Another episode of Your Blooming is here~ In Episode 8, I speak with Meaghan, co-founder of Spirit Jump, a charity whose mission is to lift the spirits of those battling cancer.

Meaghan talks about the story behind the charity (why it was started), tells how one can get involved and also shares a few touching stories that have occurred as a result of this inspiring project. Meaghan, herself is a Stage 3B Cervical Cancer Survivor and also shares her story. I was so moved by my conversation with Meaghan; I hope it does the same for you.

Visit Spirit Jump for more information.

I Kicked Cancer’s @ss
A blog Meaghan started to help others battling cancer find a support, resources and information.

 

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We all have dreams. Maybe you have always wanted to sky dive, ride a horse, swim in the Great Barrier Reef or maybe, just maybe, you always wanted to have your own business.  Some follow their dream, others just let it sit idle and a dream is where it stays. So, what if your dream is to have your own business?  What sets the dreamers apart from the doers? The ability to conquer the fear head on and wade through the self-doubt that rears its ugly head when you first start your business. Thoughts like: Am I smart enough? Will I succeed? Oh, geez, this isn’t as easy as I thought, can I make it through? Those with the true Entrepreneurial spirit, well, forge ahead. Their spirit cannot be broken. Much like  Tammi Metzler, owner of The Write Associate. In this episode, Tammi talks about what inspired her to start her business and talks about the obstacles, fear and doubt she had to overcome to get to where she is today. Tammi is a true entrepreneur, living her dream. Learn more about Tammi and her business by visiting: http://www.writeassociate.com

Listen to the episode here.

 

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After writing this post about Snowflakes, I got to thinking about more complex and thought-provoking things. Like, the fact that no two individuals are exactly alike. We each have our own strengths and our own weaknesses. Acknowledge these differences. It is okay to reflect on what makes you different, whether it be good or bad. While it is fine to reflect and change things about yourself, remember, it is also not a good thing to ever judge a person based on their differences. You have no idea what is going on in another’s person’s life, the battles he or she may be facing (or not).  You may be smiling and happy and the person next to you may have their face all scrunched up in a frown. Instead of thinking…”What a grump!” take a step back and realize he or she may just be having a bad day, maybe they just lost their job or worse yet, a close relative or friend.

It seems that sometimes we bring others down to our level, thinking they are exactly like we are..with the same thoughts and feelings. When in actuality, no two individuals are exactly alike. Respect others and they too, will do the same.

I wanted to share with you some images I found to be inspiring, they are of snowflakes. Yes, I said snowflakes.  In fact, let me share with you a quick story.

I spent my 32nd birthday doing one of the things I enjoy the most… Shopping!  After buying a new pair of jeans and smelling different lotions and body sprays at Bath and Body Works, I headed over to my most favorite store in the whole wide world, Barnes and Noble. Ever since I was a child, I loved books. They fascinate and inspire me. They bring a calmness over me, unlike anything else. I heart books. I really really do. Now, when I enter a bookstore, I just walk up and down the aisles, pretty much aimlessly, until something catches my eye. This day was like any other. As I was walking down one of the aisles a purple book with a snowflake on the front of it caught my eye. So, I stopped dead in my tracks and started flipping through the pages.

I was instantly amazed. The book titled “Snowflakes” by Kenneth Libbrecht was full of breathtaking images of snowflakes. The colors and complexities of these white pieces of ice were astounding! It turns out the author of the book is a physicist who captured the crystals seconds after they fell to the ground using microscopic photography.  Another thing that inspired me about the book so much, were the quotes interspersed throughout the book.  I am a sucker for a good quote — take this one for example on page 162 of the book:

“New beauty meets us at every step in all our wanderings.” – John Muir

To make a long story short, I bought the book. How could I not? When I came home, I told my husband about it with excitement in my voice and showed it to him. It did not speak to him like it spoke to me. However, that is okay. What inspires one, may not inspire others.  To this day, the book still inspires me. In fact, as I type this post, I am flipping through the pages and am again, astounded by the beauty of it all. Nature is amazing.

Live Science.com has an image gallery of Libbrecht’s snowflakes. Here is just a taste of what inspired me so:

http://www.livescience.com/php/multimedia/imagegallery/igviewer.php?gid=35

Also check out Kenneth Libbrecht’s website: http://www.snowcrystals.com