Morning Mantra: “Change is not an event, it’s a process.” Everyone understands that if you don’t like something you should change it.  And if you can’t change it, you have to accept it.  It’s easy to think that once you make the difficult decision to change something in your life that it’s done.  Now, everything is different, better, fixed. The decision to change is only the first step.  There are a million small steps that are taken to achieve big change.  There will even be sone steps in...

Morning Mantra: “Feelings are for feeling. Even the hard ones.” Your mind may be confused at times, but your emotions don’t lie. You don’t always have to put on a brave face and hold yourself together. You don’t have to be that kind of strong every single day. The more comfortable you are expressing negative your feelings, the easier it is to let them go. It’s perfectly acceptable to drop the armor and crumble however you please. If you need to scream, scream. If you need to curse, do it...

Morning Mantra: “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” This quote encourages us to make the most of each day and to prioritize taking meaningful actions instead of just waiting around for time to pass. It encourages us to focus on the present moment, appreciating it, and making the most of it, rather than being consumed by regrets or worries about the past or future. It reminds us to stop waiting for the perfect circumstances and take to action instead. To make the most of what we...

Morning Mantra: “Be kind or be quiet.” It’s so unfortunate how comfortable people have become being mean. It’s good to remember that only people that are not happy with themselves are mean to others. You can’t take it personally because it says nothing about you, but a lot about them. Many times, someone who is mean will say, “I’m not being rude, I’m just being honest.” “But they often forget that their “truth” is just their perspective about a situation. There is absolutely no space, time,...

Morning Mantra: “She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her away, she adjusted her sails.” Adaptability is the most important trait for a happy life.  It’s not strength, it’s not beauty, it’s not intelligence, or cleverness.  Because life is always changing, you must be adaptable.  Every day offers us ways to see changing circumstances as lessons on flexibility and acceptance.  If you are constantly pushing back at change, you will get frustrated and irritable.  You will...

Morning Mantra: “Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts.” Appreciation is an antidote to negative emotions. It’s a neutralizer of envy, hostility, worry, and irritation. It is not taking things for granted; it is present – oriented. Appreciation is a combination of understanding, quiet amazement, and gratitude. Develop an attitude of appreciation and give thanks for everything that happens...

Morning Mantra: “I’m way more interested in how life feels to me than how it looks to others.” So, our trip to the horse show yesterday definitely didn’t go as planned.  I had to make a tough decision for the benefit of my horse.  A decision that felt right but probably looked to others like I was letting my fear run things. When we got to the show my horse was “up” but still looking to me for guidance and listening to me.  He has overcome a lot of his track trauma with tons of ground work...

Morning Mantra: “Life itself is a privilege, but to live it fully, well that’s a choice.” Today I am showing my green Off the Track Thoroughbred in his very first show and my first show in almost 20 years. I am terrified. But I know we will be fine. We’ve put in the work, and I have an amazing barn family and trainer cheering me on. I decided that I am tired of being a spectator. I want to LIVE my life fully. Embracing the fear that keeps me back. I am tired of using my age as an excuse. My...

Morning Mantra: “Laughter is an instant vacation.”   Whenever we get into our self-importance mode, we begin to believe that life is all about us. We believe that the things that happen are directed at us and against us. We take things personally. We think about ourselves and our problems too much and become too attached and invested in our opinions.  Humor can make a serious difference. In the workplace, at home, and all areas of life – looking for a reason to laugh is necessary. A sense of...

Morning Mantra: “Wise are those who realize that they hold the fate of their love in their hands, and blessed are those who keep it alive. “ Love doesn’t self-destruct on its own. We choke it with unkind words. We starve it with empty promises. We poison it with toxic blame. We break it by trying to bend it to our will.  Life is finite and fragile, and just because someone is there one day, they might not be the next. So never take them for granted. Say what you want to say, then say it a...

Morning Mantra: “Relax and enjoy the journey. There is no need to rush through life.” I do not want to be known as a woman who is always rushing, always holding herself together and pushing through. I would like to be known as a peaceful woman, a compassionate woman, a curious, joyful, pleasure,-loving woman.  A woman who works hard and rests deeply, who loves fiercely and lives gratefully.  A woman who knows her worth, and her power, who accepts her imperfections and her vulnerabilities,...

Morning Mantra: “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” We all wish for an easy life, but it’s the toughest of times that really build character, and let’s you know what you are made of.  Anyone can give up, that’s the easy route. But strength grows in the moments when you think you can’t go on, but you do anyway.    To hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart requires you to dig deep, to believe in yourself and to find courage you didn’t know you...

Morning Mantra: “Find a way, not an excuse.” The habit of making excuses can become a way of life.  When you make excuses, you are giving up your power to change your circumstances. When you realize this, things become clearer. One of the best days of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. This is the day your life really begins. No apologies, or excuses, no one to lean on, rely on, or blame.  Life is an amazing journey, and you alone are responsible for the...

Morning Mantra: “Stop expecting and start accepting." One of the most difficult things for me is to not be disappointed when things don’t turn out like I had planned. But the secret to happiness is letting go of what you assume your life is supposed to be like right now, and sincerely appreciating it for everything that it is.  You can still strive for the things you desire in life, but you must find things to be able to appreciate NOW while you work towards your goals. It sets you up for a...

Morning Mantra: “Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness.” There are people that will take advantage of you if you show them kindness. They see you as the weaker person because you give of yourself instead of taking. Knowing this, show kindness but with awareness. Most people that get burned by a “taker” pull back and stop extending the kindness, but showing generosity to others is essential to your self-care too. Boundaries help. Setting limits for how much you’ll give to the “takers” will...

Morning Mantra: “A playful heart stays young in spirit.” You know when someone walks into a room and their energy and light draws you to them? Many times, that person isn’t even pretty or handsome by societal standards, but they exude such a peace and positivity that you want to be in their presence. This is what I strive for as I age. It is difficult to grow older in this day-and-age, especially if you are on social media or in the public eye at all. But I have decided to accept my lines,...

Morning Mantra: “Today is a new day with new blessings and possibilities.” Every morning when we wake up, we have 24 brand new hours to live. What a precious gift.  You’ve been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good.  We have the capacity to live in a way that these 24 hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and to others. What you do today is important because you exchanged a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be...

Morning Mantra: “I will be the best me I can be.” I don’t try to be someone else because I am good at being me.  God made me for a special reason and if I change who I am I will not be following my purpose. Even if I feel awkward sometimes being me, I don’t pretend to be something I’m not. Even if I fail at things I still keep trying, as me. Even if I tried to be something that I’m not, I’m still doing it as me. Even if someone points out my flaws, my quirks, my imperfections, I can only BE...

Morning Mantra: “I can do hard things.” Strangely, life can get harder when you try to make it easier.  Exercising might be hard, but a body that never moves makes life harder.  Uncomfortable conversations are hard, but avoiding every conflict is harder.  Mastering your craft is hard, but having no skills is harder.  Relationships are hard, but loneliness is harder. Work is hard, but not having an income is harder. Eating healthy is hard, but disease from a poor diet is harder. Easy has a...

Morning Mantra: “The Earth is what we all have in common.” Humans are the only species that can do anything about saving our planet. The fact is that no species has ever had such control over everything on earth, and whether we like it or not, this lays upon us an awesome responsibility.  In our hands now lies not only our own future, but that of all other living creatures with whom we share the earth. We must each do our part to respect, treasure, and protect our planet and everything...

Morning Mantra: “Nobody knows what they are doing.” It's comforting to remember that nobody has it all figured out. Regardless of titles or achievements, everyone is simply doing their best, learning from mistakes, and striving to improve.  It may LOOK like they have it figured out on social media or at the PTA or board meeting, but everyone is dealing with insecurities, uncertainty, and pain. Knowing this, it’s not our job to criticize, point out errors or judge another, rather we should...

Morning Mantra: “The more you practice the choice of thankfulness, the more you will have to be thankful for.” My mother gave me the book, “The Power of Positive Thinking“ by Norman Vincent Peale when I was young. I check in with it on a regular basis to remind me of this quote and the art of being thankful.  Yes, it is an art, something you must develop. A mindset you can create. Thankfulness isn’t a result of your situation, it’s an attitude of positivity despite your situation. It’s a...

Morning Mantra: “Today I choose faith over fear.” Faith over fear is believing that you are more capable, more resilient, more powerful than anything life will throw at you.  Faith over fear allows room for doubt to be replaced by discipline, hesitation to be overshadowed by tenacity.  Faith over fear is digging deep and trusting, without a doubt, that there is a source of greatness that will always have your back and pull you through. Your life will always have challenges, have faith and...

Morning Mantra: “Letting go doesn’t mean giving up, but rather accepting that there are things that cannot be.” There is a big difference between giving up and letting go.  Giving up means selling yourself short. It means allowing fear and struggle to limit your opportunities and keep you stuck.  Letting go means freeing yourself from something that is no longer serving you. Leveling up to what’s best for you. Giving up reduces your life. Letting go expands it.  Giving up is demoralizing....