FALL into new habits...

Me and Puerta Vallarta, Mexico

 

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a Summer Woman!  I live for the Summer, the sun, the sand, the waves, the lake, the pool... I am a true Pisces.  Fall always brings a sense of change.  The change of weather, the impending Winter, living here on the East Coast.  I can handle Fall but I feel Winter is dreadful.  This year, I want to change my thinking and make all the seasons a positive and wonderful experience.  Will you join me and encourage each other to use positive reinforcements to get through the storms, the cold, the uncertainty?  Can we encourage each other to be proactive, yet kind to ourselves throughout these months?  Can we meet despite the cold and the rain and the snowflakes?  I believe we will need each other more and will be happier supporting each other and doing things we may not ordinarily do.  I want to ski and go snow tubing, jacuz and live it up.  Who's with me? Let's make this a memorable and fun Winter.  I'm willing and I want some company.  I'm willing to change my thinking and live fully 12 months a year.  Join me.  We will help each other!  Rock on fabulous friends.  I love you.

Blue Skies in September
Jordan

                                                     My Inspiration: Catherine at 6 years!

Are you really grateful?

I love everything about Social Media and feel connected to so many of you via the internet.  I read what all of you have to say and I think, time and time again, how many of us are really grateful.  Not the, "wow, I'm glad I got this parking space grateful" but truly, in our hearts, understanding of all that is around us.  If you come home miserable and tired from work, it's no one's problem but yours.  See your front door as a cleansing agent... take off your shoes, your worries, your bad day.  Leave it there.  Be grateful for your home, your apartment, your shelter, your room.  Be grateful someone smiled at you today.  Smile back.  If you have ONE friend on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, be grateful.  It only takes ONE. 

Some days I meet with the most remarkable people.  Some days I worry where the human race is heading...No matter how tramautic or sad the day is, I feel grateful.  I can come home to a loving family.  I have amazing friends.  I have myself.  I know so many of you struggle and you put on a great big smile despite your heartaches... I know for sure when we open our hearts, our minds and feel the gratitude all around us, amazing things happen.  I guarantee it.  Try it for tomorrow!

Shine, glow, radiate and be awesome... You know YOU are!!!  Be yourself... everyone else is taken!

Blue Skies,
Jordan

How's Your Life?

You don’t get to choose how you are going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you are going to live. Now.
--Joan Baez

How do you feel about your life today? Do you love what you’re doing? Are you excited at least once a day, maybe twice? Are you looking forward to your day? Your answers are important to YOU. Your life experience is up to you to create. Why settle for anything less than what you can get? You deserve nothing but the best. In 2007, I started Full Circle Counseling and I’ve been living my days to the fullest, filled with joy, passion and of course obstacles. It has been an amazing experience and I want you to experience that too.

Think about this:

Live every day on a fresh new start. Don’t be held back by what happened yesterday, the day before, the week before, the year before, and so on...we are powerless over the past.

Be true to who YOU are! Stop trying to please other people or be someone else. It’s better to be an original version of yourself than an exact duplicate of someone else. Be yourself, everyone else is taken...

Create your own opportunities. You can wait for opportunities to drop in your lap, or you can go out there and create them. Creating your own is far more empowering and satisfying.

Tell your family and friends how much they mean to you...and show them if you can which is even better.

Do the things you love, because life is too precious to spend it doing anything else. If you don’t enjoy something, then don’t do it. Spend your time and energy on things that bring you fulfillment and happiness.

Be positive. Is the glass half empty or half full? How about neither? It’s actually all full, the bottom half is water, the top half is air. It’s all a matter of perception. Take on empowering perceptions, not those that bind you. If you can see the positive sides of every thing, you’ll be able to live a much richer life than others. Eliminate all unnecessary negativity from your life. It really is possible.

Let go of your unhappy past (I know it's not easy but it is necessary). This means past grievances, heartbreaks, sadness, and disappointments. Forgive those who may have done you wrong in the past. Forgive doesn't mean forgetting... forgiveness is for your peace. “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and realize it was you.” – Lewis B. Smedes

Let go of attachments. Don’t fixate yourself with a certain status, fame, wealth or material possessions. These are unimportant and will ultimately disappear one day when you die. Focus on growing and living life to the fullest instead.

Let go of relationships that do not serve you. That means negative people, dishonest people, people who do not respect you, people who are overly critical and relationships that do not make you feel good. Trust your intuition. It will never fail you.

Spend time with people you feel good around. Hang out with people who you are compatible with... like-minded people, people who are positive, successful, strong achievers and positive for your growth. You are after all, the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Raise the bar!

I believe in you... You deserve your best life... Think it, feel it, know it.

Blue Skies Always,

Jordan

“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinion drown your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
– Steve Jobs

Are you Deserving?

I love what I do because I am able to experience something new everyday. I work with the most diverse population and I learn something from someone on every level... Who doesn't want peace, to be happy and feel loved? As human beings, we need all of these things but many, unfortunately keep chasing the idea they can't have what they want, instead of the fact, they can have what they want.

Do you believe you can be happy, in a loving relationship and all will be fine? Ask yourself this!

Why don't you deserve all these "truly" fundamental things? Many of us received many messages as children about our worth. Think about the following:

• What do you want that you do not have now? Be clear and specific about your desires.
• What were the rules in your home about deserving?
• Did you have to earn to be deserving?
• Do you feel that you do deserve?
• Are you good enough? Will you ever be good enough?
• What is the purpose of your life?
• Whom do you need to forgive in order to deserve?
• What do you deserve?

Our personal power is affected by the way we perceive our deservability. Think about the questions and think about your life. YOU deserve to be happy. You are entitled to be happy. Know it, live it, see it. Rock on!!!

But officer, it isn't mine...

It's always an adventure traveling with my daughter for her numerous competitions and it's a wonderful way to see new places and meet new people.  This weekend was no exception. It started with the flight.  Anxious, excited and leaving on time, we began our slow crawl to the runway when the pilot announced we were turning around due to "mechanical" issues.  Not exactly a great way to start a trip.  The nervous energy filled the cabin and Catherine gave me those big eyes, I'm scared look.  I laughed and said, "nothing to worry about" as my heart raced and a panic attack began to build.  45 minutes later and some extra fuel, they basically said they had to reboot the plane. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  I chose laughter and off we went. 

The hotel was nice, the girls were happy to be together and off the Moms went for a much needed lunch and get together.  I decided to put my wallet and passports in the safe in the room.  After all, that's what the safe is for.  When I returned to retrieve my wallet the safe wouldn't open.  I called for help, no one showed.  I had some cash so off I went again.  6 hours later, Front Desk, Security, no one showed.  9 hours later, I was pissed.  While the team meeting for Catherine's competition was taking place, four men entered my room and with power tools in hand, basically drilled the door off the safe.  Left a mess, a vacuum and apparently a drill bit.  My wallet was saved! 

My new friend Adrienne and I had a great laugh and we were optimistic about our flying home together.  Once at the airport, we casually strolled through security when I was stopped by a very serious Screen Checker.  He asked if he could go through my purse.  "Of course" I said, praying I didn't throw some nail clippers in there.  Sternly he pulled out a 6 inch drill bit and stated, "Ma'am, does this belong to you?" I said, "I have no idea what the hell that is."  He said, "It's a drill bit Ma'am and you are not allowed to fly with a drill bit."  "A drill bit...ohhhhhh, well you see they had to break into my safe and it must have fallen into my bag." Mr. Serious no sense of humor, stated, "this conversation is getting worse and worse.  Does this belong to you Ma'am and do I have permission to discard it."  I didn't care what he did as long as the words, you are under arrest weren't said.  Another officer who witnessed the entire event and was laughing, asked if we were traveling to another airport so he could call ahead to warn them of our arrival.  Ha, ha... I'm thinking SLAMMER and he's joking. 

Flight was fast and easy and it is so great to be home.  It's great to be able to share this too because you can't make this crap up.  Most importantly, it's another lesson in patience, optimism, and knowing, all will work out. 

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia."~Charles Schulz

Yippie,
Jordan

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

Happiness! You Ready?

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are all in harmony." --Mahatma Gandhi

I thought long and hard about this amazing quote and agreed on all levels. I thought about the recent death of my amazing Mother and had contemplated that when she died, I believed my entire world would have to stop, rest, heal. Instead, the opposite occurred. Her love and energy propelled me to keep moving, keep creating. I felt her encouragement at every angle and when I felt like quitting, I felt her presence and it made me incredibly happy. So happy!

I was born to parents with limited means and not always "happy" circumstances. I wasn't always a happy person. In fact, being an angry teenager taught me so much and I am eternally grateful for my sisters, my girlfriends (their mothers) that knew, I was never meant to be unhappy! I am happy now. Incredibly happy. I choose to be happy. I make it the necessity in my life. One of the best compliments I recently received was from an amazing 12 year old boy who is now my friend. He was recently in my presence and I indicated I was heading out to the Spa for two nights for some fun with my girlfriend and my kids. He said, "Does the fun ever end with you?" I loved it. 12 years old and recognizing I have fun. I live fun. I choose fun. Do you? Fun doesn't cost money. Fun doesn't mean even leaving your home, although there are some great fun places!

Your life is full of choices. Don't choose to be unhappy. Choose fun, life, laughter... Join me to pick apples, ride roller coasters, hike mountains, have pink margaritas. Say yes! I promise, we will have FUN!

Warmest,
Jordan

End of What???

Oh, if I have to hear or read another post about the end of the summer, I may just stab myself in the heart with a dull No. 2 pencil.

What happens when a season ends? Another begins... Life is so very simple. If you live in New Jersey, we had the hottest, sunniest, bluest sky summer in herstory. I was so elated by this forecast and the subsequent endless tan that the cashier at Trader Joe's remarked yesterday, "Did you spend ONE day indoors woman?" Oh that felt so good. I told her, "No, I actually didn't" and I didn't.

In 44 years of my life, this summer was the first summer I purposely decided, I would work less, love more and have as much fun imaginable. I was so incredibly successful and I am full with gratitude. My motto all summer was, Say Yes! So many friends, colleagues have said "oh I can't take off from work... I can't go out on a work night... Those who did, experienced the joy of saying YES and being okay when they woke up!

A new season, FALL... exciting, new, new opportunities, gorgeous weather, amazing foliage, new changes... a New Season...

We are alive. We have life and love under our noses....Look around. Cherish it. Say I love you to the ones you love. Look up at the gorgeous changing sky. Smell the new wind, the new changes, the new YOU. Collect colorful leaves and press them in your favorite book. Nothing ends. Everything begins...

I welcome so much change... I welcome you!

Bluest Skies and colorful leaves...
Jordan

Are you a Rowboat or a Speedboat?

Strange question, I know. I thought about this for some time today. I spent several hours on our rowboat at our lake with my husband Jeff at the helm and the kids trying to catch fish. It wasn't a successful fishing trip, but it was a lesson in love and perservence.

For those who know me, I am not a rowboat or a fishing type of woman. The mere thought of the slowness of the boat while rowing, not to mention, worms, hooks, harming a fish???? OMG. I thought of myself as a team player when my 3 kids and husband wanted to fish on the lake. How could I possibly say no when I would rather tan and read Jack Canfield's book... I sucked it up and there I went. Wow, what a life lesson.

Rowboats are not comfortable. They are designed for people with no feeling and no desire for relaxation or comfort. Our rowboat had a leak. My husband handed me a small bucket and stated my job for the trip (because I would not be fishing) would be to bale out the water coming in... I told him just because I was Puerto Rican, the Arizona immigration laws didn't apply to me. He asked me for my passport and when I couldn't produce it, I started baling the water. Sigh.

The weather was amazing and the water pristine. Ella, my 5 year old was the only one pulling up perch, after perch, after perch. The silence was deafening. The other kids were pissed. We decided to dock at this little island before the natives got restless and tossed Ella overboard for her bounty. We explored the island, relaxed and tried to re-focus. I spoke about peace, gratitude, love of the skies and with that, Noah decided he needed to go to BJ's for a new zhu-zhu pet... Ella stated her dolls were getting lonely without her at home and Catherine stated her internet wasn't working properly on her phone at the island and we needed to get closer to shore.

Where am I? Who am I?

It's great to have a partner in EVERYTHING you do, personally and professionally. I encourage this on every level. We both agreed, we would bring up the anchor and high tail out... to the speedboat part of our lives. Once home, I refused to go to BJ's, help Ella find her lonely dolls and re-program Catherine's internet.

Instead, I watered my garden, talked to amazing friends and my sister in California and then took my husband out for margaritas and good food. I laughed and talked and realized, I am a little bit of rowboat in this life... the work, the focus, the precision of rowing, it is so rewarding and I am capable of this task... I'm also grateful for the excitement of the gas motor and engine that propels me constantly through the water, through life, through experiences. The wind at my face warms my soul and assures me my energy will spread... I love that too...

Are you a rowboat or a speedboat? I believe a little of both is all you need!!!

Bluest Skies,
Jordan