Cheesecakes, Cookies, and Cupcakes

Do you like your desserts plain or with toppings on them?  Maybe it depends on what the dessert is and what topping is paired with it.  Three popular tasty treats are cheesecakes, cookies, and cupcakes.  Does your mouth water just thinking about them?  If the desserts represent thoughts that make you happy, then the toppings would be the covering, or hair, to highlight your creativity.

Cheesecake is often topped with berries.  They add color, juice, and texture to each slice.  Identify a place that does those things for you.  Where do you go when you need to brighten your mood, recharge your energy, and plan your next move?

Cookies may not have things sitting on top of them, but you can see the treats peeping through the surface.  Chocolate chips, raisins, and M&M candies are sweet, chewy and crunchy morsels that blend with the cookie dough and enhance the flavor.  What adds a little extra joy to your day and puts a smile on your face?  Is it all green lights on your commute to work, a hug from your child, a marathon of your favorite television series, or something else?   

Cupcakes are topped with different flavors of icing, or frosting.  The design is usually a swirl that ends with a cute tip.  What has been swirling around in your head lately?  Do you have an idea for something fun?  Maybe you are thinking about starting a new chapter or ending a current one.  The swirl should make you happy, not cause you stress.

Leave a comment and share if you have had an cheesecake, cookie, or cupcake moments recently.  Also remember to vote in this week's poll about desserts.

Favorite Things

Your favorite things can tell others something about you.  Sometimes you may not realize that you are connected to those around you by similar likes and dislikes.  Common categories for favorite things include sports teams, gadgets, and restaurants.  You may be able to easily identify your favorites for these things.  It might be more interesting and thought provoking to look at other favorite things that help define you. 

Think about your favorite in each of the following categories:

• Quote - What is it?  Who said it?  Why do you like it?  It doesn't have to be something from a famous person.  It might be words of wisdom from your mother or grandmother.
• Time of Day - Are you a morning, afternoon, evening, or night person?  When are you at your best?
• House Cleaning Task - It may seem odd to think about liking to clean house, but some chores are better than others.  Do you like doing dishes, laundry, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, or some other activity? 
• Photo - It could be a baby picture, graduation picture, wedding portrait, vacation photo, or photograph of a loved one that evokes special memories.  If photography is your profession or hobby, it may be something from your portfolio.

Leave a comment and share what came to mind when you considered your favorite quote, time of day, house cleaning task, and photo.  Remember to vote in this week's poll about another one of your favorites.

Dance Moves

Are you a dancer?  Do you watch the popular dancing shows on television and try to imitate the moves?  Most dances can be categorized as either solo, partner, or group (line).  Do you prefer one style over the others?  What do your dance habits say about you?  Dancing can be a metaphor for how you handle some of the things that life throws at you.   

Some of the popular (past and present) solo dances include the twist and the dougie.  You can do them by yourself and add your own individual style to them.  These two examples also have signature songs attached to them.  Identify some songs that might describe your motto for each day.  Examples might be "I Will Survive", "I Believe I Can Fly", or "Man in the Mirror".  Focus on the steps that you can do to improve any situation.

Examples of partner dances are the tango and waltz.  You may be assigned a leader or follower role.  The key point is that you have someone to help you perform the routine.  You will need to communicate with your partner regularly to make sure each person knows what to do, how to do it, and when to do it.  In order for you to hit your mark on a consistent basis, practice is necessary.  Don't become so comfortable with your talents that neglect to hone them.  When someone else is depending on you to be there for them, make sure you are in place to catch, guide, or support them.

Group, or line, dances are usually well known and may be done at large gatherings.  The electric slide is popular at weddings and family reunions.  During the height of the macarena craze, it was often performed during sporting events.   If you are uncertain of what comes next, look around you to see what the others are doing.  Enjoy yourself in the midst of a crowd that is moving in the same direction.  Don't worry if you miss a step.  Laugh it off and keep dancing.  Have fun and give your mind a rest from the daily stress caused by work, family, health, and other issues.

Leave a comment and share something about the last time that you danced.

Thick and Thin

How do you measure relationships?  Do you have different categories for your friends and family?  You may hear someone refer to some of their friends as people who will stick with them through thick and thin.  It is comforting to receive unconditional love from those who are closest to you.  However, don't discount those folks that only fit in either the thick or thin group.  Everyone is not equipped to go through your crises and dilemmas with you.  Some people may be better suited for leisure and celebration activities.  Call them when you want to see a movie, have lunch, or get your nails done.  Then there are the people who function best when confronted with chaos and despair.  They may not fit well with your fun and festive group.   It's okay to have a diverse circle of friends.  Looking at how hair may be thick or thin can illustrate the point.

Thick hair can be tangled and hard to manage.  Similarly, there are situations in life that are difficult for you to handle.  Reach out to those connections that can help you cope and endure troubling times.  People on your thick list will be patient, focused, and observant.  They listen with purpose and provide a safe place for you to work through your issues.

Thin hair might have gaps that require coverage.  Some people use wigs, toupees, ponytails, or weaves to create a fuller look.  The folks on your thin list can serve a similar role.  You want to associate with people that add volume and depth to areas where you may need some help.  Form alliances that can help you work on your weaknesses as well as highlight your strengths.

Do you know who will be with you through thick and thin?  Let them know that they are appreciated.  Leave a comment and share how you have benefited from both thick and thin support.

Red, White, and Blue

Do you have big plans for the 4th of July holiday?  The skies will be beautiful with the colors of all of the firework celebrations.  You will see plenty of red, white, and blue decals and banners on display.  As you reflect on American independence and patriotism, take the time to  acknowledge your own victories.  The Declaration of Independence mentions life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Are you in possession of, or actively working on, these attributes?  It may help you answer the question if you align the colors (red, white, and blue) with the inalienable rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness).

Red (Life) - Live life to the fullest.  Experience is the best teacher.  Don't be reckless, but try new and exciting things from time to time in order to widen your perspective on what you can do.

White (Liberty) - You have the freedom to develop yourself and shape your present and future reality.  Wipe the slate clean of negative things that held you back in the past.  You determine how long you subject yourself to restrictive boundaries and barriers.

Blue (The Pursuit of Happiness) - As you work toward becoming the best possible you, remember to clearly identify the finish lines along the way.  There will always be new goals, dreams, and challenges to conquer.  Try to avoid going in circles to reach your destination.  Know where one journey ends and the next one begins.  Happiness is a state of mind.  It can be achieved for one thing that is complete while other things are still a work in progress.  

Leave a comment and share the color that is boldest for you this week.