☺ Where'd the Posts Go?! *Update!* ☺

The ReLove Plan.et blogs have been sorely neglected, this I apologize for. Sorry, and not sorry; not out of being self-important, but out of the feeling that apologies aren't required for many things in life in which we feel the need to apologize for--but I'll get to that in another post as I am already getting off topic (that was fast!). 

Where did I go? Why so quiet? Where are the positive posts and other fun stuff you're used to seeing here? 

Well. My life sort of fell on its head the last couple of weeks (yes, apparently my life has a head). Actually, when being honest, my life sort of fell on its head a couple of years back, or at least that's when the spiral commenced. Long story short, my husband and I are separating. Before you break out the box of tissues and the sad violin, a couple of things I'd like to note on this…  

1. I am not looking for sympathy; nor do I feel this is a place where people need to say "sorry to hear that" which seems to be the most common response to people finding out. 

2. This is a Good thing. While my partner is an amazing individual and I am not leaving him out of anything against his person (he really is an amazing person with so much to offer the world and others), the decision was based off a need for myself and my own (and I do believe his) personal growth and journey. We grew apart. By association, our relationship became neglected and I fell out of love. Simple as that. Which is not so simple, but that's it described in its most basic form, without all the details and mess and emotions and road that led to all of this. I will always love and care about my husband, but our lives were taking separate paths and we were perhaps not as compatible as we had thought to be. People change. Life Changes. It was time for me to be honest with myself (which was gruellingly difficult) and to listen to my heart (which I shut out for so long). While emotions are understandably running high and flailing about, I do feel positive about this decision. It was time for me to rediscover a piece of myself that I lost. And I do feel that I am already rediscovering and exploring these sides of myself. 

Okay, so that being said, the blog, and my work for that matter, are being neglected. Not because I don't want to blog--in fact I feel incredibly inspired through all of this to write, write, write--but because life is changing and complicated right now. I am in the process of moving out, packing, and manifesting my perfect little bungalow. My life is changing immensely. IMMENSELY! I have spent the past ten years with my husband, from the time I was seventeen and still in high school, and so the world is a brand new canvas for me to paint, rediscover and uncover other parts of my soul. 

I am excited. I am enthusiastic. I am positive. And I am guilty as hell for feeling those things, but learning to allow myself to be happy and To feel those positive emotions. I would love to (and will very soon) write a more in-depth post about Allowing Ourselves to Be Happy (in the face of other misery), because through this experience it has been one of the biggest challenges and blocks I have discovered about myself that I have held onto since I was a child; and has been one of the greatest obstacles to moving forwards. 

Sometimes we hold on to guilt as if it will make the other person feel better. It doesn't. Guilt only serves to burn you. And letting go is one of the most rewarding and healing lessons to any hardships we face in life, and especially so in our relationships. 

Life can be strange. Unexpected. But it is also beautiful. I am and always will be a huge believer that everything happens for a reason and that everything falls into place in the end. I know this to be truth through my own experience. I can see the magic still glowing around me and it is certainly inspiring. And so, I invite you to continue this journey with me, as I enter a new chapter of my life and while I share my experiences and lessons in hopes they may serve you or awaken a part of yourself that also may be dormant (as it has in me). We are all here to learn from one another, and I can't say how fortunate I feel to be sharing my journey with so many of you who appreciate my posts. It means the world to me. Thank you.  

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{life reflections}

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{life reflections}

 Weekly thoughts and rambles. A glimpse into my mind and world. 

These are entries that I might jot down in my Happy Diary; what happens when we put our fingers to the keyboard and allow our thoughts to flow uninhibited. Reflections from the soul. 

Reflections of life.  

I hope to leave you inspired. 

If you want to share your own reflections of the week please leave a link to your "life reflections" entry in the comments for all to find and see.

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As I sit here with a heat pad on my stomach and my femini tea brewing, I can't help contemplate what it is to be a woman. Yes, today I'm going to talk about women, our amazing yet debilitating cycles, and what it all means… well, my thoughts on some things anyways… and how we all need to be nice to one another…  

Women. We are such amazing wonderful beings. The life-force of human life. We have the ability to destroy life, like most other creatures, but unlike our male counterparts, we also have the ability to create life. Not just take part in the creation of life, I mean literally Create Life! How amazing is that?! And frightening. As a woman who has never given birth, nor plans to, I find the whole concept so fascinating, empowering and terrifying. I mean, let's face it, you don't too often hear the stories of women giving birth gently and calmly and loving the experience, it's usually some variation of a horror story. Yet, when it's all said and done, the beaming smile and look in a mother's eyes as she holds her newborn is one I've seen many times and seems to wipe away that pain. I am so blessed to be surrounded with amazing women in my life; strong, inspiring women. All around me. And you are too. Even when we women seem crazy and hormonal with what feels like the flick of the switch, holy are we ever strong kick-ass things! 

I think a lot of the negative attitudes towards women and our cycles feeds the continuation of that negative outcome. We look at our periods as this terrible thing we dread once a month. We look towards other women with disattachment, cattiness, and jealousy, instead of loving, welcoming, appreciating and looking out for one another. It's a sad cycle. Truly. I feel like it needs to change, that we must become aware of this and start supporting one another. Women have gone through a lot, and continue to do so. The world is sexist, quite often in a very subliminal way. I mean, you hear people make the remarks like "your throw like a girl" or "play sports like a girl" all the time. Even when this comment is made jokingly and innocently, it is still putting women down. It is hurtful, is it not? Truth is that society still fears and puts down women and continues to do so whether we are fully aware of it or not. I'm not this huge feminist. I've read the book "Cunt" and have felt inspired by it, awakened by it. But I'm not this huge feminist. Maybe I'm starting to… I'm not going to slap a label on it because I hope that all women are feminists in one way or another. I just feel as if I, too, am awakening to the reality of how sexist the world still actually is. Not just sexist though. I think society still has many subliminal put-downs to things it fears. For instance, I watched this video the other day of this amazing woman talking about our use of the word "gay" and how we use it so liberally, and even though we may not think about it, it is a hurtful word to the gay community. Watch the video, you won't regret it. 

Anyways, I think my point (if I indeed I have one in today's ramble) is that the world needs to show more kindness, love, and appreciation for everyone and everything. Yes, I think that's my point today. Appreciation and love and positivity. (Isn't it always? ;))

This goes for the vegan front too or whatever your beliefs might be. I try not to be a preachy vegan, I share information when I can but I do so in a more positive and inspiring way. Because I think being vegan should be a positive thing and if you want to encourage others to go vegan you're not going to do it by being pushy or condescended towards others. The truth is we can all live in harmony with one another and be nice to one another. I've turned so many people vegan, and I am proud of that and will continue to do so. But I also get along with my fellow non-vegans and don't make them feel badly. I may open some thinking doors, or open their eyes to some realities, but I'm not going to make them feel badly. And what I do works. Trust me. And my life is beautiful and it encourages others to live their lives beautifully as well. We Can all get along. It just takes some respect, understanding, and often taking a step back to see all sides. And admitting when you might be in the wrong and fixing that with an apology and positive action. It's not rocket science, it's common decency. 

So be nice to one another. The end. ;) 

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☺ Dear Life ☺

Dear Life,

You may not always seem kind, 

Because we don't see the beauty you provide.

You send us where we need to be, 

To find the lessons for us to feel free. 

The paths we endure, both high and low,

Take us on a journey through life's shadow. 

You give us smiles, happiness, and light, 

So why only see the darkness, sadness, and fight?

Life, you are beautiful, wonderful, and kind, 

But that is our choice to walk through life blind. 

We could open our eyes, let light shine, 

And embrace the wonders that could be mine.  

To make sure we endure, persevere, and learn, 

You lead us on bridges that we must ourselves burn. 

Laughter is on our tongues, bliss in our hearts, 

For us to grasp and to hold, and let the darkness depart.  

Thank you life for being hard,

And helping us to live and grow through scars, 

Like a mother, you know what's best, 

to help us gain knowledge and love through tests. 

You are not evil, miserable, or unkind, 

These are simply passages to life that we must find.  

Engaging our minds, creating mysteries for us to discern, 

You make life fun, adventurous, challenging for us to learn.

Dear Life, Thank you for all that you give, 

I know now to be grateful, to love and to live.   

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