Just do it..

Just do it...no I'm not talking about the shoe commercial, I'm talking about doing something just because.  Send flowers, bake cookies, write a letter, whatever, practice random acts of kindness and do it without expecting anything in return.  It's one of the nicest feelings, in my opinion, to do something for someone out of the blue, just because you want to and then see their look of surprise after it's done.   It doesn't have to be anything major or costly, sweep a neighbor's porch or take their trash can in for them one evening, share your flowers with them. Whatever the gesture may be do it with the expectation of..nothing in return, it's a selfless act of love and giving and that is what makes it even more important. When you do something with the expectation of getting something back, then I feel that you diminish the importance of the act, you aren't doing simply as a kind gesture, you are doing it because you have an ulterior motive, you want to be recognized by that person for what you have done, and you want to be noticed by them, and that kind of cancels out the selfless nature of the act. The thought of knowing that you helped that person out or made them smile should be thanks enough and should be your payment.  I've been able to do this recently and was able to help out two good friends of mine, kind of like a mini domino effect, simply because I was willing to do photography work for one of them and accept a trade instead of a payment to help the other get something they had be wanting for quite awhile, all done very quietly and with minimal people involved, it doesn't need to be a big production, the whole world doesn't need to know about it. (I told you all to show an example of how you can involve more than one person, I won't give names or any other details, they aren't important). I didn't think of myself, instead I was willing to give up payment and pass the benefit over to someone else.  So you see, even multiple people can benefit from one kind act.  Next time you see someone you know take a minute to think what you could do to make them smile and then, if you can just do it, don't expect anything in return, go on your way, and alot of times you find that you end up being rewarded in ways you didn't expect or imagine.

In the Grand Scheme of Things...

One moment, a split second in our entire life and it seems to last forever.  The hardest things in life are the things we may be experiencing right now, and all we can think of is how badly we want to be done with them.  I know that is how I feel.  2012 has arrived and I am still dealing with leftovers of 2011 and I so want to be done with them! Things I need to close the book on.  I feel like my life will forever be consumed by these things and how huge they are.  In the grand scheme of things, when I take a step back and work to put them in perspective I realize that although they are important and they do have to be resolved they are only as big as I allow them to be. I name them and recognize them and then work to resolve them and it takes some time to do so, some of these issues have been years in the making and they will not be resolved in a few days or months, or at least not to my satisfaction.  I am trying to learn how to live my life in a grateful and purpose filled way, not taking for granted the important things and trying to give back to those that have given to me.  Easier said than done but it's important to me to recognize those people and events that mean alot to me and have made me a better person, and I am finding that as I work my way into doing these things I am met with resentment from people in my life, I guess they are more of the selfish mindset than I am.  To me, if you look at the big picture that is your life it's important to recognize the bad with the good, both got you to where you are at this very moment and it's what you do in your next steps, and the next actions that you take that will help set your future path. In the grand scheme of things everything is connected good to bad, past to present and present to future and when something seems overwhelming try to remind yourself that whatever it is will only be a part of your life and that you have the power to overcome the bad and turn it into something good.  Our life is made up of many parts and it's up to us how we put those parts together and what we do with them.   Be yourself and allow the best of you to help others when, maybe, they aren't at their best and could use a little nudge to pick up the pieces and try again.

I Am Perfect...Perfectly Imperfect!

I am perfect...perfectly flawed. Our quirks and habits are what makes us so interesting and unique. If everyone were just like the next person then imagine how boring the world would be. Exact replicas of the person before us and the person after us, the same generic attitude and lifestyle?, nah, I don't think so! give me different and interesting please! Instead I choose to live my life the way I want to(or as much as I can), with my quirks and my habits, that is what makes me uniquely and completely me. I have tattoos and curly red hair, I can cuss with the best of them and I cry over sad movies and books, I'm a coffee addict(especially mochas) and I have a unique way of stretching out on pier railings fully clothed, just because. Do those things make me a freak? nope they make me, me. I am what I am, nothing more, nothing less, just me. You can accept it and enjoy life with me or you can point your finger, laugh and walk away, your choice, not mine. I love who and how I am, I love sharing my life with people that mean alot to me, and I am tired of trying to change myself to suit others' opinions and expectations of me, so if you don't like me how I am then keep on movin', nothing for you in my life and you probably couldn't handle it anyway. I believe there is a saying that goes"If you can't handle me at my worst then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best" I agree with that 110%, Accept me for me including all my uniqueness and quirks, if that is what caught your eye and kept your attention then why would you want to change it? Never settle for being a copy when you can be an original! I'm all about the whole "square peg in a round hole" idea, same 'ol same 'ol is boring. It has taken me many years to perfect my originality, and I'm still working on it, and many years of being something I'm not, trying to please people that can't be pleased, and I started to realize that it's not my fault and I can't expect people to accept what they can't or won't understand, and then I started to realize I wasn't good at being a fake, trying to mold myself to others' expectations depressed me and kept me out of sorts, so it's time to be an original, if it means some people can't handle it, then I suggest you head for the nearest exit, if you think you can handle it, and you want to be part of an adventure then I suggest that you tighten your seat belt and hang on, 'cause it's gonna be a hell of a ride baby!!

How do you know....

Words, a look, a certain touch, smiles exchanged just because? how do you know he or she is "the one"? sometimes you know from the start, it hits you like a bolt of lighting out of the darkest sky, the chemistry is instant and strong and things explode and ignite, you've found "that person". Perhaps you may already know someone, and are really just starting to spend time with them and one day, for no reason, you think of them and it's like fireworks, just the thought of them brings a smile to your face and warms you from the inside out, and catches you by surprise; these feelings kind of sneak up on you like a ninja attack and you are completely unprepared, and at a loss at what to do about them. Confront them, or ignore them? if you ignore them you will always be left with the "what if" syndrome..what if I followed my heart would I be with "the one", would I be happy and content? If you confront them then you run the risk of having your heart broken, of confessing your feelings to the other person only to have that person not feel the same about you and running the risk of having that person leave your life.  It's up to you, take the chance or not, no one can answer that question but you. "That person" will make you feel like you are so very important to them, they know when to hold you close and also when to let you go.  They'll cheer for you and encourage you, but they also know when you need a butt chewing or a smack on the side of the head so to speak. They let you grow and stand by your side, never in front of you, or behind you, but beside you. They are the warmth you long for on the coldest days, the softest of touches when you are hurting, and the shoulder to lean on when you can't continue on your own.  They walk softly upon your heart, linger in your dreams, and slip quietly through your thoughts.  They won't complete you, they will complement you, and in the most wonderful of ways.  When you've found "the one" you'll know, because they will, without you even knowing it, make you feel things you've never thought possible, and in the most subtle of ways, help you to become a better you.  One day, hopefully, we will all have a chance at finding "the one", those that have congratulations, and for those of us that are looking or have found the one but can't be with them for whatever reason don't give up, it will happen,  don't lose faith in your heart.

Why I'm so damn good!... interesting bits o' information about redheads

Just a fun little post today regarding redheads, we are often misunderstood, stereotyped and thought to be something we really aren't, but we are unique and worth getting to know, and... "if you're lucky to have a redhead as part of your life then you're pretty damn lucky!!"- T.Haraga

 a recent study from the University of Louisville determined that redheads really do require more anesthesia during surgery.

In medieval Europe, the infamous witch-hunting manual, Malleus Maleficarum, instructed that red hair and green eyes were marks of a witch, as were freckles.

There might actually be some truth to the myth of the lustful redhead. A recent study by a sex researcher in Hamburg, Germany found that women with red hair had sex more often. Another survey in England duplicated those findings, and reported that redheads had sex an average of three times per week, compared to twice per week for blondes and brunettes. For these studies, it didn’t matter whether the women’s hair was naturally red or dyed red. (Of course nothing is better than the real thing, just sayin')

Of all the women who color their hair, 30 percent choose to become redheads—more than the 27 percent who go brunette and the 26 percent who go blonde.

Some famous fiery redheads include Queen Elizabeth I, Galileo, Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon, and Vincent Van Gogh. More recent redheads include comedienne Lucille Ball and birth control pioneer Margaret Sanger.

The above bits of information were via the website divinecaroline.com

 Red hair is the rarest type of hair color in the world, only 1-2% of the population boasts red locks

In the late 16th century, the fat of a redheaded man was an essential ingredient for poison

In Greek Mythology, redheads turn into Vampires when they die.

 Red hair doesn’t gray as much as other hair colors. Red hair initially tends to turn blond and then white.

According to Playboy magazine, “Redheads are like other women—only more so.”^c

 In Egypt, redheads were buried alive as sacrifices to the god Osiris

The above information is courtesy of facts.randomhistory.com

Quotes about redheads:

"Blondes are wild, brunettes are true,but you never know just what a redhead will do!" unknown

"Once in his life, every man is entitled  to fall in love with a gorgeous redhead!"
                           Lucille Ball, 1972

"While the rest of the species is descended from apes, redheads are descended from cats." 
Mark Twain

"A trucker will slow down for a blonde, stop for a brunette, but he'll back up 500 yards for a redhead!"  uknown

 " If you want trouble... find your self a redhead." Anon.

"There is more, much more, to being a redhead than the color of one’s hair." (G. Adam Stanislav, red-haired photographer) 

"Gentlemen may prefer blondes, but it takes a real man to handle a redhead." anon

The above quotes are from various and assorted websites, credit has been given when available 

Lessons Learned by Walking Away

I think the hardest thing a person can do is let go of someone they love or really care about and watch them walk away, knowing that for whatever reason it wasn't meant to be. Sometimes people are part of our lives' for just a short amount of time, and regardless of how badly we want them to stay they slip quietly away when we least expect it, like the softest whisper, their purpose fulfilled in our life. Whether it's a marriage, a close friendship or any other type of relationship, having to turn that person loose, especially if they were within a closer or more intimate part of your life can be a very hard thing to do.  Seeing that person walk away from you and leave your life can leave a void that may not ever be filled, it can leave you questioning yourself and wondering what went wrong and if there could have been something done to prevent it, it hurts, and it stings and sometimes, when you least expect it, it makes you feel as if your heart, the one you shared has been thrown back in your face. You may experience hurt, anger, denial, several different emotions, you go through a grieving process of sorts and then you realize how much that person meant to you and over time you start to focus on the good memories, the times that made you smile and laugh, remembering these times may hurt at first, they may make you cry and you may just want to forget everything you can about that person, but over time it gets easier, not easy but easier.  It's a part of your life that happened, it helped to get you where you are, honor it for what it was, and is, try to make peace with it, and if you can't do it in person then in your heart and soul wish that person well, sometimes we learn the most, and grow the most when the things and people we thought we could never live without are suddenly gone and we are left with nothing but pleasant memories and lessons learned.

    

My Meaning of the Holidays

Haven't posted in a few days, been trying to deal with some issues of a personal nature. I'm back though and going to start this week of with a Christmas themed post.

The holidays can mean so many different things, some look on the Christmas holiday as purely a religious celebration, others look on it as one huge party extravaganza,  I'm not one to judge anyone but I'll share what the holidays mean to me:

The holiday season, right now in reference to Christmas is a time for me to reflect back upon the year and remember all the things that have happened, both good and bad.  It's a time to be more conscious of my surroundings and of those who are less fortunate than me and to take those extra steps to help those in need.  I try a little harder to make time to be with my family, slow down a little bit and enjoy the smaller things in life that I may not normally take time to do, laugh a little more, smile a little more and enjoy what my life is at this present moment.  Nothing is perfect, this is true but I can enjoy the good things even more and try to look at the things that aren't so good and take a mental inventory of them, decide which ones are worth trying to fix and which ones need to be turned loose, and I have a good mix of both.  I have been blessed with some amazing new friends this past year and with the exception of just a few, I truly hope I will be able to continue to call them my friends in the upcoming years and that I will be able to see them as often as possible. 
With the good comes the bad, it's the balance of life, and unfortunately this year I have met some people who have entered my life but who must go because I've decided that for whatever reason they do more harm than good and I really need to simplify and get rid of the poison in my life, an ongoing process but something I'm working on. 
The holidays are an amazing time, a chance for us to find our inner child so to speak, or create one if necessary, it's a time to fantasize a little, dream a little and enjoy the good parts of life. I would suggest to everyone that they set a "holiday mission" to do something this holiday season they've never done, make it fun, do it yourself or include your family and if it works for you incorporate it as part of your holiday traditions.