A Story Of Gratitude

So if you have read the previous post I left, you now know a little more about me, my mission, and you probably have a good understanding of what this blog will be about. I just wanted to quickly leave you with a story related to my previous post.

 Just as it is important to be thankful for all the basics in life, even the mundane ones that we typically become numb to, it is just as important to relish in those moments that are extraordinarily great! Those moments that seem to somehow be made just for us to rejoice in!  In fact, sometimes, it may seem that these miraculous moments surge from the last tiny inkling of hope that we might possess.   Just when you couldn't come up with one single crumb to be thankful for....

Almost exactly a year ago, I stood hopelessly in London Stanstead airport. I starred into the mirror, as the chilling tap water filled my palms, then abruptly shocked my face.  I tried collecting my thoughts, as to what my strategy would be: how would I approach them, would I try to explain my story, or would I just ask. Almost of the verge of begging. I was stranded. 

I had come to London in January 2011 to attend AOFM.  A highly distinguished fashion academy that worked directly with London Fashion Week. I spent about 7,000USD on the course and brought another 2,000 with my for living/transportation. After a little over a month of living in the heart of London and the conclusion of my course, I was dead broke and the last 35GBP I had was used to get onto a bus at 5am to go to the airport. However, my bus was late. The airlines refused to allow me on the plane or provide any general customer service what-so-ever, outside of me purchasing a brand new ticket. 

I contacted and contacted. I tried reaching out to anyone I thought could help, but there was no one there. As I sat on the computer trying to scrounge  another pound out of my purse for internet, a girl about my age inquired if I knew how to work the printer.  I honestly had no clue, or patience. However, there is just something in my nature that will always try to help, even if I am a complete dunce in a particular field, it's just a matter of being kind. So I stood up, gave it a look, and told her to try printing it again. Everything was great, the print was successful, and she went on her way.

After about 3-4 hours of failing to find a solution, I wonder over to another secluded internet access area. I spot an empty corner, set up my suitcase as a footrest, and then nod off into peaceful slumber. By the time I awoke, it was... let's say 7pm. I had been in the airport for about 10 hours; my mood continued to suffer, my stress began climbing the charts, and I was so freaking hungry! Which I think everyone can attest to how negatively hunger affects your mood! 

Next thing I know, the same girl turns that corner and spots me curled up. She quickly came over and asked how I was. She questioned me about my situation and then immediately without even knowing one another's names, she volunteered to help me. I didn't want to get excited, as... I was in a pretty negative mood and getting my hopes up sounded like a set up for failure, however within 5 minutes of her contacting one of her good friends, he offered to give her some money to help me out.  Within less than an hour of her coming to chat with me I had a new ticket for the next morning. I was so unbelievably thankful. 

The rest of the night we spent chatting in the airports' Costa Coffee. She spent the entire time talking with me about God and how he didn't want me to forget his presence. She also made me a small list of things to pray for and things to remember which I carry with me everyday.

I would like to share these with you:

Things to pray for:

1)Heart like good son: 

Matthew 13: 1-23

2)Love Everyone

John 13: 34-35

3)True Love Is...

1 Corinthians 13: 1-13

Things to Remember:

1)Words are powerful.

1 John 1: 1-3

2)Keep forgiving people that hurt you.

Luke 23: 36

3)You are a soldier, so put on the armour of God.

Ephesians 6: 11

4)Tell people what God has done for you. Be confident!

John 4

I don't want this to be a "religion-based" blog post, as I am more spiritual than religious. Just wanted to share the thoughts she shared with me.  I got on my plane that next morning with a wonderful feeling inside. A feeling of overwhelming gratitude. Just undeniable strength, happiness, and overall well-being. After that night, I learned to let nothing get in my way. My airport savior, has become a close friend and somewhat of a spiritual reminder for me. That night I realized how much I had lost touch with myself. I realized how some of the events that previously took place a few years prior had allowed me to shut down and shut out my inner light. 

My dear friend, Blessing, yupp her name is Blessing! Crazy, right? reminded me of so many important lessons. She urge me to live my life each day like I wanted and to reignite the inner light within. 

Since this day, I have grown immensely in so many ways: confidence, spirituality, faith, courage, love and so much more. I for so long wanted to thank her for what she did, but she always told me, "it is not me to thank..."  once I finally got it, a wrote her a lovely letter, explaining the wonderful affect she had on me and my life. 

I challenge you! if someone has ever done something incredible for you at just the right moment and has made a large impact on your life, please let them know. Tell them how much they have encourage and uplifted you. Sharing your gratitude with those who helped bring it about, not only makes you feel great, but it gives the receiver a heart full of warmth and a new sense of accomplishment.

Go out and live.

Besos Bloggers.

A little bit of Appreciation, Please :)

So I was reading a great article on GRATITUDE earlier and then immediately after reading it, I scroll up  the first link that catches my eyes "Looking Younger Secrets", which is a bit funny in a way, no? 


Though I know I should be happy for what I have and who I am, there is an underlying impulse to always seek out something better. Does that mean I am not experiencing gratitude? That I am not sincerely thankful. Do you ever feel this way? A bit torn between what's right and wrong... where is the line and how do I make sure not to cross it?


The solution I came to... NO! This thought process is BS ;)


I can be full of gratitude and still crave change, growth, and betterment for myself. It is simply what we are all entitled to :) Gratitude for what we have in the present is actually the only true way to motivate yourself for future success. Without the ability to see the beauty in everything around you at any single given moment, one will never know true happiness. In in my personal experience without understanding true happiness and enjoyment, developing a life full of GENUINE success and happiness is impossible.  It is best to live  while "...appreciat[ing] again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life with awe, pleasure, wonder, and even ecstasy, however stale these experiences may have become to others." This is a quote from Abraham Maslow, father of humanistic psychology.


Gratitude benefits us in an uncanny amount of ways physically and mentally:
1) cures negative feelings of greed, resentment, disappointment
2)supports overall well-being
3)allows individual to experience more feelings of overall satisfaction in life
4)boosts immunity
5)greater capability to cope with stress
6)and some studies show reduction in the risk of heart attacks


I am on a mission.  My life has purpose that becomes more and more apparent each and everyday. 
I am striving each minute of each day that I am awake to undergo positive change, in order to in turn better the world around me. 


In yesterday's post (FIRST EVER !!!) I asked you, my readers, to tell me if you believe change is important and why or where you would like to see it. I got such an overwhelming response. Though I've only had 4 comments so far, I had a huge amount of hits and shares. This I am SOOOOO incredibly thankful for! 


(Not because I overcame my fear and put my thoughts out for the world to read or because I am gaining "viral recognition," but because that means there is hope. After 3 hours of my blog being online, I had 150 views :) That means that 150 people are interested in BEING THE CHANGE. )



My mission in life is to make a difference in our world now and for future generations. As cliche as it sounds, this is what I want and what I believe we are all here to do. This blog helps me get one step closer to fulfilling my dreams :) and before going on I just want to sincerely THANK anyone who has given this blog a try. (THANK YOU, OBRIGADO, MUCHOS GRACIAS, LABAI ACIU, شكرا, HVALA, GRATIAS AGIMUS TIBI, TACK, DEKUJI!) 


I strongly believe that without allowing ourselves to grow, love, and truly shine from within we will never be able to help another, no matter who that "other" may be. 


For the next 21 days I am taking on a new practice to help me gain a little more awareness and appreciation for all of the wonderful ideals, experiences, and people around me. I will keep a gratitude journal for the next 21 days, starting today. So at the end of each post, I will share 5 things that I am randomly grateful for around me and then 5 positive characteristics about myself that I wish to continue developing. It is not only great practice to be thankful for the exterior wonders, but also for the great gifts you have within. Appreciation of the self, not only makes you more aware of your own greatness and ability, but increases those attributes for others to gain from. 


This is where it comes full circle! As you appreciate the miraculous gifts around and within you, those gifts will begin to multiply and ooze from your pores  like a beautiful glistening light that everyone around you will begin to notice and appreciate as well. Which, if everything works as planned, will light a fire inside of them to begin changing for the better. 


“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ― Mahatma Gandhi




So today I will share with you my 10 Gifts of Gratitude:


1. waking up this morning full of energy to get started with another day
2. having a colorful, nutritious, and delicious breakfast and lunch
3. being full of ideas to blog about while in the shower
4. the bright sun shining to warm the cold snowy streets in Vilnius all day :)
5. the urge I have to get in a fierce workout and yoga routine after this blog


1. I love that I am pushing my own limits and testing my coruage each day
2. Hitting the weights has really increased my confidence 
3. My motivation has been accelerating daily 
4. Interacting with people all over the world makes me so much more personable 
5. Practicing yoga daily has immensely improved my focus and ability to concentrate






So there you go. 5 things I am grateful for today and 5 positive characteristics that I am feeling fueled by :)


I hope this has inspired some of you! 


I would be so pleased if this encourages anyone to follow along on my 21 days of thanks  and join in! Just by leaving your 10 Gifts of Gratitude daily below in the comment area, you can greatly improve the quality of your day!!




Here is to another beautiful day!




Besos Bloggers.  

Just the Beginning.

Starting my very own blog has got to be one of my most daunting tasks of the 2012. Not that it is the most difficult or time consuming, but it requires a special amount of confidence and courage. Maybe not for everyone, but for me.  Just having to structure my thoughts and opinions in an informative, yet captivating manner so that possible followers will actually have an incentive to log on and interact... is quite intimidating. 

However, I must be motivated by this fear. As the" secret to success is to double your rate of failure." explains Thomas Watson, the founder of IBM. Double Your Failure Rate ... | Finders' Digest

So onto my first ever post! My brain has been churning for the past hour attempting to decide just how I will set up my FIRST EVER BLOG POST :0 .... 

1) I bore you with rudimentary information about me, my past, and finally why I am here writing this blog today

2) I boggle your mind with random facts like:" It is believed that Shakespeare was 46 around the time that the King James Version of the Bible was written. In Psalms 46, the 46th word from the first word is shake and the 46th word from the last word is spear," or that "there are two credit cards for every person in the United States."

3)simply write my first blog like it was my last- submerge my readers in my world, in my mind, and in my vision. 

If I were you, I would be aiming for the 3rd option :)

Well here it goes... I chose non of the above. As I was in my living room, pondering away, my roomie walked in and started a random conversation about the SAT... I went along chatting, until she commented about one of the essay prompts she had to write: Why is Change necessary? In that moment, I jotted down the topic on a nearby yoga mag and finished what turned out to be a quite lovely chat.  

Change, generally defined as, the act of making something or someone different. This can be a tiny nuance or a huge societal matter. 

So to conclude my first ever blog, without giving you any of my opinion, I want to know:

In today's world is change important? If so, why?

No need to write an essay, but tell me yes/no and where you wish to see change happen the most or why you believe it is important!?

Cannot wait to read your responses and please pass this along, share with friends, interact :)

Besos  Bloggers.