We all have deep desires, many of them common to the human condition (belonging, being loved, loving). Some are just fun, others so deep we barely know them. Maybe they hide in a closet on the “Someday” shelf, waiting for enough time (money, support). I often feel locked out of that closet after hearing a NO (internal and external). The reality is, there are yesses that shut the door.
Billions of images squawk for our attention, every moment. If I am not intentional about where my yes falls, it may land on mindless screen-scrolling or media images designed to remind me that I am not enough; I lack beauty, objects, street cred. Silent yesses interrupt my learning or practicing. They block my way to that someday shelf.
Do you have one? Is it crowded? Forgotten? Hidden?
This week, pick one silent yes and turn it into a loud proclamation to your deeper desire. Say “Watch out Someday Shelf, I’m coming to make it happen,” then do some small, uniquely you creative thing. There is always a chance that when complete, your object of beauty will be slapped down by a NO (more on Wednesday), but in the process you will be polishing the surface of that deep desire so that one day, the world can see it shine.
It’s May!…
Change and Excitement is in the Air May just might be my favorite month. It holds hands with April showers and June sunshine for thirty-one days of bright green flowery beauty. Maybe the real reason I love May is because it is the month I was born (keeping my mom from attending a Mother’s Day…
Quote of the Week…
“Everybody born comes from the Creator trailing wisps of glory. We come from the Creator with creativity. I think that each one of us is born with creativity.” Maya Angelou, 1928 – 2014
Friday…
I recently read Friday, by Michel Tournier, translated from French by Norman Denny. It is a retelling of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, in part seen through the lens of Friday. It was a fun read, at times disastrous or shocking yet leaning to the philosophical. According to Tournier, Crusoe was desperate for a way to log…
Quote of the Week…
“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” Abraham Maslow, 1908 – 1970
Big, Round Hours…
I’m rereading Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. It’s primarily about writing and how to establish good practices, but it’s also about how to live life. She says perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor. Even the enemy of the people. Lamott reminds us that clutter and mess and imperfection are signs that life is being lived.…
Quote of the Week…
“While it is well enough to leave footprints on the sands of time, it is even more important to make sure they point in a commendable direction.” James Branch Cabell, 1879 – 1958
Exploring Up Close…
I recently went exploring with two of our granddaughters. We donned safari hats, carried tote bags with snacks and a magnifying glass tucked into one pocket. I love that our new home came with a green space across the street, something I missed in our townhome that we moved from last year. You forget how…
Quote of the Week…
“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.” Zig Ziglar, 1926- 2012
My Easter Basket…
Happy Easter Monday, the second day of Easter Week which is sometimes called the Octave of Easter; eight days spanning from Easter Sunday to “Bright” Sunday. In the Christian tradition, the miracle of Christ’s resurrection is the most holy of celebrations. Easter stands for rebirth and renewal, perfectly coinciding with the bright green promise of…
Quote of the Week…
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” Mark Twain, 1835 – 1910
Chasing Dreams…
I’ve been hanging out in Limbo Land lately as I grapple with redefining goals. I wonder if I’ve been chasing a one-dimensional, even tainted dream. Who decided that the only success for a life dedicated to writing includes a big publishing deal? More importantly, why did I buy into it? The creative act, in and…
Quote of the Week…
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller, 1880 – 1968
The Everlasting Mani-Pedi…
A funny thing happened on the way to the salon. While on a recent trip, I had set aside some money to treat myself to a much-needed mani-pedi. I never made it that far. A member of our travel group shared her experience of visiting the biggest slum in Kenya called Kibera. She stepped beyond…
Quote of the Week…
“Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity.” Charles Mingus, 1922 – 1979
Borrowing Trouble…
I do this thing where I cast worry upon a future event. Can you relate? We worry about what might happen. Might. Probably not. Why borrow trouble and waste mental energy on a non-event? Such thoughts return me to The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. He tells of his intense spiritual awakening after which he felt…
Quote of the Week…
“If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.” Cesare Pavese, Italian poet, 1908 – 1950
Beyond My Reach…
Fun fact: the span of your outstretched arms is approximately equal to your height. It’s a beautiful fact of Devine design, as illustrated by DaVinci in his Vitruvian Man. Your reach far exceeds your span. “We think in secret and it comes to pass – Our world is but our looking glass.” James Allen, 1864 –…
Quote of the Week…
“Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.” Napoleon Hill, 1883 – 1970
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