"I don't know"...

...is a game changer.

"When you give up having to  know

or needing to be right,

you feel lighter right away.

Surrender your stories.

The mind is not the boss of anything,

and it doesn't want to be.

Let life take over from here."

notes...

hubby joined me on the porch this morning

he's sharing a story of heroics as he rocks on the porch swing

with his coffee

&

 I'm listening intently while trying to capture droplets of rain

as they land in the garden 

experiencing an outside hygge moment

slow down your pace of living for a time

quiet your mind

when it comes to faith

if you're looking for proof

you won't find it

somewhere along the way

you have to make the leap from that which you know

to that which calls you from within

you need only a willing heart

and a truthful spirit

God will take it from there

 meeting you as you take the leap

the way before you may be steep

and rocky

it is nonetheless 

the path of life

you will have feelings of uncertainty

fairly often in your life

no matter what age

you may not have all the answers

but God does

you must be open to receive

you can receive inspiration, endurance, strength,

wisdom, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

self-control, 

or whatever else you require

He has plenty to give

you can't create those things yourself

losing your place in your personal story

is the way

that deeper discoveries come to life

confusion is a catalyst for growth

it helps you to lighten the load

for your journey ahead....

"....it's here to help you forget 

what you thought you knew

to reveal an even greater truth"

'be honest about your confusion

allow it

 to unwind your overstimulated nervous system

so that you can discover the safety

that is always within you'

slow your breath

life will be more gentle as you 

choose to be more soft and supportive

of yourself

relax into not needing to figure things out

allow understanding to find you

instead of you pursuing it on a regular basis

you will always know everything 

you need to know

exactly at the moment you 

need to know it

don't forget 

to remember

that everything good 

comes from God

He will lead you to life

at it's very best

be well...

xoxo

💝

"When it's time for something new,

you will feel it.

You will feel a desire to let go,

to shed layers, to move,

to re-create.

You will know because there will be

 subtle shifts all around you.

You will release the old because you 

are really clearing the path for what's ahead.

Trust the process."

"Be the reason someone still believes in magic,

truth, authenticity, compassion,

intelligent conversation,

loyalty, courage, and love that 

doesn't have an agenda."

 

You are whole...

...complete & beautiful,

just as you are.

Believe this.

Pretend if you have to.

Your subconscious mind 

believes everything you tell it.

Every word.

Be careful what you say.

Like yourself for who you are.

Radiate that.

notes...

I woke up happy this morning.

Positive.

Hopeful.

Back on track...whatever that looks like?

you feel that inner tug

returning you to your true center

what needs to come

will always come

don't buy the lies

develop a keen sensitivity to the 

promptings of your spirit

you were created perfectly

to be you

don't get wrapped up in your

 fears & insecurities

that keep you from

seeing what you're made for

& tell you you can't

before you even start to try

take the time and energy you

pour into worry

and put it toward your passions

uncover new ways of experiencing

those things that matter to you most

the mind that has pulled you to the worst of things

is the same mind that is capable of remembering

the better things

even when you cannot discern

 the terrain before you

take the next step

now is still the time 

to go forth with an open heart

growth leads to joy

stagnation does not

enjoy the gift of being alive

 being fully human

being who you are

be well...

xoxo

💖

"The only real beauty is self acceptance."

~Megan Fox

"Some people are going to reject you 

simply because you shine too bright for them.

That's okay.

Keep shining."

"You deserve to be loved without having

to hide parts of yourself you think

are unlovable."

 

We work to feed our appetites...

....and meanwhile

our souls go hungry.

notes...

'we don't know how to slow down

we don't know how to relax

God smiles when you rest

the difference between being blessed

and stressed 

is often rest

*misplaced identity

basin your worth on your work

life is more than just work

*materialism

always wanting more things

*envy

wanting to be like other people

so you follow a ridiculous lifestyle

*insecurity

when you're afraid

you won't have enough

you can't have security 

if it can be taken from you

God put you here to learn how

to love

that's what matters

*remember your value to God

He created you with value

He created you with purpose

He created you unique

you are priceless

that little voice that says you've got to 

prove you matter

you have to prove your worth

NO you don't

you don't have to prove anything to 

anybody

enjoy what you already have

contentment is something you learn

the greatest things in life aren't things

it's better to have a little

and have peace

he who dies with the most toys

still dies

and he didn't win anything

enjoy what you have

while you've got it

resting is a part of trusting

rest your body

recharge your emotions

refocus you spirit

adjust your values

learn the unforced rhythms of 

Grace.

Relax

be well...

💖

You fail to see...

...the most obvious things.

Miracles can happen before 

your very eyes,

yet you see only mundane occurrences

or - at best - coincidences.

notes...

I moved the table

spread the quilt on the ground

placed my books and mug down

placed me down

and had time to capture the moment

before it flew off

I feel like I received a green light today

and I am a little giddy-swirly-weird-feeling about it

I know one hell of a sign

when I see one.

He speaks to you continually 

through sights

sounds

thoughts

impressions

scripture

there is no limit to the variety of ways

He can communicate with you

your part is to be attentive

to the messages

whatever form they come in

"You will seek Me and find Me..."

"Mankind has long since been plagued 

with eyes that do not see what is 

most important."

~Jesus Lives

have a teachable attitude

your openness to His teaching

has wonderful results

He is the teacher of teachers

'no matter how intimidating your next leap

forward seems at the moment

it will be a pipsqueak

when you look back on it someday'

your greatest fears are

your greatest waste of time

face your fears with the truth

that they are all in your mind

and they will lose their power

over you

break it down so you can really

look at it and diffuse it

'fear is all about how you choose to look at things

so change your perspective on it

and let the fear of NOT

doing the thing you're scared of

fuel your quest'

what consumes your thoughts?

what holds the utmost place of

prominence in your life?

your answer will say a great deal

about what is truly important to you

the frustrations and discouragement you face

often have more to do with what you are pursuing

than anything else

misplaced priorities will rob you of peace

energy

and joy

in this tumultuous world 

God is the anchor that keeps

you steady

freedom comes from the truth

but the truth is not always easy to speak

or even live

put on kindness

and humility &

let love lead the way

keep your faith simple- because it is

Don't try to make it easy- because it's not

'He made you the way you are

so you could bring your flavor or love

& creativity into the world,

and your expression of love will look

a little different from everyone else's.

That's not a bad thing.

That's a great thing.'

be well...

xoxo

💝

"You deserve your own love &

affection."

~Buddha

"There is a basket of fresh bread on your head,

yet you go door to door asking for crusts."

~Rumi

Your flaws...

...make you unique.

They are part of your custom design.

notes...

you are wonderfully complex

'look at every dimension of your life

make the most of what's been

given

we are all unique

there are things you've been dealt in life

you didn't choose them

there are things that made you 

you

everything is broken

play the hand you've been dealt

to the best of your ability

and make the most of what you've got

your genes have flaws in them 

to make you unique

the cards that make you... 

you.

DNA

Relationships

you are a product of your relationships

Circumstances

the things that happen around you and to you

you are a product of the traumas and troubles

that shaped you

Consciousness

how you talk to yourself

how do you think about you

you tell yourself things that are just not true

Choices

your choices make you

you have the choice to choose

the freedom of choice is your greatest blessing

it's also your biggest curse

because you make stupid choices all the time

your choices is your WILD CARD

your choices can determine all the other cards

your life and your destiny is determined by 

the choices you make

you can choose to think differently

you can choose to get healthier

you can change the controllables

Awkward won't kill you

there is no fear in Love

the fear is always worse than the reality

let love be your highest goal

life is about learning how to love

you are not allowed not to love

every detail is worked out into 

something good

you can rewrite your adult brain

feed your brain with truth

more negative thoughts than positive

is depression

blah is better than depressed

happiness is a choice

your as happy as you choose to think

it's never too late to start over'

be well...

xoxo

💖

"You can change your brain.

It is elastic .

It is not in concrete.

And your brain can change

and it can be rewired."

"Change your brain, change your life."

"Don't copy the behavior and 

customs of this world,

the the habits and their patterns of

thinking...."

~Romans 12

'You're worthless. You don't amount to much.

You're not smart. Your not coordinated.

You're not athletic.

Blah blah blah 

wah wah wah.....'

~Lies~

 

It will go by...

...in a blink of an eye.

Mississippi River

Reggie

 Huckleberry Finn & Tom Sawyer

Love locks

You cannot do everything

only some of it.

What do you truly want or need?

Find your some.

Know your limits.

Life doesn't have to be frantic and frenzied,

just full.

notes...

an invitation to go camping for a week

I chose to join them on their fist stop 

to be there for her birthday

we explored caves

  & soaked up all the history, myth, and legend

we could in one day

then they headed to Wisconsin

I headed home

Happy 73rd dear friend.

xoxo

stay connected

be faithful for the path laid out 

before you & take your next step

not someone else's

stay on your path

often the next "right" action

in life can be felt

as a palpable inner pull

you may not know what the correct route

will be tomorrow

but in the moment 

if you listen

you'll be shown step-by-step

the way to go

don't pay attention to the opinions 

of others

believe God for greater things

don't make it too complicated

love people right where they are

do things that will last

if you have to choose between

 projects or people

pick people every time

people will remember the way you

made them feel

of all the things you accomplish in 

this life

only love remains

go big on love

& let the rest work

itself out

focus on what's present & working =gratitude

or what's absent & ineffective =anxiety

your choice.

there's only one place to start

and that's right where you are

the place you begin

is with you

immerse yourself in good things

bypass worry

cherish life for what it is

a gift

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Small streams don't plan to become

mighty rivers.

They just run in the direction they

were created to move,

and their creator decides what they'll

become."

"Good friends, good books,

and a sleepy conscience:

this is the ideal life."

~Mark Twain

"Twenty years from now you will be

more disappointed by the things

that you didn't do than by the ones

you did do."

~Mark Twain

"Keep away from people who try to belittle 

your ambitions.

Small people always do that,

but really great make you feel

that you, too, can become great."

~Mark Twain

"You cannot succeed, in anything which

you do not like,

because you must be interested

before you can succeed."

~Molly Brown

"I don't know what my destiny is,

but it isn't to be sunk in the sea

or blown into the air."

#titanic

~Molly Brown

"Sometimes at night, in a new hotel,

I put myself to sleep by listing all 

the people whom I really love;

and all the people who I know trust

and love me;

the little list I'm working on of people

I allow myself to need."

~Molly Brown

 

Organically grown....

...established by decision,

nurtured with right thoughts

and time released.

Fiercely tested,...

 but fully developed

it cannot be taken away.

#Joy.

notes....

deciding last minute

on a whim,

high water levels

and sun filtered through trees

a blanket thrown on the rock

pups with zoomies and sticks

their human swimming

and belting out along

with Cody Jinks tunes

&

 moments when simply showing up 

is enough

show up for yourself & for the people

God brings your way

with love & intention

the stories you tell yourself

about the unknows

are always worse than the future

that unfolds

your circumstances teach you

how to sit and let things be

the longer you sit there

the more you notice

everything that went unnoticed

practice peace in your daily life

remain present in your moments

and keep breathing

if you believe that God has great plans

for you and your future

it changes things

big time

joy is not a distant destination

it's a path you choose to travel each day

joy must be deliberately cultivated

your example speaks louder 

than your words

living with joy is your birthright

lasting solutions are surprisingly simple

joy is within you

it must be released

show up day in and day out

without judging how it's going

if it's going at all

that's enough

remember:

this is your one shot at life

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Remember, being happy doesn't mean you have it all.

It simply means you're thankful for all you have."

~Unknown

"I don't care much for things I can't take with

me after I die.

Give me love.

Moments.

Purpose.

Things that'll settle the soul."

"In the end, people will judge

you anyway.

So don't live your life impressing others.

Live your life impressing yourself."

 

When you open...

...your mind,

the beautiful parts become more evident.

notes...

Trying to think of a name for the squirrel that

flattens out on or under the wicker chair...

Flat Stanley?

The coon is back. 

I read it is not good to relocate them,

 I love animals....

I decided to leave a dish of food out.

I was sitting on the porch

 writing in my journal,

 and something flew up and brushed my arm.

A bird landed on the pillow behind my back,

it startled me...and I startled it when I jumped.

I'm pretty sure I made my best loaf of sourdough this morning.

I decided to make a fresh "start" last week...

my last loaf was definitely meh.

Love sees the perfection in the person

& in the moment

take time to be still and

consider how beautiful

life really is

the more you give and receive love

the more you'll see truth

you are hugely responsible 

for creating your own reality

'you don't know how your story will end

or where a chapter will take you

don't let the unknown keep you from 

living

give it everything you've got

your story is written as you live

so live fully.'

love the people around you authentically

grow more into the person you want to be

tomorrow

your self-concept 

influences your attitude toward life

"Your true self-worth is based only

on what God says about you,

not on how you feel about

yourself."

filter out the junk that steels your joy

dance with God,

knowing that whatever you need 

one way or another

will always come

love can change a flawed perception

love is it's own reward

unity is our protection

you choose your conduct

your happiness & health are 

up to you

retelling old stories can 

hold you back from healing

you don't heal the past by dwelling there

you heal by living in the present

thank your hurts for all they taught you

be gentle with yourself

your in charge of noticing

that life is really in charge

you are not what others think of you

you're not even what you think of you....

you are an original masterpiece

whether you understand it

it is the truth

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Nature makes us aware of the preciousness

of life.

Nature tells us that life is precious

not only because it is,

but also because it doesn't have to be."

"Speak to yourself as you would to the one you love

the most.

Honor and respect your mind, body, and soul.

Take care of yourself by catching negative self-talk

and reframing self-judgements.

You deserve kindness, love , and approval.

Say something loving to yourself each morning.

With practice, your thoughts toward yourself

and others will change.

Love will emit from you powerfully

and you will become irresistible."

~Emily Silva