Today

Quote that inspired me today:

" In a world where so many people focus on the bad

instead of the good,

the ugly instead of the beautiful,

on scarcity instead of abundance,

fear instead of love,

dare to do things differently.

Dare to smile when others frown,

to believe when others doubt,

to love when others fear 

and to appreciate what others don't."

Quote that sums up my thoughts today:

"Failure is a possibility no matter what you do.

So is success. Whatever happens,

I want my life to be marked by the willingness

to wade deeper and find out."

Journal entry:

Choose joy. Practice love. Accept others.

Be kind. Show respect. Love yourself.

Repeat.

xoxo

💝

 

Checklist

... to feel better.

"Watch the sunrise. Get outside. Connect with people who

light us up. Laugh. Meditate. Raise the value of all we

consume (food, drink, media & conversation)

Read. Move. Swim in the lake/river/ocean.

Breathwork. Help someone. Plant sunflowers. Forgive.

Do anything fun, creative or spontaneous. Learn.

Create healthy boundaries. Forgive ourselves. Dance.

Know that other people's negativity/fear is not ours.

Tidy-up. Not everyone will agree with us or like us, & that's ok.

Challenges bring learning - we don't grow when we're comfortable.

Cultivate less judgement compassion.

Focus on all that we are grateful for.

Remember we are far greater than we realize.

Trust Love. Look for the good & your people.

We've got this."

xoxo

💕

 

 

Note

Dear self,

I have a favor to ask of you.

Let go of the need to prove to everyone that you're OK,

and then, stop being so hard on yourself.

Just STOP!

You. Are. OK.

You are whole and complete right this minute as I write to you.

Sure there are times you have to grow, adapt, and change, but dang it! 

Give yourself a break.

Let go.

 Stop punishing yourself for everything

and everyone that has not worked out for you.

You have done all you know to do.

You have done your best.

You may have made some mistakes, 

but they have taught you along the way.

 You are just being human.

An extraordinary one!

Remember that. Just be you ! 

Be humble. Stay kind.

That's who you are. That's who you've always been.

I know that you want to receive validation and love from the external world.

That is human too my dear. 

However, you can't find your worth there.

You have  to remember to love yourself, 

and open your heart to receive God's love.

He loves you just the way you are.

And so do your people.

Believe in that.

Keep your eyes and heart on Him sweetie.

He can do all things.

Be gentle with yourself.

Everything is going to be OK.

Follow your heart.

I love you big!

xoxo

💖

 

Conviction

I've been doing some deep reflection,

digging through things, working hard to

stay focused on the direction I want to go in life.

Blame came up.

A lack of responsibility to myself,

and blaming others, circumstances, or my lack of this or that, 

 for the unhappiness I've struggled with.

I suppose I could have run around blaming all I want,

forever.

I really wasn't aware that I did this...

until I was.

I had my little "Aha moment" when I was back home

with my family.

It was not a proud moment for me...

but I'm happy for the reveal. 

I just want to STOP.

So...I'm digging in to do the work.

This is going to be a hard habit to break.

I am so grateful for the conviction though...

 and the direction that comes from that.

Blame just made me powerless.

I am definitely motivated for a change!

I've been so stuck...and that was making me nuts.

Really.

I thank God for the clarity!

Recently I heard a pastor say:

" You can't settle into your blessing,

because you've been so settled into a negative experience."

Yep! Pretty much sums it up for me.

I've paid a special homage to my negative thoughts.

I'm learning.

It's time to shift gears.

Time to stop taking the great things for granted.

...some of the great things lately:

the perfect words when your open to receive them

mornings on the lake 

girl time, kayaks, coffee and lemon bars

a good laugh

walking  downtown

my kiddo

quaint bakeries

splurging for desert

sunflowers in my backyard 

granddaughters

huddled on a blanket in the yard & fireworks

kid art on the fridge

family

oldies on the radio

reading a good novel with my hubby

7 year Anniversary

the 1883 series

reading on the porch

not missing a day out of 144 of learning Swedish

cooler mornings

insight

a small group of support

xoxo

💖

" Trust that each new day holds untold possibilities

and remember:

In every moment, you have the profound ability

to make choices that will completely

change your habits and your reality,

either right away or over time."

 

Soulcation

 

...because I needed to be with my people.

My favorite vacation...

is going back to where I started.

Walking the old familiar paths, and knowing I've 

been there so many times before.

Shopping in the quaint village stores.

Walking to my cousins house and sitting on her porch to chat...petting her dog.

Visiting the falls and picking up a rock or two to take home. Every time.

Going to the old local diner for breakfast with the family.

Sharing my handful of almonds with the chipmunk 

that hides in the rock wall in the backyard.

Memories of doing the same with my grandmother when I was little.

Capturing snapshots of my Dad working in the yard...totally unaware

that I'm creeping on him.

Riding around in a golf cart and acting silly with my girlfriend,

who I grew up with and feels more like a sister.

Taking a drive to the top of the mountain with her, 

to a spot that was her Dad's.. now hers,

& the nostalgia of being there before when I was younger,

to watch the sunset with my Dad.

Listening to the Oldies station while driving in my Dad's pickup,

and finding that station to listen to now that I'm home.

Having my brother, my nephew and his wife and their sons come

 so we could all celebrate fathers day together.

 How much it filled my Dad's soul that we were all together.

The lot of us huddled in a cozy space together for the weekend,

 and the natural ease of it all.

Going to the farmers market together, 

little ones chasing bubbles,

apple cider donuts,

and my brother and I singing out loud to the folksy

songs of the acoustic band.

A chill in the air, people with their pets and Mom's 

who take time out to do a little jig with their kid.

Community.

Togetherness.

Family.

Love.

It's the simple things that fill me up the most.

I went home and was swallowed up the way

I needed to be consumed-

in a teaching, comforting, soul-hugging way.

xoxo

💖

*side note: thankful for my brother, that came toward me,

when he sensed  something was wrong.

I love you!

Thankful for my nephew and his wife who inspired me, and motivated me

to stay focused.

Thankful for my Dad always connecting, caring, sharing, listening, and loving.

Thankful for Sue, her hospitality, gifts, and talents...her knack

for accomplishing whatever she sets her heart to do. Her sense of humor.

Thankful for my cousins that always remind me of the strong bond 

that only comes from family, the unconditional love that is always there.

Their strength and their ability to always have a good laugh...even

when things are hard.

I'm so acutely aware of the gift you are.

Big, big, love....💝

xoxo