I know it's the last day of October but...

Are your days filled with everything you love?

Yesterday, as hungover as I was, was a perfect day. It was yet another day filled with everything I love. I awoke on an air mattress at the community hall which my friends and I had rented for a Halloween party, still in full costume. My heart was beaming with delight as I looked around at the mess we were about to spend the next 3 hours cleaning up. What a great party we threw! The smiles, dancing, laughter and costumes were all equally amazing. It was one of those nights when you’re reminded of how wonderful the people you have in your life are. I’ve accumulated quite the collection of beautiful people in my life, and I am overwhelmingly grateful for this. I believe my friends are my greatest asset.

Arriving home around noon, Logan and I decided a nap was in order. Fed and showered, the two of us crawled into our bed for some afternoon zzz’s. That boyfriend of mine, he really is something special. Not only does he give the best cuddles, he made (and had) the best costume at the party, he also did my full makeup (making me second best!) and, he helped my brother make his. Logan loves Halloween so much and was having such a great time, he even got drunk! He doesn’t do that very often. There have been two occasions this week that have just solidified how much I love this man. Two occasions when I seen him smiling from both his heart, and mouth, and singing: Foo Fighters concert and our Halloween party. He was lit up, thus lighting me up.

After nap time, I realized it was still only early in the afternoon. Time was going slow, the way I like it on my days off. Fisher asked that I take her for a walk as it was a beautiful, sunny, fall day. So, away we went: myself, Dan Mangan, and Fisher. For two hours, we trotted along, splashing colorful leaves around, enjoying sunshine on our faces, and smiling at passersby. It’s very easy for me to find magic in the mundane. I love walking, for this reason. Unlike biking, walking is slow – allowing you to look around, take it all in, stop and smell the roses. What an enchanting world we live in!

Home sweet home again, and with a hungry belly, Logan and I prepared a stir-fry with the abundance of ingredients found in our fridge. Another thing I am quite grateful for. Then, the whole household sat around in the living room and watched an episode of Dexter while munching on delicious, truffle-oil popcorn! In bed again by 9:30pm – quite content with my day of relaxing, happy memories, and peaceful thoughts. I am happy so many of my days are filled with the things I love!

Dear Jennifer,

Kindred spirit, perhaps I love you so much because I see so much of myself in you! :) Seriously though, you’re a light. You re-energize me – and in a fashion that no one else can. You have the ability to bring out the best in everyone, to make them feel loved, valued, and appreciated, and like their your best friend - the homeless to cab drivers to business execs. You are love Jenny. As I so fabulously put once: I think so often about you and how much I love you and how much you've inspired my life. I think about the amazing experiences I've had WITH you...but then I realize that YOU are the amazing experience. Perhaps KT Tunstall says it best though (don't know if I told you but I think of you everytime I hear this song!):

Her face is a map of the world
Is a map of the world
You can see she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
And everything around her is a silver pool of light
The people who surround her feel the benefit of it
It makes you calm
She holds you captivated in her palm

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

I feel like walking the world
Like walking the world
You can hear she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
She fills up every corner like she's born in black and white
Makes you feel warmer when you're trying to remember
What you heard
She likes to leave you hanging on her word

And she's taller than most
And she's looking at me
I can see her eyes looking from a page in a magazine
Oh she makes me feel like I could be a tower
A big strong tower
She got the power to be
The power to give
The power to see

Carrie

Dear Lindsay and Leah (and Terri),

My dearest friends, we’ve been together so many years! Like family, I trust we’ll remain committed to one another for our full lifetime. Like a marriage, without the ring. Isn’t that something? I’m so certain it’s true though – there is nothing that could ever come between us, we’ve stood the test of time. Our friendship is solid and I believe this is because we know each other so deeply – we know each other’s roots, family history, background, and youthful secrets. We’ve been there, and we’ve been there together. I respect you more than you’ll ever know. It was amazing to spend this past weekend with you. You’re very strong women and there is nothing I love more in this world. I’m proud of you. Forever and ever,

Carrie

observing the moment

What a nice and relaxing Thanksgiving weekend it’s been. I love when time slows like this and I focus on spending my time reflecting. We can get so caught up with our day-to-day experiences that we forget where we’ve been and what we learned. Reflecting. It’s been a year rich with experience. It overwhelms me to think of all that’s happened, all the places I’ve been, all the people I’ve met, all the friendships that have strengthened, and all the spiritual and personal growth that’s occurred. Growth – when I start on that train of thought, my mind, body and soul just teems with electricity. I have to take a moment to catch my breath because I’ve grown so much.

I’ve decided to change the name of my blog to: observing the moment. I like to slow down and observe the moment and that is when inspiration occurs for me. Gusts of gratitude follow shortly thereafter because I am just so blessed. I am happy to be who I am. I am happy that I can look at, with love, the path I’ve been on and be grateful for each experience. I am happy in this moment knowing all is perfect.

Meat-free October!

Yesterday marked day-one of my plan to go meat-free for one month! What changed this “I could never be a vegetarian!” girl’s mind? The documentary Forks Over Knives.

The title is significant and explains why I’ll be making this dietary change, but you must watch the flick to fully understand. At first I thought the title described a salad fork conquering a steak knife, but the imagery might actually be referring to diet (a fork) and medicine (a knife, or scalpel). Forks over knives. Food over medicine. Love it! I would rather choose forks over knives any day.

I don’t predict this change in diet will be too difficult for me, but we’ll see. If I like it and feel good at the end of the month, meat-free will become a way of life for me. Now I should clarify, I will not be becoming a full-fledge vegetarian as I will be allowing myself to consume fish. Eggs and dairy will also continue to be a very minute portion of my diet (I hate the thought of limiting myself that much and having too many restrictions!) Gluten free, meat free – here we go!