Watching the sunrise is such an awe-inspiring experience. I hope you enjoy this and are inspired to walk into the world today with your heart leading the way!
After a life-shifting trip, I am missing the beautiful sunrises and sunsets on the Nile, so got up before dawn and moseyed myself down to the beach to catch this beautiful site. I am allowing the sun, Ra, to warm my heart and soul. I wish the same for all of you!
The Autumnal Equinox officially arrives at 2:50 am on Saturday. It’s on the 23rd in 2023. I love numbers and the number 23 is a path to find your divine passion. Follow you passion to the end and make your life count for all its worth!
A friend, Christina, reminds me to ask myself this question: What am I willing to take action on that I feel passionate about? I love that and am doing just that! How about you?
And what in the world does this picture have to do with the equinox? It’s a time of harvest and my husband’s nephew was married last weekend. We ate this wonderful meal which felt like a true southern harvest! It was made and served by Brother’s N Arms BBQ – a group of vets continuing to serve in a new way! They continue to follow their passion of service and we were so grateful to enjoy every bite! Little do they know, they also inspired me to take action!
I opened my book “1,001 Ways to Live in the Moment” by Barbara Ann Kipfer and read the Nigerian Proverb: Hold a true friend with both hands.
This really spoke to me. Holding with both hands means being able to give and to receive. Receiving is often the hard part for many of us, and I know it is for me. It recently took me days to ask a friend for some help. As I processed it for the nth time, my husband finally said, ‘You know you’d do the exact same thing for her without hesitating.’ As soon as he said that, I gave myself permission to ask. I continue to work on not only asking for help, but also being able to receive from others. I am learning to give myself that permission more and more.
My mind continued to pop with bubbles of thought. Both hands….masculine and feminine. At what degree do I put action and effort into my friendships? …do I kindly empathize and lovingly support them?
Do I create friendships, occasions, items for my friends? Do I work for these friendships. I so love my dearest friends and feel satisfied with my reflections, but I often want to do more, connect deeper with others and wonder why I don’t. Is it a time factor? A place? The giving up something else in order to do so? I believe that I am always where I am supposed to be and with whom I’m supposed to be with. So, I need to remind myself that it is okay. All is okay. I hold my true friends with both hands – either in the past, present or future, and the amount of times makes no difference. Each interaction is special and meaningful in its own rite, as long as I use both. I will continue to give and be open to receiving all the gifts of friendship I encounter.
Our hands are an extension of our heart. Reach out and receive loving friendships with both hands. They may develop when you least expect them!
A very good friend of mine began a facebook group about one of her passions recently. I loved the idea and so did many people! People are posting and utilizing the platform to share their beautiful garden photos and get questions answered.
I decided that I would do the same and began a facebook group entitled Maturing Mindfully. I was so excited about it and still am.
But here’s the funny thing – my little Jodi (aka inner child) had all these thoughts: Will my friend Courtney think I’m copying her? Am I not being original because of that? Will mine be as popular? Big Jodi started to smile at her little self.
I looked her in her big blue eyes and said, “Follow your heart and do what makes you happy. Remember, imitation is the biggest form of flattery. Ideas are to be shared, and shaped to fit the likes of the creator. You, Jodi, are that creator!” I took her hand in mine and started the group together, happy in mind and in heart! No fears, no worries, just following the yellow brick road to our own version of Oz!
My husband is able to work outside the house during COVID19. He is a landscaper and can work independently without venturing near others. Since we cohabitate, we thought I’d get out of the house and help him out a little. An adventure…out of the house…freedom….air on my face…the warmth of the sun on my back….working as a team….in Mother Earth….ah….
We were moving along nicely around a client’s pool- trimming tall grasses raking and hauling them to the back of his truck. It felt great to be outside! I had planned to work on some properties this summer, so we had recently purchased some light equipment that I could use. I was excited to use my new leaf blower to get the remnants of the grasses away from the pool.
I whipped it out, started blowing and was having a great time, waving that wand around with a goofy grin on my face. Before I knew it, I felt myself tipping backward and an image flashed in my mind – Tinkerbell – waving her magic wand of fairy dust and tumbling in the air. That was me as I stepped backward into the pool, wand and all.
I quickly stood up, looked over my shoulder at my husband’s shocked face as he looked around a plant. I yelled, “Sorry,” popped back up and started blowing grass again, soaked from collarbone to toe.
I still had that goofy grin on my face as I finished my work, with the warm sun on my wet back and warm air drying my dripping face. It was as if my magic wand had sprinkled its own fairy dust! Who would’ve thought I’d be taking a swim in 50 degree weather at the beginning of April in Rhode Island! The surprise of the adventure, seen through fairy dust, kept a smile on my face all day long!
So many lost souls surround me… next door, down the street, in front of the line at the grocery store… They are everywhere – wisps of wind whispering in my ear. They share their secrets, but I don’t hear them.
I am frightened of the undeniable pain in which these lost souls live. My heart retreats, as fear takes its place. I look down at my chest, checking to ensure it hasn’t caved in. I don’t acknowledge them.
These souls are desperately trying to connect with other souls. They search for just one other, dreaming that their anguish of alienation will melt away. They desperately reach, stretching their arms to try to touch me. I don’t feel them.
They have all the markings of happy souls living in human bodies, but their eyes betray their jolly countenances. The lost souls pray they will rescued from their inner torment. I look away. I don’t see them.
I lie in bed, as they float around in my head – whispering, feeling, seeing the never-ending lost souls. I turn away from them, running, escaping, hiding. There is one chasing me! I turn to look back and see my reflection in the mirror.
The key to getting out-
Scream and shout,
Stomp and kick,
Shake a stick.
Screech and squeal,
Rage is real.
It’s okay to feel anger,
Get a drum and be a banger.
Find a spot and have a sit,
Yell, yell, yell,
Hit, hit, hit.
Grunt and growl
Squeeze a towel.
Stomp, stomp, stomp,
Shout, shout, shout,
It feels so good to let it out!
Time – when I have a huge chunk of it, like the biggest slice I’m willing to take from a birthday cake without causing others to gasp, I feel free. I am inspired to spend my time doing what I love, moving in a way that feels good and just plain doing something for myself. I feel great, expansive, like I can do anything, be anything, change anything, learn and grow. I am Jack climbing up the magical beanstalk, loving every minute of the journey. I am BatGirl flying across the city, spotting children to save from harm. I am a fairy, flitting through the forest’s flowers, mushrooms and secret hiding places. I am me, thinking, smiling, loving.
All of a sudden I realize my slice has been devoured, although enjoyed tremendously, but gone all the same. The only slice I have left of my own, is the thin slice that the skinny girl at the party takes after saying, “Oh I better not…well okay, just the tiniest slice.” This slice I will not consume greedily, but savor it like melting chocolate on my tongue. This lone slice may be miniscule compared to the large one I delighted in, but I will make this just as satisfying. With this piece of the never-ending clockface tick, tick, ticking away, I will soar like an eagle seeing the beauty of my life below. I will wave my magic wand like the Good Witch from the North, helping to heal the universe. I will feel the beat of my heart replace the tick, tick, ticking of time. I will feel, I will experience and I will love every second of it.
It’s that time of year…Today is National Make up Your Mind Day! Seems apropos, as I ponder 2019…with all its possibilities. What do I want in this year ahead? I’m pretty sure most of us are thinking about this today. We all know tomorrow is…drumroll please…the first day of the rest of our lives…and because it’s also a new 365 day cycle, according to the Gregorian calendar, it feels even more important.
Resolution – a firm decision to do or not to do something. A resolution feels like a vow to me…to be or not to be, that is the action! Do I want to make a firm decision about anything, really? That seems so confining, so deliberate that it doesn’t leave room for adjustment. As I experience daily, my life needs adjusting throughout. Do I want to bang the gavel down upon the bench to eat only healthy foods or exercise every day? What happens if I don’t? I know what – I am disappointed in myself. Once again, another New Year’s Resolution in the Clink…and the judge has thrown away the key.
Goal – an aim or desired result. I love the way this feels – so positive, something attainable, reachable, in my grasp. A goal feels doable. I am striving for something and in the direction of that intention, I can enjoy the process along the way. I can marvel at the steps it takes to achieve it and I can relish in the knowledge that it will happen. I have a road to travel, to meander along the highway of discovery, learning and growth to a joyous destination. A goal is something to shoot for. I, as the bow, am equipped with my quiver of arrows. Who knows where they will land? I have all I need to shoot for the stars and enjoyed the trajectory along the way!
Fellow Americans, I have made up my mind on the national holiday, I will be focused on New Year Goals!
C
Covid crisis
Craziness
Calamity
Chaos
Confusion
B
Being
Breath
Belief
Becoming
Beneficial
A
Awareness
Acceptance
Adaptation
Allowance
Appreciation
Where are you today? If you’re in the C‘s, experience the B’s to get to the A’s! 💜
