Spring’s Starter Home
Posted on February 9, 2013 Leave a Comment
Spring’s feather bed
nestled
underneath a blanket
of February.
Wonderful Team Member Readership Award
Posted on February 8, 2013 4 Comments
Thank you to rohan7things for the readership award nomination of Wonderful Team Reader! I’m especially touched because I have only recently dipped my blogging toes in the water of participating in community. First I braved exposing myself on this blogger beach in a swimsuit (so to speak!), and next I took some time to lay out my towel in a comfortable spot. Then I sat down and observed the water, watching others splash and play. Finally I realized it was safe to go join others in the waves! 😉 I now have no fear of drowning, thanks to all of you.
“A good reader is…”
A good reader is one who receives fully, responds when so moved, and understands the contribution to this Presence regardless.
Taa-daaaa! Now here are my nominees for Wonderful Team Member Readership Award. I encourage you to head on over to their towel on this wonderful blogger beach. Maybe you’d like to play in the sand with them.
- Stand Upon Grace
- The Other Side of Ugly
- Dianne Gray
- A Writer’s Fountain
- leaf and twig
- Jenny Morbey
- The Belief Blog
- Lesley Carter
In order to acknowledge the award, post the award badge on your blog, finish the sentence “A good reader is…” And pass the award to a few more bloggers who, in your opinion, are wonderful team members, or just an awesome guy or girl from your blogging community 🙂
I acknowledge and fully understand that some of my Nominees have chosen not to participate in blog awards. For that reason I have not disturbed their decision by letting them know of this nomination. And I love the amazing sand castles they build!
Travel With Kids Guide
The Speed of Change is Now
Posted on February 8, 2013 Leave a Comment
Photo courtesy of inc.com
Are you ready, hesitatingly or otherwise, for a little positive shake-up in your life? Is there something you are looking forward to one day? Does this resonate with you: one day I will write, one day I will have a job I love, one day I will paint, one day I will be happy?
The speed of change is now.
Photo courtesy of Leadership, Life, and Style
Find things about your current job that you love. (If there is nothing positive about it, get a different one.) Now. Get a sketchbook and some colors. Now. Write crappy first drafts. Now. Take that community education class on soap-making, now. Find a free app that’ll give you a couple German language lessons, now. See things in your life that make you smile, give you joy. When? Oh yeah–now.
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photo courtesy of Lose The Excuses!
By doing so, you create right now the life you wish to have “one day”. Let go of the idea that you strive, and then when you attain you are done. You already have it, you just need to see it. And then your job is to enjoy it!
It’s called “right now”, not “wrong now” for a reason. 🙂
Here’s the tricky next part: let go of the finalized picture and let it happen in its own package. Otherwise you are just asking God for a new car, and then complaining about the make and model that you won with your raffle ticket….
photo courtesy of DavidTruss.com
Eye-Opener
Posted on February 5, 2013 1 Comment
I seem busier lately, and to stay balanced I’ve consciously made a point to be present. You know what I mean–when you’re at work be at work, and when you are home, fully be there for your loved ones.
I thought I had been, and if I asked my spouse and children they would very likely give me tolerant, supportive, truthful, benevolent confirmation of this. Is there anybody else out there who is the only female in the house?!? But today I had a huge awakening.
I have not been making a lot of eye contact.
Oh, I’m present all right. I listen, and I contribute to the conversation. We all spend our common time comfortably companionably. No one would have any complaints, except maybe understandably my husband who currently has the flu. But presence without consistent and purposeful eye contact has room for this added layer of richness.
Perhaps nothing is missing, it’s just ready to deepen. I like that. And I know no one at home would complain either.
IS: Your Authentic Spirituality Unleashed
Posted on January 31, 2013 Leave a Comment
This book by Faith Freed describes itself as a helpful grounding tool for those who are spiritual mavericks. If you find and value Truth from multiple places, including personal experience, and you create your own path…you might be a Maverick!
What if Adam and Eve could have been apes…? Not seeing a conflict of possibility there, I’ve wondered that since childhood. You can imagine how much my Sunday School teachers loved to see me in class….
A possible challenge you may then face is where to find grounding for your wisdom? Where do you go for a foundation, structure, or support? It’s not like there’s a central meeting place for all of us who find going our own way to be spiritually nourishing. That would defeat the purpose of “going our own way.” I mean, as soon as we make a group now there are group norms rather than individual…which is why we’re where we are in the first place!
IS uses a visual of a sparking holy disco ball to symbolize four dimensions of this party we call life. IS stands for Infinite Source, which is also known as God, the Cosmos, or whatever name you choose to call the energy and essence of everything that exists. What I love is that IS directly connects to I AM in my own spiritual maverick-ness. (Does anybody else see that?)
These four dimensions make up the spiritual (unseen) and physical (embodied) aspects of Source and self. They are described fully in this book, as well as in application to specific big life ideas defined by chapter. These big ideas include Immediate State, Inner Stillness, In Sync, Intention/Surrender, Inevitable Symmetry, InSeparable, and In Service.
Each chapter also has a shout-out (prayer), invitation (specific exercises), and anchors (key phrases). This makes each chapter easily referenced, thus becoming a handy manual. I especially like the anchors, which puts it all in a nugget of wisdom that is easily remembered. And posted on random notes left about the house and car.
IS reinforces your already-awesome personal spirituality. It reminds you that you are not alone and weird in your view of God that you think might possibly make your childhood clergyman shudder in fear for your soul. You already know you are fine, now you know other people support you!
I believe it was Henry David Thoreau who, on his deathbed, was asked by his aunt if he had made his peace with God. He replied, “I was not aware that we had quarrelled.” (I learned this from my Mom, try here.)
Faith’s style is personable and fun. This book reads like a conversation, not like a textbook. Pick up a copy and revel in not only acceptance and support, but celebration!
So, I’m wondering. Is the author’s name her real name or a pen name? ‘Cause if it’s her real name, what a Cosmic coincidence! (See the In Sync chapter…) If it’s a nom de plume, it is utter genius. This book is truly about individual and personal faith freed!!
Hay House kindly gave me a copy of this book, asking only that I review it honestly. Thank you, Hay House!
gina drellack 