Facebook Dilemma

Facebook.... To post or not to Post?

Why is it we post on Facebook? I've often thought of this question over the years. First I used Facebook to reconnect with old friends and to stay in touch with the people I care about. Then I used it to market myself as a singer inviting everyone to the gigs I was playing and share my YouTube videos. Eventually I found myself posting like a madwomen documenting every moment in my life.

Sometime last year while I was still living in LA, I was out with a couple of my girlfriends at the beautiful Getty Museum. It's a gorgeous world famous art museum at the top of a hill that over looks all of Los Angeles. Each wing represented a different form of art and it also includes a gorgeous garden to walk through or sit down in. My girlfriends and I were being silly and taking pictures as we enjoyed the vibrant sunny day. That's when I found myself compulsively taking pictures and video of every moment I deemed as awesome and posted them immediately to Facebook. I was doing this so much so that I forgot to be in the present moment that was laughing with my friends, talking and enjoying the view. Then I heard a voice, "What are you doing? Why are posting on Facebook when you could be enjoying the moment you are trying so hard to document for everyone else?" In that moment I couldn't answer. It was as if I was completely addicted. But to what?

(a picture posted from the Getty)

After chewing on it for a few days I realized I was addicted to creating this image of myself for others so that they would "like it" or think "WOW, her life is so cool!" Plain and simple... I wanted to look good. Which is fairly easy to do if you smile, click and post.

I became angry with myself and in return angry with all the "happy posters". If I felt full of shit then they must be too. I stopped posting for a while focusing on being in the moment. That was an incredible experience. I found myself engaging with my friends. I was actually listening to them and enjoying their presence and enjoying what we were doing instead of focusing on "hold on... let me share this with several hundred people I barely know"

I started posting again in September 2012 while I was traveling Russia and Italy but my posts were for different reasons. I was traveling alone so I made a promise to post frequently to let my mom know I was safe. After returning to the states I didn't post as much, just a little to keep my friends updated on all the changes that were happening in my life as I was moving to the other coast for a theater gig and newly engaged.


As I adjusted to the changes in my life I would post occasionally. Mostly to tell my friends how much I miss them. There were a lot of emotional times but I'm not one to post complaints or feelings on Facebook. So I just didn't post. What was the point really?

Then I came across an article that stated people who post  "happy posts" tend to be happier people. Hmmm... could this be true? Most articles disagree with this notion. I decided to try it on. I posted more often the "happy times" in my day. I did start to feel happier. Why? My conclusion on this is that by purposly finding those moments made me more aware of them. However I also found that by posting too often felt draining. 

So now what? I'm left with this....

Post if it makes you happy but only that. Life is happening in the NOW. No matter how many pictures, quotes or posts you have it can't be more precious than the quality time you have with those actual moments. Don't post to compare your life to someone else. Virtual life is not real life. Real life is what's happening right now.

So... To post or not to post? It's all perspective. Be honest with yourself and be conscious. Choose what makes you happy then let go of judgement.
 

What are your thoughts?

One Intention at a Time

My seven days of straight meditation and setting intention is now coming to a close. When I started this I was actually at a loss of power allowing my feelings take control of me. That morning I woke up early enough to see the sunrise changed my entire perspective. It helped me come back to my center and recognize what was important and inspired me to create my perspective each and every day. This past week has been so rich with experiences and my heart has been filled with love and joy that I feel I can spread to others. I feel like a butterfly that has emerged out of her cocoon. 

There was a time I thought that if I could just be and do all of the things I think make me a better person at the same time how perfect life could be. If only I could be Super Woman. What this experience has taught me is that just creating one intention and fulfilling it my life can be richer. Instead of trying to do everything all at once I picked an intention each day due to what came up for me in meditation. My intuition led the way perfectly. Focusing on one intention at a time and immersing myself in it made a world of difference.

Now, just because my week long experiment has concluded doesn't mean I am done.I will take this practice on in my life from now on but as far as this blog goes I am going to document new experiences as I move forward with more soul enriching experiments.

 Hmmmm... what will this look like? I don't know but I'm excited to see and share it with you!

Savoring Each Moment

A much needed sleep in session started my morning off. I slept until the very moment I had to leave the house. It felt good. However I could see that the state I was in yesterday could easily be repeated if I didn't give myself my "OM" time. So I quickly got a few things done and headed home.

Starving I started to make my lunch the moment I walked through the door. Tacos! Heated corn tortillas, black beans, onions, cheddar cheese, hot sauce and cilantro. Yum! I don't know about you, but I have a habit of watching TV when I eat. I also have the habit of eating fast as if it's a chore that I have to get done. As I approached the couch to turn the television on I paused as the imaginary light bulb above my head lit up and I heard my inner voice. "Savor you're meal". That's when I looked outside and ackowledged I have been graced with another beautiful fall day. I picked up my plate of scrumpteous tacos and my tall glass of water and stepped out onto my patio. I sat down and savored my meal.

What was that like you ask? Divine. I ate slowly. I could feel the soft tortilla on my lips as I bit into it. I could fully taste the burst of flavor of delicious beans and cheddar with the combination of the sweet tortilla, the tangy hot sauce and gentle bite of the sweet onion. I was hyper aware of every flavor and every texture my wonderful meal had to offer. As I took a sip of my tall glass of cold water I allowed myself to fully enjoy it's fresh simple flavor and  its cooling liquid substance. It was like my tongue was going for a dip in the pool on a hot summer day.

As I finished my lunch I took the time to reflect how this experience could carry on into the rest of my day. "Of course!" exclaimed my inner voice, "Savor each moment". I shut my eyes and felt the warm sun on my eyelids and listened to the soft chirping of the birds and insects in the trees.

I look forward to taking this intention with me to work as I continue to rehearse this afternoon and perform this evening. Savoring the moments I am learning, conversing with others, putting my makeup on and doing my hair. Savoring each moment I walk onto the stage or change a costume. Savoring my sweet husband's presence and his kiss. Today is going to be delicious.

Lessons

Yesterday as my day came to a close I felt filled with love, joy and appreciation for my daily gifts. When I originally set my intention for yesterday it was to be grateful and at peace but it quickly turned into "how many things can I be grateful for?", which turned into looking at everything that came into my day as a gift. I have to say it was an incredibly fun day to receive so many gifts! I couldn't help but giggle out loud. At one point one of my cast mates said, "What are you laughing at?" It was my special little secret at the time.

Maybe it was because my "being" was someone who is receiving gifts or maybe because people are kind or maybe because it was my pure intention to see the world that way but it seemed like people were more generous than usual. Looking at every moment as a shiny new present is quite an experience.

A few things I recieved:

*lunch prepared by my husband served on our outside patio
*all of the easiest harmonies in the music I have to learn for the show
*a part in a really cool duet in the show
*a courtesy call from my closest cousin sharing that by reading my blog she is inspired to set intentions for her days. 
*an invitation to a cast mate's birthday party
*a night out with my husband and friends

 Today I have to be honest I didn't get up early and give myself time to just be. I woke up starting my "to do" list right away. Cleaning, running errands and going to rehearsal. By the time rehearsal was over it was call time at the theater. I found myself easily frustrated and very challenged to create an intention while on the move. This was a fantastic lesson because I can clearly see how important it truly is to make that time for myself to just breathe and look within and set intention.

Today I felt my time was not honored by myself and by others. It is true of myself and therefore I projected it on to my view of the current events of my day. I allowed it to affect my mood, my words and my over all being. I was able to see this during a vent session to a couple of dear friends. They were a beautiful mirror for me to see my own reflection. I found myself apologizing for my passionate outburst of emotions. Of course, my friends were loving and understanding. That's when I realized I need to be the same with myself. Within seconds I was able to feel light again.

Today's lesson, always honor myself first so I can effectively give to others and if I slip forgive and move on. It makes for such a better day.
 

Daily Gifts

It's 9:30am and time for me to get up and start what looks to be a very long day ahead of me as I will head in to rehearsals for my show at 11am until 6pm then perform a show until 10pm. I know that I need to collect myself and get ready.

First collect myself... I throw on some sweats and grab my yoga mat and head out to my porch. The air is fresh and the birds are chirping. There is a light breeze that makes the leaves on the trees dance. I sit down crossed legged with my hands in my lap and close my eyes. Inhale. Exhale. This is my time and it's the most important part of my day. This is where I relax my body and listen to nature. I am calm. As I sit longer my mind starts to wander recollecting memories of yesterday and judging what it was like. Then I hear this beautiful sound like thousands of soft butterfly wings. It's the leaves dancing in the wind again. What a beautiful sound. It brings me back to the present moment of me sitting in what is. The sun is shining and the energy is calm but there my mind goes once again to everything that I need to do before I go to work and then continues to think about work. Inhale. Exhale. I recognize what I need to do and say thank you. I reassure myself that it will get done but not right now. Sitting still is what needs to be done right now. To help me with this I start imagining every thought (word or image) in a bubble. I recognize it then let it float away. This seems to work very well as if I am de-cluttering my mind one bubble at a time. Eventually there were no more bubbles. Just me on my porch listening to the leaves dance in the wind.

Sitting down to meditate has become the most important part of the day as it gets me to my center. I don't always sit for a long period of time. Sometimes it's five minutes, sometimes it's twenty. No matter how long, it's valuable. It also allows me to be with myself to know exactly what intention to set as well. I found myself peaceful and grateful during meditation and chose to continue this through out my day. Being at work all day can be tiring and sometimes being around the same people day in and day out with long hours can wear on peoples nerves. Of course it's not intentional but being tired and worked a lot can easily contribute to this. So I am going to be intentional.Today I am peaceful and I am grateful. Peaceful with everything as it is and grateful for all the gifts I have. I am blessed with an amazing job singing and dancing every night and I am surrounded with amazing talented people everyday. I have the most incredible husband who loves and supports me and I live on the beach. Most of all, I am grateful to be alive! Thank you life for the opportunity to sit still and listen to the leaves dance in the wind. I know that it truly is a gift.

Now as I continue my day look forward to what many other gifts this day has to offer....

Patience

Each morning I set an intention my day feels rich. Yesterday was day three. I set the intention and meditated that everything is perfect and so am I. How did this go? It started off perfect and comfortable. My husband and I set off for lunch to try something new. I had mentioned that soup in a bread bowl sounded perfect for the gloomy first day of fall. I had the perfect place in mind as I have been wanting to try it for quite sometime. We got there only to find that it was closed. No worries...Everything is perfect. We drove to South Myrtle Beach to explore new restaurants only to find a bunch of chains with fried bar food and over priced  menus because they are on the beach. We chose not to eat at any of them. By this time we were very hungry and slightly frustrated. That's when I reminded myself once again everything is perfect. I have to say,when I did this I couldn't help but laugh at how perfectly I was being challenged since my mind kept wanting to find something wrong.

Finally we gave up the search for something original and headed to a sandwich place near our home. Interesting enough they had soup in a bread bowl. By surrendering I ended up getting exactly what I wanted. It's amazing how many little lessons you can learn on a daily basis through the small things in life just by setting intentions and meditating on them. What a gift to be able to re-create each and every day!

I awoke gently this morning with the sun gleaming through my window. It was another gorgeous day! The air is fresh and crisp. It's as if the season itself knew exactly when it was we call it autumn. My husband plays soccer every Monday so we got dressed and headed out the door. We stopped to get an iced pumpkin spice latte on the way which always makes me feel cozy on a fresh fall day.

Since it was so beautiful out I wanted to sit next to the field and watch him do what he loves so much. I set out my yoga mat under a tree and sipped on my iced coffee. My heart filled with such love as I watched him run across the field handling the soccer ball with his feet effortlessly. To do this with such ease there must be hours upon hours of practice as with anything you want to become good at. This inspired me to study my Italian. I have a goal to be conversational with his family by January and I'm not even close. So, I got out my notebook and flash cards and got to studying. The combination of being outside, watching my love play soccer and studying something I enjoy allowed me to feel such peace and accomplishment. I took my time enjoying each moment.

Eventually I found myself getting frustrated when I would get the same words and phrases continuously wrong. Then I heard a little voice in my head as if talking to a child. "Patience".

I exhaled. Yes, patience that is my intention for the day it is what I will meditate on as well. I forget sometimes that I am learning and to be patient with myself. When I ran my marathon it took me 6 months to train. I didn't just wake up one day run a marathon and I can't just wake up one day and speak a foreign language either. As I sat there reflecting on patience I could see how many things in my life I struggle with due to my lack of patience. I am currently nursing my right foot back to health from an injury that progressively got worse since February. I have been mad at my foot for not healing faster and frustrated with the whole process. How can I expect to heal if I'm not even handling my spirit with care? Patience. I found these quotes that say it perfectly...

So, for now I just breathe and enjoy what is now. By the time Lorenzo was done playing his game I had surpassed my own expectations with little struggle. I memorized over one hundred words! As far as my foot goes I will take it one day at a time and stop focusing on a month from now and trust that by keeping a healthy attitude while I wait for it to heal will greater the result. 

Everything Is Perfect

As I opened my eyes to see the clock I was quite shocked to see it was almost noon.  I don't usually do this but yesterday I had 4 hours of sleep before I started my day at sunrise. I went through my day experiencing life as it came and had an amazing day with my husband. We went for breakfast, a bike ride, swimming, went to a party and finished the evening off with a show. I couldn't have asked for a better day and it was all due to setting my intention early that morning. Be in the moment and love freely and openly. Anytime my mind went in another direction I reminded myself of my intention and took the actions of only that intention. It made for a beautiful full day.

However life always balances itself out. My day yesterday was filled with wonderful activity on a lack of sleep and although I enjoyed each moment by the time I got home I couldn't keep my eyes open. The moment my head hit the pillow I fell into a deep sleep.

Today it's gray and windy outside, the energy is lethargic and my house is a mess. It's the perfect yin to my yang. Normally I would judge myself for sleeping half the day away and try to put everything in order but not today!

Today's meditation:

Everything is perfect just as it is and so am I...

Good Morning Sunshine

I have recently dove into my yoga philosophy studies and have been graced with the perfect teacher for me in this moment. I have been studying the yoga sutras and going deep inside myself with meditation.

At first what happens as I sit still is I struggle to just be. Be in the moment that is. My mind races to and from the past and the future. I create stories based off of my emotions or "what if" possibilities. I found myself to have a lot of stored anger which makes me uncomfortable so I start to judge myself for it. My fight or flight response has been activated and I want to get up and literally run away! Then I hear a bird in the distance... and Whoosh! I'm brought back to the present moment. There is nothing in the present moment that is threatening. I'm in a peaceful room with other yogis doing the same thing. There is no sound but the sounds of cars driving by and birds chirping in the trees. I can now smile in the moment as I realize that is all there is. Right here. Right now.The images of my memories and thoughts are not in reality.

This is a powerful realization I struggle to remember on a day to day basis as I get caught up in my feelings and judgements. I forget I have a choice in how I perceive each moment. I forget to note the blessings in my life. Meditation helps me do that but keeping the commitment to meditate each day seems to still be a struggle. Maybe because I avoid the uncomfortable feelings I have to face...

Last night I didn't sleep much as I tossed and turned feeling anxious about god knows what. At 6am I realized I was not going to fall back asleep. Then like a giddy little girl I realized I can watch the sunrise and I live a mile from the beach! I threw on my yoga pants a sweat shirt and a scarf, knotted my hair on top of my head, grabbed a towel off I went.

As I sat on the beach the tide was high and the energy was serene. The sun slowly peeked it's full round majesty above the water. There is something very magical to experience staring straight at the sun as it greets the day. I allowed myself to bath in its rays, shut my eyes and listen to the waves crash along the shore. The sound of water floating over the seashells was like a soft rain. This made me smile. I set my intention for the day to be present in each moment and love openly and freely.

Each moment I experienced had something rich for me feel, to enjoy and to learn from as long as I was present. Of course my mind wandered now and then but by allowing myself to bask in natures beauty it brought me back each time.

I was inspired today to do this each day. Meaning to find the beauty in each moment. To help me with this I will use my camera as a tool to look for it and capture it to share my daily meditations with you for the next week.

Watching the waves this beautiful morning I noticed I could observe the ones in the distance but it was the water in front of me that gave me such peace and joy as it softly glided onto the sand, across the seashells and onto my feet :)

When the Student is Ready the Teacher Will Come...

When the student is ready the teacher will come... I can't tell you how many times this has rang true for me but I can tell you it's a lot. I find myself a student once again with such gratitude.

Since moving to a new area I have been on the prowl for my new yoga community. However it wasn't until I was truly hungry for it did it show up.  About 2 months ago I chose to practice yoga every day to create intention for not only my health and my body's well being but for pure manifestation. I wanted to find the perfect studio for me with the perfect mentor for me, not knowing exactly what I wanted to learn but knowing I was ready to delve deeper into my practice once again with a guide. I started practicing with this intention in the forefront of my mind, about 4-5 days later I run into a woman wearing yoga clothes and a peace sign on her shirt. She intrigued me being the first of her kind I have seen since being here. I started asking her questions about wear she practiced and told her I had been manifesting my new yoga community. She was so generous with her information and excited for me to visit the studio she practiced at and loved so dearly. I knew with this kind of love this studio had to be right for me. I went a couple weeks later and immediately signed up for a month's package.

When I walked into the studio it immediately felt like home. It was so cozy and peaceful. The first two weeks I went everyday trying each class to see what I connected with. Each class being beautiful and rich with yoga philosophy I couldn't wait to learn more. When I took my yoga teacher training  we touched on this wisdom but my mentor then was a highly physical teacher (which was perfect for me then) so I didn't dive into it as much as I'd have liked. The classes at this new studio were much slower paced than I had been used to in the past so I found my mind racing and my ego wanting to do more. This is when I realized it was is exactly what I needed. I need to learn to slow down and get in touch. The teacher I connected with the most is the owner of the studio, a wife, a mother and a philosophy junkie so to speak :) I knew fairly quickly she was the one I had been manifesting to teach me and it had only been a few weeks from the time I started creating this  powerful intention.

When I approached her about this she was completely receptive, intrigued and excited for the opportunity. As a teacher myself I know the opportunity to teach or mentor another is also an opportunity to learn and grow as a teacher. As she guides me in my yoga philosophy studies and meditations I will be helping her with the studio. What a beautiful exchange!

She currently has me studying the yoga sutras. She has asked me to pick a few to work on directly in my life and report which ones I will be working on and share my challenges and what I have learned from them. We will meet every other week for discussion and lessons. What a gift! Thank you.

When the student is ready the teacher will come....

What knowledge are you hungry for? Remember teachers come in all forms...

Namaste

Stay tuned for my lessons with the yoga sutras...

Go with the Flow & Ride the Wave

I'd like to think of myself as a person that just goes with the flow but the truth of the matter is I've been a person that changes a lot and seems to kick a little in the process. I'm an artist and a yoga instructor so I am constantly practicing change in my life whether it's on the stage or on my mat. Just as everyone I have my good days as well as bad. Recently I find myself in a new environment, newly married with a new job all in which are blessings so how come I find myself internally struggling?

I came from Los Angeles where I was surrounded by culture and nature and always something to do as well as other people I could relate to as a spiritual woman. I came from working gig to gig singing in clubs and coffee shops at night and teaching yoga by day. I came from traveling the world experiencing the exquisite and the majestic. I came from pure romance like you see in the movies.

Where am I now? I'm in a small beach town filled with tourists and chain restaurants along the bible belt working consistently in a show singing and dancing. I'm newly married to the love of my life living in a large quiet apartment on a golf course. The days come and go and for the most part look the same and my husband and I have moved out of our super romantic stage into everyday living.

I find myself daydreaming of the past and complaining that I'm bored. I find myself fearing the future that it will be mundane. Why? Well I've never been one to sit still and now that I am I have too much time to think. In a way its good, It's an opportunity to witness where I'm at (so to speak) and create what I want but at the same time I torture myself with "how it should be" or "how it used to be", consistently avoiding what joy it is to be in the present moment and recognizing the beauty in what I have right now because I am so grateful for everything I have. 

The truth is no matter how much each day may look the same its forever changing. Myself as well as the people in my life are changing and I'm finding it's important to love them for who they are now and appreciate the moment for what it is now and not what is should be. Of course this is a daily practice, even a moment to moment practice to with the flow and ride the wave.

Hug Time!

In January I relocated for work from one coast of the country to the next after 4 months of traveling and meeting the love of my life. I have since been acclimating to my new environment, making new friends and nesting in my new home. However I am now under contract for a year and my fiance is 4500 miles away until we can figure out how to get married. We see each other every 2-3 months. As you can imagine this is challenging for the both of us because we love each other so much and just want to be together. During this time of separation we have realized the importance of touch. Have you ever gotten into an argument with someone you love and not been able to hug them after you've made up? Have you ever seen or heard your other half sad/upset and not be able to embrace them? As I'm sure you know, it's a difficult task. It's the hug that connects your energy. It lets the other one feel safe and confident. Hugging is the most natural way people show affection when showing love, celebrating or mourning. After months of being apart my love and I make a point to embrace each other in a super long hug that seems to comfort and reconnect us.

Not only have I found the hug I receive from him a comfort because I've missed him but because my extent of human contact is next to none in my new environment as I shift to adapt to my new surroundings. There have been many days I feel a hug would make me feel so much better. Recently one of my cast mates was feeling under the weather and she expressed she wishes she had someone to hold her while she got better. I told her I know exactly how she feels. To be held or hugged is such a healing process.

There have been many studies on hug therapy that confirm having daily hugs in one's life increases confidence and productivity. Here are a couple articles I came across the importance of hugging.

http://www.smartrelationshipadvice.com/the-importance-of-a-hug/

http://www.lifepositive.com/Mind/personal-growth/hug/hug-therapy.asp

Family therapist Virginia Satir says, "We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth." I have to say I agree with this concept and considering I know I could use a few more hugs a day I will be testing this one out ;)

Now go hug someone!

Loving Failures and Moving On

I started this blog two months ago. I'll be honest it scared me to commit to it. I was told to create a "following" you must post everyday. Considering this blog is mostly for my own expression I didn't think that it mattered much but once I started I was compelled to post everyday. I was even excited to post but once it became a "had to" vs "wanted to" my excitement dwindled and eventually I took a break. However, because I declared my commitment to those around me my lack of posting silently ate away at me. "You have failed Angela", it nagged in the depths of my mind. The more I heard it the more I pushed it aside and tried to pretend it didn't exist or that it didn't matter. "Not many people are following me anyway. I'm sure they don't care. They probably don't even remember you have a blog", said the unapologetic voice in my head but I remembered and I couldn't escape myself. I had committed to it because it was important to me. I wanted to stretch myself and grow. I wanted to inspire others and express myself through my love of words and share my passions in life because I knew deep down it was worth it.

So here I am posting again and cleaning it up. I realize my failure is part of the journey. It's the exact piece that allows me to grow just as I declared I wanted. I could continue to feel bad about myself and let that nagging voice in my head that says it's not good enough to control me but instead I'm going to forgive that voice and forgive myself and start over. This time I am going to do my blog my way. I will post 2 times a week. Saturday and Wednesday for the next month. Then I will re-evaluate my progress and see what works and doesn't work. After all didn't I say life is a game in an earlier post? Time to play again! I'm loving my failures and moving on. 

Spending Time Alone

I like to think of myself as a pretty social person but when I think about the majority of the time I spend it's alone and I seem to be quite good at it. Most of the time I believe it's not by choice and because of this I suffer. But in the moments I surrender they are the sweetest moments.

Last year I was going through a transition. I found myself not wanting to be around people and locking myself away, listening to John Mayer and writing songs on my ukulele. I was looking for inspiration and direction as I new that chapter of my life was coming to an end. I felt scared, confused and lonely. I started to hone my craft and read a lot. After a couple months of this I never could have imagined I would get a gig in Moscow that would change my life forever but that's what happened and I was ready for it. Because of my time alone, I learned so much about myself. I felt strong in  where I stood and open to change because I was ready to let go of everything. The endless day dreaming and thinking allowed me to create a life I was excited about. It was in the challenging moments of sitting still and being alone I started to find myself  and open up to be prepared for opportunities I couldn't foresee. I now look back on that particular summer when I struggled with being alone and with my thoughts and feel such an appreciation for the lessons that I learned and the trades that I learned that prepared me for what was next. I now can see clearly that it was necessary and all the puzzle pieces of confusion and frustration fit together. The strength I found in myself allowed me to follow my dream of backpacking alone and who knew that the love for John Mayer's music would be the piece that had me and my fiance connect.

Funny now I find myself in a similar situation as last year in the sense of being alone. I don't have a car and live in an area that is not pedestrian or public transportation friendly. I'm still trying to make friends so I spend many days alone with no where to go. I only work 4 hours a night and have more than enough time than I know what to do with. Now I am very aware life is what you create it to be and we are never a victim of our circumstances and yet I am challenged in this notion. It's easier being a victim of it than having to put myself out there and ask for help. During this time I have had many days where I sit alone and watch TV wishing I were in Italy with my fiance. Wondering what the hell I am doing here and I have to remind myself of how hard I worked to get into the show that I am currently in and that my fiance is my biggest support system. I got tired of feeling sorry for myself so I said "ok Ang, you have a lot of extra time on your hands and no car, so what?! Maybe, just maybe this extra time is a blessing not a curse."

I started studying Italian, playing my ukulele and practicing yoga all within my beautiful apartment. I started cooking meals for myself and learned how to enjoy them in silence with candle light or on my patio outside. I started learning how to garden so that I can grow my own herbs and vegetables to cook with. I started calling my family more. I started walking to work to get fresh air. I don't know how the puzzle pieces are all going to fit together but if I've learned anything from my past is that they always do! In the moment I surrendered to the situation I could see endless possibilities and was able to see this extra time alone as a blessing. It's a beautiful time to learn and create!

I encourage everyone to spend time alone whether its by choice or by circumstance. Take advantage of it and grow! If you're someone that feels you never have time alone look to see how you can create it regularly and see how it transforms your busy life.

Turn Out the Lights & Light Candles

Some dear friends of mine started an experiment for saving energy several months ago that formed a lifestyle of togetherness and coziness in the evenings with family. They're story is so unique and inspiring they made the news! It's amazing how people can make such a difference with sharing. I was so inspired by them I have been using candles instead of lights as well.

See why... (follow the link below)

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/family-relies-candles-during-daylight-saving-time-173557118.html

 Change begins with one, in this case a family.

Live Like You're Dying

Today is the spring solstice which is the time for re-birth. So why do I want to talk about living like you were dying? Because, it's the perfect time to re-birth ourselves just as nature does. Even though death can be a touchy subject for some people (including myself) I feel it's an important subject to discuss in order to live the life you were born for and the life that you dream of! If you're already living that life take a moment to be grateful and look to see what else you can offer and receive. If you're not, now is the time. 

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared of dying because I am. However it is that force that has driven me from a very young age to never miss out on an opportunity or to be truly in touch with myself in what I want in life. I've even had moments of appreciation for the hardest times because I know I'm alive. It's what allows me to play life as a game because it will all be over one day. Whether you believe in an after life or not this life will be over one day and your legacy is what will be left behind to live on in others.

I bring this point up today not to depress you or bring you down rather to wake you up, lift you up and make you think about what you would do if you knew how much time you had left because who you are and what you have to offer matters.

What will be the legacy you leave?

My legacy is to inspire and empower others to live a life full of love and passion through music, creative expression, communication and relationships.

Here is a 10 min talk from TEDx by Shantel McBride sharing her story and mission on this subject. I found it inspiring for the fact it just makes you think about what is truly important to you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOGs8buOcak

"The only thing you live to regret are the risks you didn't take"-unknown

Now get out there and get livin!!! Happy Spring!

Be a Team Player

I made an early posting called Play a Game With Time (http://angelastrom.blogspot.com/2013/03/play-game-with-time.html) that talks about having fun with managing your time. I have a lot of fun with this game and encourage everyone around me to play. I'm even playing it right now! Well, long story short.. My fiance came into town to visit me (he lives in Italy, this is a story for another day) and we played the "time game" all the time. We would team up to tackle things together like daily chores, grocery shopping ect.

The first time we played we desperately needed to clean the house. My mother and baby brother were coming to visit the next day and of course I wanted it perfect! We declared we would clean the whole house in 20 min. This seemed like a challenging yet doable task so we set the timer. He started in the kitchen as I worked my way around the living room. As I was running frantically picking things up and straitening the living room I noticed him washing the dishes by hand. We have a dish washer so the fastest way to do the dishes would be to use it. "Just load the washer!", I yelled from the next room. The time was ticking and I noticed myself getting frustrated as he continued to wash them all by hand. "It will only be a couple more minutes", he declared calmly. He seemed to think we had plenty of time and I couldnt help but freak out that we were going to lose this game. We had 12 minutes on the clock by the time he joined me. He started making the bed as I organized the mess of laundry in our closet. I wasn't slowing down and it seemed to me he wasn't speeding up. By the time the buzzer went off I was frustrated and out of breath and he was confused as to why. All I could think is we lost because he wasn't playing on my team. Through conversation we realized we just werent playing the same game.

Let me explain...
By washing the dishes by hand he was trying to save energy, "notable but that's a different game" I said. We were going for speed. When he looked around the house when the buzzer went off the house looked clean so he didn't understand. He was right, it was straightened up but to me it wasn't clean. "We have to dust, sweep, vacuum, wipe down the bathrooms and take out the trash still", I exclaimed. He looked at me with shock. "I didn't know all that", he said.. By this time we were laughing out loud at my neurotic "must win" attitude and the realization we didn't set the game properly before we started to play. All we said was clean the whole house in 20 min. We should have made a list of what to do and probably given ourselves a bit more time, then we would have been playing the same game. I guess we were just eager :)

After our realization we chose to start a new game. After all, it's just a game. We evaluated our "to do" list and set a new time as we designated who does what. This time we both ran frantically laughing  and doing our chores. I'm proud to say we won!

We do this often and always have fun (even when we lose) You should have seen us at the grocery store! :)

The moral of the story.. Working as a team is fun! Not only does it double your time management but it can enrich your relationship...(Ti amo amore mio!)

Clean Green!

As the winter starts to rest and the sun starts spreading her warmth we have a natural instinct to start fresh just as the plants and animals that surround us. We do this by spring cleaning. That's right, tis the season for spring cleanin!! I love this time of year because its the perfect time to put new ideas into play as we let go of the old and the reflections of the past from winter and clean clean clean!

Most cleaning products are made with harsh chemicals that are horrible for us to breathe not to mention any children or animals in the home with their tiny little lungs. Yes, products such as bleach do disinfect really well but you can buy and even make cleaning products that are better for your health and your wallet.

Here are some clean green ideas as you take on your spring cleaning chores!

How to make your own cleaning products from household items

Things to have on hand
Baking soda
Washing soda
White distilled vinegar
A good liquid soap or detergent
Tea tree oil
Clean spray bottles
Glass jars

How to make the must have all purpose cleaner
1/2 teaspoon washing soda
A dab of liquid soap
2 cups hot tap water
Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved.

How to make a furniture polish
1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Cover the glass jar and store. You can use this anytime.

How to make a window cleaner 
1/4-1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent
3 tablespoons vinegar
 2 cups water
Spray bottle
Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake it up. The soap in this recipe is important because it cuts the wax residue from the commercial brands you might have used in the past.

Cleaning rags
For dusting and polishing cut up old T-shirts and use them to clean with that way they are reusable and gentle. 

I found a great website with lots of great green ideas check it out for more...
www.care2.com

My favorite cleaner is vinegar, it's a natural disinfectant and the smell disappears as it drys. For most surfaces and areas to clean you can mix equal parts vinegar and water together in a spray bottle and go to town. For a surfaces like the toilet try using just vinegar to get the rings off around the toilet. Beware of using this mixture on some surfaces such as marble and make sure when cleaning grout your vinegar is properly diluted with half water half vinegar since the acid in vinegar can eat away at it. For other cleaning mixtures try adding lemon juice and baking soda!

Clean Green and have fun! I know I will!

The Power of One

I know you have heard that one person has the power to change the world before... But do you believe it?

This is one woman's extraordinary story on how she has impacted the world. She is truly an inspiration and she did it out of the kindness of her heart. She never could imagined the changes she would see today but they happened!

Take a moment to listen to her incredible story on how she transformed the medical field by donating one of her kidneys to a young boy she never met. Spoken like a true queen, I admire her courage, her kindness and demure.

Love Notes..Just Because

I don't know about you but I get tired of checking the mail to receive junk mail and bills. How often do you receive a hand written letter or homemade card from someone you love? My guess is probably not so often and doesn't it make you feel good when or if you do? My cousin never fails to send a card when a big moment in my life happens filled with inspiring quotes and yet I never expect them and they always fill me up with love.

I recently moved to a new location for work where I am hundreds even thousands of miles away from everyone I love and found myself missing my friends and family very much. Of course this is natural but I wanted them to know how much I appreciate them and love them. Valentines Day rolled around and I thought "what a perfect time to create something for them" I ran out and purchased scrap booking paper and stickers and started making homemade Valentine's Day cards. I had so much fun creating them each individually for the people I love not to mention it was quite relaxing as I settled in to my new apartment. After completing them and sending them out I felt so good knowing they would receive something in the mail made with love (no, this is not a completely selfless act lol)
Then, I thought "Why does it have to be Valentine's Day to send love notes in the mail?!"

At this point there is no method to my madness I just enjoy creating and sending love notes randomly to those in my life and hope that they get them at just the right time they could use one.

Who will it be next?? ;) 

Of course there are many creative ways to express your love and appreciation for those in your life and this is just one but I hope that it inpires something in you to spread the love.

xoxo

This One's for the Girls

(Remember this one?)

I came across this song the other day after not hearing it for years! I forgot how much I love this song...

The lyrics follow every stage of life that a girl/woman goes through in such a fun and heartfelt way that connects us all. So inspiring! So good!!

Love Love Love
Enjoy!
This One's for the Girls by Martina McBride

 (with the lyrics)