Discover Your Bliss

Eat Ice Cream - Help Firefighters

Wouldn't it be cool to help firefighters by eating ice cream?

You can do just that today - April 30th from 5pm-10pm. 

Visit a participating Baskin-Robbins for 31 Cent Scoop Night to support firefighters. 

Baskin-Robbins will be donating $100,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. 

At some Baskin-Robbins, you will have the opportunity to donate to your local fire station. 

Go Baskin-Robbins for supporting such a great cause.

How does your energy shift when giving is fun?  What ways can you make giving to others fun? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries!

Free Cone Day from Ben & Jerry's

Happy April 29th! 

Celebrate this April 29th in style.  What's so special about April 29th - you might ask?  Two fun and exciting things.

April 29th marks my grandma's 88th birthday!  Go grandma - go grandma! 

At 88 she's doing great - taking care of herself (and others).  She still drives, pays her own bills, has an active social calendar and has a better memory than anyone I know. 

Last year she she told me that she was worried that her memory was fading.  She could remember the name of her current foot doctor and her first foot doctor, yet she couldn't remember the name of the one in the middle.  About a minute later, she not only remembered the doctor's name, she also recited his address, phone number and the names of the doctors on either side of his office.  Now, that's a memory. 

April 29th also marks "Free Cone Day" from Ben & Jerry's.  To find out if there's a participating store near you, click here.   

How will you celebrate April 29th?  What would it look like to celebrate each day as if it were the most important holiday? 

I'd love to hear you comments and discoveries!

LA Times Festival of Books - Lisa Yee

Every year I can't wait for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and the wonderful panel sessions (that are FREE!). 

I love going to the Young Adult/Tween/Writing for Children sessions (always entertaining and snore factor free). 

One of the more entertaining authors - Lisa Yee - kept us laughing with her enthusiasm, challenges and humor. 

I love it when someone is living their purpose.  It oozes out of his/her pores (it won't stain the carpet) and floods the room with energy (no, this isn't covered in your home owner's insurance, yet I don't think you'll mind the "mess"). 

Besides checking out one of Lisa's books - So Totally Emily Ebers, Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time or Millicent Min, Girl Genius - you might also want to check out her blog.  It's pretty darn entertaining and her use of mini stuffed animals borders on genius.

How does seeing another person live his/her purpose inspire you?  What would it look like to walk through each day knowing that everything you do is your purpose?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries! 

TLC & Magic

During the eight years I've lived at my apartment, I've never seen a particular plant bloom. 

I didn't know if it could bloom or what it would take for the plant to bloom. 

One day, I decided to pull some dead leaves off of the plant.  A week later, I did the same. 

My care for the plant continued until one day I saw something exciting - a bud.

Every few days, I walked by the plant to see if the bud decided to bloom.

Slowly but surely, the bud opened - then another and another.

Now, the plant is in full bloom.  It's almost magical what happened from a little TLC.

What might need a little TLC in your life?  How could one small step get your closer to peace and joy?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

The Story of Stuff

Want to raise your "stuff" awareness? 

Watch - The Story of Stuff.

It's a bit long, yet I found the presentation and information packed into this video to be both informative and entertaining. 

How do you determine what information is of value to you?  What "stuff" are you willing to re-evaluate in your own life?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

Are You Too Happy?

Someone said to me recently, "You're too happy."

Is it possible to be too happy? 

After some contemplation, I have come to the conclusion that, yes, it is possible to be too happy. 

How can this be?  Well, I believe a person can only go so far on the level of "happy" before he/she moves into the level of pure joy. 

Instead of becoming offended when the man told me that I was too happy, I embraced it as a compliment and noted it as an indication that I officially entered into the world of joy. 

If you're too happy, then you might be swimming in joy.

How can you view another person's "put down" or comment as a compliment?  What would it look like to discover the hidden compliments in everyday conversation?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

 

Want to Make Stress & Worry Disappear?

Yesterday, I played "tour guide" for two of my friends. 

We only had one item on our itinerary that required a specified time, so I planned our day around that event.

Instead of driving directly to that event, we inched closer and closer via my "map of fun." 

When I checked the time, I realized we were ahead of schedule and all worry and stress melted away. 

We arrived an hour before our "call time" and this gifted us the pleasure of leisure when it came to parking. 

Through a group effort, I parallel parked my car under a tree not far from our event.  The peace and calm of the gift of time surrounded us.

Our early arrival alloted us enough time to stand in line (a very long line) to use the restroom prior to the event and sit in the shade before any action began. 

Want to make stress and worry disappear?  Give yourself the gift of time and remind yourself to breathe in the present moment.  This powerful combo can make all the difference in the world when it comes to how you feel and think.

How can giving yourself the gift of time support you?  What would it look like to pause, breathe in the present moment and savor your task at hand?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries!

Humor in Death

It's refreshing to know that some people can have a sense of humor when it comes to death. 

I recently visited the Westwood Memorial Cemetery and found evidence to support the idea that some people can still be funny - even when they're gone.

Rodney Dangerfield - There goes the neighborhood

 

Merv Griffin - I will Not be right back after this message

Sit down and have a chat with Sandra & Lew

I love the "lightness" and it makes me smile.

How can humor support you?  What would it look like to discover the joy or humor in an area that is usually serious?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries!

Tuesday Quote to Ponder

"If you risk nothing, then you risk everything."  - actress Geena Davis

Earth Day - Are You Ready?

Tomorrow - April 22nd is Earth Day.  Are you ready?

I see Earth Day much like I see Christmas or Birthdays.  Yes, it is important to have a specific day for the celebration AND it is important to remember that every day can be Earth Day.

When I think about the "spirit of Christmas" or the well wishes a person receives on his/her birthday, it is also important to remember that there are 364 days of the year that are just as valid.

Yes, if it is someone's birthday - there is a celebration - however - my hope is that this isn't the only day that person receives love and attention.

So back to Earth Day - yes, it is important to celebrate the day by bringing attention and awareness to the betterment of the earth AND it is also vital to carry the "spirit" of Earth Day with you throughout the rest of the year. 

I'm not here to lecture, I'm speaking from my "green spirit" of mother earth to acknowledge the important of celebrating a day and living and practicing the rest of the year.

What are your plans for Earth Day?  How can you infuse Earth Day into you every day?

Please know that size does not matter.  The simplicity of pausing to enjoy a flower or breathe in the perfume of a blooming tree can connect you with nature and vibrate that connection to others.

In a future blog posting, I will talk about my commitment to eliminate plastic bottles from my life.  :)

Enjoy the day and celebrate it with joy.

I'd love to hear your comments, plans and discoveries!