A bug flew up my nose

Today I sprained my ankle and not in some heroic sprint-five-miles-run-till-your-feet-bleed crap. No, I sprained my ankle all because a bug flew up my nose.

Has that ever happened to you? No joke, I played a wicked game of tennis, my feet were flying. I ran to the net and pounded the ball onto Jameses side of the court. I let out a roar and in went the bug up my nasal passages.

I dropped my racket and then danced around the green court like an idjut. My hands were waving and I kept flicking my nose.

I am sure the bug had quite a surprise up there because my nose is all jacked up from getting punched in the nose a handful of times and snorting (ahem, we won't go there.)

Sometimes when chasing a dream lil' annoyance will creep into your life. They will try to take you down or distract you. Don't let them. You are more powerful than you realize. This dream is yours-don't let anything stop you, my friend.

PS- If a bug does happen to fly up your nose, learn from my mistake. #1) Be very gentle when removing the bug because they do bite or your fingernail can scrape the the thin skin in your nostril. #2) Don't panic, the follicles in your nostril are there to protect your body. #3) Apply an ice pack to your nose, it helps with swelling and numbs the pain.

#4) Most importantly, when in doubt always go to the doctors office.

Andre Agassi

This week I was watching a special on Andre Agassi, the tennis great. A few quotes made me think of our own journey to greatness.

"Andre was driven to find his way out of a labyrinth that he was born into. "

I dunno about you but this one plagues me. I'll get a lil personal here with you, growing up, I was a divorced kid living with a single mom, 2 brothers and an absentee father. Needless to say, it was a struggle. But after driving home with a friend a month ago, I realized these life situations make you hungry to succeed. You have nothing, so you have to fight and claw your way to the top.


"I'm not sure Andre would have reached the points and heights that he did without the disappointment and the pitfalls. Andre got every ounce of talent out of his body and brought all of it along for the ride."

I adore this quote for us- you have to have the lows and failures to reach the top.

Let's get every ounce of talent out of us, my friends.

Work hard, or as Andre puts it himself, "My sport was a vehicle for me to discover myself and to push myself."

Rules that Royalty must follow

I dunno about you but it has come to my attention that I am obsessed with fairy tales lately. It all started with that blasted royal wedding.

The other day Jameses was helping sort out my closet (we were in search of my thigh high leather boots) and came across a stack of Prince William and Kate magazines hidden in hat box. I don't know whats freakier, the fact that I'm into fairy tales or the fact that I have them hidden away like dirty magazines.

Maybe its not about the fairy tales at all-maybe we're all wanting a little bit of magic in our lives. The need to go back to our childhood belief that anything is possible.

I babysat my niece this week and we watched Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. She flitted and floated around the room singing, "Impossible things are happening everyday."

Which made me really think about our dreams and the sacrifices we are making to get there. Never forget my friends that a beautiful future is on the horizon. Can you see it?

*On a side note, did you know that the Royal's have rules? Here are a few things the Queen must live by:

1-Wear hats in public

2-wave at the elbow, not the palm

3-smile gently and walk cautiously

4-and more importantly never pee in a public toilet

Yeah, I'd never make it as royalty.

LeBron James- the king of mental focus

"If you don't fight for what you want, what will you fight for?" Commentary at Roland Garros tennis match.

One of the hardest lessons to learn while chasing your dream is a lil something called focus. All athletes have this quality in spades. Focus is all about centering in on your goal and what you need to do to accomplish it.

My second year of college, I had zilch in the focus department. I was dancing on tables and snorting, well, we won't go into that- but anyways, lets just say, focus wasn't even in my vocabulary. Nowadays, winning the mental battle when chasing a dream is everything.

A few years ago, Vogue magazine did a story on LeBron James. At the time, he was on top of the world-focused and driven. Vogue summed him best"He sinks ball after ball in a shooting drill. And then-a bad shot, a little off. As the next ball reaches his hand, he pauses, just for a millisecond, as if hitting the reboot button. Next shot and all the ones following-dead on."

LeBron learned to readjust himself. I have to say, the 2011 version of LeBron isn't my fave. The more I keep hearing and watching, the more frustrated I get. Maybe Mr. James is unknowingly teaching us a lesson. Find our focus.

The future is bright, my friends. And its waiting for us.

Whip your dream into shape

June Challenge: What to do when your story isn't cooperating

Robert Frost once said, "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No joy in the writer, no joy in the reader."

The dude is right-when chasing a dream there is gonna be a complete mash-up of joy and tears.
Chasing a dream is like life. You can plan all you want but sometimes crap happens. Let's be honest, going for what you want is life is a big risk. One that is thrilling, scary and at times, draining.

What I am learning is the end result of your dream isn't what matters. Sure, publication, an Olympic medal, whatever you pursue is incredible. But that moment is a little bit away. Right now you have to focus on the what you can do within the next 24 hours to reach your goal. The trick is to focus on how you chase your dream. Pursue your passion with absolute purpose.

When I first started writing a typical day went as this- Listen to music, begin thinking of the emotion in the story, curse loudly, write for 2 hours, curse again, stare at the computer in absolute angst for 5 minutes. When I finished stewing, I began the process all over again.

Now, granted I still curse (to my momma's dismay) when I make a mistake. Now, I am taking a cue from the athletes I research- have a short term memory. When you chase a dream you are gonna make mistakes. And you for sure are gonna get frustrated. How can you not get frustrated when you are hungry for success. You want the dream more than anything.

I've learned the trick in pursuing your dream is all about the short term memory. Learn from your mistakes and forget the losses and rejection.

Because in truth, anything you have to do to get to your dream is worth the struggle.

How to deal with the death of a loved one

If I'm gonna be honest I must confess that the past few months has left me riddled with fear. Sure, I chase my dream but with self belief? That would be a NO. Do you know what I mean, my friend? You want something so much but are too riddled with fear to make a move.

Well, finally something has shifted within me and that thing is death.

They say death comes in three's. Well then, I have two down, one more to go. This past month my Uncle Mike (66 years old) and a dear friend named Tiffany (30 years old)has passed away.

Losing them has rattled my drive alive. The time has come to set the fear aside because my friends, there isn't time. You want your dream? Now's the time for action.

Do the thing you fear the most-do it for those you love who have passed away.

PS- I cannot believe I'm about to post a video featuring Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers. Even so, the Les Miserables 25th anniversary concert DVD has been blaring constantly at my home. This songs sums up my feelings for this post. Maybe it will help you along your own journey. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYToP5ZfydE

Race for the cure & race toward your dream

When chasing a dream there is but one rule- Go big or go home. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there for what you believe in. Let me give you an example.

*Embarrassing moment alert

Most people participate in an event like Race for the Cure with zero drama. They simply walk. Me? Well, I have to make an idiot of myself.

Sure, I walked with my mom, who's a cancer survivior, 13 years. We even had a tender moment. She placed her warm hand in mine and said, "I am grateful to be here with you."

I smiled at her, noticing the pure happiness in her smile. And then I tripped over a rock and tumbled to the concrete. And not in a graceful way, mind you. I scrapped my cheek and looked like a thug the rest of the day.

After my cringe worthy moment, I turned around to find my best friend, Jameses in the crowd. Of course, I'm hanging with the bloke in a pink tutu.

Jameses scuttles on up to me and is laughing his tookus off. He throws his arm around my shoulder and whispers, "You really get into your causes, baby-girl."

I stare at him blankly as he gestures down to collar bone and snickers.

Apparently, I raced for the cure with my left boob hanging out of my shirt.

Yep, go big or go home.