Julia K Cole

  Happy New Year Everyone! This year instead of making New Year resolutions, I have decided to go with a Good-bye/Hello list.    This is not an idea I can call my own.  In fact, I pinched it from a young man I have been following for a few years now.   His name is Alexander Wilson.  You can find out all about him by clicking HERE .  While you're there be sure to sign up for his newsletter!  It's crammed full of really great information! So...about this Good-bye/Hello list.  It is a list that is more in sync to what our soul and heart needs. Unlike resolutions which are basically something we want, but know deep down we're not going to get or believe we don't deserve.  And as a result give up within a few weeks.  Leaving us feeling worthless and defeat.  The Good-bye/Hello list, on the other hand,  allows us to come to terms, and work through, all of that not enoughness, undeserving, self-doubting freeze dried bullshit...

I noticed something happening to me as I started my daily practice of gratitude.  All this anger started showing up.  Yea, you read that right!  Anger.  I started getting pissed off for no apparent reason.  Why?  Well, according to one of my teachers, Jeffrey Allen, this is what is known as a growth spurt.  😁  All those things we have kept shoved down, ignored and left unattended are now showing up to be acknowledged, addressed and released.   Makes sense. So the questions remain ... what am I so angry about?  Why did I feel the need to suppress them?  Ignore them?   The first thing that comes to mind is how I didn't grieve for friends and family that made their transition.  As I wrote that sentence I could actually feel the resentment swelling up.  I take responsibility as to why I didn't take time to grieve.  I was so busy holding everybody else up. (I chose that) I had to stand strong for everybody ...

"A day without laughter is a day wasted!" ~ Charlie Chaplin It has been said that laughter is the best medicine.  And I, for one, sincerely believe that.  I actually did a little research on this subject and discovered that there are actually physical, emotional and mental benefits to good laugh.  Many experts agree that laughter is a great stress reliever.  We all are very well aware as to what stress does to the body, not to mention your emotional & mental health.  Everything in the body gets all tense and tight.  But when you laugh, it actually induces a physical change in your body.  According to the Mayo Clinic Laughter can: Stimulate many organs.   Did you know that laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air?  It's true!  Laughter stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and it increases endorphins that are released by your brain.  Activate and relieve your stress response.  Laughter fires up and then...

It's often said that we take better care of our cars than we do our bodies.  I know that rings true with me.  Most of us have spent our lives abusing our bodies through over eating, eating unhealthy foods, over-drinking, drug addiction, not exercising, hating our bodies, etc.     The things we say about our bodies is just awful.  And if we're not saying it about ourselves, someone else is.  Yea, you can always count on somebody to fat shame you or say something nasty about the way you look.    While things regarding size and beauty has changed dramatically over the last few years,  the road ahead is still long and winding.   So why do so many of us have low self esteem?  Why do so many compare themselves to unrealistic pictures in magazines, TV shows, movies, etc?  A lot of our issues towards our looks and our bodies stems from how we were raised and conditioned.  Growing up with a relentless fat shaming fami...

Being in the state of gratitude allows us to live in peace.  A type of peace that comes deep within.  Staying in that state of gratitude  when we are faced with adversarial situations and/or people is by far one hell of a challenge!  Not easy by any stretch of the imagination.  However, once you have developed a habit of being in the state gratitude, it does get easier.  At least that is what I have been told!  😒   In all seriousness, I have discovered through my own personal practice that it does get a little less hard.  I still have my moments when all bets and gloves are off!  But in the last 6 months, I am pleased to announce my life has gotten better through my daily practice of gratitude. Adversarial situations and people come and go, but the lessons they leave behind stay with us. What we do with these lessons is extremely important to our personal growth, our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.  We have...

If you're worried, And you can't sleep, Just count your blessings instead of sheep, And you'll fall asleep, Counting your blessings. (Lyrics by Irvin Berlin) One of my favorite Holiday movies, hands down, is  White Christmas .  While I have several songs that I really love, the one that really rings true in my heart is  Counting My Blessings .   Counting your blessings is perhaps one of the most powerful ways to increase your energy levels.  If you think about it, you can't be sluggish, upset or irritated when you're counting your blessings.  Don't just take my word for it.  Try it!   I'll wait.  😊💜  Pretty nifty!  Huh?!  Yea.  Blessings come in all sizes, in all kinds of ways, in numerous disguises and some times ... when you least expect it.   Some blessings are so well disguised that you don't even realized they are blessings until they've come and gone!     I call the...

On Saturday, July 25, 2020, I celebrated the 60th anniversary of my present incarnation.  It was a day of gratefulness that mere words cannot even begin to express!  Looking back on the previous years I could see very clearly how very far I have come.  Looking ahead I see the long road ahead, but it is a road that is filled with beauty, love and appreciation. Though I was given many gifts, the one gift that brings me the most joy is Forgiveness.  Forgiveness of my Self.  This is perhaps one of the many incredible gifts bestowed each of us.  The gift of forgiving one's self ... well it is a gift that keeps on giving.  When we forgive our Self we open ourselves up to the splendors of unconditional love.  Not to mention the freedom it brings. One of the things that kept coming to me over and over was Your mess is   Your Message!   And for those of you who know me, and know me well, you know what a fantastic mess my story truly is!...