My two beautiful children and off they went.
Archive for the ‘Story’ Category
a mother’s intuition // the backside of the empty nest
A Mother’s Intuition
Lacrosse bag & sticks, snowboards & boots, multiple shoes and sweatshirts all lined the entry, now gone. Simply vanished as if they were never there.
The kids are gone.
A few Coronas are left in the refrigerator.
The Little Black Box | Notebook from The Sky
Grandma and I arrived to Denver International 2 hours early. That never happens when I fly; always last to board, or more often than not, near misses. Or what happened this past May when we were traveling between London and Milan, the gate attendant had to hold the door for us as we were sprinting like OJ in the Hertz commercial or like we witnessed on the news fleeing from the LAPD.
Near misses and actual missed flights occurred when we were actually early and waiting for our flight. Either because we were waiting at the wrong gate or didn’t get the gate change memo. Don’t ask 🙂 Those are other stories.
dreams
remembering your dreams
wake up
take note
identify
research
discover
I am on a fact finding trip in LA and found myself dreaming, once again. Away from the cluttered life of home, work and just the day to day stuff that keeps us so uber occupied, mind, body and soul. I found myself waking up every now and again throughout the night. My mind filled with dreams. Dreams that woke me enough that I had to get up and start penning my thoughts so I could share them with you. I rolled over and felt for the hotel note paper and pen that laid on the bedside table. It was dark. I did not turn the light on but began to jot down short phrases and words so that I could remember.
The most vivid of the various snapshots, which were my dreams, was of a baby. I was holding a baby in a hospital. He was asleep. He woke up and smiled at me. He was frail and I knew instinctively he was hungry. Although frail and unsure who I was he was smiling. We connected. I was looking down at him with pure joy. I knew I had to feed him and that he nor I could wait for the doctor or nurses to arrive. Adam sat calmly in the corner waiting, not phased, as he is used to the craziness of the situations to which I find myself. I drew the baby closer to me and began to nurse him. He continued to smile and I even produced milk for him to drink. My parents came in and my mom quickly responded as I asked for assistance with his diaper. It was too big and falling off. He needed to be cared for and I suppose, I needed to be needed.*
I’ve been wanting a third child for sometime. After 40 I knew it wouldn’t happen. Now I find myself old enough to be a grandma! But my daughter is no where near ready nor should she be at 20. I now understand how women get so excited and antsy for their children to have babies.
I understand that my many ideas, projects and the products I have created, such as my skincare line, my book and my t-shirt line, to name a few, stem from a desire to do more. I always felt I needed something more or more to do on top of just selling real estate and raising a family. Not that that isn’t a lot, it is, but I still need something more. I’m still trying to figure out what that something more is.
I’ve longed to have another baby, at least I think that’s what I have wanted. Someone to love, to care for and to nurture, just like the baby in my dream.
Having awoken from this vivid dream of loving and caring for and smiling at this darling, frail baby boy I couldn’t remain in bed or have gone back to sleep. My eyes popped open, this time, around 4:15 AM – it was a restless night and I continued waking up and going back to sleep again. The first time I just made a few notes in the dark – I haven’t looked to see if my writing is even legible. I tried to remain in bed with the lights out and even tried to go back to sleep, but I was just so curious about the meaning of this baby that I had to get up and turn on my computer. It’s still dark outside. I began my research online. I turned on the TV which is playing soothing meditation music on the hotel channel and I begin to write.
Here is what I found on line — upon my first Google search.
Baby
To see a baby in your dream signifies innocence, warmth and new beginnings. Babies symbolize something in your own inner nature that is pure, vulnerable, helpless and/or uncorrupted. If you dream that the baby is smiling at you, then it suggests that you are experiencing pure joy. You do not ask for much to make you happy. If you find a baby in your dream, then it suggests that you have acknowledged your hidden potential.
The moral of this story is that I am here in LA – Beverly Hills on a fact finding mission to learn how I can publicize my book and develop my brand. I am here in search of what’s in store for me this year. As each year I embark on a new project, and it’s that time once again. The ideas start to pop up in my dreams while I sleep. And when I awake I have a new mission.
Stay Tuned for More!
Please email me your comments, thoughts, questions and/or personal stories here or directly to debbi@debbidimaggio.com
As always,
Dream Big and Believe!!
XOXO! Debbi
PS. Here’s to new beginnings!
I just love change, the journey and the unplanned experiences in life.
*being needed: my children are fast approaching age 17 and 20 and myself, 48! They are mature and capable kids but I miss not being able to help and do more for them. Right now our son Chase is in Chicago at a lacrosse tournament. It’s the first tournament we have not attended. We know it is important for him to go with his team, on his own. But as a mom who wants to cheer him on, offer him encouragement and is able to be there, it’s simply difficult not to be there with him. And our daughter Bianca is almost 20 and is working at Pandora. We are so proud of her! The other day I cried when she told me that her friend would be taking her to the doctor. I was stunned. I didn’t mean to cry nor did I think I would cry. But as I drove down the street headed to my own appointments I was saddened by the fact that she didn’t need me and would go it alone, without me. In the end both Bianca and Chase are capable and self-sufficient and it is time for me to let them continue to grow and blossom. Chase and his 5 buddies almost missed the flight to Chicago. I suppose if my husband Adam and I were there we would have been monitoring the boys and it wouldn’t have happened. But then what lesson would they have learned? Life is about many, many small lessons and mistakes. And so it is. HO!
foods with benefits // chart your course
Writing is my therapy.
Penning my thoughts is where my goal setting begins, where I discover myself and chart my path.
It is something I do when I am trying to wind down and relax. It helps me to stop working, cleaning the house, or any number of other things that keep me from simply stopping. It’s a place where I am able to move more slowly and allow my thoughts to flow. I am prompted to open my MacBook when my mind becomes flooded with thoughts. I am usually inspired and moved to write when I have something to share. When my mind begins to reel it is at that time when I know that if I don’t stop and write out my thoughts it will consume me until I do.
I begin….and sometimes I don’t know what’s coming next.
I try to identify my mood, my feelings, and the place where I am. I always seek to inspire, teach or simply share what I am experiencing. Sharing with others creates a connection, a bond and even a friendship. At the very least, words written and common experiences shared, help to motivate us or make us feel a little better, more normal and sometimes it gives us new insights, gets us back on track and makes us realize we all want or need similar things.
Many times it’s about my children. It might be a story about a big win, or a big loss, or a lesson learned through teamwork or from a coach.
Sometimes it’s about travel or starting a new workout regiment, a New Year’s resolution or a Bucket List goal, but today it’s about eating healthy. It seems so commonplace to discuss diet and health, but now in my late 40’s the whirling thoughts seem to be on the forefront of my mind like a bright pink post-it note stuck to my forehead! So what else does a writer and teacher, at heart, hope to do – well, yes… teach, share and inspire.
January 2013 goals and resolutions kicked off like no other. Last year I focused on identifying a workout regiment that was fun and made me happy. Music usually does that, so for me, I quickly discovered that an exercise regiment with music was best.
This year it’s all about eating for the benefits of not only, weight loss and maintenance, but for health.
And my story begins here: It was December once again and the time of year when the real estate market tends to taper off. It is also the time of year when I have the “time” to make my personal appointments and focus on myself.
It was the afternoon of New Year’s Eve. My husband and son dropped me off and headed off to the Marin DMV so our son could take his driver’s test. I sat in the waiting room at the CPMC Breast Center in San Francisco awaiting my results. It was the second round testing. The first test, my annual mammogram, found an unidentifiable something, which prompted a call from my doctor that I needed to return for advanced testing.
As I sat in my dull gown surrounded by other worried women, some young, some old, some with friends, some alone, some with parents, some with children; I looked into their eyes wondering. I am certain we all had the same fleeting thoughts, none positive, of that I am certain. I tried to be strong as thoughts filled my mind like misfiring synapsis — “I will not live to see my daughter get married. I will not live to see my son play lacrosse in college. I will not… ” My next thoughts: “people beat cancer by eating healthy and following a special diet. Eating the right foods…. fruit, vegetables, salmon, and so on and son on….”
My mind was spinning like the tea cups in Never Neverland at Disneyland, faster and faster until….
A very kind woman looked over to me and said, “I love your boots!” I’ve been watching you since you came in.” The other ladies chimed in too. They all asked about my boots and were very complimentary. Everyone was so nice. That too, made me want to cry.
It was New Year’s Eve and our son had a big day ahead of him. Getting your driver’s license is such a huge milestone in one’s life. I chose to dress for my death sentence and /or for our early New Year’s Eve dinner (we were staying in as we like to, and our son, age 16, of course would be going out to ring in the New Year). But at least we would have his company for an early dinner.
The last time I sat in that room, all wearing the same uniform, feeling like a numbered prisoner, rather than a person, I decided I would look good even if I didn’t feel so happy. So I wore a cute outfit. Fashion always makes me smile.
I am sure many of you have either experienced what I went through last December or know someone who has. It never gets easier. The waiting is always the hardest part.
What’s the correlation, you are probably asking, just about now. While sitting in the waiting room I vowed to eat healthier. To start eating fruit and vegetables, and other super foods that help to reduce the risk of cancer. ( I usually don’t eat enough fruit or vegetables, unless they are tossed in a salad. )
And so my quest to change my typical diet of breads and sweets ended on January 1st and my focus on eating healthy commenced —New Year’s Resolution 2013.
If you’ve read any of my blogs or posts you know I love to share, be it Facebook, or Twitter, my Debbi DiMaggio Blog, the Piedmont Patch Blog or on Pinterest.
Follow me on Pinterest to see my new favorite foods. Fruits and vegetables, calcium for strong bones, protein – salmon, chicken and sometimes even a hamburger wrapped in lettuce. I am trying to be reasonable so I posted a few of my favorite sweet treats too. And don’t forget to drink water, lots of it. Add lemon, lime or cucumber and pour into a pretty glass. http://pinterest.com/debbidimaggio/my-favorite-foods/
Here are some other fun facts and healthy tips:
Tip #1
Cayenne Pepper I put it on everything! Popcorn, salmon, salads. ( it makes my husband and kids nuts! )
Tip #2
Wear What You Love and Adorn Your Surroundings with Things You Love Too:
Eating healthier will make you look and feel better.
Wear a favorite outfit everyday. You will be inspired to eat better, as you begin to feel better, and continue to look better, everyday.
Tip #3
Fill Your Home with Flowers:
Since you aren’t buying junk food, cakes, cookies, candy, breads and other items, then spoil yourself with a fresh bouquet of flowers – my favorites are pink peonies and tulips – purple, orange, yellow and pink.
Tip #4: Cucumbers
Eat plain or in a salad. Slice them up and pop in your mouth. Cucumbers are a good source of Vitamin A, C and K among other positive attributes.
Tip #5: Lemon and Lemon H20
Drink 8 – 8oz glasses a day.
Tip #6: Salmon
Preferably organic, sustainable and fresh.
Tip #7: Weight Loss: It’s no surprise nor is there a magic pill. You just need to eat less and exercise more. No bread, no sweets, no carbs. Drink lots of water. Eat fish, chicken, vegetables and fruit. Well, not just any fruit. Apples, berries, oranges are best. If you stick to those food groups, go to bed early, and exercise often, you will lose unwanted pounds. But it takes time and discipline.
And finally:
Foods with Benefits Top 10 Cancer Fighting Foods
50 of the World’s Healthiest Foods by the Huffington Post
Two month’s have passed and I am happy to say that I have stuck to my mission. I have been eating healthy and choosing foods that are good for me.
One last note: I met with my nutritionist, Amy Griffith, who also met with my husband and daughter. We all identify with foods differently. Since I do not cook and am a visual person, her menu plan for me was very different. ( Bianca and Adam are excellent cooks. )
The best lesson I learned from Amy, and I continue to reiterate as my mantra: Eat the color of the rainbow. That one sentence continues to help me focus on what to eat, or order, in my case! Thanks Amy!!
To Your Health! Happy New Year!
Debbi DiMaggio
XOXO!!
Photos by Jenn-Fox.com, Dreamstime.com and In Her Image Photography