Lesson 36

On January 30, 2014 By AlexaIn Events8 Comments

I may be redundant when I say the following. It just feels like I’ve spoken this before or maybe I just thought these things and never wrote on them.

Normally, I talk about real life events when I do these lessons. I primarily started doing the lessons for personal growth. Since I am and interact the same in both worlds, obviously with a bit more care and on occasion maybe daring to do things I wouldn’t even consider in real life, Second Life would be part of that growth. Though not doing much or interacting with that many people these days in-world it does limit my ability to utilize examples that could pertain to these lessons.

Today’s lesson brings to mind something that I have observed when it comes to liking or disliking things on Flickr or on blogs. Being a blogger who likes to take pictures it’s only natural that I would like to shop. One of the ways I have stayed in touch with what is newly released is by perusing blogs and Flickr. Since I am talking about Flickr I will take time to mention that I don’t make it a practice to favorite too many fashion pictures as there are far too many that I like that it would clog my favorites. Generally, I stick to liking landscapes, furniture pictures because it helps me remember things I own as well and recently I started to favorite pictures of things I want to go look for once released. Mainly, I like favoring pictures that tell a story. You’ve heard that statement that a picture is worth a thousand words. For a great example, I recently liked several photos of Harvey Crabsticks as they were a sequence and telling a story. I love that sort of thing.

To my observation. I have noticed that many people will like a picture of yours just because you liked one of theirs. I simply don’t understand that. I rather you like my picture because you really do like it, other than liking it because I happened to like one of yours. I do believe that sometimes we will go and look at someone’s work when we note they liked one of ours. I have done this, and will like something I might have not seen. Flickr pictures are being uploaded continuously by members you follow that there is bound to be pictures that you will miss. That being said I still see this soft token of “people-pleasing” in observance. The same thing applies to blogs.

In short. It’s not a big deal. Like to your hearts content. Just an observation.

The Best Year of Your Life by Debbie Ford

Lesson 36: Please Yourself

People-pleasing is one of the great epidemics of our times. I know so many people who can’t seem to find the time or energy to nurture their own dreams or bring their goals to fruition. Could it be that people-pleasing is the silent culprit behind their exhaustion and over committed schedules?

Many of us learned early on that pleasing others is a good way to receive validation or affection. And now it’s become a habit that we perpetuate even though it doesn’t serve us or our visions. This week, take your focus off of pleasing others, and instead look for ways to please yourself.

Your Self-Love Assignment

Reflect on one area of your life where you feel resentful, powerless, or resigned. Allow yourself to see how many of your actions in this part of your life are driven by your need to please others. What lengths do you go to in an attempt to get others to like you? Do you pretend to be the “nice” guy or girl? Do you conceal some of your brilliance or hide some of your power so that you won’t intimidate others?

Next, ask yourself if your quest to be liked and please others has actually paid off. Is it bringing you what you want?

Allow yourself to see what would be available to you if your first commitment were to please yourself. How would that affect your sense of worthiness, joy, and self-love?

Finally, identify three actions you could take this week that would be pleasing to you … and take them.

Self-Love Points Earned

Give yourself 50 points for every action you take (or don’t take) that pleases you!

Credits:

Eyes – Ikon – Perspective Eyes Midnight
Hair – CaTwA – Sandy V2 Hair
Dress – Color.Me.H.O.F. – Mesh [Victoria Dress[Plum] @ Collabor88
Earrings – Lazuri – Silver & Black Onyx Earrings
Ring – RYCA – Rig Gold/onyx
Shoes – !SSD – Mata Hari Jeweled Stilettos {must be worn with Slink AvEnhance Female High Feet}
Feet – Slink – AvEnhance Female High Feet
Pose: Seduction Poses by Di’s Opera

Scene:

Tampa House – InVerse
Grand Piano Mesh -Michigan Shack
Salvadore Sculpture – Aria
CB Potted Plant (pink marble) – Tygra Lefavre/Casa Bella (came with CB Luxury Skybox)
Curtains – HEAVILY EDITED from pieces of Fanatik Curtains & Sanctuaire Curtains
CB Floral Creme Rug & CB Rizzy Rug Sculpted – Tygra Lefavre/Casa Bella (came with CB Luxury Skybox)
Sakura Tree – Nadine Reverie/3D Trees
Yellow Forest Daisy Flowers – Bunnie Badger/Two Moon Gardens
Yews & Garden Hedges – Nadine Reverie/3D Trees
Stone Wall & Gate – AA Build & Design
Japanese Tori Gate – Botanical
MK-BT Bo Maple Tree – Mitsuko Kytori {just visible in background}

Lesson 34

On January 16, 2014 By AlexaIn Events, Home, Landscaping7 Comments

I read this a day ago and I knew exactly how it applied in my real life. Specifically, referring to this past year with choices I made that were really not conducive to keeping the integrity this lesson speaks about and now seeing the outcome basically staring me in the face.

Don’t you hate when life plays that kind of joke on you?

Lesson 34: Integrity

Integrity is the foundation of a successful life. When our behaviors, actions, and choices are consistent with our deepest values, we gain the courage to be ourselves, and the confidence to ask for what we need. To the extent that we haven’t cleaned up the unfinished business from our past, we will unconsciously punish ourselves by withholding the love, success, and abundance we desire.

Resolving our integrity issues makes us feel worthy enough to manifest our dreams.

Your Self-Love Assignment

This week, take some time to look back over the past two years of your life. Make a list of the relationships or situations where you haven’t acted with complete integrity. On a piece of paper, write the person’s name, with a brief description of what you did or didn’t do that left you feeling bad about yourself.

Next, close your eyes; take a couple of slow, deep breathes; and ask yourself, “What could I do to bring this situation back into balance and restore my own sense of integrity?” Could you write a letter, deliver an apology, or contribute in some way to someone in need? This action could involve the person directly, but it doesn’t have to.

Design a plan of action to restore your integrity.

Self-Love Points Earned

Give yourself 100 points for every integrity issue you resolve this week.

Credits:

Hair – Truth – Luella in Black-White Pack
Bikini – Zaara – Naisha in Gold
Closed Lids – Slink – Mesh Eyelids

Scene:

Natural Hot Tub w/ Fire Pit & Towels – Pixel Mode – TLC Garden Event
Wine Bottle – Flecha
Weeping Willow – 3D Trees
Woman Statue – Two Moon Gardens
Grass Patch – TUFF
Wooden Arbor with Ivy – Botanical
Hanging Capiz Lamp – Botanical
Plants – Narenzo Design and part of Scenes from Two Moon Gardens

Lesson 33

On January 9, 2014 By AlexaIn Events, Home7 Comments

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

I love many of her quotes, because they embody such strength and are always full of wisdom.

Lesson 33: Choose Powerful Interpretations

Despite how it seems, it’s never the events of our lives that cause us pain or suffering. It’s what we make those incidents mean about us that either builds or diminishes our self-love. Having someone not return your smile or your phone call, for example, may not necessarily upset you, but how you interpret these situations will very likely influence the way you feel about yourself.

Each interpretation we make either adds to the quality of our life or takes away from it. This week, choose powerful interpretations!

Your Self-Love Assignment

Think of one situation or circumstance from your past that you’ve deemed painful, embarrassing, or hurtful. Notice how you interpreted this event by examining what you made it mean about you.

Now invent three positive interpretations of this occurrence that would leave you feeling powerful and strong, rather than weak and victimized.

Pick the interpretation that makes you feel the best about yourself – the one that most nurtures your soul and feeds your self-love.

Write this interpretation down on a sticky note or an index card, and read it to yourself every day this week.

Self-Love Points Earned

Give yourself 50 points every time you choose a powerful interpretation.

Credits:

Hair – Clawtooth – Pink Flamingos – Softest Black @ Collabor88
Top – Mon Tissu – Slouchy Sweatshirt – Oatmeal
Pants – [R3] – Etta Jeans [V3] with HUD
Socks – Maitreya – Prim Socks – White {modified}
Boots – Ionic – My Winter Boots – Camouflage @ The Chapter Four

Scene:

Rock Mossy by [We’re Closed]
Pampas Grass by Dop Kidd
Pergola Ivy *Half-Circular* by Dop Kidd
Janine Swing by Cheeky Pea
Grass Patch by TUFF
Grass Sculpt by Serenah Raynier
Banyan Tree by 3D Trees
Spruces by 3D Trees
Tree for Background Bush by Forest Feast
Hedges by Static Forge

Lesson 32

On January 2, 2014 By AlexaIn Uncategorized3 Comments

I have been experiencing a little insomnia the last few days and found myself reading to try and wear myself out just before bedtime. I have never really had any problem once my head hits the pillows as it only takes me less than 15 minutes to settle down and drift off. It’s driving me a little stir crazy since I am returning to work next week and I need to get my body realigned to a normal schedule.

One of the books I found myself reading is from one of my favorite all time authors, Dr. Seuss. My appreciation for his works is evident if you ever took a peek into my book case, which hold books that I hold dear and close to my heart for the hours of enjoyment they’ve brought into my life. While I have come to enjoy the lifestyle of being an e-book reader, there are books that I still like to hold in the palm of my hand and turn the pages as the story unfolds.

Dr. Seuss, well known for his children’s stories did write a couple of adult books, and the one that I like to pull out and read for a bit of laughter is the “The Seven Lady Godivas.” A story of seven Godiva sisters that never wear clothes, who as a tribute to their father’s fate (flung from a horse to his death), agree never to marry until they can alert their countrymen all about the dangers of horses. Dr. Seuss writes the story with his well known style of humor unabashedly, as he reveals the origins of horse proverbs most of us have probably heard of.

To that end I decided to do a little horse play, plus I wanted to show off these boots that I absolutely love from the POE6 Hunt, which ends in a few days.

© The Best Year of Your Life by Debbie Ford

Lesson 32: Have Some Fun!

Believe it or not, most adults need to be reminded to take time out for fun. Trained as we are to get things done, we often devalue or neglect this most important aspect of life. But doing things just for the sake of our own enjoyment recharges and rejuvenates us. Having fun is actually a necessary activity that feeds and nourishes us at the deepest level. Have some fun this week, and enjoy the benefits it produces in virtually every other aspect of your life.

Your Self-Love Assignment
This is fun week! Your assignment is to make a list of ten activities that you’d do on a regular basis if your life were dedicated to having fun. Then schedule at least one of those activities into your week.

Enjoy yourself!

Self-Love Points Earned
Give yourself 100 points for every fun-filled activity you participate in.

Credits:

Hair – Truth – Dove in Black & Whites Pack
Dress – Maitreya – Poise Dress Color Pack 2
Socks – Maitreya – Dahlia Socks
Boots – Pelletteria Morrisey – Western Boots {POE6 Hunt Gift}

Scene:
Spruces – 3DTrees
Grass Patch – TUFF
Grass Sculpt by Serenah Raynier

Edited to include Mesh Horses – Laika Amat

1st Picture Pose – Kiss Me Silly by G’Secret Motions {Marketplace}
2nd Picture Pose – Adrienne Set by oOo Studio

Morning ride…

On December 6, 2013 By AlexaIn Home, Landscaping12 Comments

I woke up this morning rather unexpectedly at 4 a.m. and after tossing and turning a bit more I just finally gave in and got up. If I lived out in the country I would probably own a horse and be out riding at midnight instead morning light.

May your Friday be filled with sunshine and happiness!

Credits:

Hat – JFL Hats – Cowboy Hat Pale Grey @ The Jewelry & Accessories Expo
Hair – Elikatira – Quirky Black {not sure if still available)
Shirt – Even.Flow – Cowgirl Shirt Black
Jeans – Decoy – Dana 76 Jeans
Boots – JD – Not Rated Black

Sydney wears:

Hair – Elikatira – Quirky {not sure if still available}
Complete outfit called Eddie by Forever Young

Scene:

Country Girl poses come with horse by Focus Poses
Spruces by 3D Trees
Grass Patches by TUFF
Background Bush by Forest Feast

Dreamlife…

On October 2, 2013 By AlexaIn Events, Home, Landscaping3 Comments

I’m feeling a little thoughtful this morning.

First, I’m smiling thoughtfully as I wonder what to write today and I’m sitting here saying good morning to my in-world sis, where it’s evening for her. I always know her time just by adding two hours and reversing the AM to PM. It’s the only way I’ve ever been able to keep up with this dreadful time zone difference between us.

I am a bit tired, and that’s after having at minimum six hours of sleep. Though I was having a complex agitating type of dream, one that leaves you wondering where did that come from. When I awake from a dream I generally feel more exhausted than when I sent to sleep. Over time I have adjusted. I’m a dreamer and always have been. I’ve worked out or rather concluded after considerable amount of paying attention that if I can remember the dream than it’s a dream of importance and it’s meaningful to me in some way and if I can’t remember than it’s usually just one of those random ones.

This one is so not random and did I say I’m tired?

Credits:

Hair – Iren – Stockholm Dark_03
Sweater – TokiD – Juliana Sweater Mustard @ TDR
Skirt – B.C.C. – Petite Baby Skirts Orange @ TDR
Socks – Maitreya – Prim Sock Brown {modified}
Boots – Kiwi – Rimma Mesh Leather Boots Brown

Scene:

Spruce Trees – 3D Trees
Forest Creeping Cinquefoil – 3D Trees
Short Grass*Dried Meadow*Flat Square – Kidd
Grazing Horse – McLean Horse’s

Pose – Manifeste {modified with Animare HUD} *no longer available*

Tax Break

On April 15, 2013 By AlexaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

According to the Internal Revenue Service 25% of people wait until the last two weeks to file their tax return. Normally I’m not in that percentile, though this year I just couldn’t get motivated to get started even if I had all my paperwork in a stack sitting near my computer.

Now the clock is ticking with only hours before the big day. I settled into this comfortable chair to get mine completed. It didn’t take me that long, an hour if that. Though it’s one of those things that you really don’t want to do, especially if you’re in that percentile that has to mail in a check.

Up until now I have not put any credits on the items that I show in my pictures. Though after a bit of a chat with my sister this morning, she made a good point about not knowing where an item came from that you saw on a blog.

So here are the credits to what is shown on my avatar and decor:

Tank – Tee*fy –Skyla Ruffle Sleeve Tank Chilli (Fifty Linden Fridays)
Pants – Tres Blah – Juju Jeans Light Wash (three in one – wearing the rolled up)
Jewelry – Finesmith – Mango Set (April group gift)
Hair – Dura – Boys&Girls*42 Black
Nails – Pulcino – Prim Nail “Granite” White
Eyelashes – Redgrave – 39 Luscious
Lipstick – BlackLiquid– African Dream Gloss
Eyeliner – BlackLiquid – Needle Black Liner
Shoes – Leverocci – Cadenza Wedge Flash (store currently closed for construction)

Chair – We’re CLOSED – Flower Power
Flowers – Lilith Heart – Meadow Flowers Fairy Wands Pink
Background Trees Etc. – 3D Trees – Forest Accessories Packs I & II

Picture location is my private home