Be Inspired Monday: The Merciful Lord

this morning i was inspired by another blogger’s post.

as human beings when a tragedy happens in the media or life when then to question the existence of Lord and if really he is a merciful God as devoted Christians make everyone believe. Most of us heard the tragedy of Colorado and some questioned if our Lord is truly that merciful.

i just want you to read this lady’s blog entry because it is inspirational.

Source: google.ca via TOI on Pinterest

July 22 – a note of explanation

I’ve tried to leave this post just as it was originally written because it was a heartfelt response after a very traumatic experience.  But I’m sometimes clumsy with words and even when I think I am writing clearly, there is always the reader who doesn’t know my heart or doesn’t hear the words the way they were intended.

I feel as though a few people have taken what I said and twisted it. When I wrote my post on Friday, I had a grand total of eleven blog  followers. Yes, eleven. I generally post on facebook and have had a loyal little group of readers that numbered thirty or so. That is who I generally write for.  People who know me  know that I dislike talking on the telephone. I’d pretty much rather clean a toilet than spend time on the phone. I am not a speaker. After the shooting,  friends and family began calling. I knew I had to let people know what happened and that we were safe.  Since I also really wanted to respond to the people that were blaming God for this tragedy,  I wrote the blog post and put it up on facebook. I never in a million years would have anticipated the readers to skyrocket past a million , including strangers from all over the world. Only God could do that.

keep reading HERE and be inspired Monday stay inspired the week.

Be Inspired Monday: On Purpose

Source: goodcookin4u2.webs.com via TOI on Pinterest

Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny.

by Tyron Edwards

This week I am working on my thoughts which I hope will lead to the purpose of a book and more stories. What are the thoughts which will to your purposes?

Share with us!

Be Inspired Monday and stay inspired this week

xoxo, TOI

Be Inspired Monday: Lifecycle

today I want to share with our TC30s readers a manifesto I shared on my personal blog last week.

I know is a recycle but good inspirational thoughts are better shared twice than once and some of you don’t read my blog so it is fair to share it here.

Source: shop.holstee.com via TOI on Pinterest

Source: okdani.com via TOI on Pinterest

 

this inspires me so much because it feels like i wrote it. you see, i’ve written about these kind on inspirational quotes on TC30s and here and there on my offline journal, but having a manifesto for it makes everything so clear. 

i love blogging because it is a mega forum where we can all share experiences and inspire others.

as the manifesto reads “… life is about the people you meet, and things you create with them… [and] life is short, live your dream and share you passion.”

my passion is writing and reading. i am trying my best to complete a young adult fiction. i would love to be a motivational speaker. it’s based on this passion that i want to start this new series. it is a movement between us women to share, search and hold onto our individuality to make us confident. you are the people i’ve met and i want to create this together. some of you lovely ladies are already part of this series, but the more the merrier.

SHE ROCKS… {click to learn more}

 

…is about you, about me, about her, about us… is a movement to keep every real woman's individuality ALIVE.

let’s team up for this new movement.

all the best,

xoxo TOI. 

Be Inspired Monday: Balance

I am one of those people who overcomplicate everything I do. I've accumulated too much stuff which I find very difficult get rid of.

But it comes to a time a person needs to streamline her or his life. I am trying to do that and slowly I am getting there. I am focusing on the important things in my life. I reassed my priorities. I know what I really want and what I really need.

I know balance it is key in any chosen goal in life.


How do you organise your time? How do you achieve balance without going crazy?

Please confess on TC30s :)!

On Marriage: Good Sex Before or After 30s?

{via}

We are all adult here, right?

Good :)!... then let's talk about SEX!

When my sister was younger, my other sisters and I (who were older by two/three years) would tease her saying: "We will share secrets about making whoopee when you are much older!"

What were these sex secrets that I would not share with her when she was in her early twenties? (now she is almost 30 :). Thinking about when she will come and ask me these secrets lead me to this post! After all it is about confessions in our 30somethings, right?

As I have matured and finally met my husband-to-be, I definitely believe sex has gotten much better. Making whoppee has gone from just a physical act to a level of intimacy that I have never felt before. Have you ever cried during sex (for good reasons?) I am referring to that level of intensity of intimacy!

Then recently one of my girlfiends asked me:"How do you have good sex?""{she has not had a lot of good sex in her adult life}

I am not an expert on sex but I am definitely an expert on my own sex life! (I don't speak a lot about that but once in a while, girls can talk without ever putting our significant others in any embarrassing or compromising situations ;)!

The answer to this question prompted me to think about my own sex life from my twenties and now in my thirties. In my twenties, I was more worried about being loved by my partner. I did not focus on intimacy and sharing love making with the person I was with. I wanted to please, instead of pleasing each other.

Therefore, for me, it is not necessarily about whether sex became better in my 30something, it is about becoming comfortable with oneself as a woman and accepting your sexuality. But most importantly sex/making or whoppee/love become even more fun because one meets the right person who attracte you and makes you feel sexy beyond words!

I met the man who gives me all this and we enjoy each other's company, that translates into how intimate we are with one another in the bedroom.

So, TC30s ladies out there...what are you thinking:

1) When did you manage to achieve the deeper intimacy with your partner?

2) Is making whoppee better in your 30s or you managed to get to that intimacy in your 20s?

3) What has made it better for you?

Please, confess something that makes you feel comfortable!

Be Inspired Monday: Age Is Just A Number

I am aware that knowledge is empowering but sometimes that knowledge pushes us into a state of fear and panic. That's the case when it comes to ageing. As another year add onto our already levitating years we fret because we are ageing. We worry about the horrible nightmares caused by wrinkles and how we lost count of the grey hair.

But what if we didn't know our real age? Would we be so obsessed about the lack of not achieving a goal we set ourselves before a certain number. I wanted to have a red sporty car by the age of 25, but that didn't happen. I would like to get my first book published by the 30, but what if that doesn't happen. What if I get it published by the age of 32 or 35, would I refuse. Of course not, because I know age is just a number. It more what we feel and how we achieve a goal that matters, not when. Is our nature to set goals and if we don't reach those goals by a certain age we become depressed and fearful.

There is one person that inspires me as I grow older: my grandmother.

I know that my grandmother doesn't know her real age. She was born in a period in which people didn't care about noting one's year of birth. They only went by events happening in the time. One day I asked her when she was born and she told me "I was born when this thing happened." It sounded funny to me but then realised that all her life she was able to be who she wanted to be without letting a number condition her life. Although she doesn't know her real age that doesn't effect her way of life. She is till living, she can dance and take care of her well-being without fretting about how old her non-existent birth certificate might have told her.I believe that the age on our birth certificate push us into a state of panic each year. What if we were like the generation of my grandmother, would we fret so much about age. Because, really, when it comes to living life to its fullest we should remember, age is just a number!Also as Bryan Adams sung I want to be 18 till I Die...

"...it's not how ya look, it's what ya feel inside..."

That's my anthem, just because I am ageing thanks to the numerical system on my birth certificate and grey hair in places..., inside I feel young no matter the numbers on that fascist paper.

Ladies, let confess, do you let age condition your life? Which song inspires you to live your age at its best?

Be Inspired Monday: "... Enjoy your life and travel the world."

There was a time in my life that I wanted to have a boyfriend just like my friends. I didn't tell anyone, but when one guy started to pursue me, my elder brother took me aside and said "Don't rush into a relationship. Enjoy your life and travel the world." After those thoughtful words I still wanted to have a boyfriend. But the guy who was on my case was not the one I wanted, my heart was not there for him. Plus, I really thought I was too young. The thing that appealed to me was traveling the world.

That year, 1999, in the winter I left Italy for the USA for the first time. I bought my first ticket and instead of landing in New York I booked the flight for Newark, it was cheaper and, in my mind, it was so close to NY. When I got there it was expensive to take a bus from the airport to NY. I had to wait at the airport for hours, without money! But finally my mum managed to contact her friend who I've never met to come and get me. It was a great adventure because I met this wonderful woman.

One day, at her house her five year-old girl told her three-year old brother: "Sorry is a beautiful word to say." Those words from the little girl were so inspiring, because as a proud person I tend never to go back on my decision or say sorry easily. But I learnt from that little girl that winter!

The following year, around the same time, I went to Britain - London to be exact. I saw one of the actresses in Love Actually, a true British sweetheart. What an experience! I was also brave for the first time to ask random people to take pictures of me because I went sightseeing by myself while my auntie and uncle were at work.

After all these experiences I felt a bit wiser than some of my friends.  If on one hand they were matured due to their love relationships, I was matured due to my knowledge of having seen the world.  And possibly i was wiser to know which boy was right to be my boyfriend!

All this rant just to say that, if you are in a stage of your life in which you feel like you haven't achieved what most of your friends are achieving, don't fret. Your time will come, but in the meantime listen to my wise brother: "Don't rush...Enjoy your life and travel the world!"

Confess ladies, where is the most fun place you have traveled?

And what did you learn about yourself in the process?



Moving moving moving...at home!

In thinking about MsBP recent move to Canada, which I am stocked up because that's my home! And this weekend being 4th of July, i thought i would speak about where we all call home even when we've moved many many times in the past.

Does a home mean you are home.  Or does family mean you are home? 

I have never liked change but since college I have moved houses, apartments, cities and now countries way too many times to count. Of all the moves, the most important thing I have learned about myself is "home is truly where your heart is!" 

Most of the time it is not about the physical space but who is around you as you are moving.  It can be a friend, a family member and in the case of MsBP, her hubby! Moving to the US was definitely made easier because I had my now husband and best friend here.  Home is definitely where you live with your loved ones .

As we celebrate those that helped shape the US homeland and gave us our freedoms, let us remember that our home is where our loved ones are.

Happy July 4th and Canada's Day!

Do you guys agree that home is where your loved ones are? 

                                                             



Wednesday Fashion Item: When Are You Too Old To Wear Mini Skirt?

I just want to be myself with the confidence of who inspires me.

As I approach my 30s sometimes I still find myself feeling insecure about how I look in certain clothes. This is especially the case when it comes to miniskirts. I find myself looking at single girls in their late teens and early 20s rocking the next to nothing miniskirt.

I have always been careful at covering my legs. Well, I remember wearing long dresses with side slits. But there was a woman at the church I went to who was against such clothing. One day she covered my legs with her coat. Oh, I didn't like her at all. When I told my mother she commented "Next time tell her to cover up her own daughter."

But years later, after I got married, one of my brothers pointed out: "That girl reminds me of you."
"Who?" The girl he was talking about was not as fashionable as I am, but he explained "You are always covering yourself up. Wearing long skirts, and trousers. Why don't you wear some nice skirts."
That was harsh coming from him. I loved my jeans, trousers and long skirts.

After I got married I thought people will look at me strange if I go about in mini skirts. Obviously I didn't tell my brother that. However after those comments, I bought some skirts but nothing over my knees. Then one day a male work colleague who talks, a little too much, told me "You look better in skirt and not trourses." Wasn't sure how to take that, but i took it.

I know this for sure, my butt tends to look too big in certain trousers but they are so comfortable. I know that in my early twenties I dressed like an old lady (I hang my head in shame). What I thought was vintage style was really bad taste fashion girl. I guess I was following the wrong fashion bible!

I was so happy to see Gwyneth Paltrow, once a shy young woman, on a premier red carpert in this killer mini dress. I must confess the first thought that popped into my head was "What is she going to do if she needs to pick up something from the floor?" But duh, she is a celebrity for some reason, innit!

Seeing Gwyneth in her mini, now thirtysomething married woman...opened my eyes. She inspired me to work on toning my legs. Then Mel B inspired me to work on toning my tummy. I then went to buy few new items. But this time I bought dresses over my knees and skirt sitting on my mid-thighs.

I like the way I look in them and I am not scared to show a little bit of flesh. However, I still question when will I be too old to wear mini skirt?

Ladies, c'mon confess, have you had any moments when you said, "I am not too old to wear that mini skirt?"

Be Inspired Monday: Trust In Him

Disclaimer: This is one of the longest post I've written on TC30s. I hope it is an inspirational confession and you like reading it.

**********

When I was in my teens, I prayed and cried for the Almighty to let the guy I was in love with return my love. I prayed for God to use his own time to bring that guy into my life, even if it took the eternity. I was head over hills for him for over five years and all he could tell me was that he really wanted my friendship and nothing more.

For the following five years, I wished for the same thing: to be loved by him. There were times when I felt sad, lost and unloved, because I couldn't have him in my life as my boyfriend. When I was in the deepest of my sadness I would say that I wanted Leonardo DiCaprio to become my boyfriend. Yeah, Leonardo was the guy to comfort me :)!

In the summer 1999 I decided to forget about him and enjoy my life, but he was always at the back of my mind. Occasionally I would phone him and talked to him about life. I would then transcript our conversation and analyse the words.

I never questioned God the reason I was not with him, because I completely trusted God’s judgement, but that didn’t prevent me from wishing him to become my love - even for just a night (yep, I am confessing)!

The God answered my prayers. In 2000 MY DREAM GUY asked me out! What was I going to do to keep him forever?

We went out to eat a pizza together. After the meal he asked me to join him and his friends to go watch Gladiator. At one point I was cold so I told him that in the summer 1999 I fell ill with meningitis – I don’t who why I said that, because in those days I was healthy as a red fish. I think my confession scared him off. After the evening he drove me home in his car. It was just me and him listening Kenny G.

When he parked his brand new car in front of my house, he relaxed on the car seat and said “If you like, you can come out with me and my friends again.” We just exchanged cheek kisses, like real Italians do. We didn't exchange lips kisses, like real lovers do.

I was happy anyway, so I didn't think about the last with me and my friends. Although we didn’t kiss, once back in bed that night I wrote in my diary LORD, I LEAVE EVERYTHING IN YOUR HANDS! IF THIS IS MEANT TO BE, LET IT BE. I LOVE YOU LORD, AMEN!

This guy didn’t phone me again. I phoned him few days later and he showed me the shoulders. I am stubborn, I was still in love and kept praying. We were friends. He travelled away from our city. Every time he returned I was there for him as a friend. I was looking forward to his last words "Maybe when I get back we could become more than friends." I trusted that God was working in my favour for that day to come.

In April 2001, my love interest came back in town and I heard him. I phoned him and he said “I will phone you later to see if we can go out tonight.” My heart was full of butterflies.

Then I waited by my mobile phone the whole afternoon, but he never phoned. It was the same evening that one of my girl friends phoned me to ask me out for a drink because she was in town from college. I accepted and decided to forget about that silly boy. I waited and waited, but he didn't phone.

Later my best girl friend phoned me and ask out for a drink. I accepted. It was that night that I met my wonderful husband.{more to come on my personal blog tomorrow}

I wasn’t looking for love but the Lord was working in my favour. I always put my trust in Him, because I am his daughter and he protects me against all evil. When I met my now husband I trusted in God's doing. I prayed and asked the Lord IF THIS IS MEANT TO BE, O LORD, LET IT BE!

Although I don’t go to church every Sunday, I am very religious! I believe there is a Higher Being which looks after everyone. The Almighty loves us and protects us. His time is the best and everything happens in our life for a purpose, I believe in God and trust in his judgement. I know that He is there for me and everyone who put their trust in Him always.

Sometimes we feel like the world has turned against us. Wherever we look we see darkness. We believe that we are alone in our tribulations. What we forget in those moments is that we must trust in Him, because our Father works in mysterious way, but only in our best interest.

He is our Father who said that we should not doubt him, because he is the Alpha and Omega. Our Lord will never fail us. The Lord will protect you from all danger; he will keep you safe, he will never forsake you if you put your trust in Him!

Now that I am older I put my trust in Him even more and I know that whatever happens in my life it happens because the Lord wants it in that way.

I hope today's Be Inspired Monday can help us put our trust in Him always.

Questions of the day.

1. Do you agree that the Lords works in mysterious ways?

2. Have you ever experienced the mysterious way of the Lord?

Be Inspired Monday: Accepting Your Reality

Source Unknown

This post is meant to encourage myself as well as you to accept our reality for what is it and live our lives!

The year of standing in my truth and living all accepting my reality for what it is!

I feel renewed as I approach my thirties and feel invigorated as I start so many new phases of my life including planning a wedding, becoming a Mrs to my Mr and being a more healthier and better me in 2011.  Whenever i reflect in my journal entries there are so many promises i made to myself including eating wisely and exercising more: being more healthier!  There were also a lot of talk about finding and keeping love!  The more I wrote in my journal entries about what I wanted to do and be, the more nothing happened!

In my twenties, I was definitely living in my head/journaling--a world in which I was creating but not really existing because it was NOT real.  The epiphany comes sometimes when you accept your reality for what it is.  Almost three years ago as I was creeping close to my thirties, it hit me that I had to accept my reality for what it was.  I was exercising but not eating and or being healthy.  I was falling in love with men but I wasn't accepting love in my life by loving myself just as I am!  How can anyone love you when you don't love yourself?! Such a cliche but so true.

Almost four years ago, i started to embrace myself for who i was: a loving, smart, independent woman who was not afraid to be alone! And as soon as i accepted that reality, i met my  future-husband-to-be! When he arrived, i was more than ready to receive all the love and care he had to give!

Needless to say for 2012, my new year's resolutions have to be revisited.  I need to accept my reality for what is is.  I need to love my body where it is and start making healthy decisions to take my body into my thirties!  I need to love myself so that others will love me openly and honestly.

I am learning in my thirties that it might be alright to live in your head in your twenties (if that is where you are) but this time in my life instead of living in my head--thinking about the 'what-if's", like Nike, I just have to do it!

Nike.com

Here's hoping that all of you out there JUST DO IT!

Share with the rest of us how and when you came to accept your reality for what is was or is?!

Letters to our Young Selves...

Surely, many of us have been broken hearted before in our younger days. Maybe a cute guy have referred to us as ugly/fat/crater face or worse, we've been bullied. Again, maybe, we've had a bad sexual experience, an illness, death of a parent/sibling...
When we are going through these difficult times, we truly believe that our lives are over and the pain and hurt will never end! In hindsight, everything does turn out to be alright, or at least the pain and hurt is not as pronouced! Those are the times in our lives where we would have liked someone to tell us "don't worry, everything will be okay."

The following is the letter in which I would confess to my:

Dear 17-18 years old girl,

You got mom worried. She told you that if you eat too much you will get fat. Then you stopped to eat all the fat foods. She made you conscious about the food you ate and to lose the weight, you did the yo-yo dieting. Then you bought those dieting pills... and when you lost the weight, she turned around and phoned your elder sister because you were losing so much weight?

You felt good, but deep down you still felt ugly.

Why did you bother you pretty girl?

I know why. You wanted somebody to tell you "You are beautiful." To have a mother who could listen to Unpretty and understand you. You were strong for your self, but that was okay. Although you think you lost the weight for yourself, you did it because deep down you were acting on those words.

Let me tell you girl, you will find comfort and support through your poetry. You will then find true love when you least expect it a few months down the line. The person will love you because you are beautiful from the inside.
You will still have the extra pounds but you will know which clothes to wear to flatter the body. You will enjoy the curves because they make you a really beautiful woman. You will undertand that you are gracious in the 501 Lewis - you will buy them again to show off your curves :)!. You will champion your natural looks.

As you can read, everything will turn out alright. You will love life in full: with all it has to offer and more! You will see the queen in your self and you will cherish her! Because you will learn to appreciate life through the half full glass...

Always,

Your quasi-30something Self!

If you had the chance to go back and confess something to your younger self, what would you say?

Please take this time and confess something that happened to your younger self and what you would say to them! Help someone else in the process while helping your younger self!