I've Got Sunshine On a Cloudy Day

So, I hate bad weather. I have hated bad weather as far back as I can remember. If I know a storm is coming or I watch the sky turn from blue to darker shades of gray to black, I develop this anxiety and fear. Fear of thunderstorms, heavy wind, tornadoes, and of course, hurricanes. Not that I've been in very many hurricanes- in fact only one that I can remember and that was just last year. But the state of CT is preparing for a hard hit from Sandy tomorrow. I can assure you that I'll be in the basement hiding. Luckily the couch from my apartment is down there so perhaps I'll dust it off and set up the coffee table in front of it. I'll make myself comfortable down there! I will play any music that I can to drown out the noises from outside, and I will pray. I will pray for everyone that they are safe and using good judgement. It's better to be safe than sorry, people! We are not invincible! I already have my board games and bananagrams ready to go! And of cours...

I am absolutely blessed with the best group of friends a girl could ask for. As cliche as that sounds, I am constantly reminded and always amazed at the strength of my relationships and the miles we will travel in order to spend time together. Though the miles are too distant for some, they are easily traveled by others. Through traffic, rain, appointments, and the works of life, another reunion for a good cause was had and enjoyed. Yesterday I had friends come visit from New York, Boston, and Washington DC to enjoy a night of fundraising and bar crawling together. More than just a night of drinks, I got to spend time with friends for a night that we otherwise wouldn't have spent together. It's heartwarming to see the length that my friends go to to be there for each other. I say it a lot, I constantly tell my friends how grateful I am for them, and I see reminders often of how strong our friendships are. I continue to learn about my friends through every conversation; I am alw...

One of the most obvious concepts in my yoga practices as well as in life is that of balance. At times our lives seem to be constantly on the go, finding it hard to even catch a breath let alone a healthy, energizing meal. Other days the time passes slowly and the chores get done with ease, finding a nice comfortable couch to rest on in between various tasks. Everyone moves at a different speed; some prefer to take the role of the rabbit while others enjoy watching the scenery as they stroll by like a turtle. I tend to think that we can't always be the turtle, sometimes we need to chase after good things and act on impulse. We need to involve ourselves in many important activities that are both helpful and rewarding. Sometimes we need to bite the bullet, be spontaneous, and fight the urge to play it safe. (I should take my own advice, really.) I don't think that being the busiest bee in the hive is wise at all times either. In order to let our body rest and replenish, we need t...

So, I might be having one of those "what am I doing with my life" days (or few days) where I decided I want to do more in my life but I'm not quite sure what . I can't tell you how much I anticipate having my own classroom and I wonder when that day will come. I picture my ideal classroom the way some girls grow up dreaming of their perfect wedding. I even imagine what my office would look like if I ever had one. Somewhere warm, cozy, and green with a fun tissue box and positive quotes and inspirational pictures framed and hung neatly on the wall or placed perfectly on a shelf. The bookcase that I can envision having in my office would be immaculate. Books would be standing up in height order, organized by category, and the cute, fun, motivational books would be stacked perfectly. In the meantime, I think about what else I can do that involves my passions of writing, working with children, teaching, being creative, finding the positive, motivational quotes, and happi...

As I got into my car the other day after work, I noticed a strange sight staring back at me from the hood of my car. I recognized the creature immediately as a praying mantis and felt excitement throughout my body. These insects are so special! They are not only the Connecticut state insect, but they are such a rare sight to see. This one was mostly brown but had a bright green belly. It stood beautiful and still. I got out of my car and walked around to the side where the bug was, and as I did, I noticed something peculiar. It was as if the praying mantis was watching me- his head turned and followed me as I came closer, then he just sat there staring. We were making eye contact- my hazel eyes were locked with his big, green eyes. After a few seconds, he turned his head back and I went to get a stick, with the help of a co-worker, so that I could move the insect to safety and away from the full parking lot. He was very cooperative, and we moved him to the field. As I drove away, I tho...

It was a summer Sunday and I was away from my home house sitting for some relatives. I decided to find a church to attend for my weekly mass even though it wasn't my usual comfort zone church. I came across a Catholic church down the road from where I was staying that week and looked up mass times. I arrived early, a little nervous to enter an unfamiliar setting and wanted prime, comfortable seating not too close but not too far away. I found a perfect corner and sat at the end of the pew. Mass went on as planned, and I enjoyed seeing and hearing the new sights and sounds of a different Catholic family than my usual Sunday churchgoers. During the homily I was particularly enlightened as I listened to a wonderful story that I still carry with me. The priest told a story of a man at work. One afternoon this man had a co-worker over for some office related paperwork, and as they walked into the home of the man, the co-worker noticed an odd gesture. "Why did you just touch tha...