tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86625782024-03-07T00:08:52.227-05:00...As I Remember It..."...when you have nothing to be ashamed of, when you know who you are and what you stand for, you stand in wisdom. Insight. Strength and Protection. You stand in peace." ~Oprah WinfreyNeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.comBlogger864125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-56370120502525142072019-01-17T10:04:00.002-05:002019-01-17T10:04:13.009-05:00COMING SOON<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am making big changes to the site. I'm so excited. After 15 years of this, I am finally giving NEENALOVE.COM a makeover.NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-86562127776629813892019-01-09T13:06:00.000-05:002019-01-10T13:36:20.843-05:003 Things: How Can I Get Her To Be Interested In More?<center>
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A gentleman asks, "How can I get this lady interested in more between us?"<br />
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He relates that the two of them have been flirting for months and he wants to move it past the flirting stage.<br />
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These conversations are always such an eye opener for me. I don't have the answers. If I did, I would not be a single woman at 43. I'm not one of those girls that flirts. The way my mother raised me, a woman should NEVER use her femininity to manipulate someone. As such, I have always been uncomfortable doing the typical flirt thing that I see so many women do. I think of myself as a sweetheart, agreeable, accommodating. It is genuinely me even though someone that is so close to me said that it comes off as FAKE. I understand that she looks at the world in such a different way than I do and she is entitled to her opinion of me but I am NOT fake.<br />
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In any case, I have but three points to make when it comes to taking a friendship to something more, possibly something romantic.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">#1 OPPORTUNITY</span></b><br />
There will always be a window of opportunity for you to make a move. I cannot say that there are specific examples because every single situation is different. Even if you think you've been "friend zoned" an opportunity will arise and you have to be ready to take it. You have to be ready to move on it. This search for love and companionship can be rough but it doesn't have to be. In fact the ones that move smoothly like a river flowing to the sea are the ones that I have enjoyed the most.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">#2 EFFORT and CONSISTENCY</span></b><br />
This is, by far, the most important part of making a woman take notice of you. Make the effort to call her in the morning and throughout the day. Make the effort to show that you are into her. I love surprises! I had a boyfriend who used to surprise me all the time with flowers or he would show up at my job with a treat. Sometimes he'd show up at the house, unannounced, and he'd whisk me away for a meal somewhere. On my days off, he'd pick me up and take me to watch the sunset. He lived an hour and fifteen minutes away from me so doing all these things was no small feat. I ended up breaking his heart. I never did apologize to him but I suppose it would be pointless at this stage of life because this was over twenty years ago. Anyway, every woman appreciates effort and consistency!!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">#3 SHE WANTS TO BE SEEN</span></b><br />
Although it is very flattering to be physically desired, I would prefer to be "seen." To be really seen for who I am, for my heart, my soul, my intelligence. It is one of the most annoying things when a man approaches me leading with sex. After a night of clubbing, a friend of mine and I were at a diner. It had to be 4 in the morning. We get up to leave and pay our bill. There are a few people ahead of us and a few behind us. I was wearing a mini-dress with my legs all the way out there. This guy looked about the same age as me mid-40's, maybe early 50's. He kept staring at me. Smiling. Winking. It was kind of annoying even though he was very attractive. I'm continuing to talk to my friend and we're laughing. When we get to the cashier, we pay, and we're about to walk out. The guy that was smiling at me stops me before I walk out the door. He grabs my arm and whispers, "All I been imagining since I saw you walk in is your legs wrapped around my face." I was so irritated. I looked him dead in his eyes and said, "Other girls might think that's cute. Not me though. You coming at me all sideways." Then I walked away. Anyway, a real woman wants to be admired for her heart and soul, her intelligence, not her physical features. Again, it's flattering to be desired that way and it's important to express that she is beautiful but DO NOT express it in a sexual way. You're welcome!<br />
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FOLLOW ME</div>
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NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-29642288357787701052018-12-27T19:23:00.000-05:002018-12-30T13:26:24.472-05:00Your Personal History Starts With a Journal<center>
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NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-88152704650997858202018-12-12T12:19:00.000-05:002018-12-13T12:59:26.499-05:00Connected Preparation<center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hrxQ6elLQiY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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I am aging.<br />
You are aging.<br />
We are all aging and there's one guarantee in life - we are all going to die eventually.<br />
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The older I get, the more it becomes a reality and that my youthful thoughts of living forever young are fading. I still feel young but I know that I'm no spring chicken. I still feel the invincibility of youth but the reality is that Father Time is ticking away.<br />
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I cherish all the connections I have made in my lifetime with friends and family. At some point, our friends play a larger role in our lives because we actually get to pick our friends. Whereas, we don't really have a choice with our family.<br />
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So, moving forward, I know I need to reach out to my friends and family more often. I need to make it a point to call for no other reason than to say hello and connect. There are very few that I trust to share the intimate details of my life for fear of judgement. I don't really care to hear EVERYONE's opinion on my life. And yet my life is an open book if you ask me the right questions. (I don't volunteer just any kind of information.)<br />
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Being connected and feeling connected is an important component in my life. Even with the thousands of miles between my immediate family and I, I still feel so connected to them and involved in their comings and goings. My nieces and nephews are my heart and my soul and I believe that connection that I have with them is because of my deep, unconditional love for them. Perhaps I can incorporate that unconditional love approach to all of the people I am connected to you.<br />
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I don't know.<br />
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What I do know is that we all need to get connected -- to our friends and family, to our innermost desires, and to what is most authentic to us.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">FOLLOW ME</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</center>NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-55155217421794474152018-12-10T22:46:00.001-05:002018-12-10T22:46:29.260-05:00Best Christmas Ever<center>
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It was Christmas 1995 or maybe 1996. It was 1996. Definitely.<br />
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I married my first husband January 4th, 1997. For Pacific Island girls in my era, marriage was the only way out of the house. So I was excited to make my way in the world with my first love. A month before the wedding, with the excitement of becoming a new bride and all the butterflies I felt surrounding the love adventure I was about to embark on, I was feeling the Christmas spirit.<br />
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My little sisters down the road came over and we started talking about "Ding Dong Ditch," although I think we called it something else. We would make all sorts of homemade baked goods and give it to families in the neighborhood that had large families to feed. We would place the goodies on their porch, knock on the door or ring their bell, then run. We were very much feeling the spirit of giving, the spirit of Christmas. We made our list of the baked goods we would make and decided on homemade cookies, rice crispie treats, and cupcakes. We sourced our ingredients and started baking.<br />
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The TV was playing a Christmas special with beautiful music and we were having a good time. Laughing. Baking. Eating. Singing. The lights from our Christmas tree cast a soft glow in the living room and the lights that my father hung on the eaves of the house streamed into the living room and kitchen. There was a slight frost in the air with the temperatures dipping into the upper 60's, which is cold for Hawai'i. While the goodies cooled off, we made homemade gift tags. I'm artsy fartsy like that and my little sisters from down the road are always DOWN for whatever. In the midst of our laughing and singing along to the Christmas special, we hear a knock at the door.<br />
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Nobody we know would knock on the door. Most people we know will walk right into the house, not needing or waiting for an invitation. So it was odd that there was someone knocking at our door. Because of the cold temperatures, we had the heavy door closed when normally the screen door would suffice. When I opened the door, there was a Caucasian gentleman standing there. Dark hair. Round glasses. Red Santa hat on. Cardigan and khakis. I had never seen this man before in my life. He smiled really big when I opened the door.<br />
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He asked me, "Is this the home of ((insert my moms name))?"<br />
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I replied, "Yes. Do you need something?"<br />
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He handed an envelope to me and asked me to give it to her.<br />
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I said, "Okay," and took the envelope.<br />
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"Hold on," I told him, as I ran to get a box of macadamia nut chocolates under the tree that my mom had wrapped for occasions like this.<br />
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He took the box and walked down the driveway. I closed the door and took the envelope to my mother, who was sitting with my father in their bedroom.<br />
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I went back to preparing the gift packages for the families we selected. The laughing, the singing, the preparing continued. My mother came out of the room with a stern look on her face.<br />
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"Where did this envelope come from?" my mother asked.<br />
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I explained what happened and described the guy. She walked to the door and looked up and down the street. I was worried. Why was she so concerned?<br />
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"Is something wrong, mom?" Mom had tears in her eyes.<br />
"There is $250 cash in this envelope."<br />
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All of us started tearing up as she explained how she had to choose between paying the electric or buying groceries for Christmas and New Years. I had been so caught up with thinking all about me in the preceding months with my wedding and the fairytale I thought I was going to live out. It never even crossed my mind about the struggles of my parents, who both lost their jobs within months of each other. My tears were about feeling regret and shame for having only thought about me all these months. I hadn't contributed to my wedding or anything and I just thought how selfish I had been. With one act, a gift from a stranger, I was brought to my knees and reminded to think outside of myself. I was glad that we were baking and preparing small, little gifts for other people in the area. In some way, I was just like the santa-guy that had delivered that envelope.<br />
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That was the best Christmas ever. Since then, Christmas is about everyone else especially the children. It is a time to remind them of the abundance of God's universe. It's a time to foster imagination and the magic of believing. The only thing that brings me joy at Christmas is the ability I have to give whatever I can. I still love cards especially when they are handwritten but other than that, Christmas is a time to create memories. I love the lights, the sounds, the music, the feeling in the air, the decorations. But this season is about love. Merry Christmas!<br />
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<br />NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-72079897985834677182018-12-05T03:00:00.000-05:002018-12-06T03:02:48.402-05:00Journal Writing Fanatic - 3 TIPS<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yF5mZS43RNY" width="560"></iframe><br />
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What I enjoy the most about Journal Writing is going back to read what was going on in my life years ago. I cringe at some of the stuff I wrote. Perhaps it's the subjects I opt to write about or it's the conversational, informal language that I use that makes me cringe. Either way, it's fun to go back and read and compare how I wrote in the past to how I write in the here and now. Maybe when I'm 60 looking back at the stuff I'm writing in my 40's I will cringe about it too. My life is in the pages of all of my journals. As I age, I get more real and honest. I am firmly coming in to being my most authentic. I want to be remembered as this woman I am today because I can feel my wings stretching from the cocoon that I was ensnared in and all I want to do is fly.<br />
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Real words on real pages that are not stuck in some electronic cloud is what will last through the ages. Wouldn't it be a wonderful gift for your posterity. The idea of being forever remembered in the pages that I write makes me immortal and I love that idea. I want that for everyone that reads this.<br />
Here are three tips to get started on your journaling.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>START SOMEWHERE</b></span><br />
Many people attempt writing in a journal. You have probably wrote one or two entries and then gave up and that journal is left sitting, untouched. So if you still have that journal or that notebook or composition book, pull it out and let's start again. You have to start somewhere! So even if the last entry was made 5 years ago, start again.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">USE PROMPTS</span></b><br />
Remember in grade school and maybe even high school, the "slam" book or "slang" book? In the book, each page had a question. Each line on each page was reserved for the same person. For instance, page one would be, What is your full name? If you used line 12 to answer, you were line 12 on every page. Think of those questions and use it as the catalyst for your journaling. You can also google "writing prompts." There are tons of questions you can find on the internet to help move this journaling thing along.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">START SIMPLE</span></b><br />
The best tip, though, is to START SIMPLE. Don't overcomplicate things. If writing is not your thing then make lists. If you just want to sketch then do that. If you want to make collages then do that. The best journals are a mix of everything - writing, lists, art, cutouts and keepsakes. Just START!<br />
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The idea is to preserve a moment in time. Writing in a journal does just that. Let me know how it goes.<br />
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NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-1112783884900810212018-12-03T05:09:00.000-05:002018-12-03T21:03:55.187-05:00Writer's Prompt: 3 Things<center>
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The bold face print is the topic. What follows are the three answers. If you keep a journal, write it in your journal. If you blog, post it. If you don't do either, each topic is a great way to break the ice with new people you meet. There's nothing like having something prepared to talk about and ask when you're around people you've never met.<br />
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<b>Three Names I Go By:</b><br />
1. Babe -- I don't think my popps has ever used my given name. LOL<br />
2. Neena / Neeroc -- Neena started out as Neeroc, which is my given name backwards. A friend shortened it to NEENA and the rest is history.<br />
3. Reen -- shortened given name<br />
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<b>Three Screen Names I Have:</b><br />
1. NeenaLove<br />
2. LoveNeenaLove -- as in the way I end a written letter...<br />
Love,<br />
NeenaLove<br />
3. hula_heffa -- this was the yahoo days. I don't even know if that username still works.<br />
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<b>Three Things I Like About Myself:</b><br />
1. My heart -- my parents gifted me a generous heart by their example and how they love/d everybody<br />
2. My brains -- sometimes my brain is a little too strong and it talks me out of doing really big and risky things that can work out;<br />
3. My talents -- because my brain is so active and complex, I learn things relatively quickly. I am really gifted with my hands. I like to DIY anything and everything. Photography. Floral Arranging. Graphic Design. I will try anything once.<br />
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<b>Three Things I DisLike About Myself:</b><br />
1. Sometimes my self-confidence takes a beating when I fail at something. Then my friends and family build me up again.<br />
2. I get distracted easily. I don't even have to explain that.<br />
3. Either I OVERTHINK something or I do the exact opposite and go wherever the wind blows. The freespirit part... I love that about me. The overthinking... not so much!<br />
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<b>Three Parts Of My Heritage:</b><br />
1. Hawaiian<br />
2. Samoan<br />
3. LOVE, sweet Love<br />
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<b>Three Things That Scare Me:</b><br />
1. Growing old alone<br />
2. Dying alone<br />
3. Dying with my dreams still in me, unrealized.<br />
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<b>Three Everyday Essentials:</b><br />
1. Coffee<br />
2. A shower in the morning and in the evening<br />
3. Sad but true... social media<br />
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<b>Three Things I'm Wearing Right Now:</b><br />
1. A warm, tiger print robe<br />
2. Socks<br />
3. Underwear<br />
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<b>Three Of My Favorite Artists at the Moment:</b><br />
1. Kem -- so much of his music speaks to me; the lyrics and his unique voice<br />
2. Raheem Devaughn -- his stuff just doesn't get old<br />
3. Jaheim -- I still love all of his music all these years later<br />
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<b>Three of my Favorite Songs at the Moment:</b><br />
1. Promise to Love -- Kem<br />
2. Ridiculous -- Raheem Devaughn<br />
3. In My Hands -- Jaheim<br />
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<b>Three New Things I Want to do in the Next Year:</b><br />
1. Kick the 9-5 for entrepreneurship -- take the risk and make it happen!<br />
2. Reduce personal debt<br />
3. Finish my first and second novel<br />
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<b>Three Things I Want in a Relationship:</b><br />
1. True companionship -- have fun together, love hard, play hard<br />
2. True partnership -- collaborate on building an empire<br />
3. Quality Time -- more time together<br />
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<b>Three Things I Can't Do:</b><br />
1. Whisper -- anyone who knows me in real time knows this is the God's honest truth.<br />
2. Make a good pie crust, yet<br />
3. I never give up. I can't!<br />
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<b>Three Hobbies:</b><br />
1. Floral everything<br />
2. DIY everything -- I used to love refinishing furniture<br />
3. Graphic Design<br />
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<b>Three Things I Wanna Do Really Badly Right Now:</b><br />
1. Drive two hours south for some Quality Time with my boo<br />
2. Watch a really good Christmas movie -- one that I've never seen before<br />
3. Splurge at Michael's -- a craft store -- so I can finish up my tree<br />
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<b>Three Places I've Never Been to that I'd Like to Visit:</b><br />
1. Thailand -- hopefully with my Popps. He has so much stories from his days during the Vietnam war. He was stationed there with the United States Air Force. It would be nice to go back there with him.<br />
2. Samoa -- wish my mom was here so I could go there with her.<br />
3. China -- again, with my Popps. Walk the Great Wall of China.<br />
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<b>Three Things I Want to do Before I Die:</b><br />
1. Be a millionaire<br />
2. Make a difference in the world<br />
3. Forgive and be forgiven<br />
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FOLLOW ME</div>
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NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-40429820043474827522018-11-28T11:59:00.000-05:002018-11-29T12:08:28.396-05:00Love the One You're With<center>
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I have a dear friend that I cut ties with 13 months ago. I miss him immensely. Cutting off communication with him left a gaping hole in my life as I'm sure it did his as well. We would spend hours and hours on the phone talking about everything and nothing, talking about what we could have been if circumstances in our separate lives were different, talking about when we were young and spry, talking about sex and love and soul mates, marriage, companionship.<br />
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He crosses my mind often. Flashes of recent memories that we created will pop up in my head while I'm in the midst of doing something else. No doubt, our friendship/relationship will span several lifetimes and probably through eternity. We have always said that to each other - that we would find each other in every lifetime. This lifetime just wasn't the right one for us. Regardless of all of that, I miss him in the here and now.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE ONE</span></b><br />
Life circumstances bar us from continuing whatever it was we were doing.<br />
What were we doing?<br />
Talking?<br />
Missing each other?<br />
I wonder sometimes why we spend so much of our lives searching to love and be loved from everyone except the one that could actually be "the one." I know that this search for "the one" has governed my entire adult life. I read a meme on Facebook that said,<br />
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<i>You will stumble upon someone who will start a fire in you that cannot die.</i></div>
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<i>However, the saddest, most awful truth you will ever come to find -</i></div>
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<i>is they are not always with whom we spend our lives.</i></div>
But nothing that is outside of your reach is worth trading in what you have right now. If you're bored in your relationship or just tired of the same ole grind, work through it. Overcome your feelings of disappointment and search for "the one" inside of you and then commit to making your relationship work. The old adage, "I can do bad all by myself," holds true but it can be such a lonely existence so don't give up on what you have in your life now.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">HERE AND NOW</span></b><br />
He said that he was coming for me in THIS lifetime and yet we are aging and I don't want to waste time waiting on things to be different or wishing for more ideal circumstances. So I have moved on. No waiting for the past to catch up with me. No waiting for future possibilities. I am living in the here and now. I have always imagined that I would grow old and die along side the love of my life. I never thought, for one minute, that I would be single at this age. Do I think of this friend that I thought was "the one"? Often! Do I wish things were different? Often! But I cannot let those feelings hold me back from being happy in the here and now. And even if the here and now gets a little lonely and I feel like I'm treading water all alone, I know that there is a purpose for this season in my life. I don't know what it is except that I have found so much strength in myself to be out here alone.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH</b></span><br />
So whatever the circumstances of your life. If you are in a relationship, be committed. Love the one you're with. Remember all the things that brought you together and nurture it. Don't look for escape. Instead, find your peace in what you have and let go of the idea of "the one."<br />
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FOLLOW ME</div>
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NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-36296221486883179612018-11-21T08:44:00.000-05:002018-11-27T08:47:06.771-05:004th Thursday in November<center>
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I was absolutely EXHAUSTED from my drive up from South Carolina to Maryland. No time to do my regular video podcast. This is what I came up with. </center>
NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-47751262179009123622018-11-14T22:09:00.005-05:002018-11-14T22:09:41.841-05:00Everybody Should Have a Divorce Party!<center>
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Two years ago I received my walking papers from my ex.<br />
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In an effort to boost my spirits and to push me to see the positive things about divorce, my dear friends threw me a Divorce Party. This was actually the third divorce party. The first one was with my cousins at Haleiwa Joes at Haiku Gardens in Kaneohe and then we moved the party to Ohana's in Temple Valley. That was a blast! The second one was in Maryland. So DP #3 (divorce party) started out on a catamaran off Waikiki Beach, right in front of Duke's Bar and Grill. We are regulars on the sunset sail. But this sunset sail was different.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">LET GO</span><br />
My heart was so broken. I could not imagine why my ex would throw away such a significant portion of our lives. Thoughts of him with other women invaded my mind. Thoughts of me being alone, growing old alone, dying alone caused weeks of sleepless nights. I was feeling unattractive and unwanted and all of it was driving me crazy. I had to let it all go. I had to let go of the expectations that I had assumed. I had to move forward and not turn back. So this sunset sail was big for me. It was a significant event where I had made up in my mind that I was going to let go of all of the coulda-woulda-shoulda of how my life was supposed to be.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">SETTING SUN and RISING MOON</span><br />
It was just me and my baby brother on that sunset sail with a bunch of strangers. Everyone else that was coming to DP #3 had missed the sail. I was kind of relieved that they didn't make it because I really needed the time to be in my thoughts, by myself, letting go. My brother cozied up with two girls that were checking him out. And I sat alone on the deck of the catamaran watching the sun set over the ocean horizon. The sun's eventual disappearance symbolized, for me, that a chapter of my life was ending. Simultaneously, I watched the full moon rising over Diamond Head. There couldn't have been a more perfect time to be on the catamaran seeing a chapter of my life end with the setting sun and to realize that a new era was beginning with the rising moon. And no matter how dim the light of the moon was against the darkness of night, it was still illuminating my world.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">DIVORCE DECREE</span><br />
I had received the final divorce decree on what would have been our 13th wedding anniversary. It was like a final slap in my face. DP #3 was the perfect solution for dealing with the conundrum that was my life. And why not? Why not have a divorce party? Why not celebrate everything that was right about me? Celebrate everything that I was freeing myself from. Celebrate the bright road ahead that meant I could do anything in the whole wide world. I could go anywhere. I could do anything without asking anyone for permission. And though I was so uncomfortable being alone again, I had no choice but to move forward.<br />
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WHAT DO I WANT?<br />
Has it been roses and daisies since those DP's? Absolutely not. In fact, it has been tough. Suddenly, all I have to think about is me. All of my life has been spent worrying about everyone else's needs. Worried about my mother's harsh criticism. Worried about my husband and how to properly support him. Worried about my job and making sure that I was in line with the strict code of conduct. Worried about everything and everyone but me. And now, in my loneliness, I had to actually think about what I wanted out of life. So, the past two years have been about that. Who am I and what do I want? I see so clearly the life that I want, the abundance I want to enjoy, the love and romance that I want, and I'm ready for all of it. I will not wallow in self-pity thinking of all the ways my life is not what I want it to be. No. I am ready. Here I am, a butterfly emerging from my cocoon.<br />
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Ride with me as I ride this rising star. #NeenaLoveRises #iStillBelieveInLove<br />
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FOLLOW ME</div>
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NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-15955305207435554972018-11-13T06:42:00.002-05:002018-11-13T06:42:58.715-05:00Alice Walker Meet and Greet<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0_xn_YYyBYc" width="560"></iframe><br />
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I spent last evening at a meet and greet with Alice Walker. It was very nice. I am so glad I went. It was right after work and I was lazy to go but I pushed past my laziness and went.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>DISTRACTIONS</b></span><br />
She dropped many nuggets of wisdom throughout her lecture. Her commentary on society, especially here in the United States, was refreshing to hear. She said that we live in a culture that wants us to be distracted. Television literally PROGRAMS you to be distracted. It moves you all the way off your authentic path. I have to be in the mood to watch TV otherwise I rather be reading or writing. Living alone, the TV serves as company mostly. I like to hear the noise when I'm moving about my apartment. I never did sign up for cable. I'm content to have the basic stuff. I love to be in my own thoughts, in my mind creating. TV is just a distraction!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>CONNECTING</b></span><br />
Something else she mentioned is that she has always written since she was a child. I certainly know all about that. I look at the volumes of books that I have written - journals of my life - and I am floored that I have that many thoughts in my head. And I lost the journals from my childhood and my teen years. I also lost a poetry book in high school. Someone stole it. I had penned some of the most beautiful poetry in it. I wish I could get those words and thoughts back. Ms. Walker said that she wrote/writes as a way to connect to "the whole," as she calls it. She said that all art does that. We want to be transformed by artistic impressions. Art is an attempt to connect. I certainly agree with that. When I am moved by beautiful music, I go with it. When I look at beautiful pieces of art, it evokes deep emotion. I want my writing to do the same. I want it always to lead someone home.<br />
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Anyway, I am going to spend the rest of my week devouring an Alice Walker novel or two. I also have these writing exercises to do that will help me get out of this writing funk that I've been in.<br />
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</center>NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-11316632785841404102018-11-11T20:16:00.002-05:002018-11-11T20:26:21.410-05:00Letter to My 13-Year Old Self<center>
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<i>When I look back at my 7th grade picture in my school yearbook, I want to croak. The wildly, tight curly hair. The zits on my forehead. Strange body. Uneven skin tone. I cringe when I look at pictures from back then. I felt so awkward and ugly that I hid from the camera the following year. In fact, it was like I didn't exist because there was NOT ONE picture of me in the school year book.</i><br />
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<i>My feelings were so delicate, so sensitive when I was young. Stupid boys said mean things to me and it stuck to me. I used to wonder why anyone would say something so mean when I felt like I was such a nice person. Oh well -- all water under the bridge now and I am still a nice person.</i><br />
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<i>As is typical with pre-teen girls, or maybe it was just me, I was discovering those weird feelings in my belly when it came to the opposite-sex. Every guy had suddenly become so interesting. Well, that's not entirely true because I actually had a lot of male friends. But I definitely felt unbelievable attraction to the ones that I didn't see as just friends. But it wasn't in the stars to be "liked" by boys in high school. No boyfriends to speak of. No romantic trysts. First kiss wasn't until I was 17 and it was not ideal. (That should be another writer's prompt.) I don't think I missed out on anything though. I always had dates to all the special events. I never went with the same guy to anything from Winterball and banquets to Prom. And no awkward meetings when I see friends from high school now and that's a plus.</i><br />
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<i>Anyway -- this letter is the result of 30 years of living outside of the bubble of high school. The letter started out so much longer. This is the way condensed version. I stuck to the essentials. When I look at that picture of 13-year old me... see below... I look exactly the same except 30 years older. And I feel fabulous about 43-year old me. When you feel good, you look good.</i><br />
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***** LETTER TO MY 13-YEAR OLD SELF *****<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JsWVlROfo_8/W-jMQ0uxoSI/AAAAAAAAGco/V2nXMJdYvwYc565Qx2wI_PgRKNi6GW2eQCLcBGAs/s1600/13yrOld.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="379" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JsWVlROfo_8/W-jMQ0uxoSI/AAAAAAAAGco/V2nXMJdYvwYc565Qx2wI_PgRKNi6GW2eQCLcBGAs/s320/13yrOld.png" width="183" /></a>Dear 13-Year Old Neena,<br />
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Don't pay attention to any of the ugliness that people tell you. All that matters is that you are a child of the Most High.<br />
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You are sunbeams and fairy tales.<br />
You are joy and happiness.<br />
You are beautiful in spite of what people say.<br />
You are gorgeous!<br />
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And when you're 43 and flawless, the guys that called you ugly will beg you for just a little bit of your time. They will send you letters they wish they had sent when they were busy calling you ugly. Don't worry your pretty little self about any of it. Even if you don't feel beautiful now, you will blossom in your own time.<br />
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You are so incredibly smart and kind.<br />
You are so very talented and full of life energy.<br />
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At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is what you think of yourself. So build up your own self-worth in your mind and in your heart. All those boys don't even matter. You got this.<br />
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I.LOVE.YOU.<br />
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Always,<br />
<br />
43-year Old Neena<br />
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NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-84658898704277800582018-11-07T05:05:00.002-05:002018-11-07T05:05:52.314-05:00What Do You Believe<center>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/ZPX7vVldcLU" target="_blank">VIDEO: What Do You Believe?</a></div>
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When someone asks me, "What do you believe?"<br />
It usually follows a discussion on something wildly controversial.<br />
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Do you believe in ALIENS?</div>
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Do you think there are mysteries behind the <i>symbols</i> on the U.S. currency? </div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Was there a place called ATLANTIS?</span></div>
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Do you think there are real PSYCHICS?</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Is there one God or many different GODS?</span></div>
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Does the <i>Bermuda Triangle</i> exist? </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vOy_wU4YUU4/TIzC_dKXotI/AAAAAAAAAyw/-Gjd1q34DSI/s1600/atlantis_lg_d5rw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vOy_wU4YUU4/TIzC_dKXotI/AAAAAAAAAyw/-Gjd1q34DSI/s200/atlantis_lg_d5rw.jpg" width="200" /></a>Do you believe in REINCARNATION?</div>
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Is karma real? Do you believe in ghosts?</div>
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<b style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Is it possible to <i>bend time and space</i>?</b></div>
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I'm sure you get the picture... the list of questions could go on and on. What I can say about <b><i>MY BELIEFS</i></b> is that it is so very open to possibility. <u>All things</u> are possible! What we experience in this earthly existence is but a small fraction in comparison to the mysteries of the universe. I have a magnet on the refrigerator that simply states: <i><u>BELIEVE</u></i>. This truly is the basis of all knowledge. You must <i>BELIEVE</i>!<br />
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At the foundation of My Belief System is that positive forces have one source -- God. Anything else is the absence of God. I would like to always be on the positive end of the spectrum... distributing light, love, knowlege, and truth.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?</span></b><br />
Though I'd like to say that I live for the here and now.... what would probably be more accurate is that I'm excited about what happens next. What happens when my physical body ceases to exist? As I age and progress in my earthly development, what will happen when my heart stops beating and my brain stops working? We have all experienced the loss of a loved one. I love imagining reuniting with each and every one of them. Oh how I miss my grandmothers. (I have never known any of my grandfathers, they all died when my parents were children.) I miss my cousin Jason who was like a lightbulb inside a dark room. His charisma was infectious. I miss my dear, departed friend Michele (pronounced Me-sha-lay). Her humour is what I miss in my day-to-day. My Belief System includes the possibility, the ability, the reality that I will meet them again.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">COMPASSION</span></b><br />
My intention, in dealing with people, animals, the earth, nature, etc. is to feel total compassion. Can I hurt any of these things if I feel compassion for him/her/it? Compassion can be equated with pure-love-energy. It sounds whacky but it actually goes back to a more ancient way of thinking.... a very Eastern philosophy of caring for nature and loving all living things. All of Asia (including India) practice reverence for nature. Native American tribes, Polynesian's, Hindu's, etc. All honor the bounty of the earth and express gratitude for the abundance of resources available to man. I think it is beautiful and is so much a part of who I am. This world is so beautiful. The least I can do is help to care for it the way I would like to be cared for. To love humanity and each individual soul. We are all children of our Creator!<br />
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</b> <b><span style="font-size: large;">CREATED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE "LIGHT"</span></b><br />
I believe that we are all here to do magnificent things. We are an extension of God and should rise to meet the expectation. It's tough to have such a lofty BELIEF SYSTEM and fall short of it on the daily. However, I want my expectations to be something I must strive for rather than something that comes with ease. I am reminded of the story about the butterfly in the cocoon. The butterfly receives strength in its wings by pushing against the cocoon and attempting to break through it. A person observing this may slit open the cocoon to assist the butterfly but this act would, in fact, cripple the butterfly and render its wings useless. We are all created to do significant things that will contribute to the "light", to the positivity in the universe.<br />
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In reading over what free-flowed from my mind, to my fingertips, through the keyboard. My conscious mind is in agreement. These are my basic beliefs (along with what I said on my video):<br />
~God is the founder of positive vibes.<br />
~I live to prepare for the next life. ("Prepare to meet God")<br />
~Compassion/ Unconditional Love for all of God's creations is something I would like to practice in all my actions.<br />
~We are born to testify of God by contributing to the "light" in the universe.<br />
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What do you believe?<br />
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Atlantis <a href="http://www.the2012countdown.com/Atlantis.php">Photo Credit</a><br />
Cosmos <a href="http://www.spaceandmotion.com/cosmos-society-human-cosmology.htm">Photo Credit</a><br />
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NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-19738909902437686302018-10-31T06:12:00.000-04:002018-10-31T06:13:05.505-04:00Two Relationship Questions<center>
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<br />NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-34086220865725574282018-10-24T06:20:00.000-04:002018-10-24T06:20:04.576-04:003 Things -- Fighting for Love<center>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/UfiSiNOUySo" target="_blank">VIDEO: 3 Things -- Fighting for LOVE</a></div>
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I carefully selected what I would say in this video so as not to ramble on and on. However, I do believe there is room for discussion and further exploration into each point. I have several examples from my own life that prompted this idea of "fighting for LOVE." It seems as if the entire theme of my life has been about finding romantic love and yet what I have come to realize is that all along I was searching for the courage to love myself - the good, the bad, the ugly, and most of all the beautiful.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">DON'T GIVE UP</span></b><br />
I had a fantastic childhood. Our family unit was whole and in tact. I grew up with both parents in the home and they loved each other and loved us. My parents were so active in my every part of my life. I can't imagine not having that. They are my example of what marriage and love is supposed to be like. So when I talk about fighting for love, I see my parents who stayed together through thick and thin. When I commit, I do not take my vows lightly. I'm not going to leave or give up just because things get hard.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NO EXPECTATIONS</span></b><br />
Have no expectations and you will never be disappointed. We all have needs and for most of us, we have this large expectation of how he or she should behave. He needs to show me more affection. He needs to buy me large gifts. He needs to make "x" amount of money. He needs to drive a certain type of car. Blah blah blah. All the materialistic things can be lost in a heartbeat. They can also be acquired in a heartbeat. But it's not your partner's "job" to give you all these things especially when you're more than capable of getting them yourself. All of the emotion and love that you require are already in you. It's not your partner's job to pull it out and if you're waiting for that then you have a lot of your own healing to do. Realize that YOU ARE ENOUGH. Any one that you commit to or have committed to is a bonus because you are already whole and complete.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">SELFLESS LOVE</span></b><br />
Giving of your love ties in to having "no expectations." When we approach a relationship from a place of service, it changes our partner's reaction. It is not a manipulation. It shouldn't be. I don't give to get. I serve him as a token of my sincere affection. I don't give him a massage because I want one. I don't cook a meal in the hopes that he will do something for me. I do these things to demonstrate that I adore him and it comes from a genuine place in my soul. I have no attachment to the outcome. I give you this, whatever "this" is, and I have no expectation of your reaction to it. You can love it or hate it but I am not going to be attached to how you receive it.<br />
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Example: My current beau loves shrimp. When we get together we eat seafood. I made shrimp for him twice. Both times they were sauteed in butter and garlic and hot sauce. He is not a butter person. He likes his shrimp boiled and both times I forgot that key information. He ate it both times, which was selfless on his part because he didn't want to hurt my feelings. Of course my feelings would not have been hurt because I am not attached to how he receives it but he didn't know that. From both perspectives, his and mine, we were giving selflessly. Me taking the time to make the shrimp. He accepting the gift even though he knew the butter would make him sick. Make sense?<br />
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<u>CHALLENGE</u><br />
Do something this week for your mate, spouse, partner, friend WITHOUT expecting a specific reaction. Tell me how it goes.<br />
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NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-35870988557704522942018-10-10T06:20:00.000-04:002018-10-22T08:59:37.799-04:003 Things: A Star Is Born <center>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/8cU4G6eG7B0" target="_blank">VIDEO: 3 Things - A Star Is Born</a></center>
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Ok. Who wants to take me to see this movie... again? </center>
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I don't know what creates sparks between two people but I am aware enough to know that it doesn't happen with everyone, both romantically and with new friends you meet. I absolutely love that magic that happens with new love. Remembering new love fuels everything in the relationship that follows. </center>
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The magic that happened between my current beau and I continues to push us forward. He calls it love at first sight. He said he knew there was something magical between us the minute he laid his eyes on me. And I have to concur. You can't even make up the circumstances behind our meeting. When it's time for love to walk in, it's time. </center>
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I have never been shy about love. My heart is wide open. I don't stop myself from feeling. Does that make sense? Some people who have been hurt in the past tend to cut off their feelings. I'm not one of those. If I feel love, I move with it even against all logic. I know how to follow my heart like that. And now, more than I ever have in the past, I know how to stand on my own two feet and not worry about what people around me think about my life choices. No one has to understand me or my choices. I am the only one that has to understand it. </center>
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NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-2256466746477679892018-10-05T08:42:00.000-04:002018-10-08T09:17:33.735-04:00Short Trip HomeI was in Hawai'i - September 23rd and I just returned yesterday. What a trip! I didn't get to hang out with everyone that I wanted to. Most of my time was spent with my nieces and nephews. I love hanging out with them. They are so smart, so brilliant, bright shining lights in my world. It's always tough to leave them but I know that I cannot build my world around them as much as I want to.<br />
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I am so grateful for everyone that made time for me. I felt so spoiled while I was there. Dates for every meal of the day... a girl could get used to that even though I am not really a breakfast eater. I mean, I like breakfast just not in the morning and definitely NOT every morning. Me and Popps did our normal hide-and-eat adventures. Tita's Grill and Zippys. That's what we do. Lei Lei's, Kula Grill, Kaneohe Pancake House, Original Pancake House, Papa Oles, and the list goes on. I put on at least ten pounds while I was home.<br />
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When I walked into my apartment last night, I was a lil choked up to be ALL.BY.MYSELF. Alone. I was writing in my journal that it was always nice to come home to someone... that someone would be waiting for me when I opened the door. What greeted me was a messy house and complete and utter silence. I came home with wayyyy more than I went with. I checked a bag and a cooler plus my carry on and I sent a very large bin of goodies on Delta Cargo. I am pretty well stocked with my goodies and I brought more of my books from home. Anyway, I was irritated that I had pulled a muscle while I was in Hawai'i and had to lug all that mess into my apartment. My cousin offered to send his sons with me to unload my bags but that just wasn't necessary.<br />
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Anyway, I miss the noise of my nieces and nephews and their constant banter. I put them in front of my camera, lights on, and mic'd up. They are such naturals in front of the camera. No shame. Wide open. Full of interesting things to say or maybe I'm just biased because I am one-proud-aunt! Whatever. I'm here in South Carolina with a purpose and I will fulfill it, God-willing.<br />
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<br />NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-69259122539648646052018-09-27T01:00:00.000-04:002018-09-27T13:28:34.442-04:00Goodbye Dear Friend<center><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ugCIkWL-Ja0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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I heard some heartbreaking news this morning. A death of a dear friend from my high school and college years. It has me feeling some kind of way. Though I don't have all the details, the word is that he died of a heart attack. News spreads like wildfire with social media. Death from heart attacks are so sudden. You can't prepare to let go like you do with a cancer patient or any other terminal illness. With sudden deaths, you just have to let go.<br />
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We had two nicknames for each other. The first one was Blue Zebra because it was a club on Restaurant Row in Honolulu. I was with him the first time he went. There was a whole bunch of us that went together. He was fresh off a 2-year LDS mission and so brand new to the club scene. Me? I had been using my cousin's ID to get into clubs since I had turned 17. Anyway, as we walked into the club, I wanted to go to the bar side to drink. He was like, "Can you just stay here and dance?" I rolled my eyes at him and told him that there were all our other friends that he could dance with. He seemed content with that answer and I made my way to the bar. After that night, we called each other Blue Zebra. He said I was too much and I told him that he hadn't seen anything yet.<br />
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The second nickname we called each other was french fry. And people would ask the question, "Why do we call each other French Fry?" and I would relate this story. It all started in our Macro Economics course in College. The teacher asked for a product so that we could break down all the costs associated with it. Of course, I picked french fry because it WAS and still is one of my favorite foods. Especially the crinkle cut fries. Anyway. he couldn't stop laughing at my answer -- FRENCH FRY. We spent the rest of the class listening to the teacher break down the french fry from potato spuds to distribution to McDonalds and other fast food chains. We always laughed about it when we saw each other. No one ever thought this story was particularly funny or that the french fry was funny. Who cares though? We thought it was funny.<br />
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Life is too short to be anything but happy. We get caught up in all the little details of life instead of living in the moment and in the here and now. Death has a way of reminding me about the things that really truly matter. I don't know what tomorrow brings but I will not be a prisoner of my fears. Some of my closest friends have the harshest judgments on my life and how I choose to move about in the world. And I will not be a prisoner of their judgments anymore. I will not fear the unknown or the mysteriousness of my future. There is no more time to live in fear. For right now, there is only LIFE. LIFE and LOVE. Sweet love.<br />
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I bid farewell to a dear friend. I can't believe he left in this way but I honor his light and his life. The world is a little dimmer but we will move forward and remember to hold our loved ones a little closer.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">FOLLOW ME</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
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NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-47341864019624081392018-09-19T22:54:00.004-04:002018-09-19T22:54:59.959-04:00Falling In Love, etc.<center>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/zZ1gK1n4AvI" target="_blank">VIDEO: Three Relationship Questions</a></div>
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<i>Nature never moves in straight lines but basic human logic does. Nature creates perfect order from chaos. Human logic creates chaos from order. ~Bob Proctor</i><br />
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Falling in Love doesn't make sense. In my life, it never has. The chaos of falling truly, madly, deeply in love with someone always takes my breath away. I don't see all the incongruent parts that could make us fall to pieces. All I ever see is all the things that could make it work. I only see his good parts. I don't look at his past to indicate what type of future he might give me. I live in the moment. To everyone around me, this makes me foolish but I have never cared what outsiders think of my choice in who I love.<br />
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When my ex and I parted ways, for over a year all I could talk about was how I did not want to put in any time getting to know someone new. I would rather get together with an ex than try to learn someone else. That mindset has changed. What would it look like for me to go back to an ex? Like I didn't learn from the first failure? There's just too many possibilities in the world to think that going to an ex is the best route for me. I'm not saying that I couldn't or wouldn't go back to an ex. I'm saying that that is not my only option for finding a fulfilling relationship.<br />
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Long relationships and marriages go through funky periods of time when nothing seems right, everything seems wrong, and the only thing that makes sense is to leave. I don't know how to leave. I am just not that type of girl. So even if my relationship may fall into a funk, I revert back to that crazy, chaotic moment when I fell in love.... that moment when my heart chose him (whoever 'him' is). That initial magic will always make me melt and thinking of it will always bring me right back to being in love even in the midst of the worst funk. I wish that my former partners had the same resolve but they didn't and I'm not looking back anymore. I have so much to be grateful for and so much to look forward to.<br />
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I can't answer any of the questions that I posed on the video and I'm curious as hell to see how people respond.<br />
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FOLLOW ME</div>
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<br />NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-26509943209356182792018-09-16T02:14:00.000-04:002018-09-17T02:15:40.276-04:00NATURAL DISASTERS - What Are Your Memories?<center>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/QgRPHy2u0RE" target="_blank">VIDEO: Writer's Prompt</a></div>
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It was September 1992.<br />
I was 17 years old. My senior year in high school had just commenced.<br />
Hurricane Iniki was touted as the most powerful hurricane to hit Hawai'i in recorded history. It was a Category 4 hurricane when it hit the island of Kaua'i. The damage it left in its wake was heartbreaking. I have extended family in the Ha'ena, Wainiha, Hanalei region so it was sad to see the damage.<br />
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The island I lived on, O'ahu, had been spared any real major damage. We had dodged the fury of Iniki in my little town of Hau'ula. The day the hurricane arrived was a Friday. When O'ahu had received the all-clear sign, I instantly went back to teenage mode instead of worrying about my life and the unknown future. Being that it was Friday night, I wanted to hang out with my friends.<br />
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A few of us met up at the BYU Hawaii Campus. The Canon Activities Center on-campus was doubling as the Red Cross Shelter. We normally hung out there on the weekends. It was a safe place. Clean. It had a snackbar with inexpensive food and there were college boys.<br />
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The remnants of the hurricane left us with light passing showers and cloudy skies with a full moon hiding behind it. Naomi (high school bestie) and I were sitting near the box office of the Canon Activities Center. A couple of our guy friends came by also. We sat there laughing and talking. And then a peculiar thing happened. The full moon revealed itself from behind the rain clouds. One of my guy friends, let's call him Scott, went into this weird trance. We all started laughing while he was stoic and contemplative.<br />
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He proceeded to tell us a story. I cannot remember all of the details but I remember the important stuff. Scott said he had a dream one night. He was compelled to walk out of his home in the middle of the night and directed to go to the intersection of Moana Street and Kulanui Street. There, a man in black waited. (I swear this is not a reference to The Gunslinger stories by Stephen King.) The man in black asked Scott if he wanted to live forever and have supernatural strength. Scott agreed and did as the man in black directed. He lay down on the ground at the "crossroad" of Moana Street and Kulanui and sold his soul to the devil.<br />
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I couldn't figure out if he was telling the truth or if it was a scary story for a stormy night. I giggled at first (probably an attempt to calm my fears) but was completely weirded out by the visuals that I had in my mind of the man in black. I wondered what the man's face looked like. Was he like that creepy old man, Reverend Kane on Poltergeist II? Or was he a mirror of Scott's deepest fears?<br />
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Naomi and I stood up to move away from him. He stood up immediately also and began following us as we backed away from him.<br />
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"Scott. Stop! What are you doing?" I asked.<br />
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The full moon was so bright above him. He towered over us. He turned his head to the moon and began howling at the moon as if he were a werewolf. When he faced us after his howl, he raised his arms up, his hands mimicking the claws of an animal and began chasing us. Naomi and I screamed. We were both on the borderline between laughter and terror. Scott saw the terror on our face and fell down laughing. When we seen that he was laughing, Naomi and I calmed down and started laughing too.<br />
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At the end of the evening, Naomi and I talked about it and we couldn't figure out if Scott was joking or if he was telling the truth. Til this day I still wonder.<br />
<br />NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-25593074348668547362018-09-12T00:29:00.000-04:002018-09-13T00:30:43.490-04:003 Things I Learned From My Parent's Marriage<center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/02skhVdhjgU" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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I did not forget about my Wednesday podcast. I just couldn't post because at the last minute, I decided to hit the road. Hurricane Florence is on its way to South Carolina so I had to leave Dodge. I find myself in Maryland again. I didn't feel like weathering the hurricane by myself so instead of buying all the food and emergency supplies, I am spending that money on gas to get out of town. Bye SC. See you soon.<br />
NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-6892667502750564152018-09-07T11:11:00.001-04:002018-09-07T11:11:45.238-04:00Dear Best Friend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dear Best Friend,<br />
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I feel so blessed that you are a part of my life. There have been times that we've drifted apart but we always find our way back to each other and pick up wherever we left off. We can sit for hours talking about everything and nothing. I cherish that type of conversation but more than that, I love that you know parts of my history that I don't even have to explain. And because you have seen me repeat the same mistakes over and over, you know when to push me and when to just step back and let me go through it. I think of the times that I have fallen apart with you, crying the ugly cry on your couch. It speaks to your character and your ability to receive me without judging the dumb things that I have done. I never let people see me weak the way that you have seen me and I appreciate that you can see my flaws and call me on them while still being supportive and encouraging. I love that you can see goodness in me because sometimes I need a little reminder that I am kinda smart, and I am kinda talented, and I am kinda beautiful, and I am kinda worthy of goodness. Everyone should have the type of friendship/sisterhood that we enjoy. I can't imagine not having it.<br />
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We rang in the New Year together this year and vowed that we would make this year the best yet. I am not disappointed. We did Vegas in March. When I moved into my own place, you and Skeet drove down Memorial Day weekend to "warm" my house up. You filled my linen closet with sheets and comforters and towels and I can't even begin to say how much that meant to me. You threw me the best birthday weekend. The party was non-stop even with your wife and mommy duties. And here we are turning up on your birthday/Labor Day weekend. You always had the best birthday parties when we were back home. Oh my goodness the good times we had in Waialua. The gallons and gallons of jungle juice. The extremely large cooler of every drink imaginable. The food! The music! Good times, I tell ya. A lifetime of it. And there's still more to be had.<br />
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<b><u>WHAT I ADMIRE ABOUT YOU</u></b><br />
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<ul>
<li>I love your sense of style. Our shopping trips are the best! And we are always exchanging clothes. I'm happy that the red dress that I love so much looks wayyyy better on you than it does me. Sad to see it go but happy that it fits you like a glove. And I love that we both love to work the thrift stores. I can't imagine buying regular priced items when we can get EVERYTHING we want at a thrift store.</li>
<li>I love how giving you are. I can say, "Ooh I love that," and you will take it off the shelf or off a hanger and give it to me.</li>
<li>I love to watch you "work" a room. You have a way with people that makes them feel welcomed and appreciated - not all the time... but most of the time. </li>
<li>I love how you are very clear about your expectations of people in your life. There are no gray areas and you remain 100% YOU no matter who is standing in front of you. That realness, that genuineness, that authenticity is hard to come by and I am learning to be my most authentic by watching you be you.</li>
<li>I love the way you mother your children. Both of your sons are respectful, intelligent, and kind souls.</li>
<li>I love how much I feel at home with your family and your husband's family. It's like I'm already family. The fact that I am comfortable calling your mother-in-law, "Mom," says a lot about how you made them aware of my significance in your world. Best friends do that kinda shit. </li>
<li>I love how you always know what to say to build me up. On really rough days when I'm sad or lonely, you know the exact time to call and the exact words to say. You will pull examples from our past to let me know that I've overcome hardship before.</li>
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<b><u>WHAT I WISH FOR YOU</u></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>...That HEALTH and WELLNESS will attend you and yours</li>
<li>...That you will always experience LOVE in your relationships</li>
<li>...That you will be fulfilled by LIFE's challenges and triumphs</li>
<li>...That you will find richness and ABUNDANCE in the coming days and years</li>
<li>...That you will CELEBRATE you all throughout your life</li>
</ul>
But most of all, my wish for you is that your dreams are filled with happiness and that you will find joy in every waking moment.<br />
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Happy 43rd Birthday, Best Friend! I cannot think of a single place that I would rather be than here in Maryland, celebrating your special day with you and yours.<br />
<br />
Alofa Tele,<br />
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<br />
NeenaLove<br />
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<i>P.S. This letter is about a week late but better late than never. I actually started writing it before I drove up to your house with the intention of finishing it while I was there. With all our turn-up and turn-down going on, I didn't have time. Charge it to my inability to plan out my time properly. No surprise there. Haha</i><br />
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<i><br /></i>NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-89938178227965361392018-09-05T07:18:00.000-04:002018-09-05T07:18:21.925-04:00Video Podcast Episode 10: Push Away From The Harbor<center>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/yXN5I6Nj4lc" target="_blank">Video Podcast #10: Extending Beyond Your Boundaries</a></div>
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I briefly mention the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho in today's video. It is a short read and very thought-provoking. The book is a work of fiction and the story serves as a parable. The message will only be received by those who are ready to receive it. The summary of the book on the back cover of the paperback version of the book describes it best. I hope it's enough to tempt you to read it. I think the book is about a 3 to 4 hour read. Put in the time and feed your mind and your imagination.<br />
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<i>Back Cover of THE ALCHEMIST by Paulo Coelho</i><br />
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</i> <i>"To realize one's destiny is a person's only obligation."</i><br />
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</i> <i>Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its simplicity and wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an Alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a meditation on the treasures found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.</i><br />
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<br />NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-38429025813483033302018-08-29T00:23:00.000-04:002018-08-29T00:23:02.082-04:00Video Podcast Episode 9: Geisha, Sex, Embarrassing Moment<center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tuyq4blTRLM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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This is the second time I posted on Instagram and Facebook, what topic should my next video podcast be?<br />
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Everybody has jokes and all sorts of silly topics. My male fans... SMH. Naughty, naughty, naughty! So I narrowed down all the topics to the stuff that are Rated PG-13. I can't say that I will always stay at PG-13 because I do love trashy talk every now and again. So, who knows what the content of future Video Podcasts will be?<br />
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Sex is such a touchy subject for a lot of people. I don't know why that is. It is as natural as breathing. Me? It is a necessity. With my raging hormones, I feel like how the media portrays young teenage boys -- I want IT all the time! Oh my how I expose myself so publicly on my blog. I am an open book.<br />
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I didn't get the "birds and the bees talk" from my parents. My grandmother (mom's mom) actually said something to me when I was 12. I was getting ready to go to a dance. My mother didn't know it was a dance. I told her it was a talent show in town and that someone's mother was taking us down there and would bring us back home. Before I left the house, my grandmother gave me a whole talk about a cowry shell and how I need to protect it. I had no idea what she was talking about. None. It was like the scene in The Color Purple where Shug Avery is asking Miss Celie if she ever looked at her lady parts. I did not know what my lady parts looked like so I did not make the connection to the cowry shell.<br />
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I don't know why my mother's generation is so afraid to talk about sex or to explain the mechanics of it. I think I would have made better choices if my mother was open and honest with me about all of it. Instead, she just left me to find it all out on my own. The one talk that we did have was about how I shouldn't sleep with a boy because my virginity is something I should gift my husband on our wedding night. That was unrealistic to me because I did not even know what happened with sex. The movies and soap operas made it seem like you get in bed naked, you kiss and roll around under the sheets and that's it. So, I did not know the mechanics.<br />
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Needless to say, I certainly understand the mechanics now. And sex, as I said, is as natural as breathing.<br />
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NeenaLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10444347534387079670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662578.post-41441638736200525862018-08-26T22:53:00.001-04:002018-08-28T20:16:02.026-04:00Who Is The First Person You Slow Danced With?<center><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d0NCDGbuEWA" width="560"></iframe></center><br />
It was the end of Summer 1989. There was a dance to send off the summer and welcome the new school year. My mother told me that I couldn't go to it because my older brother was not going to attend with me. I had just turned 14 and she didn't think I should go out with my friends without my brother close by. Normally, my big brother would cover me but he had plans of his own that night. The dance was being held just a mile from the house and I couldn't understand why she wouldn't let me go. So I did what any head-strong teenager would do and lied. I told her I was going over to my cousin's house, three houses over. I didn't really lie because I had to pass their house on the way to the dance. I stopped in, showed my face, said, "Hello," and kept on moving. By the time I had deployed that plan, it was already late. When I got to the dance, there was only fifteen minutes left before they were shutting it down. I found my friends on the dance floor. One friend, in particular, was dancing with the little boy that I was crushing on but I was glad to just be near him.<br />
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Every dance ends with a slow jam. The last song came on. It was <a href="https://youtu.be/A4C4NiVKrXk" target="_blank">"Superwoman" by Karyn White</a>. All my friends were coming off the dance floor and changing dance partners. I had just arrived so I didn't even know who was there. I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn to see John (not his real name) standing there. He said something really smooth to me. I can't recall what exactly he said but it made me feel like he was being such a gentleman. In school, he had this really rough exterior like he was a tough guy but I knew he was a big teddy bear inside. I was burning up inside. He wasn't the guy I was crushing on but I still felt flattered that he asked me to dance. And that was that. I only remember it because it was such a new experience for me and I felt special. What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic.<br />
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Maybe it's just me. Everyone says I have a distorted view of reality. As my ex would say, I have an unrealistic outlook on life and love. I don't think I do. I think I see the world exactly as I wish it would be and it is my reality. And even though my romantic life has never been the fairytale that I wished that it could be, I am exactly where I should be. And I still believe in the fairytale and I still believe in LOVE.<br />
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