To experience peace...

To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful.  It means that you are capable of tapping into a blissful state of mind amidst the normal chaos of a hectic life.

--- Jill Bolte Taylor, My Stroke of Insight ---

After seeing Jill Bolte Taylor's extremely moving and insightful TED talk, I immediately knew that I had to read her book.  Her TED talk was so incredibly inspiring as she shared an amazing account of a physical and spiritual awakening after experiencing a stroke.  The energy with which she shared her talk was conveyed throughout her little book that recounted the physical aspects of the stroke she endured and the intense recovery period during which she realized the other knowledge and a level of intelligence that we all possess but don't often exercise.  Back in the day, we were not taught in school about the power of our right brain thinking, but we are now so blessed to have stories like these to help us truly live our lives to the fullest by utilizing all of our mental faculties.  I love what she says here because it's a beautiful blend of the practicality of the daily buzzing around in life, infused with an inspiring reminder that we have the ability to find bliss and peace at any time.  It's a reminder to stay in the now, which is something I've been striving to incorporate into my regular routine of life.  

new year intentions...

Everything that happens in the universe starts with intention. 

--- Deepak Chopra

Happy New Year!  I can hardly believe that it is 2012, and am so excited for the year to come.  I've come to realize that each year we have on earth is a blessing, and everything that happens in each year starts with intention.  Rather than setting new years resolutions, what if we set new year intentions?  Resolutions can sometimes be framed in the negative, such as "no more this, or stop doing that, or do more of this thing that I don't really like but I know is good for me."  Instead of starting the year off with what we don't want, what if we set intentions of what we would like to see materialize in our lives.  One of my intentions this year is to post at least one quote per week.  That's it!  It's reasonable, and I know I can do it.  I just set my mind to it!  What will you intend?

Wishing everyone all the best this coming year - good health, happiness, peace, prosperity, love, and bliss.  With the best of intentions, Faith 

Blessings of laughter....

Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves... for we will never cease to be amused.

--- unknown ---

Make the most of yourself...

Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.

--- Ralph Waldo Emerson ---

This is one of my all time favorite quotes... poetic, to the point, and empowering.

...Capable of Becoming

I want to be all that I am capable of becoming.

--- Katherine Mansfield (wikipedia) ---

I found this quote in a book that I received as a gift from a friend in college, and also found this quote to be quite simple, inspiring, and to the point.  It's a reminder that at the end of the day, regardless of all other things, we want to fulfill our own capacity for becoming who we want to be as individuals.