday. Sadly, this year it is a national holiday. Only it is a holiday about being grateful, and pilgrims and eating yourself sick... and it is my birthday. I was actually born on Thanksgiving day (my poor mother). It has been on my birthday several times since then (and every single time, my mom has been in the hospital or just released from the hospital. I am watching her like a hawk (Do you hear me mother?! NO HOSPITAL TRIPS THIS YEAR!!!!)

That's my mom, in the blue :) (Obviously)

As a Thanksgiving baby I feel like it is part of my calling to be as grateful as possible for everything. I am horrible at this... I wish that some good fairies had blessed me at birth with a heart over flowing with gratitude.

But they didn't. (Drat.)

My wonderful, incredible, HOTT husband!

However, I think that being grateful is more than just an attitude, it is a way of life. I believe that if we are truly grateful for the food we have, we will try to share it with those who have less. If we are deeply grateful for the wonderful man we married, then we will treat him with respect and love and do our best to lift him up. If we are humbly grateful for the love of God in our lives, then we will try to be an open conduit of God's love to others.

photo source

Gratitude is a lifestyle. And like healthy eating, "green" living or a pirate way of life, it takes dedication and practice and forgiveness. We have to forgive the times we are greedy, rededicate ourselves to gratitude and love and practice, practice, practice. (I am not entirely sure how a pirate forgives because as far as I can tell they just end up sword fighting and somebody walks the plank, but you catch my drift).

I am going to try and live a grateful life. It's one of those every day things. 

So today I am grateful for:

All forms of cold medicine 

Down Comforters

Cough drops

Fritos

Beautiful Sunsets

A job

An awesome boss

My husband

My mom

(Linking up with:  Monday Meet Up, Make It Pretty Monday, Mingle Monday, Hello Monday, Tell me Tuesday, Loving Lately, Flock Together, GFC, Fact Is, Tell Me About It Tuesday)

My Space (not the website)

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately.

Like lots.

I love blogging, but the past couple of days I just haven't felt the need, the urge, the desire (woah ladies, calm down. I'm not trying to get all sensual here) to blog. And here is why:

I was all thinking, "I have to make sure that I have lots of funny posts or people won't read it." Or "I need to stop with all this soul-searching. People are gonna get bored and hate me!" (Ok, maybe a little sarcastic on the last one there.)

But the point is, I stopped writing for me and started writing for y'all. Not that I don't love you guys (Hi new followers! We're best friends now!) it is just... this is my space. You readers read because for some bizarre reason you like what I have to say (or you like to mock me, both are fine.).

So, here is what has really been going on in my mind lately:

I HATE politics. Elections suck. It tried (almost successfully) to ruin my anniversary. Luckily, I am married to THE Man, and he made it magical.

Panic attacks. Not in the "I totally panicked" kind of way. Actual, hyperventilating, room spinning, heart pounding panic attacks. I hate them. I don't want them. We're working on making them stop.

I made this and hung it up at work. It makes me happy :)

School. I have a love hate relationship right now. Love: I turned in one rockin' thesis earlier this week. It was AWESOME. Hate: I have SOOOOOO much to do for another class I am afraid I may have to dive into the depths of my homework and only immerse once it has all been completed. Good bye beautiful world...

What's with laundry? It is like a never ending, monotonous nightmare. Can someone else just fold the laundry... Please?

I am SO tired. All the time. Where did my energy go?! I don't even have kids or a cat or a goldfish. What is up self?!

Friends. I miss them. I have actual, real life, live in the same city, love them to death friends. But I am SO busy all the time... I never get to see any of them. Ever. I hardly see my own family. It makes me sad...



Stress. It just keeps coming at me from different angles. I don't like it.

Fall. The colors are so beautiful! I have loved every second of these past weeks.

Photos were taken five minutes apart.

What in the world is going on with the snowfall right now? Seriously, in the last 20 minutes I have watched the entire parking lot get absolutely covered. If it keeps this up, I don't know if I'll make it home from work. I very much so dislike snow... (and all that white, feathery madness is SNOW people. Not "a mix of wintery precipitation. Sheesh)


But in spite all of this, I have so much to be grateful for. And this week, I am incredibly grateful for my husband. I love him so much. He has done everything for me. He has made me so happy and given me a wonderful life. Even when it feels like everything is going crazy, I always have him to be thankful for.

(Linking up with: Faith Filled Friday, Friday Favorite Things, That Friday Blog Hop, Womanhood With a Purpose, Weekend Blog Hop, Feed Me Friday, It's Almost Friday Thursday Blog Hop, Black Tag Diaries, First Day Of My Life, Pretty Little Inspirations, Link and Mingle, It's Ok Thursday and Lovely Little Whimsy.)

My Favorites for Friday

It's Friday! We made it!

Of course, I started my Friday with a truly awful hair day. Anyone else feel like a bad hair day can ruin a day before it really begins? Cause I do. And I had to put my make-up on in the car. Real princess stuff here peeps.

But, I won't let it get me down! Let's be super positive instead, k?








Here are some of my favorite things from this week: 
Labor Day! I had an awesome barbeque with the family, and then went and saw Madagascar 3 (again...) with one of my besties. It was a good day. And that movie is hilarious.

 I don't remember why or where this water bottle came from.... let me think on it...

Hm.

Oh yeah! I got it at the RSL game we went too last Saturday. It was an expensive water bottle, but I love it. It's such a wonderful size. It's my water bottle until my new one comes from FlyLady (SO excited about that)!

I LOVE my new running shoes. They give my calves a killer work out, and they have slowed my time down a bit as I work on proper running form. But they are awesome. And they make me happy. I want to go running Right Now!

I just love this guy. Like, a lot. He is my favorite all the time. Even when I'm mad at him. He is so patient and loving and funny. He rocks my world.

Yes, yogurt. 'Cause yogurt is awesome. And if you can have an apple turnover yogurt, then... wow! At first, this idea scared me. I mean, a turnover in a yogurt? Psht. Weird. But it's delicious. And different. And it makes both my taste buds and my tummy smile.

Other awesome things this week: Finding incredible singer/songwriter Greg Laswell (love this guy. Love every single one of his songs that I have listened too. That's rare folks), Completing an entire week of training for my 10K and not being dead (oh, I haven't told you about my 10k... Don't worry, I will.) Actually liking some of my homework. And the best of all...

This blog. I love this thing. I love finally opening up my soul and being vulnerable, letting other people hear about my hurts and struggles; and then finding out that my stories have helped some of you. I have received several messages thanking me for opening up. And I have to say that getting those messages was the best part of my week. It was fulfilling a dream for me.

My goal with writing this is to be open and honest and share with everyone how wonderfully ok it is to just be ok! I write because it helps me work through hard things, learn new, wonderful things and in a tiny hope that maybe something I say will help others. Thanks for making my dreams come true guys. You rock!

Frustration and Gratitude

I think that some days the universe decides, "Hey, you know what? That girl has had like four days of happiness and almost no stress. Let's make it rain!"

Stupid universe.

But I weathered the storm. Thanks to my husband. He really is my rock.

I don't want to go into too many details. Let's just say it involved money, money for school, school assignments, my thesis, not having a car and a huge workload at work.

Yup, that about sums it up.

Stupid universe.

I think the most frustrating thing is not having a car. Stephen's parent's have generously let us borrow their car (and live in their basement. I married into a family of awesome people), ut we usually have to be in two places at once. Like, I'm at work and Stephen has to be in school, or he is car hunting. And these two places have to be in the Northernest part of Orem and the Southernest part of Provo. (I made up those words, just go with it)

I am dropped off and picked up. I feel like a 15 year old. I kinda hate it.

But at the same time I am so, so, so grateful that we have people in our life willing to help us along when we fall on hard times.

So... try having both of those feelings at once. Frustration and gratitude. I'm really hoping gratitude wins out. It's much easier to live with. But I'm only human. And, dagnabit!, I want to drive myself to work like a big girl.

Well, Stephen had a job interview today (GO Stephen! He totally nailed it and is now a research assistant in his department. My husband pretty much rocks) and so he was late to pick me up. Like... 45 minutes late.

Shoot. Me. Now.

I was so mad that I had to hang around work after everyone else had left, yet so happy and grateful that Stephen got such an advantageous job. Again, frustration and gratitude.

Stephen fixed everything though. He calmed me down when I was hyperventilating earlier. He took me to Rubio's for dinner (I love their gourmet tacos!).

I ate all the tacos, cause they are so delicious.

And then he did the most amazing thing ever: He bought me new running shoes.

More about my shoes later!

Now, I don't want to get into the connection between my husband and my running goals. That needs it's own post.

But it totally turned my day around.

I think gratitude might have even won out. It's funny, isn't it? How two emotions can so strongly overcome us. I wish I could say I open my heart and life to more gratitude than frustration. I'm working on it. But more often than not I find myself frustrated at the little things. I get caught up in having to be dropped off and picked up, the stupid toilet at work not working or even my nail polish chipping. These things do not make up a life.

But gratitude does.

Gratitude sheds light on the smallest of miracles. On the joys of friendship. On the power of forgiveness.  Gratitude is what makes happy people, happy. I need to be more grateful. I think I will work extra hard on that tomorrow and see how my day goes.

What do you think usually overpowers the gratitude in your life? I want to know. Maybe we can help each other come a little bit closer to the grateful life, the happy life that we all deserve.