"Throw Sun, Not Shade"

Have you ever heard someone use the words, "throw shade"?  I overheard a couple of Caleb's friends using these words a few times.  I asked Caleb what it meant and he explained.  I decided to check it out online, going to UrbanDictionary, that defines throw shade as 'talk trash about a friend or acquaintance, to publicly denounce or disrespect'.  Sounds like the 'criticizing and complaining' C's to me.  Not wanting to miss an opportunity to tease Caleb, I started using the words over and over again and told him I was going to start talking like that around his friends.  "Don't do that Dad.  Those words are so dead.  You have zero chill."  I replied grinning, "Hey, you're throwing shade at me right now Caleb.  Savage, right?  By the way, what the heck is a zero chill?" 

Seriously, don't we unconsciously throw far too much shade around these days and to what end?  As Kim says, why not choose to throw sun instead?  It's so much better for everyone, our self included.  Isn't "throwing sun" a cool way to express Sailing the Seven C's of criticizing and complaining (ie. throwing shade)?   Why not throw sun and be kind, compassionate, positive, and playful instead?  Besides, UrbanDictinary adds to its definition that, 'When throwing shade it's immediately obvious to on-lookers that the thrower, and not the throwee, is the uncool one.'  So, what about it everyone?  Throwing sun is the bomb.com.  Let's give a shout out or #hashtag to throw sun, not shade.  "Amirite?"  Okay, am I trying too hard to be an extra with that last one?  LOL

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin S?

Well, it's been almost two months now and I'm still not back to 100 %.  I keep thinking I'm going to wake up one morning and finally, once again, fully appreciate what it feels like to be completely well.  Won't that be awesome, I think?  I can't remember a time when our entire family, all five of us, have been so sick for so long.  For a time, it seemed like every couple of seconds a coughing fit would ring through the entire house from one or more of us.  I guess the viruses had the upper hand this winter.  What to do, other than eat more veggies, rest, try not to stress too much, and just be patient?  Perhaps there's one more thing I can do.  "I'm choosing to take some more vitamin S babe."  Kim asks, "Vitamin S.  What's that?"  "Vitamin SMILE", I say.  "Sick or not, simply SMILE and keep on smiling."   I can choose to smile through it, all the while sailing the seven C's.  After all, even if I feel lousy, I still have sand left in my hour glass to thoroughly enjoy.  Sure beats the alternative, don't you think?  In fact, experts believe that smiling actually boosts your immune system....wow!  So, why not?  You have nothing to loose and there's never a need to worry about overdosing on lots of Vitamin S.

It's That Time Again

It's that time again.  Our New Year's resolutions made.  Whatever they are, losing some extra weight, eating better, exercising more or cutting back on certain habits--darn those video games--that in excess, can take us away from other, more important life matters, it's scary how many of our commitments can easily become excuses to get lost at one or more of the Seven C's.  Perhaps it's competing with and comparing our self to others, clinging to a belief that we absolutely must be successful "this time" in meeting our New Year commitments?  Perhaps, we are once again chasing that illusory "I'll be happy when..." moment in some unknown future?  Perhaps it's expending every effort to control all aspects of our life in futile fashion, despite some days not feeling well like today or choosing to deal with even more important life circumstances at the time, then complaining and criticizing ourselves when we fall short of our yearly goals? 

The fundamental truth, pure and simple, is that each of us needs nothing more to be happy, not one darn thing, save for this moment, here and right now.  We can decide moment to moment how to engage others, simplifying our life by choosing to focus our time and energy only on what truly matters.  We can choose to just let go and accept life and our self with flexibility, generosity, kindness and compassion.  In sometimes seemingly radical fashion, we can choose to love our self and life just as we and it are, regardless.  Each of us is of infinite beauty, worth, and deserving of love, regardless of our successes and failures, resolutions or not.  Whenever we come up short, why not simply choose to be grateful and content this very moment, the only place where happiness and love can ever be.  It's not to say we shouldn't make New Year's resolutions, but perhaps commit to those goals that will truly make us happier absent any judgements and of course those pesky seven C's.  I won't beat myself up this New Year over all the hours, okay probably many days, wasted on video games that could've been spent more effectively, but I might cut back some and trade those extra hours for some quality family time.  "What's that Jonah?  Another round of Splendor?  I'm in!"

Yep, it's that time again.  Happy New Year everyone...right here, right now!