Kimberly's Daily Inspirations

It's Not All About Us.....

2010-11-03T20:11:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I wish more people would realize that life is not always just about "us." It's about giving to others too! It's about slowing down and opening the door for someone, letting someone go ahead of you in line, being kind and respectful to people, doing a random act of kindness, making a phone call that you've been putting off, spending time with someone, helping someone out, and the list goes on! When I see selfishness in the world, it bothers me. It's a lot of ME ME ME sometimes. When you realize that life really isn't just about YOU, that it's also about giving to others- it's much more enjoyable and rewarding. It has a great effect on everyone around you! I've seen it many a times. I am always helping someone, or doing a random act of kindness, complimenting or cheering someone up, smiling, always letting my happiness rub off on other people. I've seen the difference it makes. ♥ If you have it to give, why not? And if you don't have it to give, try being more of a contributor and notice how it WILL fill you up. ☺ Notice what it does for someone else! It's one of the most powerful things I've learned in my life, how important "giving" is. Even if it's just a small thing, it comes back 10 fold! Not everyone is going to be able to do it, so let us stand up and be the ones! Let us be that inspiration for others....♥

"If you can't feed one hundred people, just feed one."

-Mother Teresa

The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving."

-Albert Einstein

"If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart."

-Arab Proverb

Be well and be happy!

Kimberly

April 11th, 2010

2010-04-11T16:19:00.001-07:00

I hope all is well in everyone's world! It's been awhile since I've written in my blog, thought it was time! My life has been busy. I miss writing though and will be updating my blog more often.

Well, my 1 year wedding anniversary is approaching. (April 25th) I can't believe it's been a year already! And what a great year it's been. :) My husband & I are getting ready to head back to Vegas to celebrate. We will be there for a week. We are really looking forward to some relaxation, fun, and celebrating our first year as husband & wife! I am so grateful for everything I have in my life and most of all for marrying the most amazing man on earth! He's a wonderful husband and I treasure him everyday. I know that we were meant to find eachother and spend the rest of our lives together. Not a day goes by that I don't feel grateful about that. :) And I can't think of a better travel buddy than my husband! Any trip we take together is just so much fun! I always look forward to traveling with him.

I hope your life is happy, you are healthy, and you are grateful. I can't think of a more important thing than gratitude. I know what it can do for your life. Amazing things! :)

Kimberly

Forever Changed, Thank You Joel!

2009-08-31T20:19:00.000-07:00

Wow!! Still on a high from seeing Joel Osteen last night! Amazing stuff.... I walked out of there feeling empowered, having a new attitude, and feeling like a totally changed person. His event was better than I ever expected and he was so right when he said "Noone will leave here tonight the same!" Just being in Joel's presence is so incredibly powerful. You are not only affected by his words, but his whole presence. He's a passionate, driven, caring, emotional, spiritual, funny, and loving human being! I am so incredibly grateful for him and that I actually got to see him in person- and so close too! I was not many rows back from the stage and I swear sometimes I just know he was looking right at me when he was speaking!! And being my first event, it was an amazing feeling being surrounded by so many uplifting and positive people. I sooooo want to be in that kind of environment again! I soooo want to move to Houston just to hear Joel speak and be in his presence every Sunday! Packing my bags!! I have listened to many of his podcasts, watched him on tv, have most of his dvds, read his books, but there is just nothing as powerful as seeing and listening to him in real life!!!

He made me cry a few times throughout the night, especially when he talked about how important it is to let go of the past (the hurts, pains, negative influences in our upbringings ect...) or it's going to poison your future. Wow is that ever true! His wife Victoria talked about how important it is to have respect in your home- respect your spouse, kids, family....His son plays guitar in his ministry band (which by the way was AMAZING! I almost thought Jennifer Hudson was up there singing for a minute!) and his daughter sings. She has a great voice and is so adorable! He has a beautiful family.... It's inspiring at the very least. Watching the 4 of them on stage made me imagine what that would feel like growing up- what would it feel like to grow up in such a positive and loving home? Wow.... it put a huge smile on my face. And I was so blown away that he had already done 2 sermons that day in Texas and then jumped on a plane w/his family to Portland for his event in the evening. He looked a little tired, (I would be!!) but he pressed on! He's amazing....

I purchased a great little book at the event last night- "Healed of Cancer" by Dodie Osteen. (Joel Osteen's mother) It's a small, but powerful book. Takes about 20 minutes to read. It's well worth the read!

And my husband recently suprised me with a book I've been wanting to get. (he put it on my pillow, awww how sweet is that!) It's called "Love Your Life" Living Happy, Healthy, & Whole by Victoria Osteen. It's so good it's hard to put down! If you want to become a better, healthier, and happier woman- read this book! Or if you just want to get really inspired, read this book!

Looking forward to the next time Joel comes to Portland!!!!

Be well, enjoy your life, and be grateful for every day you get to be here!

Kimberly

Joel Osteen Has Changed My Life!

2009-08-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

Someone I really admire and have learned a lot from is Joel Osteen! He's had a powerful affect on my life and I will always be grateful to him. My husband and I are going to see Joel in 2 weeks here in Portland. We are really looking forward to it! If you aren't sure who Joel is, he's a minister/motivational speaker. Check out his website if you get time....JoelOsteen.com You will see his awesome books & audios, get free podcasts, be able to watch live events/services, and read some excellent articles.

Here's an article I read tonight that has really got me thinking! Thanks once again Joel!!

We Can Control What We Put Into Our Mouths

There are a lot of things that we cannot control in life. We cannot control the weather, the air that we breathe and we can't control the people around us. But we can control what we put into our mouths. Many people don't realize today the reason they don't feel well and the reason they don't have any energy. They're dealing with headaches and allergies and sometimes even more serious, chronic illnesses, simply because of what they're putting into their system everyday.Americans lead the world in heart disease. We have more cancer here per person than any other nation. We are the heaviest country with more people overweight. Some of this is hereditary, but much of it is because of the poor habits that we've developed concerning eating and because of the food that we are choosing.And a lot of times, we're praying for God to give us a miracle. "God, I don't feel well." "God, I need more energy." And "God, take away these headaches. "Well, we really don't need a miracle; we need a lifestyle change. We need to develop better habits to take care of our temple.One expert said, the food in America was designed to sustain life but it was not designed to sustain health.A hundred years ago, we didn't have the heart disease and the cancer that we have today. What's changed? Our diet. We live off of much more processed, refined foods; foods that have chemicals and preservatives to make them last longer but they're not necessarily good for us.We've developed bad habits of eating junk foods, eating too much food, and not drinking enough water. All of these things can be harmful to us.We can learn a lot about the benefits from healthy eating from Daniel in the Bible. He knew the importance of eating a healthy diet. When he was a young man, just a teenager, the king in that region told the officials to go find the strongest, healthiest, most intelligent young men to serve in the king's court. And Daniel was chosen. The officials were instructed to feed these young men with the king's rich, fancy foods and to give them plenty of wine. The king wanted them to be the strongest and healthiest as they possibly could be.But Daniel was a breed apart. He served God with his whole heart. Because he knew some of those foods had been offered up to idols and knew many of them were not good for him, he told the official, "I don't want to eat this food. Just give me fresh vegetables and water."The official didn't know what to think. Finally, he said, "All right Daniel, we'll let you try this for a little while. But in a few days, we're going to see how you compare to these other young men."Ten days later, the Bible says, Daniel was stronger, healthier, and he ended up 10 times smarter than the other young men. Yes, he had God's blessings and favor but he was also putting the right fuels into his temple. While the other guys were eating their donuts, and candy bars and junk food, Daniel was filling up on nutritious foods.I wonder how much smarter we would be if we'd just start eating the right foods? I wonder how much more creative, more energetic, and more productive we'd be if we'd eliminate a few of the sugars and instead, start eating more fruit. Or, if we'd start snacking on nuts and raisins and give up some of the colas and candy bars. It worked for Daniel. I bet it'd work for us.I read about a small group of islands called Micronesia, over in the Pacific Ocean, not too far from the Philippines. For hundreds of years, this one particular island was inhabited by natives. They ate the traditional Polynesian diet: fruits and vegetables, coconuts and fresh fish. And as you can imagine, their health was extremely well. Very rarely did they have any kind of sickness and disease.But after World War II, they discovered that the land was rich in phosphates and all kinds of minerals. So these big companies from the West came over and started to harvest the minerals, causing the people to become extremely wealthy. So much so, they quit farming. They quit fishing. They no longer had to rely on their natural sources for their food, the land and the sea. They started importing canned foods, frozen dinners, bakery items, colas, and candy bars from all over the world. They were on cloud nine.They replaced their fruits and vegetables with desserts and bakery items. White flour and sugar filled products became the main source for food. And as you guessed it, their health began to severely decline. They started seeing diseases that they have never seen before: heart disease, cancers, and tumors. Do you know today, sadly, one in three people on that little island suffer from diabetes. What's the difference? Obviously what they're eating. And the only way to reverse a curse like that is to go back to the source and start eating more healthy.Decide today to take care of your temple. Don't put things in that you know shouldn't be in. Limit the sugars. Limit the caffeine. Drink more water. Eat more fruits and vegetables and don't live off of these packaged lunchmeats. Eat more organic when you can. More baked and less fried.I don't know about you, but I need all the help I can get! I don't want to get stagnant in life. I don't want to come to a peak in my intelligence or a peak in my creativity just because I'm not putting the right nutrition in. I don't want to be an old man falling apart. I want to be like Caleb; at eighty years old, and be able to say, "God, give me another mountain. Give me something else to do."I want you to be the happiest, healthiest, most prosperous people around. But you've got to do your part. Discipline yourself to make healthy choices. You may be fine now, but if you're abusing your body later on it's going to catch up to you.That's my prayer for each one of you. You can become all God's created you to be. If you will make choices for your health and start developing better eating habits, then you'll be just like Daniel and you'll get stronger, healthier and wiser. You'll even be better looking!

-Joel Osteen

This article has made me think about a lot of things...One thing in particular really struck me! For years I've been a big water drinker...lots of water everyday! In the past few months or more I've really cut back on the water. It seems I've been drinking more COFFEE than water lately. I know, VERY VERY BAD! So I am going to commit to cutting back on the coffee and drinking a lot more water. Just like I did for years! (not sure why I slacked off, but no more!) I have a great big glass of water in front of me right now. This will be the beginning of many changes I plan to make. Anyone care to join me? Even if we make 1 change we'll be healthier!

Kimberly

The Perfect Day!

2009-07-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

Today felt like a perfect day for me! I took a vacation day so I could have some much needed "zen time." My job has been very challenging for me lately and I have plenty to catch up on at home! It felt good to get lots of rest, sleep in late, and sort of ease into my day.... It's so nice when you don't have to go to work! *big grin* I spent some time with my husband this morning before he went to work and then hit Starbucks for a Venti Iced Americano. My favorite as of late! I got a little reading in with my latest book "The Five People You Meet in Heavan" by Mitch Albom. (also the author of "Tuesdays With Morrie") It felt so nice enjoying my iced expresso while reading a good book. I felt relaxed and happy. I needed this! My next stop was dropping 2 huge bags of clothes off to Goodwill, that always feels good! The young man that took the bags from me said "thank you very much" with a big smile. Ofcourse that made me feel even better! After dropping the clothes off, I did some shopping and then got myself some fish tacos at Taco Del Mar on the way home. They were soooo delicious.... They are my latest thing! When I returned home I cranked my favorite music, did some cleaning, wrote financial goals as well as personal goals, and decided to put all of my wedding items that I wanted to keep in a big tote. (finally!) I'm also starting to work on my Honeymoon Scrapbook and more Wedding Photo albums! (who knew there could be so many??! lol) Why is this all so exciting? It's not really, it's just about my day and how for me, it was really perfect! It's important to take time out when you need to. I don't think people do this enough! We should be able to stop once in awhile from our busy lives and have a "me day." To be able to do the things that are important to us and that make us feel good. To have time alone..... to be able to "think" and not be needed. I am constantly reminded of how short life is and I never take a single day that I get to be here for granted! Life is precious, time is precious, and please don't forget to slow down and enjoy it. For we never know what tomorrow brings.......

As my husband's grandmother recently said to him (she is sadly dying from cancer) "Enjoy Life"

Very well said.....I thought. (oddly enough, it's very similiar to what my grandmother told me when she was dying...."Just Be Happy" she said. I have really taken those words from both grandmothers to heart. They are powerful!

All the best,

Kimberly

Best Day of My Life!

2009-05-29T20:03:00.001-07:00

Well, the best day of my life happened! (I can't imagine anything else topping it!) I am the happiest woman breathing right now! I couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding day! Russell and I got married April 25th in Las Vegas, outside at a very nice hotel. We were married in a garden chapel surrounded by palm trees and a waterfall. It was amazing and beautiful. I still think about it and wish I could experience it all over again! It was truly the best day of my life.... I feel super grateful as always and very lucky to have married such an outstanding guy! We look forward to a very happy, healthy, and successful life together! There will be many great things to come for us, this is just the beginning!

Thanks for all of your love and support!

Much love,

Kimberly

Feeling Extreme Joy!

2009-02-08T20:05:00.000-08:00

I am feeling so much joy in my life right now! Things have never been better and I absolutely feel at my happiest. One of the biggest reasons why is that I'm getting married in less than 3 months! The big day is April 25th in Las Vegas. My fiance & I couldn't be happier and more excited! All of the planning, preparations, details, ect...have been nothing but a fun and joyful experience for us both. I don't think weddings should be stressful, they should be a wonderful time! I only plan on doing it once, so why wouldn't I want it to be the best time of my life? Why wouldn't I want certain things to be just perfect and exactly how we want them to be? I feel extremely lucky and grateful right now. I am grateful to have such a wonderful relationship with someone that I love more than anything. Someone I could never see spending my life without! That is something to truly appreciate. We've grown so much together and continue to grow and become better people everyday. We share the same goal: to have a happy, healthy, and successful life together! We make a great team and I am so grateful for that one day in March when I was fortunate enough to meet him. When our eyes met for the first time, I was like "wow, he is really something special!" (and so handsome!!) I had a very good feeling about my fiance from day 1. There is no doubt in my mind or his that we just belong together. We know we were meant to find eachother! When you have something so special like this, hang on to it forever....Never let it go!

I am so excited to marry my best friend!!!!!!!!!

Just thought I would share. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

All the best,

Kimberly

Happiness is Music!

2008-11-22T20:49:00.000-08:00

One thing that really keeps me in a happy state is music. More and more it's become so important to me! I love music!!! I listen to music when I'm not feeling so great, when I'm getting ready in the morning, on the way to work, sometimes during my lunch break, when I'm working out, driving in my car, and many times when I'm home just cleaning or hanging out. I am so grateful for music! Right now I'd say it's at the top of my list as far as things that make me really happy. What is the one thing that truly lifts you up every time you do it? For me, it's definitely listening to my favorite music.....

I enjoy all kinds of music, but mostly R & B and Alternative Rock. Sometimes I love to go back in time and listen to my old favorites...The Fixx, The Cure, Pink Floyd, The Smiths, (Morrissey) ect... I love to crank it up loud and sing and sometimes even dance! (it's a good thing people can't see me dancing by myself-at home in my living room! ha ha) One of the best times I ever had was taking a road trip to the Grand Canyon with my fiance. (last year) We spent many hours driving and enjoying great music all the way there! (you've got to love Sirius Satellite Radio!) What a great time...

I've also had the privilege to see many great shows in my life! Lets see if I can remember all of them..... Journey, The Lilith Fair (Sara McGlocklin was my favorite artist there) Portland Jazz Festival, (many great artists there too such as Erykah Badu!) Everclear, Morrissey, The Cure, Neil Young, "X", Psychedelic Furs , Beck, and Romeo Void. I'm sure there are many more that I can't think of right now!

I've also had the honor of a few friends sending me their own cds. They are very talented! What a great thing! I listen to their music often and have such an appreciation for that kind of talent....

I love and appreciate music so much. Aren't we so grateful for these talented people who bring so much happiness into our lives? I know I am! What would my life be like without music...don't want to imagine!

What's your favorite music? What do say- time to crank it up??!!!

Great music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory with difficulty. Magical music never leaves the memory. -Sir Thomas Beecham

If music be the food of love; play on. -William Shakespeare

Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent. -Victor Hugo

Thanks for stopping by!

All the best,

Kimberly

Love

2008-10-29T22:09:00.001-07:00

Love is a beautiful and powerful word. How lucky that we get to experience love! Think about everyone you love, everyone who loves you, and everything you love to do. What a wonderful feeling to love and be loved. What a wonderful feeling to be doing things that you love the most in life. Think about how much you love. Are you giving enough love? Are you saying I Love You to the people who mean the most? Are you doing what you love as much as you should be? It is important to reach out and love those even when we don't feel like we have it to give.

It is important to give love to total strangers, to love those that need it the most, and to love ourselves no matter what. Your loving gestures will never go unnoticed. And what you're giving back to yourself is just simply unmeasurable. It is important to be doing those things you truly love and to fill yourself up. What puts a huge smile on your face? What brings you a ton of happiness? Do it more! You will have so much more to give this way...... Help others to feel more loved in any way that you can. There are so many that need it!

I feel love from people everyday....whether it's in a smile, nice comment or conversation, a hug, a phone call, a note or card, a message, ect.... It never goes unnoticed with me! I love everyone and when you meet me, you usually know it right away. I feel good about that. I feel good that I am able to be a loving person and be there for others. I want people to have a good, warm feeling when they walk away from me. I want others to know that I was there for them and will always be. I have made making others feel good and loving everyone a top priority in my life. And no, you won't please everybody. But you can keep trying. You can continue to love them. We all deserve to be loved. And we should all be giving the love right back. I'd like to see more of this in the world.

Love More!

Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.

-Barbara DeAngelis

If you have love in your life it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don't have it, no matter what else there is, it's not enough.

-Ann Landers

Love is a choice you make from moment to moment.

-Barbara DeAngelis

Take A Big Interest In People!

2008-10-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

I think it's very important to take a big interest in other people. I've always done it and I always will. Not only is it creating better relationships, it's also being a contributor and making others feel good. You can learn so much from other people too! So give people your time, really acknowledge and listen to them, remember names as much as possible, give them your full attention, look for the good in people, show a big interest in their life, be there for people! You will see that the rewards are endless. We all need to feel important and appreciated. I have many fans just at my job alone! (patients and employees) Not trying to boast, just making a valid point. I believe the reason I have so many fans is because I care about people, I invest my time in them, I'm always complimenting or encouraging them, and I make sure I'm enjoyable to be around. I make people feel good whenever they see or talk to me. I always try to make it a good experience when I come into contact with people. Everyone is important and I want them to feel that way when they walk away from me..... We are all in this world together and we all have something great to offer! I love being that person to remind someone when maybe they aren't feeling so important.....

I think we can have a positive effect on others if we'll just take the time. Our life will be better for it.

“We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.”

-Fydor Dostoevsky

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.

-Albert Schweitzer

A man's growth is seen in the successive choirs of his friends.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thankfulness....

2008-10-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

I am feeling extremely thankful today and I want to express it! I think it's important that we express our thankfulness every single day. I say "thank you" a lot- it's something that is very important to me and that I've always done! There are many reasons to be thankful and many people to be thankful for! I've come to realize how important my friends and family are. There are many that are loving, supportive, kind, strong, inspirational, and successful. I'm thankful for all that they are and all that they mean to me. I am thankful for total strangers who have shown an act of kindness to me or made a difference in my life, even if it's just in some small way. When someone holds the door open for you, do you thank them? When someone does something nice for you, do you thank them? When someone gives you a call, do you say thanks for calling? Are you thankful when you have an 'Aha Moment' or when someone inspires you? Are you thankful for the good and the bad? Are you thankful for the lessons you have learned? Thankfulness makes me feel incredibly good and I know when I express it to others, it makes them feel good as well. I will never stop saying Thank You and being extremely Thankful! Express your thankfulness and help make the world a better place!

"I am thankful for small mercies. I compared notes with one of my friends who expect everything of the universe, and is disappointed when anything is less than the best, and I found that I begin at the other extreme, expecting nothing, and am always full of thanks for moderate good. . . . If we will take the good we find, . . . we shall have heaping measures." -Ralph Waldo Emmerson

"Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life." -Robert Stevenson

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful. -Buddha

Thanks for stopping by!

All the best,

Kimberly

2008-09-18T17:43:00.000-07:00

Special People Can Have A Powerful Affect On You!

This post is dedicated to Randy Pausch. Many of us know him as the professor at Carnegie Mellon University who inspired countless students in the classroom and others worldwide through his highly acclaimed last lecture. He died of complications from pancreatic cancer on July 25th. He was 47. Randy has had a profound affect on my life. First after watching his Last Lecture and then recently after reading his book "The Last Lecture." w/Jeffrey Zaslow. Not only does his book touch on his Lecture, but it also has many other powerful gems in it as well. His attitude, courage, optimism, strength, advice, belief in others, and love for his children and wife is amazing to me! He really puts into perspective what's truly important in life. Here are my favorite quotes from the book:

"Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think."

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."

"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."

"Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something."

He has been a huge inspiration to me and will continue to be. He made me realize how truly precious our time is, how we should be spending it and with who, and to never give up on your dreams! He also reminds us how important gratitude is. I love that I have something in common with him- I too want to have a powerful affect on people, even long after I'm gone!

He will be greatly missed. But he continues to inspire....Thank you Randy!

Faith

2008-09-06T10:30:00.001-07:00

Faith, Knowing The Good Is Always Coming!

So what does faith mean to you? To me, it means having an undying feeling that no matter what happens in your life, everything is going to be okay! I have gone through many things in my life as we all have- some great times, some challenging times, some very sad times even.... but the one thing that has always kept me in a good, positive place is the fact that I have a ton of faith. I think it's something important for all of us to have. I have faith in myself, other people, life! I know that things are going exactly as they should and that everything always works out. (for the better in my opinion) Say there is a time in your life where maybe you feel you don't have enough money, your feeling physically out of shape, mentally drained, maybe you have lost someone you loved, you are going through a hard time in your relationship, you are unhappy with your job, or you are just feeling at an extremely low point in your life. We've all been there or are there! Just know that it is temporary and that good things are coming your way! They always do! But you must believe this and just know that it really is true. I'll give you an example in my own life.... Lately I've been feeling like I really need a vacation- it's been awhile since I've had some time off (I'm talking about a week or more) and I am ready for some much needed "me time" and time with my fiance. Well, in one week I will be taking 16 days off! So my point is, I've been looking forward to this time off for months..... To me, there is always something up the road or around the corner (as I like to put it) to look forward to! If you can keep that in mind, life will be much easier. It will be better! Another example, I miss my sister a lot. She moved to Tucson as I've mentioned and although it was wonderful to see her in July..... I really miss her & her kids like crazy! But I also know I will see her in December (she'll be coming to Portland for a visit) where we can enjoy an early Christmas get together. I also get to see her in Vegas next April for my wedding. (she is my Maid of Honor) I also know that when I'm out there exercising everyday and working hard, the payoffs will be huge! That's something great to look forward to! (I've already started seeing the payoffs!) I always hang on to the fact that I have great things ahead to look forward to! If you apply that to anything, you will be amazed how many things you have to look forward to. You will be amazed at how much happier you will feel!

So ask yourself, what do I have to look forward to? How can I feel good in the moment when maybe something isn't quite perfect in my life right now? Don't let the challenging things have power over you, and keep an excellent attitude no matter what! The choice is yours....pick the one that makes you feel good. You deserve to feel good!

"Faith is courage; it is creative while despair is always destructive." ~David S. Muzzey

"To me faith means not worrying." ~John Dewey

"Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith." ~Author Unknown

"As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit." ~Emmanuel

Thanks for stopping by!

Kimberly

Be An Action Taker!

2008-08-20T22:15:00.000-07:00

Do you know who some of the most attractive people in the world are? Action Takers! People who are not afraid to get things done. I'm talking about anything from daily chores to big goals. I love being an action taker! I find it to be one of the most attractive qualities in a person. Nothing feels better than taking care of yourself, your home, exercising, working hard at your job, working on goals, doing nice things for others, just getting up everyday and getting things done! It gives you great confidence to be an action taker. It gives you motivation for life! (or at least it does for me) I had a very busy evening tonight and finished it up by having a great work-out! Sure, it's now after 10pm....but that was the best time for me to fit it in. It's all about what's important, having your priorities straight, and not being afraid to make things happen! It immediately lifts your spirits when you are busy doing things. You want to be able to look back on your life someday and say...."Wow, I sure was an action taker. I got things done! I feel good about my life and all that I've accomplished!!!!" Who are the most successful people in the world? Action takers!

Just something I've been thinking about a lot lately....

"In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently."

-Tony Robbins

"Success comes from taking the initiative and following up... persisting... eloquently expressing the depth of your love. What simple action could you take today to produce a new momentum toward success in your life?"

-Tony Robbins

The Best Moments of Your Life!

2008-07-23T21:59:00.000-07:00

So what are the best moments of your life so far? I bet there are many.

Here is a picture of my sister Kelly and I. I'm the one in the pink!

I recently got back from Tucson, Arizona and had such a great time visiting my sister & her family! I've been doing a lot of thinking about what the best moments of my life have been. I've had many ofcourse, but this trip to Tucson was definitely at the top of the list! It was fun to take a trip by myself, (I don't do that too often and I plan to do it more!) it was wonderful to see my sister & her kids who I miss greatly, and I got to visit one of my favorite places: Arizona! It's not just all of the fun things we did, it's about spending some great quality time with the people you love. What matters most is giving people your time. It's priceless! To see my sister so happy when I arrived at the Phoenix Airport made me feel really good. To see my niece light up when I took her on some rides at the Old Tucson Studios, put a big smile on my face! To be there for my niece at 4:00am when she was having a nightmare was a really good feeling for me. The fact that she thanked me the next day (twice!) for being there for her almost made me cry! How sweet! To watch the baby and his funny little morning routine (Teletubbies) was so special. To go Bridal Dress shopping with my sister (also my maid of honor) and find the perfect wedding dress was a great experience! To sit out at Starbucks with my sister and just have some time to talk and enjoy eachothers company was awesome! To get to know the man in my sister's life a little bit better was great. He is one of the nicest and most thoughtful people I've ever met! (and a wonderful dad too!) I couldn't be happier for her! Taking the time and enjoying life with the people you love is truly what it's all about. As I've gotten older, it's become a much bigger priority for me!

Don't forget those that are important to you! Don't let too much time pass by before you make that phone call or pay a visit to someone you love. Life is short! Enjoy every moment of it! I am!!!!

"Treasure your relationships, not your possessions."

-Anthony J D'Angelo

"Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the gratefully and appreciating heart."

-Henry Clay

Happiness

2008-07-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

I hope you are all having a wonderful and fun summer! I've been having a very busy summer so far! In less than 2 weeks I will be flying off to Tucson, Arizona to see my sister Kelly. She moved there at the end of May and I really miss her! We are going to be doing some bridal dress shopping and just enjoy some good quality time together. I can't wait! I am hoping to move to Arizona myself someday very soon. It's such a beautiful place with incredible weather and so many great things to do. I love the desert!

For those of you who don't know already, my new wedding date is April 25th, 2009. It is so much nicer to have a year engagement! Everything is falling into place and Russell & I are enjoying every moment of our engagement.

Until I can find a little more time to write, I wanted to post this article that I feel is very powerful. I hope you enjoy it too! Thanks for stopping by.....

Happiness Quotes.....

"In the pursuit of happiness you will become free from stress and worry.The art of happiness is to be content with what you have and with what you don't have. Happiness allows the mind to nurture the positive qualities in the self and others.Happiness allows the sparkle of the mind to touch the heart of others."

If you want to be happy, be.

~Leo Tolstoy

"No matter what happened to you yesterday, your attitude is your choice today."

Happiness

Happiness, roughly speaking, is a comprehensive term for a state of mind that is usually comprised of and probably much more than the feelings of contentment, achievement, fulfillment and peace of mind. It is a kind of tickling, tingling, zinging, singing and a dancing sensation accompanied by a healthy and a joyous change in heart beat resulting from the faster circulation of blood. Each cell and tissue of the human body gets activated and experiences this pleasant sensation. There is a spring in the feet and also perhaps in the body and the person wishes that this experience should continue for ever. Happiness occurs at various states and depth of intensity and acquires different characteristics which accord with that state.

Various states, shades or feelings of happiness can be described as: bliss,
joy, jubilation, exultation, gratification, uplifted spirits, cheerfulness, playfulness, amusement, fun, gladness, delight, elation, ecstasy, thrill and lot more.

Some people are happy because of their ‘sanskars’, the intrinsic nature. They refuse to go down the dumps whatever the circumstances. They do not need to be taught to be happy. They do not make any conscious effort to be happy and undisturbed. The shadow of gloom over them occurs only for a short time and they return to their jovial self soon thereafter. Normal shortages and deprivations of life cannot cow them down. They are made up of brave and lively hearts. Happiness exists in their genes and attitude. They take life in their stride. If you study their nature closely, you will find that such persons are always inclined to forget and forgive. They do not take any unpleasant situation or occurrence to their heart. It is in their nature to fly with the wind, to flow with the current and not to impose their will to oppose or change it. The result is that they can enjoy the feeling of flying—a metaphor for happiness-- or flowing effortlessly. Just imagine the case of person lying blissfully in a boat which is being carried away by the cool current of the stream on a hot summer day. On the other hand, visualize the picture of a person panting, huffing and sweating even in the cold wind trying to paddle hard going in the opposite direction of the current in the same stream. This is not to denigrate the value of struggle to improve one’s circumstances. It is these brave souls that bring about the development and progress in the world. Probably both are happy in their own way. Some people enjoy struggling while others are happy at avoiding it.

Happiness lies in the attitude.

There is a third category as well. It consists of those persons who like being sad and morose. They enjoy gloating and wallowing about in the muck of sadness, probably like pigs in the poor lands. They are always ‘moody’, ’philosophical’—continually peeling off the layers of an onion.

Happiness is a matter of attitude.

We must, however, understand that we deserve to be happy.
Happiness is our birth right. It is a biological necessity for healthy living. Unhappiness is a state of mental and physical sickness. We should not let our happiness evade us what ever the state of our health and circumstances. We should not allow others to forfeit it.

If it is not in our intrinsic nature - sanskars - to remain naturally happy, we should make conscious effort to develop an attitude that is compatible and conducive to being happy.

Happiness is an antidote to the poison of sad circumstances in our life.
Happiness is the best and most nutritious and vitalizing food.

It is a positive biological process. Happiness, whatever its level, shade or hue, creates certain enzymes and chemical changes in our body which are conducive to our health, well being and longevity. If it is a golden rule not to give sorrow to anyone, it is a diamond rule not to receive sorrow from anyone or any situation.

Kimberly

The Importance of Gratitude

2008-07-05T10:33:00.001-07:00

Ever since I learned the importance of gratitude, my life has never been the same. I first started writing down 5 things I am grateful for everyday. (An idea I got from Oprah!) I began to see and truly appreciate how much I had in my life. It's so easy to see all that we don't have, but what about what we DO have? It's a much more empowering thing to focus on! After seeing the movie The Secret, (by the way, everyone should see this movie!) I started carrying a gratitude rock with me as a constant reminder to be grateful. I don't need reminders anymore because it's just so automatic for me now. I wake up every single day feeling grateful! I still enjoy writing down the things I feel grateful for from time to time, but mostly it's just something I already feel!

Even during challenges in your life, you can still find many things to be grateful for. That is actually the best time to practice gratitude- it reminds you that you still have so much to be thankful for no matter what happens. You will be okay! My wish is that everyone can feel more gratitude in their lives because if they could, it would bring them so much more.

Let me tell you about a time when I felt extremely grateful. One morning (many years ago) I was driving home from my boyfriend's house. We had been together for a long time and we were going through a break up. I remember feeling sick and totally heartbroken. The tears wouldn't stop running down my face as I was driving home. Directly in front of me was a school bus filled with kids. I looked up as the tears were flowing and noticed a little boy staring at me. He then smiled and blew me a kiss! I thought that was the sweetest thing ever and somehow after that, I just knew everything was going to be okay! I felt extremely grateful that morning. I tell this story because it shows how such a simple thing can be so powerful! It was for me anyway and I've never forgotten it.

Don't forget to notice and appreciate the special moments, people, and things in your life!

So what can you feel grateful about today? Start with one thing if you'd like, but you will be surprised at how the list will grow. And eventually, you will feel constant gratitude in your life. There's no better feeling if you ask me! Everyone one of us has so much to be grateful for..... it's all what you choose to focus on. I have been a much happier person ever since I discovered the power of gratitude. I am very lucky and have an amazing life!

All the best,

Kimberly

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

~Marcel Proust

If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.

~Gerald Good

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.

-Anne Frank

Great Thoughts From My Doctor, Dr. Clarke

2008-06-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

I have a ton of respect for one of my doctors, Dr. Clarke. He will be retiring soon, but I've learned so much from him. He recently published his first book and signed it for me. I was thrilled! But more than that, it's a great book and I wanted to share some of his key points. He really focuses on how stress can make people ill and the importance of having joy in your life. It's so true. And quite powerful!

Here are some great things he said to me in his office one day..... I made a mental note!

~People don't take enough time for themselves.

~People are busy trying to fix everyone else and everything around them. They forget to focus on themselves!

~The best advice he gives his patients is "go find something you love to do and do it! Get some joy back into your life."

~Sadly enough, some of his patients have felt their best when they are sick and in the hospital. That's when they actually have an oppurtunity to focus just on themselves and not worry about anything/anyone else. I find that really interesting and very sad.....

~Many people have had stressful upbringings and carry that into their adult lives. They continue to be stressed!

~Many of his patients who are stressed, don't admit they are stressed. A lot of them don't even know they are!

Something to think about.....

Find Your Joy!

Goals....

2008-06-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Having goals is so important. I know I just wouldn't be a happy person without goals in my life. I wonder how I ever survived before I discovered the importance of goals? I notice when I start to feel unhappy or unfullfilled it's because I've been sliding on my goals. The beautiful thing, you can start right back at it again and turn it all around! (in an "instant" even, as Tony Robbins always says!) Setting and accomplishing goals has truly made me a happier and more confident person. Whether it's a small goal or big goal, it's a great feeling of accomplishment! I am grateful for always wanting to strive for more in my life and for always having new goals! Goals ROCK! We have the power to do anything. Believe it and don't ever lose sight of that! I highly recommend making a "Vision Board." You will be amazed how much more you will accomplish by being able to see your goals! I have accomplished 6 goals on my Vision Board already and will continue until every goal is finished. I will then make a new Vision Board...... Get inspired by making a Vision Board!

"The most important thing about motivation is goal setting. You should always have a goal."

-Francie Larrieu Smith

Random Thoughts.....

2008-06-22T21:50:00.000-07:00

I've learned that life is to be treasured every single day. We are so incredibly lucky to be here! I'm glad I've learned to appreciate my life so much because it really has changed me in positive ways. Everyday is important to me, every single thing I do is important, every person is important to me, every wonderful moment I experience is treasured, and every lesson I learn is greatly appreciated.

I've learned that gratitude brings you so much more in your life! I've learned the importance of gratitude in the last year and I'm so thankful for that! I cannot imagine my life without gratitude! I know that even when I'm being challenged in my life, I will always feel grateful. It's been one of the most empowering experiences for me! My wish is that everyone can feel grateful, in the best of times and in the worst of times!

My First Post....

2008-06-20T23:40:00.000-07:00

So I decided to finally blog. I've been thinking about it for some time now, but since recently reading Thinkingal's blog, I got really inspired! So thank you Tracey! I love to write and what a great way for me to help inspire others. That's what I live for!

Stay tuned.