Heaven Can Wait

Challenge #120

Ever had a near death experience? Ever know anyone who somehow effortlessly seems to defy the odds and dodges potentially fatal mishaps, while you on the other hand are very cautious and steadfast in your ways to avert dangerous situations? It can seem as though certain people just cannot die, that they in some way are not ready to leave this earth plane and look invincible. Is it sheer determination and will on their part or, are they protected in some way with luck? Is there really a certain time we all are marked for passing on, embarking on the transmigration of our souls. Can heaven really wait? And, if so what is it that we feel we still need to do on earth? Live more, love more, feel more, do more?  What is more to you?

I challenge you to look at your mortality today and begin to notice what heaven can wait on you for. What is it that you must do or have before your time is up.

RIP Andy Rooney

Challenge #119

The world lost Andy Rooney late yesterday to complications from a recent minor surgical procedure that led to his death within one month's time. He was 92. 

The controversial commentarialist of 60 Minutes fame spoke out candidly every Sunday night on various topics and was forced from time to time to make several public apologies for his viewpoints over the span of his career.  Love him or hate him, he will always remain immortal to our inner editorialists.  The point is that he had a highly visible weekly platform to speak his thoughts and if that generated outrage, controversy or agreement, at least he was able to speak. Think of how freeing that is.

I challenge you to find that which you wish to speak out on and try to accomplish it in a public forum, whether it be at a toastmasters meeting, or any other sort of gathering where you can be heard by many. Video record it and throw it up on YouTube, or your Facebook page. If you are shy about being in front of people, practice and get experience.

May you rest in peace with loving and healing prayers going out to your family and loved ones who terribly miss you. And although the world greatly misses and respects you Andy Rooney, the world will need a new Andy Rooney, and you just could be.....

Heartache

Challenge #118

Take a good assessment of your heart chakra today, the fourth energy center in your body that governs the chest, heart and emotions. Breathe deeply and focus on your heart area and, begin to notice what you are feeling. Have you ever been in a situation where your heart has felt any sort of discomfort? Can you attribute that pain to an emotional cause, such as a relationship break-up, disappointment from others or yourself, unacceptance? And if so, are you completely healed from this? Are you in a currently difficult emotional situation?

When we are in emotional distress, our bodies take a toll, and some of us associate that impact where it hurts the most, in the heart. Heart attacks affect both women and men equally, neither is more susceptible to them than the other. Women, however, think they are less likely to be affected by them and so wait longer to look into treatment for early symptoms.  I challenge you to look into your heart health today. Have your arteries checked for blockages, take a look at your cholesterol and plaque levels and blood platelet count. In your mind's eye, visualize a beautiful emerald green color swirling from the center of your heart expanding outwards, healing and comforting your heart area, releasing the pain, the guilt and all the other negative associations held in there. Remember, if you feel and pain or discomfort in the center of your chest or areas of your upper body, numbness, shortness of breath, unusual pressure, nausea or light heartedness, call 911 or contact your doctor immediately. Widowmakers can cause death within 5 minutes, you owe it to yourself to be in charge of your own heartaches.....

Fortune

Challenge #117

I never had a fortune cookie until I was a very young adult.  When I did have my first one at the age of nineteen in a Chinese restaurant in New York City's  Chinatown district, I was addicted to what was inside. It wasn't a sweet gooey peanuty nougat or chocolatey truffle, or anything to digest gastronomically, it was...just air and....a slip of white paper that had the words of what was to happen to me in the future, or something that was representative of me. Words to digest mentally and to ponder. I am the proud owner of over a thousand fortunes from fortune cookies....

The word fortune has so many meanings for all of us, money, luck, wealth, good health, prosperity, riches, possessions.
I challenge you to figure out what fortune means to you and how it affects your life. Do you feel fortunate as a person? Do you always aspire for what you think is fortune? Do you hold fortune in your life now? What kind of fortune do you want?

Winged lady

Challenge #116

ok, a continuing experiment to behold another sort of "Coach". Someone who has your back in the social scene.  Are they really in the human form?

Would you really want a human to guide you through social events pointing out certain elements to you? Attracting or detracting right or wrong people? Wouldn't it be better to have the invisible version at your side, an apparition or muse that you can believe is right next to you supporting your every action?If you have wished for this I challenge you to begin to "see" your wing lady and write down all you desire them to be for you. Remember, it isn't an ideal of who you want to be with, but rather who you want to help you find the right people to be around....

Reflection

Challenge # 115

Today is Tuesday, November 1st, 2011. It is the 305th day of the year, and in the 44th week of the year There are 61 more days in the year. Are you ready for the year to end? How can you make 2012 a better year, what changes would you make?


I challenge you to take begin to reflect back on the year from day one of 2011 and start seeing how you would make those changes or modify what you did on a daily basis to make 2012 a better year for yourself. Remember, only 61 more days to plan~!

TRICK or TREAT!!

Challenge #114

Happy Halloween~!
"tis the day we have been waiting for all year!! The Great Pumpkin shall swoop down from they sky at dusk and fill every child's candy sack with the most delicious treats possible.  May every child dance with glee in their costumed glory!

The weekend was for the adult parties and tonight is for the children. I challenge you to do your part to have a safe and festive betwitching All Hallow's Eve. May your homes and doorsteps be filled with many delectable treats for the costumed beggars that wrap against your door. Be safe, be happy and enjoy the merriment this holiday brings to young and old all year long~!

Kindess to neighbors

Challenge #113

I challenge you to do an unknown kindness for your neighbor.  You might be surprised what you get in return.....

Patches

Challenge #112

There comes a time in life, in work and on a personal level where there is depletion. Over work, overwhelm, stress and anxieties overcome us and...drain us. Patches became a popular way to cover up holes in clothes, mostly  jeans, or heavier sturdy fabric that was so tattered and torn from over wear, over   use.  Sometimes in work and in life, we also have holes in us from over work, over use, causing us to feel run down, worn, and depleted. And sometimes we take what we have and rather than restructuring, we cover and patch and cover and patch if we can't figure out a way to integrate systems. Patching results in simply covering up and not figuring out what the solutions can be.
I challenge you to acknowledge the patches in your life, in work and personally.  What are the holes in the systems, what are the causes, and how can you fix them by restructuring rather than patching?

Scream

Challenge #111

Without getting into the detailed specifics of primal scream therapy and it's benefits, I feel as though most people would say that they can and would benefit from an occasional scream, the act of just releasing frustration and suppressed anxiety in one huge roar. The act of releasing by screaming creates a sort of breakthrough to feeling again, freeing us from the numbness that we create by suppressing anger, hurt, frustration and anxieties over a period of time, sometimes, a lifetime. The problem is that out of frustration and disregard of other's feelings, sometimes, people scream at others, their partners, children, strangers, anyone at the time in the moment of their frustration or anger, and sometimes without realizing what they have done, because they are so numb at the time.  I believe that other professionals would agree that we all need a time of where we can "let it all out" and just scream. The more responsible way would be to go and scream by yourself out in the open without any reserve where noone else can hear you or mistake your scream as a scream for help in a life-threatening situation.

I challenge you to find a safe place that you can go to where noone else can hear you and just.... scream.  You can do this several times, just make sure that you breathe deeply and have plenty of water and tissues. Be careful that you don't wreck your vocal chords either, by screaming too much repeatedly.  A few times is probably more than enough, keeping in mind that you want it to be strong enough that you genuinely feel a true release. And, when you scream, do make sure that is comes from deep down within and spews up and out of you energetically, as you are releasing negative and toxic thought and emotion with it.  Notice how lighter you will begin to feel....

How do you give back?

Challenge #110

We must receive when we are born as we are not able to give yet. However, throughout life we are continually given to by others, even though it may not seem like it at all at times.  It is all a matter of perspective, so ask yourself, regardless of what you have been given, how do you give back? What are the ways.

I challenge you to find a cause to give back in some way, to return an unasked kindness, or a forgotten favor, or to the obvious. Ask yourself how you feel about it and why  you have those feelings negative or positive. When someone gives you something, does it make you feel a sense of obligation to give back, or are you able to give freely without having a cause or reason?

Walk a mile

Challenge #109

Sometimes we forget that simplicity can be the answer. We very often allow ourselves to get caught up in the marketing machine of corporate America's advertising for this and for that in our media including the internet, and then there is informercial mania that is beginning to invade retail stores. Anything that is out there to make us better, bigger, or smaller comes in an overwhelming multitude of different varieties, particularly when it comes to fitness.

Walking is simply what it is, putting one foot in front of the other and allowing yourself movement of your body going forward. You can speed walk, or walk slowly, but whatever you do that makes it vary depends upon your individuality as a human, not a marketing scheme.  So, I challenge you to walk a mile today this morning, during lunch, or after dinner.  The benefits of walking are tremendous without our even realizing it. It makes us breathe regularly, it gets us up and off a chair and the act of sitting, it allows us to get out and witness nature, because most of our houses are not big enough to walk around for a mile. It also allows us to become social, as we often pass neighbors and others who may be out at the same time. There are plenty of walking trails around neighborhoods in several areas. Walk a mile, see if it makes you smile....

Up Up and Away

Challenge #108

What is it about us humans that have a desire to want to be in the air. There is a mystic and a sense of wonder of doing it that compels us to fly, float and drop from it, to defy gravity in it, test g-forces in it and just admire it.  We have always looked up to the sky since ancient times for sources of inspiration that has been expressed visually and literately. One thing that does remain a constant about being in the air, however, is that we always have to come down to Terra firma.

I challenge you to find that one reason that you enjoy about being in the air, and why. Think about it, visualize your experiences of it. Does the experience inspire you? In what ways? What do you experience, feel, sense, excitement, elation, joy, adrenaline rush, anticipation. Do you see a beauty in it? Does it make you feel a certain way, give you a different perspective on your life?  Write down the reason and other reasons. Then, make plans to do it, take a trip, a hot air balloon ride, skydiving event, whatever gets you airborne.  Very few people enjoy being in the air in one way or another....are you one of them?

Fantastic Voyage

Challenge # 107

Imagine being able to be on a crew in a vessel that is miniaturized to go into a human or animal body and heal or operate.  There would be no cutting into the skin tissues to create scars, no amputation of limbs or removal of parts. What a glorious ideal that would be~!  To face blood cells floating by you that would be more than half your size, to literally see and be in organs and feel and hear the beating of the heart. 

I challenge you to take a fantastic voyage of your own through your own body.  Find a quiet place, close your eyes and slowly begin to breathe in and out. Visualize yourself miniaturized and slipping into your body through your nostrils and slowly see yourself going back into the air passageway in the back of your mouth, going down into your throat, further down into your chest and then choose to go into an area of your body that starts to stand out to you as you do this.  Go into the area, and see what begins to appear before your closed eyes, begin to notice what you are feeling. How can you alter or change this area? What would you do to heal the area? These are questions that you can begin to form to start on a self healing expedition that you can take at any time that you need to.  Allow yourself to see light coming in and altering the area to be better or correct the wrongs.When you are finished, come back up and out through your mouth, or, possibly through a tear drop in your eye and return to your normal size. Begin to write your experiences down.

It's almost Halloweenie time~

Challenge #106

Halloween is one of the oldest and the second most popular only to Christmas in America. Millions celebrate the holiday each year without knowing its origins, which make the holiday that much more exciting. Some view Halloween as a time for fun, friends and family. Others still see its superstitious nature or ties to deceased. Some religions even view it as an unholy holiday.

Halloween also has some close ties to superstitions dealing with love. Some believe if you catch a snail on Halloween night and lock it in a flat dish you will see the first letter of your sweetheart’s name in the morning. Another one says that if a girl puts fresh rosemary and a silver coin under her pillow on Halloween, she will see her future husband in a dream. Girls who carry a lamp to a spring of water on this night are said to be able to see their future husband in the reflection. Additionally, carrying a broken egg in a glass to a spring of water during the day can not only see their future husband by mixing some of the spring water into the glass, but she can also see a glimpse of her future children. Another old tradition said girls should go into a field and there scatter the seed of hemp while chanting “Hempseed I sow thee Come after me and show me”. Upon turning round, it was said each girl would see a vision of the man who would be her husband. 

Visiting haunted houses is a more modern tradition that most likely started as a commercial venture and often works as a way to raise money for non-profit organizations. While dressing in costumes for this day dates back thousands of years, today we see an insurgence of costumes inspired by popular culture, such as movie stars or politicians. Americans tend to see more humorous costumes than scary ones in the current times. Additionally, the tradition of trick-or-treating, which infers that if someone is not satisfied with the treat you are likely to get a trick, has evolved into an activity for younger children accompanied by parents. Today older children and adults are more likely to attend a costume party instead, where best costume prizes are awarded. Most parties are held in homes but bars and nightclubs also hold similar events.

I challenge you to start your halloween costume hunt if you have not already... and, regardless of your age, you're not too old to join in the festivities!!

Glow

Challenge #105

One of the few joys of growing up in the Midwest as a child was that every summer, the dusk of the evenings would be filled with these tiny beetles, glowing in the air. Wanting them to last for many nights at a time, we would innocently chase them, and put them into jars, ultimately leading to a slow and dimming death.

According to Wikipedia....Light in adult beetles was originally thought to be used for warning purposes, but its primary purpose is now thought to be used in mate selection. Fireflies are a classic example of an organism that uses bioluminescence for sexual selection. They have evolved a variety of ways to communicate with mates in courtships: steady glows, flashing, and the use of chemical signals unrelated to photic systems.

^{There is within all of us, human or other species that signal that gets sent out to attract others. I challenge you to figure out what your inner glow or, bioluminescence, is all about and how it attracts others....} 

Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!!

Challenge #104

It wasn't the beginning of a journey to meet the Wizard of Oz, but rather, the end to a man's life.

The owner of a private wild animal preserve was found dead last night and over 30 of the 48 wild exotic animals of the compound are running loose within the small town of Zanesville Ohio.  Schools have shut down for the day and the town is on lockdown trying to reign in the animals. Humans are encouraged to stay indoors and away from the animals. There are wild cheetahs, bears, tigers, wolves and more running loose amongst the city with officials on the watch to either gun them down or drive them back towards the preserve safely.

I challenge you to look at your fears of wild animals.  Ask yourself what you would do in this instance, and how would you protect yourself if you were faced with a bear or tiger coming towards you as you are walking into a bank during the middle of the day.  How would you defend yourself? Would you just scream? Would you want a handgun to be able to shoot them? Would you want the right to have a tranquilizer gun with you at all times to shoot it down without killing it? Think about how your would defend yourself in this kind of situation, which until today, seemed just a fantasy as walking down the yellow brick road to find the wizard of oz....

Are you a man or a Woman....then where are your manners????

Challenge # 103

Not until I arrived in California, Los Angeles to be exact, that I would encounter the phenomenon of women speaking over women.  I heard of this phenomenon spoken by frustrated men, exhausted of the voices, the tone, the caliber and the cadence. The underlying yet so obnoxiously overt desire to be heard regardless of anyone else around them, anyone.

Then I began to notice myself, and witness myself the unnerving, unending, incessant, rude and intolerable behavior of the women who want to be men, think they have to be the man, and "act" as men, by speaking over others, women in particular.  Do these women speak over the men close to them or the ones that they encounter objectively at work? I don't know but I suspect they try to overachieve to show their capability of being a man, and do so by default.

I challenge you if you are a woman, to ask yourself if you are trying to be a man, a rude, overbearing man. What is it in you that feels so undeserved that you have to be so rude to your fellow sister?  Where are your manners? Can you please allow a woman to speak before you rush to speak over them as if they are not there? It's not just a kindness, it's a respect for others, insecurity is written all over your face and body. Is that what you really want?

Inspiration

Challenge #102

Yes, it's that simple.  We often make it more difficult than it has to be.  We have it within us, we just need a little nudge sometimes to go down inside and carve it out if need be.

Where do we get our inspiration from?  Many sources are available to you for inspiration, such as in spirituality, acceptance, others, animals, art, music, words. Are things placed here on earth within our lifetimes to give us inspiration? It helps if we first figure out who we are, and then, figure out exactly what moves us, what guides us to move forward.  Some never do this.
I challenge you to
1. Ask yourself who you are.
2. Make a list of what propels you to take action. And then pick one. That is your inspiration, it's up to you to keep it or choose another one, and another one, and yet another one....

Easy Rider

Challenge #101

Fresh off of taking a few days away from our challenges, (the celebration being one fabulous experience, by the way!!!)  we come back and face Occupy Wall Street demonstrations that have reached global proportions.  Possibly glaringly unaware and possibly deliberately looking the other way to ignore that the former presidential administrations have been planting the seeds for this for decades, the public is now outraged that corporate America has left the a nation in such division between the haves and the have-nots.  Freedom from financial woes is tough for everyone to negate and everyone has to bear down and get through the next few years of economic crises.

Thoughts of running away from the establishment as in the film "Easy Rider" for a an easy retirement off the sale of illegal substances is not the best answer, however, taking your vehicles, be it a motorcycle, van, motor home or car and just taking a brief "freedom" road trip can be a pleasant distraction.    I challenge you to allow yourself a mini "Freedom" road trip and get away for a day or two or three, whatever fits into your budget right now, and see the world from a different perspective. Try to see and experiences things outside your normal daily routine of just getting through life. Having a fresh perspective when you return can be the start of finding personal solutions and possibly significant contributions with others to do your part in helping possibly to turn the situation around, be it involvement with protest organizations, getting involved with local politics, elections, or any movement or incentive to actually make a bigger difference.