I*N*S*P*I*R*A*T*I*O*N M*O*N*D*A*Y

a tiny rocket is a super inspiring blog documenting a girl's journey towards living her dream to be an artist. Her blog is fun and cute!

This blog entry on a tiny rocket reminded me that the place from which we begin is very different from the place where we end up. It is so easy to be held back by the fear and lies we tell ourselves. It is even easier to feel defeated when others chastise our enthusiasm or worse, put us down.

Our ability to live harmoniously with  our inner selves is key to achieving our dreams.  We must establish a balance between what we know to be true and the actual choices we make, e.g. if you know you shouldn't eat that doughnut, your choice should reflect that knowledge.

I totally stole this from Caroline Myss who is one of my favorite spiritual teachers and writers ever- so if you like that last plagiarized sentence you should check her out.

Tip of the Day: Start living your dreams. Don't be held back by your fears. Let your choices reflect your truth.

progress on the money-saving front

At the beginning of July. I began my new money-saving habit.  Check out the July post for more details:

a young writer's journey: New Money

I am happy to report that I met my savings goals for the month of July. I deposited half of my July pay into my savings account tonight and it felt amazing to pay myself! Whew. 

While I managed to achieve my savings goal and pay all of my living expenses, I did not succeed in managing my "spend plan" as originally outlined. My "spend plan" consisted of various buckets of money set aside for clothing, toiletries, gas, fun, educational opportunities, etc. My initial idea was to allot a set amount of money to these categories each month. This way I could carry over any money I didn't use and have a buffer. This did not happen. Most of the money allotted for each of these categories was spent on my hair, a wedding gift and a dentist bill.

As unexpected expenses will always show up, I will need to remain flexible with a portion of my money. My goal for September, is to have a carry forward for unexpected expenses since I will receive three pay checks that month.

Besides, my budget for the month of August is already accounted for. :) So much for micro-managing my money.......

I thought it would be most difficult for me was to cut back on my food spending, however due to illness this month, there was a week in July that I did not eat/ drink out. :/ Getting sick also relieved me of my daily coffee habit, at least for the time being.....

Also, just knowing I had a limit on how much I could spend on food, forced me to be more conscious, both out, and at the grocery store.

Tip of the Day: Pay yourself each month!

a sensitive bore

ok. I have a confession to make. I am a very sensitive girl. No. Seriously. I am extremely sensitive. Despite the fact that I am, on certain occasions, able to muster a pair of cojones, I am severely sensitive.

For some reason, I have managed to hide this from most people I know- even those that know me very well.There are many more like me out there. The problem is, we are well-schooled in hiding our true selves- making it difficult for us to identify one another. Disguised as semi-extroverts, we are, at our core - extreme introverts.

And so the other day when an acquaintance decided to try and "talk above my head," I froze. Paralyzed, I lost myself for a moment in time. My mind went blank. I lost myself, and let others try and explain my work to me.

Whew. What a waste. And, as this all transpired in front of me, I was unable to answer for myself. Instead, I remained mute, when in fact, I had something to say.

And so, as I reflect on my moments of paralysis - often viewed by others as a lack of understanding (which is sometimes very true - I'm not that smart!!!), I am reminded of a few songs that express the nature of my sensitive nature.

One, is Jewel's song "I'm Sensitive" on her album, Pieces of You,  and the other is "Peach Pear Plum" on Joanna Newsom's album, The Milk-Eyed Mender.

I found Jewel's album, Pieces of You, during one of my usual raids of my older brother's CD collection around 1995/96. I remember listening to the CD over an over around the the 4th of July.

I discovered Joanna Newsom upon my move the New York City. My roommate (now a close friend) was prone to blasting her music where we lived.

Without talking, in parallel universes, a bedroom apart, during steamy, summer Spanish Harlem nights in an apartment with no AC circa 1996 we listened to her music floating in an out of the windows.

Thought of the Day: To all the sensitive souls out there - stay true. In the words of Jewel, "it doesn't take a talent to be mean"

the trench

endure. When all you do is keep trudging along despite the fact that no one, including yourself, can admit the folly of this grand plan of social living.

My mind surrenders, but my heart burns bright with a truth that may never come to fruition - that yes, there is a better way. The way right before our eyes- too blind to see, we forge a new one to walk in the footsteps of those before us who have no clue and lead with a knowingness that breeds false followers that lie to themselves for a few dollars a day to escape the challenge of thinking for themselves.

what exactly are you doing here?

Today I listened to Oprah's Commencement Address at Standford for the class of 2008.

Quote of the Day: "Greatness is available to all through unselfish action fueled by unselfish motivation"