“Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how … The artist never entirely knows.  We guess.  We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark.”  Agnes DeMille

Have you ever walked into a party, and someone was dressed in a way that you had wanted to dress, but you didn’t because you felt unsure?  Recently I saw Brene Brown in an interview with Oprah, and Brene talked about the boots she was wearing and how she almost didn’t wear them, because she was afraid that people would think that she thought she was “all that” for wearing them.  I was so grateful to her for being so honest, because I can’t tell you how many times I have not worn something because I thought someone would think I was trying to be something or someone I wasn’t.  To hear Brene share this made a world of difference for me.  Suddenly I was no longer afraid to wear whatever my spirit wanted to wear.  How liberating!

“Today, take a real risk that can change your life:  start thinking of yourself as an artist and your life as a work in progress.”  Sarah Ban Breathnach

I read a billboard outside a church recently that said, “Faith is taking the first step even though you can’t see where the stairway leads.”  When I spoke the other day about my life being its best when I have been quiet and listened to where I was being led, this is exactly what I was talking about.  A perfect example would be in 2005, when I decided to move to Florida.  I had no idea how I was going to make this happen.  I was a single mom.  I had a house to sell, and I couldn’t imagine selling it and packing up my house and moving it all to Florida – it was especially overwhelming since I had just moved into and renovated that house one year before!  But I knew in my heart that I was being led to do just that.  People told me I was crazy.  Jobs were hard to find.  Houses in central Florida were selling as fast as they were put on the market – how would I find one when I was so far away?  I didn’t listen to them though – I moved forward in faith, one step at a time.  I didn’t know how I was going to do it all, I only knew that this was what I was being led to do.  And as you can guess, it all went as smoothly as it possibly could have gone.  I emailed my resume to a law firm in Lakeland and got an immediate response – “You have perfect timing.  When can you come for an interview?”  The day I was flying down for the interview, a buyer signed a contract on my house.  The day I flew down to look at houses, the perfect house for me went on the market.  The entire process was effortless, as I moved forward one step at a time, confident in the knowing that I was doing what God wanted me to do.

“The beautiful, authentic life you are creating for yourself and those you love is your art.  It’s the highest art.”  SBB

What art are you creating?  Share it with us!

Shalom!

“I have made my world and it is a much better world than I ever saw outside.”  Louise Nevelson

Sarah tells us that we need to restore a sense of rhythm to our lives.  I am working hard to do just that, but I’m afraid I am not there yet.  I am a work in progress, especially with my new real estate career.  I am working long hours to take excellent care of my clients and make this new career a success.  At the same time, my creative pursuits – writing, art, and music – are so important to me, and I need to make time for those things, as well as time with my loved ones.  I haven’t seen my grandsons in over a week, and my studio is sitting with clay pendants waiting for their necklaces to be made.  My piano and guitars … don’t even want to go there.

“Restoring rhythm to the way you conduct your affairs can bring you contentment and a sense of well-being that will nurture and sustain you when the cares of the world can’t be left behind.”

I had this conversation with my friend Eunice today.  She was talking about how taking an hour or two with a girlfriend can restore her spirit, so that when she returns home, she feels rejuvenated, like a new person.  I had that same experience recently.  With all I have on my plate, it has been a long time since I’ve taken time to be with girlfriends.  But recently I realized it was the birthday of a friend who lives alone with no family nearby, and I took the evening off from working to take her to dinner.  I did it for her, but I think I benefitted more than she did!  It was a must needed respite from all of the work I have been doing, and the evening left me feeling thoroughly recharged.  I didn’t realize how much I had been missing girl time!

We all need to determine what is important to us, and what we need to “say no” to, but for those of us who have so many interests, restoring rhythm can be especially challenging.  Do you have a secret for organizing your life in such a way that you can “do it all?”  If you do, I hope you’ll share it with us!

Shalom!

“Today, deliberately turn away from the world … Begin, instead, to listen for the whisper of your authentic self telling you which way to go.”  Sarah Ban Breathnach

I had a meeting with my mentor, Maria, this morning.  Maria is an amazing woman, and we have found ourselves to be “birds of a feather,” like minded and spiritually connected in many ways.  Maria gave me some advice this morning that is well suited here.  She suggested sitting quietly each Monday morning, in silence, being still enough to hear the voice of God whisper to you what you should be focusing on that week, and whom you should be in contact with.  I know that it works, because she does it, and every time she has reached out to me, she has had perfect timing!

 “We are always being shown the next step of our uniquely personal journey.”  SBB

It is so easy to get caught up in the business of life, and the urgency of everything that must be done.  Even as I write this blog every day, I am a work in progress.  This morning, as I was getting ready for my day, I found myself feeling rushed, worried about making my meeting on time.  Then suddenly, as I was going through the process of making my morning tea, I reminded myself to focus on being present, and a peace washed over me.  A voice whispered, “Calm down, relax, it’s alright.  Everything is fine.”  I was able to relax, enjoy my morning routine, and made it to my meeting early!

 “Only when the clamor of the outside world is silenced will you be able to hear the Deeper Vibration.”  SBB

There have been very distinct times in my life when I was quiet enough to listen to where I was being led, and each and every time, my life couldn’t have gone better.  I am going to follow Maria’s advice, but on a daily basis.  I will be listening very carefully.  How about you?

Shalom!

P.S.  If you are new to these posts, Transforming 2014 is an online book club of sorts.  We are reading Sarah Ban Breathnach’s book, Simple Abundance:  A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, together so that 2014 can be a transformative year for all of us.  Use the comment section to inspire fellow readers or share your difficulties so that we can support you.  You can find Sarah’s book on Amazon, and it is available in the Kindle version as well!

“My business is not to remake myself, but make the absolute best of what God made.”  Robert Browning

Sarah shares with us how Julia Cameron refers to prayer as switching on “spiritual electricity.”  I love what she says about the electricity being turned on when she asked, but that she stayed in the dark when she didn’t ask.

This is a good reminder for all of us.  Personally, I tend not to “ask.”  I pray like crazy for my loved ones, but I don’t ask for much for myself, fearing that it would be selfish to do so.  I do the positive thinking and recitations to myself before I go to sleep, but I don’t ask God for things that I am dreaming about.

Why is that?  Is this part of my issue of always trying to be a pleaser, not wanting to bother anyone, including God?  I am going to try Sarah’s suggestion.  I am going to begin turning on the light today with prayers for my daily life.  I am excited to see what God has in store for me, and how this will bring me closer to my authentic self that He created me to be!  Will you try it with me?

Shalom!

“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.”  Oscar Wilde

Sarah talks about the calm, reassuring confidence we can experience when we allow ourselves to be our authentic selves.  As we are discovering, it is possible to become our authentic selves, but it takes time and effort.  It takes being present.  Present in the little things, and present in the big things.  Meditation.  Appreciating nature.  Taking the dog for a walk.   Dealing with loss and disappointment.

While walking my dog today, something came to me without any effort on my part.  I was just walking, enjoying the beautiful day.  But the difference was, instead of trying to hurry up and get the walk over with so that I could get back to work, I was present, enjoying the experience.  With that being present, I was hearing the whispers of my inner voice.

As I am becoming more in touch with my authentic self, I am trying to be healthier too.  Cutting foods out of my diet that do not do anything positive for my body, like processed foods, wheat and dairy.  I’ve started juicing.  As I follow this Simple Abundance path, I have more respect for who I am, and with that respect comes a desire to take better care of myself.  Not eating processed foods, or foods with preservatives in them, means taking more time for food preparation, but that allows me time to enjoy being in my beautiful kitchen, enjoying the process of the preparation.  Being present.

“Watch.  Wait.  Time will unfold and fulfill its purpose.  While we wait, we must not go unconscious.  We must think and grow.  Rejoice and dream, but kneel and pray.  There is holiness in the air today; we are giving birth to goddesses.”  Marianne Williamson

Shalom!

“Perhaps loving something is the only starting place there is for making your life your own.”  Alice Koller

I like Sarah’s suggestions for window shopping to discover our style.  When it comes to personal style in the home, I don’t need to window shop to figure out my style there.  I know who I am and what I like.  The picture posted here comes from my kitchen, and it shows a lot of who I am in this one shot – I love color.  I love the color and warmth that comes from pottery, candles, fruit in a bowl.  I am a musician (as is my husband) and have pieces throughout the house that can attest to that fact, like in this print on the wall.

When it comes to clothing, I am not as clear as I used to be.  Interestingly, I read a blog recently here http://wordpress.com/read/post/id/61426429/27/ that talks about looking in your closet and finding your “go to” items to discover your style.  My problem – there is nothing in my closet that really feels like me.  Everything I buy, I buy to please someone else – business clothes for the law firm where I used to work; dresses because Mary Kay says consultants are supposed to wear dresses; “gig” clothes for how I thought I should dress to impress when I was playing out … you get the idea.  The one thing in my closet that really feels like me?  A pair of faded holey jeans.  I don’t think I can wear them to sell real estate though – I do have to be professional, even if I am being my authentic self!

I haven’t shopped in a long time because I’ve been “on the wagon.”  I am excited to take Sarah’s suggestion to go window shopping and find my style, so that when I am able to shop I’ll know what to buy that suits the authentic me instead of who I think everyone expects me to be.  Will you join me?

Shalom!

P.S.  If you are new to these posts, Transforming 2014 is an online book club of sorts.  We are reading Sarah Ban Breathnach’s book, Simple Abundance:  A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, together so that 2014 can be a transformative year for all of us.  Use the comment section to inspire fellow readers or share your difficulties so that we can support you.  You can find Sarah’s book on Amazon, and it is available in the Kindle version as well!

“Expect nothing less than signs and wonders to follow.”  Sarah Ban Breathnach

Are you one to go on excursions alone?  I know that most people really don’t like to venture out without company.  I have always enjoyed doing things alone.  Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want to be alone all the time, but I do enjoy shopping and doing things solo.

A few years ago I went to a conference in Montreal.  I had never been there, and I went two days early so that I could take in the sights before the conference started.  I was alone, and I can’t tell you how wonderful it was.  It was a time to go deep inside and visit with myself, because there was no one else to chatter with.  I walked, took in the surroundings, shopped, and dined in the fancy hotel restaurant.  Alone.  For two days.  In another country.  I’m telling you, you can do it.

If you are a local Lakelander, there are plenty of little one-hour excursions nearby.  Hollis Gardens is a place I like to go to wander, take photos, and just think.  Walking Lake Hollingsworth is another obvious favorite.  Lakeside Village is a great place to window shop and wander.  For most of us here in Florida, there is a beach within an hour’s drive away, and what better place to get reacquainted with yourself than sitting and watching the waves in our beautiful Florida sunshine?  (Sorry northerners.)

What do you think?  Will you give yourself the gift of some time to be alone outside of the four walls that enclose you?

Shalom!

“Year by year the complexities of this spinning world grow more bewildering and so each year we need all the more to seek peace and comfort in the joyful simplicities.”  Woman’s Home Companion, December 1935

Isn’t that funny?  We think our lives today are so crazy compared to “way back when,” but in 1935, they thought their world had gotten pretty hectic.  Apparently, no matter what age you live in, it is more hectic than the last.  So how do we find peace, and time to stop and smell the roses?

 “Joyful simplicities nourish body and soul by engaging our senses.  They teach us how to live in the present moment.”  Sarah Ban Breathnach

As someone who grew up thinking that a wife and mother has a duty to be busy working every minute, learning to live in the present and take time to enjoy the simple pleasures in life has been a process.  It is something I work at every day.  I do better at it some days than others.  Danny is so good at it.  He has a real skill for living in the present.  He can stop whatever he is doing to enjoy a moment with a loved one or to help me or the kids, regardless of what timeline he is on.  Me, I worry about where I’m supposed to be, don’t wanna be late … and I just had an aha moment … I think part of that comes from worrying about displeasing someone.  It is a fine balance, living in the present, and meeting your obligations when you need to be someplace at a scheduled time.

“As we become curators of our own contentment on the Simple Abundance path, one of the great payoffs is that we start to seek peace and comfort in the joyful simplicities.”  SBB

Curators of our own contentment.  Don’t you just love that?  What are you doing to become a curator of your own contentment? What joyful simplicities have you discovered that bring you personal comfort and a sense of well being?  Will you share them with us?

Shalom!

“Almost always it is the fear of being ourselves that brings us to the mirror.” Antonio Porchia

I have to be honest, I don’t have much to say about Sarah’s “golden mirror.” The mirror idea doesn’t really work for me. I do agree with part of Antonio Porchia’s quote though, that we have a fear of being ourselves.

I like Sarah’s concept, but for me, sitting in meditation and listening to the whispers of my heart and hearing God’s message for me is where I can find myself. When I listen for God’s voice, I do feel the light of Love surrounding me. I feel the weight of the world lift from my shoulders like a butterfly, and I am secure in the knowledge that I was created to be exactly who I am and that God’s plan for me is better than anything I could ever imagine.

I feel great excitement, this knowing that there is something wonderful planned for me. It takes away the pressure of trying to figure it out for myself when I know that He already has it taken care of. And I find an inner confidence that I don’t always feel, when I take that time to sit quietly and remember that He created me to be just the way He wanted me to be.

I read a quote on a church billboard yesterday. It said, “Do you have enemies? Good – that means you’ve actually taken a stand on something in your life.” I love that. It is a good reminder as I work at being my authentic self and stop trying so hard to please everyone.

Shalom!

“The greatest secret to living a happy and fulfilled life is the realization that everything is created in our minds before it manifests itself in the outer world.”  Sarah Ban Breathnach

I know this to be true.  I am blessed by so many positive things in my life today, and I imagined every single one of them into being.  So now, I am so excited to see my dreams of today come into being tomorrow!

“You have to know what you’re digging for before X can mark the spot.”  SBB

What are you creating in your mind today for your future tomorrow?

“Put your ear down to your soul and listen hard.”  Anne Sexton

If you listen to Anne’s advice, your soul’s deepest desires will manifest themselves in your life!

Shalom!