A Cheat Sheet for Keeping Your Light Shining Bright

by Belinda Munoz on July 15, 2010

Into the Sun

By no means do I claim to be a sunny person all year long.  I have periods of dim days when I walk around in a fog.  I know all too well what happens when the lights aren’t on.  I trip, I dress in mismatched colors, I step on my son’s squeaky toys and I can’t tell tequila and gin apart.

So I keep a light on wherever I go; one that I fight to keep burning no matter what.  This way, there’s no chance of ending up on Glamour’s fashion don’t, I won’t wake my son up when I make a late-night cameo in his room for a quick peek at his sweet face, and that drink I might one day fix you will turn out just right.  As for tripping, there’s no getting around that.  After all I am vertically challenged petite woman who wears heels often.

Whether you take this literally or metaphorically, I will guess that you know something about dim days.

Does it get dim where you are sometimes?  If so, I’ve compiled a cheat sheet of bright and light-filled wisdom here for your lazy day reading pleasure courtesy of some wonderful bloggers.  I hope you’ll click around and catch a ray of light:

The bright basics

1 50 Things to love about life that are free by Lori

2 Laughter by Arvind

3 Resilience: the power of the human spirit by Lauren

4 Have hope by Fr. Mike

5 Looking forward by BigLittleWolf

6 Life as a quilt by Patty

7 Don’t block the sun by Davina

8 We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it by Eva

9 Winning (when it counts) by BigLittleWolf

10 Have you worn other people’s faces? by Giulietta

11 Keys to staying decluttered by Colleen

Bask in the warm glow of love and peace (what can I say, I’m a Hippie Girl at heart)

12 The foundation of love and relationship by Lauren

13 What would love do? by Aileen

14 7 Strategies for loving each and every day by Dani

15 Martyrdom/Victimhood vs. allowing yourself to be loveable by Wilma

16 50 peaceful things by Lori

17 Practical steps to inner peace by Barrie

18 On silence by Maggie

Mind, body and soul brilliance

19 Soul searching by Katie

20 100 ways to develop your mind, a classic by Steven

21 Things you can do to feel better about your body by Lauren

22 How to lose the last 10 pounds by Anastasiya

23 Bottled memories by Bob

It’s all about perspective

24 Pizza pie perspective by Kristen

25 What’s right with you? by Rob

26 The view from the inside by Jeffrey

27 Even in the gutter, one can look up at the stars by Tony

Light at the end of the oil spill tunnel

28 Refrain from using plastic bottles by Jackson Browne

29 Acknowledge our responsibility for the oil spill by Tess of The Bold Life

Cooking and eating light

30 How to work with the kitchen you have by Meg

31 A simple guide to eating like a human by Katie

32 Top 20 Stonesoup salads by Jules

33 5 Ingredients, 5 minutes, five meals – simple noodles by Jules

34 Summer refresher: aqua fresca by The Kitchen Witch

35 Waffled soft pretzels by Dan

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NOTE: For the next week or so, instead of listening to my fingers pounding on a keyboard, I’ll be tuning in to songs in the key of life, totally unplugged from the internet.  I might even journey through the secret life of plants because, well, it’s simply hotter than July.  For once, I’d like to be the woman in red, experiencing natural wonder, in square circle, amidst operation conversation peace.  Why?  Because, everyday is a time to love.

Can anybody guess where I’m coming from?  What I’m getting at?

Okay, I’ll come clean.

I’ve just quoted a bunch of Stevie Wonder album titles.  Would anybody like to guess which ones? 🙂

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July 15, 2010 at 2:28 am

{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Arvind Devalia July 15, 2010 at 2:09 am

Thanks Belinda for a great list – just what I needed this morning. Here in London its pouring down and there is a strong wind. It’s like autumn already!

Your post has reminded us of the light within us that’s always going to be shining – if only we can recognised that.

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2 Colleen July 15, 2010 at 3:34 am

Hi Belinda,
actually I thought you had been smoking the happy weed there for a minute. I do like your list though and not only because I’m on it. I actually have a whole day off tomorrow so I might sit in my warm cosy bed (it’s winter here) until 10am and have a good old read of some of the posts you listed.

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3 Giulietta July 15, 2010 at 3:46 am

Dear Belinda,

Thank you! I’m honored to have made your shining light list. Very kind of you. Will spend some time today reading through the illuminating posts.

Sharing the world’s brilliance, Giulietta

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4 Maggie July 15, 2010 at 5:25 am

Belinda,

I am looking forward to reading these gems of wisdom! How humbling it is to be included on a list like this as a new blogger. I hope you enjoy your vacation from the Internet, which I have to admit sounds very tempting to me!

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5 Bob Bessette July 15, 2010 at 5:31 am

Hi Belinda,
Thanks so much for the mention. I will have to go through this list and do some reading. I am on vacation this week so it’s a great time to do so! Thanks again.

Best,
Bob

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6 Corinne July 15, 2010 at 5:47 am

What a fabulous list, and resource. Thank you 🙂

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7 Tony Single July 15, 2010 at 6:03 am

Well, that’s me set for reading material for the next week and a bit! Thanks Belinda, and I hope you enjoy your time away! 🙂

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8 C @ Kid Things July 15, 2010 at 6:37 am

So much to read!

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9 Tess The Bold Life July 15, 2010 at 7:08 am

Belinda,
Oh I’m so grateful for the mention. I’ve already checked out a few links and it’s so nice to have someone find the juicy stuff and then share it with everyone. Have a great day!

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10 TheKitchenWitch July 15, 2010 at 7:14 am

Honored to be on such a list, with such wonderful people! Jackson Browne, even! 🙂 Thank you, Belinda!

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11 Lori July 15, 2010 at 8:41 am

Hi Belinda,

Thank you for including my posts in this fabulous list! Have fun during your disconnected week. What an awesome thing to do for yourself. I always feel so peace and reinvigorated after I take some time away from technology.

Lori

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12 Meg July 15, 2010 at 10:45 am

I’m going to make like Colleen and have a lie-in tomorrow morning and read everything on the list, even re-read my own, hahaha! Thanks for picking one of mine, I’m humbled.

Enjoy the week off the keyboard.

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13 The Exception July 15, 2010 at 12:14 pm

Thank you for these links – there are days when I look for a little light coming form a different direction!
Enjoy your time away form the keyboard!

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14 Aileen July 15, 2010 at 2:10 pm

You’ve given us some great reading for when you are away “tuning in to songs in the key of life”

I’m thrilled to be part of the warm glow

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15 Rudri July 15, 2010 at 3:34 pm

What a list Belinda! I will definitely check it out. Hope you enjoy your time away being unplugged…

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16 Eva @ EvaEvolving July 16, 2010 at 10:35 am

Just what I needed heading in to the weekend, feeling a bit down lately. Thank you, thank you!

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17 Nicki July 18, 2010 at 5:01 am

Enjoy your time away, Belinda! Love this compilation. Thank you!

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18 Katie July 18, 2010 at 10:44 am

Belinda, a very beautifully written post. Funny and poignant. I appreciate you taking the time to provide all these links and thank you for the love. Have a wonderful week away. I’m right behind you next week. See you when I get back in August. Happy, lovely summer.

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19 Wilma Ham July 18, 2010 at 7:44 pm

You a vertically challenged woman on heels? I hope they are very high and red then, that makes everything alright.
I am just returning from a 2 week break and what do I find. A wonderful list, thank you.
Have a great time and make sure you are in a good mood when you are mixing your drinks.
xox Wilma

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20 Christine LaRocque July 19, 2010 at 5:13 am

I am really excited to check out some of these posts. Says she who is looking for the willpower to unplug…

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21 Patty - Why Not Start Now? July 19, 2010 at 12:35 pm

Hi Belinda – Thanks so much for including me in your very stellar cast of characters here! To paraphrase Stevie Wonder, “Aren’t they lovely? Aren’t they wonderful?” And to the list I would add all posts by Belinda. Wishing you a most delicious time away.

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22 rob white July 20, 2010 at 10:41 am

Boy, I sure have plenty of reading to do! I am thrilled to be a contribution to anyone seeking some light… that is what life is all about. Thanks for this great resource, Belinda.

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23 Phil - Less Ordinary Living July 22, 2010 at 11:25 am

Belinda – great list. I hope you’re enjoying unplugging. I just took a little time away from the blog and it felt great. Now back and revitalized!

Phil

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24 Lauren July 24, 2010 at 9:21 am

Dear Belinda,

I hope you’re dancing your way through your off internet time – or doing whatever feels just right to you. I love that about you. You have the courage and “huevos” to own it all.

From one hippie at heart to another – cheers to you!

Thank you so much for the mention of my posts and for providing some great sites for my surfing self.

I’ve been on vacation in Pa. playing in the creek, jumping off the rope into the water, throwing water balloons, all that good stuff, with my very cool and adventurous nephew Hayden.

And, yes, I know the moments of which you speak.
The Woman In Red
Hotter Than July
For Once In My Life
The Secret Life of Plants
Live At Last

Oops…I think I added a bit – how about this Stevie wonder – “I Can’t See Shit”. Now, that shows a sense of humor!

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