Summer time

This post might seem to be late by the rest of the world - but summer started about a week ago in Seattle.

I love summer time. I love being hot. I love having a tan. I love being outside. I love being with friends. I love laughing - and it seems it is easier and
more fun to laugh in the summer. I love patios. I love taking my dog swimming. I love camping. And I love other summer vacations. I love being on a boat. And riding my bike. I love bbqs. I love motorcycle rides. Reba is the only thing missing.

Yes, I love summer. A lot.

YAYAY

I'm in the clouds!

Hard work pays off. so does creativity and believing in yourself and your ideas when other people don't. So does dreaming big!

I landed a huge deal today. It will be the start of a lot of work and a lot of fun. Bring it on.

And keep on dreaming. Big!

What is life about anyway?

You know when a certain event happens - maybe a birth or a death or a wedding of a loved one - and it encourages our hearts and minds to reflect on our own lives and we feel the need to improve? Or be a little different? Maybe it reminds us that life is short and we have to live it up? or that we were once as in love as the newly married couple?

Those events are nice to have. Those events are what 'life is all about' - or at least that's the popular saying.

But wouldn't it be nice if those major life events didn't have to happen for us to remember and internalize what life is all about? What if we just remembered? And lived our lives in accordance? That would be so wonderful. I believe the world would be a much more happy and loving place. At least my world would be.

There are times when the littlest things in life are what life is all about.

Life is about the times you laugh so hard you cry. And it's about beautiful views. And heartache. And work. Life is about driving in traffic and participating in the wonderful modern day blessings of our time - and feeling happy about it. Life is about feeling every emotion- happy, sadness, confusion and a crazy amount of love. Life is about exploring and being with friends but it's also about nights alone feeling sad that no one has called to invite you to participate. It is about improvement and giving second and sometimes third and fourth chances to the same person or potential achievement. Life is about loving yourself - or at least trying to and it's about forgiving yourself when you don't love yourself the way you should.

There are so many things that life is about.

I am thankful for the things that my life is about.

And right now I am feeling thankful for my family... life is about family.

Is this the greatest country in the world?

Strong language is used in this clip - but so powerful!

I love my country. A part of the love I have for my country is because of what it used to be and what it is 

aspiring to be again.



good music

Not quite sure what I want to write about today but it is time to write.

I just watched an amazing video online. My bosses husband sent it to me. Watch this if you want to smile and make your heart feel good. Nothing in the world is like good music that makes your soul move. I can only imagine that being there during that performance is something that I'd never forget.

I loved last night. I went and sat on the beach and played games with friends and fetch with my dog and watched the most beautiful sunset. But I was in my head a lot lost of my thoughts. Before my outing with my friends began I ran into Becka - which was a total accident. And she said things that made me wonder.

I have been writing a lot. Writing helps me. If I take time everyday to write out my thoughts I feel better. It helps me stay true to who I am and who I want to be. I'm not sure if that makes sense - which doesn't matter because it makes sense to me. Becka said she worried that I talk about all of this stuff that is happening inside of me but she doesn't know it is actually happening inside of me. Perhaps she was suggesting that I'm all talk.

So I took the night and part of this morning to wonder if that's true. I don't think it is.

I've learned that there are really simple minded people in the world. And there are people who are more complex. It isn't good or bad to be one or the other - its just the way it is. And I'm more on the complex side. My mind goes and goes and goes - which is a blessing and a curse. I have been successful in my professional life and I'm had amazing adventures because I ask myself the question, 'what if?' and then I act. But I have a hard time being content. It seems I always want more - want more out of life, out of myself, out of other people. I have had a hard time being in the moment and relaxing. Maybe its because I'm worried I'll miss out or I won't live up to the potential inside of me - which in my mind seems to be the only gift I can give to God. Because he made me and gave me gifts and talents - so I better use them to benefit others and the world.

So writing - it connects me to what matters. For a moment in time I can sit and think about what is important and remind myself of the goals I have made and how I really want to live my life. I mean, I have a plan for my life - I don't go day by day and see what happens. I put thought into my actions. Because time is precious and life if amazing and I don't want it to pass by without being aware.

My 4 daily goals:

• To have a thankful heart. Everything feels better when I have the eyes to see the good things in my life. I sleep better, I eat better, I am kinder to myself and others, I work harder, I am more creative and I have a lot more fun!
• Forgive - I don't want to have bad feelings for anyone when I go to bed. But if I do, and I sometimes do, I need to work on the art of forgiveness. I believe that people generally do the best they can - and if someone hurts me- they didn't mean to. And if someone does hurt me on purpose - well - they need more love because happy people don't hurt people on purpose. And its hard to have a thankful heart when I have bad feelings for someone.
• Take care of my body and mind - I want to make good choices everyday that imporves my physical and mental health.
• Express myself honestly in word and action - This one is tricky for me. I haven't done a good job in my past at expressing anything but good and fluffy feelings and emotions. Im working on it. And checking in with myself everyday. I feel like I'm doing a good job.

So - I guess I don't know how to respond to what Becka said to me. I know I don't need to respond to her - but I want to respond to myself.

I am on a journey. Everyone is on a journey. And the words I speak reflect on what is happening within me. Maybe not perfectly. But my words are certainly reflective to the changes occuring in my soul.

I am different now than I was 2 months ago. My beliefs are different. My perspectives are different. My self awareness is different. My capacity to love myself is entirely different. I am more excited about life. And my future. I am not as confused. Not even close. I am having more fun. I have deeper connections. I put my heart on the table knowing it might get hurt but willing to take the risk. Because hearts get hurt. They break. But they love again. And that is awesome!

And now my daily picture of part of my evening! I love my pup.
(Great shot Farq!)

Coffee Shop

I went for a run this moring. And then I had a breakfast meeting at a familar coffee shop down the street from a familiar apartment.

I saw an old friend while I was there. She told me I looked happy. And skinny. And she told me she wanted to steal my watch and my sunglasses.

I told her I am happy. And getting skinnier - because I am working out and eating better. And then I asked her to hang out with me and some friends on a boat this weekend. She agreed. She is bringing her boyfriend. Her boyfriend is rad. I'm excited.

All is right in the world when you have a thankful heart. All is right in the world when you rid yourself of anger. All is right in the world when you appreciate the beautiful things around you.

All is right in the world when you allow your dreams to guide your footsteps.

Love this

I'm the 20%

This morning I walked to an appointment and passed several people who were waiting for the bus. I wondered if they were happy. Or if they even thought about if they were happy. As I sat in the lobby waiting for my appointment to start I wondered if most people are truly happy. I googled it. And research shows that only 20% of all people are truly happy. Bummer. Isn't the purpose of life to be happy?! That is (one of the) purpose of my life.

I am too addicted to my cell phone. Way too addicted. I'm going to start leaving it in my car. Or at home. Or get a flip phone. Life was more simple when I had a flip phone.

The weather is getting nice in Seattle. Im renting a boat this weekend. Can not wait.

My green sunglasses make me smile. A lot.

Im in the process of having a beautiful life. And I am in the process of being the 20% of happy people!

Reminder

I needed this reminder first thing today. I certainly believe that it's true!

I am going to bed thankful. And I'm thankful for that because I have had a really heavy heart and pit in my stomach for the last couple of days.

I am currently on Decatur Island ready for bed with a blanket of stars above me. I'm listening to the crickets sing and Harley breathing loudly. I had uplifting conversations today while cruising around the San Juan Islands and talked about the most beautiful things in life. And business. But talking about business in that setting made it completely pleasurable! I felt high. High on life and excited about where I currently am and the direction I am headed.

Amanda reminded me something that her (and now my) Reverend says. He says, "This or something better!" This, my current reality is pretty darn good. I have beautiful people around me, a loving family, an adorable dog, a job that I love and I have morales and standards that I appreciate. My life is currently great and I know it will get better. And that's amazing! I know that some of the best days of my life are ahead of me. And I've had some really amazing days!

Life. Create what you want. And love it.

And a few snapshots of the good parts of the week!

Thank you, life!