Life lessons learned from a 3 year old kitty

Life lessons learned from a 3 year old kitty



My Ariel kitty turned 3 this week. I started thinking about her and how she interacts with the world after reading my friend Dr. Bourla’s tribute this is kitty when he passed away.



So here are the things Ariel is teaching me:

* Never be afraid to explore new things- you never know what fun you might find in something that seems strange at first.
* When meeting new people access them from a distance for a short time – then greet them with a warm and friendly welcome
* Naps in the sunshine are the best thing in the world
* Never be afraid to show affection to the people you love
* Find a warm spot and curl there to sleep
* Always stretch before you get out of bed in the morning
* Play often and with different things
* And most importantly- Be a source of unconditional love to all in your life



Ariel has been with me since she was 9 weeks old, she still runs about like she did then. She really is a source of unconditional love for me.



The last couple of weeks have been very stressful for me, yet when I come home at night she is standing on the back of the chair by the door ever so happy to see me, she rubs around my legs as I get settled in, when I retire for the night she purrs herself to sleep on my chest.



I have learned far more than I ever thought from this cat. Life lessons that will help me be a better and happier person in the future.



Everyone needs a pet to share this journey with.



Love and Laughter



Hoorah



Terry

12 Secrets to living a full filled life

I have been asked a lot lately how I keep such a positive attitude, how I can be so happy and upbeat so much of the time. Well not to sound trite but I have 12 secrets that I try to remember to always live by. So tonight I am going to share them with you:



• 1-Try everything twice. On one woman's tombstone she said she wanted this epitaph:
"Tried everything twice. Loved it both times!" Why twice- the first time with anything is usually awkward and uncomfortable. The second time gives you a better experience with it, whatever it is.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches!) I try to surround myself with happy, positive, successful, kind people. Positive people breed positive people. Surround yourself with people that are the way you want to be. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever...

3-Never let the brain get idle. 'An idle mind is beginning of death. I love learning, I read books, take classes, engage in conversations with people that are smarter or more knowledgeable them me. It keeps my mind working and busy.

4. Enjoy the simple things. A walk in a spring rain, the laughter of a child, the smell of roses or of fresh cut grass. Find the enjoyment in the basic and simple things of life. There is joy there to be had.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER. I love to laugh; there are plenty of times I will laugh so hard I make myself cry. It’s the greatest feeling ever. Currently the Big Bang Theory on Thursday nights is the show that makes me laugh so hard. It’s great.

6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive. In the course of 10 years I lost my Mom, Dad, Mother in law, Grandmother in law, Grandfather and Husband. Each was significant losses for me. I gave myself time to grieve, I cried, I mourned and then I moved on to live this life. Life must go forward. There is no idle in life, there is no backward either.

7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, and hobbies, whatever... For me I have tons of books, I love books, I love my nick knacks, for each 1 reminds me of something fun and pleasant, whether it was trip, my parents, my grandparents, a special friend, the birth of my God daughter, my nephews, etc. Be with the things you love the most. After all your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. As you all know I am firm believer in Chiropractic care. Chiropractic is the best form of health care out there; it’s the only true HEALTH care. It will help you maintain your body so you can live a long and healthy life.



9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is. Guilt is destructive and serves no really purpose. I try to learn from my mistakes and do better the next time, but I do not live in guilt. It’s just not healthy.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. I love you, are the 3 most powerful words in our language. Who do you love? And how often do you tell them that you love them? I strive to let the folks I love know that I love them. I love my friends, I love my family. It’s only in the act of giving love that, I love my family. It’s only in the act of giving love that you get it back.

11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second chance. Forgiveness is so very important. Start with yourself. Then forgive anyone else in your life that you feel has wronged you. FORGIVENESS is the key to freedom, and life fulfillment.

12- To Thy own self be true… What does that mean that means always always follow your heart, your brain and your own values? Do not be talked into anything you do not feel right about doing.

This journey is easier if you know what you want, have a strong value system and know how to laugh.

Love and Laughter

Hoorah

Terry

All you need is love

All you need is love

(Love, love, love)
(Love, love, love)
(Love, love, love)

There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy

There's nothing you can make that can't me made
No one you can save that can't be saved
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time
It's easy

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

(Love, love, love)
(Love, love, love)

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

There's nothing you can know that isn't known
Nothing you can see that isn't shown
There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

All you need is love, all together now
All you need is love, everybody
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

Love is all you need
Love is all you need
Love is all you need

This amazing Beatles Song was the theme for the Seminar in Orlando I just attended. Parker Chiropractic Seminars are always amazing this one however really struck home for me. Not only do I keep hearing all you need is love, but I also kept hearing that right now I am in the place I need to be with the right people around me for a reason.

Think about that for a moment. I was surrounded by intelligent, successful Chiropractors and Chiropractic assistance all weekend. People that have had struggles, and made them into successes, folks that have had to pick themselves up by their boot straps.

It got me thinking about the other people in my life. My boss, my friends, my coach, they are in my life right now for a reason. And they are right where they need to be for me and for themselves.

People come to us for all kind of reasons. I have been told so many times that when the student is truly ready the Master shall appear. This has happened so many times in my life.

Think about it, who is in your life right now, and for what reason are they there?

All we really do need is love. Love for our family, friends, and mostly ourselves.

This journey is about love.

Love and Laughter

Hoorah

Terry

How is your life treating you?

How is life treating you?
Is your life treating you well? Is your life bringing to you all the things you want? Do you think it’s not in your control?

Well I am here to tell you – It is in your control…. You get to say what is happening in your life. It’s really a choice; it’s really your control, your decision…

Do you think Oprah got to be the most famous female in the world by happenstance? NO she knew what she wanted to do, she got the education she needed, she worked hard, took all the necessary steps each day, each choice, each moment she had her eye on the goal.

All successful people keep their eye on their goals. They make excellent choices; they do what needs to be done each day, each moment. Always looking forward, always keeping moving in the right direction.

This is a skill I have been working hard to learn. To let go of the past and keep my eye on my goal.

It is not always easy to let go of the past, occasionally the “I’m worthless conversation “rears its ugly head, but I have trained myself to catch it and STOP it as quickly as possible. I have my coach Dr. Wood and a few others in my life that are always willing to help me, get past that and get me back on track.

To me it’s very important to have coaches; Dr. Wood is my weight loss/lifestyles coach. I have folks that coach me in business, and in other aspects of my life. Have you ever seen a football team make it to the Super Bowl without an outstanding coach? I sure haven’t.

Decide what you want, enlisted a coach to help you get there, keep making the right choices, and life will bring you what you want and treat you the way you want. It really is that simple.

For me these days the choices involve not only making the right choices on what to eat, but also on the activities that best nurture my body. Choices that will let it heal, and be healthy.

No one walks this journey alone.

Love and Laughter

Hoorah

Terry

We all need someone to lean on

We all need someone to lean on

Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won't let show

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand (Chorus)
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on

We all do need someone to lean on once in a while. This week was my turn. On Thursday morning I had surgery on my female parts. (Since my nephews and other guys read this blog I am not going into details here) The surgery was scheduled for 45 minutes and took just over 2 hours. Leaving the hospital every move hurt. The car ride home had me in tears. Once home I wanted the comfort of my own bed, and my heating pad. Which is where I have stayed for the last 4 days. ( Laptops make writing this blog from bed easy)

In life we do not get to choose our families God does that for us. Then God brings people into our lives that become friends, over time they become our own handpicked designed by us family. I am blessed to have both an outstanding family and a great friend family.

I wanted to take a moment to THANK all my friends the meals you have prepared and sent over, your text messages, phone calls, emails, and facebook messages have meant a great deal to me. You all are the greatest.
Sometimes during this journey we need someone to lean on.

Love and Laughter

Hoorah

Terry

What a week- stressful yet amazing

What a week- stressful yet amazing
Well as I posted last Sunday my wonderful Coach and his wife were here for several hours last Sunday. I posted a photo of him and I in July of 09 and the one taken last week, there was a big WOW , but when I found the photo of him and I from November of 2008- the WOW got even bigger. Our New CA at the office looked at it and exclaimed – THAT DOESN’T EVEN LOOK LIKE THE SAME PERSON… It really doesn’t

All I can say it LIFE REALLY IS GREAT.

Tuesday found me tearing and spraining my Deltoid muscle in my right shoulder, not a good thing for a right handed person. Apparently while I worked on Tuesday the gasket housing on my garbage disposal went bad, and leaked its lubricant on to the kitchen floor, so as I came in from work- like always I walked to the sink to deposit my empty water bottle and slipped. It’s a good thing I work for a Chiropractor.

Thursday night I nearly set my kitchen on fire. Seems tea towels and gas stoves don’t play well with each other. I have been telling folks for years I should not be allowed in the kitchen, it just isn’t my forte.

The TRULY amazing part of this week came on Friday morning- I had an appointment with my PCP for a pre-op examination. She was totally impressed. See I really do not like going to the doctor so I kind of avoid it, no offense to the amazing physicians out there, but your offices are scary places. But I have to say this was the BEST visit to the doctor in years. She is so happy with my progress that she lowered my blood pressure medication (only 1 these days- used to be 3) and lowered my thyroid medications as well and agreed with my dropping all the diabetic medications and had taken me off all the other meds I used to be on. When I first started this journey I was on about 10 different medications a day between high blood pressure medications, Diabetes meds, etc... I was so happy when I left her office.

This morning I meet a dear friend for breakfast and then went to the grocery store. As I was wondering around trying to figure out what to have for dinner, something occurred to me. The once “staples” of my Sunday night dinners, are no more. It used to be that on Sunday nights I’d fix a big pasta dinner, with the Pillsbury Grand’s rolls. I can eat a whole can by myself in 1 sitting. Those once “staples” aren’t even in my radar any more. Tonight for dinner I decided on a nice piece of Sirloin steak, (cooked without incident) some sautéed mushrooms, a nice garden salad and fresh squash. Later tonight I will have a small piece of the Hot Milk Cake my friend made me. Yes she made me a whole cake, once I got home with it; I sliced it into individual servings, put 1 slice aside for myself for a treat later, and have put the rest in the freezer for future company. (Feel free to comment Dr. Wood)

The Pre –op exam was for a surgical procedure I am having on Thursday of this week. On the girl parts. I know it needs to be done, as we have tried every other means to solve the issues I have been having and nothing has worked. But I am still scared, nervous and worried. One of the big things that scares me is I know me so well, I do not do BORED well. The doctor’s orders are that I come home and spend at least the first 48 hours on bed rest. I figure by Friday morning I will be wanting out of bed and finding things to get into, which is going to be a bad thing. See for me this won’t be deliberate, it’s just me and just how my brain is wired. I’ll think Oh gee I’m up to go potty any way- let me just load the dish washer, or clean out the cat’s box, or….. Yeah that’s me. So for any of you friends that live /work/play in the Owings Mills, Reisterstown areas, and would like to come save me from my self, all company will be most appreciated. Bring your favorite DVD- I’m always open to a good non-violent movie.

Life really is good.

This Journey is amazing to me
.
Love and Laughter

Hoorah

Terry

This is not a diet

This isn’t a diet

I have said this many times in the past and find I am saying it more and more- THIS IS NOT A DIET, it’s a new lifestyle.

Yes diets work in the short term. You lose weight, but once you END the diet and you ALWAYS end the diet you go right back to the lifestyle habits that put the weight on in the first place.

I choose to change my lifestyle- I choose to stop living a life that was going to put me in an early grave.

I CHOOSE to Stop being self destructive and life a positive life affirming life.
Its 1 choice at a time. It’s really as simple as an apple or a donut, every time I choose the apple I choose to live.

I have no weight or size goal, I have a LIFE goal- I want to live long enough to see my nephews grow up, get married and have children that make them as crazy as they are making my brother and sister in law.

I choose to get up in the morning at 5 to go to the gym. I choose to eat Chinese for lunch most days; I choose to have salad or soup for dinner most nights.

I am totally blessed with an amazing coach who supports me and encourages me, and yes argues with me when need be. I had the joy of spending several hours with his wife and him today, he told me several times that I looked younger and healthier, and how much better I was moving. I delighted hearing that from him, but he was only affirming what I already knew. See the photos of him and I below.

Are you looking to change your lifestyle? Get in touch with me and I can help you.

This journey is SO WORTH the effort.

Love and Laughter

Hoorah

Terry