Life is challenging... so what!?

Guess what? Life is hard and challenging some of the time, but so what, it is still beautiful and exciting! We all have challenges in life, we all have sorrow, we all have been through ALL of it, but we get through it and live another day. Life is love. Each day that you wake up is a gift, do something with that gift, don't waste it... JUST DO IT! So today, get out there, make a change, run for office, take an adventure, start a new career, tell someone you have always loved them, try something new and appreciate all that you have. Life is beautiful so Live Inspired Now!

Go with the flow or you might break something....

Have you ever tried to control a roller coaster while you were on it? You can strain and flail all you want but you will not stop a roller coaster or control which way it goes. You might end up with a broken arm however. Go with the flow! You don't actually control anything except yourself, the way you feel about events, the way you choose to react to things. You don't control anything else... just YOU. So today, go with the flow, allow the Universe to guide you, enjoy the adventure called life and Live Inspired Now!

"Life is like a roller coaster, it has it's ups and downs. But it's your choice to scream or enjoy the ride!"

PS: 2 of my kids are on the roller coaster in this picture; Madison and Harry. They LOVED it!

Hugggggsss!!!

It is HUG day!!! Give as many hugs as you can today! You may be surprised at just how well they are received... everyone need hugs, every day! So today, hug your partner, your kids, your neighbor, your friends and anyone else you think could use a hug today and Live Inspired Now!

Thanks Carrie Sue for the INSPIRATION! :)

Obscure locations....

Every state has some obscure locations to visit like the worlds largest glacial pothole, America's Stonehenge, or even the Garbage Museum in Connecticut. Thad and I are finding some obscure places to visit in PA today, I can't wait to see where we end up! So today, seek out the weird oddities in your area and Live Inspired Now!

I'm a "Dirty Girl!"

My friends and I will be participating in the Dirty Girl Mud Run in Pennsylvania in May. We just signed up with our team name as "Sassy Sexy Inspired Moms!" How cool is that!? We are going to have so much fun with this 5K obstacle course just for the girls! What a great event to build self esteem and confidence whilst having FUN in a non intimidating setting! I encourage all you ladies to check out the dirty girl website and see if there is an event coming to your area, participate, feel empowered and Live Inspired Now!

Dirty Girl Website

Ice Skating.....

That's right... ice skating! My friends and I took the kids ice skating yesterday, we had a blast! It is always inspired when you get together with friends, especially when you do something that none of you are very good at! lol. The kids had a great time too and we all got lots of exercise! After ice skating we all met at my house for pizza... totally great day! So today, grab some friends, check out your local ice rink and Live Inspired Now!

Library time....

Yesterday, I took the kids to a library that we had not been to yet, we had a great time! The kids love hanging out at the library, relaxing and reading. It is nice to have them spend some time in a quiet atmosphere. Being loud and boisterous is super fun but even the kids need to make time to slow down and rest their minds in a quiet space. So today, head to the library and Live Inspired Now!

Do WHAT to my body???

Take care of your body and your mind will follow! Today, think about what your body needs. I personally had a massage today and it was so relaxing and refreshing. I feel awesome! (Thanks Lisa Bertuzzi; find her on facebook if you want a great massage therapist in Ithaca, NY)
Everyone needs to take care of their physical body by eating healthy, getting enough rest, relaxing, exercising and physical activity, massages, meditation, ensuring proper digestive health (pooping), avoiding chemicals and toxins, drinking lots of water, having physical touch, proper dental hygiene, caring for your hair and nails, etc... I could go on for days but you get the picture. It would be nearly impossible to feel sad or down if your body was feeling amazing! So today, take care of your body and Live Inspired Now!

GET OUT!!!

That's right... GET OUT! Get outside and get some fresh air and sunshine! No matter who you are, all humans need to get outside, it is good for your physical and mental health and it is just refreshing! The picture above is Thad and I at Treman State Park standing near one of the many waterfalls. The kids took tons of pictures, collected fossils, skipped stones, played at the playground and had a free fun family outing! So today, discover how refreshing the great outdoors are and Live Inspired Now!

PS... spending time outdoors helps you sleep better too!

ROLLER SKATING!!!

Thad and I took the kids roller skating yesterday. We had such a wonderful time and it was great exercise too! I took this picture while we were actually skating! So today, find a roller rink in your area, have FUN skating and Live Inspired Now!

Don't settle.....

My dear sweet friends, your love will come, please don't settle for less than you want or deserve. Being alone is not the worst thing, spending years in the wrong relationship without passion, love or happiness is much worse. Focus on giving love, kindness and respect to everyone you meet and you will feel so much love. When you focus on giving, you will receive. You will find the love of your life through selfless acts of love and kindness and you won't have to settle. So today... focus on what you can give to make the Universe a better place, have faith that your love story is being written in advance and Live Inspired Now!

Take a different route.....

Take a different route to or from work today! You never know what you might discover... a new restaurant to try, a beautiful view, a really cool house.... you never know! So today, try a new route and Live Inspired Now!

Confidence is SEXY!

I cannot say it enough, confidence is the sexiest most powerful thing you could ever put on! If you have trouble mustering up confidence, here is a tip. Think about a moment in life when you were really confident, when you knew your stuff, or you looked amazing and knew it, or you did a job really well and felt great about it. Whatever the memory is, relive it as vividly as you can in your mind, picture that moment sewn into a coat that you can put on and relive the memory over and over. Then each day, or especially in moments when you need extra confidence, picture putting on that coat of confidence that makes you SHINE! Use that coat whenever you feel nervous or challenged, or in moments when you want to make a good impression. Confidence is sexy as hell too so don't be surprised at the attention you will get when you wear your confidence! So today, wear your confidence and Live Inspired Now!

"We are made from the same stuff as the stars above; they shine, so should we!"

Need extra help learning to be confident? Contact Inspired Heather today!

Put things in perspective...

Today I was working with a young person who was reading the book "Holes." In the book, the main character Stanley mentioned that life digging holes was so bad that they would sometimes prod a small rattlesnake to bite them so they could get a couple of days in their tent to recover. It made me think... if sometimes a rattlesnake bite is a GOOD thing, we need to think about everything with some perspective. Often we see an EVENT as good or bad, we don't realize that it is OUR definition of events that cause them to be good or bad. One person might make $50,000 a year at their new job and be disappointed by the pay while another person will get paid $10,000 per year and feel rich and grateful. Take a moment to put things into perspective before assigning a meaning to them. Think about the bigger picture, a global picture and see if your meaning and reaction to an event or situation is appropriate or not. Think about how other people might see it, pretend to be an observer rather than a participant which will help you see other perspectives. Think about it today... is there a situation where you might welcome a rattlesnake bite, or be happy to get fired from a job, or perhaps being grateful to lose a relationship? Put things into perspective today and Live Inspired Now!

Just another day......

Today is just another day in an Inspired life! If you are truly living and loving every single day, then you don't need a special day to stand out from the rest! When you love your partner with all that you are and put their needs first, and truly enjoy one another with passion and joy, then who needs a "Valentine's Day" because EVERY DAY is Valentine's Day! So if your relationship isn't full of joy, laughter, passion, love, and excitement... let today be the start and Live Inspired Now!

PS... Thad; I love you with all my heart! You are my dream come true, my soul mate, my best friend... not just today, but every moment of every single day. My life is truly blessed! <3

Balance anger with poise....

Anger happens sometimes. You cannot avoid it. You can however make wiser choices when you are angry and find a healthier way to express it. We all experience anger, but next time try to maintain poise and grace through the hard emotion. If you get angry with someone, do not call them names or try and hurt them. Hurtful words expressed in anger are like daggers and can remain with a person for a very long time. For example; if you are angry with a spouse for something they said, say just that... "I feel hurt by what you said." Rather than saying "Your a jerk, I hate you." Nobody can argue your own feelings with you but they can argue name calling. And honestly, name calling, flame-o-grams, back stabbing and other anger derived actions are just not very classy. It is fine to get angry, but think about how you are really feeling, don't make the situation worse, respond with dignity and Live Inspired Now.

PS... "He who angers you, controls you!" Never give away your self control to someone who isn't yourself.

Warning: Your growing a target!

I have found in life that no matter how amazing your life becomes and how much you give and do for other people, no matter how much you dedicate your life to helping others and being a positive influence.... some people will still not like you! In fact, I have found that the more awesome your life becomes, you start to grow a target on your back. People sometimes inspect your life looking for your faults so they have a reason not to like you. The fact is, some people will chose to not like you BECAUSE you live an inspired life but it really has nothing to do with you. It is easier for some people to resent you and your amazing life and happiness than to step up their game and make their life just as awesome. No matter what though, NEVER dim your own light to make someone elses appear brighter. Shine, live, love and enjoy life to the fullest and disregard the mud flying from haters! So today my dear sweet shining lights of inspiration... SHINE, remember that if you are a target it is only because you are spectacular and Live Inspired NOW!

Find value for what you do.....

We all do amazing things, but we often under value our contributions. Sometimes we do this because what we do does not produce an income, or because it goes largely unnoticed. Find another way besides financial to measure value. Maybe you get an incredible feeling from what you do, that is valuable! Maybe you have seen someone turn their life around because of something you said or did, that is a huge reward. Or maybe, you saved a child from making bad choices and your reward is watching their success. I know I do some free coaching and the reward I get is feeling great, knowing I am making a contribution to the world and I get positive feedback which is my favorite. Not everything of value has a monetary value. So today, think about what you do and what it is worth and how you get paid for it. Think about the rewards and consider them valuable and Live Inspired Now

Taking a sick day...

I can't even remember the last time I was sick; let alone take a sick day! So this is that day... I admit it, I caught a cold. I still worked today, but I think I will take the night off, and maybe even tomorrow too. Part of an Inspired Life is knowing when to take a break and get some rest. I wish you all an INSPIRED Friday full of passion and joy! xo

I only have good days.....

The first things you think or say when you wake up set the tone for your day. Personally, I prefer to only have good days so I like to say a little mantra each day when I wake up. I tell myself something like this: "Today will be an amazing day! I will make the most of it and enjoy the magic moments!" On days when I know I am facing something challenging, I tell myself that I am strong and empowered and will handle any challenges that come my way! I like to set the tone for each day... it's a MUCH better way to start a day than to whine about getting out of bed! So today, think of a morning mantra to tell yourself each day when you wake up and Live Inspired Now!

Find an opportunity to help someone.

Last year I was driving around the parking lot at a shopping plaza when I noticed a person in a wheelchair at the bottom of an icy hill trying to wheel himself up. It was winter, snow on the ground, the hill had been cleared of snow but was still quite icy and the man was struggling. I pulled over near the hill and got out of my car to help the man. I announced myself as I walked up behind him so as not to startle him. He just shouted, "I'm OK, I can do it." As I got closer I saw the man had only one leg and I then realized just how icy the hill was; his wheels were spinning but he was not moving and the hill was very steep. I just said, "Please sir, let me help!" I took the back of his chair, leaned forward and pushed him up the icy hill. I asked him if he was OK from there and he indicated that he was just going across the street now and he thanked me for getting him up the hill. I left him feeling good that I had helped.
So today, find an opportunity to help someone. These opportunities for kindness, compassion and generosity are everywhere, you just have to keep your eyes and heart open. If you see someone who looks confused, ask if you can help them. If you see someone struggling to reach something in the store, help them. If you see an elderly person trying to make her way somewhere, lend a hand. Take helping opportunities as you see them and Live Inspired Now!

What's your favorite candy???

Remember your favorite candy from childhood? Mine was these delicious chocolate eggs called "Kinder Eggs" that my parents would buy us when we lived in Germany. They were hollow chocolate eggs with a prize on the inside and the German chocolate was so rich and smooth! Yum! I had a whole collection of little tiny toys that I found nestled inside my chocolate eggs. What was your favorite candy? Today, go out and get yourself a little nostalgic treat to enjoy, relive fond childhood moments and Live Inspired Now!

PS... Kinder eggs are not available in the US because the toys inside presents a choking hazard to young children so today I will get some plain M&M's to enjoy instead!

Fancy clothes at home....

Have some fun with this one! Today, put on some fancy clothes and spend the day feeling fancy! Get all dolled up, put on your ball gown or tuxedo suit and live the high life! If you have to go to work, put your fancy clothes on when you get home. Eat dinner all dressed up.... the kids will LOVE this one! So break out your fancy pants, have some fun playing dress up and Live Inspired Now!

Superbowl or no superbowl???

It's Superbowl Sunday! So today, spend time with the family and root for your favorite team! But I have an alternative for those of you who don't like football.... watch "The Help." Thad and I watched this last night and it was an incredible movie! I won't bother telling you all about it, but I will say this is a truly inspiring story of some amazing women who were courageous and brave! You will love this movie!
So whether you are watching the Superbowl or "The Help" have an awesome Sunday, enjoy your family and friends and Live Inspired Now!

PS... GO PATRIOTS! ;)

Johnson's Museum of Art

Thad and I are taking the kids to the Johnson's Museum of Art at Cornell. They have several floors of exhibits from all over the world and the kids love the outdoor spaces upstairs. The view is amazing! So today, take the family to an art museum or something similar and Live Inspired Now!

I AM vs. I FEEL

Think about the words you use every day. Do you say things like "I am depressed, I am fat, or I am incapable?" If you do... STOP IMMEDIATELY!!! We all FEEL down in the dumps, or bloated or unsuccessful from time to time but recognize that as a feeling not as an identity! If you feel sad, say "I feel sad" instead of "I am sad." You are NOT sad, you are an amazing human capable of so much who is feeling sad in the moment. Allow yourself to feel the normal emotions that humans feel without classifying yourself. Feel the negative emotion, acknowledge it and then move forward from it.
Words are extremely powerful, they effect your beliefs about yourself which effect your brain and central nervous system. If you anchor negative words and beliefs into your central nervous system, it becomes extremely difficult to un-learn them! So today, identify yourself as something powerful and positive, allow yourself to only FEEL negative emotions then move away from them and Live Inspired Now!

Don't repair your roof in the rain!

The best time to repair your roof is on a nice sunny day, NOT in the rain. So many times we wait until we are in crisis to work on ourselves. When you are feeling great and full of confidence, that is the best time to do some self reflection and work on any challenges that you want to overcome. When your relationship is in crisis, take a deep breath and wait for the storm to pass, THEN do the repairs, otherwise you might be trying to lasso a hurricane. When you are both in a good space, then sit down and discuss solutions! So today, while it is "sunny," make a plan to "fix" something that needs some emotional repair or support and Live Inspired Now!

*Relationship coaching teaches you actual steps to create a lasting relationship! Don't wait for the storm, call today!*