The epidemic of being rude

In this day and age the escape outlets for interacting with others and the many technological walls that we are granted has lazied society's manners toward one another...and it's just plain obnoxious. You do not have to like everyone or agree with everyone, but you never need to be rude when trying to get your point across...

I feel one of the biggest social epidemic's is the lack of respect toward one another, which can spiral into bullying, hate, abuse, violence, war etc.

An excerpt from "Choosing Civility", from Dr. P.M Forni:

"When we slow down the pace of attention we do justice to life by taking it seriously. When we pay attention we do justice to the presence of others in our lives. Attention entails a transcending of the Self. Through it we confer value upon the lives of others. When I show you that you are worthy of my attention, I am acknowledging and honoring your worth.

Although attention is a reading of what is around us, it is also timely self-awareness. We want to be aware of how we are reacting to the circumstances at the very time we are reacting to them. We want to make sure that there is a good fit between how we feel and what we do. Somebody's words hurt us and we perceive a swell of outrage inside. Let's stop for a moment to pay attention to it. Is it warranted? Are we overreacting? Are we about to respond in a way we will soon regret?

Acknowledge others' existence, their importance to you, their feelings, and the things they do for you. Acknowledgment comes in many forms: remembering someone's name, paying a thoughtful compliment, summarizing what was just said for a newcomer to the conversation, holding a door open to let someone through, welcoming, thanking, and just plain saying hello."

"Every action done in company, ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present."

—George Washington

xo

M

Love Token 10 - A healthy dosage of Carrie & Aidan

Treated myself to watching Season 3 of SATC all over again (for the bajillionth time)... I am always TEAM Aidan, because he is genuine, knows what he wants and offers ZERO bullshit.

Girls look for too much drama and let self absorbed, game playing guys put them down way too often... men should be like Aidan - always!

xo

M

The States got "something" right with the prison issue

Worth a look:

http://www.puppiesbehindbars.org/

This is a great program to help rehabilitate and bring back the concept of love to certain inmates and pass that love on to returned soldiers from Iraq

Since the past cannot be undone, at least this is an attempt to mend the future.

War does not determine who is right - only who is left (B. Russell)

Love Token 9 - Groovin to the tunes...

Enjoying the lyrical genius of Marvin Gaye, "What's Going On"

Mother, mother

There's too many of you crying

Brother, brother, brother

There's far too many of you dying

You know we've got to find a way

To bring some lovin' here today - Ya

Father, father

We don't need to escalate

You see, war is not the answer

For only love can conquer hate

You know we've got to find a way

To bring some lovin' here today

Picket lines and picket signs

Don't punish me with brutality

Talk to me, so you can see

Oh, what's going on

What's going on

Ya, what's going on

Ah, what's going on

In the mean time

Right on, baby

Right on

Right on

Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong

Oh, but who are they to judge us

Simply because our hair is long

Oh, you know we've got to find a way

To bring some understanding here today

Oh

Picket lines and picket signs

Don't punish me with brutality

Talk to me

So you can see

What's going on

Ya, what's going on

Tell me what's going on

I'll tell you what's going on - Uh

Right on baby

Right on baby

xo

M

Love Token 8 - Morning Bubble Bath Bliss

Today I woke up and treated myself to a nice relaxing bubble bath.

Took some time and unwound in the blissful bubbles.

Bubbles supplied by the oh so fabulous LUSH. Can products get any better than Lush? Not likely.

xo

M

Love Token 7 - I TAKE THE VOW

PEACE

LOVE

HAPPINESS

That is all I have been preaching in the last year or so...

sappy...

cheesy...

maybe...

but it is what I truly feel is necessary to achieve a sense of fulfillment in life.

One of the most inspirational people I have learned about is:

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

a.k.a

Mahatma Gandhi

I remember first being introduced to him as an adolescent and thinking ... this guy had it right ... the act of non-violence and peaceful resistance, showed me that "anything war can do, peace can do better".

I do not believe in violence, nor war, nor hate ... I have no use for it.

My love token to myself today was "taking the vow" through Deepak Chopra's movement via

http://itakethevow.com/en-US/home

If you are in agreement with what this website is trying to acheive... take the vow...be another addition to the world who believes in peace, happiness and love to get through life's trials and tribulations.

xo

M

Love Token 6 - Chillin out, relaxin and all that stuff

I am human

I get exhausted

I feel pain

I can reach a peak and/or a wall

I am not immune to the complexities of the world nor the obstacles it brings.

However, I always have a choice on how to embrace what life throws my way...and how i want to pitch it back into the atmosphere (aka karma?)

I realize my physical, emotional, mental, chi (etc.) limits and I am happy to take it easy, to relax, to let me body "wind down" ...

Which is different than being lazy... this is a choice to take it easy, not a lethargic ignorance to do nothing and plateau in motivation or drive...

So my latest love token -- is letting my body relax, recoup and enjoy the bliss of daydreaming and zoning out...

So here is to my brain nap... happy "zzz's"

xo

M

Lyrical Musings

If everybody is grateful, how come nobody's satisfied (Ryan Adams)

Appreciate life, what it offers you and what you can take from it - constantly wanting MORE for the sake of never being satisfied is an ugly and bad habit.

Love Token 5 - Food warms the soul

Today i used some of my engagement gift money and bought two Rachael Ray cook books. One of my dreams is to have a HUGE kitchen and be the best possible cook I can be.

I love Rachael Ray because she keeps it real, makes it fun and is such a positive & genuine person.

If I am ever feeling down - I just turn on some Rachael Ray and she snaps me back into reality.

So thanks Rachael! You are one of my cooking guru's

Namaste!

xo
M

Token 4 - Eat, Drink and Be Merry

"Surround yourself with good company, and good company will surround themselves with you" (m.clark)

Had lunch with my good friend Sarah in the hot heat on a nice patio near work.

Make the effort to connect one-on-one with your close friends...they and you deserve the positive energy, laughs and good times!

It is the little things and simple pleasures that make it all worth while...

Thanks Sarah

xo

M

Token 3 - Feline Snuggle Sessions

Spent an extra 10 minutes of snuggle time in bed this morning with my beautiful Airlie

xo

M

Token 2 - Jason Mraz Concert

Last night I went to my favourite artist Jason Mraz - who of course did outstanding.

I treated myself to 5th row seats for Matt and I, because when you love something go BIG or go HOME.

We had a blast - the weather was perfect, the vibe was great and the music (oh the music) was fantastic.

It was a bit of a surreal moment for me, as in the past I have been used to watching Jason Mraz in a bar of 50 people or more - but I am happy and proud he is finally (after 15 years or so) getting the recognition he deserves.

With that said, I stood up and danced my heart out like a free spirited child and loved every moment of it.

I think Jason said it best (as he always does) to end the concert,

"Leave this place better than you found it and apply this to everything and everybody you encounter...leave people better than you found them"

Just another reminder that we all have something to give each other in this life and we should make a positive effort to do so ....always...

Another positive muse of mine. Mr. A-Z

xo

M

Don't sacrifice your long term goals and dreams for short term impulses

(m.clark)

Take it easy

In this fast paced day and age, most of us act like impatient assholes.

Take your time today with everything you do. (From Skinny Bitchin')

Things that make you go hmmm....

"How people treat you is their karma, how you react is yours" Dr. Wayne Dyer

Love Token # 1

It was a beautiful today - the sun was shining and the vitamin D was seeping into my skin.

I went to Loblaws to continue on this blissful roller-coaster of happiness to give myself some fresh cut roses.

I was in a lineup of about 5 people all getting their flowers gift wrapped.

When I came to the front, I was obviously asked if I wanted them wrapped... I smiled and said, actually I am buying these roses for myself.

Apparently I simultaneously grew a third head at that moment as the cashier looked at me in shock and also with a huge (?) facial reaction.

I just smiled, nodded and said "yup for me".

After about thirty seconds - she processed the train of thought - looked at me and gave me a little smile, and then placed the flowers in my already full hands - to help me exit out of the store.

My beautiful fresh cut flowers -- to me ... from me.

xo

M

A "light bulb" moment

I have hopped on the band wagon...but in a slightly different manner.

I have never been the best at expressing my thoughts with the written word, so this blog will venture down a different road.

So let me begin with my thought process and why I decided to create a blog.

I am fascinated with the element of human interaction and how we connect/collide/crash in our own surroundings. That is why the concept of the internet and reality television peaks my interest for the social experiment element of it. Of course this interest is done in moderation and therefore like everything can be appreciated at a more respectable level.

So, during the past year (or so) I have really tried to gain my own mind body connection and I guess with the aspect of incorporating yoga into my life, I realized how crucial it is to respect your body and mind in all facets of life.

I am still and always will be a student of life - and this is (and will be) a continual test I put myself through...

How can I make sure I treat myself the best way possible and consciously remind my body and mind that i love "me" every day?

Now I do not say this in a "conceited" or "vain" fashion but in a realistic way. We as a society are so bombarded with the fast pace, chasing the dream and the over stimulation of all that technology provides us, that I think sometimes we all have a tendency to put ourselves last and thus tend to lose ourselves in the game of life and what we want to achieve.

Also, I am not saying I have not been loving me either, but I think it is important for everyone to make that emphasized effort to take care of yourself so you can be the best person possible and grab life by the horns and be the master of your own ship.

Therefore, I have volunteered myself as my own "lab rat" to my own experiment to see what happens when I remember to love me every day, by treating myself to little love tokens... to me...from me...

I was asked in a job interview once, "Melissa, what are your goals - what do you want to get out of your life?". Sitting there not expecting such a profound self-reflection question, I said what i honestly felt (risking it all)...

"I know this may sound cheesy, but as long as I am happy & healthy, everything else will just fall into place"

I got the job.

Before I complete this little introduction, I want to stress that these tokens of love do not or will not necessarily always be monetary, they will and can range from getting a pedicure, to walking on the sunny side of the street, to hitting that snooze button just one extra time.

Because, if you can't treat yourself with the utmost love and respect you DESERVE - how could you ever share yourself completely and truly with others?

Therefore, my self reflection and observational experiment begins... to become more aware and more in touch with making sure I am getting what I need/deserve for my health and happiness... every single day....

Welcome to

Love me

Do's

xo

M