Recent Conversations--A few of my favorite things

Yesterday I was out ordering my food at a great treasure in Atlanta, Food For Life. As I ordered I asked all the key questions: Do you have a gluten free menu? Do you know if there is wheat/gluten in this dish etc. At the end of my questioning I decided on the whiting with cabbage. When the cabbage was delivered there was some sauce on the dish, and when i asked i found out I couldn't eat it. I appreciated the servers patience and willingness to work hard to get it right. After getting a plate of cabbage without the sauce, the woman next to me asked me what was going on and I filled her in. It turns out that she is gluten sensitive so we had a long conversation about food, ordering and "safe" places to eat in Atlanta. It made me think that I need to start keeping track of all of my fav spots:

1. R. Thomas (Great healthy eating with a great supportive staff)
2. 5 Seasons (they offer a gluten free menu that has gluten free beer)
3. Maggionos (they offer a gluten free menu)
4. PF Cheng (gluten free menu)
5. Lime (gluten free friendly, the staff is never knowledgeable)
6. L'Thai Organic (gluten free smart)
7. Goodness Grocery (This is a gem of a grocery store and they offer hot food that is GREAT for gluten free diners)
8. Seasons 52 (gluten free menu)
9. Sally's Bakery (gluten free bakery)
10. Cafe Sunflower (gluten free and healthy)
11. No Mas (gluten free menu)
12. Fresh to Order (gluten free menu)
13. Chipotle (gluten free trained)
14. Cinco (gluten free menu)

The Lesson of Life

Life is about summarizing all of the good feelings and the highlights

Thinking about those who have built up your spirit and gave you joy

Reminiscing about great birthdays, holidays and life’s many first

Examining life in totality and focusing only on your best never the worst

No one remembers all of the “big emergencies” that occurred and work

Or the person that you set your eyes on who didn’t care the same for you

All the frustration spent on unrequited love, fades away with true love

And earthly drama is forgotten when you transcend to the heavens above

So instead of fighting to keep a person, job, home, or thing in your life

Become comfortable with less; thrive by depending on only necessities

Downsize material things in order to embrace authenticity and peace

In life we never can keep anything, all possessions are really on lease  

The power of perception: "I am free to be me"

What if you accepted that there are no bad days, just opportunities to grow

Times where you may have to humble yourself enough to ask & accept help

A chance to expand your dreams and question the things you think you know

An appointed time to cherish your love ones and strengthen emotional bonds

Setbacks don’t exist, its just God proactively fixing your crooked way

Once you see your destiny, he won’t allow you to settle for a poor reality

We have been trained to wish for tomorrow, ignoring the sadness of today

It is easier for people to take the path of least resistance; then live in truth

The secret of happiness is not making right decisions, it’s your perception

Your ability to focus on the brightside of things, staying an eternal optimist

When people lie to you, celebrate that now you know the signs deception

If people leave you suddenly, rejoice that there is now more space for love

As you look at your own life you have to use this same type of mirror

Seeing the sum total of your experiences greater than the individual parts

Always embracing each experience as a lesson never an unfixable error

Change your perception and you free your mind to accept all possibilities

The possibility that life can be wonderful and you can totally be yourself

Begin to see yourself as an example of truth, and you walk into success

Walk out of your Comfort Zone into your Destiny

We all have our comfort zone

Actions that make us who we are

Some enhance our spiritual health

Others can erase our internal glow

But you don’t know what is right

Until you step away from it all

Ask yourself if you are happy

And overall content with your life

You must also look at decisions

As you ponder all your actions

Address fundamental beliefs

In order to decipher the reasons

It’s hard to label actions constructive

When your comfort zone protects

When routine stifles joy and growth

Your patterns become destructive

I am learning to keep the core

But conquering the fear of change

Loving my past and present self

As I prepare my life for more

Who Am I...Better Yet Whose Am I

Who Am I…hmm that question is not that important or key

The question is Whose Am I since that means more to me

Without the foundation of knowing I was created for more

I don’t think I would try b/c I wouldn’t believe I could soar

When I was created there was a passion placed in my heart

I have known that I am creative and an author from the start

When I tried to run from my calling the dream was still there

I felt a burden in my soul, an intense feeling I could barely bear

Passion and peace came only when I finally surrendered

And realized that a purpose filled life is full of joy and splendor

And now when I analyze life's key question of “Who Am I”
I can be honest with myself and no longer feel the need to lie

The rat race can never compare to living the life God created

Doing anything but creative writing feels stale and outdated

So now when things happen I feel comfortable with my response

Because i am centered and committed to my creative Renaissance  

My name and My life

My life is just as unique, different and special as my name

You may meet another JT, but we will not be the same

For I was raised to be a survivor, to preserve and succeed

A favor filled no excuse approach is usually how I try to lead

Sometimes I may fall short and loose my direction and sight

But even when I do, I work to remain optimistic with all my might

I have more than enough examples of how giants rose from sand

And because of that I keep an uplifting attitude of “Yes I can”

If I don’t believe in myself than whom will really believe in me

I must believe in all miracles especially those not visible to see

I have learned that your thoughts are the foundations for decisions

And from those choices you turn daydreams into manifested visions

So my message is not meant to preach another farfetched lesson

It meant to tell my story, so my life can be used as a blessing

The kind of friend

I am reminded daily that I have a good set of friends
The kind of friends that will sacrifice personal fun
The kind of friends that will stay up to wipe tears
The kinds of friends who encourage me despite fears

I am reminded at every birthday party, funeral or visit
That I didn't choose these people we chose each other
We share the same song, and move to the same beat
They remain #1 regardless of other people you meet

These friends share the right advice at the right time
Showering love and kindness with a bit of harshness
They push when needed and pull apart the fibers of lies
Always encourage me to succeed no matter what I try

They take up for me when I only see a list of my faults
They hold my hand when I face any health concern
The are the first to show up with hugs and last to leave
They know how to treat me b/c they know my pet peeves

Most importantly they are honest even if it may hurt
B/c they know that  truth expresses pure stability 
When you love someone you accept what they say
Real friends never leave, they are committed to stay

These are the kind of friends that can read your emotions
Even when you have not uttered one word or sound
They know your heart better than your closest lover
And know more secrets than your sister or mother

These kind of friends surpass the basic title of friend
For a bond like this can not be trivialized by a label
You have this kind of friend when you are never alone
Even if you have'nt  seen or talked recently on the phone

These kind of friends are carried closely in your heart
Housed in memories too grand to document in photos
Always praying that you see that inner light that glows
And that others see the great friend they know

Like I said I am blessed to have a sacrificial type of friend
Who nurtures my relationship like a well cared for plant
Waters the roots of our friendship with compassion and care
Never discolosing any of the secrets we often share

I don't know where I would be if they were not in my life
I'm not sure how I would have recovered from the setbacks
These friends have carried me when I could barely walk
They helped me think when I could barely think or talk

And as I sit here reflecting on the calm after the storm
I am reminded that they reassured me it would get better
I recall the dinners, calls, hugs, letters and borrowed books
The sweet notes, encouraging lunches yet hopeful looks

Hope because they have traveled down this road before
And now stand on the other side of accomplishment
And it makes you think that these friends are really angels
Sent by God to show his love and remind you that he is able