Gusher

My husband and I had a really great conversation last night about our communication styles.
Even after 10 years of very happy marriage, there are still ways that we can get better and love each other more. 

Knowing my hubby like I do (analytical, logical, rational), I brought up the topic on Sunday night and asked him to think about ways we can improve our communication.  True to form, he came home last night ready to talk.

Matt -- (in a totally mature, non threatening way)
"I know what you want me to do, communicate like you!"
Me -- "What do you mean?"
Matt -- "You're a gusher!"
Me -- "A gusher?"
Matt -- "Have you ever heard yourself talk on the phone?"
(imitating me in a girl voice) "OMG, So excited, I love that! Yeah!" (claps his hands together and does a cheerleading kick)
Me -- "Really?" (blushing and laughing) "Then what are you?"
Matt -- "I'm not a gusher, but if I was, I'd gush over you!"

Gusher.  I had never thought of it that way, but he is right.
I had to look the word up this morning because I wanted to make sure.

Gush (verb) -- (FYI, it's also a noun): to make an effusive display of affection or enthusiasm <an aunt gushing over a baby>; to say or write effusively

Sounds about right.

When I put it all together -- it makes sense.

To gush is to love, to be positive, to support and encourage.

I love to celebrate, I love to talk, I love to get excited for other people.

So, yes -- I'm a gusher. 

Love Luck Purpose is about gushing -- sharing and showing affection, being enthusiastic.  Saying and writing what's in our hearts.

Join me -- be a gusher!

To love and be loved (Valentine's Day post one day late)

I was watching Oprah's interview with Nate Berkus a few days ago and he said something that struck me. He was speaking about his boyfriend (who died tragically in the tsunami) and the framed art he created that still hangs in his home. He said "it reminds me of the WAY he loved me".

It hit me -- I was so lucky to be loved unconditionally by my parents. The WAY they loved me was always and no matter what. Their love for me was (and still is) not based on what I did or did not do but on who I was. I never had to prove to them that I deserved to be loved or do anything to earn it. It was a given, no matter what. What a gift!

I am blessed to have a husband who does the same -- he loves me completely and totally.
Grumpy, cheerful, stressed, happy -- all the same to him. And I love him right back!

The WAY people have loved me helps me to love them and others the same WAY. No one is perfect but BEING loved that way helps me love that way -- completely and unconditionally.

How have you been loved? How does that impact the way you love? How can you find ways to love yourself?

Still 3 days behind -- learning to take care of myself....

I said that I would commit to blog for 5 more days -- 3 days ago!
At the moment, I'm laying in bed under a blanket and I did the same all day yesterday!

For someone like me, it's tough to do nothing. I realized yesterday, in the middle of crumpled Kleenex and empty glasses of juice, that doing nothing is actually doing something -- it's taking care of myself.

I spent a lot of my younger years taking care of others, staying as busy as possible, and never resting. I thought that stopping or slowing down meant failure. I had the cutest, tiniest apartment but I never really nested there.

Being sick should never be the only reason to slow down and take care of yourself, but it certainly does stop you in your tracks. It's a great reminder to take care of yourself and not rush through life.

Even though it's for a yucky reason, being at home is nice. I love this space, this place I have shared for over 9 years now with my hubby. It's comfortable, it's warm, it's home -- and it's teaching me to slow down and take care of myself.

What has helped you learn this lesson?

Get Lost...

Get lost in happiness, in laughter, in tears, in life.

Some of us choose to immerse ourselves in every moment of life, and some choose moments along the way.  As long as you allow yourself to fully feel an entire emotion, it doesn't matter how often you do it. It can be a scary thought, to let go completely and just feel with all your heart.

Bless yourself with the opportunity to get lost.

When I daydream about ultimate happiness, ultimate love, I see swirls of color and moments in my life and then there is me. I am there, running at full speed and then leaping into it. And I am almost soaring through it, while hugging it at the same time. The moments when emotion overwhelms, those are the moments I will never forget.

Even Dove chocolate thinks I should, twice.  So bring it 2013.

Do you have any moments in life where you have just lost yourself completely? Please share with us!

Day 17 through 20 combined: Tell Your Story

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you." -- Maya Angelou

As some of you know, my mom is in the hospital this week so I have really been slacking on the blog posts. I'll make up for it by doing 25 days of blogging instead of 21.

This quote is from day 17 and it touched me.

Most of us walk around with many untold stories inside of us -- and some of them will never be told.

Getting into writing interests me because I'd like to tell some of mine --some painful, some funny, some both.

Sometimes it's hard to go that deep, to feel those feelings again. I know it would be very therapeutic if I did but the fear creeps in and gets in the way.

I'm going to continue writing even after the challenge ends and I'm going to find the bravery to tell those stories.

Everyone has a story to tell -- what's yours?

Day 16: like a ton of bricks...

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." - Jack London

There are times when I want to sit in a very quiet place and let inspiration come to me.
It would be nice to unplug from the world and listen to my heart.

Then the ADHD side of me kicks in and says "Who are you kidding? When was the last time you could sit quietly?"

Then today's prompt -- I love this quote, mostly because it makes me feel less guilty for hunting down inspiration everywhere I go.

Love*Luck*Purpose is all about going after inspiration, about taking risks. Why should we be afraid to get out into the world and go after it?

Let's come at our lives like a ton of bricks -- not to destroy, but to enjoy!

How can you throw yourself into life, go after it with a club?

Tell us here.....

New Month, New Goals: Part Two

February has arrived.   Turns out, it is my favorite month of the year.   February is filled with long weekends, signs of spring, days of love and... my birthday. I can't deny it, I love birthdays. Birthdays are always a good time to look forward to a new year. You know how people always say "This will be your best year yet!"  This year, I feel it. Waaaay down in my bones. But, let's just make through this new month.  Good ol' February.

January was a month for getting back on my feet, beginning the year stronger than I ended the last: Whittling away excess from my life, relaxing more than I thought humanly possibly and getting ready for what I expect to be one of the best years of my life. A lot of people take January to establish new beginnings & goals...but it takes time for those ideas to get implemented.

February will bring new ideas, new risks and a new motivation.  I am ready to hit the workouts hard again, I've taken a few month hiatus and now I have pulled my motivation back out of the dumpster. I am risking my emotions and loving every moment of it. And every day,  our Lucky '13ers are inspiring me. 

Spring is slowly beginning to peek its head back out in San Diego. My favorite flowers will begin appearing at the markets soon, tulips, bright reminders of hope and life.  The great thing about life is that there is always opportunity to start fresh, begin anew.  One day you can just decide it's time for a change and do it.  Or maybe it isn't even a change, it just a reboot. 

So whether you are blooming new buds of inspiration or digging back into your old roots, how are you starting again today? Make the choice to pick one small goal for the day, week or month and do it.

Day 15: Wings on the way down.....

"We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down." - Kurt Vonnegut

For almost 5 months before I left my last job to become a consultant, there were many days that my gut said -- "just quit your job, there is something out there for you!".

I can't say I ever jumped off that cliff (for fear of being accused of listening to the voices in my head) but when the opportunity arose for me to find my wings and leave, I jumped at the chance.

There were many times after I first left that I felt exactly two things -- the blissful happiness and freedom that comes with working for yourself and being your own boss coupled with the "oh, shit -- I have no security and don't know exactly when this job will end".

I've learned to live with that mixture of joy and fear and become more comfortable with the idea that (without sounding irresponsible) it does not really matter what is coming next. What matters is enjoying the now.

It can seem very risky, maybe even foolish, to jump and then find your wings -- but, what a ride!

Tell us about how you want to develop your wings.

Days 13 & 14: Face the enemy

The worst enemy of creativity is self-doubt. - Sylvia Plath

Have you stared down the enemy lately? Looked self-doubt in the face and said "You're wrong!"
Well -- try it! I feel like my February workout challenge (I've completed 160 of my 840 minutes already) has helped me face some of my self-doubt just as the 21 day blogging challenge has helped with my creativity.

I'm happy to report that I've had a few victories this week. Small ones -- but I'll take them.

In fact, I'm having one right now -- munching on carrots while my hubby makes our healthy Super Bowl dinner. We will be having veggie burgers, baked fries, and salad!

All of these commercials have me craving soda and Doritos but I am feeling so much better these days so I use that healthy feeling to help me resist the temptation.

Taking it one day at a time is what's been working for me so far. What's been helping you battle the "enemy"?

Day 12: New Month, New Goals

Today is day one of my long over-due fitness "challenge". No excuses, but I tend to be a huge "January 1st & back at the gym" failure. I am super proud of the progress I made on many other fronts this past month, but the excuses not to exercise can only last for so long.

Surprisingly, having given up caffeine and dairy no longer sucks. Really -- why be surprised?
It's not health food so it should not be a surprise that it did not make me feel healthy and energetic! I feel awesome and it made it so much easier to drag myself back to the gym. Buying a fun new pair of workout pants could not be a bad reason to exercise either!

You know what? I think I've actually missed the gym. I totally forgot how awesome my playlists are. It's actually good to be back -- there, I said it!

I am really happy that I made this commitment to myself and I am excited to see the results -- both mental and physical.

And as my new/old favorite workout song says -- "don't call it a comeback!"

Day 11 -- love, luck, purpose and experiencing everything

“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything. At present you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day."
Rainer Maria Rilke

This quote (found on a friend's Facebook page) really spoke to me today. This has been the most productive, I dare say most inspired, January I've had in years. I felt focused, energized, ready.
Being between consulting projects and having the time to focus on all of my goals and projects has certainly helped. I've done Love*Luck*Purpose like it's my job! I've loved it.

February is really going to be a time for me to take it to the next level -- time to face the music, go to the gym and stop eating junk. I've been caffeine free and dairy free and that's great. I'm eating better but I still have more tweaks. I'm feeling inspired though -- focused, energized, ready.

I'm going to love the questions themselves and experience everything. I might be a grumpier me when the sugar gets taken away but I'll come out the other end a stronger, happier, and healthier me.

How are you doing so far this year? How does it feel to be living the questions and experiencing everything?

Chances

"There was once a chance I didn't take."    No one really ever wants to start a story with this phrase. Wouldn't you rather say "I took this chance once and..."?

Chances, they are a funny thing. Chances pass us by so often... but is it because we don't grab hold of the opportunity or because we just aren't aware? Are there days when we just don't see those opportunities? Or do we see them and too afraid to risk it? 

In my life, I have tried to take a lot of chances. Let's not confuse that with risk, I like to play things pretty safe.  But most of the time, I won't let a chance to smile, love or create pass me by. I am human though and there are days we just get caught up in life (not the fun parts) and almost blindly go through our day. Recently, a few friends mentioned their mottos for the year: Say YES to life! and Why Not?   The days I doubt, want to slump or just stay in my cave of comfort, I remember these little tidbits.

Taking chances leaves you with no regret. You won't have to ask What if? if you know you have embraced it.  There will be failed moments, times you just don't feel like walking through that open door and like all the world is against you. It will get sloppy, full of tears and irrational thoughts.
        But, shoot, wouldn't you always be wondering if you just took that chance?

Risk it, gamble it, make yourself luckier but don't think that things fall into your lap by chance.  Open those eyes and do it.

Grab hold of every chance you get. Jump at the chance to express your emotions. Dance at the chance to sway and laugh hysterically every chance you get.

I know I've danced without abandon, giggled until my tummy aches and shown more emotion than most people are comfortable with.  If I continue this, I am happy knowing that I gave life my all, and am still prepared to do so.

Share with us: How are you saying yes to life, getting messy and taking that chance to discover something new?

Day 10: Promise Me

"I need you to be happy...I need you to follow your dreams. Promise me." -- Keiko Sanders, On Writing

This is what Keiko's grandmother told her on her death bed. Sad as that moment must have been, this message should resonate with all of us.

What is stopping us from following our dreams? Why are we waiting to be happy?
Life is way too short and uncertain to wait on anything.

Writing has been something I've always said I was going to do, but never did.

This blog is just me dipping my toe in the pool. There is so much more to do, I'm just waiting to fully jump in. I need to promise myself that I will keep going, that I will use the blog as the start of something bigger and deeper.

Maybe writing is not what you've been waiting to do -- but we all have something we have been putting off.

What will you promise to do, to explore, to become?

Share here -- and let's use the blog as a support for our promises.

Day 9: Stay Drunk

You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. -- Ray Bradbury

 

 

Certainly, none of us could stay "drunk" for long for fear of losing our jobs and destroying our lives.

This Bradbury quote intrigued me though -- the idea of "staying drunk", being fully and totally immersed into something, drowning in it.

 

There are so many things we throw ourselves into -- our jobs, our relationships, our families.

We are some times so "drunk" with these things that we can keep reality at bay.  We make those things our total reality.

 

There is nothing wrong with creating your own reality and living in it -- I do it regularly.

 

I'm just curious about the staying "drunk" part.  Is it good to escape reality by being too involved in things?  Or should we sober up every now and then and peek our heads out into reality?

 

For me, "reality", life unfolding around me (good, bad, and eveything else) is what fuels those "drunk" moments -- what helps me write, what helps me have compassion and depth and insight.

 

I'm not sure if I want to write to escape reality, to not let it "destroy" me as Bradbury said.

 

Perhaps it's those "sober" non-writing moments that can be what we "drink" to fuel us and our writing?

 

Discuss....(glass of wine as you type is optional)



Keep calm & carry on: day 8

Let me tell you a little about my day.

I think it was the no caffeine and no dairy talking but I seriously wanted to order a bacon cheeseburger at the vegan restaurant I went to for lunch -- both for the sad irony and for the simple fact that it sounded amazingly delicious -- even though I became a vegetarian in May.

Then a guy who cut me off flipped me off when 5 blocks later he stopped in the middle of the street and I lightly tapped (ok, laid on) my horn.

Annoyed might be a good word to describe today.

Then I remembered the sign I had seen in the street before arriving at said vegan restaurant (no irony in its name: Loving Hut) and was flipped off by the crappy driver -- CALM DOWN.

Today the words "keep calm and carry on" became more than a slightly overused and many times over ripped off British poster.

Today I needed those words -- CALM DOWN, KEEP GOING. KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.

Not sure if it's the lack of Diet Coke and ice cream or the hormones or what but I was in dire need of a sign like that today.

Ironically, in order to calm down I might normally have drank coffee or eaten chocolate -- no such coping mechanism today. I had to just breathe, acknowledge how annoyed I was feeling (for no reason at all), and just keep on.

It wasn't easy and I can't say it won't happen again -- but I can return to my mantra and relax.

We all have days like this. What do you do to "keep calm and carry on"?

Good enough

It's not that I didn't like today's prompts -- I've just had a "rant" on my mind for a while and it was triggered by a picture I saw on Pinterest (attached below).

It's a picture of "tooth fairy money" -- cash sprayed with glitter.

I'm not sure it's actually a bad idea -- creative for sure.

But it brought this to mind, my "rant" of sorts. When is good enough, good enough?
Why can't we keep things simple? Does life need to be about bigger, better, more?

Progress, not perfection.

Let's give ourselves a break and just be -- good enough.

It's not things, it's not projects, it's not our jobs -- we are good enough. You are enough.

What are the ways we can relax, simplify and make it so we are good enough?

Day 5 & 6 combined -- a word for 2013

What's your word for 2013? As you know, we chose 3 -- love, luck, and purpose. But there is another one that I've really been focused on this year -- GENEROUS.

Giving, loving, open, caring, generous.

I think generosity is something we really need -- with our time, our talents, and our resources if we are able.

Our giving should not diminish us, it should fill us.

What can you give -- today? This year?

What's your word? Share it here.....

Day 5 & 6 combined -- Living in the real world....

Last night I got in bed, iPad in hand, ready to write for day 5. Matt seemed tired so it thought it was a good time to get to work. I was totally ignoring him, reading the writing prompt and thinking about some ideas. Then he asked me a question and I was shaken back to reality.

I put my iPad aside and focused on him. It made me realize -- how much have I missed out on always having an electronic device attached to my body at all times? How many important conversations have we never had because he just didn't bother to "interrupt" me?

I made a promise at that moment to be more engaged, more present to him so I don't miss out on those moments. If you know me, you know my love for technology and social media. That's not going to go away. But the love I have for connection and relationship needs to be rooted in the real, not the virtual, world.

Let's do this together -- what are the ways you can live "on purpose", intentionally focusing on those around you? How can you better pay attention and focus on the ones you love?

Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way. - Ray Bradbury

There must be some truth to the idea (I hate to call it a fact) that I am ADHD, heavy on the H.
My husband says so, my mom says so, but no doctor has confirmed this. Fact is, there is no point of being diagnosed. I just call it an active mind and an ability to multi-task.

Maybe that's why I want to be a writer. That way, all of the ideas swirling in my head could find their way out.

My intuition is telling me that there is quite a bit that I want to write about, maybe even things that I should write about as a form of therapy or catharsis or closure.

Fact is, I just need to calm my mind, make a list of topics , and let my intuition, my inner voice, do the rest.

Here's a few topics I've been considering (other than the bros, hos and who knows idea with Vince):

1) infertility -- the funny side and the painful one
2) being a "child free" 40 year old women and my take on the world
3) fashion/makeovers
4) the idea of "locals" and how they are going away -- inspired by growing up in Point Loma and being known as Steve Goebel's daughter
5) a book called "If I said what I really thought, I'd have no friends" -- self explanatory
6) a collection of short stories about running errands

Anyone else have other good ideas?

These are what my intuition tells me to write about -- I just need to find a sugar daddy to support me so I can do it full time.

What do you want to write about? Share here.....

Don't lose steam today!

Today's writing challenge had our suggested prompt, a quote and a daily message. The daily message was: "Don't lose steam today.  Affirm:  Today I will write no matter what happens.  Today I am a writer."

                                  All I read was Don't Lose Steam Today!  

Then the daily message continued on to ask questions geared toward helping us fine tune who we are as writers.  I'd like to read this message as fine tuning myself. The following tips & questions are there for us... to help us make ourselves better. To dare to push out of our rut, or not get into one for that matter.  

As I have dared to begin writing again, I have found that I am reflecting on myself and emotions in each daily writing. That tells me, it's time to bulldoze through these walls that have popped up in the past months.   Even as I browsed through my pile of empty journals, I picked the tiny one that had the word believe scrawled on the front. I think I am noticing a theme. 

It's time for a: G.U.T. Check 

 

Good Care of your body
Up the commitment
Tune out Inner Critic

The G.U.T check was a suggestion today to check ourselves as writers.  Let's take that further into our own personal lives. I think it's the perfect time to check ourselves, before we wreck ourselves. Anyone remember that catchy tune? 

Am I taking good care of my body? 
      I like to take good care of my body, lately I haven't made the time for it.  Injury free and recovered from a recent car accident, I can get back to a little exercise routine.  My life doesn't feel normal without my mental and physical strength builder.  

                                             How are you taking care of your body?

Am I eating healthy foods and getting enough sleep?       

      Yes! I absolutely love fresh, nutrient rich foods. Even with my lack of exercise motivation, I am still filling my body with a lot of sleep and good fuel.  

What routines do you put in place to make sure you are establishing healthy habits?           
      

Where am I at with commitment to writing?       

     Funny, I have fallen off my personal blog wagon too. But it's coming back with time. I needed a moment for my train to derail before I could get back on track. This challenge is a good way to get me back into something I truly love.   Even weirder...my love of writing came from Margaret, Miss Madge, when she was my high school Creative Writing teacher. Interesting how things come full circle, eh?             

            Are any other of our readers reflecting occasinally through writing?                                 

How loud is my inner critic? 
      I think my inner critic found my old high school cheerleading megaphone and is shouting in my ear every moment. Where did this come from?  Criticism soap box, go away!  Time to say "bye-bye" and pass the megaphone back to my ol' pal, Miss Pocket Full of Sunshine. 

How often do you find yourself saying a personal compliment?  
 Try and do it two more times each day.

From now on....  Full steam ahead!    With a few occasional pit stops to pick up the things that make me smile, getting off to stretch my legs and taking that train one station at a time.

Write the kind of story you'd like to read. People will give you all sorts of advice about writing, but if you're not writing something you like, no one else will like it either. -- Meg Cabot

Day Three of the 21 Day Writing Challenge.
Day One of what I'm calling "Operation Caffeine Free".

Both will be challenging, both will be good for me.

I spent today shopping with my dear friend Vince. Not for me, not for him, but for his alter ego, drag queen Tori Heart.

When you are leaving Charlotte Russe, boy-sized corset in hand with the store manager asking to come to your drag performance, you know it's been a successful day.

For a while now, Vince and I have been wanting to write a book or launch a TV show. Pie in the sky dreams but we think our lives are entertaining. Problem is -- would anyone read it or watch it?

I guess there is no point in writing it or putting it on film if it will go nowhere. Or is there?

We think it's funny, we are amused by it -- shouldn't we write about it if we like it?

The stories we can tell are the kind of stories we'd like to read so I guess we should move forward -- potential readers and viewers be damned -- and, if for no other reason, write it for ourselves.

We have claimed a blog address and when there is anything for you to read, we will let you know.

I guess we should stop worrying about it and just write it. Stay tuned.....

Thought for today: Don't just dream it, do it.

Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration. The rest of us just get up and go to work. - Stephen King, On Writing

Today was an interesting mix of inspiration and frustration, of gut feelings and second guessing.
I was anxious to get today's prompt and "force" myself to write again, but it did not come.
By 4:15pm, I had to leave for my painting class so I figured I'd just check my e-mail again when I got home. I was preparing to be creative by painting so that was enough for the moment.

Painting class was typical me at first -- jump in, have fun, get your hands dirty. Don't think too much. It does not have to be perfect. I must have said "this is fun" 10 times in the first 20 minutes.
"Go with your gut" has been one of my mottos in life, why not in "art" (if you can call it that)?

Four circles in to the 12 Kandinsky circles that we were supposed to be modeling, I was already a little antsy about following the rules and listening to the teacher. Even though I have never painted before, I felt like going rogue. 1/3rd of the way through and I already wanted to do my own thing. Typical me.

What's funny is -- I should have just gotten up and done the work at the start. The inspiration hit me too late though. Hearts instead of circles -- why did I not think of that four circles ago? Too late now.

I finished the painting but (ironically) didn't love it, even though the word love and a big heart were right in the center of it. Problem is, the true inspiration came a little too late. I had charged ahead, unaware of the fact that I am still an amateur and could have benefitted from the waiting part.

Just get up and get to work. That approach usually works for me. Action is truth, doing is knowing. With painting, not so much. To create a better picture, I should have waited for the bigger picture to surface in my mind.

But I didn't and I can't go back now -- or can I?

I drove home feeling a little uncreative and a little frustrated that I had not taken more time or had a little more vision before I charged into the assignment. Lesson learned next one there is a canvas in font of me. Think big picture -- literally. But guess what came to me while I drove?
What is the heart of the picture? Literally -- the heart. I love the heart I painted so I cut it out and I'm going to frame it.

It's not that the rest of the picture is that crappy, it's just not me. It's not the heart of my creative ability. I am not going to pretend the rest of the painting never existed, but I am going to accentuate the positive. Without the rest, the heart would not be there.

The rest of us just get up and go to work and that's what I did today.
Painting is not my thing, but writing about it is. Thanks Stephen King for the inspiration.

Faith is taking the first step when you don't see the whole staircase - MLK

Today is the first day of a 21 day writing challenge that I just signed up for a few hours ago.
It seemed like a great idea at the time, in the middle of the gym.
"Hey!" -- I said to myself while sweating on the stationary bike -- "this post on Facebook is totally cool. I should totally do this! It will keep me motivated to blog every day!"
I just got day one's assignment in my inbox 15 minutes ago.
Want to know what my first thought was?
"Damn, I actually have to do this now. I signed up and now it's real."
I closed my email, thinking -- "I'll just do it later, can't really think right now."
5 minutes passed.
I opened the e-mail again. I was not too fired up about the writing prompt. Almost closed the e-mail again.
"Hey, wait!" I said to myself (am I the only one who says Hey! to myself?)
"There's another option, a quote of the day. Wait, that's one of the many MLK quotes I put on my Facebook page today. I should be able to write about that!"

Faith is taking the first step when you don't see the whole staircase. - MLK

Without knowing this was an MLK quote, I actually used these words back in October to announce to my FB friends that I had left Nordstrom after 8 years to do something totally new and different. Definitely a first step with no staircase in sight.
Creating a new list to guide me (and our growing 13x13 group) and deciding to blog about it with Michelle -- first step.
Signing up for a 21 day writing challenge -- first step.

The day I turned 40, I decided it would be best to live this new decade one day at a time. It's a phrase I have repeated over and over to myself since 9/6/2012 (which is also the day I started my new job) and you know what -- it works.

Each day, each step -- enjoying it, being present to it, living it fully. It's hard not to want to know what's around the next corner, what's coming next. Believe me, I worry and I wonder. I then have to remind myself -- one day at a time.

I'll live 2013 that way and approach the writing challenge that way -- one step, one day at a time with faith that all is well.

Thanks for being on this love.luck.purpose journey with me, with us!

Live Life on Purpose

The attached article really got my attention -- the MYTH of purpose.  I immediately worried that the writer might be saying that there is no such thing as a life calling, a vocation, a purpose.
Quite the opposite.

Please take time to read the article and share your thoughts with us.  I loved it and learned so much!

We encourage you to love yourself and others, create luck, and seek purpose.
M and M

http://www.positivelypositive.com/2013/01/07/the-myth-of-finding-your-purpose/

Never Stop Loving

Love is the answer.

I put this on my Facebook page right before and right after the 2012 election. Even though I voted for the winner, there was far too much negativity on social media for my comfort level.

This simple statement felt true to me so I posted it.

At some point, a Facebook friend responded "too soon".

I was incredulous, but challenged.

To me, it's never too soon to love. In fact, when had I stopped loving? And if I had, shame on me and time to start again.

Never stop loving.

Others, yourself, the earth, your life.

Never stop loving.

It's never too soon -- and good news, it's never too late.

Luck

“I've found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck, take more chances. 

Be more active. Show up more often."

 - Brian Tracy

Does luck exist?

I've always questioned luck. Where does it come from? Do some people have better luck than others? What makes us feel lucky?

The idea of luck is defined as success or failure brought by chance rather than through one's own actions.

 But if that is the case, then why do others have more luck?

Maybe how lucky we are is defined by our actions, outlook and happiness. Maybe we all have the same amount of luck, but if we open ourselves up to more opportunities - more luck will come along.

I think luck does exist. The more life you live, the more luck you will have.  The more you stop to look at your own life, you will see just how lucky you are. 

I challenge you to to recognize two positive things in your life every time you want to think negative. There may be days of bad luck, or unfortunate happenings. But conquer those days, do not dwell on them. Stop the complaining and put in effort.  Fate & chance can not happen if you will not let it.

Your luck is in your own hands.  Choose to realize the blessings & luck you have. Choose to explore more of what life has to offer, and chance meetings and opportunities will unfold.

Choose to be lucky.

Whatever you may call it; fortune, chance, happiness or fate.  It is around us. 

How will you bring luck upon your own life?

Why LLP?

Michelle and I (otherwise known for our 30by30 and 40by40 lists prior to this endeavor) will be delving into the three words behind our blog -- Love, Luck, & Purpose -- as 2013 unfolds. To start, I wanted to give you a quick overview of the why behind our choice of LLP.

Love -- the foundation of all of our thoughts and actions. Love is the answer.

Luck -- some call it blessed, I call it lucky. We feel lucky to be able to live and love and change each day.

Purpose -- I love the quote: "The purpose of life is a life of purpose." Purpose means the reason for our lives, the imprint we will make on those around us, our contribution to and our intention in the universe.

The new year brings us another chance to give ourselves and others LOVE, wish for and recognize our LUCK, and find the true and deeper PURPOSE of our lives.

We wish you #loveluckpurpose and we are so glad you are on this journey with us!

2013: one lucky, love and purpose filled day at a time

The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time. -- Dean Acheson

Happy 2013 to all of you.
This blog will be a new adventure for me and my co-creators. More on that to come....
For today, this quote is the theme of my post.
Let's enjoy this new year, one day at a time.

Today -- it's all about dreaming, hoping, planning, making room for the new and better.
Let's live in this day, these moments as we step into a new year.

Our intentions are all the same -- be better, do better, think better, eat better, make it a better world.

Let's do better together -- one day at a time. 
Let's support each other on the journey as we "resolve" to be our best selves.
2013, chapter one of 365.

More chapters to come, but let's enjoy this one, the first one, today.
The others will come and all will unfold as it should.

Wishing you love, luck and a renewed sense of purpose in 2013!

PS:  Later on, look for us on Twitter and Instagram.  We also have a Facebook group "Lucky '13" where many of us are posting our list of 13 things to accomplish this year. Please let me know if you'd like to be invited to join and please create a list of your own.

#loveluckpurpose
#Lucky13