if you imagine less, less will be what you undoubtedly deserve.
do what you love, and don't stop until you get what you love.
work as hard as you can, imagine immensities,
don't compromise,
and don't waste time.
start now.
not 20 years from now,
not two weeks from now.
now.
- debbie millman
(thank you, vanessa, for sharing this lovely quote with me. xo)
something about saying-it-out-loud is motivation.
"i am going to post every day for a month."
so i did. (almost)
and it was hard. but worth it.
i am shooting.
every day.
and that is one of the things that fills my heart like nothing else.
so i am going to do it again.
this time, looking for the magic of the season.
the small moments that make my day.
the real reasons that make me say "life is good."
join me?
you can post your entry in
in the comment section.
share your magic.
spread the love.
c'mon.
fortieth birthday celebration.
turkey harvesting.
egg collecting.
hair infused with campfire smell (one of my favorites things ever).
sailor jerry rum.
and cousins.
mix it all up and create a shindig on the best little farm near the mason dixon line.
(fyi: fun does run in my family…)
#naphopomo day 24
#naphopomo day 19.
one day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice.
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"mend my life!"
each voice cried.
but you didn't stop.
you knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
it was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
but little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world
determined to do
the only thing you could do.
determined to save
the only life you could save.
"the journey" by mary oliver
in my inbox today, a timely email from "a little bird told me":
Dear Beautiful Girl,
That thing that's been lingering on your mind, burning in your heart...that scary beautiful thing that you can't get out of your whole soul because it wants to be heard and acted upon........guess what lovely? It's not going to go away.
It's not going to go away because it's the deepest wisdom and authenticity of you trying to get you on exactly the right track. It is your truth.
What would a leap of faith look like? What is it that is holding you back? Would it be so bad just to take that first step? Would it be so bad to stop and really honor yourself and at least listen to that longing?
This is where your choices will make every difference in the world. This is where the fork in the road just might lead to the place you've been praying to be.
Get quiet, dear friend.......listen closely....then be brave when you know exactly what to do next but can't quite get the courage to do it. Be brave and go for it, then do it again. Live THAT ONE PRECIOUS LIFE OF YOURS....really really live it.
It is time.
You are so very beloved.
xoxo
wise words sent to me from my old roommate, ed,
who used to fill our apartment with lovely smells of
butter, melted cheese, creamy sauces and stews, baked goods
and chocolate everything.
to ed, it wasn't good unless it had at least two sticks of butter in it.
and boullabaise? *drool* don't get me started.
we would stuff our faces and wash it all down with a coke.
(you have to say "coke" with a baltimore accent)
xo i love you, ed.
HOLIDAY EATING TIPS
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare... You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission..
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand and wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
Note: This holiday eating advice not condoned by health professionals.
fourth grade students from watkins elementary school in d.c..
video credit goes to the washington post.
this video made me cry,
for the loss of a great leader;
for the pride these children have;
for the hope of peace.
we have come a long way.
we still have even further to go.
the hateful, racist comments that were left on this site
sicken me.
it saddens me that there are people, of all color,
who are raising their children to think that
racial prejudice is something that needs to continue.
there is hope,
as can be seen on this clip,
that our children will carry on the dream
of dr. king.
spread the word.
walk the walk.
open your heart.
it's never too late.
just when i think i cannot hear
one more sad story;
when it seems like there is just so much
bad in the world,
i read this.
go on...click it. it is a short read.
jen lemen's words
about her trip to rwanda, to visit odette's children,
help me remember the power of sisterhood.
it reminds me that, if you listen to your heart
and do what is right,
then we really can make a difference.
so funny.
not liam.
not even anyone i know.
but my goodness...these kiddos are aDORable!
