In asking little kids what they want, or want to be, most parents follow it up with . . . "The sky's the limit". I recently read a quote by an unknown author that made me completely rethink this . . . and it's WONDERFUL!
The sky has never been the limit.
We are our own limits.
It is then about breaking our personal limits and outgrowing ourselves to live our best lives.
When we overcome the fears that hold us back, we are truly capable of anything. Whether you dislike public speaking, large crowds, learning new things, or whatever your issue might be; when you face it and conquer it . . . you can seek the stars!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
Be You!
I have never thought of myself as being amazing or beyond belief, but I am aware that I am me. I am the only me there will ever be. There will not ever be, as long as the earth continues to spin, another individual who embodies my talents, my passions, my drive, my enthusiasm, my emotions, my soul, my being. I am me. Take it or leave it . . . this is it.
My truly close friends have seen the best and worst of me, and still love me. My truly close friends have walked with me through valleys of deep and dark despair and have also celebrated with me atop the highest of joyful triumphs. They know every inch of me and wouldn't change a thing.
I have always told my children that they can be enamored with a star, a celebrity, or some famous schlep for a time, but to just always be yourself. When you try to emulate others . . . well, we know from Multiplicity that copies are just never as good as the original.
'Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.'
~ Judy Garland
Truer words have not been uttered. You are a marvel. You are a miracle. You are worthy and wonderful. Be all of that marvelous, miraculous, worthwhile and wonderful person you've been obliged and gifted to be.
Be You!
My truly close friends have seen the best and worst of me, and still love me. My truly close friends have walked with me through valleys of deep and dark despair and have also celebrated with me atop the highest of joyful triumphs. They know every inch of me and wouldn't change a thing.
I have always told my children that they can be enamored with a star, a celebrity, or some famous schlep for a time, but to just always be yourself. When you try to emulate others . . . well, we know from Multiplicity that copies are just never as good as the original.
'Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.'
~ Judy Garland
Truer words have not been uttered. You are a marvel. You are a miracle. You are worthy and wonderful. Be all of that marvelous, miraculous, worthwhile and wonderful person you've been obliged and gifted to be.
Be You!
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Life is delicious
Ah . . . the circle of life
(cue the dramatic music and dangling lion club at cliff's edge)
Today is a testament to this great circle we spin within each day.
I am deeply saddened to be going to the funeral service of a friend's husband today. It will be a celebration of his life, as every funeral service should be, but there is still that gaping hole that will take all kinds of love and tears and hugs and support to patch up.
Just a few moments ago I was messaging a sweet dear who used to actually babysit my children. She is planning her wedding. Venue picking, dress browsing, menues, flowers, invites, and all that excitement. It made me smile just feeling her enthusiasm seeping through the computer.
Moments prior to that, I commented on a friend's photo of his precious and terribly cute little three-and-a-half month old baby girl. Such an innocent and delicate gift. She is a treasure that I've been blessed and lucky enough to coddle and hold and sing to and enjoy.
Any one of these events, in its singularity, makes you stop and take notice of your life and the things and folks you value. All three together paint a grand picture of a world that waits for no one and continues no matter when you think it should stop.
The best lesson in all of it is to appreciate every moment you are in. Take nothing for granted. Take no person lightly. We are all necessary in this world. We add to its flavor, its beauty, and its worth. Cherish every moment, from birth through weddings and into the grand beyond. I have tasted it all.
Life is delicious.
(cue the dramatic music and dangling lion club at cliff's edge)
Today is a testament to this great circle we spin within each day.
I am deeply saddened to be going to the funeral service of a friend's husband today. It will be a celebration of his life, as every funeral service should be, but there is still that gaping hole that will take all kinds of love and tears and hugs and support to patch up.
Just a few moments ago I was messaging a sweet dear who used to actually babysit my children. She is planning her wedding. Venue picking, dress browsing, menues, flowers, invites, and all that excitement. It made me smile just feeling her enthusiasm seeping through the computer.
Moments prior to that, I commented on a friend's photo of his precious and terribly cute little three-and-a-half month old baby girl. Such an innocent and delicate gift. She is a treasure that I've been blessed and lucky enough to coddle and hold and sing to and enjoy.
Any one of these events, in its singularity, makes you stop and take notice of your life and the things and folks you value. All three together paint a grand picture of a world that waits for no one and continues no matter when you think it should stop.
The best lesson in all of it is to appreciate every moment you are in. Take nothing for granted. Take no person lightly. We are all necessary in this world. We add to its flavor, its beauty, and its worth. Cherish every moment, from birth through weddings and into the grand beyond. I have tasted it all.
Life is delicious.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Ch-Angels
There is a group I have mentioned previously that deserve a shout out today ~ The Children's Dream Fund. This is an extraordinarily amazing group of folks who tirelessly work to divert the attentions of seriously and terminally children toward whatever their little hearts can dream up. They have granted dreams of shopping sprees, horseback riding, computers, trips from Orlando to abroad and every place inbetween, playhouses, meet and greets, libraries, and too many things to list. Although these kids are fighting like mad to do ordinary, daily things, The Children's Dream Fund allows them the opportunity to slip away into their dreams . . . to put all the poking and prodding behind them . . . and to simply focus on having fun and being a kid. They have earned their Ch-Angel wings for sure.
Today, actually tonight, in Tampa's Curtis Hixon Park, they are hosting their "GLO" event. This event celebrates the courageous chidren who are battling life threatening illnesses - those who have triumped and those we have lost - in Tampa's version of Toro Nagashi ("lantern offerings on water"). This is the "G" portion for GIVE.
The "L" portion - LOVE - honors those who provide medical attention, comfort, services, and most importantly, those who provide strength to everyone impacted by the serious illness of a child.
The "O" portion - OBSERVE - is for those that want to come and share the event. From 6 - 9:30 pm, on North Ashley Drive in Tampa, come and enjoy this celebration of life. At 8:30 pm, the lanterns will be lit and floated down the river in a beautiful celebrationof life and a message of hope to the children, families, and friends of those who have couragesouly faced a life-threatening diagnosis.
This event is one of a myriad that the CDF holds to raise funds for and awareness of their endeavors. My family has been the recipient of their kindness. We've helped to pay-it-forward to others. Should you be looking for a way to donate, in memory of someone you have lost, or in honor of someone who has been victorious in their struggle, please contact The Children's Dream Fund (www.childrensdreamfund.org) and find out more about how you can help. It is a trul rewarding experience.
I purchased lanterns that will be set afloat in memory of Salvatore Marinello, Francine Sellet, Julia Rider, Alfonso Sellet, and in honor of my children, Deanna and Miles. You can see a photo of them on my facebook page: Lyn Rider Marinello
Be a part of something magical. Help these Ch-Angels make a difference!
Today, actually tonight, in Tampa's Curtis Hixon Park, they are hosting their "GLO" event. This event celebrates the courageous chidren who are battling life threatening illnesses - those who have triumped and those we have lost - in Tampa's version of Toro Nagashi ("lantern offerings on water"). This is the "G" portion for GIVE.
The "L" portion - LOVE - honors those who provide medical attention, comfort, services, and most importantly, those who provide strength to everyone impacted by the serious illness of a child.
The "O" portion - OBSERVE - is for those that want to come and share the event. From 6 - 9:30 pm, on North Ashley Drive in Tampa, come and enjoy this celebration of life. At 8:30 pm, the lanterns will be lit and floated down the river in a beautiful celebrationof life and a message of hope to the children, families, and friends of those who have couragesouly faced a life-threatening diagnosis.
This event is one of a myriad that the CDF holds to raise funds for and awareness of their endeavors. My family has been the recipient of their kindness. We've helped to pay-it-forward to others. Should you be looking for a way to donate, in memory of someone you have lost, or in honor of someone who has been victorious in their struggle, please contact The Children's Dream Fund (www.childrensdreamfund.org) and find out more about how you can help. It is a trul rewarding experience.
I purchased lanterns that will be set afloat in memory of Salvatore Marinello, Francine Sellet, Julia Rider, Alfonso Sellet, and in honor of my children, Deanna and Miles. You can see a photo of them on my facebook page: Lyn Rider Marinello
Be a part of something magical. Help these Ch-Angels make a difference!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Careful . . .
You are always responsible for how you act, no matter how you feel.
I have told my children this since they were wee little pups, and it certainly covers a tremendous amount of ground.
If you choose to stay up half the nice, partying and drinking and have to work the next day . . . you had best show up looking fresh as a daisy and ready to go. Don't turn your bad decisions into someone else's issues.
Should you be sick and weary and worn out, do not bite the hand that literally feeds you. They are only trying to help.
Should your team win in glorious fashion, do not gloat and boast and demean others. As sure as rain falls DOWN, your team will lose in glorious fashion at one point and you will NOT like how it feels to hear what's coming.
Should you maintain strong opinions on a topic because you believe yourself to be correct, remember there are others with equally opposing opinions and they believe themselves to be correct. An open mind is a wonderful thing.
Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you. Not because they are nice, but because YOU are.
This is really a simple concept although a little difficult for human nature. Practice realization before reaction and you just might see a better world!
Careful . . .
I have told my children this since they were wee little pups, and it certainly covers a tremendous amount of ground.
If you choose to stay up half the nice, partying and drinking and have to work the next day . . . you had best show up looking fresh as a daisy and ready to go. Don't turn your bad decisions into someone else's issues.
Should you be sick and weary and worn out, do not bite the hand that literally feeds you. They are only trying to help.
Should your team win in glorious fashion, do not gloat and boast and demean others. As sure as rain falls DOWN, your team will lose in glorious fashion at one point and you will NOT like how it feels to hear what's coming.
Should you maintain strong opinions on a topic because you believe yourself to be correct, remember there are others with equally opposing opinions and they believe themselves to be correct. An open mind is a wonderful thing.
Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you. Not because they are nice, but because YOU are.
This is really a simple concept although a little difficult for human nature. Practice realization before reaction and you just might see a better world!
Careful . . .
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Believe
If you believe it, you can achieve it!
Belief is the power of your brain to manipulate the world!
As an adolescent, I dabbled in body building. I weighed a whopping 112 pounds soaking wet. The boyfriend who got me into the sport decided that the following day's workout would include squats. Well . . . ew! He said I had been doing good and tomorrow I'd be shooting for 180 pounds. Mind you, I was only 19 or 20 and the negative lift would be much greater than 180 pounds. He said, "You will not leave the gym til you do at least one rep." So . . . I went to sleep . . . fitfully. At one point during the night I actually woke myself up with my pillow in my hands, over my shoulders, in a squatting position while laying down. Perhaps a little over-focused? NEVER.
Into the gym we went. Boyfriend and his buddy shoved the weight on the bar and each took a position on either side of me at the end of the bar. He didn't say, "We're here." He said, "You got this." I had to merely only believe in myself!
I stepped up to the bar, dipped under, got it nestled comfortably on my shoulders, picked it up off the rack and stepped back a step or two. Staring into the mirror, the image of the two monster men on either end of the bar faded to gray. I locked my sights directly with my mirrored self. I breathed nice and slow and squatted to full squat. I never questioned the rising. I continued to focus on the beast in the mirror and steadily rose to full stand. The whooping from the pair of muscleheads distracted me only momentarily. They each stepped up to the bar to take it off my shoulders. To their surprise, I began a second descent. Quiet ensued. Again . . . I raised to full stand. Again, they stepped up. Too late! I hate begun a third descent. This time, they stayed where they were. I completed FIFTEEN reps of 180 pounds!
When you believe you can accomplish something, and you properly focus on your goal, there really is nothing that is out of your grasp. Sometimes, too, you realize an entirely new potential. I now adore a good leg workout and am really rather strong! I've been known to finish a 12-rep set with over 450 pounds! Who knew?
So . . . as you aspire to some lofty New Year's Resolutions . . . how about really putting some thought into it. Give yourself something truly lofty to achieve. Believe in what you're capable of, not what you already know you can do.
Go for it. I believe in you.
Belief is the power of your brain to manipulate the world!
As an adolescent, I dabbled in body building. I weighed a whopping 112 pounds soaking wet. The boyfriend who got me into the sport decided that the following day's workout would include squats. Well . . . ew! He said I had been doing good and tomorrow I'd be shooting for 180 pounds. Mind you, I was only 19 or 20 and the negative lift would be much greater than 180 pounds. He said, "You will not leave the gym til you do at least one rep." So . . . I went to sleep . . . fitfully. At one point during the night I actually woke myself up with my pillow in my hands, over my shoulders, in a squatting position while laying down. Perhaps a little over-focused? NEVER.
Into the gym we went. Boyfriend and his buddy shoved the weight on the bar and each took a position on either side of me at the end of the bar. He didn't say, "We're here." He said, "You got this." I had to merely only believe in myself!
I stepped up to the bar, dipped under, got it nestled comfortably on my shoulders, picked it up off the rack and stepped back a step or two. Staring into the mirror, the image of the two monster men on either end of the bar faded to gray. I locked my sights directly with my mirrored self. I breathed nice and slow and squatted to full squat. I never questioned the rising. I continued to focus on the beast in the mirror and steadily rose to full stand. The whooping from the pair of muscleheads distracted me only momentarily. They each stepped up to the bar to take it off my shoulders. To their surprise, I began a second descent. Quiet ensued. Again . . . I raised to full stand. Again, they stepped up. Too late! I hate begun a third descent. This time, they stayed where they were. I completed FIFTEEN reps of 180 pounds!
When you believe you can accomplish something, and you properly focus on your goal, there really is nothing that is out of your grasp. Sometimes, too, you realize an entirely new potential. I now adore a good leg workout and am really rather strong! I've been known to finish a 12-rep set with over 450 pounds! Who knew?
So . . . as you aspire to some lofty New Year's Resolutions . . . how about really putting some thought into it. Give yourself something truly lofty to achieve. Believe in what you're capable of, not what you already know you can do.
Go for it. I believe in you.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
2013
As we ushered in 2013 last night, the first year in memory without Dick Clark (tears welling), there was plenty of time for reflecting on 2012. I'm sure you all did the same thing and were filled with the same youthful enthusiasm as that beautiful ball dropped over NYC bringing forth the promise of something more!
As I've aged, my resolutions have gotten more realistic. They used to be "I'm going to travel to Timbuktu" or "I'm going to join a travelling circus" or crazy things like that. Then they became the inevitable "I'm not going to ever drink that much again" or "I'm going to lose 50 pounds" or "I'm going to work out every day". And now . . .
In a world full of chaos, I simply want peace.
Peace for myself, my family, my friends, my community, my country, the world in general. And, by peace, no . . . I don't mean some unfathomable and unattainable realm of placid coexistence. I mean, quite simply, that by me doing the right thing for those around me, they will follow suit and do the right things for those around them, and they'll tell two friends, and they'll tell two friends . . .
Peace begins with a simple act. A belief in a kinder, gentler place ~ whether tangible or not. A tiny area of your earth that is lightened and brightened by the mere presence of you each day! THAT is the peaceful 2013 I wish for each and every one of you.
It starts right now. Be the change you want to see.
Peace!
As I've aged, my resolutions have gotten more realistic. They used to be "I'm going to travel to Timbuktu" or "I'm going to join a travelling circus" or crazy things like that. Then they became the inevitable "I'm not going to ever drink that much again" or "I'm going to lose 50 pounds" or "I'm going to work out every day". And now . . .
In a world full of chaos, I simply want peace.
Peace for myself, my family, my friends, my community, my country, the world in general. And, by peace, no . . . I don't mean some unfathomable and unattainable realm of placid coexistence. I mean, quite simply, that by me doing the right thing for those around me, they will follow suit and do the right things for those around them, and they'll tell two friends, and they'll tell two friends . . .
Peace begins with a simple act. A belief in a kinder, gentler place ~ whether tangible or not. A tiny area of your earth that is lightened and brightened by the mere presence of you each day! THAT is the peaceful 2013 I wish for each and every one of you.
It starts right now. Be the change you want to see.
Peace!
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