Focus on...

...the elements of your life

that seem to be going really well

at the moment while

downplaying your existing

dissatisfactions.

notes...

one moment I'm on the porch enjoying my part-time dog,

& getting ready to open my devotional...

then...

 I'm writing in my journal on the way to the farm

doing the chores early to beat the heat

 and taking Jesus along

for the ride. 

persist

turn down the chaos of everyday life

when the noise around you fades

tune into the soft whisper

align your heart with love

your feelings change after your focus changes

if you feel terrific about life

that's a reliable indicator

that your most recent thinking has been 

healthy and constructive

make wise decisions

you can make today whatever you 

want it to be

you have the power to create 

your own reality

do not be afraid to be different 

from others

the path you are called to travel

is exquisitely right for you

see yourself clearly

notice your reactions

go within

nourish yourself

appreciate the blessings

let go of what you don't need

so what you do 

can show up

make space

the good can't get in 

if it's blocked by junk

release it

listen

don't miss God's activity

direction & intervention

in your circumstances

and miss His

 joy

peace 

power 

love & wisdom

and the very purpose

for which you were

created

dark thoughts keep you

away from beauty

darkness isn't always destructive

sometimes it's just distracting

hope is always eager to burst

onto the scene

but you need to be there

to catch it

you can't be all run & no stop

practice being a better listener

only your choices and

perceptions can determine

the quality of 

your experience

trust yourself

 life

and God 

let today happen

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Never mind searching for who you are.

Search for the person you aspire to be."

"Usually, when you can't overcome

the obstacles in your path,

it's not your path."

"You can hope for a miracle in your life,

or you realize that  your life is the miracle."

 

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."

 

Let go of...

...the need to control.

Let go and be freely who your are.

Don't hide your light. 

notes...

family and friends gathering together

love and laughter filling the space 

...she asked if I ever thought about doing

something with my photos

I've learned so much over the last

few years

the path I had in my head

looks nothing like the path I'm on

deciding to lean in

to trust (that was a hard one...)

& believe

 has lightened my load

the best antidote 

is always love

everything speaks to you

trust His goodness

let go and see what bread crumbs 

come for you to follow

it's all about timing

'you'll miss the blessing

if your refuse to open your heart

to Him fully'

sometimes what you're asking for

doesn't fit with His plan for your life

and He has something better

believe He has a plan

quit adding to it

thinking there's a different plan

'you live your life best

where your passions & purpose 

& your capabilities intersect'

use the gift He gave you

and love the people around you

no matter where you turn

you'll find Him already there

if your looking

you grow on the way

love no matter what

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Stay in the moment.

The practice of staying present will heal you.

Obsessing about how the future will turn out

creates anxiety.

Replaying broken scenarios from the past

causes anger and sadness.

Stay here in this moment."

"Sometimes all you can do is accept

there's not much you can do.

And sometimes all you can control

is how well you let go of control."

Identify where...

...you want to grow or change

then start dreaming about

possibilities for getting there.

one of my favorite daily "do's" #10minutewalk

notes...

this week I'm taking my own advice

 and drinking more water

(1/2 body weight in ounces)

dinking out of a 32 oz. mason jar full in the fridge

has made it easier to keep track

 avg. 120 oz. a day

 noticing my energy level perking up

so is the house

day #3

the birdfeeders are on the ground every morning

guessing a coon 

setting the livetrap tonight

dream beyond where you are

what could you do with an extra hour today?

when you choose to be present

there is room for learning, growth,

healing and restoration

begin where you are

and make the right choices for you

what can you do to make your life better?

where are you leaking your 

energy and your time?

you won't be distracted by comparison

if you're captivated by purpose

most everything will fade into the background

if you are going to step into a new thing

you are going to have to do things

a little differently

blaze some new trails

'change is easier & offers more options

than you think'

"there are over 293 ways to make

change for a dollar"

quit limiting the way you think

about enacting change in any

area of your life

try new creative ways of

walking towards the changes you want to see

A healthy body produces energy

a healthy mind produces joy

joy does not depend on the outer conditions

of your life

'cut back on joy-reducing thoughts

increase  joy-producing thoughts'

change your mental diet

nourish and hydrate your soul

now is always a good time to start

you will learn as you go

you will find your way

take a step

the choices you make today 

will impact your future

be well...

xoxo

💓

"Your energy reflects your mitochondria.

Your mood follows your gut.

Your focus follows your blood sugar.

Your skin mirrors your liver.

Your sleep follows your nervous system.

Your body keeps an honest

record of how you live."

~Dr. Mark Hyman~

"Gratitude rewires your brain.

It enhances brain regions linked

to self-control and emotional

regulation, helping you bounce

back from stress & adversity.

Feeling thankful literally changes

how your brain responds to life."

~Dr. Mark Hyman~

 

Passion becomes...

purpose when it redeems your pain.

morning notes...

concentrate on the present moment

this is where you are meant to live

fear only has the power you give it

hope works the same way

fear is usually a story you tell yourself

you can tell yourself a story of hope instead

Timothy 3:2-5

humbling verse

stand apart while everyone else 

is trying to stand out

don't rely on your own understanding

God is always available to you to 

strengthen, deliver, pardon, encourage,

guide, rescue, & bless you.

Stop pushing Him away.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert,

repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about your despair, yours, 

and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean

blue air, are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese,

harsh and exciting-

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things."

~Mary Oliver~

 

Little Shifts

'....the light of each day will only last so long,

and we get to experience that unique day

one time.'

warmth, open, closed, snow... all on a Sunday.

Slow down. Journey through this day

with intention.

you have this day, and you can choose

what to make of it.

Notes to self:

'God's will for your life in three words:

Surrender. And obey.'

Relax. Be still.

Don't take your life so seriously.

Identify where you want to grow &

start dreaming of possibilities.

Sit back and let your thoughts roam.

Create a collage of beautiful memories.

The light ahead of you may be limited,

but it's for a purpose.

Let go of control.

Let life surprise you.

"It's so easy to look around and see what's wrong.

It takes practice to see what's right."

Choose to be intentional.

'Far better to focus on what will pull you forward

than try to focus on what won't push you back.'

be well...

xoxo

💞

"Silence isn't empty.

It's full of answers."

"Somewhere amidst life's endless array 

of distractions lies it's purpose,

distinguished as one of them."

"Whatever your trying to prove,

it's good occasionally

to spend a day not trying to prove it."

 

Steps

Phases, moments, passions, humility, presence, appreciation, connection,

uncertainty, new, teachable, willing, allow, curious, mindful,

direction, conviction, truth, receptive, answers, open, change,

perception, worship, healing, service.

Today I am grateful for the difficulties that give me an opportunity to grow

& make me stronger day by day.

It all happens in steps, and you can see them for the magic they are

when you stop and look back one day. 

Todays my day.

The little moments that seemed insignificant 

at the time. The fears and the struggles and how they eventually

 ( and painfully slow in my case)

start morphing into a stronger faith, and small wins.

This week I followed the cues. 

Got up at 3:30 one morning to meditate 

on the front porch, read devotionals by lamplight. 

Journaling some instructions for the day.

Thoughts. Guidelines.

Nervous going solo to a early yoga class at the Y,

and then to my first day as a volunteer to assist in hippotherapy,

(horse therapy)

as a side-walker.

Breathe. Trust. Mindfulness.

Deep breath in stretch, breath out.

 Words of affirmation and love,

as we flow from Childs pose to Plank to Downward Dog up to Warrior pose.

Breathe in love...breathe out kindness.

Restoration pose, an offer to rub lotion on our feet.

"I'm want to serve you."

Tearing up as I gave myself permission to receive.

Having a moment.

Unity.

Arriving at the arena early to volunteer. Willing to help in any way.

Plenty to do. Happy to serve.

Therapy time and time to assist.

An old retired race-horse. 

A teenage boy.

A therapist.

Humility, reality, and a glow in my heart.

Everything coming together for a greater purpose.

Connection.

Passion.

Flow.

Journal notes that day...

The Holy Spirit will guide you and correct you as needed.

Refuse to entertain a gloomy view of the future.

'Morning is a time of preparation and opening.

It's a lovely time to prepare for the day & visualize

the outcome you desire.'

'Every time you put your passions into action,

you learn things you couldn't have learned

sitting still. You grow on the way.'

Decide for yourself what you want and need to do.

You belong. You are worthy. You are valuable.

You'll miss the blessing if you refuse to open your heart fully.

You must be non-resistant. Fear not. Poise is power.

"Sometimes an insignificant incident may be

a turning point in a mans life."

(typing this....Ha! Hindsight....as this is 3 days later...)

Today is Sunday. This song hit me right in the feels!

There's more to this little story, 

and I thought I would share.

This is how the mini-saga began. 

It began with a high...

then suddenly the low.

I had to let the dust settle.

be well...

xoxo

💞

 

Love, God

 It may sound a little woo-woo

but not as much as it feels woo-woo

I have felt some monumental shifts in the last

few months as I continue to learn, grow, and practice being my own

  client during this coaching program.

 I truly feel about as balanced and centered as 

I have ever felt.

I have been working hard,

taking the required steps, and

following what is in my heart.

I am only 10 weeks away from completion.

Many internal shifts,

as well as external shifts have been taken place.

I'm still waiting for my heartrate to slow.

It's been quite a ride.

I'm quite giddy.

My body, mind, emotions, and spirit have all

seemed to land on the same page together.

I feel aligned.

Strong.

*deep breath*

This is something new to me...

and I am savoring it.

 

Surrendering to this process has been both humbling and enlightening.

The course was truly a godsend.

I'm excited!

Today, I am learning how to identifying my purpose.

"Something that rips you out of bed every morning, and 

puts a smile on your face."

or 

"... the things that make you forget to sleep ,

and forget to poop."

(that's not recommended....but you get the idea)

What is something meaningful to you each day, 

that's not just about checking the boxes?

What puts you in the flow?

Journaling is meaningful to me.  I've done it for as long as I can remember.

 I inherited that gene from both sides...

 my Gram on my Dad's side, and from my Mama.

My first client walked in last week, 

and guess what?

She brought her journal along.

I think I let out a squeal.

What a happy sight.

Journaling keeps me on course with my Spirit, 

and helps me get through the day.

This morning my journaling took a new twist.

It randomly goes through changes of it's own.

Today it became more of a love letter from God.

It read like this:

Dear Robin,

Learn to enjoy life more. Relax.

Walk through the day with childlike delight.

Trust in Me, and savor every blessing.

Only when you know who you are will you 

find the faith you need to get you where you are going.

There is always room for improvement,

and where you are is an opportunity.

What you learn at any given moment will assist,

and guide you on a path to where you desire to be.

Presenting your total being completely to Me is never easy.

There is nothing more challenging in life than that.

It is a continuous offering of surrender.

Not a one time only deal.

You will always be tempted to take back control.

When you fail, do not despair or run from Me.

Renew your commitment to Me.

Set your will on allowing Me to work in your mind, 

heart, and life.

Rise up and give Me everything you are,

and hope to be.

Love, YHWH God

xoxo

💖

(*side note: in order as written in my journal, from several different sources as read.)

*awe*

Set Back

I got a little lot off track over the fourth of July weekend.

We went on a little escape to celebrate our 9th. Anniversary & independence day with family.

I totally self-sabotaged.

I ate WAY too much....(mostly sugary, and fried foods),

and one evening we visited a beautiful winery. Enough said.

 I did stick with getting up at 5 in the mornings to walk.

It was actually quite awesome (the first morning) in the city...

 no traffic, no people, having the whole city to myself.

Until I didn't.

 Then I ended up running up hill & back to base.

I'm not a runner.

(just a little scare, that's all).

I stayed closer to base on day two.

We did have a really good getaway.

It's always good to let loose and have some fun!

It was good for both of us.

I did set myself back on my health goals though.

 I'm not going to tell myself that it was OK.

I could have made some healthier choices.

I didn't. I went all out !

Fun is fun....but paying the price for 3 days because of it...

(I'm realizing)...is sorta dumb.

Today is the first day I felt somewhat back to normal again.

My blood sugar is still on high alert.

I am back on track with my self-care,

and I've evolved out of sloth mode...

it'll just take a while.

I ditched sugar on Monday.

(after we consumed all the sugary treats we brought home...).

This coming Monday, I start a 6 week sugar detox with Dr. Axe and Dr. Cole.

(both are speakers in my course)

I'm super excited? I think?

I want to do this. For sure.

I will be learning so much.

I have received the recipes for week one.

At first I was overwhelmed with all the new recipes 

and thought about quitting (already),

then...

 I changed my perspective.

Healthy new recipes, healing at the cellular level, detoxing...

uncomfortable yeah...

but I'm up for the challenge!

I've done this before. Two months on a candida diet.

Alone. 

I can do this!

  I have the support of coaches this time, and access to the Doc's once a week.

They have all the recipes, grocery plans, and everything I need.

All I have to do is commit.

I truly want to kick the sugar addiction.

It's my nemesis.

I'm ready...

this is going to be awesome!?

xoxo

💓

 

Note to Self

Dear Self,

"You deserve to be surrounded by people who

lift you up and see your true beauty.

You deserve genuine love, pure acceptance, 

and eternal patience.

Please do not accept less than that.

I need you."

Love me.

xoxo

💝

 

Success

During my first coaching circle yesterday,

a classmate was trying to decide what interest to pursue in her life.

She's been an artist since she was 11, loves yoga, swimming, and 

now pursuing coaching with her interest in nutrition.

She is spending a lot of energy trying to wear many hats, 

and it is has started to drain her energy.

We were all allowed to ask her a question, and when my turn came around,

I asked " What is really in your heart? What do you love the most?"

There was a pause. Her head dropped. Silence.

She looked up, her voice shaking with emotion,...

"Art!...I love my art. I love all the other hats too...

but I've always loved art."

She's going to put together a show at the end of the month.

I pray her gift find it's wings.

Godspeed.

" Omaha has to run a mile before he gets his stride."

~newspaper article~

There are a lot of us " Omahas"

in the world, but we can get into our spiritual stride, 

and win the race in the twinkling of an eye.

Follow your intuition, instead of trying to think

things out. Intuition is silenced with reason.

Pay attention to the signposts.

Listen to that still small voice.

"There came a voice before me, saying, 

'This is the way; walk in it.' "

~Isaiah 30:21~

"We can only be a success in a line which interests us greatly."

xoxo

💖