Hi Beautiful Soul,
I usually send out a newsletter once a month. So far, so good! I have not missed a month. However, I been thinking about writing more then once a month. So every now and then you might see a few more blog post on the website.
This month has been super busy. I am getting ready to pre- launch a NEW Women’s Institute called” Inner Tough Chic(k)! Institute ™ Where Women Learn to Thrive and Tap Into Their Inner Strength for life and business. Its going to be an amazing place for you to grow and transform. I hope you take advantage of this great opportunity and become a member. I am putting the final touches on the website now and getting the member benefit package completed. Plus assembling together a group of amazing expert faculty members to help facilitate growth and transformation for you. I can’t wait to reveal the deets. In the mean time you can join us on Facebook or Twitter for tips, encouragement and support. Be sure to let all your girlfriends know about us too!
In between getting everything ready for our Inner Tough Chic(k)! Institute ™ pre-launch I have been painting using some really cool oil pastels. You can check out some of the pictures of some of the pieces. I love enclosing postive messages and affirmations to my art.
This one is for our NEW facebook community page A Thousand Tiny Miracles Join us!
About missing you! Yes, like an old friend that you have not talked to in a while. I am missing connecting with you here on the blog and I thought you might be missing me too 
xox. In fact I want to hear more from you more often in the future. I would love to know if you have any questions you would like me to answer? I am collecting question to answer on my Vlog coming soon. Or if you just want to send a thank you letter or love note, suggestions, request. I always love those too! Here is my email addy askmarie@mariecornelio.com
( photo credit ESEA)
When I think of the word surviving it brings me back to my dear aunt who recently survived breast cancer. I remember packing a suitcase and driving to my aunts home a few hours away. I had no idea what to expect. I just knew I had to be there to offer help and support. Since my aunt does not drive, each day for 5 days, twice a day we commuted to the cancer center for radiation. When I walked into the cancer center for the fist time, I noticed all kinds of women with these colorful scarves, and knitted hats on. The nurse registered my aunt and gave me a free parking pass for the week. On the right side of the counter stood a basket that read
” Take what you need”
( there is a teachable lesson in that” Take what you need ” I will have to save that for another article )
inside were these beautiful handmade scarves and knitted hats. I mentioned to the receptionist how sweet it was for them to offer these to the patients. She told me a woman makes them and donates them to the center. I thought to myself that is so nice and wished I could do something to help too. As the week went by I noticed all the women who wore the beautiful hair attire. I also noticed how they had this special bond, understanding, and knowing, a sacred society . Maybe even one of the few places you don’t have to explain why you don’t have hair or why you lost so much weight or don’t feel good. These special women and men are strong and are the epitome of brave and courageous. I watched my aunt go through some of the most horrific painful experience in her life and survive. I watched how she bravely faced each day and fought to save her life. I also watched a sigh of relief come over her on the last day of radiation. You see each time someone completes radiation treatment or chemo therapy the cancer center there congratulates them. It’s a like a graduation day. I decided I would paint some paintings reflecting encouragement and empowerment and donate them to the center. Many times during that week you would have found me sketching on my sketch pad.
Here are some of the finished mixed media paintings
The painting with the women by the tree was inspired by none other then the amazing Kris Carr from crazy, sexy cancer. She is the ultimate wellness warrior !
I plan on making more paintings and products for cancer survivors and the ones still coping and coming through and their families. Having gone through this experience with my aunt, I can tell you. Cancer affects the whole family, not just the person who has it. I am much more aware and compassionate now. All is well.
Here are some tips to help you go from surviving to thriving in your own life.
Pay close attention to how you feel.
Get moving and get active.
Figure out what’s important to you and do that.
Take fun seriously.
Eat your veggies and take your vitamins.
Get plenty of sunshine each day.
Drink plenty of water and get lots of sleep at least eight hours a night.
Count your blessings.
Develop a spiritual practice and pray and meditate.
Get regular health check-ups.
Thoughts for your Journey
What are some new ways in your own life can you go from surviving and coping to THRIVING?
Want To Use This Article In Your Ezine or Website? You have my permission, as long as you include this complete blurb with it. Marie Cornelio is a spiritual learder, teacher, best selling author, inspirational speaker, meditation and gratitude practitioner. America’s Soul Nutritionist and the CEO of Marie Cornelio International. Marie is a positive role model for today and tomorrows spiritual seeker. You can connect with Marie and learn about her programs, mentorship, services. Marie lives in Northern California where she loves celebrating life with her family and taking daily gratitude walks with her dog Roxie Love or riding her bike. You can visit Marie, access her free articles archive, and grab free stuff at http://www.mariecornelio.com.
Have you ever been in a grocery store, bank line or doctors office and notice how people can be so unkind or short tampered. Have you ever had a bad experience with a unkind person? I know I have. A lot of my clients come to me for personal growth work and share deep experiences with me in order to heal themselves and move forward. I will never forget the story one of my clients shared with me. She said she was at a grocery store getting her groceries for the week with her 3 young boys. In fact she said their were lots of families at the grocery store that day. At the front of the grocery store line was a women in her mid to late 20′s. Just cussing up a storm with her friend. I mean she was dropping F Bombs, S bombs you name it. There were small children all around her and she didn’t even seem to notice or care. My client asked the young women not to use that particular language in front of her boys and cautioned her that their were lots of small children around her. My client said the young girl seem annoyed that anyone would take offense to her language and gave her a not so nice comment under her breath.
My client asked me what is wrong with our society ? Why are so many forgetting the lost art of kindness in their action and speech? When did it start to be cool to cuss and be so belligerent , vulgar in our speech, actions and mannerisms? What happened to the art of kindness, gentleness in speech and in actions ?
I had another client who was in her late 60′s. She was at the doctors office and her hip was hurting her really bad. So badly she could hardly stand. The doctor’s office was full of people that day most of them younger than her. She said not one peson offered to give up their seat to her. For fear of falling in pain on the floor she asked the receptionist if there was a empty room she could sit and wait in and explained how she was in pain. The receptionist quickly gave her a room. Where was the kindness you might ask? In everyone who saw her struggling to stand and breathing heavy in pain?
Some may blame it on television, the music, society, lack of proper upbringing. I tend to think its becuase many people are living their life unconscious. I know I have been guilty in the past. You can read my story here. Every thing we say, act, and do affects others in a positive or negative way. Our behavior is important. Loving kindness matters and makes all the difference. I believe we can speak our truth and live it and still be mindful of others. I love this quote by Irwin Federman
“People love others not for who they are but for how they make them feel.”
Here are a few helpful tips to become more consciously mindful.
- Before you speak, act or do ask yourself these questions. Is what I am about to say, do, act something that would uplift, benefit, encourage, be kind, helpful to others? If its not! Ditch it! Wait until you have calmed down and processed your emotions and feelings and then speak, act, do.
- Stay present in the moment. When we get ahead of ourselves or live in the past or we start living on autopilot or in reactionary mode we tend to become unconscious. Always remember things will happen to us in life and 99 % of the time the positive or negative outcome is determined by how we react to it.
- Look for ways to be kind and helpful : Consciously look for ways to be a blessing to someone. Listen to the still small voice of love in your soul. Some may call it intuition, God, voice of love, higher self. whichever feels right for you practice listening. Let me tell you there are many opportunities all around you everyday to be a blessing and to help someone. Practice being mindful of it. When I practice mindful kindness. I get spiritual hits all the time. Some days I feel compelled to call someone and encourage them or to send them a gift so they know how much they are loved and appreciated. God shows me all kinds of ways to be kind. Sometimes I feel to smile at someone or tell them how nice they look. Mindful, conscious kindness goes a long way. Think of the times someone has been kind to you. How did it make you feel?
- Pray before you go anywhere: Here is a prayer I like to say in the morning. Dear God, help me be a vessel of love, honor and kindess. lead me where you would have me go today and say what you would have me say and to whom. Then let God use you!
- Don’t self sabotage: Our behavior in life is so critical to our success in life and to successful outcomes. Dont’ allow your stubborness , pride, selfishness, control and hardheadedness sabotage you from donig the right thing and becoming the person you want to truely become. You can spend a life time building a life of trust, goodness and integrity and one big or several bad choices can tare it all down. I once knew a women who lived her whole life being honest, kind and a loving good mother. She made a really bad choice and embezzled money from a school fund she was trusted with and of course it ruined her reputation. Now when people bring up her name its associated with the embezzlement charges filed against her. Instead of the life time of kindness, generosity, trust she once held.
- Who are you listening to and hanging around? : Who you hang around matters. Birds of a feather flock together. If you want to be a loving, kind person. Make sure you hang around loving and kind people. Hang around people who hold space for your pursuit in excellence of character. The women who embezzled money didn’t do it alone she acted with a trusted friend. The friend showed her how to do it and” get away with it”. There is no getting away with anything in life. Some call it karma, cause and effect, sin. Whatever you do to others in life comes back and is done to you. Hang around positive role models with morals, integrity and loving kindness.
