Hold On To That Feeeeeelin'!

The other day as I was driving along 235, and frequently switching radio stations as I'm prone to do, I caught a little ear tickle of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin" and of course started to sing along.

By the way, if you're a fan of the band, and haven't yet watched, "Everyman's Journey," the documentary outlining Arnel Pineda's journey from being a Karaoke/cover band singer in the Philippines, to being discovered on YouTube, and making it front and center to be the lead singer, in place of the legendary Steve Perry. It's ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY worth the view! It's so Law of Attraction in motion!

Who doesn't love belting out the lyrics, "don't stop believin', hold on to that feeeeelin'!"?! I have so many memories of late night dance parties where that song comes on, and  99% of everybody that's there will yell out "that's my jam!"; and there's this bonding experience of wobbly swaying and linking arms around each other's waists; and raising hands in the air and getting your rock faces on; and really getting into your groove as you sing one of the songs that usually closes out the end of a really, really fun night.

So anyway, I'm driving Fergie (my Ford Escape); and banking off the exit onto the freeway singing out loud; and I just had this moment of deep thought. You know, where you go into this sort of trance, completely focused on a particular thought stream, and are flooded with clarity on the questions to ask yourself?

As I zoomed down the road, the music faded in my mind; and percolated the following:

• What have I stopped believing in? 
• What feelings have I let go of? 
• What dreams have I stopped thinking about? 
• Which of my passions have been doused? 
• What have I've held onto tightly before, that I've released; and why? 
• More importantly, how do I take Journey's advice, "Don't stop believin', hold on to that feelin'"  
• And, I had another epiphany, Abraham Hicks says that none of our dreams/desires ever die. Never! So, once we put a dream out into the Universe, it's out there! In other words, "it goes on and on and on and on!!!!" 

And, that, that makes me hopeful, excited, thrilled, and eager!!! My dreams are still out there, the trick is, I just gotta get back that feelin' of believin'! Because that's the key to manifestation: feeling and believing baby, feeling and believing.

Happy 63rd Birthday, Dad!

I have a gratitude journal that I write in daily. This practice started when I read "The Secret" and was turned onto the expansive power of gratitude. Then, in deepening my practice with the Law of Attraction, I started doing what Abraham-Hicks suggest in having a Book of Positive Aspects, where you list out all of the positive aspects and all of the things that you appreciate, love, and what makes you feel good.

In honor of my Dad's 63rd birthday today, I dedicated my journaling time towards thinking about and writing all of the things that I love and appreciate about him.

•  I appreciate that he's celebrating another trip around the sun!
• I appreciate his sense of humor - whether he's pulling pranks or being "Michael Dail, the Teasing Tail," as my Grammie (his mom) calls him; or trying to get me (who I think he sees as his melancholy daughter) to smile or laugh.
• I appreciate that he is a peacemaker. Growing up in a house with three ladies, he often stepped in to smooth the waters.
• I appreciate his handyman capabilities. He can pretty much fix anything.
• I appreciate that he likes to laugh.
• I appreciate how he's good at working on cars - from owning his own muffler shop, to restoring cars (he has a really sweet '69 Sting Ray). He's good at what he does.
• I appreciate his love of nature and being outdoors. 
• I appreciate how he's social and friendly.
• I appreciate his sense of fairness.
• I appreciate how he cracks up during funny movies...and when he starts laughing uncontrollably, he cusses. 
• I appreciate how he cracks us up! Like during Christmas, when he played Cranium for the first time and not knowing that he was using the category cards as his clues, he successfully acted out "Star Performer" and then in the next round attempted to draw "Creative Cat".
• I appreciate that he taught my sister, Amy, and I how to change a flat and the oil in our cars.
• I appreciate how he treats everything and everyone with respect.
• I appreciate how he believes in leaving something better than you found it. 
• I appreciate that he's an entrepreneur. 
• I appreciate how laid-back and relaxed his personality is.
• I appreciate his appreciation for music and how he cranks up his favorite songs super loud. 
• I appreciate how he's now learning how to use his Nano so that he can enjoy his music more often.
• I appreciate that  he likes to dance.
• I appreciate that he taught me how to do a layup and use my elbows to box out; and how to drive a stick shift.
• I appreciate how he's a great dad, husband, son, brother, and uncle.
• I appreciate how much he loves animals.
• I appreciate his creativity. I can remember him doing drafting homework with me.
• I appreciate his love of gag gifts.
• I appreciate how he gives others the benefit of the doubt and is slow to judge.
• I appreciate his unique style of handwriting.
• I appreciate how he's super good at taking pictures with the self timer. 
• I appreciate how his voice frequently pops into my head saying: "Lighten up, kid. Don't take yourself, or life too seriously."

I love you, Dad. Happy happy birthday! 

Dad surprised me at my wedding by going all
out with his tux and top hat! 2006

Wogging with his Granddog Gidget 2013

Dad and Mom 2013 

Dad and his girl, Skooter 2013

Dad circa 1975

Dad hiking Williams Lake 2014

Dad, Amy and I riding Tio Vivo cir. 1984

Dad, Amy, and I cir. 1994