Holidays

Fall is Here

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cherrys iphone 031October is my favorite month.  The cooler temperatures, the fall decorations and pumpkins all around.  I love the smell of pumpkin spice and cranberry candles.

I love the fall decorations, and the change in the air.  Although, I love Halloween, the dressing up, the fun and games, the spooky stories, roasting marshmallows and drinking hot cocoa by the fire.

We are having cooler temperatures here already.  I love that too.  It also means that my favorite holiday will be here soon.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  It’s a time of family, friends and togetherness.  A time to get together and enjoy each others company and good food.

I love fall.

Cherry Coley (c)

 

Change 03/05/13

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“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.  And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom, a man cannot ride you unless your back is bent.” – Martin Luther King

 

“Never believe that a few caring people cannot change the world,  for indeed that is all who ever have.” – Margaret Mead

 

Change is the one thing in this world that is certain.  Change comes into every life, into every circumstance, and makes it’s way into every situation.  Change simply…is.

How well we live our lives is directly related to how well we handle change, whether we live proactively and in a positive state of mind, ready for whatever life might throw our direction, or whether we live reactively and wind up being controlled by our on emotional responses to things that happen.  There is a choice to be made and we make those choices each day. 

What will we do? What if?  Don’t dwell on all the worries, live today, enjoy the moment, focus on what is right in front of you right now.  If you’re talking to someone, put down the phone, concentrate and hear the person in front of you. 

So many times we forget to slow down and just “be present.”  I know I learn to appreciate the people and things I have when I take the time to enjoy and focus solely on what I am doing.  It’s important, you will never have another moment like this one, change is coming.

Cherry Coley (c)

The End or The Beginning?

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mayanWell, tomorrow is the end of the Mayan calendar.  A 400 year cycle is over and a new one is about to begin.  A new cycle, a new year, something that we are fortunate enough to experience in our lifetime. 

So how about this? Instead of worrying about the world ending tomorrow, let’s make this a time of reflection, meditation and coming to terms with where we are in this life, how we got where we are, and where we want to go from here.

There are only 11 days left in 2012.  Now is a good time to list out New Years resolutions.  I personally prefer to call them New Years Commitments because then it sounds like a contract, a binding agreement.  I don’t want to “promise” I will do this or that, I want to list out my goals and commit to seeing them through.

As for the new cycle or the turning of the Mayan calendar, let us start a new era, one of paying it forward.  Start tomorrow, do something kind for someone you see during the day.  Appreciate the people around you, pick up trash if you see it, open a door if needed, help if you can.  If we all truly seek to be the change we want to see in the world, then the world will indeed change.

Cherry Coley (c)

Related articles

Faith

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photo by casey keal

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

What is faith?  Is it a belief in something?  Is there any tangible evidence of faith or is it just a feeling?

Faith is the exact mix of hope and determination you need at the given moment when required.

 Faith conquers fear, moves mountains, shatters obstacles and grows in strength with steady use.  Take the first steps of faith to reach your goals, you don’t need to see the whole staircase, you just need one step at a time to make progress. 

 The first step is to allow yourself to dream.  Get a notebook, a pad, or a journal and start writing down your dreams.  Don’t put limits on your dreams or judge them, just step out onto the staircase and let the journey begin. 

 What do you want to do? Are there places you want to visit?  Where do you want to be later in your life?  Is there someone you would like to meet?  What kind of lifestyle do you see yourself living?

Choices and decisions, planning, goal setting all come later, for right now, just for today allow yourself the unlimited possibilities and the wonder that comes with dreaming.  Take a mini vacation just for you and enjoy the ride.

 Cherry Coley ©

Can We Have Some Healthy Choices?

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Isn’t it a shame that in this day and age it’s sometimes a challenge to eat healthier?  I can’t help but wonder how successful a restaurant that offered good, fast, healthy food would do – even in this economy.  Honestly, I would go visit them.  It’s hard sometimes to find anything remotely healthy on any of the menus of the popular restaurants.  It seems everything is super-sized, and loaded in calories.  Even some of the salad choices aren’t really healthy when you start looking at them.

 I find myself wanting to eat healthier and after looking up some of our favorite recipes realize I need to revamp and toss out a lot of them, not just for everyday meals, but for holidays too.  Sure, I love the turkey and dressing, the sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, pecan pie and so many more dishes that are popular that time of year, but are they really good for us?  No, not really and make matters worse we pile it all on the plate generously, and then go back for more later in the day, especially at Thanksgiving.  It’s the American way, right?

Well, this year I want to have good dishes – as close to traditional as possible, but more healthy.  I am not sure where to begin, but I have been scouring some of the various cookbooks and also utilizing some stellar websites like www.Allrecipes.com which is a great resource containing recipes from many popular magazines, for just about any occasion you can come up with.  Many of the recipes are also posted with nutritional facts and helpful hints for adding flavor, cutting calories or making them healthier.    The other website I frequent is www.EatRightAmerica.com which also emails recipes and helpful hints.  They also offer lots of information on High Cholesterol, Hypertension, Migraines, Heart Disease and Allergies. 

 I love that so many blogs are dedicated to cooking and trying new recipes.  There’s so much information available now that it can be overwhelming at times.  Still, that is why it really bothers me that there are not more healthy alternative restaurants out there, there really should be.

 Cherry Coley ©

Happy Valentines Day

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To be honest, Valentine’s Day has never been my favorite holiday. Charlie Brown and I share a lot of the same experiences, although, I think he beat me in not getting a single one. I was always a little mad at Snoopy for not giving him a Valentine; after all he DID feed the dog.

The more I talk to other people the more I’ve realized that this holiday doesn’t hold fond memories for many of us. Some of the places I’ve worked made a big deal out of Valentine’s Day, going so far as trading the little Valentine’s and pinning them up on your cubicle walls. It was (like in elementary school) a popularity contest. Those who didn’t receive a lot of Valentine’s felt left out or disappointed.

So this year, toss out the old thoughts about the holiday. This year take Valentine’s Day back and remember what it SHOULD be. Take this and make it not just one day, but the first day of the year to celebrate the love of life. It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you are, or who you’re with, take the time to celebrate those you love and care about in your world. That’s what it should be about. No more grieving over lost love, or longing for someone, just realize that you are here, you are still alive, you still matter and you can still make a difference. Do something fun and silly! The girls and I celebrate by getting valentine pj’s (goofy one’s) every year. Another idea is to take this time to pamper yourself.

 So on Valentine’s Day get up and put a smile on your face, remember that this day is a great day to do something nice for someone else. Start a tradition of caring and sharing. If you do have that special someone in your life, you should show them each and every day what they mean to you, not just one day. A good attitude and kind behavior is contagious. What a great way to remember the day and you don’t even have to buy candy!

Cherry Coley (c)