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!"