Alone on a Desert Island and Only One Thing to Bring

If I was alone on a desert island, what would I bring?  Hands down without a second thought, I would bring is a limitless supply of paper and pens.  I could not live without being able to write.  Writing is my biggest muse. Writing keeps me. Writing is me. Writing is how I figure out who I am. Writing is how I solve problems. Writing is my love. Writing is transformation and connection and allows me to feel. Writing is like my secret code. Writing is complete freedom of speech..haha!

As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world, think about the one thing that you cannot live without.

Can I be a Peaceful Warrior ?

I often hear the word warrior used in a spiritual context. When I hear the word warrior, the stereo typical idea of a warrior comes to mind...fighter, soldier, combatant.
“I came, I saw, I conquered.” — Julius Caesar
“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.” — Winston Churchill

I have to say I am really not comfortable using the word warrior in a spiritual context. It seems to me to be in complete opposition to peace.  I decided to do some research.  Maybe I can reconcile to this word. I do not want to feel this resistance inside me.

Some things I found were that a warrior is someone who strives to be the best they can be or someone that has the discipline to change their behaviour or someone who engages in battle (spiritual or physical) out of personal conviction rather than out of obedience to orders or a warrior understands the horror of war and will not deliberately chase war or a warrior is capable of moral judgement.  
Hmmm...I did not find conclusive evidence to make me comfortable with the word warrior. The connotations are overwhelmingly negative.  So I will not be using the word warrior in a spiritual context. To me it is very obviously a misuse of the word.
As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today, think about the words you use.

Comfort Zone

I like to think I am all about stepping outside my comfort zone.  Don't know if that's really what I am all about. But I do definitely step outside my comfort zone, at least once in a while. My latest stepping outside my comfort zone is making videos of myself for my business.  I have tended to hide who I was internally as well as externally. So I am ecstatic that I am able to do this.  I am growing and evolving! Right before my eyes and yours.  Now, I did a few practice videos before actually posting one (that's okay right?). I don't see myself as others see me, so this exercise is hugely helpful. Maybe I'll end up on the big screen...who knows. That is not part of my vision at this point, but you know what "they" say, "Never say never."  Life is good and gets gooder and gooder every day.  Thank you my sweet universe!

As you take two minutes to think about peace for our world today, think about stepping outside your comfort zone.

Anticipation

I still feel like a kid when I am looking forward to something. Today I am spending the afternoon with my brother and sister-in-law.  And I am so excited.  I just can't wait.  This morning I was in the middle of my daily workout and I received a text. Well, what to do?  Wait until I  completed my workout or check right now.  Nope, could not wait.  Stopped my workout and wow, what a nice surprise! A text from my far away brother.  That was definitely worth stopping my workout for!  Anticipation is like a gift. And opening it such sweet delight. The longing to discover is so intense. I am in the moment waiting for the future. It is really beautiful and agonizing at the same time. I find anticipation nurtures my soul in a seductive manner. I think anticipation keeps me young.
As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today, think about anticipation.

Collectively

I saw this verse the other day (can't remember where, though) and loved these powerful words.

Peace not war
Generosity not greed
Empathy not hate
Creativity not destruction
Everybody not just us
As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today, think about peace, generosity, empathy, creativity and everybody.

Not Fixing Not Helping But Serving!

I am a lover and user of Google. During one of my many Google searches I happened upon an article written by Rachel Naomi Remen. I do not remember anymore what I was originally searching for. I was so blown away by the article Rachel wrote on the difference between serving, fixing and helping.  She stated it so beautifully and with such clarity that I felt compelled to write about it here.  She makes the point that when we see ourselves as fixers or helpers we see the world as broken or less than we are. Serving comes from a place of wholeness...my wholeness and your wholeness...equals.  Wow...that resonates so perfectly with my soul. 
Rachel goes on to say that helping incurs a debt and fixing implies that there is brokenness.  Fixing and helping create a distance between me and the person I am fixing or helping.  Helping and fixing are about curing while serving heals. Serving comes from gratitude and wholeness.  Such a difference. Serving connects. Really, how can I serve when I am not connected? Fixing and helping are outer actions, while serving is an inner attitude.   
I am taking this all in. I am already changed. My perspective has shifted. A new paradigm. My heart has expanded once again. Thank you my sweet universe!
As you take two minutes to consider peace today, think about how serving will change you and those you serve.

Play

Johan Huizinga...Dutch historian and professor, identifies 5 characteristics that play must have:

1. Play is free, is in fact freedom.
2. Play is not “ordinary” or “real” life.
3. Play is distinct from “ordinary” life both as to locality and duration.
4. Play creates order, is order. Play demands order absolute and supreme.
5. Play is connected with no material interest, and no profit can be gained from it.

I have found that when I am in a playing mindset,  I am much more creative than when I am in a working mindset. I lose track of time and am completely in the moment. Just recently, when I was preparing a workshop on Thoughtful Design, I was so excited about the content. The workshop just appeared, almost by itself. It was amazing. And pure fun! Even though it was technically work.  My dilemma is that I seem to resist this and buy into the belief that work must be hard and tedious. Can productivity and fun be a partnership? Oh yes they can. My little granddaughters teach me this all the time. I get down on the floor with them and the connection, the laughter, the joy is spontaneous and pure fun. And learning is just naturally part of our games. Games like penguin or flower or baby (they have a little baby brother). Our spirits are lifted and our imaginations are stimulated. 

For the most part I have exchanged play for work and responsibilities.  I am on a mission to really learn how to play again.  You know the whole balance thing. And apparently there is evidence to show that play may be an antidote to violence. And that really makes my heart sing. 

So as you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today, will you join me in giving yourself permission to play today?

Rest is a Necessity

It  seems that rest is a discipline more than a luxury. Practicing the discipline of rest requires  requires some deliberate choices:  

~Choosing not to over commit
~Choosing to enjoy the moment and be present
~Choosing to to take care of our mind, body and soul everyday

Just like there are seasons in nature, we are designed with a rhythm as well.   Rest is not a luxury, it is a necessity!   it is a principle that is pretty much bypassed with our philosophy of achieve and acquire. To do nothing will probably be met with flack. I still struggle with this, despite knowing how important  rest and play are to creativity. And I am all about creativity. My recent bout with the flu got this message to me loud and clear. In order to have a smooth ebb and flow to my life, rest must be a part of it. I am learning the importance of pacing myself.   At times I feel guilty, anxious and uneasy, but I am carrying on with my downtimes and accepting the healing and restoring that results.  I recently heard somebody say, "Rest like you mean it."  How about that for a mantra?  
As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today, rest like you mean it!

How Many Marbles Do You Have

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.

A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen, with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems
to hand you from time to time.

Let me tell you about it. I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning talk show. I heard an older sounding chap with a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business himself.

He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named "Tom". I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.

"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital." He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."

"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years."

"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime.

"Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part.

"It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. "I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy.

"So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round-up 1000 marbles.  I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right here in my workshop next to the radio. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away."

"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out, to help get your priorities straight. Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then God has blessed me with a little extra time to be with my loved ones...... It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday. Have a good morning!"

You could have heard a pin drop when he finished. Even the show's moderator didn't have anything to say for a few moments. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke up my wife with a kiss.

"C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast."

"What brought this on?" she asked with a smile.

"Oh, nothing special," I said. " It has just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."

I love this story and wanted to share it with you today. Every time I hear it I stop and think about what is really important in my life.

As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today, think about what is really important in your life and how many marbles you have left.

Being Organized = Peace

Why Get Organized?

Does that seem like a silly question? Gosh, doesn’t everyone want to be organized? Yes, but being organized means different things to different people. Here are some possible motivations:

      Relief from visual clutter

      Easily finding what you need

      Having a home you enjoy inviting friends to visit

      Recovering from a big life change that’s disrupted your previous system…new baby; new job; new house; divorce; death in family

   Finding internal peace

It’s important to know why you’ve decided to get organized.  Getting organized can be as simple as getting to the bottom of that pile of mail on your desk or as complex as overhauling your entire house. 

Even if it’s a small-scale project, organizing is rarely a one-time effort. If you are organizing because you think you should, or because you fear disapproval, or because family members are pressuring you, I urge you to come up with your own positive reasons. It's easier to be motivated by the carrot than the stick. A goal that you have chosen, the results of which will really improve your quality of life, is a great incentive. One way to do that is by creating a vision of the life you want.

For me, I can have no internal peace when I am surrounded by chaos and disorder and clutter. It is critical for me to be organized in my life. From my morning and evening routines, to the food I eat, to how much I move every day, to what I schedule into my day and even to what is on my coffee table. I have internal peace when I pay attention to my environment and stay organized.

As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today think about what you can do to maintain your internal peace by bringing organization into the centre of your life.

See you Sunday

I am taking today off.  Peace my friends.

On Being a Mother-in-law

When the term mother-in-law comes up, we all have a pre-conceived perception about the word. The stereo typical depiction is so negative.  "Mother-in-law" has gotten such a bad rap.  I am sure there are situations that are unpleasant, however my experience on being a mother-in-law is absolutely delightful.  Absolutely delightful!  Now I approached this relationship with awareness from day one.  I wanted to be friends with my children's partners. Not to replace or upstage their mothers.  That would have been just plain foolish on my part. I knew where the line in the sand was and is. My first experience with being a mother-in-law began 11 years ago. And this beautiful woman has indeed become a dear friend. She chooses to call me Mom and I am so honoured.  She is my daughter and we are completely comfortable with one another. We are real with one another. I am developing relationships with two new people that have joined our family.  New opportunities to learn and grow. I am so blessed to be a mother-in-law. Mother-in-law is a beautiful word.
As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today, look at your pre-conceived ideas and what the real truth is.

Tools For My Best Life

Today when I didn't hear back from a client I started to panic. Did I do something wrong? Was she rejecting me? I immediately went to is there something wrong with me?  I'm not good enough, right?  Wrong. I caught myself very quickly and changed what I was saying. I instead said, "I did my very best for  my client, and my very best is all I can do." I sat with this for a while, after several rounds of EFT, until it became what I really believed.  I absolutely love EFT and am  always amazed at how quick and effective this technique is. I have alot of tools to live my best life and unless I use them they are simply clutter in my life. EFT is one that I go to on a daily basis. Really cannot imagine a day without EFT.
As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today, think about the tools you have to live you best life and use them.

Personal Peace

I have found that alot of my frustrations can be avoided. I try to plan ahead and think about potential conflicts. Then I am prepared and my reactions are so different.  Just the other day a friend asked me to accompany her to a walk-in clinic. She was not up to driving and I agreed to take her. Now I was still recovering from the flu, so knew I would be quite easily irritated. I went through possible scenarios with waiting in the clinic and my friend being ill.  This was so helpful and I was able to be genuinely compassionate. I was so grateful and I benefited just as much as my friend did.   Truthfully most things are not really worth arguing over.  I love this strategy to maintain my personal peace.
As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today, think about strategies to maintain your personal peace.

My Quiet Place

Today is the first day I was able to be up all day since Christmas Day.  Bye Bye flu. I steadily worked at the projects I had lined up for today. My ego tried to jump in several times and create a state of panic.  Haha...nope. I went to the quiet place inside me, and immediately knew that I would easily be able to find the solutions and then joyfully carry on.  Going to my quiet place is becoming more and more of a habit for me and it is so beautiful. I stay centered and along with that is gratitude and joy. I treasure my quiet place and know I cannot be fully myself without visiting or rather living in my quiet place.
As you take two minutes to think about peace for our world today, spend some time in your quiet place.

No Problem, Right?

Today I am being good to myself.  I forgot to spray my boots last night and got annoyed but only for maybe a couple of seconds. I sprayed them when I got home. No problem, right? I told myself that I needed to pay a couple of bills first thing this morning. I forgot till after lunch. Again, I got annoyed at myself, but very briefly. No problem, right? I am feeling alive and moving through my day with awareness. I had a certain number of projects that I intended to get to today, but did not get to them all. I took this in stride. The reason I did not get all my projects done is because I am going to my daughters and we are cooking dinner together. Fresh pickerel is on the menu. No problem, right?
As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today, how about thinking no problem, right?

Sweet and Lo

Peace came to me today by honouring my commitment to myself. I went to my office (in my house) when I said I would and worked on the projects I had scheduled for today. I was almost late this morning but made it in just under the wire.  Whew!  I kept to my schedule all day and it felt so amazing.  Wow!   Again, I have to say thank you to my flu, as while I was down for the count, the fact that my personal commitments are absolutely equally as important as my commitments to family, friends or clients became very real for me. Actually I take that back. My personal commitments are more important because what I do on a personal level carries over to all other areas of my life. So I am stepping up my game. It's going to be sweet and lo (like the sweetener, but authentic).

As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today, think about how you can be sweet and lo.

Voices

Have you ever thought about why you do what you do? Are you making conscious choices or just going on autopilot? I started asking myself this question a few years ago. I got some interesting results. It became obvious to me that there were some voices that were ruling my actions. I have to tell you this really surprised me. I thought I was making my own decisions.  Apparently not. These voices really dictated how I lived. I am not going to out the voices as these are people in my life and I am not judging these people, just stating what was.  I chose to adopt these voices as mine. Just to clear that up. These voices told me what I deserved, how much I deserved and I lived within those limits. I struggled with coming to terms with this realization.  The ball was now in my court.  I could no longer sit back and say "This is just how it is for me." I took action and decided I would take responsibility for who I am. It has lead me to discovering who I really am and being able to use my own voice. And I love being who I am and using my own voice. I will talk more about who I am and using my voice at another time. I am still shaking off the residual symptoms of the flu that I had, and my energy is not quite fully back,  so am cutting this off here.  Going to rest now.
As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world, think about the voices that you are listening to.

So Good to be Back

Feels like forever since I have been here.  I am on the downhill side of a flu that had me in its grip for a full two weeks. I have a pretty high pain tolerance and I don't think I have ever been in so much pain.  For me this was definitely much more difficult than childbirth. Endless days of not being able to sleep or eat; not being able to be vertical, but finding no relief in the horizontal. I questioned whether I would see the other side of this thing.  Sounds kind of dramatic I know, but I was in the depths, let me tell you.   Slowly relief came...half an hour here, an hour there. Finally sleep became easier and I had  a little bit of an appetite. At this point my energy level is still a little low, but I am back! And so grateful to be back. It broke my heart to not be able to write my blog every day. This blog has become in this short while, a big part of my life. Besides being just an absolute hoot for me, it is also therapeutic. My soul loves it.
As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today, think about what you would miss if it were taken away.

New Carpet Smell

I love new carpet smell.  Every time I smell a new carpet it takes me back to when I was a teenager and I purchased a rug for my bedroom. I used my babysitting money to pay for it. This was in the 60's and Eaton's and Sears both had mail order catalogues. I think it was Eaton's that I ordered my carpet from (not 100% sure about that). Before I had my little rug, my best friend and I would go under my bed and laugh and giggle as only young girls can. I am not sure why we did that but hey it was so much fun! I poured over that catalogue, picked my carpet and waited so excitedly for it to arrive in the mail. Before the carpet arrived, my parents allowed me to paint my room orange. I remember as we were painting the room, my Dad didn't want me to be disappointed and gently explained to me that the sheen of the paint would be different once the paint dried.  I was on Cloud 9...was I concerned about the sheen? No, not at all. I loved my orange room. The day finally came when my little rug arrived. I was so thrilled and knew I had the most beautiful bedroom ever. And it smelled so good. I could not get enough of the smell of that carpet. I was so proud to have my friends over to show off my orange bedroom with a rug! It was not that common in those days to have carpet and I was over the moon. And to my friend and I, it was not the same under the bed anymore. Probably would have been more comfortable, but just not the same experience as before.  New carpet smell is a happy place for me.
As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today think about what your new carpet smell is.

The Orgy of Consumption

Our possessions are overwhelming to us. We rent storage space to store our "stuff" for months or even years. Our garages have no room for our cars because, again they have become storage spaces.  Christmas marketing is such a scam. Who does it benefit? You and me? Nope. It benefits manufacturers, stores and huge corporations and lulls us into thinking we "need" more stuff; while we go deeper into debt. We think our stuff tells us and the rest of the world who we are.  We set up our houses to accommodate our stuff. Apparently people love clutter. Really? I don't think so.  Most of us follow like sheep. This whole orgy of consumption is one of my biggest pet peeves. It makes me angry, sad and I just don't get it. I made the decision about a decade ago to stop buying gifts at Christmas. I went undeterred despite opposition from family members. My son asked me if I would buy for his kids when he had them. I said no.  His kids are now 7, 6 and 6 months.  The 7 year old has questioned me several times this year as to why I don't buy presents for them at Christmas. I lovingly tell her that to me Christmas is about spending time with my family. And if I feel I want to buy them something for no reason, or take them on an outing, I do so with absolute pleasure. Nobody is telling me that I MUST buy and when I do make purchases, it comes from a pure place of giving and is so delightful.
The rights of many have been replaced by rights revolving around individuals. Me Me Me. And this has lead to disconnect on such a large scale, which we try to fill with, yup, more stuff.  Let's talk to each other. Let's listen to each other. Let's respond to each other.
As you take two minutes to consider peace for our world today think about your own personal "orgy of consumption".