A Four Letter Word

'Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around.                                                        - Love Actually 2003

LOVE

All we need is love. Love is a very powerful thing and can bring much joy and heartache just the same. It bonds lovers, friends, family, and strangers. Acts of compassion toward another is an extension of love straight from the heart.

Some people feel uncomfortable or awkward when the "L" word is used or when they are expected to reciprocate an 'I Love You'. I understand that sometimes a child is raised with little affection or words of affirmation, and thus as an adult those sort of things are difficult. Sometimes an adult is burned by love and it makes it harder to love again. I wish there was no stigma with that word, because it feels good to love, be loved, share love, say loving things, etc. It really frees your heart and makes a connection to another human that is unlike anything else.

Many associate love with an intimate relationship or with family members only, but love is shared amongst friends more frequently than with anyone else. Love may seem like a harsh or dramatic way to describe the way you feel about your friends, but the bond you share with a quality friend is some of the strongest love out there. In isn't necessarily being in love with your friend, but loving their being. It is about loving their person, their heart, what they stand for, their positive and negative qualities that make them unique and the perfect imperfect friend.

What is the point of all this love talk? Sometimes we forget to love the most important person in our life. We forget to love ourself. Just the way we look at our lover, or that best friend and think 'Gosh I LOVE YOU, you are the best, I just want to scream or eat you up!' we should look in the mirror and feel that way about yours truly. We are our own worst critics, and that is not fair. It is important to hold ourself to a high standard, to push ourself, and to make ourself the best we can be, but why not do that with acceptance and pure compassion. We should find compassion for our flaws, faults and mistakes. When you learn to truly love yourself, you will open your heart up to being loved by the person you are looking for. With love comes respect, trust, and openness with yourself.

Not only does love feel good, but it is a positive thing full of positive energy. When you put that out in the universe you are likely to get in in return. It's science. Just try it.

I mentioned earlier that love is shared between strangers, and you may have said 'is Quita smoking crack tonight, 'cause I ain't love'n no stranger!' Think about it though......I have countless encounters in elevators, on planes, in restaurants, at the gym, etc where I witness acts of kindness. Acts of kindness to a stranger, even as simple as holding a door and sharing a smile, come from a bright place. They come from a warm place in our heart. Hopefully those acts become subconscious because we are full of love and compassion for our fellow friends on this planet and that just spills over without a thought.

Some of the most beloved love is when love is shared between lovers. (how many times can I use love in a sentence?) Oooo ooo oo that is such a sweet sweet feeling. Love that translates to the upmost respect for the other, acceptance of flaws and faults, and a team mate that has your back in this crazy lil game we call life. It is the kind of love that makes you feel safe and secure and comfortable in your own skin. The kind of love that makes you smile when you look at the other person, because your souls are bonded. It is pure unconditional love. It is in a constant state of flow and will not be given more frequently or taken away because of a condition or limitation. That is the kind of love I believe that all (or most) humans are looking for regardless of sex, race, age or sexual orientation. I understand that it may seem like some are not looking for that, but that it because they are acting in such ways that would never attract that kind of love. You must be the person, the person you are looking for, is looking for (Andy Stanly). You want the kind of love I described above? Well go out and get you some by putting some of 'that' out in the world.

Love ya'll :)

What's Holding You Back?

Happy Summer everyone! I hope you had a great Memorial weekend and I apologize for being absent for so long.....

The question I pose to you today is, What is holding you back?

This can mean a variety of things to you, or maybe there is one thing that comes to mind immediately. Speaking of the 'mind' what is the mind really? I recently started reading a book called, 'The Way of The Peaceful Warrior'. It is a spiritual book suggested to me by a friend because of the place in life I am and my earning to grow and for betterment. I am only 60 pages in, but the book has just mentioned the mind and what it is. It is not your brain, it is not knowledge, it isn't wisdom, nor does it hold your experiences. That voice that is constantly chattering in your head and holding you back is your mind.

Ladies (or men), what is your beast? You know, that ferocious voice in your head that dominates any of your positive thoughts on body image. I would say all of my friends are interested in health and fitness, workout, eat relatively healthy, and are beautiful inside and out. I would also say that all of my friends have a beast. We could go to the beach in a bikini and I guarantee each one of us has an 'issue' and our mind is preventing us from being 100% confident.....even though we are most likely the top 5% most fit on that beach. So why do we fight this beast? Why not embrace our bodies? My favorite group X fitness instructor always says, 'what can your body do?' We will always have an area that is not our favorite, but hell we aren't super models! Our bodies are strong and functioning, they look good in clothes and I bet guys would tell us they are perfect out of them as well, they are a picture of a healthy REAL women! Let us embrace this and walk with confidence. Make peace with your hang ups and let go let flow. Once we do this, we can really enjoy life. We only have this one to live, so let's not waste another minute listening to that pesky mind of ours.

It isn't just about body image of course, but I know that we can all relate to that example. What else is holding you back? Anxiety of social settings or meeting new people. Weariness because you don't know who you are. Financial strain. Relationships with the opposite sex. The list goes on. Many times we dabble in drinking, partying, sex, etc and say we are happy, but those things are just masking the anxiety that your mind creates. We all want to be warriors, but we must make peace first. More to come on this topic......I need to finish the book first, but it will be good stuff. That is certain. 

My heart goes out to those that are waiting....waiting to live their life. I can't do this or that because of x, y or z. Life is what you make of it. It is about the experiences. It is about the interaction with others. We are all connected. I know that is strange to think about. We are all made of energy, share energy and bounce around in this crazy universe together. Get out and socialize with each other, share love, and create.

I want to leave this short and let you stew on what is your beast/s and what is your mind preventing you from doing or being.....