Farm Country

 Observe the wonder...

...everything else is just a distraction.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"It's a goodly life that you lead, friend;

no doubt the best in the world,

if only you are strong enough to lead it."

~The Wind in The Willows~

Sunday Song

There are hard days & difficult circumstances, and days

l am a bit salty.

(*ehem)

But even so,

they are always out numbered by all the things I am grateful for.

Journal notes and quotes:

Learn to appreciate the difficult days.

"We won't love well if we're in the habit of being 

negative and cynical."

'We can have peace even if there's chaos all around us.

We can be hopeful even when life looks pretty bleak.

It takes practice.'

Practice habits of finding joy, hope, and peace.

Instead of dreading difficulties that may or may not occur,

view this day as a sacred adventure.

'Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or terrified.'

Deut. 31:6

'You are a human being worthy of love & mercy.

Learn  how to adopt a newer, more easy going

relationship with yourself.'

Fill your life with gratitude & you'll spill over with love.

No matter how gloomy life may seem...

how can you be more grateful?

be well...

xoxo

💞

"Gratitude is not pretending everything is good.

It's noticing what still is, 

even when life hurts."

"Gratitude builds the bridge between where you are

and everything you're meant to become."

"To be grateful is to recognize 

the sacred in the simple."

"Being okay doesn't mean that life will be perfect,

nor does it presume that everything will turn out 

better than before. 

It simply means that you will eventually make it back

to a place of equilibrium,

because whatever you are currently experiencing or

feeling is temporary;

it will pass, as everything does.

Even if things turn out differently than you expected,

take some solace in knowing that you will always be okay,

even if you are different than before."

Notes on Consciousness

Maneuvering through the morning slowly,

enjoying small sips of coffee, wrapped in a quilt outside.

It's overcast, and cool.

 Still.

 Peaceful.

The porch decorated in chalk dust and graffiti from last

nights "lets-go-draw-on-the-porch" moment.

Bundling into sweatpants, hoodies and grabbing quilts to wrap in.

Twinkle lights and moonlight.

Goofiness and laughter.

Simple joys with my grand-girl.

I'm re-visiting some books I read before my coaching course.

Before I went on my own journey of being coached.

I had a twinge of "before and after" ,

and a prayerful celebration of the 

things I've left behind.

Sharing this out of the book:

Letting Go

The Pathway of Surrender

by David R. Hawkins M.D. Ph.D.

3years ago...a special friend/teacher/guide shared this book with me. 

Sometimes we just need the right information to

tug at our truth, and help us to see more clearly.

We don't know, until we know.

" Apathy and depression are prices we pay for having settled for 

and bought into our smallness.

It's what we get for having played the victim & allowed ourselves to be programmed.

It's the price we pay for having bought into negativity.

It's what results from resisting the part of ourselves that is loving,

courageous, and great.

It results from allowing ourselves to be invalidated by ourselves or others;

it is the consequence of holding ourselves in a negative context.

In reality, it is only a definition of ourselves that we have unwittingly

allowed to happen. 

The way out is to become more conscious."

"What does it mean to become 'more conscious' ?

To begin with, becoming more conscious means to 

start looking for the truth for ourselves, instead of blindly

allowing ourselves to be programmed,

whether from without or by an inner voice within the mind,

which seeks to diminish and invalidate,

focusing on all that is weak and helpless.

To get out of it, we have to accept the responsibility that

we have bought into the negativity and have been willing to believe it.

The way out of this, then, is to start questioning everything."

"As we become more aware, we begin to realize that we have a choice.

We can stop giving authority to all the mind's thoughts,

begin to question them, and find out if there is really any truth in them

for ourselves."

(great book if this interests you)

Journal notes:

"You are not alone; there is a great big world out there

waiting to champion you and help you live your very best life."

'The root cause of hesitancy is due to how you feel about yourself.

Remember who you are.

You have all you need to achieve every goal before you.

You don't have to fear.

You can do this.

Stop wrestling with your anxieties and get the job done.

Begin living your life with joy, and assurance of God's 

unlimited resources.'

You are free to live your honest story in the way it was meant to be written.

"We are defined by the narrative we write for ourselves every day."

Talk to yourself with love.

Your main work is to clear out debris and clutter,

making room for your Spirit.

Release and receive.

Go through your days distracted by everything going on around you,

or live fully engaged, and look for the beauty in life.

"You get what you repeat."

...finally she decided to stop suppressing her true nature.

be well...

xoxo

💗

"If you call forth what is in you,

it will save you.

If you do not call forth what is in you,

it will destroy you."

~Gospel of Saint Thomas~

"I never wanted to be the best.

I just wanted to be the best damn me."

~Lily Tomlin~

 

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."

 

Unplugged

Last week there was volunteering, spontaneous trips, 

Aunts visiting from Louisiana, connection, and life on the go.

Today it was all about grounding and being still.

Breathwork, prayer, incense burning and Binaural beats.

Journaling, twinkle lights and feet in the grass.

Journal notes:

'Appreciate beauty for it's own sake.

See the intrinsic value of a thing

and prize it because of it's perfection.

See Divinity in all that exists.

It leaves the mind silent.'

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind...

Romans 12:2

Simply talk to Him.

"What we do is an expression of our internal

mindset - every act begins with a thought."

~Charles Stanley~

If we want to worry and fuss we can,

but we don't need to.

That is our choice.

When life is lived simply and in trust,

a beautiful mosaic called "my life" will be woven.

Mocking bird:

A connection to the divine, wisdom, and communication.

Innocence and goodness.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"One of the most healing things you can do for

your nervous system costs nothing:

Slow, deep breathing.

Just 4 deep breaths can shift you from stress mode

to rest mode, lowering your heart rate

and calming your mind.

Your breath is always available when you need peace."

~Dr. Mark Hyman~

"Placing your hand on your heart

while taking 5 deep breaths activates your

parasympathetic nervous system and releases oxytocin.

This gentle self-touch tells your brain

that you are safe and loved."

~Dr. Mark Hyman~

 

Season Change

The wind is howling, and a change of season is in the air.

I gather all the outdoor plants around me,

on a spot in the grass.

I cut back the old, the dead, and scraggly parts.

Pulled out weeds, and released roots from being bound. 

Larger pots filled with fresh soil, 

and plants placed in their new space.

Ready now, for their transition indoors.

A place to thrive, and continue to grow.

It all feels a little symbolic.

Polly chases the leaves...then a butterfly,

and disappears.

Checking on her minutes later, 

I find her transfixed on a groundhog that just dug it's

way under the fence into our yard.

Right on cue.

I too become transfixed.

Then I turn to get my camera, and it is gone.

Journal notes:

Only you get to choose what dreams align with your soul.

'Our future is our bodily destiny combined with what

we create through our evolving actions & thoughts.'

'Your deepest intuitions are confirmed as your body

feels rightness of what you hear.'

You make your future anew everyday.

Your answers are inside of you.

"Don't exhaust yourself trying to figure out

what has not yet been revealed."

Allow yourself to be led.

Trust and take heart. God's at work & has your back.

"When you knock, ask to see God...

not any of the self-appointed intermediaries."

~Thoreau~

Sign of the Groundhog:

'Survival and the art of self-defense.

Deep connection with earth and nature,

grounding and establishing sacred space.

Elevated perspective & heightened awareness.

Productivity & efficiency.

Determination.

A solitary path.

Rapid growth, evolution, self-reliance,

and independence.

Self-examination & personal growth.

Digging deeper into your reality & 

finding your strengths.

"To leave the dirt behind you &

clear the way for your genuine self's emergence."

Rely on your intuition.

Restore balance.

Awareness through meditation &

removing yourself from external matters.

Perpetual student.

Love studying and excavating new information.

Cultivating all the knowledge they can possess.'

"Groundhog teaches you how to find peace in isolation,

all while showing how to sink your teeth into 

ambitions."

" As you enter different stages or seasons of life,

Groundhog acts as a guide for understanding, 

acceptance, and internalization."

"Connect with the new you!"

Mmm..hmmm...!

Thank you groundhog...

 your timing was impeccable.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Everything happens for a reason-

the highs, the lows, the wins, the losses.

The ones who arrive 

and the ones who walk away.

Nothing is by chance.

Every moment carries a lesson,

and every lesson leads you closer to 

your purpose."

"Either you go after the life you want

or you settle for the life you get."

 

Happiness Habits

I remember a time when playing outside with my cousins,

then Dad taking us to my Uncle's gas station 

to buy a bottle of Coca-Cola from the machine

 was all it took to be happy.

It takes a little more intention these days..,

but it's still the little things that make me happiest.

 Like nature, movement, and savoring the simple pleasures.

Only now, it's walking through the grass barefoot,

practicing Tai Chi steps under the stars,

and relaxing with a healthy mug of hot-chocolate 

(sugar/dairy free)

 at the end of the day.

Journal notes:

"Problems can be the pathways to Spiritual growth

that good times can never provide."

~Charles Stanley~

Recognizing the extent of your neediness is one of your strengths.

"You don't need someone threatened by your happiness.

The right people will be happy for your joy."

'The happier, more content, the more fulfilled you genuinely feel,

the more you have to give. Everyone.'

'Our love is the light that shines in the darkness.

Just be love and it'll light up everything.'

'At some point you have to free the inner hostage.

No one else can storm the gates.

You alone can finally break the barricades & just free...you.'

'Jesus calls us friend.

He looks to us through the lens of love.

He accepts us the way we are,

but also helps us grow into all we can be.'

'Embrace the wonder of being alive. 

Look at things freshly.

Choose joy over discontent.

Transform your negative assets, 

and build on your positive.

Focus on what's right about you.

Seek your higher self.

Discover your unique talents.

Like yourself as you are.

Make today yours!'

be well...

xoxo

💖

"The less people know, the more stubbornly

they know it."

~OSHO~

"The goal isn't buying more materialistic stuff.

It's a nervous system that's regulated.

It's hormones that are balanced.

It's a gut that is healthy.

It's energy that's vibrant.

It's a spirit that's at peace.

It's friends that are safe and supportive.

It's a life well lived.

Health is the real wealth."

~Dr. Will Cole~

Rainy Morning

Today I will sit on my patchwork quilt spread on the 

kitchen floor.

I will swing the doors wide open, listen to thunder, 

 the breeze pick up, and chickens cackle.

I'll glance at lightening flashes,

  watch as an orange wooly worm

inches it's way to shelter under the potted plants,

and rain drops ripple 

in the birdbath.

I will sip my coffee, stroke Polly when she 

walks across my journal, feel the cool air on my skin and

soak in every sound, smell and feeling

of home.

Journal notes:

Let things happen as they are meant to,

in the highest way for all involved.

Learn to relax and follow the path as it appears.

Rather than blindly chase outcomes, go inward.

Don't be afraid to shine bright.

"Anyone can learn to dance with life 

if the mind was kept positive and receptive."

Search for the new. Pay attention & rewire your brain

to recognize there's something to learn in everything.

Every thought, movement, & choice you make has the 

power to reshape your future. 

Make positive changes.

Delight in the small things.

Look for the small joys that wait for you everyday.

"Life isn't as certain as we assume."

be well...

xoxo

💖

'Keep your eyes open for something different,

something you've never before seen during the same routine yesterday,

and the day before that.

Spotting something new every day in the familiar is a reminder

to keep your focus on the present moment,

to see the freshness in each day.

To be aware. To really notice. 

Truly noticing what's around you keeps your brain 

from shifting to autopilot.'

"We don't have a retention problem,

we have an attention problem."

"The soul always knows what to do to

heal itself.

The challenge is to silence the mind."

~Caroline Myss~