I really love this quote from Albert Einstein:

»There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.«

Which is  your way? And what is miracle for you, anyway?

Is miracle something big, life-changing, profound? Is miracle some major event that leave you speechless or in awe? Maybe only winning the lottery? Or having a baby when you’re told you can’t have one? Your life saved in unexpected ways?

Or do you see miracle in every little step along your way? In every living being on the planet? That you are alive, waking up each morning? That you have friends, family… Job.. Home..

I prefer the later.

I like to see at small things growing bigger and better. I love to watch how nature unfolds its mysteries and how tiny seed grows into magnificent tree. I am amazed how every spring the plants are developing, showing us gorgeous blossoms, then the greenest of all green leaves and finally giving us fruits and more seeds to continue never ending expansion.

And in the family and your life? Do you notice all the good that is around you? Those are miracles too. The Good mornings’s and sleepy hugs and kisses. Breakfast together, running around, preparing for school and work. Did you ever wonder about the miracles of water you drink and use? Do you notice the food and drinks on your table? How did they get to you? How many where involved and working with passion to provide it to you? What about all the electric and electronics equipment that we use today? How they were made?

I could go on and on and on… But I’m sure you get the picture. This is not just about noticing stuff, it’s about gratitude and appreciation. It is about expecting and seeing little miracles in your life every minute of it.

What you focus on, expands.

Can you focus on little miracles?

Can you see them all around?

If not, can you look for them? I’m sure you have something in your life that gives you joy and pleasure. And sometimes even troubles and misfortunes bring the miracle inside. Can you see the treasure in those? You can not change the circumstances, but you can change your attitude. And this is what changes everything. Seeing good and positive makes you look for answers and solutions instead of dwelling on the problems.

Look for the miracles in your life! I assure you they are all around you. You just have to find them.

How do you see yourself as a parent? Do you think you are doing great? Not so great? Do you feel like it’s a constant struggle? That you should be more relaxed and spontaneous? Or more organized and strict?

How do you know that? Are your kids happy? Have good grade at school? Have lots of  friends? Then you are doing GREAT!

Just like there are many faces of personal success, there are many different ways you can tell you are doing great j0b as a parent:)

For me the ultimate proof came some time ago, when me and my husband left for London for a long weekend. Because we don’t have (and actually never had) no one close that could watch the kids, they usually went everywhere with us or we arranged our reponsibilities and obligations so they were not alone.

But now they are 12 and 15 and finding someone to baby-sit them for 4 days was not even an option. They stayed at home alone. (I know this could be very scary to some or even a cause to call social service, but please… keep reading). We prepared the meals, installed Skype on their computer and asked the neighbours to be available for them just in case they might need something (and of course observe from distance). Their biggest concern were the nights, but we do have home security alarm, so they were OK with it.

It worked our perfectly. Which I never really doubted. But the biggest surprise for me was to realise I wasn’t worried or anxious, or thinking all the time what might happen. i was completely calm and absolutely confident they can do it. We talked each night and they seemed comfortable. They felt responsible and proud that we trusted them so much.

Maybe for some of you this could be horrific, but for me it was yet another proof that I’m equipping my girls for life.

What would parenting success feels to you?

What have your kids to be or do that you would feel successful?

When would you say you are doing great job, which I’m sure you are?

Maybe it’s time to think about your little successes and congratulate yourself for being there for your kids.

I’m sure not everything is perfect, but that’s what growing up is all about – overcoming obstacles to become better persons.

Could you stop and see how your parenting is creating better persons? Celebrate small victories as they are steps to happy, responsible and satisfied adults.

Comment and share your victories with us in the box below!

According to my personality types, my Energy Profile and even my Horoscope sign, I should have very structured, organised life, following rules and routines. But I don’t. I really don’t like following the same routine day in and day out. That’s why my every attempt to keep any kind of journal is a challenging task. And usually I just don’t so it:)

But desperate times require desperate measures. No, I’m not desperate. I’m just in the middle of manifesting our dream summer volunteering vacations (you can read all about it at www.family-pif-project.com and please help if you can). With some of the expenses already paid I’m doing everything I can and know to get all the costs, expenditures and little extras (for the sightseeings, attractions…) taken care of.

So one rainy day not so long ago I went shopping – on Amazon. And even I don’t know why, I bought the latest book from Rhonda Byrne The Magic (The Secret), which is actually a 28-day Gratitude Journey.

I said to myself, OK, why don’t we try doing the exercises. I practice gratitude and I’m extremely conscious about it, but I admit I never actually wrote a gratitude journal. So I gathered together my family and explained the whole idea. And we started.

The first day it was easy to come up with 10 things to be grateful for. The second day too.

But on the third day Tina created a whole drama around it. “I don’t know what to write!” “I’ll just write down: I’m grateful for everything! and I’m done.” “You’re torturing us!” “No other mother does this!” and so on and on for almost an hour (yeah, she can be drama queen). I just let her skip the day.

But on the fourth day… surprise!!! She started to look for things that she could write in her journal. She asked me several times a day what I’m going to write. She shared few little things with me. And when the evening come (we do it in the evenings, although book suggests this routine in the mornings) she hardly waited to write down her 10 things.

The exercise for the day was also to write 5 things about 3 most valuable persons in your life. We share what we wrote and when I read my 5 things about Tina, she just lit up. I guess if it wasn’t time to go to sleep, she would want me to read it again and again…

Now she’s the one that brings our journals (every one has its own and they are placed in the living room for everyone to see and read if he/she wants to) and pens to the table and remind us to do the daily gratitude.

And all I can say I’m so proud of her and grateful to have her in my life.

• How are you teaching your kids about gratitude?
• Do you have daily routine?
• Do you review your day for the best moments?
• Do you write down your blessings?

If you don’t know where to start and how to do it, get my free report Gratitude is the best Attitude to start this amazing journey in your family as well.

Or buy Rhonda Byrne’s The Magic (The Secret)

And please share your comments with me and the readers.

How do you treat little pennies and cents in your wallet? Do you think of them as a value or just a burden and heavy weight to your pockets?

In our family we have a beautiful crystal bowl, where we collect little bronz coins, worth 1,2 or 5 Euro cents.

Whenever we go to the store and we receive a change, there are few coins that we put in this bowl. We get them at the market, coffee shops… We even find them on the streets. And because we are putting them in the bowl, we never have the change, so we change bigger bills and we get even more coins.

It seems not much, after all they are worth almost nothing (I even can’t think of any item you can purchase for that amount), but when the bowl is full, there are around 10 euros in it, and we take the money to the local pet store, where they have a box for animal shelter donations. You know, the kind of box where you see inside how much is already collected. The kids are really excited to put the money in the box and they are very proud when they see how the pile increases and that they helped as well.

This already became a habit in our family. Even when kids are buying something for their own allowance money, they bring little coins into the bowl.

We are doing many other things to pay it forward, but this money bowl is for the animal shelter. And when we empty it, we start over. Cent by cent… until it’s full. Again and again…

We can easily live without those cents, but they are making the difference. Not only for the animals, but in our lives as well. Listen to my interview with Jeffrey Miller about all the benefits of paying it forward HERE.

Think about it:

• how much money can you easily spare for the worthy cause?
• can you live without few dollars (or euros) every month?
• can you give more?
• can you give anything else, like your time and energy?

When you are giving, you are benefiting on many levels. Would you consider helping me and my family in our volunteering project? Read more about it at www.family-pif-project.com

You can give as little as 1 dollar or as much as you wish. But as I said, you are getting more back:) For every donation we get, we are giving my workbook Playing the Life Lessons (which I normally sell for 27$) and my friends gave some of their ebooks and/or programs.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Did you ever think about your own childhood? Back in our “old days”, we only watched TV before going to bed, we played on the streets, climbed the trees, we didn’t have helmets, seat belts, cell phones and many other things our kids have today. Although I totally approve safety precautions, these are not the only things that changed.

The whole economic, education and job situation is completely different. I still remember my mother got her golden watch after being loyal to one employer for 30 years. And you got the scholarship and job as soon as you finished your schooling. You knew your steps on the corporate ladder. Those days are gone.

How many people do you know that are still working in the field they studied for? I know many more that are not. Some because they chose to and some because they had to.

Coming back to your kids – Are you sure you know what future holds for them? Are you sure the college you chose is the right one? Are you sure getting a degree is the right way to get a job and live happy?

My oldest daughter is choosing her college this year. In Slovenia we have gymnasiums (which teach more general knowledge, some sort of preparation for University) and we have more specialised, professional high schools (which teach narrower, but hands-on knowledge). And common perception is that if you are smart, you will go to gymnasium and then to University. If you are going to high school, you must be poor student, struggling in school or even stupid.

Knowing my daughter (and I must say here she is gifted) I allow her to choose whatever she feels. She was choosing between gymnasium (because all her friends are going to) and photography high school for some time. Thinking all pros and cons. Even justifying her choices in front of teachers and friends. She asked for my advice, of course, but I was smart enough to not give any. Because honestly, how could I. I’m the perfect example of a good girl who went to study what she was told to and ended up doing something completely different. So I supported her, helped her question her motives and vision her future, but I stayed behind her, not in front of her, showing what to do.

And instead of worrying or maybe even taking extra test to get to the right college, we will have the best holidays ever – volunteering in Bali. (You can read all about it at www.family-pif-project.com and please help if you can)

You know it’s not the end of the world if your kid will not study hard and get a job. Today’s kids have more possibilities than we ever had. And it’s the knowledge that counts, not a college degree or certificate.

And this goes for extra-curriculum activities, for sports, for any activity where we thing we know best.

• Do you know what your child really wants?
• Do you ask him/her?
• Are you supporting their wishes?

Don’t tell them what you think is the best! Ask them and help them explore their options.

“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.”
Elbert Hubbard

As you may know I travelled to London (UK) some time ago to attend the John Assaraf workshop and it was awesome. But I want to talk about something different today.

We in most of the world are driving our cars on the right side of the road, having wheels on the left side of the car. This is normal for me.

But in the UK they are driving on the “wrong” side – wrong for me. They think it is perfectly normal.

Even after few days in London, when I wanted to cross the street, I looked at my left first. And on quite few occasions my husband pulled me away from the street because I thought it was safe – after all there was no car coming from my left:)

And I was thinking… we live the same way.

We are so used to same situations and same habits (good or bad) that we don’t see opportunities or threats coming our way from another direction. We are expecting things to be the same as they always were. We are expecting people to behave as they always were. We are “predicting” outcomes as they always came. And we are living the same as we always did. Hoping and wishing for different result.

The biggest issue is not if we can achieve something or not, it’s letting go of our own expectations. Just as I was expecting the car to come from my left, we are looking at one direction and waiting things to happen in a way we are expecting them.

But more often than not the things are coming to us in unexpected, unpredicted, even unimaginable ways, from people we never met, through actions we never did before.

And that’s the beauty of it:) Wouldn’t life be boring if the things would always be the way they are used to be. And the events would always unfold in the same way. And results would always be the same. Boring, boring, boring…

It can be frightening, I know. We can be scared of changes, of unknown. We loose control.

But we gain so much more. More of everything. More of joy, courage, freedom… More of life.

And you don’t need to do it alone. If you think you might need some push or someone to hold your hand while making the changes you want, send me an email and schedule complimentary introduction session with me.

You know baby
I know alot of people are against you
All the ladies in the world
But you can do whatever you set your mind to do
Can’t no one stop you
Believe that

It’s time, now’s the place,
do your thing, it’s your world
Don’t be scared, its your world,
don’t trip, shout it out
You’re the bomb, don’t be scared,
its your world

I can’t begin to feel the agony I know you feel
I’m tryin’ to break you out of that mold that once was real
But you’re grown up and now it’s time to let go all your fears
It’s time for you to go,
its time for you to live
You’ve been under your parents,
but they can’t live for you
You got to go and do
what’s best for you
Make your decisions and live by them and sweat and bleed
You must struggle to be you
Even when you’re in need

It’s time, now’s the place, (now’s the place)
do your thing, it’s your world
Don’t be scared, its your world,
don’t trip, shout it out
You’re the bomb, don’t be scared, its your world

I know you expecting help but get out there on your own
Then you’ll appreciate all that you have and all you own
And that no one out there can never ever take from you
Do you and all that’s expected and you will break right through
This world
This crazy crazy world, (this crazy world)
this cold and harsh world, (this cold and harsh world)
this cruel and foul world
And now you’re proud and all grown up and sure a woman now
Then you’ll stand up
looking ahead, feeling so proud

It’s time, now’s the place,
do your thing, don’t be scared it’s your world
don’t trip, shout it out
You’re the bomb, don’t be scared, its your world
It’s time, now’s the place,
do your thing, don’t be scared it’s your world
don’t trip, shout it out
You’re the bomb, don’t be scared, its your world

You can’t be held down, (You can’t be you can’t be held down no you can’t)
no one can stop you know
(I know the struggle’s hard but you gotta keep fighting gotta keep going on)
I know you get tired of the bull
(I know you get tired of the bull you wake up everyday and it seems
like you can’t go on all you gotta do is stick in there, everything will be ok)

It’s time, now’s the place,
do your thing, don’t be scared it’s your world
don’t trip, shout it out
You’re the bomb, don’t be scared, its your world

Ginuwine – Tribute to a Woman (Album: The Life)

Love is like magic
And it always will be.
For love still remains
Life’s sweet mystery!!

Love works in ways
That are wondrous and strange
And there’s nothing in life
That love cannot change!!

Love can transform
The most commonplace
Into beauty and splendor
And sweetness and grace.

Love is unselfish,
Understanding and kind,
For it sees with its heart
And not with its mind!!

Love is the answer
That everyone seeks…
Love is the language,
That every heart speaks.

Love can’t be bought,
It is priceless and free,
Love, like pure magic,
Is life’s sweet mystery!!

by Helen Steiner Rice

We all have good and bad days, better or worse times, ups and downs…

Sometimes we feel that we rule the world. Life couldn’t be better. Everything is just perfect.

But sometimes we are feeling we are getting nowhere. That we are stuck in the endless demands from everyone around us. But it’s only when we become frustrated, stressed out and irritated at every word and move, that we get in trouble. Because we let simple things overshadow the bigger picture.

And all we can do is taking one step at the time, thinking on the obligation, trouble… at hand. Focusing on each moment, ticking off task from our to-do lists.

And as I said we all have our good and bad moments. And good and bad decisions.

Let’s talk about bad decisions. We might fight, scream, yell… We let the bad moments win over our feelings, emotions and our decisions. I’m not saying you should pretend you’re OK when you are not. But you can always choose how you will communicate this to your family.

And  this is where the big picture comes to our rescue. And you know what your big picture is, right. It’s the dreams, the  goals, the hopes and wishes… that you have for your family.

You know what you want to achieve and that is always a good reminder to keep things in the perspective.

You know what they say: “Don’t sweat the small stuff. And everything is small stuff.”

Next time you bump into something that’s dragging you down, like some unfinished homework, dirty dishes in the sink, clothes on the floor or maybe a word spoken too roughly in inappropriate moment or… just think of your family. Think of the big picture.

Think what you really want. Do you want to fight or you want to handle it differently and set an example and keep the atmosphere high?

Keep the eyes on the prize, which is happy, connected family. And always choose the road that is leading you towards your dreams.

When we see the headlines in newspapers and magazines or read the articles on the internet, we are often times forced to believe that success is over-night thing. The models and actors are found on the streets, writers and musicians miraculously hit #1 on the charts. And businesses earn millions instantly, with one product.

Even in biographies, the persons and their endevours are described shortly, with one sentence, and with words, that imply quick and easy shift.

But in reality the path to success often takes several, even tens of years, demanding much effort, overcoming many obstacles and sufferings.

You’ve probably heard of Edison’s 10.000 attempts. Colonel Sanders opened his first KFC in age of 62 after years of trying and perfecting his recipe. Famous book Chicken Soup for Soul was rejected 140 times before published. Twitter was growing in the mind of its inventor for almost 20 years. And you’ve probably heard the story of Steve Jobs.

It’s not so much about magical over-night change, but continuous day-to-day effort to reach the dreams.

It’s the same with parenting.

‎”Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don’t listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won’t tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff.” – Catherine M. Wallace

It requires constant, continous, daily work. It’s small steps, sometimes minutes, that count. But as long as you keep moving, you can expect to reach your destination.

It can not be made with one huge shift. There is no quick fix for the problems. Nor can you expect to change one day and the world around will change. Rather than looking for quick solutions, devote each day time and effort to improve a tiny bit.

By building the strong foundation, not card towers, you can expect your family to be strong. With little actions you are creating the lasting change and laying a stepping stones for future success of your children.

Start small.

Keep going!

Expect miracles!

If you need help with determining your family vision and goals and keeping on the right path, I can help. Just send me an email and ask for introductory session, where we will set your dreams in motion.

Or join us in the DREAM LIFE CREATION CLUB for monthly inspiration and motivation. And it’s free!