Finding inspiration

Election 2012

I've kept mostly quiet about the presidential election this year. There is no doubt that everyone knows who I will support and where my political leanings lie.  This is by no means meant to be the most informed article about the upcoming election but instead is about my personal sadness about the direction the USA has been heading in terms of social issues.

Reading the news, polls, debates, and friend's facebook opinions, I find myself falling further and further in despair about the state of my country. The fact that there is a chance that such a conservative, bigoted candidate has a chance of becoming president is just mind boggling to me.

There has been a lot of talk about Mitt Romney, and the Republican Party on the whole, taking huge steps backwards about women's rights. Politicians have tried to make decisions about women's ability to choose what to do with their bodies as well as what opportunities women have in terms of their own sexual health. Mitt Romney has made comments in debates about women needing flexible working hours so they are able to cook dinner and take care of the children. It is astounding that we are in the year 2012 and our nations leaders are still trying to keep women in the kitchen and popping out children.

In regards to LGBT rights and same-sex marriage Mitt Romney's website says "As president, Mitt will not only appoint an Attorney General who will defend the Defence of Marriage Act – a bipartisan law passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton – but he will also champion a Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman." Mitt Romney on his values These sort of comments make me really upset on a personal level as well as deeply sad for my country. Not only does Mitt Romney want to defend DOMA (as of course marriage needs to be defended from the gays) he wants to make sure that discrimination is written into the FEDERAL constitution. The same constitution that was made in the name of freedom. This man could be the president of the United States of America. My heart is breaking. 

How is Ann Coulter allowed in our media? How could she possibly have such a huge following? I can't say anything more to this without getting insanely angry but please take a look at these articles which give me a little bit of hope. A Special Olympian's response to Ann Coulter's tweet Ann Coulter's response to National Coming Out Day

In addition to the presidential election, there are also of course state elections. Four states will have same-sex marriage on the ballots. Three of these (Maine, Washington, and Maryland) are hoping for marriage equality and the fourth (Minnesota) is trying to stop a marriage ban from being written into the state constitution. These state ballots are so important because state by state we will win this. One day our federal government will have to stand up and say that the LGBT community deserve equal rights... and realize how behind the times the USA is compared to so many countries around the world. Please check out this blog who are campaigning on behalf of these four states. Also, this article by Buzzfeed. 

Reading these stories and watching the videos makes me so incredibly emotional. It may be closed minded of me but I CANNOT understand how people do not believe that every person deserves equal rights. My heart physically hurts to think of so many couples who are not allowed to visit their partner in the hospital, struggle for rights to benefits, who are separated because of lack of immigration rights.... so many rights. Although this wasn't the life I would have originally chose for myself I am so thankful to be living in a country where I have the same rights as straight couples, so thankful. 

Experiencing an election from outside of the USA is different than the constant immersion of political ads, news, opinions, and discussion. Living outside of the the United States, or even travelling abroad, gives you perspective. It shows you how the US and Americans are seen by the rest of the world. It also shows how different countries and cultures work and run and you are able to see what works better or worse or just differently. When speaking to to my British friends and colleagues about LGBT rights, women's rights, welfare initiatives, health care, or a plethora of other issues they are astounded about how far behind the US really is in so many ways. The USA was always known to be the front runner, pushing boundaries, the country of opportunities but this is changing.

I know this is a jumble of thoughts but these are emotional topics. People who say politics are not interesting or voting won't change anything or think that the next president, governor, or senator will not make a difference to your lives, think again. Our government is constantly shaping social issues that effect each and every one of our daily lives. 

Vote. Be Active. Learn. Speak Up. 

Believe in happy

Believe in happy by prawkp on Polyvore

Rainy Sunday Inspiration

Affirmation Stones and Creativity

Over the past few weeks I've been starting to re-explore my creativity. Recently I read a post on The Wholehearted Life about painting affirmations on stones for your home and garden.  It's a simple and cute idea to surround yourself with love and inspiration. Since we've recently moved to Brighton we are surrounded by a beach full of interesting stones and I thought what a better time and place to give this a try. This combines my need for creativity with a connection to our new home.

Brighton beach

Painting has never been my strong suit but I found this process to be both calming and inspiring. Also I'm learning again about colors and textures which is not something I've done since school. I love feeling the connection with my new home by searching for stones from the beach and having them around us as little reminders. The process is so important because it forces me to really think about my life,how it is, and how I want it to be. I've really enjoyed how it feels to be creative again and combining this with living mindfully and positively has been a great perk!

A few of what I've completed so far!

I'm still just starting to get back into drawing and playing around with painting but am loving it so far. It's easy to forget how much creativity and inspiration can brighten your life. I hope to have more to share later!

España

This an incredibly belated post about our Spanish holiday back in May!

We stayed in a resort town of Torrelominos in the south of Spain. This was our first resort holiday and our first holiday to somewhere hot! It was delightfully different than other traveling we've been doing over the past couple years as it wasn't a rush to see as much as possible but was really centred around relaxation and sunshine. We went with Lina's parents and it was good for her to have some quality laid-back time with her parents :) Here are a few of the best pics.



Torreleminos beaches

Malaga

views from the castle above the city

Ronda

 







The Power of a Smile

Today I had a pretty great interaction with a client. We were completing some ordinary paperwork when she said to me "You're always so happy, everyday you're always smiling. It's contagious. I always smile when I see you."

This meant SO much to me. Since coming to the UK I feel as if I've lost my smile, motivation, and inspiration. I've felt a bit deflated and that my big American smile had disappeared. This sweet woman, whose struggles are exponentially greater than most, made me realize a few pretty monumental points. One, I am big biggest critic and find it difficult to see the greatness in me. Two, I am happier since we've left London and I feel more relaxed and able to enjoy my days and my work. Three, I am doing the work that I want to do. and Four, the affect that I can and do have on other's around whether it be positive or negative. Although, these are all things that I have been thinking about and may seem quite normal it has really opened my eyes again and put it all in a better perspective.

Today I've been feeling a bit low physically and emotionally but this beautiful compliment has brought a huge smile to my face and tear to my eyes. Never forget the power you have to make someone else's day.

Be Grateful

A reminder to myself... Be grateful every single day.

Zen and the Art of Happiness

I recently finished the book Zen and the Art of Happiness by Chris Prentiss. I found it recommended on The Feel Good Lifestyle. I found myself needing a bit of inspiration to keep motivated and moving forward emotionally in this time of change for me.

All in all I found that this book had it's pros and cons. The positive is that it is a great reminder of some lifelong philosophies that are needed to constantly work on your wellbeing and to be as happy as possible. It's philosophy is very much like most relating to positive thinking and new patterns of thought. In order to achieve the outcomes and progress that we want for ourselves we have to change our responses to what happens in the world around us.

The more I work at it the more I realize what a difference the way you think and react to the situations in our lives really affects your own mood and outcomes. It is definitely not easy and something that I have to constantly work at and if I don't the same negative thoughts and emotions sneak in. I'm still on my beginning of my journey and have a long way to go. This book helped to confirm and remind me how to replace the negative and depressing thoughts and why I am on this journey in the first place.

The cons would be that some of the examples are very extreme and ridiculous and difficult to relate to your own life. Also, no matter how many positive thinking or self-help time books and blogs I read I cannot give into the idea that everything happens for a reason. In the case of this book Chris Prentiss says that you have to go through your life with the expectation that everything that happens in life is for your benefit and for the greater good for the world on the whole. When I was younger I was entirely behind the idea that everything happens for a reason and I know that the difficulties as well as positive times in my life have made me the person I am today and has taught me much.What I cannot get behind is that everything has a  reason with no exceptions. There are far too many terrible things that happen in this world to good people and things like rape, abuse, murder, childhood illness and death, and extreme violence have no rhyme or reason. No one is violated or hurt for their own good.

I enjoyed the read and more and more think that it is so important to top up my knowledge, motivation, creativity, and inspiration. The day to day grind of work, commuting, and routines can get me off track and this book has been a really great reminder about putting the work in to make me the best version of me.

So, I recommend you pick up this book. It is a small quick read that puts the world in a bit better perspective and definitely makes you think.

New Life

It's early days but all of the changes seem to be working out pretty great. Over the period of a weekend I changed city, house, and job. I have to admit that there was some rough points including some tears the night before I started the new job. I felt completely overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions that just now I'm beginning to really breathe and sort through my emotions.

I really like my job so far. The atmosphere is much more positive and it truly feels like a fresh start. The role is the same but so many things about the clients, colleagues, and how the work is done is so differently that everything feels fresh. I'm taking the train to work through the British countryside... Today I hardly read my book and instead enjoyed the feeling of space with music in my ears. I'm just treasuring these moments and doing my best to keep my head in a good place.

Today I feel pretty great and I'm going to work hard to make the changes that I want for myself.
The seaside air is doing wonders!