I've been TAGGED by Plo

Ok - so I've been tagged by PLO (who I just adore)! So, here it is...

1. Four Jobs That I've Had:
A seafood department clerk at a grocery store Giant Eagle: (first job)
A telephone answer service operator (second job) - yes, I know, me talking all day - hard to believe!
A daycare owner/provider (last job; hardest job, most rewarding job) - just think about all of those CRAZY parents! NONE of which are reading my blog!!! You know who they are!
A marketer for a funky sandwich shop (current job; most favorite of all of them and there are many more not listed)

2. Four Movies I'd Watch Over and Over
Sound of Music
Field of Dreams
Wizard of Oz
Forest Gump

3. Four Places I've Lived
Ft. Lauderdale (born there)
Pittsburgh (most of my life; until 22)
Roselle (when I first moved to IL)
Huntley (where I live now)

4. Four Fav Foods
Wine - yes it is a food; grapes! DUH
Pizza
Anything w/ Ranch
Chocolate

5. Four People I Email Almost Daily
Lyndsey (my boss)
Book club Gals - at least one of them
that's it on a daily basis! If it were talking on the phone; I'd add Rob, Alec, and Austin

6. Four Places I'd Rather Be
on a cruise ship
on an island
on the beach
floating in a pool of margaritas
(do you see the theme)

7. Four Things I Look Forward To This Year
Winning the LOTTO - BIG
Dancing
Being with my family and friends
Traveling

8. Four Folks I'll Tag
Julie
Kristen
Lisa
Erin

9. I've added one: Four Things I Do Every Day
Drink coffee
Say I love you to someone
Dance
Have gratitude

My own response to my blog from the night before

This is my own response to my blog from last night.

I woke up this morning and read a newsletter that I receive from EFT World Center (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and the gratitude exercise below was listed: (I've seen this before and it always helps me put things into perspective)

I choose to be grateful...
For my huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
For the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing because it means I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means I am alive.
And finally, for too much e-mail because it means I have friends who are thinking of me.
~ Author Unknown

May the day have gentle reminders that your life is abundant
~ Col

Who the Hell Has Time to Blog?

It has been a crazy week for me at work and I haven't had anytime to sit, let alone contemplate anything beyond, I have to pee, I need another cup of coffee, do the kids have clean cloths, do I have clean cloths, what time does the train get in, do I have everything I need before I leave the house, Alec has pictures at WHAT time, and now it is Sunday and I haven't given my little soul any love. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying my work, dabbling in some new things which actually is stretching my creativity and my motivational skills but I feel very drained and my soul is craving some me time.

What is me time; hmmmm, well that all depends on the day, time and my mood. It could be a half hour in the basement, dancing. It could mean sitting with a favorite book (by the way I am reading Pillars of the Earth, only just under 1000 pages; my bookclub gals didn't want to undertake such a large book but I'm going to give it a shot). Okay, so back to what is me time; It could mean sitting with my photos and scrapbooking. It could be sitting with a stack of magazines that I have and doing some old fashion scrapbooking. I've been saving all kinds of magazines and I've been wanting to go back through them and make a collage of different images, articles, and phrases. Why? I just feel like my soul is asking to do it; I also think it is a neat way to see what things you are attracted to. It usually tells a story about ourselves. Basically it simply feels like something I want to do. I have also been wanting to submit a short essay about my experience in the basement. That experience wont find its way here in the blog world until I've submitted it to someone real; have no idea where and how, so if anyone reading has any suggestions as to where I could submit an essay to see if I can get it published, I am open to anything. Well almost anything.

Wow...that was some seriously rambling, but, now that I got all of that off of my chest, I kinda feel better. Whew.

I guess my questions is this: How do we work; be successful at that and find time for all of the other things that we need and love; family, friends, caring for ourselves and caring for our love relationships which in my case is my hubby, Rob. All of those people and things needs our care, attention, love, and patience, including our work. (oh dear, I totally forgot to mention, cleaning the house, laundry, grocery shopping, paying bills, homework, caring for the pets)

I wish I had the answer and I guess in part I think I do, balance. It is just that some days, weeks or even months, balance isn't an option. One element of our lives needs more care, attention and love. For me, I have a few of those HIGH NEED areas right now and balance doesn't seem to be as easily obtained as I would like. I suppose I will take one day at a time, do my best, live with my heart leading the way, and keep my sense of humor; so that when I forgot to wash the boys gym uniforms, pay a bill, pick up milk for breakfast, make that doctors appointment, I will be kind to myself and try to laugh. Seriously, what else can I do? :)

So as I wrap up the day wishing my soul a little more love, I do give many thanks for all that the day has given me; love from the boys (I love spending time with them) time with Rob (thanks for helping me with my presentation), a short but good workout, blogging, some chores got done (I have clean cloths for tomorrow and so does everyone else in the house) and last but not least, this place. I still am wrapping my head around it; the blogging world that is, but I have a feeling I am really going to enjoy my time spent here and so will my soul!

~ Col

I'm in love with Eat Pray Love!

Two words; LOVE IT!

~ I gotta tell ya, at first, I couldn't get into this book. I liked the way she wrote, funny; easy going but I just couldn't get into it. Perhaps reading late at night, just before bed and about halfway through my 2nd glass of red wine (love that time of day) wasn't the best time to be reading this one. Anyway, just about 1/3 way through the book when she was just about all the way through Italy (she is traveling; don't worry you know this from reading the back cover) she wrote about how she arrived in Italy, both physically and emotionally and how she was now leaving Italy both physically and emotionally; and in those few words, that is when it happened, I fell in love with her and the book! Fantastic. Did I say, I loved it? Ok, just want to make sure.

If you don't' know this, again, you can read the back cover: Liz (the author) goes on a spiritually journey to three countries; Italy (eat), India (pray) and Indonesia (love). I loved India the most. As I talked to others who had read the book, and yes they loved it too, it was interesting to see what part/place they liked best. Not everyone loved India as much as I did, in fact, a young co-worker of mine was bored by her travels there. I had not yet read that part and didn't give it much thought. This co-worker of mine just adored Lis's travels and experiences through Italy and Indonesia. After reading it myself, I thought, hmmmm...there it is again, that perspective thing. If we are open to it, we will realize so much not only how we see things but also how others see things. Being open to others' perspective teaches us (or at least me) so much about myself and the those that I share space with, both personally and professionally.

Okay, back to the book. For me, India was such a wonderful journey that I just might have to re-read it. I am having a book club planning meeting with my wonderful group (love those ladies) and I am going to suggest that we read this one. I have so many of the pages folded down to go back and re-read. One of my favorite parts is what she says about her Nephew and God. As I am on my own spiritual journey, that was such a powerful moment for me as I felt like; AHHHHH, yes, this is God; I get it! (and yes, I cried)

L-O-V-E this book for all of the delightful gifts it gave me. I hope you read it, love it, but mostly, I hope that you find eye opening AH-HA moments in it and are inspired by the many wonderful messages that are sprinkled throughout the book.

~ Happy reading
and enjoy the journey,
Col

Just as I am

Today I read an article in Body and Soul Magazine; an article on overcoming shyness. Well, those of you who personally know me, might wonder, "what the hell do you need to overcome shyness for?" Well, you are right; I have no trouble with shyness, however the article did mention a concept that I am going to adopt for myself and apply it in other areas of how I care for myself emotionally as I am the only one who can.

The article advised trying to observe negative self talk or so called short comings (I'm shy, I wish I were more talk-a-tive, I wish I were funny) with a little compassion. "By bringing loving attention to the very moments you wish you were different, you will eventually free yourself to actually be different."

Interesting; don't you think?

I'm constantly saying I wish I were more confident in public speaking (for work), or wish I could be more courageous and dance like I do alone in the basement (hint on that story), or I wish I weren't so talkative and less interrupting when others are talking or I wish I were thinner.

But instead of focusing on those things that I wish I were or weren't, I am going to love myself more compassionately, celebrating the wonderfulness of me, just as I am. (at least for this moment)

Yes, I know; lets get real. We all know, sooner or later, I'll fret over ALL of the areas that I want to improve, things I want to learn and do, fears I want to overcome, but for right now, today, in this very moment, I will just accept me just as I am! Grateful for all that I am.

May you love yourself with compassion and kindness;
having gratitude for yourself as you are.
~ Col

First Time Blog-ing

A new year and a new hobby; blogging.

I am not sure where to start, however, I have some, okay, many random ideas as to how I'd like to see my blogging experience unfold...

• I'd like to recap 2007 and how I've grown through the experiences that I had; of course I may need a box of tissue and a bottle of wine to do it, but in the end my soul smiles and feels gratitude and mostly has expanded (how wonderful)


• What I'd like to see of me in 2008; in short, a more patient person, slow down, remember that I have two ears and only one mouth, be courageous, forgive, provide a wonderful place called home and all that entales for my family (hubby, kids, organization, finances) and mostly love myself and care not only for my soul but also my body as it is the harbor that houses my soul


• Share a beautiful experience that I had alone in my basement a few years ago and how it has shaped how I now see myself and my connection with the Divine / God


• Favorite things; books, music, views on life, spirituality, family (just to name a few)


• I'd like to stretch my legs a bit, get grounded, and try my hand at writing (okay, blogging) ~ first I must tell you, I can't spell! Don't hold it against me. Also, I can ramble.

As you can see, I am quite enthusiastic in my hopes for blogging.

As I am not a shy person, I hope that I will be brave in my blogging as I normally am in my speech during conversations with just about anyone (and yes, I mean anyone). This blogging however, seems so permanent - on paper (worse, the web) for everyone to see, read, digest, regurgitate, and yes, finally I get to the root of my issue JUDGE.

Here is where my inner dialogue kicks into high gear and might ask, Why do you think, ANYONE will be interested enough to read let alone JUDGE? (ha)

To that I say, "HMMMM.....good question."

Well, here is where I shall stop for today but not before I leave this place with my gratitude for all that today has given me...

...a new day, wonderful time with Rob this morning before getting out of bed, coffee, reading the paper, reading Eat Pray Love with more coffee in my chair with my old afghan from my childhood, a healthy lunch, some task work w/ Rob, Dream Girls, playing cards w/ Alec, a workout on my new treadmill, a nice bath, a lovely dinner from my Rachel Rae cookbook that Austin bought for me, (Anthony's Pic), email from my friend Lisa, a new hobby, cards with the family, more blogging, and soon to be more reading and off to bed.

I have so much ~ thank you