Old Irish Proverb

Life is funny...every day I am surprised by the contents presented to me. I was reflecting on this Old Irish proverb:

Work like you don't need the money,
dance like no one is watching,
sing like no one is listening,
love like you've never been hurt,
and live life every day as if it were your last.
It sounds like such a nice sentiment, but it had me wondering if you could really live life like this.




Work like you don't need the money...
If only...

If I could 'work' like I didn't need the money I would make MAJOR changes in my career path. This desk is killing me slowly and my spirit is begging me for something new. I am working on it. Sometimes the best thing you can do is be still and wait on God. Would it be terrible to ask Him to hurry up already...LOL!




dance like no one is watching...
I think I have this one covered and mastered it within the past six months. I took a few weeks off (besides Salsa class) and realized I was a bit rusty when I returned to the hardwoods a few weeks ago. My partners and I laughed it off and keep dancing. I realized I truly dance like no one is watching when this photo was posted a few days later:



I cracked up and thought the photographer was wrong for posting that one! Yes, KayC was checking him out while we danced. He moved wonderfully and trust me....it looks much better in person :) Ha!




sing like no one is listening...
My cousin is the 'singer' of the family. I can carry a tune and sound pretty good if the song is in my key. Usually younger people are the recipient of my songs (mostly younger cousins and my niece, mainly Disney songs) or the person I am dating may get privately seranaded. No complaints yet. Still working on it...




love like you've never been hurt...
I'm still a hopeless romantic, but....moving right along.





and live life every day as if it were your last...
This is a big one. I ask myself all the time 'would you be worrying about this if you only had a few days left to walk this earth?' Most of the time my answer is a resounding NO!

I try to be myself, to conduct myself in a way that is reflective of who I am regardless of the people around me. Most of the time it works out well but there are times when my feelings get hurt. Many nights I nurse wounds because I did 'the right thing' only to receive negative reactions and repercussions. Looking back, would I change any of it? Only a few things...but what is life without a few regrets?


I pose the question to you blog family. Do you live your life by the Old Irish Proverb?


Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Gotta Give It Up

I never debate religion or politics in public and it is an extremely rare instance if I comment on a conversation that is veering in that direction. With the use of technology comes the destruction of human interaction, the simple art of conversation is lost on most people and they have difficulty expressing themselves. Add high emotion topics like religion or politics and you have a recipe for disaster or at least a high volume shouting match. Neither of which holds my interest.

In an extreme effort of breaking my silence on religion, I am admitting to the blog world that I participate in Lent to some degree. Every year I ponder what I will give up for 40 days and 40 nights hoping to give it up for good. In previous years it was junk food, alcohol, cursing and meat.

Last year I went deeper and gave up doubt. I did pretty good until after Easter and it came back with a vengeance. Feeling that I failed in that area I am once again giving up doubt coupled with feelings of low self-worth. I have no doubt that this year when I give it up it will stay gone :-) It will no longer dwell in my psyche like a weed that continues to grow after it is pulled.

My decisions are a direct reflection of my life right now. I was doubting myself, doubting my worth, doubting my decisions. I am giving it all away. Giving it to God and letting Him take me where I need to be. There are a few difficult decisions that I need to make and only He can help me make them.

The learning continues. I gotta give it up.


Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Been There, Done That

"There’s something lovely about knowing
that when it’s right you really know it’s right,
because you’ve already been through all the wrong.”
- Helen Folasade Adu

Been there and done that. My spirit is speaking to me again. The voice that whispers from deep down in your soul and tells you exactly what you need, although it may not be exactly what you want.

This year started off rocky. My mother had two priority/emergency surgeries, the heater in my house was/is on the verge of collapsing and I had to call an electrician when one wall in the house decided to go dead. (yeah, the credit card is smoking) Add to that nursing hurt feelings, furloughs on the job and the death of a pet and you have an extremely trying January!

My heart was hurting, my spirit was bending and my soul was bruised. Even on the dance floor hardwoods my joy would not show. I had settled into this 'mediocrity' of life. The everyday mundane living I loathe was taking its toll.

The pendulum was swinging into a different direction and I was weary. I am not sure of my exact epiphany moment. I prefer not to reveal the moment I realized my spirit was speaking to me again or maybe it was that I surrendered to listen?

Either way...I can proudly say that now I have been there and done that. Rest assured I have no desire to ever go back to that dark place again.


Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Clarity and Colorgenics (Cont'd)

Clarity is defined as clearness of thought or style; lucidity. I have spent many recent days and nights seeking clarity. Searching for the ability to come through difficulty with open eyes. To see the consequences of my choices and actions before acting upon my impulses. Make decisions that have the least amount of negative impact on me and the people around me.

Sometimes it is a difficult struggle. I want to throw my hands up and yell "to hell with all of it. I'm just going to do what makes me feel good, right here and right now. Screw you and what you think of me!"

But alas, that type of thinking always comes back to haunt you. Always bites you in the butt when you least expect it. Besides, my Grandmother raised me to treat people the way I want to be treated. I swear I can still hear that old grey-haired lady whisper it in my ear at the most inopportune moments. Making me feel like my soon-to-be 2-year-old niece when she screams "But I WANT it!"

This post may seem scattered and vague to you. Bottom line...I WANT it! I want something so much that I can taste it, dream about it, daydream about it when I am awake. Why is that wrong? Because it may not be good for me. It may not be FOR me. I talk to God all the time about my path. Where I should be and the road I should take to get there. I keep reassuring myself that God makes no mistakes. Everything is for a reason.

I need to be still, keep quiet, listen to my spirit, stay open to all the possiblities and understand what I need. I need to understand/accept the things I can/can not live without.

I need...clarity.


Here is my latest Colorgenics reading. I am fascinated with how they do this with simple color choices:

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Name: KayC, The Quiet Storm
Date: 2/5/2010
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You are tending to pursue your objectives with concentrated intensity and it would seem that whatever obstacles may come into your path, you will stick to your guns and will not allow yourself to be deflected from your purpose. You are striving to achieve recognition and what is more - you deserve it.

You are looking for something different. Your imagination has been working overtime and you are seeking adventure - and you'd like to share that adventure, the new experience, with someone like yourself: Imaginative, Enthusiastic and Sensitive.

It's the time of year that you are apt to become extremely restless and emotionally withdrawn. This is preventing you from becoming deeply involved with a person or persons within your sphere of influence. If you are willing to 'let go' and release your inhibitions you will find that a great deal of physical satisfaction will result, far more than perhaps you even believed you were capable of.

It is said that we are all influenced by our environment and indeed you are no exception. It would seem at this time that even though you may be surrounded by people, you are experiencing an inner loneliness. Fortunately you are sufficiently strong minded to realise that life has a great deal to offer you and that you may miss your share of experiences if you fail to make the best use of every opportunity. You therefore pursue your objectives with a fierce intensity and are prepared to commit yourself deeply and readily. You believe that whatever you would like to do or think 'you can do' - you do! It is because of this attitude that you may be considered by others as arrogant and even conceited, but its fair to say that whatever it is that you really want out of life you will put your heart and soul into it and will not take 'NO' for an answer.

The fear that you may not be able to fulfil or realise all of your ambitions makes you work and play hard. The thought of being prevented from achieving the things you want leads you to play your part with frantic fervour.



Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Celebrating Marley's Birthday

I usually do not post on the weekend but today is the birthday of a man who is referred to as the King of Reggae and I must agree. Even if you do not like reggae or anything remotely related to reggae you know the name Bob Marley.

I do not remember my introduction to Marley, I have listened to him for as long as I can remember. Before I knew his name I remember the t-shirts everyone wore of the man with the free flowing locks.

No better way to celebrate an artist than to appreciate their work. I present to you some of my favorite Marley songs. Feel free to bounce along as appropriate :-)


My favorite Marley song:

Everything Is Gonna Be Alright


My next favorite Marley song:
No Woman, No Cry (live)


Jammin


Redemption Song


Is This Love


Buffalo Soldier

I could go and on with the Marley songs that I love that are in my reggae rotation. Hope you enjoyed the trip down 'Marley Lane'...



Until Next Time,
Peace & Blessings...

Storm Breaker...A Healthy Level of Insanity

A little more from the professional learning seminar - this was included in the handouts. I first read it years ago. It made me LOL then and it still makes me LOL now. A sign that something is truly funny. Hope it makes you LOL as well!

*Sidenote - KayC does not recommend doing any of these if you like your job and want to keep it! LOL*


How to Maintain a Healthy Level of Insanity

1. At lunch, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.

2. Page yourself over the intercom, don’t disguise your voice.

3. Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.

4. Put your garbage can on your desk and label it “in.”

5. Put decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addiction, switch to espresso.

6. In the memo field of your checks, write “For Smuggling Diamonds.”

7. Finish all your sentences with “In accordance with the prophecy.”

8. Dont use any punctuation

9. As often as possible, skip rather than walk.

10. Order a diet water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

11. Specify that your drive-thru order is “to go.”

12. Sing along at the opera.

13. Go to a poetry recital and ask why the poems don’t rhyme.

14. Put mosquito netting around your work area and play tropical sounds all day. (KayC’s personal favorite)

15. Five days in advance, tell your friends you can’t attend their party because you’re not in the mood.

16. Have your co-workers address you by your wrestling name, Rock Bottom. (KayC’s next personal favorite. Just imagining the Superintendent saying this is grab-your-side funny)

17. When the money comes out the ATM, scream “I Won, I Won. That’s the third time this week!”

18. When leaving the zoo, start running towards the parking lot yelling “Run for your lives, they’re loose!”

19. Tell your children over dinner “Due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go.”

20. And the final way to keep a healthy level of insanity….forward this to someone and make them smile!


Once again KayC does NOT condone any of the above mentioned activities but they sure are funny!


Peace & Blessings...

Learning The Lesson...Tackling Trees

I attended a great customer service seminar which my job calls "Professional Learning" and this could not have come at better time. Throughout my career I have attended quite a few of these and hardly any of them have been worth my 4+ hours of time. This one was pleasantly different, especially because the presenter had a great mix of music on his playlist during the breaks :-)

There was just the right amount of entertainment, laughter and education to keep the entire group interested, engaged and learning. It also helped that the presenter was easy on the eyes (Hey, I'm a single woman, give me a break. Even the married women noticed). Now if they retain any of the information is another story.

Part of his presentation that really stuck out to me was about dealing with trees. He started off with this quote:

Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up.
It knows it must move faster than the lion or it will not survive.
Every morning a lion wakes up
and it knows it must move faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve.
It doesn't matter if you are the lion or the gazelle,
when the sun comes up, you better be moving. - Maurice Greene

He then showed us this video clip and asked how many of us feel like this every day. I immediately raised my hand and everyone at my table agreed and laughed.




Moral of the story - you never know what 'trees' the other person is dealing with. Always try to remember the other person is dealing with their own trees when you have your daily interactions.



Peace & Blessings...