Like so many things in life, it's time to bring this blog to an end.

It's been an awesome experience... I'm in a New Phase State of Mind.

With that said, I'll let Carol Burnett bring the curtain down.

I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together

Praying for abundance of Health, Happiness, Love, Peace and Prosperity for all.

God Bless

Today I wanted to share some inspirational quotes.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy day.



Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect, it means you have decided to see beyond the imperfections.

God delights in his children and he loves us simply because we are his.

In the end only three things matter; how much you loved, how gently you lived and how gracefully you let go things not meant for you.

I am not what happened to me.  I am what I choose to become.

The mind is the source of happiness ... and unhappiness.

All that we are is the result of all that we have thought.

What you are is God's gift to you.  What you become is your gift to God.

Wake up every morning with the thought that something wonderful is about to happen.

There is always a way.

Make it simple, but significant.

Always choose the adventure.

What you seek is seeking you.

Don't worry, God is always on time.

Before Jerusalem The Movie  began in the IMAX theater at Ontario Science Centre  (my favourite place in world :), Daniel Ferguson, the Director polled the audience, "How many of you have been to Jerusalem?"  A few hands went up.  His response?  (not verbatim) "I hope after this movie when I ask if you have been to Jerusalem all your hands will go up."

It's been an interesting life so far.
A mixed bag of ups and downs.

I have learned a lot.
I can look back over four decades but I can't see anything beyond this moment.
I will not know what is waiting just outside my door, around the corner until I am facing it.

I know what I want to happen.
Like many others I have plans, goals and dreams.
I intend to achieve them, I just don't know when.

In the meantime, I have the now and all that it can dish out.
I've experienced many rewarding moments.
Moments that remind me to keep going; that God's in my corner.
I've faced many, many disappointments.
Dark moments that try to break me. That test my belief; that God's in my corner.

So what can I take away from the good and bad moments?
That faith can be precarious.
It's easy to find and embrace .. when things go well.

But when there is pain that aches in my heart, sits in the pit of my stomach, fills my eyes with tears and reeks havoc in my mind that is riddled with doubts; faith seems to become elusive.

I don't enjoy pain, defeat or rejection.
I have experienced them nonetheless.
When I'm facing these.
When I don't know what awaits me behind the door or around the corner.
When pain and hurt can be so intense it skews any rational thinking.
That's when I dig deep; and when I find it, I hold on tight,
Because I've got God in my corner ... always.

It was a chance meeting.

Along the aisle in a supermarket.

I flashed her a smile as she walked towards me.
She stopped and asked, "Why are you smiling?"
I answered "Because life is good."
She laughed; and before I knew it, she was telling me about needing peanuts, for the birds she feeds, because they like peanuts. She feeds them. The pigeons often land on her hand allowing her to to stroke their wings. She knows it's because they want the peanuts.  I think they like the warm, kind touch too.  I watch her as she speaks. She reminds me of the lady on Home Alone II who fed the pigeons in Central Park.
She pulls out an almost empty bag of peanuts. The bag that needs to be replenished. I thought she was done as she pointed to the selection of peanuts, but that was only the tip of the peanut shell.  I learned where she was from, where she had lived, people she had met. I learned her name, Anne Marie. She asked me if I knew her heritage. "Scottish" I answered apprehensively. I was right. She said that  all her Italian friends call her Anna Maria.
I sensed that she had so much more to share.
She did.
After several minutes we found a moment of silence, bid each other a great day and headed in separate directions.
Only to find a few minutes later she was heading right for me and began a new conversation. The diseases she once had and the miracles of healing she experienced. She asked, "Do I believe in Saints?" I answered,  "I sure do"
I noticed that she had her container of peanuts, but she wasn't in a hurry to feed the birds. I learned more about her health issues and got advice on the many products I shouldn't buy because they caused cancer, diabetes, and other serious illnesses.
Another brief moment of silence.
I wished her a wonderful day.
She did too, and she continued to walk with me. We talked some more.  Then as quickly as we began our conversation she ended it. She saw a familiar face, called out and rushed to him. He welcomed her and her stories.
I wished her a great day and made my way. She flashed me a smile and wished me a great day too.
I could hear bellowing voice. She wasn't at a loss for things to share.
I continued down the aisle. Her voice was fading.
And just like that, she was gone.
I thought about what her life was like. Did she live alone? Were these conversations her only connection with others. Would she remember me?
I don't know if I will ever see Anne Marie again.
I'll keep an eye out.
Who knows, maybe one of the pigeons she feeds will lead me to her.

She was there for my first breath; my grandmother (aka MammaNonna; I called her MammaNon)

I was one of the lucky ones. My grandparents lived with us. Yes, it was a full and busy household, but it was rich; with family.

Growing up, I spent a lot of time with MammaNon. I hung off her apron strings learning the art of pasta, pizza and sugo (sauce) making. We shared many breakfasts and lunches alone, together. She insisted I have my egg yolk with sugar and marsala every morning and a few sips of red wine at lunch (to put a little colour on my face LOL :D I watched her hands hard at work, gardening, peeling fruits and vegetables, preparing meals, cleaning... I sat with her and watched Lawrence Welk, Johnny Lombardi, Donny & Marie, Jesus of Nazareth, Tiny Talent Time.  She took me to church and on bus trips downtown. She held my hand and kept me close. I became a part of the neighbourhood ladies gatherings and colourful conversations. We laughed, we loved and she shared bits of wisdom at just the right time.

I got older and so did she.

Our bond only got stronger as I married and had children. What a gift. My children would have the honour of knowing their great grandmother!

Then it happened. There were some signs over the years but it wasn't until MammaNon fell and broke her hip that it made its appearance, Alzheimers. Life as she knew and we knew would change. The difference was we remembered and she didn't.

I watched the transformation. This strong woman, both mind and body began to weaken.  MammaNon came to live with me for some time while my mom had surgery. We shared many breakfasts and lunches alone, together. Our conversations hinged on the clarity of her memory. She watched my hands hard at work. We sat watching some of the programs I knew she used to enjoy. I took her on short walks. I held her hand and kept her close.  We laughed, we loved and I told her everyday how much I loved her. When I tucked her in bed at night, she looked at me with her tear filled eyes. If she remembered me, she would tell me how grateful she was that I was caring for her and I would tell her how grateful I was for her.

Eventually the disease stripped MammaNon of any memory. She knew we loved her, but she didn't know who we were. Her body weakened further until she needed hospital care.

Things were deteriorating rapidly. Everyday I visited. She did not speak anymore but I knew she would want to pray. Everyday I helped her make the sign of the cross and she listened to my words. We prayed together.

I was there for her last breath; her grandchild (aka Nipote)...

When I was a child, my parents rented out the basement apartment in our bungalow.

We only ever had one tenant, Molly and her dog Tiger.

I remember it so vividly the evening she arrived. I was in my pajamas dunking chocolate chip cookies in my milk when a knock at the door followed by a bark summoned the whole family to the door. I hid behind my mom to assess the stranger and the dog. Her laughter, loudness and excitable dog quickly drew me out to the front of the group. With cookies still in hand, I tossed a couple to the dog. He gobbled them up and wagged his tail happily. The entire family led her down to her apartment grabbing bags along the way.

Molly and Tiger wouldn't be just tenants. They became family.

I knew because Mom started sending me down to bring Molly a plate of pasta or whatever we had on the menu that night. Molly LOVED Italian food and in a short time, us. We loved her and Tiger back. She rarely kept her door locked, and even when she did, that didn't stop us (the kids that is). The windows were held shut with a single latch that we were able to slide open. We easily slid into the room and made ourselves at home. Why? We loved to hang out with Molly and Tiger.

She would take us for walks to the park,we played for hours, stopping at the Dairy Queen for an ice cream. She took us skating and shopping. She shared her world with us and we did the same. On our birthdays she always gave us $1. That $1 meant more than you can imagine. One year she splurged and bought us each a huge pillow. We kept it in her apartment to sit on when we hung out there.

Molly became a part of every celebration. Communions, school concerts, birthdays, Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. She even helped out with the sauce making. I remember her telling people who visited her that we were 'her kids.' :)

Then the dreaded day arrived, Dad had to ask Molly to leave because we had outgrown the space upstairs. I remember her pleading with dad that she would be happy with even one room; but they both knew it wasn't realistic.

We were heartbroken. My parents were able to find her an apartment with another family member only a few blocks away; but it wasn't the same. We still visited often. Molly would make us Kraft macaroni and cheese which would be quickly intercepted by my grandmother and made into a real Italian meal.

School, jobs and life started to fill our days and before we knew it, Tiger had passed on and Molly moved to another place, further away. We kept in touch by letters, cards and the occasional phone call.

Then the cards stopped. Our letters went unanswered and her phone had been disconnected.

We went to great lengths to find her only to discover that Molly died of cancer. She never told us she had been diagnosed. We all died a little that day.

When I think back, I don't know who needed who more. We were the family Molly didn't have. Molly and Tiger were the family we didn't have. My parents were immigrants still learning the Canadian culture. Molly infused many lessons without us really knowing it. We embraced her as she embraced us.

I still remember that day when I stood at the top of the stairs, chocolate chip cookies in hand...

Ever listen to that voice in your head? I mean really listen to it? It's a never ending one sided conversation that questions, challenges, defends, nags, pretends and convinces. It is relentless. You pay attention; or so you think. Or should I say you're not really thinking. Your mind goes on auto-pilot and plays the same conversations over and over again. Guiding and manipulating. Getting pleasure in taking you where it wants to go.  Its really quite brilliant.  Able to pull points of reference from a storage of memories, skewed by time. It relies on your emotions to support its messages. You go about your day unsuspecting that this voice, these thoughts are steering you...creating your life.

That voice is YOU. Your mind. Your soul.  Your spirit. An untapped, uncontrolled resource that can and WILL create the memorable moments, successes, happiness, health, love...life.  It's not a science. It doesn't require a higher education or some special talent. It's a GOD given gift that is overlooked everyday. Monkey mind is right. It does what it pleases in the confines of your head and it has been shaping your experiences and life.

So stop and listen...very closely. Let it rattle on. Don't give it any inkling that you are on to it. Then without warning take control. Feed it the thoughts YOU want to hear. There will be resistance. Lots of it. But don't worry it will relent. It will listen and before you know it, YOU are shaping every moment.

Stay with it ... and watch as a whole new world opens up to you.

Why is there a tendency to spend a lot of time in the 'if only..." zone?
If only I had done this.
If only I had said that.
So what "if"?
It's only speculation after all.
The "if" creates the ideal scenario; the "would have happened ..." We know very well life isn't a Hollywood movie where we can step back and change the circumstance or action to see how things would turn out.
So we hold onto "if only" and it becomes an anchor wrapped tightly around ankles.
The more we feed the "if only" the heavier the anchor and the harder it is to move forward.

Let go of the "if only."
Grab a hold of the here...now.
That's what is real.
That's where the magic happens.
That's where life is.

Isn't it funny how we spend our lives accumulating stuff? Closets and drawers bulging. Garages filled so much so that cars no longer have a place in them. Rooms filled with furniture and decor. Space savers bought in the hope of saving space...but just taking up space.  We upgrade the size of homes to create more space, shift the stuff and continue stockpiling.  Then it happens.  Life serves the next chapter. Empty nesting and other life changes. The kids have taken what they need and want (within reason) and your faced with a house full of stuff that has no place in a smaller space.  You think it's impossible.  The task seems momentous. Then little by little, items find new homes and before you know it, you have achieved the possible.  As you look around you feel a sense of relief and you wonder...what was it all for?  Everyone has their own explanation. There is no right or wrong answer.

For me, the whole process has been liberating and enlightening.  Things that seemed to have so much importance, really don't.  Things I saved because I absolutely could not part with have little meaning because I can't even remember why I saved it. I rediscover things that I was 'going to use' but no longer have a need. The donating and tossing piles grow at a frightening rate and within a few months, a house full of stuff has been compacted to three rooms filled with neatly piled labeled boxes and select pieces of furniture. The time to move arrives and as all the stuff is shifted into a smaller space I find myself saying, I can get rid of more stuff. Within a few days the new space is filled but not bulging. Everything has a home. And so begins the next chapter with a resolution to keep it simple, cause simple is good and life is good.

His feet hit the hard pavement at a moderate pace.  The grunts of impatience though told him it was not fast enough. He could sense the frustration as they sidestepped and moved past him.  All in a hurry.  At the busy intersection he waits his turn to cross. He glances over to his right, people stare straight ahead; many with earphones. He glances to his left; no one dares meet his glance. The light changes and people move swiftly. He lags behind.  He feels each step; the sun's rays dancing on his face; the breeze tickling his nose. Breathing. His pace slows. A few more people brush by. Side way glances of frustration. Down the stairs to the subway. People filing through and lining the corridor waiting for the train. Waiting. He stands among them. A child holding her mom's hand looks up and catches his glimpse. He smiles. She smiles. The sound of the train approaching catches her attention. The train stops and for a moment the people on the inside of the train face the people on the outside. Expressionless. The doors slide open, people rush out and people rush in. Everyone scrambles for a spot. He steps in just in time. The doors slide shut and the train leaves the station. People stare at their smartphones...or close their eyes...or look out  the window to a dark abyss. No words are spoken. No one dares to meet the stare of another...except the little girl. He smiles. She smiles. He makes a funny face. She laughs. She makes a funny face. He laughs. Mom notices and pulls her child closer. The exchange of smiles ends. The stench of loneliness fills the train. How can that be? So many people. So disconnected. The final stop and he exits the train. As he moves down the corridor he sees a homeless man sitting in the corner with a tattered coffee cup in front of him. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out some change. He drops the coins in the cup...then sits down. The homeless man looks at him suspiciously. He smiles. The homeless man apprehensively smiles back. They sit together for a while. A few words are spoken. They get up and walk outside, sharing stories. After a while, he bids the homeless man farewell. He smiles. The homeless man smiles. The sidewalk is less crowded. He walks at a leisurely pace. The street is jammed with cars. Horns blaring. Cars rushing in and out of lanes. Everyone is in a hurry. The only human exchange is that of inconvenience. He arrives at a coffee shop. He smiles at the server. She calls out 'next'. He sits in the middle of the shop...watching. Some are alone. Others are not. Every table is filled but there is no one. He heads out, holding the door open for a woman with a stroller.  The child looks up and smiles. He smiles back. He continues to walk. A city full of life yet so desolate. He arrives in a park and sits on a park bench. Birds sing. Squirrels race by. A stray dog approaches and sits near him. He gently pats the dogs head. The dog looks up and smiles. He smiles back. Dusk sets in. He rises and begins to walk; the dog follows. His steps take him home and to the end of another day. A day in the life of... Read the rest of this post

I remember way back in my school days, a little exercise my teacher did with the class.  She asked a simple question ... What things would you take if your home was being destroyed by fire or act of nature? There was a catch; you only get to take what you can carry out one time. I immediately scanned my room in my mind.  Things? Hmmm...I panicked because there were so many 'things' on my dresser, in my drawers, in my closet, what about the rest of the house? How could I possibly choose? We had twenty minutes to write down our thoughts. A lot more time then if we were really in the midst of a storm or earthquake or flood. I closed my eyes tight expecting the list to just appear in my mind's eye. Nada. I opened my eyes and stared at  the blank foolscap paper waiting for me to fill in the lines. Such a long piece of paper; the teacher must be expecting a lengthy list. The more I thought the less I had to write down. I didn't get it? I had so many things. Every item was important, so it seemed. My pencil hovered over the paper. I should really put my name in the top corner; and oh yes, the date. Then the sound of the teacher's voice rang through the classroom.  "Pencils down." Was that really twenty minutes? She began to walk up and down the aisles collecting our papers. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest that I could swear the class could hear it.  As she came to my desk I handed her the blank sheet. She looked at it and back at me.  It was the longest minute of my life.  I gulped. Was I about to get my first F? Or worse yet my first detention? As her lips parted, I braced myself for a scolding, but instead I got a great big smile. The look of confusion on my face was met with a whisper "Well done."

It was then the light bulb went on.

Things are just that; things.

When devastation hits, those things that seemingly have importance and are things we can't possibly live without suddenly become nothing but unwanted weight...a burden.

Lesson learned.

It happens.
One time too many.
Fall asleep with ease.
Wake up ready for a new day; not quite, it's only 2 a.m.
What to do, what to do?
Fluff the pillow.
Turn on to another side.
Close my eyes.
1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi, 4 Miss...what was that?
Stretch out and lay on my back.
Close my eyes.
1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mi...
Eyes open.
Look around the room.
Yup, the same as it was when I went to sleep.
Okay FOCUS.
Flip on to my stomach.
Bad move.
Flipping on my stomach is me telling myself that sleep will not come.
Return to my back position.
Well, it's too early to do anything without waking up the household, so why not think about some of things that need my undivided attention that I haven't had the time...wait a minute...need to pee.
Don't open the lights cause, well, they say the light disrupts melatonin production which helps me sleep, even though I'm awake, but not really awake.
Shuffle back to bed; Fluff pillow; slip in, cover up, snuggle in...
1 Mississippi, 2 Mississi ... eyelids open. Sigh...
Okay, back to that list of things...so...the room feels kind of weird.
Concentrate.
Seriously, what was that noise?
Concentrate.
Maybe if I lie on my side, the thoughts will flow...
There...
Wonder what's on TV?
Concentrate.
Wow, at a time where I have my undivided attention, I can't keep it.
Monkey mind.  LOL!
That's not funny.
Well actually it is.
Wonder what time it is?
2:15 a.m.
This is going to be a long night.....

I've been tweeting, posting, sharing, RT'ing, favouriting, following, friending, liking, blogging, google+ing, klouting, kredding, stumbling, digging, youtubing, pinteresting and redditing for a few years now and have only scraped the surface of all the social media's I could be plugged into.

What a ride it's been!

When I launched into the world of social media, I had visions of grandeur... Little did I know what was in store.

The follows and unfollows.
The tweets that lingered with no responses or retweets or favorites.
The posts that received no likes, comments or shares.
The 'friends' who 'unliked' or hid my page from the timelines
The announcements that weren't acknowledged.
The videos that weren't viewed.
The uphill battle to keep the Klout and Kred scores climbing.
The pins that remained pinless.
The emails that were never answered.

Then the dirty little secrets came clean and I grew a thicker skin.

In this MASSIVE sea called the internet, I discovered that we are really just a pebble along the shore, being washed in and then spit out; over and over again.

The 1% (this is an estimate) get trapped in a clam shell and eventually become pearls...then harvested and admired.
Okay, enough of the similes.

In spite of the odds, we sign up, create accounts, spend countless hours to get the likes, shares, faves, mentions, retweets, pins or comments. Maybe to spread the news about a cause; or a business; or an event. Opportunity won't find itself right?

And so we seek followers and friends to be noticed; to be heard. But who is really listening? World Internet Users Stats say that as of June 2012 there were 2,405,518,376 users (give or take a few).  That's a lot of people chattering. People wanting to be acknowledged.

Out of these numbers how many are using some form of social media?  The answer is here Digital Marketing Ramblings ... Overwhelming eh?

Social media in a weird way has become the dreaded popularity contest. How many likes do you have? How many followers? How many people are really paying attention to what you have to say? Well, there are certainly enough measuring tools and analytic's to tell you just that. Oops, there goes another facebook like and one less follower. But don't worry did you hear that you can BUY followers and likes? Cause it's all about the numbers; fake or real, right?  I prefer to go the road less travelled...earn the followers and likes, then work really hard to maintain them by providing interesting content, engaging them, giving back...hmmm, what a novel idea.

I could probably go on and on, but who is really listening? (Google analytics will give me the hard numbers) The whole phenomena of social media has been talked, texted, blogged, posted, tweeted (you know where I am going with this) to death. I figured one more opinion couldn't hurt.

What I take away is this; The hub of social media are humans.  This diverse group are all compelled by different wants, needs, likes and dislikes.  The scales will never be balanced because humans are ever changing, ever demanding and ever ready (pun intended) to click that button. A lot like the stock market or a 'box of chocolates' you never know what the day will bring. So with that said, I'm just going to take a moment to focus on the great part of social media. In that massive sea (internet) I have been washed in and spit out with many pebbles along the shore. These pebbles, I mean people, know the dirty little secrets, and like me, are willing to wade through a little mud to find the gems. For that, I am grateful to social media because without this ability to connect globally , I wouldn't have made such fabulous friends. :D  ... and 'that's all I'm going to say about that" (Forrest Gump)

Lately I've been saying that a lot ... and then I grew up.

If you asked me 28 years ago, I would have had the typical twenty something answer to everything "I know."
Yup, I knew it all. I was on the path that I clearly had chosen. In spite of everyone else. I was happy. So I thought.
The next ten years would be a dogged attempt at sustaining what I thought was a happy life. But the powers that be, who sat patiently waiting for me to get it, had to intervene and knock me over the head to wake up.
And so I did.
A new path.
A new journey.
Not without many trying, anxious and downright dirty days.
The cost of waking up I understand.

With ten years of many experiences, I knew it all.
Can't believe I said eh?
Well, I did.
I knew it all.
Not.

The next 15 years though was much different.
So I'm going to just put it out there...
that maybe I did know..some things.
I was happy.
But (you knew the but was coming) I was holding on to many of the 'I know' ideals. These were not minor stumbling blocks. These were colossal walls that I kept running into because I just wasn't 'getting it.'

...and then I grew up.

How liberating.

Now, don't get me wrong. I still have lots and lots...and lots to learn. But (and this is a good but), I have begun shedding all the notions, supposed to be's, what if's, what will people think, I can't, have to please everyone, and I've adopted a state of mind that let's me ... be me.

Like everyone, I am and will always be a work in progress, but it's not laborious. I'm not perfect; and that's okay.

So many subtle messages have helped me to gain this new perspective. And so I continue to listen, read, explore and share.

So when I trip and fall, or walk into a wall, the landing is softer and I bounce back quicker.

I guess that's the price of growing up.

It's not a secret...it's been there for thousands of years.  We're just not listening...close enough.

"Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you."

Skepticism rears its ugly head and so what is the universe to do?

It delivers.

Everything you DON'T want.

You don't have to be of a particular denomination to be compassionate, loving, peaceful...human.

Be kind.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Be generous

"What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?"

Don't judge.

"Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."

Love

"Love others as you love yourself."

Be Humble.

"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and who whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Shine

"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place that is well hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on his stand so that those who come in may see the light."

Forgive

"Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

BE Peace

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you."


Look around.  This world is a phenomenal creation.  We are phenomenal creations.  With just a simple change of perspective we CAN live peacefully and harmoniously.  Shed the past, the hurt, the regret and embrace the moment; then the universe will deliver ... EVERYTHING for EVERYONE.

I took a bit of a hiatus ...

Contemplate ... not my navel ... but this whole blogging world I've taken the liberty of becoming a participant . Willingly.  No arms were twisted in the making of this blog, or any blog for that matter.

Like all other bloggers, I've got things to say.

I want to share, engage, laugh, walk away feeling like ... I've written something that has got someone, somewhere; thinking.

Amongst the sea of blogs, I stand, well actually sit.

So many to read. Which to follow...or not.  Technology has certainly afforded us the perfect forum to talk, talk, talk. But it's all kind of become like white noise.  hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Except, those rare gems that just feel like an old friend sharing a thought over a cup of coffee.

Those blogs, yes, those are the ones that get me thinking.

Wondering if I have been able to achieve that.... hummmmmmmmmmmmmm

Take a look around ...

A really good look around ...

Can you see it?

It's there,

Waiting to be noticed.

Is it coming into view?

Clearer?

That's right...

It's everything that is RIGHT with this world.

Embrace it.

Breathe it.

Be it.

Imagine what would happen if  7+ billion people thought that.

What a Wonderful World.

The BenAPod Podcast

Ever had one of those moments when the light bulb goes on...just like in the cartoons.  All the stuff that was getting in the way suddenly disappears and there you are, staring right at it, that epiphany, which had been there all along waiting in the crowd of thoughts and distractions, to be noticed. The feel of excitement and exhiliration takes your breath away.  You grab a hold of that feeling and you run with it, doing whatever it is you wanted to do. If only we could have a dose of that feeling everyday. Taking ordinary tasks and making them extraordinary. Finally looking at all the sideline stuff and really appreciating that it's that stuff that is your life.  Yes there is gratification in the moment when you have reached a goal or accomplished something, but that's just a moment.  The countless moments that led to it make up the 99% of your life.  So just remember to BE present in every moment; savour them; appreciate them and never, ever, regret them, because they are you. Good or bad, those moments are packed with the tiniest of fragments that have created who you are.

And with that said, while basking in the moment, it's time to move on ....

God Bless.

Why do we do it?

Blog that is.

There was a time when an elite group of people decided what would be seen by the masses.  Carefully editing, cutting, pasting (actually erasing and rewriting), making sure all the t's were crossed and the i's were dotted. Oh yeah, and they reflected pre-approved idealogies.

Then came polly...er...the internet, and the blob..sorry..the blog was born.

Take a minute.  Well actually plan on spending hours scouring the millions of blogs that make up the blogsphere.  Any topic you can think of. It's covered.  BTW this blog falls under "Whatever Spirit Moves Me The Day I Decide To Write a Blog Post"  Anything, and I mean anything is a go.  And you know what? It's fantabulous! (made the word up)  No barriers ... well that's not true.  We really don't want to see anything that promotes violence or hatred, so xnay on the negative stuff.  We get to see the 'real' blogger or in some cases the 'real' blogger's toddler, pet, invisible friend. We get a glimpse of the creative..or not so creative mind that has the chutzpah to put it out there for the world to read. Or not.  It's kind of like a crapshoot.  You set up your blog. Tell a bunch of people, who may or may not tell others (this isn't the "and they told two friends" scenario) and you wait. Then post again and you wait. The cycle continues, but you persist, hoping to be that amazing blog that everyone is itching to read every week, ready to like, comment and share.  Hoping is good, feeds the soul.  Oh, and good analytics feeds the pocketbook. 

So as we circle back to the beginning of this blog, I've come to an all important conclusion (for me that is). The question although simple has too many answers to even try and narrow it down. 

I will only speak for myself, since I can't speak for the world, I blog ... just because.

Peace out. :)

I know it's coming.
I see where's its been.
I see where it is.
I'm helpless.

The forces of nature are sobering reminders of the strength or lack there of, of humans.

Its bigger than us.
Its stronger than us.
It plays on our fears.
Testing our tenacity...our faith.

Sometimes it lets us off the hook with just a mild brush of its power.
Other times, not so much.

It makes me think that life is just like that.

We do have a boundless force within us to send out our asks,
Stay committed to our beliefs,
And wait to receive.

Ultimately though it is the power of the universe which serves us our asks on a platter.

Hmmm... be careful what you wish for, you may receive it.

The howling wind and pounding of rain drops tells me its getting closer.
The storm is brewing...

Be still and know that I am here.

Are you awake?

I mean really awake?

How often do you find yourself drifting in and out of days and weeks before something jolts you and you suddenly realize that so much time has passed and it's all a blur?

Have you ever had a day that if you had to think back on, you have a vague recollection of what you did?

What about those conversations. You know the ones. That if you had to explain what you heard, you have no clue?

Then there's reading...ever read a page over and over and still don't know what you read?

Some call it information overload.

Others say it's the 'keeping too many plates spinning' or balls juggling or blah, blah, blah ... did you catch that?

Being present. Really being aware is not such an easy feat. It's too easy to get caught up in everyday stuff that clutters the mind, heart and soul. And then before you can say ... you won't have seen it coming.

Tick, tock, tick, tock ...