H-A-P-P-Y N-E-W Y-E-A-R!!! May you all have recovered quickly from your descent into the pit of avoids over the holiday season. : ) Let’s face it, foods that are avoids are far more prevalent during this holiday season, with our being surrounded by holiday parties and confectionary delights. But the new year is upon us, so let us once again return to a better state of health.

Well, I had thought about what subject I might write about this week, but for some reason, I kept returning to what I wrote in The Little Things last week. The more I tried to focus on a new topic this week, the more that last weeks entry pushed itself to the forefront of my mind. Things happen for a reason, so I just allowed things to be what they may.

Last week, I discussed becoming aware of, and appreciating the small wonders that occur in our every day lives. While it can be difficult at first, and requires one to focus, over time, recognizing the many small wonders becomes almost second nature.

But as you become more aware of these small wonders, at some point, you will begin to recognize that there is a connectedness to the other happenings in your life. And when that moment occurs, it feels like the world is opening wide before your very eyes. The lightbulb in your head goes on, and your only thought is, “Whoa!”.

Last week, as I was going about my daily life, I was in one of my deep analytical moods. Both a blessing and a curse of being a Sagittarian. *chuckle* At the time, it dawned on me that Miss Piggy (the oldest of my Clan O’Kitties, and no, I did not name her : ) ) would be 17 in just a few months. Over the last several months, she has been much more.....frisky, I guess you could say. So much so, that she even tried to stand on her hind legs for a treat the other week, and did for a brief moment. That was not something that she had ever done in the past. I then started to wonder why. Was it because of her diet? Nope, pretty much the same as it has been.

As I pondered her new found energy and attitude, I came to realize that the other three had changed as well. Shorty has become much more vocal. Nixie has developed a little “kittietude”, as my girlfriend describes it. Beser, always the most skittish of the group, has become much more affectionate. When I sit at the computer, Beser will sometimes stand with her hind paws on the keyboard shelf, put her front paws on my shoulder, and rub up against my head. Makes it hard to work at the computer, but how can one ignore such a precious moment?

It then dawned on me that something had changed in our/their environment. So I sunk deeper into my pool of pondering, and started going back in time. What had happened that might effect them?

Back in September, I had been on vacation, and had finally finished renovating several rooms. It then dawned on me that one room that I had finished, and is now my bedroom, is considered the “Childrens” section of the house, under the principles of feng-shui. It now started to make sense. Now that the room was renovated, and no longer cluttered, the energy of that part of the house was much more balanced. In turn, that created a change in the energies of each of the kitties.

Realizing that, I started to wonder about other parts of my life. For the last two years, a cousin of mine has been trying to fix me up with the woman that is now my girlfriend. And for two years, I had resisted. But by September, my cousin had finally wore me down. : ) It wasn’t until recently that I realized that the other room that I had completed was in the “Romance” section of the house. That lightbulb in my head was getting awfully bright about then. *chuckle*

But that wasn't all. My mind then took another leap. Just before my cousin had started 'hounding' me, I had put out a request to the Universe to help me find my romantic soulmate. Within two weeks of that request is when my cousin started in on me. : ) I was certainly shocked at the time, but I figured it was a 'sign of land', and not the real deal. I guess I was wrong. *chuckle* As I look back, apparently she was the right person, it just wasn't quite the right time yet. Until this September.

Now, when certain things happen, I don’t look at just the moment. I look outward, to see if there was anything that had been a catalyst to create that moment in time.



The things that we do or say are like the drop that finds it way into a pool of water. As the ripples of water extend outward, more of the water is affected by that single drop. Just as our life is by our words and actions.

As we begin our journey through a new year, take some time to reflect about not only what has happened in the past year, but why certain events happened. What were you meant to learn by those events, and how does what you have learned help you to grow as a person? How did those events affect other areas of your life? Don’t just look at the drop, but ponder the ripples. In time, I’m sure that you’ll have a few of your own “Whoa!” moments. : ) After all, there is no such thing as coincidence.

Time for me to go. Beser has found her way to my keyboard shelf, and it's time for me to enjoy my 'moment of small wonder'. : ) And if I don't, you may be reading this, "aw02gma'fhbahaeryt" as she steps across the keyboard! *chuckle*

When was the last time that you took a moment to enjoy the little things? And by little things, I don’t mean that overpriced cup of junk.....uhh.. java, that you bought at Starbucks. Or that nice, shiny rock that your significant other bought you. Or even the shiny new credit card that came in the mail. You know, the one with a higher credit limit than what the El Gordo lottery pays out?

I’m talking about the little wonders that surround us each and every day. Unfortunately, far too many people are so involved in the rat race called life, that they fail to notice the small wonders that present themselves each and every day.

Think about it for a moment. When was the last time that something made you stop, and be completely marvelled by it? No-no, go ahead, take your time, I’ll wait. I’ll be over here in the corner, absorbed in my whistling. *Who knew it would be SO hard to whistle Metallica tunes? Phew! LOL*

Wow, nothing yet, huh? If you’re still filing through your cerebral rolodex, and you’re back into the 1990's, just STOP. Right now. You skim through that rolodex anymore, and your brain’s gonna heat up, and go into meltdown. If it’s been that long, you haven’t been in control of your life. Life’s been controlling you.

When WAS the last time that you took the time to just enjoy a moment? The warmth on your face, as you tilted your head towards the sun. The feel of the cool, crisp air, as it passes through your nasal passages as you inhale deeply. The warmth of a hot shower, as it permeates to the very core of your being. The reflection of the sun as it bounces off a rippling pool of water. Watching a squirrel, perched on a tree branch, as he/she eats their daily meal. The bright colors of a blue jay or cardinal, as they perch on the fence outside a window. By being so wrapped up in life, how many of the aforementioned have passed you by, or have you never even thought of taking the time to enjoy? It is only when we become aware of, and appreciate the little gifts in life, that life truly becomes great.

Roll your chair a little closer to the computer. Go ahead, I don’t bite. Let me give you a little glimpse into my world of small wonders this morning.

When I woke up this morning, I was greeted by Beser (one of the Clan O’Kitties), as she draped her paws across my outstretched forearm, with her head resting on her paws. If you want a wake up call, try the gentle tapping of a cold kitty nose on a closed eye-lid. That’s what I got from Beser this morning. A short time later, I was surrounded by the ‘circle of fur’. Miss Piggy to my left, Shorty to my right, and Beser at the foot of the bed. Shorty’s teeth-rattling purring. Almost like having one of those vibrating beds, but not having to feed quarters into it. LOL Miss Piggy, as she laid on my chest, gently purring away. Beser, as she crawled under the bed covers, and curled up next to me for a bit. The gentle pitter-pattering of rain, as it found its way to the snow-covered ground. I spent an extra hour in bed, just to enjoy those little moments. All of that, and all before 7:30 a.m. Imagine how many more wonders I, and you, can come across during the span of a day!

When you take the time to recognize the great number of little things that happen around you to brighten your day, stress just melts away. All stress is self-imposed. If you allow it to consume you and your day, it is because you made that choice. Why not make a better choice, and focus on all of the good things that surround you?

Make that better choice right now. Log off your computer, push your chair away from your desk, and seek out your own small wonders. You’ll be happier, and you’ll have a better day for it.

At last!! Dr. D. has finally unleashed me to wreak havoc amongst the masses!! Mwhahahahaha!! Man, I can't wait.......What?.....Really?...*tap**tap*....this keyboard is on? Ummm...hmmm...yeah. Ummm...heh-heh. *smiles, waving meekly* *cough* : )



Being the first entry, it only seems appropriate to take the time to reflect upon the past. After all, how can we truly appreciate the path that we have travelled, and the knowledge and experience we have gained, if we don’t take time to look back?

In December of 2004, I was in a very different place. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. As I look back at the past year, it’s hard to believe that there has been such an energetic personal transformation, on all levels. If someone had told me last year that so many positive changes would take place in one year, I would have said, “Pffttt! Yeah, right!” And I would have been wrong.



Last year at this time, I was at, for me, a heavy weight of 176 pounds. On a vertically challenged 5'3" and change frame. Not my heaviest (188 lbs in 2000), but certainly not a healthy weight. I had no energy, nor ambition. I was sleeping 10-11 hours a night, and never feeling rested. A pool of cold molasses was moving quicker than my mind could. Not a pretty sight at all.

While doing some online holiday shopping at Amazon.com, Dr. D’Adamo’s book Eat Right 4 Your Type popped up as a suggested book. Coincidence? There is no such thing. Reading the reviews, the analytical part of my Sagittarian being kicked in, and I delved into the ‘theory’ behind ER4YT. Even through the muck of my slower than molasses mind, it made sense, so I ordered the book as a Christmas gift to myself. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was about to embark on one helluva roller-coaster ride!

Within a few weeks of adjusting my dietary intake, changes were already happening. Where before I was practically dragging myself up a flight of stairs at work, I was bounding up them, two at a time. I was starting to sleep better. I began to find the energy to start completing long ago started projects around the house.

As winter turned into spring, the pounds slowly started to fall away. Four pounds here, four pounds there. With my energy returning, I started to work out again. And while the scale may not have continually shown progress, the loosening of my wardrobe let me know that I was still headed in the right direction.

But even as my outer world was changing, my inner world was being turned upside down as well. Worn out patterns were falling away, greater understanding of lifes workings were coming to light. The muck of my mind was finally clearing out. At times, it was frustrating, trying to adjust to many of the changes. But as Florence Scovel-Shinn noted, “It is always darkest before the dawn. But the dawn always comes. Trust in the dawn”. Remembering this helped to get me through what can only be described as a metamorphosis of profound proportions.

Where am I a year later? In a totally different space, and frame of mind. Where I was 176 lbs last year, I was down to 141 lbs in September. From weightlifting, and gaining muscle mass, I’ve crept back up to 145 lbs. But it’s a good weight. Where I was wearing tight 34" waist jeans last year, I’m now wearing loose 31" jeans. I’m sleeping 6-7 hours a night, and feeling well rested upon awakening. From my other weight-loss program (donating blood at the hospital), I’ve found that my blood pressure has steadily dropped 30 points in the past year.

ER4YT was the beginning that has made many other happenings in my life this year possible. I finally completed renovating three rooms in my home. With the home being feng-shui’d, it is a much more comfortable, and calmer home. Not just for me, but for the Clan O’ Kitties as well. Having done a good amount of energy work in the past year, I’m much more sensitive to the subtle energy shifts that surround me in my day to day life. Instead of my world being controlled by outside influences, I am now more in control of my life, and who I am.

With as much change that has happened in the past year, I can only wonder what this next year will bring. But I guess we’ll both find out, as I continue this journey down a new path in life. And for once in my life, I’m looking forward to that change, no matter where it might take me.

So until next time, I leave you with this affirmation. May all that is yours by Divine Right manifest in the coming year, under Grace, in miraculous ways.

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