What Would You Do If?

Jul12

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The Ultimate Question!

I’d like to believe that I’ve always been willing to go for it. Running towards the possibilities and not letting fear of the unknown be part of my thought process. My mom always instilled in me that I could do anything so being a student at the University of Michigan was another step forward and a fantastic opportunity for me to express myself. I took my dream of being a writer and turned it into a reality, majoring in Radio, TV, and Film and subsequently landing an incredible job as Creative Director for a local Rock/Country radio station. 

                Go Blue!

Getting married! Come on now, that’s a leap of faith. 😍

wedding

Deciding to have a child and owning the birthing experience on my terms. Not in a hospital (too sterile and rigid for me) but, not at home with a midwife. I believed there was another option so started researching for something I didn’t even know existed. A “Birthing Center”, one of the first in the state of Michigan in the late 1970’s.

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Starting an acting career at 40 yrs of age and performing in one of my favorite stage productions, West Side Story!

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I sang, danced, was a Jet girlfriend and executed (for the first time ever) the most amazing gymnastic flips off my partner’s arm, his back and had the time of my life! Of course, my daughter had to bring my 40th birthday cake to the theater complete with 40 flaming candles. Loved it!  

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Happy Birthday To Me!

 

Today, fighting and surviving 2 cancers at once, it’s more important than ever to live up to a credo of living fearlessly! I do believe that attitude dictates the quality of your life and tomorrow is not promised so what the heck – trust yourself and go for it!

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Note to self – never stop asking this ultimate and most important question:

 

What Would You Do if You Weren’t Afraid?

 

What if God Was One of Us?

Jul5

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While watching one of my favorite tv shows, “The Voice”, I was struck by the lyrics of a song I haven’t heard in years, Joan Osborne’s incredible 1995 hit “What If God Was One of Us?” I instinctively grabbed my laptop and began writing down the bleak thoughts that had started rushing through my head.

With all the conflict, and negative energy coursing through the world these days, the question of the song lyric – “What if God Was One of Us?” made me pause and ponder; in what spirit are we living our lives?

 

“What if God was one of us, just a slob like one of us, just a stranger on the bus trying to make his way home?”

 

https://youtu.be/nPFnHdJ0dl0

How we interact with or judge others has a ripple effect. Love and compassion shouldn’t be dirty words and we should be offended by and call out those who judge the world and view people through a crooked lens. As we go about our daily lives let’s be mindful and strive to live a life of hope, mercy, and kindness.

What we say and do matters. You never know who’s listening and watching.

 

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“My religion is simple. My religion is peace, love, compassion, and equality.”

 “Notes from Nora”

 

What Kind of World Will You Leave Behind?

Jun27

 

look into your heart

 

The purpose and mission of this blog are to uplift my audience and give testimony to my belief in the power of faith and positive energy in one’s life.

As a survivor of both colon and breast cancer, I’ve been both humbled and blessed with God’s grace and favor.

 

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My heart has been so heavy with grief, anger, and outrage with the attempt by the Republican Party to take it upon themselves and behind closed doors mind you, to craft an incredibly inhumane piece of legislation with the express purpose of stripping away health care from 22 million of its fellow citizens in order to give billions of dollars in tax cuts to the wealthiest in this country, because God knows they need it. 

 

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Life is a precious and fleeting gift we are given and it’s up to us to decide what we want to do with that gift by asking ourselves – “Who do we want to be, and what kind of world do we want to live in?”

The great equalizer of us all is the fact that one day we are going to die. I’d like to ask Republicans when you look back on your life, what kind of legacy will you have left behind? Did you try to help those less fortunate than you, or did you deliberately plunder and disregard the lives of the least of us. 

 

What kind of person are you and what kind of world will you leave behind?

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Let us all take this moment to pray for compassion and the future of our humanity.

 

Joyful Thanks!

Jun19

“It’s a Beautiful Day!”

From the first time I heard this song and still now, I feel joyful and appreciative for the blessing of waking up to a beautiful day! And my intention reminds me – make the most of it!

Since I’m a word girl and lyrics get butchered all the time,😄 I picked this video which showcases the impactful words of “Beautiful Day.” 

 

 

It sounds like such a simple thing to do but so easy to forget. Each day, each moment is a gift. I know for me, next time I question what’s up with time, I’ll have to reflect on my own sense of appreciation.

 

 

Choose to be Inspired!

Jun12

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This blog is all about a mind shift. Living life to the fullest by tapping into our talents, developing those gifts, and going after them with a determination for success.

Even if circumstances have been such to beat us down, tell us we’re failures or our lives are pointless, we still have to believe in ourselves, pursue enlightenment to advance our abilities and how we can contribute to society.

 

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I recall a talk I had years ago with my son. In this discussion, I asked him how do you want to use your talents, for the good of society or without thought simply throw them away? The choice is yours. Be conscious of your effect on the world and the legacy you want to leave.

These are the questions that lift us up to our highest potential and become a decisive factor in our happiness on this journey called life.

 

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 💜💜💜💜💜

 

 

 

Life’s Path

Jun6

 

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I’ve been reflecting on the events of my life since cancer and what I believed from the beginning of that journey still holds true. Getting cancer was a blessing; it challenged my faith and pushed me to grow beyond my existence.

I learned to fully trust in God’s power and grace and not fear; enjoy each precious moment in the moment, the only reality there is. A great friend of mine since college whispered to me that God has a higher plan for me and he was right. 

In this past year, I’ve celebrated another glorious birthday, fulfilled a lifelong dream and experienced the incredible beauty of Italy, and found my activist voice to make my community and the world a better place.

 

Thank you, Lord, for walking with me on this new path and giving me confidence and wings to fly.

 

 

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New Attitude

Jun1

Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy, shaping our lives and image of ourselves based on outside input and descriptions others have deemed to be true. From birth, we take on the totality of remarks and declarations outright or subtly put in our heads. Whether it’s from parents uttering – “oh, you’re so pretty” maybe trying to build up our self-esteem or to teachers concluding “you don’t really have a head for numbers” in an effort to shield us from what they perceive as a possible failure.

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These early definitions paint a picture we add to as we approach life and try to sort out how we fit in and what we’re capable of accomplishing. We are socialized by our peers, teachers, and loves. What we hear we sometimes assimilate to and believe.

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I used to call myself a late bloomer, but a therapist corrected me saying “No, you come into things in your own time.” That perspective totally changed the way I thought of myself and opened my eyes to the fact that I was basing my definition of self on what others deemed as “appropriate” timing or behavior. I had been primarily judging myself by letting society dictate, on some level, my worthiness.

 

Maybe, if we stop letting others define who we are, we might just find the person we were meant to be.

 

 

 

Livin’ my life like it’s golden🌞

May30

 

My favorite quote. I follow the teachings of Buddha and this perspective is the first intention I see every morning. It hangs in my bedroom in a place of prominent so as to always catch my eye. These words set my day on the path of happiness and gratitude to live my life like it’s precious –  “golden”.

 

When people ask how my morning is going I say awesome! I was blessed to see another sunrise and be surrounded by the love and support of my wonderful family, and friends. It’s an absolutely beautiful day!

 

This Jill Scott tune from 2004, “Livin’ my life like it’s golden”, is all about living each day with joy; owning the richness of life and how amazing it is. Blessed and highly favored, happiness and abundance are yours! 

 

 

I’m taking my freedom
Pulling it off the shelf
Putting it on my chain
Wear it around my neck
I’m taking my freedom
Putting it in my car
Wherever I choose to go
It will take me far

I’m livin’ my life like it’s golden
Livin’ my life like it’s golden
Livin’ my life like it’s golden, golden
Livin’ my life like it’s golden
Livin’ my life like it’s golden, golden

I’m taking my own freedom
Putting it in my song
Singing loud and strong
Grooving all day long
I’m taking my freedom
Putting it in my stroll
I’ll be high-steppin‘ y’all
Letting the joy unfold

I’m holding on to my freedom
Can’t take it from me
I was born into it
It comes naturally
I’m strumming my own freedom
Playing the god in me
Representing his glory
Hope he’s proud of me

Livin’ my life like it’s golden
It really matters to me, oh

I’m living my life like its golden

Jill Scott – Golden Lyrics | MetroLyrics

 

 

No Day But Today!✨

May24

“Fear is a thief. It robs us of the opportunity to stand in the moment and forces us to focus on the past and future instead of the now.”

DonnaMarie

 

 

 

This quote is in the true spirit of my philosophy that we create our own reality and the power of belief and faith is undeniable. I’m still pinching myself from the incredible reality I created upon realizing my dream adventure to Florence, Italy.

 

The Basilica of St. Mark’s Square in Venice

 

My wish is to see others realize their dreams and believe that all things are possible with faith. However, you can’t just lay on your sofa and hope for things to be, you make things happen by having an open mind and planning so you’re ready when the opportunity presents itself. 

Let’s take the words can’t, maybe, someday and when I retire out of our vocabulary. As I’ve stated before and will continue to raise up, the only reality we have is in this moment. Not the past, and not the future but right NOW!

 

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It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since I’ve heard this powerful song from the Broadway play and film “Rent”, my reaction is always the same; tears streaming down my face as the words forever ring true and the emotion it stirs remains very real.

 

Tomorrow is not promised so there is – “No Day But Today!”