Breakfast of Champions (BOC):

"The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams."

(Oprah Winfrey)

You Can (Always) Get What You Want ... Really

"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

(The Alchemist)

I have friends who swear they always get what they want.
Seriously.
And don't ask me if it's annoying because I think we both know the answer to that question.
I am totally - spilling over with joy- - happy for them, but it leaves me asking - "What the heck am I doing wrong?"
Well, one of them told me to read The Alchemist and it explained a lot.
Given, I had just read THE SECRET ,which opened the whole door to this - wait, what do you call it way of thinking? Ah yes, POSITIVE thinking.

If you haven't read this book yet, treat yourself and visit your favorite bookstore or library.
I would almost urge you to visit your favorite used bookstore over your fave library because you might find yourself highlighting it to bits if you're anything like me.
Its messages are just life-altering and are ones that, if repeated, could start our days off on the right foot every day.
So, this is my gift to you today.
I hope you accept it if you haven't already experienced this treat of a book and way of thinking.

Many blessings your way...

xoxo,
Dawn

One of the Most Important Things I Ever Learned Was In Dance Class...And I was a TERRIBLE Dance Student

I told someone the other day that I took dance for 9 years and I felt like a liar.
I mean I wasn't lying.
I did take dance for 9 years - ballet & tap for 7 and jazz as well for 2 of those.
But I am no ballerina.
That last sentence just made me laugh out loud, in fact.
The truth is...
I was never a good dance student.
I was not naturally gifted at movement nor was I graceful. In fact, I can assure you that my family still laughs at the association of the word "graceful" with my name.
However, I can't help but look back now on all of those Tuesday-Thursday dance classes I took for 9 years and think of how much 2 things stand out still today: the birthday-cake like, ornate beautiful costumes...
and STRETCHING.

I think everybody takes something from all the things they try when they're young.
You just have to.
Because if you're an inquisitive kid, you'll try a lot - either in a classroom or on your own "in the field".
And the lessons learned, the progress made, the times you fell down
(in my case, literally, ALL the times I fell down and in a few cases had to get stitches, thank you very much)--are what you are left with.
Juicy morsels of what you accidentally learned while NOT becoming a prima ballerina or a star athlete or an Olympic ice skater.

So, yes, I learned how crucial STRETCHING is.
I say stretching because I realize now how important stretching is on both a physical and emotional level. In dance class, we began every class with a series of stretching exercises and oh-how I hated it!
It hurt.
It wasn't comfortable!
It didn't feel like my limbs were supposed to do those things.
But, physically, stretching is meant to keep you strong and limber and it does.
And as you grow up, you realize that stretching is important emotionally too. You have to be willing to bend, to open your heart and mind, learn new things, and be flexible - both for yourself and for others. But sometimes it hurts and it's uncomfortable and it doesn't feel like it's supposed to feel like this.
I really wish I had continued to start every day with stretching. I think that might be why so many people pick up yoga and Pilates and calisthenics as they get older.
We remember that we used to stretch! Whether it was in a dance class or on a playground or for soccer or football or cheerleading or what have you.
I now stretch almost every day. Personally, I like Pilates. But it doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt sometimes. Because sometimes it hurts and is uncomfortable and can be challenging.
But I'm glad I do it because I know I'm better off for it now and I know I'll be thanking myself for it when I'm 90.
And probably when I'm 90, I'll look back and realize the lessons I'm learning now.
I'll tell you, though, it's hard when you're stretching through it.
But I remember Miss Paula telling me to exhale on the stretch and inhale on the release.
Ah, yes, much better...

Bill Cosby's key to failure

I know what you're thinking. Wait, that must be a typo. Why would anyone give advice on how to fail? Well, actually, Dr. Cosby is just driving a very good point home. One that I wish I had really listened to and practiced years ago. It would have saved me a lot of time.

I don't know the key to success,
but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.

(Bill Cosby)

So be open to the advice and opinions that people are always eager to offer. That never ends..
But when it comes to making decisions and doing the right thing for you, there's only one person you need to please.
And that's the person you looking back at you from your mirror every morning.

Do you need a boost of courage?

We all do sometimes. So here's a boost for all of us!
Thanks Mr. Rather - your words always deliver encouragement to us.

Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow.
(Dan Rather)

"Dawn's Guide to Life" - I didn't even know I had one until I found it!!

Last week I opened one of my songwriting notebooks from 2007 only to find something I didn't even know I was looking for.
Written in blue magic marker on a pink sheet of paper, I found "Dawn's Guide To Life".
I didn't even know I had a "guide to life"! I laughed to myself and thought "oh, this oughtta be good"!
You know what? It was. But not in the sarcastic way I thought.
It's EXACTLY what I needed to read at that exact moment and it was written by me, no less.
I love finding new books, quotes and theories, written by people from all walks of life, that inspire me. So to find something that inspired me that I had written and didn't even recall was well, a little gift.
It was a little like finding a time capsule, that you didn't remember burying when you were 7 years old, and unearthing it when you're planting a new flower bed.
Anyway, I've already shared it with a couple of you, but, I decided I needed to share it with anyone else who might benefit from it too! I'm even putting it on both of my blogs!
I hope you enjoy! Some of the thoughts are my own, some are from friends and some are general knowledge but I like them all together like this.
And please add on if you have any "guides to life" yourself! We're all learning as we go...

Dawn's Guide To Life
1. Never doubt yourself.
2. Always trust your 1st instinct - it's usually best & rarely wrong.
3. Ask for what you want and believe you shall receive.
4. What would the 3 year old you, 13 year old you, &/or 23 year old you think of ____________ (who you are, how you treat people, whatever you're doing, or what you're trying to decide) now?
5. Progress is better than perfection.
6.You will do more for yourself than anyone else will ever do for you.
7. Don't be tentative - EVER!!
8. I BELIEVE IN YOU!! (even when it might feel like no one else does)
9.You have a purpose and a calling in this place. Do it or if you don't know yet, find it!
10. You are GOOD, life is GOOD & God/ the Universe is GOOD, thus expect that GOOD will come to you!

Now if I can only practice what I preach, er, write to myself.
Well, you know what they say, practice makes perfect. Ahem, I MEAN
Practice makes progress!

Wanna know how to be beautiful? I bet you already are!

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”
(Audrey Hepburn)