As a young student in Uganda, one of the many poems we were required to recite was “My Shadow” by Robert Louis Stevenson. It is amazing how effortlessly I recall the singsong manner in which I learned: “I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, and what can be the use of him is more than I can see…..”

Two weeks ago, as I was walking on the beach, you will not believe whom I ran into — my shadow!  Of course, my nine-year-old voice immediately began: I have a little shadow that went in and out with me! But wait, my shadow was long and not little at all – I was a giant (thank you morning sun!)

I remember the Benjamin Disraeli quote that “life is too short to be little”. Now, isn’t that a powerful belief to wake up to every morning?

We cannot remind ourselves enough to think big, and be bold not only in how we express ourselves, but also through our daily actions. What really is the point of being and doing otherwise – to make Mary or Joe more comfortable, or, is it ourselves we need to convince?

Go on…be big!

Mozella Perry Ademiluyi

www.mozellaonthemountain.com (blog)

www.loveisamountain.com (website)

Being in the driver’s seat requires both a steady hand and one flexible enough to adjust one’s navigation plan to accommodate the inevitable bumps in the road.

The real captain of this vessel dubbed me “Captain Zig Zag” as I battled the waves in an attempt to maintain a ‘straight course’.

Even with aircraft, there may be several course corrections as a plane speeds toward its destination. The pilot tells us he will change the flight plan to go around a storm – though frequent turbulence feels like he chose instead to fly right through it. Or, did it appear without any warning…quite unexpectedly?

Have you ever been caught completely by surprise in one of life’s storms? Whether by sea, air or road, they tell us to fasten our seatbelt for the ride!

I read (in a ‘vacation novel’ of all places) that God sends us the weather…what we do with it or what it does to us depends on how skilled a navigator we are.

Hold on, but not too tightly,

Mozella Perry Ademiluyi

www.mozellaonthemountain.com (blog)

www.loveisamountain.com (website)

Most of us have run into the phrase that states we must have a “burning desire” for what we want to achieve in life. In another context, we have no problem understanding the word ‘burning”.
From the weather many of you have felt over this past week or so, that word holds a literal meaning.

Do you believe you have the capacity to feel as hot about something – a personal or professional goal maybe – to follow through with the right actions?

Our sun’s rays demonstrate what the power of intensity can create – for good or not so good. The gifts of symbolism help us apply the meaning of many experiences in our lives. So if you struggle trying to figure out how badly you need to want something to qualify it as a ‘burning desire’, just think about how consuming heat can be, even in the shade.

Do you have a burning desire to lose weight? For starters, when choosing what to drink, practice these two simple words: “Water, please”.

Thank you Sun,

Mozella Perry Ademiluyi

www.mozellaonthemountain.com(blog)

www.loveisamountain.com(website)

Are you ever looking from the outside, trying to figure out or reach for something on the inside… or vice versa? Why are we rarely satisfied with what is…how can we ‘be’ with where we are and achieve this “living in the moment” everyone talks about?

It may sound like a whimsical dream to some because it is so easy to find ourselves where we are not. Am I making sense?

Windows, mirrors, appearances or simply our refusal to see and acknowledge can support our illusions – what is real, what belongs where? But then, who decides where what belongs anyway…

Confused? So am I, and that is all part of the fun of being here right now! And, by the way, I was outside photographing indoors in case you were wondering…great picture, yes?

bare feet in the sand feels good…go find some,

Mozella Perry Ademiluyi

www.mozellaonthemountain.com(blog)

www.loveisamountain.com(website)

I love good, let your hair down, real fun. So, a couple of weekends ago, I was delighted to have an opportunity to speak before some “loverly” ladies of a local Red Hat Society – there was a queen and a duchess, two princesses and a baroness and fairy tales made up by yours truly, of course.

My, my, the purple, the red, the hats, the fun…and, don’t we all deserve it?! Life can be soooo challenging and serious that we forget to stop and smell the roses.

Many people choose to use their age to proclaim why they cannot do something. “I’m too old to ____,” fill in your own blank, if this applies to you. The rings embedded in its trunk determines a tree’s age. You cannot tell that until the end.

Why should we use our age as a reason we cannot do anything…your health, we can make some allowances for, but not your age. It is unfortunate to hear people create limitations based upon a chronological number…

…banish the thought — get out there and play!

Dancing, anyone?

Mozella Perry Ademiluyi

www.mozellaonthemountain.com(blog)

www.loveisamountain.com(website)