Motivational Moments

If you're working to squeeze all you can out of the last few days of summer vacation, may this be a reminder. 

Enjoy the little things in life…for one day you may look back and realize they were big things. -R.Brault

Beach Kite - Photo by K. Gibson

Follow Your Dreams Friday

It's freezing, again. We're stuck inside for most of the day, again. But, we're going to have some kind of an indoor adventure at our house. Just as soon as we thaw from our morning errands. 

Normally, I'm good with the snow through February. This year is a little different. I've been dreaming of a warmer climate - like, pack your bags and move permanently warmer climate. But, we've got kids, jobs, bills, and so many things going right now, it seems silly to pick up and leave. Right? Maybe, maybe not. 

Maybe I just need a vacation, YES! Or, maybe this is the perfect time to dream of warmer places, and other things. What's got me thinking about fulfilling dreams? Our personal goals, the long winter, the realization my book is real (when it was once only a dream), reading articles on taking risks to realize your dreams, like this one on HuffPost about author Allison Winn Scotch, or this one about a terminally ill man in England with only six months to live who marries his sweetheart and spends his last days making her dreams come true (tissues, please!), and our children who show us the beauty of dreams every day. 

I honor of all these varied and wonderful dreams, I included the article links and added some quotes below to help you start the weekend right. Happy day, dreamers!

The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.

Oprah Winfrey

Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.

Pope John XXIII

Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.

Gail Devers

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/your_dreams.html#hfReh9lJ3DookfOj.99

Quote of the day

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning. 
-Albert Einstein

Playing through the pain

Whenever my peers and I suffered through difficult tests, tryouts, performances and other such trials the words “suck it up” and “shake it off” came out of the mouths of our coaches and teachers frequently. I heard them more times than I care to detail here, but I’ve not forgotten.

I knew going into this venture there would be some highs and lows. By venture I mean fill in the blank—writing career, parenthood, life, you get the picture. I also knew it could lead to fun stuff such as back pain, eye strain, anxiety, saggy butt, carpal tunnel, etc. But, as I stop to write this amidst a major push to finish a novel, raise kids with my husband, freelance, maintain a household, be a good citizen of the world, etc., I am struggling.

I know it is time to push through the pain, but there is a good dose of heavy heart with each page I write and every moment I get with my beautiful family this week. I am not sad by the writing or the family, but because I don’t think my grandma will be around long enough to see the full potential of either.

She has been a huge supporter of my endeavors (and sympathizer of the struggles) to be a writer. I am a writer—at least she saw me practicing my craft and shared in the happiness as I became published. But, I hoped so hard this year she would be around to see her great-grandchildren at the holidays, and be around to read her grandchild's first book.

She loves books. I just thought it would be really great to share part of this with her, and I just don’t know if we’ll have the chance. We have so many wonderful memories, times we went to the library, times we surrounded ourselves with books and catalogs. She helped pass her love of books and learning on to my mom, who gave it to me, and my kids. Our children also get some from their dad’s side, thankfully.

So, while I’m saddened we may lose a dear member of our family, I know I need to be thankful. I am thankful. I am thankful for life, family, and so many things. But, I think it is important to recognize she may not hug the babies again, or read another great story, or even my story. And I need to let myself be sad for this for just a little bit. Maybe a miracle will bring her around, I believe it could happen, but if it doesn’t I know she would want us to celebrate her and share our love with others. In fact, I read stories about people making a wish come true for Batkid and the sweet sentiment of one woman interviewed for Humans of New York yesterday and it made me think of my grandma. 

While we all have problems, struggles and pain, spreading love and joy is an important message we could all use to hear.

I’ll grab some tissues, hug and kiss my sweetie and my kids as often as they’ll let me, get back to the work of publishing articles and book(s), and play through the pain. Whatever happens, I plan to encourage my family to spend more time having fun together, playing, sharing, goofing off, reading and celebrating life. These are gifts, cherish them. 

Thoughtful Thursday

Believe you can and you're halfway there. 
- Theodore Roosevelt

Today's inspiration

Keep swimming, dreaming and believing. Enjoy the end of summer moments you'll miss when the kids return to classrooms and the sun's warmth gives way to autumn breezes. 

Wednesday Wisdom

Here's some Wednesday Wisdom...

Though there may be darkness, there is also light. 

When times are difficult, let us find strength and move on together.

Hug your family and let them know how much you care. 

This may be the smallest blueberry I've ever seen. Sitting atop this highlighter, it inspires me to hope - small things can have a big impact. #BeKind

Wednesday Wisdom...

Here's a little something I like to call Wednesday Wisdom. If you're in the mood for a little humor, pick-me-up or sanity check, this is for you. 

I saw this on a bumper sticker recently and it made me smile. "What would Scooby Do?"

My guess? He'd run around trying to solve mysteries, jump in Shaggy's arms, have a Scooby snack (or two) and call it a day. Sounds good to me! Although, I'd rather jump in my hubby's arms and have a Root Beer Float-chata. See, doesn't it look better than a dog biscuit?