Creating Heartfelt Holidays.......

~ Fair Trade Shopping ~

For Christmas this year I want family time decorating the trees, the smell of cloves, sing~a~longs, holiday hang out with family & friends, bestowing Random Acts of Kindness all around, lots of white twinkle lights, gift giving that doesn't make me clench my teeth (thank goodness the recipient I am referring to does not read my blog) and I want to be able to put my head on my pillow each night until January 1st, 2015, feeling happy and content with how my Heartfelt Holiday season turned out.

My notebook is started, my vision is written and I'm ready to kick things off. I will write out cards early this year, enjoying the individual notes I will have time to include. I will spend time with family & friends and it will be about making memories and not about cleaning and cooking before hand.

I will enjoy looking for that special gift because I will not be pressed for time.

In fact this Saturday I am attending a friend's Fair Trade Sale. I will purchase gifts
knowing they will benefit the Girl Effect Group. Proceeds last year were donated to organizations supporting girls and women in the area of education in Kenya, Guatemala and Sophia House here in Providence. 

Join in the fun Dear Readers, as we start early, not over extend and find Peace!

I am taking on this holiday season with a Dream It....Do It! way of thinking. By starting now, defining how I want things to go......lots of laughter, tinsel, belly laughs, feel good moments and very little stress, I'm confident I can Do It!

Special Note: Please message me if you would like to stop by and shop at the Fair Trade Sale too!

Do You Need A Band Aid???

When Life gets in the way and feelings of good are not at the surface, it's time to take out the first aid kit and get a handle on the situation and begin the triage process.

That's where I've been the past few weeks, caught up in "stuff"...hence the not posting to my blog. Not that things have been feeling negative, but more that I lost sight of my own thoughts, my "me" time that recharges and so importantly fell short in recognizing my many Blessings. The Blessings remain, but go unnoticed when we get caught up in our regular routine and forget to keep ourselves in good mental health.

So after the inner conversations of what the hell is wrong? and why am I feeling glass half empty, I started to realize its not about the sink full of dishes AGAIN or that the washing machine is on it's way out (after the dishwasher conked out 2 weeks ago) it was more about not being ready to handle those things because I let myself lose consciousness of how I choose to live my Life.

So the healing begins, the first aid kit is out and I put into motion the process of getting back on track. 

Today I will:

~ Sit and listen to nothing, knowing that's the best time to hear the most

~ Not over analyze feelings of bewilderment, so they can slip on by

~ Make time & stretch out the knots, releasing the stress weighing me down

~ Be creative ~ Daydream~ Blow bubbles

~ Start the wheels in motion for a project

~ Be kind to myself 

Kicking Arse In Old Quebec City..................

Kicking fear's F'n Ass in Old Quebec City!

No not fear of germs in the street...... of letting fear hold me back from travelling.

Dear Readers, today I offer to you thoughts of encouragement and empowerment, to ease whatever holds you back in your Life. It doesn't matter if others understand it or not.....if it is crippling and difficult for you, then it is very real! Begin easing the anxiety.......take a breath.....commit to wanting to make it different for You! Start with tiny steps and watch the distance they will take you. Know that it will feel uncomfortable and you'll want the unsettling feelings to stop...the thing is this, those feelings are really the indicator that you are working on something, that once past it, will have the freeing reward of true accomplishment and moving forward! 

Be kind to yourself during the process...Remember positive self talk is much more beneficial than the damage of sabotaging ourselves with negative thoughts.

From experience I can share with you that it isn't an easy process, it doesn't happen quickly, it's never completely gone and it's not easy to navigate, [ready for the big but?]...BUT...stick with it and know the rush of "I did it", while doing your happy dance [or kissing the cobblestone] 

is totally.....Worth It!

Snowy Day In New England..................

On a recent snowy day here in New England I needed to clear my head, I also needed to return books to the library. So I combined the two and walked over. Not a far walk at all. As I headed out on my jaunt, I was welcomed by the falling snow, the quietness it brings and the soft whisper of dried oak leaves on a tree I passed. I tossed around the problems that were bothering me, then tried to let them fade and gather all the calmness this serene walk had to offer, glad I had made the choice to venture out.

My stop at the library was ever so brief, and I was back on my way to resume my peaceful walk home.......Well here's where it all changed. The wind was making it difficult to walk now, while snow hit my face in rapid fire speed, my eyes watered and my breath was short. What had happened???

As I focused on walking, I compared this situation to Life. We can be going along and all seems wonderful and effortless. We notice the gifts around us as we are ticking along and just as we become confident, things can quickly change...... suddenly the wind is no longer at our backs. We are faced with stressful and difficult situations and a our gifts and blessing are tougher to see. 

Similarly, as I continued my way home, walking into the wind and eyes all watery I had to focus a bit more. I stopped and snapped a picture of the beautiful oak tree that still held the same whispering sounds I heard on my way by the first time, when all was peaceful and calm. I wanted to capture and hold onto the moment and the meaning it served. 

I reminded myself that blessings are still there even when the wind is no longer at our backs helping us along....we just have to stop and notice them and hold on tight until the winds shift again. Find your blessings...the more you look....the more you see ~