Flood Yourself with Good Things

Take a moment and think about your average day. How often are you faced with obstacles, fears and negativity? You may think you can handle it, but how do you truly feel? Now think about what it would be like if you showered your day with good things. This may sound corny and maybe even impossible to you. Just give it a try. What have you got to lose?

1.  A Flood of Forgiveness

Forgive. Some people need to be forgiven on a daily basis. While you are at it, forgive yourself.

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." ~ L. Smedes

"Holding resentment is like eating poison and waiting for the other person to keel over."~ Unknown

2. Put Good Things in Your Brain

Read an inspirational book, blog, devotional, listen uplifting music or watch an empowering movie or TV show. Surround yourself with friends that bring out the best in you. Take time to mediate and think. (You might want to even take a break from your high drama friends, violent/crime TV shows and the news.) 

What you find in your mind is what you put there.  Put good things in there.” ~Ron Rathbun

3. Put Good Things in Your Body

Eat nutritious, healthy and clean food. Ditch the sugar, processed foods and artificial sweeteners. After a period of detoxification, you will be thinking clearer, have more energy and actually crave healthy foods. Unbelievable! Yes - but it's true, just try it! 

This is is supposed to be a joke...not the way we really are. :)

4. Move Your Body

Breathe...get outside and get some fresh air. We all know this - we just need to do it! Go for a walk, run, stretch, do yoga, play with your kids, swim, lift weights, Just Dance on your Wii or Zumba - you know you'll feel better.

And remember...

5. Have an Attitude of Gratitude

Just try this little experiment for 1 week: Each day write down 5 things you are grateful for. It could be your comfy bed, your children or that you survived another day. See how you feel at the end of that week. Let me know what happens to your attitude and your life.

"The single greatest thing you can do to change your life today would be to start being grateful for what you have right now. And the more grateful you are, the more you get." ~Oprah

I can't wait to hear how you feel after you begin to shower your life with good things. If you want any recommendations on books or other inspirational materials, I'd be happy to share what brings good to my life.

May you be showered with whimsy and good things!

~ Lisa

Are You Toxic?

Toxic people have super powers. They can suck the life out of a party in less than a minute. Their extreme negativity has the ability to drain the energy from even the happiest of people. From gossiping and complaining, to creating doubt, or just being plain mean, a toxic person can alter how people see reality.

What motivates toxic people to ooze so much negativity? Is it the power they feel from making an impact? It may not be a positive impact, but they still create a change in their surroundings. Is their goal to bring others down to the level of their inner despair? Another possibility is that they have no idea that they are contaminating the world around them.

I didn't realize how toxic I actually was until I completed a 9 day cleanse. Originally, it was about food, but soon after I began, it was clear that it more encompassing than just a physical cleanse. Just talking about "cleansing" was terrifying before I started. Part of me was afraid that my entire digestive system would fall apart if I changed my diet so drastically. The irony was that when I was 20, I had no problem becoming a vegetarian and even ate a vegan diet for many years. So why did I fight the idea of cleansing for so long?

The answer was sugar. Giving up meat was no big deal because meat has never called to me like sugar. Mmmm...sugar...what an addictive mood altering drug. Throughout my life, there were few times that a chocolate chip cookie wouldn't improve my day. Add a Starbucks' triple tall, nonfat, dirty latte with extra foam and my day would have reached perfection.

So how could I possibly consider giving up something that I thought added so much to my life? I had lots of excuses: Some of my best writing has been Starbucks charged. I might get light-headed if I didn't have a least a little sweet treat in the afternoon. Yes, I convinced myself that I must be hypoglycemic. :) After dealing with that difficult (toxic) person, I deserve to indulge in a Godiva chocolate. I don't have the willpower, which really meant, I didn't have a strong enough desire to change. My own thoughts and attitudes were toxic to my well being.

Guess what! I did the cleanse anyway! I cleansed my mind and body. Surprisingly, I survived. I also lost 9 pounds and have yet to find it. :) In fact, I have lost 6 more pounds and it's only been 3 weeks. The best part is that I no longer have cravings for sugar or anything else for that matter. I just eat like a normal person. Food tastes great and I am free of the desire for sugar.

What I discovered is that I was still eating, just not eating nutritionally bankrupt food. I was still me, I just released pounds and thoughts that were weighing down my life. Cleansing is about nourishing yourself with healthy and clean food, water and thoughts. I completely flooded my system with good things.

How do you feel physically and emotionally? A month ago, if someone would have told me I was toxic, I would have told them they must have me confused with someone else. I am a Whimsical Sol. :) What I have been reminded is that I am on a journey and that means there is always room for growth and enlightenment.

In my next blog, I will share with you how to Flood Your System with Good Things.

Wishing you love, peace and a whimsical week,

~Lisa

"Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mirror, Mirror, of my Soul

What do you see when you look into your mirror? Your beautiful big brown eyes or that silly little pucker you make as you put on your lipstick? Do you giggle when you see your morning bed head or make funny faces as you brush your teeth? Maybe you love to give yourself a once over and tell your reflection that you look hot and today is going to be an amazing day!

Is it possible that you gaze into another kind of mirror?  This type is worse than never looking in a mirror at all. The Flaw Finder Mirror looks just like an ordinary mirror, but it holds your insecurities and fears within. You’d think that this would be a dreaded mirror. Surprisingly, it is not. Lots of women find an odd pleasure in looking closely at themselves and searching for imperfections. Since none of us are perfect, it’s really not that difficult of a task. What puzzles me is the reward.

Why do women spend so much time searching for something to be wrong with them? Are they on a quest to uncover their flaws so they can improve them? Do they think that if they notice their perceived imperfections before someone else points them out, that they have an advantage? Maybe they feel unworthy and just want to feel miserable. Or could it be that scrutinizing their appearance is easier than accepting the brilliant light within them?

Have you ever looked into a cloudy mirror? The last time I saw myself in one, was in a restroom at a national park. It gave my reflection a soft focus kind of feel. I could just see sort of the essence of me and it made me smile.

Maybe a cloudy mirror is the way to go! After a day of hiking, I am pretty sure that my hair and make-up were not perfect. What was perfect, was the way I felt. I was so happy and I saw that glow in the mirror.

Okay, maybe a cloudy old mirror isn’t very practical. Putting on makeup would be challenging. You’d also need friends that you trust enough to tell you when you have cracked pepper or spinach in your teeth.

How about if you create a Cloudy New Mirror? Look into your mirror and talk to you – not the flawed you – the real you. Talk about your heart, your spirit, the goodness that you share with the world. Appreciate how incredibly beautiful you truly are. Enjoy the reflection of your soul as you continue to gaze at the only “you” in this world.

You are one of a kind! You are here to shine!

~Lisa…a Whimsical Sol

***Don’t forget about little super reminders – sticky notes! They are terrific tools to keep you focused when looking in your mirror. Try posting what you said to yourself, on your mirror. If you need help with the words, search for books on positive affirmations or better yet, contact me and I’ll help you create affirmations that speak to your Whimsical Sol.

Whimsical Parenting - Do you have the balls for it?

What kind of parent are you?

Are you the maxed out, over-committed manic mommy that is too exhausted trying to be perfect, to really enjoy her kids?

Are you the helicopter parent that is continually hovering over her children? You are so busy controlling their every move and structuring their playtime and play dates that you have no other interests?

Are you the workaholic wonder woman whose day starts with barking orders at her kids as they get ready for daycare and school, so you can get to work on time? At night, do you collapse in bed trying to figure out when you became a drill sergeant?

Are you the detached, “it’s all about me” parent, that people are surprised is a mom because you are always out doing your thing and are rarely seen with your kids?

If you haven’t had kids yet, please don’t run away screaming! Being a parent doesn't make you as crazy as it sounds. It’s just that some parents over do it and get out of balance. We are so overwhelmed with our own life and the idea of being responsible for another life that we get lost. We feel guilty when we put our needs first and feel like a pathetic martyr when we forget about our needs.

 Being a parent is a juggling act. Have you ever watched a juggler? If you watch long enough, the juggler will inevitably drop a ball at some point. A good juggler will recover so fast that it is barely noticeable or make it seem like it was part of the act. A good parent is a professional juggler.

Make a list of all balls you have in the air. Start with your kids’ basic needs like food, shelter and clothing. Then list their emotional needs like love, compassion, trust and laughter. Think of their physical and mental needs like help with homework, dental appointments, sports, and play time.

List all of the balls that you are juggling just for them. Now, add your balls. You have lots of balls to handle! Some of you even have really big balls!

See what you are dealing with? You are just a juggler doing the best you can. Relax and know that sometimes a ball will drop. Before tossing it back up with the rest, decide if that ball still needs to be part of your act. It’s your show. You can change the act at any time. Just focus on the performance as a whole and enjoy!

Accepting that you have your hands full while juggling your life, adjusting after mistakes and adapting along the way, is all part of the journey to discovering your Whimsical Sol.

Why Can't Sent Texts Be Deleted?!!

If only I could go back in time. Nothing as exciting as walking with the dinosaurs or being the Lisa in Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Nope, I just want to go back to the time right before I hit "send."

Have you ever sent a text that you regretted sending? You are typing away and all of the sudden your pinky gets a mind of its own, "Yep, that looks good, quit rambling, just get that thought sent. I'll hit it for you right...NOW!"

This is worse. I sent the text to the WRONG PERSON! Even worse than that, the message was ABOUT the PERSON I accidentally texted!

You see, it all started with a guy... Last week, a guy that I knew from high school in Minnesota, called me. We live an hour from each other in California, but this was our first communication outside of Facebook. It was kind of like a little fairy tale. He told me he always had a crush on me and I blushed, while thinking, if only I knew then what I know now.

We got lost in our conversation and talked until 3am. During that time, he rescued 4 baby raccoons. Seriously! Although this sounds like something right out of my novel, I am not making this up! He was in his backyard and I could hear raccoons making their unusual sound. The mama raccoon had been hit by a car, and while we were talking, he gathered up her young and put them in a cardboard box.

First he says he had a crush on me and then he rescues baby animals! Is this my dream guy or what?!

What happens next is a little confusing. He called me the next day and invited me to go to an event in Sonoma the following weekend. It all seemed to be going well, except for the fact that he is kind of in a relationship - whatever that means!

Today is one week later. I hadn't heard from him until I received a text this morning. Of course, I texted my best friend since the 6th grade, to tell her about his text. Carolyn and I were texting back and forth and somehow I accidentally replied to HIS text with a message about him!

This is like some junior high nightmare! Now he knows that I am interested in him! So much for playing it cool. How old am I, again?

Think back to a time when you have been extremely embarrassed. I'm happy to say that since I have discovered my Whimsical Sol, that rarely happens. Maybe it's because I am more comfortable with myself and can laugh things off. Another reason might be that I have learned from my past mistakes. For example, don't get out of the water in front of boys when wearing a white t-shirt and shorts when swimming.

Now what do I do?  After making Carolyn laugh hysterically with the news of my texting confusion, I sent him another text that said," LOL :)". Then I called him to explain. He was on his way to a meeting and said he'd call me this afternoon. He sounded really good. Maybe too good. I have no clue if he read the text. I guess I'll just have to wait to find out.

~Lisa...a red-faced Whimsical Sol

What Do You Crave?

What do you crave? Is it sweet, salty or a little of both?

Do you think I am talking about food, love or a little of both?

Romance and food go hand in hand. In a perfect world, you may even use one hand to hold your lover's hand and an ice cream cone in the other. :)

Sometimes when people are lonely, they eat. From my informal survey of lonely people, they tend to overindulge in chips, cookies, cakes, fast food, Italian food, Mexican food... Well, you get the idea, excessive amounts of cheesy, crunchy, sweet or all around high calorie food. Seldom will fresh veggies and fruits be used to ease the pain of loneliness. Oops! I forgot to mention chocolate! Although, I do think that with all of the health studies coming out regarding the benefits of dark chocolate, it may soon be considered medicine. ;)

Food may temporarily sedate the lonely person, but in the long run, it doesn't do much to help them attract another love interest. When they finally emerge from their food coma and reach for the fruit and veggies instead of the pint of Ben & Jerry's, they can think clearly, get moving and find love.

Again, food becomes important because so many dates are dinner dates. As the relationship grows, they start cooking together. Before they know it, wild nights of indulging in strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate sauce give a whole new meaning to dessert. Even if they are not eating, food is still on their lips. A couple hungers for each other. They crave affection. They nibble on each other's ears while whispering sweet nothings. Soon the pet names follow:

Honey

Sweetie Pie or just plain Sweetie

Dumpling

Cupcake

Sugar

Cookie

Honey Bun

Baby Cakes
Sweetness - Remember Patch & Kayla from Days of Our Lives?

Pumpkin

Puddin'

Pickles

Sugar Lips
Honey Pie

Sweet Cheeks

Hot Buns

Top Banana
Peaches

Cherry
Sweet Pea
Stud Muffin - my personal favorite

Have you ever called the apple of your eye any of the above? You may love to talk about your Hottie Biscotti, but most of us would rather that you keep pet names private. When I was in high school, I worked at a grocery store with a man that lovingly referred to his wife as, "Lamb chop." Not to be outdone, another co-worker, referred to his wife as "Pork chop." I'd never met their wives, but I imagine that "Lamb chop" was much tenderer with her husband.

Not all relationships are sweet as molasses, but sometimes something corny inside of us hungers to hear, "I love you berry much!"

What do you want to hear? Is there a yummy pet name that I missed? Please let me know what you think. I know what I am craving. Yes, it is a muffin...a studmuffin, to be exact.

Remember...to enjoy the full flavor of life, always take big bites! 
~Lisa...a Whimsical Sol

Be Better, Not Bitter

Life can be a challenge. Life can be messy. Life can be just plain annoying. Think about those times when things didn't go exactly your way. Need a few scenarios to spark your memory?

1. Work:  After your presentation, your boss comments that it was good, but she had higher expectations. Are you mad, focus on her flaws and think about how incompetent she is?
2. Commute:   Every day you deal with inconsiderate drivers on your hour commute to work. Today, construction traffic made you late for an appointment. Do you dread the drive and complain incessantly about it?
3. Family:  Your sister backed out of having 50 relatives for Thanksgiving. She expects you to host it for the 3rd year in a row. Do you bad mouth her to everyone who will listen and begrudgingly host Thanksgiving?
4. Friends: Your friend borrowed a few dresses and has been forgetting to return them for 6 months. Do you complain to your other friends about what a flake she is?
5. Love: Your significant other forgot your anniversary. Do you question your relationship and use the silent treatment as punishment?
6. Health: The scale said you gained 5 pounds. Are you depressed, call yourself fat, then head to the fridge?
7. Ex:  While trying to co-parent your kids, you two end up arguing over kids' issues and money. Do you tell your kids what a cheapskate and loser the other parent is?

Yuck! After thinking of all that, I feel like I need a bath! I guess I'll just settle for cleansing my mind.

On Twitter, the Dishy Divorcee gave a glimpse of how she lives her life: "My motto has been better, not bitter...definitely NOT easy." The Dishy Divorcee is so wise! (Check out her blog: http://www.dishydivorcee.com/.)

We may not be able to control everything that happens to us, but we can control how we react and feel. See how some of the following work for you:

• Take a deep breath in...and a deep breath out.
• Reflect before reacting.
• Think
• Be thankful
• Forgive
• Learn
• Let go
• Pray
• Love

It may not always be easy, but it can be done. Choose to be positive. Choose to not let circumstances control your emotions. Choose to be better. And remember...

Attitude is Everything,

So Pick a Good One.

May you always remember to be better,

Lisa ~ a Whimsical Sol