Life is what we make it. I learned this from a song on the Disney Show, "Hannah Montana". She finishes the sentiment by saying: "So Let's make it ROCK!"
I love that. There could not be a truer reflection of the real ME than that statement because it combines my Rocker side with my Philosopher side. I also really deeply appreciate how those words have shaped and molded the drive and ambition my daughter Annika has. Those are the words of HER generation. I still feel them though. So read at your own risk because I am about to tell you how I REALLY see my life...and it WILL be a reflection in gratitude, so be advised that I am once again tricking you into reading about and thinking about GRATITUDE...the greatest ATTITUDE there is.
My work and my Home are one. I have tried in the past to create a distinction where the two can be separated but it has never worked and it never shall. There have been times when this overlap was difficult for other people who lived here in the home to accept, but I am happy to say that we have really struck a balance with it and the entire system functions well....great even! A typical week opens up for me early in the morning with the arrival of my nephew for Daycare. He is 3 and he is my son's best friend, Tyler...TyTy as we call him. I love being up early. It's not always easy but when I discipline myself to do it the benefits FAR outweigh the effort. My Step-Daughter Daly is an excellent motivator for morning exercise and I can already see that mornings in the summer could be the best times I have had in years...whether it's a morning run, jog, walk...walk on the beach or even Yoga on the beach...I am loving it. I love the combination of exercise and meditation and what I just described provides both! We live in the perfect neighborhood for it. Two Blocks up Preston Drive we have a Private Beach Access...another two blocks from there on Nausauket road is a second Beach Access. The Nausauket Access point has the distinction of being a short walk (at low tide only!) to the Beach inside of City Park. At low tide, the rolling beachfront there is prettier than any I have seen on cape Cod! And THAT my friends...is MY neighborhood. Amazing right?
So when I think of mornings, I realize the benefits and opportunities available to me before I even sip that morning Java. And let's talk about that for a moment...how satisfying is coffee? And how available! I can go to any major Supermarket, healthfood store or bodega and find the most delicious blends of home-brew. I love that morning coffee! Sometimes David and I will sit outside and drink our coffee while watching the Boats floating in the Marina. We have what is known as a Terciary Beachfront property which means we are 3 houses up from the beach. It just happens...and I KNOW this is the LoA...that we have a beautiful view from where we live despite not being right on the water. Several houses around us do not have the view we have. We are BLESSED. The cool air in summer brings the salty smell to our doorstep and reminds us of the wonders of living in a state that is by the ocean...another blessing! Many of the things that cause me to want to leave RI and take up living in Florida have to do with the ocean.
This morning as I write this, I am looking around and taking stock of THIS moment and what I love about it. I have a great cup of coffee. My son and I are on our Front porch which is a lovely place to listen to the birds as we eat breakfast, write and enjoy each other's company. I think there must be some sort of Bird Sanctuary nearby because the Springtime Birds in our neighborhood are so loud that they wake me up at 4am sometimes! But now it is closing in on 9am. Lex has a small decorative tray with wheat toast and butter and orange juice. He is nestled into a comfy chair with his favorite Ducky blanket and his cowboy pillow...not eating...LOL. I am writing here at my table. Which is another thing I am grateful for ! My Laptop, my Printer, My Internet access and my Blog! I can continue and be amazed at what I DO have rather than what I lack! I have a cell phone...and so does my daughter. We have 2 flat-screen High def TV's in our house. I can think of people who have none. We recently disconnected our Verizon Tv service...this practically devastated David! But....and perhaps I am the only one who has noticed this....we have all been talking to each other more and spending time with each other. No surprise to me!
Let's consider something a bit more intimate. Ourselves...our bodies and our features that are always with us. Shouldn't we show more gratitude for those things over any other? I mean, no matter where I live, work or vacation...I always bring my body, mind and spirit. So let me start by saying that aside from a few moments here and there...my Spirit is very much at peace with my life. I nurture it and show my spiritual side respect. Mentally I struggle more, but ultimately I also respect my thoughts...I have learned that I must be in control of them at all times in order to be a healthy person. I determine what I dwell on...and I fill as many moments as possible with the thoughts I CHOOSE to dwell on. Like for instance right now I have chosen to light one of my favorite lavender candles! The soothing fragrance is nice, but the fact that I Love lavender and I earned money and then bought my candle and the holder and then placed it here on the porch and then lit it this morning is something I am GRATEFUL for. I feel RICH beyond words because I could do each one of those things. I Hope I live to be 100 and always be able to have the money, the will, the ability and the desire to do something like that. If I do, I will be a success! And as far as my physical attrtibutes go...well, let's just say it would be TOO easy to complain...so I will start with the fact that I have a comfortable wardrobe of cotton clothes. I am wearing a soft one-piece romper that has a tub top. I can feel my long hair tickling my back...it falls beyond the middle of my back now. My long hair is pretty amazing to me since it shows I have the restraint to let it grow and be at peace with it unlike my former self who had to be constantly changing in order to be happy. This new approach has helped me to see the things I love about my physical body. I love my skin and my hands...they both endure SO much for the sake of others! I have a pretty face...not the same as when I was 16 or even 29...but I still feel beautiful. I am tanner this year since I have started embracing the naturally warm undertones of my Italian heritage instead of fearing that my "delicate Irish" skin would be too fair for the sun. So now I see who I really am! I have a warm Olive glow with LOADS of brown freckles...and you know what? It totally suits me! I know very few other women who have this type of skin. My children don't! They seem to have no Irish at all...they have beautiful warm toned skin, dark hair and dark eyes, While my hair is dark but my eyes are a lighter color...a beautiful shade of green!
So let' talk Career then! I was thinking this morning about part of a book I read recently. The woman in the story was a professional Chef and Cookbook Author. However, she was struggling to meet her writing deadlines because she had given up her chef career to raise 3 children who were very young and to do this she worked from her home in her free time. She reminded me of myself in the best possible ways. There were moments when she was a total mess but that GENIUS that was inside her never went away, it just had to stay on reserve until a better time to come out. This is me too. I have great potential in my career but I have to focus on my children right now. I feel I have plenty of time to do all the things I want to do and I continously offer gratitude for the hope of a Long and Healthy life to fullfill these dreams in!
I have amazing friends and I have to be thankful to FaceBook for the easy way I am able to maintain those friendships, promote my daughter's Acting Career; give my Blog a place to be found; Organize and Publicize Events; share my Vacations that I am passionate about; Publicize my ChildCare and Event Planning Businesses and just be there for friends! I am BEYOND grateful that there are even 5 people who read my Blog! Thank you. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!
~namaste~
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