Sweet memories of a winter afternoon, snowed in, with "from scratch" hot chocolate, ginger cookies, and my Mom reading from Thornton Burgess' Mother West Wind Tales. I recently located and purchased many of his original volumes for my Mom. We still love them, and it feels wonderful to gift her with something that she loves. Thanks for the memory.

Well, my mantra is "barter on" but that probably wouldn't work for this project! I think that the word "peace" in as many languages as we can fit, and symbols of that peace from as many locales as we can fit--a montage of global peace if you will.

Heartlights UNite!

Creativity is the process of allowing our true essence to flow through us into our "life walk." From making my bed, to sending a "seed" of gratitude with a flair, to producing a work of art, I practice creativity when I refuse to settle for mediocrity in my life, and refuse to live at an energy level lower than that which Spirit has grown me to exude.

Once upon a time. . . . . .

I believed that others wrote, directed and accepted the credits for my story. I was lucky if I got a walk on, certainly not a front row seat in audience, and definitely not important enough to aspire to stand center stage. In short, I believed that I was a second rate character in a barely-B movie, and that I'd need to mind the role I had to even stay on the stage!. Today, I can look at all of that and accept that my early victimization was followed by an Academy Award winning victimhood, complete with guilt trip to Blame Land and musical score by the Poor Pitiful Mes! My life today is beautiful, and all mine. Well, not mine in the "I did it all by myself" way, but not borne of others' expectations or limitations, and not small and miserly, either. I live abundantly, with great joy and exuberance. I am responsible for the dance I sing, and for the melody I paint. I co-create with very important spirits, some two-legged, some four-legged, some winged in a myriad of ways, and some awaiting their cue for introduction. My relationship with my life is one of Love, and healing, and self discovery in an atmoshere of mutual support and growth.


HeartLights Unite!

We all have our routines and rituals, and most hold on to these as though letting go or changing might cost us our lives. So it is with the profound--self limiting, self defeating, self downing inner dialogues--and with the profane--coffee before speaking  in the morning.

I, too have my routines and rituals. For example, I'm not a morning person. For years, I rumbled and grumbled around, and no amount of cofeee could lighten my thundercloud spirit

and then came kids. They don't care about coffee, or rumbling, or thundercloud spirit. They just want to be happy. I learned to adjust.

Then they grew, and took over the rumbling and grumbling. I ignored it, and slowly took back my internal rumbling and grumbling routines and rituals.

then came Mr. Bill. Mr. Bill sings in the shower. Well, I might add. He also accepts hugs very well. I happen to give hugs very well. A new routine and ritual is born. He sings, I listen, I hug, he accepts the hugs.

then he changed the routine. He added more music.


I could handle it. I stopped rumbling and grumbling. We hugged longer. The kids stopped rumbling and grumbling.

then he upped the ante


What's a Spirit to do????

hugs to all,


Ladydragonfly

True leadership is becoming the embodiment of what you wish your "followers" (I prefer a less hierarchal term. Got one?) to achieve. Gentleness, strength, humilty, authenticity, honoring, empowering, committed, passionate, integrity, grace, accountability, respect, mindfulness, compassion, empathy are attributes of a great leader. Unfortunately, we may need to cultivate that within ourselves to begin to have everyday examples of true leadership. Oh wait, we ARE manifesting this!

I want to emulate folk who demonstrate these qualities, who live from an authentic and love-focused place. They are my leaders, my teachers, guides, and spirit-mates.

Green, growing, of the people, by the people, for the people. Mint topiaries, and squash vine mandalas. Flowers that all can pick. Food for the eyes, spirit and tummy. Edible art. Yup, that's it

 

"Remember, in our inmost being, we are all completely lovable because spirit is love. Beyond what anyone can make you think or feel about yourself, your unconditioned spirit stands, shining with a love nothing can tarnish."

- Deepak Chopra

I need to remind myself of this as often as I remind others. . . . . .

Hmmm. My surface-brain says emphatically "NO," that I have faced too many challenges, and strifes, and unpleasantnesses to afford the luxury of taking risk. My True Self sees it otherwise. I am here, now, a very different Being than I was even 20 years ago. I have risked loving and being rejected. I have risked parenting alone, and faced many court battles. I walked away from the expected, and faced ridicule. I embraced my rebel spirit and found peace. I looked deep into the eyes of "inadequacy" and am finding perfection. At 50, I started and completed a Master's while raising 2 teens and working full time in an increasingly hostile environment.  I tell other women they are beautiful, and risk being their friend and sister, even when they respond with suspiscion or fear. I joined Zaadz. I blog  frequently, exposing my innermost thoughts and beliefs to "complete strangers" (no, you're not really, UR family of the heart). I continue to find the courage to stand with my principles and to offer truth and love, despite opposition at times. I risk falling back into a state of numbed/numbing mediocrity every time I listen to the old tapes that whisper "Who do you think you are. . . . . . .they don't want to hear your . . . .blah. . . blah. . . . ." so on a much truer level, I am very much a risk taker. The one thing I most treasure that I no longer consider risky? I love, and hug and Be.

HeartLights Unite!

in a nutshell. . . . . .the little "i" and the big "E"

Fear the "i" will loose something of value, and fear that my "EGO" won't survive the loss.


HeartLights Unite!

Melissa