Kudos

Appreciation, we yearn for it and sometimes even seek it out. Before you receive information that might heal your ego, try complimenting someone else first. Did someone at work go above and beyond in their job? Did a friend listen to your relationship problems without ever rolling their eyes? Did a performer inspire intense emotions within you? Take the time to write a thank you card or express your gratitude through other, more creative processes like bringing them a coffee or highlighting their skills to a supervisor. Giving, primes our pump for receiving when the opportunity presents itself. We might actually accept praise and gifts with grace and gratitude without feeling as though we are not deserving of such love. Have you ever received a kudos, or a pat on the back, at work or in your personal life? How did it feel?

Neighbourly love

Humans used to travel in packs where we would help each other gather firewood and pick medicinal plants. But now we are independent as can be, on a mission to find happiness, pleasure and fulfillment. Connecting with other humans that walk this Earth is grounding, cultural and spiritual. Take some time this week to build a relationship with a soul or two near your home. Maybe a "hello" or an offer to mow their lawn or complimenting their flowerbeds. Every journey starts with a single step. I love my neighbourhood because our houses are all very close together and everyone sits on their porch in the sun and waves to each other. It brings me comfort, stillness and pride. Do you have any neighbours you appreciate??

Love is the thing

Ask for romance. Do it. You are so worth the feelings of butterflies and sexual tension and full-on acceptance and appreciation that romantic gestures can bring. Man or woman, romance flatters us, builds our broken ego and spreads love into the universe. Sending out love ensures that at some point, that love will be directed back to us. Maybe it is a picnic in the park, or a dance in the rain, or an hour session of just breathing and looking into your partner's eyes. Romance connects with our lover and builds a relationship foundation that offers stability when the seas get rough. I once discovered a date night book with 101 romantic plans. You pull out an envelope and voila! Date night. Unfortunately, my partner was not as romantic as I am so I still have this unopened book. One day…so, what is the most romantic thing done for you? Or for your loved one?

Purge the toxic people

Some toxins come from things we ingest, expose ourselves to and even the stressful relationships we keep working at. Do you give, give, give to a friend and never feel cared for in return? This can lead to self-doubt and feelings of depression. You matter more. Take some time to go through your relationship list. Which connections need to be cultivated with effort and love and which ones need to be pulled out of our relationship garden? Take a close look, this is not a decision to make lightly. Perhaps a friend is going through a crisis and needs more attention, but maybe the drama just never ends and you're always sweeping up their broken pieces. We have to put ourselves first. It sounds selfish, but no, it is simply self care. You can't help someone else if you feel overwhelmed or unbalanced. Ground down and ask what each relationship brings you and find ones that take from you and perhaps alter your involvement in them. Have you had to let a friend or love one go in the past? Was it a good decision?

Island time

Life often feels like a race with all our goals, dreams and hopes stumbling over one another in an effort to reach true ecstasy. In North America this appears to be more prevalent than in other countries surrounding the globe that I have experienced. We embody impatience and we fill our mind with should's and have to's. The responsibility carried on our shoulders could be a manageable load but not when we are attempting to run ahead of the pack. Why not chill, stay behind, just be? Think of island time. People living near the sea are skilled at stretching out the hours of their day. They may wander slowly through a market, grab a siesta in the shade or collect food for dinner from the garden. Slow. Easy. Peaceful. Shouldn't this be our goal rather than attempting to be a superhero and prove to other humans how amazing we are? Let the ego shrink, let the time grow. Cultivate happiness. How do you get slow?

Unanswered prayers - Yes!!

Life has its twists and turns, its ups and downs, pain and beauty. But from a distance, the journey is a beautiful design that no one can take from us. Many times we find ourselves yearning for a scenario that we believe will connect with our true happiness and remove our roadblocks that we've had placed in our way. But maybe ploughing through isn't the best method to build a rich harvest. Maybe, just maybe, we must wait patiently and give thanks for the scraps we were given before the true feast becomes a reality. Wish you would have married that old boyfriend? What if your true prince is only a few years away from the singleton place you've found yourself in? What if not being able to have children means you can adopt sweet babies who need love that only you can create for them? Still taking the bus? Maybe fate had meant for you to crash your car, and by bussing it to work, you save your legs from being crushed. There are so many what ifs and hope-to's but there is serenity in acceptance and faith. Your path is winding in the right way, not to worry.

Less hate, more create

In times of trauma or unrest we may fill our mind with non-stop negative messages that trigger our moods and emotions to flow in a dark downward spiral. Often we fill our head so full of harmful thoughts that we leave no room for the positive ones. This can lead to depression and suicide if we are not watchful and if we forget to ask for help. So how to unwind the mind's eye to focus on a place of light and hope? Create something new. Something only you could create. Depending on who you are and your interests it might be a drawing, a poem, a collage, or even writing thoughtful messages in a card for a friend. By taking a moment to re-adjust the negative patterns of our brain we might find the space to breathe. If only for a short time. Thank you Mom for this post, and for everything you do for me.