The gift of appreciation....*

I think that sometimes we put down things that we have in our lives, even if we have it good, because it makes us feel guilty or selfish for wanting more. So the only way we can justify the "new" or the "better" is to make it seem as though what we have now isn't good enough so we HAVE to have that new or better in our lives to be happy. But when we get in this cycle, it becomes an endless cycle. The "new" and the "better" are only labeled as such because they are not ours. Once we acquire them, we once again begin to see the flaws in it, looking for all the reasons we need to be going after the new "new" and the better "better". We do it with clothes, things, circumstances, and most tragically, people.

Appreciate what you have. Know that you have amazing things, people, and experiences. Reach for more because you want it or because you enjoy reaching, but don't do it from a place of lack.... or that is exactly what you will find more of when you reach your destination. 

Reach for abundance, love, life, giving, kindness, charity.... reach for the moment, because after all.... There is no gift like the "present". 

...must be the puppy chow...

The "good life" *

WHEW! I love racing against the clock and winning  Finally off to bed ladies and gentlemen, and tonight I will leave you with this:

The "good life" does not come to those who wish for it the most. It does not come to those who despair in the fact that they do not have it. It does not come to those who think all of their problems will be solved by having it, or to those who thought that one circumstance is all it would take to create it. The "good life" does not come to those who think what they have is not good enough, nor does it come to those who think they will never amount to anything so they never try. It will most certainly not fall in the lap of those who think they deserve it without working for it, and absolutely will not come to those who begrudge those who already earned it.

The "good life" is the life you create. It is in the hugs from family, the long walks with the dog, the deep belly laugh at the best part of a good movie. It is also in the tears shed over a lost friend or pet, the feeling in the pit of your stomach after a bitter defeat, or the hot tears of frustration after working yourself to exhaustion. There is an old saying by one of my favorite philosophers, " Most people don't run far enough on their first wind to find out they have a second." You must work for the life you want, be good to the people around you who have helped you get this far in your journey, and most of all.... learn to appreciate the bad as much as the good. For it is the tears that make the smiles worth while, the loss that makes the having so joyful, and the defeat that makes the mastery overflow with pride.

Your biggest obstacle, greatest challenge, worst enemy, and greatest ally lies right in between your own two ears. The only limits that are real are the ones you believe in. The only boundaries you have are the ones you set for yourself, so do yourself a favor and set yourself free. You will find out that your life was the "good life" all along, and the only one that could give it to you, was you.*

... must be the puppy chow ...

Race for now*

Some days you just feel like you can't keep going. The race is too long, the training is too hard, you are just not equipped to continue. It feels as though you have done everything incorrectly, fumbled and fraudulently gotten to the point you are now and any day you will drop the ball and be found out for what you really are.... unworthy. It is hard to chase your dreams, push for your goals, and give up the now for the later.

Some days you get too caught up in the should haves, the what ifs, the could have beens. You forget what you are worth, what you can accomplish, where you can go.

Live in the moment. Stop, breathe, and be right here, right now. Look around you... find something to be thankful for. Become ultra present in the now, not thinking about tomorrow, not thinking about later... just be. Feel your heart beat. Hear the wind blow. Take your shoes off and walk in the soft grass. You're alive. If your journey was over, you wouldn't be. As long as you are, use it, do it, be it, chase it, achieve it, enjoy it, feel it, embrace it, be thankful for it....

All you have is now.*