To Dream a Dream

Everyone has dreams. From the time we are very little to the moment we take our last breath, there are things that we wish to happen in life.

I’m not talking about the dreams we have when we go to bed each night, although I do believe the fertile ground of sleep can nurture the seeds of possibility.

I’m thinking more about the Dreams that buoy around us in our waking hours.  With a capital D.

One of my dreams is the Dream of Adventure…being in Nature…exploring new places…hiking.  Really- any hike is worthy of a spot in my Dream tapestry…but I imagine hiking big mountains too…14ers in Colorado…Kilimanjaro in Africa.

The energy surrounding a dream is timeless. Think about a moment when you saw a piece of artwork, or read a book that touched your soul. The creator of that book….the artist of that picture… all had a dream which was fulfilled. And in that fulfillment, an energy was created that still touches those who are meant to be touched.

A dream shared grows stronger.  Being vulnerable in the tender spot of our soul takes great courage. But as we take that step of trust, an amazing thing happens. When we share our passion, our creativity, our dreams...we not only nurture ourselves and our inner calling- but our Dream can spark the birth of a Dream in another.

The spirit of a Dream runs deep and inspiration emerges in many ways. Another can hold the space for your dream to unfold, thus held in the heart and intention of another. So the power surrounding the dream expands, and the tapestry of possibility grows.

I have experienced this in my life. Sweet friends have made comments like, “Knowing you….I expect you can do this.”  Trainer Tim from the Gym held this intention for me 5 years ago when he helped me set my goals and intentions and now says...”Here you are, making your dream happen.” Trainer Sean is now stepping up to the plate and holding an intention of success as I train even deeper.

A special person in my life sends me a gorgeous print of Kilimanjaro.  

Even individuals whom I have never met…Colorado mountaineers who set their sights on the most giant of the giants, such as Everest and Lhotse offer a kind word of encouragement. They know that a dream is a dream….and there is no hierarchy when it comes to matters of the heart. 

So, thus the tapestry of possibility is created. As others hold their part…it’s up to me to climb up onto that Dream…much like a trampoline…and jump high with my arms spread wide and a happy smile on my face and in my heart.

What dreams do you have? What feeds your soul and nourishes your heart? Enjoy the dream…enjoy the journey and share with the rest of us so we can help hold your dream in a sacred place of possibility.

The Pursuit of Happiness

Most of us, if asked would probably agree “happiness” is important. It is something we strive for and we feel like that we “deserve” it. We have the best of intentions as we set about trying to make happiness happen. Many books have been written discussing happiness, and have offered detailed information on how to create or find happiness. There have been Happiness Projects. In fact, I've read many of those books, and have been intrigued by those who make happiness a project.  It’s all been helpful.

However, sometimes I wonder if I over think it. Does happiness need to be pursued? Does it need to be a project?

Is it such a grand undertaking to pave the path to happiness? And just how far away is it, anyway? Do we need a GPS that gives us step-by-step directions?

I think that I've been chasing something that I don’t need to chase. Maybe happiness is not the destination, but is something that quietly simmers within each one of us. The GPS we should follow is our own- our God Powered Soul- that which is omnipresent within each of us. We can just be…happy.

The journey is the one within. We simply make the choice to allow- to deeply allow happiness that is within each of us to emerge.

Like anything else- it’s up to us to allow it to be revealed, right?

We can resist, we can deny, we can hang on to our stories…the times we perceived we were denied that which we needed to be happy. There can be emotional stragglers from our past taunting us that we are somehow falling short of the mark.  We can choose to spew litanies to anyone who will listen about why we are not happy, or whose fault it might be that happiness eludes us….but it’s not the real truth of the matter.

The truth of the matter is that when we can sit quietly with our thoughts- when we turn our direction within…our inner GPS…God Powered Soul will illuminate the way… and the wells where happiness lives bubbles up to nourish our body and our soul.

Here is a simple way we can connect to happiness.

Try it right now. Sit quietly, close your eyes and take several slow deep breaths.  Feel your body relax. Allow any feelings, thoughts or emotions just rise up into your awareness and gently float away. Know that this is a moment of peace. 

Allow a color to come to your awareness….what color does happiness look like to you?

Visualize that color.  Allow it to fill your body….bathing the tips of your toes to the top of your head…see that color of happiness swirl gently around you…spreading out several inches from your body.

The color may change…it may morph from one hue to another. It’s ok.  Create your own mosaic…weaving together a comforting quilt of colors in which to wrap around your sweet tender self.

As new fresh space is created, the fountain of happiness settles in, creating a new imprint of happiness that just is.  

Try it every day for a week or two, and let me know how your life changes!

happiness by the water

The Intent of Winter

It’s a cold Colorado morning.  Temperatures hovering in the teens give pause for extra thought and care before one ventures out for the day. However, as I sit here in the wee morning hours, sipping on a cup of coffee, warm and cozy, I recognize there are still secrets to unravel from the lessons of Winter.

There’s a certain amount of magnificence within the cold and snowy landscape.  It’s a gentle nudge from Nature to slow down, to look within, and to allow ones inner growth, creativity and passions to percolate just a little longer, insulated and safe...but gathering steam nonetheless.

 I've been amazed by how peaceful it is to watch the falling snow and to embrace the space between the snowflakes. There is beauty to behold from the snow gathering on the treetops-insulating the bare vulnerable branches. It feels like Mother Nature’s intent supports hibernation and reflection….which without a doubt will lead to the promise of spring. New growth within those trees is already awakening, getting ready to burst out with new possibilities and a fullness of spirit.

Our inner essence is much the same, I believe. In those sacred times of reflection…when we heed the soft whispers offered by Nature, it allows that which has been simmering the space from which to emerge. 

Alignment- as a mom and grandmother....

I was reflecting a few minutes ago on how wonderful it is to be a grandmother. I was an idiot about a lot of things as a parent when my kids were growing up, and I am not an idiot about much being a grandmother. I mean, I loved my kids dearly, but often I was distracted, or busy, or stressed, and was not really present. I remember feeling  close to my kids, but I am not sure my actions matched those inner feelings.

I think I was good enough, but I don't really feel like I would have won  any parent of the year award.  Luckily for me, my haphazard, doing the best I can mix of parenting skills, mixed with a fair shake of strong family connections seemed to work ok, as I have two wonderful children whom I feel very close to.

I was out of alignment with my thoughts and actions.  And as I think about my life now, I recognize I am out of alignment in other areas of my life, but feel so much more in alignment as it pertains to being a mother and grandmother.

While time often felt like a rubber band that was wound tight around a pencil as I rushed through my day when they were little,  the rubber band is relaxed and subtle now. I truly enjoy and look forward to the time I spend with my kids. And I am completely enamored and head over heels in love with my grandchildren. The gift of age, time and perspective adds up to me really, really getting the importance of focused presence. That one on one wonder of  true connection.

 I continue my inner journey of exploring the in's and outs of true alignment and coherence. I'm exploring to learn more. Not to punish myself for what I didn't do, but to gently excavate those things in my life that deserve deeper reflection. Our inner world reflects our outer world. As my chiropractor gently taps and corrects bones and posture in my semi- crooked spine, I feel a release of pent up feelings, emotions and memories. I believe this will help me identify those areas still in need of alignment. I'm making progress on this one- voicing and feeling the desire to write, and actually making the time to do so. Feels like a sweet victory to me.

Alignment

I was listening to a lecture yesterday and the speaker posed an interesting question. If money were no issue, if all of your bills and financial obligations were taken care of, what would you do? It's  a topic I have thought about before. I have not yet reached the level of financial comfort that I strive for, and once again, if not now- when? So I  thought about it again- what would I want to do. Where does my passion lie?

I know I would want to write- I would want to spend more time with my children, grandchildren, family and friends. I would want to spend more time outside- exploring and hiking. Maybe take a few family vacations. Give back to my community to a greater degree. Teach others, perhaps in accordance with my writing.

And so I am beginning.Doing it as if it is already happening- in any ways that I can. Getting up earlier than usual to spark some creative thoughts and words before work. It feels a little jagged, and the flow of words is not quite so easy- perhaps in anticipation of a busy day ahead. But the important thing is that I still sat down to write. 

Like a rusty joint needs extra lubricant to soften  and work smoothly- I feel I am nourishing my internal and external joints that have become stiff and creaky.So I may be wring about alignment from a variety of perspectives. Financial alignment, spiritual alignment, physical alignment, emotional alignment. Following my passion and joy and eliminating areas of toxic stress.  It feels good to nurture the embers of creativity. 

Superwoman's Cape is Sagging

Weekends are time for renewal, fun and rest. It's given me pause for thought this morning, as my " get up and go" has pretty much "got up and left." I'm wondering about the ways in which I have created so much busyness, most days of the week. My ideal morning is to wake up, meditate, enjoy a cup or two of coffee and relax in happy anticipation of what the day might bring. That sounds and feels like a relaxing day. Instead, what I feel is this underlying urgency to complete a laundry list of  chores and obligations, including with no big surprise- the laundry.

Without fail, the list does not get completed, friends and family might feel slighted or ignored, and the day is done.  Before I go to sleep, I gently take off my superwoman cape, shake out the wrinkles and hang it up for the following day, but it seems to me that the cape is getting a little ragged. And while I am not quite sure how I got appointed superwoman, I believe I may have had something to do with it.

So my quest today is to figure out how I might retire that cape.  Discernment and caution is called for. I don't want to go shopping with all of my free time and pick up the Martyr Crown. Trust me, it beckons  with an inviting eye and great promise.

The place where I want to be is one of balance. I feel my balance has been skewed to a dangerous wobble because I have not taken enough time for myself.  And the recent need for weekly visits to the chiropractor might have been a not so subtle nudge to think about this...and adjust course to be in better alignment with my inner self, values and desires. Definitely something to ponder as I finish up the second cup of coffee!

It's about time

I am always excited when I sit down with a blank piece of paper. I'm usually never quite sure what is going on it, but there is this inner spark that flares up and a feeling of happiness that spreads to my heart. I've always thought of myself as a writer, and have imagined great books  to be penned. However, as birthday's fly by and life gets busier, focused time for writing often takes a back burner.  So, after celebrating yet another birthday...it occurred to me with a greater nudge- if not now- when? I've thought about writing, dreamed about writing, attended writing workshops, so maybe I should just write. Every day, for some part of my day.

 I am not sure what this path will look like, and I don't even care. I just want to connect with my inner self, and see what emerges. I hope each word written will unblock unexpressed resistance, and the flow of creativity will come rushing forth.  I know any resistance has been self-imposed on some level of another, and I'd like to explore that, or not.

I am not concerned if this blog is read by others or not.  Maybe that will change in time but maybe it won't and that's ok. Perhaps the first chapter of a book will come forth. Maybe  I can share my thoughts and feelings in a blog written for my grandchildren, who I love and cherish beyond measure.  Maybe as I take steps in the direction of my dreams to write..to have time, energy and financial support to write...the path  become much more clear.  I want to explore the things in my life that make me happy. I want to explore alignment and congruence. I want to jot down my thoughts of what it's been like living in Colorado this last 9 months. I want to dream and write about hiking 14ers.  What does health mean to me?  Many things come to mind, so it's time to just jump in.

not quite cocooning...but preparing for change!