You may have seen this on the internet, links tweeted on Twitter…but it is definitely worth watching more than once. Believe it or not, this video choked me up! Here is a Feel Good Friday video just for you:
I am always on the lookout for inspiring stories to highlight either in a Your Blooming podcast or on my blog. I recently came across a website movement called: Spirit Jump. Spirit Jump started in November 2008 by two women that battled cancer themselves. The first is Meaghan, who was diagnosed with end stage cancer in 2007 and after many treatments, is now cancer free. Stacy, the other woman behind the program, is currently fighting the battle against Stage IV Melanoma.
Spirit Jump directly connects a gift giver (or Spirit Jumper) with a person battling cancer, with the hopes of lifting the spirit of the gift receiver. The gift can be a hand-made craft, or simply a card. The choice is totally up to the giver. The entire point is to simply bring a smile to somebody’s day, that surely needs it. Now, I ask you, how inspiring is that?
Learn more about Spirit Jump by visiting Spirit Jump’s website.
It is Feel Good Friday and I have released another episode of Your Blooming (listen to it here). Fridays are grand, aren’t they? Well, every day is a good day, especially when it is one filled with sun, birds singing and flowers blooming. Spring time is here in NJ and I am also surrounded by the smell of freshly cut lawns, mulch (not the stinky kind) and the aromas of beautiful blossoming flowers. These are the things I love about the world.
So, what do you love about the world? Answer the question below and one lucky person will receive a brand new copy of the book “I Love the World Because.
The sixth episode of Your Blooming is here! In this episode I speak with Judith Da Rocha, author of the book “I Love the World Because.” Listen as Judith shares the inspiring story behind the book. This is a light-hearted episode with a strong and positive message about the environment. Judith was so much fun to talk to and the book, well, the book looks amazing. I just purchased my own copy today and cannot wait for it to come in the mail!
Listen to the Episode
Show Notes:
Links:
http://www.poz-art.com/i-love-the-world-because/
Quote:
By: Frank Lloyd Wright
Music:
By: “Blooming” Teresa Smith
Contest:
What Do You Love About the World?
I have been away for a few days celebrating the most important person in my life, my mother. We spent Friday afternoon at the movies and then we went out to dinner. We had an absolutely fabulous time. During our meal, I asked my mother if she was enjoying herself? Her response, with disbelief in her voice, “Yes. My gosh, we never did this.” You see we were at a nice Italian restaurant. The type where you cleanse your palette with sorbet between courses, not something we are necessarily accustomed to.
Growing up, my mother was a single mom. She worked often, but cared for us constantly. She was a supportive mother, a mother who was always there. But, she had three children she had to care for..so our big night out to dinner was to Ground Round (which we LOVED and it was a blast), where the attraction was that they allowed you to throw peanut shells on the floor. You see, instead of a basket of bread on the table, they gave a basket of peanuts. In hindsight, probably not the best idea for a restaurant (they eventually closed), but as children it was, as they say now, Sweet!
So, when she said “Yes. My gosh, we never did this.” It made me feel good, I was able to do something for my mother. She then followed that sentence by, “I feel bad that my children have to do this for me.” Which then at the time made me feel a little bad. But now I realize..that is the entire point. My mother gave of herself, emotionally, financially, unconditionally to her children…she clothed us, fed us, bathed us, made us laugh and even cry– because we darn well deserved it…my mother just had to look at my funny, and say “Darlene Victoria” and I would burst into tears– She also made us feel good about ourselves and supported us in whatever we chose to do. She did the best she could (which was superb) with what she had.
My brother now has a successful business, has a beautiful family and a nice house. My oldest brother is a public speaker/supporter for recovering drug addicts. I have a husband, a business and I am producing two podcasts. We are all doing what we are doing (and doing it well) because of her love and support. She has always been our personal cheerleader. We are who we are today because of her.
So, while I can simply take her to the local pizza parlor for dinner, which we would both enjoy, going to nice restaurant isn’t something we always do, and gosh darnit, because of the hard work ethic my mother instilled in us, we can take her somewhere nice. She deserves it.
I don’t want it to seem like taking my mother to a nice place is the only way I can show her my love and support. That is not true. The most important thing was to spend time with my mother and enjoy each others company and we did. My mother and I have the best time no matter where we are..whether that be at the local flea market eating a hot dog or at the Ritz Carlton in NYC (never been there by the way, just using that as an analogy 
). This time around it just happened to be at a nice italian restaurant, next time, it will most likely be a turkey sandwich in the park.
Happy Mother’s Day to my mother and to all the other awesome mothers out there. If you do one thing this year for your mother, make sure it is to simply tell her how much you love her.
Some quotes about Mothers for Mother’s Day:
My mom is a neverending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune. ~Graycie Harmon
A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan
“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us when adversity takes the place of prosperity when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”
–Washington Irving
I have a special treat for you for today’s Feel Good Friday post. It is episode number 5 of Your Blooming! Episode 5 is the story of Tabitha, an amazing woman doing inspiring things and inspiring others to do the same. Sounds familiar right?
Stories like Tabitha’s is what Your Blooming is all about. Tabitha reached out to me via the Be a Guest page of this website and briefly shared her story with me in writing. I was totally blown away. I immediately responded to her inquiry and said “I absolutely would like to have you on the show!” We set up a day and time to talk and Episode 5 is what came of our conversation.
Tabitha newest project – Project Uplift starts tonight at 7:00pm CST. You can get the call-in information on Tabitha’s website: http://www.afiveoh4uplifting.org/ Thank you Tabitha for sharing your story!
Show Links:
Tabitha’s website: http://www.afiveoh4uplifting.org/
Music by: Teresa Smith “Blooming”
Quote Recited by: Source Unknown
