Got SeCrEt?

ShhHhh . . . prOmiSe nOt tO TeLL?

Dear FunFree(imperfecKt)Peeps,

I have had fits of perfection off and on all my life. Still do. As a matter of fact, something about my perfectionism has recently got my attention in a BIG WAY.

BACKSTORY: Sometimes, I like to manage my emotional life by keeping all the yucky stuff to myself; for example, when I'm struggling, sad, frustrated, overwhelmed, or anxious about anything, in particular--or about LIFE, in general. So, things build up . . . DUH . . . and then my feelings and fears end up spewing in a not-so-planful or pretty fashion. Not pretty. 

And, I can't possibly get support from the people who love me if they don't know what's going on. The EGO part of me believes that it's better if people think I'm FINE and I can handle everything--like SUPERWOMAN, right?

Not.

So, I have made a commitment to myself and my loved ones to be more transparent about my TRUTH, knowing that sharing my pain or frustration does not make me needy, it does not mean I wish be rescued, and it doesn't make me a BURDEN or a VICTIM. 

It just IS.

In the past few days, I've shared a lot about the tough spot I've been in, and it has pretty scary. But I have been surprisingly relieved. 

I have felt a huge weight lifted from my heart by shedding a layer of my perfection, asking for a little time, and resting in the presence of loving friends who have listened with patience and compassion.

I am (im)perfeCktly human.

After all, amazing stuff as well as my wobbly spots are all part of what makes me, Me: Dana Lynne Curry Bradach . . . and I can't  celebrate the great stuff and hide the ISH . . . cuz' the ISH is what needs transformation and is the awesome Growing SPOT.

I need to shed light on ALL parts of me--and especially those scary wobbly parts of ME need to bask in the yummy light so they can be transform, heal, and re(a)l-ease. Get it?

aCCePt it! (pOOp & ) aLL . . .

dEar fUnFrEE pEE(ps) and poOp(S) and pUps!

I played with two of the yummiest sdoG:Gods one summer! Cody--a super chunky monkey Golden Retriever--and his little sister, Ginger--a spunky thang who was gnawing on my hands (and Cody's tail and ears!) throughout the night! What was so interesting was that when Ginger was "playing" with Cody, it was super clear when Cody'd had enough--he put the total squash on her and pawed her in the face (then it would start over, of course. . .)!

I totally believe that dogs are in our lives for a reason--they are SUCH a metaphor for life! Well, I suppose all animals are, but dog is god spelled backwards, SO THERE!

AnY-hOo---the Pooper Scooper Factor reminds us that with the yummy, amazing stuff of life . . . comes, well, the SH!+ ! You know, the total cRaP-oLalalalala!?

And it's really okay . . . cuz without the dark, we wouldn't know the light (and vice-versa). And we can't appreciate awesome stuff, if we never experience hardship or pain. It's all part of the jOurNeY, yO.

aNd . . . it's part of the great balance of life and growth. 

And really, sometimes, when we are in the total depths of the crap-ola---we know it can only get better . . . (and ain't that a relief?)

LeSsOn LeArNed: pOoP is pArT of LiFe . . . & everyone dOeS it! Why fight it?

HeArTs!--
d-to-the-D-dog

Trust the Timing of the Universe

“Even when you think you have your life all mapped out, 

things happen that shape your destiny

in ways you might never have imagined. ”

― Deepak Chopra

hEy aLL!

One thing that has been getting my attention lately is the fact that THINGS ARE NOT ON MY TIMELINE . . . (huh? I thought I was in cOnTrOL . . . not). I mean, I can have the best plans for any particular day, and then shIzzLe happens and what I thought my day was going to look like tOtaLLy changes@!!$%^

But that’s okay . . . I’ve learned to go with it . . . well, most of the time . . .

What’s nOt oKaY and what makes me absolutely mIserAbLe, is when I can’t go with the flow. In other words, I can’t be mAd at LiFe for not happening MY WAY (or the highway . . .) —which brings me back to . . .

LeTTinG Go . . .

gOiNg with tHe fLoW of mY beAutY-FULL LiFe

and LeTTinG Go(d)

(or the Universe)

be in charge

sToRy oPPorTunitY: One day two summers ago was going to be pretty complicated. I was supposed to have a meeting, pay bills, go to the doctor, bLaH.BlAH. bLaH! --and when I started feeling overwhelmed, I cancelled an appointment at 1:00 at my school so I could get some breathing room and hang with my kids. Well, in the morning my kids reminded me that they were going to help me set up my classroom anyway, (I teach 8th grade English - - -YeaH!). So, we headed to school.

Well, about a mile from my school, my engine light went on and my car jerked suddenly. My kids were freaking out, (and so was I . . . but they didn't know it, 'cuz I'm the grown up, right? and I can fake it . . .). I know that my oil change light started going on a couple of days ago, but I was secretly kind of ignoring it until my kids were with their dad (I don't like to run errands when I have my kids). Another thing that mad me anxious is that I didn't want to be late for dropping off my kids at their dad's (I hAte being Late!).

A few blocks away was an oil change station, and it happened to be three blocks from my school also, so I drove (heart beating . . . well, POUNDING!) into the station and told the guys that my light went on, and I needed an oil change.

Guess what! They were super nice, told me they would change the oil and do a diagnostic on my car and call me when they were done. Meanwhile, we walked to my school, set up my classroom, and I even got to meet my teaching partner for a few minutes!

So, here's what I was reminded of: The timing of the Universe is much better than mine. Here's why (note secret gratitude list that I actually said out loud in front of my kids):

• My light went on at the perfect time--
• not when I was traveling hundreds of miles last weekend
• not on the highway this morning
• but thankfully 1/2 mile from my school-
• I could take care of the oil change and get my schoolwork done
• I could walk to school with my kids
• I was able to meet with my teaching partner--aWeSomE!
• I was able to role model gratitude with my kids!
• My kiddos got to their dad's in time for lunch! Yeah! 

Funny thing--I actually would have been SUPER SMART to plan it JUST THE WAY IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED . . . but guess what? The timing still worked out perfectly without me being in charge of it! Thanks Universe!

WheW! I'm gonna stop working so hard . . .

HeArts to yOu!
SuPer LuCky giRl (aka dana)

Hmnnnn . . . that's a number . . .

06.12.17.

The Number

I had a synchronous event a month ago when I was picking up my dog Teddy from getting a furcut. A woman beside me was also picking up her dog, and she had her hoodie on inside out. Because I am true to my women-folk, I told her about it because it was something I myself would do, and because I would want someone--even a stranger--to tell me.

She laughed, and shared that she had just moved her family here and was in the middle of unpacking, and that she had picked it up off the floor and just put it on before rushing out the door to pick up her rather large pup.

I admitted that I, myself, had slept in my outfit, and we began to chat more as we walked outside.

No coincidence that we are both bloggers, and each of us in our own way blog about spirituality, and the human condition.

And she lives about 2 miles from me. Her name is Sheila Qualls and she has an amazing story. Read about it at SheilaQualls.com.

Hello new friend! Welcome to my tribe!

Anyway, as I read her blog this morning about weight, it resonated with a conversation I had almost 30 minutes earlier with one of my besties, Alana. Here's the backstory:

I had back surgery last fall and was down for about three months after experiencing severe sciatica to the point where I had been crawling around the house last summer for almost 4 months--I literally could barely walk. It was a huge blessing, but also entailed a huge recovery, and I missed my job as a teacher so so much.

Long story short, I have put on almost 20 pounds since my surgery.

There. I said it.

And my body feels weird and foreign (but thank you, God, pain free). That's the gratitude. Anyway, I finally weighed myself this morning, and even though I have lost about 5 pounds, when I was talking to my friend Alana, I shared the number with her almost like I was going to confession--with shame, and an expectation that I would be in the doghouse (don't know from whom . . .).

Shame is interesting.

But when I shared the honest number with her, she said, "Hmnnn . . . that's a number . . .". And that was it.

WHAT THE HE(LL)CK?

And she then was the most supportive and beautiful friend I have ever experienced. Love you, girl!

About a half an hour later, Sheila's blog showed up in my mailbox. Read here: Sheila Qualls. It's a blog about women, weight, the media, and shame.

Coincidence? I think not.

Can't wait to walk our dogs together tomorrow and deconstruct. What a gift! I am so grateful.

In Memory (I am) . . .

Memorial Day

05.30.17.

Hey there,
I've always had a tricky relationship with Memorial Day . . . and, sometimes, well, LIFE. Jeesh . . . (don't tell anyone . . .)

Meaning: I live in constant negotiation among the past, present, and future.
It's my sister, Shelley's, birthday next weekend, and my mom and my sister are going to both my dad's and my brother's graves today.
It's just so messy--the grave thing followed by the birthday celebration thing. It's super jumbly to me--kind of like life, I suppose. I may just join them for the lunch part . . . not the grave visit part.

Confession: I've only been to my dad's grave once, and he died over 25 years ago. The time I went, I crumpled to the ground and scratched the dirt and wailed out loud. It was one of those things that was both euphoric and debilitating. After awhile, I strangely ended up "watching" myself in the dramatic movie version of visiting my dad's grave, and felt oddly detached--and I had to be careful that I didn't add it to my story of "what has happened to me," if you know what I mean. He had already died, and I was having a fit at his gravesite-- and I need to be done with adding to my story, my war wounds.
It just gets boring.
I can picture myself telling it over and over and BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
Give it a rest, already.

Flash forward additional confession: I have only been to my brother's grave once-- on the day of his funeral; the day he was buried. I haven't seen his gravestone.
I figure I'll know when the right time is to go there, if ever.
One thing I do know for sure is, that he's not there. He's actually on a beach, or by a campfire, hanging out with our dad.
They're both smoking and chillin' in their Speedos.
Having cocktails. Lucky bastards.

What I know: My life is here on this planet, on this plane. In the present. And I am so grateful to be where I am NOW.
I try to stay present and in relationship with those who are smack in front of me. And I do honor my past, and attempt to stay open to whatever possibilities the Universe may hand me in the future.

But for now, I am going to nap with my dog, Teddy, and my amazing partner, Keith (aka K-dog).

This is happening FOR me (not TO me), NOW!

Amen.

DOG is GOD spelled backwards:sdrawkcab!

Pick Me!!!!

Teddy (2 years ago)

05.21.17.

My daughter and I watched A Dog's Purpose yesterday--what an amazing movie! I am so so lucky that Teddy, our yummy Cavapoo, found us online two years ago.

So, what's the deal? What is it about DOGs that makes them (wo)man's best friend? And, do you find the fact that DOG is GOD spelled backwards a coincidence? 

Well, you already know how I feel about that . . .

We humans can learn a lot from DOGs; here are some reasons why I believe DOGliness is next to GODliness:

• Life is simple for dogs: eat, play, sleep, pee, and poop. No drama, whatsoever. Wouldn't it be great if we could live like that?
• Dogs are present, like, as in, they live in the moment. Have you ever seen a dog with regrets? Or worry about where to take the next nap? No way!
• Dogs follow their instincts. Like, when a dog is tired, it just goes to sleep . . . doesn't matter where---car, sidewalk, lap (more about laps later . . .). And, if a dog gets a bad vibe from a person or another dog. . . it barks! 
• Dogs are forgiving. I don't know about you, but I've never witnessed a dog who holds a grudge. When something happens, a dog just moves on to the next thing!
• Dogs are loyal. They have your back. They will protect you and stand by you. Have you ever heard of a dog leaving home or breaking up with its owner?
• Dogs listen. (. . .without interrupting you, unless they're giving you little doggy kissies . . .). They will hold space for you while you cry about your stupid breakup or your crappy algebra test . . . (they also understand that your parents don't get it a lot of the time . . . true dat cuz dogs just give you that knowing dog look).
• Dogs accept what is. Dogs aren't haters. They don't care what brand of clothes you're wearing or whether you sit at the cool lunch table. They also don't care what mood you're in or if you have morning breath.
• Dogs love and serve. Dogs are full of gratitude and joy. Basically, a dog's job is to hang out, be present, enjoy life, and receive and give love. In other words,  

 Just be(Love)d! 

What if that's all we have to do, too?

Love and be(Love)d?

What if life is that simple?

Just sayin ' . . . Woof!

Let it Rain . . . Let it Be . . .

“For after all,

the best thing one can do

when it is raining

is let it rain.” 

―Henry W. Longfellow

This morning as I was driving to work it began to rain. I noticed that I felt calm and comforted--almost relieved--by the soft falling drops on my windshield. I didn't even turn my wipers on, and I opened my window to feel the wet spring raindrops in my hand. Amazing!

I've always loved rainy days. 

There's something, well, snuggled in about rainy days . . . (and snow days, too). They sort of give us permission to turn within, take care of ourselves, and listen to our inner whisperings.

I was reminded of a sunny day one summer when I was walking around Lake Harriet with my daughter, Chloe:

We had gotten about half-way around the lake, when a light rain shower began. It actually cooled us down very nicely, and Chloe and I just kept walking, hand-in-hand.

I remember smiling at the other people who were walking around the lake-- a knowing smile, like we were the lucky ones to experience this soft hum of rain on a hot summer afternoon.

Then, it started to rain harder . . . and harder. I noticed those who were walking started very quickly toward their cars, and people who were biking, rollerblading, or running--alone, in pairs, or with their pets--began to go faster and faster to get safely out of the wet rain.

I wasn't sure what to do . . . Chloe and I were still almost a mile and a half away from the car. We both started to complain to one another, and then we went under a tree for some shelter from the rain--and then something in me shifted. As I watched people scatter to get out of the rain, I realized Chloe and I really had no choice but to finish our walk around the lake . . . IN THE WET, COOL, AMAZING RAIN.

And, we could either complain about it and continue in complete misery, or we could step out and  fully experience and celebrate the gift of rain.

"This is awesome!" I laughed. "Now we don't have to take baths tonight!" I winked at Chloe, pulled her out from the under the shelter of the tree, and we skipped out into the rain.

We jumped in puddles, sang songs about rain, raced and ran in the downpour--and noticed people smiling at our ridiculous antics.  

Forty minutes later, we arrived at our car TOTALLY drenched and thrilled. There is grace in simply accepting WHAT IS, and I learned something about shifting my thoughts that day (even though I didn't realize it until this morning) . . . these moments happened organically, and come from a place larger than our egos; they emerge from deep within our spirit, the place that knows the this truth: We are born to experience joy, and that depends on how WE choose to experience life--ALL OF IT. 

Thank GO(o)D(ness).

How have you shifted your perspective and experienced joy? How have you accepted the moment for WHAT IS?

Lucky us,
;) Dana 

Message from the Uni-Verse!

Dear Ones--

Have you ever noticed that the right message from the Universe seems to arrive exactly when you need it? You can probably see the card I got this morning from one of my besties, Alana.

I feel really stressed and pressured by all of the expectations I put upon myself. This morning I opened a manila envelope with this message: 

YOU ARE

EXACTLY

WHERE YOU

SHOULD BE

YOU ARE DOING

EXACTLY

WHAT YOU SHOULD

BE DOING

I was relieved to get this reminder. The (not so) hidden message for me is this:

• Your best is good enough.
• You don't have to be perfect.
• You have enough time.
• All is well.
• Breathe.

I often get caught up in running around like a crazy person . . . but in the next couple of days, I am going to try to jUsT bE instead of dO. Try to enjoy the relationships I have, and be grateful for the time well-spent with those I love. The gifts don't mean so much, after all. What I want to give most is my presence--I think that's the best present of all.

Coming Full Circle to Chris's Grave

Lakewood Cemetery

05.05.17.

"Go to your fears, sit with them, stare at them.

Your fears are your friend,

their only job is to show you undeveloped parts of yourself
that you need to cultivate to live a happy life."

- Jackson Kiddard

One thing I noticed when I was at Lakewood Cemetery trying to find my brother was, well, my fear. I experience fear in my body first through a wave of tiny pin pricks that start at my face and move down to my feet--along with a kind of heat. It also feels like adrenaline.

This feeling, I realize, is only present the moments before I face whatever it is that terrifies me at the time. So, at Lakewood, I felt it moments before I drove through the gates . . . and then it went away as I drove around looking for the pond. I was just fine, and even content and happy.

And then the feeling came back right when I saw the pond that marked I was near my brother's gravesite. Of course, as I moved closer to the water and circled around, the feeling subsided again--until I actually got out of my car and started looking at the grave markers. I was terrified that I would actually find it, and in my mind I would dramatically throw myself down wailing and scratching in the dirt like a crazed woman in a bad movie.

But as I looked down at the names and the words--brother, father, mother, sister--the fact that all these souls were laid to rest at this lovely place struck me as beautiful. I felt honored to read the names and rather than feel terrified of finding Chris's tombstone, I felt a calm sense of curiosity as I meandered through the grounds.

This morning I read a blog by Madisyn Taylor called "Coming Full Circle," in which she writes:

When we come full circle there is the feeling that we have come to a familiar place
but we are somehow different.

I remembered the day of Chris's funeral, trying to recall the exact spot where he was buried, and I looked down the path to see a newly covered grave piled over with black dirt. Beautiful flowers surrounded the plot, and I was reminded of the circle of life, and the divine timing of it all. I felt honored to be in this strangely familiar spot, and quietly blessed all who rested there.

I realize that the fear place is not really the thing I fear--it is the before place, the place where I sometimes linger before I face what I think is the scary part, and of course when I linger the fear gets bigger. Truth is, once I am there at the fear place, I am okay. I can move past it. This past three years has been quite a journey, but I am coming full circle. I'm not scared anymore.

I will go back to the cemetery very soon--sooner than later. And I will go to the office and ask for a map to help me find Chris. I will bring flowers, a blanket, a good book, and a chunky glass of wine. I will toast the life of my beautiful brother, and bless his soul for traveling on this planet for 49 amazing years. 

Plant Some Seeds . . .

"When you get dumped on, plant some seeds;

it makes great fertilizer."

~Guru Singh

Click on this link to read about amazing Duckweed, a plant that grows on the face of--you guessed it--CRAP! It not only grows there--it absolutely thrives! If you've ever heard of the phrase, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" Duckweed surely takes the idea of making the best of things to the next level.

In the past years, I've been reading the work of Guru Singh, a yogi, teacher, writer, composer-musician, shaman, ordained minister, and healer. I eventually was led to some of his really amazing podcasts--about some Kundalini yoga classes he led. 

One of his stories goes like this:

A group of grownups were around a kid who was amazingly positive about EVERYTHING. They couldn't believe it (those silly grownups!), and so they locked the kid in a room 8-inches deep with manure to see how he would react. After an hour, they opened up the room, only to see the boy digging around in the poo on all fours. He looked up to the grownups and said, "There must be a pony here, 'cuz this shit's fresh."

This story reminds me that whatever meaning we assign to a situation becomes our reality. This boy, in the midst of pile of crap, is awaiting the prize pony. Can you imagine holding space for the "best of all possible worlds" (from Voltaire's, Candide) - - even when the package isn't pretty? Even when it looks like total SHIT?

We can all intentionally decide to look for the pony, after all. 

Just sayin' . . .

The Shadow Proves the Sunshine

05.01.17.

It's hard sometimes when we are stuck in the shadows to realize that wherever we put our focus becomes out reality. If we realized that we simply need to turn our face to the sunshine we maybe wouldn't be so attached to the shadow--

Sure, we would still know it's there, but our attention would be elsewhere, basking in the light.

Sometimes, the light can be blinding if we aren't used to looking at it--and if we look at it straight on, it can bee too intense, and burn. But we have to take baby steps . . . and protect ourselves along the way.

It takes intention and presence to look toward the light. And the irony is, that we also must appreciate, acknowledge, and honor the shadow in order to move to the light . . . without shadow the sunshine cannot exist.

In our human existence, we simply cannot experience joy with out its shadow, which can come to us in broken relationships, sadness, major life changes--the things in life that can bring us to our knees.

But that's the point; it's how we grow. And we can be grateful for all of it, because the sun cannot exist without the moon, and we cannot see the moon without the darkness.

If we can get large enough and get out of the particulars, the weeds of our existence, we can begin to imagine the grand scheme of the Universe with gratitude and humility. But the weeds are part of it, and they can be part of the beauty of our existence.

I never knew a dandelion was a weed until the grownups told me to pull them from the garden. 

When I was a kid, I thought dandelions were beautiful pockets of sunshine on Earth; I used to watch their yellow faces follow the sun moving through the sky, and I collected them into the most delicate, ribboned bouquets.

The balance between light and dark, sun and shadow, can by a tricky navigation. Pure momentary presence honors both, and our challenge is to accept wherever we find ourselves with full attention. It's not an easy task, but it's often the resistance to shadow that keeps us from moving and breaking through into the sunlight. But don't underestimate the function of the shadow; after all, the shadow proves the sunshine.

rEsIsTanCe iS fUtiLe; aCcEptaNcE iS PreSenCe!

Star Trek: Resistance is Futile

When you become defensive, blame others, and do not accept and surrender to the moment, your life meets resistance. Any time you encounter resistance, recognize that if you force the situation, the resistance will only increase. You don't want to stand rigid like a tall oak that cracks and collapses in the storm. Instead, you want to be flexible, like a reed that bends with the storm and survives.

Completely desist from defending your point of view. When you have no point to defend, you do not allow the birth of an argument. Someone once told me, "The past is history, the future is a mystery, and this moment is a gift. That is why this moment is called 'the present'."                              

~Deepak Chopra

Dear FunFreePeeps:

Most of us have experienced another person persecuting us, verbally; in other words, people are talking s#!+ about us. It's interesting how we humans do that to each other. And guess what? It meets some serious needs for the person who is talking s#!+.

Let's take a closer look:

• If I talk about you, I take the spotlight off of myself and what it is about ME that I need to change, shift, or look at.
• When I focus on YOU, I ASSume I know what's in your head and what you need. SUPER-DUPER LIE! 
• If I talk about being "worried" about YOU . . . I am ASSigning meaning to your life which is frankly, . . . NONE OF MY dA(m)nG BUSY-NESS . . . 

Which brings me to the idea of BUSY-NESS.

Have you ever noticed that people who are focused on the business of others do not look at their own business, and they create more and more BUSY-NESS out of their own habit of keeping up with what's going on with everyone else? 

It's okay. Like I wrote earlier, this is a need-seeking behavior. We all have a need for significance and belonging, and sometimes we feel significant when we have "THE (made up) GOODS" on someone else, and we stir the pot to create chaos and deflect focus from ourselves and our own stuff. HOW Convenient. Thanks, Church Lady (Dana Garvey from SNL). CLICK BELOW!

For those of us who have done this (and I, for sure, am guilty . . .) I invite you to kindly and firmly KNOCK IT OFF, and

LOOK IN THE MIRROR:RORRIM EHT NI KOOL 

People, frankly,

do not want to get sucked into your

s#!+STORM;

(note poop-brown color)

it's not interesting,

it's draining,

and it lacks integrity.

For those of us who have been the recipient of such diatribes:

• RELAX. Breathe. It's not about you!
• As Chopra said, DO NOT DEFEND YOURSELF. "Completely desist from defending your point of view." Everything in the Universe is energy, and in these situations, we need to conserve our energy for ourselves. Defending takes your energy away. 
• Know that this is need-seeking behavior (not about you) and try to have compassion for the person who persecutes you; remember time when you have done the same.
• LOVE YOURSELF EVEN MORE--WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU. Here are some ideas that work for me:
• take a salt bath.
• exercise.
• change your environment.
• meditate (don't medicate . . .)
• write.
• scream into a pillow.
• rest.
• watch your favorite stupid show.

What are your feelings and thoughts about these emotional VaMpIrES?  How do you handle them in your amazing Life?

Let us know in the comments!

MonSTer (but not vampire) LovE!

Dana

cHooSe your POWERful tHouGHts . . .

“There is nothing either good or bad, 
but thinking makes it so.”

~Shakespeare

Dear FunFreePeeples!

Last night I woke up at 12:30 and never really got back to sleep. My mind was taking over my body,  . . . hELp!

ALIEN INVASION!

This is what happens when I actually listen to my thoughts and believe them--especially when they are negative or self-critical, or they have to do with my past or worry about my future . . . 

      they get bigger

                     and BIGGER

                             and BIGGER

until they literally take over my brain and body!

I have to remind myself that I am in charge of my own thoughts and beliefs. My perception of the outside world is nothing more than a projection of my inside world, a projection of my inner world, my fears, doubts, struggles, my own darkness. Here's another amazing quote about our thoughts and feelings:

"You are not your mind, your emotions or the circumstances of your life. You are the peaceful observer of your mind and emotions that allows life circumstances to pass through and around you for your evolution to finally come to a place of total acceptance of all that is. Only the peaceful observer remains after all else fades away. Only the peaceful observer in total acceptance of what is can take action towards effectively changing anything. You are only this peaceful observer--everything else is as fleeting as the blink of an eye, choose happiness and don't buy into it." 

- Jackson Kiddard

We can choose to blame the world for our unhappiness, and our our lack of abundance and inner peace. Happiness is our choice and our responsibility because ultimately we choose our own thoughts, our own beliefs, and our interpretation of our own life events. If we are too busy focusing our time and energy on what is wrong, we may be putting our attention to the wrong stuff.

When we choose to see the many incredible things that take place every day in our world across the world, our amazing relationships  in our lives. And, when we choose to accept all for WHAT IS, we can be at peace.

Which brings me back to (of course! you guessed it!)

ACCEPTANCE & GRATITUDE.

So, to get myself of my brain and thoughts, I am going to meditate and begin a gratitude practice by silently saying thank you to all that is in my day.

Thanks for reading! Hearts!
Dana