Having never been involved in sports, except as a fan, I’ve never personally experienced the phenomenon of ‘being in the zone’, on the playing field. As a sports Mom, however, I have come to understand the expression.

‘Being in the zone’ seems to be the pinnacle for an athlete. It is that precise moment of time in which everything comes together; the training, the discipline and the passion. It is a moment of magic when normalcy is transcended, it is as though time has slowed, it is as though things have begun to ‘flow’.

How wonderful if we each could become focused on enjoying the moments of life, if we could take the time to ‘do one thing, and do it very well, and then move on’. This is a favorite expression of my ‘amour de ma vie’, who follows his own advise by giving his utmost attention to whatever task or enjoyment he is involved in at the moment, and lives his life as if each moment is his last. He takes the time to treat everyone, he is in contact with, with respect and courtesy and tries to make everyone feel special and loved. Because of knowing him, I am learning to live in the moment, to taste, savor, explore, and thoroughly enjoy the moments at hand.

This principle of ‘being in the zone’ or enjoying the ‘flow’ of life, can be applied to life as a whole, by being awake and aware and consciously living our life on a daily basis. We can learn to reevaluate the priorities in our world, by adjusting our thinking concerning what is important in life.

It is my personal goal to be in the ‘flow’ of life, to be energized and excited by the tasks and moments at hand and though I may never be an athlete, I hope to consciously embrace the magic of the moments and align myself with this wonderful ‘flow’ of life and maybe, one day, I will realize that I too am ‘in the zone’.

I’ll hold you for this moment, for how long who’s to stay

Free spirit dreamers, always on our way

On the road like gypsies, caught up in the times

Making memories and music to replay in our minds.

We give up our security, while chasing after dreams,

We’ll sacrifice our tomorrows, for life’s pleasures it seems.

In dreaming of tomorrow, we lose track of time

A chance we’re not taking or trying to find

If love’s only an illusion

May it never enter our minds

That while chasing our sunsets, we’re falling behind.

So off in the distance, the mountains they call

There I will wait, for my heart to recall

The peace and the stillness, I feel in your arms

The hope and serenity, and the meaning of it all.

Our memories will linger, they'll prove in the end

There was magic and wonder, with you as my friend.

~Tammy

I look forward to warm crackling fires, nights spent camping under the stars, the feel of a warm blanket as I snuggle down for the night. The sounds of the owls in the distance and other sounds that are so welcoming as the days grow shorter bring peace to my heart and joy to my soul. I welcome the feelings of tranquility and satisfaction as the hot Summer days wind to an end, and the crisp cool air reminds me that Winter is on its way.

I am reminded that we can never go back and retrace our steps, that we can never redo or make up for lost opportunities. We can only go forward, hopefully learn form the past, and live for today in a way that brings joy to our soul.

One way that we can make a difference, in this world we dwell in, is by living a life that makes people smile and feel good about themselves. We can strive to make others feel loved and important, happy and secure.

I find that over the last few years I’ve become more aware of the possibilities and the promise of each day. As I greet each sunrise, I am hopeful that this day is one that will be cherished and is full of promise for the day day moments that truly are life’s grandest surprise.

We are the end result of every decision that we make along the way. As each day unfolds before us, we are given the opportunity to write our own one act play or to design a masterpiece. Which will we choose?

When our days here come to an end, we must remember; all that remains are the memories we have made and the memories other’s have of our lives.

There are people we meet in life who bring us out of ourselves, they help us to realize that life truly is a treasure to be savored and enjoyed. These people approach life in a way that makes us stand up and take notice. They give us treasured pieces of themselves and by knowing them we strive to be better people ourselves.

These are the ones that design the masterpieces. These are the ones we always remember. The ones, even years after they have gone, bring a smile to our face and a twinkle to our eyes. These are the ones that inspire us to live life in a way that will touch others. These are the ones who have a piece in our own individual masterpieces.

When I look at a rainbow, I am reminded of childhood dreams and fantasies about how life should be and could be. I am reminded of searches, some for material gains but more importantly spiritual growth. I am reminded that life is a gift to be treasured, it can’t be undone or redone. We get one chance to live it to the fullest and all of the decisions and choices we make along the way dictate our end result.

I am a firm believer in living each moment as if it is your last. I believe in never going to bed angry, kissing your kids goodnight, and in telling the ones you love how much they mean to you. I am one who wants it all. I want the love and trust that comes from honesty and respect, and I want my life to be lived on my own terms. As I gaze at a rainbow, I know that no matter how far down and confused I may be, there is always a way up.

I am always searching for rainbows and am drawn to things that remind me of them. I wear opals because they reflect the colors of the rainbow and they remind me that life can be whatever we choose it to be. Besides being my birthstone, opals reflect every color of the spectrum and like rainbows, no two are ever the same.

As I gaze at the opal on my finger, I see a rainbow and all that implies. I am reminded that promises truly can come true.

As we spend our lives searching, the rainbow gives us assurance that there is always hope and always a chance to set things right.

Opals and Rainbows ~ Promises of all that is in store.

‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.’ ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Whenever I see the word Believe, I am reminded that there are always possibilities, and there are always wonders that are out there to behold. I am reminded that as long as I can have faith, anything is possible. Ask, Believe, Receive…

I’ve come to realize that I am the master of my own destiny. I need to believe in the things that I want out of life and I need to know that I alone can attract those things into my world. My life is what I think it is. I attract what I am.

Every circumstance in my life can change, and will change, if I believe. By believing something to be so, it becomes so. I am the director of my own life, my dreams are mine to make real, and I need to make my self aware daily of the fact that my thoughts are what are making my life the way it is.

If I want to attract my soulmate, I need to believe. If I want to attract money, I need to believe. I attract what I think about most into my life. My life is a mirror of the dominant thoughts that I have.

Growing up I always dreamed of learning to sail. I was fascinated with the idea of living aboard a boat and sailing the world with the love of my life. Romantic, oh yeah, realistic, who’s to say.

Learning to sail is still on my ‘someday list’ that keeps getting longer the older I become. It seems there is always new adventures ahead and new grounds to break.

One of my greatest hopes is that ‘I never lose this since of wonder’ and that I always look to the next adventure with excitement and courage.

I wish this for my children and grandchildren as well.

Poetry has proven to be a release valve for me throughout many of life’s triumphs and tribulations. Many nights I have awakened from a deep sleep, jumped out of bed, and have begun scribbling words onto a piece of paper, almost an obsession at times but always rewarding.

I remember the first poem I ever wrote. It was in 8th grade for an assignment. As I began writing I was amazed at how the words took on a life of their own. Up until that moment, I had never considered how writing my thoughts down on paper could make me feel. Afterwards, I was constantly writing verses and lines and it became an integral part of my my daily routine. Throughout my high school years of melodrama, I would write these poetic words as a release for the teenage turmoil in my life and thus writing became more and more of a needed element.

Years later, after losing parts of myself to grown up responsibilities, I quit writing my words. I forgot to remember how writing cures the ache in my soul, I forgot how expressing myself through words was not only therapeutic but also necessary uplifting. I forgot that by giving up this part of me, I was also giving up an essential part of my identity. I forgot that talents or passions or gifts should not be cast aside but should be treasured and nurtured and celebrated.

Miraculously, and to me it was truly a miracle, I began to write again. I was so inspired by this free flow of emotions that had to be put onto paper. It was not as free flowing as it had been years before, but on a trip to Germany, the sites and the feelings could not be ignored. It was as though I was awakening from a deep sleep and I realized that my life could be so much more than it had been for the last few years. I began scribbling away, like a crazy woman, and realized that this was a gift I was blessed to have received and that if I did not use it I may lose it forever.

It was a thought that materialized when it dawned on me that the grown up world was one of deadlines, stress, and unhappiness. It seemed to be a world where no one trusted themselves or others and no one dared to just be. I had the feeling that once I attained this state of adulthood, I would have to give up my free spirit and would become confined and regimented.

In my neck of the woods, being a grown up equaled being a person who had seized to be experimental, had seized to be unique. It involved conforming to the rules and regulations of a world who wanted everyone to be a picture perfect of the others in their circle. It involved burying our passions, to not draw attention to ourselves, and striving for the so called ‘normalcy’. It was an expectation that never quite materialized but was heeded as the norm never the less. For me, it was the beginning of the end, a surrender of myself and a pretense to be something I never truly was and was never meant to be.

I followed this course for many years, lost many dreams, and pretended to be content. Eventually, thankfully, I reemerged and began to take back my childhood ways. I began to remember when life was fun, carefree, and an adventure. When trampling through the woods equaled a magical experience and a fairytale world where imagination thrived and life was grand.

Remember When?

I wonder when it is that running and skipping on the beach goes from a cute expression of the love of life and happiness to a sideways glance from strangers as if ‘something must be wrong with that one.’ When is it that dancing in the rain becomes a chore, wet and sloppy, instead of an expression of joy.? When is it that waking up to greet the sun seems strange and weird to people instead of a glorious way to celebrate of the day? When is it that we care more about other people’s expectations of us than our own expectations of ourselves? Whenever this is, I believe it is the moment that we begin to grow old or up, depending on your perspective. This is the time that we begin to notice that we may be different from others and start to dread the looks we receive because of it.

I’ve come to realize that becoming the norm is the same as turning over the reins of your horse to the person in front of you. This person leads and directs you by dragging you along on the path that they have chosen for you. If you allow this to happen, you will lose your identity and become just a shell of the person you dreamed you were as a child.

It is like the old story of the elephant held in chains. At first the elephant tries to pull against the chains but they are too strong. Eventually after pulling and pulling, day after day, he quits pulling. After awhile, the chains are removed, but in the elephant’s mind they are still there and he never takes another chance at breaking free of the bondage that is only there in his mind.

After breaking free of my own bonds, I am now free and I see life as glorious; I wake up to the magic that surrounds me every day. I wake up giving thanks for the blessings and beauty that has been bestowed upon me. I realize that this is my life and I am the director of my own multi- act play and the director of my own symphony. I know that whether I take my life in stride or if I skip along the rocky shores, it is all up to me. I can dance and twirl on the beach if I so choose, I can dance around the campfire howling at the moon, I can dream of a love that will endure the test of time, and I can have it all.

I want each day to be looked upon with childish expectations and dreams, I want to always believe the best in people, I want to have the faith to believe in ‘happily-ever- afters’, I want to share my childlike exuberance of life, and I want to fully live my life every with breath that I have.

Yes, I want to always remember when I first had a dream.

In my mind, a Bohemian is simply an artist or literate who, consciously or unconsciously, secedes from conventionality in life and in art.

Do you believe this world needs more likeminded individuals who are unafraid to be themselves?

Welcome to my little corner of the world, all you Bohemians of the Day.

~Tammy aka Bohemian Review

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