Lessons to LIVE by

 1. Life isn’t always fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
6. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
7. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
8. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
9. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
10. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
11. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
13. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
14. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
15. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
16. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
17. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
18. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
19. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
20. Over-prepare, then go with the flow.
21. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
22. The most important sex organ is the brain.
23. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”
25. Always choose life.
26. Forgive everyone everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Believe in miracles.
32. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
33. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.
34. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
35. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
36. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
37. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
38. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
39. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
41. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
42. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
43. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
(not by me..)

photo of the day: day 1

Taking and posting a photo of the day each day for 30 days shouldn't be that hard right? Apparently, it has proven challenging so far for me as here is a picture of the sun setting, pretty much my last chance to get anything worthy of an interesting photograph. But hey, I did it, and it's pretty (for an iPhone shot). You might not know this but I'm up for iPhone photographer of the year. Okay no I'm not, but I do love to throw that out there at least 4 times a day :)

photo of the day: day 1. This is Chinaman's Peak in Canmore. I have been spending quite a bit of time out here lately. I am very contented nestled in amongst the mountains, tracing the sun as it make its way across the open sky, watching fat flakes fall in the shadow of a street lamp from the comfort of indoors, slip sliding up the icy river bed or hanging with my friends, the trees in the forest. It is a lovely, peaceful and serene place to spend my days, though that could have something to do with the company I'm keeping...

Day 1 and I will say it again.. life is good and I'm grateful.

30 day challenge(s)

It would seem as though I like 30 day challenges. To be honest, I don't think I've made it to 30 days before.. but that's besides the point. Well... Okay, okay, I guess setting a 30 day challenge and not making it to 30 days would be considered a fail but that word doesn't exist in my vocabulary. The point of a 30 day challenge is to incorporate something new into my life, try it out, modify if necessary, add, take away and settle it into my way of being if I do so choose.

So, the latest and greatest of 30 day(ish) challenges? I have two ideas... The first is to meditate every day for at least 20 minutes. I love meditating. I have been meditating for a couple of years now, though never regularly. I used to struggle with the idea as it seemed like impossible to get my mind to "turn off". It wasn't until one meditation class that the instructor said a few simple words that changed my whole way of thinking about meditating. She said "don't try to control your thoughts, just observe them". I left that class feeling incredible. I sat for 35 minutes and simply listened. I felt so in touch with my being. Since then I've enjoyed opportunities to listen and learn more about myself when there is nothing else in the way.

I've been doing a lot of reading about spirituality, mindfulness, meditation, peace, etc. lately and I've found some wonderful websites full of insight and wisdom regarding these topics. One particular website talked about 30 days of meditation and that got my wheels turning. So today is day one. Kristian is embarking on the journey with me and is already a seasoned meditator. I'm excited to see the further knowledge and understanding that unfolds. I'll keep you updated..

The second 30 day challenge is a photo challenge. I'm going to post a pic-a-day to see what's going on with life. I definitely fell off the blog wagon for a few weeks so it's one way to start that up again and I love to use my blog as a journal since I can't keep a journal to save my life. So pic one coming up later (by midnight at the latest!).

WOO HOO! Happy day!