Here, with the sun on my face, there’s just no other place
Where the warmth brings a glow and flush to my cheeks,
And each breeze leaves me drunk with contentment.
I greedily consume each moment with deep breaths
Filling my lungs until they can store no more then
I imagine that I am lying along a sandy shore.

 
Gazing at the sky leaves me hypnotized.
The glare of the rays seem angelic and surreal and
I can’t help but to feel immersed within my own utopia.
Where nature’s melody of chirping birds ground me to a reality
Where everything is still and there is nothing but peace and harmony,
From the swaying Magnolias and dogwoods down to budding tulip tips.

 
Joyous companionship, stimulating conversation and toasting of glasses
Fill local patios as friends all gather and share wholehearted laughter.
Hours start to fly with no care as to why, as the sun begins to fade
Problems emancipate and happiness seems the only common fate
While tunes fill the background creating the ideal soundtrack
Do you like Pina Coladas in Margaritaville Buffet style?


A mini stay-cation; a form of release…
It’s that perfect tranquility of a spring day haze
That makes you long for a time of much simpler days.
Where worries are neglected and positive sentiments radiate
And you feel as light as the petals that drift up and down the streets.
For me, there is no better time than when I can smile and say…Spring is finally here.

I'm not a bad person…

For some of us that's the thought that follows so many questions such as Why me? How could they? Why would they?

You are not a bad person, you are positive, you treat others well and expect it in return, but the fact is that none of that matters - not to those who wrong you. It doesn't matter whether or not you are a good person.  Whether or not you wouldn't do something to someone - it doesn't stop them from doing to you. 

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Editor’s Note: This is a contribution by Leanne Kallal from Tiny Buddha

“You are very powerful, provided you know how powerful you are.” ~Yogi Bhajan

Have you ever stopped to think about your definition of fear?

As my dear friend Mr. Webster states, fear is “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.”

Simply put, I disagree with this definition of fear.

My definition of fear goes something like this….

“An opportunity for self discovery and self growth; a well of untapped personal power and strength; the gateway from wishing and wanting to doing and being.”

The truth is, for most of us, fear is present on a regular basis, but the form that it chooses to present itself in is constantly changing. Maybe you experience anxiety, a deep nervousness, confusion, lack of motivation, uncertainty, or something unidentifiable deep within.

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"The illusion of "I am that" holds many of us captive in prisons of our own making. In the struggle to define ourselves as individuals, we often paint ourselves into lonely and sometimes dangerous corners. Gender, sexual orientation, politics, religion, race - although we may belong to a particular group, it is the over-identification with that group that separates us from the next individual. We become stunted in growth when we cling to these outward labels". 

- F. Emelia Sam

Somewhere along the way…things evolved to fall into categories. Everything suddenly (or not so suddenly) had a title or a label with predetermined meaning. Instead of finding our own meanings we allow ourselves to believe in things which we are told the meaning of…including ourselves. When you stop and think about yourself…and what defines you, do you come up with labels like: Mother, Brother, Wife, Friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, Liberal, Conservative, Writer (or insert job title here), boss, assistant, poor, rich, average, etc?

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I just had to share this.  Paulo Coelho can always find the greatest articles.  While they are all good tips, I for one, need to focus on 2, 5, and 6!

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My immature maturity.
My clarity in confusion.
I'm left blinded by both the Wiseman and the Flasher.

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Tonight I was walking to my car and something drew me to the sky. When I looked up I was almost mesmerized with how illuminated the sky was. It was perfectly clear and you could see every last constellation. It made me pause for a moment to appreciate the sheer beauty of it. It also made me think back to when I was a teen and marveled at nature in that same way…. I tried to study everything stars, birds, plants, trees, etc

That every moment summed up life in a nutshell for me. That crystal clear sky is the same one that I used to look at over 15 years ago…sometimes it's hard to see through the smog, fog and pollution that we've put into the world but it has always been there. Tonight the clouds just happened to disappear and reminded me of the beauty that had been there all along.

Life is that way isn't it? There is a beauty to be found in each and every one of us. Sometimes we can't see it because we cloud it with emotional and physical pollution like stress, fears, anxieties, worry, etc. But, much like that sky, the true natural beauty is always there. We just have to clear the clouds that get in the way.

Can someone tell me...what's the big deal with turning 30?

Don't get me wrong - I understand better than anyone about the cliche and the pressure of what's expected from turning 30. It's all about the stable life which contains all of the glitter that little girls dream of. The age where you either already have, or have at least secured, the potential partner that will turn into the one and who will put that ideal rock on your finger as you skip happily down the isle in white. The cloud 9 life with a bun in the oven and the picture perfect house, with or without a picket fence, but definitely with a kid friendly yard. This followed by the devoted and doting husband who can't get enough of you and his kids. The couple that all other couples envy and who never argue or fight. Where did this cliche come from?

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