Lessons of Life

As we grow up, or should I say older because some of us are still short, life teaches us many lessons. Take time to savor the little things, push through the rain because without it there wouldn't be rainbows, the truth hurts, life is short, and on and on....this is about life isn't always fair and sometimes it hurts but you are the only one who can control your response.

I brag on the kiddo all the time, he is the joy of my life and I am very lucky to have such a great kid. Sure, part of it comes from my efforts as a parent, but 90% of it is all him and last night he rose to the challenge again. Life threw him an unfair pitch and instead of crying, complaining or giving up he greeted it as the first one out of the dugout, the one cheering the loudest the one smiling and keeping his head up high.

You will see my good sport on ESPN someday, or championing whatever he wants if his dream of being a sportscaster changes. And when I see him summiting life's challenges, I will continue to be the proudest mother around and learning from him as much as he learns from me.

Keep hitting it out of the park kid, I'm at your back :)

Motivation is a team sport

Many of us are in the midst of, starting, or completely journeys in our lives. Life is a journey and not a guided tour (go UD!).

Right now there I have different people motivating me for different things in my life and often forget that I am motivating them too. Maybe even just to get up in the morning and smile. Life is a team sport, you can't survive it alone whether you think you can (or are) or not.

All that to say - be true to you today...remember, the littlest thing might just be the motivation someone else needs!

Happy

As human beans, we are all guilty of assuming we know what is best for people...when in reality, don't you only know what makes you happy?

While some may think this post is directed at them, it isn't at all. I was just thinking about the word happy and what it means. I have gone through a significant and noticeable change in my life as of late and it has lead me to think about my life. I am happy now, happier than I have been in so very long and yet, I have moments where I am in despair - feeling more alone than ever and have come to realize, that after all this time it comes down to this one fact. Too often I worry about what everyone else thinks and forget to live in the moment and be happy. Happy with me, my life, my choices...

Yes my friends, even shiny happy me has those moments where I am weak and worry too much about what others think. I am here to say, I am not doing it anymore.

My challenge to you? Be happy. Jump in with two feet. Take the 'road less traveled' or the one paved. Do what you want to do. As my mother tries to teach me over and over, sometimes it is taking a chance that makes something that much more successful.

All are welcome...

Like me, my parents are always on the go and this week, Mom is helping Ashleigh Branstetter at the NOLA Jazz & Heritage Festival. To catch everyone up, Mom retired from the glamorous world of fine jewelry and time pieces in the retail world last July. Now, she helps friends out for fun...my mom is just amazing. Go see her, Contemporary Crafts, Tent H, and well, buy some of Ashleigh's pieces too. It's Mother's Day after all.

This is not a Mother's Day post so moving on, having never been to NOLA, I asked mom to send pictures in addition to having a beignet and coffee for me. She sent me this picture... "All are welcome". As we enter a weekend full of time with family and friends, even if it is busier than your week, remember it - all this time you have with your family & friends - and enjoy every minute. All are welcome that we allow in my friends, now dance to your music (I think mine is jazz this weekend :).

Holy Cow - It's May!! Be the flower for someone today

We certainly had the April showers, and they crept no so quietly into May; still waiting on those flowers!

We had an amazing weekend. The kiddo rocked his very first impromptu speech competition and took 4 place in the state THEN got called out for the Order of the Arrow as a Life Scout. There was so much pride flowing out of me that I am not sure my one heart could handle it. He also survived another vicious rain storm while camping, but this we come to expect as it seems to be the trend that when he camps - it rains. That makes me laugh, I must admit.

All this to say - do we always remember to tell the people we are proud of that we are? Do we remember that a little hug, or smile or encouraging word from a friend or loved one can go further than any external event or action does?

So this month, try to reach out to those in your 'village' and tell them how lucky you feel to have them in your life. Whether they are around a lot, just always there when you need them, or a kind acquaintance that you see in passing from time to time. You will be amazing the joy you will feel just by sharing with them - maybe you will be their May flower! :)

Oh - and kiddo, in case you missed it the first 100 times, I am so proud of the young man you have become. Keep up the good work and you will go further in life than you ever imagined.

Some Say Crazy - I Say Fun Times

This morning, way before sunrise, myself and my fellow contenders of Camp Gladiator were greeted with not only the big black truck of one of our fearless trainers, but tires. Big 'Country' flipping tires spread out and others with chains and harnesses attached to them.

Is this sight intimidating at 5:30am? Well, yes I cannot lie it is. But once we got started, that was just fun times. We flipped the tires, pushed and pulled the big truck (that now in the video we see had brake lights - hmmmm), harnessed up and pulled tires, ran the ladder and hurdles, lifted our weights. And we did it together, laughing, grunting, whatever it took. I mean come on, WE FLIPPED BIG TIRES. We worked together as a team, some of us have never met before but we have now.

Crazy? Maybe. Fun times? Hell Yes.

What are you going to do to have some fun? It's never too late to start, and your best is all you need to do...

PS: Wait for Sunday, then you will really think I have lost it if you think I am teetering on crazy now... :)

Mind vs. Body

Happiness is a state of mind. This is something that you hear in cards, witty saying books, songs, you name it. And while I do agree with this statement (as shown many times in this blog by my pure enjoyment and happiness from the little things), what happens when you wake up on one of those mornings and your body says - 'Thanks for playing but today, you stay in bed and sleep. We have taken a vote and you are not ready to be out of bed and happy yet."

This was one of those mornings for me and I must admit, I listened...hit the alarm, pushed the dog off the bed and went back to sleep.

There was a time I would have fought that urge, I would have gotten out of bed and been pretty beat down all day because of the blah start but if age has taught me anything, it is when you need an extra 30 minutes to greet the world, TAKE IT. Now, I am in a good mood, the sun is shining and I am ready to face the day with all the excitement (good and bad) that it has in store for me.

So my friends, what are you going to do today to take time and greet the world with a smile instead of a blah? Come on...I know you can do it...