Just My Thoughts..........

The Shift

2012-12-13T20:16:00.001-08:00

I am personally so excited for this great new transformation. I feel as though alot of people are slowly starting to take an interest and realizing that this is all real! When we all come together and vibrate on a higher frequency for peace and love we are going to be able to do anything as one. Please take a few minutes and watch this incredible video! It's so inspiring! I'm so excited to be a part of this amazing journey into the 5th dimension. Enjoy!!

Magic

2012-09-05T22:35:00.001-07:00

Recently I've come to some sort of personal epiphany. If you've read my previous posts you know I'm a hopeless romantic & I have always believed there is a special someone for everyone out in this big beautiful world of ours. I have fallen in love a few times in my life so far that were all beautiful short lived romances. I have no regrets & cherish the good memories that were made from those relationships. So my recent epiphany, is about that fairy tale kinda love. Love at first sight, the butterflies, heart skipping a beat, sweaty palms, never getting sick of looking into that special someone's eyes, irritating your friends because your just so damn cute together type of love. Where everything just flows.. I'm beginning to see the bigger picture and I believe it exists to a certain degree. I believe it is what you make of it, and nothing is easy especially relationships. I think we've been programmed by movies & what not to believe its all rainbows & roses. And I've always searched for that exact love, but only have come close. Something was always off or I found something not right or matching what my fairy tale consisted of. I believe that we search so hard for something that beautiful that we sometimes pass up something that has the potential to be just that. If we don't fall madly and deeply in love right away or have all of the above feelings we question if this person is "the one" for us. Atleast I do and have plenty of times. My new outlook goes along with my belief that we should live in the moment & not worry about the past or the future. If we find someone that we admire, adore, enjoy their company, love them for who they are, and they are reciprocal to your feelings, we need to grab hold & not let go. We need to embrace the love & companionship that person is offering us at that very moment & not worry about the rest. Just let things happen the way the universe has planned for us, the frequency we have already put out there to receive love into our lives is set forth & in motion if you have someone right in front of you. Maybe it's not picture perfect & rainbows and roses, but nothing is. True Love is unconditional, and should not be judged and picked apart. To have that fairy tale, your fairy tale with someone you must first build a solid foundation. That consists of learning about each others likes & dislikes. Their fears, joys, what makes them smile. Building trust with that person & communicating what your passions are and what you want out of life. That is where your fairy tale begins. Maybe that relationship doesn't last a lifetime, or even a year for that matter. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy it while you have it and look back and say, "wow, that was a really amazing feeling" and cherish those memories. My point, just because it's not magical in the beginning doesn't mean it's not ever going to be. The real magic is being able to share that time with someone and love them. This doesn't mean that your settling. Unless you know damn well this person is not right for you and you choose to avoid all the red flags to leave. Now that's another story in itself. So my advice to you, that I plan on taking as well.... Open your heart and love whoever comes into your life, and embrace the love that they give to you in return. You never know what magic awaits on that journey.... :)
Namasté

Sara Bareilles - One Sweet Love

2012-07-24T23:34:00.001-07:00

I don't think I've ever listened to a song and had it touch me in a way that It did today. I've listened to this song a million times over the last couple years, because It's one of my favorites. Today driving home from a friends, looking out at the beautiful sunset listening to this song just touched me like never before. I admit I actually started crying. We all listen to songs and relate them to our lives. This song means alot to me now. She's basically speaking of finding a lover in the future, and being ready.
This verse, for example:"A nameless face i think i see to sit and watch the waves with me till their gone. A heart i swear id recognize is made out of my own devices, could i be wrong"....
In relation to my life when she says "A heart I swear I'd recognize is made out of my own devices", I think of the quote "Be the person you want to attract" Once you reach a certain point in your life, where you feel comfortable in your skin and love yourself unconditionally, I believe you will attract just that from someone else.
I've done alot of self transformation over the last year or so. I used to be an angry, bitter, jealous, impatient person. For a little while anyways, during a certain relationship I had. I hated who I had become in that relationship, because it was nothing close to the person that I used to be or strived to be. I'm a work in progress, as we all are and I'm nowhere near perfect, but I am very content and comfortable in my own skin. I believe in myself and the person that I am now, I can say that I'm proud of. I listen, I'm not jealous, I hold no judgement, I have no anger left inside me of anything that has been done to me in the past, & I love unconditionally. I can make myself happy, and do not need a partner to "complete" me, but we we're all put on this earth to love. It's funny because whenever I open myself up to love, I attract it. I have no regrets of past relationships I've had, for they have all taught me things about myself, and things I want in a partner. I am thankful for the time that I've spent with them.
My advice to everyone, is love yourself unconditionally, and make yourself happy and whole & your relationships will be that much more amazing! Because you can't find her/him, until you find you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C55DeU568A

Namaste'

My Journey to Enlightenment

2012-07-07T22:07:00.000-07:00

As I've said before, I have been on a quest for enlightenment for over 5 years. I have been drawn to buddhism because I see it as a way of life more than a religion. We are all buddhas within. I've been living and learning how to encompass everything that I've learned over the years. My life has been transformed in such a beautiful way. I have a deeper appreciation for so many things in my life. I've always been grateful for everything in my life, but I, like many others never loved myself and gave all my love away. I realized that I was missing out on so much happiness. I now take time for myself, and above all recognize when that "me time" is needed. Now my life is whole in so many ways. I wish I could bottle up this feeling of overwhelming happiness that I have and sell it! I'd be rich lol. I was very lucky to have found my new family with SGI. They have surrounded me with love and light. I'm sharing all this with you today, because tomorrow I will receive my Gohonzon. This is a goal I set for myself for August and have attained this goal a month early and am elated! Here's a simple explanation of what a Gohonzon is for those of you who are not familiar with the practice. The Gohonzon is the stimulus that helps us draw forth this most enlightened state of life, perceive the Buddha state as the true nature of our life, and live in harmony with our environment. The Gohonzon takes the form of a scroll inscribed with Chinese and Sanskrit characters. The significance of the Gohonzon lies not in the literal meaning of the characters, but in the fact that it is was created by Nichiren as the physical embodiment, in the form of a mandala, of the eternal and intrinsic law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. The phrase "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo Nichiren" is written in bold characters down the center of the scroll. We chant "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo" to connect with the Universe, with the vibration that we give out as we chant. Nam derives from the Sanskrit word namu, meaning "to devote oneself." Myoho literally means the Mystic Law--the underlying truth or principle which governs the mysterious workings of the universe and our life from moment to moment Renge means lotus flower. The lotus blooms and produces seeds at the same time, and thus represents the simultaneity of cause and effect. Kyo literally means sutra, the voice or teaching of a Buddha. In this sense, it also means sound, rhythm or vibration. For me putting what I've practiced throughout the years along with chanting, has added so much more awareness to my life. I feel so connected with the universe and everything in it. I have always been a lover of nature, but now I have a deeper admiration for it everywhere I go. I see beauty in people that I meet that I may have overlooked before. I'm so excited to continue my journey.

The Buddhist view of life is a profoundly holistic one that sees no essential separation between our lives and the life of the universe. When we draw forth the power of wisdom and compassion through prayer, we are drawing forth and directing the same universal wisdom and creative compassion that manifests in everything from the intelligent bonding of molecules to the symbiotic evolution of species, to the decay and formation of galaxies.Ultimately it is belief in their own potential that enables human beings to develop and to advance in the face of difficulties Human RevolutionInterconnectednessTreasuring DiversityCreating ValueWisdom Compassion~ NAMASTE'

Pieces of my puzzle

2012-04-12T22:27:00.001-07:00

It's amazing to me how so many people and opportunities pass by us that we ignore. There comes a time in our lives where we need to take notice and really pay attention to what the universe is providing us with! I feel very blessed to have the ability to do so as of late. I can look back over a certain span of my life and actually put all the pieces together of why certain things happened in my life, and why certain people were brought into my life. It's an amazing feeling! Although at the time I'm going through something my first thought is why? Then I kindly remind myself that everything happens for a reason! My journey of enlightenment began several years ago when I was in search of a religion I could relate to. I was raised catholic and grew to disagree with many aspects of their teachings. So my search began. I was immediately drawn to buddism. I started getting books from the library and reading as much as possible. There were so many different types it was overwhelming. Which one do I practice? How can I find enlightenment in the midst of my crazy busy life without going on a retreat to a secluded mountain? While I pondered these things I continued to occasionally attend a non denominational church. I enjoyed going, it was a casual atmosphere and the music was current to the times and exciting. I slowly started adding certain aspects of buddism into my daily life and tried meditation as well. I got involved into yoga which was a very peaceful outlet for me. Every time I left class I felt rejuvenated, and my mind was clearer. I continued my search for what I call my missing piece. Yes I had found the religion, as most like to call it, that I was interested in but something was still missing. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Shortly after moving to las Vegas, I met someone very special who introduced me to an amazing book called "the mastery of love" by Don Miguel Ruiz. What an incredible read! If you haven't read it I highly recommend this book to everyone! I have a handful of friends who have recently purchased this book at my suggestion and it has changed their lives. This book helped me learn about loving myself no matter what, and backed up my past belief that when you meet someone they should add to your happiness and for you not to rely on them to make you happy. This way of thinking has worked wonders in my relationships with people in general, not just romantically.
I feel like I went through an entire personal transformation my first few months out here. It was eye opening and very refreshing to let go of old bitter feelings and learn to forgive others as well as myself. I felt like a new me! I started meeting people who had the same outlook as me and I soon realized the people I would come in contact with we're all put in my path for a reason. Some of which have become very close spiritual friends of mine. I still felt like something was missing and I started talking about finding a place to learn more about Buddhism with some of my friends. After some research and a few, I'll call them coincidental new friendships made, (even though I don't believe there is a such thing), we finally found a place to attend. I anticipated going for two weeks and couldn't wait! I don't even think I could explain in words what I felt at that meeting and afterwards. The only thing that comes to mind is I felt like I was home. Everyone was so friendly and open and willing to share their experiences it was wonderful! I don't think I stopped smiling the entire meeting I was so excited to meet these amazing people and find somewhere to learn more about buddism. I was so energized when I came home I started painting for the first time in months! I like to call this piece "universe" everything I had been drawing for years had all come together that night. I could finally put all the little pieces to my puzzle of my journey together. I felt complete. I look forward to making this my new family and introducing more of my friends to this wonderful way of life. The only thing you need to believe in is cause and effect! For every action there is a reaction. Period.

My daily affirmations

2012-03-15T23:28:00.001-07:00

I am filled with light, ℒℴѵℯ & peace. I treat myself with kindness & respect.

I'm open to the flow of great abundance in all areas of my life & allow the universe to bless me in surprising & joyful ways.

Today I ℒℴѵℯ my body deeply & joyfully. I choose to see the divine perfection in every cell of my being.

Fear is only a feeling, it cannot hold me back. With a solid plan & a belief in myself there's nothing I can't do.

All is well, right here, right now. By becoming peace, I create peace in every experience.

Today I open my mind to the endless opportunities surrounding me. I boldly act on great opportunities when I see them.

Today nurturing myself is my highest priority, I open myself to the natural flow of wellness.

Today I am completely tuned in o my inner wisdom, my inner voice guides me in every moment.

The better I know myself, the clearer my purpose becomes. Today I present my ℒℴѵℯ, passion, talent & joy as a gift to the world.

I am ready for a healthy, loving relationship. I deserve a loving, healthy relationship. I deserve to be loved and I allow myself to be loved.

ASKBELIEVERECEIVE

2012-03-07T23:27:00.008-08:00

Ahhh ...How simple those three words are! And yet how many of us ask for the wrong things without even realizing it? I know I have throughout the years and fell into a cycle of doom. "Bad" things just kept happening one right after another, where I found myself asking the universe, unknowingly, for more of the same thing by saying, "What else can happen?", "What else is gonna go wrong?" etc.. I have recently met some really good people out here in Vegas, who excitingly believe in a lot of the same things I do! Being around people of the like is a constant reminder of what type of vibration I need to be putting out there into the Universe to receive what I desire! I have learned patience, persistence, positive thinking, and manifesting. Some people are blessed to receive blatant signs from the Universe of which direction to go with a certain thing, some may choose to listen, and some may not. All I can say is PEOPLE! This stuff really works! Seriously! It's amazing when it happens, and I personally feel blessed and very grateful!

I will let you in on some personal things that I believe were the Universe working in my favor and showing me signs along the way. I'm gonna start with a sign I believe that was given to me, and I didn't realize what it meant till 3 months later. When I went out to Sedona for a vacation, we were taking pictures at the mountain overlook, and my eyes were drawn across the street to two trees. They weren't anything to look at really.

Notice the Ravens? Well I've always been one to look up symbols and meanings of things that catch my attention, so I had a good friend look it up for me. Ravens are found all over the world in artwork and mythology. Whether the meaning of a Raven is good or bad depends on the people of that culture. Ravens have been regarded as omens of death, war, and bad luck to some, and creators of light, fire, magik, and change to others. Like any change within our lives, it depends on how you look at it. Change is the ending of one thing (death) and the beginning of something new (creation). It is no wonder we fear Ravens when they spiritually help us to let go of our obstacles so we can find new magik in our lives. Ravens teach us to find our true meaning of self. Helping us to bring forward our imagination and resourcefulness into our daily life. When we reach deep into our self, know our truth, and bring it into the light, this is powerful magik. In the Pacific Northwest Native mythology Raven is the bringer of light to the people. Just as Raven brought the stars, the moon, and the sun to us all; let Raven bring you to your own light and fly free into the magik of creation.
I was going through a rough time in my life, and on a soul search. I had been through a flood, was homeless, and a devastating breakup. I'd say I needed my "luck" to change a bit. This vacation happened to be the turning point in my life as strange as that was looking back now. Two months after I visited Sedona, I packed up and left family and friends and moved to Vegas solely on intuition that had been nagging at me since I left Vegas. After being in Vegas for 3 months, I had went through a total transformation. I had healed internally from things that had been haunting me. I had forgiven myself and others so I was able to move forward in many aspects of my life. I had learned to love and accept myself, which I was never able to do in my past. I felt like a completely different person, with a fresh new soul. I was ready for anything the Universe had in store for me!!
WELL, unbeknownst to me, the Universe had something brewing. As I've mentioned in my previous post back in September, I met someone amazing! The connection I have with her is deeper than anything I've ever felt before. Everything I spoke to the Universe about what I wanted in a partner, as far as character, beliefs, spirituality etc.. etc..She possesses! Yet, it wasn't that easy! She just so happened to live 4 hours away. We have maintained a long distance relationship, which has not been easy at times. We both continued to hope for things to open up where she could move here so we could be together. A turn of events, and some personal soul searching on her part, will be finally bringing her here to Vegas. Timing is everything! The kicker? Her name is RAVEN! Strange? Coincidence? I think not, but that's my opinion and honestly, that's all that matters is that I am the one who believes in the power of the Universe and the magic it can do in my life.

Yet my story doesn't end there of signs that I've received! Unfortunately I fell into the "doom" cycle. I was struggling financially and unconsciously asked the Universe for more of this unfortunate situation in my life. It got pretty bad for a minute, but I slowly started to realize what I was doing, and snapped myself out of it so to speak. I stopped thinking I didn't have enough money to pay my bills, or most of all buy a car that I needed very desperately! I sold my car before I moved out here, thinking I would be able to buy a car in no time. Things didn't quite happen the way I had anticipated, but it was actually my fault. After a few months of failed attempts at saving up for a car, and a failed attempt at picking up a "free" car from North Carolina from my sister, the Universe finally set the right people in my life to help me obtain a car. FINALLY! It took a month of telling myself I would have a car soon, being positive, and most of all patient. I feel blessed to have been able to purchase a car without a co-signer, because unfortunately my credit history isn't the best. :/ This however is the turning point for my poor credit. This was the break, and the one chance that I had needed for so long, yet I hadn't received. That was because of the vibration and the negative thoughts I had sent out for so long to the Universe! For years I had said out loud, "My credit sucks", "I'll never be able to raise my credit score", "No one will ever give me a chance to start rebuilding my credit". God, how dumb of me to have let that go on for so long! We live and we learn though! Say Hello to my cute little Nissan Versa! :D

Think it stops there? NOPE! Positive affirmation and sending a certain frequency out to the Universe is like a chain reaction! Once you start Asking, Believing, and Receiving, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! I have been living with a roomate since I've been here, and obviously with my girlfriend moving here I'd need my own place! So the search began! We talked about the things we would need out of a house, and what we both wanted. I had an image in mind of exactly what the home I'd like to live in looked like. The very first house I looked at was honestly perfect! It had every amenity we would need. A backyard for her dog, 3 bedrooms for us and my two girls. And many more things that were a must. I didn't want to jump at the first thing I saw, so I continued to look. I found almost 20 homes that fit into my criteria. I narrowed it down to 3 after comparing for hours. I dreamt of that house for two nights! I set the appointment with the realtor and began our voyage from one end of town to the other. As we walked through each house, I found myself comparing them to the very first house I looked at. This house was pulling me towards it, and I couldn't get it out of my head. As one who believes in symbols I decided to look up what the name of the road that the house was on stood for. I actually laughed out loud when I read it too! It stood for BOND OF LOVE,& I LOVE YOU. How perfect! We're beginning our new life together and this is what the street name symbolizes? I'd call that a sign! So I decided that was our house! I felt myself visioning us in it, and where I would be putting furniture. I put a deposit down and waited for an answer from the realtor, since I had asked for less than what they had wanted for it. Everytime I found myself thinking negative about not getting accepted, or things not working out, I immediately switched gears and turned them into positive thoughts! This was our house! I knew, felt, and manifested my heart out! I received a phone call today, and after some negotiation the house is officially ours :) How AMAZING! At this point, it's pretty surreal! I doubt it'll actually sink in until I move into the house in 3 weeks! I'm so excited, and grateful to have everything I could ever ask for come into my life! I can't wait to begin our lives together and start making memories in the new house!

After all of these AMAZING things that have happened I can't wait to see what else I can manifest! ASK*BELIEVE*RECEIVE
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*Some information in this blog is accredited to:
http://www.ravenmedium.com/TotemAnimals.htm

A Day in The Art District

2012-03-06T00:00:00.002-08:00

Most weekends my girls and I like to do occasional photo shoots. On this paticular day it was 75 degrees on a lovely "spring" day in Vegas. We decided to head down to the Art District and take a few pictures. Las Vegas is full of Artwork everywhere you look. You could be on the 95 driving and look over and see beautiful metal sculptures, mostly shaped as animals. Even driving down one of the main cross streets such as Flamingo or Desert Inn you'll find paintings on random places like utility boxes on the sidewalk. I love this about Vegas! I haven't seen this much artwork in very many cities I've been too, besides Chicago Illinois.

After taking a few pictures, we decided to have lunch at the amazing Casa Don Juan Mexican Restaurant! YUM! Afterwards we headed to Fremont St. to walk around. We were standing in line to get my fortune read, which didn't end up happening because the line was too long, and god forbid all their phones were dying and they needed to go home to recharge! lol Anyhow, while we were standing in line, we started to look around at all the interesting people walking by. Somehow we started saying, "Oh they live here, or Oh they definitely don't live here", based on how people were dressed. The girls all said you can tell we live here, and I said how's that? Their reply...."Our shoes, DUH!" haha so I decided to take a picture of all of our shoes. :)

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Test blog

2012-03-05T22:47:00.001-08:00

Hyper Smash

First Friday Art Festival

2012-03-02T22:33:00.003-08:00

My thoughts of tonights Burningman: So the kids n I decided to venture out to First Friday in the Arts District. I was disappointed not being able to find an artist I saw at the last event because I really wanted to purchase one of her paintings :( bummer! I did however get to grab one of the delicious zucchini burritos tht I crave for the entire month in between first fridays! We also indulged in deep fried chocolate chip cookie dough! The streets were filled with a very eclectic crowd of people which is one of the reasons I love Vegas, the melting pot. It's never a surprise to walk past someone on stilts, or with balloons shaped as an umbrella hanging over head, girls wearing close to nothing with gobs of makeup on, "wait, am i in the club?" lol ...I love seeing people express themselves , walking art is how i see it. Self expression is a beautiful thing. To me tonights event was a mix between hedonism, woodstock, the circus, all wrapped into a street festival. Where anything goes. Anyways, I ran into a very talented new friend, and he gave us a tour of his gallery and studio, which was very inspiring to me. I really need to get focused again!! Thanks again Tobi! I can't wait to get together again! I also ran into my friend that just returned from Peru, and can't wait to get together for coffee and hear all about her trip. So on a different note, I was excited to see what the burningman event entailed and hadn't had much time to research it, and me being a newby out here hadn't heard of the event that's actually been going on for a decade in the Black Rock Desert. So we made our way through the crowd and found us a spot, which wasn't that great considering all of us were under 5'5" lol but nevertheless we stood there listening to the dubstep mix and waiting to see them burn lucky lady lucy. While standing there, not surprising to any of us, we smelled weed n I really didn't feel like catching a contact buzz so we decided to move to the back of the crowd. They lit up the lights and the picture I'm gonna post is what Ana pointed out to me. It was at tht moment that I for some reason became uncomfortable with the whole thing. Lights in the shape of a pentagram. Now to each his own, and I know that symbols only have power if you give it to them, but Carissa had the worst feeling ever and asked if we could leave 10xs before we saw this. I believe in self expression like I said and maybe I'm overreacting but I didn't see the reasoning behind them orchestrating the lights to such a degree to make this symbol in the sky for everyone to see. Needless to say we left. Just my thoughts.......

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Your Self- Worth....

2012-02-01T02:43:00.002-08:00

We all at times let our self worth get lost when we are trying to attain certain things in our lives. Usually for us women, it takes being in a bad relationship for us to realize that we have let this slip. I believe we all need to give more love to ourselves before during and after a relationship, not just after things go wrong and we're left asking ourselves all the questions. What did I do wrong? What could I of done different? Am I not worthy of their love? We all have so much love in our hearts, why shouldn't we give ourselves the amount of love that we would give to our lovers? I know that in the past I've lost myself in relationships because of pouring everything I had into that other person. I made the mistake of not focusing on my needs, and wants and filling my own happiness tank. We all have certain needs and wants, and what most of us don't realize is that it is our responsibility to fill that void, not someone else's. We tend to feel needy at times and look to the person we're involved with to make us feel better, which is ok to a certain extent. When that person doesn't fulfill this need we have, we sometimes feel neglected, and may tell them their not paying attention to us. What we all need to realize is that in those moments of need, we need to catch ourselves, and turn our attentions to ourselves. Find what your lacking that's making you feel that way. Take time for yourself and workout, paint, write, read a book, go out with some friends, whatever it may be that you can do to fill that tank up again. I guarantee if you practiced this, you would find that your relationship will flourish. It will especially help if your with someone who does the same when their feeling needy. Love yourself and know your worth. That's not to say that your partner shouldn't be giving you certain things you need out of the relationship by any means. Relationships should be a team effort. It takes two people to be in a relationship and at no time is it right for one person to give more than the other. We are all a work in progress within ourselves, our jobs, & our dreams, so what makes your relationship any different? It doesn't its a work in progress, and you have to "work" at it. Meaning putting effort into it. I know my worth, I know that I deserve to be with someone that will give back what I put into it. I deserve to be treated with respect. I deserve to be with someone who communicates their feelings to me. I deserve honesty. I deserve thoughtfulness. I deserve compassion. I deserve passion. I deserve to not be judged. I deserve a chance.....

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Fate...

2011-12-07T22:47:00.015-08:00

Where do I begin...Ive always been the one my friends come to for advice it seems. I keep a positive outlook on the situation and use my instincts to steer them in the right direction. I've tried to use my instincts to put my life in perspective lately and I thought I was on the right track. I've always felt that you should follow your gut and heart because they will usually never fail you. When you follow your head you get wrapped up in too much of the nonsense that gets in the way of true happiness. You start asking the what if questions and comparing things to the past and not fully enjoying what is going on in the present. Although this is easier said than done, I've tried my best to do just that and follow my gut and my heart, which has led me to some wonderful places lately. Life is a journey and you learn things about yourself as you go along. I have learned that I am someone with a huge heart, and no matter how many times I get hurt and my heart is broken, I just can't seem to change into that person who builds a wall so high no one can ever get over. I'm weak, and like everyone else am looking for that love that makes heads turn. I found that with someone, and it felt so natural. Everything fit in its place and worked out as we went along. I was entirely head over heels in love and felt like I was on top of the world. What a great feeling! And out of nowhere it has all been taken away from me. I am crushed and wonder how something so amazing can be given to you by the universe and taken away so quickly. I truly trusted my instincts and I feel like I was let down. So my question to myself now is, do I continue to trust those instincts that led me straight to heartbreak? Do I allow myself to even consider opening up to someone ever again, just to have it all be taken away from me? I don't want to end up to be one of those bitter people who never find happiness because I'm too scared of what might happen. I don't want to build walls to not be able to share myself with someone on a level that is so deep you get lost. My connection with this person, was beyond the limits of explanation. I seriously could not find the words to describe how amazing this meeting of my soulmate was. I knew it the instant I laid eyes on her. Everything boils down to free will and you can't control someones actions, emotions etc... When fear steps in..fear of the unknown, some people can't accept it even if it feels right. Sometimes you just have to accept that not everyone can let go of their past, and their time with you has come to an end. We all have more than one soulmate out in this world. Just because you've felt a deep connection with someone & lost it for whatever reason, doesn't mean you'll never have that again with someone new. You just have to be willing to not compare them and allow the relationship to flourish. Open your heart and enjoy the ride.

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Being Mindful

2011-12-07T22:26:00.001-08:00

I am on a quest to become mindful and live my life in the present moment. I have a tendency as we all do of living in the past or worrying about the future. I know that anything is possible if you set your mind to it, but I also know that it will take alot of energy and patience to attain this goal. I have chosen to go on this journey because I'm tired of feeling like I have to worry about what is going to happen in the future and what has happened in my past. I have learned from my mistakes and always try my best to better myself as best I can so I don't make them again. I have been practicing being in the "present" and enjoying the moment I'm in for a few weeks now. I have noticed that I'm more aware of my surroundings, people I see, listening when someone is talking, how I feel in certain situations and why. This is not easy since we live in a technology ran world. I could be driving and listening to music and enjoying my music and my phone will go off. Or I could be having a nice conversation with someone over coffee in the morning, enjoying the sounds of the birds and the cool air on my face, along with listening to them talking enjoying their company, and a loud truck will pass by, or one of our phones will go off with the daily morning text we receive from friends. I am starting to be more aware of what situations I can control and which ones I cant of remaining in the present moment and being mindful of what I'm doing. We're always going to have interruptions in life in most situations, but its how we handle it and what we choose to do that helps us remain in the moment that matters. For example, I went to the park with my daughter on Mother's Day and we played disc golf. We didn't use our phones and just enjoyed each others company and bonded. I think more people need to have that kind of intimacy with friends, family, and their partners. We let too many things get in the way of our bonding time with people. Back in the day when we didn't have cell phones, we just hung out with friends and enjoyed their company. Yes the house phone may have rang but we weren't sitting there talking to them while having 10 different conversations on our phone texting people. We're lacking that intimacy we once had with people and we're disconnected from our relationships. I believe we should take the time to be aware of this and decide this is "our" time and I'm going to spend it with you, being in the present moment. This is simple if you think about it. I once spent a whole weekend with my girlfriend where we didn't even turn our phones on. It was THE most wonderful weekend I've ever spent with someone. I think we tend to surround ourselves with a ton of people and text anyone and everyone all day to avoid being intimate, because it is a vunerable feeling. Just you and one other person..weather that be your partner, daughter, son, mother, brother..ect.. How much could we actually learn about them if we took that time to be in the present moment and gave that other person that time? It's quite a revelation to realize how much we put in between us and others. I don't by any means think I am better than anyone else for practicing this, and don't expect the people around me to do it also. But I will share in what I've learned and hope that they too can discover how much pleasure and happiness it can bring to their lives, how much more they could learn about a friend, partner, daughter etc...

Mindfulness has two important parts. This first part is defined as attentiveness and awareness of the present moment, both internally (what is happening inside of you) and externally (what is happening outside of you i.e. with others) The second part involves not judging, comparing, or evaluating the present experience as you observe it..

" Do you have patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?" -Lao Tzu

Here are some tips on being mindful:

1. Do one thing at a time. When your eating, just eat. When your bathing, just bathe. Don't try to knock off a few tasks while eating or bathing etc...

2.Do it slowly and deliberately. Make your actions deliberate, not rushed and random.

3. Do less. Figure out what's most important on your to do list and what's not.

4.Spend at least 5 min a day doing absolutely nothing. Just sit in silence. Become aware of your thoughts. Meditate by breathing and clearing your mind.

5. Stop worrying about the future, focus on the present. Become more aware of what your thinking. Focus on what your doing right now. Enjoy the present moment.

6. Keep practicing....

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My New Chapter...

2011-08-27T01:09:00.001-07:00

I have recently made a very big move all the way from Ohio to Las Vegas Nevada. Since I made this decision, I have not once felt scared to do this. I was nervous, anxious, excited, and intrigued... I came to Las Vegas in June to visit a very good friend and to gain a perspective of who I was and wanted to be. Within that week I had so many amazing things happen to me to lead me in the right direction. I discovered I am interested in Photo Journalism, I lost my fear of success, which held me back for far too long. I also became more confident in my ability to succeed and go after what my passions are. Without this unexpected last minute trip, I believe I would have discovered all these things, it would of just taken me a little longer. It's funny to me how when you step back and are conscious of what is happening in your life how you can actually see the universe working its magic for you. I have had doors close in my life while other doors were beginning to open up to show me where my new journey would begin. That is how I ended up in Vegas. I now live with the friend who I came to visit, who I am in debt to for giving me such an amazing opportunity in my life when I needed it most. I plan to write books, shoot amazing photography and show my work in a gallery here in town, and most of all live life to the fullest. I feel so blessed right now, words cannot express this absolute content, at peace feeling deep down inside of me.I am grateful to my very best friends Annie and Emily for driving across the country with me to help me start my new chapter. They are amazing friends that are my Anam Cara (soul friends) for life. I'm grateful that I have been an avid believer in "The Secret" and "The Power of Now". I truly believe our instinctual feelings can and will lead us to great things as long as we take a moment to listen when the wind blows. Take a moment and listen to your instincts...where is the universe taking you?Follow @heather_pratt74

"Anam Cara" The Friends of your Soul....

2011-07-04T12:07:00.001-07:00

For as long as I can remember I have always believed people come into our lives for a reason. Weather we ever realize that reason or not is irrelevant, but when you do open up your mind and figure it out its an incredible feeling. I have been blessed to have a handful of amazing people in my life that are truly the "friends of my soul". The kinds of friends that call at the right moment. I could be having a bad day and one of my friends will call me and turn it all around. I could be driving in my car and one of them will pop into my head and I'll get a smile on my face and the next thing I know they are texting me or calling me, and when I tell them I was just thinking about them they say the same. I might be in a dark place for a minute as we all are at some point and it seems like nothing will free me from it, and one of them will say something to me that touches me in a way and is almost like an awakening, and I completely come out of my funk. The type of people who come into your life and your having a conversation with sharing something your passionate about and they get the chills from the energy your giving off or visa versa...Incredible!! I am in an amazing place in my life right now and I have been able to step back and take a look at the people in my life that I consider the "friends of my soul" and I realize why and for what purpose each and everyone of them has been brought to me for. They all serve their purpose so to speak. I can only hope that I too can serve a purpose to my friends and bring them happiness and be there when they need me the most. I believe more people need to slow down a bit and be grateful for who has entered their lives and take the time to be in the moment with their "friends of their soul" and enjoy them to the fullest. :) I believe I have always known these people were special to me in some form in my life, but the place I am in right now has given me the insight to be able to recognize the true purpose of our friendships. Not all may recognize this in their lives and that may be because they are not in a place where they are even comfortable with their selves.
~In Celtic Spiritual tradition, it is believed that the soul radiates all about the physical body what some refer to as an aura. When you connect with another person and become completely open and trusting with that individual, your two souls begin to flow together.Should such a deep bond be formed, it is said you have found your “Anam Cara” or soul friend.
Your “Anam Cara” always accepts you as you truly are, holding you in beauty and light. In order to appreciate this relationship, you must first recognize your own inner light and beauty. This is not always easy to do. The Celts believed that forming an “Anam Cara” friendship would help you to awaken your awareness of your own nature and experience the joys of others.
The “Anam Cara” was originally someone to whom you confessed, revealing the hidden intimacies of your life. With the “Anam Cara”, you could share your innermost self, your mind and your heart. This friendship was an act of recognition and belonging. When you had an “Anam Cara”, your friendship cut across all convention, morality and category. You were joined in an ancient and eternal way with the “friend of your soul”. The Celtic understanding did not set limitations of space or time on the soul. There is no cage for the soul. The soul is a divine light that flows into you and into your Other. This art of belonging awakened and fostered a deep and special companionship. When you love, you open your life to an Other. All your barriers are down. Your protective distances collapse. This person is given absolute permission to come into the deepest temple of your spirit. Your presence and life can become their ground. It takes great courage to let someone so close. Where a friendship recognizes itself as a gift, it will remain open to its own ground of blessing….. When you are blessed with an “Anam Cara”, the Irish believe, you have arrived at that most sacred place: home. This bond between friends is indissoluble: “This, I say, is what is broken by no chances, what no interval of time or space can sever or destroy, and what even death itself cannot part”.
~ from “Anam Cara…Wisdom from the Celtic World“, by John O’Donohue

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Awakening to my lifes purpose

2011-06-09T20:31:00.001-07:00

I recently took a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. I completely went out of my comfort zone in so many ways. I only had $100 for the entire week. I stayed with someone I barely knew. Whom I became very close to. I flew for the first time, and alone at that. I knew going on this vacation would be an eye opening experience, but I honestly had no idea just how much. I have been wanting to go out to Sedona to visit the vortex's and feel the energy they hold. I tried not to have any expectations of something powerful happening to me as I surrounded myself by them. I'm very glad I went into this with no expectations and allowing myself to enjoy every minute of everyday. My first full day there, I experienced the Las Vegas strip which was incredible. The people, the amazing architecture, the lights, the food, and the entire ambiance of the city. On friday, I picked up my teenage girls and headed out to Sedona. It was a four hour drive but was very entertaining with them in the backseat. They are full of energy and quite the characters. We got into Sedona late so I had no idea how beautiful it was until I woke up in the morning. When I walked outside I was awe struck!. The view was absolutely incredible. Deep Red Mountains surrounded us in the valley. The weather was perfect. We decided to go out to Cathedral Rock and hike. When we started our hike it said 2.5 miles..not sure if we took a wrong turn but it ended up being a 4 hour hike. Halfway through the canyon we ran into a hiker that was very familiar with the area and said if we kept going it would be well worth it. So we trudged on. It was very hot and dry in the desert heat but I had been waiting over 10 years to venture here and was not stopping. When we finally reached the top of the mountain the view was so amazing I'm at a loss for words. The colors of the mountains, different shades and the trees was surrounding us. I could have stayed up there forever..If only I had more water!! Needless to say we only brought one bottle each which later realized that was a HUGE mistake. By the time we reached the bottom of the canyon I was damn near crawling back to the car. My mouth had never been so dry in my entire life. My skin felt like an alligator. On our way back to the hotel I started to get a headache, and my 13 year old already had one throughout our hike. We stopped for Alot of water :) Soon as we got into the hotel I crashed on the bed and began to feel sick. I unfortunately got heat stroke and was very dehydrated. I think I lost another 5 pounds, which I so can't afford. My friend, went and bought me some fruit cause I couldn't keep any liquids down and I ate a full bag of grapes. I woke up feeling much better, thank god! I wasn't able to see a sunset in Sedona but I experienced a sunrise :) We walked around the city and went into one of the many Art Galleries Sedona has to offer. I was blown away with the beautiful artwork made out of recycled material. I met an interesting woman named Ritza there. She had a very interesting life story to tell, and took to me in an odd but very comforting way. She felt compelled to give me her address and information and said if I was ever on a journey and needed a place to stay to give her a call. I felt a connection with her that is hard to describe. I feel like we meet people for a reason and plan to stay in contact with her. Who knows, maybe someday I will find myself on a journey back to Arizona and need a place to crash. So we left around noon to head back to Vegas. I felt kinda sad to leave. I definitely could have spent more time there. I had a great weekend with a new friend and my little girls, that aren't so little anymore. I thoroughly enjoyed their company. Last night in Vegas we went to the other side of the strip and then headed to the old strip on Fremont St. My eyes were buggin outta my head there was so much to look at it was a virtual overload. We gambled a little in each Casino and I won a bit which was fun. The slots were so old in one place I got paid in nickles :) During my two visits to the strip I saw a lot of homeless people and felt compelled to take pictures of them. But I didnt just want to take their pictures I wanted to know their stories, of why they were there and what happened to them to put them in that predicament. I then realized that I wanna be a Photo Journalist. I enjoy writing and telling stories and photography. After taking many different classes in college and changing my major a few times I finally realize this is something that really moves me. On my plane ride home I thought I would sleep since it was a 4hr flight. Instead, I ended up having a conversation with the man next to me the entire flight. We talked about everything under the sun and it was very interesting. He lived an amazing life and actually said that I had inspired him to start doing yoga. He also said I should pursue my dream because my pictures were incredible. That made me feel good coming from a complete stranger. I had a 3 hour layover in Chicago then hopped back onto my flight home. I ended up meeting another interesting man who told me he was an engineer and had no degree. He said its about the drive you have. He also said that he was thinking of a career change and talking to me inspired him to go for it. Life is too short not to go after the things you want out of it. So all in all I got exactly what I was in search of through this trip. It was an inner journey where I stepped out of my everyday life and experienced new things and figured out who I really was and not who everyone else thought I was or thinks I am. I got to know me again. When I came home, I felt unsettled. I didn't feel the inner calm that I felt when I was out there. I can't place it just yet. I am thankful for this experience and will carry the memories for the rest of my life. Not only did I have a handful of special people touch me in a way that helped me, but I also touched them in some way. That is what life is about. Inspiring others to look within their-selves and not holding them back or putting doubts in their heads about who they are or what they inspire to be. Now, my journey begins.....Follow @heather_pratt74

Choosing to forgive

2011-03-27T11:23:00.001-07:00

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

"Forgiveness is a form of realism. It doesn't deny, minimize, or justify what others have done to us or the pain that we have suffered. It encourages us to look squarely at those old wounds and see them for what they are. And it allows us to see how much energy we have wasted and how much we have damaged ourselves by not forgiving.
Forgiveness is an internal process. It can't be forced, and it doesn't come easy. It brings with it great feelings of wellness and freedom. But we experience this only when we want to heal and when we are willing to work for it.
Forgiveness is a sign of positive self-esteem. We no longer identify ourselves by our past injuries and injustices. We are no longer victims. We claim the right to stop hurting when we say, "I'm tired of the pain, and I want to be healed." At that moment, forgiveness becomes a possibility-although it may take time and much hard work before we finally achieve it.
Forgiveness is letting go of the past. It doesn't erase what happened, but it does allow us to lessen and perhaps even eliminate the pain of the past. The pain from our past no longer dictates how we live in the present, and it no longer determines our future.
It also means that we no longer need resentment and anger as an excuse for our shortcomings. We don't need them as a weapon to punish others nor as a shield to protect ourselves by keeping others away. And most importantly, we don't need these feelings to identify who we are. We become more than merely victims of our past.
Forgiveness is no longer wanting to punish those who hurt us. It is understanding that the anger and hatred that we feel toward them hurts us far more than it hurts them. It is seeing how we hide ourselves in our anger and how those feelings prevent us from healing. It is discovering the inner peace that becomes ours when we let go of the past and forget vengeance.
Forgiveness is moving on. It is recognizing all that we have lost because of our refusal to forgive. It is realizing that the energy that we spend hanging on to the past is better spent on improving our present and our future. It is letting go of the past so that we can move on. Follow @heather_pratt74

Love and believing in it..

2011-01-30T19:41:00.001-08:00

I'm a hopeless romantic, and always have been. I am that girl that felt all along that I had a soul-mate out in the universe somewhere and I would be drawn to them like a magnet. Love at first site. I believe...it exists! Some may argue that with me. Maybe it's because they have never had that moment where their eyes meet anothers and they feel something unexplainable. Cause let's face it, love is unexplainable in itself. We know we feel it, when we feel it but can't always determine why we feel it. Love can make you clinically insane, I watched a documentary on it. They showed two brains, one of someone who was head over heels in love, and one of someone who was clinically insane. They actually had the same brain activity going on.

Love can make us feel invincible which is an amazing feeling. It's almost like a constant high, and when you don't feel that anymore you actually go through some type of with drawls. Love has a power within us that no other emotion can quite compare to, in a positive way that is. Love gives us the power to accept, heal, be patient, comforts us, calms us, and can also protect us. The song love can build a bridge is very powerful, because it can. When you have been hurt in the past by someone, new love can rebuild that faith in loving someone and accepting love back into your life. This may be hard and take some work, but with love on your side, nothing can come in the way. Unless you let it. Love is finding that one person that you can't breathe when your not with them or having the thought of losing them. Love is having a ton of patience in situations that you don't understand. Love is not perfect and has ups and downs. I believe if things get tough its love that gets us through those tough times.

Love is not complicated. We are complicated beings. We make love complicated. We set high expectations for things, assume when we don't have an answer for the questions we have. When we finally get what we want out of love we want more. It's like a drug. We have insecurities that we question in our partners when we shouldn't.
We need to take a step back and look. be in the moment, instead of getting caught up in it. Take a step back and feel what your feeling. Realize how happy you may be, and be aware of why your happy. Take the time to appreciate this feeling and the person in your life that is making you feel this way. If we all stop and listen and feel once in awhile we just might be able to have long-term relationships that are healthy and flourish. After all that's what we all strive for...Right? No one wants to be hurt and we don't get into a relationship hoping for the worst. Be trusting towards your partner and patient. We're all different human beings and people are not going to act and react how we will to certain things. That is why we need to be accepting and give unconditional love. We don't fall in love with perfect people. We fall in love with people and start to see them perfectly. Love is an amazing thing! Enjoy it! Ride the wave of emotions that it brings into your life. Make it a healthy aspect of your life by taking notice and being in the moment instead of getting caught up in the moment.Follow @heather_pratt74
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That word we all know...Drama

2011-01-30T18:10:00.001-08:00

So the word "DRAMA" tends to aggravate those who thrive on it. It hits home with so many people nowadays, we all have some type of drama in our lives. Everyone's outlook on Drama is quite different. Some may say someone who is very boisterous and loud when they talk is dramatic, you know that one person everyone knows, that just the mere thought of them makes you roll your eyes? It's also the person you know that if you engage in a conversation with, your never going to get a word in edgewise because they always seem to have soooo much going on! Yet they'll tell you fifty times during the conversation that they have no time for themselves or to get everything they need to do done. Then there's the typical "Drama Queen" who loves to stir up the dust when things get a little to boring for them. They are the people who can't stand normalcy and need constant chaos around them to feel ok. When there isn't anything chaotic going on they are the one's who dig for something from others and exaggerate it or pass it on like a viral infection that just won't go away.

Alot of the reasons why we are all attracted to drama, some more than others, is because it gives us an excuse to forget about our problems. Let's face it, we all have important life issues that we are all dealing with on a daily basis. Letting drama into our lives gives us that smoke screen that let's us put off or ignore the real issues. Some people choose to have friends that are drama. They actually attract and are attracted to only people who are very dramatic in nature. I believe they are this way because it provides them with the excitement in their lives that they need, and the escape from dealing with their own issues. This is all at a safe distance also because they can cut it off when they choose to. It's kinda like the grandparents that love when the grand kids come over, but are glad that they aren't staying forever. So, according to their day they subconsciously choose which dramatic friend to engage in conversation with that day. For example, let's say there are problems at home and you just don't feel like dealing with it, and it's much easier to try and forget about it for the day. Well, this person would more than likely choose to talk to one of their friends who they know have something going on constantly. They know they don't have to worry about talking about themselves, because they won't get a word in edgewise. This also explains the actions of the dramatic person in our lives as far as them calling their friends who they know will listen to everything they have to talk about.

Essentially, at times, we are all drama. Some just more so than others. As long as we realize how we relate to this issue, and our need for the chaos that drama brings to our lives, we can live with it harmoniously. There certainly are benefits to decreasing the drama in our lives though. Here are just some of the benefits:

~ It can reduce the psychological stress that ultimately exhausts us

~It can create energetic space in our lives to be able to be more creative

~It can give you time to have a better outlook on what issues your avoiding, and you can focus on resolving these issues.

~It can make us free to live in reality

~It can lead to more honest relationships

~It can free up more time to start moving forward in your life

If these aren't beneficial enough reasons to try and reduce the drama in your life, I dunno what could help you. We all just have to get to a breaking point where we're ready to realize that we could be living better more meaningful lives.

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