DONT make excuses for yourself being afraid.
DONT live in the past.
DONT hold on to empty promises.
DONT settle for less than the BEST you absolutely deserve.
DONT tolerate anyone lying to your heart.
DONT allow another person to affect your own self image.
DONT let another person's weakness and insecurities infect you.
DONT change for anyone unless it is FOR YOU.

DO hope that someONE accepts, adores & appreciates you for the amazing soul that you are!

DO always see the world as a "cup half full".

DO always take risks!

DO always keep your heart open NO matter how badly it has been bruised!

DO take different roads & avoid the path you have already treaded to dust.

DO LIVE & LEARN!

DO L.O.V.E. your family & friends, they are the ones that will NEVER LEAVE YOU!

DO LAUGH at the Fools STUPID enough to have not seen Your Worth!

DO SMILE AT THE FRIENDS WHO FAILED YOU...the strong forgive while the weak will forever hold onto the grudge.

DO REALIZE that there are some people too insecure to handle YOU in their lives & they are the ones MISSING OUT!

DO LET GO & MOVE ON... The ONEs that are MEANT to be in Your Life will follow You.

the four agreements.

BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

DON'T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse, and regret.

immortal icon.

another weekend is over.
however this weekend marks the first that the world has endured after the passing of michael jackson.
its been quite bitter sweet.

i spent the better part of this weekend with one of my bestest friends...missy...just hanging out and making the most of the girl time we havent had much of over the past couple of years. we watched movies...ate junk food...teased our kids...had some drinkersss...and had an amazing sunday funday bbq with the newly relocated matt, mary and baby bella who just moved back to town...cara and cavin who are possibly moving to town very soon (fingers crossed =])...becca, daniel, hayden and lily...rosie and ray...charisma and elijah!

one spirit that wasnt lost was that of michael jackson...he was on the radio...tributes on XM going nonstop...we blasted him in rays truck outside...we just listened to him through out the day...relentlessly trying to mimic his famous steps haha it reminded me again that no matter all our differences...age, race, music preferences...that michael jackson will forever be responsible for bridging gaps, breaking barriers and bringing people together in a way no one has ever done before.

i am still not sure how to process the loss of michael jackson...all i know is how i feel and all i can do is embrace the overwhelming emotions that have continuously been evoked by the news and tributes to him since news of his passing.

there is no question the impact michael had on the world. it never ceases to amaze me how influential that impact has been...and im not ashamed to admit that it easily brings me to tears over and over. anyone who knows me knows that dance is and has always been a strong driving force in who and what i am today. watching michael dance stirred up emotions in me that i cant bring myself to describe. its been said art is very emotional...therefore i believe its only an emotion i can express on the dance floor. i cant think about or look back on my childhood without thinking of him. i have vivid memories of watching thriller...listening to his music...dancing in the studio to his songs. there will never be another to grace a stage the way he did. we grew up with him...and for that im grateful.

for someone who has been told to have a gift for words...i find myself at a loss when trying to adequately express the effect michael has had on me through out my life. words fail me. i was never fortunate enough to meet this man or even see him perform in person... however there is no denying the profound influence he has had on me. michael had questionable behavior through out the years...but i never stopped believing in him. i will never think of him as anything but a gentle soul...however tortured...who i dont believe was anything but genuine. he was a talent like no other. i believe he endured things in his childhood that he was never able to overcome...that kept him in a childlike state. i dont believe he ever did anything with ill intention...on the contrary...i think he lived to better the lives of others in whatever way he knew how. there will never be another michael jackson. he will live on forever in music and in my heart. i feel blessed to have been able to witness the magnitude of his greatness through out my life. and tonight...i felt especially proud to share my memories of michael with my son.

elijah has never had much of an attention span for anything other than the likes of skating or video games but i sense a genuine interest of his when he asks me about michael and listens to my never ending stories about him and the impact he continues to have on me. watching michael dance is nothing short of electric...it was magical. i mean....how epic is the moon walk. are you joking me! i can never forget how accomplished and proud i felt when i learned how to master that move he is and always will be one of my greatest inspirations. and i feel confident that my son understands my connection to music and dance when i speak of it.

every now and again im reminded how powerful music is when my son and i bond over it. there really isnt anything better.

gone too soon.

[[clearly this was written yesterday 6.25.09...
i originally posted it on myspace where i sat down and expressed my overwhelming emotions]]

ive spent most of the day posted and glued to the TV watching and listening to the devastating news.

almost as if time stopped...
i feel like as if ive been suspended in time.
im still in shock.....paralyzed by the passing of michael jackson.
i dont think there is one person on this planet that wasnt touched by him in one way or another.



to a blessed few he was a son....
a brother....
an uncle......cousin...
a father...
friend....
but to me he wasnt just a celebrity...
an artist or musician...
he was a DANCER...
he is an ICON...
LEGEND
a true talent like no other....
i will never forget the profound effect michael had on me growing up.
he was absolutely amazing to watch on stage.
we grew up with him.
he touched so many...
inspired the world...
broke barriers...
and accomplished things some of the most talented and celebrated artists today can only dream of.
its a sad sad day for music...
we lost one of the greatest...
but his music and career will live on forever....


michael had his flaws...
as we all do.
but i believe his heart was genuine...
his soul tortured.
he struggled through many trials and tribulations over the years...
but i prefer to remember him for the amazingly talented spirit that he was.
as with marilyn, elvis, anna nicole and heath...
i can only find comfort in knowing that he is no longer in pain...
God willing...he can rest in peace now.
i will continue to pray for him, his family and everyone who has been deeply effected by this loss.

we were blessed from 8.29.58 ~ 6.25.09
spread your wings and fly sweet angel...
may you finally rest in peace.

all too often we get caught up in our own lives...
and lose track of what and who really matters in this short life...
we are all guilty of taking things and people for granted too often.
we should never stay mad at our loved ones...and always tell them we love them before we part...but we dont.
tonight....
take the time to tell your family and friends what they mean to you.
and thank god for another day you have to enjoy them.
xo.

Tips for Earthquake Safety

I spent last weekend in Southern California visiting friends and experienced an earthquake while I was there. It was reported to be a 5.0. No one was hurt, nothing was damaged, but it shook my sense of security. There has been much talk and speculation that we are due for another 'Big One' in the near future. With that said, I have been looking up earthquake safety guides and tips to reacquaint myself with safety measures.

For as long as I can remember I have always been taught to crawl under a desk or get under a doorway in the event of an earthquake. I have recently learned that more people have died being crushed under these desks when they could have had a better chance of surviving if they had been lying down next to these desks. When buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes the objects, leaving a space or void next to them.
~~~>This space is what is called the "triangle of life". The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be judged. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the "triangles" you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape you will see in a collapsed building.

Cats, dogs, and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.


TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY

1. You can't plan where to be during the 'big one' but just know that wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has much less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less crushed bodies than concrete slabs.

2. If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed.

3. If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to the sofa, or large chair.

4. Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the door jam falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you risk being crushed by the doorway. In either case, it could be fatal.

5. Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different "moment of frequency" (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on the stairs before they fail risk being mutilated by the stair treads. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by the fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.

6. Get near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them if possible. It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.

7. People inside their vehicles under a bridge or near a building are at more of a risk to be crushed if they stay inside. It is safer to get out of the vehicle and sit or lay next to the vehicle where there are possible 3 feet voids next to them.

Spread the word and save someone's life. The entire world is experiencing natural calamities...so be prepared! "We are but angels with one wing, it takes two to fly."