"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beattie
My life continues to evolve and grow as I am focusing more on gratitude. It has made me calmer, happier, more comfortable with my life. The evilness of finding my existence lacking in comparison to others is shrinking away, which benefits me in numerous ways.
If you're worried that gratitude results in complacency, I can tell you it doesn't, at least it hasn't for me. Saying I'm more comfortable with my life doesn't mean that I have stopped attempting new endeavors or reaching for more accomplishments. On the contrary. Gratitude makes me appreciate what I have and also allows me to strive for betterment with less fear of failure and concern for what other people think of my decisions in life.
Here is my gratitude list for this morning:
I got my jacket zipped up (the zipper is fussy).
The van was warm.
I made it to work.
I have a job that fulfills me and allows me to help people.
I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and money in the bank.
I have people who care about me.
Gratitude will have a positive effect on your attitude, your perspective, your personality - if you make a conscious effort to make it a daily part of your life.
librarianintx
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Dancing with the Stars finale - My Thoughts
After the Sophie's Choice drama and tears of last week's episode, when the judges had to make the painful decision of eliminating one of the top two contestants this season, last night's finale was such a joyous celebration of a mostly terrific season of Dancing with the Stars. It took awhile for these contestants to get the hang of dancing, but I would argue that the Top 5 all became fantastic dancers. The finale was super exciting, with all the dancing absolutely top notch. I enjoyed all the repeat dances, and the freestyle dances were amazing!!
So did the right person win? Sorry, but not in my opinion. I would have given Hannah the Most Improved Dancer award, but not the Mirrorball trophy. She came so far and improved so much, in her confidence as well as her dance ability, and I am okay that she won, but I think Ally or Kel deserved it more. I honestly don't know why the audience struggled to connect with Ally. She was in the bottom more than anyone else, and she didn't deserve to be. I found her to be humble, grateful, emotional, a hard worker, and she became a wonderful dancer that excelled at every style she attempted.
Still, I just loved the journeys that these contestants experienced, and I was so thrilled and excited for them. All of the top 5 changed and grew so much, most notably Hannah and Lauren. Even though country is not my thing, I thoroughly enjoyed Lauren's country freestyle, and I clapped, squealed, and cried with her when she got her first 10's of the season.
The finale was just so great. Cher's performance was amazing. The costumes were perfection! Pitbull and Neyo were fun. I didn't feel like we got to see the former contestants as much, but they all looked wonderful and happy to be back on the dance floor. I have only two complaints. Len's score of 9 on Kel's freestyle was SO wrong. Okay, to a certain extent I can see his point. There wasn't a lot of variety in the freestyle. There wasn't a mix of styles; there weren't many lifts. But c'mon, the energy and as Bruno said the exhilaration of the performance was undeniable. I think sometimes Kel's dancing is so effortless that it looks like it isn't difficult, but that was not an easy routine, to keep up with the music as it got faster and faster. I loved it, and it did NOT deserve a 9. My other complaint: They didn't use the Whitney Houston track for "I Wanna Dance with Somebody." Why in the world? DWTS, you used the track for "I Will Always Love You," the previous week, you couldn't get the other song cleared, or you were lazy? Two blimps in an otherwise fabulous night!
I simply adore this show. Thank you for a fantastic season, Dancing with the Stars! Congrats to all the contestants, and to Hannah. Maybe next season I can post more of my thoughts, even if I don't do formal recaps.
librarianintx
So did the right person win? Sorry, but not in my opinion. I would have given Hannah the Most Improved Dancer award, but not the Mirrorball trophy. She came so far and improved so much, in her confidence as well as her dance ability, and I am okay that she won, but I think Ally or Kel deserved it more. I honestly don't know why the audience struggled to connect with Ally. She was in the bottom more than anyone else, and she didn't deserve to be. I found her to be humble, grateful, emotional, a hard worker, and she became a wonderful dancer that excelled at every style she attempted.
Still, I just loved the journeys that these contestants experienced, and I was so thrilled and excited for them. All of the top 5 changed and grew so much, most notably Hannah and Lauren. Even though country is not my thing, I thoroughly enjoyed Lauren's country freestyle, and I clapped, squealed, and cried with her when she got her first 10's of the season.
The finale was just so great. Cher's performance was amazing. The costumes were perfection! Pitbull and Neyo were fun. I didn't feel like we got to see the former contestants as much, but they all looked wonderful and happy to be back on the dance floor. I have only two complaints. Len's score of 9 on Kel's freestyle was SO wrong. Okay, to a certain extent I can see his point. There wasn't a lot of variety in the freestyle. There wasn't a mix of styles; there weren't many lifts. But c'mon, the energy and as Bruno said the exhilaration of the performance was undeniable. I think sometimes Kel's dancing is so effortless that it looks like it isn't difficult, but that was not an easy routine, to keep up with the music as it got faster and faster. I loved it, and it did NOT deserve a 9. My other complaint: They didn't use the Whitney Houston track for "I Wanna Dance with Somebody." Why in the world? DWTS, you used the track for "I Will Always Love You," the previous week, you couldn't get the other song cleared, or you were lazy? Two blimps in an otherwise fabulous night!
I simply adore this show. Thank you for a fantastic season, Dancing with the Stars! Congrats to all the contestants, and to Hannah. Maybe next season I can post more of my thoughts, even if I don't do formal recaps.
librarianintx
Tuesday, November 05, 2019
Dancing with the Stars 11/4/19
Yes, I am still watching Dancing with the Stars. I'm disappointed that I haven't had time to write recaps of the episodes. But I have to say a few things about last night's show. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! For me, the first two weeks of the season were super dull. No one was good, everyone was nervous, it was just not enjoyable to watch, and I feared it would be a snooze-fest of a season. But these contestants (all but one anyway), have become DANCERS!! There has been some terrific choreography, and the music has been fantastic!!
This is not going to be a traditional recap for me, just some thoughts about some of the routines and performers.
1) Lauren Alaina and her Jive
YOU GO LAUREN!! All of the dancers (except one) have drastically improved since the beginning of the season, but I think the biggest metamorphosis has happened with Lauren. She started the show shy, reserved, nervous, and I know a lot of it has to do with her Christian upbringing. She has said more than once that she was nervous about her father would react to a particular routine or sexy move. But in her Jive last night, she was confidence with a capital C. Her Jive was everything you want a Jive to be - fun, upbeat, bouncy, cheeky - and she absolutely captured the exuberance and decadence of the 1950's. Her outfit was perfect, her hair was spot on, and and she exuded self-assurance from beginning to end. I was so sad for her that she made some mistakes and didn't get the scores she deserved. From a personality standpoint - that routine was a 10!
2) Kel's Salsa
THAT IS HOW YOU DO IT MY MAN!! You could tell that Kel was feeling that music from note one. I was too; I was grooving and singing right along with him. It was the perfect song for him, and yes, he was the star of that routine, and he was large and in charge! Congrats on the first 10 of the season, dude, you deserved it!! I absolutely loved everything about that dance (except the extra dancers, but y'all already know that about me) :)
3) Ally's Paso Doble
THAT GIRL WAS ON FIRE!
The first perfect score of the season!
Carrie Ann was right - she rocked that skirt like few people have on this show.
I am so happy for her!
4) Hannah's Quickstep
Finally we see some real personality from Hannah, and it really elevated the performance. Her Quickstep was fast, uplifting, joyful, and as Bruno said, they did well covering the floor and dancing "big."
5) Kate's Jive
Again, great music being used, in this case Linda Ronstandt's "Heat Wave." Like with Lauren, Kate made some mistakes and her scores suffered, but she has also blossomed on this show, and was brimming with confidence in this routine.
6) James' Contemporary
James is arguably the front runner of the season, but he has most of the rest of the pack hot on his heels. I LOVED the emotion of this dance, and the slowed down version of "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey was lovely. James earned the second perfect score of the evening, and it was well deserved.
Now for the dance offs:
I always have a hard time with the side by side dance offs, because it's often hard to watch both couples at the same time.
Both Kel and Ally did a great job, but I gave the edge to Kel. He looked more relaxed, while Ally was a bit nervous. She seemed too concerned with what Kel and Witney were doing, and not paying enough attention to her own routine.
That Cha Cha may have been Sean's best dance, but I only had eyes for Kate - Girl was WORKING IT! Something about that ponytail maybe - She had great Cha Cha moves, great sass and personality, and she looked HOT! Again, they had a fantastic song to dance to - "Everybody Dance Now" by C&C Music Factory. That song makes just about everyone want to move.
Hannah and Lauren - that wasn't just a dance off, that was a TWERK OFF!! To see two dancers that have struggled with personality and confidence get out there and shake their asses off was SO AWESOME! Go girls! Lauren was a bit tight as first and I think that's why Hannah got the win, but she really let loose in the second half of the routine, and I LOVED IT! It was one of the best dance offs I have seen on DWTS. Don't despair Lauren! You got low-ish scores on your individual dance, and you didn't win your dance off, but you are KILLING IT this season with your confidence!
After such an exciting night of dancing, the elimination was of course a buzzkill, but Kate should hold her head high and be extremely proud of what she has achieved on the show. She has been a joy to watch this season.
I love this show!
librarianintx
This is not going to be a traditional recap for me, just some thoughts about some of the routines and performers.
1) Lauren Alaina and her Jive
YOU GO LAUREN!! All of the dancers (except one) have drastically improved since the beginning of the season, but I think the biggest metamorphosis has happened with Lauren. She started the show shy, reserved, nervous, and I know a lot of it has to do with her Christian upbringing. She has said more than once that she was nervous about her father would react to a particular routine or sexy move. But in her Jive last night, she was confidence with a capital C. Her Jive was everything you want a Jive to be - fun, upbeat, bouncy, cheeky - and she absolutely captured the exuberance and decadence of the 1950's. Her outfit was perfect, her hair was spot on, and and she exuded self-assurance from beginning to end. I was so sad for her that she made some mistakes and didn't get the scores she deserved. From a personality standpoint - that routine was a 10!
2) Kel's Salsa
THAT IS HOW YOU DO IT MY MAN!! You could tell that Kel was feeling that music from note one. I was too; I was grooving and singing right along with him. It was the perfect song for him, and yes, he was the star of that routine, and he was large and in charge! Congrats on the first 10 of the season, dude, you deserved it!! I absolutely loved everything about that dance (except the extra dancers, but y'all already know that about me) :)
3) Ally's Paso Doble
THAT GIRL WAS ON FIRE!
The first perfect score of the season!
Carrie Ann was right - she rocked that skirt like few people have on this show.
I am so happy for her!
4) Hannah's Quickstep
Finally we see some real personality from Hannah, and it really elevated the performance. Her Quickstep was fast, uplifting, joyful, and as Bruno said, they did well covering the floor and dancing "big."
5) Kate's Jive
Again, great music being used, in this case Linda Ronstandt's "Heat Wave." Like with Lauren, Kate made some mistakes and her scores suffered, but she has also blossomed on this show, and was brimming with confidence in this routine.
6) James' Contemporary
James is arguably the front runner of the season, but he has most of the rest of the pack hot on his heels. I LOVED the emotion of this dance, and the slowed down version of "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey was lovely. James earned the second perfect score of the evening, and it was well deserved.
Now for the dance offs:
I always have a hard time with the side by side dance offs, because it's often hard to watch both couples at the same time.
Both Kel and Ally did a great job, but I gave the edge to Kel. He looked more relaxed, while Ally was a bit nervous. She seemed too concerned with what Kel and Witney were doing, and not paying enough attention to her own routine.
That Cha Cha may have been Sean's best dance, but I only had eyes for Kate - Girl was WORKING IT! Something about that ponytail maybe - She had great Cha Cha moves, great sass and personality, and she looked HOT! Again, they had a fantastic song to dance to - "Everybody Dance Now" by C&C Music Factory. That song makes just about everyone want to move.
Hannah and Lauren - that wasn't just a dance off, that was a TWERK OFF!! To see two dancers that have struggled with personality and confidence get out there and shake their asses off was SO AWESOME! Go girls! Lauren was a bit tight as first and I think that's why Hannah got the win, but she really let loose in the second half of the routine, and I LOVED IT! It was one of the best dance offs I have seen on DWTS. Don't despair Lauren! You got low-ish scores on your individual dance, and you didn't win your dance off, but you are KILLING IT this season with your confidence!
After such an exciting night of dancing, the elimination was of course a buzzkill, but Kate should hold her head high and be extremely proud of what she has achieved on the show. She has been a joy to watch this season.
I love this show!
librarianintx
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