falafel for the soul

let's think of something beautiful.

2010-07-13T11:52:00.004-04:00

xoxo,

lesley

falafel update

2010-05-24T10:16:00.001-04:00

dear readers,

i know i've been neglecting this blog, but i just looked back and realized that i haven't posted in over six weeks! where does the time go...? life can take unexpected twists and turns, and lately stuff has been going on in my life that has caused me to focus my attention outside of the blogosphere.

i still plan on posting to falafel for the soul, it just might not be as regular as it once was. and even though i'm not blogging as frequently, i'm still out there in the world trying to spread positivity, and i encourage you to keep doing the same!

xoxo,

lesley

another reason to stay positive...

2010-04-08T12:37:00.001-04:00

new research shows that optimism can boost your immune system!

xoxo,

lesley

TOMS one day without shoes

2010-04-06T13:43:00.003-04:00

i'll be taking off my shoes on april 8th... will you join me?

xoxo,

lesley

found encouragement... everyone should try

2010-03-18T15:08:00.002-04:00

spotted in the window of a local shop while enjoying a walk in this glorious spring weather :)

xoxo,

lesley

thank you.

2010-03-11T12:59:00.000-05:00

it seems like people spend a lot of time focusing on their flaws and things they want to change about themselves... i know i do from time to time.

but guess what? you are amazing. so today i want to thank you for being you... uniquely, perfectly, wonderfully you! no one does it better.

xoxo,

lesley

life can start again.

2010-03-09T13:19:00.003-05:00

this weekend, a shift began to occur... we are on the cusp of spring. the air seems to be buzzing with energy and potential, and soon everything around us will be bursting into life.

i can't think of a better time for a fresh start. every day life can start again... think of the possibilities!

xoxo,

lesley

love yourself

2010-03-02T14:22:00.002-05:00

my friend jess spotted this awesome graffiti wall in florida... it reads, "love yourself like no other."

xoxo,

lesley

the buried life

2010-02-18T15:33:00.005-05:00

inspiring, touching, uplifting... not necessarily the words that come to mind when you think of the lineup of shows on mtv. but the buried life is all those things and more.

the show follows a group of four guy friends on their journey to cross items off a list of 100 things they want to do before they die... from attending a party at the playboy mansion to helping deliver a baby. there's also a twist: for every item they cross off their list, they help a stranger accomplish something on theirs.

when i first started seeing ads for the buried life, i was interested, but i thought to myself c'mon, it's mtv... how good could it be? i decided to tune in anyway, and i'm so glad i did! the guys are relatable, hilarious, creative, and fearless. the ways in which they are able to help other people are amazing and totally inspiring. i look forward to watching their adventure unfold every week.

take a few minutes to watch the promo video below and check your local listings for air times :)

xoxo,

lesley

snow days

2010-02-15T11:29:00.004-05:00

i adore snow days.

as a kid, i remember the excitement of rushing to the window the morning after the weather man called for snow to check and see just how much had fallen (and the disappointment i felt if there was none!). when i was a freshman at the university of maryland, we had three snow days in a row (they aren't very good at dealing with snow down there), and it's still one of my favorite memories of college. now, as an adult, the idea of being "snowed in" is still thrilling... a day where we are encouraged, expected to stay inside with our loved ones, not worrying about our day-to-day responsibilities.

this past week, we had two major snowstorms. the snow just kept coming... so much that my husband's company actually shut down for a day. a true snow day! it was fantastic, and we took full advantage... just like we would have when we were kids. we curled up on the couch in our snuggies, watched movies, ate chicken noodle soup, drank hot chocolate with marshmallows, and even ventured out to make snow angels.

i think everyone should have a snow day every now and then... even if you live in a place where it never snows! take a day off and spend some quality time exploring the great indoors with the one you love :)

xoxo,

lesley

another note from my hubby...

2010-02-04T14:31:00.005-05:00

my husband has always liked leaving sweet notes for me to find around the house. since i started falafel for the soul, he's taken to writing his mini love notes on post-its.

this one stands out among the sea of yellow and pink sticky notes littering my desk... it is so nice to look down from whatever i'm working on and be reminded every day that i am loved :)

valentine's day is almost here... and even if you aren't a fan of the holiday, it's the perfect time to tell someone you love them. try leaving a little note like this for someone you care about, just to remind them why they are so special to you. your significant other, your best friend, your kids, your crush, your teacher, your mailman... they all need love, and finding a note like this just might make their day!

xoxo,

lesley

you are beautiful part 2

2010-02-02T21:54:00.006-05:00

i was so very inspired by the you are beautiful project that i decided to contribute to it in my own way. this sign has been hanging in my window (facing out, of course) for the past few weeks...

see it? move in a little closer...

my husband and i live in a second floor apartment overlooking a busy intersection. lots of people walk by every day, but i have no way of knowing if anyone has noticed it. i do know that it always makes me smile when it catches my eye as i'm walking home.

i added the smaller pink sign below it as an extra piece of encouragement... it reads, "keep your heart open."

xoxo,

lesley

roses are red...

2010-01-26T13:06:00.003-05:00

the other day i walked past this car and saw that someone had left a single rose on the windshield. i have no idea who put it there or who it was intended for, but i thought an i love you card would compliment this sweet gesture perfectly...

xoxo,

lesley

2010-01-25T15:04:00.002-05:00

these have to be some of the most adorable post-its i've ever seen. click here to read how michelle of locked out blog is using them to motivate herself to meet her 2010 resolutions!

xoxo,

lesley

news flash

2010-01-21T11:10:00.000-05:00

this newspaper vending box caught my eye while walking around in philadelphia... it seemed like a popular place for posting stickers and little bits of inspiration, so i thought i'd add a bit of my own :)

xoxo,

lesley

found encouragement... let go.

2010-01-20T12:11:00.000-05:00

{photo by tiina treasure}

xoxo,

lesley

craft hope.

2010-01-19T12:48:00.005-05:00

this is just a beautiful thing...

after hearing about the disaster in haiti, the ladies of craft hope decided to take action. they opened up an etsy shop and sent out an appeal to crafters and artists to donate whatever items they could, with all proceeds benefiting doctors without borders.

the ladies wanted to help out however they could, and had modest expectations for the shop. but in the past few days, the shop has sold 700 items and made over $10,000 for haiti relief... and the numbers continue to grow. i donated two prints from my etsy shop, and they sold before i could even spread the word!

if you're still looking for a way to get involved and help out those in need in haiti, this is it. there's still tons of great stuff up for grabs in the craft hope etsy shop... you can get a wonderful handmade craft and help raise money for doctors without borders at the same time. it's a total win-win.

and if you're not convinced yet, here is a selection of some of the lovely handmade items that have been donated to craft hope to tempt you...

click here to shop craft hope for haiti!

xoxo,

lesley

help haiti

2010-01-16T13:37:00.003-05:00

we have all heard about the devastating earthquake in haiti and seen images of its people's suffering... the best thing you can do to help right now is to make a donation to help support relief efforts.

any amount you can give is appreciated. according to unicef, just $1 can provide a child safe drinking water for 40 days and a generous gift of $50 can provide 40 packets of high energy protein biscuits.

the unicef u.s. fund is absorbing all administrative costs so that 100% of every dollar donated goes straight toward helping people in haiti.

thank you so much for supporting my fundraising efforts... click here to donate.

xoxo,

lesley

senseless beauty

2010-01-14T14:08:00.002-05:00

i spotted this bumper sticker on my walk home from the train station yesterday, and it totally made my afternoon. it seems so rare these days to see a bumper sticker that's not political or sarcastic, and this one had such a lovely message.

the world could always use more beauty and kindness... so randomly, senselessly put some out there today :)

xoxo,

lesley

found encouragement... love signs

2010-01-13T13:04:00.001-05:00

i recently came across these beautiful and touching photos on diana's charming blog, please sir. here is diana's story about the photos:

during my morning ride to work i discovered these adorable signs posted on the side of the road. a combination of driving, looking, swerving, scouting... and one by one the signs became more sweet and sincere. i have no idea who or what they were intended for, but they touched my heart and brought a little happiness to my day.

what a lovely, romantic story. to the mysterious stranger who posted these signs, thank you for sharing your love with the world!

xoxo,

lesley

pocket love

2010-01-12T12:57:00.004-05:00

i'm having so much fun with my i love you cards... i left this one in the back pocket of some jeans at our local thrift store.

xoxo,

lesley

you are the coolest kid in school.

2010-01-11T14:19:00.004-05:00

posted at the mall in a teen clothing store.

i might be all grown up now, but i still remember what it's like to be an awkward kid trying to fit in... sometimes it just feels good to know that *someone* out there thinks you're cool.

xoxo,

lesley

p.s. i'm so glad to be back, more posts to come this week... :)

new year, fresh start.

2010-01-08T11:44:00.000-05:00

hello lovelies!

i wanted to apologize for being m.i.a. this week... with the new year here, i decided to take some time to reassess my situation and reorganize my home so i can have a totally fresh start. i'll be back next week with plenty of new posts... so stay tuned :)

xoxo,

lesley

it's a wonderful life.

2009-12-25T10:00:00.003-05:00

merry christmas everyone!

if you get a chance today, sit down and watch it's a wonderful life. regardless of your beliefs, it should help remind you what the holidays are all about... spending time with the people you love the most, taking a step back and being grateful for everything you have.

i hope you all have a truly wonderful holiday. i'll be spending christmas with my amazing husband and family at my parents' home... then we'll all be flying off to sunny puerto rico for some more quality time :)

see you in the new year!

xoxo,

lesley

you are beautiful.

2009-12-21T14:23:00.004-05:00

if you haven't yet seen the you are beautiful project, please, please go visit the site today. i promise it will make your day better.

here are some words from the project's statement:

the intention behind this project is to reach beyond ourselves as individuals to make a difference by creating moments of positive self realization. we're just attempting to make the world a little better.

intention is the most important aspect of the you are beautiful project in its idea of purity. nothing is sacred. everything that has a perceived value becomes commodified. we work extremely hard that this message is received as a simple act of kindness, and nothing more.

basically, the idea behind the project is a group of anonymous people who go around putting up installations with the message "you are beautiful" in public places. and i have to say, this is one of the most beautiful things i've seen in a long time. here are some of my favorite images of the you are beautiful project in action...

click here to see more beautiful photos.

xoxo,

lesley

pay it forward philadelphia

2009-12-17T14:48:00.003-05:00

xoxo,

lesley

shopping season

2009-12-16T14:39:00.003-05:00

it's that time of year, folks... the time when the idea of setting foot in a shopping mall gives you a migraine.

braving the crowds to hunt for the perfect gift or a festive party dress can be super stressful... so the other day i decided to leave some encouragement for frazzled shoppers.

hopefully my notes helped make someone's holiday shopping experience just a little more bearable :)

xoxo,

lesley

found encouragement... don't worry.

2009-12-14T14:01:00.002-05:00

found on olly moss's flickr stream.

xoxo,

lesley

the most wonderful time of the year...

2009-12-09T15:59:00.003-05:00

we put our little tinsel christmas tree up last weekend... i love the holidays :)

xoxo,

lesley

a note from my hubby

2009-12-04T14:45:00.002-05:00

check out this note my hubby left me on the inside of my car window the other day... isn't he sweet?

xoxo,

lesley

thanksgiving.

2009-11-26T10:35:00.000-05:00

happy thanksgiving everyone!

today, take a moment to remember what this day is really all about. it's not about turkey or pumpkin pie or football... it's about giving thanks. let your thanksgiving dinner be a symbol for the abundance in your life, and be thankful for all that you have!

xoxo,

lesley

a note from steph

2009-11-24T15:31:00.005-05:00

a while back, my good friend steph sent me a couple cell phone photos of a post-it she left on a train in new york. before tell you about her note, i want to tell you a little bit about my friend.

steph is honestly one of the most amazing people i know. she has had a lot of struggles with her health in the past, but she has managed to turn her life around by committing to a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude. last year, she was chosen as a national spokesperson for the american heart association's go red for women campaign. you may have seen her face on a billboard, or heard her speaking out about the dangers of heart disease on tv! click here to read her inspiring story.

in addition to being an inspiration for women all over the country, steph also happens to be one of the most hilarious people i know. now on to her post-it...

it reads... "2 men walk into a bar. the 3rd one ducks. hahahaha. smile! and have a great day!"

steph - your positivity and sense of humor have brightened many of my days, and i'm sure this little pink post-it helped brighten a stranger's day! thanks for being awesome.

xoxo,

lesley

found encouragement... a love letter for you

2009-11-18T14:33:00.004-05:00

according to the city of philadelphia's mural arts project's mission statement, the program aims to "unite artists and communities through a collaborative process... to create art that transforms public spaces and individual lives."

i recently discovered their latest public art project, called love letter, and i am head over heels. the project features a series of murals by stephen powers, which "collectively express a love letter from a guy to a girl, from an artist to his hometown, and from local residents to their west philadelphia neighborhood."

how perfect is that? i can really feel the love that was put into each one of these works of art. the murals are best viewed from the market-frankford elevated transit line... surely they provide a huge dose of encouragement for weary commuters every day!

and of course i couldn't resist this post-it mural...

click here to see more of the love letters murals.

xoxo,

lesley

a note from sara

2009-11-17T13:27:00.004-05:00

i recently received an email from sara, who was nice enough to send me a photo of this lovely pink post-it she left at her local library...

it reads, "we are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that death will tremble to take us." - charles bukowski

i love this quote... it makes me want to try to really live each day to the fullest, and seek out the best life possible. the placement below the shelf of old books is just perfect... it makes me think they are surely filled with thousands more words of wisdom :)

thanks sara!

xoxo,

lesley

sweet as candy

2009-11-16T11:14:00.005-05:00

when i saw this act of "guerrilla goodness" on kindness girl, i nearly melted with the sweetness of it all. ms. kindness and her adorable kids spent an afternoon filling up candy machines with quarters for passersby to find. isn't that just a fantastic idea?

i did it myself the other day, and of course it wouldn't be complete without a little yellow post-it note...

this one was a lot of fun... i hope it helped sweeten someone's day!

xoxo,

lesley

found encouragement... u. of chicago library

2009-11-04T12:24:00.005-05:00

quinn.anya's flickr page has a whole set of photos of graffiti from the university of chicago library. while many of the images offer up standard graffiti fare, others reveal uplifting and inspiring messages. here are some of my favorites... wouldn't you love to look up and see one of these while cramming for a big exam?

xoxo,

lesley

ily @ adventure aquarium

2009-11-02T14:17:00.003-05:00

left in the rainforest section of adventure aquarium in camden, new jersey.

xoxo,

lesley

ily

2009-10-21T17:46:00.005-04:00

my i love you cards are here! stay tuned to see where they'll end up...

xoxo,

lesley

the best medicine

2009-10-19T14:52:00.000-04:00

xoxo,

lesley

you are awesome!

2009-10-15T13:56:00.005-04:00

here is a note i left in my shopping cart at the grocery store last night. this was actually one of my favorite submissions from the free encouragement project, and i thought it would be a fun message for a disgruntled cart boy or stressed out shopper to find.

xoxo,

lesley

no one belongs here more than you.

2009-10-09T11:58:00.005-04:00

{photo by cobalt123}

i found this passage from miranda july's book no one belongs here more than you on the blog positively present. i started reading this book (which is actually a series of short stories) a while back, but never got into it. i guess i didn't get to this part...

"do you have doubts about life? are you unsure if it is worth the trouble? look at the sky: that is for you. look at each person's face as you pass on the street: those faces are for you. and the street itself, and the ground under the street, and the ball of fire beneath the ground: all these things are for you. they are as much for you as they are for other people. remember this when you wake up in the morning and think you have nothing."

beautiful words, and an important thing to remember. the world is yours... no one belongs here more than you.

have a lovely weekend, and don't forget to look at the sky.

xoxo,

lesley

spotted in paris!

2009-10-08T15:23:00.002-04:00

click here to see jason-nicholas's photo of my "you are falafel for the soul" post-it in paris. yay!!

thank you google alerts :)

xoxo,

lesley

raindrops from your eyes

2009-10-06T16:54:00.005-04:00

{photo by the bonnie blues, found on kind over matter}

i came across this lovely photo today, and it reminded me of a song from "free to be you and me," which my sisters and i used to watch all the time when we were kids. even though it was written for children, i think it's a nice reminder for adults too...

it's alright to cry

crying takes the sad out of you

it's alright to cry

it might make you feel better

raindrops from your eyes

washing all the mad out of you

raindrops from your eyes

it's gonna make you feel better

it's alright to know

feelings come and feelings go

it's alright to cry

it might make you feel better...

xoxo,

lesley

found encouragement... mlle. 2nuit

2009-10-01T15:05:00.003-04:00

while my husband and i were in paris, we kept seeing these french sayings written in chalk on various sidewalks and streets, signed by the mysterious "mlle. 2nuit."

this one reads, "la vie est belle, et nous sommes comme elle," which translates (roughly) to, "life is beautiful, and so are we."

how lovely :)

xoxo,

lesley

l'as du fallafel

2009-09-24T09:59:00.006-04:00

a lot of people might not know this, but paris - specifically the marais district (and even more specifically rue des rosiers) - is known for serving up some amazing falafel. and since i'm (obviously) mildly obsessed with falafel, my hubby and i were determined to find out who made it best.

we sampled many delicious pitas filled with the crispy, golden-fried chickpea fritters, each one overflowing with accoutrements like freshly made hummus, tahini, roasted eggplant, spicy red sauce, and vinegary cabbage slaw... but we found the king of all falafel at the famous l'as du fallafel. just to make your mouth water a little bit before i get to the point, here is what their falafel looks like:

can you say, yum?

anyway... after discovering the greatest falafel in the land, i was on a mission. with my post-its and sharpie in hand and armed with a remedial knowledge of the french language, i ventured back to l'as du fallafel to leave the note i'd been waiting to post...

you are falafel for the soul.

- - -

tu es comme le falafel pour l'âme.

they might be hard to spot at first in this shot... see those two little tiny yellowish squares on the lower left-hand side? i was actually kind of nervous to post them because i was in a foreign country and i don't know what type of rules they have about posting signs and whatnot... plus l'as du fallafel was super crowded (as always), so i did it hastily and ran off to hide.

later that night, we came back to eat our final falafel dinner, and i realized that someone had moved my english post-it right onto the middle of the menu board! i was so excited.

a couple days later, nichole (the amazing writer and frequent paris-traveller behind the blog littlebrownpen) sent me this photo via twitter:

she said, "your post-it note is still at l'as du fallafel! the owner is very proud of it."

how cool is that? it just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :)

xoxo,

lesley

found encouragement... love, paris.

2009-09-23T11:27:00.006-04:00

paris is known as one of the most romantic cities in the world, so it's no surprise that i was feeling the love during our visit! everywhere i looked, there was another little reminder...

oh paris, i love you too!

xoxo,

lesley

i'm back!

2009-09-21T13:39:00.001-04:00

hello lovelies!

it's true... i'm back from an absolutely amazing two-week trip to paris. the photo above shows the view from our 6th-floor studio window... so beautiful! i've only been back for a few days, and i miss paris already. everything was fabulous... our apartment, our neighborhood, the food, the wine, the museums, the shopping, the music...! i could go on and on...

this week i'll definitely be sharing more photos and stories from the trip, so keep checking back!

xoxo,

lesley

2009-09-03T15:30:00.002-04:00

{paris rooftops... photo by kmsf}

after months of anticipation, the day has finally come... my husband and i are leaving for paris tonight!

sadly i won't be able to blog from abroad, but i'm taking my post-its with me! i'll be back on the 16th and i'm sure i'll have lots of stories (and photos) to share :)

until then... au revoir!

xoxo,

lesley

pocket door

2009-09-02T11:11:00.003-04:00

"i wish i could keep you in my pocket."

sorry for the lack of falafel lately... i've been super busy getting ready for my trip to paris! just wanted to do a quick post to show this note i left in philadelphia recently... now i have to get back to packing!

xoxo,

lesley

found encouragement... make it happen

2009-08-27T12:31:00.003-04:00

here's another great tidbit from my parents' road trip. they spotted a girl named josie wearing this encouraging t-shirt...

it reads, "don't make excuses... make it happen." josie was a summer intern at plymouth plantation, and the saying on the t-shirt is the motto of her missouri school's sports program.

personally, i think it's a great motto for every day! a reminder that we are responsible for our own destiny and happiness. so often we sit around worrying and making excuses and letting our insecurities keep us from doing what we really want... get up and make it happen today!

xoxo,

lesley

falafel spotted in bar harbor!

2009-08-25T15:01:00.004-04:00

if you've been following my blog, you know that my mom and dad have been spreading falafel all over the united states and canada on their three week long road trip. you also might have noticed that my mom decided to start writing my blog address on her post-its so people could come check out the site if they were so inclined.

well, i just got an email from a sweet lady named margie (hi margie!) who actually spotted one of the post-its they left in bar harbor, maine! how cool is that?

this is the note she left... posted outside of a ver popular (and very delicious) ice cream shop called cj's big dipper.

it reads, "be yourself! everyone else is taken."

xoxo,

lesley

philly falafel

2009-08-20T12:01:00.004-04:00

my sister donica and i had some fun falafel-ing all over center city philadelphia this weekend! it was fun to have a partner in crime this time around :) here are a couple of my favorite post-its my sister and i put up...

never underestimate the power of your dreams.

posted on a sign outside a parking garage.

i love your hair!

posted on the bathroom mirror in a pub.

hopefully our notes helped spread some encouragement and positivity to the city of brotherly love!

xoxo,

lesley

found encouragement... stop signs

2009-08-19T13:16:00.007-04:00

stop sign graffiti has become something of a trend in the u.s. over the past several years (beginning with "stop the war" and "stop eating meat").

but it wasn't until fairly recently that i began to see it used in funny (stop: hammertime), meaningful, and thought-provoking applications. a search on flickr revealed some really great messages that i just had to share with you all.

{a simple message... "stop hating." from champagne chic}

{"don't stop caring." from juls at midnight}

{"never stop lovin!" from regular genius girl}

{even with the misspelling, the message comes through. "don't stop believing." from mint tea}

{my favorite... "stop being afraid." from fucher is now}

i hope you take the time to "stop" for a moment and reflect on how you can incorporate these little bits of wisdom into your life.

xoxo,

lesley

en francais

2009-08-14T13:09:00.002-04:00

here's another note from my mom, left somewhere in quebec city during the new france festival! my dad found some quotes with english and french translations, so this is officially the first bilingual falafel :)

my mom also put my blog url on this note, so if there are any quebec residents reading... bonjour!

hope everyone has a fantastic weekend...

xoxo,

lesley

found falafel... you go girl!

2009-08-12T10:32:00.003-04:00

encouraging graffiti!

{from skeletonkrewe}

{from embeedub}

{from hunterpowell19}

{from agrinberg}

for more, check out the you go girl flickr group.

xoxo,

lesley

no one is like you.

2009-08-10T15:06:00.004-04:00

"you are an amazing individual. no one is like you."

i left this note under the bleachers of a little league field near my house.

i think we tend to take the important people in our lives for granted. today, take the time to tell someone you love just how special they are. it could be someone you see every day, or an dear friend or relative you've lost touch with over the years. just pick up the phone, write a little note, or send an email... you might just make someone's day.

xoxo,

lesley

falafel in my teacup

2009-08-07T14:30:00.003-04:00

i found this little bit of inspiration dangling from my tea bag this morning...

it reads, "life is a flow of love; your participation is requested." what a nice way to start my day.

happy friday everyone... i'll be back on monday with a new post-it. have a fantastic weekend... let the love flow!

xoxo,

lesley

falafel from the road!

2009-08-06T14:29:00.005-04:00

my parents are currently on a three week long road trip of sorts... traveling by car from their home in south jersey, through new york and new england, all the way up to montreal and quebec city. when i told my mom about my new project, she was so excited about it she decided to join in! here is the note she posted...

it reads, "never look down on anyone, unless you are giving them a hand up."

it is posted on the outside window of ben & jerry's in burlington, vermont. here is a photo of my mom pointing to her freshly posted falafel :)

the quote is from the author pete hamill, who spoke at a conference my parents attended earlier in the week. he said it was something his mother used to tell him and his brother when they were growing up... how sweet is that? a really great life lesson to remember.

thanks, mom!

xoxo,

lesley

you've got a friend.

2009-08-04T15:49:00.007-04:00

"have a lovely day, friend."

sometimes we all need a friend, even if that friend happens to be an anonymous stranger :)

i posted this little note on a park bench in one of my favorite spots. today was one of those picture-perfect summer days... hot, but not too hot, with a nice cooling breeze and a sky full of puffy white clouds. i sat there on the bench for a while just thinking about what a truly lovely day it was, and how lucky i was to be a part of it.

wishing you all the lovliest of lovely days...

xoxo,

lesley

the beginning.

2009-07-31T10:31:00.003-04:00

i put up my first bit of encouragement today... a little yellow post-it on a big yellow wall. it reads, "you already have everything you need."

in reading through all the submissions from the free encouragement project, this one seemed very important to me. a simple reminder to keep sight of what's really important in life... in a time when, at least for me, everything seems to get more and more complicated every day... a time when people are struggling to make ends meet and feeling like they don't have enough.

i often get bogged down with all the endless choices and tiny details of every day life, and forget to enjoy and appreciate what i have... a loving, wonderful family... a lovely home... and the freedom to pursue my dreams. just putting this note up and seeing its message, i felt a sense of calm and relief.

sometimes it is easy to forget... but what you have is enough. your life is abundant. be thankful :)

xoxo,

lesley