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2015 Annual Blogging Report

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https://inspirationalgem.wordpress.com/2015/annual-report/

Today WordPress sent us the Annual Blogging Report! Yayy! Very interesting!

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I don’t know if the link works because it asked me to make it public so people can see but I don’t know how. So here’s a couple of screencaps!

Thank You so much to everyone who reads/shares/likes…my content and comments!! I greatly appreciate it, always! I cherish every comment, like, share, & everyone who reads!!

Thank You so much!! ❤

😀

Here is the one for last year, 2014:

https://inspirationalgem.wordpress.com/2014/annual-report/

I hope you are having a beautiful day/night!

Much love,

xoxo Kim

Krampus

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On Christmas day, I went to see a scary Christmas movie at night. It’s called Krampus and is based on the myth of some ancient spirit. The spirit would come to remind and punish those who stop believing in and wishing for good. In one scene, a little girl asked what if they change what they do and act in better ways so Krampus won’t get them, and an old wise lady said it’s not what we do, it’s what we believe. 

We often hear the phrase “actions speak louder than words” and “without action, our words/intention mean nothing.” While I agree in some ways, I don’t completely agree in every case.

Sometimes our intention and compassion are enough, even if it does nothing practical. Compassionate intentions, thoughts, and wishes are still good even if we cannot or do not always act on it. It’s good to be compassionate and not cold. Having compassionate, loving thoughts and intentions helps deepen our general compassion, generating loving energy, and making it more likely we will act in compassionate ways. Sometimes just being near a very loving person brings a sense of calm and peace. 

And some actions, while looking good, are not performed out of love. Someone can help others just for image or credit or reputation or out of a sense of obligation or feeling awkward not helping. 

I think the best actions are those taken out of true love & desire to help. 

It’s true that love & compassion are often best when coupled with action. But living in a state of love and compassion in our mind is also beautiful. A loving essence is beautiful

The movie reminds me of this quote:

“Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say. Just in what they are.” ~ Markus Zusak

❤

Much love,

Xoxo Kim 😀
 

Like a candle <3

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“You are like a candle. Imagine you are sending light out all around you. All your words, thoughts and actions are going in many directions. If you say something kind, your kind words go in many directions, and you yourself go with them. We are …transforming and continuing in a different form at every moment.” ~ Thích Nhất Hạnh

❤ We transform the world with our compassion. ❤

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Love & ligt to you!

xoxo Kim

Caught in the rain?

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Nahhhh…I decided to go out in the middle of a rainstorm! it’s raining cats & dogs out there! 

Even though it’s storming, I decided to walk to get my mom, sister, and me coffee & hot chocolate. 

I LOVE walking in the rain! As long as I can change my clothes and get dried off soon!

Today I soaked up the rain and let it drench me. No umbrella, no hood or raincoat or anything to shield me against the drops falling out of the sky. I felt it on the tips of my toes as I splashed thorough puddles all the way to the top of my head as it soaked my hair. Oh the joy! 

My hair just got long enough to sit on last night! Lol It was always almost long enough to sit on but just last night whenever I sit down now, my hair pulls my head back because I’m sitting on it! Lol It’s so funny it just happened in one night! Long hair problems! ;-D

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It was also funny walking in the rain. I had nothing but smiles and giggles! 😀 Everyone was probably thinking that poor girl, not knowing it was my choice and I love it.

The weather is perfect for walking in, not cold or hot. Just cool.

A couple people felt sorry for me thinking I got caught in it unexpectedly. Lol But I was loving every second! I received a few friendly and sympathetic and even funny comments. I guess a soaking wet girl with excessively long hair tends to attract attention while out walking!  

Here are a few pics of me after getting home drenched. And some rainy songs! 

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Fool in the rain – Led Zeppelin – mobile

Fool in the rain – desktop

“Now my body is starting to quiver
And the palms of my hands getting wet
I’ve got no reason to doubt you baby…” 

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Laughter in the Rain – Neil Sedaka – mobile

Laughter in the Rain – mobile

“Strolling along country roads with my baby
It starts to rain, it begins to pour
Without an umbrella we’re soaked to the skin
I feel a shiver run up my spine
I feel the warmth of her hand in mine
Ooh, I hear laughter in the rain
Walking hand in hand with the one I love” ❤

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Walking in the Rain – The Walker Brothers – mobile

Walking in the Rain – desktop

“I want her and I need her
And someday, someway
I’ll meet her
She’ll be kind of shy
And real good lookin’ too
And I’ll be certain she’s the one
By the things she’ll like to do
Like walking in the rain (like walking in the rain)
And wishing on the stars up above
And being so in love” 

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Escape (The Pina Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes – mobile

Escape – desktop

“If you like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain
If you’re not into yoga, if you have half a brain
If you like making love at midnight, in the dunes of the cape
I’m the love that you’ve looked for, come with me, and escape”

And here’s a beautiful song about paying attention to life and all the beauty we are blessed to know, about not taking things for granted and letting people and things and days slip away without cherishing them.

Standing Knee Deep in A River (Dying of Thirst) – Joe Cocker – mobile

Knee Deep in a River – desktop

Maybe you don’t like walking in the rain but this is a great reminder to soak up all of whatever we do love. Cherish every moment we have been given, honor each day being mindful of all the gifts it provides us. 

❤

Hugs & love,

Xoxo Kim 😀

A few of my favorite things…<3

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Today when I woke up I had the song  “My Favorite Things” stuck in my head! Lol Whaaatt?! It was playing in my head really loudly as I was waking up. I must have been dreaming about it. I don’t believe I heard it in years or even consciously thought of it.

My Favorite Things – Julie Andrews – mobile

Julie Andrews – desktop

Mary J. Blige – desktop

My Favorite Things – Mary J. Blige – mobile

It reminds me of Christmas even though it’s appropriate for all year. ❤

I realized how much I love the song after I woke up and listened to it this morning! It's full of joy, passion, and wisdom. When we are struggling or in a low mood, it really does help to remember a few of our favorite things. 

Some of her favorite things are: raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles, brown paper packages tied up with strings, girls in white dresses, door bells and sleigh bells….

I love all these things too! ❤

Here are some of my favorite things:

1.) a cup of hot tea

2.) snow covered hills

3.) a cool Summer breeze

4.) the holiday season 

5.) acts of kindness 

6.) the scent of pine on a crisp day

7.) puppy kisses 

8.) girls in stilettos

9.) soft, warm blankets at night 

10.) mystery thriller books

11.) the feeling of stepping out of a cold air conditioned room into a hot, sunny afternoon 

12.) beautiful dark poetry 

13.) photography 

14.) my long hair

15.) makeup

16.) seeing someone genuinely smiling & laughing 

17.) pleasant surprises 

18.) meeting people I never met before 

19.) sweet conversations with friends 

20.) intriguing conversations with a stranger 

21.) hugs

22.) the swirling of ceiling fans on a warm day

23.) the first days of Fall

24.) the floral fragrance of Spring 

25.) the sound of construction work off in the distance 

26.) the sound of people laughing outside late at night 

27.) the sound of cars sloshing through puddles on a rainy day

28.) kitty kats and other animals licking their paws and cleaning their faces

29.) Christmas lights and decorations 

30.) the changing of the seasons 

31.) Oldies songs 

32.) quiet afternoons and mornings with sunlight streaming through the windows 

33.) reading a thrilling book in the darkness in my room

34.) the taste of candy outside in cold weather 

35.) tall city buildings 

36.) a blue, blue sky speckled with fluffy white clouds 

37.) used bookstores 

38.) old books

39.) books that take place long ago

40.) books that take place in cold seasons 

41.) love 

42.) cupcakes with Buttercream frosting 

43.) rainy days 

44.) the sound of heavy rain pelting upon rooftops 

45.) tea with friends 

46.) Coca Cola 

47.) Christmas 

48.) Christmas songs 

49.) Halloween 

50.) hearing a song I haven't heard in ages (like this one!) 😀

51.) receiving packages in the mail 

52.) caramel apples with nuts

53.) meditation class

54.) positive people 

55.) dogs! 

56.) Christmas pj's

57.) trampolines!  

58.) warm sunny days 

59.)  cold dreary gray days 

60.) getting new books

61.) inspiring quotes 

62.) belly laughs that hurt 

63.) feeling flooded with relief & gratitude 

64.) shadows & reflections 

65.) a black midnight sky full of twinkling stars

66.) septa busses and trolleys

67.) iced tea

68.) old baby pictures! My mom happened to find baby pictures of me today on my first Christmas in 1986!

She was looking for something else and came across these! Which is fantastic since Christmas is a few days away!

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This is me on Christmas morning, 1986, in my night clothes before I got changed into my little red dress my aunt Mariann bought me. ❤

I was kind of cute wasn't I? lol I was really big for seven months and had to wear toddler clothes already and my mom thought I was going to start needing special extra large sized diapers ordered. I needed jumbo diapers. lol Then when I got older, I slimmed down.

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This is a bit more than a few and I can go on & on! It's so uplifting listing nothing but happy things! And so much easier and more pleasant than listing things I don't like!

What are a few of your favorite things?

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I hope you're having a wonderful day/night!

❤

Xoxo Kim  

For everything, there is a season

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“Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence.
Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.”
~Yoko Ono

Today is the first day of Winter and I felt like posting something about Winter before I even remembered today is the first day! 😀

It’s unseasonably warm here in Philadelphia! (I just learned the word “unseasonably” [which my mom is shocked about saying how could I have never encountered that word before now…:-/ ])after reading it in a fiction book and I wanted to use it! lol And this year it’s the perfect opportunity because it IS in fact unseasonably warm! lol) ;-D

What a great quote about the beauty of each season and what it can teach us. Not everyone lives in a place where they get to experience the diversity like some of us do. But whatever it’s like where you are now, there’s something to cherish & be thankful for! ❤ 😀

This is also true not just for seasons involving weather but stages and seasons of life. There's always something unpleasant but always something beautiful too! ❤

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Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds – mobile

Turn! Turn! Turn! – desktop

“A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven”

~Hugs & love~

xoxo Kim ❤

Humble

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“I believe that the first test of a great man is his humility. I don’t mean by humility, doubt of his power. But really great men have a curious feeling that the greatness is not of them, but through them. And they see something divine in every other man and are endlessly, foolishly, incredibly merciful.” ~ John Ruskin

This quote is full of so much wisdom! Being humble is a good thing and doesn’t mean we are not confident in our own views, ways, lives, self…

Sometimes it’s tempting to boast or become arrogant when we feel that we know something or come to see things in a more enlightened way than before or more enlightened way than it seems most around us see things. And even if we are correct and others are wrong, it’s still better, in my opinion, to be compassionate and humble. So what if we’re right and they are all wrong? It doesn’t make us better or more valuable than others. It doesn’t make us more worthy of anything. It doesn’t make us great to brag or be proud (at the expense of others) of our own great qualities. 

Also, it’s possible to be one hundred percent certain we are right…..then find out we were wrong all along! lol There have been occasions I would be arguing with someone and *know* I was the right one only to find out later that I was in fact very wrong!
I was completely convinced I was right. You never know, you may just be wrong. 

It’s good to be open to hearing all sides of things even if we know we are right. This can deepen our empathy and also help strengthen our own views and arguments. Why only want to remain “safe” in our own world of only things that confirm what we believe or know? Isn’t it great to be challenged? Even when it’s uncomfortable? I think so! 

I believe it’s best not to view ourself as somehow “special” or different or greater than the rest. We may have greater intelligence or compassion or beauty, more skills or talents or money or friends or be more giving and have better morals or anything than someone else but that doesn’t make us a better person. Also, while there’s so many less wise and intelligent than we are or think we are, there’s so many who are more wise and intelligent. And we can always learn something new no matter how much we already know. Everyone can teach us or remind us something even if it’s simply how not to be.  It’s possible to cherish our great qualities without feeling like we are somehow great or above others. I believe in what he says, greatness works through us. 

Anyone can be great. There are so many ways to allow greatness to work through us. Let’s welcome every opportunity to allow it. 

This quote is a great reminder that it’s possible to be self confident while remaining humble and open.

One of the best quotes ever! 😀

Much love & light to you,

❤
Xoxo Kim