OWN Tea Party

I know I am so late in getting these posts out but as most of you know, this last week has been all over the place for me and my family.  Without getting into that (a post to come soon) I want to begin telling my absolutely phenomenal OPRAH - OWN weekend story!!

A few weeks ago I received an email from OWN Canada, inviting me to the Fairmont RYH for a Tea Party with them.  Well, can I just say that after picking my jaw up off the floor and reading the email over multiple times, slowly realizing that it was real, I did the happy dance of all happy dances! I must say, I am becoming quite the expert on the Happy Dance.  Thinking I should put out a youtube clip on the How To's of a Successful Happy Dance!!  Ellen will be calling me in no time!

After rsvp'ing YES, rather quickly might I add, I sat with this piece of knowledge for a little while, wondering, no, wishing, no, dreaming that any of my fellow OWN Ambassadors also received such an email.  I began to reach out to a few of them and before I knew it, we were all rejoicing!! For they were also siting in front of their laptops, ipads, blackberry's, reading the exact same email.  I thought, could this be? Is this really happening? YES was the answer, loud and clear!!
The excitement was already building with Oprah and Lifeclass happening the day after this blessed Tea Party was to take place. This was just the icing on the delicious mouth watering cake...I'm thinking Red Velvet.

So, on Sunday April 15th, 2012, myself, along with some new found friends began our OPRAH - OWN weekend together, embarking on a journey that would forever be cemented into our hearts and minds, imprinting on one another.

Words can't even express just how magnificent the entire day was.  Not only was I about to enjoy a masterfully assembled tea party, trimmed with soothing tea and delectable foods, which by the way, the little puff pastry swans were almost to pretty to eat.  You did notice I said almost right? And I can't forget about the champagne, Oh Lord the champagne!!  Aside from all of that, I was able to meet face to face some of the most caring, loving and extraordinary people I have ever met. Through Twitter I have had the utmost privilege to meet and now be part of the OWN Ambassadors.  It's no lie, no exaggeration when I say that this group of people are the real thing.  Many different backgrounds, different walks of life, all brought together by one common denominator.  Oprah and our love and support of OWN.

During tea, we were able to meet so many intriguing people. Each person from the OWN Canada girls, Corus Entertainment folks, fellow bloggers, Fairmont RYH staff and everyone in between made this twinkle in time one that I shall remember for the rest of my days.  It was a true moment, one that my heart will always hold on to. A few times, it was brought to my attention that I was pretty quiet during the afternoon.  It's because there was so much to experience, so much to feel.  My cup runneth over, and it still does for being included in a day that will now go down in OPRAH - OWN history.  And I was part of it!

With still many of my fellow OWN Ambassadors that we didn't have the opportunity to hug in person, the small group of us there didn't waste anytime coming together and showing the love.  Right from the first moments our eyes recognized each other, I felt such acceptance. It really filled my heart. Thank you for making an already remarkable day, absolutely stupendous!!

What a day it was.  I found myself humming Oh Happy Day for the rest of the evening.  After we began to part for the night, as everyone was exhausted from the days excitement and events, the anticipation for Oprah's Lifeclass was beginning to build.  That very next day, one of my dreams was about to come true.  Something to cross off my Bucket List.  Something that I knew would happen was about to, because that was what my Vision Board had told me.  I was about to see Oprah, live and in person.  Dreams do come true!!

Tune in next time guys and gals.  I will give you my Aha's and each exhilarating moment in between about my experience with Oprah - OWN in Toronto!! Life changing stuff for Authentically Misty!!

Take care lovies!

Misty
xo

I WIN!

Hello gang,

Sorry I’ve been away for so long.  We all have those times where life is busy and hectic and before we know it, two months have up and gone by.  But I’m here now and that is all that really matters!  I hope everyone has had a wonderful start to their 2012!  It has been quite an eye opener for me!  Some great things have manifested within my heart and I can’t wait to share them with you!

Learning of the death of someone who painfully affected my childhood has made me see things so differently.  I have strived to have that sense of power and control, for happiness and fulfillment for so long.  When I thought I had it, something would happen and I would be sadly shown that I was wrong.  But now, I can really feel it inside me.  I know that it is not  at full force, but I can physically feel something is there and it’s growing.  Although I still sense doubt at times within my soul about what I can and what I can’t do, I am starting to feel empowered, thinking, I just might be able to do.  I outlived someone who has never really left my thoughts or my nightmares, who I thought would be there to haunt me until the day I died.  But no.  I beat him!  I beat him! I beat him!

My  self-doubt has in a way been my comfort zone.  When something scares me, I can so easily retreat back within myself, locking me up good and tight until the coast seems clear enough for me to reach out ever so slowly and let me toes test the water again.  Who wants to live like that? That’s not a way to live your life.  I know this, but as we all have felt in the past, knowing and doing are two completely different things.  I know that I need to love myself.  I know that I need to not eat that piece of chocolate.  I know that I need to be healthy, work out and be active.  I know all of this. 

The biggest A-Ha moment for me this year so far is that I paint myself with the wrong brush.  Two brushes to be exact.   This was something that came up when my mother and I were having a chat. And it is so true!  It clicked as soon as she said it.  When it comes to my career and getting to be where I deserve, going for what I want and taking risks, I’ll do it.  No holds barred.  I work hard, I have been given some wonderful opportunities lately and I am grateful for them.  I know that I can do an amazing job and I will do whatever it takes to get in the position I want.  My brush is strong, fierce  and paints beautiful colors from top to bottom of the person I am when I step into the doors of my office.   When it comes to my personal life? I must have unconsciously put away that strong handled, assertive brush with all the pretty colors and replace it for a soft, flimsy, old tired brush with nothing but blacks and whites to paint myself in.  Why can’t I use the same vibrant colors in my work life in my personal life? It’s like I’m two different people.  Well, it’s simple.  I didn’t love myself.  I tried so hard, I really did.  But I still carried around the shame and disgust with myself that I did when I was 8 years old.  Even after forgiving him for what he did, I still held on to the blame that a child puts on themselves when they are violated.  When I heard the news that this man had died, I literally felt an enormous weight life off my shoulders.  It felt like I was holding my breath, gasping for air and all of a sudden I could breath in the most luxurious breathe of my life.  That breath changed my thinking almost instantly.

 We all have read books written by some amazing people  and heard Oprah talk about loving yourself.  We all are quick to think, ‘Do I love me?’ only to answer with an easy, off the shoulder, ‘Of course I do’.  But do you really?  Do you really love yourself through your successes and failures?  It can be tough can’t it?  At least it was me.  Now, I am loving all of the gorgeous colors I’m seeing.  Even some colors I have never seen before are appearing, and its fabulous!!

Too much time has passed where I have let others interfere with my journey.  I want to be more than happy.  Happy isn’t even good enough.  I want to be satisfied.  I want to feel satisfaction and fulfillment when I look at myself in the mirror!  The days of cursing myself out while I looked at my reflection in the mirror are gone.  I know I deserve more and now I really feel like it’s happening.  It’s been a struggle and I still am on my journey but I am so pleased that I have this chance to pick up and keep right on going!  I’m very lucky.

My wonderful and amazing friend Sabrina who happens to be one of my oldest friends, wants us to do a 5K walk/run.  At first, I instinctively was against it.  Remember, running the other way in the face of fear…right here, that’s was me!! But after I relaxed myself and really thought about it, I think that this is something I could really do.  Obviously I would walk it.  I am so far from being healthy that walking would be my only option.  But, who cares.  At least I would do it right?  I think I just might say YES!

I recently watch an episode of Oprah’s Next Chapter where she was with Tony Robbins.  One of the segments was Tony and his entire audience, walking over to a parking lot to do a fire walk over some red hot coals.  Crazy right?  Yah, but absolutely amazing!!  Of course our Lady O did it and I can only imagine the freedom she felt when she did it!  I have now added Fire Walking to my Bucket List! 

…..fire walking is a metaphor for overcoming fear.  Tweeted to me be Oprah herself.  LOL I was tickled pink, let me tell you!!

On to new and brighter things my friends!  I hope you will join me on truly living a life that portrays the authentic you!  We can do this together.  Sometimes it’s just knowing that others are there to steady you when you wobble that makes all the difference in the world.  If you need it, I can be that person for you.  We know it’s never easy, what fun would that be? Achieving peace and finally reaching the true you inside is the journey.  Along the way there are hurdles big and small, scary obstacles and maybe a treacherous path but with each battle you win, you gain another ounce of strength to keep moving you forward.  Let’s do this! 

Until we meet again, do something with me.  Instead of automatically jumping to the negative in whatever situation you are faced with.  Stop, breathe.  And before going down the dark path, just think of the positive light that could come of it.  You just never know!

Thanks guys and gals,

Take it easy!

Misty

xo

My Bucket List

I know alot of you out there have your own bucket list but I thought I'd share mine.......cause, well...it's my blog. hahaha

This is the bucket list today. I like to think of it as an open ended bucket list because all of these items on here are my dreams. Of things I want to accomplish, of people I'd love to meet, of things I want. So having an open ended list only makes sense because I won't stop dreaming, I won't stop wanting. My bucket list is free to grow and grow. The more I am able to cross off, the more I want to add. If any of you don't have a bucket list, I would encourage you to make one. To see your hopes and dreams right there down on paper is exciting. To be able to cross something off is fulfilling.

All of these are in random order...except for the first one. For those of you who know me know that I absolutely 100% adore this person and would feel in complete awe in her presence.

*Meet Oprah and have a heart to heart with her. I have grown up watching The Oprah Show. She has been apart of my Monday to Friday afternoon for so long now I honestly can't remember when she wasn't there. Her wisdom, infinite giving heart and inspiration has resonated with me and made such deep and meaningful impacts I will cherish them and hold them close to my heart forever and always.

*See a Broadway show in NYC

*Surf in Hawaii

*Build a Habitat for Humanity home

*Learn how to knit/crochet - Completed January 2010 - Crocheted a baby blanket for my best friends little girl.

*Find a four leaf clover

*Be part of a flash mob

*Run in a marathon

*Learn to play the guitar

*Open Animal Rescue house out in the country. Ever since I was a little girl watching those Humane Society shows on TV, I have had this deep desire to provide a safe and loving home for animals that have been abandoned or mistreated. A home with a full staff of professionals taking care of these animals in need. giving them food, a warm place to sleep and most of all love.

*Learn to drive - get my license

*Have a baby

*Go to Paris - visit the Louvre and the Mona Lisa, enjoy a french baguette sitting under the Eiffel Tower

*Swim with dolphins

*Write a book

*Watch a space shuttle launch live and in person

*Take a self defense class - Completed August 2008

*See the Great Wall of China

*Learn to speak Italian and travel to Italy. It's Italy, enough said!

*Get hair braided on the beaches of the DR

*Own my own scrap booking/crafty gifts business

*Go bungee jumping

*Go Sky diving

*Get a college degree

*Travel to a 3rd world country and help build a school

*Meet my grandchildren

*Attend the Olympics

*Volunteer in a soup kitchen - Completed September 2008 and many times since.

*Participate in a protest

*Learn how to Rollerblade

*Go on a whale watching adventure with mom

*Send a message in a bottle. How great would it be to send a piece of wisdom or inspiration to an unknown someone. A piece of myself, a memory of myself.

*Spend a New Year's at Times Square

*Be on a reality TV show

*Have a library named after me

* Plant a tree with my niece - so she may learn the beauty, life and energy a tree gives.

*Do the CN Tower Stair Climb

*Teach English in a foreign country

*Teach someone illiterate how to read

*Go to Africa on an animal safari and see giraffe's in their natural habitat

*Own a ridiculously expensive but absolutely fabulous pair of Jimmy Choo's, Manolo Blanhniks or Christian Louboutins.

*Go up in a hot air balloon

*Meet Maya Angelou

*Reach my weight loss goal

*Jump off Sky Tower in Ackland New Zealand. Saw this on the Biggest Loser and immediately knew that I had to do this!

*Walk the outside of the CN Tower

I hope I have started you guys in thinking about the things that you want. Like I said, you can always add to your Bucket List. It is ever growing, ever evolving. Remember, when you dream, dream big!

Have a great night folks!

Misty

xo