LOST

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Well, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone and the Christmas season has arrived. I’m sure many of you took advantage of the wonderful bargains that were being offered! I have noticed that many have already trimmed the tree and hung the Christmas lights on the house. The excitement is building as the weather starts to chill down and the stores get a bit more crowded.  As the song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”!

The other day I was cleaning out the garage for trash day and this cute but very dirty dog wandered up the drive way. She looked a bit lost but was friendly and obviously understood commands. I had seen her wander into our development earlier and didn’t recognize her and noticed that she was not wearing a collar but must have been someone’s pet since it appeared that she had the fur indent of a collar on her. I offered her some water and a few “Scooby snacks” which she gobbled down. She proceeded to linger around for a little while and my son cleaned her up a bit and after a little rest and a full belly she was on her way. I prayed as she strutted away that she would find her way home. I had visions of her human family missing her and frantically searching for her. It was a Sunday, so Animal Control was closed as was the local animal shelter. My dogs are a bit protective and jealous, so I couldn’t bring her in the house, so I did the best I could for her and she was on her way.

It makes me think about all of the “lost” people we come across. As this season fills us with merriment & cheer, please do not forget about the lost people we come across in our daily lives. This time of year can be very tough for many. It can bring out depression, loneliness and sadness. Sometimes the best that we can do is to give of ourselves! How about donating food or your time to a local food bank or bringing a plate of cookies and sharing a cup of tea with a lonely neighbor? Become a secret Santa for a struggling family, take a name from an angel tree at your local church or community center or open your home for a meal to someone that would otherwise be alone for the holiday. None of these things costs a great deal to you but can be priceless to those that you touch with the generosity of a caring smile and a loving heart. Perhaps becoming a beacon of kindness and hope to someone that is lost can be the greatest gift that you both give and receive this year!

Just something to think about...

Just Sayin’,

Christina

VEGETABLES?

Well, I’m sure by now most of you have heard that Congress has officially declared PIZZA a VEGETABLE! Yup, that’s right folks, since the sauce is made with tomatoes, it is considered a vegetable. Adding more “REAL” fruits and vegetable to our children’s school lunch menu will not be happening but we should all rest assured that they will get plenty of nutrition from that slice of pizza that they consume. According to my sources that nutritional slice of pizza is typically being paired with the other nutritional option… the French fry.  AND, usually on a daily basis! Wow! No word from the obesity crusader yet? I suppose the American farmers don’t have as big a pull as some of the other companies. Hmmm……. 

It was so sad to watch Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution where he went into the schools trying to improve the school lunches. He was met with such resistance from the board members, principals & cafeteria staff. Even sadder was that the kids preferred the non-healthy choices. After all, it is what the kids are used to being served and there is a generation of very selective “processed food palettes” filling the schools.  

One of my favorite lines was from Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update: Really with Seth & Kermit. Kermit says, “If pizza is a vegetable, what is a fruit salad…twizzler’s and a grape soda!”  REALLY???  Funny, but horribly true! 

Well, as I sit here shaking my head, filled with disgust at some of our leaders, I have to laugh. Perhaps we should fill our lunch boxes with chocolate bars (increases the levels of endorphins and serotonin), red wine (filled with antioxidants) and coffee (lots of antioxidants in there, as well as a know cancer risk reducer)!!  See how easy it is to turn a negative into a positive! 

I will end here with wishing all of you a wonderful, blessed and HAPPY THANKSGIVING. May you take the time to reflect on all of the things that you have to be grateful and thankful for.  And, PLEASE remember to eat your VEGGIES! 

Just Sayin’,

Christina

Stuff

Happy Sunday everyone!
I'm not sure what has gotten into me, but I think I am "nesting". The last two weekends I have cleaned out closets, file cabinets and drawers. Perhaps it is that the holidays are beckoning or more likely that I cannot stand disorganization or clutter. For me a cluttered house equals a cluttered mind. I do not judge against those that can overlook the accumulating piles in their homes and offices. To each his own, but for me I cannot function at full capacity under those conditions. It always amazes me how much "stuff" us humans accumulate. I had a burning fire pit all day long yesterday of filed paperwork from the past year.
In the last 23 years I have moved 10 times and as much as I hate to move, it always was an opportunity to clean out the non-essentials and start fresh. I am a pretty basic kind of girl. I definitely live by the "a place for everything and everything should be in its place" motto. Trust me, I like nice things like the rest of us, but if I do not use something on regular basis, I do not feel the need to hang on to this "stuff". Yes, there are the exceptions of the holiday decorations, family heirloom pieces and sentimental items that I will never part with. Such as photos, my grandmother's table and vase or my rocking chair from when I was a child. Those have emotions tied to them and are things I will pass on to my children someday. What I do question is why it is hard for people to let go of the other "stuff". The things that you can't let go of that you do not need or use. Perhaps donating them will give someone else the opportunity to enjoy them and in turn give you a sense that you are helping another. Recycling at it's finest!
Your stuff does not define you! The amount of square footage in your home does not define you! The amount of things you accumulate does not define your wealth. The type of car that you drive and the designer names on your clothes does not define your status! Maybe these things are tied to a specific time in your life...the past. Perhaps it is time to let go of things and emotional ties from the past and start anew! Define yourself by the values you hold dear, the family you have created, the friends that you surround yourself with, the memories you have collected and the depths of your heart. Purging can be good for the mind and the soul, making room for the future and for better things to come.

Just Sayin',
Christina

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing

How many of you remember the song “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”? It was a song released in 1968 by Marvin Gaye! Which happens to be a good year since it is the year I was born! Many artists have done this song since, but as the title says…ain’t nothing like the real thing…or the original.

This brings to mind my “Triscuit Theory”. Yes, I know that on Sunday’s blog I spoke about the importance of the “Phoenix Process”, but this is on a much lighter note and a whole lot different. You see, due to the tough economy, most of us have found ways to cut back on expenses and be a bit more frugal. I do this by planning my menu ahead for the week, clip coupons and look for what is on sale. Definitely not a bad thing these days!

My family has a great affection for Triscuit’s. Yes, that crunchy, dry, delicious cracker made of woven wheat. We personally like them with hummus, but they are great just by themselves and even come in different flavors. It is a staple on my weekly shopping list along with the other wonderful cracker…the “Wheat Thin”. Well, I will be the first one to admit my mistakes and try to fix them. A few of the grocery stores that I frequent have the “store brand” of these delightful crackers. AND, they are close to two dollars less a box. What a deal…right?...NOT!  You see, despite the creative names that the stores give them (i.e.…Woven Wheat’s, Thin Wheat’s, Wheat Crackers, etc…) they are NOT like the original!! I have tried several times all to the disgust of my family. We even tried to give one to the dog and she wouldn’t eat it. Now that is bad!

You may be able to get away with store brands, knock-offs and imitations on some things, but sometimes the original is just worth the few extra bucks! Most of us know what items on our shopping lists we will always get the original brand and which one’s we can pinch a few pennies on.

Sometimes, there just “ain’t nothing like the real thing”!  We can be so particular on purchasing the REAL brands that we like but yet sometimes we have trouble surrounding ourselves with REAL people and settle for imitations! Yes, I do realize that the world is full of them and it is unavoidable to have a few “crackers” in your life, but I am talking about keeping your inner circle full of originals and people that are the “Real Thing”. After all… you are worth it!

Just Sayin’,

Christina

The Phoenix Process

November 13, 2011

We can all recall a certain moment or a time in our life when we learned a lesson or the "light bulb" moment came over us. You know the ones I am talking about...where a tremendous feeling of clarity over comes us and we "get it". It could be something that you read, heard on television, a word from the pulpit or a speaker at a conference. Sometimes it is just that inner voice that screams to us ever so clearly that you have learned something that will impact your life greatly.
I was reading the book "Broken Open- How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow" by Elizabeth Lesser. More than 25 years ago she co-founded the Omega Institute which is the world's largest center for spiritual retreat and personal growth. In short, she writes about learning to break open and blossom into who we where meant to be. Love it and highly recommend it.
I was reading about what Ms. Lesser calls a "Phoenix Process". As we are told in mythology, the Phoenix is a mythical bird that has a life span of 500-1000 years and at the end of its life it builds a nest of twigs that then ignites. Both the nest and bird are reduced to ashes in which a new Phoenix arises. Wow! Sounds pretty crazy right? Now, I am NOT recommending that anybody starts gathering twigs and lighter fluid, but I am talking about starting anew, rising from the ashes and becoming better than we thought possible.
There was a time when my marriage was struggling and I had utter feelings of betrayal,  helplessness, loneliness, anxiety and getting out of bed and going to work each morning took every bit of strength I had. My problems were taking over my entire being. I prayed hard everyday and yet because I have an incredible amount of faith, I still had a belief that no matter how things turned out that I would be okay...eventually.
We all go through tough times and I have had more than my share, but my defining moment came when I learned to embrace the pain. NO, I have not lost my mind!! I don't particularly like pain or going through tribulations, feelings of disappointment, hurt, betrayal, etc,, etc....However, I have learned to embrace whatever it is I am going through because like the Phoenix, I WILL rise from the ashes! Stronger, wiser and knowing that it is preparing me for whatever is coming next. The one thing to remember is that it is a PROCESS! A process has no rules when it comes to time. Depending on the situation at hand, it can be a few weeks, a few months or a few years. After all, we are all growing and learning everyday that we are breathing!! With a retrospective view, there are so many times that I have gone through a tribulation where I  took a step back to realize that I could have never dealt with the current situation if I hadn't learned a lesson from a previous situation. See, going through a Phoenix process doesn't mean that you don't feel the feelings, it just allows you to realize that the pain or hurt that you are experiencing is going to fade and it is a time of growth and change. Change that will eventually lead to resolve within yourself and that will always lead to a more authentic life!

Just Sayin',
Christina

Why "Take Off Your Mask"?

So…why the name “Take off Your Mask”…you ask?

I have always had a desire to write a book, but the timing was never right or I wasn’t in the right frame of mind. As we all know…starting is the hardest part! Since I am extremely fascinated by our humanness and have been a keen observer of human behavior & relationships, I had a concept of what my book would be about.  I would journal some of my thoughts and ideas and have written numerous chapters in my head!! But, so far not enough to hunt down a publisher and design a cover! BUT, I have had the title for the book for several years.

A few years back I was talking, (okay it was probably RANTING!), about why people are so different in different social settings. They wear one mask at home, another at work, another at church, another with their friends, etc., etc… I looked at my wall where I have a collection of African tribal masks hanging and stated, (okay I probably yelled it out!), “Why don’t people just take off their masks!” and so the title was created. It just made perfect sense to name my Blog this as this is the first step to getting the creative juices flowing again. I am still on my mission…...

I have to admit that I have always loved African tribal masks. The artistry and vast styles are truly works of art. As each mask varies according to each culture and tribe, most masks usually have a spiritual or religious meaning and are used in religious or social events and for ritual dances. In most cultures the person wearing the mask conceptually loses his or her identity and "becomes" the spirit represented by the mask itself. I find this to be true with some people. They loose their identities, need to pretend to be something they are not and hide the “real” and “authentic” being that they were created to be.  I’m talking about “being real”. Getting to know yourself and getting to the point in your life where you are surrounding yourself with others that you can be “yourself” with and they love you just as you are. We all need those kinds of people in our life. It may be a process, but learning to take off the masks and be your authentic self is freeing. And surrounding ourselves with other non-mask wearers makes for a beautiful life!

Just Sayin’,

Christina

Thankful

Well here I go...
I hope  y'all remembered to set your clocks back!
As we enter November and daylight savings time, we know that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. It is a great time to reflect and think about all we are thankful for. AND, even on a bad day, we can all take a step back, breathe and find something to be thankful for!
Last night I went to a fund raiser at the Trolley Museum in Charlotte for an organization called the "Caring Voice Coalition". It is a non-profit, charitable organization established in 2003 to provide financial, insurance education and patient support to individuals diagnosed with  specific, chronic or life-threatening diseases. This specific annual fund raiser is hosted by a neighbor to raise awarenss and funds for this wonderful cause. He does this as an act of love for his partner of 14 years that has Pulmonary Hypertension. Without this coalitions help, many of the patients would not be able to afford the medications each month that keep them alive and extend the quality of their lives. I had the pleasure of listening to a few of the patients speak at the event. There was a NY detective that spoke about his diagnosis and how the coalition has helped him greatly. He could not tell his story without getting choked up. There was also a women that spoke about her her diagnosis (Alpha-1 AntitrypsinDeficiency). In short, her body doesn't produce the protein that protects her lungs. She lives with only 19% lung functionality! But, what the most amazing thing was that she recently returned from a 3 week trip to Australia. Yup, she flew to Australia from the USA with 19% lung function. Why? She said "because I wanted too and I choose to LIVE. With whatever time I have left I am going to live and live big!! WOW! What an amazing human spirit!  Did I mention that back in 1996 they told her she only had 5 more years to live?!! Hmmm...
I really makes me think about the act of LIVING! How many of us just go through the motions? Are we showing an attitude of gratitude for the precious life we have been given?
Today, I am taking a step back, a deep breathe and being extremely THANKFUL for my health and choosing to LIVE BIG!
Just Sayin',
Christina