This thing......called love...!

Image Credit - gul83.blogspot.com

I was sent these 25 fascinating facts about love that you may be interested in reading!  This was taken from http://www.inewsu.com/news/25-fascinating-love-facts

Love is a many-splendored thing … and a very surprising thing, too. As if you needed proof of that, here are 25 funny little facts about love. Study them, scratch your head over them, and share them with someone you fancy.
1. Men who kiss their wives in the morning live five years longer than those who don't.
2. People are more likely to tilt their heads to the right when kissing instead of the left (65 percent of people go to the right!)
3. When it comes to doing the deed early in the relationship, 78 percent of women would decline an intimate rendezvous if they had not shaved their legs or underarms.
4. Feminist women are more likely than other females to be in a romantic relationship.
5. Two-thirds of people report that they fall in love with someone they've known for some time vs. someone that they just met.
6. There's a reason why office romances occur: The single biggest predictor of love is proximity.
7. Falling in love can induce a calming effect on the body and mind and raises levels of nerve growth factor for about a year, which helps to restore the nervous system and improves the lover's memory.
8. Love can also exert the same stress on your body as deep fear. You see the same physiological responses — pupil dilation, sweaty palms, and increased heart rate.
9. Brain scans show that people who view photos of a beloved experience an activation of the caudate — the part of the brain involving cravings.
10. The women of the Tiwi tribe in the South Pacific are married at birth.
11. The "Love Detector" service from Korean cell phone operator KTF uses technology that is supposed to analyze voice patterns to see if a lover is speaking honestly and with affection. Users later receive an analysis of the conversation delivered through text message that breaks down the amount of affection, surprise, concentration and honesty of the other speaker.
12. Eleven percent of women have gone online and done research on a person they were dating or were about to meet, versus seven percent of men.
13. Couples' personalities converge over time to make partners more and more similar.
14. The oldest known love song was written 4,000 years ago and comes from an area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
15. The tradition of the diamond engagement ring comes from Archduke Maximillian of Austria who, in the 15th century, gave a diamond ring to his fiancée, Mary of Burgundy.
16. Forty-three percent of women prefer their partners never sign "love" to a card unless they are ready for commitment.
17. People who are newly in love produce decreased levels of the hormone serotonin — as low as levels seen in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Perhaps that's why it's so easy to feel obsessed when you're smitten.
18. Philadelphia International Airport finished as the No. 1 best airport for making a love connection, according to an online survey.
19. According to mathematical theory, we should date a dozen people before choosing a long-term partner; that provides the best chance that you'll make a love match.
20. A man's beard grows fastest when he anticipates sex.
21. Every Valentine's Day, Verona, the Italian city where Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet took place, receives around 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet.
22. When we get dumped, for a period of time we love the person who rejected us even more, says Dr. Helen Fisher of Rutgers University and author of Why We Love. The brain regions that lit up when we were in a happy union continue to be active.
23. Familiarity breeds comfort and closeness … and romance.
24. One in five long-term love relationships began with one or both partners being involved with others.
25. OK, this one may not surprise you, but we had to share it: Having a romantic relationship makes both genders happier. The stronger the commitment, the greater the happiness!

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend!

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor xxx

Wakey Wakey Sleepy Head..!

Image Credit - nextnature.net

I hope you all had a lovely bank holiday weekend and enjoyed an extra day at home to take it easy and maybe enjoy a long lie in bed without the ever familiar clanging of an alarm bell!

What is your usual morning routine?  Do you stir to an alarm clock?  Is your first thought of the day...."Hooray another wonderful new day?" or is it more....."Oh god, not another day at work?"

Mornings are a very good time to give gratitude to everything that you have in your life right now!  The cosy bed you have slept in. The clean covers that kept you warm. The sound of the birds chirping away outside. The person you wake up with.  The plentiful water you have to wash with.  The clean clothes you have to wear.  The breakfast food that you will eat etc etc.

How you set the tone of your day determines how the day will unfold.  It is worth spending a few minutes setting your intentions for that day.  What do you want to achieve?, Who do you want to connect with?, Where do you want to go?.  It is also good to set an intention that the day will be a wonderful day, stating it will go smoothly and effortlessly.

I start my mornings with the mantra that I am currently working with and then I spend a few moments with my arms outstretched whilst letting the universe, the Angels and the creator that I am open to miracles and magic in my life today, I am open to an abundance of joy, happiness, peace, love, creativity, solutions, financial flow and divine health.

It doesn't take more than a couple of minutes to set the tone of your day but you will really feel the benefits throughout the day!

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor x

The Awakening.......part 2!

Image Credit - siddhayatan.org

As promised last week, here is the second part of The Awakening, the words describe our journey through life so beautifully.

                                                                    The Awakening

A time comes in your life when you finally get it...
when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity,
you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice
inside your head cries out...ENOUGH!
Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling
to hold on.

Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you
blink back your tears and begin to look at the world
through new eyes.

This is your awakening.

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for
something to change, or for happiness, safety and
security to magically appear over the next horizon.

You realize that in the real world there aren't always
fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of "happily
ever after" must begin with you... and in the process a sense of
serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and
that not everyone will always love, appreciate or
approve of who or what you are... and that's OK.
They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

You learn the importance of loving and championing
yourself... and in the process a sense of new found
confidence is born of self-approval.

You stop complaining and blaming other people for the
things they did to you - or didn't do for you - and
you learn that the only thing you can really count
on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don't always say what they mean
or mean what they say and that not everyone will
always be there for you and that everything isn't
always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of
yourself... and in the process a sense of safety and
security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to
accept people as they are and to overlook their
shortcomings and human frailties... and in the process
a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points
of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you
are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing
and you begin to discard the doctrines and values
you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.

You learn that there is power and glory in creating
and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life
merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and
integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era,
but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon
which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not
your job to save the world and that you can't teach
a pig to sing. You learn that the only cross to bear
is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get
burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. You learn to look at
relationships as they really are and not as you would
have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You stop trying to control people, situations and
outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and
responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries
and learning to say NO.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings
aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.

You learn that your body really is your temple. You
begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You
begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and
take more time to exercise.

You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and
uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And,
just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul.
So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life
what you believe you deserve, and that much of life
truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth
working for and that wishing for something to happen
is different than working toward making it happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve
success you need direction, discipline and perseverance.
You also learn that no one can do it all alone, and
that it's OK to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear
itself. You learn to step right into and through your
fears because you know that whatever happens you can
handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the
right to live life on your own terms.


You learn to fight for your life and not to squander
it living under a cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't
always get what you think you deserve and that
sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good
people... and you learn not to always take it
personally.

You learn that nobody's punishing you and everything
isn't always somebody's fault. It's just life
happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges
instead of
walls.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy
and resentment must be understood and redirected or
they will suffocate the life out of you and poison
the universe that surrounds you.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many
of the simple things we take for granted, things
that millions of people upon the earth can only
dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running
water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself
by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never
betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less
than your heart's desire.

You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting,
and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can
listen to the wind.

Finally, with courage in your heart, you take a stand,
you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you
want to live as best you can.
Author Unknown

I hope these words resonate deep within you where you seek and realise your own Awakening!

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor x

Just let it go....!

Image Credit - ginigrey.com

Marianne Williamson wrote this beautiful prayer....

This season,
may I be reborn
washed clean
made new
forgiven
spectacularly loved.
Remind me who I am.
Forgive me for my shadow sides,
please heal my broken wings
that I might fly
with You.
Amen

Every single moment is a new moment to heal, to forgive...yourself and others and to start over!  Grasp every moment and do not hesitate to release the past as this is where life gone by truly belongs.  When we carry the burden of pain, sadness, resentment, fear or anger into our present or worse our future, we shadow the light ahead of us and block our vision from seeing a beautiful and peaceful life ahead of us.

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor x

The Awakening.....part 1

Image Credit - buddyhuggins.blogspot.com

My friend Heather sent me an email about The Awakening but the attachment was missing, I in my haste went looking for this online and then came up with this clip which is absolutely beautiful and sums up many of the blogs I have been posting.  Heather has since sent me another attachment which is equally as wonderful and I will share this with you next week!

Although this post is short and sweet, please take the time to watch, feel and absorb the beauty of this You Tube clip!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ot810rzbdE

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor xxx

Authenticity

Image Credit - thejc.com

This email arrived in my inbox from Sue Okell of Life Change Secrets.  As I haven't blogged about an inspirational person in a while I thought this was wholly appropriate.  If you would like more information on Sue Okell or Life Change Secrets you can subscribe to her newsletter and keep up to date with lots of interesting information on http://lifechangesecrets.com/

Article:

How authentic are you? How open to experience? How committed to
achieving your dreams? I ask after watching Stacey Solomon on TV.
For those of you who don't know the name, Stacey took part in the X
Factor - a singing contest here in the UK similar to American Idol.

She didn't win - but has since gone on to carve a very nice career
for herself, not on the strength of her singing, though she has a
great voice, but primarily because of her authenticity and
personality.

Stacey is, if we're honest, a bit bonkers! And therein lies her
charm. When I first heard her speak and giggle, I thought, hello,
here's another English eccentric. Yet her talent, enthusiasm,
radiant smile, infectious laughter and big heart have won her
legions of fans.

You can dress her up in all sorts of stage gear, change the set and
the backing singers; place her in the jungle with a group of other
so called celebrities (she took part in 'I'm a Celebrity, Get me
Out of Here') and make her eat creepy crawlies, but she will still
emerge as the same, slightly bonkers but somewhat endearing, Stacey.

She's the girl next door who took her opportunity and ran with it -
and that brings several things to mind.

Firstly if you want something, you have to put yourself out there,
find the opportunity and take action. For three years running
Stacey stood for hours and hours on end in a seemingly endless line
of wannabes just hoping for an audition. She persevered. She
followed her dream.

And when she got that audition, she went all out to win - her
motivation to do so, to build a better life for her son. But she
didn't win.

At this point, she could of course have gone home, beat herself up
and told herself she had blown her big break, wasn't good enough
and never would be, but she didn't. She dusted herself down and
determined to take every opportunity that came her way as a result
of the vast publicity the show generated.

And the thing that made us notice her - her uniqueness - is what
has secured her future career.

Stacey is every day carving new opportunities and grabbing them
with both hands, giggling about her lucky breaks and gleefully
standing as a shining example of self belief, motivation, action,
perseverance and above all, authenticity and openness.

People love authentic people - they can see through charades. So my
reflection this week is about how important it is for us all to
value our own talents and gifts, whatever they may be; to stay true
to ourselves and our values; to be open to experience, however
left-field our opportunities may seem, and to persevere in the
pursuit of our dreams.

Things don't always go to plan, but if we can learn to accept
rather than fight this, stay open and look to the next opportunity,
then we are well placed to build the life we have, as yet, only
dreamed of.

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor x

The Blame Game

Image Credit demotivate.org

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent".  Eleanor Roosevelt

Do you ever play the blame game?  The one where you put the blame on loved one's, family, friends, colleagues and bosses for making you feel bad?  There is no shame in saying yes to this question as the majority of us do it ........often!

Louise L Hay says if you are pointing the finger of blame at someone, then turn your other three fingers back to yourself!   Usually what annoys you about other's behaviour is it mirrors a behaviour pattern within you that you don't like and needs to be addressed.

When we blame someone we are giving away our power, we are saying that this person has been given a starring role in our life to make us feel small, angry, fearful or resentful.  As you know from other posts, my belief is there should only be one starring role in your life and that should be YOU!

In these circumstances, take back your power.  Do not play the blame game.  Remember you can choose how you want to feel and act at all times. Acknowledge that the behaviour of that person has caused offense.  Either put firm boundaries in place to prevent the situation occurring again in the future or check in with yourself and ask why are you feeling bad about what has been said or done. 

Do you need to release any old behavioural patterns that are limiting you?  Do you need to walk away from a person or situation that is no longer serving your highest purpose?  Do what ever it takes to make you feel strong and in control of your life.

When you release the need to blame you take control of your life, your emotions and your well being!

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor x