Don't You Want to Live a Better Life?

The New Year is coming and diva’s will be making new life plans and preparing to be their best selves this year.  There are “those folks” we feel that making a New Year’s resolutions is a waste of time, everybody makes them and nobody keeps them.  Oh, but they could never be more wrong.  Diva’s do.  Just like life, everything you planned may not necessarily happen, but if you don’t at least make an effort you can consider yourself going nowhere slowly. Don’t be that person at the starting line who decided not to run the race, because they think they are going to lose.

Divas know that if you planned five life improvements and you only accomplished three in that year, you’re further than you were before the year started.  Don’t you want to live a better life?  You do?  Great then don’t listen to “those folks”.  The beginning of the year is always a good time to reflect on the past year and plan improvements.  Some people do it on their birthday or over summer break.  It doesn’t really matter when you do it, what matters is that you do your life work regularly.

For “those folks” who decided nothing will change.  You put the words out there, you will find it to be accurate.  You might want to be careful what you let the universe hear you say.  For everyone else, let’s get movin’, there is no time like the present.  Time waits for no man.  We have a wonderful life to plan – let’s go. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

My family and I had such a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We engaged in conversation, listened to music and had a wonderful dinner.  After dinner we decided to play a game my son in law brought over.  We had a lot of fun playing together, we are an amazing team, and as the game was about working together, we of course knocked it out.  One thing I must say about my family, we are great communicators.  We talked through the game and as it required coordination and teamwork, we bam…scored.

My other lovie, my daughter overseas called in, and we had the most amazing time catching up and talking about where all of us were in our lives.  After our “what’s app” conversation, I decided to bring out desert.  Since my daughter and brother are Vegans, I didn’t have a sweet desert plan.  So when all else fails, I brought out a fruit salad I whipped up.  I included tangerines, apples, pineapples, mangos almond slices and dried cranberries to sweeten it all up and give it an added kick.

But then there was the surprise.  Since my daughter like trying new foods, I purchased a persimmon for her to try.  She cut it up and gave each of our guests a piece.  I was in the kitchen getting a slice of apple pie of course.  After all, its thanksgiving and what says thanksgiving more than apple pie?  Okay, after the turkey, it’s apple pie.

When I came out of the kitchen with my smoking hot, slice of apple pie and a bottle of water, I noticed everyone had a weird look on their face.  They looked like if they ate poison.  So I asked what happened and this was the response.  “It’s sweet but then it tastes like fur, no – it does something to your tongue, it dries out your mouth.”  The more they ate, the more comments were made, “Wait a minute, this taste like deodorant.  My daughter said, try it mom, I thought, are you kidding me.  I tasted deodorant before.  What happened was I put some on after a shower and noticed I had a piece of lint from the towel on my lip so I went to remove it and bam, the taste of deodorant was on my tongue.  That waxy  miserable taste flashed back in my head.  Oh no.  I wasn’t about to try the persimmon – not today, not ever.  Then my brother said, “I know what it taste like, it tastes like a tire patch.”  I was laughing before, but at this point, I couldn’t stop.”

This is what happens when my family gets together, the foolishness that comes out of everyone’s mouth is unbelievable.  This is my family all day, every day.  It wasn’t about the fruit.  If I never purchased that piece of fruit, we would be laughing about something else.  Our old family stories can’t ever be repeated without someone begging us to stop.  How can you laugh until your throat, stomach and even back hurt.  I’ll tell you how?  Come over for our holiday dinner. 

This year and every year before and after, I’m most thankful for my family – they give life meaning, purpose and add such joy.  Lift your glasses, a toast to family diva.

I started a tradition a few years ago of buying myself a gift at Christmas time.  I wanted to share why I started this practice with all of you.  Well diva, every year at Christmas time we purchase gifts for our friends and love ones.  Why?  Because we want them to know that we love them and we are thinking of them during this wonderful holiday season.  It’s our hope that our small token of love will bring them joy and happiness.

I purchase a gift for myself each Christmas for the same reason.  It’s a, "Hey diva, I appreciate you and all that you do" gift.  Of course you can buy yourself anything you want at any time.  But if you are like me, you’re counting those pennies, so that won’t happen very often.  But around the holidays, it’s a wonderful time to treat yourself.  You’re already in the store shopping for all the fav people on your list, just add yourself to that list diva and keep it movin’.

We have no difficulty showing others that we love them, so we shouldn’t have any difficulty with the concept of self-love.  As we enter this holiday season, I want to wish everyone happy holiday.  Live Life on Purpose Ladies, smooches.

Why is it that people are so sneaky and dishonest?  Am I just an idiot magnet?  No matter what type of business I’m looking for a professional to assist with, I often get that one person you can’t trust to save your life.  I do my due diligence, check references etc. Who wrote their references, their sister?  I had the real estate agent from hell, the doctor from Elm Street, met Jason when trying to get my car serviced.  I often wonder is there anybody out there that care enough about anything to do it right.  And, can I not be taken to the cleaners so you can make 200% profit.

I miss the days when your word and a handshake was all that was needed.  If you hired a professional they had such pride in their work and reputation that you benefited with an excellent job as a side result.  Is it just me or have you noticed that business is now about, “how much of your money can I take for nothing”.  All I’m asking is that professionals act like professionals and have a code of ethic, do the job I’m paying them to do well and at a reasonable price.  Really diva, is that too much to ask of people?  Can everyone not have the car salesman mentality? 

I guess until we revisit the golden days, I’ll just have to review every deal microscopically.  It’s annoying but it’s a must.  We can all benefit from every service deal if we remember that honesty is still the best policy and karma, well – let’s just say – she’s less than a friend.

Make your house a home.   It doesn’t matter whether you live in a studio or a six bedroom house, it’s so important to make your house a home.  People don’t always put a lot a thought into how they want to use the space and what really would make them happy.  What makes you happy and how you interpret that in your space is what changes the game diva. 

It all begins with the bones.  Layout, open concept or not?  Is it painted nicely with the colors that you like?   Does it have plenty of natural lighting?  Does the space just need a little love and personal touches or is it going to be a start from scratch situation.  Whatever the case, make it yours.

Who cares if you own the property or if you are renting it.  It doesn’t matter.  What matters is that you are very happy in the space.  You know, the kind of happy that makes you can’t wait to get home.  Put your stamp on it.  Love it, create environments that you want to live in.  After all, if you worked hard every day, don’t you deserve to come home to a place where you can rejuvenate?  Sure you do, make it happen.  All it takes is Pinterest and a plan.  Let the fabulousity begin.

So many people are struggling with being true to themselves or anyone else for that matter.  What they are doing and what they are saying do not line up.  For example, if you say you are focusing on saving, but you are shopping every day, there is a disparity.  Or you say that you are vegan, but you’re eating big Macs from McDonalds, I don’t get.  Whoever you are and whatever you do, it’s best to own it. 

It simply makes so much more sense to be who you say you are.  I don’t understand the need to live on Fantasy Island.  Can I keep it real divas?  I tend to prefer to deal with people who are real.  People who are honest with themselves and speak the truth about their direction.  I’m not asking for any information, but if you are going to give it to me, I prefer it not be misinformation.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for trying to do better, but if you are not there yet, it’s better to be honest about it. Matter of fact, why speak on it at all.  If we can’t be honest with ourselves, who can we be honest with.  Life is less confusing when we do what we say and say what we mean.  Let’s keep it real.

If I had a penny for every time I heard someone say there aren’t any good men left, I would be a millionaire.  This isn’t about male bashing, although a few of them could use a bash or two.  There are men that act a whole fool – let’s be real.  I realize they are not alone, it’s not like woman hasn’t done the unthinkable in relationships, some have.  But let’s get back to the men shall we.

There are families that took the time to raise their children well, instilling in them a code of ethics and values.  These mothers and fathers made it clear, the world does not revolve around them.  Then you have the mother we acts like her son is “little baby Jesus” who could do no wrong.  Well, in most cases, this kid will grow up thinking he is a gift to women, a gift they must share.  There are woman who do everything for their sons.  They know their son have at least five girlfriends and brush it off saying “oh their young”, he’ll settle down.  And this diva, is partly to blame for the grown boys you may have met today.  You see, I’m of the opinion that age does not necessarily make you a man.

We teach our sons that their need is a priority and our daughters that their significant other comes first, we too perpetuate the problem.  I don’t have a son, but if I did, he would learn how to cook, clean and take care of himself being a proper partner to his significant other and family.  He would also learn that selfishness is not okay.  Date one girl at a time Fabio.  What you practice is what comes natural to you.  A marriage license is a piece of paper and if a man has been in the habit of juggling a number of female relationships for years, that is what he will do.  The paper does not have magical powers that will stop him.  It’s all about respect and commitment and it’s something that should be practiced from day one.

So the next time you think to say there are no good single guys left, be sure you’re not part of the problem.  Your son will be someone’s boyfriend and then husband one day.  And what you instill in him today will make the difference in the future.  Remember, no matter how much we love our children, wrong is still wrong and right is still right and carmer well, it can be a tough teacher.  Encourage your son’s to put out in the world what they would want to come back to him.  Because in some shape or form it certainly will.