I am definitely going through a shift in my life right now. My priorities are changing, the level of responsibility is different, I have accomplished things and have failed at things as well. As much as I feel a little confused, I know something really great is in store for me. I’m sure I’m not the only one who is feeling this. In fact, every spring, I seem to feel like this. It must have to do with the grueling, dark winter months coming to an end and the springtime and sun starting to show brightness and inspiration!

During my weekly Saturday visit to Chapters, I found an amazing journal to help with evaluating life, setting new goals and getting on track with recognizing the past, evaluating intentions and setting goals for the future! The actual process of writing and acknowledging your goals and intentions can be really hard so this book helps organize your thoughts and stimulate new ideas.

The journal has different sections like “work + passion”, “love + connection”, “mind + body”, “creativity + inspiration” and “spirit + mindfulness”, with an intro page explaining the section, some questions for you to think about and lots of place to write down your thoughts, answer the questions and set goals.

Today’s daily dose is the first quote you see when you open the journal

*turns off blackberry, goes to a quite sunny place, starts writing*

xoxo,

Lowe

Intentions + Goals is available at Chapters.Indigo for approx $22 Cdn

January 17th-Kingston, Jamaica

Written in my blackberry:

As I sit in the back of a car drinking overproof (63%) rum and coke, after getting stopped for a burnt out headlight by three Jamaican policemen that surrounded the car with their hands on their guns, I realize that this stop could go one of two ways. I suddenly remember an issue I’ve been wanting to address for a while; And that is diplomacy.

Watching my friend’s charisma in negotiating with the police officers to find a common ground of respect and understanding, reminded me that being nasty, defensive or snooty will get you no where. By the end of the stop, my friend and the officer were joking about a common store they bought peppers at as children!

Having grown up with a father in show biz, he always used to tell me, “make sure to be nice to everyone on the way to the top because you never know who’ll be there on the way down”. What great life advice that was especially in this day in age where gossip is so popular. I see our generation being a little too consumed with judging other people for what they see as faults or imperfections, when to me, that translates into jealousy or envy. You might think to yourself, “why do people even care about my life”, but for some reason they do.

Socially, if people are talking about you in a negative way, business wise, if a colleague is putting you down to impress the boss or even randomly if someone whom you’ve never met before is spreading rumors about your life, don’t take it personally. On the flip-side, if you are about to write a rude comment, dismiss a co-worker or devalue someone just because you’re having a bad day, remember that may be the person you encounter in a time of need.

Just be nice, have compassion, and be diplomatic!

Peace be with you all,

Lowe

On Sunday stylist, June Ambrose tweeted something that encouraged me to live a more active lifestyle.

Memories! To recall events or recognize previous experiences is something you do in the future but ‘creating’ memories is something you can control in the present!

I’m a very social person and travel more than the average person and having a blog also helps document experiences but I still have a list of things I want to see and do that are out of my ordinary day-to-day life. Example: I’ve been to Vegas 25 times and have never seen Cirque du Soleil, I’ve lived in Toronto for 8 years and have never been to Toronto Island. I want to watch ballets and plays, go to exhibits, travel to far-away places with friends and family, experience things I may never get to see when I’m older and settled down. We get so used to our day-to-day regime  and tend to revisit places we’ve been to in the past but in 2010, I want to try new things, see new places, experience different settings and create memories in the process!

June’s tweet reminded me to take advantage of every day and create lasting memories that we (friends and family) can look back on in the future. Be active in creating out-of-the-norm experiences for yourself so that you can look back and feel as if you had a full and exciting life!

What is one thing you want to do that you’ve never done?

xoxo,

Lowe

First lets start with the definition of astrology:

Astrology is as old as civilization and its history shows that people from many different cultures and belief systems have always looked for extra insight and answers to life’s problems. There is an array of different traditions and methods used to forecast and guide us and I wanted to share a few of them with you and get your take on the whole thing:

1. Zodiac

We have all seen horoscopes in newspapers or looked for compatibility in our mates by analyzing their star signs. The zodiac is a ‘wheel’ which portrays all 12 star signs in sequence taking in the relation of planets to the earth. Your star sign is decided by the time, day, month and year you were born. Examples of signs are: Leo (me & coco’s sign), Aries, Pisces, Gemini, Capricorn etc.

2. Chinese Astrology

Chinese astrology is quite different in that the twelve zodiac signs are not divided by the stars but by the equator. Instead of a sequence of signs, each sign corresponds to the twelve ‘double hours’ in a day, to the twelve months of the year to the twelve year cycle. Although Coco & I are both Leos, our chinese astrological signs are different. I’m a Rat and Coco’s a Monkey. Other signs include: Rabbit, Ox, Rooster, Dragon etc.

3. Tarot

Tarot cards are a deck of 78 picture cards that are said to reveal hidden truths. There are two ways to have a tarot reading: question readings or open readings, but keep in mind that these readings shouldn’t be taken as the answers to your problems but a guide to help you make certain decisions. Through my past experience with Tarot readings, they will tell you a few things from your past and then help guide you with your future. Make sure to keep an open mind, stay positive and keep it about you. It’s your reading after all!

4. Akashic Records

Akashic records are like energetic records. This concept is a little hard to understand as there is no solid ‘record’ or ‘book’. The records are basically the book of your life through memories and emotions. Akashic Record readers are people who are able to decode feelings, emotions and get to the root cause of what holds you back by removing doubt and fear from your life. It’s like a session where they tap into your energy and give deep guidance and inspiration by helping you work through your past as far back as past lives (if you believe in that).

5. Turkish Coffee Cup Reading

Turkish coffee is unique in the way it is ground. It basically ends  up being powder that you stir with boiling water and because it is so thick, the bottom of your cup is not drinkable. What you would them do is take the saucer and place it upside down over your cup. In a quick motion, you’d flip it so now the cup is sitting upside down on the saucer. You have to wait about 5 minutes for the remnants of coffee to dry up and in those five minutes you reflect on your life, what you want to know, how you feel etc. Turkish cup readers are then able to sit with you and read the inside of the cup and guide you through past experiences or help you determine which path to take with future endeavors and relationships.

These are just a few ways people tap into their past and get guidance on their future through energy and the stars but what do you guys think of all this? Are you a believer? Have you ever had a reading of any sort? If so, did you like it or did you feel like it was a bunch of B.S?

Leave a comment!

xoxo,

Lowe

The other day I stumbled upon a comment about myself that included this:

My mind was blank for a split second, and then I smiled, a great big smile based on the fact that whoever was willing to devalue a ‘waitress’ must be completely oblivious to the potential earnings and pros of serving.

Everyone chooses their own path and I chose to spend my weekdays working on the bigger picture and my weekends socializing, meeting new people, building relationships with strangers I may never see day-to-day, and making some cash while doing it! I mean, it’s not easy to stay up until 6am cashig out and then attend a meeting or school at 10am, but it’s the sacrifice some of us are willing to make in order to make our dreams come true. I don’t know very many people who haven’t served at a restaurant or waitressed at a club. In fact some of the most successful women I know bought properties and started businesses with the money they were able to accumulate through slugging beers and serving cocktails.

The owners of Ritual Spa on King St. are a perfect example of where being ‘just a waitress’ can get you, best described on their website.

Take a look:

If it weren’t for waitressing, I wouldn’t have made it through school (and yes I went to school), I would have never been able to run away to Los Angeles for three months of dance training, or travel the world on my own. If it weren’t for waitressing, I wouldn’t know half as many people as my eclectic circle of friends proves and my entrepreneurial and improvisational instincts wouldn’t exist. But most importantly, if it weren’t for waitressing, I would have never met Coco.

So, as you are sitting at your desk sipping your morning coffee, or reading this while snuggled up in bed or maybe even as you are just getting home from an overnight shift at the hospital, remember that we all have a different story and different skills that make us who we are. If you respect your job and perform as if it was your own business, regardless of what that job may be, you are destined for greatness and don’t ever let other’s insecurities or judgements make you feel inferior!

I AM A WAITRESS….AND WHAT!?

xoxo,

Lowe

HAPPY MONDAY TO YOU ALL!

After reading The Amazing Results of Positive Thinking, I realize how so many people go through the motions of life in misery. “This sucks, life sucks, I hate this, that’s whack, I hate my job, why me…”

Seeing the movie ‘Precious’ really put my life into perspective and despite life’s little problems, road blocks, stresses and heartbreaks the least we can do is approach everyday with positivity and happiness.  It’s not necessarily easy to apply all these steps but if you push through it, you realize that YOU are in control of your own happiness.

After doing a bit of research, here is a list of practices that will help guide us all to a happier way of life which I believe can change our lives! For the better of course!

(Reference by 101lifestyle.com)

Smile More Often!

Studies have proven that smiling can make you feel better and see the lighter side of things.

Be Content 

See what you have, not what you lack.

Live in the Present

Don’t dwell on past problems or worry about future concerns, now is the only time we have control over. Practice keeping your attention on the here and now.

Plan Things to Look Forward To

Whether it’s a trip, a night out with your friends or a piece of that chocolate cheesecake in your fridge, when you look forward to something it takes you out of your regular routine and makes you happy.

We Are What We Are 

You are what you are, you can’t be someone else so instead of focusing on trying to be like someone else, learn to accept yourself by setting realistic personal goals.

It Is What It Is

Life never goes as planned but instead of stressing about it, adjust, alter your path and continue moving forward. I’m definitely working on this one! 

Don’t compete with your neighbors

Jealousy takes a huge toll on our happiness. Be the best that you can be and don’t compare yourself to others.

Unclutter your Home

Having a messy home contributes greatly to irritability and annoyance. Hating your home life bring instability and stress. When messy, my closet STRESSES ME!

Although we’d all love to have this closet, here are a few realistic steps to Reorganize/Revamp your closet

Don’t Procrastinate

Make a list of tasks, do the most annoying ones first and just Get It Done. Being a procrastinator leads to a stressful life because you always have it in the back of your mind and they usually stay there for too long. I am THE WORST at this. I struggle everyday to rid myself of procrastination. Even my father apologized for passing on this quality! Ha!

Plan ahead

Timing is everything. Being late for a meeting or missing an opportunity can be corrected by planning ahead. Running around is a rush but being ahead of the game feels so good and contributes to one’s happiness.

Take Time For Yourself 

We are all very busy but taking time to be completely alone and reflect/meditate helps us correct internal issues. It enables us to be at peace with ourselves and makes us happier. I always love sitting in the sun with my eyes closed and just breathing, or taking a nap in the sunshine. It gives me so much energy!!

Be less reactive

“Breathe, Stretch, Shake, Let it Go…” -M-A-Dollar Sign-E

Anger makes it impossible for you to think rationally. If the cab’s dispatcher is too loud or the waiter accidentally spills wine on you, take a deep breathe and respond calmly. Through personal experience, you get much farther!

Humor, humor, humor!!

Crack jokes, share funny incidents, watch funny movies… Laughing contributes to life’s bliss.

Be grateful

Every morning, I’ve started to think of all the things I am grateful for. Focusing on these things helps you realize how many wonderful things and people you have in your life!

Stop blaming others

You are in charge of your happiness. Others are not responsible for our frustrations, stress and unhappiness in life. Take responsibility of your own actions.

Make someone else’s day happier!

Random acts of kindness contribute to the Law of Abundance. The more you give, the more you receive! It could be buying someone a coffee, giving a loved one a call, encouraging someone with positive words…

Tell your fam/friends that you love them:

Love is a ripple effect. Reminding your fam/friends that you love them gives confidence, an inner peace and reassurance that they’ll pass on.

Keep A Diary

Write down fun times, accomplishments, kind words, happy thoughts and things you’re thankful for. Re-visiting these points will keep you glowing and happy!

Who’s been feeling down lately? Do you think this can help? What are some things you do to be happier?

xoxo, 

Lowe

I got onto an empty subway car the other day and across from me was a little lonely worn out book propped up on the chair. At first, I didn’t pay it much attention, but after a few stops of people getting on and off, not even acknowledging the little thing, I felt like I was the only one who saw it. It was calling my name! It was meant for me!! So, as the doors opened at my stop, I snatched the book and hopped out of the closing doors, just to see that the title of the book was:

“THE AMAZING RESULTS OF POSITIVE THINKING”

AMAZING!!!

How appropriate for having felt a little discouraged!! Five pages in, I had felt so many emotions from goosebumps to tears, and the words were really fitting for my life and my situation…five pages in. I feel like this book was a gift; A present from the universe which would give me that extra encouragement. This isn’t the first time this has happened, but the first time in a while. I believe your mind has to be open to seeing the signs that are sent to inspire you, guide you in the right direction, remind you of who you are or provide you with what you need to keep moving forward.

I haven’t read the entire book yet, but will definitely give you guys a thourough review once done!

Have you ever been given a present from the universe or felt as if you saw a sign that was there for a reason? If so, I’d love to hear your story by leaving a comment!!

I leave you with a quote from the book:

“And right here I think it is important to define what we mean by success. Naturally we do not mean mere achievement, but rather the more difficult feat of handing your life efficiently. It means to be a success as a person; controlled, organized, not part of the world’s problem but a part of its cure.”

–Norman Vincent Peale