I am a firm believer in happiness being a way of life. At least, it is for me. I did not make resolutions this year. Instead, I set my mind to a few things. First being I was going to be happy. Period. No more false or unrealistic expectations of myself or others. I was going to stay grounded and focus instead on finding the positive in all of my situations. I must say, this has been critical in my happy being off the charts lately.

I can honestly say with all the challenges facing me lately, I am happier than I have ever been because I know these are only temporary situations. They have no real power over me except to distract me from my work. When I say work, it is my calling, my purpose, my passion. This work is met constantly by resistance. Resistance that keeps me on Pinterest or Twitter or Google+ for an insane amount of time. Resistance that stops me from writing when I know the story must be told. It is that annoying resistance that puts shiny, pretty things and awesome digital gadgets in my way to distract me. But, I am meeting resistance and kicking its ass! I can spot it immediately and I sit down and do my work instead of allowing the distractions to rule. There is plenty of time for them later. After the work is done.

During the holidays, I ran across this simplicity project called Project333. Basically, you choose 33 pieces for your wardrobe that you will wear for 3 months. In my quest to simplify my life, I knew I had to give this a try. I am so serious about committing to this, I started a board on Pinterest with all kinds of great ideas. How about you join me? I found one other person in Cincinnati who is going to give it a go.

This year, I want to read. A lot. I asked for book recommendations and received an amazing and diverse list of books. I am sharing here in case you want to explore new books and genres you are not used to reading. First book I plan to read is The Shack. I was told this book is amazing. I have to thank my friends on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for the great suggestions.

1. It Happened On the Way to War: A Marine’s Path to Peace

by Rye Barcott

1. Ahabs Wife Or the StarGazer by Sena Jeter Nusland
2. Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete by William C. Rhoden
3. The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
4. Joy For Beginners by Erica Bauermeister
5. Women Who Run with Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
6. Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by JR Ward
7. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles  by Steven Pressfield
8. Do More Great Work: Stop the Busywork. Start the Work That Matters. by Michael Bungay Stanier
9. Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles Between Vision and Reality by Scott Belsky
10. Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living (Shambhala Library) by Pema Chodron
11. Evil Plans: Having Fun on the Road to World Domination by Hugh MacLeod
12. Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything by Geneen Roth
13. Lost and Found: Unexpected Revelations About Food and Money by Geneen Roth
14. A Different Kind of Luxury: Japanese Lessons in Simple Living and Inner Abundance by Andy Couturier
15. The Dance of the Dissident Daughter: A Woman’s Journey from Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine by Sue Monk Kidd
16. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
17.  A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
18. The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks
19. remembered rapture: the writer at work by Bell Hooks
20. The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
21. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary by David Sedaris and Ian Falconer
22. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
23. Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
24. The Shack by William P. Young
25. Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons
26. The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning
27. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
28. The Passage: A Novel by Justin Cronin
29. The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan
30. Robopocalypse: A Novel by Daniel H. Wilson
31. The Scarlet Dagger (The Red Sector Chronicles, #1) by Krystle Jones
32. Who Fears Death? by Nnedi Okorafor
33. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel  by Lisa See
34. One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp
35. Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue
36. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
37. We Need to Talk About Kevin tie-in: A Novel by Lionel Shriver
38. The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
39. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
40. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
41. The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann
42. Memoirs of a Geisha: A Novel by Arthur Golden
43. His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
44. The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
45. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
46. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
47.  Follow the River by James Alexander Thom
48. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
49.  Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Last year, one of our ministers gave an amazing sermon that has stuck with our congregation for a few months. He told us about living in the key of “F”. As soon as he said it, I knew I was going to have that be my key phrase for the new year. I had selected Abundance as my word of the year, but I wanted to take this to another level. From this point forward, I am expecting abundance in every area of my life. Every single one. By living in the key of “F”, the key of Faith, there is NOTHING I can not accomplish.

What are you going to accomplish this year?

Writing has never been a difficult thing for me. I have been writing poems, stories and plays since I was a little girl. Why was writing so easy then? The inner critic was not as developed, and had nowhere near the influence it has when we get older. Suddenly, we start listening to what people say, writing what we are told is “proper” to write and being influenced by everything outside of ourselves.

After reading many writer’s biographies, they have had to make time for solitude to get in touch with their inner voice and nurture ideas that come from them instead of others. A dedicated writer has to be willing to write junk and move past it. All bad writing isn’t really bad.

That is what I have been doing for almost two months. Creating a clearing so my writing would become more of what I want it to be. Call it a sabbatical, call it soul searching. I call it getting it touch with me, returning to center and listening to that voice inside that always knows the way to go. I want my writing to be authentic and a true reflection of who I am. I have missed blogging on a regular basis, but I know that sometimes, I have to step away from obligatory writing and return to genuine writing. I believe I have finally found my way.

It has been raining for two days straight and it is cold and windy. It is the kind of weather where all you want to do is curl up with a blanket and eat warm, fresh baked cookies. I feel like doing all the things I have neglected doing this year to nurture and take care of myself. And, you know what? There is absolutely nothing wrong with it and everything RIGHT with it.

Vision boards. Who would have thought they could be such a powerful influence in generating the kind of things you want to come into your life? I have been participating in Karen’s Path Finder’s  course and loving every minute of it. I have created vision boards before and they usually reside in my journals. This is the first one I created and put on my wall where I can see it everyday. Karen has done an amazing job of putting together a great class that truly acts as a guide. She is an outstanding writer and her personality comes through completely. It is a wonderful experience.

In the middle of my board is the word, Abundance. It is my word for 2011-2012. I usually pick a word at the beginning of each year, but I have decided to start selecting my word in the late summer months from now on. It took longer than expected to create this board. Reason being I wanted it to be a true representation of the abundance I want to see more of in my life. While I desire to have a wealth of abundance show up financially, I also desire it on many personal levels. This is one of the first vision boards I prayed over and took my time creating. As a result, it feels completely right for me.

Have you created a vision board? I would love to hear how you use it and why. Have a great day!

What I love about the new crispness in the air is how it immediately makes me think of things I find comforting.

• A cup of hot peach green tea
• Snuggling with a loved one under the covers
• Warm, comfort clothes
• Brisk walks in my favorite park.
• A slower pace to the weekends
• Homemade baked goods, daily
• Knitting and crochet
• Warm socks
• The smell of Fall in the air
• The last festivals of the year
• Multiple batches of chocolate chip cookies
• Sharing my love with people who touch my heart

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There is still time to sign up for the art journal workshop, Life is the Art. I am so excited to kick this off September 12. You have until September 11 to sign up for the workshop. We will be cultivating a daily art practice and I am going to share some of my favorite techniques, prompts and journaling concepts with the class. Won’t you join us? It is going to be a wonderful adventure.

Yesterday, I was rather weepy and I make absolutely no apology for it. I was filled with so much gratitude and love for my life. Have you ever waited to hear or experience something only to have it happen and exceed your expectations and dreams? Well, I had that kind of moment and it filled my heart in ways that left me with a very tender heart. Tears seemed to be the only appropriate response. I have learned a lot over the past three or so years. Mainly about what love is, giving it and receiving it. I am a very giving person. I don’t love part of the way or with conditions. Either I am loving you 100% or I am not bothering at all. Now receiving it is not always as easy as giving it. What I have learned is that so many people do not love themselves. As a result, they don’t know how to receive unconditional love. I made up in my mind that before I could love anyone, I needed to first love myself. I needed to receive the ultimate love that my God has given me and love me. When I finally understood this and applied it to my life, the size of my capacity to love others increased. It increased to the point I was able to forgive everyone who has ever done me wrong. I was able to love them and others without expectation of being loved in return. I found joy in the simple act of expressing love fully and with my whole heart.

This past week, a family member passed away from her fight with cancer at the age of 57 and dear friend passed away at 38 from health complications. Their deaths touched me deeply. People seem to be dying younger and younger these days. I thought about how I did not want to live another day of my life with regret. I wanted to make sure I was giving people their flowers while they are alive right now. For me, that means telling people I love them, spending time with my children, being a comfort to friends in need and receiving people just as they are…unconditionally.

All anyone really wants is to know they are loved and it wouldn’t hurt us all to be better examples of what love is at it’s best. In my home, this is how I am raising my children. There is enough negativity in the world without adding to it. I choose to be happy, a light in darkness and to love. Life really is that simple.

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There is still time to sign up for the art journal workshop, Life is the Art. I am so excited to kick this off September 12. You have until September 11 to sign up for the workshop. We will be cultivating a daily art practice and I am going to share some of my favorite techniques, prompts and journaling concepts with the class. Won’t you join us? It is going to be a wonderful adventure.

As my life continues to go through changes, I have discovered I love and expect to meet new people every single week. In fact, this is what becoming in the absorbed in the local salsa community has done for me. I make it my business to meet at least ten new people a week. You can never say you are alone and bored if you are actively pursuing living  your life. If you find yourself complaining, instead of blaming someone else or your circumstances, what could you be doing differently to live the life of your dreams?

I am taking a huge leap of faith starting these art classes, but I believe so strongly in art being a part of my daily life and I know it can be life changing for others. I do hope you will sign up for the class and join me in actively participating and changing your life into what you want.

I consumed my last Doritos today and I am sitting here suffering because I feel horrible after eating them. I see some salsa dancing in my future to help me burn this junk off my body. Never again. I mean it…never again.

Happiness is internal.

If you want more of it, you must open your heart and embrace it fully.

Happiness is not external.

It is no one’s responsibility to make you happy.

It is yours.

When you finally understand that only you can make you happy, life changes.

Your mind opens, your heart is more accepting and you see the world differently.

Life becomes simple.

Happiness is uncomplicated and without stress.

You control the intensity of it.

You control its place in your life.

Spending time with some of my favorite people.

Frequent visits to the yogurt place for my favorite pineapple sorbet and popping bobas.

Dreaming my future into reality.

Tasty drinks on a hot, sizzling day.

Carefree summer hair.

For the first time in a long time, I have given myself permission to rest, relax and let my day lead me where it will. I am a planner. I write things with the best intention to do exactly what I planned, only to have my entire day dictated by the needs of others. Before, it would have stressed me out, now, I welcome the change and I have learned to embrace it. Change is what keeps life exciting. Don’t you think?

What slowing down has taught me is:

You accomplish more when you are rested and not running around like a chicken with your head cut off.

You can focus on what is really important and remove distractions from your life.

You discover activities you enjoy doing and the desire to pursue them becomes more than a passing dream.

You remember how wonderful it feels to wake up to giggling children instead of an alarm clock.

Life runs so much smoother when you follow your heart.

I could go on and on about what I have learned in the past few weeks, but I will use the next few post to share the goings on in my life as of late. I could not be happier than I am right now standing in the middle of uncertainty. Because I have learned that worry has no place in my life and choosing to live with joy has been the best decision I ever made.

I decided it was time to revisit meditation and try out a few different kinds to find the one that is right for me. Here are a few meditation practices I am planning to explore further:

• Mindful Meditation. This is also called vipassanna. Basically, this meditation focuses on what is happening around you. You are aware of your thoughts and feelings during the process and your mind is open to your true feelings. There is no judging of your thoughts.

• Walking Meditation. As the name implies, this meditation can be done while you are walking, running or even in your home. When you mind wanders, you should focus on your body and your breathing. This is definitely a body focused meditation.

• Breathing Meditation. One of the simplest meditations is this one, which focuses on your breath. Goal of this meditation is to always return to your breathing. Even if your mind wanders, allow the thought to come and go, then refocus. I find this to be the hardest meditation for me, because I think a lot.

Have you tried different kinds of meditation? Which has worked best for you?