DISQUS

So beautiful.

I want my home to say: "A woman who owns her Self lives in this space; she is confident; she has boundaries; she knows her style; she is a great friend; she is a good lover; she wants to be an excellent wife and outstanding mother; this woman, Ramona, welcomes you here, and she will nurture you and be grateful for your presence."

Thanks for this question.

~Ramona

I am learning to be alone, and I love it.

~Ramona

Krystl,

That's it!! I began this journey of self-love / self-acceptance / womanhood by treating myself the way that I wished people would treat me. Initially, I thought if I improved the way I treated others then my actions would cause people to be more gentle/compassionate/loving toward me; however, I discovered that the key was to shower myself with compassion/love/gentleness, and the others would follow.

It is working!!! Thanks for your honesty.

Infinite Grace.

~Ramona

I keep telling people I am going to shave my head when I visit Tibet... Note: I have no plans to go to Tibet soon. Second note: I think I am telling people in order to gauge reactions. If I thought I was enough, I would just do it!!!

~Ramona

Amen to that... I fret over relationships that I know I would be better without anyway. I know this behavior comes from feeling like I am not enough. Thanks for saying that!

~Ramona

Bettye. I admire Bettye.

I met Bettye during a time when I was just learning to articulate the pain of being abandoned by my mother when I was young girl. I am influenced by her self-assured nature and the way she demonstrates love to the people around her. Bettye has taught me that love is not neediness or attachment and that healthy relationships take time to cultivate.

Bettye, through her actions, has taught me that there is a part of myself that I should always save for myself.

I love her.

~Ramona

I, too, like Real Simple!!

My. My. My.

I just became a magazine woman a few years back, but since then I like to dabble in the following...

"O, The Oprah Magazine": I missed an opportunity to write for "O" because I was not prepared... This thought is still a sore spot for me. Nevertheless, I love the book section, and Oprah's monthly column, "What I Know for Sure."

Martha Stewart: Since I fell in love with all things home, Martha has been one of my guides.

The American Scholar: I just read this to feel smart... lol. ha. ha.

The New Yorker (fiction): I love reading fresh, new prose!

...to write and say things that mean something to people other than myself... to be on the lecture / blog circuit as a serious contributor... to earn a Ph.D...to get married, have children and be the mother / wife in a healthy family... to raise beautiful children...to live in a large, lovely house on lots of land and have a tree for a tire swing...to dine with and develop deep friendships with artists...to fall in love...to be loved...

~Ramona

Gasp!!! It is official: I have cried three times today as a result of this question! Mary Oliver, I love you for having the courage to say this!

Ralph Waldo Emerson is my alter ego!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this quote. I repeat it to myself often.

Peace.

~Ramona

This quote sent chills down my spine (seriously)!!!

Love those!

I will remember to always buy that proverbial lily...

~Ramona

My God! This one brought tears to my eyes. Sometimes I forget to remember that it is not all about me; this life, this amazing journey is an act of reverence to something greater than I...

~Ramona

I am such a quote person!!! Today the winner is, "Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts; and never hope more than you work."
~Rita Mae Brown

*ramona

Hey!

Thanks for reading my blog! I think my Style Statement is Traditional/Current, but I don't really know yet. I am trying to give it time.

Blessings.

~Ramona

Thanks for really listening. I know 2000 replies can be hard to manage. It means a lot that you actually read what people have to say.

A million congrats!!!!

Blessings.

~Ramona

I LOVE these questions!!!

So, my voice strong, but it is often stronger than I feel. Sometimes I am loud when I want to be quiet. I have worked hard at modulation; I want my voice to convey a sense of seriousness, honesty, integrity and sincerity.

How do I do this?

~Ramona

Thanks for sharing!!

I have known for a long time that I need to kick sugar out of my life. I made the switch to raw cane sugar, and I try to avoid all things that contain fructose and other chemicals.

To date, I have managed to shave ten pounds from my six-foot frame, but it has taken me all of five months!! I am trying to get from 245 to 195. I think ten pounds in five months is kind of slow, but my doctor said my metabolism is straight--now I am out of excuses.

I want, more than anything, to feel happy, sexy, attractive!

This is such a great question!

Although I am sure I do things that make me happy, I know I am not always intentional about doing those things. Today marks the beginning of my decision to consciously do things that promote my happiness. Perhaps I will revisit this question in a few weeks.

By the way, a decaf soy latte makes me very, very happy! :-)

~Ramona Z.

I, too, will take grown-up love and a backyard barbecue.

I don't think debauchery and dignity can live in the same space. Somehow the debauchery always seems to take center stage.

Wow! I really needed that advice.

There are so many things in my life that are taking up space; I don't love them, but I can't really afford anything else, so I make due. I don't want to live like this anymore. I recently bought a house, and the same thing is happening again-- you know,I pick up a cheap wall print because the walls are bare, or I buy a few "ugly chairs" so people will have a place to sit, and the cycle continues. To wit, when people see that I don't have anything, they offer to give me things that they don't want, and quite often they are things that I don't love (or want)... but I don't know how to say, "No, thank you; I am waiting for things that I love."

I don't think I have ever felt the satisfaction or delight that you mentioned.

I would be confident. I would be the girl/woman who knows that she is enough. I would stop trying to do and be something in order to prove I am worthy of love and attention. I would simply "be"...

Sex. Really. My hormones are out of control right now. Recently I have had intense desires not to only have sex, but to create life. Um, from where did these feelings come? I have never felt like this in my life!!!