what we all cry about and want

   I am no newby to the "love" scene and I'm sure none of you are either. I mostly always here songs about love and nothing else. So when I hear a song that talks about "keeping your head up", it's rejuvenating and feels so new. Although, some of those love songs I can really relate to. Why do artists sing about love all the time?! Even Justin Beiber, when he barely started out, was singing about love and he was like, what, 12 years old??(totally being sarcastic, I'm sure he was a little older than that hahaha). I think it's because we can ALL relate in some way to what these artists are talking about. I don't have any advice on how to overcome the pain of heartbreak because everyone takes and sees it different. For example, when my last boyfriend broke up with me, I was sooooo devastated that I would wake up and hope that it was a dream and then when I realized that it wasn't I would instantly start crying. This went on for quite some time. He was my "first" so this breakup tore me to pieces even more than any other "relationship" i had in the past.
   Well, while all this was going on, someone told me, "The best revenge is moving on." I was thinking, "how is THAT revenge, he's just gonna forget about me and move on, duh." I understand what my friend was talking about now. When you're hung up on an ex, they get to still "have" you without committing themselves back to you. Why should they have their cake and eat it too? When you move on they'll feel jealousy almost and wonder who you're with and what you're doing and why you stopped texting them all the sudden. They even sometimes come running back to you! In my case, this didn't happen, he just split. Would never text or talk to me HAHAHAHA Which I can accept because in the end, I'll be happier without that jerk and so will you!
   But to get back on subject... we do have other problems in our lives that our favorite music artists could sing about. Like for us girls, why  not sing about NOT needing a man especially if he's gonna be a douchebag. Listen to Sara Bareilles "King of Anything" song. It's so awesome and empowering. She put a new spin on love songs haha looooove it :). I've had the void filled with my relation to love and whatnot but what about body image? Oh, that's a big issue with me...(will explain in another blog when I get up the courage). Another thing, I just thought of this but love songs also give us HOPE, not the heartbreak ones, but the lovey dovey ones haha Those make me so happy... :)

   Life is good, with or without a man/woman. Let things happen as they may but NEVER let anyone take advantage of you no matter who they are. Take off your shades and see who they really are, BEYOND the cute face and BEYOND that gorgeous smile. Don't be afraid to call out all their bullshit. You'll look like a badass and put them in they're place! hahaha and you'd be saving yourself from a lot of confusion and heartbreak.
Then, you can keep on walkin' tall.

I must admit something....

   So, everyone(radio, the news, some people i work with) was talking about the world ending today at approximately 6...well it is now 6:40pm and I'm still here talking to all my lovely readers, I have a pulse and everything! Hope you're all well too! :) Anyway, I gotta admit, my heart pounded against my chest when I heard continuous conversation about this and the thoughts that ran through my mind were, "what if it does...??? I don't wanna die!" I am soooo gullible! If someone told me they saw a 6ft spider with purple polka dots walking down the street, I'd probably believe them! hahaha Ok, maybe not to that extreme but pretty close.
   With all this hype about the "end of the world today" it got me thinking about all that I have and everyone in my life. I started to feel this joy and love that was really strong. And I also started thinking about the media and how awful it can be and misleading. All this talk because of ONE person and his followers...? I feel ridiculous even WONDERING if this was true. I'm a very spiritual person and I should have went with my initial feeling and comfort that swept me when I first saw the billboard on "Judgement Day" when I was on my way home from work. I also consulted my mom and she comforted me a lot, like she always does :).
    I've learned to just trust MYSELF. :)
life is too short to be sad! Life is too short to worry! Life is too short to hate! Might as well enjoy the time that we have, laughing, hugging, smiling, being spontaneous and taking risks. Ya know, it's even good for your health ;). The excitement will enrich your life and bring in light that you never saw before. So play a song that you love really loud, even if it's cheesy! Talk to an interesting person that you were too worried to even approach because you thought they'd think you were a loser! Be honest and never deceive :) and tell everyone in your life that you're thankful for them, even if it's a childhood pet that has always listened to you, or a favorite stuffed animal that someone special got you, it's in your life somehow and someway so appreciate it! :)
   This is just what I'm feeling and thought I'd share :) I think I'm gonna go for a run and enjoy this lovely evening.

I'm glad we have the privilege of enjoying these kinds of days :)

Oridinary things are amazing!

   So, I've been reading this amazing book that I found at Barnes & Noble during their closing prices called The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things by Larry Dossey. I got this book real cheap too because the store was about to close so everything was up to 80 percent off, if I remember correctly. The reason this book initially caught my eye was the cover design. It's a really pretty green color which made me think of nature. I'm a really simple person so when I read the cover, I thought maybe this book could better help me appreciate the little things in life because now-a-days, it seems, in my experience, that people are materialistic and don't appreciate just the simple things in our everyday lives.
   There are 14 chapters in this book and each chapter is natural step to health and happiness. There are some amazing facts in here! For example, he dedicates a whole chapter on dirt and how dirt is HEALTHY for you. When a kid plays outside and gets dirty, this is strengthening his immune system and making his body stronger by fighting germs early in his life. Another chapter he dedicates to music and how powerful it is. I never realized how much music is involved in our lives and how influential it is. Music is so powerful that a researcher has reported cases where comatose patients in intensive care have gained consciousness when a music therapist softly sings certain melodies to them! There are tons of other facts about music such as how some scientists have found melodies in human DNA and how BEAUTIFUL the melody sounds when played.
    One chapter that I feel really connected to is the chapter on plants. Plants are so amazing. They are a major factor in modern medicine. Doctors use plants as healers all the time. Scientists have used some plants to try and find an AIDS and cancer cure. Only two successful plants were produced between 1960 and 1980, one plant derived from the Pacific yew tree and from the Chinese Tree of Joy. Also, older people that, for example, are in a resting home and care for a plant have been proven to live longer than the older people who don't have a plant to care for. Plants also respond to human energy. A study was done with a woman with a depressive neurosis, a man known to have a green thumb, and a man with psychotic depression. The theory was that if plants were watered with water that had been held by depressed people, they would grow more slowly than if held by people in an upbeat mood. This theory was proven correct! The woman with depressive neurosis even responded to the study with a brighter attitude and asked lot of questions. There's so much more in this book and this is just a taste of it. And trust me, the author puts it in better words than I did.
   After reading the chapter on plants I got this plant:

 Bought it at Target for a dollar and I want to try to find a connection to my plant and see if it will respond to my energy and even "speak" to me as many herbalists claim plants do with them. I'm excited about this experiment!!

    This also makes it alittle harder to be a vegetarian. Vegetarians eat only plants because they don't wanna bring harm to animals but it turns out plants have feelings and life in them as well. This was a great argument that the author put in this book. I will definitely be more respectful towards plants and what I eat from now on. 

    This book is just so awesome! I haven't finished it yet and I don't wanna finish it too early, I wanna preserve the excitement that I feel when I read it. So many facts and proven studies in every chapter. Makes me appreciate life even more and love everything from people, to the bugs in our earth, to the dirt we step on everyday.

    Today at work, I was enjoying one of many Dove dark chocolates I had(what?! I looooove dark chocolate! haha) and in each rapper there is a inspiring quote or saying, similar to what we find in a fortune cookie. This is what I read when I finished one of my chocolates:

 "Love every moment." Thanks Dove!

This made me smile! not only because the chocolate was amazing but because I've been enjoying every moment possible. Every second is precious, every word we say, and every breath that we breathe. 

    Anyway, sorry for the long post but I wanted to share my joy I found in this book! Hope all is well with everyone! :) 

P.S I'll keep you updated on my plant! hahaha  

    

I'm going Green!!

Well, I've been very consistent with recycling and whatnot but now I would like to go a step further. Besides turning off lights when not in use and using as much natural light as possible(I'm very excited for the summer, that means longer days!), I wanna use my reusable bags ALL the time and I'm going to try to remember to bring them along when I go grocery shopping. Here are my current changes and future changes:

  1.These are the only places I really shop and I only need one bag because I don't get alot when I shop :) These are always advertised around the store and at the checkouts. Pick one up! and they're usually cheap

2. Another way I'm going green is using a reusable water bottle. It's alot better than throwing away a plastic bottle and it's so convenient! I have bought several, mostly for my loved ones. 

 I'm currently using this water bottle. I love it so much. It makes drinking water fun! Especially if you're not a big water drinker. Before you know it, you're done with the water and you're ready to fill it back up again! 

3. I know summer is coming and it's going to be scorchin' outside! But I would really really like to get a bike and ride to where I need to go. It will save on gas and I'll get good exercise! two in one deal!

I feel very strongly about this commitment, and I'm hoping to inspire others to make some changes too. I also joined a website that will send me updates on how I can go greener, they will also notify me of any farmer's markets I can go to. Even though these are minor changes, they'll help in making our earth smile :). 

I'll be posting how my progress is!

When times get difficult...

Well hello everyone!! Sorry about my absence. I've been a tad bit preoccupied these past couple of weeks. Then I couldn't figure out what to write about when I did have the time.
For one, I've had to stop doing the one thing that I love! Yep, you guessed it, hot yoga! It was just getting way too expensive and I have way too many responsibilities to worry about. I'll get back into it soon, but in the meantime, I've decided to work on yoga on my own, in the seclusion of my own bedroom :). Not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I can take my time to learn certain poses and let me tell you, I can do some poses that I NEVER thought I could get into. I was so surprised at myself. Since the weather is getting so much warmer, it's like hot yoga hahaha
Teaching myself is helping me think more clearly and I can have my own practice the way I want it. Granted, I can also slack way more than I would if I were actually in a class but nevermind all that ;)
I must be honest, I was sooooo very disappointed not being able to go to class everyday. I had created this schedule and then I had to stop but I had to put priorities first, blah, blah, blah. I took matters into my own hands and took off with it!! Things haven't been all that bad actually. I just feel that much more knowledgeable and closer to something that I love. Makes me feel powerful, beautiful and able to do whatever I want! Makes me want to live life to the fullest and appreciate every breath that I take. I no longer want to be bitter and resentful to those that hurt me. I want to forgive those that have broken my heart. I want to enjoy the SIMPLE things in life, not make it more complex than it already is!
I recently went ice skating for the first time and I've been meaning to do something and experience something new, this was the start. I had so much fun! and I have the bruises to prove it! hahaha Next, I want to go to a baseball game! I feel like I'm missing on so much, like I've been living under a rock for 20 years! I just don't know where to start! Oh! and I also went hiking. It was so much fun! Even though I have very little funds, there's no limit to what I can and will do. I'll find a way. :D

My 30 day Hot Yoga Challenge!

Today was my final day of my hot yoga challenge. I did 30 days of nonstop hot yoga, no intermission, no days off. This is my second challenge that I've done. They do two every year. Then when we're all finished, our names get put in a drawing for one free year of hot yoga! The chances are slim, however, I like to stay positive and think that this might be my big break! hahaha hey, you never know.

Some of the physical changes I've experiences:

*Lost inches from my waist(I fit a lot better into my size 1)
*Clear skin(both face and body)
*Way more flexible
*Better posture
*tighter tummy

Some of the emotional changes I've experienced:

*I can endure stressful and uncomfortable situations better
*More calm, patience
*Way more positive.
*Happy with everyday, and everything that I do
*More confident and accepting
*However, I'm alot more sensitive(could be both good and bad)
*Better appetite
*Sleep soundly

                      Couldn't do this before! :)

              Floorbow :) Can be ALOT better in the hot room


        


The biggest struggle I've had with myself is acceptance. I finally understand that I am the way I am for a reason, I am the way I look for a reason. Everything takes time, if I want change, then I have to make it happen and be patient with myself.

I realized that I'm a "plain jane" haha and that works for me, if I were any other way, I wouldn't even respect myself because I'd be working on someone that wasn't me, then I'd just be going backwards instead of forwards. Of course, I'm trying to play with other looks but still stay comfortable with who I really am. Needless to say, I love me. I'm healthy, and I can stand on two feet. I am blessed :)

I'm also listening better, to myself and to those around me. Really hearing what they/I say. I'm all ears! :D

                  All natural, no touch ups, no make-up

So, will I continue this challenge? Sure am! I'm gonna go for 90 days! and then, who knows what will happen! anything is possible. I'm excited for the future! Namaste, everyone. :)


   

I wonder if we'll ever be satisfied...

I was sitting here in my room trying to waste time before I go to my hot yoga class and because of all that time(close to 4 hours) I got to thinking if we'll ever(we: meaning me, girls in general, you, and whomever else that has this issue) be ok with ourselves? We always see ourselves differently than others do but I want to, even once, say to myself, "I'm ok the way I am, how I am and who I am. I'm happy." But I've never been able to say that. Honestly, I'm always looking for ways to "better" modify myself to accommodate someone else... I think we all might have been here before. The truth is, I'm so sick of it. Will I ever get over this? I heard the phrase, "You have to love yourself first before someone else can love you." Is this true? If so, this explains my past haha. Whenever I do change something about myself, like my hair color or buy a new shirt, I do it for someone else, someone that I want to please, someone that very much does NOT deserve this at all. At first, I thought this was me being thoughtful, and it still is but most of the time, it does me no good. It goes unnoticed and then I feel bad. The only way I'm motivated to do something better for myself is through someone else. I want to change this vicious cycle with myself! And that's the truth...

This post is mostly for my own self motivation and to get all these thoughts and questions out of my head. I've already cleansed my body, now I want to cleanse my mind and the way I think. So far, I am making sooooo much progress. Everyday I'm finding something that I like about myself, whether it's something small, like my smile or even my hair.

I'm hoping that one of these days my own judgment will be enough :)