My Note

This is a note in response to a challenge issued on the D&B FB page.


Dear Christiana

You have survived a ruptured aneurysm and ovarian cancer: that means you can do anything. The aneurysm that you survived would have killed 80% of those who get it.  You were in the lucky 20%.  Your ovarian cancer was caught early and you survived that.

Here is what a good friend said: Christiana beat a brain aneurysm a few years ago, and she just beat cancer! Don't mess with her. As you can see, you won't win.

That is what you need to remember as you move forward in your journey.

My Reflections about September 11

I remember parts September 11, 2001 very well. I was at home in Oregon sleeping. Adam came in to tell me that a two planes had hit the World Trade Center. I rolled over and went back to sleep thinking that he was kidding me. He turned on the TV and said look. I realized that he wasn't kidding. He told me later that he knew something was wrong when the tv graphic read: second plane hit the World Trade Center.

I got to work and was a zombie. Everyone knew that I was from NYC and most were understanding when I got .tons of personal phone calls at work that day. For some reason my boss thought it was okay for him to watch TV in his office with the door closed and then got mad that I got so many personal phone calls. I was most worried about my mom who was a teacher and I knew that she took her class on field trips to lower  Manhattan. Fast forward to later in the day after sending e-mails and making phone calls. My mom called me at work. I was covering the front desk and I cried with relief at hearing her voice. I can't remember the conversation all I knew is that I was talking to my mommy

I knew that most of my family and friends that still lived in New York City was not usually near lower Manhattan. It took longer to hear from everyone but thankfully over time we heard from all of them. I was one of the lucky ones I did not loose anyone close to me.  It was hard being so far away and not being able to help those I love through this tragedy. Sure you had e-mail and phone but it is not the same thing as being there. I can remember the stories and realizing how lucky I was that I didn't loose anyone I loved. I heard a story about a woman who had a appointment so she didn't go to work. She was the only one in her work unit to survive.
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I tried to buy a flag made in America and everyone was sold out. The Oregonian printed a paper that had a flag in it. We took the flag and hung it in our window. I also remember when I first cried about the events: I was watching Larry King on CNN and Alan Jackson sung "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?". When I think back to that time I wished for little things: like NFL football to return so that I could loose myself in a game, a funny movie so that I could have something to laugh at. The world to get back to "normal".

2006 was the first time I went back to NYC. We were in New York for Carmelina and Joe's wedding and staying with my mom. Adam and I went to where the World Trade Centers used to stand and just walked around. Adam used to work in the financial district in high school. To this day Adam will not look at the list of victims because he might see someone that he knows. After visiting the site all I wanted to do was go back to my mom's apartment and hug my niece. Which I did after she woke up after her nap.

Anger has transformed into sadness. I'm especially  sad that my niece and nephew wouldn't have the experience of going to top of the World Trade Center where it feels like you can see forever. One of my favorite memories is going to the top of the World Trade Center with my dad and his parents. It was a clear day so you could see as far as the eye could see. If you looked close enough you could see Pennsylvania where my grandparents lived.

My Audacious Dreams

While taking part in author and speaker Jon Acuff's first Start Experiment I decided to start and finish my autobiography for my adoption and write in my blog each day. Neither happened but I made progress towards each one. When I signed up for part two I initially decided to continue with my first experiment risks.  But after reading the day one email from Jon where he said that we get "audacious" and to step out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary. 

So here comes my audacious dream:  I want to run a marathon in the future. Yes me the 40 pounds overweight 45 year old woman wants to run a marathon. That became my new dream because I realized without health nothing else matters.

I've made progress toward my audacious dream and will continue to make progress. Today's e-mail from Jon asked what can you quit. It's taken me most of the day to figure out what I need to quit: I need to quit making promises to myself that I'll Make changes in my diet or exercise routine.

I need to quit thinking about doing things and start doing them. This applies to almost every area of my life but I've decided that I'm going for babysteps. Any movement forward is progress and I have to remember that.

So now is the time to quit dreaming about getting in shape and running in that marathon (okay I'm starting with a 5k) and do it. I'm reminded what Jon said at some point during the first start experiment.  Confidence is attracted to action. I think that just became my new mantra.

My top tips

1. Write out a task list every night before you go to bed and put some place that you can see in the morning
2. Do the things you dislike first so you can get them out of the way
3. Do what you promise since you're only as good as your word
4. Never miss an opportunity to tell someone that you love them
5. Tip for Facebook: make interest lists and check those so you're not overwhelmed by the amount of posts
6. Give credit where credit is due. If you get an idea from reading something else: credit that person. (nothing is worse than a thief)
7. Be willing to work for free to get into your dream field
8. Have fun and laugh a lot
9. Take time out for yourself
10. Be grateful and make sure to thank those who have helped
11. And last but not least: “A retentive memory may be a good thing, but the ability to forget is the true token of greatness. Successful people forget. They know the past is irrevocable. They’re running a race. They can’t afford to look behind. Their eye is on the finish line. Magnanimous people forget. They’re too big to let little things disturb them. They forget easily. If anyone does them wrong, they consider the source and keep cool. It’s only the small people who cherish revenge. Be a good forgetter. Business dictates it, and success demands it.” Elbert Hubbard   
    
    
    Feel free to add to these in the comments.
    
    

My book review

I'm a Carly Phillips fan and when she offered a free advanced copy of her book  Perfect Fling I signed up. The only catch was that you had to give a honest review.  I've been reading Carly's books for about 10 years so I thought it would be fun to get the book before everyone else.

It came in the mail and hubby left on  my desk. I decided before reading it that I would read: Perfect Fit which is the first book in the series. I liked it enough and decided to read on. It was fun to visit the town of Serendipity which Carla had created previously and it was so popular that it came back.

Here is my review of Perfect Fling from Goodreads

Perfect Fling had everything that you come to except from a Carly Phillips book: a good story; realistic characters and situations. Carly writes Perfect Fling in such a way that I feel I'm part of the town. I want to visit Serendipity and meet Cole and Erin and have coffee with them. It was a fun read and I would suggest it to any Carly fan out there.

I don't want to give any spoilers which is why I'm not talking about the plot but suffice to say that it was good and will reel you in and keep you there till the end. My only complaint is that I have to wait till February for the next installment in Serendipty's Finest Novel. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.

My birthday post

I decided to participate in the start experiment lead by Jon Acuff. The theory is that fear hates community and we were asked to take a risk and just get started. Sounded easy enough. Choose my risk and off I went: write in my blog everyday and finish the autobiography for my adoption. I had these grand ideas and then life happened.

Life as in fear: one assignment write down your fears so I did and the next one: write down the truth under your fears. Did that one.

As I worked on the assignments nothing really changed for me until July 26 when I watched a video that Jon put in the FB Start group and something clicked. I was waiting for my confidence to kick in and that won't happen till I start.

So I asked myself what is the worst thing that can happen: I fail. Is that all you for me universe? Really. You realize that you're speaking to the chick that survived a ruptured brain aneurysm and cancer. I should have this right?

So I thought what else: fear. Fear is holding me back. I was sitting there and thinking I have a safety net: my family and friends. The one's who were there cheering me on as I recovered. They will be there no matter what. Back to Jon for moment who said: fear hates community. I have that. So I realize I got this.

Now just to do it. Taking the rest of the day off to celebrate turning 45 and will tackle that mountain first thing Tuesday morning.  

My Soundtrack

I want to do something different today. I'm going to post some songs/video that represent different areas of my life.

The first one is called: Simple Gifts - Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krauss. I love this version and it reminds me not to overlook the simple things. It was the first time that I heard Alison Krauss sing and she has a beautiful voice.

How can you include a sound track without one of the greatest voice of our time: Josh Groban. Everytime I hear this song it gives me hope. You Raise Me Up reminds me that I have a net below me and they are awesome. Lee Mead the other singer in this video is also good.

Jim Brickman wrote a song called the Love I Found In You. It is for my hubby aka: my rock.

I know that That's What Friends Are For - Dionne Warwick & Friends is from the 1980's but that doesn't mean that it isn't valid in 2013.  I'm so lucky to have the best friends in the world and this one is for them. I love you guys.

Seasons of Love - Rent (Music Video) reminds me to never stop loving and looking for the good in everything.

This last one is going to be longest video. When I hear Pachelbel Canon I immediately relax. And then ocean waves and you have bliss.