What, Where, or Who Inspires You?

Lately I've been swamped with school and my internship but I manage to squish in time to write in a book I'm writing. Tonight I'm writing in my chapter about the importance of loving yourself so that you can love others.

Once section of the chapter is called, "Be Inspired So You Can Inspire". I talk about three different ways that I think you can get inspired: 1. Choose physical places that invite inspiration, 2. Find people who inspire you, and 3. Use your passions, hobbies, talents to inspire you. I share a few examples of places, people, and things that have inspired me but it got me thinking...

What, Where, or Who has inspired or inspires you??

Red Fingernails for Grandma B

Very early this morning my Grandma B died. I'm very happy for her. She lived a wonderfully full and long life. She was able to see her kids kids have kids, she live her last years of her life surrounded by her grandchildren & great-grandchildren, she wrote her life history, and she brought joy into the lives of all those who knew her!

Today I painted my fingernails red in her memory. She LOVES the color red and was rarely seen without wearing it in some fashion. I will miss you grandma but I know you are with grandpa, Kelly, Mark, Grant, and so many more!

Words Are Powerful

I'm a child/adult therapist these days at a shelter in Scottsdale, AZ. I work for a wonderful organization called Chrysalis. I work with victims of domestic violence or children who have witnessed dv. It is a difficult job but I'm learning so much and I love what I do!

As part of my job I facilitate a group therapy session 1 night a week. My groups so far have been about communication and its vital importance. I've been teaching a few key principles about "healthy" communication styles, how communication is much more than talking, and hoping to give the women in my group some "tools" they can use when faced in difficult situations in the shelter and outside the shelter.

The principle of my first group (last week) was: "Seek first to understand before being understood." This session was a lot about learning different communication types, body language, tone, inflection, non verbal communication, and so forth. It was learning about how sometimes you don't "see" the same picture that someone else "sees" or expects you to "See".

The principle of this week's group was: "Just because you can doesn't mean you should." This group was about the power of language (gossip, lies, etc.). It was also about the power of listening and how it is the key to successful communication.

Preparing and facilitating these groups has once again reminded me about the importance of communication and listening! There is such a power in the words we send and receive. We really should be more accountable for what, where, and how we communicate!

Ranked 52

I was directed to Careercast.com list of the top 200 jobs. My profession (Social Worker) is ranked at 52 of the top 200 jobs to have. I'm right between a Museum Curator and a Speech Pathologist. Being a Social Worker ranked 20 for the overall hiring outlook so I should be able to get myself a job soon!!

New Year, New Decade, & Happy Birthday!

This beautiful cake was made by my former roommate Katie. I decided that this year when I turned 30 I didn't want to be like many people I know who are afraid of 30 and hate their birthday. I decided to celebrate in style! I wanted a big cake, my friends, lots of mistletoe, music, and more. I wanted to celebrate life, turning 30, and ushering in not only a new year but a new decade!

Camilla & I

Me, The Amazing Cake, & The Magnolia Cupcakes (decadent) my roommates made for me!

Brad, Carolyn, & Brandon

Amanda & Lindsey

Marcelo & I

I love the Laytons & They love me! (thanks for the amazing Popeye Cake Topper!)

Camille got creative with her cake (if you look closely you can see she made a frog!)

Here is the group of guys who crashed my party, ate lots of cake & cupcakes (much needed), and decided to sing Happy Birthday to me 30 times (I ended that around 8 times).

Here are some of the mistletoe we hung all over the house. It seems that AZ was lacking in the real deal all holiday season! I think a few people took advantage of them!

Family Traditions!

The holidays are full of traditions for my family. This year it was so great for everyone in my family to be together. With 11 people ( and one that is prego) it made for some interesting sleeping arraingments! We had a blast being together, laughing, watching movies, caroling, and trying to check off all 10 items on my dad's Christmas Wish List!

So Here is a glimpse into some of my family's traditions during the holiday season:

MUSIC: gotta love the piano recital! The best part was the old man who was snoring and then all of a sudden singing out loud.

FOOD: Making food to give to others. These cute snowmen are Chelsea's amazing idea!

CHRISTMAS TREE: Always the beautiful tree and the presents!

GINGERBREAD VILLAGE: For some reason this year I was all about the gingerbread houses. This year we changed the tradition a bit and hot glued the houses together (saved time & frosting) instead of using icing. Everyone decorated their own houses and I did Grant's. The village turned out great and we had a blast doing it!

Ooh! Look at all the choices!

CRAZY DINNER: We have this really weird/awesome family tradition called Crazy Dinner. This is where we each pick anything we want for dinner (1 item enough for everyone). We hide our items, give our food to dad, and he buys them all so they stay a surprise. Then mom takes the food items and prepares them. Then we all come into the kitchen to see what we'll be eating. I think Clay wins (hands down) for the most creative choice of food! What a blast!

CHRISTMAS MORNING/AFTERNOON: I think we're getting better with the amount of trash we leave all over the house. Mom is getting better on surprisingly, perfect, and amazing gifts (the year of GPS). The breakfast keeps changing (but is always delicious), the activities during the day were hilarious (loved the karaoke), and of course just hanging out with each other.

FORMAL CHRISTMAS DINNER (new tradition): I love this new family tradition. Thanks for making the amazing napkins mom! Dani & Kati thanks for making them look awesome! The food was great but the crakers (poppers that have little gifts inside) were a hit. The paper crowns were fun. I like it!

SHIELDS FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY: The food, basketball, games, elephant gift exchange, lots of catching up, some people always feeling sick, new babies, and so much more. This year we added some really fun games! Being at the Shields Family Christmas Party is always a blast/adventure!

Chow time is always fun--we are such a big family and still growing!

The family had no idea what we had coming. We rocked the talent show

2nd place-not so bad! This was so much fun/hilarious!

So we didn't win this competition but we had fun! (thanks for being a good sport Cam)

November

This month has been full of fun! I've hosted Music Night II & a very successful (girl's ask guys) Fondue Date Night! I was also able to attend my dear friend Alycesun & Donny's Wedding/Reception in UT.

In other news November is National Adoption Month and since I work in the field I just love the idea of getting awareness out there about adoption.

Also November is my mom, sister (Chelsea), and brother-in-law (Kevin)'s birthday month! I love them all and am grateful they were born and are a part of my life!

A friend of mine, Molly Jackson, recently started an amazing blog called, Good Grief! Please go there and check it out! It is full of inspiration, loss, grief, love, peace, and hope! While you are there please donate to such a wonderful cause!

The Light Paradigms

I believe that there are two ways that people view the world that frames the way they live their lives. I call this theory the Light Paradigms.

Paradigm 1: There are people that understand and appreciate when the light is shining on them. They bask in its brilliance and soak it all in. They can't stand darkness and crave the light. When the light is shining on someone else they try to steal it, get depressed because they are in darkness but can see the light (and not feel it), or they want to person (who has the light shining on them) to be in darkness with them. These people are not bad people, on the contrary, they are very accomplished, educated, and full of love. They just don't understand the principle of light

Paradigm 2: There are people that understand and appreciate when the light is shining on them. They bask in its brilliance and soak it all in. They understand that this is not always the case and that they are bound to be in darkness. These people understand that there is enough light to go around. If the light is shining on someone else they are genuinely happy for that person. They can celebrate that the light is on someone else. Seeing the light shine on others doesn't take away the light shining on them. These people have bad days, they have trials, they struggle and have heartache. They just understand the principle of light.

I think people can go in and out of these two paradigms depending on what is happening in their lives. Paradigm 2 is so easy and natural for most while Paradigm 1 may not come natural at all but can be learned over time.

I think that some of the greatest moments in life come when someone can genuinely be happy for the light shining on someone else-especially if they are drenched in darkness.

The Paradigm of Light you choose deciphers the character you are building, the integrity you are showing, and the love you are giving!

Blue or Green Eyes?

When people ask me what color my eyes are I tell sometimes they are blue and sometimes they are green. It depends on what I'm wearing. Sometimes I get the feeling they don't believe me. For those disbelievers here is the proof! (There was no editing done to these photos).

Here are my eyes blue!

Here are my eyes green!