A LiL R&R

What happens in life is not as important as why it happens.Once you realize the "why" things happen, it all starts to fall into place.
And, adding in a few “why not’s” .

It is time for a little “R&R…”Response, and Responsibility!

It is important to look deeply into why things are going on around you.And not acting like victim of circumstance, but instead take ownership for
what is going on around you, and to you.
We make so many promises to ourselves that we do not keep.
Let's all do ourselves a favor and enjoy breaking at least one.

Decide NOT to own the bad decisions, and bad habits we used to allow in our lives. Just keep the good ones.
Not to mention it feels great to say "why not" to a few things
that allow you to take a risk once in a while, when you are sure that in doing so,
you will be able to grow!
And always remember the power of letting go...

Enjoy a lil R & R…
~LuCy sMiLeS

EXTENDED
What happens in life is not as important as why it happens.
Once you realize the "why" things happen, it all starts to fall into place.
It is time for a little “R&R..
Response, and Responsibility!

I have been realizing; or more importantly, I have been asking "why" more lately than I used to.
And, adding in a few “why not’s” .
It is important to look deeply into why things are going on around you.
And not acting like victim of circumstance, but instead taking ownership for what is going on around you, and to you.

How many times have you heard "why me?"
How many times have you said this yourself?

Ah yes!
The "poor me", "why me" phase!

I don’t wear it well.
Newsflash!
None of us do!

You know that colour that just doesn't look right on you?
Washes you out a little bit? The colour you may feel sorta comfortable in, and still, no matter how many times you buy the shirt in that colour, you always call your best friend and do the "bought this sweater and it looks like s*%& on me, wanna swap for something that looks s&#% on you " kind of look?

Let's smarten up and buy "pretty in pink", already!
Have your mental wardrobe consists of only shades that work well for you!
There is always going to be a "pink hue" that works for you.
Fuchsia? Ok not so many of us wear that well, but there are a select few of you who can pull it off, so good on ya..

Rose, baby pink ,hot magenta, coral, cerise, you name it, someone can wear it, and wear it well!
And this goes for both sexes! All the successful guys are wearing the pinks that work for them! From Donald Trump to Donny Deutsch!

And it just goes to show you, we ARE all different. If we can't all wear fuchsia, like someone else can and so well, ( I am rather thankful I don't wear fuchsia well), what makes us think we should do, be, live, or think the same as everyone else? Don’t base your decisions on what works best for others, and certainly don’t make decisions that clearly won’t work for you.

Do what works!
I love doing what works.
You?

Let's face it, we are always going to consciously make decisions that we beat ourselves up for and stare at the bruises for, before we even carry through on the decision!!!.

You know what I am talking about.
The "I cannot believe I am going to do this" sort of decision.
Not even the "what WAS I thinking"
But the more "What am I thinking"
Instead ask yourself. “Why am I doing this?” We have every opportunity to change what we are doing, change the decision. No one knows this decision has been made, we can not only own it, decide not to own it in the first place.

How lovely is that?

So why are we so willing to allow the for humiliation of the;

"You did WHAT???????????????????????????"

We make so many promises to ourselves that we do not keep.
Let's all do ourselves a favour and at least break one.

Decide NOT to own the bad decisions.
Just keep the good ones.

They look good on you.

Instead of wondering what is going on, wonder "why" it is going on.
I can promise you that things will make much more sense to you once you do this.

Not to mention it feels great to say "why not" to a few things that allow you to take a risk once in a while, when you are sure that in doing so, you will be able to grow!
And always remember the power of letting go.
Enjoy a lil R & R…
LuCy sMiLeS

CoSm "O" ToLoGy

Cosm"E"tology;
noun...
the practice of beautifying the face and hair and skin;
the art or profession of applying cosmetics.

I have decided enough of the made up look, what about what is going on INSIDE?????

So, I have come up with my own "ology", and why the heck not. If they can come out with every other "ology", why can't I?

Cosm-"O"-tology.
noun
the art of beautifying the heart and soul!?!?

I made it up! Instead of being made up!
How do you like that?

There ya have it!
And, for a limited time, FREE!!!!
(actually always free, but that tagline just sounds more appealing, it creates urgency!!!)

You heard it here first!

I am not even charging tuition here! No expensive books, or used books that you search for high and low, to save on costs. Nothing used here! All brand "you" new and only yours to keep for the low low price, of...

PRICELESS!!!

And it is the "course of your life", so don't miss out!

And with the Canadian dollar doing better than US, this free offer gives my American friends a break, as well.

Cosmos reflect "the world or universe regarded as an orderly, harmonious system."

So this practice I am creating- oh, and of course using as well (never try to sell something that you wouldn't use yourself, that is simply scandalous) is the practice of beautifying our bodies from the inside out!!!

I have a few prerequisites required, otherwise there is no pre-exam. You are pretty much guaranteed a seat in my "virtual" classroom...

(Notice that this is a virtual class, therefore the study should not interrupt your already existing lifestyle, it's all good)

But please review to be sure you are qualified!

Requirements and attributes include but are not limited to:

Loving life
Knowing you deserve the very best
Experiencing compassion for those around you
Knowing when to smile- (bonus answer-always!!!!)
Having a kick in your step once in a while
Integrity
Believing in the beauty of the unknown
Valid Birth Certificate
Good judgement


Due to the high volume of applicants, I am unable to confirm the receipt of your registration, therefore enrollment is unlimited.

Use your good judgment before you decide whether or not you are capable to handle the heavy workload. But please note “no heavy lifting involved.”

Oh, and you are the creator of the course, as well.

Wish on the stars and the moons; shoot for the stars, and once in a while take a shot in the dark...

You may be surprised at the shimmering shadows in your eyes, that portray a light at the end of the tunnel.

It's always a good colour on you!

LuCy sMiLeS

Puppy Love

Ever so sweet, his nose would touch mine
As we’d lay down, all tuckered, sweet dreams we would find.

Long walks they all were; over bridges, through streets.
In the dead cold of winter; in the hazed summer heats.

Not only were early mornings spent strolling away,
But the nights found us at whatever park he’d decided that day.

“Hello” we would holler, to all friends on our path…
Many adventures found him muddy and needing a bath!

The look in his eyes- tolerant, as he’d stop and turn round,
When “Wait for Mommy, cute puppy!”, was the familiar sound.

Of all that is magic, and all that is pure,
It’s the heart of a puppy, and all they’d endure.

For when they love you, they love you with all they can give.
They will do anything, anything for you, as long as they live.

What I know in my heart, are many things I may have not.
If without the days with my puppy, and all that he’s taught.

I rest assured that the energy of this bond cannot be broken.
In my heart, rests our love, and its very sacred token.


LuCy sMiLeS

(Julius, mom loves you:)

WhO'd a ThUnK iT?

In reflection, I get it. I truly just get it!

Who'd a thunk it would all make sense.
So many times I just sat back and said "What the ...."

When things happened when they did, why they did, how they did, and with whom they did.

I NOW just get it!

Heck, even looking back on something as materialistic as my shoes! Even though I knew that it was right for me to lose all of my shoes in my move in May, and I understood then, that it was MEANT to happen, now, I get it even more.

They never survived the move forward, they were not supposed to. They could not walk me forward, from what they represented, the person who walked in those shoes, and the experiences those shoes had need no longer walk with me.

Do you get it?

I had many things that tried to survive moving forward. Some energies still took a few last breaths just recently.

But, they too... did not survive.

That is ok...

We must cleanse our lives of what does not help us grow, in order to make room for the magical flowers and leaves that WILL help us.

"Life's wisdom arrives gracefully, and the wonder of this miracle is that we all receive its gift."

This quote has allowed me to reflect on the year that has passed. And, as with everything that comes in to your life, many things must leave...

Every person, every experience, every "torture" happens because it is to happen. Whether you want to believe it or not. It is ok even if you don't believe it...

Why?

Because you will believe eventually. And... "at just the right time."

I know that I have had as many ups as I have had downs. I have had ups so high that when I went down, it would take a while to grasp how it was possible...

"How can I have been up so high, to have come, then, so far down?"

Did I not learn? Isn't that why I went up so high? Didn't I just get it?
How did I just lose it, if I got it?
Who took it away?

But, this is what brings me to a conclusion...

There will be tests, and there will be truths that come to us, and they will come to us, and they will come to us.

But until we are willing to look at ourselves in the eyes and see what is going on, admit what is going on, admit our worth, and admit our love for ourselves, we will continue to look to others, who are in fact a reflection of all that we think of ourselves.

So if you feel unworthy, unlovable,you will only attract that of which you believe in yourself.

So do yourself a favour... believe in yourself right now. I mean you are going to eventually!

Why not cut through the red tape, now? Here, I will pass you some scissors. Cut it, throw it away, and run to the mirror. Look at the most amazingly beautiful creature that stands before you, and tell this person how much they mean to you.

I was forced into this one... LOL!( You know who you are and I love you for it.)

I betcha once you do, you will then attract only the same amazingly beautiful people in your life that you see in yourself.
Trust me... Like attracts like.

And there is nothing wrong with that!

So whoever you want to come into your life, you best believe they will be a representation of what you think of yourself.

In destiny's grand design, there are no random meetings. All is meant to be.

If you look back on all that you have met, and when, and why, take a look at how you felt about yourself and you will see an amazing resemblance.

The most magical part about this, is we create our own destinies.

You can fall in love with the person of your dreams, fall madly head over heels.
But you must first fall in love with yourself.

And if there are certain things you know you must rid of to find this love, take ownership of this, and throw these things away.

Or do what I did! Lose all your heels, to fall head over heels!
It is worth it!!! Expensive, but worth it none the less!

At the end of the day it will all makes sense.
But do know that it doesn't all have to right now.

"The graceful dance of falling leave brings reflections of times past and bright hopes for all that is yet to be"

I hope you take time out to dance and dance gacefully.
And if you don't know how to dance, or how to love yourself and all that you are, and why... pretend you do! If you pretend long enough, you won't know any better and it will become you!

Believe me, I pretend as much as the next guy, and proudly so...
I am that closer to becoming me in doing so!

Who'd a thunk it?
LuCy sMiLeS

All in a Day's Work! If you say so!!!

If we spent all the time we used worrying and wondering how to get things done, actually working to get things done, we could very well be there already, at the finish line.
We spend so much time planning and writing out our “to do’s”, organizing what time slots to do what, and reorganizing, that we could have been done half of them, if we weren’t spending so much time thinking about them, and organizing when to do them, and finally procrastinating the inevitable!

Also, we expect so much of ourselves, and we race to get to the finish line, but are we really running the quickest track? Or are we backtracking, taking detours and as a result not utilizing or time properly and to our best advantage?

We need to sit down and know what is important, what is really needed to get done, and what can wait.
Not everything has to be done on Monday. If it were, I am in bigger trouble than I thought.

And our minds are what sets our limits, decide our fears and is responsible for our “day’s work”, whether we are talking about office work, professional development, personal growth, healthy lifestyle planning, or spiritual quests. All of these fall under our “Day’s Work” with ourselves.

No matter what, everything we have worried about in the past, either that we had to get done, or things that we faced having to experience, we have survived up to this point.
All the situations that felt overwhelming, all of the worries that seems “life or death”, were all endured, and we are all still here, only stronger for having lived them out.

You know those times when you think, “this is the worst”, “ I will not live this through”, “I cannot believe this is happening- pass me a dark hole so I can crawl in it before someone sees me”.
Remember those times?

I remember “saying and feeling” those things, but let’s be honest, do we really remember what there were in regards to?
Precisely! We have no clue!

So, just remember that, next time you “cannot believe this is happening to me, it is the worst thing ever ever ever”, or “there is no way in a million years I am going to get this done on time” “It is impossible that I will get out of this alive”…

It’s not the worst thing, it’s just another situation to test your patience, your strength and your integrity, and sometimes just a test of your time management.

Planning and strategizing to make life’s tasks flow smoothly is always a great idea, but don’t spend your life planning, take some time to live, too!

We learn from past experiences, that not everything has to happen “All in a day’s work!” And trying to get everything done in a day is a cause for stress and a recipe for disaster!

I learned my own lesson, back in college… My best friend and I actually waited until the last day to create a 100 page back to back Business Plan, opening our own virtual Hotel/ Restaurant/ Spa in Niagara Falls for Business Development class. Speaking of “all in a day’s work”, we started at 3pm the day before it was due, stayed up all night with endless cups of coffee, and a few caffeine pills to pop when the coffee was not done brewing, and had it on the Professor’s desk 3 minutes before the 12:30pm deadline the next day.

Believe me, quality work need not be done in a day, unless you are happy with giving it your 51%.

I never made that mistake twice.
Take my advice. Take your time.

Life is not a race to the finish line…

LuCy sMiLeS

Bright Eyed & Bushy Tailed

I have a great idea! It came to me in a dream the other night.

It really made up for those dreams when you realize you are walking without pants, or you cannot chew the wad of gum in your mouth that keeps getting bigger no matter how many times you try to take it out. Do you ever have those annoying dreams?

What about the dream where you are trying to dial someone’s number, and you cannot for the life of you get it right, and you need so badly to reach them?

I hate that dream!!!

Or the dream where you are running a marathon, but you cannot move your legs? And when you do, they both feel like 100 lbs, and you just keep wabbling to the side?
I actually just had this dream, and so in order to prevent humiliation, I opened my purse, and took out my lip gloss to reapply, so I made it seem like I was setting off to the side momentarily, on purpose.
Until I realized what type of materialistic pretentious fool of a lady 1) runs a marathon with a purse in hand, 2) reapplies gloss mid marathon?

I hated that dream even more…

K, so yes, back to the dream I loved!
I had this dream that I was completely and utterly pumped, ready to take on the world!
I realized in this dream, what was helping me along in this was simple, and so genuine.
It was my thoughts!

The “I think I can, I think I can, I know I can!” Kind of attitude!

I was pretty impressed with myself, and the realization that really, all I need to do is think I can do something, and I can do it!
We have talked about this before, but ultimately, my focus here is on “attitude!”

If you have the confident attitude that something can be fun, even exciting, and something can be learned from the experience you are about to take on, it really allows you to have a brighter appreciation for just about anything you do.

Things will appear boring and pointless if you want them too.

I have done things in life, where the first thought was that it was challenging and scary, and the second time I thought about it, I was so excited and confident, actually itching to do it, and do it well!

I was 22 years old, when I moved to Toronto.
I was working on a Fashion shoot for our Fall Line Marketing Material, at a Fashion Agency I worked at, and I had no idea what I was doing, and it was the scariest project!
I pondered, and feared how I was going to accomplish this nightmare of a portfolio.
I had no guidance other than, “Can you put together a Fashion shoot for our Fall Line Marketing Material please, thanks!”

The next day, I thought about it as “my own baby” I can do whatever I wanted! I could show my Boss what I was made of, and able to take it to whatever level I wanted!
So I complied all the of sample clothes, called up the Model Agency, whipped up the line list, booked a photographer, and make-up artist, and I was on my way.
I acted like I did when I was younger, and “played fashion show”, only this was the real deal, Fall Fashion Shoot, and I was now Marketing Coordinator!
I actually got offered a permanent career with the company, from showing I was “capable”.

If I kept my frightful mood from the first day, I know the end result would have been poor, just like my poor attitude.

You can even spend hours doing data entry, and make it fun, it is all in your thoughts!

No seriously!

(I made this example on purpose because I just took on a freelance contract doing data entry for a friend’s Recruiting business, and you best believe I am not letting this experience go without having some fun with it! If anything I can decide which names from the list I picture naming my future children after!

I mean what if I never had the chance to type hundreds of different names, I would have never been able to short list my own names list for children in my future! If anything, do it for the children!)

Move over Tortoise, Move over Hare; “Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed” wins the race I say!

Are you ready to win?

LuCy sMiLeS

Marshmallows 'n Mudpies

Remember when you were younger, what activities would take up your time?
Who did you spend your time with?

When my sister and I were younger, we were attached at the hip.
We still would be if we weren’t 4 provinces divided.
In the winter, I would scarf down my dinner, and bundle up real tight, head to toe in my tacky blue & brown one piece snow suit, being sure to tuck in the inside part into my boot, since the snow was feet higher than myself, and chances were my socks wouldn’t have a chance of staying dry and warm for too long without the extra protection.

Ah the one piece. Topped off with the jacket, extra long scarf I wore one swoop around the neck, and up around the forehead!
Add the wool itchy toque, courtesy of my Mom’s crafty knitting magic, and sometimes, depending on the temperature, ear muffs for that extra touch of class
What was with that?

And we were off!

(Always making sure I made one last washroom break, because that ensemble was not coming off easily, if I had to run back in mid play, for any emergencies.)

The snow would be glistening from the street lights.

I would wait at the end of my house path for my sister to come and pick me up.
She was the “bus driver” and would pick me up to take me for a trip around the neighbourhood in my dad’s extra large aluminum snow shovel, that I fit in, even with room for another passenger.

We would play for hours and hours, like time stood still.
When we were called back in the house, we would undress, shake the snow off ourselves, rest all our clothing on the space heaters, and thaw out with some nice hot chocolate, ½ water and chocolate, ½ marshmallows!

No cares in the world.

And in the summer, we would use the same tools we used in the winter for our snow castles, to make our mud pies!
These of course, included Mom’s trusty cake pans and spatulas!

We would call our best friends, at 6am, right before Great Space Coaster would be starting, with our bananas as the phone, that we would be eating for breakfast. We would open our bedroom window, and yell out to their bedroom window that was conveniently situated directly across the street!

We would spend countless hours by the train tracks picking and collecting “gold rocks!” You know those pink and green rocks, off by the tracks?
We would bring bags and bags of them home, and rest them under the porch, taking Mom’s nail polish to paint them.

Very creative!

None of these amazing memories for me included a bombardment of TV shows, video games, computer games, or any stimulation other than my own creative thoughts!
In a world so overwhelmed by technology, we fail to take time out for ourselves, to get to the core of our creativity.

We spend enough time trying to accomplish what everyone in the media is telling us we must accomplish in order to be “successful” in this world.
But what we must understand, is that our passions are not a world away, they are right in our own backyard!

So, what drives you? What are some passionate creative hobbies you have been putting on the back burner, because you are so stressed trying to do all the other things in the day?

Yes we have responsibilities, yes we have chores, but if we can find time to do what we love, amidst the chaos, this is what living a sustainable and passionate life is about.

We create our own destiny.

Riches lie inside you, not in your material possessions.
So take a pencil crayon, a paint brush, or some nail polish, and create away!

LuCy sMiLeS