Feeling that you are loved is one of the greatest gifts

While mulling over all of my worries and woes in my mind (which I seem to do a bit more often these days) all of a sudden an image of my mom popped into my head. This caused me to pause, exhale, and say to myself, "but at least I'm loved" and every negative thought went away. This little moment left me to thinking about the importance of knowing that you are loved makes in one's life. And since today is Valentine's Day, I thought it most appropriate to share my thoughts with you on this subject.

All souls are born to be loved but not all feel that they are. When one feels loved they tend to be more grounded, secure, and self aware; as well as empathetic. Knowing you are loved is a bit different then actually feeling it. Anyone can say that they love you, and you may believe them, but not necessarily feel it. 

To feel loved means that you feel unconditionally accepted. Not everyone has this kind of love in their life. There are many reasons whys one does not feel loved. Sometimes, it's due to lack of nurturing by one or both parents where they do not feel worthy of another's love and so they reject the notion. Childhood trauma of any kind can lead to a distorted view of one's self worth. Or it could be the way in which you view yourself, by being too critical. For example, hating the way you look.

Whatever the reason for not feeling loved, it does not change the fact that it puts you in a very lonely state of mind. Self destructive behavior is something that is not uncommon. Another detriment of not feeling loved, of course, is depression.

This is why I consider feeling loved a gift. Not everyone is blessed with the comfort of knowing that no matter what, you will always be one of the most important things in another's life (in a healthy way, that is). 

When life get clustered, for whatever reason, it's always a good idea to just take a minute or two and feel the love that you know to be true. There really is no quicker fix (for the moment at least) to an anxious mind. And who knows, it may actually help to guide you through whatever process you need to go through. 

I am so grateful for many, many things, most of which are priceless because of the human factor involved. My hope for you, dear reader, is that this feeling of love is abundant in your life also; and that it helps to carry you through the tough roads that we find must be traveled as well as the little moments in your head that need a bit of readjustment by reflection.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

FROM ME TO YOU

Believe, Imagine, Dream, and LOVE...

BELIEVE you can accomplish any task.

BELIEVE you have purpose.

BELIEVE in the unbelievable.

BELIEVE in yourself.

IMAGINE a better world.

IMAGINE a brighter future.

IMAGINE yourself in harmony with your surroundings.

IMAGINE yourself with Peace of  Mind.

DREAM in colors every night.

DREAM of a better tomorrow.

DREAM of being who you aspire to be.

DREAM your wildest Dreams even when others try to sway you not to.

LOVE your life.

LOVE your family.

LOVE each other.

LOVE yourself.

"Love and Affection"....

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection”

Siddhārtha Gautama

Saying "I Love You", Often and Honestly....

The three most powerful words ever spoken from one to another: "I Love You". When spoken with an honest and open heart, this phrase carries the most weight when voicing our true feelings of closeness. On the other hand, these same words, when spoken with a cold and calculating heart, can be the most manipulative and selfish words uttered to another.

I make it a point to tell the ones I care for deeply that I love them often. Whether it be in person, on the phone, via e-mail, text or by any other means of communication. When I speak or write these words, I mean them every time. I hold great reverence for this phrase and would never use it for any reason other than the purpose than it implies.

Unfortunately, I cannot say this for everyone. I cannot hold true that whoever says this phrase honestly means it. I have seen and heard this phrase being misused and abused by many. I have come to learn that these insincere individuals take advantage of others by using these words to manipulate and hold power. You see, dear reader, "I love you" holds much power because of its monumental meaning.

I would like you to take a bit more time to show your love and to speak it out loud as often as necessary with grace. You may find by doing this that the recipients will be more receptive to your true feelings than you might have otherwise thought. People do need to hear these words from their loved ones. It's a positive affirmation as well as a call to comfort and acceptance. We all need to be loved, and to know that we are loved is of utmost importance. Please also be mindful of those around you who are not sincere in expressing their love for you. Look to see beyond these words for what ulterior motive may be behind it. Do not allow yourself to succumb to another's lies and deceit in order to fulfill a need. It will only end in a most hurtful and painful way.

My hope for you, dear reader, is to have a life filled with love and laughter. To be happy and secure within yourself so that you can share your love with one another in a most pure and beautiful way. With only sincere intentions, and an open heart.

"Love/Hate"......

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quotes......

 "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Be Love.............

It's really all this simple.
Plain and simple.
Yet so difficult for many.
Be the one who inspires others to look at themselves in love.
We all deserve to be loved.
And therefore, have the responsibility to show love.
We are all gifts to one another.
We are one love.

Quotes......

To be full of grace is a most wonderful place to be in your heart.
To take the time to reach out to another.
To give without expectations.
To have peace of mind in knowing that you have made a difference.

Quotes....

And herein lies the meaning of legacy for the good, for all that follow.

It is what we leave behind that is most important.
It is who we have loved that will last throughout eternity.
It is how we have treated others that will leave the impression of empathy and compassion.
It is the lessons we teach our children and those we mentor, about how to be a positive influence to all of those we encounter, that will be perpetuated.
It is the wisdom and knowledge we accumulate and share, that the generations, moving forward, will then put forth to enlighten future mankind.

All these things give me peace of mind for when my time comes to leave this earth and I move on to the next enlightened path.

Be light. Be love. Be everlasting.

For You....

I've been trying do to this A LOT lately and it has helped to calm my body down, I hope it helps you also Dear Reader ...

Thoughtful Thoughts.......

Never be afraid of who you really are, for in the end, it's your legacy that will have defined you. So, it is most important to be true to yourself before all other things. Realize your gifts (and that you are a gift) and share them frequently. Be love by showing love, and in this, you will find peace of mind.

Thoughtful Thoughts.......

 The love that you give, lives on through eternity, for it is infinite.What you have left behind, through the lives you have touched, travels from one generation to the next. Therein, embedding itself into the universe.

Saying "I Love You" often and honestly.......

The three most powerful words ever spoken from one to another: "I Love You". When spoken with an honest and open heart, this phrase carries the most weight when voicing our true feelings of closeness. On the other hand, these same words, when spoken with a cold and calculating heart, can be the most manipulative and selfish words uttered to another.

I make it a point to tell the ones I care for deeply that I love them often. Whether it be in person, on the phone, via e-mail, text or by any other means of communication. When I speak or write these words, I mean them every time. I hold great reverence for this phrase and would never use it for any reason other than the purpose than it implies.

Unfortunately, I cannot say this for everyone. I cannot hold true that whoever says this phrase honestly means it. I have seen and heard this phrase being misused and abused by many. I have come to learn that these insincere individuals take advantage of others by using these words to manipulate and hold power. You see, dear reader, "I love you" holds much power because of its monumental meaning.

I would like you to take a bit more time to show your love and to speak it out loud as often as necessary with grace. You may find by doing this that the recipients will be more receptive to your true feelings than you might have otherwise thought. People do need to hear these words from their loved ones. It's a positive affirmation as well as a call to comfort and acceptance. We all need to be loved, and to know that we are loved is of utmost importance. Please also be mindful of those around you who are not sincere in expressing their love for you. Look to see beyond these words for what ulterior motive may be behind it. Do not allow yourself to succumb to another's lies and deceit in order to fulfill a need. It will only end in a most hurtful and painful way.

My hope for you, dear reader, is to have a life filled with love and laughter. To be happy and secure within yourself so that you can share your love with one another in a most pure and beautiful way. With only sincere intentions, and an open heart.

One great big hug after another, for one another.......

I am and have always a been a big hugger. It must be the Italian in me (100 percent!). It must also be from being from such a large family. You see every time we all got together, which could be up to several times a week, I went around and gave every single person in the room a bug hug. We all did. Big hugs and big smiles.

When you are allowed and encouraged to express yourself in this very personal way as a child, you find that it becomes second nature through out your adult life. You also find that it becomes a necessity. You feel compelled to give out hugs freely and you in turn accept their warmth in embrace openly.

There is no other feeling that I know of that can replace what a hug does for your mental well being. I cannot completely express all of the emotions that are awakened with the act of hugging, for they are so vast and encompassing. But what I can share is that they release a multitude of endorphins into your system bringing you to a happy place (a peaceful resting stop, if you may).

I write about this subject today, dear reader, for the ones who have not had the opportunity to be given the gift of hugging. By this I mean that they were raised devoid of expressing themselves on this level of connection. To the ones that find it hard to let people get close on a physical level. To those who find it most difficult to let go and wrap their arms around another in a long, warm, and sincere embrace. Not being able to connect on this level and therefore not able to experience the pure comfort and acceptance with such closeness.

When you do not know how to allow others to get close to you in a physical way, in many cases, you also may find that your emotional output is also stunted and that you cannot get as close to people as you might like to because you have not be taught (from infancy/childhood) how to do so. The result is a lack of trust and connectedness to rest of the world around you.

While we innately as humans are born with the desire to feel warmth and comfort, the act of hugging is nurtured into each individual. With much repetition, we associate hugging with feelings of expressing love. These hugging connections are made in the brain at the earliest of developmental stages. Continued exposure to this activity strengthens ones' desire to perform this loving action.

My hope is that you all, dear readers, give and receive as many hugs as possible and if you have difficulties with this issue, that you can find some way, deep within yourself to reach out to those around you and give it a try. Once you feel the power of a true hug you will forever be a believer. Hugs heal. Hugs give comfort. Hugs show acceptance. Hugs are love.

We all run in Circles........

One could consider life's journey as a series of circles. In the beginning we all have one main circle of life to complete. While traveling along this circle we will find offshoots of connecting circles that also need to be completed. All of the spheres intertwined with every other individual we come across connecting us all in one way or another. Either traveling along the same circle for a short or long period depending on our spiritual needs.

Some circles are thicker and therefore more complex to navigate along. While others will be small and narrow, shorter and easier, if you will. The common denominating factor of each and every one is that they must all be completed in order to reach a more peaceful and harmonious life. For each circle's completion holds a journey filled with wisdom and enlightenment. If certain circles are not completed you will find yourself continually on a dead-end path that brings only frustration and rejection with a lower sense of one's self.

At times, we may find that a certain circle has become weak or broken or that we ourselves have become weary and tired from traveling so long on it. In these case, we must makes many choices. Do you try and fix it and continue to move along or do you abandon it and consider on an easier more pleasing path. And what would the consequences you will encounter be, if you made a decision one way or another?

The closer the souls are to one another, the greater the chances are of traveling within same circles. With smaller gaps in between, resulting in similar outcomes, which strengthens the bonds between us. For you see,  I believe that we are all connected through these circles and each individuals journey ultimately effects another in either a positive or negative way, and so on, for infinity and throughout eternity.

I know, this sounds a little "way out" and "new age-y", but I thought I should share with you, dear reader, how I view life in a metaphorical way in order to give you a bit of an insight to my mind's eye. You see, this blog, in itself, is a circle of mine in which I encourage you to join me, in order for you to complete your own circles in a more effective and loving manner. We can even hold hands along the way!

Swallowing a Big Pill.........

I found myself having to swallow a big pill today, one better known as pride. This was not an easy task for me. This particular pill has been sitting and staring at me for many years and today was the day that I was going to have open up and swallow. It was all inevitable. I've known for a few days that this was coming up today. I've been contemplating the many ways in which I was going to have to take this pill and in the end just closed my eyes and reluctantly went for it.

I thought this would be a good opportunity to share my thoughts on prideful emotions. I can, at times, be a bit stubborn and headstrong. I also tend to be very protective over my person in the sense that I do not take kindly to what I view as disrespect or being under appreciated. I know this about myself and therefore try to craft my surroundings as to not have to deal with these issues. The problem, for me, arises when I am not able to have control over them.

I share this with you so that if you, like me, have a bit of a stubborn streak, can find some kind of acceptance and peace while dealing with a hurt ego. Now, I would like to share with you what I have done in order to make myself feel better and move forward without resentment.

I first had to honestly evaluate the other individual involved and in doing do, came to the conclusion that I needed to separate their emotional capacity from mine. I cannot expect others to react in certain situations the same way that I would or in the way in which I thought they should or would, and that that's OK. Their responses and solutions sometimes have absolutely nothing to do with you but with their own predicament. I should, therefore, not take some things as an act of disrespect, but as an act of their own self preservation. In this way, I can separate my ego from the equation and be left with a bit of sympathy and understanding.

I can now move forward on this issue. I can now breath a little easier. I can now be a bit more forgiving. For all these things, I am grateful. Walk lighter and happier today with me!

Today's Gift 6/19/11: Papa's Meatballs

My parents are here on their yearly visit. They usually stay with us 3 weeks, give or take. During this particular, visit we've been fortunate enough to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary as well as Father's Day. Every time they come to see us my dad makes his obligatory 200 meatballs. Yes, that's right, it's a tradition.

Coincidentally, today being Father's Day, he is making his meatballs this afternoon aided by my daughter (his assistant). My mom and I will be making sure that all the items needed for this process be laid out and at the ready for him before he makes his way downstairs and begins his labor of love. My son will probably show up (from staying at a friends overnight) just in time to eat them. And the wafting smell will lure my husband up from the basement from whatever secret experiment he is currently conducting down there.

This labor of love is one of the most anticipated and appreciated gifts we receive from my dad, steeped in the Italian tradition of how food equates to love. You see, for us, by cooking for someone you are expressing your love and affection toward them. My dad loves to cook for us and he gets great joy from the looks on our faces as we savor every single bite of whatever creation he has put forth. Today, it is his meatballs!

This is a multi-sensory gift. The process itself of the collecting of ingredients and laying everything out, the conversations during the preparation and cooking, the savory aroma that fills the house for days, the unforgettable taste and texture, and the big smiles all around and the hugs and kisses of appreciation.

When they are all done, we will package the remainder up in plastic freezer bags for use at a later time. Long after our bellies have recovered from overfill. Long after the smell has dissipated. Long after he has gone back home. Each time we open a bag, the memories and the love come right out and sustains us till the next visit. The next meatball bonanza. The next warm hug and kiss. The next time we see dad.

Wishing all a warn and loving Father's Day. We love you Papa!