Laughter

I wasn't shocked to read a report that children laugh roughly 300 times a day and an adult only 15 times. When did we adults lose this ablity to find so much to laugh at during a day? Children are the experts when it comes to happiness and have an incredible ablity to explore their world with adventure with little worries. As we get older, we start to lose that innocent ablity to see things through simple eyes and wonder. Not to say , because we don't laugh as much we are unhappy, we just have more things to worry about in a day then we did as a child.

Laughter is good for us..the more we add to our day the more benefits we see in ourselves both phyically and mentally.

How can you add more laughter into you life?

Here are a few ideas

1. Play with your kids, be silly and remember what it is like to be a kid again..blow bubbles, have a water fight, dance, have a tea party, play tag. Kids know how to have fun!
2. Check out the joke of the day or cartoons or comic strips
3. Hang out with fun people who enjoy laughing
4. Go see a comedy or rent a funny movie
4 Just laugh – even if you fake it, eventually you will start to laugh for real because you will sound so silly ..give it a shot..it works..or watch someone else laugh ..you will find yourself laughing at them laughing!

From the Heart , Keeping It Real

A huge thank you to everyone who purchased a copy of my book. Opening my heart for the world to see was a risk however I believe strongly in the power of sharing, the magic of hope, the beauty of unconditional love..we are all on a journey that ultimately... leads to the same destination. Your support and comments reconfirm the risk was worth taking! Never be afraid to feel what you need to feel. We are all stronger than we think, life is series of ups and downs giving us an opportunity to learn about ourselves, to allow us to feel and discover the beauty around us when we learn to love our self unconditionally.

Please keep the comments coming , good or bad I enjoy all of them. xox



"Tracey - I gave your book to a friend of mine for Christmas and he thoroughly enjoyed it. He thinks you are a wonderful writer and was VERY impressed with your impressions and definition of lifein your introduction. Coming from him - this is praise indeed - believe me. I have to get another one for myself and I am going to get one for another friend of mine who also enjoys books like this. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year." Beulah (NL)


"I got your book in the mail today and i just had to start reading right away! I plan on reading it it as often as i can and as many times as i can. You are a true inspiration. "I laughed, I cried...".Thank-you for sharing your gift of words and art with us. I just can't say enough without sounding like a blubbering fool. Thanks Tracey" (ON)



"The book is beautiful....a book of life" Bob (ON)

The Little Things....

In reading through Neil Pasricha's "The Book Of Awesome", sharing his view of 1000 simple things in life that get overlooked,things that bring happiness to our lives everyday, it got me thinking. Its these simple things that get over looked as people are seaching or waiting for some great "thing" to occur in their life that signifies the goal of happiness has been achieved. Happiness is all around us.

I started to pay attention more to my own "awesome" things that occur daily that bring a smile to my face and bring a sense of joy inside, it reminded me in a way of how children see and appreciate the world, setting aside the complexities adults often mix into their life. The list is large..but here are just a few:

* listening to my son sing his heart out
* a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on very very fresh bread
* having my little dog run and greet me everytime I walk thru the door
*enjoying my morning cup of java on the front deck soaking up the sun, listening to nature as it wakes up
* having a song come on the radio that I haven't heard in ages and singing my heart out
* receiving a text or email from a friend just to say Hi
* the smell of liliacs
* the smell of clean after you finished housework
* I can change my mind whenever I want to
* playing with kids toys in Mcdonalds with a friend..and being a kid for a moment


What is on your "awesome" list? Do you take time to enjoy them and celebrate all those little things that bring joy into your life?

xo

Momism's!

How do you measure a mother's love? Perhaps described as the greatest deepest love ever known.
Each year that passes I am grateful for my mom, and I appreciate her more and more. As each year passes I am grateful for her words of wisdom when I was confused or troubled, her hugs just because , when I was not feeling well, or when I really screwed up and just needed a hug, her scolding words at times when I was out of line, her ears to listen each and every time I needed someone to talk to, even when I didn't want to listen...even now that I am older and a mom myself..she is my dearest friend...in a nutshell her unconditional love I know I always have.

I realize the older I get just how special a mom really is...being a mom myself to a wonderful son, the bond between a mother and her child is one of the greatest blessings and I cherish every moment. Unconditional love is so powerful.

On a funny note..I was also reminded of all the great wisdom our mothers pass on to us and how we use it on our children...you know those "momisms"..how many of these do you remember? lol

•Money does not grow on trees.
•Don't make that face or it'll freeze in that position.
•If I talked to my mother like you talk to me....
•Always change your underwear; you never know when you'll have an accident.
•Be careful or you'll put your eye out.
•What if everyone jumped off a cliff? Would you do it, too?
•You have enough dirt behind those ears to grow potatoes!
•Close that door! Were you born in a barn?
•If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
•Don't put that in your mouth; you don't know where it's been!
•Be careful what you wish for, it might come true.
•Don't eat those, they will stunt your growth.
•If you don't eat those, you will stunt your growth.
•What's meant to be, is meant to be. (Mom only used this when something bad happened or when you experienced a disappointment.)
•It doesn't matter what you accomplish, I'll always be proud of you.
•I hope that when you grow up, you have kids "Just Like you"!
•Because I'm your mother that's why.
•This is why we can't have nice things.
•If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times.
•Eat your vegetables, there are poor children out there that would be happy to have some broccoli to eat!
•If you fall out of that tree and break you leg , don't come running to me.
•I brought you into this world and I can take you OUT !!
•Honestly... You'd lose your head if it wasn't attached!
•Children should be seen and not heard!
Bored! How can you be bored? I was never bored at your age


Do you have momism's you would like to share? Go ahead would love to hear them!!

Happy Mother's Day!

xox

Success is to laugh....

"Success is to laugh often and much..to appreciate beauty..to give of one's self. To have played and laughed with enthusiam and sung with exultation" Ralph Waldo Emerson


Like many women, on the journey of self discovery its amazing how many times you hear people talk about happiness and the need to find happiness. The expectation that we place on ourselves to seek happiness ..thinking someday happiness will come if you accomplish this or that. So many times I hear...I want to do this but I don't have the time..or when I retire I will do what I enjoy..I'll be happy when I pay off my house, I'll be happy when I get a better job...we become slaves to busy schedules and the almighty "when I" and "someday" ! Will happiness be better later or do we deserve to enjoy it now?

Brook Noel writes "We need happiness every day because that is what inspires and motivates us in other areas of our lives..We can't work the equation backward. Happiness has to be at our roots- at our core- it isn't something we produce through accomplishment" This gives one something to ponder

Happiness exists in the moment...don't put it on a list for something to accomplish ...enjoy and celebrate the simple things in your life today!

xo

"Love is.....

"Love is ...being patient, even when you're tired-especially when you're tired" Danae Jacobsen ( age 16).

What a wise young lady. This quote comes from "Things I've Learned Lately" which Danae wrote capturing various things to express what love meant to her.

Do you ever stop to take time and think about what love is..and what does it mean in your life? How do you show and share this emotion?

Do you show people in your life that you care about them often enough?

Here are 10 simple ways to show someone you care:

1. Give someone a "just because" hug
2. Show kindness
3. Give someone a compliment
4. Leave a little note or send a quick email or text saying you are thinking about them and you care
5. Cook dinner or invite someone you care about out and give them your full attention
6. Call someone just to say hi , how are you today
7. Share your dreams with each other
8. Go for a walk together
9. Do something for them you know they would like (massage, draw them a bath, clean their car, offer to do the dishes)
10.Sit quietly together and just be

xo

Do You Take Time to Enjoy the Simple Things?

Life sure can get hectic in a hurry, in fact it can creep up on you before you know it. Having to juggle family obligations and work can sometimes feel like a daunting task. There's groceries, housework, running kids around , meetings, reports to get down..some days you feel like that beetle juice character and your head is just spinning! When those day's roll around that's when we need to remind ourselves to find time to just stop..take a deep breath...and remember to enjoy the simple things.

Yes the simple things...a hug, a smile, a flower in the garden, maybe its a nice glass of wine, a hot cup of tea, a walk, a hot bath, listening to your favorite tune, dance around the kitchen, a chat on the phone with a friend, the smell of fresh cut grass..whatever it is it's those simple things that help bring balance into our lives.

Seek out and enjoy the simple things in your life!


xo