the gift of experience

 "I want you to get into the deep beautiful melancholy of everything that's happened."

-Elizabethtown

"So you failed. Alright you really failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed... You wanna be really great? Then have the courage to fail big and stick around. Make them wonder why you're still smiling."

-Elizabethtown

Remember all the sadness and frustration, then let it go.

Instead of looking at life as good and bad situations, maybe a better way to look at it would be everything as experiences. Life is the gift of experience. And oftentimes after the failure or "bad", something better can come along.

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the art of balance

Henri Matisse, the famous French artist, once said, "What I dream of is an art of balance."

I think nowadays I dream of that too. With the kind of life most people lead, it seems that we are trying to find that balance of work and play, friends and family, chores and hobbies.

I think the ultimate balance is being able to do what you love for work, designating time to spend with the people important to you, and enjoying the journey that is made up of every minute of every day of your life. 

Balance is about being there for those in need and helping others. It's about using our God given abilities to bring that spark and joy, not only to our life, but to the lives of others that we may touch along the way. It's about taking adventures and experiencing new places. It's about the scary and unknown mixed with goals and security. It's the line between being driven and hardworking and relaxed and free. All good things lie in balance and the secret to all this is a bit of a mystery. I think managing our time correctly is important so that we don't end up working all the time and miss out on life, or vice versa.

How do you manage to balance your own life? Do some of you find it hard to blog in your busy schedules?

What are your thoughts or secrets on the subject? I would love to hear!

"Balance, peace, and joy are the fruit of a successful life. It starts with recognizing your talents and finding ways to serve others by using them."

-Thomas Kinkade

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a new year

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! 

What a busy month! It feels like there hasn't been a moment to stand still...from getting sick multiple times and work, to preparing for the holidays. And now we are looking at a new year! It seems a bit typical to talk about a new start as we approach a new year, but something about a new year is too inspiring not to talk about it.

 Whether you can't wait for 2011 to end or it was a year that brought great opportunities your way, having a new year really is the best time to evaluate what you want for your life in the new year. I feel like setting goals is motivating. Today would be a great day to start evaluating how you may want to change this new year. It could sound small, such as truly taking a day off, or it may be starting a new business. Whatever it is, it will be big to you and the quality of your life. Don't be afraid to jump in and make those changes and follow your dreams.

 "Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

-Maria Robinson

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.
-Joe Sabah

"Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently."
-Henry Ford

Happy New Years!

togethery and remembery

"Christmas is a togethery sort of holiday," said Pooh. 

"That's my favorite kind," said Piglet.

"Togethery and remembery."

"Don't forget the love," added Eeyore.

I'm so excited it's December!! So many fun Christmassy things to do. I plan on making the most of each day this month. How about you?

What is on your Christmas to-do list?

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Show Love

 "The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place."

Doing a good deed and showing love doesn't have to always be extravagant. Good can be in the details.

 love can be a pie

 or even cupcakes ;)

love because you were shown love...

even if that means baking someone a pie.

Change

Even though it may feel like summer outside, I can see fall in the air. I love that golden haze in the air that welcomes pumpkins, caramel apples, and a time for hot tea!

And with a change in seasons, there are not only leaves changing, but perhaps changes in your own life. Perhaps exciting ones, or maybe they are uncomfortable, even scary ones.

 "If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it."

  ~Mary Engelbreit

 "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."  

~Victor Frankl

 "We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance."  

~Harrison Ford

I know it is easier said then done to change something. If you really have the passion and drive behind a decision to change something about yourself or your life, I know it is possible. And each change, even when hard, will eventually turn into lessons learned. Joy will come, scars will be healed, hearts will come together, things will change again. It is hard to see the light during times of hard change, but we must carry on. And if you are experiencing good changes, then enjoy every minute of it!

“Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.”

-Unknown

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real love exists

I meant to post this last week, but I have had no time at all! Even though this is late, I wanted to make a post for my grandparents, who celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary.

The stories they tell and the love they show are priceless. They are such a wonderful example to everyone around them of true love. They mean the world to me.

If you doubt love at all, it is not necessary, for I have seen that real love exists.

"True love begins when nothing is looked for in return."

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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freedom

What does freedom mean to you?

Do you find it in vast open spaces?

Or in the rain?

Is it simply being able to do whatever you want?

Is it in the quiet times by yourself?

In your travels?

Is it in living a happy life?

Flying?

Letting go in love?

Or is freedom simply having the right to try?

What does freedom mean to you? Where do you see freedom?

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I want to thank all of you for all your wonderful comments on my last post! I appreciate it all so much. It means the world to me :)

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