Lamisha Serf-Walls

Gratitude: Fresh Flowers and Spring Weather

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I forgot how much I love the beauty and smell of fresh flowers until today. Today my partner and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary and I bought her flowers as a gift. I found they were just as much a delight for myself as they were a gift for her. There is something about smelling the wonderful smell of flowers inside the house and bringing a little bit of nature indoors. I love being outside and love the visual beauty that flowers provide, along with distinct, yet subtle aroma as well. And so, today I am so grateful for the beauty and aroma that fresh cut flowers bring.

I am also grateful for spring weather. I am well aware that we are in the midst of winter in various places around the U.S. and many areas have recently experienced blizzard like conditions, however today we were blessed in South Carolina with warmer than normal conditions. As I write this, there is a gentle breeze floating in the window with the distinct smell that reminds me of late spring and early summer. The temperature is just right and reminds me of one of my favorite times of year. For this distinct moment, I am grateful.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and enjoy each and every moment. Thanks for reading!

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Flowers for my love!

Gratitude: Positive Intentions & Meditation Challenge

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This week I have seen a lot of wonderful posts on various blogs and on Facebook about new goals and intentions for the year ahead.  I must admit, these posts inspire me and though I know resolutions don’t likely last past the first month of the year, I love seeing many of my friends and family members so positive about the year ahead.  As for myself, I am still mulling over my letter to my future self and processing in my mind and my heart what I truly want for the year ahead.  In the meantime, I have taken on another challenge to assist me in my theme for the year.

I didn’t write about this challenge when I decided to take it on simply because I wasn’t quite sure I would be able to do it and to be honest, there is a part of me that still wonders if I will be able to complete it, however I am taking it one day at a time.  The challenge is to meditate daily for 100 days in a row.  This challenge is unlike anything I have ever done before considering I have found it difficult to commit to meditating just 2 days in a row, but I thought it would help me remain grounded as I move throughout the year.  For the last 4 days that I have been meditating, it has worked.

Today I am grateful for positive intentions and my mediation practice.  The positive intentions I am witnessing help me to maintain a positive outlook for my year ahead.  My meditation practice helps me to stay within the current moment and to simply be here.  Together they help me reach a balance that I haven’t had before.

A balance between my present and future that allow me to stand equally with one foot on each side.  I am inspired by what the future may hold, but open to the moment I have right now.  Balance, a type of balance I haven’t felt until now.

What are you grateful for this week?

Gratitude: Stillness and Peace

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This week was a pretty relaxing week to say the least. After a wonderful holiday with family and only a 2 day work week I am beginning to get used to this overall peaceful state of being and have set the intention to continue with peaceful living into the new year.

With that said this week I am grateful for moments of stillness and peace. I am currently reading a book called The Power of Peace In You by Marlise Karlin and have been inspired to not only incorporate more meditation in my (hopefully daily) life, but more moments of stillness too. I am realizing that these moments don’t have to be long moments and I don’t necessarily have to meditate for an hour a day, but I can benefit from a few deep breaths and stepping back from the hustle and bustle of life. But beyond that I am much happier and live a more peaceful and intentional life when I step back even just a little bit each day.

While I would love to get onto the habit of meditating before I begin each day, I know that may not always be feasible and as I flow with life, sometimes the current may take me away if only momentarily from my practice, and that is ok. But for right now I am grateful for the peace of mind and stillness I am carrying into the new year with hopes of continuing my practice even through challenging times.

What will you carry with you into the new year?

Gratitude: Reflection and New Beginnings

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This week I spent a lot of time in a hotel room with a rambunctious 2-year-old and in between chasing him around and trying to keep him entertained, I spent some time reflecting on this past year and thinking of the new year ahead.  This week I am grateful for reflection and new beginnings.

At the end of each year I tend to think back to the past 12 months and reflect on how far I have come.  I like to think about the challenges I have made it through and my accomplishments.  This past year has been one of many ups and downs, yet as the year is coming to a close I have found most of my growth has occurred in the last 2 months or so.  I don’t know exactly why that is, but I am glad that I have grown and changed this past year the way I have.  I have found that I am more patient with changes in everyday life and am more open to the flow of life, both very important areas of growth for me personally.  All in all it has made for a more peaceful end to the year and takes me to my next gratitude item.

At the end of each year after I reflect on the past year, I also look forward to the year ahead.  I like to think about the things I want to change and new goals for the year ahead.  I like to dream and dream big.  Last year I decided to put together a dream board for 2012.  I put together pictures and words that I looked at everyday in an attempt to fit my year together like a puzzle.  Things I wanted more of in my life, accomplishments I wanted to achieve, and even more general items were depicted on my dream board and I can honestly say it gave me a lot of motivation for the year ahead.  I haven’t decided how I will dream big for 2013 and whether I will make another dream board or not, but I will definitely spend some time as this year comes to a close thinking of the newness that lies ahead.

Some believe that today was to be the end of the world and while I never believed that to be true, I do believe we are at a point in history that is important for all of us.  We are at a point of transition.  A transition from fear, hate, and separation to love and co-creation.  I hope that each and every one of us will take some time to reflect on what we can do to work together to make this world a better place, to reach out and co-create a world of peace and love together as one.  I read a quote today that I love so much and thought I would share it here.

“The lamps are different, But the light is the same.” Rumi  May we move into 2013 with a sense of knowing that we hold within us the same light and love to change the world.  What will you do to change the world?

Gratitude: Time With My Son

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I normally post two things on Fridays that I am thankful for, but today I am sticking to just one.  In light of the horrible tragedy that has happened in Connecticut today, my mind is taken to how grateful I am for my son.

Children are such a blessing and like all parents, I think our little guy is extra special.  He is funny, silly, but at times oh so serious.  He reminds me to enjoy life, to live in the moment, and not worry so much, except now I must worry about him.  Our son is such a gift and I can’t imagine not being able to hear his laugh or hear him say “Momma! What are you doing?” 100 times a day like he does now.

My heart breaks for the parents who lost their children today, but also for the world we live in that has so much violence, children aren’t even safe in schools.  I wish for us all to live in a world of peace, supporting, uplifting, and encouraging one another.  Not one of anger, deceit, and violence.  I want my son to be able to grow up in a world that doesn’t experience such hate and sadness, but instead cooperation and love.  And while I can’t change the world all by myself, I can do my part, little by little, day-by-day.  And in the midst of all the pain and suffering, I can remember to be grateful for the light, joy, and peace that still exists in this world of ours.

So today I am thankful for the time I get with my son.  The sweet moments when he just wants to be close and feel secure.  The hugs, kisses, and nights when he just wants to snuggle up and watch a movie with his mommies.  For the silly dance parties and tickle fights.  For story time, bath time, and play time.  For the songs we sing, the games we play, and the meals we share, I am grateful.  But most of all I am grateful for the little boy we were blessed with almost 3 years ago. May we never forget how precious life is, and how blessed we are to spend time with our children and loved ones each day.

Tell your loved ones you love them today.  Hug them tighter than ever before and pray for peace in the hearts of the parents, teachers, children, and the entire community that was touched by this tragedy today.  It is up to us to make a difference in this world.  Now is the time.