March 25, 2014 Yet another twist on the windy road of my journey

I have asked the Universe for a few more things over the last week or so, and, of course, instead of direct answers, it sends me more questions, and suggestions and opens new roads.  It's a lot like having a conversation with Confucius where you get information, but must work out the final answer for yourself.  I suppose the proverb for this would be something like:  "If you continually spoon feed a child, you will end with an entitled adult."

As I've never been entitled, I'm getting my information the old fashioned way:  in doses which require me to engage my brain and figure out what I'm being guided to do!

In this case, it was two-fold.  First, I signed up for a course in copy writing and how to actually make it pay.   But signing up for the course also guided me to send a message to my marketing guru/cheerleader/friend from waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back to get her advice on the value of this slight veer in my path.  What I got was a whole lot more than I'd bargained for, a delightful 2 hour conversation about so many things, and more information for me to chew on until I figure it out! 

It seems that the whole purpose of this particular day was to give me things to think about which I will ultimately act upon, and which, eventually, will take me further along the path to my passion.  (or, as I'm quickly discovering, multiple passions.  You really can't have just one!)

As I anxiously await validation on the site which has the copy writing course, I find myself dipping my toe into various puddles, seeking more knowledge, guidance, opinions and ideas.  As it has been for most of my life, and especially, since December 7, 2013 ( a day that will live on as the first day of my new life), the more I learn, the more I realize I need to learn!  It's a little like editing my novel.  The more I go back, re-read and edit, the more I could go back, re-read and edit, but if I keep doing that, the darn thing will be 1,000,000 words long and it will be more like the Never Ending Story, so I am trying very hard to make myself keep pressing forward, or as one of my newer friends would say "KIMF, Keep it moving forward".  Excellent advice, really! 

Through it all, Dylan is my shadow, following me from room to room, purring me to sleep at night and including himself in my daily meditations.  In some ways, he is my muse, if only because I know that I'm never completely alone.  Someone is always here beside me, encouraging me to do what I love.  While the other cats snooze on the bed, occasionally wandering in with a head bump or paws on my leg to let me know they need a skritch, Dylan is a trooper.  He truly is following me through this journey and will deserve a bucketful of his favorite treats when my book is finally in the hands of the public!

Messages concerning my writing career aren't the only ones which are coming to me in the midst of confusion.  I've been getting images of individuals who I don't see as part of my life causing me to move closer to hear their words, or in rooms with doors which I am unable to close to keep them out.  The message I'm getting seems to be that while my conscious self doesn't see that they have a place in my life other than from a distance, or as someone purely superficial, the Universe seems to think they do have a place, but it's up to me to figure out what that might be. 

So, tonight, I have lots of things to ponder, but I don't expect to have all of the answers.  Some may come in the next few days, but some are clearly meant to come in the form of an AHA moment somewhere in the foggy future.  Meanwhile, I'll keep busy, painting pretty word pictures for my future readers, and walking through latest doors which have opened, inviting me to explore new frontiers.

My gratitudes tonight are:
1. I am grateful for the people who believe in me, encourage me and add fuel to the fire of my passions.
2. I am grateful for new ideas and twists on old ones.
3. I am grateful for opportunities to explore and learn new places and things.
4. I am grateful that I am comfortable spending a lot of time in my own company.
5. I am grateful that, as difficult as it might be at times, I'm given opportunities to step ever further outside of my comfort zone.

Love and light.

March 22, 2014 Decluttering the house leads to opening the mind even further. Who'd have thunk it?

Yesterday afternoon, I did a little decluttering.  I put the books from my recently completed A.R.T. Healing class on the bookshelf and gathered the various books on Kabbalah, Psychic Self and such from the living room to shelve them as well.  In the process, I crossed paths with the shelf above my monitor which holds a variety of things connected with psychic development and self improvement, as well as my ever growing collection of Tarot decks.  What I have taken to referring to as my "Spiritual Shelf".  Though it is now full to overflowing and, in fact, many of my books have now found their way to other shelves in my library, this is where my journey really began. Though it isn't visible in the picture, there's a whole second layer behind what you see, as the shelf is fairly deep.

But I digress.  In the process of putting things away, a phenomenon which has repeated itself frequently in recent months occurred.  I noticed my copy of "The Secret" and suddenly had a driving need to re-read it.  So on a Friday night when many of my friends were out dancing or otherwise being social (and, I might add, recovering from a work week which is no longer part of my lifestyle), I curled up on the sofa with Toby in my lap, snoring softly, and Dylan beside me, purring loudly, and read the first 158 pages of the book.

What an eye opener that was!  I had no idea how much the last nine months had changed me until I realized how much of the book had become so much clearer to me!  The first few times I read it, I accepted the fact that we are all made up of energy, as is everything around us, but I didn't feel it.  But after spending the better part of a year actually working with my energy body on a daily basis, I seriously lit up that giant lightbulb we all have above our heads, just waiting for us to start experiencing those "Aha!" moments. 

But it wasn't just a single concept which suddenly became clearer to me.  The idea of manifestation is right before my eyes!  Haven't I taken that leap of faith, knowing that the Universe will align things perfectly, and I have only to act upon what I'm offered?  Haven't I been overriding my feelings of trepidation with affirmations that I know everything is in alignment and occurring exactly in the time and space it is supposed to.  Haven't random checks appeared in my mail box already?  Haven't I been presented with someone who can design my business cards?  Don't I get things in email almost daily which help me to continue moving forward?

In short, I've truly experienced the fact that intentions are energy and energy creates action!  As my A.R.T. teacher told us repeatedly, and a statement which is reiterated in different words in "The Secret",  we must set those intentions with broad strokes, not concerning ourselves with either the details nor the "hows".  When we let the Universe (or whatever you prefer to call it) fill in the blanks for us, what we receive is always far better than what we originally envisioned. 

Even more important, and something I practice every day, and especially, in this blog, is to be grateful.  Grateful not only for those intentions becoming reality, but for every, single small thing. 

When I drive down the freeway and am signalling to change lanes, and someone lets me in, I say a loud "Thank you!".  When I get green lights all the way down one of the major streets in town, I say another loud "Thank you!".  When I wake up and just leap out of bed, full of joy to face the new day, I say another "Thank you!".  And so it goes.  The gratitudes I post here aren't always something big.  More often, they're small things.  But don't a lot of small things add up to one big one?  So if I post gratitudes for 5 small things, aren't I really opening the door for a bigger one?  And if, every day, I post 5 gratitudes for small things, by the end of the week, haven't I opened the door even wider for something really big to just saunter on through?  (and frankly, the 5 things I post here are only the tip of the iceberg of the gratitude I express every day!)

Sure, I've rambled on and on about gratitude here on numerous occasions, but re-reading "The Secret" last night made me reflect back upon just the last year or so, and what I saw during those reflections simply astounded me! 

My circle of friends is growing.  My love of myself is growing.  My life is virtually stress free most of the time.  I notice small improvements all the time.  I have over 77,000 words of a novel written, and am working towards completion of the editing process by the end of April (how's that for setting an intention?).  I was guided to contact a Marketing expert while still in the editing process, and keep a file with her guidance open all of the time, referring to it, while thinking about what/where I want/to go.  (In fact, as I was trying to fall asleep last night with Dylan purring around my head, I started mentally writing the dedication for my novel!)  I have a couple of accounting clients who keep my mind sharp and a little extra money coming in.  I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture.

While reading last night, I set a few more intentions.  I'm going to try to do as the book suggested, and not continue to send out the same intention, nor to dwell on the ones I sent out.  Instead, I will simply make sure that I'm grateful for every little thing (like an unexpected breakfast date with my daughter today), and just love the life I'm living.

My gratitudes today are:
1. I am grateful for Divine Guidance.
2. I am grateful for all of the people (both human and otherwise) who are part of this new life I am constantly creating (with a little help from the Universe), and who are making my life fuller and more meaningful.
3. I am grateful for quiet nights of reflection.
4. I am grateful for crazy, dance-filled nights with my girl friends and their wonderful hubbies.
5. I am grateful for beautiful Spring days that put buds on my plum tree and birds in the tree outside my office for the kitties to watch, hungrily.

Love and light. (to Infinity and Beyond!) 

August 3, 2013 Observations, Gratitude and Paying it Forward.

Chain of LoveMy readership was down quite a bit over the last couple of days so I decided to try a little experiment.  In last night's post, I included a number of pictures.  I'm happy to say, the experiment was a rousing success as my readership for last night doubled!

What I've learned from this is that what a fellow UBCer posted awhile back was true.  People like graphics and pictures!  Who'd have guessed.  So I guess I'll have to put more effort into providing visual stimulation instead of just the wit and wisdom of my words! :)

I had an eventful day, which started last night.  It seems I got into something at the fair that my body was NOT happy about.  I woke up around 3:30 AM itching like crazy.  Now, for anyone who has been following me the last couple of days, I had NO hot water in my shower and no water pressure!  The plumber was scheduled to be here today, but that did nothing for me last night.

I did have some wonderful Lavender body wash from Bath and Body Works, so I scrubbed with that a la sponge bath (sans the Sumo Wrestler of a nurse!) and was able to still the itch and sleep for a few hours. 

Unfortunately, I had to be up early because the plumber said he'd be here between 9 and 10 and I needed to scrub the tub and empty out the vanity before his arrival.  Naturally, he was running late and called at 10 so say he'd be another hour (read, hour and a half).

But I have to say, this one was worth the wait!  Not only did he fix everything including my shower which he literally took apart and unclogged, when I got the bill, I actually said to myself "that's all???"  This young man was reasonable and efficient,  He was more interested in doing a quality job than in gouging the customer.  He was recommended to me and I will be recommending him myself from now on. 

Not only did he remove the old toilet and vanity and install the new ones, he did a little engineering to make it work properly and, while the other plumbers estimated 4-5 hours, he did it in about 1 1/2!!  He will definitely be the one I call when I get around to putting the kitchen together!

This vanity has much smaller drawers and is a few inches narrower, but I discovered today that it's also a couple of inches deeper so I can still fit my usual things on top.  I'm also really pleased with the faucet I picked out and can't wait to get the matching set for the tub when I get that upgraded.  It is so nice when things start coming together!!!

This gives me hope that I will see my remodel, albeit it one piece at a time, sooner rather than later!!!  I am getting excited again!

Dancing tonight with the gang was a blast and Heather's lemon curd and strawberry tarts were a huge hit!  I hope the judges at the fair tomorrow recognize how wonderful they are too!  (and of course, this is another photo op!)
She even went to one of the local produce farms and picked the strawberries out of the field herself!  My little girl is getting VERY particular about her ingredients!!!

It seems that the more I open myself up, the more fun I have with everyone!  Who knew connecting could be so much fun???

And my final topic for this evening is "paying it forward".  I read another blogger's post today which contained a video about a family who had lost their young son to cancer, and because of his influence, decided one day to pay it forward by picking up the tab for the car behind them's order at a Starbuck's drive through in honor of their son.  As their actions were picked up and repeated by many people, they learned what a wonderful gift their son had given them in his short life.  But most amazing of all was when someone picked up their restaurant tab anonymously and the note they left was that it was in honor of their son...it had come full circle!!

The story reminded me of a Clay Walker song called "Chain of Love" which has always made me a little teary eyed.  Let's see if my technical skills will allow me to share it here.

Chain of Love

At any rate, my real point here (yes, I really have one) is that the concept of paying it forward with gratitude is, to me, simply amazing!  It takes the Random Acts of Kindness trend one step further.  As I'm one who believes strongly in our responsibility to make the world a better place, I can't think of a better idea than this!

I know we have the kids posting videos of giving food, water and clothes to the homeless, and that's another great way to pay it forward, but for many of us, it's not really feasible.  But to see someone in a restaurant and pick up their tab, or buy a coffee for the person behind you in line...I find that extremely doable!

Shall we give it a try?

My gratitudes tonight are:
1. I am grateful that I am able to do for others.
2. I am grateful that my remodel is coming together, one small step at a time.
3. I am grateful for my wonderful dance friends who make my dance nights even more special than they already were!
4. I am grateful for learning to open up and connect with other people.
5. I am grateful for hot showers which I will never take for granted again!

Love and light.

July 25, 2013 The challenge of remaining positive

Science of Mind magazine

Did you know that the slightest form of negativity can instantly sabotage a conversation? If you grumble about the weather or slightly frown when a colleague says something displeasing, stress neurochemicals are released in both the speaker’s AND listener’s brain.

A friend posted this today and I have to say that the article, which is quite a bit longer than what I've shared here, really resonated with me.  Thinking about it, it makes a whole lot of sense.  I can definitely feel the draw downward on the Laws of Attraction continuum when I so much as think  a complaining thought about someone or something.

So what do we do about it?  How do we set an intention to keep our thoughts as positive as possible?  How do we keep from draining our own batteries with negativity?

Here are some possibilities:
1. When you feel a complaint bubbling up inside of you, immediately think of something you appreciate about that person or situation.  (it's impossible for your brain to hold both a positive and a negative thought at the same time!)
2. Make a point of thinking about at least one gratitude per hour.
3. Catch yourself mid-complaint and ask "will this really matter in five years?"
4. Instead of voicing the complaint, make the biggest pouty face you can, then, once you've stopped giggling, release the complaint without voicing it (if you can even still remember what it was!).
5. Whenever you are in the bathroom (or any place else that has a mirror or mirror-like surface), look yourself in the mirror and say "I'm beautiful, sexy and delicious!"
6. Perform random acts of kindness.
7. Engage in random acts of silliness.
8. Give someone a hug, just because.
9. Gather "positivity buddies" around you to help each other remember to keep thoughts, words and deeds positive.
10. Give lots of compliments and praise.

 11. Sing along with the radio.
12. Dance to the music in the stores where you shop.
13. Actively seek out the humor in every situation.
14.  Laugh or smile for no reason.
15. Throw imaginary heart shaped confetti at anyone or anything which threatens your positive outlook.

And wouldn't you know, because I started this train of thought today, someone would throw something in my way that required me to stop my spew of negativity mid-stride (though not as quickly as I would have liked!)  The Universe just loves to show me how far I have to go, and leaves it to me to recognize how far I have come!  But in the end, I found the solution, and will calmly express my disappointment in the behavior to the appropriate parties and let go of the situation.  Once again, it isn't what people do that matters, but how we react to what they do.  In this case, turning my attention to the wonderful people around me, the happy, dancing energy and new connections defused the negative energy.  (not to mention, the song we needed on my phone which was easily connected to the dj equipment and used temporarily until it can be replaced in their system with a little help from their friends!)

I also realized that people stoop to petty, childish behavior when they think they need to control something that doesn't need controlling.  It is probably an indication of how out of control their own life is.  This is the same behavior that leads some to eating disorders or alcoholism, and the best I can do for them is to send love and light, but disengage my own emotions from the situation.  And so it shall be.

I look forward to hearing how other people maintain or restore their natural, positive energy amidst life's challenges.  We can all learn from each other (like number 15 which I borrowed from a friend, and have used extensively ever since!).

As I'm learning since posting this blog more publicly, the life lessons I've learned may be helpful to someone else, and the lessons someone else has learned may be helpful to me.  What better way to share positive energy than to offer each other examples of how we met and overcame life's challenges?

So here's another one for you.  Let's get out there and engage in random acts of sharing!

My gratitudes tonight are:
1. I am grateful for dancing which never fails to center and ground me.
2. I am grateful for the loving inspiring, spiritual beings who are continuing to come into my life and enrich it beyond anything I could have imagined.
3. I am grateful for the opportunity to expand myself and my abilities to help others.
4. I am grateful for information that comes to me exactly when I need it and am ready for it.
5. I am grateful for unconditional love.

Love and light.