Saturday, August 25, 2012

Simple words huge impact

There is much to be said about the simplicity of things. Such as words. I'm not talking about words you spout  out during an argument, or when you see something or someone that triggers a one word response just due to how you feel about it.   I'm talking about the simple word or words that we forget to use sometimes in our daily lives. The ones that are so simple yet can have such a huge impact. Words as simple as "Please" and "Thank you", and that's just an example. Think about any word or words that have been said  to you, positive ones, that really impacted you. Now, knowing how good that made you feel, think how it would make someone else feel coming from you. They'll get to experience that good feeling you have. Sharing the wealth (experience), is nice.

However, don't do it only to pride yourself , for example "look what I did. I'm a good person". Do it out of sincerity. Because you did it from your heart.

Every kind deed done is a ripple in the sea life. Hence, you never know what kind of day a person is having or what they may be experiencing in their life.  By one simple kind gesture/word you have the opportunity to change the out come of someone's whole day, and in some rare instances their life.

When I was working in different theaters here and there, the best piece of advice I received when working with my fellow colleges was, no matter what is going on the two best words to always use were, please and thank you.  Little did I know how powerful that advise would be.   These two words are just a small example of the kindness we can share with others in the form of verbal expression.  It is important to remember that you should incorporate those and others into every situation.  So throw the pebble let the ripples begin...

Nicole


Monday, August 20, 2012

Sound the trumpet

ATTENTION! ATTENTION! So summer is still here, and many of us are adjusting back into our regular routines. Some of us are embarking  into school mode, some are getting back into the work force and sitting behind a desk, others have and are still working non stop. For them this is just another season change.

Change is an interesting word isn't it. So I ask you this, "would you say we change or do we evolve?" Personally I like the thought of evolving. You're still yourself with a little added bonus as time goes by. Not only are you adapting and over coming but making additions to one's self. Usually around this time our lives really start getting into the swing of things. The end of summer and a new work year on the horizon. This is short because I want you to think....is this the year I change or do I choose to evolve. Ultimately the ball is in your court. So choose wisely.
Nicole

Monday, August 13, 2012

Living in the moment

"Life is What You Make It..."

The funny thing is, I heard a joke begin with that sentence, though the ending wasn't very PC. But It got me thinking...life is what you make it. Some people choose to live their life in constant worry, "What if...and What about this...what if we don't get there on time...what if "this" doesn't happen?!?!?!" .A lot of time wasted in my opinion; constantly obsessed with the "what ifs". Or people who enjoy living in constant aggravation. You know, folks that think, "This is probably gonna take forever...I hate the holidays...why is she sooo like that...watch I'll get picked last again."
I could go on and on but you get the picture. The point is moments like these do exist. There are times that we have moments when we worry too much. Get aggravated to easily. Stay depressed or upset. But what we forget is, THIS TOO SHALL PASS. This very moment is not going to be forever...That is unless you want it to be...which is a poor decision in my opinion. And it is just that, a decision, your decision. We all know how to get out of a funk. We all have our own method. For some it's a five minute process. For others it can be an all day event bleeding into weeks or even months.
This is my method. I prefer finding the positive in my moments. I don't like dwelling in the unhappy moments. Like I said before, it's just time wasted. Time that I could be doing something exciting, something unbelievable, something fantastic, something that makes me smile. Oh and BTW I always believe you should smile, it looks good on you!
So find your moments and don't be afraid to LIVE each one. Try not to allow yourself to get stuck but to move forward. I guarantee there's a better moment right around the corner.

Nicole

Monday, May 7, 2012

So life's a roller coaster

Life is such a roller coaster. You climb and climb and climb, reach what is your peak, dive down and up. Repeat, detour in loops, feel excitement and fear yet never know what is coming next. Though, that should be the exciting part. Not knowing what's coming next. Yet completely ready to tackle whatever comes your way....


Thursday, March 15, 2012

Why lazy feels good

Go with me here:

 Everyone has has those days when your world just stops, and you find yourself curled up on the couch. You occasionally get up for bathroom breaks, a snack here and there, and sleep on an off all day as random television shows play on the television in the background. That to me is just one example of how being lazy just feels so good. Now though the feeling of being lazy can definitely be a relaxing one, it can also be a tad bit boring.

Ever heard that saying "The world is just passing you by"? Whenever I try to pry some of my friends away from the couch to come join the land of the living, that's usually the line I use. However, once they do come out, they realize there's a whole world that exists away from their couch. It takes a little push, but ultimately they tend to budge and venture out.

I find the most relaxing lazy days are the ones that happen right after I've put all my energy and effort into a project, work, etc. There is something so gratifying about seeing, feeling, and experiencing  the final product of whatever it is you worked on come together 110%. Though, the ultimate payoff, is kicking back, relaxing, and yes, being lazy. Try it out sometimes. Lazy to be lazy- not to exciting. Rewarding yourself with being lazy because it's well deserved.....priceless.

So, lazy can be ok. Especially when well deserved. Sometimes you just need to recharge after exerting all your energy. I say, just choose your lazy wisely because when it's due to your success, buddy.....it can be something that feels so so good...

Nicole

Friday, February 24, 2012

You're allowed to have bad days

Yesterday was just like any other day. I woke up, got dressed, greeted the day, headed out the door and was ready for whatever adventures lied ahead. Though, yesterday wasn't the best of days.

 There are things we can't control, and sometimes our days  can take a turn. Sometimes our days decide to poke at us, bully us, or throw an unexpected monkey wrench in the equation. Of course, it isn't until the very very end when our day finally decides to stop.

I'm assuming some folks, such as myself agree. Bad days stink. They're not fun. When they happen, it isn't exactly the easiest thing to get through, and time is definitely not you're friend. Depending on the type of bad day you're experiencing, or had, for some reason time doesn't seem to cooperate . Time is usually one of two things, a best friend, or your worst enemy. On bad days, they tend to be your worst enemy.

Bad days do happen, and they happen to everyone. That's something we all have in common. Something we don't have, is the way we decide to handle it. Obviously, when bad days happen you go through different emotions. You get mad. irritated, impatient, stressed, upset, etc. None of those words sound very pleasant. So in other words, you/re allowed to feel those things but don't allow yourself to get stuck there. Eventually, "this to shall pass". You can move through your funk, let it go. Easier said then done, but it IS POSSIBLE. To be or not to be, move forward or stay stuck? The choice is up to you.

I don't always have the best days. Some days aren't so picture perfect. Though there is something that I have to remind myself. Once the day is over, it's over forever. I'll never have that  bad day again. The day came and now it's gone, and luckily tomorrow is a new day. So, my choice when faced with a bad day is to accept it and move through it. Why stress it, it doesn't help or fix anything. I know that slowly but surely, it's going to be ok.

You know my choice, so what's yours? Every morning my grandfather says the same thing, no matter what the day holds, "open up your heart and let the sun shine in."

Nicole

Monday, February 20, 2012

How to "coast"

When I think of the coast, automatically the beach pops in my head. It's kinda of my own personal word association game. The word is coast, I think beach. Beach,sand. Sand, water. Water, relaxation.Which brings me to the word coasting.

You've heard the saying "coasting through life", which isn't necessarily a good thing. If refers to someone who doesn't improve themselves and has no goals.

However, in my world it can also have a good meaning.
 My definition of coasting through life-
doing good work, putting your best in all you do, keeping a cool head, positive attitude, turning stress away, and enjoying getting up in the morning. Thus, you coast with grace and ease.

Obviously, life isn't always smooth sailing. We'd all be bored if it was.  Though, when major obstacles are placed in front of you, will you tackle it from the beginning with the attitude that this will be terrible, long, and very tiring? Or, that you'll handle it with grace, make it through with your head held high, come out on top, so you can keep coasting?

I know my answer, what's yours?

Nicole

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

One for All

February 14th. Valentines Day. A holiday non the less, but a very beautiful holiday. Wikipedia explains that Valentines Day as such:

The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offeringconfectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").[1][3]

Very nice. However, if your situation happens to be the one where you celebrate this holiday with yourself....well.....THEN GO CELEBRATE!

It's a very foreign concept to me when I hear about  people who automatically decide that on days such as today, will be miserable. Period. That the world sucks because everyone seems to have what you don't. So, an order of misery is the special on today's menu. It's on your agenda, and at the end of the day you'll sleep, wake up the next day, and what the hell, you'll do it all over again. 

Personally, having the dark rain cloud of doom and gloom over my head doesn't really sound appealing. The point I'm trying to make is this. Everyday when we wake up, we have two options 1) am I gonna have a good day or 2) a bad day. Granted you can't predict what the days events will hold. However, the  day can actually start rolling quit nicely depending on the route you wish to take.

Which brings me back to today. Valentines Day. I don't necessarily have a valentine, but it's still a holiday. Still a celebration between others. Still a joy to look around and see that happiness does indeed exist.

Nicole

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

How I love staying busy!

About three years ago, I was talking with my friend, Talameika, and the topic of our conversation went a little something like this; "I'm just SO ready for something to start happening." At the time we were both pretty bored with the work we were doing, or not doing. Now, three years after that conversation, I'm running around, travelling, telling my story, and I couldn't be happier! In other words, I'm busy and I've been staying busy with a smile across my face. Talamieka and her husband, Charles, are now extremely busy with their new business, Brice Media, where they do graphic design work, illustration, and photography! They are pretty great at what they do! If you want to check out some of their work just take a look at my website.. the opening image was done by Brice Media, along with the majority of photos in my gallery!
I know that I've neglected this blog and I thought I would give you some insight as to why. So now that we're all caught up.. I've got some pretty amazing news that I'd like to share with everyone. It's a new year, time for change, and time for reinvention. Which is exactly what I'm doing now. I just told you I'm speaking, yes. But what else do I really do?
I am in the business of hope. I've found the key that I've been searching for to unlock useful information for other people like me, but it can translate to every day life as well. I've been asked by many people, "So have you always had this positive attitude? Like, how did you get through it? I wish I had what you have." The thing is, you DO have what I have. Have I always been this positive? No, I'm not sub human, I have emotions and good days and bad days just like everyone else. I just choose to have more better days than bad. Everyone has a choice when they wake up in the morning: Good day or bad day? When you've gone through a traumatic accident, the world you once knew seems so foreign. Everything has changed over night. Building blocks that you've stacked up, year after year, that made you who you are, have been knocked back down to square one. Now is the time that you can go one of two ways. From the minute I had my accident, I knew I had a long road ahead of me. I had to suck up my pride and I knew that it was going to be a very tough, long road. In the end I knew I could do it and I was prepared to do it with a smile.
When you suffer something like I have, a spinal cord injury (SCI), nobody knows what you're going through but you. That's step one. Acknowledging. Step two: How are you going to handle it? This goes back to my positiveness. I chose to handle mine, without a fight. I knew that eventually, things were going to get better. The proof is in the pudding.. and my life has gotten SO much better. It wasn't going to happen over night, but with good work comes results. There are still mountains, I have yet to climb; and there are still roads that I may never go down. For every road I won't be able to go down, I find a new path to lead me in a new direction, and so can you.

Nicole