Letting Go of Expectations

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions?  Truthfully, it’s been a long time since I’ve tried to do it myself.  But I’d love to know if you do make resolutions and if you stick with them?  And if you are successful, would you let us all in on your secret?  Pretty please?

Because this year, I’m not making any resolutions in the traditional sense.  Instead, I plan to build on lessons I’ve learned and to expand them.  Does that sound confusing?  Well, let me try to explain.

For example, I have a hard time with expectations.  Perhaps it is unrealistic, but somehow I expect people to be kind and to communicate because that’s what I try to do.  However, my unmet expectations gave me so much unrest in 2016, that I am finally letting them go.  Just because communication is important to me, I realize that it may not be so important to others.  So I’m releasing that give and take expectation and just accepting the reality of the current situation.  I think it’s healthier for me and in 2017, that’s my goal!

Do you have certain expectations which fall short in your life?  How do you handle them?  If you have any advice, I’m open to reading any suggestions you may want to share.

May 2017 bring you peace, joy, health, wealth and love!

Shine On!

xo

How Do You See A Rose?

The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns;
the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose.
Kahlil Gibran

A grainy cell photo of a rose I once received, but still, a sweet rose which meant so much to me at the time.  I love roses.  I always have, ever since I was a little girl.  There’s something about fresh flowers which touches my heart every time.

I am an optimist and I see the beauty in a rose ~ I acknowledge the thorns, but they don’t take away the beauty and perfection of the rose herself.  I think people are like roses as well.  Some are thornier than others.  Some look perfect, yet have no fragrance.  Some are fragrant, but like the photo above, aren’t perfectly colored.  Me, I like the fragrant ones who aren’t perfectly colored ~ I guess I like a little imperfection in myself.  I think it adds a bit of charm and character.

Who wants to be one of the crowd instead of calmly loving our own uniqueness?

I think that’s the key to a peaceful life ~ accepting ourselves and others for our whole rose and not wishing that the other person were less thorny or more fragrant or more perfectly formed with uniform color.  To accept the rose for who she is and not to find her less attractive for her flaws.  Instead, to hold her gently in your heart with loving kindness, patience and understanding.

I want you to know that like the rose, I see your beauty, flaws and all.  I cherish your uniqueness.  I applaud your fragrance and your thorns.  I will hold your friendship in my heart and it will linger long after we have withered and I will wait for you to bloom again.

Shine On!

xo

A Horse of a Different Color

Do you love horses?  I do! ♥

We are entering the Year of the Wood Horse according to the Chinese New Year and I am anxiously awaiting the opportunity to let go of the Year of the Snake.  The new moon on 31 January 2014 will herald in the Year of the Wood Horse which is set to be a much anticipated special year!

If you google ‘ Year of the Horse 2014’ you will find many intriguing sites on the internet which will give you the information that you need to find out how the coming new year will treat you, whether you are a rat, a snake, a dog, a pig, a dragon, a goat/sheep, a monkey, a rooster, a rabbit, an ox, a tiger or even a horse!

My own Chinese forecast is delightful ~ full of pleasant flowing energy and happiness when I follow my heart!  Perhaps I will try some new things and I learn to accept change easily.  I love that it is expected that I will let my sense of humor come out to play and that I will meet any problems with my optimistic attitude which will render them moot.  My kindness and sympathy will be favored to allow my inner beauty to shine through and I hear that wood energy brings people together which is what I enjoy for I love to help others connect and to grow!  So for me, I am excited to greet this Year of the Wood Horse!

Giddyup y’all!

Shine On!

xo