Lately my motto has been: “Sense and feel every decision you are making and you are sure to advance steadily and easily in the direction of your dreams”

The more we trust our inner voice, the more we attract the things we need to  live our life authentically. I must say that embracing these principals and listening to my intuition is transforming my life and I have never felt so confident and excited about the events and opportunities unfolding in front of me.

But this didn’t  happen overnight and I’d like to tell you how perseverance and belief has brought me here.

The online and social media world was introduced to me as a tool to grow my business in the fall of 2009. I believe that because I was not aligned with my true purpose at that time, my online experience has been like a winding road made of steep hills and plenty of road blocks.

Knowing Your Purpose

Like a lot of people I met online in the past 2 years, it took me a while before establishing my grounds and knowing what I was suppose to accomplish on this journey.

Be You!

For a while, I was trying to be someone else…Somehow my perception of how I would attain success was distorted by listening to too many ideas from different people and things were hard.

Paint Your Dream

It’s one thing to be inspired by people we admire but we must stay true to who we are otherwise we can end up fallowing some else’s dream.

As much as I thought I knew my destination, it’s as if my internal compass was constantly shifting, altering my path and guiding me towards the correct path for ME. The path I am on today.

I’m glad I listened to my inner compass!

There were days when things got really tough and I just wanted to quit, crawl back under my comfort zone blanket and not see or connect with anybody…but I only stayed under my blanket a few seconds. Something in me ordered me to kick back the sheets of self-doubts and led me right back to my quest of self-discovery.

For things to change, you need to change. ~ Jim Rohn

We all resist change at some point in our life… its part of the process. What’s important to remember is that we have choices and we must learn to trust our instincts as much as we possibly can and go confidently in the direction of our dreams.

It’s up to us to search for the perfect flow that will transport us towards our next set of actions and closer to our goals!
The first step is to find awareness and clarity in our lives!

What I wish people to know about me:

I am a passionate painter, an entrepreneur and on a mission to assist & inspire people in expressing their inner- creativity so they unleash their playfulness, vitality and purpose.

My friend Nancy Shields has offered me a beautiful gift in assuming the continuity and progress of Make Girlfriends.com.

The essence of her website mixes so well with the distinctiveness of the group I created 2 years ago called The Women of Facebook. The two of them fit perfectly together and will allow for the Make Girlfriends platform to serve as groundwork and  create a bridge for women to continue the conversation in an inviting and cozy environment.

I am honored to take on this fun project and infuse my personality as I invite women from all around the world to become balcony friends and continue what Nancy has already so wonderfully rendered…A PLATFORM FOR FRIENDSHIP.

Mission: To create a bridge between women around the world so that they make new girlfriends, voice their opinions and ideas, and share their knowledge to receive exposure and reach an attentive audience.

“Come by our online café!  Join us for coffee, or tea, or a stiff margharita if you need it!…and make girlfriends for life!”

“I would like to express a special thank you to the founding members of The Women of Facebook as they have ignited my desire to surround myself daily with the women spirit. You kept on my path and helped me discover my purpose and mission.”

~ Nathalie Villeneuve

Change, new beginnings makegirlfriends, new beginnings, online cafe

Photography by David Lawn

The Parable of the Raft is probably one of the most famous parables taught by the Buddha. He compared his own teachings to a raft that could be used to cross the river, but should be discarded when one made it safely to the other shore. 

A man is trapped on one side of a fast-flowing river. Where he stands, there is great danger and uncertainty – but on the far side of the river, there is safety. But there is no bridge or ferry for crossing. So the man gathers logs, leaves, twigs, and vines and is able to fashion a raft, sturdy enough to carry him to the other shore. By lying on the raft and using his arms to paddle, he crosses the river to safety. 

The Buddha then asks the listeners a question: “What would you think if the man, having crossed over the river, then said to himself, ‘Oh, this raft has served me so well, I should strap it on to my back and carry it over land now?’” The Monk replied that it would not be very sensible to cling to the raft in such a way. 

The Buddha continues: “What if he lay the raft down gratefully, thinking that this raft has served him well, but is no longer of use and can thus be laid down upon the shore?”

The monks replied that this would be the proper attitude.

The Buddha concluded by saying, “So it is with my teachings, which are like a raft, and are for crossing over with — not for seizing hold of.”  

So at that I crossover to another part of my life – no need to cling to the things you love but to let them free in order for them to take on a new life for themselves.  

I have followed different personal development blogs over the years and have grown and learned from so many of them. It’s all been said, in one blog or another. The advice offered is splendid but how many of us truly want to create change? How many truly want to get out of their comfort zones? Each one offers different perspectives, different solutions to issues, different ways on how to “get happy.”

So now I will include my list of perspectives on life and what I’ve learned through my amazing journey with MakeGirlfriends.

My list of transformation and growth

1. Live Simply – if that means put everything in storage and move every 4-6 months – go for it – it’s not all about the destination but the journey that makes us who we are. Ghandi stated, “Live simply so others can simply live.”

2. Live in the Present Moment - for this is truly what we have is the “moment”. We may have illusions of time but it’s all about the moment, I have a very good friend that would remind me, where are your shoes right now – I would say right here – that is where the moment lies.

3. No Judgment – stop judging others and it will be easier to stop judging yourself.

4. Forgive and Let Go - forgiveness is an act of self love and to truly forgive allows us to let go.

5. No Obligations – meaning do things out of LOVE and not GUILT.

6. LOVE – really and truly LOVE – for LOVE is the basis of everything beautiful and we are LOVE at our core! See through a child’s eyes. Be thrilled and excited about life. Find miracles everywhere. We are all capable of grand LOVE. Open your heart to LOVE!

7. NO FEAR – There are 2 human emotions FEAR or LOVE – you choose! When you operate from fear there is no love and when you operate from love there is no fear.

8. You are the Author of your life – Live out your life as if you are writing your life story.

9. Too much FUN is never enough! – no need to explain this one so give yourself permission to have FUN.

10. Stop and smell the flowers always – not when there is time but always; make yourself STOP!

11. Be TRUE to yourself – live in that authentic truth to yourself and you will never have to remember the lies to keep a story straight.

12. Live by the Four Agreements – 1) Impeccable Word, 2) Don’t take anything personally, 3) Never make assumptions, 4) Always do your best.

13. Live, Laugh and Dance as if today was your last day on earth.

14. Buy the SHOES!

15. Courage – never be afraid to tell the truth for it takes courage to speak in the truth and can change a life.

Brené Brown, Ph.D. writes, “Courage originally meant ‘To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.’ Over time, this definition has changed, and today, courage is more synonymous with being heroic. Heroics is important and we certainly need heroes, but I think we’ve lost touch with the idea that speaking honestly and openly about who we are, about what we’re feeling, and about our experiences (good and bad) is the definition of courage.”

16. Take care of your body – You only have one body and it’s your temple; look good and feel good for yourself first. Exercise and eating healthy is key.

17. I AM Statements – the power of the word from the beginning of time. I AM THAT I AM!

18. Gratitude – live in an attitude of gratitude – the more we are grateful for the more will come into our lives that we can be grateful of. Know that I am grateful for all of you that have followed me and have taken the time to comment on my blog posts.

19. Being Happy is a CHOICE – you choose!

20. Peace, Harmony, Happiness and LOVE to each one of you – living in love and light.

In case anyone is asking why are you letting MakeGirlfriends.com go? I have been thinking of letting go for a many months now and here are some of the reasons:

1. When I realized that habit was taking over my passion for writing posts that’s a true sign to observe and do something different. Habit makes you continue to do things over and over and expecting different results – wait, isn’t that the definition of Insanity?

2. I spent so much time, energy and money on this website and I started to cling to that fact instead and I continued to post blogs due to that fact.

3. Letting Go = Failure (EGO talking) – In reality – LETTING GO = FREEDOM

4. Trusting that when you say “no” to what doesn’t serve you, life says “yes” to your greatness.

I read recently a quote from Abraham: There are no choices that are really a detour that will take you far from where you’re wanting to be because your Inner Being is always guiding you to the next, and the next, and the next. So don’t be concerned that you may make a fatal choice because there aren’t any of those. You are always finding your balance. It’s a never ending process.

I have made incredible relationships through the blogging community, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Corinne Edwards, Kelly Rudolph, Maureen Simon and Nicole Rushin. I have not met Galen Pearl, Alex Blackwell, David Stephens, Martin and Pam Clooney, Irving from Hans of Harmony and Debbie Bills. All of these people work very hard on their blogs and I celebrate their work.

So now I take all the time I’ve spent on blogging and writing for my blog and will dedicate that time to writing my book that has been in progress for about 2 years now. I am in the creative collaboration stage so I am a little reluctant to give you the title. I ask that you stay in touch for I would love to hear about your lives. I will continue to follow your blog posts but won’t feel the pressure of having to respond, picking and choosing what I would like to read. Living in line with my truth. I will now have more time with face to face and eye to eye interaction with people I meet.

So now I introduce you to the first person that came to my “heart” Nathalie Villeneuve. She started the group on facebook named “The Women of Facebook” and she will continue this beautiful space of love and passion with MakeGirlfriends.com. Nathalie will not be changing the name of the site.

I will have the pleasure of introducing Nathalie next week to you all. My final day will be August 1, 2012.

I introduce you to Nathalie Villeneuve

Peace, Harmony, Happiness, Love to all of you and……as always, I sign off by saying:

Accountability, Appreciation, Celebration, Change, Closure, Comfort Zone, encouragement, Friends, gratitude, Happiness, inspiration, JOY, Living in the moment, love, motivation, new beginnings, passion, Power of words, Spirit of a woman, The Five Agreements, Think Big, Truth acceptance, appreciation, awakening, change, encouargement, friendships, Girlfriends, gratitude, Happiness, illumination, impeccable word, insight, inspiration, joy, love, motivation, positive thinking, revelation, Self love, Truth

How many of us cling to things?

STUFF?   IDEAS?   MEMORIES?

This post is in conclusion to reading Gretchen Rubin’s book entitled, The Happiness Project, where she states, “as part of my happiness project I wanted to stop hoarding, to trust in abundance, so that I could use things up, give things away, throw things out.”

This chapter touched me because it was talking about what I was in my past.  I use to be a pack rat – keeping, hoarding, collecting.  A wonderful thing that came out of my divorce is that I let things go, when I buy something now it’s because I need it.  I remember I was living in California after I decided to remove myself from the situation that was happening in my marriage and my husband at the time had called me, I had lost 23 pounds during the ordeal (part of my letting go) and I remember telling him to get rid of everything in my closet.  That was the most liberating thing I did for myself besides getting the divorce.  It’s easier to have someone else there to get rid of things for you or have a friend help you out in your getting rid process.

Gretchen wrote in her book the time she took a bottle of ”My Sin” perfume from her grandmother’s bureau.  She remembers it sitting on her bureau forever in its original box.  When she opened it the bottle was full to the top.  She wondered, “what was she saving it for?”  She now keeps this bottle in her office to remind her to not keep but use.

For myself, I now use everything I own, the pretty stationery that was given to me and was too pretty to use.  I wear the clothes I buy.  How many of us have fine china? Do you use it?  What I did was start using my fine china years ago.  Why not make one meal a week a “fine china” meal.  Serve hot dogs on your fine china – why not?  This reminds me of the movie “Sideways” when at the end of the movie Paul Giamatti had saved his finest bottle of wine and the movie ends with him drinking his expensive bottle of wine that he had been keeping for so long with a McDonalds meal at a McDonalds.  How appropriate…… 

Everything I own has been in storage for over 2 years and I don’t miss anything – not a day has gone by that I say,  I miss…. These things did not create or make me happy.  I travel with the clothes that I own, my office, and a few kitchen gadgets.  I rent places that are fully furnished and my life has been simple and an adventure thus far.   I’m not saying sell everything you own but I do want you to think about the things you cling to?

We cling to things, we cling to people, we cling to ideas, we cling to memories.

The word is cling and it’s definition signifies; to hold onto – to hoard.

Does clinging give us a false sense of security?

At times we cling so tightly that we tend to control with our clinging.  We hang onto something because you never know, someday you may need it.  You haven’t used it this far so what gives you the impression that you may eventually use it?  Go inside your closet, I remember holding onto things that were 2  sizes smaller then what I was because you never know.  I may get my weight down someday.  Aren’t we so funny?! 

In my humble opinion I believe it’s the fear of letting go. 

Wouldn’t your life be freer with fewer things that clutter?

Why not use the things we have – even the things we consider “nice” things on a daily basis?  What are you holding on for?

Just like LOVE maybe the best policy is to HOLD things loosely!

“Relationships of all kinds-are like sand held in your hand. Held loosely, with an open hand, the sand remains where it is. The minute you close your hand and squeeze tightly to hold on, the sand trickles through your fingers. You may hold onto some of it, but most will be spilled. A relationship is like that. Held loosely, with respect and freedom for the other person, it is likely to remain intact. But hold too tightly, too possessively, and the relationship slips away and is lost.”

Remember, may the possibilities of today excite you!

encouragement, inspiration, motivation, new beginnings awakening, change, encouargement, insight, inspiration, motivation, positive thinking

True to Myself by Ziggy Marley

Hello Girlfriends – “Disenchantment, whether it is a minor disappointment or a major shock, is the signal that things are moving into transition in our lives.”  William Throshy Bridges

There’s such a fine line between pain and pleasure and yes call it all transition.  I am writing today about pain and pleasure in context to relationships.  As I embrace this life, I find more and more that women settle in relationships.  They’re afraid of being alone, so they endure these relationships that bring more pain than pleasure.  I recently told my “man friend” this statement.  “I’ll know when to call it quits – when I start feeling more pain than pleasure.”

So many of us are so afraid to end a relationship when we know deep inside that ending this relationship may be the exact thing that we need to do to move to a better place in our life – a place of pleasure.  We’re so afraid to be alone, to not have a companion, to only have ourselves on a Friday or Saturday night and what FUN can that actually be?  You would be surprised at the world of possibilities if we could ALLOW time alone and experience that time by ourselves. 

I often state, “I rather be alone and happy than with someone and lonely or miserable.”  When pain supersedes pleasure, this is the time to ask yourself – why would you stay in a relationship that isn’t working?  Have you ever been in the presence of another and yet you feel so alone? 

How many of us have experienced this feeling?

At times we fall in love with the memories of what it was when in actuality it isn’t that way right now or hasn’t been for quite some time.  So we stay because of a memory and you live in pain because in reality you know in your gut that you shouldn’t be in this relationship, thus FEAR shows up in different forms.  At that time we begin to feel oppressed, sad and you’re not your HAPPY self. 

This is a RED FLAG!

Time for change!

The pleasure lies after the pain; after letting go and releasing the negative energy by wishing the other love, light and truly freeing yourself from your own bondage.  No hard feelings because in every relationship that ends there is a lesson to be learned.   A new way of thinking has occurred and NEW BEGINNINGS are about to unfold. 

Get ready for the ride of adventure ahead of you!

Like the song states, “I can’t make you happy unless I AM.”  I invite you to listen to the words spoken in the song by Ziggy Marley at the top of this post. 

Remember, may the possibilities of today excite us all!

encouragement, inspiration, new beginnings, Pleasure awakening, change, encouargement, inspiration, motivation, new beginnings, pain, Pleasure

Hello Girlfriends – “What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly.” ~Lao Tzu~

I presented the question in the title, “Can every day be a new beginning?”  I would imagine the way this question is answered depends on many factors.

I personally choose to find new beginnings in every day.  As the sun rises each day so do we rise each day.  Have you ever watched a sunrise or a sunset for a few days in a row?  You notice its bright colors; you notice the hues of reds, purples, coral; the lines, the majestic awakening of the senses; the awe that is before you.

Take that same sunrise or sunset and let’s create that space of new beginnings.  Our universe gives us new beginnings with the dawn of each new day.  Why can’t we give ourselves new beginnings with the dawn of each new day?

Why do we at times hold on to the memories of the past and make them our new beginnings and then we feel stuck?

I know for myself, I have been in several relationships where it was difficult to let go because of the amazing memories.  I credit the help of my 29 year old daughter that helped me realize I held on to these dead end relationships because I was in love with the memory of what we had together.  Instead of observing this non functioning relationship and seeing it for what it truly is at the time, I instead was “in love” with the memory of “what could have been.”  RED FLAG!

A new beginning then creates a space of love, kindness, compassion for us.  WE let go of what does not serve us anymore and prepares a way for possibilities yet to come.  The key is letting go so we can be in a place to have the “NEW” enter our lives.  This goes for relationships, jobs, anger, resentment, selfishness and the past.  There are many exercises and meditations in letting go.  However you choose to get there is up to you, but letting go is a MUST in order for us to move on to the possibilities that our universe has to offer.

Be good to yourself my friends…..

Remember, may the possibilities of today lead us to new beginnings…..

encouragement, inspiration, love, new beginnings encouragement, friendships, inspiration, love, motivation, new beginnings