There are many things in my life that I’m grateful for:
1. The sound of my niece “Pumpkin” giggling AND speaking loudly enough that I can hear her. She generally speaks so softly that you have to be almost on top of her to really hear her but she’s not like that around me. LOL

2. Returned phone calls :O) even though they’re much shorter than I’d like :O( (“And I…exhaled.” LOL Don’t trip…me just making a funny)

3. Love of silence, love of stillness and being able to gift myself with that, to cultivate silence/stillness even when everything and everyone around me is moving at what appears to be warp speed. Knowing that sometimes, the fastest way to speed up…is simply to SLOW DOWN

4. People who trust me with their secrets, with their pain, with their struggles knowing that my prayer for them is simply that they find peace and purpose as they work it out. Knowing that I can trust these same people with MY secrets, MY pain, MY struggles.

5. The fact that my health insurance carrier has seen the error of their ways and are making payment on those claims. Can you say, “Breathing room”? LOL

6. Learning more about myself and not flinching when things come up “unpretty”.

7. Embracing what’s uncomfortable, learning to NOT opt for “comfort”.

What does any of this have to do with “Mirror, Mirror”?

I’m oh so grateful for the many “mirrors” in my life. And no, I don’t mean the mirrors on the walls, the mirrors I used to check my makeup or my ensemble.

I mean “mirrors” in terms of those people, places, and/or situations that show up in my life and reflect my behavior back to me. I mean the “mirror” of my soul – that reflection inside that comes out whether we’re ready to see it or not. The one that shows up behind a shadow of doubt when we are out of alignment with our spirits, with who we’re meant to be.

Those are the mirrors that matter most to me. They can be painful at times because even though I walk around singing like Mary J. “I like what I see when I’m looking at me when I’m walking past the mirror”….some days? All that equates to is me singing a song, not me living that statement out loud.

But the beauty of seeing what you don’t like reflected in the mirror is that you have an opportunity to change it. You get a change to acknowledge it and then do what you need to do to correct it. It’s easy enough to gloss it over, hide those imperfections behind make-up, hair styles, clothes, or other masks. But late at night when you’re all alone, you have to take off all that “stuff” and guess what? There you are: caught in your “unpretty”.

I came across a mirror this week in an unexpected person. This chick’s behavior was making my teeth itch OVERTIME. And before I knew it, my mouth was full of complaints. (Talk about “bad breath”!) Well, I caught the glint of a sunlight bouncing off a mirror and stopped to really LOOK at what was happening.

It wasn’t HER that was bothering me. It was ME. Projecting my behavior onto her. She was simply showing up, being herself. I was the one caught in a costume, not really showing up in all my authenticity.

Another person literally held a mirror up to my face and shared with me something that I needed to do, to step up. Can I be honest? While I knew her telling me that meant that some other folks noticed and were talking about it, I was irritated. Ready with my list of things THEY needed to do, my list of reasons excuses why I was acting this way when I caught a glimpse in the mirror again. I dropped back and adjusted myself. Quick. Fast. And…in a hurry. Not because I was overly concerned about what other people thought but…because what I was projecting isn’t the truth of who I am. And I need folks to never, ever, EVA get THAT twisted.

And so, I’m grateful for finding mirrors in my life, when and where I need them. I’m grateful for the willingness to look in those mirrors, see what’s “unpretty” and working to change it…not to hide it or cover it up.

“Mirror, Mirror reflecting me…
Help me become beautiful authentically”

Off to work on some poetry titled ‘unpretty’

Reflecting love, light & laughter,
~ MsJayy ~

Came into the office this morning “pre-irritated”. LOL So….I’m sipping on some Asian Plum tea, noshing on apple slices, got some soothing tunes in my ear, and I’m staying way under the radar today.

This “irritated state”? 90% manufactured on the MsJayy assembly line. *sigh* I really, REALLY need to shut that factory down. LOL

I then compounded said irritation by rushing (again) this morning, unorganized, late and playing out all kinds of negative scenarios in my head.

Had a nice little talky-talk with myself as I was speeding um, driving up 2-95 this morning. Trying to readjust myself. And so, rather than the original post I had in mind, I thought I’d generate a gratitude list. Can’t be wound up, worn out, or worked up with a grateful heart. So…here goes:

1. Catching myself as I was easing on down that dead-end road to negativity. Caught myself right in a tight curve, at the last exit ramp. Whew!

2. A really great call with a coach the other night that confirmed and reaffirmed some things for me.

3. A really great conversation with FavCus#1 right after that coaching call that reconfirmed the confirmation and reaffirmed the reaffirmation. LOL Also reminded me of why I love my friends so much.

4. A beautiful bouquet of orange flowers.

5. Hand-blended coconut vanilla chai tea. Yum!!

6. Hearing my niece and nephew (the littlest ones) laugh.

7. Watching my nephew D handle a situation related to college the “right way”.

8. Taking positive steps to expand my career horizons – in Corporate America but more importantly, the “MsJayy Empire”.

9. Being able to share a genuine laugh with the A/C guy while writing out that big a**check. All things told, it could have been bigger.

10. Paying off my car. And doing so without calling up & cussing the company that financed it (even though they make my teeth itch to NO end) or mailing my last payment in all pennies. LOL

11. The sincere desire to be more, have more…where “more” isn’t money or possessions but rather joy, love, laughter, fun, courage, purpose, vision, health, etc. Um, I should say the “sincere desire + definite action plans”.

12. Good music.

13. An answer to a “dilemma” I told myself I was having regarding a craft-type project I have in mind. Now it’s on to creating the prototype!! Whoo-hoo!!

14. Planning a Girls-Outing for me and Princess So Fabulous…

15. Silly jokes that land in my inbox at *just* the right moment.

16. Understanding that “here” serves a purpose and not struggling against it.

17. Knowing that I do NOT have to apologize for being a strong woman. And knowing that there is a man out there who will never, ever ask me to. Knowing that, as strong as I am…he will simply show up stronger. *Sigh* And you just GOTTA love the thought of that!

18. The creative tsunami that is working itself o-u-t in my life right now. I say let it rain! (Which is QUITE different than “make it rain”. LOL)

19. Sexy sandals and a fresh pedi.

20. Visions of a serene evening starting with a relaxing bubble bath, followed by a delicious dinner, refreshing libations & a musical shuffle amongst my favorite CDs. What comes next t’ain’t nunya bidness. LOL

With a full & grateful heart,
*~* MsJayy *~*