Softening (& winner announced)

I've been a little quiet on the blog front lately.  We jump right from the holidays and New Years to a month full of birthday celebrations and it hasn't stopped yet.  My husband turned a year older last week and my oldest little dude's big day is coming soon.

In between all the planning and parties, I am working on a revamp of my website, an e-book, and the launch of the 6th session of my Inside Out e-course.  

So needless to say, any free time I have is spent taking full advantage of playtime, park time or sleep time!

I've also been feeling mixed emotions lately.  Some days I'm full of energy and raring to go. Other days I'm swimming in muck.  I have this deep sense that I'm in the transition of the transition.  Like bigger, deeper change is on its way, but until then, I need to soften into the space of the unknown.  So here I am, letting the big blue sky lead the way.

I want to hear from YOU.

Your Personal Reflection:  How are YOU doing and feeling now that we are 10 days into this new year?

AND...the winner of the last free spot in 

Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course is...

Kate! 

(Thanks to all those who entered.  I appreciate you sharing your intentions for 2012.

Kate - please send me your email.)

Letting Life Naturally Unfold (& a give-away!)

Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you. 

- John De Paola

Am I the only one who isn't ready for the new year?  Don't get me wrong, I've been organizing a bit.  I've been reflecting on the past year.  I've written some goals down in my journal.  I'm ready to pack up the Christmas decorations and vacuum up the evergreen needles.  And yes, I love a new start.  A fresh. clean. slate.  

But I'm not quite ready to get out of my jammies.  I feel motivated.  I feel excited about what this new year will bring.  I have an idea of the direction I'm going in.  But my pace is...well...slower.  I've either been enjoying my morning coffee by the fire a little too much, or maybe...just maybe...my thoughts are changing and my body is listening.  Maybe I am really starting to see that I can still conquer my daily "list" AND get on the floor and play with the kids.  That reading yet another book at "nigh night" doesn't really take up that much time.  That when I make space for painting or yoga or time away from the family to recharge my batteries, it's beneficial to everyone. That if I stop at my son's request to play in the middle of sweeping, well, heck...the sweeping still gets done.  AND the world doesn't end if I don't finish that "list" in a day's time.  

Huh.

I'm a lover of New Years.  I'm the queen of writing intentions and resolutions.  Reflecting on the past? Planning for the future?  Setting goals?  Making lists?  I got that stuff down.

But here at the start of 2012, I feel the need to open up to the moment that is here, right in front of my eyes.  I feel more creative that way.  I feel more centered.  I feel happier as I drift through the day, with less expectations, less control, and less freaking out when things don't go my way.

My focus for 2011 was to receive, to learn to live without, and to embrace stillness.  In 2010 I focused on reducing clutter and creating space.  In 2009 I set an intention to live more boldly.

And now...I am listening to that inner request to slow down, to celebrate each moment, to LAUGH MORE, to PLAY MORE, to focus on my health and wealth, and to continue mothering with heART.

So I guess I really am ready for 2012, but rather than writing some crazy list of things to accomplish, I want to stop pushing and stop chasing.  I want to keep celebrating living each day and simply be more open to letting this new year (and my life) naturally unfold...

******

To celebrate my birthday (It's tomorrow!) I'm offering one last chance to win a spot in my upcoming Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course.  Just leave a comment on this post to the following question for your chance to win!  I'll announce a winner this Friday.

Your Personal Reflection:  What is your intention, phrase, special word, feeling or simple goals that are guiding you into the new year?

Moving Slowly into the New Year

Although we haven't seen a glimpse of snow this winter, we continue feeding the fire, making it warm and toasty inside.  So much so that it's been quite the enticement to stay home and snuggle in every day.

And since Christmas morning that's pretty much the scene around here.  Fire going, bed head, jammies, new toys spread throughout the house and new games being played together.

Our holidays have been filled with little surprises and special moments seen through the eyes and wonderment of our children.  Making us feel young again.  Reminding us of the important things in life.  Gently forcing two busy parents to stop.  Get on the floor.  Play. Be messy.  Stop worrying, because there's nothing to worry about.  

And if that smile doesn't pretty much say it all, I don't know what does.  When you take the time to be together, to really, truly be together - enjoying the moment that is now - well, joy, bliss, happiness and contentment will make you shine.

Today is a gift.  Just as YOU are a gift.  Today and every day, YOU are a gift in this world.  Shine like the brightest star, because the world needs you.  Take time today to reflect on this past year and celebrate the one yet to come.  Slow down just a little more and feel the fire inside and all around you.   Now, more than ever before, is the time to embrace this moment, and LIVE slowly, fully, boldly and freely.

Happy NEW Year! 

Your Personal Reflection:  In what ways will you slow down today as you celebrate the start of this new year?

Giving Birth & Apple Kisses (reverb#10)

Hope you are enjoying your holidays!  Sending you lots of love for a joy-filled, peace-filled New Year.  Let this be a time for deep reflection of the past year, celebration and excitement for the New Year, and inspiration to fully enjoy this moment.  

I'm taking time this week to contemplate my 2010, and I've stumbled across some fun prompts that I'd like to share with you.  

Reverb#10 is an online initiative that encourages you to reflect on this year and manifest what's next.  Here are the two prompts that struck me today:

December 25th Prompt - Photo - A Present to Yourself:

Sift through all the photos of you from the past year.  Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words.  Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you.  (Author: Tracy Clark)

This past year was the year of giving birth and living more fully, boldly and freely from the inside out.  I launched my first e-course Inside Out, a creative adventure that inspires deep change on the inside so participants can live more vibrant, authentic lives on the outside.  

AND I created a new human being, one that started growing inside me in January and came outside and into the world in October.

Living from the inside out has made me come alive in ways I had never imagined before!  This photo montage (Ok...so I didn't pick just one, but decided to share a small collection), best captures the life, love, vitality, celebration, exuberance, truth, growth and pure joy that I experienced and embraced in my life over the past year.

(My husband took these photos in an urban area of downtown Kansas City.)

December 27 Prompt - Ordinary Joy:

Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments.  What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?  (Author: Brené Brown)

These photos were taken at a rest area in the flatlands of Kansas on our way back from a family trip to Colorado.  Kestan and I have a game where we give each other funny kisses.  We do the common Eskimo or butterfly kiss, but we especially like making up our own.  This one is our "apple kiss" because Kestan reached to give me the biggest, wettest kiss while eating apples.  We laughed and tickled and hugged and rolled around and it was a very special, tender, ordinary moment that I'll always remember.  (Another one my husband, Chris, captured.)

Your Personal Reflection:  What about you?  What photo best represents YOU or what ordinary moment from this past year really stands out?

Finding Stillness - A Winter Solstice Ritual

Find stillness and let your inner light guide the way.

For those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, today marks the winter solstice - the beginning of winter and the longest day of the year.  It comes at a time when many of us feel completely stressed and overwhelmed with the holidays approaching, as there can be a tendency to overcompensate, overspend and overindulge.

Today, let's give ourselves permission to stop running and to be quiet long enough to hear our inner calling - that voice that is saying enough!  Slow down!  Rest!

Where are we going?  Why are we moving so fast?  What will we do when we get there?

Do you give yourself moments of stillness throughout the day - a time when you can check in, find your center, and get to a grounded place where you feel calm and at peace?  Today, the winter solstice, is a gift - a special day where you can honor your deep need for stillness.  Give yourself 5 minutes to perform this very short ritual and see how it makes you feel.

A New Year Reflection - Winter Solstice Journaling

What you need:

a pen

journal

candle

a warm drink

a quiet space

5 minutes (or more)

Light a candle.  Sit in a quiet space and get comfortable.  Close your eyes.  Take a nice deep inhale, and a slow exhale.  On your inhale, feel every cell of your body expand.  On your exhale, smile as you release any tension.  Do this several times.  Sit in silence.  Soften.  When you feel moved to, open your eyes.  

Grab your pen and journal and begin to write.  Some of you will need no prompts; simply write whatever comes to mind. Let your heart guide you.  Try not to edit yourself.  Don't worry about spelling or punctuation or even writing in a straight line.  Just let the words come out.  No judgments; just kindness. 

If you feel like you're having trouble, ask yourself the following questions:

How do I feel in this moment?

What were my biggest celebrations or highlights of the past year?

What have I learned?

What is bringing me down?

What behaviors do I need to change or let go of?

What am I ready to release?

What do I want to bring into my life?

What am I grateful for?

What are some of my intentions for the New Year?

The light of your candle symbolizes your inner light - feel its warmth, see its beauty and know that it will lead you in the right direction.  This is a new moment - a fresh, clean slate.  Savor this gift of stillness and see if you can carry a sense of calm and peace with you throughout the rest of your holiday season.  You are right where you need to be in this moment and you are enough.

Your Personal Reflection:  Give yourself the gift of 5 minutes of stillness today, and every day, and notice how it makes you feel. 

Your innermost sense of self, of who you are, is inseparable from stillness.  This is the I Am that is deeper than name and form. -Eckhart Tolle