Enjoy today’s quote and be happy! It’s a choice!

Today’s Quote

“Enjoy your life and be happy. Being happy is of the utmost importance.  Success in anything is through happiness. More support of nature comes from being happy.

Under all circumstances be happy, even if you have to force it a bit to change some long standing habits. Just think of any negativity that comes to you as a raindrop falling into the ocean of your bliss. You may not always have an ocean of bliss, but think that way anyway and it will help it come.

Doubting is not blissful and does not create happiness. Be happy, healthy and let all that love flow through your heart.”

~ Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

*** Maharishi Mahesh Yogi developed the Transcendental Meditation technique. In the late 1960s and early 1970s he achieved fame as the guru to the Beatles and other celebrities.

Changing the world… One person at a time, one dollar at a time.

Tommy and I went out Saturday night with the intent of giving away money to complete strangers.  See why here:

As I start my day and working on my to-do list, I am reminded again that I need to focus on what matter most and put those things first.  I know that so often I find myself jumping from thing to thing and then at the end of the day, week or month, I haven’t taken the time for those things that matter most.  I am working on it.  I remind myself to keep things in perspective and to take the time for Family, Fun, Fitness and Friends – my 4 F’s.

I’m curious, what matters most to you?  How do you keep those things that matter most a top priority?

My best to you for a Happy Wednesday! ~ Angie

Hello there! I made it back! I have been in this strange far off land called Votesville, which is governed by one of the most powerful women in the world, Oprah Winfrey. This place had many people manically asking, pleading, shaming and coercing people into voting for their video audition so they might have a chance to be the next television star on Opray Winfrey’s new network – OWN. I have never ventured into a land like this before and I am grateful I didn’t have to go it alone. It was crazy there! I even found that I lost my own mind and did things I thought I would never do and yet, I survived! Not only did I survive, I came out stronger than before. Sure, I’m tired and I KNOW a few (or more) of my family and friends are tired of ME, but I just had to do it. Once I ventured in, I had to go in all the way! Thankfully I had a team of amazing people who made regular visits to Votesville and kept me company.

I would like to individually thank everyone who supported me over the past six weeks through their views, votes, and sharing, but I don’t know where to begin. I have a pretty good list of those that I know voted every day, but as the competition got more intense, I found that more and more people were part of the action and I lost track. If you are one of the maniacal Team Vote Angie voters, THANK YOU! Because of your hard work and belief in me, we made it to 14th place out of 9,504 contestants! That is AWESOME!! I would like to give a BIG virtual HUG to everyone who cast even one vote as each vote MADE A DIFFERENCE!

Friendship isn’t a big thing – it’s a million little things. ~Author Unknown (A million little things revealed as votes!)

All my best to you! ~ Angie

What is surprising about this Saturday?  Well, since my professional life seems to be narrowly focused on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) “Your OWN Show” video audition, you can imagine my surprise is related to the competition. I am surprised by the number of people coming together to dedicate a portion of their day – every day – to vote for me! It’s a humbling experience and also an exhilarating ride in which I am eternally grateful!  Of all the things I have ever done in my life, campaigning for myself is NOT one of them.  I’ve always been the one to lift up others, to promote others, to encourage and shout from the roof tops for others’ causes.  Not now.  Right now it is about ME.  So why would I do this now?  Am I changing?  Am I beocoming self-absorbed?  I asked myself the same question, and then I realized that I haven’t changed my point of view at all.  What I’ve done is realize that through a bigger media platform I will be able to serve others better.   I put on the thinking cap of “What would I do to help promote someone else?” and then apply that to my OWN campaign.

So, here I sit day after day voting, tweeting, Facebooking, and emailing family, friends, and associates asking for their support and reminding them to VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!  I know that getting a show on OWN is a long shot, but I am known to make the long shots.  I also know that the more people who see my audition video the more that will checkout my existing shows and that will help gain more listeners and viewers for my current guests.

There is something bigger out there for me and this is a chance for me to Make a Difference myself!

“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.” -Pamela Vaull Starr

Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others,

It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important,

Only you know what is best for you.

Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart.

Cling to that as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.

Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or the future.

By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Don’t give up when you still have something to give.

Nothing is really over … until the moment you stop trying.

Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect,

It is the fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Don’t be afraid to encounter risks, It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find.

The quickest way to receive love is to give love.

The fastest way to lose love is to hold on too tightly,

And the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

Don’t dismiss your Dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope.

To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Don’t run through life so fast that you forget where you’ve been,

But also know where you’re going.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored every step of the way.

- Author Unknown

I am having one of those days in which I can actually feel the positive energy flowing around me like magic fairy dust with blessings as the little stars and sparkly stuff!  I can’t describe the feeling any better than that or tell where it’s coming from, but I can tell you it is definitely there.

There is peace and joy that comes with a feeling like I am experiencing today.  It’s like that warm fuzzy feeling I sometimes get, but I can usually readily put my finger on the source of where that energy is coming from.  Today, it hit me out of nowhere.  All of a sudden I had this knowing feeling that I am being blessed somewhere by someone and whoever it is, is either praying really hard for me or there is more than one at play here.

Okay, don’t think I freaked out here.  I usually don’t share this kind of thing in a blog post, but this is something different and unusual that I just had to share.  Have you ever felt such a thing?  I’m curious to see if this is something I’m learning to tap into through the work I am doing on myself and through the awesome connections coming into my life or if you think this is just a random warm happy feeling that is enjoyable, but doesn’t really mean anything.

Honestly, even if you told me it was all in my head I wouldn’t care because it is an amazing feeling and I don’t care where it is coming from.  I’m going to enjoy it and when (or if) it fades, I will welcome it next time around.

Magic or Manic?  You decide – and keep it to yourself!  Just kidding!  Your thoughts and comments are welcome.

~Angie

Every now and then a song comes along that gets me pumped up and this is my current favorite.  I hope you enjoy the song and the video.  Those who know me will so get why I love this song!

If you liked this please share through Facebook, Twitter, Digg or other sites through the ‘share and enjoy’ below.

Your thoughts and comments are welcome.  Thank you!

~ Angie

A Mother’s Love

There are times when only a Mother’s love

Can understand our tears,

Can soothe our disappoints

And calm all of our fears.

There are times when only a Mother’s love

Can share the joy we feel

When something we’ve dreamed about

Quite suddenly is real.

There are times when only a Mother’s faith

Can help us on life’s way

And inspire in us the confidence

We need from day to day.

For a Mother’s heart and a Mother’s faith

And a Mother’s steadfast love

Were fashioned by the Angels

And sent from God above.

– Author Unknown

If there is one thing certain in this world – all thanks needs to start with God and our Mothers.

If you have a loving relationship with your mother, rejoice and let her know how much you appreciate her for bringing you into this world.  After all, like it or not, she didn’t have to.  You were a choice.  Even if you were adopted, you may have even more reason to rejoice as the choice was to have you and then give you as a gift to a family who wanted you even more.

You may not know your mother, you may not like your mother, you may not understand your mother, but without your mother, you wouldn’t be able to be feel abandoned, neglected, disappointed, or confused.

If your mother is no longer with you in the flesh, she is with you in spirit.  I believe she is by your side right now wishing you all the happiness and love in the world.  Take special private time today to tell your mom how you feel.  Tell her you miss her and love her and appreciate everything she did for you in her life.  You will see your mom again someday and then you too may be the one your children talk to in the quite moments of their day.

Many blessings, much love and above all, I honor all mothers out there!

~ Angie

I want to wish my Mom a very Happy Birth Day today!

It isn’t my Mom’s birthday, it’s mine, but she is the one that gave birth to me.  It is her birth day just as much as it is my birthday.

You may find this strange, but I believe that we pick our parents.  A little far fetched belief for some, but when I was a little girl I watched an old black and white movie and I remember a scene with these little cherubs up in heaven picking out their parents down below.  Since that time, I have believed that to be so – and I like believing it.  I have a daughter that I thank God for every day as she has been such a blessing in my life and I choose to believe she picked me to be her Mommy as well.

So, today is my 43rd Birthday!  I can honestly say that I am loving my life so much more than I could have ever imagined.  Is it perfect, um, no.  Would I want it to be, um, yes, I mean no.  If my life was perfect, what would I have to strive for?  I enjoy working hard to make things happen.  I love the feeling of accomplishment when I have overcome something or made something work that didn’t seem possible.  The lessons I have learned from my imperfect life have brought me to where I am today and made me who I am today.  I think the idea of a “perfect life” is overrated anyway.  I don’t want perfect.  Great isn’t perfect, and I’m very happy to say I have a great life!

A special message to my loved ones:

To my Mom – Thank you for willing me into existence and for always believing in me.  Even when I made some some not-so-good relationship decisions, you gave me room to grow and learn from those decisions.  It took me a while to get it right, but I did (and how!) and the third time is a charm!  Thank you for all you did over the years to give me everything you could, I do appreciate it!

To my Dad – Thank you for being the most loving Father a girl could ever ask for.  You rarely told me no, but when you did, I knew you really meant it.  I have many fond memories over the years, but the one that really stands out to me right now is when you walked (or as Mom says, ran) me down the isle to marry Tommy.  The time we had in the back before that will always be in my heart.  Thank you for stepping in and being the best male role model a little girl could ask for.

Felecia – Thank you for choosing me to be your Mom!  I was young (and still am by the way) and I know I made mistakes along the way, but you were patient and accepting even when we had to struggle.  I am proud of the young woman you have become and see amazing adventures and accomplishments in your future.  You have an unlimited future ahead of you.  I hope you grab hold and get every drop out of life possible!

Tommy – Thank you for your determination and persistence – although some may call it stalking!   I mean it when I say that you make me want to be a better person.  You are the most loving and giving person I know.  You have given so much love to me and Felecia these past ten years and you have taught me what true love really is.  I am grateful God’s plan came together and we found each other.

To Myself – Thank you for taking good care of yourself over the years.  You may have had some tough times, but those times are what made you who you are today.  Your intentions are good and you strive to always do the right thing – even when that thing sucks.  Your integrity is your prized possession – never let it go.  You are right where you are supposed to be and things are only getting better.  Hold on and enjoy the ride!

Happy Birthday to me and many blessings to you!
~ Angie