Bloom into Spring

Throughout the year, Kimberly Wilson leads a teleclass where you check in seasonally to see how you are doing with your year. It is a helpful reminder to see where your goals are, what are the changes that you need to do, and what can you celebrate. Last Monday, I decided to get my acrylics and paint my petals. Each petal is a reflection that you create, meditate on, and see how you can create active steps to do. Since we're only 3 months into the year, it's been a good way to check-in and see if you are making the steps necessary to live out your dreams.

Spring Blooming

Daylight savings time has been pretty rough for me. Somehow I just can't seem to get up at 6:15am, 6:30am... My body just wants to sleep through the hour. I wake up feeling defeated. I reflect on my morning pages. Get my shower. Thank goodness it's spring break so my commute isn't really bad. Then I just feel bad about showing up so late. I like to ease into my work day and I feel like with an early morning start I can have that.

I have to remember that happiness and being present is a challenge we can take with ourselves regardless of what has happened before. It's our outlook on life that we have so much control over. So what? I'll just have to try again and make the most of what I have for the rest of the day.

The most remarkable thing happened the other night when I stayed up until 1am. I was just hyped up and couldn't go to sleep. I was so excited about my new projects (artist way-creating art-creating a new food/travel/health blog) I couldn't go to bed. How do I blend my dreams into my reality. How do I blur the lines between work/life/play into one big party instead of feeling like I'm a split personality? It was also the first time I was able to write more than fifty things I was grateful and thankful for... I just kept going on and on and on and on.

I thought about the joy God already brings in our lives and how simple happiness can really be achieved if you let it. Some things I thought about...

+a bunch of beautiful purple tulips+manchego cheese,prosciutto and pistacios+sparkling water+water with mint and cucumbers+fresh herbs+a new cooking project+being around inspiring and good people+a boyfriend who is getting the rest and vacation he deserves+travel plans to Montreal and Colorado+the outdoors+bike riding+yoga at home and in studio+synchronicity+hot baths+spin class+salad made with mangos,bacon,avocado&raspberry dressing+opportunity for more creativity+fun work projects

Why do I constantly feel like I have to produce and go and accomplish when my heart wants to rest, celebrate, and feel restored? Where is that balance? When can I just be and relish in the joy?

March Fun -- Reflecting -- Planning -- Inspiring

The weather is absolutely lovely right now. I am excited about spring - the temperature is pleasant, the festivals and activities are popping up, and more time to indulge in play and work. I hope I can try and blur the lines in a much more inspiring and energetic way -- make work more playful and productive and take my playtime more seriously like it is a job that I must dedicate myself to doing.

There's so many opportunities for artist dates and fun.

+ A much needed cardio session (spinning, biking or running) whatever - I ran once and did home yoga once. I'm ready to bust into the weekend and be more energized and slowly work on my goals (10K for my birthday next month and sprint triathlon for June).

+ Reflecting on How Much Control We Have Over Our Happiness - Since I can't have a series of days of yet? And, don't have the funds for that extravagant vacation yet? What can I do in the meantime? via visioning, collaging, and journaling

+ Reflecting on What Financial Finesse Looks Like again via visioning, collaging and journaling and going to my class

+ Monday Massage -woohoo

+ Festivals and Parks (Menil Arts and Yoga at DiscoverY!)

+ Art Sessions, Looking at Art in the Menil

+ Spring Wedding - I am the maid of honor for my cousin Sheila's wedding! Started to get excited as the date rolls near!

+ Watching a Matinee - woohoo! Alice in Wonderland with Emma

+ Hanging out with family

+ At home spa time - yay for hot baths, smoothies, and rest!

March Musings and Inspirations

Check out this fun website called www.wordle.net!

Facing the Start of Your Week - Boldly and Fearlessly

Back to the Daily Grind... Another Monday!
Typically this can be a sad realization for some, but for others who are inspired, motivated and focused, it can be a great opportunity for them to relish in who they are and start diving in to accomplish much.

Here are some ways to make sure you kick the case of the Mondays in the face:
#1 Bring in an element of your weekend to your Monday. For me today, it was sitting down and eating leftovers from my Sunday morning breakfast. On Sundays, my boyfriend and I like to go out and eat a good breakfast. It's the only morning that he gets to sleep in and it's a nice way for us to slow down and get to talk. Smelling the coffee, tasting the sweet orange juice, and eating fluffy pancakes made by someone else is a simple and beautiful luxury. :) So this morning, I ate my breakfast with a fresh cup of coffee, re-warmed pancakes, eggs and hash browns on a plate with a place mat on my desk. Yeah, it's not IHOP or Barnaby's, but it was a nice reminder of things I'm grateful for - a relaxing morning over a yummy meal with a wonderful beau.

#2 Gratitude journal entry: Reflecting on your weekend. Relish in moment by moment and detail by detail. It will make you feel energized and renewed - ready to produce some good work. You'll be more motivated to dive into your work week when you know your time in the office provides the currency and resources to enjoy a good life.

#3 Incorporate your passion in your daytime work. You spend more time at your desk than any substantial activity you can invest in fully on the weekend. That's the reality. So find some inspiring work that incorporates what you would be willing to do on your free time.

#4 Take breaks. Go for a walk nearby. Take a few stretches. Read an inspiring news article. Review your goals and reflect on why you are here to work.

#5 Be fully present in your work. Dive in because this may be your one chance to do this great work. If that doesn't inspire you today, remember that you are your own brand. What you do is a reflection of your values and aspirations. You may not feel like you have made it, but for today, God put you here to learn, enjoy and face the current challenges and adventures.

Be fearless. Live passionately.

eclectic+electric+energizing

I am using the terms eclectic, electric, and energizing because that's how I feel like my February has turned out to be. First off, I used it because I've recently made a nice mix of music for the the month which has a nice melange of artists: Portishead, Flaming Lips, Moby, and Lusine. I think there are some themes running in my mind that I'm trying to be conscious of these past few weeks:

1) Connectivity to God's grace and gratitude: In order to have a real authentic relationship with God, you have to spend time with him and get to know him. And, I don't just mean indulging in just spending time alone. Sometimes, that just ends up being all about you... I mean spending time thinking about your circumstance, resources, and situations that lead up to ultimately serve, praise, and reverence God. I think we can get trapped into being our own cheerleaders and forget the vastness and greatness of God's grace. We can't do it on our own, and we weren't made to do all of this on our own. Remember that this is all for God through and through...

2) Energy and Electricity from God: In Cameron's "Artist Way," she speaks about affirmations. Some affirmations are very, very hard to face and trust. The following are the ones I grapple with the most:

:: I am a channel for God's creativity, and my work comes to good.
:: My dreams come from God and God has the power to accomplish them.
:: I am willing to let God create through me.

If we don't have faith, have joy, and lovingly accept the providence of God, we will not grow. Period. That's it. No trust, belief, and faith in the spirit leads to staleness. I don't want to be stale. And the result of growing, comes from being in tune with God, trusting God, and facing some ugly things that keep us from God. Again, we shouldn't guilt or punish ourselves, we should calmly accept that we don't do this on our own. We should face our barriers and lean into God even more. That's what character-building and maturity is about.

3) Financial Savvy and Bliss: Three weeks ago, I started the Dave Ramsey class. I heard about this class almost 7 years ago and watched other people turn their lives around. I never listened. I even tried reading up on certain financial tips and incorporating them on my own, but it often just sucked. I am at a point in my life where I had to look in the mirror and realize in order to continue growing I was going to have to manage this aspect of my life better. You can't work hard and just hope for the best. You actually have to plan in order to fulfill your dreams and help others. So, I hope this spring is a time that I can teach myself new habits and better discipline.

4) Serving Women and Being in a Faith Community: Connectedness to God doesn't just happen on your own. We are made to connect to others and be part of the Church. The body is one of God's most important instruments. If we are not part of the body, how can we truly relate to God and experience the beauty of God. Yes, prayer and individual time is crucial, but so is being part of a faith community. I have often wished to be part of a faith community, but lately gave up on trying to be part of one. The opportunity has come up for me to start serving other women. I think supporting women is crucial: as daughters, sisters, mothers, and employees we have a unique insight on the world and oftentimes we are spiritually exhausted because of all the roles we have. I hope that in my service to women I can inspire spiritual rejuvenation and connectivity. And, just have a spot in my life, where I can meet amazing people and serve more.

5) Gratitude and Simplicity: We are so driven to continue chasing carrots and we forget about what we already have. Having a gratitude perspective reminds us of the overwhelming grace God gives and reminds us that extending grace is our role as Christians. Ugh! That's so hard sometimes. We are hardwired to continue going and going and going to the point of exhausting. If we are not doing, we are not accomplishing and we are nothing.

That's a sad perspective to have on life. :(

Start thinking and reflecting on your actions and events that come up in your life. What did you do this past weekend? What were the highlights? Where was God present in those moments? And, where could you have used God's guidance? There are messages from Him if you listen and work with Him.

Reflecting on Things Gives You More Appreciation on the Abundances in Your Life
:: Great conversation with a colleague while enjoying a good cup of black bean soup and veggie sandwich
:: A long yoga session with live music from DJ Sun
:: Being able to watch Hotel Babylon and eat a scrumptious meal cooked by my boyfriend
:: Having a good massage --> getting the stiffness and stress rubbed out of my neck and shoulders and getting some rest
:: Finding a beautiful reproduction of Byzantine artwork for my mother's birthday and knowing that she would enjoy it
:: Watching hockey with friends
:: Belly-dancing
:: Watching Canada kick butt in hockey
:: Enjoying a meal at Tokyo One
:: Being challenged to face brokenness
:: Riding bikes with my boyfriend
:: Getting more sleep
:: A glass of wine and thinking about Montelpuciano
:: Discussing dreams and fears honestly with someone who is willing to listen

Reflecting is so, so, so important. Slow down and experience things. Breathe things in and let them excite your senses. Close your eyes. Feel the warmth and embrace your life.