If the game of life is like chess why am I losing so miserably...at chess that is. I am learning to play again after many years and can't seem to keep up with the knights and rooks and horses. I can barely remember the names of the pieces much less how they move. Yet I continue to play to master the art and become a pro in my own right. So if life is like a game of chess is that why I've never been very good at playing games and have often been told that "I wear my heart on my sleeve" and have a difficult time masking my emotions. But I can see the necessity of knowing how to move and when to move and when to play certain positions. And in understanding my position I am less likely to be sensitive about it because I understand it. It is useful to know when to make a move in life...in your career, your relationships, your housing. You consider the entire situation (board) and look at what you have to work with (your pawns) and recognize when you need to make really big moves (your queen) and when to put a stop to certain things (CHECKMATE). I'm going to keep learning this game of chess and give myself time to understand it. In the same way I'm going to continue learning this game of life and what I need to do to win!

We sometimes apologize for being human and having human flaws. There are days that we may feel irritable or cranky and we apologize to our mates or friends for our behavior. There isn't anything wrong with being aplogetic to help your loved ones understand what's going on with you and to help you get things in perspective and start working on the problem. But none of us is perfect and as a result we will do things that show just how perfectly human we are. That doesn't excuse poor behavior but it does help to remind us that we are going to have moments or days when "we just aren't right." And then we move on and forward from those experiences. The thing is not to stay stuck in those feelings.

Gardening is therapeutic. Putting seeds into soil and watching something grow is joyful as it is a reminder of life. Understanding that something beautiful can grow from a tiny seed is a reminder of how we are able to grow individually. I love growing herbs like lemon balm, peppermint, thyme and lavender. They bring extra spice to my dishes and the beautiful pots in my window bring a smile to my face whenever I glance at them.

I had the opportunity yesterday to see my girlfriend's new baby girl. She is precious. She decided to come into the world months early so she's still in the hospital. But she is a fighter! She has shown that she wants to be here and is giving life her best shot. That strength and struggle is awesome to behold. Life begins with your first breath and ends with your last. When you're pregnant the doctors tell you when you can expect your child to be born but you don't know the exact moment that they will take their first breath. And when life ends you have no clue when the final breath will be taken. Knowing that puts life in perspective. What are you putting off for tomorrow because you assume you'll be here to do it? Is it resolving an issue with someone? Telling your child that you love them and are proud of them? Is it returning a phone call? Or maybe taking a much needed vacation? We are arrogant enough to believe that when we are ready we will have the opportunity to do these things. Your last breath will be just that....the final breath of air/energy in and out. What happens in between your first breath and last is entirely up to you. Make it count.

Is making love the panacea for all ailments in a relationship? Does creating energy and sharing it with your loved one actually create passion and cement the union? We know that oxytocin is released and bonding is created through the release in intimacy but does it end there? After the hormone has been released and the immediate feelings of togetherness have vanished what is left? Are you still intimate? And if there is never any physical intimacy in a relationship then does it doom the union or strengthen it? The problem lies in the "end all." If all there is is the sexual acts then there is little to build on when the perspiration has cooled and the longing has dissipated. What makes the relationship holistic is when there is balance between the physical intimacy, emotional connection, spiritual pairing and an organic foundation based on similar values and beliefs. So while a releasing session of love making may cure the immediate stress you feel if it occurs before it's time it can cloud the differences that are apparent and the warning signals that are glaring.

My boyfriend's sister, Kasha, is beautiful to me. She is a kindred butterfly. Growing, learning, becoming the woman she's meant to be. She intrinsically believes in love and lives life from a place of and in love. She has a smile that warms hearts and brings joy and makes you believe in the moment. She is vulnerable and willing to have experiences that bring extreme pleasure as well as pain. Kasha butterfly, a woman who looks like me who I find beautiful.