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heartstories

Get up and move

This helmet was mine after a paintball game, not too long ago.  Let’s just say I was grateful for the coverage!  I grew up in a family of all girls.  There were four daughters to be exact.  Even the dogs we had were female.  Add in my Mom, and my poor Dad was completely surrounded.  We had a lot of fun in our family, but he didn’t get to play much catch or practice throwing the football.  He taught us how to shoot a gun briefly, but let’s just say that hunting wasn’t part of our family tradition.

Even so, I somehow developed a love for cap guns. 

I wish I had the picture now, but I used to run around dressed up like a “cowgirl” firing gap guns left and right.  I remember it as one of the joys of my childhood.  I guess that explains why the introduction of paintball …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspiration Loving Others Loving Yourself Purpose Leave a comment chat
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It only gets better from here

This year on vacation, I was determined to do something we’ve never done before.  There is a place they call Bioluminescent Bay or “Bio Bay” where you visit by boat or kayak for a “Bioluminescence Tour”.   I’ve seen bioluminescence while diving at night, but always heard that if you really want to experience it, this tour is the way to go.

We finally did it and it was truly awe-inspiring.

We took a boat over to the other side of the island where we met out guide and the rest of our tour group just as the sun was setting.  We got our little lights and instructions, boarded our two-man kayaks and pushed out into the water.  It was at times eery, to be kayaking in the still dark waters under the light of the moon, following only the little green light of our guide.  Then moments later it was equally hilarious, as …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Words Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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Come back from vacation

One of my favorite things to do on vacation is to swim with the stingrays.  We literally do it every summer and it never gets old.  In the “wild” they flock to this particular sand bar of their own free will, because they know the visiting tourists are bringing breakfast (squid).  They want breakfast.  But we’ve learned from the guides over the years, that they like to be cuddled too.  It takes practice to learn how to scoop them up and hold them just under the water so they can still breathe, while rocking gently with the waves, and rubbing their soft white underside.

If you do it right, they will stay there with you, and it’s absolutely magical.

Each year, I try to wrangle one for myself and each year I fail.  I’ll get it partially right, but then I’ll come up too fast or hold on in the wrong spot.  …

by Crystal Gornto Inspiration Love In Action Loving Others Loving Yourself Priorities Purpose Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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Surprising freedom

As usual, we did a few fireworks of our own last night.  Also as usual, there were a few surprises and it got a little out of hand at times.  If you’ve hung around me much, you’ve probably picked up on the fact that I’m a rule-breaker.  I don’t like limits (or burn bans, apparently).  I love being free.  I have secret dreams to have a flower and a peace sign painted on the while cover of the jeep that says, “Not all who wander are lost.”

No really, I do. 

There’s so much inside of me that screams for freedom.  I want no rules.  I want to be free to wander and explore and just “be me”.  Rules, processes, planning, especially meetings to make rules, processes or plan- they all really cramp my style and give me the heebie jeebies.  I simply must have the freedom to wander.

At the very same time, …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Words Loving Others Loving Yourself Priorities Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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Go rogue today

This precious “baby” boy of mine celebrated a big birthday on Saturday.  His one birthday gift request?  This enormous board game he’s been eyeing at the hobby shop, “Axis & Allies” (circa 1981), which depicts WWII on a grand scale.  It comes complete with a world map board, infantry, armor, fighters, bombers, battleships, aircraft carriers, submarines, troop transports, anti-air guns, and factories. As a family, we made the trip, and the investment, in this giant game about war, to celebrate our boy who is fascinated by the stories of history.

The night we brought it home, it took over an hour just to set up the first two teams in all their proper locations, according to the instructions. 

Being the history buff, that I am not, during the subsequent re-setup, when I started feeling a bit overwhelmed by the intensity, I decided to go rogue.  I couldn’t handle all the strategy and the …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Words Love In Action Loving Others Loving Yourself Priorities The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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Be kind, not “nice”

In the middle of all the moving crazy last week, I “used a lifeline” to call a friend, my coach Michelle James.  In the past, even when things were swirling in my life, I’ve been able to keep pretty calm, in my head.  But recently the swirling has crossed all the lines, which has put me in a bit of a blurry place on several fronts.  When that happens, all my usual routines “to keep the peace” seem like they aren’t enough.  I needed an outside mentor to listen patiently and then help guide me back to finding my center.

Michelle does this better than anyone I’ve ever worked with.  

While we were on our call, a conversation emerged about the difference between being nice and being kind.  At first it seemed like a small caveat from the main topic of conversation.  But as I let it sink in, I realized it …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Words Love In Action Loving Others Loving Yourself Roadblocks in Life Leave a comment chat
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