My Life

The Twelve Days Of KINDNESS

December 22, 2011 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

In the spirit of the holidays and keeping with Tuesday’s blog, “Count Your Blessings”, I have adapted the traditional Christmas carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas” to “The Twelve Days Of Kindness”. It works much better if you sing this blog instead of read it. Go ahead, who cares if anyone can hear you…spread the love!

“THE TWELVE DAYS OF KINDNESS”

On the first DAY OF KINDNESS my true love gave to me…

A warm hug that makes me happy!

On the second DAY OF KINDNESS my true love gave to me…

Two cups of tea, and a warm hug that makes me happy!

On the third DAY OF KINDNESS my true love gave to me…

Three compliments, two cups of tea and a warm hug that makes me happy!

On the fourth DAY OF KINDNESS my true love gave to me…

Four random texts, three compliments, two cups of tea and a warm hug that makes me happy!

On the fifth DAY OF KINDNESS my true love gave to me…

Five JOY-full smiles!

Four random texts, three compliments, two cups of tea and a warm hug that makes me happy!

On the sixth DAY OF KINDNESS my true love gave to me…

Six funny jokes…f ive JOY-full smiles!

Four random texts, three compliments, two cups of tea and a warm hug that makes me happy!

On the seventh DAY OF KINDNESS my true love gave to me…

Seven loving emails, six funny jokes…f ive JOY-full smiles!

Four random texts, three compliments, two cups of tea and a warm hug that makes me happy!

On the eighth DAY OF KINDNESS my true love gave to me…

Eight friendly pot lucks, seven loving emails, six funny jokes…f ive JOY-full smiles!

Four random texts, three compliments, two cups of tea and a warm hug that makes me happy!

On the ninth DAY OF KINDNESS my true love gave to me…

Nine cozy cuddles, eight friendly pot lucks, seven loving emails, six funny jokes…f ive JOY-full smiles!

Four random texts, three compliments, two cups of tea and a warm hug that makes me happy!

On the tenth DAY OF KINDNESS my true love gave to me…

Ten case-of-the giggles, nine cozy cuddles, eight friendly pot lucks, seven loving emails, six funny jokes…f ive JOY-full smiles!

Four random texts, three compliments, two cups of tea and a warm hug that makes me happy!

On the eleventh DAY OF KINDNESS my true love gave to me…

Eleven lazy hours, ten case-of-the giggles, nine cozy cuddles, eight friendly pot lucks, seven loving emails, six funny jokes…f ive JOY-full smiles!

Four random texts, three compliments, two cups of tea and a warm hug that makes me happy!

On the twelfth DAY OF KINDNESS my true love gave to me…

Twelve more days of blessings, eleven lazy hours, ten case-of-the giggles, nine cozy cuddles, eight friendly pot lucks, seven loving emails, six funny jokes…f ive JOY-full smiles!

Four random texts, three compliments, two cups of tea and A WARM HUG THAT MAKES ME HAPPY!!!

Don’t forget the SPIRIT of the season. It is not about the gifts, the money spent or the perfectly decorated tree…it’s about LOVE. It’s about KINDNESS. It’s about giving the gift of your HEART.

From everyone here at the40by40.com, HAPPY holidays and much LOVE to you, your family and friends.

If you have any Grinch’s in the bunch, tell them to read my adaptation of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”…it will definitely put a smile on your face.

PLEASE PASS ON THE MESSAGE OF LOVE AND KINDNESS BY SIMPLY CLICKING ON THE BUTTONS BELOW!

Big warm, loving hugs to you all!

With a smile,

Tina

PS. For those of you who may be suffering during this time as I know it’s not an easy time for many people, please read my blog “Storm Warning” as I was in that dark place last year.

Count Your Blessings…

December 20, 2011 By Tina Moore 1 Comment

“When I’m worried and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep and I fall asleep, counting my blessings!”

I recently heard that song and it made me pause and think. This past week due to being very ill with an unrelenting migraine and nasty bug, I was reminded of how many blessings I have in my life: the daily luxuries that other people in other countries only dream about.

Showering every day with clean, hot water.
Heating my apartment with the turn of a dial.
Crawling into a comfortable bed with clean sheets and a warm, cozy duvet.
Looking above me and seeing a roof over my head.

The list is really quite endless. There are so many blessings to appreciate every moment in life if you take a second to realize the value of that blessing.

“When my bankroll is getting small, I think of when I had none at all and I fall asleep, counting my blessings!”

I have one big stress in my life: Money. Correction, NOT ENOUGH MONEY! I am no different from anyone else; however, this past week I realized something very important:

If I have HEALTH, I have WEALTH.

When I get stressed, I have to remember all the things I do have! I can jog, dance, hug, laugh, sing, walk my dog, go to the library and read a book, visit with a friend, or write in my journal.

Those things are what make my life very sweet. Although money would relieve stress, it doesn’t define my life; it enhances it.

My life is defined by: LOVE, JOY, GRATITUDE, HONESTY, KINDNESS, RESPECT, AUTHENTICITY, INTEGRITY, THOUGHTFULNESS and COMPASSION.

Those are the things that make me a very rich woman.

”I think about a nursery and picture curly heads, and one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds.”

Remember the people who love you. Expressing gratitude for their presence in your life is a beautiful gift, not only to them but to yourSELF.

Life is busy: schedules, to do lists, staff parties, shopping, wrapping, baking, not to mention the regular chores of laundry, dishes and making meals can lead to STRESS which leads to NEGATIVITY. All the details can drive you mad.

Don’t forget what’s really important in life: PEOPLE!

Stop and take a minute to let someone know that they matter. Have a cup of tea, listen to their story and give them a hug. I currently know many people who have recently lost loved ones and this Christmas they wish they could have one more hug, or one more conversation.

Stop.

Hug.

Chat.

Laugh.

Be in the moment and enJOY.

“If you’re worried and you can’t sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep, and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings!”

Even in the wake of the difficulties, challenges and sometimes devastating events, life still provides blessings.

Open your eyes, open your heart and you will see them everywhere!

This week: Spread LOVE not stress. Count BLESSINGS not receipts. Spend TIME not money.

With a smile and much gratitude,

Tina

THE Jog Blog – 51

December 8, 2011 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

I have heard more than a couple stories lately of people’s mishaps with jogging in the winter. Here are a couple simple tips to help you in this change of weather. I suggest reading right to the end as there is a lovely surprise. (You can thank me later!)

WATCH OUT FOR ICE!

Even if there is no snow on the ground, a little bit of frost on the road can create a very slippery surface. It doesn’t take much to be jogging one minute and lying on the hard, cold ground the next.

Here are a couple suggestions:

If there is snow or obvious ice on the ground try Yaktrax or Sure Foot Get a Grip Ice Joggers. They are a runner’s crampon and they slip over the bottom of your shoe creating extra grip for icy surfaces. I was sceptical about them at first, almost determined I wouldn’t like how they felt but honestly, they were really good! I felt far more confident running on snowy and icy surfaces. If you don’t have the crampons and there is a slight frost on the ground, then STOP AND WALK over the areas you feel will be slick. Better SAFE than sorry.

AVOID OVER DRESSING!

I am notorious for over dressing! I will think it’s soooo cold outside and put on a couple extra layers. Within 5 minutes of running I’m sweating and already starting to overheat. I have to stop, take off the extra layers and wrap them around my waist and stuff my pockets with mittens. It’s really quite uncomfortable. Make sure you are protected from the weather but don’t over dress so you are susceptible to overheating. Learn from my mistakes!

WEAR BRIGHT REFLECTIVE RUNNING GEAR!

I know this photo has nothing to do with reflective running gear but it’s amazing what photos come up when you Google images…and well, I got a little distracted so thought I’d include him in today’s blog. He’s lovely isn’t he? I wonder what color eyes he has…hmm…

Ok, back to the task at hand! I mentioned bright reflective running gear in the Dog’s Jog Blog but mention it again because it’s so important. Often times I’ll be driving home from work and a runner dressed in black with no reflective gear will come out of nowhere as I’m turning a corner. It’s so dangerous! Because we have limited daylight hours, please make sure you are wearing bright, reflective clothing for your morning and evening jogs.

Next week I will have a list of awesome gear you may want to ask Santa for this Christmas so don’t forget to come back and check it out.

Have a beautiful weekend.

Smile often. Laugh lots. Love first.

With a smile,

Tina

PS. An excellent Christmas gift for yourSELF or others is “The Decision”. It will get you on track for the upcoming New Year!

The Courage To LOVE

December 6, 2011 By Tina Moore 2 Comments

Children are our greatest teachers. They openly share their knowledge and understanding about something that sometimes eludes us as adults. They show us how to LOVE.

They don’t think about it, analyze it, control or monitor it because it is my belief that love is their natural state. They just share it openly and without any restrictions or expectations.

As adults we sometimes struggle with love. Because of painful experiences we start to go further and further away from our natural state. As an adult, it sometimes takes great COURAGE to LOVE.

Love doesn’t come with guarantees; it can hurt so there is risk involved. But children take that risk willingly, without any thought, every single day. They don’t see it as a risk but rather as a way of life.

I am, therefore, I love.

It’s so simple and yet adults make it complicated. We become fearful of something that is at the very core of our being. We monitor, regulate, hide, block, or mask our love. We censor it or just don’t invest in it at all! We make a choice to keep within what we deem as emotionally safe. We become so scared of being hurt, we shut down.

But is that experiencing life with all the colors?

Being a teacher and witnessing the love of children, I don’t think so.

I had the enormous pleasure of teaching a class of exceptional young people this weekend. Some of the students knew each other and some did not. Within an hour these kids were chatting, laughing, hugging and embracing each other. They immediately became friends because their HEARTS ARE OPEN.

LOVE IS ENERGY. Expressing LOVE brings great JOY to those who give and to those who receive.

I would rather hurt from loving someone than never have experienced love at all. I would rather EXPRESS LOVE than stifle it. EMBRACE LOVE than block it. I understand I hurt mySELF far more by dimming my love than by sharing my love.

I am; therefore, I love.

I have been cut to the core with betrayal, lies, criticism, anger, rejection and meanness. I’ve loved and been hurt by lovers, family and friends but I don’t regret loving them. I feel sad I wasn’t loving mySELF at those times and that is my lesson.

Love starts from within and resonates from there.

I will leave you with an excerpt from an incredible boy who has since passed away. His name is Mattie Stepanek and this is from his poem Heartsong:

My Heartsong sounds like this ~

I love you! I love you!

How happy you can be!

How happy you can make

This whole world be!

…This is my special song

But do you know what?

All people have a special song

Inside their hearts!

Everyone in the whole wide world

Has a special Heartsong.

If you believe in magical, musical hearts,

And if you believe you can be happy,

Then you, too, will hear your song.

Let your Heartsong be heard openly, spontaneously, passionately, lovingly, JOYfully, loudly, courageously, respectfully, softly, gently and authentically.

I AM; therefore, I LOVE.

With a smile and loving heart,

Tina

PS. I speak about toxic love and a painful past in my book “The Decision” and how I changed it around to now experiencing love, joy and happiness on a daily and continual basis. If you want to learn how I did that, please click HERE.

THE Jog Blog – 50

December 1, 2011 By Tina Moore 2 Comments

If you had the opportunity to be SMARTER, would you take it?

If you could learn how to boost your ENERGY, would you do it?

If you were told how you could experience HAPPINESS and sustain that happiness, would you listen?

If you were shown ways of alleviating stress, anxiety and depression would you do it?

If you had an opportunity to CHANGE YOUR LIFE so you could live happier, healthier, with more energy, less stress and a greater sense of self love, would you take it?

In my past, I would have enthusiastically said, “YES!” to all those questions and then given my money to the most current course, gym or workshop. Ultimately it all failed because I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t committing to mySELF.

If you want to answer YES to all those questions, there are two things you need:

Endorphins

I honestly don’t care how you get your natural endorphins as long as it’s legal, doesn’t do you or anyone else any harm and it is considered safe.

As you know, I JOG to get my regular hit of happy endorphins. For me, the benefits of jogging are that I always feel so much happier, clearer in my thoughts and less stressed when I’m finished. It’s so great for my brain. I feel creative, smart and energized but best of all I feel a peaceful sense of wellbeing.

What if you can’t jog or you despise jogging? (I was one of those people. Check out my book “The Decision” I’ll tell you all about it!)

There are other ways to get your natural endorphins. I personally think physical activity is the best way as it offers other benefits. Here are some options besides jogging that have less jarring impact on your body but still releases endorphins:

Cycling
Swimming
Hiking
Martial Arts
Walking
Rollerblading
Skiing – both downhill and cross country
Snow shoeing
Skating
Dancing! Groove, shimmy and shake it baby!

If you aren’t a runner try something else, anything to get the heart rate up and the happy endorphins pumping. Other sports like soccer, tennis or volleyball are also excellent and provide a great social outlet as well.

Meditation and Yoga can also influence your natural endorphins. This is an excellent way for those that can’t exercise due to injury or disease to benefit from the healing and happy qualities of endorphins.

If there is a will, there is a way. Of this I believe.

I passionately pursue a lifetime of activities that release endorphins because they make my brain happier and my body stronger.

Today, choose YOU. Choose to create a better life where endorphins are your drug of choice. Choose natural endorphins over a bag of potato chips, a glass of wine, or an argument. Boost your energy while alleviating stress.

Make endorphins your life choice.

Make a commitment.

Choose endorphins.

Choose YOU.

Wishing you a lovely first weekend of December! EnJOY your loved ones. EMBRACE the moment. See you on Tuesday!

With a smile,

Tina