My Favorite Video Of 2014!

Thanks VS. Stress – Which Wins Out?!

 

So, here’s another one of those posts that I had copied from somewhere, moved to a folder and then forgot about!

There’s been much written on “gratitude” in the past few years especially with Oprah having popularized the gratitude journal.  It’s not that I’m an ungrateful person, BUT I think I reacted in a stereotypical, New York jaded kind of way.  I deliberately avoided writing or speaking about gratitude in any of my blogs or talks.  And, yes, I feel rather embarrassed writing that!

Recently, though, I’ve rediscovered the power of mindfully making the giving of thanks a part of my daily ritual. 

I don’t recall where I found the following snippet, but in rediscovering it, it occurred to me that perhaps wedding stress could be reduced if, each day, you followed the exercise suggested in the article – except, make the “three things” all related to your wedding.

Hey, it’s worth a try and I think you’ll be surprised – for the good!

Try This Gratitude Exercise

For the next five days, do the following daily:

Think of three things that happened that day for which you’re grateful. Jot them down. As days pass, you may notice that you’re now on the lookout throughout the day for reasons to be grateful. You may easily come up with a dozen candidates that you’ll winnow to three for your list—and your attitude will perk up as you start to see the world in a more positive light, says Jacqueline Lewis, co-founder of the World Gratitude Map and blogger at GlobalResilience.net.

I'm On "Yahoo Style"!

 photo: Corbis

Although I blog with the Huffington Post, I've never written for Yahoo Style. . .until today.  Well, actually, I didn't write this post, BUT, I'm quoted in it and I'm delighted to have had the opportunity to share another great wedding story. . .

Enjoy!

Why Would Someone Plan a Secret Wedding?

Anne Chertoff

December 8, 2014

When we heard last week that Scarlett Johansson and fiancé Romain Dauriac were already married in a secret wedding in Montana, we started asking around if anyone besides a celebrity would plan a secret wedding.

Is it just the idea that an intimate event should remain private, and away from prying paparazzi lenses? Or are there other non-prying reasons that a couple may want to say “I do” under the veil of secrecy?

For Cara and her then boyfriend Raymond, who is originally from Germany, a secret wedding was the solution to his work-visa issue. “Raymond’s company was going to transfer him out of the U.S. so they didn’t have to deal with his visa,” Cara tells Yahoo Style. “So instead of being apart we decided to marry in secret in 2009.”

Read more

One Word That Describes Your Partner Is – ??

 

photo: .chrismanstudios.com

“Mr. Fleiss said that he has a French aunt who settled upon a word that best describes JoJo (his wife): ‘chaleur.’

‘It means having the quality of warmth,’ he said.

‘Imagine a snowy evening in the mountains, you see a log cabin with

a fire roaring — a feeling of home, of warmth and heart.

For me, that’s what JoJo is.’”

Yet another quote I picked-up from somewhere and have no record of where.  But I love the image the unknown Mr. Fleiss paints of his wife.  Intimate and desperately romantic.

What about you, what word best describes your partner?  How do you want us to imagine your partner?  Do they know this is how you think of them?

Who Do You Want To Become?

photo: jasmine star

I saw that I would love him,

and that loving him would mean

saying yes to the self I would become

by loving him,

and no to the other selves

I would never become by not loving him.

I don’t know who made this observation – but, I’m deeply moved by the truth expressed.

I think the truth of this quote speaks to why making a vow to another person is such a profound act. 

In a real way, you’re vowing to become the person you could only become through the loving of this particular partner – and no other.

Now that’s deep!  And courageous.  And generous.