Appreciation And Self Love

Give yourself some flowers!
Grow them, pick them or buy some for your own enjoyment. It's a nice thing to do for yourself. While you're at it give some away to someone you appreciate. These are freesias, my personal favorite.
"Appreciation and self-love are the most important tools that you could ever nurture. Appreciation of others, and the appreciation of yourself is the closest vibrational match to your Source Energy of anything that we've ever witnessed anywhere in the Universe"
-Abraham

Excerpted from the workshop in Spokane, WA on Tuesday, May 30th, 2000

This is from a daily quote I receive each day in my email box from Abraham-Hicks. You can find them at www.abraham-hicks.com and sign up to receive it in your email if you'd like.
You can also view YouTube clips of their workshops.
Here is a clip of Abraham on Self Appreciation :






Here is a nice article about self appreciation:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Keys-to-Happiness:-No.-1-Self-Appreciation&id=70755


  Notice all the beauty around you everywhere you go.

See how many things you can appreciate and approve of.


Today I appreciate having love in my life.
I appreciate all the beautiful loving people I have in my life.
I appreciate all the nice things I do for myself, like eating fresh healthy foods and doing what it
takes to live a life I love.

Tribute To The Wise Ones

There are many wise teachers, gurus and great authors that I have enjoyed and appreciated having in my life.
I want to acknowledge and honor their courage, desire, determination and wisdom they've all brought to the world.
To all the wise ones that have stepped forward and have been a positive role model for others:
Thank You for your teachings, insights, ideas and vision.
Thank You for being there when we all need an answer, support and a friend.








I appreciate and give thanks to:

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
http://www.tm.org/

Pattabhi Jois
http://www.kpjayi.org/

Paramahansa Yogananda
http://www.yogananda-srf.org/

Buddha
http://www.aboutbuddha.org/

Deepak Chopra
http://www.chopra.com/

Wayne Dyer
http://www.drwaynedyer.com/

Echart Tolle
http://www.eckharttolle.com/eckharttolle

Catharine Ponder
http://catherineponder.wwwhubs.com/

Edwene Gaines
http://www.prosperityproducts.com/

Shakti Gawain
http://www.shaktigawain.com/

Ken Keyes
http://mindprod.com/livinglove/kensbooks.html

Victor and Cindy Baranco
http://www.lafayettemorehouse.com/

Werner Erhard and Land Mark Education
http://www.landmarkeducation.com/

Anthony Robbins
http://www.tonyrobbins.com/Home/Home.aspx

Abraham-Hicks
http://www.abraham-hicks.com/lawofattractionsource/index.php

Napoleon Hill
http://napoleonhill.wwwhubs.com/

Norman Vincent Peale
http://normanvincentpeale.wwwhubs.com/

Paul Bragg
http://www.squidoo.com/PaulBragg

Herbert Shelton
http://www.getwellstaywellamerica.com/Shelton/DrSheltonTOC.htm

Norman Walker
http://www.detoxlife.com/normanwalker.htm

Some Famous Quotes "Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss in life is what dies inside of us while we live life, day-by-day. Commit to Life! Choose Life! Make Your Life A Masterpiece! Don't waste the miracle of life. You can do it, and so can I ! "Norman Cousins with Helen Lamar There is no great success without... great commitment! Your time is finite and limited. But your imagination is infinite and unlimited! If you always just do what you've always just done, then you'll always just get what you've always got! Belief is the thermostat that regulates what we accomplish in life. Belief in limits creates limited people. The key is to let go of those limitations & operate from a higher set of resources! "Destiny is not a matter of chance: it is a matter of choice: it is not a thing to be waited for: Destiny is a thing to be achieved." William Jennings Bryan "We have not lost faith but we have transferred it from God to the medical profession." George Bernard Shaw Realize that changing your thinking is a full-time occupation So if you want to Get Well, be willing to change! If you want things to be different, to be better than they are, you will have to change what you think, feel, and do. It's just that simple. It's just that hard! "If at first you don't succeed, you're running about average." M.H. Alderson "The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease."Voltaire "She who has A 'WHY?' to live can bear almost any 'HOW?'"Nietzche "Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal! Vision is the art of seeing things invisible."Jonathan Swift The sooner you implement a new behavior, the better your chance of making it a permanent part of your life. Remember, it's not what you know, but what you DO with what you know! Nothing is Impossible - but thinking makes it so. If it's possible, it's easily done. If it's impossible, it just takes a little longer. And my attitude? Just don't tell me it's impossible until after I've ALREADY DONE IT!

Today I appreciate all the writings and teachings I have available to me.
I appreciate knowing people have succeeded before me and that they have paved the way.
I appreciate knowing that I can create my life the way I love.

Raw Food Diet

Seven years ago my husband and I went on a 2 week detox cleansing diet.
It was a diet consisting of all fresh organically grown raw fruits,vegetables nuts and seeds.
They call this the Raw Food Diet. We found out about raw foods from a woman we had met that looked 10 years younger than her age. (She was 52 at the time) We asked what her secret was and she told us about eating live foods. So we decided to do a two week cleanse that led us on a path that has changed our lives forever.
We started feeling so good eating this way that we continued it for over 6 years. We gradually started adding in more Standard American Diet (which in raw foodism is called the SAD diet) and the past year have found we're eating more dead foods (cooked and altered) than fresh living foods. We really noticed a difference in the way we look, feel, and think. It was nice to have the reference of how we could feel if we were more disciplined. With this in mind I decided to get back to feeling and looking the way I like to feel and look, energetic and alive.The past week I've consumed only fresh raw fruits and vegetables the entire week.
I've been making fresh squeezed orange juice when I first get up, then I'll have some fruit like apricots, cherries or grapes. It's mango season here in Hawaii and I've been eating about 3 mangoes a day! Thank You Whole Foods Market in Honolulu!
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/
Then I'll have watermelon or a smoothie. In the evening I'll have a salad or some more fruit.
I've already dropped a few pounds and my body is quickly shaping back up. It's amazing how quickly my body gets back to my normal weight once I stop putting all the junk it doesn't want or need in there. I'm feeling more energetic than I have in a long time.
I'm posting some links about raw foods if you're curious and want more information or would like to try eating this way.


http://www.davidwolfe.com/

http://www.alissacohen.com/

http://foodnsport.com/


Here's one of my favorite smoothie recipes :

Blend :
2 cups of pineapple coconut juice
5 strawberries
2 bananas (small apple bananas or 1 large banana)
one half of papaya
this makes a delicious drink that is as filling as any meal.


Today I appreciate feeling good and having more energy.
I appreciate Whole Foods Market and organic produce.
I appreciate summer and all the wonderful summer fruits that are available!

It's Mango Season!

I just had the most incredible mango. It was sweet with a hint of tart, meaty and juicy...yum!
I was one of the best I've ever tasted. It came from Ho'omalu Farms on the Big Island.
They are part of the HOFA the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association. Here's a link :
http://www.hawaiiorganicfarmers.org/
It's mango season here in Hawaii, my favorite time of year! I can see mangoes dangling from trees everywhere I go, in parking lots, on the side of the freeway, even in downtown Honolulu.
Did you know there are over 1000 varieties of mangoes worldwide?
The mango originated in Southeast Asia where it has been grown for over 4,000 years. Over the years mango groves have spread to many parts of the tropical and sub-tropical world.
The mango tree will fruit 4 to 6 years after planting and requires hot, dry periods to set and produce a good crop. Mango trees are evergreens that will grow to 60 feet tall.
Most of the mangoes sold in the United States are imported from Mexico, Haiti, the Caribbean and South America. Mangoes are packed full of nutrition.
They are found to be the most perfect choice of all fruits for replenishing mineral salts, vitamins and energy after a strenuous session of physical exercise. Studies indicate that mangoes have the potential to strengthen and invigorate the nerve tissues of the muscles and vital internal organs such as heart and brain.The nutritious food factors present in mango are protein, carotene's, carbohydrates and minimal traces of fat. Mangoes contain minerals such as potassium, zinc, iron, magnesium and calcium. Mangoes are full of vitamin A they also contain vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, folic acid and vitamin C.
If you've never eaten a mango you have to try one, you'll be treating yourself to one of the worlds most delicious fruits!


Today I appreciate having fresh organic fruits available in abundance.
I appreciate the sweet smell of mango in my kitchen.
I appreciate the farmers and their labor of love.
I appreciate my health and well being.

Honolulu Book & Music Festival

My husband and I attended the Honolulu Book & Music Festival yesterday.
http://www.hawaiibookandmusicfestival.org/
I bought some beautiful coffee table books for as little as one dollar.
When I buy a new, full priced book it's usually something I'm studying or that teaches me something ,so this was a treat to have a book for pure enjoyment.
It's always exciting to be in a place where I can check out new books and possibly find one to add to my collection. I'm drawn to any place they have books, bookstores, thrift stores, used book shops.Yard sales are one of my favorites because they practically give them away.
When my kids were young I could afford to supply them with new reading material this way. I read to both my daughter and son everyday when they were young, starting when they were just babies. They would listen attentively and love to look at the colorful illustrations. They both learned to read at an early age and are both avid readers today. I attribute this to an early love of reading.
Whenever there is a book swap or a book fair I have to go. I'm like a kid in a candy store there. Books open the door to all kinds of opportunity. They can be a good friend, take you on an adventure without leaving the comfort of your home and teach you things you never knew you were interested in.
Reading has always been a big part of my life. Some of my earliest childhood memories are when I was around three years old, my mom would read me story after story. She took us to the library weekly and I would spend what seemed like hours searching through all of the choices to select the very best. I would get a stack of books so high you could hardly see me behind them when carrying them out to the car. I have fond memories of being a kid with nothing more to do than spend days laying around reading a good book. I think reading so many books when I was young developed my desire to write. When I was in sixth grade, I had a teacher, Terri Cavanaugh -Ashley that was very supportive and encouraged me to write. She was a wonderful teacher who was also a friend, everyone loved her. I really appreciate having had her in my life.
It's just been recent, in the past few years that I've actually been paid for my writing. My first book Danny and the Dolphin is almost complete. I've been working on the design and publishing for the past year now. I never realized how much went into making a book.It's been a fun and rewarding process, and I've learned a lot about publishing.
You can check out my book preview here at my web site:

Having something I do everyday that I 'm passionate about is a really good feeling.
I have something to look forward to, that I'm excited to get to with writing...kind of like when you're in the middle of a good book and you can't wait to get back to reading it.
What's so wonderful about writing is, you can do it anywhere, and it's free!
If you're interested in writing or in seeing what writing is all about, you can check out a writing workshop in your area. You could also find one in a place you'd like to visit and have it be the excuse for some fun and travel.
My friend Katya Williamson, who was a key person in helping me get my book published
(Thank You Katya!) does writing retreats and writing workshops in California,Hawaii and in the UK.
You can check out her website here: http://www.katyawilliamson.com/
Katya is an author and also has a new book coming out this summer.
Her new book is called "Bringing The Soul Back Home". It's about the writing process she does at her writing retreats. Here's a link to her book:
http://www.o-books.com/product_info.php?products_id=593%20-%2044k

Today I appreciate knowing how to read and write.
I appreciate having good vision.
I appreciate having work that I love and I'm passionate about.
I appreciate having people to share that with.

Start A Healthy Daily Habit

I don't drink coffee or read the morning paper.
I use to get up, meditate and do my yoga practice every morning.This gave me more energy than havinga cup of coffee and it lasted all day. I've practiced Ashtanga yoga for over 20 years and somewhere I stopped.
I've noticed a huge difference in how I feel. My body will sometimes hurt in places like my hips or low back when I've been sitting too long.
Yoga was one of the things that made me feel better than I've ever felt. When I do yoga, even just for a few days in a row I start to feel more alive in my body. I feel more youthful and energetic. When I practice yoga regularly my weight is naturally where I like it to be and I don't wonder or worry about my health.
Yoga is the quickest way I've found to get in shape and stay fit and strong. It's more than exercise, it's a way to reconnect with yourself, a way to love yourself, and you take that into your daily life, so it's actually a way to love others too.
The saying "Today is the first day of the rest of your life" is so true.
Each day can be a new beginning. We can create our lives however we choose, one day at a time.
So today I've decided to start my daily meditation and yoga practice again.
It's amazing how quickly yoga transforms a body. I'm looking forward to feeling better and having more energy.
Here are some things yoga can do for you:

It bolsters strength, stamina, and flexibility.
It improves one's ability to focus.
It's a great way to release tension and anxiety.
It helps a person maintain proper posture and weight.
It's a good way to remove bodily toxins through sweat.
It serves as a great training for athletes.
It helps improve a person's performance in sports.
Improves your sex life.
It tones your body inside and out
Improves confidence.
It helps you sleep better.

Try it, you'll like it!

Today I appreciative having a body capable of being active and doing yoga asanas.
I appreciate having time to meditate and do a yoga practice every day and I appreciate my health.
What are some healthy daily habits you have or would like to start?

Write Your Own Horoscope

I've been checking my daily horoscope on my Yahoo sign in page for months now. I don't know why I started this. I look at it each day after I check my email. Most of the time it's a pleasant message and sometimes it will say things that seem forewarning and make me wonder if I might be having some challenges arise.
So I've decided to forgo the reading of the cosmos and start writing my own personal daily horoscope.
Here goes:
"Today is going to be a day filled with love. Everyone you meet will smile, be friendly and kind. You will feel at one with all and be reminded that this is what life is all about. Get ready for a great day all around!"
Looking at my daily horoscope habit got me thinking more about how our minds are like sponges. We absorb messages everywhere we go, whether it's conscious or subconscious.
The media and advertisement companies are very aware of this and are masters at subliminal marketing. Most of the time they market from our fear. Then there's the marketing of the perfect lifestyle complete with kids, pets, cars, luxurious vacations, baubles and finally the grand prize of retirement. We are so receptive that unless we are deliberate in our actions and vigilant
with our choices, we can end up living a life that isn't what we really want, and that isn't very gratifying.
I recently watched a DVD I rented from Netflix about Zen cooking. They had dicon radishes in the film. Last night I had a dream with dicon radishes in it.
I woke up with the thought that these little subconscious clips I have running through my mind are actually in the creation stages...if I keep thinking them, then I'll soon be seeing them. We collect bits and pieces of information and if we're not careful, these subconscious inputs can affect our lives. What we expose ourselves to in our environment is so important, it affects our thoughts and our reality whether we believe it or not. Sometimes you'll like it and sometimes you might not.
This is where being deliberate in ALL you do plays a vital role. Deliberate creating is important to living a life of manifesting what you want and desire.Affirmations and positive exposure play a big part in helping create what you want.
I cut out phrases from magazines like "Find your happy place" or "The Best is yet to come" and place them where I can see them often.
Take a look at what subliminal messages you're exposed to, day to day.
Are your screen names and passwords to online accounts something inspiring and uplifting?
What would you write for your daily horoscope and what subconscious programming are you allowing in your life?
Today, look for things you can approve of everywhere you go. It's amazing how quickly approval grows. When you find things to approve of, more things you approve of show up.

My affirmations for today are love, fun, commitment, order, health, and fitness.

Hawaiian Honu (Turtle)

Don't you just love it when something unexpected happens that completely makes your day!
Today I went snorkeling with my husband late in the afternoon and finally had my opportunity to swim with a turtle. I've seen the turtles around for years and always wanted to swim with one but never got the chance. They would always swim away. This afternoon we snorkeled around for a bit and were on our way out of the water, close to the rocks when we spotted "her". (it seemed like a her) There she was feeding on the rocks along side some beautifully colored fish. I followed her and we swam together for awhile. It was wonderful. I felt honored that she let me get so close.
I'd love to swim with wild dolphins someday. I've been in the pool with trained dolphins at Dolphin Quest but never with wild dolphins. Last year I had an amazing experience as an intern at the Hilton Waikoloa Dolphin Quest. They had a newborn they were monitoring to make sure he was nursing regularly and doing all the things dolphins need to do to survive. I was chosen as one of the people that got to go into the pool with the mama dolphin, her newborn and 3 other dolphins. I stayed underwater with a mask and snorkel for an hour counting how many times the baby nursed, came up for air, defecated and bumped the mama. Bumping indicates it wants to nurse.
One of the dolphins kept coming up to me and opening her mouth as wide as she could and tried to bite my arm and leg. It seemed like she was being playful like a puppy but it was very intimidating! The whole experience in the dolphin pool was exciting and seemed like a dream to me. I didn't want to leave when it was time to get out!















Here's a video of a dolphin being born :



If you love dolphins like I do, then you might like to check out the book "Listening To Wild Dolphins, Learning Their Secrets For Living With Joy" by Bobbie Sandoz
It's a fun book that has some interesting information about dolphins and the authors experiences swimming with them for over 10 years.
http://www.bobbiesandoz.com/

Today I appreciate knowing how to swim, living in a warm tropical place, having a marine sanctuary within walking distance to my house, the beautiful underwater life,
playful dolphins and friendly sea turtles!
~Aloha

Another Beautiful Day In Paradise

Today is a picture perfect summer day here in Hawaii. It's actually still Spring but looks and feels like summer.
I live on the North Shore of Oahu, where the waves are both famous and infamous for their size. During the winter it's not uncommon to have 20-30 foot surf. It can be awesome to watch and with it comes a turbulent energy that creates motion throughout the entire North Shore.
I look forward to the dead calm of summer. The water is transformed looking and feeling like a peaceful lake. Sailboats show up docked in beautiful Waimea Bay.
People are out diving, snorkeling and riding bikes. It's perfect day after day. Today I'm appreciating the tropics and the fresh air of the trade winds. I appreciate the simple country lifestyle and the gentleness of the people that make up our community.
I appreciate watching all the animals roam and play.
I appreciate the beauty that surrounds me, and I appreciate one more beautiful day living my life in paradise.

A Mothers Love

Today is Mothers Day and in many ways it was a really beautiful day. I spent time with my husband and some friends snorkeling. We spent all weekend hiking, snorkeling,sharing meals,laughing together and watching a fun tribute to James Taylor on DVD. I received a lovely card from my loving husband and a very heartfelt expressive card from my sweetheart son along with a Barnes and Noble gift card. Yeah...smart guy!
The not so feel good part of this day is the wound in my heart from my daughter not wanting to relate with me right now. My daughter Amber,who is now 27 was calling me at least once a day for a very long time. We were very close not only as mother-daughter but as friends.
It was a relationship I valued and was a fulfilling part of my life. Over a year ago the phone calls stopped abruptly. I called to find out why and got no response. She refuses to let me know why and has cut off all contact. She does relate with her grandmother (my mother) but will not tell her the reason why either. I haven't given up trying to communicate with her.
It has been the most devastating,hurtful thing I've ever dealt with in my life.So today on Mothers Day I feel part of my heart full and a part of my heart empty and sad. It is an interesting place to be.
I continue to enjoy my life and continue to have fun.There still is, always that place that is sad and I'm not sure what to do with the feelings of loss. It's not like I can mourn and get over it like with a death, because she is not dead but then I really don't know if she will ever want to be in my life again and I don't know why. It's been pure torture.
A Mothers Love is unconditional. When you've been a mother you open your heart beyond belief and that includes being vulnerable to having your heart broken and part of mine has a deep crack in it right now.
Well the universe has an interesting way of helping us deal with things. This morning I was walking on the beach with a friend and we met a young man (about my daughters age) sitting on the beach. He's originally from Italy but now lives in Hawaii. He mentioned that he missed things about Italy and that he really missed his mom. On my walk I had picked up 4 pieces of coral that were shaped like hearts. I collect heart shaped rocks and coral. I reached into my pocket and handed him a heart shaped coral and told him it was from his mother. I told him to remember that a mothers love is always in your heart no matter where she might be. He almost cried and put his hand over his heart and said he had goose bumps. It touched me to be able to touch him that way.
I believe things happen for a reason and that I 'm responsible for all that comes my way on some level. Some positive things with the situation with my daughter are that she is still living, she's not using drugs and is a hard working responsible person. We've shared a lot of loving, fun, good times together that I appreciate.
I've realized that I don't need to have the person be present to love them. I 've learned to continue to love and enjoy my life even in an emotionally challenging time.
I trust that all will turn out even better than it was before and that there is light at the end of this tunnel.

If Not Now,When?

If Not Now,When?
This is a question we all ask ourselves.We dream,we hope, we plan, we put off till tomorrow.
We say someday...If we don't start living the life we love now then when?When is someday?
When you know you're taking the steps towards what you really, really want and actually seeing that you're getting there, that makes life much more fun and exciting.You gain energy and enthusiasm.You have more to give to help others achieve their goals.
It's not necessary to drag yourself through life day after day just getting through another day.
I encourage you to GO FOR IT!
What is YOUR dream.? What is YOUR vision?
What would it take to live the life you've always wanted?
What steps are you going to start taking to have the life YOU love?

I appreciate...

I appreciate my life the way it is right now.I appreciate that I am healthy and am able to make choices.I appreciate that I live in a beautiful comfortable environment.I appreciate all of the wonderful loving supportive people I have in my life.I appreciate my husband who is a good friend and interested in adding pleasure to my life.I appreciate my loving cats and their happy energy.
I appreciate my computer and the fun I have with it.I appreciate the sounds of the birds outside. I appreciate the fresh squeezed orange juice and fresh lychee I have available.
I appreciate the Universe guiding me to the 100 Day Challenge blog.
I appreciate the luxury of being able to dream and the knowing that my dreams and desires can and do come true!

My 100 Day Challenge

I've joined the The 100 Day Reality Challenge.
Experience The Magic Of The Law Of Attraction.
If you want to jump in or just check out their blog go to:
http://www.cocreatingourreality.com/profiles/blog/list

My goal is to write down what I appreciate each day.
I'll post it here on my blog.
Feel free to join me!