Hey You...
In my life, I have constantly been trying to please someone else– my teachers, my employers, my family, my friends, the world in general—but now, I want to please me. If my attitude, or my figure or my mentality bothers you, I’m done apologizing. Get over it. I’ve found the “Strength, Courage and Wisdom” that has been inside of me, and I am finally accepting myself for who and what I am. I don’t ask you to do the same; I just ask that you respect my decision.
I think I am finally at a place in my life where I am comfortable in my skin, and at peace with myself. I think that my being at peace makes others uncomfortable, in that because they find fault with the way I look or the way I act and think, that I should as well.
I am a fickle person. I own that. I change my mind constantly, and you know what?? It’s OK! I can do that. I don’t have to stay on one course forever. I can add spice and flair to my life, if I decide to. Just because I liked computers and gaming last year, doesn’t mean that I like it today. Just because I love shopping, and fashion and beautiful things today, doesn’t mean that I will next year. The ability to change your mind, your passions, and your desires is a truly amazing gift, which I put to good use.
I have dreams. Most are unrealized but I have them nonetheless. I want to write, to travel, to teach, to learn, to craft, to relax, to breathe. Some days, I want to do one more than another, but eventually I will get to them all. Just because your path lead you straight and directly to your dreams, doesn’t mean that mine will. Asking me what I want to do with my life doesn’t help. I don’t know yet, and I think that is OK too. I don’t know today, but I might tomorrow. I thought I knew a year ago, but it’s changed. I don’t mind. I know I signed up for school and I'm super excited now, but who knows a year from now... and I am OK with that.
“I close my eyes and I think of all the things that I want to see
‘Cause I know, now that I’ve opened up my heart I know that
Anything I want can be, so let it be, so let it be”
(India Arie “Strength Courage Wisdom”)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Where did those come from
Just took a full length photo of myself and holy hips Batman! It always amazes me to see the little changes that crop up. Like, I have an actual "Figure" now..and you can almost see my collarbones. I can't wait for that :)
Do you ever feel...
Do you ever feel that sometimes you put yourself out there replying to messages and blog posts and joining teams..just to be ignored? I hate that.
Just saying.
Other than that, my week has gone pretty well.
Made up a few loaves of zucchini bread--
Got out on the lake with my cousin and his wife on the boat. I adore the feeling of zipping along on the water and just letting the spray from the waves hit you. There is nothing better :)
I also got some great advice on a relationship situation(s) from some people that really made me (re)think some things that I am looking for/want in a relationship.
How was your week?
*********************
Zucchini Bread Recipe
Ingredients
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 3 eggs
* 1 cup vegetable oil
* 2 1/4 cups white sugar
* 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 2 cups grated zucchini
* 1 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
1. Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
4. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.
Nutritional Information open nutritional information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 223 | Total Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 26mg
Just saying.
Other than that, my week has gone pretty well.
Made up a few loaves of zucchini bread--
Got out on the lake with my cousin and his wife on the boat. I adore the feeling of zipping along on the water and just letting the spray from the waves hit you. There is nothing better :)
I also got some great advice on a relationship situation(s) from some people that really made me (re)think some things that I am looking for/want in a relationship.
How was your week?
*********************
Zucchini Bread Recipe
Ingredients
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 3 eggs
* 1 cup vegetable oil
* 2 1/4 cups white sugar
* 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 2 cups grated zucchini
* 1 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
1. Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
4. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.
Nutritional Information open nutritional information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 223 | Total Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 26mg
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
My Bucket List...what's on yours?
1. See all seven wonders of the world (My own personal list--culled from various "wonder" sources)
* Great Pyramid of Giza
* Great Wall Of China
* Stonehenge
* Colosseum
* Taj Mahal
* Grand Canyon
* The Great Barrier Reef
2. Learn a new language
3. Try out a new profession in a different field
4. Achieve your ideal weight
5. Run a marathon (Half Way there-- Did a half-marathon walking in 2009)
6. Take part in a triathlon
8. Go skiing 329
9. Learn horseback riding
10. Be a mentor to someone
11. Do an extreme sport – Bungee jump
12. Climb a mountain -- DONE! Mt. Major in Alton, NH. 248
13. Fly in a hot-air balloon across the country
14. Offer your service to a humanitarian cause
15. Experience a sunset - DONE Sunsets over Lake Winnipasaukee
16. Experience a sunrise
17. See the Northern Lights -- DONE! Iceland 2005
18. Witness a solar eclipse
19. Go stargazing -- DONE New Hampshire 2010
20. Plant a tree and watch it grow
21. Write a letter to at least 3 of your closest friends to let them know how much they mean to you
22. Throw a mega party
23. Go on a blind date!
24. Take up dancing: Salsa, Line dance, Tap dance, Tango, Ballroom dancing, etc
25. Learn a martial art -- In Progress (Muy Thai Kickboxing)
26. Go on a road trip
27. Go backpacking across at least 10 locations
28. Pack your bags and set off for a random location with no itinerary planned at all
29. Go swimming with dolphins
30. Live in a different country for at least 6 months -- Done several times over (Germany, Iceland)
31. Get featured on TV/radio/print/newspapers for an achievement you are proud of (accomplished in Work Newsletter for entire company 2009)
32. Knit a scarf
33. Go deep into the heart of Mother Nature. Go trekking in a rainforest; Camp out in the wilds; Walk in a valley; Visit a waterfall; Swim in an ocean; Walk in a valley
34. Read a book on a subject you'd never have thought of reading
35. Volunteer at a hospice
36. Fly a kite
37. Fall asleep on grassy plains
38. Conquer your biggest fear
39. Go snorkeling and experience marine life up close
40. Start a social movement on a cause you believe in
41. Watch cherry blossoms in Japan
42. Get closure on all your hurt, grievances and unhappiness of the past
43. Bury the hatchet with all the enemies / people you had conflict with in the past or now
44. Fly first class
45. Hit bullseye on a dartboard
46. Visit a volcano --
47. Fly in a helicopter
48. Have dinner with someone you had only dreamed of meeting
49. Go on a cruise in the sea
50. Fall in love :)
51. Get on a romantic getaway
52. Visit a castle in England
53. Help someone in need
54. Learn sign language
55. See the Mona Lisa in Louvre (Paris)
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
A letter to my younger self--
Dear 18 year old me,
You don't even know yourself yet. You think you know and you want to say that you do, now that you're a certain age, but you don't really and you won't for a very long time.
What's in front of you is a whole world of things, people and places that you’ve never even imagined. Put yourself and your dreams first now, because it’s hard to learn how to do it 10 years down the road. Trust me --that 4 years in the military is looking scary right now, but you will love it, you will meet some of the best friends that you will ever have, and learn that no matter how tough something seems (BOOT CAMP!) you can do it, and do it wonderfully. Please try to apply this knowledge in to keeping yourself in shape…because 10 years down the road, you won’t have the energy or the inclination to do anything about your ever expanding waistline. I encourage you to go to school and get your degree, because if you don’t do it while you are in the military, you will have to wait a very long time before you can ever start it back up, and by then, you won’t even know what you want to be or do anymore.
Everything you do, every thought you have, every word you say creates a memory that you will hold in your body. Now is the time to change the negative thoughts you have of yourself, and know that you are a strong, beautiful and wise woman. If you don’t change them now, you will be dealing with them 10 years from now, and they are very hard to get rid of once they are that ingrained.
With best wishes
--you
You don't even know yourself yet. You think you know and you want to say that you do, now that you're a certain age, but you don't really and you won't for a very long time.
What's in front of you is a whole world of things, people and places that you’ve never even imagined. Put yourself and your dreams first now, because it’s hard to learn how to do it 10 years down the road. Trust me --that 4 years in the military is looking scary right now, but you will love it, you will meet some of the best friends that you will ever have, and learn that no matter how tough something seems (BOOT CAMP!) you can do it, and do it wonderfully. Please try to apply this knowledge in to keeping yourself in shape…because 10 years down the road, you won’t have the energy or the inclination to do anything about your ever expanding waistline. I encourage you to go to school and get your degree, because if you don’t do it while you are in the military, you will have to wait a very long time before you can ever start it back up, and by then, you won’t even know what you want to be or do anymore.
Everything you do, every thought you have, every word you say creates a memory that you will hold in your body. Now is the time to change the negative thoughts you have of yourself, and know that you are a strong, beautiful and wise woman. If you don’t change them now, you will be dealing with them 10 years from now, and they are very hard to get rid of once they are that ingrained.
With best wishes
--you
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
A change for the better
It's hard to say when it changed, but my attitude changed for the better over the weekend.
Maybe it was when I was chasing a run-away 2 miles through the woods and realized that I had not only run 2 miles straight, but that it hadn't even been that hard (granted there was a ton of adrenaline going on..but I digress) or maybe it was when I walked down the street and heard a whistle from some guys I passed.
Who knows, it could have been either one or both but it really re-affirmed my thoughts that I've been doing great. We all get tired and down in the dumps once in a while, and that's probably never going to change, but sometimes having that outside acknowledgment that our hard work has paid off is very helpful in bringing us back up.
So here's to a brand new week of looking good and feeling good, no matter where we are at on our journeys :) We're beautiful and worth it :)
Just a happy picture to help brighten someone's day :)
Maybe it was when I was chasing a run-away 2 miles through the woods and realized that I had not only run 2 miles straight, but that it hadn't even been that hard (granted there was a ton of adrenaline going on..but I digress) or maybe it was when I walked down the street and heard a whistle from some guys I passed.
Who knows, it could have been either one or both but it really re-affirmed my thoughts that I've been doing great. We all get tired and down in the dumps once in a while, and that's probably never going to change, but sometimes having that outside acknowledgment that our hard work has paid off is very helpful in bringing us back up.
So here's to a brand new week of looking good and feeling good, no matter where we are at on our journeys :) We're beautiful and worth it :)
Just a happy picture to help brighten someone's day :)
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