Making Life Rock

Half way through our New You in 31 Days Challenge I've noticed my own attempted excuses to either put off or not carry out my intentions for each day. "I'm tired," or "It's too late. No one will read my post now," or "No good ideas are coming to me." And where exercising is concerned, they are nearly endless. "I don't want to get sore," or "I don't have time," or "You can just do it tomorrow," and "I need someone to exercise with." Really? I don't think so. I'm just stalling and putting off what will actually change my life. And, you all know when you do it, too. Don't make excuses for your excuses, either!

Today is a special day for me. I actually overcame my fear of being on video. Because I've spent most of the day working on this inaugural video, I did not get much time to write a post today. So, instead of trying to start from scratch with a different topic, I am posting the best articles about overcoming fear. Hopefully, my video will be finished tomorrow and, for the very first time, I will present my readers with a video blog. I hope you are all still working on yourselves and focusing on your goals for the week or month. Remember to share your goals, dreams, progress in the comments so we can connect and be accountable to each other. Here's the best of overcoming fear! Love you all!

I recently deactivated my Facebook® account for a couple months and, after the initial shock of not having a news feed to scroll through passed, I realized I was experiencing some crazy emotions. I was sad, missing all my daily interactions. I was lonely, lonelier than I had ever been in the past. My phone was extra quiet and the ones I reached out to, gave me a hard time about deactivating. I was frustrated!

How do you view your everyday life? Is it a battle you fight daily, or is it an adventure? It's all in the way you look at things! Instead of focusing on setbacks and the next frustration, plan for the next adventure.

The most profound changes I've ever made in my life have been the result of doing small things differently. And I'm positive you will have the same motivating results if you just give it a try. As a part of our 31-Days To a New You challenge, I would like for you to consider doing at least five of the thirteen acts listed below. I've even given you a little incentive by giving facts or potential benefits to changing it up. Enjoy your day and set a standard of consistency for the month!

So, I committed to a 31 day blogging challenge for the month of March. If you have a blog or website, you know how difficult it can be to post every single day. After all, life does go on in the brick & mortar world. Yesterday I posted an important article and review on The Emotion Code book and healing technique as the kick off to my challenge. If you haven't already, please read this poignant post Deep Healing You Can Do Today. More importantly, I want this month to be one of change for us all. It is a spring of sort, a new beginning and opportunity to blossom.

Holiday time for me means shopping for unique gifts and accessories on my favorite global gift website, Novica.com. I have supported and promoted this wonderful business for over 3 years now. I've always been so impressed by the company's attention to detail in customer service and in each hand-wrapped item I anticipate to arrive in the mail. This year they have added a new service called Premium Gift Wrapping that I'm happy to tell you about and try out for myself.

A few days ago, while raking leaves, my cat loved attacking the rake. I laughed at the amount of joy that Mageara gained from this menial task I needed to finish. I enjoyed the task more because she did. Just as I began to pull in another pile of leaves and the cat jumped at the rake, I took delight in something else! I uncovered little white daisies. They were in full bloom, smiling up at me as if they had the secret to life. I laughed out loud at such a weird find in late fall. And then, of course, I took a picture! Several thoughts came to mind, which I want to share with you.

I am always held spellbound by semantics and linguistics; words can say so much and mean so many different things to different people. This struck me the other day regarding the word ‘recreation’. Think about the word recreation; it might conjure images of fun, down time, sports and hobbies, time with the kids, relaxation and enjoyment. It’s the time spent away from your working life, the chores and the 'should be doing' tasks your mind keeps reminding you of.

I’ve recently discovered the pleasure, and pain, of being a motorcycle passenger. With that came an education in the definition of ‘squid’ according to the book of Mark. No, not that book. I’m talking about the book of Mark Hardman, my life partner and fellow adventurist. According to him, a squid is a newbie who is also a poser. On the road a squid is the guy wearing flip-flops, hunched way down over his bike while driving 65 mph or the girl wearing a bikini. They think they look like a sexy pro, but really just look a bit silly, and risky, to the experienced rider.

Remember the balance beam in the school yard? Did you walk on it, balancing with your arms out from your side in the air? What about the lines on the sidewalk that you would walk like a tightrope? It was all about feeling the success of walking the line without falling off. We all have experienced that bliss of success. We also all know how it feels to "fall" and be in the topsy-turvey moments. How did you handle it when you fell off the balance beam? Did you criticize yourself? Did you swear to never get up on that thing again? Or, did you get right back up and take the risk of falling off again? Maybe a little of both? But here is the nitty-gritty: Each choice we make has a purpose. Life requires moments of imbalance in order to find the perfect balance.

Ahhhhhh summertime! I just love ice clinking in a glass and then adding the lemonade. Wait. I am not done. I would also like a slice of lime, a slice of lemon, a cherry - stem on because it looks so much more decadent that way, and a sliced strawberry. Oh sure...add a slice of orange and some pineapple too. What do you mean, "That's not lemonade?" It is lemonade...with a twist.

"What you seldom do , if done often, would change your life." This statement came to me this morning after a visualization session. Simple. Yes. And that is precisely why I am so thankful for it. It is also why I wanted to share it with you. So often we make things WAY too complicated by making lists, getting more education, making resolutions -trying to literally reinvent the wheel. I'm exhausted just thinking about how many things we can cram into our day in order to make life better. Well, I'm relieved by the simple fact change is as simple as that silly quote up there.

Delight in each day! There is something that is going to happen today that should be celebrated. You woke up. Maybe you were able to witness the sunrise? Even if you did not see it, it happened and it was a magnificent painting of wonderment. Even if nothing out of the ordinary happens all day long there is going to be thousands of stars shining brightly down on you tonight asking you in a twinkle, "What will you do tomorrow?" "Which star will you wish on tonight"? "What will you be celebrating tomorrow?"

When we are at school, we are subjected to all sorts of tests; on the spot math tests, spelling tests, end of year exams, high school certificates and the list goes on. In the early days the tests are quick, painless and mostly fun. Then they become more serious, there is study to be undertaken and there is the need to find the ability to cope with the testing process. It can be a nerve-wracking experience. What it does do is ‘test’ students (pardon the pun), it makes them think, it gives a clearer understanding of their abilities, their short-falls, where they can learn more and what they excel at; in the testing platform. What happens when we leave school though?