Tell Your Own Story
Posted on February 8, 2017 Leave a Comment
A few months ago a friend shared that a great gift her mother gave years ago to her surviving children was that she had pre-written her own eulogy.
Wait. What?!?
“Oh, yeah,” she said. “At that time, with all of us siblings trying to figure out all of those funeral details? Mom wasn’t honored in a way that she would have wanted, it was the way she wanted. I will never forget that.”
What a celebration — still to this day.
Think about it: we get to tell our own story. The story we want told, its quality. Beyond just events on a timeline.
How powerful could this be for ourselves, to pre-write our own eulogy? To evaporate our busy-ness and noise, and condense our life’s heart and soul. To distill ourselves for a moment to what and who is important, in the midst of the movement of our Life.
Write your own knockout eulogy. For your own living self.
In the spirit of reflection, appreciation, and gratitude that we already practice, here’s a new exercise for each of us.
Part One: Write your eulogy, as of today.
Tell the current story of you.
- Tell it as goodness — eulogies don’t chastise.
- Tell the story of the best of you — this is a life affirmation.
- Tell it quickly — don’t overthink or over-detail; make it fit on the back of a program, for example.
Part Two: Write your eulogy, as of age 100.
What does Future You have to add?
- What do you want to be able to tell?
- What direction do you want your life to go?
- What qualities would you like to more fully embrace in your life?
In doing this exercise, I’ve discovered compassion for my past self. I’ve deepened my understanding of valued qualities that I want to attend even more mindfully to. And, I am receiving a connection of Divine love and embrace. Now that’s a celebration!
What surprises has this exercise given you? Share your discoveries in the comments below.
And so it is.
From To-Do to Ta-Daa!
Posted on February 1, 2017 Leave a Comment
I am a list-maker. This is partly because I enjoy physically writing things out on notepaper, partly because it nourishes my organizational nature, and mostly because it tames the incessant tornado in my brain. If I get it out and on paper, then it stops swirling in my head.
The Pensieve, from Harry Potter.
A Pensieve, from a hugely creative dude.
However, in loving to write out lists, my To-Do’s can get overwhelming. And downright impossible, even if I am a wonder woman at times.
This is a tiara I can get behind. (Go here for an amazing DIY costume.)
In my attempt at sustainable sanity, I have stumbled onto a process that truly helps me honor my to-do lists — from both a creation and an action standpoint. I call it my Ta-Daa List:
- Get a piece of paper, or ten. Write “Things I Want To Do” at the top.
- List out everything that you would like to get around to doing, uncensored. Now is not the time to concern yourself with logistics or reality.
- When you’ve run out of ink, gently review your list.
- Highlight the items you must do today. Keep these as few as possible.
- Highlight the items you want to do, today. Again, be discerning.
- Allow the rest to sit, undisturbed and in play.
- Cross items off as completed, if that brings you joy!
You will find both work-related and personal items. You will discover perspective. You will uncover answers to questions you don’t fully realize that you are stuck on.
It’s perfectly okay for items to be repeated and untouched, day after day on your list. That’s neither failing nor slacking. This is not about accomplishing everything on your list, it’s about discovering yourself underneath, and in the midst of, your busy.
For example, I’m learning to complete my work projects in a way that purposefully leaves me energy to attend to my personal pursuits as well. (I pace myself, and peacefully produce even greater results than when I power through.) I’m discovering that some things are much better delegated to another day. (I really can do laundry tomorrow, when I’m more able to truly attend to it.) And I’m learning how I feel about seemingly passing topics. (I really do want to go on that weekend ladies’ wellness retreat! Now I know to recognize the next opportunity, no matter what it presents itself as — such as a women’s curling bonspiel!)
A day in the life…in perspective.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, I encourage you to give this a try. For me, I went from chasing balance to enjoying what’s dynamic. I had no idea I could have so much fun in the process, I thought that was only a possibility as a finished outcome!
Please share in the comments below how your own process uplifts you. And remember, you are totally rocking that tiara!
Check Your Phone, You Have A Personal Message From God.
Posted on January 25, 2017 2 Comments
Stuck on a decision you’ve gotta make? Looking for guidance as to how best approach a specific situation? Wondering what the next right direction is for this moment?
In other words, you welcome Divine Direction. You watch for Angelic Advice. You seek out God Guidance.
Let me guess. You:
- Had a Magic 8 Ball when you were younger. (There are apps for this, now…)
- Own a variety of oracle card decks.. (My favorites are by Doreen Virtue.)
- Always accept your opportunity for a fortune cookie. (This one has no calories.)
Sound familiar? That’s because you know that as a companion to deeper prayer, these avenues offer quick touchpoints with God. Kind of like reading a full daily devotion, and also reading a Tweet about it.
Messages come constantly and in all forms, when we are open to receiving them. This is my experience.
So in the spirit of oracle options, here’s a fantastic one I recently learned about. This comes from Jeannine Yoder’s Mentor Masterclass Holiday Challenge 2016, specifically from mentor Rochelle Schieck:
- Open your digital music library to all Songs
- Hit Shuffle Play
- Play the first song. This is your message.
- Listen to it in its entirety.
- Get up and move!
Notice what words stand out, what thoughts you think, what feelings you feel. What your body tells you as it moves. Be open, and receive. Again, messages come in all forms.
In my case, just now I pulled Oh Boy! By Buddy Holly. (Nod to Mom for her fabulous vinyl records I grew up with!) This fills me with joy, because I just got a huge dose of support for putting myself first — which I have been learning to practice.
A customized message only for me, I have received a reminder of the importance of both Me in Myself (my upcoming birthday is the same Day The Music Died), as well as the gift of Me in Relationship (my hubby and I have a hot dinner date at home tonight that we’ve been looking forward to). I am in this moment elevated and uplifted, and that is sustainable and renewable energy!
All this celebration and smiles, packaged in a seemingly random song. That I even completely forgot I had in my library.
Wow. And thank you.
So now I ask you: What’s in your playlist?
Please post in the comments below what your song was! We’d also love to hear what message you received, if you’d like to share. ❤
Make Space for Miracles
Posted on January 18, 2017 2 Comments
I didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions, but I did spend time getting clear on what I’d like to purposefully create this year. Picking one to begin with, I’ve even finally taken the first step. Which of course easily led to the next. And the next. And now here I am.
Here happens to be Panic-Town; Population:One. Because my idea is actually now happening, but I’m roadblocking myself. I’m at a fork in the road, and must choose the correct path to create the best outcome. One or the other, which path do I take?
And then I finally realized: It’s not up to me to decide.
God’s got this. The best outcome for the highest good of everyone involved (including myself) is the only thing that can and will happen, when I get out of my way. Who am I to say what that looks like? All I need to do is allow. Receive. Show up. None of these things are passive: they are conscious action of letting the Divine Universe work through you.
My job is not to create the outcome. My job is to create space for the outcome. (Click to Tweet this.)
So maybe starting a public writers’ group at a coffee shop will end up as an intimate writers’ circle in my home. Or vice versa. I don’t have to choose which route to go — I just need to create space for whichever outcome will evolve. (It might even be a whole other option that I’m not even envisioning!)
Instead of deciding the outcome and working backward, try holding space for a miracle as you flow forward.
This or something better, according to You, God. And so it is.
Are you working on a project, resolution, behavior, or relationship? If you let go of creating the outcome and instead created space for the outcome, how would you feel about your situation? Please share in the comments below.
Take the First Step
Posted on January 11, 2017 2 Comments
That niggling idea that you have isn’t going away, is it?
You know which one I mean. At this stage it’s a recurring inspiration. A “What-if?” A dream.
Maybe you’d like to trade in your desk job for travel writing. Could be you’re thinking about starting a local community group for winter camping. Perhaps you’re considering taking your pottery hobby public with a booth at regional events. Possibly you’d like to change your nutrition habits.
You have no idea how to begin. You likely haven’t shared your idea much, if at all. And — let’s be honest– you’re not sure that you’re ready for how your life might change if your idea actually succeeds.
This, dear ones, is a sure sign that the Divine is at work here. Personally, I’ve found that my life goes much better when I follow that.
Don’t worry that you don’t yet know the full plan; just take the first step. That’s all.
So take some sort of step, today. Search info on education options. Request job description details. Ask the city office about community groups. Make some business cards. Download a green juice recipe.
Relax. The first step isn’t a commitment, it’s breaking through your blocks.
For me, I finally sent the email asking how the library community room can be used. It doesn’t mean a local writer’s group starts tomorrow, it just means I’m taking guided action about my big idea.
I’ve busted through my self-imposed block to beginning, and have begun to follow my inspiration. And that feels divine.
You don’t have to know how it’s going to end; you just have to trust enough to begin. (Click to tweet this!)
What is a first step that you can take today? Sometimes a first step is to share in the comments, below. ❤
gina drellack 