First I have to show you pictures of my new kitty, and tell you that I have been looking for another kitty for 8 years.  Yes, 8 years!  My last cat Phil was taken, we think by an owl, here in Sedona, and I haven’t been able to find a kitten that fills his shoes…until now.  His name is Milo Mouse.

Doesn’t he look like a Mouse? Seriously I have been looking at the Human Society for a kitty for 8 years, and just when the moments is right, Milo shows up.  I have 2 dogs Jack and Maggie, that are getting up there in age.

This is Jack, very photogenic, Maggie on the other hand will not let us take pictures of her, she is a beautiful Gorden Setter mix.  Anyway, Jack was at the Doctors the other day and gave us a scare, he’s alright but needless to say while I was in this scare,  I went to the Human Society and guess who was there, yes Milo Mouse.  I knew immediately he was coming home with me.

This little kitty has brought so much more life into our home, which is hard to do because we are a home of love and light to begin with, so I was shocked at how things shifted.  First of all,  he is a blast, and so much fun to have around, ask Jack. Jack is a 12-year-old Lab, and he has a new lease on life. Jack is acting like a puppy again, and Maggie too, she won’t tell us how much she loves Milo, we can just tell.

I share my story with you because I feel that animals are an important part of kids life, they learn so much from having them around. They learn caring, patience, kindness, loyalty, tolerance and most important love.  I have always had animals in my life and have learned so much about myself through them.  We learn from everyone and everything around us, don’t negate anything.

Scientists have discovered, animals have healing powers. When you stroke a cat or pet a dog, you experience a surge of healing hormones and chemicals that produce feelings of peace and serenity.

Let me know how your animals effect your life, and if you’re thinking about getting more.

Every year I look back at the past year and take inventory on what I have created in my life.  Some of it I set out to create, other things just happened, or do they?  I know why the things I put my mind on get created, but am often curious about the things that just seem to happen.

This year while we sat with good friends to establish our hopes and desires for the year to come, I noticed a big difference in what I was trying to manifest in my life.  Of course I want to continue to work with teens and parents, make sure my book is still available to as many girls who need it, and work on projects like e-books, workshops and other material that will help people.  But what really changed was my deep desire to be more connected with myself and others, to be more open-hearted and to change the way I live in this world.

I want to slow down and be around the people I love and the people that make my heart sing more.  It is often difficult to do this when we are going and going, working and working, and come to the end of our day pooped!  So how can we live our life with more purpose?  Pay attention to what you are doing every day and if it’s not what is making you live in your heart, analyse it.  Then see how you might be able to shift it.  So, if I want certain things in my life, what is it going to take to get them?

I was just talking to my boyfriends Field Representative in his landscape business and she was amazed at the business that was coming in this week.  I work closely with them and we had a talk about bringing in more business last week. She had been working on a book of native flowers to have for clients, also a good tool.  But when she shifting her intentions to bringing in more business it was amazing how fast it started coming in. All she did was move her attention from the book to cultivating new business, and the universe got a clear picture of what she wanted and started putting things in place.

This is so important because what we put our energy or attention on starts gaining momentum.  It’s critical to first look at what you what in your life and then figure out the actions that are going to get you there. Then take those actions.  So if I want to create more connected relationship in my life, what do I need to do?  First I need to to look at which relationships I want to be more connected to, then call those people and put them in my schedule. If I don’t put them in my schedule, guess what, I continue to work and work, and the week ends and I haven’t spend quality time with my friends.  I schedule them just like I do appointments, even though you may think this is too business like, it works for me. Then we get together and so the connection begins. I talk to them about how often they would like to get together and if our relationship is important to them, of course they say yes, and we set up our next get together.

If I continue to to make sure I fit my friends in my schedule those relationships will blossom, because I am taking action to make sure that they do. This is easy stuff, whats important to you, how are you going to get it and then do it. So to come back to my first question “Do New Years Resolutions Work”? Not if there isn’t a follow up plan, just to state something doesn’t have the power unless you take the action to make it happen.

As far as the things that just happen, well the universe guides us in mysterious ways, doesn’t it? This is a good time to just roll with it, enjoy the ride and then look at what comes of it. Paying attention in life makes our life so much richer and helps us understand the meaning and purpose of our life.  Test it out and let me know what you think.

I can’t tell you how many days I would struggle to stay awake, while in school, when I was growing up.  Some of the teachers I had were killing me.  I believe teachers have become better at their jobs, or maybe in Sedona they seem more into it.

80% of the teachers I had seemed to dislike the job and thekids.  When I look back at what teachers made an impact on my life through teaching, I come up with a big fat zero.  I remember a middle school teacher named Mr. Felix for Spanish and I would get so nervous in his class that I would get the hick-ups everyday. If that wasn’t embarrassing enough, he would make me stand in front of the whole class and explain why I had the hick-ups.  What was wrong with him?  Instead of talking to me after class about what he could do to help me, he just made things worse.

I just wanted to check out when I was a teenager. Check out of school and check out of life.  My teenage years weren’t that fun.  Today as an adult I get to pick where I put myself.  If I’m in a situation where I feel like falling a sleep or someone is treating me poorly, I just remove myself.   Today, if I were a teen, I would talk to my teachers about how I like to learn, and try to change how they teach if they were a teacher who didn’t seem to care.  easier said then done, I know.

Hang in there, you will be old enough soon, to be where you want to be, and if you’re a teacher, take a look at how you are reaching these teens, is it effective and are you enjoying it or are you just getting through the day.