tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-162783982024-03-19T16:00:04.434-05:00The Silver Sands of St. AugustineBooks | Words | Music | Film | Art | Decor | Food | Beauty Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.comBlogger420125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-74159749541600000122015-04-10T16:37:00.001-05:002015-04-10T16:47:05.384-05:00Hey!<h1 class="entry-title single-title" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3rem; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
How to Let Go of a Past Relationship: 10 Steps to Move On Peacefully</h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">By</span> <a href="http://tinybuddha.com/author/lori-deschene/" rel="author" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3fa9f5; text-decoration: none;" title="Posts by Lori Deschene">Lori Deschene</a></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">“The amount of happiness that you have depends on the amount of freedom you have in your heart.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh</strong></div>
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Nine years ago my heart was in a million little pieces that formed the basis for a million regrets.</div>
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I had my first serious relationship in college, when all my insecurities came to a head. My ex-boyfriend had to juggle multiple roles, from therapist to cheerleader to babysitter.</div>
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The whole relationship revolved around holding me up. I realized this soon after it ended—that I’d spent three years expecting someone else to love me when I didn’t love myself. The guilt and shame kept me single for almost a decade.</div>
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I dated, but it was always casual. I’d start getting close to someone and then find a way to sabotage it.</div>
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Long after I let go of the man, feelings about the relationship held me back. I was afraid of being vulnerable. I was afraid of <a href="http://tinybuddha.com/blog/10-happiness-tips-for-people-who-have-been-hurt/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3fa9f5; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="10 Happiness Tips for People Who Have Been Hurt">being hurt</a>. But mostly I was afraid of hurting someone else again and having to live with that.</div>
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If you’ve been holding onto an old relationship, now is the perfect time to let go. Here’s how you can start moving on.<span id="more-5288" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1. Practice releasing regrets.</strong></h4>
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When a relationship ends, it’s tempting to dwell on what you did wrong or what you could have done differently. This might seem productive—like you can somehow change things by rehashing it. You can’t.</div>
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All dwelling does is cause you to suffer. When you start revisiting the past in your head, pull yourself into the moment. Focus on the good things in your current situation: the friends who are there for you and the lessons you’ve learned that will help you with future relationships.</div>
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It might help to tell your friends to only let you vent for ten minutes at a time. That way you’re free to express your feelings, but not drown in them.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2. Work on forgiving yourself.</strong></h4>
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You might think you made the biggest mistake of your life and if only you didn’t do it, you wouldn’t be in pain right now. Don’t go down that road—there’s nothing good down there!</div>
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Instead, keep reminding yourself that you are human. You’re entitled to make mistakes; everyone does. And you will learn from them and use those lessons to improve your life.</div>
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Also, keep in mind: if you want to feel love again in the future, the first step is to prepare yourself to give and receive it. You can only do that if you feel love toward yourself. And that means forgiving yourself.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3. Don’t think about any time as lost.</strong></h4>
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If I looked at that unhealthy relationship or the following decade as time lost, I’d underestimate all the amazing things I did in that time. True, I was single throughout my twenties, but that made it easier to travel and devote myself to different passions.</div>
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If you’ve been clinging to the past for a while and now feel you’ve missed out, shift the focus to everything you’ve gained. Maybe you’ve built great friendships or made great progress in your career.</div>
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When you <a href="http://tinybuddha.com/blog/10-tips-to-overcome-negative-thoughts-positive-thinking-made-easy/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3fa9f5; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="10 Tips to Overcome Negative Thoughts: Positive Thinking Made Easy">focus on the positive</a>, it’s easier to move on because you’ll feel empowered and not victimized (by your ex, by yourself, or by time.) Whatever happened in the past, it prepared you for now—and now is full of opportunities for growth, peace, and happiness.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4.</strong> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Remember the bad as well as the good.</strong></h4>
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Brain scientists suggest nearly 20 percent of us suffer from “complicated grief”—a persistent sense of longing for someone we lost with romanticized memories of the relationship. Scientists also suggest this is a biological occurrence, that the longing can have an addictive quality to it, actually rooted in our brain chemistry.</div>
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As a result, we tend to remember everything with reverie, as if it was all sunshine and roses. If your ex broke up with you, it may be even more tempting to imagine she or he was perfect and you weren’t. In all reality, you both have strengths and weaknesses and you both made mistakes.</div>
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Remember them now. As I mentioned in the post <a href="http://tinybuddha.com/blog/40-ways-to-let-go-and-feel-less-pain/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3fa9f5; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="40 Ways to Let Go and Feel Less Pain"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">40 Ways to Let Go and Feel Less Pain</em></a>, it’s easier to let go of a human than a hero.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">5. Reconnect with who you are outside a relationship.</strong></h4>
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Unless you hop from relationship to relationship, odds are you lived a fulfilling single life before you got into this one. You were strong, satisfied, and happy, at least on the whole.</div>
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Remember that person now. Reconnect with any people or interests that may have received less attention while you were attached.</div>
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The strong, happy, passionate person you were attracted your ex. That person will get you through this loss and attract someone equally amazing in the future when the time is right. Not a sad, depressed, guilt-ridden person clutching to what once was. If you can’t remember who you are, get to know yourself now. What do you <a href="http://tinybuddha.com/blog/50-things-to-love-about-life-that-are-free/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3fa9f5; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="50 Things to Love About Life That Are Free">love about life</a>?</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6.</strong> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Create separation.</strong></h4>
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Hope can be a terrible thing if it keeps you stuck in the past. It’s not easy to end all contact when you feel attached to someone. Breaking off the friendship might feel like ruining your chances at knowing love again.</div>
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It’s helped me to change my hopes to broader terms. So instead of wanting a specific person to re-enter your life, want love and happiness, whatever that may look like.</div>
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You <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">will</em> know love again. You won’t spend the rest of your life alone. In one way or another, you will meet all kinds of people and create all kinds of possibilities for relationships—if you forgive yourself, let go, and open yourself up, that is.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">7. Let yourself feel.</strong></h4>
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Losing a relationship can feel like a mini-death, complete with a grieving process.</div>
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First, you’re shocked and in denial. You don’t believe it’s over and you hold out hope. Next, you feel hurt and guilty. You should have done things differently. If you did you wouldn’t be in this pain.</div>
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Then, you feel angry and maybe even start bargaining. It would be different if you gave it a second go. You wouldn’t be so insecure, defensive, or demanding. Then you might feel depressed and lonely as it hits you how much you’ve lost.</div>
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Eventually, you start accepting what happened and shift your focus from the past to the future.</div>
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You have to go through the feelings as they come, but you can help yourself get through them faster. For example, if you’re dwelling in guilt, make forgiving yourself a daily practice. Read books on it, meditate about it, or <a href="http://tinybuddha.com/blog/writing-your-way-to-what-you-want/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3fa9f5; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Writing Your Way to What You Want">write about it in a journal</a>.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">8. Remember the benefits of moving on.</strong></h4>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">When you let go, you give yourself peace.</em></div>
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Everything about holding on is torturous. You regret, you feel ashamed and guilty, you rehash, you obsess—it’s all an exercise in suffering. The only way to <a href="http://tinybuddha.com/blog/how-to-find-peace-of-mind/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3fa9f5; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="How to Find Peace of Mind in Under 500 Words">feel peace</a> is to quiet the thoughts that threaten it.</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Letting go <a href="http://tinybuddha.com/blog/50-ways-to-open-your-world-to-new-possibilities/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3fa9f5; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="50 Ways to Open Your World to New Possibilities">opens you up to new possibilities</a>.</em></div>
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When you’re holding onto something, you’re less open to giving and receiving anything else.</div>
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If you had your arms wrapped around a huge bucket of water, you wouldn’t be able to give anything other than that bucket, or grab anything else that came your way. You might even struggle breathing because you’re clutching something so all-encompassing with so much effort.</div>
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You have to give to receive. Give love to get love, share joy to feel joy. It’s only possible if you’re open and receptive.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">9. Recognize and replace fearful thoughts.</strong></h4>
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When you’re holding onto a relationship, it’s usually more about attachment than love. Love wants for the other person’s happiness. Fear wants to hold onto whatever appears to make you happy so you don’t have to feel the alternative.</div>
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You might not recognize these types of fearful thoughts because they become habitual. Some examples include: <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">I’ll never feel loved again. I’ll always feel lonely. I am completely powerless.</em></div>
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Replace those thoughts with: <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">All pain passes eventually. It will be easier if I help them pass by being mindful. I can’t always control what happens to me, but I can control how I respond to it.</em></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">10. Embrace impermanence.</strong></h4>
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Nothing in life lasts forever. Every experience and relationship eventually runs its course.</div>
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The best way to <a href="http://zenhabits.net/zen-attachment/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3fa9f5; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Letting Go of Attachment, from A to Zen">embrace impermanence</a> is to translate it into action. Treat each day as a life unto itself. Appreciate the people in front of you as if it were their last day on earth. Find little things to gain in every moment instead of dwelling on what you lost.</div>
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When I feel like clinging to experiences and people, I remind myself the unknown can be a curse or an adventure. It’s up to me whether or not I’m strong and positive enough to see it as the latter.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">–</strong></div>
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It took me eight years to work through my feelings about relationships and letting go; but I am happy to report I am fifteen months into a healthy relationship, standing firmly on my own two feet. In fact, last night he flew from California to Boston, where I’ve been visiting for the last two weeks, to spend time with me and my family.</div>
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I don’t regret the time when I was single, but I know now I could have hurt less and created even more possibilities for myself if I put more effort into completely letting go. I hope you’ll make that choice.</div>
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Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-60109212562283375592014-01-20T14:41:00.004-05:002014-01-21T14:56:22.635-05:00In His Honor<h3>
<span id="goog_1898127255"></span>I have one personal story that always moves my heart.</h3>
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It’s based in a small church in my old St. Augustine neighborhood. He was speaking there during his visit to St. Augustine in 1964. While he was there, a man came in, with a gun, intending to kill Dr. King where he stood. The man could not bring himself to shoot Dr. King. Later, the man said in a statement to the press, “I looked into his eyes and I couldn’t do it. I could see he was a God-sent man.”<br />
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His closing remarks in his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”:</h3>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all of their scintillating beauty.”</blockquote>
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Lines from his final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” addressing many things, including the numerous threats coming from Memphis—that his life would be taken there—and it was: </h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmV29d0C1GnzmxHxdaKTS7MNh73viVMaMSBtvbvzEL2ToagDzXI_p-fAoculR0bn4NitsVZi1PY6sJ0qvOVay3JmPgo6C6-mPU79Wx6sRx5iSXpJe6NH5NI7He_gGpyVRuetZ/s1600/images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmV29d0C1GnzmxHxdaKTS7MNh73viVMaMSBtvbvzEL2ToagDzXI_p-fAoculR0bn4NitsVZi1PY6sJ0qvOVay3JmPgo6C6-mPU79Wx6sRx5iSXpJe6NH5NI7He_gGpyVRuetZ/s1600/images.jpg" height="254" width="400" /></a></div>
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</h3>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSEniw0vodVYIMWyAiymvGmo_3_KSFbk_TPGGQJgTx_0QRiGLqopOrL_AbgjqS1_0mnkdmixu4Lg0FnFfYcfhyRK9qKMaYssxL4X9mr0bck-mhsQ2pWavwvQi4LHy3meLf5xI/s1600/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-9365086-2-402.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>"If you allow me to live just a few years in the second half of the 20th century, I will be happy."<br />
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The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land; confusion all around. That's a strange statement. But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.<br />
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And another reason that I'm happy to live in this period is that we have been forced to a point where we are going to have to grapple with the problems that men have been trying to grapple with through history, but the demands didn't force them to do it. Survival demands that we grapple with them. Men, for years now, have been talking about war and peace. But now, no longer can they just talk about it. It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence in this world; it's nonviolence or nonexistence. That is where we are today.<br />
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Now, what does all of this mean in this great period of history? It means that we've got to stay together. We've got to stay together and maintain unity.<br />
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The question is not, "If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?" The question is, "If I do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to them?" <br />
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That's the question.<br />
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Then I got into Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?<br />
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Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop.<br />
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And I don't mind.<br />
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Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! <br />
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And so I'm happy, tonight.<br />
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I'm not worried about anything.<br />
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I'm not fearing any man! <br />
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Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSEniw0vodVYIMWyAiymvGmo_3_KSFbk_TPGGQJgTx_0QRiGLqopOrL_AbgjqS1_0mnkdmixu4Lg0FnFfYcfhyRK9qKMaYssxL4X9mr0bck-mhsQ2pWavwvQi4LHy3meLf5xI/s1600/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-9365086-2-402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSEniw0vodVYIMWyAiymvGmo_3_KSFbk_TPGGQJgTx_0QRiGLqopOrL_AbgjqS1_0mnkdmixu4Lg0FnFfYcfhyRK9qKMaYssxL4X9mr0bck-mhsQ2pWavwvQi4LHy3meLf5xI/s1600/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-9365086-2-402.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></blockquote>
Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-17086389222379395302014-01-15T11:04:00.000-05:002014-01-15T11:04:02.572-05:00We're So HappyPromises are sweet. The sweetest ones, especially, were made to be broken.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N6edIazPYMU/UtaxEJGkhGI/AAAAAAAAKHk/N7fa0y0lKqY/s1600/ead777d3a24fb77d1bdb5979d633cb48.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N6edIazPYMU/UtaxEJGkhGI/AAAAAAAAKHk/N7fa0y0lKqY/s400/ead777d3a24fb77d1bdb5979d633cb48.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<ul>
<li>I'll Travel the World with You</li>
<li>I''ll Make Chocolate-Chip Pumpkin Muffins for You</li>
<li>I'll Forsake Them All If Only You Take Me With You</li>
<li>I'll Stay With You For a Long, Long Time--Like, Forever</li>
</ul>
So funny how a tiny lyric or a picture or a passing phrase reminds you. Eh, I've made my share, too. It's just a little bittersweet and extra-special, huh, because they hang in the air, suspended forever, in the breath of the past (don't look back).Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-36422025771598392302013-11-19T10:24:00.000-05:002013-11-19T10:24:00.882-05:00Every Single Night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhJBojEacPbGr7KfzVxBBA40HXQsdVN-IPpH5MGAJWEjfDrjpM9kWB3kXhyphenhyphenDqw2-3jx3BeANV7v8znaOB4LO1oQrOTJyqYhnGKyofsliPMJlp9thSrCdjvjGqZbk5e5lxVdGx/s1600/9893e060776305319c1d7638220f67ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhJBojEacPbGr7KfzVxBBA40HXQsdVN-IPpH5MGAJWEjfDrjpM9kWB3kXhyphenhyphenDqw2-3jx3BeANV7v8znaOB4LO1oQrOTJyqYhnGKyofsliPMJlp9thSrCdjvjGqZbk5e5lxVdGx/s640/9893e060776305319c1d7638220f67ad.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
Every single night</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
I endure the flight</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
Of little wings of white-flamed</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
Butterflies in my brain</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
These ideas of mine</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
Percolate the mind</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
Trickle down the spine</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
Swarm the belly, swelling to a blaze</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
That's when the pain comes in</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
Like a second skeleton</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
Trying to fit beneath the skin</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
I can't fit the feelings in</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
Every single night's alight with my brain</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
What'd I say to her</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Why'd I say it to her</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
What does she think of me</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
That I'm not what I ought to be</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
That I'm what I try not to be</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
It's got to be somebody else's fault</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
I can't get caught</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
If what I am is what I am, cause I does what I does</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Then brother, get back, cause my breast's gonna bust open</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
The rib is the shell and the heart is the yolk and</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
I just made a meal for us both to choke on</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Every single night's a fight with my brain</div>
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
I just want to feel everything</div>
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
So I'm gonna try to be still now</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Gonna renounce the mill a little while and</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
If we had a double-king-sized bed</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
We could move in it and I'd soon forget</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
That what I am is what I am cause I does what I does</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
And maybe I'd relax, let my breast just bust open</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
My heart's made of parts of all that surround me</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
And that's why the devil just can't get around me</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Every single night's alright, every single night's a fight</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
And every single fight's alright with my brain</div>
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
I just want to feel everything</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
I just want to feel everything</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
I just want to feel everything</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
I just want to feel everything</div>
</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-85900851238054276962013-11-06T09:31:00.003-05:002013-11-06T09:37:08.412-05:00Used a Calling Card from the Pay Phone<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/91jgjTAmNQU" width="460"></iframe><br />
<br />
When I saw Neko Case perform this song, I'd been watching the row of kids lining the edge of the stage, dancing furiously and singing every word--hugging each other fiercely at the lines of the song that go like this:<br />
<br />
<i>Singing we'll all be together<br />Even when we're not together<br />With our arms around each other<br />With our facing still each other<br /></i><br />
Then separating, holding their arms to the air and singing along to the final line:<br />
<br />
<i>I've got calling cards<br />From 20 years ago</i><br />
<br />
And I thought to myself, feeling the energy vibrating all around, looking at the backs of their heads, "You have no idea what's coming, do you? Most of you won't even know each other in 20 years." And, "Do you even know what calling cards are?"<br />
<br />
And then I remembered my best friends. Friends I'd called with calling cards. From 20 years ago. They're still here. All over the planet. They've always:<br />
<br />
<i>Made me think there was something coming/<br />Something worth waiting for.</i><br />
<br />
And what more do we need in this life? <br />
How incredibly lucky I am. How lucky.Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-88698763863559948302013-11-01T09:55:00.003-05:002013-11-01T09:55:57.300-05:00Calling All Angels<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="episode_title">
<h2>
All Saints</h2>
</div>
It's one day past the Day of the Dead, and this has been<br />
a bad year, six funerals already and not done yet.<br />
But on this blue day of perfect weather, I can't muster<br />
sadness, for the trees are radiant, the air thick as Karo<br />
warmed in a pan. I have my friend's last book spread<br />
on the table and a cup of coffee in a white china mug.<br />
All the leaves are ringing, like the tiny bells of God.<br />
My mother, too, is ready to leave. All she wants now<br />
is sugar: penuche fudge, tapioca pudding, pumpkin roll.<br />
She wants to sit in the sun, pull it around her shoulders<br />
like an Orlon sweater, and listen to the birds<br />
in the far-off trees. I want this sweetness to linger<br />
on her tongue, because the days are growing shorter<br />
now, and night comes on, so quickly.
<br /><br />"All Saints" by Barbara Crooker, from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Poiema-Poetry-Barbara-Crooker/dp/1620329409/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383317252&sr=1-1&keywords=Barbara+Crooker" target="_blank"><em>Gold</em></a>. © Cascade Books, 2013<em>.</em>Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-52259407248450869542013-10-31T12:53:00.005-05:002013-10-31T12:53:40.853-05:00Happy Halloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-3045160620869080732013-10-28T09:14:00.002-05:002013-10-28T09:14:51.773-05:00For Some People, Everyday is Halloween.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxqpQGiT5gebTpUQ365L_ueZt-i_n9wibLQTf5HcoJlBw8VCLU-nn39OM4OP5Mi-r-RHU-8K0SLGhoQyv1RQME7rWxZFO7tRjb2IZFXaZu8bSMiZB_2nCwGhn7xxN4E8tdPc5/s1600/1002019_10151745859437568_961059276_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxqpQGiT5gebTpUQ365L_ueZt-i_n9wibLQTf5HcoJlBw8VCLU-nn39OM4OP5Mi-r-RHU-8K0SLGhoQyv1RQME7rWxZFO7tRjb2IZFXaZu8bSMiZB_2nCwGhn7xxN4E8tdPc5/s400/1002019_10151745859437568_961059276_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"My name is Wednesday, an I'm just your regular coffin-sleepin' girl."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-44535876738158164632013-10-14T09:45:00.000-05:002013-10-14T09:45:15.558-05:00Halloween--Wondering If I Have the Energy to Be Cyndi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-80434436368994971372013-10-09T06:41:00.001-05:002013-10-09T06:42:44.962-05:00The Girl Who Stood Up for Her Education, Shot My the Taliban, and Survived.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am getting this book about <a href="http://www.malala-yousafzai.com/" target="_blank">Malala Yousafzi</a>. Her story makes my heart beat faster, sends chills down my spine, corrects my selfish perspective and gives me hope. So much hope.Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-70568788386093402912013-10-07T09:35:00.005-05:002013-10-07T09:35:49.280-05:00Mourning<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Read this whole list of</span><a href="http://thoughtcatalog.com/2013/18-things-every-person-must-do-in-their-lifetime/" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;" target="_blank"><br />18 Things Every Person Must Do In Their Lifetime</a><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28.078125px;">18. Realize how important it is to mourn properly. This means letting yourself be a whole big ball of effing mess now and again. Things and people will phase in and out as scheduled. You can’t keep holding on for their return because most often, they won’t come. But that withholding will shape you, and it will shape you through your own self-induced pain and suffering. If you don’t want that to be your story, write it a different way. It starts with saying goodbye to what’s not meant for us and what’s left inexplicably. Your quality of life will completely depend on how well you embrace this. Choose wisely.</span>Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-4478935252713708632013-09-22T18:03:00.001-05:002013-09-22T18:03:02.034-05:00Do People Even Blog Anymore? I Guess So.It's really like writing in my own diary. No one, but no one, reads it but me.<br /><br />
<h3>
Mind, caught. Eye, caught.</h3>
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<br />"Everything I see will outlive me." Anna AhkmatovaAma Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-54007905321116196602013-09-20T23:40:00.000-05:002013-09-20T23:41:03.237-05:00Gratitude Again Again Again Again Again<h3>
Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 11: Something Old</h3>
My Great Aunt Martha's Cross, Dedicated 1938<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ4uMsqq6HlfOnkxIugeqgSGeIVD2uHOHqP6UxX7l6PYX0edBLasfz5y_83AfHxn8LD0q7aziqgQdF8GCyPCQffzgdQQLBA9nIVCh8DUktE2rx5Beb0F3eiUVlF7JNBvROZbV/s1600/539722_10151679277837568_120185075_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ4uMsqq6HlfOnkxIugeqgSGeIVD2uHOHqP6UxX7l6PYX0edBLasfz5y_83AfHxn8LD0q7aziqgQdF8GCyPCQffzgdQQLBA9nIVCh8DUktE2rx5Beb0F3eiUVlF7JNBvROZbV/s320/539722_10151679277837568_120185075_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<h3>
Five New Things. Five. Five New Things.</h3>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXad2x2_DUjQ21mQQwyMH5dHlmIh9Ar4BDlw5Q3hzQBC0Ojqf_hLJCCzsKI04CFiO_hA2JVH6l3yWbhQhoes4-QSicyiXX0Kp71ZVhilZATxZZBHvilwAzHjN6ur4NbOvzrDO/s1600/cf6f61b74836e381f33f23d1b1b29b40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXad2x2_DUjQ21mQQwyMH5dHlmIh9Ar4BDlw5Q3hzQBC0Ojqf_hLJCCzsKI04CFiO_hA2JVH6l3yWbhQhoes4-QSicyiXX0Kp71ZVhilZATxZZBHvilwAzHjN6ur4NbOvzrDO/s400/cf6f61b74836e381f33f23d1b1b29b40.jpg" width="271" /></a><br /><br />
<ol>
<li>Cats ruling the Internet</li>
<li>The amazing catharsis of laughing...every day</li>
<li>The way I inherited pursing my lips into a kissy face when concentrating</li>
<li>Building up aerobic stamina like a boss. Like a boss.</li>
<li>Going back to work soon.</li>
</ol>
Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-58072781883175149702013-09-18T15:51:00.003-05:002013-09-18T15:51:45.065-05:00Thankfulness.<br />
<h3>
Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 10: Nature.</h3>
<br />A Florida sky.<br />
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<h3>
Five New Things. Five.</h3>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIDpBYc14bkLCxDZdPz3vSNzvJYyF27NxVNSoE_jYNDIHZPN04qxMdClA0YF8I58mXH-Qz_O1TdNlsIgslItMBI-YT18WFbQo6XhTtBFAGTszya_tLqgbkD8k9Oq-9cWi3peI/s1600/62ce865eca2873a1815d4426d3873fcb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIDpBYc14bkLCxDZdPz3vSNzvJYyF27NxVNSoE_jYNDIHZPN04qxMdClA0YF8I58mXH-Qz_O1TdNlsIgslItMBI-YT18WFbQo6XhTtBFAGTszya_tLqgbkD8k9Oq-9cWi3peI/s640/62ce865eca2873a1815d4426d3873fcb.jpg" width="425" /></a><br /><ol>
<li>Getting swept up and carried away and transformed by a novel</li>
<li>The depths my heart and soul has been reaching lately with the help of amazing people</li>
<li>The wisdom of reaching out and asking for help and receiving lovingly provided options...choices</li>
<li>Finding the gift of a heart and the phrase, "only love" come into my consciousness during meditation </li>
<li>My beautiful, mysterious, hilarious cat and her beautiful, annoying way of laying on the pages of my books</li>
</ol>
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<br />Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-12153213649464126762013-09-15T16:49:00.003-05:002013-09-15T16:49:59.882-05:00Thank You Very Much.<h3>
Gratitude Photo Challenge Day Nine: Inspiring Person.</h3>
<br />That would be the amazing Geraldine Kaler, my grandmother, who lived to be 103 and packed so much life and love and hilarity and strength into it all from beginning to end. To quote "To Sir With Love," she was the one who taught me, "right from wrong and weak from strong." My hero forever.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF86Oik04VzS7n3qaPLQtovt33dc-jRcgUcdJjRG3INC38EYdtujrMmJL9kD9zLqScloR4jBGxZ1ZH5eFOduDCMG5ShSPP9rayLUoKjPlnp_fjM9tcDn2fckVB6Os_uKocBFN_/s1600/grandma5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF86Oik04VzS7n3qaPLQtovt33dc-jRcgUcdJjRG3INC38EYdtujrMmJL9kD9zLqScloR4jBGxZ1ZH5eFOduDCMG5ShSPP9rayLUoKjPlnp_fjM9tcDn2fckVB6Os_uKocBFN_/s400/grandma5.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />
<h3>
Thank You. Five Things. Five. Five Things.</h3>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkcUIX7DvVpmxeORKdIrW-H01F6xv-t1dso5fMQEYLlGICHtFK2krFIk1VFbjAkLWffHTecEu-4bKBFYc0TwLEaVTKFZ_hWHMtR8FXOqZYXDJsn7VGgFQtYF88PiG2uGFu-xh/s1600/e13070c34a4d148d3d5182b0241bb977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkcUIX7DvVpmxeORKdIrW-H01F6xv-t1dso5fMQEYLlGICHtFK2krFIk1VFbjAkLWffHTecEu-4bKBFYc0TwLEaVTKFZ_hWHMtR8FXOqZYXDJsn7VGgFQtYF88PiG2uGFu-xh/s400/e13070c34a4d148d3d5182b0241bb977.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><ol>
<li>Sweaty yoga this morning</li>
<li>A fridge fulla new groceries</li>
<li>A nice hot yummy shower</li>
<li>Luigi's blue raspberry Italian ice</li>
<li>Choosing to look forward, never back</li>
</ol>
Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-76357448381107364102013-09-14T19:21:00.000-05:002013-09-14T19:22:19.338-05:00Gratitude. <h3>
Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 8: Your Favorite Color.</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm an indecisive sort of girl. These are three of my favorites.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKquR-gqDzQAR_wH-Qpv-D7I6RpFCBE58d1X7ftRFL4zJUhK2YcfrCtyiOHiqfwd_zABBu_tHs2b81-M8rpVCC-Wchep93LfecFmg_ovK3TTcror1Jhs0mlzG6yUfqCNNgqAyo/s1600/63412_10151397663807568_91741268_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKquR-gqDzQAR_wH-Qpv-D7I6RpFCBE58d1X7ftRFL4zJUhK2YcfrCtyiOHiqfwd_zABBu_tHs2b81-M8rpVCC-Wchep93LfecFmg_ovK3TTcror1Jhs0mlzG6yUfqCNNgqAyo/s400/63412_10151397663807568_91741268_n.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<h3>
Five New Things. Five. Five New Things.</h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI5jr-I4gblR4_2nlfj_DQkmug9mlwa35KGRfqEfT5djF_XJB8thb9IFyRkUx0gR3XavZoKAq6_2EpUeXXKA8vRMQfnIDeUGzbpQ9a_L26uOmk3iUqVKJDZ4Xk1X-9i00NA8i/s1600/b35500c377aa1351d0127db35459bc87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI5jr-I4gblR4_2nlfj_DQkmug9mlwa35KGRfqEfT5djF_XJB8thb9IFyRkUx0gR3XavZoKAq6_2EpUeXXKA8vRMQfnIDeUGzbpQ9a_L26uOmk3iUqVKJDZ4Xk1X-9i00NA8i/s400/b35500c377aa1351d0127db35459bc87.jpg" width="332" /></a><br />
<ol>
<li>My Bella cat's adorable little belly</li>
<li>The freckles I once I hated are now the ones I love</li>
<li>Having a group of the most amazing friends in the world (20 Years and Running)</li>
<li>John Fogerty doing a surprise opening for Mumford & Sons at the festival today</li>
<li>Learning to recognize old, damaging thoughts as they start up in my head; and waving them away</li>
</ol>
Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-73660821387053148892013-09-11T18:27:00.004-05:002013-09-11T18:27:29.847-05:00Thanks. Thank you. Merci. <h3>
Gratitude Photo Challenge Day Six: Books.</h3>
(This one was a breeze.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiBLQ9se2sSQiDLFEmzAzYLSrktWEgDQQE3NjRqQsiBBksuKJvi43pIV7jaIGObjfCT5mA_1kCpF56Tjc3tsC5RkKAZY1ycM8L3TBTXCLgZx2GdC9CMEIQVaNks6HLLXWXVV_/s1600/1238773_10151663271712568_1472384796_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiBLQ9se2sSQiDLFEmzAzYLSrktWEgDQQE3NjRqQsiBBksuKJvi43pIV7jaIGObjfCT5mA_1kCpF56Tjc3tsC5RkKAZY1ycM8L3TBTXCLgZx2GdC9CMEIQVaNks6HLLXWXVV_/s400/1238773_10151663271712568_1472384796_n.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />
<h3>
Five Things. Five New Things.</h3>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAFujBhG3SEmYcrKMdijCICuFpx2MHR4XD7LFLetdCDhufheaamKKvCWyMBwOAQJFYQd_gMAWunq1ptzDtybYSI8cl5p81IKfPYMV0m5QOJcg40d0fdMV9Asowd6-DGD3HeE4/s1600/528b2ead48f79ef5ec6dd209725e7f4c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAFujBhG3SEmYcrKMdijCICuFpx2MHR4XD7LFLetdCDhufheaamKKvCWyMBwOAQJFYQd_gMAWunq1ptzDtybYSI8cl5p81IKfPYMV0m5QOJcg40d0fdMV9Asowd6-DGD3HeE4/s400/528b2ead48f79ef5ec6dd209725e7f4c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<ol>
<li>Having a sense of humor in the face of ridiculous despair</li>
<li>Angel Hair pasta, butter, and Parmesan/Romano cheese for dinner</li>
<li>Out of the blue, my BFF inviting me to upstate New York to be with her and her baby</li>
<li>Yet another chance to explore and be and see and share deepest pains and get better every day</li>
<li>A new poem soon to be published on a wonderful website, <a href="http://artoflivingguide.org/" target="_blank">The Art of Living Guide</a> </li>
</ol>
Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-55305283339222602672013-09-10T11:00:00.001-05:002013-09-10T11:02:24.693-05:00Thanks.<h3>
Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 5: Morning Sky.</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8noehpqUZS_bqqM1oZf00qeMECRWnL0Fey3P0NJNbtfV3FxemAN1DicnPR-w-7bCHZGQjzQ0CgeAA1zq-7bBxs4XfwVhkNuvlwW_Lbcs8ydQoIOf-abWOcGK3qAPEOOal9TX/s1600/968826_10151546698722568_1150883483_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8noehpqUZS_bqqM1oZf00qeMECRWnL0Fey3P0NJNbtfV3FxemAN1DicnPR-w-7bCHZGQjzQ0CgeAA1zq-7bBxs4XfwVhkNuvlwW_Lbcs8ydQoIOf-abWOcGK3qAPEOOal9TX/s400/968826_10151546698722568_1150883483_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<h3>
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Five New Things. Five.</span></span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-align: left;">Waking up looking forward to the day</span></li>
<span style="text-align: left;">
<li>Homemade coffee-sugar scrub on mah face</li>
<li>New movies and books and music from the library</li>
<li>Pink cheeks and endorphins and sweat for real what?</li>
<li>Smiling. Just smiling for no particular reason</li>
</span></ol>
Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-73956224891979156472013-09-09T15:58:00.004-05:002013-09-09T16:05:52.163-05:00Thanks.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1HC609cCTnOXIZNbGC7LpqdluwGOmvGxYgfL1025Xasqc51W1vCcMw8hlKPgjHR-TEqKZ3wgZf4gy4DrTgIkLoq640LMyB-c_Bz-IXJAs3L3mu_PERQfDQfeHGamGnbax2n-/s1600/2668148f9e579cdaa039086437763224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1HC609cCTnOXIZNbGC7LpqdluwGOmvGxYgfL1025Xasqc51W1vCcMw8hlKPgjHR-TEqKZ3wgZf4gy4DrTgIkLoq640LMyB-c_Bz-IXJAs3L3mu_PERQfDQfeHGamGnbax2n-/s640/2668148f9e579cdaa039086437763224.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<h3>
Five New Things.</h3>
<br />
<ol>
<li>Opening myself up and being vulnerable and honest</li>
<li>Bills paid</li>
<li>The cool chill of air-conditioning on a hot day</li>
<li>The red rose and pink carnations on my desk</li>
<li>The wonderful love and support I'm receiving right now</li>
</ol>
<h3>
Gratitude Photo Challenge Day Four: Leaves.</h3>
<div>
"...And I won't forget to put dead flowers on your grave." (Stones)</div>
<div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt93na9TmZap21Usid5i6un5bGIhF10exP-fxN11YguiAUQCSnyX7YaUlC1mookL1PSmNGmo0CDQyYeccXjc25jkeshD2IdYHU9F5_dia-wk588FKlfkcEqXa-rmFdIQv26WN1/s1600/1236281_10151660015557568_1478848886_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt93na9TmZap21Usid5i6un5bGIhF10exP-fxN11YguiAUQCSnyX7YaUlC1mookL1PSmNGmo0CDQyYeccXjc25jkeshD2IdYHU9F5_dia-wk588FKlfkcEqXa-rmFdIQv26WN1/s400/1236281_10151660015557568_1478848886_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-32122939158014947912013-09-08T07:56:00.003-05:002013-09-08T07:56:32.254-05:00Thanks.<h3>
Gratitude Photo Challenge Day Three: Happy.</h3>
This love is truly eternal. And it literally made me...and my beloved family. What's happier than that?<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGji0g2PVzQ0bkSF2Noa53wbD9q3FHVJGu5YENYeFoTTo_cUxqi6UKRWJvI_ysyGH9OQfUtskhl_EUhQJLi3mWJ74z1tJ39wPz_ENZAE-ZWriZjxzJB9DrPNZQokoc_P71QsZ/s1600/1240144_10151656921587568_1191929217_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGji0g2PVzQ0bkSF2Noa53wbD9q3FHVJGu5YENYeFoTTo_cUxqi6UKRWJvI_ysyGH9OQfUtskhl_EUhQJLi3mWJ74z1tJ39wPz_ENZAE-ZWriZjxzJB9DrPNZQokoc_P71QsZ/s400/1240144_10151656921587568_1191929217_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Five Things. Five Things.</h3>
<ol>
<li>The pink and purple sunlight filtered in by my pink and purple bedroom curtains</li>
<li>My beautiful love Fluffeh Bella Boo Kitteh always licking her tail when she's caught doing something</li>
<li>Voting for myself and being on my own side no matter how flawed and fucked up I feel like I am</li>
<li>Going to yoga with my mother this morning</li>
<li>The nearby palm tree swaying in the morning breeze</li>
</ol>
Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-30643013597086622632013-09-07T21:22:00.000-05:002013-09-07T21:22:00.683-05:00Night Still ComesCatch a catch a catch a fallin' star/But wash your hands of it/Catch a catch a catch a fallin' star/Because you can't own it. {Neko.}<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qhnFl3Y2FVI" width="400"></iframe>Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-49692306400788332712013-09-07T21:18:00.000-05:002013-09-07T21:18:15.637-05:00Thanks.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cSq3l4jZfxmrbrNIP30vACrbUqiqcvyR1uq9PyLZ6-FjR6t1AzQkyDnivEFtsrfU5FyDYEnHsMkkW-4INEle_4bU4egFGwfI7xoL60AKvPBzlcEtHDw8458LaoVnhTohvLnN/s1600/968d0c09df8ddebcd8a7e21eee1d1ce8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cSq3l4jZfxmrbrNIP30vACrbUqiqcvyR1uq9PyLZ6-FjR6t1AzQkyDnivEFtsrfU5FyDYEnHsMkkW-4INEle_4bU4egFGwfI7xoL60AKvPBzlcEtHDw8458LaoVnhTohvLnN/s400/968d0c09df8ddebcd8a7e21eee1d1ce8.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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<br />
Five Things I'm Grateful For Today.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Listening to Claire de Lune in Cathedral Basillica</li>
<li>Trusting the universe to release my fears</li>
<li>Working out at a motherfucking gym</li>
<li>Having a blue raspberry Icee</li>
<li>Spending sweet time with beloved friends</li>
</ol>
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<br />Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-19313098780916954592013-09-07T21:14:00.000-05:002013-09-07T21:14:01.609-05:00Gratitude Photo Challenge: Smile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GLRrOqQtu8zOetB04fsfgisxQOmg1nVLUPnMdXLZVlcqrAQRMKBb6pzl-_5oycfQ2NcQgfzQJWIwm8KUJVJa4QmxFhiC_YraS4Fr9F21cZdHbRiZ-j5U7BKk87aKOcIJgspW/s1600/1240086_10151656078467568_297358644_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GLRrOqQtu8zOetB04fsfgisxQOmg1nVLUPnMdXLZVlcqrAQRMKBb6pzl-_5oycfQ2NcQgfzQJWIwm8KUJVJa4QmxFhiC_YraS4Fr9F21cZdHbRiZ-j5U7BKk87aKOcIJgspW/s400/1240086_10151656078467568_297358644_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
My baby brothers are all grown up. But I remember these boys as babies like it was yesterday. What smile is more pure than a kid with cake and ice cream?Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-46387363449029774792013-09-06T06:55:00.004-05:002013-09-06T06:55:53.588-05:00Gratitude Photo Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTdYy5qktE9JLbHTmZnebr6jbx2Dn7iPLqcLCo0j6sJtiu1JtsT2mTMxdIemUzd2Ibu8RWEzRLKpGR-DWQM2pX39xNuUW4jPUNcTGtoNEXvqd3YAwxD1avT268isvHxUiSAv7/s1600/08e1f8e41d9a5b3febf804e80ba92170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTdYy5qktE9JLbHTmZnebr6jbx2Dn7iPLqcLCo0j6sJtiu1JtsT2mTMxdIemUzd2Ibu8RWEzRLKpGR-DWQM2pX39xNuUW4jPUNcTGtoNEXvqd3YAwxD1avT268isvHxUiSAv7/s640/08e1f8e41d9a5b3febf804e80ba92170.jpg" width="403" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji94MhzoNPVMZcp9XSTCeXAH2pwQ2I5ccWuXjr03qtfHE-nmz4iQR9FoluId5l7oY_ie0X_8hUFs5MBTfYTnM012sGVCqmrPq0qxrB_Ny5dkZpSenzYqWk5n8txEjYdUQcrAo4/s1600/1185195_10151653324932568_705822985_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji94MhzoNPVMZcp9XSTCeXAH2pwQ2I5ccWuXjr03qtfHE-nmz4iQR9FoluId5l7oY_ie0X_8hUFs5MBTfYTnM012sGVCqmrPq0qxrB_Ny5dkZpSenzYqWk5n8txEjYdUQcrAo4/s400/1185195_10151653324932568_705822985_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day One: Favorite Food</td></tr>
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Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16278398.post-80087065894110674772013-09-06T06:44:00.001-05:002013-09-06T06:44:44.677-05:00Thanks.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFdrkokRbNtC0VxczfPUUo_WdniCQ6UQg8OsHDOvnvrDAfxUPTvJWquVfNZHGuCY2XN4Z4toYCF8odNSAeL91dlIn_uZRwR24wKAvjYlv2eIJKhhPlL9CNnmfv8Zf_moRTAbL/s1600/ae9f9db50680f31106049ffd4595222b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFdrkokRbNtC0VxczfPUUo_WdniCQ6UQg8OsHDOvnvrDAfxUPTvJWquVfNZHGuCY2XN4Z4toYCF8odNSAeL91dlIn_uZRwR24wKAvjYlv2eIJKhhPlL9CNnmfv8Zf_moRTAbL/s400/ae9f9db50680f31106049ffd4595222b.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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One of the best prayers. Day one of a daily list of five NEW things I am grateful for.<br />
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FIVE. NEW. THINGS.<br />
<ol>
<li>My mother.</li>
<li>My friend Tara.</li>
<li>My new free gym membership.</li>
<li>Learning life-changing new ways to behave.</li>
<li>Spending last evening with inspiring women.</li>
</ol>
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There. That was easy.Ama Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283574821878794443noreply@blogger.com0