small inspiring quotes – Page 4

Roatan Time.

Our luggage managed to get to Roatan a day after we did, and we were told that the luggage would be delivered at 2:30pm. 2:30 came and went, and at 5 we decided we should do something. A quick drive to the airport, and there was our luggage sitting in the office. They had intended to deliver it the next morning at 10:30! I guess Roatan time is different than what we are used to. Everything here can happen, manana (tomorrow, or the next day…) The point is, there is no rushing on this island. Where we are from, time is money and there is always a rush to get things done. We rely on things being on time so that we can get everything we need to done. Rush, rush. Stay on time!

It is interesting to have the pace of your life slowed down to the crawl of a hermit crab. Certainly not what we are used to, but it is a change that I could get used to.

Ryan and I are trading off sleep in days on our vacation, and this morning was my turn. I had the best sleep, and I woke up feeling refreshed. The sun was shining when I got up, and the kids were already in the pool. It felt like it was at least 11 am. To my surprise, when I looked at the clock it was 8:00 am! Poor Ryan… the girls were up at 6 am with the sun! But time is all relative, and it is a matter of perspective. It really didn’t matter what time it was, I felt great.

And waking up on a Monday morning without the rush of my usual busy lifestyle feels amazing.

Take some time, even if it is 5 minutes, to refresh yourself and your body. Stop the hustle bustle in your own body by savoring 5 minutes of calm and peace. Rushing all the time in your life causing an increase in adrenaline, which is a fight or flight response. This can make you feel more stressed all the time, even when you’re not! Take a break, breathe, relax and refresh. Namaste!

Adventures in Roatan, Day 1.

Today marks the first day of our well-deserved family holiday in Roatan, Honduras. Yesterday, my 4 year old, Payton and I practiced running around the house with her backpack on, pretending that we were going to miss our flight. I wanted to make sure that she could handle carrying that bag by herself, and she did great!

Our vacation this morning started with a 3 am alarm, which one never minds when it means that you are off to somewhere special. The morning in Calgary was spectacular, and watching the sunrise as we took off into the air for Houston was spectacular. Interestingly, a freak lightning storm delayed our arrival, and we landed in Houston with mere minutes to spare to catch our flight to Roatan. Good thing Payton and I had practiced! We had to run like we have never run before to make that flight… but we ended up making it. Our luggage, however, did not make that flight! We are all praying that our swim suits and clothes show up tomorrow.

The swarm of bats dining at the hummingbird feeder and the sound of the waves crashing made me somewhat forget that I may be wearing the same set of clothes for a couple of days. And hey, I may just get a chance to buy another new bathing suit… (and one for Ryan, and Trinity and Kayley and Payton…) Who needs clothes anyway?

It’s all in the perspective. Enjoy every moment of every day. Most events that seem stressful are really laughable afterwards. Laugh at them while they are happening, and it will remove a lot of the stress. Cheers from Roatan!

Value your network.

Do not underestimate how important your network is in your life. Ensure that you maintain every relationship in your life, no matter how small, or infrequent your interactions are. Keep your relationships positive and upbeat, and never leave things negative if it can be helped.

You never know when you will need someone to help you out, or when they will need your help. It really doesn’t take long to connect with people. A quick phone call or email will keep you in the forefront of people’s minds, and you never know what they will have to tell you when you do check in! You do not need a reason to check in with your network. All you need to say is that you wanted to touch base with them and see how everything is going. Is there anything you can do for them currently? Are they doing well, and prospering? How is their family? Reach out to as many people as you can every day. Your network is the key to reaching your goals, and the information and assistance that you need is already waiting for you in your network. You just need to start searching for it! Ask questions, provide information, and be generally compassionate and interested. You will find what you need quickly, and it will seem like magic.

Start using your powers today to get everything you need. Rock your network!

Out with the Old, In with the New

A few weeks ago, I cleaned out my office thoroughly, did all of my filing and got my desk looking neat and sweet, and I pumped up the good energy of my desk using Feng Shui. In just a few short weeks, I have moved out of that office, and yesterday I officially welcomed someone new to that office! Gotta love that turn around!

Clear out the clutter in your life, keep things organized and do not hang onto too many things. Keep it simple. Let go of the old, unused, unwanted stuff in your home, and in your life, and you will immediately make room for new, exciting things. Get ready for some change! Namaste.

Why I love Sundays.

Oh Sunday! How do I love you? Let me count the ways.

Once we had children, “sleeping in” or reading a book on the weekend seemed to disappear. But we were missing it! Thankfully, my cousin Julie taught me the value of sharing the weekend days with your spouse in order to garner some time to yourself.

Essentially, you take turns having a “sleep in” day. When it is your sleep in day, you are allowed to stay in your bedroom until 10:30 or 11 without any interruptions to do as you please (sleep, read, do yoga). The following day, it would be your responsibility to get up and take care of your home life. Saturday is now Ryan’s sleep in day, and Sunday is mine.

Find more time for you. You’re worth it.

Together we are strong.

Last week, my oldest daughter Trinity came home from school with an interesting story. It was cold outside, around -5 degrees celcius (23 degrees farenheit) and the fire alarm went off. This was not a planned fired drill, so everyone in the school was evacuated, from grade 1 to grade 8!

No one had jackets on, and some kids didn’t even have their shoes on! Trinity told me that they all had to share socks with a boy in their class who had no shoes on when the fire alarm went off. Trinity is in grade 2, and she told me that lots of kids in her class were crying and were really scared.

So, what did this group do to survive and stay calm and warm? They huddled. The grade 1’s class was the first to gather in the center, and then the grade 2’s surrounded them. The grade 8’s were on the outside of the huddle, giving their strength and experience to the group. Just the thought of this reminds me of how penguins survive the winter!

Imagining this group of students huddling together warmed my heart, and reminded me that together we can overcome anything.

As it turned out, the fire alarm was pulled by a grade 1 boy who will forever be remembered for it. And Trinity was excited because she got to see the firemen (that’s my girl!), and her classmate got to give one of the fireman a high five. There’s always a bright side if you keep things in perspective. Namaste.

Have Goals.

On Sunday, our oldest 2 daughters had music recitals for piano and violin. In the morning, when I reminded Kayley (who is almost 6) about her piano recital, she said “Yeah! I’ve been waiting for this day my whole life!”

Ah, perspective. No matter how old you are, you need to set goals. And you need to get excited about achieving those goals. Always strive to reach your goals, no matter what those goals are. Remember, your goals are personal. Stay excited about your life, and your dreams. And when you reach your goals, reward yourself and then set bigger ones. Conquer the world one small goal at a time. Namaste.

Know when to hold them.

Grab on to a little inspiration from Kenny Rogers…

You’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run

In life, there will always be opportunities, and situations, that arise. You have got to assess things intelligently as they come up. Emotions will get in the way of logic, and you need to be able to trust your gut, and the Universe, to know what to do next. So, how will you know what to do in a given situation, or what to do when an opportunity is presented? First, seek out as much information as you possibly can. If the information you need comes to you easily, then you are likely on the right path. Use the information to help you make a good decision. Ask others with the right experience, and learn as much as you can. If you are taking actions, and having trouble getting ahead with an opportunity, don’t fight it. There will be times when no matter what you do, doors keep getting slammed in your face. This is the Universe’s way of telling you to move on. Try something different. For whatever reason, it is not meant to be. You have got to let go of the emotional attachment that you have with the opportunity, or situation, and give something else a go. When it is right, things will seem too easy and things will happen smoothly. You will feel calm and happy and peaceful. Hold onto those opportunities. And run, don’t walk, away from situations that you know are not healthy, or that appear to be the wrong path for you.

Hindsight is always 20/20. Don’t look back and say “I should have known sooner”. Listen to yourself, look for signs from the Universe, use your intuition and you will be much more confident in your decisions. Namaste.

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

“To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”
Buddha

Make your body a priority by feeding it healthy food and lots of water. Give yourself 7-9 hours of sleep a day. Add some activity to your life. Having a healthy body that is strong and rested will ensure that you feel calm, relaxed and happy. Boost your confidence by maintaining a healthy body. Namaste.

If you want it.

“If you want it, here it is, come and get it. But you better hurry ’cause it’s going fast”. -The Beatles

You know what you want, and it is there waiting for you. Don’t make it wait too long. Go get it NOW. Namaste.

Happy Holidays from Be That Books.