LEAP

" Time for me now to leap off the lily pad and experience all that life has to offer"

 So this year is Leap Year- and today is Leap Day, the 29^Th of February!  Since this occurs only every four years thought it would be fun to explore the traditions and the myths surrounding this date. 

Single? Well, today is suggested to be the day to ask that someone special or as one friend recently said, I’ll just go out and find a really good looking guy driving a really nice car, with an attitude and ask him to marry me!.  Yikes!!! Really?

I was stunned as this is not like her, thinking my friend has gone bonkers! Then she told me this:
She had read that in some areas of the world if a woman proposed to a man, and he refused, he would have to buy her clothing. So her thinking was OK, I am single what is the downside risk of No? Laughing I asked her did it ever occur to you that men are not familiar with this so called tradition? Didn’t seem to bother her! Her quick wit is so appreciated, as in her response back to me.

“Ok so really using today to practice my skills of walking up to a strange man and introducing myself”.  Putting me out there and taking risks is part of my 2012 self development program. Today I feel more confident as in the back of my mind I feel it is more acceptable today!

The Risk of Going after what we want and the Reward of Accomplishment!

A mental safety net, at least in her mind, to take a Leap and take a risk!

So what are you leaping for today and for 2012?  Given we have an extra day prior to entering the third month in the first quarter a good time to assess how are leaping is going.

·         Are we leaping toward our dreams, goals, visions, projects, life?

·         Perhaps we have been sitting on a lily pad too long either waiting on “something” or fear of leaping to new adventures.

Take a moment today for riveting your dreams and goals and think about:

·         The accomplishments and progress of the past two months – Celebrate!

·         Secure and reevaluate all that you want to accomplish in 2012 through taking Action

·         Fasten your belief securely within that “You are Powerful and Can Do it

·         Pull the strength up from within and jump off that Lily Pad and “Take Control of You”

Time for me now to wish you a great adventure leaping to all the you desire and remind you of something my mentor Denise Linn always says: “Who you are is enough”…….


photo by Rosemary Ratcliff

Sparkling Love

When this picture was originally posted, I immediately was drawn. The innocence of the little girl, reminds me that no matter what age, there is always a child inside waiting to be allowed to come out. A part of us that needs to be held, comforted and loved just as when we were a child.

The facial expression, the opening of the arms, the energy projection of peace while opening up and accepting all things. As if to say, hello I am here! I accept! I love unconditionally!

The stars in the distance and the sparkling twinkling lights close surrounding her body reminded me of beautiful sparkling energy full of life!

One of my favorite connections is stargazing! Lying down on the ground or sitting outside, even in the winter, looking up at the majestic sky looking at all the stars. Feeling connected to something larger than myself. The overwhelming sense of energy expansion!

The peace of knowing that energy never leaves, it never dies. The energy continues to surround us with sparkling and shimmering light reflecting on each of us, reminds us that we are never alone!

So when I miss those very special loved ones that have passed on, I spend even more time looking up, feeling the magic of the stars and the light. Feeling connected to an energy far larger than words can describe. This is where my soul and spirit gets replenished and gains the strength to sparkle again.

Many blessings and much love to each of us who have experienced loss. Tonight while stargazing will send you love, comfort and may you be surrounded by the energy of Sparkling Love.

To the wonderfully creative person who created this beautiful image that is so powerful, please contact me through this site so that I can properly give you all the credit. Thank you.

Time

This weekend was the yearly ritual of the “turning back the clock”!   There seems to be that there is a 50/50 split of those who enjoy the extra hour to those who would prefer time staying constant. I personally am in the category of constant, never really enjoyed turning the clock back.  

The symbolism of time, specifically turning the clock back, came rushing through every cell of my body this weekend!

My “little guy” Mitch and I rushed to the Veterinary Hospital Thursday, holding him he crossed over the “Rainbow Bridge”.  Saturday was the third anniversary of my father’s passing, seems like yesterday. Saturday evening learned that my precious Great-Uncle had passed that evening, he was 98 years young!

Time seemed to creep along beginning Thursday and then low and behold the day comes to turn the clock back an hour. Really, say it isn’t so….  This year, like all the rest, got through the time change no worse for the wear! 

Monday, picked myself up and took a walk in the mountains, something soothing and healing about walking with the wind blowing in your face. The wind, to me symbolizes cleansing, blew all around me as I walked and reflected on the past 5 days. Memories, acknowledging how fast time goes when we aren’t paying attention all ran through my head as I processed. Giving gratitude for Mitch, my dad and My Uncle giving thanks while grieving for my loss and those I love.  

For a moment, I did think, if I could turn back time or if I could have one more moment.  Ever think that about a time in your life?

An important lesson I learned from my dear friend, “embrace the wind”!   This day I embraced the wind as best I could and allowed the sadness and tears to be blown away.  What seemed like a moment in time, my sadness turned into a Celebration of the love, lessons and impact each had on my life and others.

Got to thinking, if we could turn back the hands of time:

      What would we do differently?

      What would we say differently?

      Would our dreams be different?

As the Butterfly flutters near the hands of time, changing our actions our words and dream our dreams can impact our experience each moment of our lives..…. The past, the present and the eternal future!

“Time to me is essence of living life each moment to the fullest and I embrace each moment” cl

Dream, Believe and Achieve all that your Heart Desires!

Release

Have you ever noticed that the lessons we are to learn come in various forms?  Sometimes, the lessons are subtle, sometimes in your face, wrapped in nice packing or perhaps in an experience.

Please allow me to introduce Mitch, our 14 year old Papillion; he is “our boy”.

Beginning as a puppy, Mitch has been resilient from one adventure to another! Mitch may be small, only weighing 9 lbs, but he has a heart as big as the world, full of love, fun and an adventurous personality!

Over the past couple of years, Mitch has been experiencing his age, loss of hearing and vision. But he continues to adapt, putting one paw in front of the other! I have adapted as well to ensure his safety and ease of moving around the house.  At first, I felt sad about his loss of sight and vision, but watching him adapt and not miss a step, warmed my heart and feeling blessed that he looks and acts like a puppy!

This year I have been struggling with making a major decision on closing something that I have put my heart and soul into for many years. Energy, resources, time, creativity and so many other activities have gone into this venture. Yes, I was emotionally attached!  Struggling to make “the right” decision, my head and heart were in conflict as to what to do. Sound familiar?

One recent evening, fell into bed exhausted with Mitch lying next to me. I was reading and writing in my journal. All of a sudden I felt Mitch twitch, nothing unusual as when he sleeps he sometimes twitches. I call it “Mitch is dreaming again”…

All of a sudden, Mitch’s twitch turned into a continual shaking and twitching. I leaped off the bed and picked him up holding him close. This continued for what seemed an eternity. Holding him, kissing his head, sending love to him, didn’t cease his experience. Finally the tremors stopped only to start up again.

Not wanting Mitch to pick up on my concern and being scared stayed in the moment with him, it was later when he was resting that I fell to pieces.

When the shaking and tremors ceased, after he was cleaned up and he was lying in front of the fire in the fireplace, all warm and snuggled in his bed, I sat on the floor thinking about what we had just gone through together. Then a light went off!

Mitch once again, taught me a lesson – Release! No matter how much I wanted to help him in the moment, no matter how much love, I could not change, fix or stop what he was going through.

Lesson: Release what you cannot control!

Release, Allow and then respond to the outcome which best serves.

Mitch is doing fabulous; he is lying next to me as I am working. I am doing fabulous!  Releasing the venture has worked out better than ever imagined. New doors are opening up while winding down.

Is there something that you are holding onto that is out of your control?

If so, evaluate if  no longer within your control regardless of the emotional attachment – Release!

“Every minute of every day is a perfect miracle”   Walt Whitman

Consider not wasting on minute on what you can't control as the magic is in what you can control!

 Dream, Believe Again and Achieve all the You Desire!

Time For Me Now Inspiration - Courage

Lesson from a Courageous Squirrel!

Recently, I was walking on the trail and came upon this little guy. I stopped to observe as he was munching and I didn’t want to scare him. Immediately I was found out and this little guy stopped dead in his actions.

Yes, I always walk with my camera, as I never know when I may stumble on the magnificence and beauty of nature!  This day was special as I was so close and did not require using a telescopic lens. So you can get a sense of how close I actually was to the moment.

My body was standing as still as possible while trying to figure out how I don’t scare him away. Then I realized he was trying to figure out my next move. As I was watching him I centered and attempted to put off a safe energy, letting him know that I was friend not foe! Check out his eyes, like watching from peripheral, saying " I see you"!

I bent down to be able to get a photo shot of him, as I raised my camera he flinched for a moment and then looked straight ahead- thus the shot…. I stood up observing him and wondering what in the world he must think about this big thing encroaching on his space, I interrupted his lunch!

As I left Mr. Squirrel, I turned to see if he ran off, he was still in his space continuing munching his lunch. I was thinking about how brave he was to stand his ground and not run away. I am sure that his little heart was beating and the survival skills kicked in but he still held his ground.

Time for me now to assess my experience with Mr. Fearless, yes I named Mr. Squirrel!

Courage is what came to mind, didn’t mean that he wasn’t afraid, but he had the strength to stay grounded, assess the situation and the result was he was safe and able to continue on his path.

Each of us is presented with new fears, circumstances or new situations that stirs up fear or causes us to feel hopeless. That is normal and does not mean that we aren’t brave or courageous; it is how we respond to those feelings. 

Acknowledge the feelings and then:

      Stay grounded

      Assess the entire scope of the situation, and then

      Determine next steps; Take Action

      Action Empowers, makes us Stronger, New Lessons & Experiences

      YOU are Courageous

Courage is not the absence of fear or despair, but the strength to conquer them. (Anon)