Reflections of 2015!!!

May I begin with a big Thank You to 2015!!! Whew, what a year it has been. In fact, let's sing a few lines.
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life - The Facts of Life.
2015 began with me going to check on my health. I knew that this would be the year of health matters. The body is starting to show signs of an adult of a certain age. I was in the pre-diabetic stage, overweight and in need of a complete overhaul.

As Spring appeared, we prepared to celebrate the upcoming graduations in the family. Up first Ally who made it happen - plotting and planning her way through life. She sets her goals and goes after it.

We also began a Family Fitness Challenge which was exactly what we ALL needed. We set our personal goals and went on to shedding the pounds, changing the diets and monitoring our progress. There were many days where I had to pull out the pom poms to get to working out. With consistency, I was able to improve my health. The doctor was impressed, everything changed for the better. My clothes were impressed as they began to lose the grip as they had been working hard to keep it together - holding on n for dear life to keep me from being exposed.

A few weeks later, we were at the Lincoln Center in New York City watching another graduate Aimee walk across the stage to accept her degree. She also received an award and performed a solo, singing The Impossible Dream to a rousing ovation. Needless to say, it was quite an emotional moment.


In the meantime, I have already received the green light to have the documentary shown in the theater again in the Fall. With great anticipation, I look at my book where I write my vision and goals - keeping track of my ideas. While going through a run at the theater, I place it on the seat in the theater as I spoke with the manager. Suddenly, I became aware of the manifestation of my ideas.

Just in time before the summer began, Autumn graduated from Kindergarten. We are just as thrilled to celebrate Autumn's graduation as we are the college graduates. It's the stepping stones that they have all had to make. In comes July.

My colonoscopy revealed that I had cancer in the colon. Fortunately, I was able to have it caught early. However, I will also have to be on the alert through screenings and paying attention to any changes that may occur.
In the grand scheme of it all, I have always managed to cheer myself on through just about everything. It really makes a difference. You cannot depend on others to cheer for you, they may have so many other things going on in their lives. Grab your pom poms.

The summer was fantastic. Aoki celebrated her 1st birthday. The family picnic was wonderful. The King and I enjoyed our monthly date nights, summer concerts, taking our rides on the Road King (Harley) as well as the sport bike. As we nurture our commitment to each other, we are extremely grateful to God for the success of our children.

Aimee became a 6th Grade teacher. Ashley is loving her position as a Community Liaison. Dorothy is creating her own jewelry line and taking great care of Autumn and Theo. Ally went on to work for a cruise ship as her goal was to travel and get paid at the same time. Her next step, graduate school. Albert is doing wonderful and he's doing an excellent job carving his way through his college career.

Those pom poms took me to audible.com and other online audiobook sites, and they led me to the Off Broadway stage and once again to the big screen. The pom poms that I use are affirmations. I speak to myself, I tell myself that I can do it, I back it up with the scriptures from the bible. I can do all things. With God ALL things are possible, etc. In addition, I use affirmations from empowering speakers, Victor Hugo, Les Brown, Walt Disney, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Louise Hay, among many others.

After this amazing year has gone by and I say Thank You to 2015, I will continue to reflect at the end of each day and give thanks. I am tremendously excited about the incredible opportunities that awaits in the New Year. Of course, I have goals. I'm plotting and planning everyday. I'm also reviewing and revising as I go. Flexibility has proven to be the best path for me. Each day I begin with "I am open and ready to receive all the things that are in store for me." I trust the process as I believe that God has all things in order - all I have to do is step out on faith.



Reflections 2014
Reflections 2013
Reflections 2012
Reflections 2011
Reflections 2010
Reflections 2009
Reflections 2008

Reflections of 2014!!!

Made it this far by FAITH!!!



January

It's hard to believe that it's over -- 2014 came in with a big bang as my King made his Big Five O a few days into the new year. The year was off to a terrific start.


April

30th High School Reunion - crazy, right???!!! I still can't get over it. What's even more insane is that my principal and some of the nuns are still there. It was great seeing them. It was also wonderful to see my classmates.
(all classmates not pictured here)


May

As usual, we participated in the annual Revlon Run Walk for Women's Cancers and our team increases each year. Classmates from my high school joined our team for the walk.
(full team not pictured here)


June

We welcomed a new member into the family this summer.
Seems like each year my family continues to expand. Here we are at the baby shower. A new year, a new grand-girl.




August

We have a few birthdays this month, we celebrated the matriarch of the family. My mother is now 92. My brother, my youngest daughter and my mother in-law also celebrated their birthdays in August. As life goes, my King's grandmother passed away at the age of 105.



October

Now if you recall, in Reflections 2013, I shared some exciting news and I am over the top happy to share the update.
On October 22, 2014 the documentary for The Day That Changed My Life was shown at the Showcase Cinema De Lux Theatre. This is where I emphasize that it is sooooo important for you believe in yourself, have faith and trust the process of your assignment. Nothing ever goes smoothly, challenges pop up at every turn. It is up to you to work through them and remain focused and that's just what we did.
On the night of the documentary we had a Nor'easter. Naturally, I went into a full on whining mode. God why would you do this? Why would you allow us to get to this point and then have a torrential downpour on this day? However, he showed us that the rain was there to prove that our message was important enough for people to actually brave the weather conditions and support us. We had people who came in from Pennsylvania, New Milford, CT as well as those from Westchester, Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, New Jersey and Manhattan. Alumnae from my all girls high school Aquinas Class of 68, 83, 84, 88 and 2004 were also in attendance. It was a success, we had a wonderful reception which included a special treat for the audience - strawberry chocolate chip cookies from Pop & Bessies in honor of Pinktober. It was incredible hearing from people who had survived cancer, lost a loved one to cancer or currently being treated for cancer - all thanking us for sharing the documentary on the big screen.

By the way, October 22, 2010 was the final day of The Day That Changed My Life - Off Broadway play in New York. How incredible is that???

Well, we are also grateful that the Showcase Cinema De Lux theater believed in our project enough to open their theater to us. Initially when I thought of doing a documentary, it was with the intention of making DVD's and marketing to Netflix, Hulu, etc. Never did I think that it would make it to a theater - the thought never crossed my mind.
Lesson: Follow your Dreams - Believe; have FAITH!!!




In December we celebrated our love, it's like our personal Valentines Anniversary day. And if my life isn't interesting enough, I was contacted and interviewed on BBC World News International. Yes, 2014 was a mixture of all things.


So as I literally lay on my yoga mat in the middle of Times Square, I am facing the sky. I've always had a fascination with nature, specifically the sky. It hosts the planes, the birds, the stars, the moon, the sun, the clouds, etc., and I wonder what is really beyond the blue - there seems to be no end. Much like my year, caring for my elderly loved ones, checking in on changes with my own health, working on my assignment, completing two books, being reappointed to serve another term to serve others through healthcare (cancer), process of having another contract with a publisher for my book, the documentary moving on to even more venues....

It resonates with me as I realize that all I have to do is Let Go and Let God........

A stand in ovation to 2014, I give thanks to God for ALL that I have experienced. I am confident that 2015 will be AMAZING!!!
(I took this picture)
Reflections 2013
Reflections 2012
Reflections 2011
Reflections 2010
Reflections 2009
Reflections of 2008

Why Wait?

Many of us have made the annual list of things that we would like to do with each New Year. It spans from losing weight, taking better care of ourselves, checking in more with family and friends, make changes in our business and in some cases - begin a business. However, I would like to encourage you to begin today.

The moment you have an idea or think of something that needs to be done, that's the perfect time to begin. January 1st, 2015 is three days away.

If you need to change your diet - today is a good day to begin making the necessary adjustments.

Do you have a business idea? Begin exploring through research, sign on to small business groups/forums, meet-ups, and be sure to take notes, write down your ideas/thoughts.

Already have a business? Start signing up for conferences, networking events, create or plan your own event, find a mentor, be a mentor.

Want to begin keeping in touch with family and friends? Pick up the phone, make a call. It doesn't have to be a long call, it can be a warm hello, thinking of you and wanted to hear your voice kind of call. It would make their day a bit brighter and you will feel great too.

The goal is to begin now, repeat daily and by the time 2015 rolls in, you will be ushering a new year knowing that you are well into making changes. 2015 will have many more opportunities to for you to explore.

Believe in your ideas/dreams and let your imagination take you to the next level ~DawnKA