Grateful through the challenges

I love that friend of the Nuggets, Ricky Congo, contributed a post about gratitude yesterday. What I love the most is that he acknowledged the importance of being grateful for the obstacles. It gives me hope when I hear and see people becoming stronger and more grateful from their challenges. Here’s a short list of challenges I am grateful for.

I am grateful for having experienced depression because I appreciate my happiness.
I am grateful for the alcoholism in my family because I understand how fragile people are.
I am grateful for my life-threatening car accident because I am more aware of my driving habits.
I am grateful for my TIA because I know how to physically deal with stress.
I am grateful for the major feet surgery that put me in a wheelchair because I know what a blessing it is to walk.
I am grateful for dropping out of college and feeling like a failure because I discovered my dreams.

I strive to be grateful not only today, but everyday. I invite to join me.

What are some obstacles that you are grateful for?

Cheers to staying in the light…even when there seems to be only darkness!

Day 24 – I am grateful for everything in my life, especially these people who make it glorious.

Click below for the audio version of this post.

On this Monday

On this Monday, I commit to feeling empowered, and the only person that can make me feel this is myself. I will not accept feeling disempowered, shamed, or suppressed by others—this goes for those close to me to those that I only see through a screen.

On this Monday, I do not accept being told that I should stop praying and start acting out. Instead, I continue praying, continue believing, and commit to changing the world in ways that I know I can.

On this Monday, I choose to recognize that I am a good person with a good heart that has talents, gifts, skills that can better the world day by day—because I believe in the ripple effect.

On this Monday, I intend to live in the present because I’m not guaranteed to feel this conscious, confident, and positive tomorrow. I’m not guaranteed tomorrow at all, so I know I need to try my best today. I need to love, dance, smile, feel good, and do good today.

On this Monday, I feel love especially for those who don’t receive any. I choose to put out as much love for the “bad” people as I do for the “good” because if I don’t break the cycle somewhere, who will?

What do you intend for you Monday?

The perception I have of myself affects the way I interact with the world around me. Today, I choose to see myself as important as the moon, the sky, and the mountains. Today, I respect that everyone around me is too.

The full moon

I am grateful that Josh stayed home with the nuggets Monday night. As soon as Z Nugg decided to give in and go to sleep, I ran up the street to our local trails to shoot the moon. It’s the second time I photograph the full moon, but Monday night felt like the first time. Let me explain. I am in a relatively new place in life. My spirituality has grown—it’s safe to say—tenfold since the last time I went up to admire the full moon through my lens. The full moon is more than just a sight to my eyes, it is now a source of energy to my spirit.

I ran up the mountain as the moon was rising. I was behind schedule. Z Nugg must’ve nursed five times before she let me leave. (Not complaining just stating.) My original plan was to get the moon while the sun was setting, but as always, “plans” are just ideas I have for a particular event or situation. Like my being, plans are ever changing. I found myself a little frustrated. It felt like sexual tension, and I just needed to “get some” soon. The moon was calling and I needed to go! When I finally got up the mountain and set up, I found myself behind my camera, eyes closed, breathing deep, and calling the energy to me. It flowed. In. Out.

joy

humility

love

confidence

trust

faith

honesty

wisdom

health

hardwork

empathy

humor

…these aren’t just words that I’ve chosen to include in my post. These are the things that I called to my spirit before and during my session with the moon. (My photography session. My sexual tension analogy was just an analogy.) I opened my heart and did my best to align myself. In aligning myself with the Moon and Mother Gaia, I called the above, and I absorbed what was given to me. I felt radiant.

Coming home, I had some time to shower before Z Nugg woke up again. (Yes, neither of my children sleep/slept through the night as infants.) Z Nugg called for me, and as I picked her up, I felt my very own piece of Mother Gaia in my arms. It was one of the most heavenly feelings I’ve ever felt. I had all of this energy bouncing in me. I had my child in my arms ready to latch to my bosom. As Z latched, bringing down my milk, I felt myself transmitting energy to her. Our hearts were connected almost as they were when she was in my womb.

I don’t think that I’ve ever felt this confident in my role as a mother. I know I am a source of my nuggets’ success. I choose to continue growing my spirit. I choose to genuinely love myself. I choose to provide my nuggets with the necessary tools to go into the world feeling confident to live without fear. Unlike before, I’m choosing to do this for myself, not only for my nuggets.

I invite you to do the same.

Cheers to finding positive energy!

Full moon – June 2016

Look at that gradient!

I am a vessel for positive energy.

I am a vessel for love.

I open my heart and spirit to what the universe has to offer me.

I am ever changing.

I choose to live without fear.