2014: Passport to Happiness
Welcome to 2014….Passport to Happiness begins here:)
“It might seem crazy what I’ve about to say. Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof. Because I’m Happy. Clap along if you feel happiness is the truth. Because I’m Happy. Clap Along if you know what Happiness is to You. Can’t Nuttin Bring Me Down. Because I’m Happy.” ~ Pharrell
Happiness seems to be THE song of 2014. It’s everywhere. Gotta love it! So, I have not written in a very long time. Too long. The topic on my brain is PASSPORT TO HAPPINESS. So we need a passport to travel, right? So how many of us have discovered the Passport to Happiness? Happiness is not a destination, it’s so about the journey.
Happiness can be found in the least likely places. For me, I’ve learned it is not about “material” things. For me, I’ve found happiness in traveling to exotic places, seeing a child’s smile, feeling the love of my dog every time I come home, seeing my roses bloom, reaching out to help someone who may need a hug, meal, or word of encouragement, and in my prayers for friends, family, and loved ones. You see I am not a millionaire, I have never had a mansion, never driven a Bentley, never flown on a private jet, never been CEO, supermodel, or a celebrity’s wife, not Oprah, not Beyonce….none of what we define as glamourous and beautiful. What I learned….my passport to happiness starts right within me. It is not determined by my bank account, looks, size, wallet, address, title, or marital status. My passport to happiness may be different from yours, because we are all uniquely made. For me, happiness is gratitude, love (love of myself and for others), giving (giving back), peace, living in a positive state of mind and staying in tune with my Creator. I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I’m HAPPY! Happiness is not a destination, it’s about the journey. Happiness is the truth.
I will write more in 2014! I have more stories to tell.
It’s 2013: Are You Going to Make it Extraordinary?
It’s 2013
It’s been a long while, since I wrote a post. 2012 flew by at lightning speed, it was an amazing and eventful year in it’s own right. London Olympics, U.S. Presidential election, Costa Condoria cruise ship runs around, Queen Elizabeth’s jubilee celebration, Aurora massacre, protests in Egpyt, Hurricane Sandy, Newtown CT massacre, and Apple becomes the largest company in the World. The loss of so many talented entertainers. There are so many events that made headlines in 2012. For me personally, 2012 was a time of lots of change. New beginnings, new opportunities. I clocked 22,000 miles to Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, and to two of my favorite hangouts, Las Vegas and St. Maarten. Life lessons? Money, jobs, and expensive clothes/jewelry/cars/homes do not guarantee happiness or success. Material things come and go. What is most important? Family, friends, good health, pets, following your passions, and being happy.
I leave the lessons and events of 2012 in the past, and begin 2013 with hope, optimism, passion, positive energy, and a strong desire to give more, travel more, and achieve happiness in every area of my life. Yes, 2013 will be extraordinary. Why? Because I will make it extraordinary. I am willing to do whatever it takes to inspire and enrich my life. I end with a quote that I read today from DebnDave (theplanetd.com), “ordinary people can live extraordinary lives.” Everyone has the right to live the best life possible. There is never a better time than the present. Make 2013 extraordinary! Would love to hear your thoughts.
Life Tips: Life Crisis at 40? Now What?
What happens when you turn 40, and realize you’re not living the life you expected?
You are divorced (single and dating at 40+ sucks).
You have no children (and your biological clock is ticking rapidly).
You have been laid off (or want out of your job)!
You don’t own a home.
Your bank account is not registering millions:) (you’re barely paying the bills!)
You don’t have anything tying you to a specific place.
You look in the mirror and yes, you have gray hair.
You aren’t exactly sure what you want out of life, but know what you’ve got isn’t what you want?
What do you do when you realize the life you’re living is not what you envisioned?
Did anyone say tears, burnout, meltdown, mid-life crisis? Or all of the above. What happened to the husband, 2.3 kids, dream job, and white picket fence? So many others are living the American dream, what happened to me?
What do I do with my now and my future?
What I’m doing (present) and what I’ve done up to now (past) is not working….so it’s time to try something new. I realize…if I want my life to change, then I have to…CHANGE…MY…LIFE…No one else is going to do it for me. As Tony Robbins would say, you cannot continue to do the same things and expect different results…Where do I begin?
For me, I begin the journey to life after 40 with an open mind, focusing on life change and career change. Life change started with breathing, having a positive mindset, new travel experiences, trying new things, and meeting new people. Most importantly letting go of all the baggage from the past, along with anyone or anything that does not add value to my life . Career change means letting go of 17 long and stressful years in Corporate America and moving on to something new, fun, and totally different, in a place where my value and ideas are respected and appreciated.
In closing, the road to ending my 40+ life crisis started with accepting it’s OK if my path is different. My life is not any less without the husband, kids, white picket fence, and six figure bank account. My journey is my own, unique and special. I must live my truth and be my authentic self. For now, I am committed to living with passion and purpose, with gratitude for what I have (not focusing on what I don’t have). Every day, I am still learning about me, learning about others, and learning about life. My new motto: Live. Travel. Blog. No regrets! Crisis is over for now!
“Love the life you live, live the life you love.” ~ Bob Marley.
Life Tips: 5 Tips for Living with Self-Confidence
Today, I begin a new day writing about what is important. Living and loving life, with a positive spirit and gratitude. I recently wrote tips about getting your Mojo, or self confidence back….Here are a few things I’ve learned in life that made a huge difference in elevating my self-confidence.
1. Size does not matter. As women, we spend years obsessing over our weight, body shape, and dress size. No more. You are beautiful, regardless of body size, cellulite, or spider veins. The key is to love yourself and your body, and eat healthy regardless of where you are. Weight fluctuates, your love for yourself should not fluctuate with it.
2. Start living your life for you, not for anyone else. This milestone is huge. Do not waste a minute of your precious life worrying about what others think of you. Don’t waste time and energy living or trying to live out others dreams for your life. Be who you really are. Do what you love, do what makes you happy. I wish I had understood this years ago, but I guess with age really does come wisdom:)
3. Stop putting off your life until later – live your life for the present. How many of us put off enjoyable things until a later, more “perfect” time. How many times have you put off things to wait for the slimmer body, to have a boyfriend or spouse, the promotion you’ve been waiting for or more money? Life passes way too quickly to approach each day with that attitude. Now, I’m all about living life for now and enjoying every minute. I don’t want to put anything off.
4. Stop worrying about what you eat – start enjoying all kinds of food. Yes, I said it, do not worry about what you eat. That said, if you have certain medical conditions, then you should follow your doctor’s advice. The key is to eat with balance, and enjoy good food (with some bad food). I love french fries, brownies, and cupcakes, I can still have them in moderation. I also eat more fresh fruits and vegetables regularly.
5. Live with a positive attitude. Life brings hills and valleys, often when we least expect them. The key is the attitude and energy you bring to each day. We attract to us, what we really are. If you’re positive, you will attract good things to you. This is a fact.
In closing, it’s only when I started taking charge of my life – pursuing the things that made me happy and fulfilled instead of the things I thought I should be doing, that I became a whole lot happier with who I am. I love me – extra pounds and inches and all. Satisfaction with our lives, definitely starts within. Life is much too short to put off enjoying a single minute. Would love to hear your take…
Spotlight: 10 Ways to Simplify Your Life
I begin with a question today, how many of us want to simplify our lives? I recently read a blog post by Ryan Sonnenburg with advice on how to simplify your life…it was a great list and it made me think. We are all so busy, with jobs, school, children, spouses, elderly parents, pets, friends….How do you keep life simple? Here are my top 13:
LET IT GO
TELL THE TRUTH
LOVE MORE
LAUGH
LIVE WITH LESS
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE
LEAVE WORK AT WORK
LISTEN
THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK
LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES
DON’T LOOK BACK
NO IS AN OPTION
TRAVEL MORE
Life lessons from me to you. Life is short, and my philosophy is to be happy and live life to the fullest. Can you have it all? Yes, emphatically YES. At the end of the day, do you need to have it all to be happy? What I’ve learned….you don’t need to have it all (wealth, privilege, luxury cars, luxury homes, big bank accounts, VP title, spouse, 2.3 kids or the white picket fence) to be happy or to have an extraordinary life. Life is what we make it. Simplify your life.
Life Tips: Traveling with Success
I cannot believe how quickly the time is flying by, we were just beginning May and now Memorial Day is already upon us. Time is flying, and for me, it is so important to life in the present and make every moment count. Some would argue that this is all motivational BS, but I will tell you that it is not. There is tremendous power in positive thinking. We are taught that what we feed (mind, body, and spirit) will grow. If you want positive results, then that is what you have to stimulate your mind with. Today’s topic is continuing on the theme we last discussed, traveling/living with purpose. On May 20th, Oprah Winfrey gave the commencement address for Spelman College’s 2012 graduation. Here are a few nuggets to ponder:
1) Know who you are and where you’re going.
2) Find a way to SERVE.
3) Always do the right thing! Doing the right thing will alway bring the right things to you.
SERVICE + SIGNIFICANCE = SUCCESS
In closing, I am on a path to finding what success means for me. It is different for each of us. Oprah reminds us, “when you are excellent you become unforgettable.” So today, I push forward towards excellence as my personal brand in everything that I do.
the travelpreneur 