Mistakes

Just returned from a fabulous vacation, where I nurtured my inner spirit.  The trip was laden with mistakes, but the great thing is that those mistakes just turned into great new opportunities for fun.

Our first night in Monterey found us at a hotel that I booked by mistake.  I thought I'd booked us into a hotel we'd stayed at in June that was affordable and perfect for us.  Instead, I booked us into a hotel by the same name, in a less desirable location of Monterey (yes, even Monterey has "less desirable" locations!).  Our first clue?  Might have been the adult book store and theatrically dressed ladies of the night standing outside, just two doors down from our hotel.  Hmmmmmm.  Phil, the eternal optimist who sees the glass nearly full every day of his life, said, "well, look at it this way, we are in the theatre district".

We stayed in the room one night, but not the four nights we'd booked.  How liberating to decide that we didn't need to stay there just because we'd already booked it.  This mistake led to a night in Santa Cruz, a location that we hadn't even planned in advance.  But the freedom to decide to put the pin on the map and stay where we wanted was fun.  We also spent two other nights in another lovely hotel in Monterey - great location, wonderful people and perfect for what we needed.

Lots of other mistakes on the trip led to fun adventures.  A few years ago, I might have deliberated more about the downfall of my mistakes.  Now I see them as golden opportunities to change my life for the better.  I should have realized this long ago, as I've always felt I've become stronger from my mistakes and learned lessons.  Life is about learning and changing, about reinventing ourselves.  It's about the joy of what's not planned.  

Mistakes, yep, bring them on!  I love my life, which is full of mistakes, but richer for the experiences I've had.

Stay tuned, lots of great things are happening all around me!

It's Not About the Toothpaste

Many years ago, when I was much younger, with no gray hair and biological rather than bionic knees, I remember an Oprah show, where she'd brought in a marriage counselor to work with a couple who were at the end of their road together (or so they thought).  


I don't actually remember what miracle Oprah's guests experienced with her (as I am sure they did, since Oprah is the biggest miracle  worker), but one conversation has stayed with me since viewing that show.  As they were arguing over petty things, I remember Oprah interrupting them to say, "you know, it's not about the toothpaste.......just because you are arguing that he leaves the cap off and he doesn't like that you don't squeeze from the bottom, doesn't mean this is about the toothpaste."


Oprah's point was, we tend to focus on the little things that we think we can control, and in the process walk right by, or ignore the things that are the true problem.  And that is a lesson we can all keep with us.  Why spend our precious time  on earth focusing on the little stuff?  Unless that is, the little stuff I focus on will be the smell of lavender in my drawers, the smell of pumpkin candles in the autumn, the wonderful way that my dogs greet me every morning, like I am the best thing since a bacon flavored chewy treat.  And not to mention the over the top greeting I get from Makenna Claire and Rylan every time I see them (all that is missing there is the paparazzi following me around, as they convince me I am some kind of rock star) .  Or listening to some soft jazz or new age music............or, well, I digress.


Little things that are positive are good to embrace and savor.  Little things that take our focus away from important things, on the other hand, are not worth our time.  I've found through my new journey to my creative future that when I look at the last few years, I've let some little things get in the way of my art, my sewing, my beading.......and just plain me.  As I create new possibilities for my future, I will be more conscious and will not be distracted by the noise that gets in the way of my real mission in life (at least this stage of it).


Wow, can you feel the energy?  I can!  Stay tuned, great things are happening all around me.

Monkeys and Mondays

I haven't posted in a few days, but that doesn't mean I haven't been creating.  I came up with the next concept for Makenna's book and need to get busy on both her book and Rylan's.  


Rylan's books are way behind, as I've already written two books for Makenna and none for Rylan.  So my watercolors will be coming with me on vacation this weekend, and hope to get some quiet time to get the books started, and hopefully completed by Christmas.


Makenna's new book will focus on sprinkles, a favorite of both her mommy and her.  And will tie in the fictional character of Pokey Patty, who resides right now in concept between Sweet Pea and me.  Once Patty is created on paper, though, that will change.  So I am contemplating how she can become a favorite of Makenna's, and perhaps even have her own series of books.  


I spent last Friday night getting monkeys off my back.  I did my 2010 taxes, which was hanging over my head because I opted to file an extension in April.  Instead of waiting until the last possible minute (they are due today), I decided to tackle what I had left to do and get it done, to free my weekend.  Since I was already up late, I also decided to tackle my corporate expense system, which always knots me up.  Having rid myself of two areas of procrastination, I went to bed thinking that I had the whole weekend to have fun.


Saturday was fun, running errands and having a sleepover with Sweet Pea.  We also measured an Annie costume, so I could alter it down to her size.  What fun.  Getting out the sewing machine, and working on both her costume and Rylan's made me realize all over again how much I enjoy sewing.  Loved it!


Yesterday we went to cheer on Kelly as she did a 10k race in the very wet rain. She didn't let slippery streets or rain in her eyes get in the way of her training goals, and completed it in 1 hour, 3 minutes (woo hoo!!!).  She is an inspiration to everyone and especially me.  I finished both of the costumes (yeah! long before the midnight hour right before Halloween), and later Phil and I took the little ones for a ride to the lake, where Makenna proceeded to reel in her first fish.  Such fun times!


So reflecting today what my plans are for work and other things, I realized that because I tackled my monkeys on Friday, I had a great weekend, took time for me, enjoyed my family and time with Phil, and didn't work much.  And that makes for a happier Monday.  Yeah!  Bring it on, this week will be great (ending with a departure on Friday for vacation).


Stay tuned, great things happening all around me!

Imagination

"Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions"


You might be surprised to know the source of this quote; I was.  I stumbled on this quote by Einstein today, and it made me realize that I need to be more in touch with my imagination.  It's been crowded out a lot in the last year, and little by little, it's gaining strength, and it will emerge with a force that won't be reckoned with by anyone.  


So I thought to myself - what does imagination mean to me?  Well it means:

• Dreaming, dreaming big - of stories, of paintings, of jewelry designs, of sewing projects, of knitted creations that will never end, of stories, of books, of stories...............
• Stories......many waiting to get out of my brain, to make the leap from my soul to the printed word, so that they can be shared with the world.
• Figment.   Figment was a special dragon stuffed animal that Brad got at Epcot one year, and was a constant companion in our lives for a year or two.   A little purple (my favorite color) dragon who always reminded us that imagination cannot be harnessed, that it is energy waiting to be used  in a new creation, new idea..........
• Ideas, so many rolling around and waiting to be corralled, only to be reformed into new creations.
• My future.  It means I can define my future, that I'm never too old to reinvent myself, never too old to learn and never too old to have fun
• Fun.........see where that led me?  

Dreaming - Stories - Figment - Ideas - My Future - FUN!

Stay tuned, great things are coming in my life's coming attractions!

Full Moon Magic

Since I was a small child, I have been fascinated with the moon.  I've noticed moon rises as long as I can remember.  As I laid in summer grass as a child, I would watch the clouds and see pictures of people and nature and abstracts I fell in love with.  By night I would watch the moon and its illumination to the cloud cover, or the bright lamp it provided on a clear night.  


This past week, I have marveled at the beautiful and artistic moonscapes in the sky.  The moon rises have been phenomenal.


I want to paint some moonscapes while they are fresh in my mind, I want to fly to the moon and swing, feeling light and free, and be illuminated by its energy. I want to imagine being a shooting star, and playing in the sky with the moon.  For tonight, as I turn my tired body to slumber, I will be hangin' with the man in the moon.  See you later in the morning.

Stay tuned, great and magical things are happening all around me.

Acceptance

Embracing my new direction in life.  

Be fearless.  Follow my heart.   Believe in my talent.  KNOW that I will be successful in my creative endeavors.  Make time for art.  Make time for balance. Make time for soul development.

Amen.

Stay tuned, great things are happening all around!

Monday, Monday

I used to dread Mondays, because it meant going back to work, and that the weekend was over.  I can't say I embraced yesterday with gusto, but I ended the day that way, and I am learning to take a step back, and look at "Monday"  from a different prism.


That prism presents the following picture:

• I am in a job for which my talent is valued.  
• I get paid well for my job.
• I get to write about 50% of the time in my job - and I love to write.
• I know I am good at my job, and I value that I can excel in a position I hold with a company.
• I get to work with one of my best friends.
• Monday nights I currently am enrolled in the Beyond Fitness course with Landmark, and great things are happening as a result of that.
• Monday is now over (writing this in the early hours of Tuesday), and that means four more work days this week.  And only nine more work days until Phil and I go on vacation.........yeah!!!
• I am employed, my health is good, I have the best family on earth, the best children on earth, the best grandchildren on the planet, a wonderful partner who is kind, loving, funny and shows me every day how much he loves me.  I have a treasure chest of friends, and a menagerie of loving pets.........so all of that makes me the luckiest gal in the Universe.

So Monday?  Bring it on!   

Stay tuned, great things are happening all around me.