VernetteOutLoud

7 for Seven

7 for (1)

Hello Loves! It’s kinda hard to believe that we are already almost halfway through January.

My vacation is officially over! Today was my first day back out to work and since it was the first time for the year I was seeing everyone…I found myself wishing people ‘Happy Everything for 2015’. But I did get some questioning looks and I have to ask: when is it okay to stop wishing people a ‘Happy New Year’?

After all January isn’t so new anymore and I’m beginning to think maybe it’s time I stop. I think after Wednesday I will officially stop!

What I can’t stop doing however, is finding just one thing everyday to be grateful for. So without further ado, I give you my SEVEN for this week.

Coffee Love. Started the week with this cuppa love!

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Snow Days. It’s kinda hard to believe that a week ago I was is -10 degree weather. We had a lovely snow day and I spent it with my cousin who got the day home from school because the roads were bad. Quality time with the soon to be 15-year-old was truly priceless!

Which brings me to My appreciation for sunshine. -10 degree weather and having my plans canceled because of heavy snowfall…makes one appreciate island life, sunshine, sand, sea and even the rain. At least with rain you can still move around. Snow is nice and all but one can lose one’s appreciation for it real quick. I have promised myself I wont complain about how hot the sun is for at least two weeks.

And speaking of sunshine, Watching the sun rise. I was fortunate to have a window seat on the red-eye flight home. Watching the sun creep over the horizon is totally different from above the clouds. It’s like having a front row seat to observe the majesty of God and His wonderful creation.

The awesome pilot on the flight home… My inbound flight was pretty horrendous. The turbulence was nerve-racking. So it was a sweet welcome relief that the Captain of the flight home – Captain Dowdy (sp) – took the time and effort to explain everything that was happening from the moment we pushed back at JFK to landing in Trinidad. He really made sure to reassure us that everything was okay and that we were in safe hands. This, while being seated next to a passenger who took great (read sadistic) pleasure in talking about the recent aviation disasters in Asia.

Dinner with the sibs. Our first dinner for 2015 – we have a family dinner every month. This is a practice we started after my mum died. Yes we talk to each other almost every day and we all eat at my sister’s house more times a month than we should, but we still find the time to go out and share a meal…and try something new.

Happy family news. While it’s too early to share all the details here, I will say big tings ah gwaan in the Superville-Chang clan and I am so proud of my sibs!!!

And there you have it. Here’s to this awesome gratitude practice. I hope that by paying attention to all that I have to be thankful for and sowing the seeds of faith and gratitude, I can truly carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

Thank you for reading, this is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire.

Make those seconds count!

I love hearing from you…what are you grateful today? What made you smile? Feel free to share below!

7 for SEVEN

7 for (1)

Hello Loves! I hope 2015 has started off well for you and that you’ve set some intentions for living your best life over the course of this year. If you haven’t had the time yet…my hope is that you make some time over the next few days to do so.

While we may not know what 2015 holds, we do know who holds it. Thus, my prayer for you is that you surrender this brand new year to God. Get clear on what happiness means to you and then let go of everything else. I have been on vacation for the last two weeks so I am still in that hazy, glow of relaxation. But I feel like this is the space I needed to get clear on the kind of life I want to live this year.

7 for Seven started out as an experiment last year to change my “ugh…Mondays Suck!” feeling. I adopted this gratitude practice, which originated at Key + Arrow as a way to remind myself at the beginning of my work week of at least seven things from the week before (just one little thing a day) that I have to be grateful for.

And let me tell you…this practice not only completely changed my view of Mondays…I actually started looking forward to posting my Seven. I found out that paying attention to all the good things in my life made me happier. And you know what they say…like attracts like. Ergo, Happy people attract good things.

This 7 for Seven practice works quite like compound interest…except it applies to life. I feel like I am living a compound life because of it. And now without further ado, I give you my first SEVEN for 2015:

2015! I’m living in the future baby!!! We made it dear reader! We made it!

Starting the year with family. I am grateful that my entire family made it to 2015 with me. We have been through it and reflecting on those sad times made me so thankful as 2014 slipped into 2015 that we spent 2014 relatively grief-free. We don’t know what the coming months may hold, however, as for this present moment…we’re all here. And I am grateful for that.

Which brings me once again to Love of family. I feel blessed to be part of this family. God chose this time in history and this particular pack of stone cold weirdos as my companions on this journey. I could not have asked for a better tribe. And just so you know…fellow mutants are always welcome!

Checking items off my life list. 2015 has started with some major check marks on long-standing Life List items. The sense of accomplishment has been incredibly freeing!

Finding time for gym…while on vacation. Because…you know I’m not saying no to any of that holiday good stuff on this here vacation. I am ever grateful to my cousin who has appointed herself my trainer for the last two weeks.

Trinis are everywhere. Trinis are like salt…you can find us in every thing. I went to a random club in DC, on a random night and the DJ turned out to be Trinidadian. I mean the man (after I challenged him to play some Soca) was throwing down 2015 hits like it was nobody’s business! It was truly phenomenal!

Growing up. Moving On. Letting go in love. Finally. I don’t know when it happened. But it did.

And there you have it. Here’s to 51 more weeks of this gratitude practice. I hope in the coming months that by paying attention to all that I have to be thankful for and sowing the seeds of faith and gratitude, I can truly carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

Thank you for reading, this is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire.

Make those seconds count!

7 for Seven

It’s the final 7 for Seven for 2014…and what a ride this has been. As Hal Borland said, “Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.”

Here’s to 2015 and lots of new experiences and finding out who we really are!

But first (and for the last time in 2014)…

…every Monday, we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.~ Key + Arrow

7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow and now let’s get into my 7 for this week:

My gratitude practice. 2014 has been so much better because I made a commitment to pay attention to all that I had to be thankful for. This is something I will take with me into 2015 and beyond.

Surviving turbulence. My vacation officially started on Tuesday but the flight over was pretty bad. We spent most of it wearing our seat belts. Now you know there is a certain reassurance when the stewardesses still continue to serve despite turbulence. But when they are asked to take their seats and buckle up too…it’s time to start saying some Hail Marys. But we all survived and I am enjoying my vacation. Amen.

Which brings me to Love of family. I decided to do things differently this year. Instead of spending the holidays with the sibs, I decided to spend it with my Aunt and my cousins in the US. Christmas Day was a little weird but so far the change has been a welcome adventure. My family has been going all out and I cannot help but feel the love. Here’s to many more adventures of this kind.

Chipotle. Because you know it’s made with angel tears.

Good coffee. I can face anything after I’ve had my fix.

2014. So long and thanks for all the fish.”

Clean slates. Here’s to 2015. We lived to see another day! Let’s make it worth it.

And there you have it. After 50 weeks of this gratitude practice, I am pleased that having paid attention to all that I had to be thankful for and sown seeds of faith and gratitude, that I can truly carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead and well into 2015.

I wish you the very best 86,400 seconds of the last day of 2014. If you’re reading this, this is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire.

Happy Everything for 2015!

7 for Seven

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” Or so my brother insisted as he honked up a storm at my gate early Saturday morning…I’m sure to the annoyance of my neighbours. Are you feeling Christmas this year? Or nah?

I’m definitely feeling some excitement this year…and even more so that it’s Monday!!!

…every Monday, we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.~ Key + Arrow

7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow and now let’s get into my 7 for this week:

Christmas family traditions. My sister, brother and I continued our family tradition of making pastelles for Christmas. For the uninitiated, pastelle is a local Christmas favourite (although I have them year-round) made of minced meat well seasoned with olives, capers and raisins wrapped in a cornmeal dough which is steamed. Every year we get together and make our own for the season and beyond. This year, our pastelles are a tad on the spicy side, since there was a hot chilli pepper masquerading as a pimento pepper in our seasoning. But’s all good and they will be enjoyed regardless.

Christmas spirit. I am finally beginning to feel the excitement of the season!

Coffee with my hippie friends. Coffee with friends is always so much better isn’t it?

Vacation approved. Because vacay b*tches!!!

My brother and sister. Family is everything. I am so thankful for them. Deepak said it best, “If you want to do really important things in life and big things in life, you can’t do anything by yourself. And your best teams are your friends and your siblings.”

Prayer, Faith and Action. In that order. Let go of the outcome and then repeat. This pretty much sums up my life last week. And I have been counting my blessings!

Classic movies. As I type this, The Sound of Music is on TV. There is just something about the season that makes you want to curl up with your loved ones and drink something warm and chocolatey and watch an old favourite. This week I’m sure I will watch Love Actually, Home Alone and Elf.

And there you have it. My hope is that by turning my focus to all that I have to be grateful for at the start of my work week, by sowing my own seeds of faith and gratitude, I can carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

Christmas is here and the days are getting shorter. But thankfully we still get the same 86,400 seconds to manifest our best life. If you’re reading this, this is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire. What made you happy today? What are you grateful for? I would love to hear from you.

7 for Seven

Is it just me or are the days flying by pretty quickly now? It’s as if 2015 is champing at the bit to get here! I cannot believe that I only have two more 7 for Seven’s left for 2014! Time flies when you have lots to be thankful for apparently!

…every Monday, we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.~ Key + Arrow

7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow and now let’s get into my 7 for this week:

Being a human body shield. So I had dinner with my all-time favourite girl in the world, my longest friendship to date – we’ve been friends since we were 5 years old – and after sharing a great dinner along with our plans for 2015 and swapping some juicy tidbits…well you know what besties talk about…we were walking towards the car when this rat the size of a cat came running towards us. I swear what happened next was like a scene from road runner and coyote. All I felt was tug on my arm and my girl vanished. Like 0-60 in the blink of an eye. Meep Meep I tell you! I was like….you did not just use me as body armor for a rat and then leave me there to die! I am cracking up just thinking about it! I haven’t laughed like that in a long long time! And it felt so good. Crossing paths with ratzilla…not so much.

Coffee Love. I’m 7 for seven on getting my coffee to cream ratios just right!

Playing dress-up for my company’s Gala Dinner! dressup

Friends who outfit me for said Gala Dinner. I wasn’t too keen on attending my company’s dinner this year. I hemmed and hawed all week and finally decided at the last-minute that I would in fact go. One of my dear friends literally pulled a rabbit out of hat and created a gown for me in a day. He also got the make-up artist and the photos you see above are the end result! I am so blessed!

Friends who aren’t afraid to call me out on my BS. I have a friend who called me out on being comfortable (read stuck) in this place of “quiet”. She asked me point blank…what’t the name of your blog? It’s time to get loud! Hellooo…lightbulb! Time to start aligning my actions with my words and stop giving the universe mixed signals.

Friends who bring me tiramisu…just because. I love tiramisu. It is not a secret. My friends – bless their hearts – feed this habit of mine. And my tummy is always happy!

My Cohort of Awesome. I have surrounded myself with people who reflect my light and who are able to shine their own light when I am being pulled into the darkness. I will be forever grateful for these awesometastic people who have allowed me to be part of their journey here on earth…in this time in our history. This journey would not be as fun, as flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants fantastic if not for them!

And there you have it. My hope is that by turning my focus to all that I have to be grateful for at the start of my work week, by sowing my own seeds of faith and gratitude, I can carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

The days are getting shorter. But thankfully we still get the same 86,400 seconds to manifest our best life. If you’re reading this, this is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire. What made you happy today? What are you grateful for? I would love to hear from you.