For ALL You have done...

It was a fast and relatively warm November... Thanksgiving was wonderful but I wasn't really feeling the Holidays.  I don't want my kids or myself, getting caught up in the consumerism and I wanted to go away and forget the week.  Instead, something amazing happened.  Truly amazing!

3 weeks before Christmas, I was informed there were over 25 kids who weren't going to have Christmas.  Their parents had no money and not a single gift was going to be opened.  As I stated earlier, I never enjoy the craziness of buying so much stuff but I love the idea of giving.  Especially giving to those in need.  I received the list and sprang into action. Owning Full Circle Counseling and working with over 65 families in need throughout New Jersey has its own set of sadness so I knew there wasn't much time.  I decided to think like Santa and do the next best thing... EMAIL!  I emailed my normal list of friends, colleagues, women's groups and in less than 4 hours, the most amazing thing happened.  Emails were forwarded and forwarded and by midnight that night, 68 emails were in asking for the list.  I couldn't sleep, I couldn't stop typing.  Kristen Totaro, a friend and colleague, spread the word as if it was the NY Times Headline... Within 3 weeks, the car loads kept dropping off and my home was bursting at the seams... Kristen texted me, "Jordan, the Marines want to help".  WHAT?  Annemarie Acquaviva from town was one of the first to respond.  She emailed a few days later and said, my sophomore boys from Don Bosco have started a facebook fan page and 60 people signed up.  My heart was overwhelmed.

Bill Lockwood (from the Padded Wagon Moving Company), whom I met once at a wonderful networking lunch, donated a huge moving truck to pick up the gifts.  985 gifts were collected and distributed to children in three counties.  Since we directly work with many of these families, it was so amazing to see the expression of children seeing wrapped gifts being delivered.  Christmas Eve was the busiest and happiest day of my life.  The
response from people wanting and willing to help was overwhelming.  The gifts were amazing. The thoughtfulness beyond my wildest dreams.  This was the greatest holiday season of my life. 

I know times are hard and many people are struggling.  I have never, ever seen such generosity. Such love. Such genuine concern for kids completely anonymous.  This was the hardest 3 weeks and the most memorable and enjoyable 3 weeks.  I am completely addicted to happiness.  Won't you join me.  I guarantee you will never be the same!!!  Join the Happiness Project NJ!!!!

HAPPY New Year
I love you
Jordan
http://www.happinessproject.nj.com/

When Love Hurts...

I am a lover of life. I love so many things my head spins. I am compassionate about people and animals and I accept I am a sensitive, yet strong person put on this earth to help and heal. I knew this at an early age and I know it more and more every day. I spend my days working with the most amazing people. People who hurt, people who have lost, people who have nothing, people who have everything. I love what I do. I am energized and I know this is what I am meant to do.

So when does love hurt?

A recent experience rocked me emotionally and physically and where my love was so intense, the heartache matched it. After a wonderful night out with friends, I was driving home with my husband and best friend. In the corner of my eye was movement in the leaves at the side of the road. I told my husband to stop the car and I got out. To my dismay, a precious fawn was hit by a car and was thrashing about, scared and dying. I called the police crying for someone to come and put this angel out of its misery. No one showed. My husband knew I couldn't leave. I knew I could not either. Kneeling down and using a calm and loving voice, I kept saying, it's okay sweet baby, you are not alone. The baby was so scared and her eyes focused on me staying with her. I was heartbroken. I began to cry quietly and was able to hold her head in my hands until she took her last breath.

I felt tremendous love and was so grateful I could be there for this baby but the effect on me was so profound. I cried so hard my body hurt. I walked in my home with my 3 babies looking at my swollen eyes and I told them, Mommy loves big. Seeing them, made me happy. Seeing them smile, made me know, love is so grand and mostly it's amazing but sometimes, love hurts...and that's okay.

I am willing to love everyday despite the risks. Think about it. It's so worth it!

I love you!

Jordan

Do YOU have Power?

Living here in the Northeast and being battled lately by some pretty unusual storms, this is a common question asked by everyone I meet lately. The true story comes from within YOU.

Do YOU have power? Not electric, not heat, not the dumb t.v. for background noise.

True Power. Real POWER. Power from within to withstand and see through all of life's obstacles with clarity, knowing and peace.

These past few days have been hard on many of us. Some more than others. It could be a valuable lesson for preparation, patience and optimism. Will it? Will it be for you? What is your story? How did you plan and prepare with no heat, no lights, streets inaccessible? I know for me, the first night, reading by candlelight felt so intense. How far we have come and what those before me had to endure to simply live. Fast forward to now and we are lost without our accommodations. Gratitude remained a constant for me and I continue to be grateful for all the things we take for granted.

Power is:

P for Perserverence

O for Outragenous

W for Wisdom

E for Excellence

R for Resilience

True power means being as strong as you need to be and no stronger. It's not power over anyone. It's not control of anyone. It's not power you take. It's a power with others, a power of influence, and a power freely given to you. This kind of power enables you to say what you mean and mean what you say without being mean when you say it.

Don't confuse a strong reaction with power. If someone can provoke you, then they have power over you. Master your own emotions, reactions, and choices.

Commit to life learning. You're not done learning just because you finished school. You'll become irrelevant is you stop learning. Share your knowledge to help others achieve their objectives.

Be a Doer. Don't limit yourself to what has already been done, and what's wrong. Powerful people spend more time talking about possibilities than limitations. Consider and communicate new perspectives, things as they could be, and possibilities.

Deliberately build networks, connect, and bond. People like to support people who support them.

Practice patience. Don't think you need to win every battle. Consider long term objectives when choosing what to do. True power is built over time. The louder you talk, the less they hear. Power is not about throwing your weight around and making a lot of noise. It's about getting results.

Are you ready to have real POWER?

Say YES!!!

I support you!

Blue Skies,

Jordan

Do you complain in any weather?

The interesting part of living in New Jersey is the vastly different seasons. Born and raised here, I always marveled at people's complaints whatever the season. You know it's hot in August, why complain? You know it floods in the same spot, same towns, every year, don't drive there. It snows in the winter, sorry to tell you!

I would be perfectly happy living in 85 degrees 12 months a year but I don't at this time so I accept and appreciate all this earth has to offer. If it is sunny, I refuse to be inside. But rain and all the beautiful music it makes, makes me productive in different ways. I even did laundry today and was excited doing it :) I have all my windows open and love listening to the rain. No sense in complaining, life happens. Use everyday's weather as a jump start for you to do something different. Complaining takes energy. Use that energy to be happy, make someone happy, get rest or be productive. Whatever you need. Think before you choose to complain. Enjoying everyday and what nature brings is so much more fun.

Enjoy friends...

You deserve the best life has to offer...Every day, every season!

Quotes to help you with the rain...

"Don't pray when it rains, if you don't pray when the sun shines" - Satchel Paige

"You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That's a part of it." - Denzel Washington

"I'm just waiting for people to start asking me to make the rain disappear." - David Copperfield

"Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain." - Billie Holiday

"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." - Dolly Parton

Reach for the sun, the stars, the moon, just REACH!

While in my office today, I couldn't help but notice one of my many plants. This particular plant was so dramatic in leaning almost out of its roots and over the pot toward the sunny window in my office. I sat still staring at this plant and marveling at its need to be in the sun. I thought how significant it was. So many of us in need of warmth, encouragement, life, chances...

Looking at this plant extending itself to get what it needs I realized how limited some of us become when reaching our own goals. Think about it. What are you willing to do to reach a goal, not many goals, a goal, one goal. Are you willing to sleep less, eat less, do more, ask more, say no more? Think about it. What is your goal? How far can you go? Can you reach over your own base like the plant in its soil? Can you think the impossible? Does it seem impossible? Do you gravitate toward negative people or people who shine and warm you like the sun?

Take inventory of your life. Look around at what makes you happy, warm, encouraged, alive. You deserve to have an amazing life. Stop putting boulders in front of opened doors. You can do it, you can have it all and you can have the support and love and warmth to do it.

You are on this earth for a reason. You are a gift. Embrace your gift and share it. Like this beautiful plant, stretch, expand, grow toward the warm sun. Open your arms and be open and willing to have great things happen. Only YOU can make change happen. Only YOU can feel the sun's warmth and know, I deserve this... I want this... I am this...

You are AWESOME! Be Awesome!

I believe in YOU!!!

Blue Skies,

Jordan

What happens with disappointment?

There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love.
--Martin Luther King Jr.

Isn't love amazing? I love that I love so deeply. I love my kids in a way that words can't describe. They are with me 24 hours a day, in a waking state and a dreaming state. I feel as if I protect them even while I sleep. But what happens when they and other relationships feel what you give is not enough? What emotion comes up? Anger, frustration, disgust, sadness? Can you really give all and expect so much in return?

I think in order to truly love and trust, you begin with love, deep love. There are people in our lives that are not at the level to accept the type of unconditional love we are capable of. We want to give it, we want to share it but it sometimes gets rejected, misused, abused, even torn apart. Then what? Do we punish ourselves and say, "how stupid was I to trust her/him?" or do we breathe in and visualize our true greatness. We are willing to give, to love, to trust, to do, and for someone to reject it, well, it's their loss. Truly, it is THEIR loss.

Anytime we offer ourselves to someone else, we are giving a gift, an amazing gift. The lost and wounded souls of this world may think they want the gift but are unable to truly accept it. I hope they find their way. I hope you stay away from people like this.

Take inventory of those around you. It is so important to surround yourself with people who appreciate, love, admire, respect and ACCEPT you for YOU! Feel it, know it. I know I do and although it is painful to say goodbye to relationships you believed were right at one time, intuition and the present makes sure you are on the right path! The time is now!

A long lost Uncle and love...

Uncle Eddie and Ella July 2011

Today was an incredibly special day. I was able to see my father's brother, my Uncle Eddie after a 20 year absence. Losing my father 9 years ago on July 13th was extremely painful and it left many questions unanswered about his family, my family, our roots. To sit with my almost 81 year old Uncle and talk about dates and Puerto Rico and family was incredibly moving. His two beautiful daughters beamed as we talked about the times we shared and the crazy life they have lived with their father. My own father was loud, demonstrative and was never shy to curse. To hear my Uncle Eddie talk about beating up a 40 year old last year and having multiple girlfriends made me laugh. We live completely different lives and I wish that wasn't the case but here we are... laughing, loving and connecting in ways so many people could benefit from. We expressed gratefulness for one another and vowed we would see each other more. There isn't a lot of time but today made up for so much.

My beautiful cousins are reminders to me how hard life can be and how resilient we are as human beings. Their lives propel me to continue to do what I love. I do not take a single day for granted. I do no take my wonderful life for granted. I will never take my beautiful family for granted.

Reach out today to someone you love, someone you did love, someone who needs love. The result will be lifelong... Just do it!

Love rules,

Jordan

A Dead Mole, a Spider and Ambition

I am not a morning person. My ideal working hours would be from 8 pm to 5 am. Unfortunately, having kids, this can't happen. I smile through my mornings with anticipation of a great day. I try different things all the time to get me through the first few hours and then my hyperactivity gets me through the rest of the day.

On Thursday, feeling overly ambitious, I ran downstairs to do some laundry. There was a pile of clothes on the floor near the washing machine. The laundry basket next to it was remarkably empty (sigh). I picked up the clothes to have something drop out of the sheets. I pulled my dollar store eye glasses down from my head and onto to my face and screamed when I realized it was a dead mole. Yes, a mole. No eyes, long stout and dead, dead, dead. I did a little squeamish dance and realized I had to get rid of it. I grabbed a few dryer sheets, picked it up and tossed it in the toilet. So gross, I washed my hands and cursed those freaking cats holed up in my basement. After my heart rate returned to normal, I picked up the same pile of clothes to have a giant black spider sprint out like Carl Lewis. I was done. So much for ambition. I'm big on symbolism so I figured I'm not meant to do laundry and left Jeff a text message there was laundry to be done.

I shook it off, took a shower, walked the dogs around the lake and laughed to myself about the poor dead mole.

Poor mole probably started out her day ambitious as well... I just succeeded :)

Rock on fabulous friends...

Jordan

When the transmission blows...Laugh it wasn't the engine!

For those of you who know me, I'm a pretty optimistic person. Last year, my transmission on my 3 year old car went and I struggled through the process of $4,000 in repairs and thought, I need a new car. 9 months later when the same transmission backfired, the warranty was expired since I drive 10,000 miles a day. This time, the mechanic suggested I sue Nissan and sent me on my way. After a nice sleepover in Warwick this weekend and then another sleepover in the Berkshires, I headed home singing in my car on the top of my lungs with a great running car. Tonight, I wanted to make a special dinner for my great friend Norma's Mom who turned 81. As I raced up Rt. 280 with 3 kids in tow, WHAM, the transmission slipped and I was banging on the hazards. I pulled over, thought it over and realized, damn, 2 miles away. My son Noah stated he was praying and I told him, keep praying. We started to chant, "come on baby, come on baby" as we coasted in neutral down Eagle Rock Road. What an adventure! Our energy made that car go!!! We made it to Norma's. I cooked, we laughed and Norma's mom Catherine, gave me her car to drive back home. I reached out to my friend Lynn who has a truck I wanted to buy and she says, "I will leave the keys tomorrow, take it."

Love always saves the day and there is no one I know more grateful for the love in my life and the people around me.

Love rules. Happy Valentine's Day!
Jordan

Trust your instincts, mostly your best friend!

I was reminded today about love. Almost a year ago, it was around my birthday (March), I wanted a puppy desperately to add to our new addition of a crazy ass pit bull hell dog rescued from Brooklyn. My husband was hell bent on getting Matilda and I relented. Soon after, I knew, she needed a partner. I emailed, facebooked, blogged, everything I could to find a puppy (pit bull) to join freak, crazy Matilda. Finally, I received an email from Ramapo Refuge in Oakland and they said, "we are expecting two pit bull mix puppies, please come and take a look." Alone, I drove to Oakland and when I arrived, the woman at the desk said, "I'm so sorry. The woman with the puppies won't release them." I was so disappointed. I gave them my cell number and asked them to give it to the woman with the puppies. I went home feeling she would call. 5 days later, the shelter called and said the woman brought in the puppies. A male and a female puppy! I was so excited, I drove directly to the shelter. Once there, I saw two puppies... One was yapping and yelling and jumping all over and the other was calm and sitting and so sweet looking. I knew instantly he was mine. I held him and took a picture and my husband felt he didn't look like a pit bull so I forwarded the picture to my best friend Caroline and she said, "Jordan, that is your dog."

I will never forget it. She was certain. I trusted her and I said yes to adopting him. Today, reminded by love is because, Frankie, my dog, is amazing. He is loving, trustworthy, sweet, reliable, gorgeous and loves my kids.

I am grateful for intuition, I am grateful for shelters, I am grateful for best friends!

What? This is my life???

Many of you know, I am a mother to 5 children. My 2 step-children do not live me with physically although they are with me full time emotionally and I adore them. My 14 year old daughter was a competitive gymnast for 7 years. 6 days a week, constant travel, constant heartache. Last year she declared she could not continue another day with gymnastics and I obliged. 2 weeks after leaving gymnastics, she asked if I would take her to this gym in Fairfield for competitive cheerleading. I knew nothing, but wanted her to continue in her training in some degree. Day one, she loved it, they loved her, a new sport was upon us. Fast forward a year... Catherine is a level 5 open Cheerleader (level 5 is the highest) and her team has won every competition so far this season. We just got home from Atlantic City, where they won another first place. The responsibility and obligation for parents is amazing. We recently spent 4 days in Charlotte, this weekend in Atlantic City, next weekend Connecticut, upcoming, DC and Virginia Beach.

I love my children, I love myself. It's a fine line sometimes to carefully thread through what we feel as parents to be supportive and what is just too much. Instincts are our key!!!

Rock on Parents!
Sometimes say yes, sometimes, say no...

Blue Skies on a Cold Winter Day

It's amazing to live in New Jersey and experience all four seasons. It's also amazing to hear people complain about the snow every year as if it wasn't expected. Hello? We live in New Jersey. It's damn cold in January and February!

Although the warm weather is my absolute favorite, there is something fun about snuggling under blankets, making a fire and watching snow fall. Most people stay indoors more and fear venturing out because of the roads, the ice, the damn cold! I'm not exactly an indoors kind of woman so I always like to entice my friends and family to meet me places they probably don't want to go. A few tips for venturing out in the cold are a must:

• UGG boots are not snow boots
• High heels slide down driveways
• Saving the planet by not warming up the car freezes your ass
• Alcohol does NOT warm you up
• Walking two pit bulls in the snow results in falling
• Snow balls are really ice balls - Don't do it!
• Duraflame logs Rule!

Enjoy the winter, the cold, the snow... Be grateful you are alive and able to experience season by season. I am grateful for you and look forward to building an igloo in my front yard soon. Come join me inside and keep me warm!!

Warmest,
Jordan