Pearl of Wisdom No. 85 - make morning routine.

Make. Morning. Routine.

Sounds so boring doesn't it?!

If you ask my husband about me and routine when we first met he would tell you that I would balk at the idea and do what ever I could to sabotage his attempts at getting me in to one, especially in the mornings. He however has been the master of them since the dawn of time (slight exaggeration but this man thrives on routine!) and you could set your watch by what he did and when he did it.

Pearl of Wisdom No.83 - Making resolutions

Is January meant to be a fresh start for you or do you believe that new year, new you is a load of rubbish? Where do you stand on resolutions?

Did you know that only 8% of people who make New Years resolutions actually achieve them? However statistics also show that people who specifically make resolutions are 10 times more likely to be success at achieving their goals and plans! 

Now we're half way through this month already, it feels like January is just slipping away and February is just around the corner! For me that may be because I have a jam packed month ahead which I don't feel anywhere near prepared for, maybe for you it's because you still haven't quite settled on what you want from the year ahead. Maybe you wanted to set some intentions, focus on finding your passion or commit to something that will bring you one step closer to your goals and dreams, or maybe you don't know what you want from life this year so you wanted to spend some time mulling it all over and feeling a bit stuck - if this sounds like you then stick with me my friend!

Hate Change? How to make it work for you

The secret of Change is to focus all of you not fighting the old but accepting the new - Socrates

Change is inevitable, and it can be healthy and positive depending on your view or reaction of it, but if change normally feels like your enemy rather than your best friend then maybe it's time you took a different view on your relationship with it? 

It's time to learn how to let changes in life, no matter how big or small, become something you don't mind hanging out with! Read on to discover why change can be good for you and some easy, feel good ways to let it in...

A Wednesday Pearl of Wisdom - Pearl Number 74

I know, it's a Wednesday but this post was too good to save until next week and I'm aware of the lack of Pearls on the blog lately so decided to share this with you today...

I was totally spoilt for choice when looking for a quote to match up with today's theme but decided this one from John Holmes was my favourite to use here, simple but powerful.

So I'm going to tell you a little story, a lovely lady who is in my blogging circle of friends had her second baby last year and has spent the following 12 months enjoying every single moment spent at home with her two little ones, her youngest has just turned one years old and the time to return to work has come round quicker than she expected.

We had spoken a few times leading up to this about how she was feeling as her return to the working world was parallel to my exit as my maternity leave started. Becca has been dreading this moment for a while and mentioned how she wished she could remain at home with the kids and have her blog as her main source of work (BTW check her out at Keeping Up with the Joneses this is the cutest lifestyle blog full of family, fashion and beauty!). I always love reading Becca's posts and often ask her advice on beauty products, and have always encouraged her to go for her dreams too as I know it would mean so much to her to spend her days investing in two of the things she is most passionate about, her babies and her blog.

So the dreaded day came for her on Monday and as I checked my Instagram feed that morning I came across a gorgeous picture of her baby boy with a caption about how much she would miss him and how sad she was feeling, I know this feeling well as I have already done it once when I had Miss LC and I sent her a simple message just to cheer her up and hoped it might help her a little.

Photo from Becca Galanopoulos

Later in the evening I returned back to Instagram and found another picture from Becca with the loveliest message for me underneath, Becca had written down my words and taken them with her, she told me it had really helped her to keep things in perspective and reminded her what she was trying to achieve, it had helped her get through that first awful day!

I was really blown away by this, never did I expect that what I had written would make such a big impact and I was thrilled to know that I had made her day a bit easier and lighter, such a simple message but what an amazing difference it went on to have...

I have been reading a lot lately about a certain line of thought and it goes like this, to serve others is the greatest gift you can give to the world and will make the biggest difference to those around you, I believe in this so much and love seeing it in action, knowing that my words had made her day lighter and more bearable was magic!

Now maybe it's just coincidence but I had my own Instagram magic moment this morning where someone has reached out to me and offered their own kindness because of a picture posted there, this only goes to reinforce to me that the vibes you put out there and the energy you want to feel will always come back to you if you support others in the same way.

So this week, how could you make a difference to someone else in need with a simple word or thought? Could you reach out to another to help them over come a hurdle, not for your gain but to simple make their day better? Maybe you have a story you could share here? I would love to read them!

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 73

 “The ability to stay calm and focused in the midst of change is what distinguishes great leaders from those just collecting a paycheck.” - Todd Stocker

The biggest thing consuming our lives right now is not the growing, wriggling, kicking baby girl in my tummy but the prospect of moving two hours up country in to our new home, in the middle of August, 4 weeks before said baby girl is due! You can imagine the lack of calm and focus going on in our lives right now!

For me, posting this quote today is a simple reminder to use all my strength and resolve to remain calm  and keep focusing on the end goal, the bigger picture. Sometimes it seems that we loose sight of the fact that a new person is coming in to our world soon (and I am the one pushing her out!) and also that we still need to live our life today, if we spend the next few months obsessing and planing and stressing over this move we will forget to enjoy our last few moments in this house as a family.

Staying calm, remaining focus, centred and at ease is a fabulous lesson to teach LC, she gets quite shaken amongst change anyway and I think it would be great for her to learn this life lesson so being a good role model to her and others around me will pay off in the long run. I know I need to keep up with eating clean, sleeping well and using meditation and mindfulness to help me with this, and a little support from those around us, should see us get through this time of massive change and transition!

I'm not sure how things will look around here either, maternity leave starts in a few weeks - yay! My intention is to plan, write, pack and write some more, all ready for the big move and then of course welcoming our new little girl. I'm hoping to get the blog into some kind of order and recruit some guest posters again, this time to write Pearls of Wisdom for the month of September (if you'd like to be one please do get in touch via email or twitter, you can find those on my about me page). So, hopefully the blog will keep ticking along nicely but please do bare with me if it seems a bit quiet some weeks over the next few months as I embark on two of the most stressful journeys of my life - hey we should of waited till now to get married too right?! 

So, how do you react to change? 

Bury your head in the sand, panic?

Or do you stay cool as cucumber?

I love hearing more about your ideas and experiences so don't forget to share in the comments below! 

Mondays Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 70

With the recent passing of my Granny I have been thinking so much about life, and what it stands for.

What does my life stand for? What does your life stand for?
When we die what will they say it stood for?

I'm sounding morbid I know and for most people death and the life we have lead leading up to it is not something that's though about on a daily basis but for me this has been on my mind a lot...

When I reflect back over the years I have have such a mixture of emotions, joy, regret, proud and disappointed, and a bit of frustration thrown in for good measure. The last 5 years have truly been some of the best so far and a time in my life where I have discovered who I really am and what I stand for, I'm finally becoming someone I feel proud of, who I feel is a great role model for my children and someone who's skin I'm getting really comfy in, this is a good start to the rest of my life.

The big question for me though is what do I want to be remembered for, what will be my legacy and with hand on my heart I can tell you I'm really not sure yet however this only serves to make me feel excited and eager to keep moving forward and create something that fills my soul with passion and lifts others along the way. Once upon a time I may have felt lost, isolated or even anxious at this thought but now?
Well, now it seems like a big adventure that I'm just starting, somewhere I can finally see the way forward to, a path in my future.

Getting to grips with what your legacy may be sounds challenging and daunting doesn't it?
Are you really doing something thing or living a life that is true to you?
Today I'm challenging you to have a think about it, what do you want others to remember you for? How do you want to be know for living your life? What lasting memory would you want to leave for your family and friends? Because actually the answers to those questions are not about the future or what someone will stand up and say when you are laid to rest, there actually about how you start living your life, today...

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this today so do leave a comment bellow, thanks!

Mondays Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 64

Isn't that a great quote? This has been bouncing around in my head all weekend! 

I'm still trying very carefully to listen to my inner voice, she's actually screaming right now but that's another story for a later date and time, faith and patience will settle her down, oh and lots of meditation, I'm really getting in to being mindful right now, it's helping me manage a bit of anxiety that has surface recently and I have to say it's the best medicine ever!

Anyway back to today's Pearl of Wisdom, knowing who we are now but not who we'll be...

I find the possibility of this quite exciting, I'm not entirely sure who I am right now, but I'm the surest I've ever been, I'm getting to know myself very well and am finding a lot of peace with who I'm evolving into, it's taken some time and patience and a whole lots of soul searching, getting to this point now can only mean, I hope, that things will get better in the future...

Do you ever take a moment to imagine how life will be in 1, 5 or even 20 years time?

What does that look like for you?

Does it scare or thrill you?

I believe we all have the power to determin our destiny and so not knowing who I may become really excites me because I know it's in my hands to shape this, what do you think?

Do you believe that you can change the course of your future, who you will become?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, do leave a comment bellow!

Mondays Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 61

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” 

- Marcel Proust

Have you ever thought if I could change my job, my looks, my weight, this or that then I'd feel happier, more content or even everything would then be alright, sound familiar?

One thing I've learnt this year is not that "other things" need to change for me to find a sense of fulfilment but actually I need to change, my thoughts, beliefs and perspectives. Not that what I have or had before was wrong but it just didn't seem to fit for who I wanted to be or the life I wanted to lead.

So slowly and gently I have been challenging my view of life, looking at situations differently and I have stopped telling myself

"Everything will be ok if..." 

Or "I'll be happy when..." 

And even "Only When this happens I'll feel..".

I've gone through a bit journey lately, infact I've only really just started and what I've learnt has been life changing, sounds very dramatic doesn't it?! It's actually quite simple though, I've learnt to feel more relaxed about life, I've learnt to forgive people and situations that upset me or bring about a feeling of negativity, I've decided to view problems with a fresh outlook and hand back a little to see how things pan out and I've been able to stop putting certain things in my life on pedestals. 

Taking a new view on life and how I see myself has been interesting, I didn't know that there was so much good stuff there already and I've realised that if you take a step back and obversed more you can start seeing great things you did't quite catch a glimpse of before it's definitely had a calming effect on me and how I'm living right now.

So this week when things are going pear shaped or your getting frustrated or anxious about something in your life or maybe you come across a problem that needs solving I challenge you to have a look at this through fresh eyes, it may be scary but once you've done it you could find a new way to start doing things or thinking or feeling, now wouldn't that be exciting?

Come and share how it works out for you below....

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 53

I know that I have found fulfilment. I have an object in life, a task ... a passion. - George Sand

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the future and not in a pregnancy/baby kind of way. In fact I have been focusing on me more and what I'm all about, my passions, my ideas, my goals, I have always felt like I had a story to tell or a message to bring to the world but I could never quite figure how, or what and even when...

Over the last week I've had a few light bulb moments, it's been phenomenal really because all of a sudden I can see my life, my world so much more clearly. This isn't me saying I have all the answers now, oh no, it's more like a vision of how things should be or rather what it is I can do to feel fulfilled and contented with my life.

Somethings are big, too big to talk about right now as lots of details need to be looked at and plans put in place. Others are medium sized like surrounding myself more with people who only ever lift me, I have met quite a few of them lately who get me, who understand me, who are living similar lives and inspire me to be my best. And simple things like using my diary to really organise my week and get the best out of my time, I started putting some things in to place last week and already I feel like I'm being more productive for myself but for family life too.

It's not been easy to get to this point though, we have had a summer full of decisions and tough choices to make, I have been working on my emotional intelligence and mental resilience through my fertility treatment which has had me looking at my diet too and I discovered that it really has a massive effect on my mood and skin, more than anything else. I've also been reading a lot about how others have been figuring out their best lives for themselves which has provided no end of inspiration. All this has meant though that I've also had to face up to some constructive criticism, some home truths and a few uncomfortable realities but it's these that have actually been the things that have helped it all come together. So it's not as if it all just fell in my lap one morning, I had to work hard to figure a lot of it out, it also meant me communicating and being honest with the people I love.

So here I am now, feeling like I'm at the start of a great journey knowing a lot more about what my own personal objective is, where my passion lies and what I need to be doing to get me there, not everything is obvious right now, especially the details but for first time in a long time I can really see what my purpose is not necessarily as a mother, wife or friend but as Karen and what I should be doing in this world to feel like I'm actually making a difference!

Do you know what your purpose is? How did you figure out where your passion lies? Maybe you haven't figured out all your life objectives yet? Do let me know in the comments bellow...

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Mid yearly reflection at January's Pearl Number 30

7.

Happy Canada Day!

It's July 1st, Canada Day, the day Canadians celebrate their country uniting as one under the British Empire, did you know that Canada was still part of the British Commonwealth? Well anyway, most people who know us well know that Canada holds a special place in our hearts, and that hopefully we may be celebrating this day in Canada itself next year if plans go our way...

The beginning of this month is also a good day for reflection, it marks a half way point through the year and an opportunity to look back at resolutions made at New Year, so here goes!

"Tell everyone what you want to do and someone will want to help you do it"

 - W. Clement Stone

1. Add more fruit to my diet and reduce sugar intake.
Well I'm actually doing a good job here, I'm eating more fruit in the day and have cut down on sugary snacks a lot, I have the odd blip but am mostly maintaining - yay!

2. Visit the park more with LC so we can both run around and get some exercise.
I am ashamed to say that this has not really taken off, BUT we have discovered a new park this year that we love in the middle of an urban country park fairly  local to where we live called Nine Springs and we try to visit it as often as the weather allows us.

3. Improve my blogging skills and learn to customize my blog.
Hmm, well I have discovered a few tips and tricks but not as much as I hoped, this is definitely something I will be focusing on for the next 6 months (If anyone has wise words to share do leave me a comment below!).

4. Have a family weekend away and a "me time" weekend in London
So no family weekend away yet because we have decided to go one better and book a family holiday in Portugal, this is coming up in the next few weeks and is much needed! As for a weekend to myself in London, well only last weekend I was thrilled to attend Britmums Live and spend some time in our nations capital all by myself, it was bliss!

5. Learn more about Aromatherapy
Something else I haven't achieved so far, so something else to add to the list of things to focus on.

6. Make Wednesday night my reading a real book night
What I didn't know when I wrote these was that two weeks later the organisation I worked for would go through a consultation and redundancy period which would see us all having to re-apply for our jobs, I was lucky enough to keep mine but my working hours changed, I now work Wednesday evenings, glued to my computer, as soon as I'm done its a bit of vegging in front of the TV with some tea and then off to bed, so I am now officially making Tuesday nights my read a real book night.

7. Take my husband on a secret weekend away
Much to my husbands dissapoinment, this has not happened yet, but the year is not over yet!

8. Save 5% of my wage every month
Yes and no, some months I have managed this and others I haven't, I must try harder...

9. Start Reflexology sessions to help me destress
I've only had two so far but they have been great, I read somewhere (I don't remember where) that reflexology can help with miscarriage so when I had mine I spoke to a close friend/family member who knows about these things and she highly recommended it, she has now treated me herself and will hopefully do a few more sessions through the year. I can't say enough good things about it really and it's also very well know to help with infertility too - bonus!

10. Make and sew LC a fairy costume
Nope, not even come close, unless you count the new fairy wings and wand I bought her last month, I do really want to learn to sew something for her myself though, recently I found a great craft book I had forgotten  I had which has tutorials for making skirts for little girls so may have a go with one of those instead.

11. Enjoy making memories with some new friends
YES and in a big way! I have met some amazingly talented and sweet ladies so far this year and feel blessed to call them my friends, I have become very close to a few lovely ladies back home where I grew up who I have recently had the pleasure to get to know. I have also put many faces to names at Britmums, spent time with some brilliant women who have shared laughter, tears, fashion and blogging tips with and left knowing I have made some true friends for life!

12. Submit our visas applications to Canada
We are getting there, its a slow process but things are coming together, we have taken our EILTS tests and passed (thank god!) and my OH is working hard to organise all the papers, references and bits and pieces he needs to have together, hopefully it will happen soon!

So there you have it, somethings I am surprised at, others I am disappointed at, but I'm proud of a few too. I guess I need to keep working hard and striving to take control and make my life all it can be!

Leave me a comment below and let me know how you have done too...

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 41

                               

"I want to know what passion is. I want to feel something strongly.” -  Aldous Huxley

For a while now I have wanted to know more about what my passion is because I'm not always sure exactly what it is I feel strong about and to me it feels like something is missing or maybe just not very clear, I think some clarity is actually what I'm looking for here.

So this week I am setting myself a little project, which I'm very excited about, to help me find out more about me a what those passions might be, burning down deep inside of me...

I'll be posting more about this in the coming week and reveal the finished project piece next week!

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 38

Our minds are amazing aren't they? The biology of the brain fascinates me, at college I studied Human Physiology for a bit, I was so intreaged by this organ, how it works and how it dictates EVERYTHING in our daily lives, how and when we move, what we physically feel and are capable of but also how it controls our hormones and emotions, it's so very powerful, but I know I don't need to tell you any of this!

The well being of our brain, of our mind is so important and powerful that on days where there is an imbalance it can send our whole worlds crashing down, for me personally this can be so debilitating. But what if we could re-frame our minds and thoughts to react differently? What if we could take a moment to step back and look at a situation from a different point of view or what if we taught ourselves to manage our thoughts and emotions differently? Could we then find some strength to over come our adversities, quieten those darker thoughts and allow space for fresh, courageous ones to come through? 

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 37

Photo by D. Cannon

I think it can be easy to fall in to the role of being a victim, I know I have done this in the past, many times and in many ways, it's easy to place the blame on to others and hold them responsible for your fears, misgivings or failures. Sometime you can find yourself in this role because someone has taken your confidence or self control away, you may find yourself stripped of a power you once possessed and this is a new place for you to be in. No matter how you find yourself here it can be tricky rut to get out of...

Victims of crime and abuse may find that a spirit they once felt, one that made them present or alive has left, that someone or something has taken this away, they feel helpless and finding that courage to move forward and break out of this patten is hard, some times impossible or just out of their reach. There are some really amazing people, organisation and books out there to help anyone who is this situation to find that courage inside again, reaching out is just the first step back to a life of being in control of you.

I think this is also true of people who are victims of their own doubts and fears that they place on themselves whether that be a phobia or a lack of self confidence, reaching inside and finding that power again can help them move forward, but it's not as easily said than done. So how do we find this courage and bring out the heroine or hero I ourselves?

Education I think holds the key, not necessarily going to school or being super smart, more like being street wise and learning about the world, investing time and energy in yourself, getting to know you, what you like or don't like, what you think is or isn't acceptable, knowing how your mind works and using that to keep going forward. I also find talking to others about your own and their own experiences helps you to learn, I am also a big fan of self help books although I know lots of people can be cynical about them. 

If you found yourself stuck in a place, physically, emotionally, mentally that caused you fear would you know how to escape, to get yourself out of it? Knowing this information and being brave enough to act on it is what turns us in to the true heroines of lives, well that's just my opinion anyway!

I'd love to know more about what encourages you to be brave in your life, are there any particular rituals, books or actions you take when you start to feel scared of what's happening around you? What would you say to someone else to inspire them to no longer be a victim?

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 35

“Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring?” - Neltje Blanchan

For me, Spring always starts in March and although the weather is still questionable (snow?!), it brings the promise of sunnier days and new beginnings. Traditionally New Years is the time when most people try something new but this year the start of Spring feels like a good time to make a few positive changes..

With a new season comes a change in look but not all of us can afford a new wardrobe or a restyle, this got me thinking though about making some small tweaks that can help towards us feeling uplifted and confident about ourselves. My talented and stylish blogging buddy Mrs Jones has written a perfect guest post this week about how moving with the seasons inspires a change in mood and fragrance for her and gives us her best picks for Spring's sensational scents. You can read more about all things beauty and baby at her fabulous blog Keeping up with the Joneses and here too - do check her out!

 

“A woman should wear perfume wherever she wants to be kissed.”

― Coco Chanel

Ever since I've been old enough to wear perfume, I've been on a mission to discover my signature scent, something that I would wear every day, that people would recognise me by. Recently though I have come to the conclusion that I am however far too fickle for that, my tastes in perfume change at least seasonally. In winter I prefer perfumes with heavier basenotes such as vanilla, rose and spices that last and continue to evolve throughout the day. In summer I prefer fresh fruity and floral scents which I can reapply frequently without knocking people out. Below are my top three perfumes for spring and summer but just as certain clothes or make up suit some people more than others, a fragrance that smells amazing on one person can smell absolutely awful on someone else. Years ago, enamoured by the advertising and branding surrounding Theirry Mulger's angel, I liberally sprayed the fragrance allover my wrists in a department store, only to find that it smelled like poison to me and I spent the next few hours scrubbing at my skin trying to remove any trace. Yet I have a friend who wears Angel 365 days a year and for me this scent truly defines who she is. It works so well on her that people often stop her in the street and ask what fragrance she is wearing. For me a good fragrance should be like wearing a new outfit that helps you convey however you'd like to feel that day. 

1. Acqua di Parma- Fico di Amalfi

My husband often wears this in summertime and to me this perfume smells absolutely edible, (although please don't try). I have since discovered that it is actually a unisex scent so it's top of my wish list for this season. To me this smells like ripe figs on a summers day, I'm obsessed with fig scents and I can't rate this one enough.

2. Annick Goutal- Le Jasmin

Jasmin is such a popular scent in many summer fragrances although very few of them actually manage capture the true scent of this summertime flower as Annick Goutal does. This reminds me of my childhood summers in Greece, playing outside in the evenings when the Jasmine scent is at it's most potent, one for real Jasmine fans! 

3. L'Artisan Parfumeur- La Chasse aux Papillons

La Chasse aux Papillons ( Chasing Butterflies) could quite possibly be the most beautifully named perfume ever. This is a really lovely subtle fragrance containing linden, light tuberose and orange blossom. I actually wore this on my wedding day and whilst on honeymoon this leaked all over my luggage, rather than being annoying it was actually quite pleasant to smell it every time I opened my suitcase. Whenever I smell this perfume it now takes me back to one of the happiest times of my life, I love how certain fragrances can be so evocative.      

What's your signature fragrance for Spring? I'd love to know and any other beauty tips for Spring to try out! Just one small change can make all the difference, what else could you change this month to feel good this season?

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 28

“True friends are like diamonds – bright, beautiful, valuable, and always in style.” ― Nicole Richie

Well, when I started this blog and thought about different quotes I might find or use, never did I think I would end up quoting Nicole Richie! The daughter of Lionel Richie and once BFF to Paris Hilton this petite blonde and now fashion designer and mum of two has perfectly described what my true friends are to me and very recently one of them shined especially bright for me.

I was going through a tough time and had to face something particularly difficult and my lovely dear friend was indeed a diamond, beaming her light to brighten my dark day. It's been a long time since we last stayed up late, drinking wine and being a shoulder to lean on for each other. life has moved on and we are no longer caught up in the excitement and drama of our college days, we have both settled in to our lives and forging our way in the adult world but on this occasion when things fell apart for me she was there to help me pick up the pieces and put my broken self back together.

It reminded me that we always need these special people around, who know us well enough to instantly lift our spirits and support our heavy heart. My OH had also been going through this tough time with me and was equally low, but my friend's OH also came to the rescue and through a few beers (well actually rather a lot!), a boxing match and some male bonding eased his sorrows too, some times us girls and guys just need to stick together!

We are so grateful for their kindness and understanding, good solid friendship are priceless and we will treasure theirs for years to come just like precious jewels. We don't all get to see each other so much these days but our friendship has lasted long distances, babies and marriage, different boyfriends and career changes, in fact all my 3 closest friends live hundreds of miles away but they are always there when I need them and have become good friends with my OH too, these ladies and my love for them is worth more than any diamond, ever!

How would you describe your closest friends?

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 25

"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."
- Lord Chesterfield

Forget what you have always known, try some thing new! When ever the chips are down this philosophy always see me through, if I can't see a way out of my slump or need a positive change to happen I forget what I have always know and let new horizons find me!

Familiarity feels safe, it's comforting but it can keep you stagnant and stuck on a loop, if your waiting for some new and fresh to embrace your life, make it happen, change it yourself - wear a new colour or style, change your hair cut! Take a different route to work, eat in a new restaurant. Try an alternative holiday destination, if you do city breaks then go Skiing instead, you get the picture!
You could even go for the bold a dramatic, change your career, move to a new house, dump that boyfriend who you know is holding you back from your fabulous future and what you really want, be brave and courageous, let yourself travel into the unknown, just imagine the adventures that could unfold?

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 24

“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

We are stronger together!

A couple of weeks ago we had a rough week, something we thought would happen didn't, it was pretty major in the grand scheme of our little family and what we are hoping for our future and it just fell flat on it's face, well for now it is anyway. To say we were disappointed and felt let down was an understatement and I myself shed a few tears but after talking to a few family members and close friends I started to feel brighter and more positive about it all. A couple of days later OH and I had a good chat about the situation and as usual his spirit and determination held me up and kept me going and is continuing to keep me going, and that is why I keep him around because when I'm feeling weak he goes deep and find the strength for both of us!

I have continue to dwell a little on the something that never happened quite a bit and I am still so angry with how we have been treated and how someone else actions can have such an impact on someones life with no care or thought to what that may be, I don't feel like I'm being treated as a person but more a statistic or number and a little part of me really wants to just give up on this, but, I know that the best things in life come from hard work and persistence and not giving up so I'm giving you two lots of wisdom for the price of one today in hope that we can all find the strength to keep going for our dreams!

Did you ever have a something you hoped would happen and it didn't? Did you give up or keep chasing that dream? What gave you the strength to defy what life threw at you and keep going?

"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 21

"Don't ever forget that you're a citizen of this world, and there are things you can do to lift the human spirit, things that are easy, things that are free, things that you do everyday. Civility, respect, kindness, character." - Aaron Sorkin

Treats for the patient!

Well last week it was my turn to be in hospital, it wasn't anything to worry about though, I wasn't ill, I was just having a pre-scheduled op that is hopefully going to make a big difference to our life and future! I am still so touched by all the kind support and well wishes I received from family, friends and people I know,  as well as others who I have come to be friendly with from blogging and using twitter. All these people's kindness and thoughtfulness is overwhelming and so powerful too. Just knowing that others were routing for a good outcome for me gives me strength to keep fighting and moving forward.

With this in mind I started to think about what would happen if everyone took the time to pass on some love and cheer to others in their time of need, not just family or friends but someone they don't really know or usually talk to, someone who may be having a bad day or going through a difficult time? We don't really know them so we don't really get involved, but what if we just said a simple "Hello, how are things?" Or "Hey, feel better soon!" Any words or kindness or encouragement can have the influence to lift someone's day or turn their mood around, we have power at are fingertips, quite literally in the online community.

I have been reading so many accounts lately about nasty comments being made, unhelpful remarks and just plain spiteful interaction towards others and what astounds me even more is a lot of this hate is directed towards people they don't even know! It seems that people feel they have the right to bully others and then don't give a second thought to the consequences of their actions. It happens at work, at home and in public and now people are also using social media as a platform to behave like insensitive and mean spirited individuals. I'm left wondering about how society has gotten to this place?

Life can be so much easier, inspiring and uplifting if we portray compassion and kindness, these are great qualities in anyone and we carry you way ahead of the others, so who's life are you going to add sparkle to today?

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 20

Inspiring words from an inspiring women, Audrey couldn't have got it more right! One thing that has permanently set itself in to my mind over the years is that nothing in life is handed to you on a plate, if you want or need something, if you have a dream or a goal you've got to get out there and make it happen, you've got to help yourself!

Helping yourself is rewarding, it gives you a sense of achievement and self efficacy, it boosts your confidence and your self esteem and hopefully, as long as your not hurting anyone else in the process ultimately it allows you to put your best foot forward in to the future!

So learning to help yourself is important, starting with you is good because you should take care of your self first, in a positive way. But what makes us better, more compassionate human beings is then helping other, in fact helping yourself and others can coexist at the same time.

When I do something meaningful for my life it feels great I am full of energy, motivation and pride and when I help others I feel even better, knowing I have the power to effect my life in a positive way is awesome but helping others in their life fills me with so much joy and gratitude, using my knowledge, drive and enthusiasm to better someone else life gives me the most love and inspiration I could imagine!

Being selfish is good, but being selfless too is even better! What little or big thing could you do to help yourself AND someone else this week? Go on, spread a little love in to someone else's world too!

Monday's Moment of Wisdom - Pearl Number 16

"A woman has got to love a bad man once or twice in her life, to be thankful for a good one." - Marjorie Kinnan

And boy have I loved a few bad ones, but I won't go in to that, it's just the usual story of falling for Mr Wrong and accepting second best and letting myself being treated like poo instead of enjoying my life while waiting for Mr Right! Anyway the good news is I have him now and I am so thankful for this stubborn yet generous and caring man.

I am thankful for his kindness
I am thankful for devotion
I am thankful for commitment to me and his daughter
I am thankful for the way he wants to get so involved with every detail of her life
I am thankful for the hard work he does to make our lives better
And I am thankful for his awesome Chicken tikkas!!

I am thankful also for a hundred other things he is and can do and will be in my life, he is always by my side, coming through when I need him the most and delightfully surprising me in so many different ways, he is one of the good ones and I found him, for that I am so thankful!