It's Blessings! Not Luck.

Hi guys

Most of you would know by now that I recently got married. It feels amazing. Nash and I are happy (full stop, no buts, no excuses, no apologies).

During the week leading up to the wedding, I was reminded about the power of our thoughts by a good friend who came to Anguilla for my wedding. She is a woman of strong faith and optimism and I feel so inspired by her. I was speaking about how happy I was, and how lucky I felt. However, even though I felt so terrific, I allowed small, sneaky negative thoughts to invade my mind. I remember joking at one point...that something could happen which could result in me not making it to my wedding.

To paraphrase, my friend said in her lovely Bajan accent, nothing is going to happen to you Shellecia. She said that I will make it safe and sound to my wedding, it will be beautiful and that Nash and I will enjoy a wonderful life together. This is indeed the power of positive thoughts. She wasn't saying that things will always be perfect but she was certainly saying to enjoy my blessings (not luck) today without worrying about what could or could not happen in the future. The future wasn't in my hands anyway. Thanks D for this lovely reminder!

How about you? Do you allow those same sneaky thoughts to steal your joy? Most of us do. We seldom allow ourselves to feel complete happiness. Today, if you get an expected or unexpected blessing, just enjoy it! Say thank you and smile.


Nash and I have certainly been saying thank you and smiling even more than usual (if that is possible)! We have chosen to say yes to today everyday and to just give thanks for the blessing of life and each other.

If you want to read more about our story and see wedding photos do visit myanguillaexperience.com.

Thanks for reading and for sharing in our happiness!

Remembering 2012 and seriously getting excited about 2013

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

I am excited. Personally 2012 was a spectacular year. So many wonderful things happened during the year and I give infinite thanks.

Highlights of my year included celebrating another birth year, getting engaged (see photo below), home ownership, watching my sister graduate, fantastic vacations, teaching the Personal and Professional Development course at the Comprehensive Learning Centre to fabulous students, Presidency of the Optimist Club of Anguilla which was a great learning and growing experience and so much more.

When I asked Nash what the highlights of his year were his answer made me smile. He said they were the simple moments like 'seeing me smile, talking to his brother, waking up each day... this is why I love this man.

Photo credit - Signature7602 Studios

 

But I digress ... if you know me at all, you will know that I also get excited about something, anything big or small at least twice a day. You might hear me say

‘I am so excited to eat lunch’ or I am excited for a friend starting something new in his or her life or I am excited just because my love dropped by the office. I don’t ever want to lose my child like enthusiasm for what most would consider the mundane things in life.

So yes, even though 2012 was so spectacular, I don’t mind saying goodbye to it because I am excited about what lies ahead in 2013. If it is God’s will, I will celebrate my 30^th in 2013 (woo hoo – can we say 30 and fabulousJ. I will also marry the love of my life -I am so excited! Can anyone tell how many times I said excited or some version of this word in this blog?

How about you? What makes you excited? It is the season to be jolly so don’t be a scrooge. Get excited! Get happy. I certainly am. Say Yes to getting excited today.

Let me take this opportunity to say a very WARM THANK YOU to those who have subscribed to or read my blog. I hope this blog has inspired you in some way or at the very least made you chuckle :).  To my readers in North, South and Central America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and of course Anguilla please do continue to read  and share in 2013 and look out for a new blog coming soon!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year or Season Greetings from 'Say Yes to Today!'

The Five Love Languages

Cheers to LOVE!

Wedding season is upon us once again. Let me take this opportunity to give a shout out to my friends Shantelle and Derrys who will be celebrating two years of marital bliss tomorrow. They are a truly beautiful and blessed couple.

Some relationships progress smoothly and others do not. There are numerous reasons for this which I will not go into as that is a book in itself. ‘Fortunately,’ many authors have written books which attempt to help couples improve their relationships and marriages or rediscover the love they have for each other.

Last year, a friend recommended that I read the book ‘The Five Love Languages’ by Dr. Gary Chapman. I am sure some of you have read it. Anyway, I was a bit skeptical about an author who claimed that relationships and marriages could possibly be fixed or a long lasting love could be created if couples understood each other’s love language. My first thought was love is complicated and really now didn’t the bible tell us all we need to know about love?

Anyway while stuck in Puerto Rico for two days last year during a storm, I read the book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don’t think the book contains anything earth shattering but I do like the way the love languages are defined and I do believe it may be helpful for some couples.

For example, based on this book, I quickly realized my primary love language is acts of service followed closely by quality time. My boyfriend does the most caring and thoughtful things for me and even though he does things which fall into all the categories below…it is these acts of service which make me feel so special and cared for.  Similarly and importantly I know what his love language is. So when we add these little tidbits to our 1Corinthians 13 love …let’s just say we are happy.

I have taken the liberty of including the definitions of these love languages from the author Gary Chapman in this blog below. Drop me a comment and let me know if you read the book, your thoughts and if you think that one of these definitions describes your love language. If you have an additional love language, do share! If you think this is a load of crap…do share as well.

THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES

• Words of Affirmation

Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

• Quality Time

In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

• Receiving Gifts

Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

• Acts of Service

Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most wants to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

• Physical Touch

This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

I hope you enjoyed reading. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on your love language.

Our Romantic Comedy - The rest is still unwritten..

Love is perhaps one of the hardest things to describe and thus as I write this blog...I am thinking...what am I thinking writing about love? Nevertheless...here we go.

'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does
not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of
wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects,
always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (Corinthians 13, 4-7).'

Like most persons, I love this scripture. I have been hearing it a lot over the last few years as I attend the weddings of family and friends. Along with many other scriptures in the bible, it is almost a recipe for a successful love, a successful marriage. Do you agree?

So, after the dress has been decided on and worn, after the venue has been decorated and used, after the food and drinks have been prepared and consumed, after the excitement of the wedding day and beautiful vows and speeches have been given....what should remain and be built upon is a Corinthians 13 love.

I like to witness love. I believe in love. I am in love. Love is a wonderful and beautiful thing. One of my favourite love songs is‘I thought I loved you then’ by Brad Paisley. Check it out and you will see why!

A word of caution

At a wedding I attended recently, my friend’s mother said to me......love and marriage should never be rushed....regardless of age or circumstance.  She said 'it might take a long time to find that person you want to spend the rest of your life with but at the end it would be worth the wait.’

I totally agreed with her as she shared these nuggets of wisdom. Some people find their true love at an early age or realise that they are in love quickly after meeting someone. Others find their true love in their evening years or choose to take time to allow their love to develop and grow before marriage....it does not matter which path you choose but at the end of the day...what matters is that both of you are totally and completely happy and secure in your love.

To my sweetie, I love you.

Today, don’t miss out on the opportunity to say ‘I love you’ to the special person in your life. I just did J.