Today my grandma is on my mind and warming my heart. I don't remember how the conversation started this morning, perhaps from seeing the beautiful cardinal outside my window, but I was telling my fiancé how I wish he had gotten to meet her. Even in saying this, I know that she lives on in spirit and stories. I loved seeing her face light up as she showed me what she had gotten from swap-n-shop or presents my grandpa had spoiled her with like a new nail buffer or that special pink gun he got her for hunting. She had that same child-like joy that I hold on to while still being very grounded and intelligent. One of the things I loved most was seeing her in her crocs with fun patterned, knee high socks. My grandma was awesome! And while I miss her, I still feel the love between us.
I'm grateful for the memories I have of my grandma. I'm grateful for the silly stories. I'm grateful to allow her memory to live on through my stories and to share with others the beautiful soul that they did not have the opportunity to meet. I'm grateful for the cardinal that still visits me, as it did for the first time just outside her home on that sad day. I'm grateful for the way it looks into my eyes and the love I feel. I'm grateful to have been so blessed to have known my grandma. 
To some the memory of loved ones may be sad. To me it is a celebration of the life she had. I hope that some day when I am passed, my grandchildren and friends will hold the memories of my own crazy socks and my child-like joy. I hope that they will feel my love with them in those memories. And perhaps an owl will come to check in on them.
What are your fondest memories? How can you use those memories for joy? May your day be blessed with the comforts of love and may your heart find peace. Have a beautiful Friday, everyone!

As I laid on my yoga mat this morning in my beginning child's pose I listened to the wind roaring outside the windows as it rushed between houses and trees. I couldn't help but think how it had a similar sound to the roaring of the waves of the ocean from a lofty hotel room. As I did my morning yoga I imagined I was somewhere tropical and the sound was indeed the ocean washing below. Allowing my mind to center in its sound provided both a mini vacation through the imagination and also a form of meditation with the rhythm of nature's symphony. 
Imagination is not just for children. It is how we create our reality each day. Did I really change my surroundings to the ocean once my eyes were reopened? No, but I was able to create that same relaxation of returning from a calming vacation. I created my own retreat, if even just for a few minutes, and returned feeling refreshed. 
I'm grateful to have a strong imagination. I'm grateful to use it often. I'm grateful to know it is not an escape but rather a tool to strengthen my reality. And I'm grateful to see how I have the power to create that reality through intention and imagination (visualization). I'm grateful to dream, imagine, and create my world in a positive way.
Where do you imagine yourself to be for a reprieve from everyday life? What sounds help soothe you? And how can you use imagination to create the life you dream? May your day be blessed with creativity and renewed child-like imagination. May you find the power in it to create your dreams. Have a beautiful day!

Today I would like to address the spiritual side of ailments and injuries. For me, it only makes sense that something effecting my body has a spiritual connection and meaning as well. The most obvious of these would be depression but physical ailments are a way for the spiritual side to get our attention. Whether it be repeatedly stubbing the same toe or accidentally cutting a finger, to the more significant cancers or heart issues, our spirit speaks to us in the ways it can to get our attention. Mine has spoken to me with warts. 
For me, this blog will be an integral part of my healing. You see I found a wart on my foot shortly after my divorce four and a half years ago and at that time I was struggling with self-esteem, worth, and especially questioning if I was beautiful. At the time, a wart sent me into shame as I felt this was an embarrassing manifestation of inner ugliness. I was not at the time in touch with my spirituality and personal power so this one little wart seemed devastating. I tried treating it and could not get it to go away so I alternated over the years hiding it and trying to treat it. Then one day there were two! By this time I was in a much better place spiritually and I had the idea that perhaps the adage "what we resist persists" was true and that if I merely loved it then it would return to normal. This didn't work, any ideas why? Because I did not truly feel that way, of course, the warts remained and the result was just me ignoring and pretending they were not there. I continued on my path of self-love and spirituality until I pretty much forgot they were there all together... until I started planning my wedding. 
Suddenly I feel a need to remove them again and in studying them there are now two more smaller ones as well. Four warts on my foot! In seeing this it sent me through a mini review of all the beliefs and feelings these warts had stirred over the last several years. Finally I decided to reach out to a friend for help connecting it to the spiritual. I had come up with the connection that it was "stepping forward" and obviously having an impact on the "imperfectly perfect" philosophy that I believe and coach others on in my empowerment courses. So what was I missing and how could I find acceptance for this AND get rid of it. My friend's response startled me. Warts are physical representations of anger and to be on the foot are anger at the very basis of your understanding. What?! I had to sit with this for a while. What anger did I have at the base of my beliefs? Was it simply the imperfectly perfect philosophy being challenged? Well no, because I truly don't believe that warts make me any less perfect at the core. But this is symbolism for something larger going on. What is anger? To me it is most often the fear of not understanding or not being heard. So what fears do I have in taking the next step that is due to my core beliefs... 
I am getting re-married in a few months. The first wart appeared when I got divorced and at that time I did not believe it was even a possibility in my life. I truly believed marriage lasted forever and I was devastated to have this belief broken. The second one appeared when I was in a relationship with a man that did not believe in marriage because his belief was it didn't work and I had resigned myself to the idea I may never marry again. Now I am with a man that treats me as his queen and cherishes me. We have our typical up and down days as all good relationships do; this is the real-life fairytale after all not a cartoon. And now we are planning to wed. We are preparing to make the commitment before family, friends, and state that we will be together forever. I have asked myself if I am jaded or if I still believe that forever is a true option and it has been an emotional path to release the fears that I am now realizing I have held for the past several years. Perhaps there is some anger as well at the innocence that was lost and yet in finally going into the fears and emotions of the past (that I thought I had resolved years ago) I find that there is a renewed gratitude as well. 
I'm grateful for a man in my life to renew my faith in "ever after". I'm grateful for a man that has also been through divorce and is willing to walk beside me as we now rebuild the path. I'm grateful for the man who let me go and allowed me the opportunity to find myself and truly spread my wings to fly. I'm grateful for all the relationships along the way that have taught me so much. And I'm honestly (as weird as it may sound) grateful for the warts that persisted until I was willing to dig deep and allow these fears to surface and be worked through. I'm truly grateful to have a beautiful spiritual family and friends that I can reach out to for advice and inspiration. I'm truly blessed. 
What has been showing up in physical form for you? Have you taken time to look at the spiritual side of it? If you would like to brainstorm on possible spiritual manifestations and their meanings, as always, feel free to reach out to me through email at ReyofGratitude@gmail.com. Thank you for being such a loving audience and sounding board as I share my journey. Have a beautiful day!

Self-care is one of those things many of us ignore until something major is going on with our body, mind, or spirit. Yet balancing self-care is a form of practicing self-love. It is vital to our quality of life and should be made a priority. Does this mean quitting your job so you can start the day with bubble baths and end it with a massage? No, of course not. There has to be balance. It is possible to squeeze in that massage either after work or on the weekends for more of us that we realize though. It is possible to take a long bath with soft music after kids are put to sleep. In fact, finding ways to wind down and relax before bed can improve sleep and help give you more energy the next day, waking rested. There are even little things you can do during work, such as breathing exercises or taking a short walk on your break that can help uplift your spirit and refresh the mind. There are so many little ways to balance self-care and nurture yourself throughout the day. I challenge you to find even one way that you can take care of yourself today without a major change to your routine. Or, if your routine is in need of a major shift, then start thinking of how that shift will look and what steps need to be taken. You are the most important person in your life because without you, you wouldn't be here. You are truly the only person you can't live without. Though there are always people we love and feel that way about it is only physically true for yourself. So what will you do for you today? How will you balance your self-care and show yourself love and nurturing?
I'm grateful to be receiving a much needed massage today. I'm grateful to receive back what I give to others and I'm grateful for the relief it will bring my body. I'm grateful to take the time to sleep in just a few extra minutes today to catch up from waking early yesterday. I'm grateful for the healthy, delicious meal I ate yesterday that nourished me more than greasy fast food ever could. I'm grateful to be consciously trying each day to make healthy choices and set healthy goals for myself so that I can be at my best.
You are your own best friend. How will you treat him/her today? What small change can you make to your future self? Have a beautiful day!

There is so much that happens each day that we tend to take for granted. The sun rising and setting, the circles of life happening all around us, and our bodies regulating our vital functions without thought. When was the last time you gazed upon the world through a child's eyes? When was the last time you took the time to think about just what all going into the simple task of climbing out of bed? Today I want to focus in on these ordinary things and see the extraordinary complexity and blessings all around me.
I'm grateful for my legs that held me up and moved me from the bed to my office. I'm grateful for the complexity of bones and muscles in my feet that can be so small yet support my entire body. I'm grateful for the millions of functions I perform each day with my hands without much thought or effort. I'm grateful for my lungs breathing in and out providing my body with the nourishment it needs. I'm grateful for the moon looking like a eerie movie through the trees. I'm grateful to know the sun will rise and set today giving me a cue on my day passing. I'm grateful for the people who have used their skills to make vehicles practical and efficient. I'm grateful for this computer and its invisible tie to the world outside. And I'm grateful to be a part of this beautifully, extraordinary world.
What are you grateful for today? What extraordinary things can you find gratitude for in your everyday life? May your day be blessed with a fresh perspective and may you find wonder in this life. Have a beautiful day!

As we near the end of January I have heard many people saying that this year is flying by and so much has been happening for them already. I am feeling that way too. This year has kicked off in full gear and it has been fantastic... and sometimes a little overwhelming. Keeping up with my meditation practice and taking care of myself has become even more important as I balance all that is happening right now. So today I wanted to get back to simple gratitude. 
I'm grateful for the old coat my fiancé keeps of his father's and the memories he shares with me of I man I'll never physically meet. I'm grateful for the soft fur of my dogs as I pet them. I'm grateful for my sunlamp that gives me a little extra energy on the days I wake early. I'm grateful for the quiet of the house as everyone sleeps. I'm grateful for the gift of an antler that a deer left in my yard years ago. I'm grateful for phones, computers, and especially cars that allow multiple ways to keep in touch with friends and family. I'm grateful for dream journals. And I'm grateful for those that let me play and interpret their dreams with them. 
What are you grateful for today as we close out the "work week"? How can you get back to what is simple and nourish your needs? May you find gratitude in the everyday, ordinary things around you. May you find magic and beauty in them. Have a beautiful day and a wonderful weekend!

Between being an entrepreneur and being a fiancé there have been plenty of opportunities for me to take risks, make bold steps forward, and choose to make the commitment to myself, my dreams, and my love. Sometimes commitments are viewed as scary or even confining but this does not need to be the case. We make a hundred commitments each week without even thinking twice. We commit to get up so we can get the day started. We commit to going to work by getting in our car and driving there. We commit to friends, family, and coworkers each time we make plans and keep them. Yet some commitments seem to be more daunting.  
I prefer to ask myself if the commitment is supporting who I am and my dreams and intentions. Whether that be  a new job opportunity, a night out with a friend, or the lifelong commitment of becoming a spouse. The truth is that each choice you make is an opportunity to move toward what you want or stay in the same place.  Can you commit to your future? Can you commit to your dreams? Can you allow yourself to believe that you can achieve those dreams by taking small commitments each day to move your toward them? 
I'm grateful to make commitments to myself every day. I'm grateful that within the relationship with my fiancé there are commitments to him and also commitments to myself and my dreams. I'm grateful these commitments coincide, giving me the confidence to get married. I'm grateful for all the possibilities that open themselves to me and allow me the practice of deciphering what is best and committing to the ones that support me. I'm grateful for all the lessons I have learned from my previous commitments. And I'm grateful for how each played a role in making me who I am today.
What commitments will you make to yourself today? May your day be blessed with opportunities and may your commitments come from the heart. Have a beautiful day!

We live in a world full of color and most people have their favorites. My favorite color is orange because it is a bold and cheerful color. I also love blue for how it dramatizes my eyes and yellow for its cheeriness as well. I love the shades of green that color nature and the the few that are just fun to see. And I love seeing colors in places I did not expect them such as the way people dye their hair in funky colors. Perhaps after my wedding I will experiment with some colorful hair myself. 
Did you know that the colors we surround ourselves with can actually effect your mood? For example, red can increase your appetite (which is why many fast food companies use this in their logo), support your 1st chakra, add passion, or even increase anger if used in excess. Yet there is also an subjective element of this. For example, if red is your favorite color perhaps it has more positive results on you than on someone who is neutral to that color. To take it one step further, perhaps, it is even a color your body and spirit is needing for balance; though that is only a hypothesis I have. 
As my fiancé and I plan for our wedding and experiment with colors and combinations I am beginning to see how much I love all colors. There are so many shades and aspects to each that I love. And often color, especially in nature, is taken for granted. Even I take for granted all the subtle shades of brown outside my window during the winter. I notice the bright red berries instead. Yet brown can be a beautiful color all its own. 
I'm grateful to be reminded of all the beauty of color that surrounds me, yes, even brown. I'm grateful to have narrowed down the wedding colors. I'm grateful that my fiancé and I share the same favorite color. I'm grateful for the vibrant orange that uplifts my mood. I'm grateful to have friends that share different favorite colors, just as we all have different personalities and interests. I'm grateful for the diversity in my life. And I'm grateful to have an editing program that allows me to play with colors on my photographs.
What colors do you see today? What is your favorite color? May the colors that support you be near and may you notice the variety of colors around you today. Have a beautifully colorful day!

The sky is beginning to brighten as the sun comes up, bringing light to the darkness of a new moon's night. Do you feel it lifting? Do you feel that lighter, brighter feeling of the dawn of a new day? Sometimes we find ourselves trapped in the routine of life and lose track of the ebbs and flows that are always happening around us. When this happens, simple things can seemingly throw us off kilter. Changes that happen every month; energies, hormones, emotions, and so much more can suddenly seem daunting if we feel they have "snuck up" on us. The truth is there are always signs and cycles yet sometimes we get so preoccupied we do not see them. Today is a great day to give pause and acknowledge the light as it returns. Today is a great day to give gratitude. Today is the only day that exists. I'm grateful for this moment. I'm grateful for the existence of this day and ONLY this day. I'm grateful to have a new, solid vision board with it's heavy frame. I'm grateful for a vision board that fits me today and can grow with me and change with me tomorrow. I'm grateful for the light returning and of the reminder to pause and feel this brightness. I'm grateful for another warm day, to allow me to rejuvenate my spirit in the sunshine. How will you choose to spend this day? Even within the demands of life there are choices to be made. Parking further out so that you can enjoy a walk in the sunshine or choosing to close your eyes and just breathe at the end of the day to release any stress are two simple ways to refocus on the present. May your day be blessed with light. May you find comfort in the now. Have a beautiful day!

Today is such a beautiful and powerful day! Not only are we (here in the states) celebrating Martin Luther King Day and a powerful dream that changed our country but also the powerful energy of a New Moon calling us to recognize our own dreams! This year, 2015, is a year of change and bold action. And the New Moon is in full support of hearing and supporting those intentions. This is YOUR year to shine! So take some time today to dig deep in your heart. What is your passion? What light do you want to share with the World? How can you make a beautiful impact on your community? Don't just think it, FEEL it! You are a beautiful being full of unique gifts and loving light. The World wants to see those gifts. 
I'm so grateful to wake feeling lighter today. I'm grateful to have tonight's New Moon meditation recorded and ready to upload. I'm grateful to dance in this warmer weather today. I'm grateful to have today off in honor of a man that stood up for his dream at his ultimate cost to teach and show this World how it could be a better place. I'm grateful for all those you stand in support of love and equality today. I'm grateful for those who shine their beautiful light and allow their amazing power to create positive change. I'm grateful. I'm so very grateful. 
Each day is an opportunity to step toward your dreams. Each day is an opportunity to choose your reality. Each day is an opportunity to shine your beautiful light on the World and live form your heart. And today, today is in full support of you and your dreams. May your day be blessed with beauty. May you feel the support and love all around you. Have a beautiful day!