Happy Tears......

For the past several weeks, blog entry gems have fluttered through my brain. I toss around the idea, let it marinate, consider it more and then it gets lost somewhere in the outer hemispheres beyond my reach. I like to believe it is because I am living so precisely "in the moment", stopping to fully form the idea would spoil the magic I'm in. Or more accurately perhaps my mind is in overload and I force myself to stay in the moment and grab onto the said magic and store it for later retrieval.

However I want to look at it, I've been feeling the disconnect of not writing and the cathodic rhythm/balance it brings. 

The Christmas Season feels like just the right time to jump back in and get some warm and fuzzy, we're in this together and let's go spread some cheer vibes going. 

Carrying on with our family tradition, we are going to perform random acts of kindness as we go along our days and then place a piece of straw in our family creche for each good deed we perform. (see to the right of the manger, waiting...) Watching and hoping for padded bliss each time we walk by. Preparing a soft spot for "when baby Jesus arrives". Ahh I still hold the years when the boys were little close to my heart. (Wouldn't change the now, but love reflecting just the same)

When setting up our manger this past weekend, I debated and then tucked away the straw box, feeling our boys now 23 and 19 are rarely around and overlapping our time to chat about our deeds was feeling like a difficult feat. I would continue acts of kindness of my own, but it was a year of feeling different about the tradition and the logistics.

A short while later my oldest, his fiance, along with my younger son walked in. My darling future daughter in law looked around, spotted the creche and let out a "oh yay, let the acts of kindness begin"! My heart leaped for joy! I shared my thought of needing to let it go this year...which she quickly replied " I love that tradition" and the boys chorused with an "I'm in"!
As happy tears filled my eyes, I took out the small box of straw, delighted that the tradition would continue, lives would be touched with kindness and the sweet reminder of how blessed I am with such an amazing daughter in law to be! Welcome Kate! So glad you are part of the family! Much love!

Side note to post: the wooden bed was carved by my Dad when I was a kid. My parents used the straw similarly...well it was actually a bit different..... if we kids behaved all day we received a piece of straw before going to bed. I'm happy to report, for the most part, baby Jesus was welcomed to a soft bed.   

Pass It On.......

Yesterday at a creative retreat, I eagerly listened to the speaker, wanting to find "that thing", a "take away" that would be my own aha! moment. Silently wishing, something would catapult me in a direction where things are clearer, where I ask less questions and I move in a direction that feels "right". Tall order I know, but figuring, aim high and perhaps one of my requests would fall into place.

Now I could fast forward at this point and tell you the results.  Cut to the chase and give away the ending, but then Dear Readers you wouldn't know "the how".

Anecdotes and examples of the creative process, along with where inspiration comes from and how to get from here to there, filled the air - along with butterflies dancing around us on perennial beds of beauty.

I took it all in and felt open minded to the information being provided. Realizing as I looked around, that we are all hearing the same words, but perhaps each getting a different message.  That is the thing with information, I am a believer of the thought that we interpret things differently at different times in our lives. Listening and hearing are a skill, that can enhance our lives, for the better...not always easy, but so beneficial just the same.

Here I sat open minded and ready to receive the knowledge being spoken.

Results are in.......My take away, my aha! moments were plentiful!!! One that jumped out and landed nicely in my lap was this...when we wake in the morning we never know if this is going to be the day that we will look back on in days, months or years to come, that lead us to the point we are at...just where we want to be, living our dreams, asking less questions, touching lives and making a difference.  There needs to be steps to get there and we can only connect the dots looking back, not going forward, though ironically, they move us forward!

I say yes.... I am creative, I am imaginative and I am ready! I say yes to living mindfully in my days, to taking chances, asking less questions, and nurturing my creative soul!

YIKES! Months since I've posted!! What it doesn't mean...it doesn't mean I've lost interest or forgotten about my blog. It doesn't mean I've run out of things to say. It doesn't mean something is terribly wrong with my computer, my health, or my family. And it most definitely doesn't mean I've been busy doing domestic things like cooking or cleaning.

What it does mean..... It means I've decided to have the "Summer Of Fun". It means I'm broadening my comfort zone and trying things that once felt beyond my personal reach. (still drawing strength & motivation from the tattoo I got in February) It means I still have days or moments in them, that I feel emotionally challenged, but I continue to try. It means choices are mine. It means I've been stopping to take a breath and putting my feet up. It means my thoughts continue to whirl with blog post ideas, and I look forward to starting back up. It means sometimes you have to cut back, to focus on other parts of your journey. 

                          It means I am Connecting With My Life!

Political Talk......

"Walls turned sideways are bridges" ~ Angela Davis

With the talk of "building a wall" being heavily tossed around in the political arena lately......a smile truly came to my face when the above quote and photo from Gratefulness.org arrived in my inbox. 

I thought how amazing it would be if perception shifted and alternatives were considered, all in an effort to create a stronger, more positive functioning world!

Please visit this site A Network for Grateful Living to find inspiration and motivation. You can also sign up for a daily quote delivered to your email if you like.

Peace,
Maria

Shutting Out The World.....

Woke this morning to the sound of heavy rain. Darkness filled the room as if it was closer to evening than dawn. I contemplated getting out of bed to start my day. A lengthy To Do list for things I am working on, piles of laundry, rugs to be vacuumed, toilets to be cleaned and dusting to be done, all awaited me.

I continued listening to the rain and realized it was lulling me back into a state of slumber, as well as a feeling of disconnect from my knee jerk reaction to get out of bed and get my day started. 

Who am I to fight? I'm not a fighter...one of the traits I do admire about myself. 

So I went with my inner voice that reassured me...."time for you"! I popped on the TV, relaxed as I channel surfed and admired gardens, homes and vacations that all took me to magical places.

Eventually I decided to slither out of bed and head downstairs, where I was welcomed by darkened rooms with shades still drawn, rain pinging off the skylights and the sense of being in my own cocoon of sorts. 

A feeling of shutting out the world took over and I reveled in it. I was reminded that sometimes in order to Connect With Your Life, you must remove yourselves from it.

So that's what I am doing today Dear Readers. Shades will stay closed in order to shut out the world. There will be curling up on the couch with tea, magazines, books and hopefully for some of it, my special guy too!

To Do lists, toilets and laundry can wait...and they will. For today I am in my own cocoon! Perhaps tomorrow I will spread my wings.......on the outside!

              

                Looking for a little motivation to Connect With Your Life?
           Here's a sprinkle of just that...go ahead, give some of these a try!

• Unplug:eliminate time zappers for a few hours
• Write a list of things you are grateful for
• Go for a walk & look for signs of the season changing
• Sit in a quiet space and hum a tune..nothing in particular, make it up as you go!
• Call a loved one and just chat
• Go through an old photo album....before they were digitized
• Write a note to yourself, granted the first line will probably be "how bizarre this feels"...but go on to shower yourself with good wishes, dreams and positive thoughts.
• Laugh
• Gather pictures out of magazines that make you smile. Assemble them in a notebook, include words & phrases that encourage & motivate you.
• Turn up the music and just dance!

We Must Imagine... It's Everything

Thank you Sheila Andrew for this card!

Aaaargh! You know when you feel like you have a million ideas in your head and you want to make them all happen, but you don't know how to harness them and make a plan, or how to begin and which one to pick because they all call your name and all seem exciting yet overwhelming, so you think, rethink and think even more and then it shifts to... questioning and it begins to feel like too much work to make anything happen and you curl up and just figure "yeah why should I even bother"...Well Dear Readers that's where I find myself!

Fortunately there is this tiny voice (as oppose to the big voices) in my head that remains. It it coaxing me to pick just one...give it 48 hours and whatever comes of it is more than if I hadn't done anything.... and then reevaluate at that point and make my next decision.

So I'm going to go for it and see where it takes me. 

I'm about the journey...I'm about the discoveries....and I'm about not getting complacent in my life. That's right! It's My Life and I'm here to live it!

So Much To Love.......

The smile on your face when you wake and see me
The amazing father you are to our boys
When your foot finds mine as we fall asleep
Your kiss before you leave for work and the two upon your return
Your patience, kindness, devotion and loyalty to our family

Who we are together and who we are individually

The look in your eye when we see each other across a crowded room
Your comfort and strength when my heart so needs it
Your quirky humor and laughter
Your touch

The amazing talents you have

Your "let's try" attitude
Cooking our Valentine meal together
Supportive of my endeavors
Giving me the last bite

Your ideas

The comfort your hug provides

Singing loud in the car with me

Wanting me

Hard working

Accepting my quirks, limitations and late night questions

Your willingness
When we slow dance

The way you ease my mind

Your generous heart

For being who you are!

Tips For Connecting With Your Life.....

Looking for ideas to help Connect With Your Life? Here's a few of mine.........

Each morning smile and welcome the day

Brush your teeth with your non dominant hand

Sing in the car

Give out 5 compliments

Initiate a hug with a loved one, and hold just that little bit longer

Sit in silence and listen to your heart

Do something spontaneous

Commit to being positive..it's a choice

Laugh regularly

Drink more water

Accept help when it is offered

Practice compassion

Hold your face to the sun and give thanks

Try a new food

List 4 things from the day you are grateful for

Treat yourself kindly

Cross something off your To Do list without even doing it

Before you get aggravated with a coworker, stop and think "is it worth it"

Send a note to a loved one telling them their qualities you admire

Get more sleep

Park a little further away, take the stairs and jump rope

Buy a pack of gum (sugar free of course) and have a bubble blowing contest

Plan YOU time

Log how much time you spend on your phone and reduce the time each day

Dance!

Sing in the shower

Turn off the TV

Make a time capsule

Acknowledge some one's pains and struggles

Just listen 

Say I'm sorry

Perform Random Acts of Kindness weekly

Do something out of your comfort zone

Take chances

You don't always have to be right 

Smile at a stranger

Take a walk

Show appreciation more frequently

Slow dance

Write down a story from your childhood

Let your guard down

Ask for help when you need it

Wear something that you normally wouldn't

Lend a hand

Anticipate others needs

The split second before you go to do something...stop & really notice, be in the moment

Use positive words like "that means a lot", "I'm here if you need me" and "You've got this"

Practice patience with yourself and others

Breathe!

It's a New Day..............

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."~Ralph Waldo Emerson 

I am often encouraged by the thought of a new day, the promise it brings and the choices I will be faced with. Welcoming the belief...where there are choices, there are possibilities!!!

When We Look With Our Hearts.....

First Thought: Really? What a mess!! Can't anyone besides me clean up!!

When I really looked:

How Blessed I am to share a studio sink with artists I love dearly

and have this fun abstract image as a result!

First thought: pretty obvious...I need to dust!

When I really looked:

Removing the antique lace really lets the beauty of not dusting 

shine through 

First Thought: Toss out this shredded packing

When I really looked:

The beautiful shape of a fabulous heart rock I received

from an awesome guy on the west coast that I love calling my son!

(who is moving back east in three weeks)

My gentle reminder for today Dear Readers.... there are many ways to look at things. In a Where's Waldo kind of way, look for various options and select the one that finds the good, the happier, the kinder and the less stress resulting.

In my next post I'll share how I apply this approach in a variety of situations and the positive results I've discovered.

Now, that being said there's not always a storybook ending....but a girl can dream ~ 

Less Is More....

Organizing begins of closet and life

Few days in to the new year and I'm thinking about all my "would like to accomplish" things, however not to get overwhelmed I think about what I've actually achieved so far:

Began organizing the annex closet √ 

Back to eating consciously √ 

Less online time just surfing around √ 

Jumped rope √ 

Mindful/reflective time to listen in the silence √

Let's not get carried away and overwhelm ourselves with making our goals and wishes of change or additions crazy out of reach! Remember we want to succeed. I find in achieving the small things a momentum starts to build and we can kick start our own accomplishments and be energized to do more. 

The way I offer looking at it today Dear Readers is this, whatever we do, however small in an effort for change, it is MORE than if we haven't done anything at all! 

Each task or challenge is an opportunity to Connect With Your Life!!

Go ahead, what are you going to make happen today?