Journal Dump

....because the times I didn't know what to do,

a new path was laid out inviting me to come forth.

 

Journal lately...

"You can find freedom from your old ways 

& rewrite the story of your life.

You hold the keys.

 If you want it badly enough to make the changes.

Find whatever it is that helps

you reset & get to freedom."

Be present. Here and now. Keep your focus on the path just ahead of you.

Wisdom's journey is to lead you on the right path.

Messages playing in your mind remind you of past mistakes & unkind ways

& judgements that drag you down.

Allow God to teach you who you really are.

Life feels wrung out & a little empty until you tune

into the deeper things, and nurture your inner life.

Change your negative beliefs about life &

take care of yourself.

Life can be smooth. Life is good.

you don't have to "awfulize" it, or yourself.

Remove yourself from being a victim of life.

Focusing on days gone by can hinder your faith.

Thankfulness is vital to your well-being.

'Smile, especially when you don't feel like it.

The physical workout of the muscles around your mouth

increases the positive enzymes in your brain chemistry.'

Swing into action.

Build your life around what you love

& nothing will ever be the same.

Keep calm. Love well.

You are meant to enjoy life.

'If you are satisfied with who you are,

you don't need to prove your worth to anyone else.'

"You are who you are when no one is watching."

Your soul becomes stronger with each change.

'Something new is awaiting to enter your life.

Let it be.'

"Do not seek the truth, only cease to cherish

your opinions."

'Move toward what you want with fervor.

Step into your greatness. 

Let fear melt away as you step closer to 

the life you desire.'

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Like Fall, dazzling us with her elegance,

with the grace of wearing change,

I hope that you might reinvent yourself again

and again."

"Settle into the glorious process of discovering

that change allows magnificent things to happen

to those with malleable hearts and open minds."

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."

 

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."

 

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."

 

Gather Yourself

 When you start to feel crazy,

it's a wake-up call to let you know

something in your life is out of balance.

Take a small step to achieve more balance today

and again tomorrow & the next....

Things that help me:

Yoga

meditation

journaling

lollygagging at the farm

being outside in nature

heart to hearts with my girlfriend

reading to my hubby

reading on my own

gardening

drink more water

get more rest

slow down

deep breathe

cut out sugar

picking up sticks in the yard

playing with the cat

playing with my granddaughter

talking to my kiddo

watching a good comedy 

learning something new

creating cozy spaces in my home

decluttering

exploring (even if it is in my own backyard)

music

dancing

doing something nice that no one knows about

going for a walk

baking

chalk art

laughing 

fixing a cup of herbal tea

having a good cry

stay present in the moment

see the good

pray

xoxo

💖

Loosen Up

" We don't have to be so somber & serious.

We do not have to be so reflective, so critical,

so bound up within ourselves & the rigid parameters others,

and often ourselves, have placed around us.

This is life, not a funeral service."

" Let us enjoy the gift of being alive,

being fully human,

and being who we are."

~journal notes~

Be still in nature 30 min. today.

Attune with love, truth, compassion and honesty.

Envision the future as a beautiful thing.

Nourish the dream.

xoxo

💖

 

A Little Plan

" Be curious. Go outside. Get to bed on time. Hydrate. 

Breathe from the diaphragm. Eat happy. 

Get a routine baggy enough to live in.

Be kind. Accept that not everyone will like you.

Appreciate those who do. Don't be defined.

Allow the fuck-ups. Want what you have.

Learn to say no to things that get in the way of life.

And to say yes to the things that help you live."

xoxo

💗

 

Happiness

 

Lately on my Facebook and Instagram  I've been on a "Happiness is" kick.

It helps me to stay focused on the good right now, 

when everything else just seems wonky.

Yesterday we moved Buddy to the farm.

I really missed him this morning, and wondered how he was doing.

So today...

Happiness is...

grabbing the dog, a book & blanket, my camera,

and a cup of coffee and racing to the farm to 

spend the morning with Buddy.

Be safe, stay well, and

may your moments be filled

with happy things.

💗

Speculation

There are hard days and difficulties, 

but they are outnumbered by things I can be grateful for.

 This morning I am grateful for:

The smashed and scattered pile of leaves in the front yard

"I love God" written in purple chalk on the front porch by Price

Kaleb (my neighbor boy) stopping by to visit for a minute.

My fur-kids

my neighborhood kids

Roses and raining leaves

My space in the backyard to read, write, and pray

Coffee in my cup

a favorite scripture

" Whatever is true, whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure,

whatever is admirable-if anything is

excellent or praiseworthy-

think about such things."

Philippians 4:8

Praying you are safe and well today!

💗

Now

The little things have always been important,

but even more so right now.

"Life is too damn short to live in a mediocre way.

Wake up with a purpose and make the best of each day

and your short time here on this earth.

Stop saying, 'I'll do this when I have more money,' or

'I'll start when I'm more settled.'

Stop making excuses.

What if I told you that all you

need is what you have right now?

That's all you need to

just make a start.

It doesn't matter if your 17 or 50, set

your alarm for tomorrow morning

and wake up with a purpose.

Always give your best and live your best life.

Don't let the years just pass you by.

Because we don't get another chance.

This is it."

Be safe and well.

💗

 

Lately

" I wonder what would happen in our lives

if we really lived in absolute assurance of God's love?

Not just knowing He loves us.

Living like we really believe it !

Walking confidently in the certainty of His love

even when our feelings beg us not to."

Lately I'm...

Reading: Stitches by Anne Lamott

Watching: The Good Doctor

Highlighting: "Maybe we don't find a lot of answers to life's

tougher questions, but if we find a few true friends, 

that's even better. 

They help you see who you truly are, which is not

always the loveliest possible version of yourself,

but then comes the greatest miracle of all-

they still love you."

Loving: a few days at Mom's

Hating: Covid

Discovering:  that hardships are hidden blessings as well.

Enjoying: the beautiful fall weather

Mom's cow neighbors

the full moon

making origami cranes

Thinking: I wonder who our next President will be?

Hoping for: good change.

Listening to: Mom whistling for the dog.

The evening news.

Smelling: Mom's shampoo. 

Thanking: my family for understanding me & making me laugh.

I hope you are well and safe!

Hugs!

💗

Gratified

The song I want to share...

A quote that makes me feel all the feels.... 

" Fall in love.  Maybe it doesn't have to be with someone.

Fall in love with music, art, dancing in the dark,

car rides at 1 AM., the glistening of the stars,

the colours of the sun as it rises, the smell of flowers,

the feeling of adrenaline that takes over your whole body

and suffocates your lungs with joy,

good friends who bring out your best, silence, noise,

fall in love with the little things that make you feel most alive

and find purpose.

Fall in love with life."

A few journal entries lately:

*Look inward at your own attitude.

*When you are unhappy it's usually because of some wrong thinking on your part.

*Live wisely, pay attention to the way you spend your time & make the most

out of every opportunity.

*When you feel low, use wisdom & get the rest you need, 

do something fun for your emotions, & don't make big decisions.

*Check your heart, not your emotions before making a decision.

* Keep you thank-tank full.

*Do all things without grumbling & faultfinding & complaining.  Phil.2:14

*I will satisfy the weary soul, & I will replenish every languishing

 and sorrowful person. Jer. 31:25

*Trust God enough to let things happen without striving to predict

or control them.

*Live fully in the present.

*You and God are more than adequate together.

*Be love and you can't go wrong.

I pray you are staying well, and safe.

💗

 

 

Promises

I was looking through my sketchbook at some of

my doodles and such, 

and I found this list of promises.

I'm making a few of these promises to myself.

Maybe there are some promises that you'd like to make

to yourself too..? 💖

  'Promise yourself....

...to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity.

To make all your friends feel their specialness.

To look at the sunny side of everything, and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, and expect the best.

To be enthusiastic about the success of others, and your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times.

To smile.

To focus so much time on improving yourself, that you don't have time

to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, and too strong for fear.'

To meditate daily.

To be grateful for the little things that remind you of the miracle your life is.

To do some sort of exercise daily. 

(walk, run, yoga, dance, cycle...)

To keep on learning.

To find the time to be creative.

" But if you have nothing at all to create,

then perhaps you create yourself"

Be safe and well !!

Have a happy weekend.

💗

Don't

Let other peoples opinions

about your life choices...

keep you from being

true to yourself.

" Run in such a way that you may win"
1 Cor. 9:24

💗

Thought

I have moved around my whole life...

...and sometimes I wonder, 

if all the places I've touched

miss me...

as much as I miss them.

~afternoon walk~
💗

Sunday

" All our dreams can come true-

if we have the courage to pursue them."

My head is filled with dreams...

but the now is making me pretty 

darn happy ! 

~ live. love. dream.~

💖

Harmony

  

" Happiness is when what you think, what you say,

and what you do are in harmony."

~Ghandi~

....definitely on the very top of the list of 735 things

that adds a note of harmony to my life. 

💖

Transforming

Not showy

or exotic looking,

but it doesn't know.

It's content to be what it is

and then it becomes

even more beautiful to me.

~cardinal~

💗

Fixing

...is the problem.

Trying to fix my life

myself

my marriage.

I forget that life is not about fixing.

It's about living.

Smelling Autumn in the air,

hearing the rustle of leaves in the breeze,

sipping a spiced pumpkin latte,

and warming my hands on the cup.

Life is about learning from the bad...

and nestling in with the good.

Remembering that even on the messiest or hardest days,

what I have is a whole lot of good.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding...."

Prov. 3:5

💗

Home

I took off on a mini adventure.

A little time away to refuel my love tank,

slow down, and savor my family.

Home is New York 💝

Home is the faces and places is my. 💗

Home is Missouri 💗

  

Wherever

home may be, there are so many

ways to appreciate it...

and treasure the ones we love.

Lord knows I am grateful.

Love and Hugs!💖