How to create a masterpiece - day 866

Day 866

"Say yes - Embrace Uncertainty - Surrender to the Mystery - Live the Question"  Alison Berryman

This afternoon I was pondering over my blog sites.  I have 4 blogs.  They have different headings, some for business, this one for pure pleasure.  As I read my own postings I realize my voice is the same no matter where I am.  I am who I am. I'm kind like Popeye the Sailor Man.

I talk about the day.  I'm so exciting.

As I was searching with no real agenda, I noticed a slight oversite on my part.  I was looking to savor and discover the gift of everyday.  Not bad but could it be better?  I believe so.

A few years ago my sister in law and I played with a one week experiment.  We would follow our intuition and no matter where it leads us, we would know we were brilliant!  I remember playing this game. Was I brilliant all week?  Yes! Did I remember to realize I was brilliant all week?  Probably not.  Did it light me up from the inside out?  You bet.  

I am not a wild woman.  I'm not a loud, crazy.  I'm not a partying kind of gal.  I can try but I am who I am.  But, there is room for movement here.  This is what I'm thinking...

What if instead of looking to savor and appreciate each day I set out to explore, create and play; To ask for and applaud the miracles each day; To say YES and know that this day has at least one nugget of gold; At least one gift of Divine abundance; One moment of breath taking beauty; To notice the serendipity in action, the happy coincidences and the synergy of Divine Blessings.  To look, no, hunt out those moments of clear heart to heart connections.  To actually say thank you, not because I have to but because I'm so appreciative of the day I have no choice than to affirm and bow to its glory.  

What if instead of writing and running and smiling. I created from my heart.  I moved with such cat like grace that it looked like I was running.  And what if my goal of the day was not to smile myself but to help someone else smile????? Now we are getting somewhere!!

Let me pause here and smile.  It cracks me up how many days it took for me to notice this small over site on my part.  Don't you just love the mystery of life???  I do- even if I am Popeye.

OK, as I was saying.  In the course of becoming a life coach we get asked to dive into our own Popeye selves.  In the last class, we worked on manifesting.  We need to set our intent.  We need to ask for assistance and then we need to let go.  

My intent wasn't big enough!  I was OK just being content with a savored, grateful day.  This is a great day- please don't miss understand.  But like Mary Oliver asked "What will you do with your one wild and precious life?"  Will you settle for really good?  Or will you ASK the Universe to Co-create with you?  This seems a pretty good partnership.  Don't you think??

On day 866 I think I'll shift from Popeye to Bugs Bunny or maybe I'll be as spectacular as my spirit knows me to be.

I wish you a brilliantly lit journey. One that you didn't just happen upon, but helped create!!

               Denise

Composting life

Day 198 of 1000

What inspired me today?  What made me smile?  What kindness did I offer?  Did I say thank you?  Did I listen?  Was I heard?  Was my breath deep or was it shallow?  Did I savor this day or will it fall into the compost pile of days gone by?  I don't know.

With spring comes new life, beginnings and swift change.  I set new plans and goals.  Ideas spin webs of design though my head.  I eat peas and asparagus with grass fed hot dogs and an egg for dinner.  I watch a movie about food and then look at my writings from Aprils gone by.  Do you ever feel like you know all the answers?  And then do you feel like you know no answer to any question?  The second is how I feel tonight.

It's not that I'm without inspiration and creativity, it is more of a wondering question.  Am I on my right path, do these little ponderings and practices make a difference- in the long run or even today?  It is like the universe is within us, each of us.  At the same time it is like we are only a particle of dust within the universe.

I read a quote from Mother Theresa once and I'm not sure of the exact wording but it went something like this:
   We are only drops in the ocean, but the ocean would be so much less without those individual drops.

It is true an ocean is a collections of drops.  We all matter.  And yet we are all one ocean.  Maybe my contribution to this world matters more than I realize, maybe there are days I'm essential and other days I'm part of the compost pile.  Even a blade of grass in the compost pile matters. Without each ingredient there would be no black gold, no foundation of rich soil.

And so as I ramble on before heading off to bed this Saturday night, I pause and say thank you.  I don't know what matters most.  Before my grandma Ella passed away, she taught me a wise lesson.  All her life she took care of her belongings and did the right things.  But in the end what mattered most were her relationships.  Maybe it is our relationships that do matter most.

Tonight, I'm thankful for food, spring, books, family and friends.  I'm thankful for the wise women who have come before to clear our path.  I'm thankful for the little rain drops sitting on the leaf tonight as Sally and I went for a walk.  I'm thankful that I get to keep on trying, exploring and smiling.  And at the end of the day, I'm so very thankful that I have a warm and safe bed to sleep off the day and life compost.

Wishing you a beautiful journey,
        Denise

Spring question for your own journey

Day 182 of 1000 day journey

   Today is the first day of spring.  This is the season to set your goals and intent for the new year.  Traditionally we do this in January.  Energetically spring is the time for new beginnings and growth.

  So as this season was coming up, I had been pondering my goals for the new year.  This morning, even though it is really cold outside, I took off my shoes and went barefoot to pick up my dog Sally's poop, before the trash man came.  

   It was really cold outside, my feet only made it through half the yard before I caved and put on shoes.  As I danced around the back yard avoiding dog poop and trying to keep my toes warm, I thought of Nadine Star.  On her 90th or 95th birthday, she was asked by a reporter what she would do differently in her life if she had it to do all over again.   One of the items on her list was to go outside barefoot earlier in the spring.  

     My beautiful little niece, Marella, was born this week.  Yesterday she was three days old.  I thought to myself on her second day of life, what I would do different in my own life if I had the chance to do it all over again.  When Nadine star wrote her note she was in her 90's.  Thankfully I'm in my 40s and I get to enjoy some of my own wisdom.

   Between the birth of my new little beautiful niece, the first day of spring and my barefoot reminder of Nadine Star's list, I came in from the cold., put on warm socks and wrote my own list

And so if I had my life to do over again I would...

    I would lighten up my life a bit

    I would create more, dive into projects of passion and persist until they are completed

    I would pause everyday just to breathe deeper, listen quietly, relax and trust

    I would watch less TV and  have less mindless time sorting e-mails and surfing the internet

    I would listen more often with curiosity and an open mind

    I would dig in more dirt, paint more walls and have more documentary parties

   I would go on more walks with friends in new places

   I would save more and I when I did spend I would do so with gratitude and joyful confidence

   I would take more risks but I would worry less
   I would be kinder to myself and others remembering we are all doing our best

   I would spend time laughing and smiling not as a practice but because I'm just happy

   I would sing more, read out loud and dance more

   I would enjoy more inspired conversations
   I would be more thoughtful of others
    I would remember to celebrate my own imperfections and the beautiful imperfections of others
   I would eat with more gratitude, slowly, savoring each bite and stop asking others what I should eat
   I would be more mindful of my own words and thoughts

   I would remember to trust and relax knowing that we are indeed very blessed

   I would get up and do my morning yoga and set the intent of the day everyday!

   I would love each day and each season with a mindful passion

   I would Savor this life not by holding on and tightening up but by freeing up and embracing it!

  I would say yes a whole lot more
   I would fret less and pretend more

  I would listen to my own instincts and dive in with confidence

  I would fall into bed with more gratitude- giving myself time to reflect and wind down for the day

   I would stand taller, more confidently and with the essence of a lion

   I would ask more questions and pause my own brain so I can listen completely

   I would go outside everyday when the sun shines just to absorb the light

   I would go outside everyday when it rains just to breathe in the fresh air

   I would listen for the songs birds and notice the changes in weather and seasons

   I would remember to pause and come back to center and my own essence

   I would ask more questions, I would reflect more and I would trust my own heart a whole lot more.

   I would try to end each day with blessings and gratitude

 On this first day of spring.. I give you a challenge to create your own list.  And if this blog finds its way into your life on a day other than the first day of spring I recommend you write your list on that day!

Wishing you a a life of authentic and joyful expression

        Denise

Different Kinds of Smiles

This morning I woke up and smiled.  I thought to myself, there are thousands of different smiles.  My smile this morning was a sleepy contented smile.  This little happy smile is completely different than my new discovery smile or my unexpected surprise smile.  It seems kind of silly but the idea that I have zillions of different smiles made me happy and somehow relieved.

The key to an effective smile is two fold:  engage eyes and if at all possible emotions.  The second is not necessary but always a huge bonus.  Some days, my energy is not as strong as other days.  Depending on where I find myself a goofy, silly smile may not be appropriate.  But I'm guessing if I pause and breathe long enough I might find enough reason to smile a little smile of gratitude or even a smile of relief.  The fact is each day will give me reason to smile- to say thank you.

If I can remember to pause long enough there will be a reason.   And if the reason isn't obvious at first, then I may I remember to practice my smile and by the end of my smile pause- just maybe I will have my reason.

I wish you great joy on your journey,
       Denise

Day # 47

Sacred science of 1000 journey

In the yoga tradition, it takes 1000 days to master a new skill.  Yesterday, I watched the documentary called Sacred Science, it also mentions the 1000 days to become a master- at least a beginning master.  Why do you practice anything?  To improve your skills, in focus of a larger vision.   If I want to run a marathon, I would have to practice/train, stay focused and keep my mind on the larger goal of running the marathon- healthy- happy and strong.

And this 1000 day journey is a practice.  A practice to keep me focused on improving my skills for a larger vsion.  The time of 1000 days gives me time to learn, get stronger and have it become part of me.  If it was any shorter I would want to press- like I normally do- but with a 1000 days, it reminds me this is a long journey and not a 100 yard sprint.

1000 days is a long time but if I count the number of days I have been alive, I have already had 17.52 1000 day journeys. The fact is everyday is a journey, but most days I am asleep, wondering around and often disconnected.  Year after year I find myself tired and remorseful come December. And so as I start day 22nd day of a 1000 day journey, I realize I would be having this day no matter what.  The difference being in having a practice is I have reason.  This is just a practice.   This practice will never lead to perfection, it isn't possible.  But what I know this practice will give me is vision, insights and many, many gifts along the way.

This 1000 day practice is largely about faith.  Having the faith that by practicing and trusting in the process, whatever I will need will appear within the steps of this journey.

Wishing you a good journey today, a good practice.
        Denise

I would highly recommend the Sacred Science Documentary.  It is about 8 people, all with different health troubles.  They travel and stay in the Amazon forest and get treatment from multiple Shaman.  By using the ancient art of healing from the gifts of the Amazon they look to help heal these 8.
for more information visit   http://www.thesacredscience.com