Monthly Archives: March 2022

Why I Find Astrology Absolutely Fascinating – Does It Matter in Forming Relationships?

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While many might have mixed views on astrology, I actually find astrology to be very interesting and insanely accurate. When I say astrology, I am not referring to people’s daily horoscopes in which I do not really follow horoscopes because I think we as individuals determine our destiny based upon our daily choices more than a horoscope could ever predict. However, when it comes to learning about the different astrological signs and their character traits, it is fascinating how precise they can be.

Will your astrological sign have an impact on the relationships that you develop in your lifetime? Of course people of any sign can get along with other signs but there is no denying that some signs naturally get along better than others. For example, when looking back on my childhood and my three very best friends that I met as a child–they ALL happened to be the same sign: Virgo. Their birthdays are September 6, 8, and 19. It is not like I knew a thing about astrology as a young kid and that I went up to people asking what their sign was as a deciding factor of choosing them as a friend or not. These friends that I naturally gravitated towards and developed strong friendships with happened organically. I am not a Virgo but I am a Capricorn and both signs are the same element which is Earth. If you look up traits of “Earth signs,” they are listed to be grounded, hard working, stable, and practical people. Why this matters in relationships whether it is a friendship or with a significant other is that as the saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” People that naturally have the same foundation and way of thinking tend to get along very well. So while some of you may think that it is a coincidence that all my childhood friends are Earth signs like me, I do not believe that it is a coincidence whatsoever and it makes complete sense from an astrological point of view! I believe if people took some time to actually study astrology and examine an individual’s traits based on their sign, not only would they learn a lot about this person but it would explain many things such as their behavior, motivation, goals in life, and other fundamental parts of their inner being. When making friends or within the dating world, it is very helpful knowing this information to determine if you have some general similarities or if compatibility is even a possibility.

If you find astrology to be of interest, it is also beneficial knowing your birth time and location in which you can have your birth chart analyzed. This would tell you what your moon and rising signs are which are different than your sun sign aka your birthday. While your sun sign gives you a general sense of one’s personality, you can rely on the moon sign to determine a person’s emotional side and the rising sign which exemplifies how a person is on the outside such as their outward appearance. This would explain why two people who have the same birthday can still have many differences because of their moon and rising signs in combination with their sun signs are not all the same. Needless to say, when studying astrology, there are many factors that contribute to a person’s personality so while it is easy to make generalizations, there is more to the assessment than just knowing a person’s birthday. However, at the very least, it definitely is a good starting point and the information is still very valuable.

J.Lo – “I’m Just Getting Started” – Why Aging Should Never Be an Excuse or Setback

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Last week at the IHeartRadio Music Awards, Jennifer Lopez was awarded the 2022 Icon Award at the age of 52 years old. As she graciously accepted the award, she stated, “Let me tell you something else, I’m just getting started.” While many won’t have a career as remarkable as J.Lo, that is not the point. It is her mindset that is the takeaway and something that anyone can adapt besides her. She essentially is saying that this is only the beginning of many more achievements and things are going to keep getting better–(aka an abundance mindset). It is clear that she does not view age as a setback and embraces it knowing that she has even more to accomplish. This is not only a positive outlook to have but also an empowering way to look at life.

Many seem to associate aging or getting older as a bad thing and that age dictates our lives in a very negative way. Why does it have to be that way though? Even if that is what someone else might think or what society might portray, who says that you have to think that way? People too often use aging as an excuse as to why they let themselves go or that their social lives are not as exciting as in their youth or that things essentially go downhill over time. Again, it does not have to be this way unless you choose for it to be this way. If anything, I think that people need to possess the opposite mindset. With age, there are many spiritual gifts added to enhance your life including more life experiences, success, wealth, happiness, security, and much more. Age might bring upon more responsibilities such as raising a family or added job roles within a career; however, this can be expected and it is always better to be progressing in life than staying stagnate where there is little to no change.

Each year of life is a blessing and should be seen as an opportunity to expand life and make it an amazing one. People should not be stating that they are “too old” to do anything or whenever a birthday passes by. It is also important to keep in mind that age is just a number and certain life experiences and milestones that you are striving for might come sooner than expected or perhaps arrive later in life which is okay because everybody’s life path is different. Don’t ever let age be seen as a setback or used as an excuse as to why your life is not a spectacular one. Getting older should never serve as a roadblock against success, love, or happiness. As far as I am concerned, life should only get better with age and it is apparent that J.Lo feels the same way! 😉

Tracking Your Life – You Improve What You Measure

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Often times I write about the importance of tracking things such as your goals, finances, and other vital areas in your life as a way to measure your progress. While some might think it is a waste of time or that it is unnecessary, I do believe that taking the time to track it down will put you on the right path of success and that as a result, you are bound to make improvements in your life. This is because you are putting a focus on what you want and paying attention to your progress over time. If you want to maximize your potential, it is time to start tracking it!

For me personally, I like to write things in a physical journal by hand although there are other options such as tracking digitally on a spreadsheet or on a phone app. There are many phone apps today that make it easy to track things such as your fitness and financial goals. Everyone has a different approach so it is good to find what works best for you. All that matters is that you start and make it a daily habit. It is amazing to look back at where you started and satisfying when you can see actual progression over time. In order to improve your current life and to achieve what you desire most, it is time to get serious about your goals by not only writing them down but also keeping tabs on your progress by recording it each day.

The Best Things to Do When Someone Doesn’t Want to Be With You

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When someone is distancing themselves from you or pulling away, it is natural to want to chase more or to try harder to earn back their validation. It is also common to see someone chase after someone they care about once the other person breaks up with them. People tend to hold onto false hope and optimism that by sticking around or by chasing the other person, this person will eventually change their mind and want to be together again or maybe build attraction again. The truth of the matter is, this typically has the OPPOSITE effect and is the wrong psychology. The reason why this is not effective is that if the other person has made up their mind already that they do not want to be with you or continue a relationship, then giving more of your attention is going to actually repel the other person and probably turn them off even more. The only way that there is a chance that things could potentially work out later is to remove your attention in its entirety and to provide them the space that they asked for. This gives the person the freedom and the time to think about what they want and the potential opportunity to miss you. That is why the quote, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” exists is because sometimes time apart is needed in order to rekindle a connection or to realize how much this person was important to them. Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that the other person will miss you but at the very least, giving ample space allows for there to be a chance for this to happen.

Aside from giving the person space, you should also invest your energy into bettering yourself and moving on completely. It is a waste of time to go after someone who doesn’t see your value or want to be with you–bottom line. You are always better off leaving the person alone which also makes it easier for you to get over the person because you took your focus away from them. Also remember that there is no greater investment than investing in yourself and that you can do this in various ways. You can pick up a new hobby, spend quality time with friends, expand your career, etc. Your time is valuable so it is best to invest your time in self than investing it in someone who does not mutually feel the way same way about you. As I have mentioned previously, you naturally become more attractive to others when you possess self love and become your very best version of self but remember that regardless, you are doing this because YOU want to and not for anyone else.

3 Reasons Why Daily Exercise is Essential

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While many would agree that staying healthy is a priority, not everyone puts the right practices into place to ensure that they maintain their health. I would say that there are many factors that contribute to living a healthy lifestyle that include implementing a nutritious diet, getting enough rest each day, keeping stress levels low, and daily exercise. While I know many people live very busy lives between their careers and personal lives, I do not think that should be an excuse or a free pass to ignore exercising a few days a week. Why? I believe that daily exercise is not only important for your health but that it is essential for your well being.

Exercise Boosts Your Mood – For me personally, I am in such a better mood for the day after I exercise. Whereas when I do not fit in the time for a workout, I notice a difference in my mood where I might not feel as happy and upbeat. Studies do show that exercise very well does not only uplift your mood but it also helps as a stress reliever. For many including myself, exercise also builds my mental strength which is just as important as your physical strength and perhaps even more so.

Exercise Helps With Weight Management – While some might not feel that they are in need of losing weight or building muscle, it is still a good habit to exercise to maintain your weight throughout your lifetime. As people age, it is natural to put on excess weight little by little due to the metabolism slowing down over time. I do believe that focusing on a healthy diet is more effective than exercise given the choice; however, if you eat well AND exercise daily, that is the golden combo in helping you stay physically fit and obtaining a desirable physique.

Exercise Prevents Potential Health Problems – I look at it like this, we only have one body that is going to carry us throughout life. It is for this reason that we should treat our bodies with care and in order to do so, we have to feed our bodies with the right nutrients and fuel while also keeping the body moving in order for it to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. By taking the time to exercise daily, it helps in preventing future health problems to occur and also can add many extra years to your life. Remember that every little bit of exercise helps and it is never too late to start!

Reflecting on Pandemic Life – 2 Years Ago From Today and Moving Forward

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I don’t think many people would have ever predicted that they would be living through a pandemic within their lifetime. I know for me personally, it was something that never crossed my mind and now it is a life experience that we can all agree is unforgettable and one that we will remember looking back on for years to come. When I reflect about where I was exactly two years ago on March 15th, 2020–it is a day that I can reflect upon quite vividly. I was on an airplane flying from Arizona back to New Jersey. No one was really wearing masks yet and I was not so concerned about catching the virus but was more nervous about whether I would be able to fly back safely without being in a situation where we would have to be quarantined. Covid-19 was labeled a global pandemic just a few days prior and everything was beginning to shut down. I remember thinking to myself on that plane ride that I cannot get back home to New Jersey fast enough. A few days before my flight, people were encouraging me to cancel my trip altogether but I knew then that it was now or never. I am glad that I followed my instincts because I have not been on an airplane since that date and things progressively had gotten worse as time went on.

In addition to my flight home, I also had a wake to attend later that same afternoon. Everything was normal at that time as a normal wake would be but if it had occurred even a week or two later, I do not know if there would have been a public wake service at all because there was a point where wake and funeral services had to be put on hold or just not occur at all.

Although I had arrived back home safely on March 15th, just two days later on March 17th was when everything had officially shut down in the USA which meant schools, gyms, restaurants, and so much more. It is crazy to think back at that time where everyone was asked to quarantine and stay at home for so many months. It felt like there was a pause button placed on our lives yet we were witnessing on the news day in and day out how many people were suffering throughout the entire world. It was a time of such uncertainty in our lives and impacted every single individual one way or another.

Fast forwarding a full two years to where we are now on March 15th, 2022, I would say that although the pandemic is not officially over, we are finally at a good place where cases are going down and it appears that the virus has become much milder since the initial variant. It is the first time in a really long time that I feel as though we are moving towards a more “normal” life again although it might take many years to ever live a life that was close to our pre-pandemic lives. While the pandemic brought upon us many challenges and misfortunes, I do believe with that comes many life lessons. It was also a time to appreciate some of the simplest joys and to embrace those moments of solitude which might have made people feel lonely at times (myself included). As the pandemic begins to fade away, I look forward to seeing the people that I haven’t seen in a long time and I cannot wait to travel again, even if that means domestically at the present moment. Little by little, things are bound to get better again and we just have to keep looking forward with a positive state of mind.

Is It Okay to Date Multiple People at the Same Time?

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When people are dating, it is possible to be in situations where you are dating more than one person at the same time. If you are not in a committed relationship, you have more dating opportunities along with more freedom in terms of your dating choices. Sometimes it is good to casually date different people to get a better sense of what you are looking for when you are ready to find a serious relationship or life partner; however, the majority of the time, I would not suggest dating multiple people at the same time.

For one, it is possible to form emotional attachments to more than one person if you are setting yourself up in a position to do so. If you only focused your time and energy into getting to know one person, then you do not run the risk of liking a few people at the same time. While that might not seem like a big deal, it can become problematic because you have to remember that these same people are also forming emotional attachments towards you and it is not fair to lead someone on if your intent is to spend time with more than one person. It is possible that they are doing the same thing as you are where they are dating a few people at once but unless you have that open conversation with someone, you never truly know for sure and one can always choose to conceal this information if they are a private and/or dishonest individual.

Aside from other people developing feelings for you, remember that it can go both ways where you can start to like more than one person. The issue with this is that when you are left with a few options, eventually you are going to have to make a choice and it is not sustainable to live your life dating multiple people simultaneously. It can create a high level of cognitive dissonance and internal conflicts because it does not feel right inside to develop feelings for more than one person at a time. From a moral standpoint, you might recognize that this is wrong and that this lifestyle cannot carry on forever. It is important to do the right thing by being open and honest with everyone who you are involved with. This will sometimes give you better clarity as to whether or not these relationships are temporary or have the potential to lead to something more serious in the future.

At the end of the day, it is your personal choice if you decide to date multiple people at the same time; however, always keep in mind how your actions can affect others including yourself. In order to prevent potential problems down the road, it is important to be transparent and make sure that people are aware of the situation and are accepting of it before moving forward. This is the best way to prevent misleading someone or hurting another person’s feelings. It is necessary that people are on the same page at all times which is why proceeding with honesty and caution is always the right approach within any dating scenario.

Happy International Women’s Day

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Today is March 8th which happens to be International Women’s Day. I was not too familiar with this being an actual day for women to acknowledge but I have received some emails today in regards to it. What does International Women’s Day mean to me?

As much as we try to make both genders as equal as possible, I don’t think that it is realistic for everything to be equal at all times, especially depending on what part of the world you live in where women’s rights and freedoms are still limited. However, it is important to note that as women, we have come a very long way and have progressed significantly in terms of things that we can do that were not opportunities given to us previously such as getting an education, pursing a career, voting, and so much more. It is empowering growing up at a time where I feel that as a woman, I can accomplish many great things in my lifetime. I also do not feel I am in a position where I have to rely on a man to have the things that I want and that I am capable of earning things myself while also being an equal contributing partner within a marriage.

Today and everyday, let’s continue to celebrate women and all the amazing strides and accomplishments that we have made so far. At the same time, I also believe that we are ALL capable of doing anything that we put our minds to. Remember that the sky’s the limit and to always shoot for the moon! 😉

Why Delayed Gratification is More Gratifying

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We live in a society that thrives on instant gratification. People tend to want immediate results and everything to be an easy process. For example, if someone is looking to get in a shape, even though one knows that consistently putting in the time to work out effectively and cleaning up their diet would give them those results over time, this person might give up pretty easily on getting fit because it is not an overnight process. What people need to realize is that most big successes or anything that is worth having do very well take a good amount of time. It can take months, years, or perhaps decades! It is crucial to always stay focused on the end goal and to put in the work that is needed day by day. Even if that means that you have to go through long periods of time not seeing results, that is not a reason to give up on what you want. This might even be a time to reflect on a new approach, to work a little harder, or maybe take a short break if it is needed to prevent burnout–which is totally okay.

Although delayed gratification might not feel as enjoyable as receiving something instantly, you actually hold a higher value on something that you have to work harder towards. I always like to point out that is often why people perceive expensive items as higher value because it takes up more time to save up to purchase these goods. Whether or not the quality is actually worth its price is up to the individual to determine but people tend to gravitate towards desiring the things that are more out of their reach as opposed to something that was given to them or was easier to obtain. It can be an incredibly rewarding feeling once you finally receive something that you desired most and that you had to work hard towards which is why it is actually more gratifying than instant gratification because you earned it yourself.

Although the process might feel like a never ending one, delayed gratification is not a bad thing because it adds many positive attributes to one’s character such as patience, motivation, and discipline while also building one’s work ethic. If someone was to receive everything that they wanted very easily without any effort, this person would never feel challenged in life and probably would remain a very lazy individual. It is for this reason that it is also good to set the bar high and want to strive for bigger and better things. People should always find ways to challenge themselves for the greater good of their self development and for a brighter future. Everything is within reach, no matter how long it takes to get there. Don’t forget to enjoy the journey as you are experiencing it and remember that all your efforts are worth it to achieve and receive everything that you want to manifest most in your lifetime.

How to Be Happy in Any Relationship

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I have written many blogs on the subject of being single and happy along with how it can very well be a good thing; however, I have not really taken the time to write about ways to be remain happy when you are in a relationship. So I will take a moment to reflect and delve into that subject matter because it is just as important to find happiness while you are in a relationship (whether it be a casual relationship or a permanent one) as it is to be happy when you are single.

Find the Right Partner – This is the most essential component of finding happiness in any relationship is to actually find a partner whom you are compatible with and that you overall get along with. The more similar you are with your partner and the more you both see eye-to-eye on most important areas in life, the less likely that there are going to be arguments or any built up tension between each other.

Establish Respect and Healthy Boundaries – It is extremely important with any relationship, that there is mutual respect for one another along with healthy boundaries to be in place which should be established at the very early stages of any relationship to ensure that both people are on the same page. This is not only the foundation of a happy relationship but also a very healthy one.

Work Together – It is very easy in a relationship to attack your partner or to take a single minded approach whenever a problem arrives. Nothing really gets accomplished when two people work against each other which is why you need to make it a point to understand each other’s point of view and to always work together. Keep in mind that it is expected that compromises and sacrifices are going to be needed for promoting togetherness and the greater good of the relationship. Two people will feel better knowing that the end goal is to work towards coming together as one as opposed to fighting with each other which causes separation, resentment, and typically no real solution.

Focus on the Positive Without Expecting Perfection – Realistically, there is no such thing as a “perfect” partner in which you will love every single quality about the person; however, I do very much believe that you can find what you define as your perfect match where your partner possesses many desirable qualities that you are attracted to. That is why you always should fixate on the positive qualities of the person you choose to be with. If you focus on their best qualities, then there is a higher chance that you will naturally feel happier being with this person. If you find that their bad qualities outweigh the good, then this might be a good time to break off the relationship and consider finding a new partner altogether.

Love Yourself Above Anything Else – This might come across as an oxymoron and you might be thinking, “So you’re telling me to love myself above anything else in order to be happy in a relationship? How do I do both at the same time?” What I really am pointing out is the importance of SELF LOVE. If this is something that you recognize that you need to work on, it is wise to work on increasing self love before getting into a serious relationship. Remember that when you love yourself, you will always find happiness from within regardless of your relationship status. Self love can also serve as a spiritual tool that can help you make your very best dating decisions in your life and guide you towards finding your true match. Think about it, when you love yourself above anything else, it is much easier to weed out the toxic people who only bring your life down and as a result, only pursue a relationship that is going to bring you unlimited happiness throughout your lifetime.