Get Back up no Matter How Hard You Get Hit!

" Get Up You Son of Bitch! Because Mickey loves you!"

I love these quotes from the Rocky movies!  It truly motivates me to get back up , no matter how hard I feel life is at the time.





My days right now are full of a whole bunch of challenges but none of which I cannot overcome!

I share this with you my blogging audience because I know you too struggle with life's challenges on occassion, but be "mindful" and it always starts in the mind! That you can overcome them!

No matter what , you can overcome them!

I would love it if you would share your inspirational stories with me!

Here is to going in for another round and coming out on top, no matter if you get bruised
while doing so!

Kimberley

What Do I Know

                                         What Do I Know


It's not been quite two whole days since I wrote the last "What Do I Know" blog.  One could ask, what could I have learned in two days? Ah... life..so much to learn..  

1.)  I do know that keeping your dreams alive and your eye on the goal can be challenging amidst the 
         noise of everyday life. People who are "doubting Thomas's" will tout their own insecurities and fears
        on you if you let them and others will be very excited and happy for you. Those close family and friends         will want to ensure that you are secure and nothing will harm you as you walk along this path. And then
        there are those who don't want to let you go, because you have made their lives that much easier by
       being in it and supporting them. 

  When I am discouraged and feel a bit like life is getting to be too much, this is my go to song:
     www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVQxSFG-ahk

    


2.)  I do know that loving someone is not logical, the heart seems to speak for itself.  Even when the practicalities of your life seem  that love will never blossom, the heart springs hope eternal. Thank God,
right? Thank God our human spirit continues to pour out love despite it not being returned sometimes and despite the fact that we cannot see what lies ahead.



3.) I do know that my cats are much healthier on a raw food diet than any type of canned or dry
      food.  Even the "no grain" canned or dry, they are much healthier.
  Here is what I feed my cats:

        

You can buy this product from this very lovely woman in Florida named Felice Arata, who has dedicated her life to loving her cats to health and wholeness!  Here is her website address:  http://felineinstincts.com/ to order the ingredients for what I consider the best raw cat food recipe that I have discovered.  Felice has also

written a wonderfully, informative book called My Natural Cats, a True Story. You can find it here: http://mynaturalcats.com/

She has done a tremendous amount of research into common illnesses that impact our furry friends and how to cure them with raw food and homeopathic remedies as well as herbal formulas. 

4.)  I do know that it's so much fun to experiment with baking especially when you have people who enjoy
       the fruits of your labor. This weekend, I experimented with blueberry muffins and homemade speciality butters, lemon/honey and pecan/honey. And they are DELICIOUS and bursting with blueberries! 

  They jury is still out on what is the guest favorite specialty butter! Mmm..if I could hand them to you through the computer, I would ask you to vote!



5.) I do know that sleep is so good for you and truly is something we need to make sure we get 
     enough of!  Sleep, along with eating healthy , getting outside to smell the fresh air, and some exercise
      is what we need as humans to sustain ourselves.  I never quite got the whole, "sleep" thing before now.
       I have always felt that life is to short to care about getting some sleep. I have to much to do in my life
      to care about getting enough sleep.  

    Well! guess what, it's important! I lead a very busy life right now and my days are full to the brim. My body is screaming for good, quality , eight hours of sleep! Do I get it? Well, I try. My cats don't seem to understand that it's still dark at 5am and I can barely open my eyes without a good cup of italian Espresso!
And the mind at times, dances all around never settling itself. 





And so, that is what I Know today. Tomorrow, I hope I learn much more as life is a great teacher!

Kimberley

What Do I Know

                                                WHAT DO I KNOW?


I had dinner with a very dear friend of mine last night. It was a beautiful summer evening, the sun shining
brightly through the blinds of the restaurant window. Our conversations typically range from our work lives, to some philosophical subject of the universe, human behavior, the well being of our families and I always try and insert something fun and whimsical to make him laugh and smile.

As I was brewing my morning coffee ( the elixir of the Gods! - hahaha), I was reminded of something he asks me quite often when we get together.  "What Do You Know?"

I have written about this once before in my blog, but today, I thought to myself, why don't I write a daily piece called "What Do I Know?"  So, thank you my friend for the inspiration and yes, there will be a "commission of baked goods" coming your way.

So, here goes with today's blog on What Do I Know.

1.) I know that animals love unconditionally.  Cats and Dogs anyway.  They are what warms
       our hearts when we come home after a hard days work and what snuggles up to us for an
      afternoon nap.  They help us forget our everyday world and remind us that at the end of the
      day, it's all about LOVe.


2.)  I know that in life, we have to take risks to get what we want.  If we just let life go on each day, defaulting to whatever comes our way, we will never get to where we want to be. Yes, is it a challenge sometimes and Yes, it is incredibly frightening to take those risks, but at the end of the day, TAKE THE
RISK.  Whether it's in your career or your love life.  It's worth the risk!!!

My ex-husband used to say, " Kim, this isn't the dress rehersal."  He is right.  TAKE RISKS! You will find that most the time, they turn out better than you imagined!



3.) I know that baking cookies with your family, your friends and your friends daughters is something that
      warms the heart and creates a lot of great memories. Baking together forms traditions and forever bonds. It teaches math and science by exact measuring and doubling batches for large family gatherings.
It appears as of late, that it might be an erotic attraction as well, but the jury is still out for me on that one!
It also puts weight on if you eat too much dough!

Oh and forget about that crap about raw eggs, my Mother let us eat cookie dough since we were little ones running around and we appear to have grown up just fine!



4.)  I know that love, understanding and forgiveness truly do heal all.  Sometimes it's hard for us to remember that and at times, it feels that those emotions are hard for us to access.

But what I must say to everyone reading this, take the time to listen to other people! That is probably the one biggest most heartfelt gift you can give them.  We all want to be validated and know that someone cares. Whether we are 2 years old, 20 years old or 75 years old. We all want to know someone is listening to us.

Forgiveness, what was that quote that I learned from listening to Wayne Dyer? Oh yes, here it is:
         

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”

It is actually a quote from Mark Twain. 

Beautiful isn't it?  I smelled that fragrance recently, I won't share the circumstance, in honor of that person in my life. But the moment that forgiveness happened, the fragrance of this violet filled my heart and I could smell it for days. In fact, the fragrance was so overpowering , it was hard to focus on everyday life.

The strong burst in those few days, has turned into a sweet, daily hint of love that I will cherish and hold onto until my days on this earth have ended.

5.) I Know that My Morning Cup of Coffee is good for my writing and it tastes good! It warms my insides and it gets my creative juices flowing. Yes, I know people say to stop drinking coffee, drink tea instead.

You know what I say? 

No! Tea is for afternoon sipping with a croissant in the afternoon or when you want to relax in the evening. 

Coffee is bold, strong and stands up tall and says let's get moving!!

Yes, I only buy organic and I do love my Italian espresso - especially when it comes in suitcase from my friend Giancarlo, two gifts in one!  Raw sugar and pure half and half is the way I love to make it. I have been experimenting lately with some other spices to add to it.

My AirBnB guests seem to really enjoy my experimenting because I am getting rave reviews.

So, that's What I Know today.  

A big hug and "shout out" to my friend who inspired me to write this daily blog piece.

See you tomorrow,

Kimberley

Just Be Happy!

So, this past weekend as I was surfing around the Internet researching ideas for my new novel, I ran into
the most awesome video called HAPPY!

Pharrell Williams created this 24 Hour Music Video that I absolutely love! It's infectious!

We need this in our world, now more than ever.

Click onto it and dance to your hearts content! And smile and clap and BE HAPPY!

http://24hoursofhappy.com/

I know I am dancing this morning!!!!!!!!!!!  Because I'm HAPPY!

A Woman who has Inspired My Life

Jan Karon is coming out with a new book in September! I am super excited about this as she is someone who has inspired my life for many years! http://www.mitfordbooks.com/

You see she writes books about a town called Mitford and an Episcopal Preacher called Father Tim.  Her books speak to a time in my life when I was a little girl, when I first fell in love with God.  Even as I write this I can remember those days when I was in the fourth grade.

I was so excited about all I had learned and my heart was so full realizing that He could love me that much!

I look back at those days and the journey that has led me to where I am today.

It has been quite a ride for sure.

Exploring my religious beliefs, my spirituality, my sexuality, the way faith intertwines into the fabric of our lives.

At that time as a young girl, I thought faith was a list of do's and don'ts, I am so glad for the realization that its not really that way at all.  Its much, much more.  Those list of do's and don'ts held me steady while I was growing up and finding my way through the world, but now as I have walked through my thirties and forties, I find those list of do's and don't quite confining and limiting. Yet, some of them still hold themselve steady in my soul.

Jan Karon's novels have alway made me feel warm and safe, just like I did growing up in my childhood home.  I curl up with them and feel like all is right with the world and it is a kind and loving place.

As I was contemplating my journey through life several years ago, unemployed and wondering where the next dollar would come from to pay the mortagage, it was she who called out to me.

It was she who delivered God's message to me.  "I have a plan for you, a plan for good."  She quoted this bible verse as she spoke at the Washington Cathedral.

At the time I was debating an employment offer that I knew wasn't my lifes' pathway, but I needed the money to pay the mortgage and the car payment.  Not knowing what to do, I prayed for God to show me the way.

I turned on my computer as I was prayerfully quiet and there she was speaking at the Washington Cathedral about her writing journey and answering God's calling.

As it turns out, I turned down the job, knowing I was to become a writer just like Jan.

At least that is what I thought anyway and then a call came in for another opportunity and I took it.

That opportunity has turned into a seven year employment and has seen me through finishing the writing of my first novel, a house fire, a mother with breast cancer who thankfully survived, my unending search to have my novel edited and published, near bankruptcy, a mother who nearly died several times this past summer and my continued journey to write and publish.

I question God these days on what the next steps are and if becoming an author is truly the plan and lo and behold, here I write.

Jan calls to me once again, "I have a plan for you, a plan for good."

Keep writing. It will come.







 

The Dreaded Winter Cold and Flu! - A Blessing in Disguise

So, yes, I am a very healthy, active, fit woman who eats lots of salads, vegetables, lean meat and I work out 4-5 times a week.  Then, why the hell did I get the flu this year?

Good question and here are some of my answers...

I put too much on my plate, always.

I love life and want to experience it ALL!

I have a wide variety of interests and I am on a spiritual journey to find what I am truly
meant to do in this world.  I know I am here to make a difference, and to help others find
out how to make their lives better too!

I push myself in everything I do, whether its exercise, learning, projects at the office, writing (although that's tough because some days I find myself staring at the page! )

My mind is constantly active with all that I ask of it.

I am a responsible, passionate person who has a huge heart so I give my all to the people I love in my life.

Its the coldest winter we have had here in almost 100 years!

My Mom was quite ill over the summer and I started a wonderful new adventure as a Host on AirBnB. I spent a lot of time between keeping my job responsiblities going, doing whatever I could for my Mom no matter what and trying to be a top notch Host.

My sister came home for the holidays at the invitation of myself and my Mom and stayed at
my place, shortly after one of my guests left.  It was a great idea that probably should have been
revised a bit as it didn't go as well as planned.

My basement flooded before Christmas.

I continued my search and spiritual journey to find what I am truly meant to do with my life and
I continued to exercise as much as I possibly could.

Christmas shopping had to be done.

The New Year started and I had a house guest.

The temperatures outside were near -24 windchill.

The nights were dark and cold.

My body became tired and so did my mind.

The Flu bug decided that it was just what I needed to give myself a much needed rest and to force
me to step back and say "what the hell are you doing with this crazy life of yours?"

I bumped into some new blogs and websites while I carried around kleenex and rubbed Vicks
Vapor Rub under my nose and on my chest.

I drank an amazing amount of green and peppermint tea with apple cider vinegar and raw honey for antioxidents, cough and congestion.

I learned that Elderberry Syrup is a great remedy for the Flu and have gone through an entire bottle!
* It also has other amazing healing properties by the way!

* I took 500 mg of Vitamin C every hour along with drops of oil of oregano in water (hate the taste! ugh!)

A smile of gratitude to Katie, author of  the Wellness Mama Blog(www.wellnessmama.com) , which is where I learned about this. 

This morning as I am feeling sooo much better but still a little bit stuffy, I picked up my tried and to "go to"
book by Louise Hay and here is what she says about Upper Respiratory Infections, the Flu and
               Too Much going on at once. Mental confusion, disorder. 
                Small hurts.

Her affirmation and response to this:  I allow my mind to relax and be at peace. Clarity and harmony are within and around me and All is Well.

I said to myself - "really? mmm..that couldn't be me could it? "  I laughed to myself and knew deep down, it's time.  Time to regroup, take life a bit slower (is that possible for people like me?) and re-evaluate all that I put on my plate and focus on what is truly important to me this year.

A BIG THANK YOU TO LOUISE HAY, one of my favorite life's teachers!
 


Kimberley

I Heard the Birds Singing Today!

I heard the birds singing today.

The cold harsh winter has taken its toll. the below freezing temperatures making it unbearable to go
outside for longer than a few brief minutes.
The wind whipping your face every chance it gets.
The piles of snow never seeming to disappear.
More falls from the sky each day.
Pipes burst, ice collapses tree branches into peoples houses.
An Earthquake rock our southearn states.

The earth is clearly having a tough winter and so are the humans and animals that
inhabit it's space.
Pneumonia strikes and relapses several times, cats are anxious and vomiting, the flu
lays us in bed for two weeks, the cats shed excessively at the wrong time of year and
a dear friend has a heart attack.

I heard the birds singing today.

So, as I sat quietly eating breakfast this morning, jotting my Morning Pages and my
to-do list, I thought I faintly heard something. It was a familiar sound but I couldn't
quite make it out. Was that a bird I heard?

The cats were sound asleep on the couch and not a beep could be heard inside the house.

I got up off the chair and gingerly opened the side door to the house and listened.

I heard the birds singing today!!!

A hopeful sign of Spring to come!         

Kimberley