Hope is a four letter word that one should keep in their life’s repertoire because it gives one the ability to look forward with desire and reasonable confidence. Some may think that "reasonable" does not apply with being hopeful, I think it does because its' definition encourages one to create balance. So as the old year closes and the new one begins I urge you to hold on to HOPE, know that you are infinitely blessed; be humble, triumphant, persistent, optimistic and realistic.

Humility – be humble, do not let pride stand in your way, ask for what you want and be grateful for what you have

Overcome – triumph over every obstacle and be victorious in mind, body, spirit and attitude

Persevere – keep on keeping on, never give up, live life, cherish every moment and learn the lessons that come with each experience

Endless – be infinitely optimistic, cultivate an enduring spirit, love wisely and purely and bring balance into everything

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This is my Christmas tree. I was considering going with a theme, royal blue and silver then decided against it because I couldn't stomach throwing away perfectly good decorations and spending money I don’t have just so I can have a “theme” Christmas tree. The only real purchase I needed was Christmas lights because after many years of faithful lighting the majority of my lights took their final bow last year. I only had 50 flashing color lights and some small outdoor lights to hang on my balcony.  After a few days of procrastinating and redundant self-reminders to buy new lights I finally gave up on the idea and chose instead to use my outdoor lights (white), together with my 50 tree lights. Yes, that’s right, outdoor lights on my Christmas tree, call me crazy but hey, I am just not one of those people who go blissfully into the fray of shopping madness especially for Christmas lights.

My mom called to ask what I was doing as i was stringing the lights, I told her and said she said that they (she & my sister) had some lights for me, so I said 'ok cool I’ll wait for them',  a few hours later they dropped off the lights. I couldn't believe it, I was laughing my ass off because among the lights they bought were a set of white outdoor lights along with 100 green tree lights all of which stayed lite, the only blinking lights were the 50 color ones I had from last year.

Smiling to myself I just joyously added them all to my tree which now stands loaded with 200 outdoor white lights and 100 green lights and 50 color blinking lights. I didn't feel like using all my tree decorations so I used half (decorative balls, angels, ragdolls etc.) and Walla! My Christmas tree was finished. I love it and all the family love it as well, it certainly is not a specific color theme tree but who cares, it’s in the theme of Christmas and it’ll do in a pinch plus I saved myself a whole lot of cash. The only money I spent this Christmas was on groceries since I had already done my Christmas shopping in August.

I am grateful for all my dedicated MSN Spaces friends. To you all I thank you for your best wishes, for your periodic check-ins to see that I am doing alright and most of all keeping and maintaining communication by sharing your point of view with me on all my expressions. Your words, thoughts, suggestions and encouragement are valuable and priceless. I look forward to continuing to learn more about each and every one of you. I hope you will bless me with the privilege.

Stay blessed all of you, keep your heads up and remember your excellence always. May the blessings of love, peace, joy, health, prosperity, and wisdom touch your hearts, minds, spirits, and souls and take up permanent residence to further empower you now and forever.

Happy New Year and remain eternally blessed..

Peace...
Yours truly....

Fabulicious Rhapsody
Smooches......

Forgiveness concept (easy to say) verses practice (hard to do)? 

Concept: With the concept of forgiveness one can pay lip service to the idea, talk righteously about granting absolution, and sermonize to every Tom, Dick and Harry who would lend and ear about how people should forgive and forget and just move on. Often one is told by well intentioned loved ones, family and friends to “let the past be the past”, “let it go”, “forget about it” without providing the tools by which one can accomplished the act of getting to forgiveness as if mouthing the words or going through the motion would solve the core of the issue. Now while there is of some value in these sentiments I dare say that putting them into practice requires more than lip service and in order form one to get there they have to be willing to delve into the complexities whatever the issues brought forth the ugliness before forgiveness is a possibility.

Practice: The practice of forgiveness is complex and harder because it requires more than lip service. It requires commitment to first deal with “SELF”, and the “Issue(s)” and that is not simple. It is only then the subject of forgiveness can be addressed.  When one reaches that place where they are ready to forgive it is liberating and it allows for the exorcist of demons past.  

Forgetting: Is it possible to forget? No…., it’s impossible because some of those very experiences shaped and influenced who you have become. You've learnt to see the blessing in the storm and most of all you've learnt how to simply move on and not let that shit own you or weigh you down.

Is forgiveness worth it? Absolutely because you free yourself of the psychological and emotional burden, plus when you forgive it is not for the other it is for the “I”.

Question: Who do you need to forgive to release? Free yourself, think about it, you deserve to live a life free of oppressive garbage; it’s time to lay down all the excess baggage, it’s time to throw it all away and live. This is your life, TAKE IT BACK.

Mindfulness Thought...

Sometimes the hardest thing to do (although not impossible) is to give oneself the blessing of "self-forgiveness" because of all the internalized "stuff". The act of forgiving oneself ones humanness at times is the ultimate challenge but who can be more deserving?