Michelle Sedas

A Contemporary Spin

2008-12-02T17:36:25Z

I've been looking for poems that inspire me. I have to tell you I'm not usually into the old classic poems. I generally don't really understand them. I like the more contemporary, plain-Jane, say-it-like-you-mean-it, give-me-something-I-can-work-with kind of a poem. However, my friend, Kelley, told me about the classic poem If by Rudyard Kipling. It's one of her favorites, and now it's one of mine, too. Here it is, read by tennis players Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who are currently ranked number 1 and 2 in the world. These guys sure put a great, contemporary spin on a poem that was written in 1895. Enjoy!

Embracing Imperfection

2008-11-29T02:18:22Z

What would it be like if I allowed a typo to slip through in this blog and I didn't go back and fix it? Some of you laugh at the idea that someone could get all riled up about a typo. "A typo is no big deal." Yes, you are right. A typo is no big deal. But there are times when, in reference to a typo or some other minor misstep, our perspectives can become so skewed that the mistake becomes a gigantic screw-up. Or, in grammar terms (I love symbolism!), times when a typo becomes a HUGE TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR. When those times come, then please read my message to you. Dear friends, When you begin to blow your typos out of porportion, and become so focused on preventing errors that you've lost all objectivity, then repeat after me, "A typo is no big deal. There are bigger things in life. I will focus on what matters. I will try to do my best, but will learn to embrace my imperfections and if a typo slips through, then so be it."

My New Favorite Quote

2008-11-25T17:30:49Z
I am an inspirational quote kind of a girl. I love quotes. And I have a new favorite one: Do what makes you Happy. Be with those who make you Smile. Laugh as much as you Breathe. Love as long as you Live. ~Unknown

Ta-Da!

2008-11-21T18:33:25Z
It's no secret that I have issues with technology. I had my links for the Inspired Living Café all messed up earlier. But now, I think I've got it! So, check out the Inspired Living Café! Sign up to Join the Community (receive the weekly newsletter), check out Michelle's Thoughts and What I'm Reading, and speak up and join in the discussions. I hope to see you soon at the Inspired Living Café!

Wishing You Peace

2008-11-20T21:23:03Z
Today, I wish you peace. Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. ~ Unknown

The Silliest Poem Ever

2008-11-19T05:20:28Z
My husband travels quite a bit, and when I miss him, I sometimes write him silly poems. It's who I am. It's what I do. Here you go, honey. I hope this makes you smile. I love my husband. And he loves me. I’m so glad he’s my sweetheart. I’m as lucky as lucky can be. I am so proud to say I’m his precious darling wife. And I want him to know He’s the love of my life. If he ever feels lonely, I hope he comes to me. So I can tell him I love him. And... Something that rhymes with me.

Free to Be Me

2008-11-18T02:02:08Z
If I look inside I hope to find The girl who is the real me. Who loves to smile and loves to dance. Someone who is free. Free to laugh and free to love. And free to sing off key. Free from worries of the past. Free to be the real me. ~ 2008 Michelle Sedas

Book Club

2008-11-15T18:56:11Z
The other night, I met with a local book club that had chosen Welcome The Rain as their book of the month. I was a little nervous since my book was the topic of the evening, but we all had a great time chatting, eating, and sharing stories. And no one made me cry! Thanks, girls, for the great evening!

Taking a Breath

2008-11-13T21:23:50Z
So, the plan was for us to drive to San Antonio today. The plan was for me to run a half marathon in the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon on Sunday. And here I am. Blogging to you from Dallas. Plans change. I signed up for this half marathon two weeks after I ran my first half marathon last April. Somehow, along the way, I got off track with my training. It happens. And as The Gambler, as well as a friend of mine, said, “You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away, and know when to run.” So, this time I won't be doing any running. But, I would like to add: “And know when to give yourself a breather.”

Things That Scare The Corn

2008-11-11T02:52:33Z
My four-year-old son is a big helper. He loves to help measure and cut and draw and stack. And the other day, he was helping my mom decorate her house for fall. His task was to move the pumpkins to their proper place. “Ya-ya,” he said (he calls my mom Ya-ya), “can I put the pumpkins out by those things?” “What things, honey?” “You know, those things. Those things that scare the corn.” And here they are. Those things that scare the corn:

Inspired Living Café!

2008-11-07T03:01:10Z
I have the honor of being the Host for the new Inspired Living Café. This exciting project has been months in the making and now the café is finally open for business! Please click on the link and sign up to Join the Conversation so that you can be part of the Inspired Living Café community!

Out of the Darkness and Into the Light

2008-11-05T19:07:25Z
It was a day of fellowship, stories, and tears. Last Saturday, my mom and I participated in two community walks. We began our day walking in the AFSP’s Out of the Darkness Community Walk. My mom is full of spunk and sass and doesn’t have a depressed bone in her body. But, she knew this walk was important to me, so she gladly joined in. ]]> Light The Night Walk to support a childhood friend of mine whose four-year-old daughter is so bravely battling leukemia. The dear sweet baby girl, who had designed our t-shirts, along with thank you cards and the team banner, was too sick to be at the walk. Since we were walking for her, we all walked with tremendous spirit and passion. Mom and I walked to support these causes, to raise awareness, to be part of something bigger than ourselves. While both of these were "clubs" that no one wanted to be in a position to belong to, it is evident that the support of family and friends can make most bumpy rides a little easier to handle. It was a day of reflection. A day to remember how precious our lives are and how each moment that we’ve been given is a blessing. A day of walking out of the darkness and into the light.

Crazy Curtains

2008-11-04T00:09:43Z
While my husband and kids were out of town over the weekend, my mom and dad helped me make new curtains for the living room. Look at these curtains. Aren’t they quirky and crazy? I needed a pick-me-up and making those curtains was such a fun project. OK, so yeah, my dad may be a retired Special Agent. He may have great tales of high speed chases and espionage cases; of breaking organized crime rings and being on Secret Service detail to protect Presidential candidates. But, he is one of the kindest, most compassionate men you’ll ever meet. So, there he was, helping me iron my Crazy Curtains. ]]> really feeling wild—will purposely turn some of the heads so that they’re facing the wrong way. (Seriously, how cute is he?) It’s refreshing to break out of a mold and be quirky and crazy every now and then. And being able to share our crazy stories is what family and true friendship is all about. I’ll never forget this weekend and what a great time we had making my Crazy Curtains.

It's a Beautiful Day

2008-10-30T21:03:19Z

My kids and I have a ritual. Every morning, when we're in the car, we sing the song Beautiful Day. We only know four words out of the entire song, but we’re somehow able to stretch the singing of those four words into quite an event. There is no sight more precious to my eyes or sound sweeter to my ears than when I glance into the rearview mirror and see my preschoolers belting out at the top of their lungs, “It’s a beautiful daaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! It’s a beautiful daaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!”]]> Here’s hoping you have a Beautiful Day!

To Breathe Again

2008-10-21T01:30:49Z

There comes this moment, after you’ve been sick, when you realize that you can breathe again. No longer is your body fighting itself. No longer is your head in a cloud. No longer do you want to crawl into bed and just sleep the day away. There comes this precise moment when you realize that you have been restored to health. When the world is set right…once again. When the fog has been lifted and you can see with clarity…once again. When life is beautiful…once again. Ahhhh… What a wonderful feeling it is…to breathe again.