Slowing Down to Honor ME, My Family & NOW

Nature often holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly the ongoing processes of growth, renewal, and transformation in our lives. -unknown

This little boy is discovering the world around him,

becoming an explorer all his own.

Touching nature with his hands,

he sees great beauty in the simple things.

He goes with the flow

and helps me see the world with fresh, new eyes.

He reminds me that being silly...

is a great joy.

With a new baby boy on the way, 

I am full of complete gratitude for the gift of motherhood.

I know I'm going down a new path

and I don't know where it will lead.

Inviting a new angel into our family

is reminding me what's most important in life.

We live.

We grow.

We die.

Our spirits live on...forever.

Reconnecting to nature reminds me to listen to my heart, to return to a simpler way of being, and to let go of more, so that I can fully embrace the present moment.  

As I listen more deeply to my natural rhythm and energy, I've decided that rather than launching my Summer Camp e-course in August, I'm turning my attention to slowing down.  I know that this stage of my life,

being a mother to young children, is so fleeting.  I'm choosing to enjoy a lazy, breezy, relaxed kind of summer, enjoying time with my son, and I want to be restored and ready for this next little soul to enter the world.  

 

So I'm choosing to work a little less and play a little more - to slow down and let go.  

As we continue to discover the world together, let us all embrace our unique brilliance and live from a place that vibrates love, complete wonder and authenticity!  Will you choose to LIVE NOW, too?

Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery is the last e-course I'll be offering before I'm on maternity leave this fall.  It starts in one week!  In honor of my path and in honor of your path, I'd like to share one last give-away.  Leave a comment by Wednesday morning, June 16th, to the following question:  

Your Personal Reflection: What is one step you are taking TODAY to live a more authentic life?

(*All the photos in this blog post are courtesy of my lovely husband, Chris Duh.)

Creating Community Thru the Web

When I started my blog last year, and then decided to launch my first e-course in January, I never in a million years imagined that I would connect to such amazing, talented, special, compassionate, beautiful, creative, vibrant souls across the entire world!  

I started my blog as a celebration of embracing my true self, and I found that documenting parts and pieces of my life in this way, not only helped me remember and archive my past, but it kept me more accountable for the things I wanted to accomplish in the future.  

Sure, I can reduce clutter on my own, but if I hadn't have started the 2010 challenge and had 60 other people join me, then I probably would have failed to complete many of the tasks I've set out to do.  (I'll share next week how my "digital de-cluttering" is going for June.)

I started my e-course because I had to.  I really didn't have a choice.  It basically created itself and the timing couldn't have been more perfect.  I was longing to stay home with my son and keep him out of daycare. I wanted an opportunity to work from home, around his schedule, and I got the added bonus of traveling across the globe without ever leaving my Kansas art studio.  Explorers from my class have been from all over the US and amazing places like The Netherlands, India, Italy, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, Sweden and Portugal!  The fact that like-interests and the Internet have brought us all together continues to blow me away.

And, this past week has been especially amazing because I've finally gotten to meet a few of my favorite "virtual" friends in person!  @HipMountainMama, also known as Suzy, is a cool, down-to-earth mother and business woman and I find her very inspiring.  I got the opportunity to meet her in Colorado where we enjoyed a cup of coffee and good conversation.  (I can't believe we didn't get a photo of our visit!)  Suzy and I met on Twitter and she took my e-course in January, and will be joining us again this summer.  Here's a recent interview she shared on her blog.

This week, @MeganMonique, drove to my hometown, and is spending a long weekend with my family.  She is sweet as can be and this doesn't feel like our first visit.  She's very laid back and after just one evening of conversation I can tell she has great wisdom to share.  I'm extremely excited to enjoy the next several days with her.  Follow her here as she travels to meet what Owning Pink calls "pinkies" across America.  I also met Megan on Twitter and we developed a friendship through Inside Out.

And although I have yet to meet the wonderful Amelia in person, (as I know we would sit for hours upon hours chatting about our common interests,) please take a look at the interview she shared with me on her blog.  This gives you some background info as to why I created Inside Out, what creativity means to me, and how I try to balance my personal art with being a mom.

Your Personal Reflection:  What special connections are you making in your life?

Free Your Spirit Through Writing

On my recent vacation I set aside some time each day for something I love - writing in my journal. Although I still keep a journal, I've been spending a lot more time art journaling - playing with paint, cutting, pasting, and getting messy. So returning to the basics and staying simple with a black pen and white paper felt really good.

When I write in a journal, I do so without thinking. I place my pen to the blank page and just write. If I'm feeling stuck I'll write about the day. "Today I did this..." I may ramble on a bit, but I always feel lighter and freer by getting the words, the thoughts, the feelings - out of my head and onto the page.

After journaling regularly for over 15 years, I see the healing powers and benefits that come from a consistent free-spirit writing practice. And what I mean by free-spirit writing is simply writing and writing and writing - not from a thinking place, but more from a feeling place. When I write, I allow myself to clear up space in my mind. I allow myself the freedom to speak from my heart. The more I write, the more I can do so without thinking about it. The more I practice and stay with it, the more I connect to a place where my heart knows the answers.

And it's in this heart-centered writing place that I learn the most about myself. Going back through my writings, I've discovered the cycles I can't seem to brake. I am reminded of my dreams, my deep aspirations, and my secret wishes. By simply seeing my truth on the page, I awake to my personal strength, I gain more clarity, and I can walk forward from an authentic place, with a greater sense of confidence and wisdom. No matter what, I always feel better after writing.

If you are curious about journaling and would like to give it a try (or return to it), here are a few tips that have worked for me:

Free-Spirit Writing

1) Use a favorite pen and journal
I find that if I have a favorite pen (one that's fluid and allows me to write fast), and a journal that I love, I'm much more excited about writing in it. Take yourself to the office supply or art store and try out a variety of sample pens 'til you find the right one!

2) Set aside 5 minutes each day
You can find 5 minutes to wash your hair, brush your teeth, and eat a meal. (Most days, right?) So there has to be a way you can find 5 minutes to write in a journal, but you have to set aside that time for it. I find it really helpful to write at the same time each day (and of course I know that this may be impossible at times!) I try to make it a ritual to write with my morning coffee or tea. See what time works best for you.

3) Keep writing
No matter what - when you place that pen to the blank page - just write. Even if nothing comes out and your mind is telling you "I have nothing to say," keep your pen moving. You can draw shapes, lines, spirals...whatever...but keep that pen moving until something, anything comes out. If you stay with it, over time you will surprise yourself.

4) Be yourself
Your journal doesn't have to hold happy thoughts, sad thoughts or dark secrets. Your journal just IS. Let it be a place where you speak from your heart - speak your truth. Because for many of us, this is the only place where we can truly let go of our masks and be that brilliant, vibrant being that we really are. Doing this in a journal is a great first step towards living a more authentic life!

5) Protect it
Your authentic self will feel a lot safer knowing that your journal is a safe place to write. It's for you, and you alone. So keep it in a place where you know others won't read it.

6) Respect it
Show respect for your journal. Treat it like a good friend. Because that's exactly what it is...a friend that holds no judgements, one that simply loves you and wants you to live a vibrant, happy life.

7) Have fun
Writing shouldn't feel like a chore. Have fun with it! Write at your favorite coffee shop, write in the park, or write alongside your kids. When you feel ready to expand from the basic pen, check out the amazing art journaling magazines, books and websites out there to get inspired. (Including my creative adventure e-course!)

Your Personal Reflection: Do you ever feel like your mind is cluttered with thoughts, or your heart is cluttered with emotions? Give journaling a try and simply let yourself write, write, write.

Plugged Back In

Our trip to Colorado was fantastic.  I stayed off the computer for the entire week.  Looks like Kestan had a harder time unplugging than I did.  Here he is in the middle of a mountain trail talking on his "stick" phone to all his peeps.  Seriously, he had full conversations, calling all of our family members.  It was hysterical hearing him describe his mountain experience to the person on the other line, "Hi Nana.  I just saw bird poop on a rock."

He got some pretty bad altitude sickness on our third day there, which kept us bound to lower elevation.  I had to let go of any expectations I had about the trip, and despite some sleepless nights with a sick child, (Being a mom doesn't stop when we're on vacation - does it?) we found many fun things to do in the town of Boulder, including a fabulous day trip to Eldorado Canyon State Park.

I'm really excited to share some of the amazing photos my husband took.  In the meantime, though, I thought I'd show you a glimpse of our adventure through the eyes of my Iphone.

Your Personal Reflection:  What everyday adventures are you inviting into your life?