Hello 2012

Happy New Year to one and all.  I wish everyone an amazing 2012 full of joy and realized dreams!!!

I know many of us have sat and pondered over another year that has yet again flown by.  We have reached some goals and even made some strides in our lives to be successful and truly happy.  We also have had heartbreak, let downs and disappointments. 

For me, last year most definitely had its ups and downs.  I had some great accomplishments, learned more about myself, let myself down, broke promises that I made to myself and laughed and cried along the way.  I had some career wins that are about to open up some new doors for me.  I was able to watch my beautiful niece grow up another year, watching her experience new things, see how incredibly intelligent she is for such a little girl and build the bond with her that I moved back here to build.

Once we reflect on the year behind us, we can then focus on the year ahead.  We have another 365 days to make things happen, be happy and do the things in life that we have want to do. 
I know the areas where I succeeded and failed in.  I know what worked, what didn't and what deserves another shot.  It's all about second chances, knowing where you can test the waters again on something perhaps or going back to the drawing board to start over. 

My hope is that 2012 will be a year that gives me more joy and happiness then grief and disappointment.  Sadly, no one comes with a manual written about their life.  So we are put to the test.  We are challenged everyday with making the right choice, going here and there.  Hoping that the decisions we make will guide us to the outcome we desire. 

I've already made some decisions for the year ahead.  I have started to lay down a path to new roads and of course new obstacles that I will have to hurdle over to get to the path that I want to take.  I am up for the challenge.  I am excited to take on a new journey.  I think when areas of your life become clear, that allows some of the fogginess to lift and you can see just a little bit farther down the line.  You obviously can't see the whole road, but little by little, things make sense and with each clear step you take, it gives you solid footing.  That confidence and comfort helps you in the times where you may question yourself.  Do I go left or right?  Do I take a step back or do I keep going straight ahead?  You go on faith, believing that you are making the best choice for yourself in that moment.

There is always talk about New Years resolutions.  Some people make them, others don't feel the need to put any expectations on themselves.  I have usually been one to make a resolution and never stick to it.  Most years, it had to do with losing weight, getting healthy, being happy.  This year, I have resolved myself to this....

One can’t flourish and grow with negativity and hatred surrounding them. Time to stop accepting blame others put on me. I will not carry someone elses burdens on my shoulders, allowing it to overpower me. I will no longer accept the false judgements anymore. I will not accept the excuses of others’ lack of respect towards me. Because I deserve more! 

Time to kick some ass and start taking names.  Like my Lady O and Ms Maya say, 'When you know better, you do better'.  I do know better this year and I am going to strive to do better.  I am going to strive for greatness because I have that within me.  I have that strength inside of me.  The power of being a survivor is a magnificent thing and I don't want to squander that anymore.

So here is to 2012 being everything that we want it to be and more.  I wish you blessings and happiness!!!

Much love,

Misty
xo

Quotes

Do one thing you think you cannot do.  Fail at it.  Try again.  Do better the second time.  The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire.  This is your moment.  Own it.  ~Oprah

I'm not sure about anyone else but I find a sense of comfort in quotes.  They inspire me.  They uplift me.  I find it soothing to my soul when I come across the words of others that reflect my own spirit.  Following in the footsteps of my Lady O, I have a quote book.  I went to the bookstore and picked up a journal and have started writing down all of my favourite quotes.  I have some poems and songs in there too that inspire me.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.  ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Storms make oak trees take root.  ~Proverb

The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.  ~Maya Angelou

 I love how they make you think.  Sometimes, they make you want to be a better person.  To live a fuller life, a happier life.  Other times, they can hit a personal nerve that has you wiping a tear away but wanting to keep reading more.  So, on that note, I want top share more of what is inspiring me right now.  I would love to hear from you what quotes move you.  Share them with me!!

I don't think it's possible for people to hurt me anymore.  They are only giving me their observations, I am giving it meaning. 

Breathe.  Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.

I say the universe speaks to us, always first in whispers.  And a whisper in your life usually feels like 'Hmm, that's odd' or 'Hmm, that doesn't make any sense', or "Hmm, is that right'?  It's that subtle.  And if you don't pay attention to the whisper, it gets louder and louder and louder.  I say it's like getting thumped upside the head.  If you don't pay attention to that like getting a brick upside your head.  You don't pay attention to that, the brick wall falls down.  ~Oprah

Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.  ~Nelson Mandella

We delight in the beauty in the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.  ~Maya Angelou

Stop trying to fit in when you were born to stand out.

When you want something you've never had you have to do something you've never done.

There is a crack in everything.  That's how the light gets in.  ~Leonard Cohen

You can accept or reject the way you are treated by other people, but until you heal the wounds of your past, you will continue to bleed.  You can bandage the bleeding with food, with alcohol, with drugs, with work, with cigarettes, with sex, but eventually, it will all ooze through and stain your life.  You must find the strength to open the wounds, stick your hands inside, pull out the core of the pain that is holding you in your past, the memories and make peace with them.  ~Iyanla Vanzant

Enjoy these.  Just a few of my favs.  Hope one of them touches you the way they touch me.

Until next time ladies and gents....take it easy.

Misty
xo

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