Create your own happiness

Well, its been about a month since my last blog and I have been busy this month creating my own happiness.  I never really understood how people could be so miserable sometimes. I've come across some individuals I call "emotional muggers"...you know..individuals who will steal your joy because they are unhappy. My solution is to not associate or be around those types of people which in turn makes me look bad.  Good thing I could care less what people think.  I have learned that people will disappoint you, even people you hold in the highest esteem.  I'm sure I've disappointed people...I mean..we are all human and sinful people.  I don't fault anyone... this is just how life is but I will not let it rob me of my happiness.

This month I participated in activities that make me extremely happy...the way to Nicole's heart is thru concerts, sporting activities, dancing and enjoying the outdoors.  All da single ladies :) Lori, Pam, and Celeste have all joined me in this happiness pursuit  however I have no problem doing these activities solo.  So on to the next...on..on..to the next. What can I get into?

Lets go Mavs

picnics in the park....my fav!

single ladies unite :)

favorite spot to watch concerts

I'll always be a loyal "cowgirls" fan

 

Oh yea...ATL here I come...so excited!!!

The good life continued...

So I've been back in D-Town for approximately 7 weeks now and its been nice. I really didn't know how it would be since I loved Colorado and wasn't ready to leave but I told myself that I would explore new areas and develop new relationships. I'm still working on my exploration but I'm excited on the new friendships I've made. It's rare to find a person in Texas who was born in Brooklyn, NY and has Jamaican parents just like me. It's nice to have some commonalities and reminisce about certain areas, certain foods, etc. We just get each other and I'm so excited! Looking forward to hanging out with my friend Pam before I leave again.

 On another note, lots has happened in Dallas.  Luckily I went to the Texas State Fair and was able to see Big Tex before he burned down. It's so sad that he's gone. Big Tex is to Texas what the Statue of Liberty is to New York...okay maybe not really... but he had a memorial and was taken away in a body bag, and there were funeral processions the next couple of days. Honestly, I thought that was alittle much but I am not a native Texan, so what do I know.

 

R.I.P Big Tex (he was 60 years old)

On a lighter note, I am bringing back the "picnic in the park" which is something I did weekly in Colorado. My picnic moment was at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden during Chihuly nights. The exhibition was magnificent and it's a wonder how Mr. Chihuly created all these wonderful glass sculptures.

 

 

it was definitely a great way to start my week! With six more weeks before I set out on my next travel assignment, I'm ready to take Dallas/fort worth by storm. So until next time...







There is no place like home

It was alittle bitter sweet leaving Denver, Colorado because I've enjoyed my time there so much. It felt as if I were on vacation for 4 months rather than a work assignment. I will miss the freedom of walking everywhere due to close proximity. I will miss the nice people and friendly faces around the community. I will miss my weekly picnics in the park and aqua golf which was so crazy to me because I'm sure hitting golf balls into the water will not improve my game.

Farewell Denver...you've given me four happy months but I'm ready to explore Texas as I know I have not ventured into many areas around the Lone Star State.  I am looking forward to continuing on my journey of self improvement.

                                                                  Farewell Denver

 

                                                              I'm back Dallas

Share your talents

My latest "ah-ha" moment was a couple weeks ago sitting in an area at City Park in Denver where I thought I found a secluded area to strum away on my guitar. I had my headphones on trying to play along to a Lil Wayne song. I may have been there for ten minutes when I realized a group of seniors were gathered within ear shot. Feeling alittle embarrassed because of what I was singing, i decided to play Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. I couldn't believe that within minutes I had 5-8 seniors singing at the top of their lungs "sweet Caroline, oh,oh,oh". They were having so much fun, heck I was having so much fun as I'd rather strum guitar strings than strain my vocal cords trying to sing.  The song ended and they wanted more but unfortunately I didn't know anymore songs that they would know. On that day I finally realized why I decided to pick up the guitar several years ago. It is not to be a YouTube phenom...that's for sure! I will continue to practice and learn more songs suitable to play for seniors so I can play at nursing homes,senior centers,etc. The smile on those ladies faces made my heart sing. GOD gave me a gift which needs to be fine-tuned but a gift nonetheless and I'm so happy i have finally found the right audience with whom to share it with.

On a different note, I'm alittle sad because my journey in Colorado will be coming to an end soon. It was more than just another work assignment to me. I call it my journey because it seemed like everyday I was learning something new about myself through my experiences. Sometimes it takes removing yourself from familiarity and your comfort zone to expose areas that you need to work on and magnify areas in which you thrive.
I am definetly a better person.
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
― Leo Tolstoy

Fire in the Sky

All around the United States temperatures are higher than usual and Colorado is no different. All I hear from the locals is"this is not the norm...it is unseasonably warm". Colorado has never gone through a stretch of 100 deg weather. This summer is breaking many records and with little rain and
a lot of dry areas, it seemed fires were popping up everywhere.

The end of last month and the beginning of July I had to limit my outdoor activities due to smoke in the air. The fires weren't particularly close to me but with fires in Wyoming and Utah, smoke was bound to make its way to the Denver.

No hikes, no bike rides, no venturing up into the mountains.  I limit my outdoor activities to a couple of hours of golf daily. I'm still enjoying my time in Colorado and have met some great people. With the welcomed rain these last couple of days and "monsoon" season approaching, I have no doubt I will get back to enjoying the great state of Colorado.

My prayers go out to all the families who have lost their homes and I have donated to the cause with hopes that these families will be able to rebuild soon and have somewhere to once again call home.

(all pictures taken from Huntington Post)

Colorado State of Mind

I cannot believe the month of June is coming to an end! Wow...crazy how fast time flies when you're having fun!
During this month I ventured from Denver and headed south to Colorado Springs for a couple of days. It was absolutely beautiful! My first adventure took me to Seven Falls which is located in the South Cheyenne Canyon where seven distinct cascades flow down the granite head of the canyon.

 

After my unexpected morning workout, I headed to the Garden of the Gods where giant red rock formations surround the beautiful mountains of colorado springs

Exhausted from my full day of hiking and sight seeing, I decided to spend the night and venture to Manitou Springs to ride the cog rail up to Pikes Peak.

 yellow-belly marmots playing on the tracks

 an hour 1/2 up the mountain on the train but it was well worth it!



A couple of days later I visited my amazing friends (i also consider family) in Carbondale Colorado which is 3hrs west of Denver. Definetly had white knuckles from gripping the steering wheel as it was a steep,windy path through canyons and over mountains but well worth it to spend a day and a half with my bestie.

Colorado has turned out to be the best travel assignment I've taken thus far but to be fair I am yet to go to Hawaii or the Virgin Islands so I'll have to see if I feel the same after taking assignments in those locations..... can't wait!!

A Simple Smile

I used to think I was performing acts of kindness daily while working with patients and helping them to function in their daily lives. However, lately I've had encounters with strangers who have given me a different perspective on acts of kindness.
Walking through the supermarket I smiled at a lady who seemed dishevelled and in a hurry. She approached me and asked if I knew where the cases of water were located. Not familiar with this supermarket, I began to look around when she stopped me and was complimenting me on my smile and beauty. Humbly I thanked her for the compliment. I have no idea how we got on this topic but she began to tell me she was a recovering alcoholic but sober for several years and today she was having a bad day. I usually do not strike up conversations with strangers so I was SO shocked when I commented.... "I take what I've been given everyday and I'm happy about it because a day wasted is a day being unhappy. I had a lot of wasted days in my life but lately I've realized that regardless of how I am feeling, the sun will set and the sun will rise, a new day will appear. So why waste it? She looked at me puzzled and asked "how does someone like you get to that point?" (not really sure what she meant by "someone like you", age,race,sex...i dunno) but i replied that my way of thinking changed when I began journaling about things I was grateful for and it was like a light bulb went off in her head and she couldn't stop smiling. I was kinda taken aback that I actually verbalized that to a stranger but our conversation ended with a hug and her card with contact info. A sense of peace overcame us both as we went our separate ways.

Who knew a simple smile would spark up this type of conversation?

As I found out later she is a renowned professional pianist who has played twice for President Gerald and Betty Ford. She has also performed with the likes of Merle Haggard, Mel Tillis and Chubby Checker.

So show those pearly white teeth of yours... you never know who can be affected by your smile!

Watch life from the sidelines or actively participate...you choose!

So my first month of Colorado living is coming to an end and I must say I've taken advantage of every single day.  I have fallen in love.... with Denver and I keep envisioning myself living here permanently but then I remind myself that I've only experienced one season. The natives say "oh, the winters are mild, and the snow melts by noon" which sounds great but I'm pretty sure that is not always the case. It's funny because every travel assignment I take I'm always in the honeymoon phase..i always fall in love with some aspect of the city I'm visiting.  Thank goodness I'm a thinker and not a reactor as I know never to make a permanent decision on a temporary emotion.

In any event, I am learning so much about myself on this assignment and those who know me, know that I'm a creature of habit. Its a wonder I have enough grit to be a traveler since there is so much uncertainty and change that occurs. I have however given myself some sort of routine. Once a week I workout at Red Rocks which is absolutely amazing. The scenery is so beautiful and there is always people running the rocks, stair climbing, etc...how could you not be motivated to join in?
There is always great people watching while strolling up and down 16th Street Mall.
Picnic time at City Park is also something I enjoy doing almost on a daily basis. Most recently, I enjoyed watching the Rockies beat the Astros at Coors Field followed by an awesome fireworks display. I'm not leaving any stone unturned, I even visited the Denver Zoo (I'm still a kid at heart, I'll never be too old) but my absolute favorite thing I've participated in thus far was fly fishing.
Did I catch anything?...No (a cold maybe)...Was the water freezing?...absolutely...Was I afraid the current might pull me down? of course but for me there is something serene about being still, being quiet, and being present.

So as I say goodbye to the month of May, I journal in my gratitude diary about how grateful I am to have had opportunities like the ones I've experienced this past month and am SO excited for what's to come......

                           hopefully this is the closest I'll ever be to a black bear

Denver Zoo

 Rockies beat Astros in extra innings- what a great game!

 16th Street Mall

 Denver Pavillons

 Red Rocks

 Red Rocks workout is no joke! I climbed every step and ran every row

 South Platte River