What day is today? I don't know. The sun is shining. Spring is springing up everywhere. Flowers bloom. The air is fresh. I just finished working with a lovely lady, a new client. I'm sitting at a little cafe, eating a scone and drinking a cup of tea as I write. I don't care what day this is because it doesn't matter. I'm enjoying this day.
And maybe that is the point of the past 800 and some days. A path is only a series of moments strung together. If you focus on the moment- the precious, wild moment why trouble your brain over the whole path?
We don't know what is around the bend. Life is complex and simple- forever shifting. Last Tuesday, I was visiting my dad. It was raining cats and dogs. Today, I'm in West Seattle and the sun is shining. Which day was better? Life is un-judgeable.
In 1995 I had a dream. An actual, wake up out of my sleep dream. It was May. In my dream were all four of my grandparents. At the time they were all in their 90's. Each year as their bodies and minds were aging, they lost more and more freedoms. The freedom of a a great memory. The freedom of driving. The freedom of a nimble body. The freedom of spirit that comes from new beginnings.
In this dream, which seemed more like a message, my grandparents showed me a gift. They showed me, if they were given one day back of their life what would they do? As it turned out, they wouldn't have traveled the world but would take back one ordinary average day. Maybe a day where the sun was shining and the spring flowers were blooming. A day like today.
They would dive into that day. Love that day. Love who they were with. They would play, create, fish, paint, work, watch baby calves in the back pasture kick up their hooves, and lift giant milk jugs while milking cows. They would treasure the little moments of this one wild and precious life.
I pause in my writing to ask for a splash more soy in my tea. The tall, cheerful barista was in between customers. She looked up and apologized for being lost in her flash cards. Upon inquiry, she is studying for anatomy course. A requirement to get her masters degree. I'm glad I asked. Now I feel a little closer to her. I wonder about her path and class.
I'm happy I paused today after meeting with my client. I enjoyed every moment of my work with her. Now I'm happy to be sitting in a cute cafe and pretending I'm a writer. I love this moment.
Wishing you all happy moments, connected moments and moments that speak to your heart.
Denise
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Day # 854 Carving Time Out of the Day
Carving out Sacred Space
As I transition in my life and career I find my greatest fear is that I will waste this precious time. Before I know it winter will be here and I'll still be scrambling to catch up. I've heard it said that the Universe abhors a void in space. It does feel that way. My schedule desperately wants to fill up. But fill put with what? Are these time consuming tasks part of the greater pan or merely life clutter?
Today, I woke up with great joy. I knew part of this day was going include time to write and explore. Before I leave to go write, I'll just finish up a few things in the office. At 1:30 I started to leave the house. Instead of 1 hour of work, I ended up doing 3.5 hours. Changes in our family schedule, turned into little extra to-do's for me. And then conversations- although vibrant - also took a bit of time. E-mails to check, phone calls to return, updates on brochures, companies to call on and on and on it goes.
It is 3 pm as I write to you today. Today felt like a test. Denise how much do you really want to get out there and write today? We- the forces of all creative endeavors- will put little road blocks and attention shifting detours in your path, just to see what you do. How serious are you to take time to go somewhere and write? How serious are you to take time to play? How serious are you to take time to discover?
On the way here I was calculating in my head. If I write for 30 minutes I'll still have time to get my groceries purchased, get home and go for a run with Sally- our flop eared smiler before dark. Then we will have company and Oh did you know there was a very important meeting at City Hall tonight- don't you think you should go?
But as I sit here and snack on my pickled beets and warm lentil patty, I know every step I took was sooo worth the trouble. I no longer feel rushed or tugged.
So many opportunities are opening up for me. I have many plans and hopes. Improving my skills with a life coaching certification program. Upping my energy work tools and practices with EmoTrance certification. Recreating a new business. Working for other companies as a consultant. Training, presenting, blogging, closing up the old company and the old year....should we also remodel the house??? Of course!
But let's get clear - crystal clear. Giving myself sacred space to breathe, play, discover, to sit and watch the clouds go by is essential. Recreating our income stream is essential. And as motivating as fear can be, it should not be my guiding force.
So maybe making it this space so I could pause, write and give myself a little TLC may not seem like much to you. I know deep in my soul, that this - moment - was the most important thing I accomplished today. I could have written at home today. I could have put it off. But I'm so glad I didn't.
Day # 854- Carving time out to play
On this journey called life- I wish for you little pauses each day to play, to create, to discover and to breathe.
Denise
As I transition in my life and career I find my greatest fear is that I will waste this precious time. Before I know it winter will be here and I'll still be scrambling to catch up. I've heard it said that the Universe abhors a void in space. It does feel that way. My schedule desperately wants to fill up. But fill put with what? Are these time consuming tasks part of the greater pan or merely life clutter?
Today, I woke up with great joy. I knew part of this day was going include time to write and explore. Before I leave to go write, I'll just finish up a few things in the office. At 1:30 I started to leave the house. Instead of 1 hour of work, I ended up doing 3.5 hours. Changes in our family schedule, turned into little extra to-do's for me. And then conversations- although vibrant - also took a bit of time. E-mails to check, phone calls to return, updates on brochures, companies to call on and on and on it goes.
It is 3 pm as I write to you today. Today felt like a test. Denise how much do you really want to get out there and write today? We- the forces of all creative endeavors- will put little road blocks and attention shifting detours in your path, just to see what you do. How serious are you to take time to go somewhere and write? How serious are you to take time to play? How serious are you to take time to discover?
On the way here I was calculating in my head. If I write for 30 minutes I'll still have time to get my groceries purchased, get home and go for a run with Sally- our flop eared smiler before dark. Then we will have company and Oh did you know there was a very important meeting at City Hall tonight- don't you think you should go?
But as I sit here and snack on my pickled beets and warm lentil patty, I know every step I took was sooo worth the trouble. I no longer feel rushed or tugged.
So many opportunities are opening up for me. I have many plans and hopes. Improving my skills with a life coaching certification program. Upping my energy work tools and practices with EmoTrance certification. Recreating a new business. Working for other companies as a consultant. Training, presenting, blogging, closing up the old company and the old year....should we also remodel the house??? Of course!
But let's get clear - crystal clear. Giving myself sacred space to breathe, play, discover, to sit and watch the clouds go by is essential. Recreating our income stream is essential. And as motivating as fear can be, it should not be my guiding force.
So maybe making it this space so I could pause, write and give myself a little TLC may not seem like much to you. I know deep in my soul, that this - moment - was the most important thing I accomplished today. I could have written at home today. I could have put it off. But I'm so glad I didn't.
Day # 854- Carving time out to play
On this journey called life- I wish for you little pauses each day to play, to create, to discover and to breathe.
Denise
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Pay yourself first
Today is Saturday. Saturday's are the day to get your work done! These are not days for being frivolous but for getting your to-do list finished. For cleaning out the dust bunnies and accomplishing those big projects that weigh heavily on your soul. This is precisely why I'm sitting at Starbucks, with a toasted bagel, cream cheese, a cup of joy tea and my iPad.
Shouldn't I be cleaning house, or doing yard work, shopping or anything else that sit on my task list?? Let me ask you this: "What will you do with your one wild and precious life"? (Mary Oliver)
Last post I was pondering our future after cleaning. Was I on the right path or did I need to go off road and discover a new path? It has been a week since I wrote that post. I dug into my question and here is what I discovered: I need to stay on my path and I need to go off road. It is as simple as that.
Today, I am doing the most important thing on my life's to do list. I am listening to my spirit and soul and doing the things I would normally put off so my dust bunnies and in-box are clean and clear. But why in the world would I put my life's joyful, exploration and heart's desires behind my dust bunnies????
My grandpa always said "pay yourself first". This wise advise isn't just for finances but for your life. We take time to schedule our mundane, have to's, our must do's and our should do's but do we schedule our joys, our curiosities, our explorations, life's to dos?? I think life's to-do's get pushed back and squashed into a corner to make room for being busy.
Getting back to last post's question. As it turns out I was never off my life's path. I meandered around with a 25 year old cleaning company. This was my training ground in creating, my Doctorate in residue free living and my master's degree in marketing, sales, finance and operations. This January when we sold the cleaning part of our company - we also graduated!
Today, I took the early morning hours to be quiet and reflect on this past month. What did I do? What did I want to do? How do I feel about this month? What do I need to do? I wrote down my major accomplishments, my good ones and my personal recommendations to myself. And then I decided this Saturday is golden. As Mary Oliver asks "What will you do with your one wild and precious day." Will I live, explore, play and do what my spirit asks? Or will I be a good girl and work on my inbox? I ran in the sunshine with Sally. I'm at a cafe writing and every ounce of my spirit is smiling! I decided since I have graduated. I will go back on my path, my souls path and I will take my to-do list seriously. My life's to do list that is!
So here is the question of the day: What is on your to-do list today? And which list are you looking at?
As always, I wish you a joyful journey,
Denise
Shouldn't I be cleaning house, or doing yard work, shopping or anything else that sit on my task list?? Let me ask you this: "What will you do with your one wild and precious life"? (Mary Oliver)
Last post I was pondering our future after cleaning. Was I on the right path or did I need to go off road and discover a new path? It has been a week since I wrote that post. I dug into my question and here is what I discovered: I need to stay on my path and I need to go off road. It is as simple as that.
Today, I am doing the most important thing on my life's to do list. I am listening to my spirit and soul and doing the things I would normally put off so my dust bunnies and in-box are clean and clear. But why in the world would I put my life's joyful, exploration and heart's desires behind my dust bunnies????
My grandpa always said "pay yourself first". This wise advise isn't just for finances but for your life. We take time to schedule our mundane, have to's, our must do's and our should do's but do we schedule our joys, our curiosities, our explorations, life's to dos?? I think life's to-do's get pushed back and squashed into a corner to make room for being busy.
Getting back to last post's question. As it turns out I was never off my life's path. I meandered around with a 25 year old cleaning company. This was my training ground in creating, my Doctorate in residue free living and my master's degree in marketing, sales, finance and operations. This January when we sold the cleaning part of our company - we also graduated!
Today, I took the early morning hours to be quiet and reflect on this past month. What did I do? What did I want to do? How do I feel about this month? What do I need to do? I wrote down my major accomplishments, my good ones and my personal recommendations to myself. And then I decided this Saturday is golden. As Mary Oliver asks "What will you do with your one wild and precious day." Will I live, explore, play and do what my spirit asks? Or will I be a good girl and work on my inbox? I ran in the sunshine with Sally. I'm at a cafe writing and every ounce of my spirit is smiling! I decided since I have graduated. I will go back on my path, my souls path and I will take my to-do list seriously. My life's to do list that is!
So here is the question of the day: What is on your to-do list today? And which list are you looking at?
As always, I wish you a joyful journey,
Denise
Monday, May 25, 2015
37 items in your closet
Day 586 and counting.....
If you want to live with passion- be passionate. Of course, why didn't I think of that. For a week my girlfriend and I are doing a little experiment. The next 7 days we are accepting our intuition as nothing less than brilliant.
How many clothes do you have in your closet? How many do you wear each week? How many of the clothes you own never get worn in a season or year? Why do we keep what we don't like?
Today I was in a doctor's waiting room, waiting for a friend. As I sat I watched families coming and going. What we wear and how we carry ourselves does in fact impact our days. I'm not a great shopper. When I shop it is more like an item on my to-do list than an enjoyable outitting. I only shop when I need something and by the time I think I need something my wardrobe in desperate need of attention. But still I'm sure I have more than 37 items in my wardwarb.
My co-intuitive experimenting friend sent me a blog site she found this afternoon: http:dallas.citymomsblog.com the blog was wardrobe capsule. This mom shed her excess clothes and shoes down to only 37 items for each season. Simplying all the way to perfection. Instead of having too many clothes in your closet, you engage your creative spirit - mixing and matching 37 hand selected fully loved items. 37 greats is better than 150 so-sos.
I like it! In clutter clearing letting go of what you don't love and getting rid of the stuff that delutes your life is a cornerstone principle. So why not take a 37 clothes item challenge and take your overstuffed, outdated, medocore pile of clothes and shoes and turn it into a place of beauty and joy?
First things first, before buying anything we have to clean out completely! Empty out our closets and sort item by item until we are only left with what we truly love and wear. From here we can build a 37 item capsule of our creative - authentic- sassy style!
Be passionate - be creative have nothing in your life that isn't brilliant!
Be passionate - be creative have nothing in your life that isn't brilliant!
Cleaning out your closet to only the essentials is a perfect exercise in listening to our inutition. As I contimplate this idea, I'm still sitting on my couch but I have a very good feeling about this move. Intuitively it feels just right- it is brilliant!
Happy travels to you on this Monday,
Denise
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Another fresh beginning
Day 899Did you think I forgot about you? I did kind of did. Not about my 1000 day journey but about writing to you. Today is January 19, 2011, funny, I just got done doing the dishes. This picture is the first one I took of 2011. Dishwater opened my new year. That is just funny. Who opens the new year with dishwater??? I guess I do. I told my sister in law I would send her the first picture that inspired me of the new year and this is what I came up with-classic.
It has been so long since I wrote to you I don't know where to begin. I'll just begin now. I love new years. I love the freshness, the excitement, the freedom, the hopes, the dreams, I can change the world and live my life from my very core this year!! It never ceases to amaze me the anticipation I feel and how many ideas flow into my head. I love new beginnings and new ideas. This is a fact. What I have a little trouble doing is finishing these grand schemes. And so in 2011 and on day 899 of 1000 day journey I begin again with head full of new ideas to live this year. In this beginning holds my theme for the new year: A thoughtful year. My theme is to live a thoughtful year from start, middle and end. That is a tall order!
A couple of weeks ago I saw a interview with Oprah interviewing J.K. Rowling. They were visiting about how it felt to have all the money you could ever want. That first epiphany when you realized you didn't have to choose you could by what ever you wanted, there was no need to choose or do without. I didn't envy the thought, it seemed sad. Where is the creativity in having it all? I kind of like creatively living. Finding ways to have fun, be creative, save money, go on road trips, explorations and discoveries with not much more than my passion, joy, creativity and curiosity.
What does that have to do with the new Thoughtful year? I'm not exactly sure, it just keeps popping into my mind and I felt like writing about it. Back to the thoughtful year. What does A thoughtful year mean? It means living within myself, It means to think before jumping, to reflect and create. It means to be grounded and centered. It means to be thoughtful, generous and mindful. It feels more beautiful and expansive than just mindful. It brings in what and who i love and opens my heart. It means to be intuitive not impulsive. It means being calm no matter what the weather or surrounding energy. It means being thoughtful with my time, my energy, my money, my thoughts, even my face muscles and digestive system. A thoughtful year is just taking a moment to pause and wonder and ask yourself the little questions.
Back to my dish soapy water. A few years ago we lost our electricity for 4 days. It was during a extreme cold spell. I was cold to the bone. Having hot water felt like a true luxury. When the lights came back on and our house started to warm up, I found myself doing the dishes. Never in my life was I so greatful to have my hands in hot bubbly water. Gratitude was as abundant as the bubbles. That year I had a goal to wash my dishes, write, teach, learn and to make $ 240,000 dollars. I did everything but make the $240,00. You could say my heart wasn't into making money as it was to being present, thankful and grateful. Washing my dishes was a reminder to pause and be grateful each night, not dreading the chore but embrasing it. Today, as a coincidence, my dishwasher is broken, I really haven' felt like fixing it. Everyday I do our dishes by hand. Hot water, bubbles and my thoughts. It is comforting and calming.
And so with the joys of dishwashing I wish you a good night- a thoughtful one.
Denise
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The Practice of Freedom
day 450,
How time continues to move. When I started this journey 450 days ago, I knew the days would keeping adding even if I paid no mind to my journey. It's funny instead of feeling like I need to do more, I feel as though I need to relax, let go and just be.
This is Sunday. My husband and I have no plans, I might roast some garlic, take the dogs for a walk, read about worms or just take a nap. Today is a day of freedom. The freedom to enjoy the day and let it unwind however it chooses.
Looking for a recipe, using cashews instead of cream for soup, I was on Oprah's home site. I stumbled on to an article about how women in the US are getting less happy as we age. We start out happy and somehow we become un-enchanted with our lives. Maybe it is because as women, we are not allowed to have days of pure freedom. Day's where there is no chores, no requirements, no internal guilt about just being.
How can we listen to our instincts, our intuition, our core being if we never stop and breath? If we are not true to our own heart how can we be happy?
On behalf of all women, I will practice the freedom of just enjoying this day. May this practice of freedom, bless all women everywhere!
Happy travels,
Denise
How time continues to move. When I started this journey 450 days ago, I knew the days would keeping adding even if I paid no mind to my journey. It's funny instead of feeling like I need to do more, I feel as though I need to relax, let go and just be.
This is Sunday. My husband and I have no plans, I might roast some garlic, take the dogs for a walk, read about worms or just take a nap. Today is a day of freedom. The freedom to enjoy the day and let it unwind however it chooses.
Looking for a recipe, using cashews instead of cream for soup, I was on Oprah's home site. I stumbled on to an article about how women in the US are getting less happy as we age. We start out happy and somehow we become un-enchanted with our lives. Maybe it is because as women, we are not allowed to have days of pure freedom. Day's where there is no chores, no requirements, no internal guilt about just being.
How can we listen to our instincts, our intuition, our core being if we never stop and breath? If we are not true to our own heart how can we be happy?
On behalf of all women, I will practice the freedom of just enjoying this day. May this practice of freedom, bless all women everywhere!
Happy travels,
Denise
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