Last week someone had to remind me that I am in fact (at least by sociological standards) a "grown-up". When I heard that label pushed (rather forcefully) upon me my first instinct was to rebel like the inner child I am. "I most certainly am not a grown-up!" my inner me shouted. This is stupid.
This morning I nannied for a 3 year old girl who insists, rather fervidly, that she is not a baby. I asked her what she wanted to be when she grows-up. "A doctor" she said with a sparkle in her eye. Then, without skipping beat, she returned the question, "Jaime, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
"An actor" I say, "or a musician, a doctor, a journalist, a teacher maybe..."
When I was in kindergarten I told the class I wanted to be "an acrobat on an elephant" and as far as I'm concerned that's still an option too.
Ultimately, I've decided it's OK to grow up. But I will never EVER stop dreaming....
FROZEN DREAM
By Shel Silverstein
I’ll take the dream I had last night
And put it in my freezer,
So someday long and far away
When I’m an old grew geezer,
I’ll take it out and thaw it out,
This lovely dream I’ve frozen,
And boil it up and sit me down
And dip my cold toes in.
Is there a dream that you fight to keep alive? Or perhaps there is on old dream in your freezer that you'd like re-heat someday....
Love,
Jaime Lyn
My mind has been wandering to the same places over and over again lately. Does this happen to you? I am a pisces, so my mom would say this is expected of me, but it can be frustrating when you're trying to get stuff done!
But then I came across this:
Hmm. That makes sense. Maybe our minds wander to these places because they know, even better than we do, what's actually important. I may have a mountain of work to blast through, but I feel like my heart is trying to alert me to the other things in my life that deserve attention as well. Sometimes what our hearts want gets squashed under the go-go-go of the tasks at hand, but maybe we should stop questioning our wandering minds and start listening. Maybe they're both trying to tell us something.
Do you have a wandering mind? If so, do you have the tendency to listen to it, or to write it off as a distraction?
Love,
L
We've all heard this phrase before. It usually refers to do something in the right order, don't jump the gun, don't work in an illogical fashion. The horse has to pull the cart, not the other way around.
For today's purposes, the horse is your happiness, and the cart is your life's work and ambitions.
I've been thinking a lot lately about being happy. I mean really, truly happy. A lot of incredible opportunities and experiences have come my way so far this year, and I'm so thankful, but in the midst of certain moments I stop and wonder; am I actually going to be happy doing this?
Dreams take work, for sure. Goals and ambitions are amazing. In the midst of all of it though... you ought to be happy. You deserve at least that. You can't work and work and work for something and think that when you reach a certain end, then you'll be happy. Happiness has to come first, and in the end it fuels better work.
Check out this video below that talks about the benefits of putting happiness first!
Are you doing things you hate over and over again, hoping one day it will make you happy? Stop that! What are you going to start doing, today, to be just a little bit happier in your life?
C'mon... get happy!
Love, Julia
What a WONDERFUL phrase!! It means no worries for the rest of your days! its our problem free philosophy!
Obviously there are some problems and worries that are a bit too large to "Hakuna Matata" your way out of and you may need to ask for help and you be tested on your strength and will. However, things that our out of your control and out of your hands you have to learn to Hakuna Matata! When you goofed up and you're late for something...it happens, you cant change it: Hakuna Matata. When you don't feel like you did your best, try next time and let it go: Hakuna Matata. You didn't get that opportunity you wanted, go for the next one: Hakuna Matata.
What have you Hakuna Matata-ed lately? What do you wish you Hakuna Matata-ed? What does this mean to you? And do you practice it? :)
Happy Monday! You are all so great!
Denise
In the 1960s a team of researchers conducted the now famous "Stanford Marshmallow Experiment" It went as follows..... One at a time, a group of 4 year old kids were brought into a room and given the choice between one marshmallow right away, or two marshmallows later. Most struggled to resist the double treat and held out for less than three minutes.
A few kids ate the single marshmallow right away.
In the end, only about 30% of the children delayed gratification until the researcher returned a full 15 minutes later.
Perhaps there is a "single marshmallow" in your life that is currently tempting you...? How are do YOU measure up when it comes to self control? Is it worth it to eat it now or hold out for the "double marshmallow" prize later ??????
I've been taking a lot of late night bike rides. With this crazy summer-in-March weather, I obviously ALWAYS think of Now and Then (any other N&T fans in the heezy?!) Riding in the warm night makes me feel peaceful and carefree...and makes me feel like I live in the Gaslight Addition.
Anyway, whenever I think of N&T I immediately think of one of my favorite quotes from the movie:
Teeny: Roberta, truth or dare?
Roberta: Truth
Teeny: Just how big are your boobs now?
WAIT. That's not what I meant. What I meant is this one:
When you're 12, without effort, you live in the moment. You don't regret the past or worry about the future.
As we get older, so much emphasis is placed on the future that it becomes difficult to stay in the moment. I'm totally guilty of always thinking of either what's ahead or what has passed, and end up missing the beauty of moments. Do you struggle with staying present? What helps you? When do you truly feel like you are "in the moment"?
Lerv,
LoLo
"One needs to constantly remind oneself to play with the abandon of the child who is just learning the cello, because why is that kid playing? He is playing for pleasure."
-Yo-Yo Ma
I read this quote yesterday and it really struck me. I've been thinking about this concept in multiple areas of my life; how can I stay young and fresh in my attitude and approach to my work, my relationships, and just daily life? Little kids are hungry to learn and explore and try new things. They're also fearless in their approach. Kids aren't afraid to mess up or look silly or embarrass themselves, and because of this they have more fun!
Where can you get hungry about your life? Where can you adjust your attitude to one of a kid who is fearless, who is eager to try anything and everything?
I challenge you to do one thing today that you would never normally do... and tell us about it!
Have some fun today!
Love,
Julia
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."
-Eleanor Roosevelt
Woo-wee! This is a toughy. Honestly, I want you guys to have at this one. This can be so hard to really put in motion. We all need to "vent" and voice concern or opinion. However, it is important to check yourself and think about what is really worth discussing.
You guys are so amazing! I cant wait to read the responses.
Rainbows and soft animals and 80s!!
Denise
That's right, Glowbies! It's Victory Friday. Take a moment today to reflect on the past week, celebrate yourself, and gear up for a great weekend!
We here at glow* have been a bit crazy, but still so excited at the responses and insight you all have contributed over the past week! Not to mention the AWESOME "Oh, the Places You'll Glow*" submissions--those are rocking our world.
We are working at getting the submissions up on the site so we can all share the places we glow* together, and we will let you know as soon as we can! In the meantime, keep sending them in, keep smiling and keep glow*ing. We love you!
-Lauren, JaimeLyn, Denise and Julia
Just a few of the amazing things y'all had to say this week...
"This week I decided to search for my dream again, and recharge my dreams. - Emelie"
"We must stick together, we have to continue to help and love one another or else the painting will fall apart. Individually we can do great things, but together, we can accomplish the extraordinary. :)"
"The greatest gift we can give others is acceptance--acceptance for their flaws, their talents, their differences.
The greatest gift we can ever give ourselves is acceptance." - Delilah
"...after I found this site two weeks ago, I've been reminding myself to be happy because I have every reason to and negativity isn't going to help me do anything." - Amelia
What was a victory for you this week?
Any goals/plans for the week ahead?
In ten minutes I'll leave my apartment and head over to the final dress rehearsal of a little show I've been working on with all my best buddies!
It's an exciting time for us all and I couldn't be more proud of everyone involved! Throughout this entire process I've often allowed myself to take a step back and just admire all the hard work and talent that goes into creating a behemoth of a project.
Forgive me if I sound like a total theatre nerd for a second but.... what I love about the theatre is watching everyone and everything work in tandem. It is a true thing of beauty witnessing all the technical elements come together. The costumes! The sounds! The lights! The sets! The performers playing off eachother- dancing and singing together...as one.
No one element stands on it's own. It's impossible. The real magic comes from every single organism working together in harmony.
Today take a moment to recognize that you are only ONE small colored dot among a sea of other small colored dots. And it is only when we ALL come together, side-by-side in harmony, respecting one another's distinct colors.... that true beauty is created.
Individually we are nothing....
but together we are everything!
(Be grateful for your fellow dots) Love,
Jaime Lyn (Dot #617,658,213)
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