Fall Resolutions 2014

Why do we wait around all year for the New year to arrive so we can make our 'New Year's Resolutions' list?  Why don't we resolve to make the changes throughout the year, as WE change?
Is this what your list ends up looking like?

NOT my list, found this on Google!

 I came across an old article from Forbes Magazine about resolutions and what caught my eye was the title...'Just 8% of People Achieve Their New Years Resolutions.'  The article hits the nail on the head about why.  Our resolutions are too broad, like 'Lose Weight' or 'Eat Better.'  And while those are great things to strive for they are so broad that we can easily lose focus.  Who wants be part of the 92% of Americans that apparently give up or forget about their grand plans?

Not me!

I have been making a lot positive changes in my life lately and setting all kinds of new and exciting goals.  I am really learning that you are never too old to start something (well, most things) and I think that should be true for resolutions too.  So I am starting my list of Fall Resolutions 2014 and I plan to succeed in accomplishing them and staying on track for the next 3 1/2 months of 2014.

Curious about what #1 on my list will be?

Stay tuned while I work on my list and in the meantime why don't you get started on yours!?!
***if you want to read that old Forbes article, here is the link.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2013/01/01/just-8-of-people-achieve-their-new-years-resolutions-heres-how-they-did-it/

September 11 Thoughts

Today of all days, September 11, is the perfect time to remind yourself to live in the moment.  To focus on what is real and what is important.  To follow your dreams and to do the things you are passionate about.  Why wait?  In the words of Garth Brooks "I'll never reach my destination, if I never try" .  Its just been the past month that I have come to the realization that you truly are never to old to start.  And you don't have to wait for New Years Day to start working on resolutions to improve your self, your life, your world.  Start NOW.  Start today.  And you may not will not succeed at every step, but each stumble, each failure means you are trying.  It may not happen today or tomorrow, but little by little you can make it happen!!

So today as you reflect and grieve in your own way, try to to keep in mind this thought.  If those people who died that day, or because of that day could come back and give you one piece of advice, it would probably be something along the lines of 'live in the moment' or 'do what you love, what makes you happy.'  Lets all honor those souls by taking life by the horns.  Get out there and do what you love, what makes you happy, what makes you a better person because those around you will feel your glow and maybe one by one we can make the world a happier place!

Lessons Learned From Seaglassing

About 8 years ago I discovered my first piece of sea glass on the beach in Bimini, Bahamas where we visit often.  After quickly finding a few more pieces I quickly found that I had a new obsession!  I began teaching Riley to walk along the shore and pick up the pieces of shiny colored glass.  We worked as a team combing the shore and him walking along side of me as I snorkeled close to shore picking up piece after piece.  It wasn't long before Riley caught on to tossing back the pieces that weren't quite ready.  Obviously, the girls became interested too...being that we were looking for pretty, colorful, shiny things to collect!  And now, we still walk along looking, but now everyone looks 'a little deeper.'

Even Taylor dives down for it!

How could you not get addicted to this?

Found.

Of course, Mollie gets side tracked by other things...

But finding a pretty Conch Shell surely isn't a bad discovery either!

A few years ago we started talking about the 'life lessons' we could learn from our sea glass hunting.  So here are a few:

1. Sometimes the ocean gives and sometimes she takes.  {We often find these beautiful treasures, but if we don't grab the opportunity quickly enough or if we are careless in the way we handle the opportunity, well, the 'ocean' (or life) may just sweep the treasure back out to sea.}  And when this happens, while its frustrating, we need to accept the loss and move on...and learn from the mistake.

2. Just because something is pretty & shiny from a distance doesn't mean that its going to be good enough to keep.  Some pieces have the prettiest color, but the edges are still jagged and rough--those pieces need some more time to improve and get smooth.  Which also leads us to #3...

3. Don't settle for just any piece of sea glass.  {Quality over Quantity is a tough one for the little ones to grasp!}

4. Patience brings reward.  We have learned that if you are patient and persevere that you will be rewarded with a big beautiful piece.

5. And like Mollie and her Conch shell up there....sometimes the thing you were looking for isn't what you needed after all!  Don't be so focused on a single thing that you lose sight of the other opportunities around you.

A 'small' collection of our sea glass finds and one of my favorite pictures of Riley hunting