Small Changes

Sitting in the yard on a quilt with my notes, and the computer in my lap.

Kids laughter, and squeals of delight coming from the playground,

the sun is shining, a gentle breeze is blowing, and the windchimes are filling

the air with what sounds like church bells.

It is 69 degrees...and perfect.

I wanted to write. 

My journal pages are filling up, along with my heart.

It's been 642 days of digging in deep, clearing and detoxing sugar,

bad habits, beliefs, thoughts and clutter from my daily living.

It takes effort. 

It has been an extreme labor of love...

and it continues.

Lately I have been in an euphoric state.

It's like the feeling you get when you

are falling madly in love with someone.

Only it's all inclusive.

I am madly in love with life, and all things in it.

It could be that the days have been filled with gorgeous weather.

It could be the little things, and the small changes that are happening, 

like finally getting the hang of my Tai Chi movements, and 

learning 2 more.

It could be the time I've spend volunteering with equine therapy,

& children that can ride backwards, hand-free,

 on a moving horse 

while catching a ball.

(but struggle to catch on their own)

It could be the little nudge I get on a beautiful day

to forego errands,

 take my camera and go for a walk at the zoo instead.

It could be calling my Dad on his 83rd birthday,

 him sharing that he's taking up skiing again this winter,

 and I share the eagle sighting in a near tree as I'm driving by.

'Eagles appear to inspire you to reach higher, and become more than you 

think you are capable of.

Be courageous. Stretch your limits and see what you can do.'

It could be new connections, reconnecting with the old,

or the phone call just minutes ago from a friend back east,

 letting me know I'm in their thoughts.

It could be that I've picked up my camera again, 

and am always on the search for beautiful little things,

or the way the leaves dance as they fall to the ground,

the feel of change in the air,

 or the Asian lady beetles landing in my hair. 

It could be hearing my kiddo chuckle during a conversation,

 or the coffee house music that plays in the background during chores.

"Sometimes we're drawn to music in a given time, that we literally are."

Or it could be that I am simply grateful right now...

in the truest sense of the word,

and my heart feels wide open.

Journal notes:

Don't underestimate the value of making small

improvements on a daily basis.

"Temporarily, while we strengthen our relationship

with our minds, we can take steps to avoid triggering

places & people by adjusting what we see, listen to,

read, absorb."

'Your greatest power is self-control.

Train your mind to focus on your conduct.

Focus on what you want regardless of distractions.'

Change begins with the words inside your head.

'Scan the horizon.

Take a look at your life.

Identify what's working and what isn't.

Drill down and take a look at specific areas.

Chunk it up.'

Take one step at a time.

Be proactive and responsible

rather than languish in wishful thinking.

Don't let your well being depend on your circumstances.

Strive for personal accountability.

Recognize what you get right.

"Perseverance must finish it's work so that 

you may be mature and complete, not lacking

anything."

James 1:4

 

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Happiness is a conscious choice that lights a fire within

and fans the fire outward.

It is not something that you acquire from others

 or discover outside of yourself.

What makes you happy?

What makes you feel lighter?

What experiences make time seem to fly by?

Do more of these things-

often.

Seek out experiences that set your soul on fire.

Cultivate happiness daily in small ways.

A happy life is simply all of those smaller

happy moments combined."

 

Dreams & Things

This weekend I picked up my camera, 

and took pictures of  the Queen Annes Lace and clouds in the pasture.

Searched for lost calves in the tall grass.

Witnessed Blondie having a senior moment, and Buddy

racing to go along with her for moral support.

Received dermabrasion on my left hand via Buddy kisses.

Had a good cry watching the true story about a bear,

( A. A. Milne's inspiration to write Winnie the Pooh),

and followed a nudge to visit a new church.

(which I loved!)

Today, I will 

clean out the wildflower bed,

 and let my thoughts roam. 

I'll consider what is, and what isn't but could be,

and dream beyond where I am.

 

"I was told one time, when you wake up
look at yourself in the mirror & scream.
No, that's not it...
smile. It helps make your day."
Aunt K

Journal notes:

When gratitude fills up your heart and mind,

you will not be tempted to complain.

Work at developing a grateful mindset, 

and you will perceive life's gifts more clearly.

"We can't compromise and walk in the promises"

~church~

Instead of disappointments dragging you down,

 transform them into opportunities for good.

Reframe setbacks as opportunities.

Attain a better perspective.

You will gain much more than you lost.

'It won't be the big things that surprise us in life,

but also the massive number of small things that affect our days.'

"Handling difficulties courageously involves

relinquishing your demand to understand."

"Live like your days are uncertain,

but your future is secure."

Have fresh encounters with life.

To renew your soul, and propagate hope.

'Trust that God is working in your life,

even if you don't understand what is happening,

and things don't turn out as expected.'

'....dreams peer around the corners of our lives &

right into the places where we live, giving us clues

to how we can grow.'

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Some people care too much.

I think it's called love."

"Weeds are flowers too, 

once you get to know them."

"Do you ever stop to think,

and forget to start again?"

~A. A. Milne~

 

 

Little Things

Dusty boots, dirty hands, and brisk autumn air.

It's Fall calving season,

 and my favorite time on the farm.

Having a moment...

...and this.

Little Polka-dot-guy.

I'm completely smitten.

They are my muse.

Journal notes:

You can chose to think about excellent, praiseworthy things

or about terrible, upsetting things.

 

Each day contains moments when you are free to 

choose the focal point of your mind.

'Love isn't a limited resource. 

Bring what you've got-

and there's more than enough for all of us.'

Avoid the mindset of the world.

Keep it simple.

Keep it real.

You live in a world rigged to distract you.

Rejoice in the tiny triumphs,

and they will increasingly 

lighten up your days.

"The only limitations that you have

are the ones that you've imposed on yourself."

"Be here now. Be somewhere else later.

Is that so hard?"

'Go inward. Learn to surrender to life as it is,

right where you are.

Learn to be still, to bless & embrace it all,

without limitation, without escape.'

....and then one day things become clear.

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Proof that some of the best medicines are free:

Hugs

Sunsets

Sunrises

Laughter

Gratitude

Stretching

Kind words

A good cry

Meditation

Nature walks

Deep Breathing

Listening to the birds

Looking up at the stars

JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out)"

~Dr. Will Cole~

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble...

think about such things."

Philippians 4:8

"What you watch, read, and listen to shapes your brain.

Inputs become thoughts;

thoughts become habits;

habits become health."

~Dr. Josh Axe~

 

Hyggly

There was something comforting about the wind picking up,

watching the trees sway, and

 watching the rain splash on the windows.

I lit candles, and rearranged a room in silence.

Then stepped out to cut flowers for the window,

turned French cafe music on Spotify, fixed dinner,

and made a batch of my favorite protein balls.

https://echoesofrobin.blogspot.com/search/label/Recipe

Charmed by my own life today.

Journal notes:

Lean into the important parts of your life.

Refuse to live according to the faulty standards 

of practices of our fallen peers.

'You will never go further than the limits of

the person you see yourself as.'

Holding onto grudges is not an option in healing and growing.

'All the precautions in the world won't stop some things from happening.

Yet viewed through a positive lens, even those events may eventually

be seen as gifts.'

"God doesn't enjoy seeing us fail.

He loves watching us grow."

'Go for it! Do the thing you've been dreaming of, thinking

about, pining over. 

Follow your intuition and not your fears.

Stop talking yourself out of whatever you've

been hoping for.

You are as ready as you'll ever be,

and procrastinating won't make you mor ready later.

Make the leap-

now.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit...

John 15:2

There is no rebirth without death.

Let go of the things that don't align 

with who you want to become.

'At some point you will realize that the

"this isn't true" voice,

is actually what isn't true.'

If you get the priority correct, the rest will come together.

"Put Jesus in the drivers seat & load up your gear."

be well...

xoxo

💖

"If you're having a sudden urge to clean,

redecorate or make a huge change this week,

it's because you're about to undergo some

major upgrades in your life." 

"The more you heal, the weirder the world feels.

The conversations feel louder.

The gossip sounds smaller.

The energy drains faster.

It's not you losing your mind.

It's you outgrowing dysfunction."