No Day But Today (15/100)

Day 15 - It's time to live in the present.  Focus on today, not yesterday or even tomorrow.  Let's savor every moment of TODAY

One of my challenges in truly living in the moment of "now."  I tend to dwell in the past or spend too much time daydreaming about how wonderful my life will be in the future.  Those words - "will be" - are like an endless trap.  I cannot know with certainty what my future will bring.  All I can do is make good choices and help prepare for a beautiful tomorrow. 

Heavenly Father, I pray that you help me to savor all the beauty & graces you have given this day.  I ask that you open my eyes to the wonder that today brings. 


"No Day But Today" - from Broadway Musical, RENT

The Heart May Freeze Or It Can burn

The Pain Will Ease If I Can Learn
There Is no future
There Is no past
I Live this Moment As My Last

There's Only Us
There's Only This
Forget.Regret. Or Life Is Yours To Miss
No Other Road
No Other Way
No Day But Today

There's Only Yes
Only Tonight
We Must Let Go
To Know What is Alright
No Other Course
No Other Way
No Day But Today

I Cant control
My destiny
I Trust My Soul
My only goal
is just to be

There' only Now
There's Only Here
Give in To Love
Or Life in Fear
No Other Path
No Other Way
No Day But Today

My Body (14/100)

Day 14 - whoa...two weeks into this challenge!  My co-creator & dear friend, sent me this text message today:

"Day 14.  Remember that your body is on loan from God.  Treat it that way.  Find reverence & respect & acceptance for my body is the goal today!" 

Wow.  I seriously think that my friend should gather all her challenges for each day and compile them into a book.  I love it when I get to see what her specific challenge is for each day.  Some days I send her one of my challenges, but hers are always more eloquently written.  (She does have a writer's spirit.) 

It's time to really focus on taking ownership of my body.  It's mine.  It's awesome.  I should treat it as such. 

I am blessed to have a roommate & dear friend that is truly a believer in eating & living a healthy life.  She is doing wonders for me & has really inspired me to eat a more balanced & nutritious diet.  She makes the most delicious weekly meals and I never have to worry if what I am eating is bad for me because I know that she has found a recipe that has only the best & most healthy ingredients. Now, I just need to continue to incorporate the proper exercise into my lifestyle & I will be golden.  I also feel that respect for my body deals with how I present it to the others.  It is also in how I dress and I allow others to treat my body.  It's about not only creating a body that is beautiful, but also one that is respected. 

Never Stop Exploring (12/100)

A simple shoe box that states a profound message. 

Day 12 - well, 12 is a pretty big number.  There are 12 months in a year - this the year 2012.  And, Jesus had 12 apostles - so this number is no ordinary number.  Today was not too profound for me.  I was able to catch up on some sleep, meditate, read more from The Happiness Project & helped some friends move out of their apt.  The items listed appear simple and mundane.  But if you read between the lines, I was able to rest, connect with part of my inner-self, add to my understanding of my personal happiness and give back & help out a friend.  It was a rewarding day.  Plus, my dear friend made me the best brunch.  We had carrot & cornmeal pancakes, sweet chicken sausage & fruit.  So, I also got to spend sometime with my roommate - which was an added bonus!

This shoe box message has given me more inspiration to explore within myself as well as within my own home & also within my own city.  DC has many areas to explore.  I need to use my time and explore more of this city.

Top Ten (10/100)

Day Ten.  I am 1/10 the way through my Reality Challenge.  Let's make this a day for Top Tens...

Ten Things That Make Me Happy:

10. jazz music

9. drinking wine with friends

8. laughing so hard I cry

7. sending someone a card

6. giving a close friend a hug

5. making someone else laugh

4. snuggling
3. dancing

2. theater

1. my family

-----------------------------

Ten Things That Happened Today:

1. had 90's music mix playing at work

2. our office got a pizza party as a thank you

3. watched "Midnight in Paris"

4. had a coworker tell me I had a lovely phone voice

5. drank a glass of wine with dinner
6. was told that I had on a lovely outfit by several coworkers

7. talked to a friend about her visit to LA & Vegas

8. laughed with some friends at work over silly things
9. talked to lots of patrons...got one very excited about getting tickets to "The Music Man"
10. ate a piece of cholocate before bed
----------------------------------
Ten Words To Describe My Reality Challenge:
1. Co-Creator
2. Breath
3. Courage
4. Depth
5. Insight
6. Self
7. Realization
8. Worthy
9. Treasure
10. Exploration

Highlight the Goddess Within (Day 8/100)



Day 8 - Highlight the goddess within.  Connect with your own spirituality...your core being.  Especially since today is the first day of Lent (a reflective period lasting 40 Days &40 Nights leading up to Easter), use today to connect with yourself & your savior. 

Today is Ash Wednesday - I attended the 12:10pm mass at The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the service was beautiful.  I was then called into work because the Sales Office needed some extra help.  I knew that the ashes were going to still be very vivid on my forhead & I was curious what the response would be from my coworkers.  I am was amazed at what the ashes smeared on my forehead in the shape of a cross triggered from people.  One woman, who I had never met, saw me walking down the hall and said aloud to the person she was talking to, "Oh right, today is Ash Wenesday."  One of my friends at work, specifically came up to me & said, "Look at you being a good Catholic."  And what I found to be the most fun was seeing 2 other coworkers with the ashes on their forheads too!

Day 8: I use prayer to connect with God and focus on the power of Lent and now will  use my 100 Reality Challenge as a way to grow even more in my lenten journey.  Lent is my journey with Christ and my Reality Challenge is my personal journey to better myself. 

Appreciate Art & Beauty (Day 6/100)

My roommate/dear friend & I walked over to The National Portrait Gallery this afternoon.  It was such a delightful walk and a glorious day.  Even though it was a bit brisk at times, it was still practically perfect.  I very much enjoy the Portrait Gallery because of its vast amount of art and the variety that is showcased.  Plus, it has exhibits that rotate - so really you are able to see new works and yet have the comfort of knowing certain favorites will always be there. 

For example, two of my absolute favorites:

The Great Picture By: Albert Bierstadt

Aurora Borealis By: Frederic Edwin Church



Both of these paintings are of landscapes - but appear to encompass so much more.  It is the colors and the way the paintings appear to illuminate from within.  Their beauty radiates of the canvas.  I enjoy being outside and find myself intensely conntected with serene landscapes.  I am often struck by the beauty of mountains, the ocean and the stars.   

It is a joy to be able to go to a museum - a free museum - and spend time just "being" around art.  I know now that when I need inspiration for another play or the like, I will walk over to the gallery and just spend hours in the view of these. 

Day 6 - I am grateful for museums, this beautiful day, my roommate/dear friend & to live within walking distance of art. 

Attracting Positive Things (Day 5/100)

How to attract positive things? By: Lilou Mace

 Here is a great video - you will here French woman, Lilou Mace, talk about how we can attract positive things.  I am really liking getting to know Lilou more and more through her videos.

Day 5 - focused on cleaning my room and "decluttterring" my space.  With a clean room, I can now be less anxious and will sleep better.  Rule #1 Always put away your clothes.  Greateful for my clean room, the clean air I breathe & the clean water I have access to drink.   

Here is a New Age Rug design by Dan Golden

My Happiness Project (Day 4/100)

Hello Day 4!  I am going to add to my reading list - The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  This book was recommended to me by my lovely roommate and dear friend.  It seems have been around for a little while now.  I am looking forward to incorporating the thoughts and ideas explored in this book along with the things expressed in the 100 Day Reality Challenge.  I will add in some innovative quotes and merge it with own incites I have found.   

Such a thriving point in my life - I get to read, learn, explore and create.  Plus, I am not even on this 100 Day Reality Challenge alone.  I get to share in this journey with a dear friend. 

What I have found to be even more encouraging during these past four days is that everyone I have told about my reality challenge has been overly supportive!  It's great knowing that I am working towards surrounding myself with people who not only care about me, but are willing to listen to my happiness goals.  If anything, it is giving them a new look on their own life. 

"There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy."  ----Robert Louis Stevenson

Fresh Start (Day 1/100)

 I am open to the idea of what the next 100 days will bring in my 100 Day Reality Challenge.  I am ready to send out my intentions and take action to bring about a new and empowered self by May 24th!

It's Day 1 - I am up and energized...about to do a whole apt deep cleaning (I always feel better when I am in a clean house, don't you?)

For now I am excited to see where the next 100 days takes me and how I can use the power of positive thought and focus to impact my life...

100 Day Reality Challenge

Ok, so here's an idea I have for the next 100 days.  Starting tomorrow and going until May 24th, I will be partaking in the 100 Day Reality Challenge!  Please visit http://cocreatingourreality.com/ to see the website and read more about this facinating project. 

Basically, for the next 100 days I will:
1. Focus on an intention - something I different I want in my life
2. Take steps to make this intention happen
3. Bring out positive thought, mediation &/or prayer to help guide me
4. Surround myself with positive people, events & things that will help be fulfill my set intention
5. Journal, blog, tweet, facebook, text, post to my new pinterest page, and possible video blog to share/grow deeper in my journey

It may sound trippy - but I think it is worth a try!  I am so glad that my dear friend ask me to join her on this epic journey.  I mean, what else did I have planned for the next 100 days?  I might as well work to make my life richer and more engaging.  One of the creators of this movement, Lilou Mace, talks about having a "juicy" life.  What a fun image!  Just a life more full of flavor!  A life you can sink your teeth in - a life that is savory & tasty.  A life you can truly enjoy! 

I will be posting updates on my journey and I hope you will check out this project/program and give it a try.  Let me know if you do!  

And...we're off...reality challenge...I accept!

More Than Just A Color

Ladies & Gentleman - you do not want to miss Arena Stage's production of Red by John Logan!  It has been extended through March 11th.  Hurry...

This masterpiece is more than a look into the life of artist Mark Rothko.  It is more than simply a tale of a painter and young boy who admires his work.  The play exemplifies one of the arguments that the character of Rothko makes within the script itself - he argues that his paintings are living and he compares them to children.  These paintings live and breathe.  And as such, the best way to experience John Logan's work is to share in the same air as the actors - to breathe with them and watch them bring to life the words of the play.

The play is not for the those looking for something light, silly and carefree.  This is quite the opposite really.  You will  be pushed to think and rationalize.  I find the direction to be brilliant and I admire the director and actors allowing for moments when the play simply is.  There are moments when the actors are mixing paint or taking in the art on the canvas.  I admire life on stage - the ability to not rush and to just live.  To some, these moments feel slow and without cause.  I could see that it might take you out of the world of the play... maybe the director in me is coming out, but I live for watching actors on stage doing the simple and mundane. 

The title suggests words synonymous with other things that are red - one might think of hearts, strawberries, tomato soup, a crayon, parts of the sunset, etc. 

The title might seem simple or uncreative. 

This play is so much more.