Don't Take Loved Ones For Granted

Life is beautiful and fragile at the same moment. We travel up  hills and  down valleys on this journey, the ups and downs of our mere existence.  We need to be in the moment and not take loved ones for granted. We are human, flawed and sometimes we move at such an erratic pace through our days that we miss what is truly valuable.

I did just that this week even though I made my self promise not to do so in 2012.  I did mail out my Birthday cards, albeit late. My Father in law was  one of the recipients of a late birthday card. My husband spoke to him yesterday for hours and of course let him know the card is on the way. That  very evening his Mother called to inform us he was admitted into the hospital with chest pains and a very high heart rate. He is stable and we are hoping it was just anxiety and not serious. What a wake up call this was for me, the card should have been there on his exact birthday January 13th. I have no excuse but selfish procrastination and the self realization that such an action is wrong and should never occur when it comes to someone in your life whose presence holds such importance. 

I promised myself this year that all aspects of life would be addressed. I know I have many large resolutions and I am staying on track with them. At the same time I have many 2012 vows to myself to make changes to live a better life; be a better family member and friend. Living La Dolce' Vita translates to living the sweet soulful life. I just learned the hard way how delicate the blessing of life is. One mistake, like a late birthday card can end up being a lifetime of regret. Take the time now to send the cards, to call a loved one because time is of the essence, it is fleeting and one should never regret anything in life. We constantly get second and third chances if we are lucky, and I intend to take those chances and not make such lazy mistakes in the future. I pray my wonderful Father in law recovers and lives a long life. He is a perfect role model for the whole family and we are blessed to have him.

I am making my month list of birthdays so I can send cards out at the beginning of each month. In this world of technology and Facebook we sometimes forget the ones who we love the most do not take part in the modern way of keeping in touch. To make the extra effort is easy and they deserve that and so much more from us. I am grateful for my beautiful families on each side, but my gratitude doesn't mean anything if I do not take the time to let them know how important they are. I hope I never get the chance to live with such regrets and will continue to strive to "LIVE LA DOLCE' VITA"  and to be forever grateful for this elusive gift called life. 

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”

G.K.Chesterton                                                           Surf the wild waves of life,                                                                                                                                                                        Ride the Tide.

Correspondence and Classes

Good evening to all. It is January 18th and the first month is breezing by. I am doing my best to be  mindful in the moment. I did drop the ball on one thing, I forgot to send out some birthday cards to some very special people. This week I will send out some late cards, and also mail out Happy New Year cards to friends and family. One of my new year's resolutions is to stop neglecting correspondence, and get more organized and be a better friend and family member. Not everyone I am close with is on Facebook and it is nice to receive real mail every now and then. I need to remember those I love, especially since they are so far in distance.

This week I will buy some cards and go to a lovely coffee shop and write to the special people in my life. I also bought a beautiful calendar/day planner at the yoga studio.  I get 20% off since I volunteer and it will really be the key to help me remember important dates. It even has a lot of pockets, which gives me a place to store greeting cards until it is time to mail them. My goal is to mail birthday cards in the beginning of each month,and keep a list of every one's birthday in the calendar.


I am up to three hours each week volunteering at two different studios. That means I get 3 classes for my service each week, this week I earned four classes since I trained today. The classes never expire so I can take three classes a week if I so desire, or I can use them whenever I please. The one studio is an ongoing work exchange for classes program once a week. The other is just a substitution program. I am subbing for one of the volunteers who is out of town. By the time she returns I will have close to ten classes at the second studio. After she returns I will sub when they need me. This is great because each studio has different classes I would love to try. You give therefore you receive.


Of course I walked today, for an hour and I have been following my weight watchers points; drinking my water and taking my supplements. I feel like I am on the right path. It is a marathon and not a sprint so I am enjoying the process of improving myself inside and out. There is a new show on television called the Revolution which is really inspiring. It is about making over your life, kind of similar to what I am doing in this blog. Resolutions take time and perseverance. If you slip up or find yourself losing focus, just remember to pick back up where you left off. Do not give up on your belief in your dreams.

Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I am getting sleepy so it is time for me to sign off. Funny, when I lived in NYC I would stay up til 3 or 4 am and sleep all afternoon. Here in southern California I am up before the sun and ready for bed before 9 pm. I like to do some light inspirational reading before bed, with TCM on the tube.  Much love and light to all and goodnight. 

Brand New Key

It is almost the last day of the year here on the west coast. January 2012 is almost among us. I do not get sad for the passing of one year, I reflect on my blessings and prepare for the beauty of a brand new year.

For me January is going to be a month of renewal, cleansing, and preparing for all of the possibilities that come with a fresh start. I feel like George Bailey in some ways when he realizes he gets a second chance at living, or Ebeneezer Scrooge when he wakes up to a brand new Christmas morn.

Every new year is another chance to be better than we were the year last. I find it extremely motivating even if I have failed at resolutions in the past. This year is going to be different, especially since I am making my resolutions public, I am now held accountable to my muse.

I will be breaking down my resolutions from month to month, with fitness and diet beginning in January and becoming an ongoing resolution and habit.

In January  I will follow a  new workout routine. I will walk 5-6 days a week, weights 2-3 days a week.Yoga once a week. I am going to start tracking my weight watchers points and watch my sugar/sodium/fat intake. My diet is pretty good since I am a vegetarian but this helps me stay within my calories and have some balance instead of obsessing. I will allow sweets only  now and then, in small quantities and as a treat and not as a staple. My body will be treated like a temple not a rest stop.

It may be January but for me it will be spring cleaning and organizing time. One cannot make changes if surrounded by clutter and chaos. January will be the month that will prepare me for each new month to follow, setting up my year of success. I will make changes in my  health, home and personal life; reconnect with family from afar by remembering special dates and sending cards to those I love. I have dropped the ball on this one in the past and  I feel it is time to stop making excuses and just do it.

More to follow, but that pretty much sums up my first 2012 resolutions for the month of January.

What New Year's resolutions are you making? Does a new beginning inspire you?

Happy New Year to all, wishing you blessings and abundance in 2012.


The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
       - Lao Tse