Lifted, By My Girls! — The Archives — Formerly Vented Uplift

My daughter has always said to me “ Mom, you just don't know how to really relax” all said while she’s in sweats, wrapped in a blanket like a burrito placed in the middle of her bed, surrounded by more blankest and pillows ever possibly needed with just her eyes and red curls sticking out. She knows how to relax. And, she was totally right about me. I never really knew how to get lost without thoughts and cares.  With a brain that is literally non-stop it’s always been hard for me. Being in design, retail and the service industry for 35 years I can’t help but make checklists I’m my head about ways that the environment I am in could be improved. But then, I was finally in a place that does what they do so well that the first barrier was broken. The Rock Spa at the Hard Rock AC do it right! Now the next barrier was me….what was holding me back? I had to get out of my own way and really be in the moment and let go and just relax. And really, who likes their children to be right? Am I ...

  I LOVE quotes.  Funny quotes, poignant quotes, sarcastic quotes, and inspiring quotes.  I call upon them when a good laugh is required, or I’m having a conversation I believe a good quote would be the perfect punctuation mark on.     But, lately I find myself getting concerned by what I believe is becoming a trend.  I’m starting to believe that many people use positive quotes and mantras as remedies to healing.  What is more concerning?  If their mantras or the quotes they love “don’t work”, the whole idea of having a positive mindset becomes bunk to them.   “Yes, I Can!” “She Believed She Could, So She Did!” “Life Is As Easy or As Hard As You Think It Is!”   As a believer in “What you think about you bring about”, I suggest people “Live in the YES!”, “Hope ALWAYS Floats!”, and “I Am MAGIC!”.  But, do I say yes to everything?  No.  Are there things I hope for that do not come true?  Yes.  Can I pick the wi...

Originally posted by Cassie Davis on  https://whispersofgrace2015.wordpress.com/   Do you ever look at someone and wish that they could see themselves the way you see them? That they could see the potential that lies within them.  That they could see how much more they are capable of.  How much more they deserve. And that they could arise and begin walking in all of that freedom. That freedom that is right there within their grasp……if only they would just reach out and claim it. If only. Recently I was thinking about someone like that in my life.  Someone I have been praying these specific prayers over for many years now. And I began to feel frustration well up within me. How many more prayers will it take? How many more conversations had?  How many more words of encouragement will need to be given? How much more will it take for them to see, to see themselves for who they truly are? It’s not that I need a specific deadline or else I will choose to give up ...

There is a growing number of loved ones in my life who have passed away and as time goes on, there’s been a beautiful shift in how I relate to their love.    The first big loss was my maternal grandmother.    She passed away on Valentine’s Day 13 years ago.    I was in London visiting my brother at the time and I believe it was her way of always reminding us how much she loved us. Each of my closest loved ones who have passed on have a way of connecting with me from the other side.  The number 919 shows up when my grandmother is reaching out to me.  Her birthday was 9/19.  With my paternal grandmother, blue jays show up on my fire escape or follow me around in the park.  She loved watching the birds hanging out at the feeder in her backyard.  These are reminders that I am still loved even if I can’t be with them here on the earth plane. When my stepmother, Linda, passed away last spring, she came to me in a ...

Dear Libby, Keep creating. It will lead you to pursue your love of the arts and study art history at New York University, where you’ll spend semesters in Paris and Rome. You'll graduate, step into a white-box gallery and realize it's not for you—but don't worry, it'll still inform what you do. Years later, you'll realize what you love about art is the power of an idea and making it reality. Later still, this will inspire you create your own company from something personal. But first, you'll spend over two decades working in fashion PR. Mere weeks into your first job, you'll be sent to Milan for your first runway show. Baptism by fire, as they say. You'll spend the majority of your first paychecks on anything lace—lace tops, lace bras—when you really should be saving up for rent. New York City isn't cheap! But you can't help it; you got your love of lace from mom. You’ll leave PR for a period to teach yourself how to play the electric guitar, writ...

When I get asked : Why Harvard at 49 years old, I laugh. After 28 rounds of chemo- too many-and 21 non-elective surgeries I laugh at the thought that I can not accomplish what I want. Since my cancer diagnosis, I have become a best-selling author, motivational speaker, sought after speaker in Florida prison system, Nationally recognized humanitarian, model, and so much more.  I, WE, can truly accomplish anything and any time of our lives. I graduated from Southern Me-thodist University over 25 years ago. Going back to get my masters degree in Creative Writing and Literature was just a step on the unstoppable road for me since my diagnosis.   When your faith is in the eternal, and you leave it up to Him, there is nothing that can stop me-US. My faith has stomped on my fears, my faith has triumphed over my illnesses, YES, many and I am the epitome of Faith over Fear.   Harvard was out of touch for too many years because I had no self esteem to try to go for it. Af...