Below is a blog post from my little sister, Margaret.  Everyone check out her amazing blog at Absolute Compassion!  Rockkk on, sista! 

“The fact is that when you make the other suffer, he will try to find relief by making you suffer more. The result is an escalation of suffering on both sides.” - Thích Nhất Hạnh

Obviously when you are hurt by someone you want to hurt them back. It’s the first instinct. It’s a defense mechanism. But think where that will get you with that person. It will lead to so much more suffering and heartache. No one wants to be around a spiteful person who will just do stuff to hurt you.

That is just so genuinely mean and sad that someone would just want to make you suffer. But you will always encounter those people. If you love someone and you want the best for that person, why would you want to cause suffering to that person? It makes zero sense to me but recently people do shit just to hurt me. How am I supposed to react? It just gets to me. It works. Their mean spiritedness hurts me. As much as I don’t want it to, it does.

How do I act on it? I can’t just let it go because I have such anger and resentment. Giving a reaction will just give that person what they want. But who would want that negativity and drama in their lives?! This person is toxic and spiteful and it’s not fair. It just proves how they shouldn’t be in my life. So yes, you are supposed to let it go and do whatever you need to it away from you. Block them. Do whatever. No matter how bad I want them to be happy and want the best for them, they just want me to be sad. Why is that ok?

Know that if this is the case for you, your frequencies just don’t match. The level of awareness just isn’t the same and there is nothing you can do.

Bottom line, there is nothing you can do about it. The only option is just to let it go. If you don’t let it go there will just be more suffering. Pointless suffering. Pointless negativity. Get that negativity out of your life and live in YOUR truth

Better Late Than Never

I haven't posted anything in about six months, but suddenly had a burst of inspiration to start trying to post again. Hopefully I can make it a regular thing again!

"strive for progress not perfection."

Everyone must must MUST check out my good friend Kelly's blog! It's filled with quotes, thoughts, pictures, music, etc. showing her amazing strength and inspiring determination to the lead the happiest life that she can. She inspires me every day and will also inspire you, I'm sure.

ma belle renaissance.

"go confidently in the direction of your dreams! live the life you have imagined!"

Today, I was checking the comments on my blog and came across one written on Friday:

I don't know who you are, or how old you are, but I want to tell you that I stumbled upon your blog back in November, and have REALLY enjoyed checking in with it over the last few months.

I've bookmarked your blog, because you remind me a lot of a Younger Me. And I find it nice to be reminded of that younger person whose enthusiasm and love for life is still very much alive in me. Just wanted you to know ;)

Fyi, I am a 30 year old yoga teacher living in Toronto, Canada. And actually, I wrote about you and your blog on MY website back in November. Here is the link to that post: http://www.yogaforthepeople.me/entries/general/i-get-by-with-a-little-help-from-the-internet

 Seeing this post made my day. I couldn't believe that someone who I didn't even know had been reading my blog for almost three months and had been inspired by my posts. It felt amazing to know that my posts were actually reaching others in personal ways. I'm so grateful that she took the time to let me know that she had been reading, because now I'm more determined than ever to continue this blog and to stay positive through the ebb and flow of life. I can't wait to explore her website and learn about her inspirations, dreams, and hopes for the world. Here's a link to it- yoga for the people. 


Also, here is the post she wrote on her website when she came across my blog. Like I said before, her words mean so much; I am going to print this post out for a constant reminder that expressing my thoughts and inspirations is worth it.

Confession: I've felt in need of a little inspiration lately, so I googled it. Oh, bless the internet. I first stumbled upon some inspirational quotes, many of which I was already familiar with, and then remembered a card from a dear friend of mine that I have sitting at home. It's displayed front and center in my apartment on top of my bookshelf. The front of the card features a picture of a small child walking (confidently?) down a long country road and also includes that famous Henry David Thoreau quote:

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you have imagined!"

At this point in my travels through world wide web I've decided that I am going to write a blog entry about the above quote, so I set about google-searching for images that I might be able to re-post on here that would illustrate it nicely. I type into google "go confidently", select the 'images' search and after clicking through a few different pages I find myself getting lost in the lovely words of an upbeat young college student in Illinois, on her blog which you can go to and enjoy for yourself by clicking HERE.

I smiled as I browsed through this young woman's many optimistic blog posts, featuring a pot-pourri of inspiring images and enthusiastic words of gratitude, because she reminded me of myself a few years ago. I smiled because (having recently turned 30) I'd been thinking lately about "that girl" that I was in my early twenties, how energized "she" was with ideas and plans and hopes and dreams for 'the future'. My dear friend Alison, loves to remind me of how I used to exclaim "I'm so excited about our future!!"And again, I smile remembering "that girl" who was, and really still is, me. I feel it was rather serendipitous that I should stumble upon the blog of this anonymous young american college student today, when I am feeling so in need of that youthful enthusiasm and drive that I feel I once possessed. Reading her words has helped me to reconnect to that "inner 21 year old" who still lives inside of me, and whose energy, hope and determination I am going to need in the coming weeks and months as I embark on an exciting new business venture. I have bookmarked this young woman's blog, so that I can tap into her "fountain of youthful enthusiasm" on a daily basis, and nurture my inner 21 year old with the virtual camaraderie that she needs to help keep "us" motivated!

have no fear moving into the unknown.

This week, I decided to go back to the beginning of my blog and read every post in chronological order. It took a few days, but I loved seeing how much I've grown in the past year and a half and how much I've learned. It gave me a chance to reflect on my life and gain a clearer view of what kind of person I am and what I want to be. It also helped me to see that even in my darkest moments, I rose above them eventually and became a better person for the hardships and struggles. That leaves me with hope that present obstacles will eventually be a distant memory linked to lessons and experiences that I can one day look at with eyes that have moved past it all.

sista sista

Literally how much of a genius is my sister? Teaching me new things all the time even though she's younger...

IF YOU TOOK EVERYONE OUT OF THE EQUATION,

Would you be truly happy and content with your life and yourself?

•If yes, keep doing what your doing.
•If no, find what makes YOU genuinely happy in life. And do it for yourself, no one else.

Feel the joy of being alive

the ever-living ghost of what once was. 

100 healthy snack ideas.

1. Frozen Grapes
2. String Cheese
3. Banana
4. Frozen Banana (peel it first, stick in the freezer overnight- it's like a yummy popsicle)
5. Low-fat Yogurt
6. Sugar-free or fat-free pudding
7. Apple dipped in Peanut Butter (or spread peanut butter on top of apple slice and top with pecans . . . so good!)
8. 100-calorie bag of popcorn
9. Applesauce
10. Raw veggies with hummus (my new favorite!)
11. Almonds
12. Apple
13. Skinny S'more (two graham crackers with one roasted marshmallow and one small square dark chocolate)
14. Smoked Beef Jerky (about 1 oz- look for low-sodium!)
15. Chocolate Milk
16. Hard Boiled Egg
17. Sunflower Seeds
18. Cottage Cheese
19. Sliced Cantelope
20. Raisins
21. Pita Bread and Hummus
22. Rice Cakes
23. Sugar-free Jello
24. Dried Fruits
25. Frozen Yoplait Whips Yogurt (these seriously taste like ice cream when they are frozen!)
26. Air-Popped Popcorn
27. Pistachios
28. Clementines (we call them Cuties or Clemmies)
29. Fruit Smoothie (or Kristen's Green Smoothie- it's actually delicious!)
30. Handful of olives
31. Pickles
32. Handful of blueberries with 2 tablespoons fat-free Cool-Whip
33. Ants on a Log (celery with peanut butter and raisins)
34. 1 cup mixed berry salad (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and/or blackberries) tossed with one tablespoon fresh-squeezed orange juice.
35. Peanut Butter and Bananas on whole wheat bread
36. Trail Mix (make your own! Throw in dried fruit, sunflower seeds, nuts, low-sugar cereals, and even the occasional piece of candy for something sweet.)
37. Orange Slices
38. Cherry Tomatoes
39. Graham Crackers
40. Small Green Salad with light dressing
41. Mango smoothie (frozen mango, mango Greek Yogurt, and a small amount of orange juice)
42. Kabobs (thread low-fat meat, low-fat cheese, pineapple and cherry tomatoes onto a stick- my kids love anything on a stick!)
43. Half of a  Cinnamon-Raisin topped with peanut butter and banana slices
44. Grilled Pineapple (throw them on the grill or a skillet on med. heat for two minutes or until golden)
45. Baked Apples (one tennis ball-sized apple, cored, filled with 1 teaspoon brown sugar and cinnamon, and baked until tender)
46. Animal Crackers
47. Strawberries dipped in fat-free Cool Whip
48. Low-fat tortilla topped with egg salad, shredded carrots and cucumber slices
49. Parfait (build your own with Greek yogurt or plain yogurt, fruit, and granola) 
50. Bowl of bran flakes with 1/2 cup skim milk and berries
51. Guacamole with veggies
52. Triscuit's Thin Crisps dipped in cottage cheese or hummus
53. Cashews
54. Pretzels
55. Sun Chips (portion control! Read the serving amount on the side!)
56. Cheesy Breaded Tomatoes: Two roasted plum tomatoes sliced and topped with 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
57. Sugar Snap Peas
58. Steamed Veggies (steam non-starchy vegetables in a microwave safe bag and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of parmesan cheese or 1/4 cup pasta sauce)
59. Apricots
60. Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedges
61. Any 100 calorie pack
62. Snack/Granola bar (around 150 calories or less, like Kellogg's All-Bran, Kashi TLC Trail Mix, or Fiber one Bar)
63. Baked chips (about 7-10) with salsa
64. Soy Chips
65. Protein Bar
66. Sweet Potato Fries (one light-bulb sized sweet potato sliced, tossed with 1 teaspoon olive oil, and baked at 400° for 10 minutes)
67. Wrap (I like a slice of turkey, swiss cheese, baby spinach leaves, and cranberry relish wrapped up in a tortilla)
68. Pumpkin Seeds (2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds, sprayed with oil (just a spritz!) and baked at for 400° for 15 minutes or until brown. Sprinkle a tiny amount of salt on top)
69. Bean Salad
70. Broccoli Florets
71. Peaches and Cottage Cheese
72. Chopped Red Peppers (dipped in fat free ranch)
73. V8 Vegetable Juice
74. Tuna with Triscuit crackers
75. Cooked and Cubed Chicken Breast
76. Homemade Popsicles (puree watermelon, strawberries, mango, banana, etc and freeze in popsicle molds)
77. Dates with almond butter or rolled in coconut
78. Quesadilla (whole wheat (or corn) tortillas w/cheese (or not) melted in microwave - adding on tomatoes, beans, corn, olives, avocado or guacamole or whatever sounds good)
79. Watermelon
80. Cubed Apples and Cubed Cheese (this was my husband's favorite after-school snack when he was little)
81. Craisins (I love to eat these with almonds- it's a good combo)
82. Goldfish Crackers
83. Edamame
84. Cheesy Roasted Asparagus (four spears (spritzed with olive-oil spray) and topped with 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, baked for 10 minutes at 400°)
85. Turkey Roll-Ups (Four slices smoked turkey rolled up and dipped in 2 teaspoons honey mustard)
86. Strawberry Salad (1 cup raw spinach with ½ cup sliced strawberries and 1 tablespoon balsamic)
87. Oatmeal
88. Banana Smoothie (½ cup sliced banana, ¼ cup nonfat vanilla yogurt, and a handful of ice blended until smooth)
89. Lime Sherbet (1/2 cup serving) with sliced kiwi
90. Apple Chips (dehydrated apples- they are so good!)
91. Black Beans (mix 1/4 cup black beans with 1 tablespoon salsa and 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt for an added twist!)
92. Lettuce wrap (try two slices honey-baked ham with 2 teaspoons honey mustard rolled in a lettuce leaf)
93. Pecans (try five pecans roasted with 2 teaspoons maple syrup and 1 teaspoon cinnamon)
94. Chocolate Covered Strawberries (dip 5 strawberries in 2 squares of dark chocolate- that is still good for you, right?!)
95. Honeyed Yogurt (½ cup nonfat Greek yogurt with a dash of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon honey)
96. Blackberries (so good mixed with plain yogurt)
97. Frozen Mangos
98. Tropical Juice Smoothie (¼ cup pineapple juice, orange juice, and apple juice, blended with ice)
99. Healthier Banana Bread
100. Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip with fresh fruit 

six sisters' stuff.

silly dreams & youthful screams.

silly dreams & youthful screams: QUOTES OF THE DAY!

a post from one of my best friend's blogs. she's the shit, everyone check it out.

silly dreams & youthful screams.

One of my best friends, Marykate, just made a blog. She is always one of the people I could always look to for support and advice whenever I'm done. She's always filled with positivity and can make my tears of sadness turn into tears of laughter. I'm so excited to read her daily lessons and insights about life.

My sister just made a blog-- check it outtt, it's awesome.

lets do some living after we die.

just the little things.

just little things.

8 tips to feel better about yourself.

1. Do a good deed. Be selfless, if only for selfish reason; you’ll benefit as much as the person you’re helping. When I’m feeling low, forcing myself to do something for someone else's benefit seems particularly hard, but then it gives me a big boost. As Montaigne observed, “These testimonies of a good conscience are pleasant; and such a natural pleasure is very beneficial to us; it is the only payment that can never fail.” In the same vein…     

2. Make small gestures of good citizenship. Bring your old magazines to the gym so other people can read them. Pick up trash that other people have left on the subway. Sign up to be an organ donor.

3. Keep a resolution. Not only will you benefit from exercising or cleaning out your garage, you’ll also get a boost from the mere fact that you made a commitment and stuck to it. Feeling so overtaxed that you can't face the thought of trying to keep a resolution? Try this one: Make your bed. Just do that one thing. I know it sounds a bit preposterous, but many people have told me what a lift they've received from that small act.

4. Become an expert. There’s great satisfaction in mastery. Pick a subject that interests you, and dig in deep: the American Revolution, the works of Chekhov, wine, The Wire (my husband and I are currently obsessed with this TV show).

5. Boost your energy. Studies show that when you’re feeling energetic, you’re much more likely to feel good about yourself. For a quick shot of energy, take a brisk ten-minute walk (outside, if possible, where sunlight will also stimulate your brain), listen to some great music, or talk to a friend.

6. Challenge yourself physically. This tip doesn’t work for me, but I know that many people feel great after para-sailing, white-water rafting, surfing, or rollercoaster-riding.

7. Face a fear. Some fears are physical (see #6), but not all fears. You might push yourself to speak in public, ask someone on a date, make a gesture of friendship toward an acquaintance, or begin an intimidating creative project. In these trying situations, I often comfort myself by repeating "Enjoy the fun of failure." And it's true, even when my effort fails, I feel good about the fact that I gave it a shot. As my sister the sage reminded me recently, "You've got to put yourself out there." Which is hard, but gratifying.

8. Make something by hand. There's something particularly satisfying about making something with your own hands, whether it's a loaf of bread, a photo album, a piece of furniture, or a fly-fishing fly. It's tangible, it's creative, it's right in front of you. Similarly, making visible improvements like cleaning out a closet can give a big boost. I get an (inexplicably) large boost just from changing a light bulb. I delay, I delay, I delay -- and then finally I change it! A triumph!

the happiness project.

imma be.

One of my best friends recently made a blog.  I find it so inspiring and motivating to read, and I think everyone should read it. Sooooo, check it outtt!

Take Two. Next Chapter.

freshman year.

watch.

this is actual teen angst.

shout out to my fave blogger evaaaa!

For Your Health: Marriage and Family Life (18th Century) from Peter Raffel on Vimeo.

checkkkk out his blog- http://ohmeohyou.tumblr.com/