Loving the Rain.

Just read something rather fantastic. . .

"It is impossible to think one thing and produce another"

 --Emmet Fox

Dear Santa

Smiling Aurora wants a trampoline for Christmas. 

And a backyard to put it in. 

The Dog Days are Over

Courtney's Lulu. We took her on a walk!

What a beautiful couple of days we have had. I kept thinking, "I'm so lucky to live here!"

Beach weather right before Christmas.

Oh and I've just gotten a new camera! Don't you love the pics?

Chocolate and Santa Clause

I've never been a big fan of Christmas. Blame it on the pony Santa never brought me when I was seven. Maybe it has to do with most of my family living on a different continent. For me, this time of year always seemed to highlight the fact that my family was apart. As a result my childhood holidays were not always bursting with large, warm and fuzzy get-togethers complete with eggnog and big, ornate Christmas trees. The holiday memories that trickle into my mind are pretty ho-hum.

And lets not forget, with all the perfect gift searching, shopping, baking, party going and planning, Christmas time can be stressful!!

But you know what? Things change. People change. And part of me has always wanted to enjoy the merry season.  I will start by finding a few great things to love. . .

Thing I love about Christmas #1:

The extravagant abundance of chocolate (and other naughty deliciousness) virtually everywhere.  Have you walked into a Trader Joe's this week? It is impossible to make it to the back of the store, for there is a train sized stack of a million and one dangerously tempting, never before seen and wonderfully packaged treats piled at the entrance. 

Peppermint bark covered pretzels? Oh my. How wonderful. Even a random stranger in front of me at the check-out line could not help but turn around and comment. 

Thing I love about Christmas #2:

Santa Clause! Every year the same thing happens: I walk into the mall a few days after Thanksgiving and BAM--it is Christmas time. I look around in wonder at the garlands, the little blinking lights, the beautiful tree and . . . Oh, Santa Clause!!!

My heart jumps and a long forgotten surge of excitement rises. Inside I'm screaming, "Santa! Santa," and I'm mentally transported to a time in my life when Christmas was magical. I'm filled with amazement, wonder and joy. It is when I completely forget who I'm supposed to be at the time. It is when I forget that I'm all grown up.

There is no better feeling in the whole world. I love feeling like I'm little again! And this is not exclusive to Christmas time; I still delight in swinging on swings, jumping rope, and if there is moon jumper anywhere near me, I will go in and jump my little heart out. I get excited by candy, Disneyland, and well, apparently Santa Clause. (The Easter Bunny too!)

I just read something about Einstein and his interpretation of time as an illusion. He believed that  all events in our lives are actually occurring simultaneously. Yes! That means five year old me is still out there somewhere at this very moment.  I love how Christmas makes me a kid all over again.  

Thing I love about Christmas #3:

The Mariah Carey Christmas album. What a classic! I honestly cannot imagine decorating a tree or wrapping presents without her rendition of All I Want For Christmas Is You in the background. I just want to start singing out loud right now!

See, even I can like Christmas. Happy Shopping everyone! 

Sometimes I wonder.

The Tea Exchange in downtown Manhattan Beach not only has an exciting array of delicious teas, some yummy snacks (chocolate coconut balls!) and some of the most original cards. One simply read: "I want to have text with you." Genius. 

This one here is my most recent impulse buy. Will I ever send it out? I think not. It is just way too fantastic! 

It's Sunday!

Hoping everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend, enjoyed and gave lots of thanks.

And feel good if you really indulged. We must always remember:

"Everything in moderation including moderation."                      

 --Julia Child   

Creedence Clearwater Fixes Everything

Periodically, I ask myself the following question: If I could do anything in the world right now--anything physically possible--what would I do? Usually my desires are reasonable enough: lying on a warm beach, having drinks with friends, going to Disneyland, getting a slew of luxurious spa treatments, taking a trip to Italy, or something as refreshingly simple as going out for ice cream.

Sometimes it's writing and getting paid for it. Ahh, sounds nice.

A few mornings back I was driving to work from an early appointment in west L.A. My newly acquired CCR CD was blasting, sunshine was streaming down through the sunroof, and despite the heavy rush hour traffic, L.A. glittered all around me with possibilities. The mountains looked clear. My window was down and the surprisingly warm November air tingled my senses. The day was young, and it suddenly occurred to me that there was no place I would rather be. 

Really? Yes. I even surprised myself.

Sunday Quoteday

Remember: most of the fun comes from the journey, not the end result. Enjoy.  

"Happiness is found in doing, not merely in possessing."

 

--Napoleon Hill

No Bad Days

Have you ever seen this sticker? I first saw it years ago on the back of a bumper and I was instantly overcome with a wave of carefree breeziness.  My shoulders relaxed as I imagined such a truly novel concept. Suddenly, there I was in a hammock strung between those white palm tree silhouettes. No bad days.

Recently someone said to me, "I don't believe in bad days. Everyone has the power to control their day, so it should never be bad."

Can you feel the island wind blowing softly against your skin? These words are so true.

It's a difficult idea to fathom. It takes work. Effort. Having a bad day--giving up and feeling powerless to circumstances--is so much easier. Oh but, how much better to live life amidst warm coconut scented breezes. It's worth it, no?

Stay positive, fearless, confident and understand that in your life, you are in charge.

Embrace it: no bad days.

Sunday Quoteday!

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." 

--Martin Luther King Jr. quoted in The Week

Star Light, Star Bright

Sometimes it doesn't matter how sunny it is or how good my hair looks--it's a bad day. Wednesday fit the bill.

And then, at the very end of the day, someone turned my mood around. 

Short, seemingly inconsequential interactions can be so powerful: a particularly nice bank teller, a stranger in the elevator, a repair man backing up his truck who says "good morning," and means it.

Positive energy radiates and when you happen to encounter someone with it, it permeates all gloom. 

Turning Love Advice Into Life Advice

I recently found a UK September issue of Elle lying around. The front cover entices with "GENIUS LOVE ADVICE WE'RE ASHAMED TO GIVE (BUT IT WORKS!)." The article in question is titled, "Passivity: It Works."

Instantly enraged, I read through the piece to find that it's not really about passivity so much as positivity. What I deem as positivity, anyway. 

The author, Alice Wignall's premise is "do nothing." She believes that we are so wired to take action whenever something goes wrong--in relationships, and life--and doing nothing "means recognizing situations where your input isn't needed, where it might actually be unhelpful. In relationships, it means not engaging in someone else's psychodrama, nor giving oxygen to your own." 

Two love scenarios are discusses. The first is regarding Laura Munson, who you may have heard about since her own act of romantic passivity has landed her a book, a slew of interviews, and acknowledgement from Oprah.  When Munson's husband declared he no longer loved her and was planning to leave, her reaction was unconventional. According to Wignall's article, she pretty much said, "I don't believe it, and I'm not going to discuss it."

Apparently, six months later everyone was living happily ever after. 

Munson is quoted saying, "We live in such a reactionary society that we think, in order to be powerful, we need to fight. That's a shame." 

To Wignall, Munson's way of reacting--or not reacting--equals passivity and, doing nothing. Wignall reveals her own love struggles in the piece and thanks this same brand of inaction as the key to her success. After a year of dating, the author tells us her love interest decided they may not be right for each other in the long term. Like Munson, Wignall kind of ignored the issue. Time moved forward and voilà, all uncertainty dissolved. 

And with these two romantic successes we are told, "there is power in passivity." 

Let us stop and think about this for a minute. Is this really being passive? Or is this employing a technique--a way of living life fearlessly--we have already discussed?

A few months ago, I wrote about the importance of not focusing on undesirable outcomes, stating: "the more something is focused on, the higher the likelihood that it will manifest" (read more here).

To me, this unique approach to love is really about taking one of the basic principles of positivity and applying it to relationships. Even the author agrees that this approach "works in other places, too." Because Munson and Wignall refused to focus on undesirable outcomes (they were fearless), the unwanted never occurred.

How fascinating that so many things are universally applicable! 

In short: what you may believe is taking action, is not always the right kind of action.  I'm not contradicting myself here.  What I wrote earlier is still true; action is paramount. But, inaction, if done purposefully, can be wise.

And just for fun, I'll leave you with one of my faves from "Passivity: It Works"

"Instinctively, I want to say no. I want to believe in the modern model of empowered womanhood -- a hybrid of Destiny's Child songs, Tyra Banks attitude and Sex and the City -- which tell us we're worth it, that we can do anything if we put our minds to it, that we should be worshipped all the livelong day and anything less than that is simply unacceptable."

Sunday Quoteday.

Every Sunday, I've decided, will be quote day. Please feel free to share some of your favorite words of wisdom with me as well!

"One way to slow down and begin to change our perspective is to begin to measure our lives by each breath we take, rather than by each day, month, or year ... It won't make a better your or a worse you. But it will reveal you." 

-Angel Kyode Williams, quoted in The Sun's Sunbeams.

When you don't know what to say . . .

"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people."                                  

          ~Eleanor Roosevelt.

Put Your Actions Where Your Thoughts Are

There is one essential part of the equation which has not yet been discussed. Action. Being positive is great. Feeling good, being fearless, hot and sexy is all fabulous. But, these wonderful things are not the end result which we seek (not I, anyway).

The whole point of feeling positive, happy, and fiercely sexy is that it should inspire one to action.  When you are fearless and feel good is when goals can be achieved, dreams realized, and life--the good, real kind of life--can be lived.

So, be a smiling Aurora, but do something with all of that positive energy and spur into action!

Inspiration, and life's simple truths come from all around. In this month's issue of Elle, my favorite E. Jean, in honor of the magazine's 25th anniversary, gives readers a list of twenty five things every woman should know.  I missed her usual advice column, but the list is a gold mine of wisdom--and humor.  My favorite: every woman should know how to change a tire, her hair color, and a man.

For you gentlemen out there, do not despair. E. Jean's list is universal. "Always choose action over words," she writes. She's right: action is paramount.

And if you have forgotten why you are reading this amazing blog, listen to the experts. Number eight on the list reads:

"Don't read blogs written by unhappy, spiteful people. Bad blogs will mangle your mood."

Let me translate. Do not read crappy, negative blogs. Read my blog.

Find out what else is on E. Jean's list here.

Focus. . . Your breathing

Oh, my dear Blog Positive, how I have missed you. My computer has beckoned me day after day to come to you, but time would not permit.

Good things have happened: things which prove the importance of being positive, but also the importance of action steps. One cannot wish and hope for anything without simultaneously taking action. Stay tuned to hear more about this . . . next post, I promise.

Right now, I want to discuss the importance of breathing. Not normal, breathe in and out, do-it-just-to-stay-alive breathing, but deep, belly, yoga breaths.  This kind of breathing is calming, cleansing, heart rate lowering, relaxing, energizing and essential.

It's the sort of thing everyone reads about and instantly dismisses because they know it already. Studies have been done and published, I'm sure of it. Articles have been written.  Magazines have put side bars devoted to it.  It seems so simple, and yes, sometimes it's just a little too much work.

Yet, when I make myself, or when necessity leaves me no other option, the results are phenomenal. I urge you to try it. If you haven't been blessed with an amazing yoga teacher, here is how to do it:

• Start by breathing in deeply through your nose, filling your belly -- not lungs -- with as much air as possible. 
• Feel your stomach expand, and when it is completely full, hold for a few seconds
• Start to exhale S-L-O-W-L-Y through your nose. Feel and hear the air pass through your throat.      
• The full exhale should last a minimum of ten seconds -- but fifteen or more is optimal. Count in your head as you breathe out. Your stomach should contract. Try to focus on squeezing all of the air out of it, and bringing your belly button in towards your spine.
• After one breath, you should instantly feel calmer.  Do a few at a time whenever needed. 

Try it in times of stress --while driving or working-- on a bad hair day, when feeling grumpy, hungry, moody, unhappy, tired.

It works wonders when falling asleep seems impossible.

When about to engage in something not conducive to Megan Fox hotness, a few deep breaths will instantly bring the truly important into focus (Megan Fox hotness, and not cookies).

Intuition

"You wander from room to room hunting for the diamond necklace that is already around your neck!"    
- Rumi

A few months ago I was sitting in the lounge of a tequila bar late one night (please, don't ask why), and this Deepak Chopra, mystical, universe following man turned to me and said, "every bad decision you've ever made in your life, you knew." He looked like a normal, semi-hip, thirty something year old man. "Think back to all of them and I guarantee, you knew it was a bad decision."

There weren't that many bad decisions to look back to.  But nevertheless, I got the point: we have a lot more power within ourselves than we--than society--gives us credit for.  Intuitive power.

I know we all--myself included--tend to look for answers everywhere except where they are found: within ourselves.

I want you all to know the power, the intellect, the strength we all possess in our own core. (Osho would say, think with your navel and not with your mind. You have a mind, but you are not your mind).

Sometimes the right decision makes no sense. Sometimes logic just doesn't feel right.  Sometimes the best thing to do seems like the worst.  Sometimes you need to listen to you, just you.  Ultimately, nobody knows you, knows your life, as well as you do. And it is you who is in control. Your life is up to you, and not up to your friends, to your family, to society.

You are the one who needs to live with every decision you make, so you, only you, must decide. Thanks to the random tequila drinking, spiritually inspiring man, I am fully aware of this fact.

Most importantly, remember to channel your inner fearlessness.  This will be helpful when it seems like you're going against the grain.  (If you've forgotten all about fearlessness, click here)   

Fail Better

"A quitter never wins--and a winner never quits. Lift this sentence out, write it on a piece of paper in letters an inch high, and place it where you will see it every night before you go to sleep and every morning before you go to work." -Napoleon Hill


Astoundingly powerful words. Take this philosophy and add it Samuel Beckett's, "fail better" quote and you will get the reason why the following picture is a good thing.

 Thank you to The Sun for my first official rejection letter. Should I frame it?
And thanks to Pauline for the great photography!

Complaining: Forget About it

My vow to stop complaining led to . . .

-A ridiculous onslaught of complaining--more than I am accustomed to doing.
-It reinforced something I already knew: the more I focus on something (even when the focus is on avoiding that something), the more it occurs.
-Vows of all sorts are counterproductive.

I'm not taking back what was previously stated: complaining is a bad influence.

While "venting" does feel good here and there, the bottom line is that all energy would be better spent on something more constructive. Something not so negative. Something, uh, positive. Try the "Good things" list suggested way back (read about it here).

Forget about complaining, and complaining will cease to be an issue.

Evening Hour

This line captures the essence of something wonderful.  I must have read it a dozen times before moving on.


"It was the evening hour when work was over and the last gold light lay flat across the roofs and touched the honey-coloured hair and the whisky in his glass" -Graham Greene, Our Man in Havana

Stop Complaining.

Remember last time you started complaining about someone or something, under the pretense of "just venting"? Do you remember feeling better or angry and upset all over again? Did you really blow off some steam, or create even more steam?

I've realized that venting (a.k.a. complaining) is a bad influence.  It's something that perpetuates feeling bad, and does little in making me feel fabulous (and lets remember some of our number one goals: feeling good, having fun, loving life etc.)

So as of today, I am taking a vow: no complaining, no venting, no "blowing off steam." Lets say, for the rest of the weekend.

If someone prevents me from doing my job tonight by micro managing everything I do: I will not complain.
If I get a crappy tip: I will not complain.
If someone does not let me over into the other lane when I'm driving: I will not complain. And I will not secretly wish s/he gets infected with swine flu.
If it's freezing cold, and Southern California barely got any good beach days this summer: I will not complain. I will be grateful for the chance to wear cute sweaters.
If there is no more red wine when I come home: I will not complain. I will make a vodka soda instead. And if it still does not satisfy, I will just have tea.

Okay, you get the idea. I'll keep you all posted.

12:54 AM

I love writing like I love a soft blanket wrapped tightly around me. I love writing like the first bite of a warm brownie topped with ice cream. Like sitting outside on a summer night and looking up at lit paper lanterns. Like the tiny clusters of white flowers hanging outside my window. The sweet scent entices me to bend down and smell them almost every time I walk to my front door.

I love writing like I love my new wallet.  Made out of soft leather, it came with a removable strap. It's a peachy shade of burnt orange and I wanted to sleep beside it on the first night.

Like sixty-nine cent, avalanche de sabor ice cream cones from McDonald's. Like the smell of good coffee beans in the morning. Like jazz cafes. Like the feeling after running four miles. Calm. Empty. Sweaty.

I love writing like I love myself. My curly hair. My lips. My toes--they're red. The dark fleck in my right eye. I love it like the comforting notion that no one will ever know me as well as I do.

Like Seattle. Like driving on the freeway at sunset and seeing the mountains all around me. Like rain on hot asphalt.

Like espresso and a piece of chocolate on a sunny patio at noon.

Like the feeling of ocean water drying on my skin: flakes of salty residue on my arm. Like white cotton anything. Like coconut sunscreen. Like summer. Like fall.

I love writing like I love the first poem I ever wrote: "I want, I want, I want / I want something that you want / I want sunshine, I want flowers." I must have been ten, I think.

Sometimes

Sometimes I forget that it's all going to be okay.

I forget to listen when Bob Marley plays in my car; "Every little thing gonna be all right," he tells me. I forget to believe it.

I forget what I want. I forget my essence. Sometimes. I lose sight. I forget I'm fearless and I forget my power. I forget I can write. I forget who I am. I forget I'm the one steering the ship, and I forget to relax. To trust.

But that's why you're here. So I can tell you--and then, remember.

Moments when we Feel Alive

A friend recently recommended I watch the movie, Paris, Je T'aime. The film is a compilation of short films, each by different directors, taking place in the various districts of the city.  And it is absolutely wonderful.

I wanted to share one of  the most beautiful moments--the last short film directed by Alexander Payne. Click here to watch. 

Please share your thoughts. 

Faith in You.

Last night I read a simple sentence: "Have faith in yourself."

I can't exactly describe the feeling reading this gave me, but I can tell you that whatever mix of emotions swelled up in me, among all of them was something powerful and liberating.

Top Ways to be Fearless

Remember the vision I shared a few posts back? It involved a fearless version of me. Now, the question is, what does it mean to be fearless? 

It means assurance. Confidence. When you are fearless you never doubt your own abilities. It means plunging into the unknown, taking risks, and living life the way it's meant to be lived. 

And lets not get confused. Only the risks taken for a reason, a good reason, can be categorized under true fearlessness.

In essence, it means you no longer live inside self imposed limitations.

Here are some top ways to become your own fearless vision:

1) Understand this simple concept: the more something is focused on, the higher the likelihood that it will manifest. Thinking too much about the worsts case scenario and focusing on the negative "what ifs" makes these unwanted outcomes occur. The idea is to no longer think or worry about these things and suddenly they will cease to be an issue.

2) Realize two things:

•   Worst case scenario probably will not happen
•   And well, if it does, it most likely won't be the end of the world.  If you don't try at all, you've already failed.  What was it Samuel Beckett said . . . "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."

3) And the best and easiest way to be fearless is Fake it until you Make it! This concept actually works for many endeavors.

Put some sexy heels on, apply a thick coat of Dior show mascara (guys, just insert ego boosting activity here), smile, wink and say to yourself, "Nothing frightens me."

You'll eventually start to believe it. And that my friends is also what sexiness is all about. 

Quotes for you . . .

Think about the following:

"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." --Albert Einstein

"Once you say you're going to settle for second, that's what happens to you in life." --John F. Kennedy

And keep your life fabulous, I know I am . . . See photo. That's the view from the rooftop pool at the Standard hotel.

Inspiring quotes thanks to my current read: Timothy Ferriss's The 4-Hour Workweek. It's a must if you buy into my work smarter, not harder philosophy. 

Decide on a Vision.

Recently I had a vision of myself. I was fearless. Nothing frightened me, nothing made me hesitate, and I was definitely not afraid to fail. I had no doubts. No one's opinion mattered and I was completely driven from within.

Oh, and this is crucial, I was in heels.

It came to me while I was running at the gym, and made me feel so amazingly good that my workout was instantly supercharged.

And it still feels good.

I've been thinking about it ever since fearless me came to my consciousness in a pair of bad ass heels and this very thought seems to take me so far. Fearless me was hot, sexy, assured and most importantly, she was really freakin' happy. I love fearless me. I want to be fearless me. And I know I can be her. Just conjuring her up makes me smile and relax. Because if I'm fearless, what do I have to worry about? That's right, nothing at all.

It is one empowering vision.

Do it.

I've come to a conclusion--a few really.

-Wear high heels as often as possible. Even if you're already tall. Even if you're 5'10 tall.

-Don't plan anything before 11 on the weekends. Sleep is fabulous.

-On that note, take naps whenever you can.

-Read Vogue in bed in the middle of the day.

-Keep on track with project "get hot," but do eat cupcakes when a sexy man brings them to you. Don't have five.

-When you get a random check in the mail from your insurance company, don't question it. Even if you're completely baffled. Shut up, be happy, and go to the bank. And remember how you looked at your account and thought "I need more money" (See post "Think About it").

Do it. Life is too short not to.

Two Categories of Success

I've been thinking about success, and it seems as if there are two types of successful people (as far as I can see right now). There is the group who work ridiculously hard, and every bit of prosperity for them has come at a price. This group of people seem to understand only one formula: working their way up. The extremes in this category also seem to refuse the "freebies" life offers--believing that any prosperity must come from some kind of difficult effort (of course this occurs unconsciously).

The other group looks at success differently. While not opposed to hard work, their actions seem to propel them forward at lighting speed. They move to the top in a fluid motion of ease. And the difference here is interesting. While the first group may reach a salary in the six digits, the second is making millions or more. When this group works it's not a drudgery, but something that can be fun and easy.

Lets look at one example: Last Fall a writer came to CSULB for a reading of her just published book of short stories. The reading was interesting. She told us she had spent ten years working on her first novel, which she could not get published (ten years without getting paid!) The book which had been published started as a writing exercise to get to know the characters of the first novel.

Yes, I'm about to sort of bash her--but before I do, let me say her writing is amazingly sharp.

She shared a little bit about the writing process of her short stories, and apparently she sometimes spent weeks on one single sentence. What?!

You may be thinking, this is all well and good. Her ten years of work were not entirely futile since it led to the writing exercise which ended up being a success. And I get that sometimes things work out differently than expected. But ten years!? And weeks for one sentence! You only get one life everyone.

I walked out of there thinking, I never want to be a writer, ever.

But now I realize the distinction in groups of successful individuals. This writer, while finally successful, belongs in the first group: She had to work hard, and felt as if that struggle was absolutely necessary.

I don't know about you, but I like the sounds of the second group much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid of a little hard work, and those of you who know me know I certainly do not shy away from giving something my all.

I see success as something which should come fluidly and naturally. I want to enjoy all the "work" necessary to get there. And I think I can see that happening.

Thank you summer!

All I have to say today is this: life is pretty fabulous.

Also, here is something to ponder over the weekend: "whether you think you can or you can't, either way you're right."

Think about It

A few mornings ago I woke up and sat at the table to enjoy some tea. I may have been reading The Sun, or writing something down, and I looked up and noticed the vase of once fresh sunflowers in front of me was not looking so hot. I gave them a moments thought. "I should get some fresh flowers," I said to myself before resuming what I was reading or writing. When I got up, I threw the dying flowers away and rinsed the vase.

Some hours later, my boyfriend unexpectedly walks in the door with a huge bouquet of flowers! Among them, two huge sunflowers, bigger than the previous. No, it wasn't a special occasion, and yes, I do have a sweet boyfriend (see post "Try to Keep it Fabulous"), but it's not like I get flowers everyday or anything. What interests me here is that within hours of thinking about what I wanted, it manifested itself. And now the vase of flowers in front of me is fuller, and brighter than the last.

Now, should I look at my bank account and think, "I need some more money"? Should I look at my car and think, "I need a new BMW"? Will these things then magically appear in my life, just like the flowers?

I'll keep you posted. (I'm feeling good about this one!).

I have to say, this summer is off to a pretty amazing start. On Saturday, I had a chocolate covered fortune cookie tell me "Success and happiness will come your way." Um, isn't this what this whole blog is all about? Isn't this exactly what I have been focusing on these last few weeks?

And I don't think I could of had a better morning today. I spent it in my pj's working on a story for my creative writing class, drinking coffee and intermittently dancing to Phoenix.

Now I'm getting ready to go for a run on the beach, before I finish the story. Life is good.

Dive In and Dig Deep

This is what you need to do: Listen to John Coltrane, eat amazingly delicious food whenever possible (and by this I mean delicious healthy food; we must not forget our "get hot" objective), and don't forget to keep smiling. Stay positive by looking up and not down, and most importantly, don't be afraid of failing!

Even as I write these words I am thinking, is this cliche? Surely, everyone has heard every single word I am writing already. But, I don't care. I'm diving in and digging deep.

Stop hesitating, and go for it. Whatever "it" may be!

Don't forget to Smile.

There was something about today, about tonight really. A moment of bliss hit me. I'm not sure if it was the sip of Lobo Loco Syrah, the copious amounts of amazing people in my life, or the fact that I spent my day with some of those people. It could be the smile I have been forcing myself to wear even in not so fantastic moments (yes, friends, this is how hard one needs to try . . . SMILE!)

Maybe the endorphins in my body are sky high from my workout today, and since project "get hot" is well under way I can't help but feel excited (and it definitely is well under way).

Regardless of how I came to this magical moment of bliss, what I am sure it comes down to is the positivity. How can one be happy, in whatever circumstance, if they cannot learn to distinguish those things which make them truly blessed?

I know, you hear this all the time . . . Appreciate what you have . . blah blah blah.

But how many times have your really tried it? How many times have you sat down and written out the things you are grateful for? Even if it's silly. Super silly. Maybe "Hotel California" played on the radio on your drive somewhere. Maybe you had something delicious for breakfast, or someone made you laugh harder than you have in a long times. Was the sun shining today? Did you wake up alive and breathing? These are the essential things which you should be grateful for.

Who cares about the new Maserati, the booming business, the million dollar home, the yacht, the caviar . . . (by all means, please be grateful for these things too, and do plan to attain this level of success).

It's the little things. Ultimately, no matter what happens in your life, these seemingly little things will always be there. There should be comfort in knowing this.

So what it comes down to is this: Want more moments of bliss?

Force a smile even when you don't feel like it. Drink some organic Syrah (it has a higher alcohol content by the way), spend time with your friends after work, write down what you're grateful for (I suggest titling the page "Good Things"), and have some great people in your life (go get some if you don't).

Winking at yourself in the mirror and employing "get hot" projects are also helpful.

Practice what you Preach

Ok, so staying positive 24/7 is not the easiest thing ever. Maybe it's because I'm used to being grumpy and focusing on what I'm not happy about. Or maybe it has to do with waking up and working a double shift, making less money than ever (can't people tip adequately anymore?) at a job that doesn't register as the "super fabulous" one I'm hoping all this positive thinking will lead me to. Maybe it has to do with the June gloom. Sometimes just a little bit of sunshine goes a long way for me. . .

Regardless, sometimes all one needs is a little something to get back on track. Today I started reading Zig Ziglar's See you At the Top (right in line with our philosophy by the way) and came across this: "no one is smart enough to remember everything he knows."

It was at this moment that I was thankful for you, Blog Positive. I may know I need to stay away from negative thoughts and try my best to feel good at all times, but I don't always remember everything I know. I'm not that smart. Thankfully, you are here to remind me, even on days like today, of the giddy girl who smiled and winked at herself in the mirror a mere three days ago. She would not let a little June gloom, or a part time job get in her way of success. Nothing brings her down.

Try to keep it Fabulous!

Having a bad day? Feeling grumpy? Maybe your middle name is Grumpy. Here is what you do: Somehow thinking positive will rub off on your boyfriend and he will start to love you more than ever. On your graduation day he will surprise you with the most beautiful Coach bag you have ever seen. A leathery shade of pinkish beige, it will be something you never knew you wanted, but now that you have it, you will never be able to go back to not having it. The moment--the purse--will change the kind of woman you are.

The new accessory will inspire you to mold your life into something even more fabulous in order to match the bag and you will decide you need to go somewhere amazing to debut it. Since you are feeling positive, feeling good, and know success is imminently waiting, your mind will have no issues conceiving of the perfect place to go: The Donald Trump Golf Course.

You will arrive in a vacation-like daze after the beautiful drive up the coast of Palos Verdes. The rows of white and black Mercedes and BMW's will be glittering in the late morning sun as you drive past the massive white fountain which marks the entrance. Once inside you will be seated in a plush velvet chair in front of a large window overlooking the offsetting blues of the sky and the ocean. Your every dining need will be accommodated, including the suggestion of a luxuriously large pillow placed behind your back. You will decline. You are tall, and have no need for it.

The meal will be delicious, the view astonishing and you will start to feel like you are not trying anymore. The purse, the fabulousness, the "may I offer you any more coffee miss?" will all be a part of you, and of what you expect in this new life of yours. When you go to the bathroom, smile at that sexy girl in the mirror, wink, and softly say "yeah, baby."

Lets get it Started!

Last summer’s objective was to get Megan Fox hot. It sort of happened. I went to the gym as much as I possibly could, and my two-pack got much more defined. This summer, while getting that hotness back is definitely on the list, I have something new to try: Positive thinking.

I think the only way I made it through finals week for the hardest semester ever (i.e. seminar on John Milton along with three other English classes) was by listening to a set of CDs on my thirty-five minute drive to and from school. I got tired of listening to the one Black Eyed Peas song and Kesha five million times a day. The gist of the twelve CDs is pretty much think positive because you get what you think about.

So far, nothing groundbreaking has happened (although it’s hard to ALWAYS be positive), but there have been some minor exciting details. I actually felt happy the last week of school, while I’m usually uber grumpy due to the lack of sleep. This time, I was pumped and excited ( a little stressed too, but just a little). The best part was how I breezed through my last all nighter, writing an amazing paper with absolutely no difficulty.

Here is where you come in: I need to write more, I need to start a blog, and I need to really put positive thinking into action and see what manifests in my life. I will be documenting all the amazingly fabulous happenings that occur as a result of my positive viewpoint (I may document a little more, we’ll see . . .) The first notable thing was when I went to the ATM at the gas station the other day. I was about to insert my card into the machine when the guy working behind the counter told me he was about to close out his shift and he could give me cash. The ATM charges $5, and with the “cash back” option from the credit card machine, I would not get charged at all. Score! Yeah, five bucks may seem like no big deal, but hey, I’ll take whatever little bit of luck that comes my way.

The next day I had to meet a group of people for my friend’s rehearsal dinner. I was late to the restaurant and could not find any parking, so I drove up to the valet and asked, “Where is self Park?”

“We don’t have any. Only valet.”

“But I don’t have any money.” ( I didn’t).

Silence. I look at him. He looks at me.

“Oh, okay you can park here. It’s a present to you.”

O-M-G! When does that ever happen?

Regardless of how little these things are, I think being positive, feeling good, and sending good vibes out there are the key to success. This blog will be where it is all recorded. This summer I will be Megan Fox hot once again, and a whole lot more. Stay tuned . . .