If by Rudyard Kipling

I love this poem. I found it in high school, and just the other day I was at a friend's apartment for dinner and saw it in his house. I think I will have to print this one out again! It's such a good poem :-)

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling

Florence and the Machine

Say my name and every color illuminates

We are Shining

And We will never be afraid again

This song empowers me. Florence and the Machine’s tone, determination, color, and dramatics inspire me.

I am a huge fan because of the presentation when she performs, her voice, and how real her words are.

“Leave my Body” is another song I could really relate to today. When you escape from a relationship you know was not good for you, and you part ways, there may be moments of peace like I felt on Sunday at the retreat but then there will be moments of anger especially if they had an addiction that you know was affecting their body and mind. I got so angry yesterday thinking about how naïve I was. It didn’t seem to affect our relationship when we were together since he kept it so separate and respected me and his openness but it still is so disappointing. You can’t change a person. You can just pray for them, let go, and move on. Letting go is hard especially when you care about them and you are a person like me, who likes to inspire people but I'm done. I've wasted enough energy. There are other people in my life I am supposed to inspire and care for. I need to let go and walk away. I have in my actions and we haven’t seen each other, but I need to emotionally.

This is why I also want to share “Heartlines” by Florence and the Machine. It’s about following your heart and sticking with something.

“You have to get hurt. That’s how you learn. The strongest people out there, the ones who laugh the hardest with a genuine smile; those are the people who have fought the toughest battles. Because they’ve decided that they’re not going to let anything hold them down.”



Just another pizza place in Little Italy, SD? Na-pizza

It’s the Pizza – Pizza al Taglio

Pizza al taglio is experiencing a revival as more and more culinary artists are reverting back to the roots of pizza making philosophy. There are several aspects that are at the core of the centuries-old art of Italian pizza making. Attentively chosen ingredients, long-leavening dough, exquisite craft and skill, unique preparation and baking of the dough. The flavor and texture of this style of pizza is unmatched. In Italy, this kind of pizza is called “pizza al taglio” (pizza by the cut), which first became famous in Rome before spreading throughout Italy.

The large rectangular pieces have almost become synonymous with high-quality Italian street food. Italian natives enjoy pizza al taglio as a snack while walking along the marvelous streets of their grand cities, or as a comforting meal among friends. We have gone to great lengths to bring you an authentic Italian pizza that contains the same attention to detail as the pizza al taglio from home.

Check Out Their Site!

I'm fortunate enough to work a few blocks from Little Italy so even though I bring my lunch most days to save money, it is quite the treat when I splurge on lunch!! Ryan and I went to Na-Pizza for the second time this afternoon. My first experience was wonderful with a retangular slice of pepperoni and an exquisite side salad! Today, I had their Pollo Salad that has chicken, quinoa, and tomatoes in it with a savory dressing! Soooo yummy :-)

Laura's Favorites:

For Pizza

1) Na-piazza

2) Fillippi's

3) Da Vanti Enoteca (Flat breads)

4) Landini's

Restaurants

1) La Villa

2) Davanti Enoteca

3) Buon Appetito

4) Bencotto

5) Burger Lounge

Cafes

1) Cafe Italia

2) Influx

3) Pappalecco

4) Cafe Zucchero

People Watching/ Real Italians

1) Pete's Quality Meat

2) Pappelecco

3) Cafe Italia

4) Vince's Barber Shop ;-)

Here's to Lynn!

I contemplated different posts for today....I was inspired by the looks and flavors of my breakfast...I didn't want to write about the Dark Knight because honestly, I don't know much at all about Batman. All I know is that the Knight's Tale was a great film and Heath Ledger's death was a huge moment for my generation...I am seeing the Dark Knight Rises tonight with my lovely parents and friend. I can't wait to have some fine dining, too! My parents somehow scored free preview tickets at the luxurious theater in Carmel Valley! Woooohooo. With the way the past month has been, I know I am tired physically and emotionally, but I am keeping busy and my bigger perspective on life keeps me shinin' and positive. You never know though....I have drifted off during an Imax movies and I would have rather fallen asleep after 15 minutes of Magic Mike...topic for another day!

Today I am doing a tribute. This tribute is to my wonderful mother, Lynn Larkin Flanagan.

My daily calendar was a reminder of my mom as Tuesday's said :

"Family is the most important thing in the world"

Wed:

Said something about turning into your mother

Today:

I had the most satisfatory of childhoods because my mother...turned out to be exactly my age.

If any of you know my mom, you know all of these things ring true, especially today's! She is child-like in spirit and relentless in determination and her beliefs. Although our personalities are very different, I have learned so many important lessons and values from my mom even if I tried things my own way first. I am so lucky to have her in my life!!!

She's like no one you will ever meet! That blonde mother driving the mini van and asking for a bun and cheese at McDonald's actually is billingual so if someone is having trouble communicating, not to worry, Lynn will take care of that. But seriously, she is one of the smartest, caring, charismatic, fun, hard working, goofy, faith-filled, disciplined women I've come across.

I can't wait to prance around CA Adventures for her birthday in August! She has her hopes on seeing the Mermaid exhibit and I'm giddy for Cars and is there anything related to 'Tangled"?!

 Here's to Lynn, my loving and supportive mother who reminds us we are never too old to do anything! If you know her, you know why I put this pic below of a little girl and an elephant.

Here's to you, mom!

Healing & Inspiration

 

"Inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic, striving, but it comes to us slowly and quietly and all the time. We must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness"
“Self-absorption in all its forms kills empathy, let alone compassion. When we focus on ourselves, our world contracts as our problems and preoccupations loom large. But when we focus on others, our world expands. Our own problems drift to the periphery of the mind and so seem smaller, and we increase our capacity for connection - or compassionate action.”
― Daniel Goleman

"May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be." - St. Therese

"Lord Jesus, give me the child-like simplicity and purity of faith to gaze upon your face with joy and confidence in your all-merciful love. Remove every doubt, fear, and proud thought which would hinder me from receiving your word with trust and humble submission"

"Rip it off like a band-aid!"

"Above all love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of all sins"

Time heals all wounds.

Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can't change