Here I am, once again, sitting in front of a blank screen with an equally blank mind.  Oh, sure, I could wax eloquent for about 3 lines about predictions for the next week or so involving releasing and allowing things to just fall apart.

Or I could go on about my daughter’s amazing baked goods that have everyone kvelling and drooling. 
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Then, there is the daily process of medicating and feeding my brood.

But what I really want to talk about is sleep.  We do a lot of it in our lives, some really restful and some downright frustrating. 

Thankfully, between writing in this blog, energy work and just learning how to release the day’s trials and tribulations (not to mention, minimizing those erstwhile trials and tribulations), aside from those middle of the night nature calls inherent with the aging process, I tend to sleep rather well these days.  Some of the felines wish I slept a little less soundly as their attention alarms go off in the middle of the night, but I’m very grateful for the restful sleeps I am able to enjoy. 

Having reinstated my gym workouts and returned to healthier eating habits doesn’t hurt either.

The truth is, the better we treat our bodies, the happier they are, and the more likely we are to have deep, restful sleeps.  The cat-like side of my nature really enjoys those curling up in a ball, wrapped around a pillow, cats piled on kind of sleep.  It is definitely one of those pleasures I give myself every day. 

But no matter how well we treat our bodies, just like our children, they thrive on love. 

I read a lot of things which point to loving ourselves and showing that love, but some of it really seems rather silly, until it becomes a habit, at which time, you wonder how you ever did without it.
I saw this mantra on my Facebook wall today, and felt that it epitomizes what I’m trying to say. 

In order to attract those things which feed our highest good, we have to express our love for ourselves.
When I go into the bathroom during the day, I look myself in the mirror while washing my hands and say something like “Wow!  Your skin is looking so clear and beautiful today!”  or perhaps, “Your hair is so shiny today!  It is simply gorgeous!”

What you say isn’t really significant.  How you say it, however, can make or break what you’re trying to convey.

If what you say to yourself is full of love, sincerity and passion, the message will get through, loud and clear, and you might even see yourself glowing a little brighter, standing a little straighter, and better still, feeling more loved!

There are a million opportunities in our lives to be torn down, belittled, made to feel insignificant…but if the one person closest to us speaks only words of kindness, respect and praise, how can we not respond to such encouragement.

I will, once again, return to one of my favorites.  While looking in the mirror say “You are beautiful, sexy and delicious!”  

Feel free to embellish this with other words which make you feel good about yourself.  The delightful side effect to this one is that by starting your day on such a high note, those cranky pants in your life will have a really tough time dimming your sparkle!

My gratitudes tonight are:
1. I am grateful for the love I’ve learned to feel and express for myself. 
2. I am grateful that I have learned that nobody has the right or the power to dim my sparkle.
3. I am grateful for daily reminders to hold myself in high regard.
4. I am grateful for another wonderful night’s sleep.
5. I am grateful for my happy, healthy, fit, perfect body!

Love and light.