When Christmas is Hard
When Christmas is hard, it can be for a myriad of reasons, not just loss. I wanted to link a couple of resources for you though, if you are finding Christmas hard. These resources are for if you've suffered loss and that's ok, because no matter why you are finding Christmas hard, you are sharing a type of grief. Allow yourself to embrace the grief for your…
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Giving Back
I have been on both sides. The side going hungry and the side able to give from abundance. It hurts my heart so deeply that 1 in 4 children here in Alabama struggle with hunger and it scares me how many are even hungrier because of Covid. I got breakfast and lunch only because I was in school and received it for free when I was young. How many children in your ar…
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Christmas Spirit
"Under the Christmas tree." by Bernard Spragg is licensed under CC0 1.0 I am completely seized by the line, "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices." I think this perfectly summarizes 2020 for so many. At a foundational level, the world is weary. I am embracing the holiday spirit this year and I encourage you as well! I wrote about a l…
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Baby steps
Back on Track
"Rail tracks at Dulwich hill" by wyncliffe is licensed under CC0 1.0 The thrill, the allure, and the fun of the holidays can pull us off track. Or that's what we tell ourselves. We want to live life to the fullest and live a healthy life. While at times these might seem mutually exclusive, they shouldn't be. We aren't looking for an &quo…
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Intention
Sheep To Shawl
I wrote the following piece as part of my master herbal work and thought it might help others consider the work and activities they do through different eyes. I hope you enjoy: In fiber arts there is a saying, from sheep to shawl. It is a quick way to describe a lengthy process. Beginning with a raw fleece (unprocessed animal hair such as a whole lamb fleece), it …
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Thanksgiving
What You Cooking?
Here is what we are eating this year along with some notes: Apple Cider-Brined Turkey with Savory Herb Gravy : I can't remember if we've had this before. Let me know if you'd like me to review this as I'm writing this a few days before Thanksgiving. Mashed Potatoes: I use Yukon gold potatoes, butter, evaporated milk, and if I'm waiting them ex…
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Our Greatest Fear
"The true Heart cannot be broken or repaired. It is ever perfect. It pervades and encompasses the whole universe." by brenkee is licensed under CC0 1.0 Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness That most frightens us. We ask ourselves Who am I to be brillian…
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For The Day
For The Day
"thoughts are just water drops" by brenkee is licensed under CC0 1.0 "When I don't know who I am, I serve you. When I know who I am, I am you." -Ram Das
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Are You on AutoPilot?
"USMC Female Harrier Fighter Pilot Capt Kelsey Casey" by aviatrix20141 is licensed under CC PDM 1.0 Our tendency to go on autopilot is astonishing and scary at times. Have you ever driven somewhere and you don’t remember the drive? How freaking scary is that when it happens? Going on autopilot reminds me of the movie Click. We zone out and our morni…
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Mental Health
Team Christmas?
"Under the Christmas tree." by Bernard Spragg is licensed under CC0 1.0 Is it just me or does it seem that way more than the usual amount of people are decorating early for Christmas this year? In years' past I might let a couple decorations sneak in a bit early, but the Christmas decorations don't get unpacked until after Thanksgiving. Except…
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fear
Forgiveness, Anger, and Fear
"To understand everything is to forgive everything" by Wendelin Jacober is licensed under CC0 1.0 There is a beautiful story of 2 monks walking back to their monastery. A young woman walks up to them and asks to be carried across the river as her daughter was waiting all night for her and could be heard crying for her mother. One of the monk sees her s…
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Storyteller
Storyteller - Who Are You?
Who Are You? I was listening to a book written by a Tibetan monk the other morning. He was discussing a meditation practice to determine who within himself was feeling a specific thing. It had nothing to do with what we will be discussing here, but it triggered a great question that will help us in our journey. Who are you currently? Who are you in the future?…
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Breathe
We are about to head into the holiday season. It is stressful. It can be stressful good and it can be stressful bad. Good stress is actually very good for you. I will link a really great TED talk on it below. If you can make the holiday season the good type of stress, do it!!! If you are struggling and it's just bad stress, breathe! Take some time away.…
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Thanksgiving
What are you grateful for this year? I am grateful for my health. For this body that has carried me through hundreds of miles this year. How incredible is that? I am grateful for my husband. He has never faltered in his endless cheerleading of me and us. For his ever sexiness. For his smile. For our laughter. I am grateful for my children. Anna building a …
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Year in Review
One Word
Samhain is the Gaelic name for the holiday that we know as Halloween. The Celts had 2 seasons. Samhain and SetSamhain (which means Not Samhain, also known as Beltane). Samhain begins the dark half of the year. It is a time of reflection. It is a time of rest. It is also seen as the New Year. I believe in utilizing the forces around me to empower my goals. …
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Storyteller
Survival Guide
Your story of what you've overcome, how you've thrived, and the path you took to get here will be someone else's survival guide. Don't judge your beginning or middle by someone's ending chapter. You aren't there yet. I'm not there yet and thank goodness for that.
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Storyteller
StoryTeller - You are NOT Your Family
My uncle was a convict. My uncle was a frequent escaped convict. My family was proud of his escapades. I was in kindergarten/first grade when my uncle escaped from prison. He had starved himself and was admitted to the hospital. Security, at that time, was lax and he escaped from there. My aunt was running to join up with him, I believe in California. My bi…
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Year End Audit
We are In The End Times!!!
***insert panicked screaming, arms flailing, chaos, mayhem*** or just know the end of the year is coming I'm taking a look at the goals I set for this year and see if I tweak my schedule, can I wrap some of those tasks up quickly? I'm not going to accomplish everything and that's ok. It's actually a bit by design. I want to try to achieve more th…
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Storyteller
My Story - Just One Example
I am a fierce woman who passionately embraces life. Building on my past to generate a deep compassion for those who have been abused and feel unloved, I provide love and light to shine a path out of that place to a place where we can thrive. I am brave and face my fears whether they are external fears or those nightmares that have been born within. I encourage …
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Storyteller
Stories To Fall in Love With
So far we've discussed a bit of storytelling in regards to our past, present, and future. I thought I would share where this all came from. I read a book where the author was writing about their life, particularly their love life. It was well written and I had practically fallen in love with their spouse by the end. It was that engaging. But the author ha…
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Storyteller
Big Dreams
Our discussion of big dreams is going to dip back into the past as we continue to build energy and power for the life we want to live. Big dreams are those plans you have in life that make you so excited you have troubles sleeping. You think of each aspect in incredible detail. Your soul feels hopeful. At one point in my past, I had dreams of building a log cabin…
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Storyteller
Your Daily Story
We've been talking about the stories we tell ourselves, the stories we tell about our past, the stories we tell others. Let's take a look at some current stories that most likely everyone reading has had the misfortune to tell... usually often. "How are you doing?" "Good, tired, busy. You?" "Same." Are you tir…
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Storyteller
Stories About Your Past
Tell me the story of your childhood? Tell me the story of your past? Weave me a picture of who you've been up until this moment today. Tell me about your relationship. Tell me about your struggles and the blood, sweat, and tears that it took to overcome them. Answer me a couple questions about these stories you are telling about your past: Do they empow…
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Storyteller
Storyteller
You are a storyteller. Your life thrives or dies based on the stories you tell. Life doesn't happen to you, it happens for you and as soon as you begin telling yourself this, the sooner life will blossom for you. This is such an intrinsic, fundamental, and life changing thing I would like to spend some time talking about it. At a high level to begin with, y…
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Wholeness
Last 90 Days!
It is that time again! You need to check this out, if only to give yourself ideas. I challenge you to challenge yourself for the rest of the year. Maybe it's drink more water. Maybe it's move your body. Maybe it's all of the Last 90 Days or maybe it's something that helps you reach your goals. Stop thinking. Stop learning. Stop researching. …
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Wholeness
What is wrong with you?
You are stupid. You are fat. You are inadequate. You are ugly. Look at your chin. You will never be enough... What is wrong with you? I am sure you have a really long list. You tell your loved ones that you hate your belly. You talk to your friends about how awful your hair is. Amongst your friends, it's basically a challenge to see how much you hate y…
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Wholeness
Time to Take Inventory
If you aren't aware, Spring Cleaning is one of my favorite things. I wrote about it here . Everything that applies to Spring Cleaning applies to the Fall. Working with that though, we are drawing to an end for the year. If you stop now and take inventory, are there ways that you can achieve your goals for this year? Are there ways that you can end the yea…
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City Fragrances - Le Labo Fragrances Reviews
Well Hello Dolly! I have been an Angel by Thierry Muglar fan for a long time. I've changed a lot since I started wearing it and have been wanting to find a new fragrance. Enter Le Labo Fragrances. So many crazy amazing scents! Through the end of the month, they have their City fragrances available online. After that, you have to purchase them in their corr…
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Wholeness
Stories We Tell Ourselves
Now let’s take a look at the stories we tell ourselves. I told myself that I could not run. Over and over again. It doesn’t matter that I had proof. It doesn’t matter if you have proof. It’s still a story I told myself. I am currently running 16 miles a week and that increases each week as I train for my first marathon. I had to tell myself a different stor…
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Baby steps
Labels
If those are the words you use to describe yourself, those are the words you use to define yourself. Stop and consider the labels you give yourself and how they impact the way you think, they way you behave. Don't judge. Just think of all the labels you give yourself. For good or for bad. Let's just become aware of them. Perfectionist Mother/Father Lazy…
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Wholeness
Working with color
There are subtle ways in which we manipulate our environment to support our intentions. You might use a fragrance to bring energy. You might where a power color like the classic red tie or blazer. You might listen to music that pumps you up. If we can create an environment that supports our best selves, we should strive towards achieving that. If, and only if…
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