Connected and Committed

creativity

vision

This morning I noticed that there’s a picture on a vision board of sorts that I put together a year ago or so of a piece of pottery, teal green in theme, and then on the table where I’m typing this sits a piece of pottery, teal green in theme, that I purchased recently in a thrift store.

How. cool. is. that. Movement in the energetic sector.

I’m believing that the bungalow home that is also on the vision board, and was in my thoughts yesterday as I pondered what I would do with more than ample funds coming my way, is closer to fruition. Usually I don’t allow it to come in because there are wisps of “How?” and “Who will take care of it?” trailing behind, dragging its butt through the mortal quandary ethers.

But not yesterday.

joy pullers

One joy-full image from my recent excursion, in the Minneapolis airport - there is a children’s play area in Concourse C where little bodies can run around and let of some steam climbing an airplane-like and other airport themed structures. Brian was playing tag with some other older kids, and then a little one walked in with dad. Jet black hair, big eyes, and rarin’ to go, this one year old. Dad put her down on the floor and as her line of sight took in the airplane, the biggest smile broke out all over her face. I laughed out loud with her squeals of delight. She lunged forward to check it out as only a one-year-old's body can, careening in glee. Life was very, very good in that moment.

Today I went to Trader Joe’s to replenish the larder, and was waited on by the most gracious and friendly clerk. Her open smile and willingness to play was like a balm pouring over me. She started remarking that we had the same taste palate based on what was coming across the conveyor belt toward her. It was quite remarkable what specific kinds of things we both preferred - blueberries, the same brand of bread, garlic, ginger, and on and on. We were both giggling by the time I was walking out with my cart full of goodies.

I overheard a conversation in an organic restaurant about hanging up all of your clothes in the closet with the open hook end of the hanger facing you. Over the coming year, as you use an article of clothing, hang it up with the open hook end toward the back of the closet, so you know you've worn it. At the end of the year, anything that still has hook ends still facing out is unlikely to be worn at all, so it can easily be identified and removed for recycling of some kind.

Easy-peasy.

car

ignite me

Homeward bound. More later.....

navigate

Greetings from the Great Northwest.

Little Man has been exposed to Sorry! and Yahtzee!.

Grandpa went to the emergency room and is fine now.

Mom is about to have Mommy's Day Out in Portland.

Life is good.

string

Leaving on a jet plane soon for the Left Coast for awhile. Hoping to spend a little time with temperatures above freezing, catching up with a friend, soaking up ambiance in a Portland neighborhood, and hanging out with family. Some years my birthday falls on Easter Sunday, but not this one - funny how that would be so appropriate right about now though - rebirth and all. My writer instincts are a tad nonplussed at how difficult it is for me to put some such recent experiences into words that might convey their import and impact and reverberations.

Ah well. I expect my creativity to explode in the coming days. Peeps and chocolate bunnies will do for now.

crossing the line

This morning I crossed the line in my head, the one where I decide that I will own an iMac.

A coworker bought one yesterday, and I am surrounded by Mac users at work. I learned computing on a Mac.

It's time.

I don't care nor need to to know when or how, it's just going to happen.

Girls Rock

"I've been waiting for so long to finally admit to myself that I'm amazing and I really am. Everyone is beautiful in their own way and they get even better when they decide to be powerful and they decide to rock."

Girls Rock camp attendee

window seat

nudges 03.17.08

I am so happy for and appreciate so very much:

1) Little Man placing 3rd in his age group for the Pinewood Derby, and his subsequent glee in taking home a trophy bigger than the participation one;

2) Being appreciated for the work that went in to making the car;

3) The opportunity to open myself up mind, body and soul to another person, and see what's there for both of us;

4) Meeting cool people, like the one who has a house made of straw bales and mud on her property, and the one who was born in the same city as I was;

5) Bumping into a Tom Leonard coaching book - his presence stays with me even though I never met the man and he transitioned several years ago;

6) Witnessing the Oprah and Eckhart phenom; it's ground-breaking and good for the planet;

7) Getting pushed and challenged to reach for more and show up as who I really am;

8) Birthday presents;

9) Sharing meals of organic food prepared with love and satisfaction;

10) Homemade ginger tea with honey and lemon.

color window

wattle and dob

leaf

The universe has burned an image of your best self into your DNA, and sometimes, you let it shine through, like this leaf melted through the snow, its shape highlighted for all to see.

Be the leaf.

celebration

Lots of reasons for celebration lately around here. Hope you are taking the time to do so in your life as well!

drafting

I've always loved going to the movies. When I was younger, it was an opportunity to connect with emotions that weren't being acknowledged at home. The catharsis of a good tear-jerker was amazingly cleansing, and I always felt so good afterwards. I would take on the persona of the main character and talk like her and act like her for awhile, lengthening the experience and feeling what that vibe felt like, to be fully alive and engaged, cuz I wasn't anywhere near that kind of living.

Yesterday, I was thinking that I hadn't felt that connection to movie characters for awhile, and I realized that it was because I've claimed that way of living for myself - I am engaged with my emotions, I am feeling that vibe of being who I am and livin' life the way I was meant to. Drafting off of someone else's story just isn't necessary anymore.

And that is so cool.

nudges 3.10.08

I was just rummaging around in the dark recesses of my collective psyche, looking for some artifiacts I might label anxiety, playing it small, doubt, uncertainty of who I really am, you know - the usual suspects.

They were nowhere to be found. Even when I gave them all a huge head-start on negative self-talk tapes looping with, "Well, what about this? Or this?"

Nope.

They were having none of it.

Not today.

And there's a new presence in the mix.

A sort of playful puppy of a personality facet, jumping and pouncing and investigating and saying, "Hey! Wanna play?"

Yeah, I do.

And I appreciate so very much:

1) Feeling happy while savoring the thought of being able to spend time with someone - no concerns about where or when or what, just happy to think about it;

2) Seeing my son do and hearing him say things I've held intentions lately for showing up and holding hte space for - creating worlds like he used to out of paper and markers and tape and blocks, and not arguing about every little thing - truly awe-inspring;

3) Goat cheese, a newly discovered taste sensation - excellent on pizza;

4) Glittery stuff like beads that make girls shine from the inside out;

5) A deep-down knowing of well-being, the depths of which I can't imagine ever reaching;

6) Hints of spring, like sunshine and melting snow;

7) Friends who show up to play on so many levels.

derby

Two days ago I was a Pinewood Derby initiate, charged with the mission of producing a vehicle with/for my son that would make it through the rigorous pre-qualification system in place at weigh-in time. After consultations with several friends and coworkers and a trip each to the hardware and art supply stores, behold the wonder above. It weighed in at a sweet 4.98 ounces the first time through, impressing the men who were manning the official scale. It smoked out the track during the practice runs, easily beating the cars it was tested with.

So we'll see how it goes at the actual race. The thought of a nice shot of anisette or Sambuca right about now hits the spot, ya know?

The One

One advantage to being home with a sick kid is stopping by the library on the way home from the pediatrician's office for diversion material. He's watching Star Wars and I picked up Kathy Freston's The One: Discovering the Secrets of Soul Mate Love. I'm well into the first chapter, and I'm liking the direction she's taking - that We are The One, and every relationship that we encounter is there to help us remember who we are and why we're here. A great example:

"By holding our interest so intently, the soul mate is able to lead us right into the places where we need to grow. They not only testify to our brilliance and nurture our ability to love and be kind, but they also tweak us so that we can see where we are held back. In this way, the soul mate comes bearing the gift of our potential enlightenment. And in the most perfect way, as if by divine design, we each get what we need from the other. We support and inspire each other right alongside with pushing each other into the places that need our attention."

More later......

sick

Little man's immune system is getting walloped this week. I am the first line of defense as dad is on vacation - nice timing, eh? So posts are few and far between at the moment.

the map

****************

Never worked on a puzzle before that required a map.

I wondered what life would be like if we were born with one, a guide, and handbook to turn to when we get lost.

And then I had a V8 moment. Duh!! You are born with a roadmap, dude. Remember that emotional scale thing?

Oh yeah.

focusing on the fun

You think that the goal is to be over there, and we say the goal is the journey over there; the goal is the fun you have along the way on your way to over there.

— Abraham

**********

Abraham, you have taught me well to enjoy the process, and to appreciate what is over here while I’m on the way to over there. So what I’m going to focus on during the next cycle of intention is the fun. That includes whatever it is I distract myself with when I become aware that I could use a little attitude adjustment. Any amount of time spent mongering on the negative is precious time stolen away from mongering on the bliss. I am convinced that the latter doesn’t need to be accompanied by the former. With the momentum I’ve got going in dispelling limiting beliefs, I want to explore even more of this territory.

The tools at my disposal are my Resistance Toys, and among them are Joy Pullers - people, places things that pull joy through me when I think about them. I’ve demonstrated to myself how invaluable they are in goal-reaching, and I’m going to kick it up a notch by documenting what they have been in the past, and what I stumble upon every day that tickles my fancy.

And whatever else comes up that I can’t know about just yet.

Just thinking about the power behind this tsunami of fun makes me giddy :-)