" Beautiful Day ... "

" You're on the road but you've got no destination

You're in the mud, in the maze of her imagination

You love this town even if that doesn't ring true

You've been all over and it's been all over you

It's a beautiful day 

Don't let it get away

It's a beautiful day

Don't let it get away"

~ U2 ~ Beautiful Day ~

***

In with a mighty roar, 2012, Year of the Dragon has the potential to breathe life-shaping fire, to be magical, even mythical ... and a mighty roar it was.  Once again we were fortunate for the opportunity to gig and "bling" in the New Year.  It was a fun night  ~ full of energy, joy and celebration.  Also a night for Russell and I to reflect upon 2011, and quite a reflection it was.  With reflections come realizations as well for which I am grateful for.   

Since we ventured home in the wee hours of new years day, we made sure that it remained a quiet one for us ... a chance to rest and rejuvenate, although still working the programme, yet made sure we napped in between juices, etc ... no days off from Gerson!   

So where do we go from here ... well some get on with their resolutions straight away, hitting the gym, detoxing, getting on the health kick band wagon ... others gracefully transition into a new life style.  Whatever you choice, the new year is like the setting of the sun on another day.  Because another year has passed and we will ask ourselves ~ did I do enough last year, could I have helped more, could I have loved more, did I lose more than I gained ... but really most questions point to if we lived out our purpose in the past year by growing, learning and teaching.  

So again we have another chance being offered to us with no strings attached, endless possibilities, new thoughts, new ideas and new adventures.  And although I still have trouble wrapping my head around some happenings of 2011, I realize that some things are still works in progress ... my superstitions make me want to keep them near to my heart for fear of jinxing them.  Yet I will take all those questions I have pondered over the last few days as a new starting point, a new marker.  One which has granted me the gift of life once more, freely.  

Let your past make you better not bitter ♥

" Recovery ... "

I’m not afraid to take a stand
Everybody come take my hand
We’ll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just let you know that, you’re not alone
Hola if you feel that you’ve been down the same road

~ Eminem ~ Recovery ~ 

***

At the end of the year most of us reflect on the going ons we have experienced.  2011 has been a wild ride to say the least for us.  With the start of the year ringing in my diagnosis, the remaining has been full of discoveries and lessons.  Those around me that are in a similar situation will attest to the personal transformation that occurs at a very rapid pace.  The "shift" that happens is not gentle ... it is abrupt.  Initially I felt that my life has turned upside down.  But upon reflection, it actually turned right side up.  The naive thought of being immortal faced me head on when I was dealt the dreaded C word .... And the most profound thought for me is that cancer is a word and not a sentence ... initiating my personal healing.  

Looking forward to 2012, a beginning of a new year full of success, adventure and possibility.  Instead of planning for a new car, new home or renovations, I choose to plan my life ~ what I want to achieve and how I want to grow as a person.  You know the saying that "Life is a journey” ... so are you the driver or a passenger? ... do you pick an adventurous route or snooze in the back?  Rather than life developing and me existing, I can choose to make things happen the way I design them instead of leaving it all up to chance.

So how I going to set my intentions for the new year?  

Well I figure I have to set the mood, a time for me to feel peaceful, relaxed and uninterrupted.  Once in a positive state and open to possibilities, I will write down my achievements for 2011 and then ... reflect on them.  One year ago my life was full of uncertainty, quiet chaos, anxiety and fear .... now I have peace, gratitude, confidence, and love.  I will allow myself to celebrate my success this year ... a tough year, but could have been worse and the best part, I am getting thru it.  I read recently that once you are diagnosed, at that moment, you are a survivor.  Such an empowering feeling.  

I have been checking in, asking myself questions around my year ~ who, what, when and where ... not why, because there are no definitive answers to that question.  That is where my strong faith kicks in ... I read today that “every sorrow has a spiritual lesson, if you get the lesson, life gets easier ... if you don’t, the sorrow gets tougher” (thanks Oprah!).  

Next, I will think about the areas of my life that are important such as spirituality, relationship with friends/family, personal development, career, etc ... and consider where I am with each right now, today ... then thinking about how I would like to positively change each area.  

Imagine ~ Dream ~ Design.  So powerful and effective to make it Real.  I may entertain the use of a dream board to paint a vivid picture of exactly how it will look for me.  Supporting this process, by prioritizing what areas need immediate action, setting dates, the importance around it, etc can be helpful as long as I am being true to myself.

I think the next step will be the most challenging.  I will ask myself who will share my intentions with me.  In the past, I have found that some do not always support my “new design” and try to burst my bubble.  And it is not intentional, they just like life to be the way it is and do not want change.  They fear that I may fail and are too protective of me ... as I experienced this year where others may think it’s best for me to take a more conventional route and do things the way they understand.  I have realized that each person is an unique individual with their own set of life situations and challenges ... if we listen to and take negative comments of others, we are bound to struggle to achieve our intentions.  

Valued Lesson: I will share my intentions with those who will support me, encourage me and be inspired by me ♥

In wrapping up 2011, one word comes to mind ... BLESSED.  At this moment, I feel healthy, loved, safe and secure.  I choose to live in abundance of all good things and know that I am exactly where I am suppose to be.  

And what will my 2012 dream board look like? ... 

• pictures of how my life is going to be, what I will have, and what is important to me
• words that inspire me to dream big and take action ... and I will imagine the feelings surrounding those dreams

So till next year my friends ... may the light shine brightly in your heart and the upcoming year be full of powerful changes allowing you to let go of the past so your life can be richer and fuller with room for multiple blessings and joy.

We are the light of the world ~ so let us share it willingly, lovingly and unconditionally ♥ R.Bankapur

" Get Real ... "

"What's up? 

What happened when I wasn't around? 

Who did what? 

What went down? 

Get real, Get real 

Think about myself it happens to me 

It happens in the tunnel when I let myself feel 

Get real, Get real"

~ David Bowie ~ Get Real ~

***

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and enjoying the holiday break.  We had an opportunity to visit with out of town family and friends.  Such a beautiful time to just be together with loved ones.  And this year in particular, I really enjoyed every moment.  Moments of laughter, silliness, joy, reflection, giving, receiving, sharing, love, bliss, tears, rememberance, and gratitude.  All these emotions and experiences jammed packed into 5 days can also bring on a truckload of expectations.  But this year, I managed those ... expectations that is.

You see, with expectations can come happiness but almost always comes disappointments.  And with disappointments comes anxiety and with anxiety comes stress ... and so on.  A stressful time no matter how you slice it.  In addition to the usual family issues to handle and all the reactions therein, the media tends to portray how our holiday “should” be.  Mix in the financial pressure and over spending issues ... this can be a challenging time.  

Reflecting back on my previous blogs about the “perfect gift” ... understanding that receiving what is provided with no expectations is just as important.  Not getting caught up in what the holiday should look like, how it should feel, and what you’re going to get or how people are going to react to a gift you are giving ... all of which can dominate our minds ... bringing so many feelings of deep anger and resentment.

So how do I keep it all in check but still make the most of this glorious time?  

First, I stay away from romanticizing the holidays.  I keep my levels of expectations quite low and accept what was right in front of me.  Light bulb moment ~ I have realized that instead of wishing what could be, I accept what is ... sometimes what is provided by those you love is all they can give.  Acceptance. 

Second, I Get Real.  I know that I am blessed to have those in my life who love, respect and support me.  I know that  at the moment, I cannot fully indulge in the delights of the season due to my therapy but my loved ones understand and work around it instead of feeling sorry for me.

Third, I have an Escape Plan.  Yes you read that right .... as you know I am all about detox! detox! detox! and that goes for my external environment just as much as my internal environment ... so if I find I am in a situation that I find overly critical, I remove myself from that environment emotionally and literally if need be.  Meditation, Hot Yoga and Writing are my outlets.  Find a safe place, a sanctuary, for you to retreat.  

Fourth, Breath.  Being mindful of your breathing ~ deliberate and deep.  Sometimes just letting it all out, a sigh of relief, can make a big difference.  Shallow breathing and fight or flight situations go hand in hand. 

I know that I am not alone when it comes to the potential stress holidays can bring.  Yet remembering that YOU have to take care of your emotional, physical and spiritual well being because if you don’t, who will?  

" Blessings ... "

During this busy time, my hope is you are able to take some time to find your inner voice, quiet your mind and reflect on what makes this time of year so special.  

Regardless of your choice of faith, honour the season and the powerful winter solstice by taking time to respect your body, rest, rejunvenate and eat wholesome foods ... 

be kind and give yourself the best gift of loving care.

May this time for you be filled with joy, peace, health, abundance, love and a deep sense of compassion for yourself and your fellow being.  

Blessings ♥ M&R

" Best of You ..."

"Is someone getting the best
The best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best
The best, the best, the best of you?

Has someone taken your faith?
It's real, the pain you feel
You trust, you must confess"

~ Foo Fighters ~ Best of You ~

***

Ever heard the saying, find what you need, find what works ... and leave the rest.  Well, with the new year upon us, we have an opportunity to clean the slate, start over, re-do, and make some resolutions.  Now I am not a huge fan of resolutions but I love to write down my intentions to give them a chance to become reality.  

So how do I acknowledge the best of me? ... Well I follow the steps presented by Terri Cole, founder of Live Fearless and Free ... Terri suggests we start with three separate lists:

List#1: CRAP YOU ARE LEAVING IN 2011

Write down experiences, feelings, people, circumstances… anything that you do not want to drag with you into 2012. Share this list with a trusted friend who will witness without judgment. Then, burn the list so the energy attached to it can be released back into The Uni-verse and out of your experience.

List#2: GEMS YOU ARE KEEPING FROM 2011
Write down what you learned from your experiences, good and bad, but especially from the ones on list #1. Once you honor what you learned, you won’t need to repeat the crappy situation. Even the worst situation has a gem. You just have to be willing to look through the crap to find it. Hold onto this list.

List#3: WHAT YOU ARE CREATING IN 2012 (* this is my favourite list!) ...
Write what you want to create for yourself: how you want your life to look and feel. This list should be written in the present tense and include all areas of your life: love, health, family, wealth, friends, career, fitness, spirituality, etc. Marinate, meditate and think on what you have written. Put this list where you can see it on a daily basis. When you look at this list, feel the feelings of having these things. By conjuring the feelings, you become a magnet that will draw the experiences to you.

As Terri states, we are the architects and engineers of our life experience, so commit to creating your best life in 2012.  Remember, this is our time to decide, find what we need, find what works ... and leave the rest.  

"We attract abundance when we ask from a compassionate heart"

♥ Johnathan Lockwood Huie ♥