The Wind to your Kite

One of the many pursuits in life, besides the American Dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is self-fulfillment. Even growing up I already knew I did not support the traditional dreams of a young woman, that is, going to college, meeting the One and having a house full of babies by the time I turned 30 (although there is still plenty of time for that!).

Being a workaholic was a given, having always wanted to work I found it was something I enjoyed, besides if you love something why stop doing it? Now as an innovator who runs off the beaten track I have new goals of not only working in a corporate situation but also focusing on freelance projects. In that note I’ve calmed down and stepped away from additional part-time jobs to spend time building a client base. My self-fulfillment comes from helping others get their projects off the ground and running, much like a kite, and I’m the wind. If you have any projects that need wind, email me.

Otherwise let me know how you find self-fulfillment?

The Secret Passageway

Weekends mean extra time for the next adventure, however I found myself in quite an unusual position spending time babysitting for 24 hours. As this past weekend was also Mother’s Day I must hand it to parents for their commitment, momentum and patience which I can certainly put forth during a brief 24 hours but day in and day out is a different story, I must applaud them.

Children have extremely active imaginations and don’t believe in limitations, their high energy requires constant attention which led to a trip to Palmer Park. There I was let in on the secret passageway, a leafy path off the cemented road where mothers pushed their strollers and dogs are jogged along on long leashes. The short passageway (and let’s face it, grown ups are too big for the secret passageway anyway) let to iron gates, a warning to stay away, but ended with a waterfall flowing into a creek.

From that slice of beauty I took a road trip down to Birmingham, Alabama, a lovely country drive complete with cows, goats, dead armadillos on the side of the road, deer brave enough to cross a high speed 70 MPH interstate when dark falls and endless miles of nothing. Bursting out of the countryside enter the city, which is not a fantastic town. I grew up in Alabama and find no reason to return, except for surprise trips to see my mom on Mother’s Day. Additionally the shopping there is not half bad including the Summit – my personal favorite – and the Galleria.

To sum it up, it was an exhausting weekend but the look on my mom’s face was completely worth it!

Knowing Why

Recently I finished reading Start with Why by Simon Sinek. The book was so fantastic and intriguing I even read the acknowledgements at the end, and trust me, I NEVER go that extra mile when reading books, especially non-fiction.

The author clearly points out that in order to succeed in our goals, visions and plans whether personally or career-wise we have to start with why. We have to know why we are inspired and empowered to do things the way we do them and once we know why we need to translate our vision to others.

If we never lose sight of why we are doing something, we never lose site of our passion and the reason we get out of bed every day. If we know why we stay motivated to go hard or go home and make a difference in others lives.

What is your reason why?

Crawfish Boil and More!

Nashville has its on unique landscapes, events and beauty. One of the places I was fortune to visit was Traveler’s Rest for their Crawfish Boil and Beer. The landscape is absolutely gorgeous and the New Orleans food and beer incredible. One our way there we drove under various tunnels:

The landscape on the historic plantation was beautiful:

My meal of crawfish were extremely lively:

Window Down, Music Loud

The thing about music, the reason it captivates us and pulls us over the brink of no return is because of those songs that truly get you. As with any romantic relationship there is no way to fully explain the way the one you love makes you feel, so it is with music. In particular one brilliant artist will write and release a song that holds my very being captive. The way the lyrics flow and the music blends together moves me. The rhythm thudding deep within my soul, the wail of the guitar telling its story, the music sways as I sway, understands my underlying emotions, holds me close, makes me dance, pushes me onward to new horizons, it “gets” me.

I listen to music all the time, writing, reading, driving, partying but the music I tend to love the most is when I’m in my car driving. Music Loud. Windows down.

Links to a few of the songs I’ve been listening to recently are listed below. I’d love to hear what yours are too, feel free to comment with links to your favorites.

Muse, Supremacy

Kopecky Family Band, My Way

Muse, Animal

The Killers – Flesh And Bone (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)

Music best listened to through the loud speakers

Song of the Club

Dark of night, cold of winter, biting through the thin black dress

Rushing forward, high heels clicking, running towards the light

Doors spill open, pouring music, light and warmth into our minds

The beat is throbbing, bodies moving, thriving, jiving with the vibe

Drinks held high, fists are pumping, voices raised in songs

Lights are flashing, blue, green, purple, dancing on the mob

Cold dissipates, heat takes over, we sway, we sing, we shout

Sweaty brows, chests heaving, the time ticks tocks towards morn

Tried feet limp, in heels, in shoes, danced until threadbare

We weave the crowd by way of friends, we hug, we kiss, we leave

Disclaimer: I am not a poet but I enjoy blending words

To Live is to Write

Last night I found myself at a height of creativity, inspiration and original thinking. I went to a hear my sister, Katrina, read for 15 minutes, her creative literature in a room full of eager listeners. Our ears were pricked, our minds engaged as we listened to her draw us in, pulling us away from thoughts of here, transporting us to another mind, another life, another land. We could empathize with the characters, feel their pain, think their thoughts and wonder. Why. The fiction, the poetry, the collage of words mashed together in a way that inspires life and questioning…

I found myself thinking, to live is to write, to find a way to take thoughts and translate them into beauty others will understand. Words are a gift brilliantly shared last night. I will return for another taste.