archive • giving RSS feed for this section

The winner of the…

Posted on November 26, 2010 by in giving

Hip Mountain Mama $30 gift certificate is…
winner
Thanks for stopping by and for leaving your fabulous comments.  I’ll be introducing another free spirit soon with another great give-away!
And mark your calendars…registration for Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery opens December 1st!
Your Personal Reflection:  Are you ready to make 2011 the best year yet?
.

Simple Gratitude

Posted on November 25, 2010 by in giving, laughing, mothering

My boys
Last night we drove many, many miles to attend a Christmas in the Park celebration.  The flyer said there would be a fireworks show and then the park would open, where we would have the opportunity to drive around the lake and look at the hundreds of light displays.  I was excited for it all day.  We put on our jammies, piled in the car and turned on the Christmas music.  
And we drove and drove and drove…
We got a little lost.  We arrived a little late.  We saw the end of the fireworks show from the shoulder of a busy road.  And the only light displays we saw after that were the hundreds of tail and headlights from all the traffic!  We never did find the display of lights at the lake and when we finally asked a cop, he said something about it being over and shooed us to keep driving. 
The night was a total bust!  We drove for two hours, pulled over to nurse 2 times, got frustrated about the directions and my head started to hurt.  I was disappointed for my family as I was anticipating this event all afternoon.  I had been building it up for Kestan, too…”We are going to see fireworks tonight and tons of Christmas lights around a lake!”  
As we drove away, Kestan said, “Where are the lights by the lake?”  And just as I was getting ready to explain to him that we couldn’t find (or just completely missed) the event, he exclaimed, “Oh, there are some Christmas lights!”  He noticed a farm house on the side of the road that had, to our luck, decked out their house like the Griswolds.  And he was happy.
We pulled over for the third time so I could nurse Ashton, and Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas song came on the radio.  Kestan laughed and laughed.  And so did we.  
And in that moment I remembered…it’s the simplest things that bring such great joy to our lives.  It’s finding gratitude in every moment that makes life so very special.
We didn’t need to drive hours for some grand light production to kick off our holiday weekend.  We simply needed the time and space to be together.
And it’s moments like these that I’m most grateful for today.
Your Personal Reflection:  On this day of giving thanks, what are you most thankful for in THIS moment?
Today is the last day to enter for your chance to win a great gift from Hip Mountain Mama.  Check it out HERE.

The winner of the…

Posted on November 22, 2010 by in giving

Winner
Mridula!
  
Congratulations!  And thanks to each of you for entering this random drawing.

Check back tomorrow for the next Free Spirit Spotlight interview and for your chance to win another great gift.

Your Personal Reflection:  Do you openly accept the gifts that come into your life?

With Complete Gratitude…

Posted on August 22, 2010 by in connecting, creating, giving, growing

I believe everyone is an artist.  Everyone.  I believe we all are born creative.  All of us.  I believe each of us has a unique set of gifts and talents, with an imagination that needs to be discovered, explored and nurtured, and an individuality that makes us US, and a connection that makes us ONE.  I believe we all have the ability to inspire.
For nearly 10 years I have worked at an art studio that strives to nurture the creativity in children and their families.  This special place has been provided free as a public service and creative gift to our community by one of the largest greeting card companies in the world for close to 40 years.

I started working there full-time and eventually reduced my hours to part-time to pursue teaching yoga and my deep desire to make art with yarn and felt.  For the last year I’ve only worked one day a week so that I could not only grow my creativity and holistic life-coaching career, but also to stay-at-home with my sweet boy.
This past Friday marked my last weekday.  (I can’t seem to step away completely – I’ll be going back just one Saturday a month after my maternity leave.)  But I’ve made the decision to keep both my boys out of daycare to stay-at-home and work-from-home on the things I love most.  

This job has been really good to me.  It’s where I met the love of my life.

It’s where I learned to knit.
It has been the stepping stone that I needed to make my dreams a reality.  
And on my last day something really cool happened.  The day itself was pretty uneventful.  I worked as usual, had a quiet lunch, said good-bye to a few friends, and then towards the end of the day I check my mailbox one last time.  

I found a letter from someone I’ve never met and I have no idea why the letter was addressed to me.  The man who wrote the letter shared that 25 years ago he remembered visiting this art studio as a child and he reflected on how it was such a joyful experience for him, one that let his creativity run wild and free.  
He goes on to say, “I write to you with gratitude from the child of my youth, the child within, and the grateful adult I have become for the special impact this [art studio] has had on my life.  …I also write to you as part of a lifelong dream of mine that has been of great importance and value in my life as of late due to a recent diagnosis of colon cancer for which I anticipate a successful recovery.  It has, I admit, been a lifelong dream of mine to write a book as a tribute to those special to me. The idea came to me in the last year to honor these special to me with their thoughts of gratitude and personal legacies in a book for others to learn about, be inspired by, and appreciate these people.  …more importantly I hope to have this collection of inspiration available for my loved ones to reinforce their gratitude and inspire them in the event that I may one day not be around…
I would be honored to know your thoughts on the following questions:
1) What are you grateful for?
2) What gratitude do you hope others will have for you?  That is, what legacy do you hope to leave for others?”
He ends the letter by saying, “I wish you all the best in the realization of your dreams and the realization of the dreams of those special to you.”
Whoa.
Is that not amazing?
And to receive this letter on my last day, where I’m taking bold, big steps to continue manifesting my own personal dreams?
So I ask you today to please take some time to reflect on these two questions and if you are so willing, I would love for you to share with me here.  I haven’t yet answered the questions myself.  And I promise to share when I do.  What I can say is I’m completely grateful to the universe for bringing this letter my way.  
So thank you, Mr. Letter Writer, for posing such thoughtful and positive questions for us all to reflect on.  You are an inspiration.
Your Personal Reflection:  What are you grateful for?  What gratitude do you hope others will have for you?  That is, what legacy do you hope to leave for others?

Please Don’t Say These Things

Posted on August 4, 2010 by in connecting, giving, mothering

“Wow, you are really big!  How much weight have you gained?  Are you sure you aren’t having twins?  Your belly is huge.  You’ve gotten way bigger in the last week!  Whoa, when are you due?  You look so much bigger than your first pregnancy.  Looks like you’ll be having this baby any day now.”
Seriously.  I’ve heard all of these comments in the last few weeks.  Let’s just think about it for a minute. Would we say these to anyone who wasn’t pregnant?  Then why do we feel it’s OK, appropriate and downright expected to say such statements to a hormonal, hot, out-of-breath, can’t-find-anything-that-fits, gotta-pee-every-second, tired, swollen feet and yes…BIG mama!?  
We know we are big!  We know our bellies, breasts and other parts are expanding!  We know we are adding a pound a week.  But do we really want to hear this from everyone we encounter in a day?  Do we want this to be pointed out in the grocery store, at morning playgroup or at the family wedding?  Can we talk about something else PLEASE, anything else, other than (what feels like) my ginormous body?

Don’t get me wrong – I’m very proud of my growing belly.  Feeling so deeply connected to the life inside of me is the greatest gift in the whole world.  In fact, I tell him everyday to get bigger and bigger.  I love that I’m getting bigger because I know he is, too.  
I just want to speak up for all those pregnant women who have to put up with the fact that our weight seems to be the topic of every conversation we’re in. 
And I also know that most people who say these comments have the best intentions in mind. I don’t think they are saying it maliciously – sometimes we just don’t know what else to say.
Here’s my suggestion – give a compliment.  ”You look beautiful today.  You are glowing.  You are going to be the best mom.  I’m so excited to see what your precious little soul will be like.”  And it’s going to be up to us to accept and receive these compliments.  Rather than saying, “Oh…I feel like a cow,” say, “Thank you.  I really appreciate it.”  
Your Personal Reflection:  Give someone (pregnant or not) a compliment today.  It will make them smile and it will make you feel good, too.

Posted on July 30, 2010 by in giving

Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance. -Eckhart Tolle
Your Personal Reflection:  Take some time today to appreciate the goodness in your life.  Can you see the beauty and abundance all around you?

And, the winner is…

Posted on February 15, 2010 by in giving


Congratulations, Stephinie!  You are the winner of my random drawing.   Stephinie just finished the course and had entered, hoping to win a spot for her special friend.  Well, Steph, get on the phone and call her up!  What a great friend you are.  She now has a reserved spot in my upcoming e-course, Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery!

Spots continue to fill quickly, so if you are thinking about joining us, visit here to learn more.

Thanks to each of you for your mindful, warm comments.

A special thanks to Heather for interviewing me on her lovely blog last week.  I felt a little vulnerable sharing so much, and yet, I’ve met some new friends from doing so.  I believe that the more we open up and share, the more we can connect on deeper levels.  So thank you, all, for that opportunity.

Thank you, Dena, for sharing how Inside Out has changed your world!

And the biggest thanks of all, goes out to you, my sweet Christopher.  Today, we celebrate 7 full, amazing, transforming years of marriage.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it always, you are my home.  Thank you for that, and thank you for being you.
Your Personal Reflection:  What are you thankful for today?

Follow Your Heart to Happiness

Posted on February 2, 2010 by in being, breathing, creating, giving, growing, playing

You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.  What you’ll discover will be wonderful.  What you’ll discover is yourself. -Alan Alda

Self-doubt is probably the number one thing that I’ve struggled with in my own life.  Doubting myself, because of fear, has kept me from taking risks, living my truth, trying new things and being ME.  It wasn’t until I started observing my negative thought patterns that I really saw big transformation and felt that both of my wings opened more fully, allowing me to fly higher than ever before.
Practicing the art of self-study and reflection has allowed me to change how I think, what I say and the actions I take in my life.  Recognizing that I was keeping myself small because of my fear of the unknown, and definitely my fear of failing, I practice now daily to live aligned with my true, authentic way of being.  The key word here is practice! 
If you find that self-doubt keeps you from taking risks, living your truth, trying new things and being YOU, then yeah, we’re not alone!  There is no room for doubt in a healthy, open heart.  Now is the time to remember how to reconnect to your intuition, because that is where your inner wisdom and courage lives.  Letting go of doubt will allow you to feel more connected to the flow of your life.
Do you ever have a gut feeling or a hunch about something?  Do you ever hear a voice in your head and then discount it?  Do you ever have a re-occurring thought you might consider to be a sign, and yet ignore what it’s trying to tell you?  Do you ever have a feeling in your heart, but don’t know how to listen to it?  We all have done that from time to time.  Many times, that voice we hear is our intuition, and we must relearn how to listen and trust it again.  
Your intuition is a gift.  It is an incredible teacher.  It is your inner wisdom, and it is there to help guide you in life.  So often we are taught to discount those “inner voices” that we hear.  The more we discount them, ignore them and stuff them, the more disconnected we become.
How do you relearn to trust it again?
Here are some of the techniques that have worked for me.  Experiment and find what works best for you.  It is in the “direct experience” and the practice of self-study, that will help you relearn how to deeply connect, become more aware of, and TRUST your intuition. 


1) Stillness:  Slow down.  Stop doing so much.  Find space in your life for rest and renewal. Even 5-minutes-a-day of quiet space and stillness will help you feel more centered.  Feeling peaceful and centered will help you hear what your heart is saying.  Examples of stillness are things like; connecting to your breath, laying in a yoga pose, listening to a guided meditation, writing in your journal, painting, taking a bath, going on a walk in nature, saying “no” to activities and things that fill up your time, knitting…anything that helps to quiet your mind.

2) A Beginner’s Mind:  Stay open, remember what it’s like to be a child and to see and experience things for the very first time.  Try new things, ask questions, and practice saying, “I don’t know.”  The ability to stay curious will give your inner voice a place to go.  When we close off and act like we know the answers, that voice gets trapped, nowhere to go and no way for you to hear it!  Keeping open about the “process” of things, rather than looking ahead to the final outcome, will help you cultivate present-moment awareness.  Living in the present moment will help you hear that inner voice more clearly.
3) Spontaneous Play and Creating:  Allowing yourself a regular practice of play and creating, without rules and less “right” ways, will help you release judgment, negativity and doubt.  Let go of being so serious. Laugh more. Dance more. Have more fun.  Keep playing. Keep creating.

4) Take risks:  You’ve heard it before, but do something that scares you, every day.  Seriously.  When you do things out of your normal routine and step out of what feels comfortable, you’ll spontaneously stumble upon new things.  Go places you’ve never been before.  You’ll be surprised at what you find!  The more healthy risk you take, the more you learn, the more practice you get and you’ll build your confidence to try more.  Taking risk gives you strength and helps you trust the inner wisdom that’s guiding you to take the risk in the first place!
5) Compassion:  Give yourself a break. Practice being kind to yourself (and to others), with the thoughts you think, the things you say and the actions you do.  

6)  Eliminate:  Negativity & Clutter  As we’ve talked about, observing what you think is a great first step in eliminating negative thoughts.  Also, become more aware of other negative toxins in your life.  These toxins include negative words, negative images (the news, movies, TV…), negative people, junk food etc.  Feed your soul with things that are positive and nourishing.  Another BIG change in my life happened when I limited my time around negative people and things.  Notice what a bummer it is to be around someone who complains and talks about other people.  Limit your time around negative people and continue to be a source of positivity.  The less you join in with others who judge people, the less you will judge yourself.

Along these same lines, let go of the things that clutter your mind, body and spirit.  Let go of more.  Let go of even more.  This will create space where your intuition can flourish.  (Many of you know that reducing clutter to create space for what matters most in life is my personal quest for 2010.  If you’d like to join me, visit HERE to learn more.)

7) Gratitude:  There is so much to be grateful for in your life.  Focus on the things you are most grateful for, every day, and good things will happen.  Check out the Go Gratitude Experiment.  You can sign up to receive daily gratitude reminders.  I have participated in this and LOVE it.

Today I’m grateful for Manon.  Thank you for this award, sweet friend.
And, Anne, I am grateful for you and appreciate this kind award!
Your Personal Reflection:  Let your heart lead the way and reawaken your happiness, from the inside out.  (Registration for my spring e-course opens this Thursday.)

Humbled

Posted on January 22, 2010 by in connecting, creating, giving, growing

These gorgeous flowers are gifts from my husband and mom to celebrate the start of my first 4-week e-course.

My sweet husband wrote this in his handmade card:

“There is nothing more wonderful than to watch u grow.”

Today marks the end of our first week and what a gift it has been.  The final count is 67 participants from all over the US and the world, including Canada, UK, Sweden, India, Australia and the Netherlands!  In just 5 days these explorers are making some incredible connections, insights, reflections, artwork, journal entries and personal growths that are truly inspiring to me.  I told the group that I am not the teacher of the course, but simply the person holding the space.  I know from years of teaching yoga that it’s truly my yoga students who teach me, and that continues to hold true in this course.

Each day I get the privilege to participate in kind and vulnerable discussions posed on our private group page. The compassion towards one another, and the support that each person shows, is truly powerful.  There is such a longing for personal meaning and making space for what matters most in our lives.  I think there is also a deep need to be connected to a like-minded community.  For those who like to ask the deeper life questions, contemplate the meaning of things, and peel away layers from past experiences so that we can live more full, vibrant lives, having the support and community from others is vital to our spiritual awakening.  I am grateful so many beautiful beings have come together to share this self-discovery journey.

My heart is SO full right now.  My years of perfectionism that kept me from taking big creative leaps is dissipating.  My fear of failure stuck its ugly head out this week as I thought, “Dear God, I have 60 plus people looking for me to provide them with a class that has meaning for them.  What happens if I fail them?”  Well, luckily I won’t allow myself to wallow in this place for very long.  This is a thought I do not need to think.  Instead, I trust that we are all here at the right time, at the right place, sharing our journey together for a reason.  I will not diminish the essence of this experience by giving my inner critic and fears much face time.

Instead, I take a deep breath.  I honor the light in myself, the light in the kind souls that have joined together, and the light that is guiding our way.

The next Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery starts April 5, 2010.  Registration for the spring session starts February 22.  Mark your calendars as the first session sold out!  A big thanks to Hip Mountain Mama, Shivaya Naturals and Artsyville, (along with so many others!) for your great help in getting the word out about our first class.

Your Personal Reflection:  Do you have a supportive person in your life, or a community of like-minded people that you belong to?  If not, what small steps could you take, starting today, to find others you can share your journey with?  Remember, you are not alone.  We are all in this together.

With Gratitude, I Paint (ouch!)

Posted on January 8, 2010 by in creating, giving

So I mentioned that I had a little “spill” the other night.  Well, as my brother puts it, I basically karate-chopped a balloon, and let’s just say the balloon won.  These socks are the culprit, I tell you!  Note to self: If you ever feel the urge to jump high off the ground to kick a birthday balloon into oblivion, than please do NOT do it wearing these socks on slippery hardwood floors again.  Ever.  Your butt thanks you.

My crash landing resulted in an extremely bruised tailbone and two sore wrists. And I’m talking really sore.  Like, I couldn’t even squeeze out toothpaste, or brush my hair, or change a diaper (although, I didn’t miss that as much). I haven’t experienced that kind of physical pain since a ski accident several years ago.

The reason I’m telling you this is that I have discovered a whole new respect for my wrists.  These little joints do so much activity in one day, and I’ve never paid much attention to them. So I find it appropriate that the Creative Every Day theme for January happens to be about the “body.”  I couldn’t resist doing a quick journal page to pay respect and tribute to my wrists.  I have learned that they pull, twist, turn, hug, lift, love, express, reach, expand, dance, hold and help me move through my day with ease.

I celebrate you, wrists, and thank you for ALL you do for me.  Happy healing.

Your Personal Reflection: When’s the last time you really noticed all the amazing, subtle things your body does on a daily basis?  Take some time to be present, to notice, and to deeply look at your body.  Go ahead…no one’s watching…give yourself a hug and tell your body “thanks!”