The Gift of Time

Time is the most undefinable yet paradoxical of things; the past is gone, the future is not come, and the present becomes the past even while we attempt to define it, and, like the flash of lightning, at once exists and expires.  ~Charles Caleb Colton

Sunrise at Esalen

I thought it was the rain that woke me at 4:30 this morning, then I realized, it was actually the thoughts that were pounding in my head.  Sometimes, they  move in like little pitter patters, yet this morning, they were as loud as the rumble and grumble of a thunderstorm.  

These thoughts usually have the same theme.  

They're mostly about Time. 

About not having enough of it.  

Not enough time to get everything organized, repaired, and beautified in my home.  

Not enough time to actually make those healthy recipes I've clipped and filed.  

Not enough time to do all the things (and, there are so many) I want to do with my daughter before her childhood abruptly slips away from me.  And, it really is, slipping away.

Not enough time to brush the dog's teeth, comb out her knots, take her for daily walks.  

Not enough time to show (really show) my husband how important he is to me, and how much I love him.  

Not enough time to drink 8 full glasses of water each day (and all of the other things I should be doing to take care of myself).  

Not enough time to blog every day like so many of my creative and inspiring friends do (yes, you know who you are).  

Not enough time to compose handwritten letters and mail them.  

Not enough time to really put the energy into developing my creative biz.  

Not enough time to comment on all the blogs I read and love (I hope you know how often I visit).  

Not enough time to hang out with friends (I really do miss you). 

Not enough time for me (I really miss me). 

Not enough time to just be. 

There simply is not enough time. 

So often, I hear myself say, (and I know you do, too) "If only I had more time".  More time to do all the things we so desire to do.  So, how and where do we find the time?

Today is the day. 

This is the year of "the Leap Year”.  

It only comes around once every four years, 

and today is the day to relish in the gift 

of an additional 24 hours. 

Here are the facts.  Leap Years are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth's revolutions around the sun. It takes the Earth approximately 365.242199 days – or 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds (a tropical year) – to circle once around the Sun. So if we didn't add a day on February 29 nearly every 4 years, we would lose almost six hours off our calendar every year. After only 100 years, our calendar would be off by approximately 24 days!

We have been gifted with 366 days this year.  

A whole extra day, filled with 24 hours.

And that day, is today.  

February 29.

image found here

What are you going to do to make the most of your extra day?  Are you going to make time for more self care?  Will you catch up on those things that have been calling out for your attention? Are you going to choose to “just be?”   

Whatever you choose to do today,

 I hope you enjoy every single one of your 1,440 extra minutes.

Wishcasting Wednesday

Beautiful art can be found here

 Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish for the world?

Jamie Ridler shares a place where we can share our wishes.  "Wishcasting Wednesday is a safe haven for wishes, a fertile field in which to plant wish seeds and have them witnessed and tended lovingly. It’s a place where magic begins...Make a wish: Dare to dream.” 

I wish for every living being to have enough food and water. 

To have a voice and to be heard.

To feel love and supported.

To have choices and to feel empowered.

To have shelter and to feel safe.

To have dreams and to follow them.

To know JOY and to share JOY.

To respect and accept one another.

I wish for every living being to honor, protect, nourish, and help sustain our beautiful Mother Earth.

What is your wish for the world?

Come on over and join me. 

Make your wish here.

LOVE

photo taken in Big Sur

I love to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  In our house it’s a day of chocolate and stuffed animals, hand written poems and love notes, fresh cut strawberries with ripples of whip cream, flowers sitting tall in a vase, and handmade cards and crafted gifts given to those we love and appreciate.

Yes, it’s another opportunity to give and to show appreciation and love to those who are dear to us.

It’s also the perfect day to remember and honor ourselves.  To open our hearts inward.  To practice self love.   

True self love is when you recognize your deepest space where there is no room for outside approval. It’s when you honor yourself with patience, understanding, forgiveness, and acceptance (yes, the good, the bad, the pretty, and the ugly).   It’s when you heal old wounds, and evacuate the root of your fears.  It’s when you truly believe just how strong, smart, creative, unique and brave you really are.  It’s having the courage to walk in the direction of your dreams and desires. 

Self LOVE begins when you really, really, really believe

 ~ you are enough ~. 

Celebrate you. 

 Write yourself a big, beautiful LOVE letter. 

Tell yourself how proud you of you. 

Compliment yourself on all your gifts and talents.

 Thank yourself for being

 enough.  

Photo of a mailbox at Esalen in Big Sur

Happy LOVE Day,

Eydie

DId you hear a word I said?

carynelizabeth.com

His mind continues

to actively resolve

issues that landed on his plate

earlier in the day

at the same time

his hands

instantaneously

switch from TV remote

to computer keyboard

my words exhale

like steam pouring

from my mouth

into the

bitter cold air

revealing stuff

that is

non-existent 
in his world.

my vision becomes blurred

without the contact of his eyes

 my words swirl

then stop abruptly

crashing

and piling up on top

of each other

like a chain reaction

on an icy surface.

I yell out

"DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING I JUST SAID?"

 with out a pause

he repeats back

word for word

in a calm
 rhythmic
 and confident voice

as if reading a prepared script

casting him as the leading man

in our story

I look up

as his eyes lock 
into mine


and our hearts
become one.

Writing Intentions

Before we flip the page over to February, I’d like to share with you, my family's ritual of writing intentions.  For the past 6 years, my husband, daughter, and I have gathered around the kitchen table on News Year’s Eve to reflect and talk about the highlights and accomplishments of the previous year.  We also share what we had intended to accomplish, experience, or receive, that did not actually come to fruition. Our sharing continues as we talk about what we want to manifest in the new year.

Next, I hand out the our envelopes which contain our written intentions from the previous year.  We continue our ritual by sharing and reading our words; our hearts desires.  My husband lights a candle and we begin to write our intentions for the New Year, continuing the cycle of our ritual.

Our writing format looks something like this:

What are my intention for …

~ my body and my health

~ my social life

~ my work, and/or school life

~ my creative life and hobbies

~ what are my hopes for others who are dear to me

~ what are my desires that are non-material

~ what material things do I want to bring into my life

~ list 3 places, things or activities I desire to do as a family

Even though our family ritual is a yearly thing for us, it is a practice you can do monthly, bi yearly or quarterly, especially on the eve of a new moon, a time when setting intentions is most influential. 

The most powerful aspect of writing intentions is to be mindful of the words you use and how you use them.  Words such as “trying”, “hoping”, “wishing”, “wanting” and “not” are self -limiting and tend to hold us back.   These words bring our energy down.  They create a sense of lack and keep us stuck where we do not desire to be.  

By writing or saying empowering words ~ such as, “I am” or “I have” and using them as if they are already happening, is a positive tool and instructs the Universe to bring you what you want.  For example, instead of saying “I hope to find a better job than the one I have” ~ say ~ "I am grateful that I am now working and receiving financial abundance doing what I love”.

Remember … write as if it is already happening!

Here is a sneak peak into a few of my intentions for the New Year.

• I am healthier, stronger and more energetic than ever.  I am enjoying eating foods that are healthy, and moving my body in fun ways.  I am loving the results I see.

• My creative business is growing and my talents are in demand.  There are many new and exciting opportunities for me.  I am loving the financial rewards of having a successful creative business.

• I am loving all the closeness, special times and intimate talks Josh and I engage in with each other.

• Josh, Sage, and I are enjoying an abundance of celebrations and fun times  with our family and friends. 

What will you create in the New Year? 

Make it magnificent and grand!

  .

scattered

found here

My thoughts scatter

like the seeds

that so deeply 

want to be planted

To be

 grounded 

and

 sustainable

like the redwoods

as they parallel their way

up to the light that beams 

down through them

Instead

of finding

their way

to somewhere

 grand 

my thoughts

 scatter

 like the dust

in my home 

settling

 briefly

only to 

be stirred up

again.

My one simple word

As the last few hours of 2011 wash away and fade into the horizon, a whole new year is about to emerge.  It will be a year filled with brand new possibilities, and powerful intentions to manifest.  A year where positive thoughts are sculpt into realities, and simple prompts inspire new stories to be written while old ones can be edited or discarded.  Truths will be told, new relationships will emerge, and there will be opportunities for knowing when to let go and when to hold on.  


I have given a lot of thought these past few weeks and have careful chosen my little word for 2011.  This one simple, yet powerful and insightful word will help  me navigate and keep me on my path as I walk with ease in the direction of my dreams.

My word for 2012 is 

Balance

This is the word I will focus on and mediate with.  It will be my mantra when I set my intentions, and make choices for my life.

When there is balance in my life, there is peace, and everything is perfect in each and every moment. This year, I strive for balance in all I do.  

When I am in balance ~ I choose with ease

When I am in balance ~ I practice self-care and self-love

When I am in balance ~ my choices are inner-directed

When I am in balance ~ self doubt no longer exists

When I am in balance ~ the foods I eat are healthy and whole

When I am in balance ~ my energy is abundant

When I am in balance ~ I really believe "I am enough"

When I am in balance ~ I know how to ask and receive

When I am in balance ~ boundaries are set with perfect perimeters

When I am in balance ~ my heart is filled with JOY

When I am in balance ~ I am proactive, instead of, reactive

When I am in balance ~ synchronistic events occur all around me.

 ~ When I am in Balance ~

I feel deeply connected to my soul and what really matters.

What is your one simple, 

powerful, and insightful for word

for 2012?

I wish you much peace and love as you let go of 2011, 

and for your heart to be wide open

 for all the beautiful new possibilities

that await for you

 in 2012.

I wish you an abundance of magic in all you do.

I am so looking forward to sharing this journey with you in the 
New Year.

Eydie

Photos can be found here, and here.

wishing you more of what matters

found here

I just loved these words that Martha found on Pinterest  so much that I had to share them with you.

May your holiday season
be filled with the simple things
 that bring joy, contentment and 

magic to you and your family.  

found here

Wishing you more 

of the simple moments 

of what matters 

closest to your heart.

Thanks so much for sharing this journey with me.

See you in the New Year.

With Love and Light,

Eydie

A year of wishes

My heart is full of gratitude and joy.  I recently entered a drawing to win "A year of wishes Calendar", created by the beautiful and very talented Lori Porka and Lisa Sarick.  You can read about their stories and see more of Lori’s art by clicking on the words that are in pink. 

To enter the drawing for this beautiful calendar, all I had to do was write my wishes for the this coming year, and leave it in the comment section of Lori’s blog.  For those of you who follow my blog,  you know how much I love setting intentions.  In fact, I am looking forward to sharing our family ritual of intention setting for the new year which I will post the first week in January.  Setting intentions has alway been a magical ritual for me.  So, I wrote on Lisa’s comment section of her blog, and this is what I wished for ....

• to create a greater sense of health and an abundance energy for myself
• to expand my creativity and share it with others
• to be a radiant and positive light for my daughter
• to be loving and mindful with my husband
• to be the light for others and to guide them to follow their hearts, to listen to the quiet voice within, and know that their lives are filled with possibilities.

I was so excited and grateful to see my name picked out of a hat.  I was one of 5 fortunate women to be gifted this beautiful calendar. 

It truly is so much more than just a calendar.  You can learn all about its magic by watching this fun and inspiring video.

When you want to feel renewed and joyful, stop by Lori’s Etsy, and spread the LOVE.  I know you will find the perfect gifts for yourself and for those you hold deep in your heart.

What do you wish for today?

Lori Portka 

“Spreads Happiness through Art”

All the art seen in this posting

 can be found on Lori’s blog

  http://loriportka.com

Take What You NEED

Lately, I’ve been asking myself, 

 “What do I need? 

I’m not just talking about help with the dishes,

  more family time, 

or playing with my creative spirit.

  I’m talking about really asking for what I need.
 ~ 

 patience

 JOY 

trust

 love

 inspiration

 courage

 magic

  support
forgiveness
acceptance
gratitude

~

  I recently came across

this sign on Facebook

 and just loved it.


 I thought it would be really fun
 to make my own version.

 So, I got out my paints, bushes, and fabric 
and asked myself, 

“What do I need?” 

What do we all need more of?

Since this is the start of the season of giving, 

I decided to hang this sign 
in the front entrance of our home,
as a reminder 

for all those who came and go,

to take what we need.  

What do you need, today?