Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

I feel heavy today.  My heart is heavy.  My thoughts are heavy.  My breathe is heavy.

There is a pull inside me.  The problem is I can't tell in what direction I am being pulled.  My heart yearns.  It yearns for worth.  The worth that comes from helping others.  The worth that comes from knowing this world is so much bigger than you and me.  That we're apart of something grander.  I long connection.  The connection that I make a difference in people's lives; and no one else is the wiser.  Acknowlegment is not the prize I seek.  I want impact.  Impact as soft as a hug, yet warm and bright like the sun.  Perhaps blinding at first, followed by slow gradual adjustment, then warm peace and acceptance.  Enlightment.  Passion.  Contentment.  But most importantly Desire.  Desire for those I impact to pay it forward in their own unique way.

Way.  Path.  Direction.  Journey.  Trip.  Road.  Ro-add(Tommy Boy reference here). 

Why does my path seem so hidden?  Why isn't there a rest stop where I can pause and ask for directions?  Oh wait, there is and the attendant's name is God.  "Lord, please show me the way!  I swear I'm a great tipper"! 

One of my favorite Bible verses, Jeremiah 29:11-"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Only why am I so deaf to his instruction?  Perhaps my lack of skill in being still is the problem.

Being still is hard.  Have you tried it?  My mind is one continuous tangent.  I know it'll become easier, as does anything else with practice.  Perhaps with stillness will also come patience.  Lord knows I need some of that too.  Work in progress, ya'll.  May you be working on your progression as well.  Namaste.

Random fact of the day, Wallis Willis, the writer of the song Swing Low, Sweet Chariot was from Oklahoma.  Just like me.

Try or Die

Coo Coo Crazy
Drive Me Mad
All I Want is All I Have.

Eazy Breezy
Pumpkin Pie
Work Me Lazy til I Die.

Fact or Fiction
Right or Wrong
Want More Freedom All Day Long.

Whether Still or Runnin' Fast,
Be Ensured that Time Will Pass.
Need Momentum
Hit the Gas!

Rapunzel Found Her Prince at Last.

Will I Find My True Prince Dharma, or
Marry Corporate America Karma?

Mrs. Karma, How Do You Do?
You're Good with Numbers, Two plus Two.

Good is Gray and Great is Red.
Red is Passion or So They Said.

Passion, Passion
Why You Hide?
I Hope You're Found Before I Die.

The Key is Not to Think but Act!
Succeed or Fail
Who Gives a Crap?

You'll Never Know if You Don't Try
Don't Try is the Same as Die.

-Poem by Angela Tarrant

The Distance

"Reluctantly crouched at the starting line,
 Engines pumping and thumping in time.
 The green light flashes, the flags goes up,
 Churning and burning, they yern for the cup."

If you know this song, your head immediately starts bobbing to the beat.  Mean bass line. 

I digress.

Today, I want to talk about goals and goal setting.  I want you to think of 3-4 goals, dreams even.  The bigger the better.  It's important to be specific.  They should be measurable.  For example, I want to be rich is too broad.  I want to be a world famous chef or best selling author is measurable.  Once you establish your goals, think of an action for each goal, that will get you even the slightest bit closer. For example, contact Paula Dean or Emeril Lagasse with questions that will provide insight, take a cooking class, or plan a dinner where you cook for your friends & family once a week.  Whatever it is, the point is to do something.  There should be some sort of action taken, no matter how slight. 

Maybe you'll discover you don't want to be a world famous chef after all.  Oh well!  The important thing is you did something!  You know what you don't want to be, so what's next?!  Goal no. 1 is off the list.  What was no. 2?  Add an extra goal to your list if you scratched one off.  Make it fun.  Turn it into a game. 

The game of LIFE.  We all played it as kids.  Difference is, in this game, you have the ability to really make things happen! 

So, I'll share one of my goals.  It may seem like a small one, but here it goes.  I want to become a DIY-er(Do It Yourself).  A good one.  I have a few gift ideas for the holidays.  I know what I need.  Now, all I need to do is get started.  I may try my hand at a little furniture refinishing next.  The moral of the story is take the first step.  Meister Eckhart(German writer and theologian) said, "The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake."  Go make mistakes.  Mistakes lead to knowledge.  Knowledge leads to wisdom.  Wisdom eventually leads to success.  If you don't believe me, try it and report back.  Either way, I win.

Today's quote:  Yesterday is a cancelled check.  Tomorrow is a promissory note.  Today is the only cash you have, so spend it wisely. -Kay Lyons

I Am A Promise

"I am a promise.  I am a possibility.  I am a promise with a Capital P.  I am a great big bundle of potentuality!!"

I sang this song in church growing up.  I would belt it out!  It has more meaning for me now than it did back then. 



Today is about affirmation.  Time to squelch those negative thoughts that pop up when we think or hear positive statements about ourselves.  You know it's funny (not funny ha ha) how easy it is to believe the negative; and how hard it is to believe the positive.

I want you to do this exercise: recall the people and times, you and your creativity, were wished well.  Write them down.  Try to remember specific compliments or encouragement recieved.  You'll be amazed at your response.  Your confidence level will rise.  You'll automatically smile.  You feel better!  You are becoming the little engine that could.

Now, I want you to come up with a personal affirmation.   A couple I read and liked  in The Artist's Way are, "My creativity heals myself and others".  Or, "My dreams come from God and God has the power to accomplish them."  Whatever you come up with, repeat it often.  Say it every morning in the mirror after you brush your teeth.  If a negative pops up, turn it into a positive.  We are our own worst enemy.  Don't hold yourself back.  Instead, propel yourself forward.  You.  Are.  Unstoppable.

And I have faith in you.

Today's quote: An affirmation is a strong, positive statement that something is already so. -Shakti Gawain

Many A New Day

I've been doing a lot of reading and a lot of praying lately.  More so than normal.

Monday I woke up refreshed and content.  Now you must understand, I view Monday mornings with the same enthusiasm as I would view getting a root canal. 

But today.  Today, I am grateful and at peace.  I am exactly where God wants me to be.

So, what has changed? 

Me.  I know God has a plan for me.  I know I must trust Him.  The more I try to figure it out myself, the less I know.  God wants us to rely on him.  Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." 

That being said, I am still taking baby steps toward my goals.  Last weekend, we cleaned out the boys' room.  One bag of trash (random toy parts) and two bags of clothes (that don't fit) later, we left feeling good about our progress.  I took pictures of the recliner we want to sell.  I just need to post it; and I'll continue to take inventory of things we just don't need , which we will sell to pay off our debt.  Feels good!

Side bar.  I follow Joshua Becker's blog, Becoming Minimalist.  He gives great advice, he's not extreme, and I like the way he writes.  For the next 10 days, he is selling his book, Simplify for just $0.99.  I think it's worth your time and your dime to check it out. 

Now let me ask you, what steps are you taking to move toward your goals or passion? 

If you're not stepping, what's holding you back?

Today's quote, "Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself." -James Allen

Oh Happy Day!

What's your idea of the perfect work day?

Mine would look something like this.

Wakeup and work out while the rest of the house is still asleep.
Start Coffee. 
Shower.
Turn on some tunes.
Cook breakfast for the family.  Enjoy it together before starting our day.
Kiss the husband goodbye and drop the kids at school.
An hour or two of house cleanup, to do listing, bill paying, menu planning, house management whatever.
3-4 hours of brainstorming, research, writing, or whatever creative process strikes my fancy.
Pickup the kids from school.  Hear all about their day, play games, finish homework.

Or maybe it's simply waking up and figuring it out as I go along.

Now....  Let's turn our picture into an exercise.  Think of it as toning your mind.  Sexy, eh?

Each morning, I want you to envision your idea of the perfect day.  Pay attention to the feeling it brings. 

Peace.  Freedom.  Contentment.  Elation.

Focus on that picture throughout your day.  See yourself doing whatever it is you desire.  Next, start asking yourself, "What changes can I make to get me closer to my perfect day?"  No matter how small or insignificant they might seem.  Before you know it, you'll be living your idea of perfect. 

Dream.  Believe.  Act.  Inspire. 

I read somewhere, "Our life is simply a reflection of our actions. 

If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.

If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.

This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life.

Life will give back everything you have given to it". -Author Unknown

Why Not Now?

There have been times I thought to myself, "I wish someone would've encouraged me more.  Someone would've cultivated my garden of dreams.  Told me to reach for the stars because they were within my reach."  Because if that had happened, I'd be amazing, remarkable, EXTRAORDINARY!

One of those stars must've fallen and smacked me on the head.  "Wake up fool!  You're not dead.  You have your whole life ahead", she said.  Fourth of July in my mind's eye.  To realize I'm not resigned to the daily grind, if I don't want to be.  Epiphany. 

The only person holding me back from greatness is ME.  The little engine could, so why can't I?

Lead by example to my children I say, but do not do.  I'm not being true to myself or to them.  My father and Shakespeare would be sad.  I can not command greatness from the sofa cushion of life.  Do as I say and not as I do.  Who respects that?  No one.

Great minds create great ideas, which become great realities when put into action.

Who will believe in me, if I don't believe in myself?  I can do ALL things through Christ who strengths me.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me.  Faith is not about everything turning out ok; faith is about being ok no matter how things turn out.

Dare to be great!  Dare to be bold!  Dare to fail! 

Whether I succeed or whether I fail, I am trying.  I refuse to look back at the end of my days and think, What if.  Or I wish I would have.  Instead, I will pursue each day as a challenge, an adventure to be had.  What dragon shall I slay today?  What action puts me one step closer to my goal?  Freedom, passion, and purpose are mine.  if. i. choose. it.


-Our children are watching us live and what we are shouts louder than anything we can say. 
Wilferd A. Peterson

Space Oddity

According to Wikipedia, Space Oddity is written from the perspective of an unnamed person who is questioning Major Tom intensely about the purpose of life.

Seems like an appropriate theme song for today.

Speaking of purposes, I am currently reading Stephen Cope's, The Great Work of Your Life: The Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita.  It's incredibly insightful and reflective; and hopefully, a valuable resource for someone seeking there true calling, or dharma, in life.  I'll let you know once I've finished.

I've decided to take a few vacation days.  The plan is to start on the Sell Your Crap Get Out of Debt journey.  As a matter of fact today, we sold the extra vehicle we had for $2,500, which went toward paying off my car.  I'm proud to say we owe just over $2,000 now.  Not sure if it was the wisest thing to do.....selling the one vehicle that was paid off.  The logic, I suppose, was it was almost 15 years old and had seen better days.  Do we continue to pay to have things repaired or buy a more reliable option? 

Beginning tomorrow, I will start the inventory process.  Going through each room and deciding, does it stay or does it go?  Does it add joy, value, or purpose?  These sort of tasks always leave me feeling overwhelmed and the end result is no action.  No action is unacceptable this time.  Start small and big things will happen. 

Stay tuned.

Blinded by the Light

Epiphany is the only way I can explain it.

Or perhaps the perfect storm; a collaboration of events that lead to one pivotal moment.

It started with a simple lifestyle change.  I'd heard about a diet, The Paleo Diet to be exact, and it had me intrigued.  I went to my local library and grabbed a copy of Robb Wolf's, The Paleo Solution, and upon completion decided to make a change.  I also started checking different Paleo websites and stumbled across Nerd Fitness.  Steve's posting of his Epic Quest of Awesome caught my attention.  Literally, I sat up in my chair and cocked an eyebrow.  The farther I read, the more it made me think.



Fast forward a few weeks, the sermon at church is regarding stewardship.  How many of us say, "If I had more money, I do more!"  That's not how God instructs us.  As a matter of fact, the only time God tells us to challenge him in the Bible, is in regard to our tithe.  Malachi 3:10, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house.  Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out SO much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."  Our associate pastor said it best, "God instucts us to do our part and see what happens; not hey! that guy says he'll do more if he has more.  Give him more money!"  And stewardship is more than just our money(tithe), it's our time as well. We show our faithfulness and he showers us with blessings.  Go on...test him!

So, I received Steve's latest post on How to Finish What You Started and clicked on the link about writing  your own destiny.  He references his buddy Baker's blog Man Vs. Debt.  Get inspired, sell your crap, pay off debt, and do what you love.  Anyway, Baker has a video posted on his site.  In the video, he asks the question, What is Freedom to You? 



I started thinking, "How do I define freedom?".  I'd already been stewing on things for awhile now, and it came to me!  We (my family) should sell our stuff, pay off our debt, and be free!  Free to do more, free to be more!  We are so caught up in the "American Way of Life", the day to day, that we forget this isn't a script.  You don't have to work in corporate America ten hours a day, buying (or more likely financing) the latest and greatest whatever just so you can keep up with your neighbors, who you probably don't even know.  Instead, what if you bucked the system, deviated from the norm, became the societal outcast.  What if you were free?  Free to pursue your passions, your interests, your deepest desires?! 

Baker said something that really struck a cord with me.  When going through your stuff, ask yourself one question, "Does it add value, joy, or purpose to my life?".  That's pretty heavy chiz right there. 

Now, I don't know about you, but I don't want to be a robot. 

I want a life of passion, experiences, and reward.  I want my kids to know that life isn't about the stuff you have, it's about the stuff you give(patience, kindess, hope, love).  We only have one life, and if you don't like the script....trash it and rewrite it!

This is only the beginning of our journey to re-script our life.  The preface.  I'm inviting you to join us. 

Stay tuned for Chapter 1.