Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish to rise above?



This week for Wishcrafting Wednesday, the inspiring and creative Jamie Ridler asks:

What do you wish to rise above?

I didn’t really need to give much thought to this question, the answer was clear and appeared quickly.


I wish to rise about self-doubt.
Self doubt is something we all know.  It’s a very common human experience.  It undermines our ability to make decisions, step forward in life, and express our natural talents and gifts.

It usually grows from a troubling and persuasive voice that holds us back.  It can be the voice that lives in our own heads, or the voice of others who hold judgments about us.  Wherever the voice of self-doubt originates, it holds us back from seizing opportunities.  It keeps us from living our authentic life.  It silences our intuitive voice, our knowing voice.
  
Yes, I wish to rise above self-doubt.  I wish to let go of what others think, or more so, what I believe others think about me. Rising about self-doubt  will begin when I can let go of the should haves, could haves, and would haves, when I know, believe, and trust I have made the right choices, said the right words, and have let go of who I believe I am supposed to be. Then, and only then, I’m able to allow myself to step forward in my life, express my natural talents and gifts, and deeply believe I am enough.


It is Wishcasting Wednesday again.  You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog and then add a direct link to your post in the box on Jamie Ridler Studios page. Support wishes by visiting other participants, leaving a comment saying “As (insert name) wishes for her/himself, so I wish for her/him also.” It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Happy BIrthday, Sage

Dear Sage,

Today, you will be wishing on 12 candles,
  plus one for good luck,
and I will be secretly wishing
to turn back time.


Back to the days of lullabies and patty cake,
finger painting and bubble blowing,


curls piled high on your head,
pink, poofy, princess wear
simple days at the park,
and cozy nights in bed.


You still haven’t lost your skip.
 I wonder
when do we?



They all told me,
“don’t blink,”
“time flies,”
“enjoy every minute.”


I didn’t really believe them.

Now, I understand and tell others the same. 
Don’t blink. Time Flies, Enjoy every minute.

I secretly wish I could turn back the clock.  
Back to when life was simple,
when I was more sure,
when decision were easier.


I want to keep you
curious, creative, uninhibited, confident, and kind.


It has always been your light
that warms my heart, allowing it to stay wide open.

Your gentle soul is what has taught me valuable
life lessons.  Knowing how to let go and when to hold on.



The love you share
has shown me
 how to give it back
 without conditions.

And, it’s within your breath I find the stillness
bringing me back to my center.


You’ve always been my little princess,
now you are my amazing rock star.


I am so very proud of you.
So very honored to be your Mom.

Happy Birthday,
Sage

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Celebrating my Dad

1990

  Today is my Dad's birthday.
 He would have 77 years old. 

I continue to miss him
 deeply. 

There are so many memories I cherish,
and so much I wish I could have shared with him
 during these past 20 years of my life.

I feel his presence 
watch over me,
 and I know in my heart,
 he has been with me 
during the precious moments
of my life.



photo source

Every year,
on this day,
for the past 20 years,
I write love notes
 on a big, bright, balloon.

I hug it,
let it go,
 sending it off with lots of love
 as I watch it fade and disappear
into to the vastness above.

It continues to heal my heart.

My Daughter shares this ritual
of sending love up to the heavens
to her Papa.

It deeply heals my heart.

Today,
I celebrate my Dad.

Tomorrow, 
I will celebrate my daughter's
 12th birthday.

It will be a day of pure 
JOY.


Note: My daughter started her birthing journey on my Dad's birth day, 12 years ago, today. She shares her birthday tomorrow with my grandmother (Dad's Mom) who is also gone.  The connection of their birthdays fills my heart with JOY. 

Monday, March 12, 2012

Say “YES" to yourself

Poster from Patti Digh’s recent Newsletter

Patti Digh, amazing author and speaker, recently asked in her latest newsletter, “why is it so much easier to say yes to other people than to ourselves?"  Next, she grants us permission to skip over the why, and to proceed directly to the "practice of saying yes to ourselves”. 

Years ago, I engaged in a workshop about self empowerment which initiated a life changing awareness for me when I heard a statement that went something like this;  If you can't say “no", than you really don't know how to say "yes".  That statement made such a huge impression on me and continues to remind me of the importance of being  grounded in my power, allowing me to know how to really say “YES”.  More imporantly, it has taught me how to say “no” without having to make excuses or feel I have to explain myself. 

I was at a women's gathering recently where the speaker's message was, "No more excuses",  I loved how she gave examples on how we can graciously say “no" to others, and “yes" to ourselves.  A few of her examples went something like this:

I am so honored that you have thought of me to volunteer my time to offer workshops for your organization, however, I am not available to help.  Your organization has such a great following, I’m sure you will find someone who is available to volunteer.
Thank you for thinking of me to help stuff 1000 envelopes for your next charity drive, unfortunately, my schedule is full at this time,  I know your organization does amazing things for so many people, and I am sure you will find someone else who is available to help.

So, you see the speaker’s formula.  Express appreciation.  Say no.  Conclude with a positive statement.   It’s that easy.


I can still remember the excitement bubbling up in my body when the speaker offered that formula.  It felt so freeing, so empowering.  I was actually looking forward to my next opportunity to design my own amazing sentence that would set me free and allow me to be loyal to myself.

Oh, it feels to good to genuinely say "NO" without feeling the need to make excuses.  It opens space for us, without room for guilt.   

Patti invites us to say, “yes" to ourselves for 37 days.  “ See what if feels like to honor yourself, your energy, your need for space and quiet, and whatever you long for.  Practice saying "no" without apology in order to say "yes" with great enthusiasm to yourself." 

What are you going to create for yourself today, by saying, "yes" to you?

Read more about Patti Digh and why she chose 37 days.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

obsession


I crave you
I obsess you
I consume you

each mouthful gets me high
only to be let down
wanting more of you
never getting enough

I am so deeply dependent
not knowing moderation
or how to set boundaries

and each time I let you go
and purge you from my body
I shake
as my world spins

eventually
I withdrawal and lose myself
as you are slowly release from my body

 I always come back for more
craving you 
to lift me
energize me
satisfy me
and fill me up

but instead
you pound 
unwanted weight 
onto my love handles
as you leave me
singing the sugar blues