Life Lessons

Life lessons are all around us.  If we can be perceptive enough to pick up on the subtle pokes they give us, we can learn more and more about ourselves with each passing year.  I don;t know about any of you, but the person I am today is not the person I was this time last year or 5 years ago.We change with the times and if we are truly tuned in to our inner self we can pick up even the slightest of twitches.

Oprah's Lifeclass started last week.  Each week night we can tune in to her program and let one of the greatest teachers teach us. I excitedly awaited each episode with notebook in hand waiting to hear what the latest lesson was going to I made a be and what I could get out of it.  After all, that is what lessons are all about right?  Soaking in what we learn and being able to apply it to our lives. 

The first 2 episodes were about the false power of ego and letting go of anger leading to forgiveness.  How many of us can relate to those?  Something that someone said on that first episode really resonated with me. 

'I don't think anyone can hurt my anymore.  They are only giving me their observation.  I am giving it meaning.'

I can't even say how much this is so me!  I am forever letting other peoples thoughts and opinions affect me in my life.  I have always let these words that spew out of someones mouth dictate how I can going to feel.  I don;t have to like what someone says or even agree with it.  That is there observation.  they are entitled to it just as I am entitled to my own.  When I give meaning to a comment someone says, I am in reality giving them power.  Literally handing them my own power.  I made a promise to myself a long time ago.  I will never let any person have power over me again, ever!  My own lessons learned through having the kind of father I had and living through the childhood I did.  No one was to have that kind of power over me again.  Without even realizing it, I broke my own promise to myself.  Because letting something as insignificant to my own reality as someones opinions get under my skin was just as damaging as letting an over-baring man take away my goodness and innocence.  I have re-made that promise to myself and I am going to do my best to stick to it and not let the words of others bother me again.

This lead to anger and forgiveness.

'Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different.'

I 100% believe that to forgive is for you, not for the person that needs to be forgiven.  Holding on to that anger and hatred for someone or events that took place will never let you move on fully.  To forgive is not saying what happened to you is ok.  To forgive is not giving the person or persons who hurt you off with a slap on the hand.  To be the person who is in a place that you can forgive is saying that you are accepting what happened to you, you know that it can never be changed and you are strong enough to move on and move past it.  It took me awhile to get to a place where I can say I have forgiven.  It doesn't mean that I still don't.  That won;t go away entirely.  But I can say that I have moved on, accepted and don't look back wishing I can change it.
I have forgiven the neighbour who sexually abused me for 3 years.  He took away my innocence, my trust and in place of them gave me many years of self doubt and worthlessness.  By forgiving, I'm not saying it's ok, I'm saying I have moved beyond that point and I'm ok.
I have forgiven my father.  For not being there for me, for turning his back on me when I was at my most vulnerable.  By forgiving him, I'm not saying 'I want you in my life', I'm saying I have moved beyond that point and I don't need that negative influence to succeed in my future.  It still hurts knowing that my own father doesn't love me enough to want me in his life.  That hurts very much.  However, that doesn't define me.  Not anymore.  And I'm ok!

This week, I also learned that you become what you believe.  We need to pay attention to the life that we have right now.  Believe that there is a reason why we are here, now, in this moment. 

'If you can see it or believe it, it is alot easier to achieve it.'

Do you believe that you are worthy of happiness?  I know this can be a tough one for many of us.  Believing that you deserve all of your wildest dreams to come true can seem like wishful thinking, but just knowing that you deserve it is leaps and bounds better then telling yourself it will never happen, not for someone like me.  Because you know what?  I can happen!  To find your true purpose, pay attention to the life that you are leading now.  Know that you are worthy.  You allow  the truth of yourself to express yourself.  If you are a write, whether 15 people or 15 million people read what you wrote, you are a writer. 

'Shadow beliefs are holding you back from the life you deserve.  Escavate and unleash what you really believe.  If its not working for you, change it.' ~ Oprah's Lifeclass

I encourage everyone to tune in to OWN and watch Oprah's Lifeclass.  I promise that there will be at least on episode that you will be able to match to your own life and allow it to have an everlasting impact.  From what I understand, Fridays episodes that they are calling Joy Uprising will be just that.  She will go back and reminisce over previous guests and what moments really and truly were cause for a joy uprising!  For sure a feel good hour, bringing a familiar tear of gladness and joy.  I mean, honestly, just seeing my Lady O back on tv everyday is enough to bring a woot woot of joy and hours upon hours of the happy dance around my apartment.  But even more then that, to again learn from one of my most trusted teachers of life, I am inspired, in awe and in appreciation once again.  Yeah, I'm kind of a fan if you didn't know yet!

Hope you all enjoyed my latest thoughts.  Thanks for tuning in again guys and gals!

Misty

xo

                                                                                                                                      

Thanksgiving Time!

Thanksgiving is upon us again.  Gathering with loved ones, feasting on a delicious meal and giving thanks for the many wonderful things we have in our lives. 

For the obvious choices, I am thankful for my friends and family who continuously show me love and accept me for me, no matter what I say, do or look like.
I'm thankful for having a plan and working at getting what I want.  I'm thankful for finally knowing I am worth it, that I matter too.  I'm thankful for realizing that a baby is what I ultimately desire and having the gumption to go out there and get it, no matter what.  I'm thankful that my wants will not diminish or waiver even if others may look down upon me for how I plan to go about doing this.  Getting myself healthy and fit to prepare my body for IVF is nothing tom be ashamed of.  Personally, I think its brave for a woman to go out and get what she wants, not letting the fact that she is doing it alone stop her.  Kudos to her, and kudos to me!

On a smaller scale, the little things to be thankful for are just as important.  And because we all have those moments where we complain, we all know that some little things can also be a pain in our asses and something to not be so thankful for.

I'm thankful for rainbows, the smell outside after it rains, Alanna's giggles, the way I feel when I hear, 'I love you Auntie Misty', Mama's cooking, retail therapy, for my mom being the only parent I need, kitty kisses on my nose before I even open my eyes in the morning, Spumante Bambino, my blackberry, chocolate, my blog and the people who read it....and comment on it, OPRAH, reading a great book, being smiled at, sleeping in and having a lazy day, Starbucks Soy Pumpkin Spiced Latte, PETA,  hot bubble baths, flush toilets when camping, people who volunteer, coffee, being surprised at work with a bouquet of flowers,  flip flops, cool autumn breeze, my ipod, music that motivates me.

Okay, now the things that I am not so thankful for that I know I'm not alone in thinking.  I'm not thankful for foods that are bad for me, hangovers, flights costing so much money, having to work 2 jobs, dentist bills,  skinny bitches who act like skinny bitches,  turning on the radio just as my fav song is ending, feeling depressed, swollen ankles, stress, being alone on a holiday, apartment buildings, whole wheat bread, farting when sneezing, clowns (enough said here!), crying over commericals, always having to cook for one, heavy metal music, hairballs.

I wish you all a wonderful long weekend spent with your loved one.  If you are spending this holiday alone like moi, don't frett!  Enjoy it all the same. Make yourself a yummy meal, have a glass or two of wine, sit back and watch a good movie or read a great book.  Know that you aren't truly alone.  You ahve people in your life who love you and would be lost without you.

Take it easy gang!  Until next time...

Misty
xo

Dear Friend,

How are you?  I hope these last few weeks are finding you in good spirits.  So sorry I have been incommunicado lately.  It feels as though time has been slipping by.  Just by blinking, it is already October.  I'm not sure about you, but I am asking myself where the hell this year has gone. 
How's work going?  Did you get that raise you were hoping for?  If you did, good job!  You deserve it!  If not, don't give up.  Keep fighting the good fight.  You have earned it so don't let a few set backs stop you from reaching your goals. 
As you know, I have set some goals for myself this year.  A few I have reached, some I am still striving towards.  Work is good.  I have 2 new opportunities infront of me.  I am hopeful that one of them will pan out and full time status will be mine!I feel like I have earned it and whatever this new opportunity brings it will be something that I can succeed at and show the powers that be that I am even more valuable to have around then they already think.
I'm still trying to get myself on track with this exercise thing.  I have done great this past week, however,  a combination of doing the treadmill everyday and the damp cold weather has knocked my knee out of commission.  I'm not surprised, but hoping that it gets better in a day or so.  When I get on the treadmill and crank up the tunes, I feel so amazing!! You know how Katy Perry's song Firework is a fav of mine...well.....that seems to be my go to song at the moment.  So much so that I end up replaying it 5 times for my entire workout.  Whatever gets the job done right? Hahahaha  I printed out the lyrics of the song and now have it posted on my vision board.  Did I tell you about that?  You know the vision boards that Oprah was talking about, well I made a big one and put it above my treadmill so as I am huffin and puffin I have something to look at that reminds me why I'm doing all that sweating!  So the words that I am finding most inspirational I have infront of me and proudly sing at the top of my lungs.....funny sight to see I'm aware but it feels awesome!
We can achieve what we set our minds to my friend.  I know obstacles are put in our way but just as easily as they are placed, we can kick them out of the way.  It may be a little more difficult, but the reward and feeling after you do is so worth it!  I'm not gonna say that I enjoy the hardships but I do believe that each and every one of them has made me stronger.  What do you think?  I know this last year hasn't been overly nice to you either.  I pray that you are staying firm in knowing that you are an amazing human being.  You are intelligent and caring and have a beautiful spirit. Just knowing you and having you apart of my life fills my heart with utter happiness!  I'm here for as long as you need me.  Whether to give you some advice, or opinions or just give you that ear to listen and shoulder to cry on.  You make this world a better place to live in. 
I hope in reading this, you know that you are worth it.  And yes before you say it, I know it for myself as well.  We are worth it.  We can achieve it and most importantly we deserve it!

Hope to hear from you soon my wonderful friend.

Yours truly,

Misty
xo