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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Check Engine...check your engines!

An engine, a machine that coverts energy into a useful motion...a machine that burns fuel to create heat to create a motion...To create motion.
motion is always good.  NOT!  Some motions, however, are wasted energy. 
Thomas the train always tried to be a useful engine.  The truth is there are many people, I mean engines, that are very useless.  They convert negative energy into useless motion.  Walking in circles, arguing a point that could have been be resolved after discussion, pushing and pulling when they could have, should have, been working together with other engines to get a job done. Their heat tends to burn things instead of warm them to cultivate a useful move.  And what happens?  They overheat.

Maybe an engine flush is needed?

This year though I vow to check my engine and put it in check.  No wasteful motions.  If I can't control it-LET IT GO!

Life is 440 horsepower in a 2-cylinder engine.  Ain't that the truth?

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Heather Feather

This was my nickname growing up.  My mom, my uncle, my sister, my grandma, and some others would refer to me as Heather Feather.  Loved that.  As I got older, classmates would say "Heather dressed in Leather, tell me the weather." Really didn't love that.  But oh well.  Now I am Heather, Heatha, Head, Heath, Heatherrrrrrr.  I love all of them! But I do miss being called Heather Feather-a tern of endearment that might be silly, made me feel loved.  You would think a hug or a "I love you" would make me feel that way but Heather Feather did it for me. So why am I writing about this here and now?  Well...

My uncle died last week after an almost 5 year struggle with Cancer. He was basically diagnosed after my grandmother's, his mother's, funeral in May 2008; Two weeks before Daniel's first birthday. 
We held my uncle's funeral consequently on my grandmother's birthday.  So many memories, like at all funerals, were brought up.  And even though I took in all the memories that I was not around for-because I am 10 years younger than my siblings and cousins-I held in my own simple memory that made me smile.  When he used to call me Heather Feather-when I used to feel a part of something.  A silly something.  A silly me.

Another reason I bring this up is that many people feel love via so many vehicles:
A hug
A kiss
An I Love You
A smile
A flower
A note
A letter
A text
A tweet
A facebook acknowledgment
A touch
A laugh
A dinner or lunch or breakfast
A wink
A song
A vacation
By loving yourself
A silly nickname...

I am sure there are many ways to show love; my list is a short but valuable one.  Check over your list. 
Love someone today!  It goes a long way.

And have a  Tequila shot for Uncle Roy and Grandma!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

It's beginning to look a little like...2013

Sometimes you have to move on. 
Sometimes you have to remember...life's not all about one thing.
Sometimes you have to let go.
Sometimes you have to remember that the end of one year only opens a new year with a new motto.
Letting go...My best is good enough.

This year, the holidays came fast but surprisingly it has been a time for me to reflect and rejoice.

So my mantra is on and now my goals.  I'm not numbering them-I feel that prioritizes and I'm not there yet!

  • Take Complete a creative writing course.  I really love to write and want to hone my skills.
  • Learn better Spanish.  I miss speaking the language.
  • Exercise Move regularly-no number on that-don't want to pigeon hole myself.  I love working out but I NEED to remember it's about the quality not quantity.  And I don't want to overwhelm my life with HAVING to do it because I didn't do it yesterday.  This could include running, kettlebells, horseback riding, walking, jumping rope, bowling etc.
  • Have fun.  I need to stop thinking so much and take control of having fun.
  • Don't stress.  I am me.  I am whatever I tend to be.  I need to take control of over analyzing and thinking far into the future.  Jenny McCarthy has a blog for the Sun Times and wrote a great entry this week that hit home regarding the importance of the moment. 
  • Learn how to swim.  I can basically stay afloat. But there's always room for improvement.
  • Take on Complete a half marathon.  I really want to do one in Disneyworld...But I'll consider other favorites.
  • Pray with little man more.  We started doing this again.  We need to do this more.  Routine, love, thinking of others.
  • Have fun with little man more.  Consistency yes but don't need to be so strict with NEEDING to do one thing or another. 
  • Help my son find his talents.  He has one or maybe more...but what will they be?  He is a good reader and an excellent story teller.
  • Walk away more from little man.  No, I would never leave my son alone.  However, my friends might understand that I am a helicopter mom. In everything he does, I am a helicopter mom.  I need to step back and let him grow and make decisions on his own sometimes. 
  • Take more ARTS training.  Become more involved in the ARTS.  It could be singing, acting...
  • Make more dinners or maybe lunches.  YES I DO COOK!!!! Not often yes, a working mom and a picky eater as a son....my excuse.  But no more excuses.
  • Make more juices.  I love juicing.  I do need the chew factor in my life though.  I will be putting my juicer to work!
  • Enjoy those around me.  Don't question intentions.  Don't question their acts. Just enjoy them and what they can give to me.
  • Trapeze school- Come one...
  • De clutter.  From so much.  I need to hone this one.
  • Become more literate.  About so much.  I need to think and do for me and little man.
  • Be aware of what and how much I eat.  Cause we all know good food comes in abundance!
  • Read more.  So much technology and access to great books.
  • See more movies. Why not?
  • Challenge myself!  And know my best is good enough!!!!!!!

Let me know if you have any suggestions for books, recipes, or half marathons.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

And this too shall pass...

Last year on this day, last January 3rd, I ended my blog post with:
"But one last reflection question I must tackle: Do I believe in anything I do or say?
So my mantra this year is New Year New Thoughts.
I have chosen to create new intentions for the year and believe in them.
More Clarity and less Reality.

“Reality is merely an illusion, although a very persistent one.”  Albert Einstein"


After reading back my blog posts, twitter posts, and thinking about conversations I think I had with people (yeah I tend to forget a lot), I come to the resolution that I do believe in things I say or do.  I had to have believed in them at that moment in order for me to say or do them, right?  The intentions in which I had created in 2012 were brought to the surface, yes, but were they brought to the sky?  No, but I will work on that further in 2013. 
Clarity came with the sea waters of Hurricane Superstorm Sandy. The reality in which I thought I lived was an illusion.  Something that really wanted to push forward or backwards much of the time.  It was one that pushed me to limits; Pushed me to dive; Pushed me to soar. 
And out pushed 2012 and in has come 2013.
And my new Mantra is My Best Will be Good Enough.

I am a quote whore!  That's my literary side...feeling it? So these are some quotes that caught my eye to help me through this process:

 
Success lies not in being the best, but in doing your best. ~ Author Unknown

My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you I the best place for the next moment.~ Oprah Winfrey


Don’t waste your time striving for perfection; instead, strive for excellence — doing your best. ~ Sir Lawrence Olivier


With that said, I have a lot to look forward to in 2013.  A better, best me.  Only the best, my best for my little one. I ask you to help me in this endeavor as you are all amazing individuals doing your best! 
And with setting a mantra, goals need to be aligned ...to be announced shortly.
Happy New Year to you!