A Conversation About LOVE

February 14, 2012 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

THIS DIALOGUE HAS MANY SONG TITLES. THEY ARE IN BOLD AND ITALICS.

It’s Valentine’s Day. A couple sit together holding hands. As they sit side by side HE asks her quietly:

All You Need Is Love?

SHE replies warmly, kissing his cheek:

Love Is The Answer…

Walking by, THEY overhear the conversation. THEY are sick of seeing happy couples holding hands and interrupt angrily:

Love Hurts! You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away!

SHE replies calmly, with compassion:

You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling…Put A Little Love In Your Heart…

But their statement startles him. HE turns to her and questions:

You Always Hurt The Ones You Love…Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

 

SHE looks deep into his eyes and replies:

I Will Always Love You

THEY stand and stare. THEY don’t believe her. They’ve heard it before and were betrayed.

THEY have heavy hearts full of pain, sadness, anger and such a deep loneliness. THEY cry out bitterly:

Don’t Throw Your Love Away!

HE ignores them this time and says:

True Love Is Hard To Find…How Deep Is Your Love?

SHE smiles, squeezes his hand and says:

Love You Inside Out…

It’s hard to ignore her authenticity. SHE radiates with love. THEY pout:

I Want To Know What Love Is…

SHE said:

Let Love Lead The Way!

THEY reply bitterly:

Love Bites!

SHE calmly turns to them and says:

Love Takes Time…Let Me Love You…

THEY continue to jeer at her but HE interrupts:

We Found Love…

THEY look at each other and start laughing…

THEY start to walk away oozing with sarcasm and pain:

Why Do Fools Fall In Love?

SHE releases her partner’s hand and stands up. SHE calmly walks over to them, looks deep into their eyes. THEY try to look away. SHE takes her hand and gently lifts their chin so their eyes meet her gaze. SHE says warmly:

I Can’t Make You Love Me; You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me…I Feel Love!

THEY start to cry:

What’s Love Got To Do With It? I’ll Never Fall In Love Again…

SHE stands with “Open Arms” and gives them a hug:

You’ll Never Stop Me From Loving You; Love Is All Around.

 

THEY think they don’t deserve love. THEY think they are unworthy of love from her, from themselves…from anyone! THEY continue to cry and say:

Save Your Love…

SHE gives them a bigger hug, gently wipes away their tears and softly whispers in their ear:

I Love You.

THEY weep in disbelief:

Do You Love Me?

SHE said:

I Honestly Love You…A World Without Love…

SHE begins to get choked up. How can she make them understand that love is all around them, love is inside them, love is the very essence of who they are!

HE gets up from the bench, looking at her with such affection:

Love Is Everything.

SHE smiles and grabs his hand and squeezes it.

Thank you, she says with a gentle touch. SHE continues to hug the others, keeping them close to her heart:

Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

THEY reply:

It’s Only Love That Gets You Through…

SHE nods in agreement…

HE knew he was witnessing “The Power Of Love” and felt no jealousy but rather closer to her.

Her love for him is a “Sacred Love” which is a bond that only they share. Her love for others is an “Ocean Sized Love” .

THEY slowly straighten up and wipe the tears from their eyes. THEY start to walk away, no longer feeling lonely, sad, angry or worthless. THEY realize “It Must Have Been Love” that made those negative feelings melt away and that love truly is “Here, There And Everywhere”.

It makes no difference if you are single or in a relationship, LOVE STARTS FROM WITHIN.

 

Celebrate today by LOVING yourSELF first, then share with others.

 

Remember: “Don’t Stop Believin” because “Love Will Find A Way”

From my heart to yours,

Tina

THE Jog Blog – 57

February 9, 2012 By Tina Moore 1 Comment

Do you know what pleurisy is? For those who have had it, their reaction is always the same:

“Oh no! You have pleurisy? That’s awful!”

What is pleurisy? According to the Canadian Lung Association, pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura; the two-ply membrane that both encloses the lung and lines the chest cavity. From experience, I can tell you that it causes intense pain each time you take a breath. It can be a complication of the cold virus and in my case, an anti inflammatory was prescribed.

The piercing pain didn’t allow me to move my arm or twist in a certain direction, cough, laugh, sneeze, sing or take a deep breath without severe, tears-to-your-eyes pain. Due to pleurisy, I obviously haven’t been able to exercise. Yes, no jogging! Sigh…

It is recommended to:

“Limit the movement of the lungs”

That is exactly what I had to do in order to limit the pain. In other words, I’ve been forced to chill out. Rest. Relax. Lay low. Don’t jog.

If you are injured and not exercising to the amount you were before there is something you need to remember:

DON’T OVER EAT!

When you work out, you can eat more food because you are burning more calories.

When you are injured, you aren’t burning the same calories so watching how many calories and where you are getting your calories is really important.

Empty calories from potato chips, processed foods, candy or other sweets should be limited or avoided all together. Instead, choose nutritious foods that not only will give you natural ingredients to build up your immune system but also give you calories that are healthy.

I will tell you a little secret.

I don’t have cable so I don’t watch TV during the week but on the weekends I like watching a movie. This is the time to sit and munch.

Instead of munching on my usual buttered popcorn, I have substituted for a POMEGRANATE.

I LOVE POMEGRANATES!

They are really good for you and keep you busy picking out the individual seeds as you watch a movie. Instead of feeling a bit bloated and enormously thirsty when I eat buttery or salty carbs, I feel clean. My body is happy.

Don’t get me wrong, I love popcorn but check out the health benefits of POMEGRANATES:

  • Packed with antioxidants
  • Loaded with Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin B5, Folate and Vitamin K
  • Believed to lower risk of heart disease
  • Believed to lower risk of cancer, specifically prostate and breast cancers
  • Helps to reduce cholesterol
  • Fight cell damage
  • High in fibre (must eat the actual seed to get the fibre)

And ladies, apparently it helps fight erectile dysfunction so you may want to introduce POMEGRANATES to your man’s diet. Its lovely, juicy red seeds look beautiful in salads!

Watch the squirting of the juice as it can stain counters, hands and fabrics.

This weekend, pick up a couple POMEGRANATES and give them a try. If you can’t imagine watching a movie without popcorn, have a smaller bowl and then crack open a pomegranate. Your body will thank you!

WISHING YOU A HEALTHY, HAPPY AND JUICY WEEKEND MY DEAR FRIENDS!

With a smile,

Tina

PS. If you are returning to exercise after an extended injury or illness, check out my inspiring book “THE DECISION” for some helpful tips. Because I KNOW IT WORKS, I personally will be using it to get back into my training!

What Is Intimacy?

February 7, 2012 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

I had some excellent conversations over the weekend and one of them was on the topic of intimacy.

The question was raised:

“What is intimacy to Tina?”

It was a great question.

Surprisingly I stumbled around on the answer…needing time to accurately convey my thoughts and emotions around this word. It’s a very big and important word to me.

Based on my experiences this is how I define intimacy:

  • HONESTY
  • VULNERABILITY
  • TRUST
  • OPENNESS

HONESTY:

I believe you cannot have intimacy without ABSOLUTE HONESTY. You can’t have lies and intimacy in the same relationship. One cancels out the other. Half truths don’t work either.

Until recently (with the exception of my high school sweetheart) I had relationships with men who would lie.

Deep inside I knew I was being lied to; however, I accepted it because it was familiar to me. I had been conditioned as a child to accept lies and to keep secrets. Although intimacy was something these men said they wanted, the relationship was incapable of ever reaching any level of intimacy due to the lack of truth.

For me, lying is poison. It creates severe anxiety and imbalance in my life and negatively affects the very essence of who I am as a person. It is the opposite of intimacy.

YOU MUST HAVE HONESTY IN ORDER TO HAVE INTIMACY.

VULNERABILITY:

I think you have to be vulnerable in a relationship in order to build intimacy. If you do not allow yourself to be emotionally vulnerable, you create a wall. In my twenties I was emotionally damaged and created the wall through sarcasm to keep others away and protect myself from ever being hurt…and loved. I was lonely and lost as a result.

Being vulnerable does not mean you are weak or somehow inferior because you are exposing your thoughts and feelings.

VULNERABILITY REQUIRES COURAGE.

TRUST:

Vulnerability also requires trust. Trust in yourSELF and trust in the other person.

I can be vulnerable because I trust my instincts. Because I trust my instincts, I am able to trust the other person and therefore live openly with my feelings and emotion. I love living this way. It resonates with the core of who I am.

TRUST IS A KEY INGREDIENT TO INTIMACY.

OPENNESS:

Openness is different from vulnerability.

Openness allows you to try new things, thus creating a bond because you are sharing a new experience. You are open with your conversations each truly LISTENING to the other and not having to be ‘right’ or prove the other person is ‘wrong’. Openness is being your own person yet understanding it is ok to need the other person without being needy, possessive or clingy/insecure. Openness is not being closed or secretive with your actions, emotions or intentions. Openness is expressing affection. Openness is seeing another’s perspective, opinion or experience and having compassion, empathy and understanding. Openness allows you to SHARE your life, love and experiences.

OPENNESS CREATES SPACE FOR INTIMACY IN YOUR LIFE.

An open life is a giving life, an AUTHENTIC life and it helps create and build intimacy. There’s nothing more intimate in life than simply being understood and understanding someone else. ― Brad Meltzer, The Inner Circle

I believe these are important steps on HOW TO BUILD INTIMACY.

I loved that this question was asked of me. It’s an important question and as a result, I think it created a deeper connection and understanding; which in turn, created intimacy. (Insert big warm happy heart)

What does intimacy mean to YOU?

With a smile,

Tina

 

 

 

THE Jog Blog – 56

February 2, 2012 By Tina Moore 1 Comment

It’s the beginning of February and some of us are struggling to find the motivation to exercise.

LOOK WITHIN.

What do I mean by that?

LOOK WITHIN.

We know exercise will make us feel better. We know it’s important to our health both physically and mentally. We know the endorphins will kick in and we’ll start to feel happy. We know it can be a great meditation and stress release. We also know that it’s a time we can be quiet or a time when we can socialize.

So why is it still so damn hard to get out there?!

“Your body hears everything your mind says.” – Naomi Judd

If you are thinking like a victim and your thoughts are negative, self sabotaging or defeating, your body hears those thoughts and responds accordingly. It will be sluggish, feel heavier and move slower. Aches and pains will arise and illness may find its way into your body.

Our thoughts have power. We need to be conscious of them and use them wisely.

“There are plenty of difficult obstacles in your path. Don’t allow yourself to become one of them.” – Ralph Marston, Author and Publisher of The Daily Motivator

This is such a great quote because it is absolutely true. We all have challenges. Life can be really difficult but EXERCISE gives us the strength of body and mind to deal with those challenges. It may not make them go away, but it gives us a healthy outlet for STRESS, ANXIETY, GRIEF, SADNESS or ANGER. I know from personal experience that it works and the ENDORPHINS replace those negative feelings with HOPE, JOY and CLARITY. This is the GIFT you give yourself and others when you exercise.

“No matter who you are, no matter what you do, you absolutely, positively do have the power to change.” – Bill Phillips

Your decision yesterday to skip the gym, avoid the track or not meet your walking group has absolutely no bearing on your choices today!

TODAY IS A NEW OPPORTUNITY.

Not everyone gets a second chance so please use this gift to empower yourSELF. Use this opportunity to create a stronger body, healthier mind and allow your beautiful spirit to shine uninhibited by stress, anxiety or negativity.

LOOK WITHIN to find that person who wants to be heard, validated, honoured and appreciated. I didn’t take care of my inner spirit until I started to jog. The physical exertion gave me the emotional strength to honour my instinct. It is a POWERFUL, LIFE CHANGING experience.

Take care of yourSELF. Start today. Start NOW.

I believe YOU are worth every step around that track, every lap in that pool and every turn on that bike.

Wishing you a weekend full of fresh air, great conversations, lots of love and genuine laughter.

With a smile,

Tina

PS. I love my dog’s JogBlog, check it out HERE.

PPS. I wrote a book. It’s $9.95. Click HERE for more information.

How To Cope In A Crisis

January 31, 2012 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

How To Cope In A Crisis This past year was difficult due to my own family crisis and friends who are also suffering. As much as possible, I gave my full attention, love and support.

Through this CRISIS I wrote some things down that may be helpful to you. Here’s what I learned:

  1. EAT - You may lose your appetite or not have time but you must EAT. Ask others to prepare meals for you and your family. You need the ENERGY and CLARITY of mind at this time.
  2. SLEEP - I know it’s difficult when you have a thousand things swirling around in your head and you are worried, scared and stressed but you must SLEEP. Click HERE for some tips.
  3. DO NOT SHUT DOWN - Sometimes when you are in a situation that is overwhelming, it seems easier to shut down. You may quit communicating or escape through alcohol, work, sleep or isolation. This is not healthy and will only exasperate the situation. If you are dealing with someone who shuts down, then find someone to talk to them if they won’t listen to you.
  4. RELY ON POSITIVE PEOPLE YOU TRUST - People want to help. Please, ask for help to clean your house, prepare and cook meals, assist with carpooling, make sure your kids have clean clothes or give you a break at the hospital, care home, funeral home or court house. Don’t worry about what others think; rely on friends, family and neighbours to take care of your needs and those of your family.
  5. GATHER RESOURCES - It’s amazing how many people have been in a similar situation. If you open up, they will be an emotional support system because they understand; they may also have resources for you. If you’ve never experienced this crisis before, you may not know what kind of questions to ask. Please talk and allow others to help.
  6. GO FOR A WALK - Exercise is an excellent outlet for stress. If you aren’t a jogger then go for a walk, preferably in a natural setting. I truly understand it may be the last thing you feel like doing, however going for a walk will give you some fresh air and moves the stressful energy that is stuck in your mind and body. Cry, let out your fears, stress and anxiety and come back feeling a little lighter. I found hope in the quiet of the trees and the lull of the ocean.
  7. FIND SOME NORMALCY - I found this to be a very important factor in maintaining my strength. I asked my friends for emotional support but I also asked them to tell me about their own life so I could transport myself to another reality for a few minutes while I read their email or text. I chose people I knew would only give me POSITIVE ENERGY and wouldn’t ask for anything back because I knew I had nothing more to give. I wore makeup and high heels. Seems ridiculous but I forced myself to put that little effort into my appearance because it helped me feel normal in a very abnormal, stressful and difficult situation.
  8. KEEP YOURSELF SAFE - If you are in a crisis and there is an element of being unsafe emotionally or physically YOU MUST TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST so you are healthy and strong to help others. This may include staying in a hotel, or at a friend’s place and making sure you have your own vehicle instead of carpooling.
  9. CREATE A PLAN - Once the emergency situation is under control you must create a follow up plan. Life doesn’t always go the way you expect and sometimes even the professionals may fall short. If this is the case, find the friends and family who have been in similar situations or have more knowledge and clarity in this area and ask for help. Create a PLAN OF ACTION for the next day, weeks and months to follow. That may seem overwhelming but with the help of your support system you will not have to make all the decisions by yourself.

If you know of someone in a crisis situation, they may not know how to ask for help. Drop off a meal, LISTEN when they talk or fill up their car with gas. Small gestures of kindness are extremely important at this time.

IF YOU ARE IN A CRISIS SITUATION, I AM DEEPLY SORRY. PLEASE KNOW THAT THERE IS HELP AND YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Give yourself a moment to breathe and although it may feel like you can’t take another day:

YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU REALIZE.

You will get through, one breath at a time…one step at a time…one hug at a time.

With all my love and compassion,

Tina

PS. Thank you for sharing this post.

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