Listening to your own advice

Sometimes seems next to impossible, yet last night I was able to hear my own words and follow through. As I was sitting in my kitchen, enjoying a lovely meal of grilled shrimp and salad I thought, hmm, I wonder if I could get a ticket out to Cornwall this week for a few days. I started searching and my heart started to sink a little thinking, wow, how will I ever find a good last minute deal on a B&B or hotel AND a good deal on a train ticket? Well, to my wonderful surprise I did and within 30 minutes booked myself a ticket out to Looe, Cornwall for the week.

I have never been and this will be my first solo trip in a very very long time. I am quite thrilled and excited because I woke up this morning thinking, how great that only 24 hours ago I had no idea I'd be on my way to Paddington to catch a train for a new adventure!

So I have let life surprise me and will definitely continue to do so as I journey along the coast and discover a new part of this beautiful country.

There is so much excitement in the unknown. I know many of us, myself included, can feel the anxiety and fear first, of not knowing what lies ahead, but when that niggly feeling starts to get inside my gut I just focus on all the 'moments before' as I like to call them...essentially think back to the moment before you met someone new, or got the call for the interview for your new job or before you decided to take that long awaited trip to wherever...the moment before any of that happened you had no idea what was in store and so isn't a lot more fun to think that at any moment, it could be your 'moment before'? I will definitely choose that over fear and anxiety everyday (or at least do my hardest to make it so!)!

Off to my train now! Happy journeying

It's all in how you look at it...

I have not only heard that phrase but used it many many times myself. I used to think I understood what that meant but I feel that only today, after hearing an incredibly powerful and inspiring talk by Tony Robbins (yes I know many of you have very mixed feelings about him but there is something to it!) that my friend sent me (http://tinyurl.com/l8z5oe) do I truly understand the meaning of that phrase. My key take away was this: With every experience in life there are three questions to ask yourself, 1) What do I choose to focus on? (e.g. is it a new beginning or an ending?) 2) What meaning will I give it? (positive or negative?) 3) What will I choose to do about it? (e.g. my own action vs. waiting for someone else to take action). Now this seems quite simplistic at first, but honestly it is amazing if you try it just once.

The Blessing in Disguise

How often have you used this phrase? How often have you told yourself, yes, I could take the 'why me' route but am going to take the higher path of knowing this is a good thing?

I know I have used it often but am being challenged now in a way I never expected. What I find beautiful about this phrase is that it is really asking me 'do you practice what you preach?'

So many of us (myself included!) can give the best advice to friends, family, coworkers, etc. as to how to deal with a situation and through which lens we should evaluate what just happened, but how often do we do the same when it comes to our own lives?

'The Bubble'

'I love you'. Three words. Three simple words. Separately they don't carry so much weight but together are three of the most powerful words in any language. I can confess I am someone who takes for granted my freedom to say those words whenever I feel it. The only thing that would stop me is myself. I don't have to worry about being thrown in jail, being persecuted, bullied, beat up or even tortured for telling someone I love them. It is not so in all parts of the world and I recently watched a film that served as a stark reminder of the power of those three words and how much I, along with many in the West, take for granted our freedom to do what is most human...to love.

I'll wait one more day to have the life I want...

Why do we procrastinate with those things that we want most in life?

I thought I was unique to such a situation and maybe some strange personality where I want to achieve many things in life, I have tons of ideas, but from idea to action I seem to get lost and distracted and find every excuse under the sun not to live my life today.

I'm surrounded by many people in the same situation yet when I look at them I think, well if you want it so badly just do it! Of course! Obvious right?!

Not as obvious when I look in the mirror.