Discover Your Bliss

Want something new? Do something different

This morning when I went out for my bike ride, I did something different. 

Instead of turning right on the bike path and heading for the ocean, I turned left.  Why?  Because I'd never turned left before and wanted to find out where that bike path led. 

By heading east, I saw a completely different terrain and fewer people (which I enjoy on my morning ride).

I also discovered something else - the bike path heading east is closed for construction and won't be open until 2011.  The chain link fence had been removed from its frame where the signed warned not to go.  I had a brief moment of "ah, what the heck" then turned my bike around to head back to the main road.

I also explored a path that I cross on my way to my usual bike trail - I always wanted to find out where it led - straight to a "end of bike path" sign. 

You might think I felt discouraged after these encounters, yet I didn't.  What I did feel was a sense of adventure having had a few of my questions answered. 

How can you view any challenges as adventure?  What would it look like to embrace the day with a sense of adventure? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Rest in peace, washing machine

It finally happened.  My mom's washing machine passed and I had the good fortune of being home during the whole ordeal. 

The washing machine (we'll call number two) had an exciting personality that had the capacity to load mini, medium, large and extra large loads. 

We first started to notice something was wrong with number two when she often didn't like to stay put during her spin cycle.  She'd wiggle a bit to the left and then to the right - yet never made that big of a leap. 

It was the last two years that her illness took a turn for the worse - she just couldn't keep it together during the spin cycle and often times would throw a hissy fit for attention.  We'd rush to her side, open up her lid, re-situate the items and hope that was enough to appease her. 

Sometimes a single readjustment didn't do and she'd throw multiple fits in a single load.  Number two wasn't her old self and didn't have the quality of life that an average washing machine had. 

Sure, she was getting up in years, yet number two wasn't close in age to number one (my mom's harvest gold washer that lasted 20 plus years).  Number two was only 15 years old. 

When my dad discovered that a simple belt replacement was not the issue, he hung his head and mumbled that her transmission was shot and that she'd gone onto to see number one. 

We'll miss you number two.  I'll miss the times talking to my mom on the phone and hearing you throw your fits.  You had a good life and we appreciate the cleanliness you gave to our home. 

How can you find the humor in a somewhat normal circumstance?  How does humor add to your quality of life? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

Fabulous Fearless Female: Carrie Bradshaw

"The most important thing in life is your family...Sometimes it's the family you're born into, and sometimes it's the one you make for yourself."  Carrie Bradshaw

How to stop procrastinating

Here's a quick tip to get yourself out of the rut of procrastination and into the world of getting stuff done.

Change one thing in your environment. 

Sometimes shifts occur because we begin to see things differently.  Staying stuck in procrastination can stem from seeing everything as the same - day in and day out and not seeing a new glimmer of light. 

So what do I mean by "change on thing in your environment?"  Move your table to a bright and sunny window, add fresh flowers to your desk, donate that stack of magazines by your back door - it only takes one "thing" or step to get the ball rolling. 

I'm in the middle of some major environmental changes and I've noticed that these shifts have given me a new perspective on some of my stuff - prompting me to take action (which is such a wonderful and freeing feeling). 

Remember - you don't have to do something "big" or rearrange your living room (unless that's what you want).  Start small and eventually those shifts will spark your "get up and go" instead of treading water in Stucksville. 

What's one thing you will change in your environment today?  How will you determine what will move or change? 

I'd love to hear your comments and insights. 

How to unlist your phone number from the internet

If you want your phone number and information to "disappear" from both on and off line, then make sure your land line is officially "unlisted," then contact each of the data vendors or sites listed below and follow its opt-out instructions:

• Acxiom:  acxiom.com/general-consumer-opt-out or call 877.774.2094
• AnyWho:  anywho.com/help/privacy_list.html
• Google:  google.com/help/pbremoval.html
• Switchboard:  switchboard.intelius.com/optout.php
• WhitePages.com:  whitepages.com/cust_serv/removal_form

What are the pros and cons of being unlisted?  How does it serve you to be unlisted?

I'd love to hear your comments and insights.

Fabulous Fearless Female: Madonna

"It's better not to expect approval from people, because you'll just be disappointed.  You have to be who you are."  Madonna

Feng Shui remedy - my cool red door

Just so everyone knows - not everyone needs a red door.  I just happen to get the "green light" for my red door via my classical Feng Shui Consultant - P.K. Odle. 

Besides giving me a list of "remedies" for my apartment - P.K. also gave me some cool suggestions - like painting the design on my door red - instead of the whole thing. 

P.K.'s suggestion of just painting the design is classy and interesting - and another way to bring fire colors to this area of my apartment.  I'll give more detail of my consultation in future posts, yet I couldn't wait to share how cool my door looks.

If you'd like more information on Feng Shui the P.K. way you can click here to be directed to her web page and read all the cool details of her consultations and how Feng Shui can support a person's life. 

It's not Chinese interior design - it's like acupuncture for your home. 

How does shifting your normal way of doing something change your perspective?  What's something that you do that's routine that can use come creativity?

I'd love to hear your comments and insights. 

How to save time and money painting

I love to paint.  It doesn't matter what I'm painting - a door, a wall, my toes - I simply love to paint. 

Since I'm in the middle of painting various parts of my apartment, I thought I'd give you a few painting tips that will save you time and money. 

• when opening a paint can for the first time (and before pouring the paint into the paint tray), use an ice pick and a hammer to punch at least four holes in the bottom of the paint can canal (it's where the lid dips down and fits into); this will allow paint to drain back into your can after you've poured it

 

• after you've poured your paint into your paint pan, use your brush to clean up the paint from the outside of the can - this way paint isn't wasted

• if you need to take a break or are done for the day - don't clean up your brushes, roller or pan (unless they're so messy that it's making a mess when you paint) - use plastic wrap (I always double wrap) to seal the brush, roller and pan -then put everything in the refrigerator - this will slow the drying process and you'll be ready to go the next day (only do this if you plan to paint the next day)
• line your paint pan with foil or a pan liner so pan clean up is a snap
• if you get oil based paint where you don't want it, then get a cotton swab and dip it in mineral spirits and use that end to clean the area, then use the dry end to finish

Hopefully, I've shared a few helpful tips that might save you time and money the next time you decide to paint. 

How does learning helpful "tips" support your process?  What can you learn from another whom you admire?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

Things are shifting, change is coming

Just a brief update in my life. 

Things are shifting which can only mean that change is coming.

I recently had a feng shui consultation for my apartment and have been given a list of "remedies" so that my living space will supports my life.  Some of the remedies are simple and some are more involved (more on my feng shui experience in future posts - plus pictures). 

In addition to the feng shui, I've also been cleared to re-do my apartment building's garden areas (which is so cool because it needs it).  I worked on a section last night and will continue to inch my way to garden zen (more on my before and after photos in future posts as well). 

I've been busy, busy, busy getting tasks, projects and loose ends complete so I will be ready for my positive change as it comes.  I know amazing things are in store for me.

All of this leads me to ask:  Where do you want to change and what can you do to get it? Just remember to take baby steps to support your transition.  Change often occurs at warp speed, so don't be surprised if you get a whirl wind of positive response when you make changes to your life. 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

How to protect your email address

Do you ever need to plug your email address into a web site to get some information or want to order something and don't want to be put on a mailing list that fills your inbox with useless spam? 

One solution is a temporary email address that allows you to receive messages for 15 minutes and send them for 60 minutes.  After that - then the email simply disappears. 

Enter - Guerrillamail.com - disposable temporary email address. 

What a cool and blissful idea - navigate the ins and outs of the world wide web and reduce the amount of spam you receive as a result. 

What would you consider spam in your life?  How do you create spam filters in your own life? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.