MINDFUL MOMENTS

I'm often told that I'm part mermaid because I love to swim. Only problem is that right now I don't live anywhere close to a lake and all the outdoor pools are closed for the season. So...I drove 50 miles yesterday to a place called "Dibrova" my childhood alma mater. I got a late start, got stuck in traffic, and turned on the wrong road on my way to "Dibrova." I almost wanted to give up and turn back but I kept visualizing that spring lake that I've been swimming in since I was five and finally I made it to my destination "Dibrova." Once there I was so happy to smell the fragrant pines and hang out with a bunch of Ukrainians who were having their annual picnic. I walked down the familiar path to the spring lake and jumped into the refreshing water. There were kids fishing off the dock but all I cared about was swimming in the water. I swam and swam like a fish. People were watching me swim and couldn't believe that I was...

Having spent most of the day at home doing chores I was glad to take a drive to a nearby town and take a walk along the river. When I arrived to the cozy oasis of nature I saw quite a few fishermen with their rods in the river. I asked a fisherman how the fishing was and he replied "Not too bad today." What started off as a simple question to a young fisherman turned into a very stimulating conversation. We talked for about 45 minutes. The guys name was Gregory and he told me that he's old fashioned. He rides his bicycle everywhere, doesn't own a phone, and never surfed the internet. He just enjoys living a simple kind of lifestyle. I enjoyed my time with Gregory so much because I myself like the simple things and being immersed with nature as much as possible. How wonderful it was to connect with someone so much like myself. The greatest lesson I learned from Gregory was to always be kind to others and live a humble life. If only there were more Gregory's in ...

"Oh how sweet it is to use our skills and talents to make the world a  better place."  Adrianna Lately I've been using this little quote of mine to encourage people not to get down when times get tough. Sometimes it's hard to keep pressing on when things seem so gloomy. I'm no exception. Getting a job and keeping a job was never difficult for me until about five years ago. Since than I've been losing my self worth from all the rejections I get. It hurts to be rejected and unwanted in the working world. The last I heard "12 million Americans are looking for work." That's a pretty high percentage. So like those other unemployed 12 million Americans I do my best to get by. I teach yoga part time and even though I don't make much money I get the satisfaction of helping others feel better. Often when I finish my yoga class a student or two approaches me and says: "Thanks for helping me relax."  "Your classes have hel...

The other day I was wallowing in self-pity while taking a walk in a park. Next to the park a bunch of boys were playing soccer at a school field. They were having fun but what caught my eye was the young boy who was circling around the field in his wheelchair. The poor little boy was paralyzed and couldn't walk let alone play soccer but he had a smile on his face because his peers encouraged him to be part of the game even though he was in a wheelchair. He circled around the field in his wheelchair feeling like he really was part of the game. Those few moments really touched my heart. Sometimes we find ourselves complaining about silly things like being stuck in traffic or having a bad day at work.  My self-pity vanished when I saw how a young boy had enthusiasm trying to play soccer even though he was confined to a wheelchair. Let's be thankful for the blessings we have!

Today is the birthday of someone who rejected me. Although rejection hurts, it's part of life. Everyone at some point in their life has to deal with a rejection. Rejection has taught me to have dignity and grace. Eventually the pain of rejection goes away. I'm thankful for all the rejections I've had throughout life because it taught me that I can't have everything I want in life.  Therefore I accept the moments I must have of: R  E  J  E  C  T  I  O N

Although summer doesn't end until the 21st of September on the calendar for most people it ends on Labor Day. The days begin to shorten and cool down, children go back to school, the public beaches and swimming pools no longer have lifeguards on duty and the ice cream shops close earlier.  I'm so thankful for a handful of idyllic summer days that came my way this past summer of 2013. It's the simple things that make summer so special like swimming in the lake, hiking a mountain, attending a free outdoor concert, having a picnic in a park, taking a bicycle ride or making some fresh squeezed lemonade. Although we have to bid summer goodbye  it's nice to have a few memories of those summer moments that stand out in our mind. I hope everyone has had some sweet summer memories. Goodbye to Summer!

Stowe, Vermont                                                                             I'll never forget that summer in Stowe, Vermont that still leaves me with vivid memories. It was my dream to see the Trapp Family Lodge and hike Mount Mansfield so one June day I got on the train with just a bag of clothes and headed to Stowe. What I thought would only be a three day visit turned out to be two months of the best summer of my life. I was staying at a hostel near Stowe and the managers girlfriend told me about a job opening at a bed & breakfast in Stowe. I called the innkeeper to inquire about a position. To my surprise she met me in town and had a quick interview with me in a restaurant parking lot. I was hired on the spot and the following day I arrived at "The Siebeness...