"Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging." -Joseph Campbell

Just wanted to report that I took 3 contracts this week as a Sales Counselor for FieldStone Homes! That's an all-time high for me! WOO! So I've been on the job (officially selling) for 2 weeks. I hope to have 3-5 homes sold this month. I know that this is happening because I have finally opened my heart to the "help" of a power greater than myself.

It's funny how sometimes you can really see that "bad" things happen for a good reason. As everyone knows, this past month has been fairly tragic for me and mine in about every way possible. Personally, I've had to deal with 3 of the 5 "most tragic and life changing events" a person can expect to deal with in a life time, so it's been a roller coaster to say the least.

For those of you who have never read the book or seen the lil' movie "The Secret" it's a little kookie - but the message is the same as scripture: "As a man thinketh in his heart, so shall he live." If you believe good things will happen and you hold goodness in your heart, the universe will provide. It's interesting: I'm at an all-time "low" in my life in so may capacities, but I've "asked" the Greater Power for "hope" and I think it's really helped. I feel motivated when I wake up, empowered, capable, and....well...hopeful! I catch myself really ENJOYING the simplest things about life - my cup of coffee, elevator music and a good Carpenter's song cover, overly-enthusiastic people, full moons. I enjoy my work and helping people. I genuinely try to improve every situation I encounter. I feel full of gratitude and charity; I can't remember the last time I felt this FOCUSED.

It's interesting how the people you surround yourself with make such a huge impact on your general attitude about life. Some of the most successful Sales coaches I've ever listened to say "If you want to be successful, surround yourself with successful people." I believe this is true for all realms of "success" - financial, professional, emotional, spiritual, etc.

For the first time in my life, I'm truly beginning to see it's not challenges we conquer, but the limitations we set on ourselves.

Chris spent the day riding the Cache Valley Motocross track in Idaho with a couple of buddies. He's getting pretty good at the jumps - look at that height! Crazy skillz!!!

"Grown Up" - by Cheryl Mercer

"When I think about marriage, what I long for most, strangely enough, is not an elevated spiritual union with a man; that's a fantasy not readily envisioned. What seems wondrous to me instead are the small, shared rituals that bind a man and woman in familiar intimacy, the borders inside which they make love, choose furniture, plan vacations, quarrel over closet space and ex-lovers, share the toothpaste, and celebrate Christmas the same way they did last year. I've been in love myself, so I know something of what it's like to build a life together - the private jokes, the friends you share, knowing in advance which of you makes the coffee and which goes for the paper, even the comfortable tedium of hearing his or her favorite story told yet again. To promise to share forever the small - not only the grand - moments of life seems to me profoundly human, more intimate even than making love with someone for the first time."

Pray for me. I've finally, pain-stakingly COMPLETED my 120 hours of Real Estate Broker's classes and have completed the school test. I am now walking, slowly, into the Tunnel of Doom and must successfully complete my Final Broker's Test with an 80% or better. I am taking the test next Tuesday.

Petrified, I'm studying my A** OFF for this final test!

Send positive energy my way! May the Force be with me, right?

***PS*** how awesome is this: I was offered an Instructors position at Stringham Real Estate school, teaching the "New Construction" & "Federal Law" courses! I met with the school President yesterday and proposed my class outline and materials and received the official invitation to teach! Rock on! I'm so excited and wildly flattered!!!

Stuido Soiree

Getting in-touch with "the Goddess within," I was inspired to attend a Pole-Dancing class held at a private studio called Studio Soiree in Sugarhouse tonight. It wasn't skanky or dirty or anything - and man, do those girls have some SERIOUS athletic skillz! We learned the basic steps, "fireman" pole slides, some floor moves, and a lil' routine. It was a TOTAL BLAST! The class was really small and very classy - it was really liberating "exploring" the art of a generally considered "erotic" dance in a way that was both expressive and athletic - man, you've gotta be STRONG to be good at this.

I'll tell ya this much: I have a WHOLE new respect for those "trashy" girls that can climb a pole, hand upside down, in the SPLITS and twirl down into a perfect pose. They deserve every dollar they earn!

I am determined to not look like a huge, pasty, fleshy SLUG oozing down that dang pole,and get this new art-form down! If anyone wants to hook up and attend a class with me - it's addictive - call me!

Check out the website:
http://www.studiosoiree.com/

Utah Arts Festival

Went to the Utah Arts Festival tonight and spent the evening madly in-love, completely high on culture, music, good food, under a saucy canopy of stars!

It's amazing how shyness melts away when the euphoria of "true self" seeps through the cracks of reservation in an environment that encourages self-expression! I am so FUELED & INSPIRED BY PEOPLE UNAFRAID TO LIVE WHAT THEY LOVE & STEP OUTSIDE THE BOX!!!

I am a creature of art. I LOVE everything artistic that is freaky, strange, different, and bold. I love the pieces that make you say or think, "What did you just say?!" or "wow - that piece is reflected in a way that speaks true to my soul." Less a gal spitting out some vulgarity regarding a Ronald Wesley in a poetry slam, the night was full of wonder and everything beautiful I enjoy about this crazy funky world we live in.

We danced in an ocean of people to a live Disco Band and, everything girly and mysterious inside of me fell in-love again for the first time in a long while.

The night was nothing short of magical!

WWW.UAF.ORG

Ani DiFranco @ Library Square

Bryan (my bro) and I went to the Ani DiFranco concert at Library Square on Saturday night-- AND WE WERE ON THE FRONT ROW!!! Bryan had a friend that scored VIP tickets and she was able to save us a spot! IT WAS THE BEST CONCERT, EVER! I am so madly, madly in-love with this gal, it's unbelievable. She is EVERYTHING I wish I was - and her political, artistic, and feminine POWER is unlike any other! The lyrics to her songs are so poetic, metaphoric, deep,playful, and passionate. WOW! That's all I can say about that--and considering my life circumstances, I connect and relate to her music in the deepest fibers of my soul. She's also put out a couple books of poetry that you need to check her out! If anything, check out her web page and review some of the "causes" and calls-to-action she sponsors.

http://www.righteousbabe.com