A good start is ‘beginner’s mind” and “is that true?”

From my private blog.. the one where I focus on finding ‘funny’ and ‘magic’ in this healing journey.  This post isn’t very funny, though.. but perhaps thought provoking. Written April 14th 2012.

Can’t sleep…  one of those nights of research triggered by people whom I realize really do believe cancer is caused by mammograms. And I suspect, some believe the cancer I was diagnosed with was because I’ve had mammograms every couple of years for 10 or 12 years.

Someone thinking that about me feels creepy. This is a nice occasion to do a major energetic ‘brush off.’  Yes, I physically wave my hands around my body as if I were brushing off dust.

But still.. the conversation sent me into research mode.

My best resource is breastcancer.org.  Wow.. compassionate women who have been there, or are there, and who, like me, MUST know what’s true, to the best of our abilities, because we are healing from breast cancer.

We are the ones finding the answers most close to truth. We are the ones doing the research on our particular type of cancer.. and I don’t mean breast cancer in general… there are many variables and we are only going to truly learn about the one we have.

If you don’t have breast cancer, or aren’t VERY CLOSE to someone with breast cancer, you honestly know nothing as truth.  You’ve had no reason to go deeper beyond the myths and miscommunications.  Yet, there it sits.. all that  information in people’s heads, causing fear, making them incorrectly think they are informed.  And they aren’t. Not at all.

{Guess what? A person can eat all the broccoli in the world, be as fit as can be, and even be of the most ‘peace of mind’ kind of person, and oopsy, cancer can drop on them. Do they lower your risk by doing all of these things?  Perhaps for some cancers, perhaps not for others. Who knows.

And I wonder… if their key motivation to eat well, and be fit is to avoid getting cancer, or otherwise dying of an ailment -  that’s living a rather fear motivated life. And I suppose that, as much as anything, can weaken the system’s ability to be strong in the face of whatever – a cold, a disease, a cancer. But that’s all off the topic I’ve intended for this post.}

When you are diagnosed, you realize you really know nothing.  Nothing.  And you go from there, with a beginner’s mind,  to learn what you can about what you have.

We have to quickly learn to dismiss the media reports, the endless cures online, the fear mongering. We can do this more easily because we now know that what applies to one cancer doesn’t necessarily apply to another. We can more easily recognize the ‘resources’ that come with anything from blatant “I have something to sell you!” to the ones with more complex and manipulative hidden agendas to create money out of our fear.

I absolutely love the comment below  from the breastcancer.org forum. It relates to the latest media blitz about the hazards of overdiagnosing breast cancer.

“I hate that really complicated issues are presented in basically a cartoon format.  It really makes me wonder about the stuff I know nothing about that I read in the paper, when I see something I do know something about, presented like this.

These woman on the breast cancer site  have done the research on this media blitz.. even reporting that the book by the author quoted in the report,  IS good…  but the media report itself does not tell the whole story. Not only that.. last year same time, the media did the same report.  This wasn’t news. It was.. “what caught people’s attention last year?” when they were shy of new news.

Once again people’s minds are filled with ‘stuff’.. just ‘stuff’ that has no point being there unless you are willing to learn more and get the whole truth. And you’re not. And nor should you be. UNLESS you have breast cancer.

We really ought to be wondering about what we hear in the media about things we otherwise know nothing about.. really.

This reminds me of when I lived in Iran in the 70′s. I’d discover what people in Canada were hearing about Iran, and it was so wrong.  And when I was back living in Canada, the media reported that the town I had lived in in Iran was completely devastated by an earthquake. I was heartbroken for the wonderful people I knew there.

A few years later, an Iranian family came to my garage sale. I asked them about the earthquake.  Turns out that town had never been devastated, people had not died: there had never been an earthquake! They suggested that it may have started as propaganda because the town had been named after the Shah.. who was ousted.  No earthquake at all. It felt great to bring the milkman and breadman and all the lovely people I had gotten to know in the market  ‘back to life’ in my mind.

As a life coach, a question I often ask is, “Is that true?”  and “Do you know absolutely that its true?”  When a person really stops to think about it, they usually end up releasing a lot of limiting beliefs that are stopping them, or at the very  least, that are confusing them or overwhelming them.

Okay.. good…..  I feel better, clearer, stronger in my thinking again.

Okay, so what was funny about that?  Not much I suppose.  Oh! Picture me brushing off dusty thoughts.. that’s kind of funny.  Picture all the Iranian people rising from the dead in my imagination and waving.. that’s kind of funny, too

And it would be fun if those who get to read this, get to notice the information in their heads that may not be true and dismiss the weight of those. And get to let go choices made out of fear, and really focus and play with the choices they make that  feel good and right and passionate and darn it, fun.  Ya, that’s the direction I’d love to see us all heading.

And if, by some twist of whatever, they happen to be diagnosed with cancer or another not so fun illness.. well, at least, they’ll have a good strong base to work from.

The Call of the Cave in Santorini

Once Upon a Dock in Santorini – No, Twice Upon a Dock…

Way down there.. the port and the cave

October 2008.I stripped off my outer clothes and jumped off the Old Port dock in bra and panties. Middle of the touristy Santorini day. My newlywed daughter shaking her head. She’d already been a good sport travelling the thousands of steps down the caldera, getting stinky and banged up, on a donkey. And now she got to watch her Mom strip and swim – in clearly a non-swimming area- over and under the anchor ropes of small fishing boats to reach the cave she had so long ago wanted to swim to.

I’ve never been able to put in words the exhilaration of that experience. I thought maybe I’d try in this post.

You see, 32 years earlierI had sat at that same dock. It was different then.. wood planks, no cafe, just donkeys if you wanted to pay for a donkey to travel those extensive steps. Earlier that day, I’d stood at the top of the caldera (cliff) and looked at those thousands of steps and a cave that called to me just a short swim from the dock. I had no money for a donkey as I was travelling on less than $5 a day. I’d have to climb those stairs down and back up again. “Crazy,” I thought on that very very hot day.. “crazy to tackle those steps.” But the cave would not stop calling me, and so I walked those steps, knowing I’d also have to climb them again, on that hot hot morning. Did I mention hot?

See that windy path? Stairs. Thousands of Stairs.

You can imagine how imagining the coolness of the water, and the magic of the cave kept me going. And now imagine me, reaching the dock, so relieved that I’d soon get to leap into this cool ancient sea. Just as I was prepared to jump, I looked closer at the water. A jelly fish. No, no, oh no… a thousand jelly fish.

I asked the donkeykeeper in my haphazard greek /english / handgesturing way, “would the jelly fish go away soon?” He answered, “about 3 days.”

I would have stayed to swim to that cave, but for the first time in my months long adventure, I had a schedule. I’d booked a flight back to Iran, where I was living. I had to book the flight because I heard the ‘magic bus’ through Turkey wasn’t safe… women were being stolen as white slaves, and I was pretty sure that would make my Dad very unhappy. I was going back to Iran because, through an american express office, I’d learned my Dad wasn’t well.. darned if he didn’t have a serious ulcer. I dunno, would you get an ulcer if your 20 year old daughter went romping around the world alone, and no internet and no phone to connect you?

Now, as it happens, I didn’t get an ulcer when my daughter did the same thing… and she went for 2 1/2 years, crazy girl… because at least we could be in touch fairly often. And when she was not in communication areas, I just kept reminding myself how happy I was that she was travelling, because her dream had been postponed so long after a car accident. That she was well enough to travel, kept me supportive and sane and ulcer free. I do recall, as my girls were growing up, hoping they wouldn’t truck off around the world alone, because now being a Mom, I could imagine what my Dad went through. Sheesh.

And so I’d booked a flight back to Iran to save my Dad more worry., although it’s true that he wouldn’t likely have gotten the letter that I was on my way until well after I’d arrived home. My poor Dad. No wonder he had an ulcer. He’d get a letter from me saying I was heading to Vienna. He’d get the letter after the earthquake that rocked that country, thinking I was there, but no.. I had changed my mind and not gone there. He’d get a letter saying I was heading to Barcelona. He’d hear about the revolution that happened while I was meant to be in Barcelona… and I was.. and be worried sick until he got the next letter from me assuring him that I survived.

And so I looked at the jellyfish and the cave that called to me and disappointed, I grieved the fact that I would never be able to swim to that cave.

Back to 2008: I’d told my daughters the story of that cave. We were back in Santorini because Courtney had chosen that ancient beautiful caldera as her place to be married. When people asked her, “Why Greece?” I was surprised to hear her answer: “When I was little we were at a restaurant with photos of Greece on the walls. My mom started telling stories of Greece, and I knew right then that one day I would go to Greece.”

Even as she and I rode our donkeys to the old port, I didn’t think I’d get to swim to the cave. It was obviously not a swimming area. But the moment I hit the dock, I remembered. I remembered the young girl alone, a future unknown, and the call of the magic of the cave. I reflected upon how I could never have guessed then, that one day I’d be back, this time with two beautiful daughters, a new son-in-law, my beautiful grandbaby, and the son-in-law’s family to celebrate a wedding. I’d never have guessed this would also be the reunion with my other daughter after her 2 1/2 year travelling journey. I’d never have guessed the ups, downs, losses, celebrations, tragedies, and joys that would become a part of my life and that would evolve to make me one of the most grateful people I know. (smile)

And so, I stripped and swam to the cave. I giggled and laughed and still can feel the salty warm water, and the coarseness of the ropes I swam over and under. I remember looking back and smiling at my daughter who both appreciated what I was doing and hoped that nobody would pay attention to her crazy mom.

I sighed out loud when I swam into the small cave and said, “And so, here we are.” Whatever magic it had to share, it did. It’s magic was the call… the call meant for 2008. The call to notice that what I once grieved evolved into a most euphoric moment. The call to feel the strength of the connection between me and my Dad, who’d passed away just an year earlier. The call to experience the hug of my 20 year old self and my gramanana self, and our choice to stay ‘hugged’. The call to notice that through no conniving of my own, the Universe and my daughter had arranged this magical experience. The call to remember we do not know fully what a moment in our lives is all about.. there’s always more at play: That 20 year old had no idea the call of the cave was for a future time.  The call to wonder if my one daughter soon returning home from her long time travel adventure, and the other now setting off backpacking with her new husband and a baby… would one day ‘randomly’ return to some faraway place and have a magical experience.   The call to celebrate the magic of my family, my life, and the Universe in all its wonder.

Yup, all that in a simple swim to a small cave from a small dock in Santorini.

Afterwards Courtney and I had a coffee at the cafe on the dock. I couldn’t put into words what I’d experienced. I’m sure she was relieved and happy that I got to do it, and perhaps even more, relieved that no one yelled at us. It was like nobody even saw me strip and swim to the cave. Perhaps there was some magic involved in that too.

About Voldemort. About the fear of cancer.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March, I started a private blog as a place to process thoughts and to

• acknowledge the good parts of this journey, (and there has been SO. Much. Good.  Thank you precious people in my life!!!!!!!)
•  rant.  Because ranting is a fair and valuable part of this particular adventure.
• acknowledge the magic around me.
• hold an intention of attracting laughter.
•  pay attention to taking ‘laughably do-able’ small steps, should I happen to have moments of ‘feeling stuck’ on this healing journey.

That blog will likely stay private. It’s really really messy, and full of random notes that would make no sense to anyone else!  And it has a post that is a mile long, listing all the people I’m going to create thank yous for.  I didn’t see that coming when I first started the blog, but what a glorious addition. 

Perhaps some of the blog IS  worthy of sharing, though.  I’m inspired to share the first post on that blog.

March 27th 2012

About Voldemort

Cranky ass bad guy, that Voldemort.  And so interesting that he is referred to as he-who-must-not-be-named.  That’s still a name.  Except they’ve taken the energy of fear up to a whole new level by refusing to say his name.  Kind of like cancer, don’t you think?  The ‘Big C’, people might say.  I want to post on facebook.. “screw that, I have little c.”   I also wanted to post on facebook, as I was staying up way too late researching: “Hey, any of you with breast cancer, do you know what necrosis means?”

You know, make it normal. Make it something you can easily chat about.  It’s pretty common these days. And I’ve believed for a long time that our collective consciousness of fear around cancer is what is taking it to a whole new level… so much fear energy that now it just drops randomly on whomever.

Imagine a storm cloud brewing, and when it finally starts to rain, it doesn’t care who it rains on.  It just has to do something with all that energy.

I wonder if our fears are like the steam that rises from individual kettles, kabillions of individual kettles of ‘fear’ steam rising, and way way too much steam from steam engines called media,  to create those storm clouds. Eventually those storm clouds simply have to burst.

I’ve wondered about this long before I was diagnosed with breast cancer…  and long before my daughter went through treatments for a rare  ovarian cancer that began 2 years ago.  She is doing well. She is amazing.  She is a celebration.

I am doing well right this minute.  As I’ve said to family, I’m either in denial or I’m doing good.  But full on denial would mean I wasn’t doing anything about it.  And I am.

I have surgery next week. (current update: that surgery was a lumpectomy, with not ideal results and so, 12 days ago I had a mastectomy.)

And I am inviting LAUGHTER into my life.. I’m holding a vision of me laughing, my daughters laughing, my granddaughters laughing, and all of our families laughing.

Bigger and better, laugh til tears of joy run down our faces,  or heck, I might even pee my pants, laughing.  Laughing that is more noticeable than ever!

I’m holding a vision of me being my ‘physically outgoing strong’ self.. playing (laughter included) outdoors with my family and friends.. all feeling happy, healthy and having great fun.

The blog is about magic and laughably do-able – reminders for me that those exist should I get really cranky.  It’s about a place for me to show up and write down those good moments.  And the cranky moments if needed. And there’s more to the story, because nothing I do is just that simple.. ha!!!  But that’s for the next posts….

And maybe this blog is about changing the rampant consciousness of fear - that fear that is based on so many myths and misconceptions-  to something different.  I have some discoveries that just might help lessen people’s fears…

Once upon a time, there were three bear adventures and a lot of magic…

Once upon a time, I was terrified of bears.  Actually as a kid, I was pretty terrified of a lot of things. Bears ransacking our campsite didn’t help. And my two older brothers, who delighted in terrifying me even more with horror stories, finally left me anxious camping and absolutely refusing to camp in obvious bear country like Jasper National Park.  Ever. Again.

And then one day, many years ago, I took my daughters (at age 4 and 7-ish) to the Shuswap Narrows camping by boat access only. Back then it was still ‘wilderness’.. only the occasional private houseboat, and the adventurous boat campers.  Yes, brave for a bear phobic woman… but it’s too amazing at the Narrows not to go.

I won’t make this first bear story a long story.. although it is long and the telling, I think, is entertaining.. but that’s just me.  This post will be long enough without all the details! Ha.  But you see, I need to feel brave right now.. and, like magic,  today a bear helped me.  First, though.. the first bear who changed my life:

Suffice to say, we arrived at the Narrows, set up tent, and went for a walk. My daughter Megan said, “Oh look, Mommy, a bear!”  and there, 20 feet away, sat a giant Grizzly.  Sitting, she was about half the size of the outhouse beside her.

I said to Megan, “Take your sister’s hand, walk down to the beach. Walk right into the houseboat that is on the beach. And wait until I get there.”  ( I knew there would be people to look after them!)  Megan and Courtney did exactly that, bless their sweet selves. Even Frosti the dog went with them, apparently unaware of a bear in her midst.

I stood still.  I was not afraid: ‘Mommy protective instinct’ was in full force. If the bear was going to attack, it could attack me, but not my children.

The Grizzly walked towards me, and still I wasn’t afraid. As she came to the path, she simply crossed it.. looking at me calmly.  Her fur swayed golden as it caught the light through the trees, and I thought she was one of the most beautiful sights I’d ever seen.  Surreal. Awe Inspiring… as I felt a bond of motherhood between us.

As it happened,  she was the first Grizzly to be spotted in that area in 10 years. I felt honoured.

A few years later I was sitting on my sundeck at home asking myself, “When did you stop being afraid?  When did you stop worrying so much? When did you get brave?”   (Having lost my Mom when I was  9, and my brother when I was 26 had simply fueled the excessive fears I already had)

And it struck me that so much fear left me the day I encountered my Grizzly.  Besides the fact that she didn’t kill me, I’d realized that all of my years of fear and worry about bears had been wasted “thought-energy”.. because the day I actually ran into a Grizzly turned out to be a most memorable, extraordinary and sacred experience.

That day on the sundeck I realized that my new thinking about my fear of bears, had unconsciously flowed over into the rest of my life.  Worry had faded. I was pretty brave in many aspects of my life, and it felt good. The Grizzly had given me a most empowering life changing experience.

The Bear became a sacred symbol of Motherhood, Strength and Magic.  (Okay, along with my other symbols… for those who know more of my wild and crazy story.. faeries, merlin, stars, the night sky, tall ships and a touch of pirates) It’s the Bear I wear on my finger every day.

Sooo, fast forward past other bear stories to a couple of years ago.  My daughter Megan was diagnosed with a rare ovarian cancer.  She is healthy and wonderful and well now.  At the time she went through very aggressive chemo, had some life threatening events and suffered two strokes.  Let me mention again: She is sooo well now, got married last summer.. and we all danced gloriously in celebration.

As you can imagine, during her treatments was a very difficult time. One day I sat at the top of a mountain and sent messages to the universe, the gods, the goddesses, the family on the other side, the faeries, the angels, the guides, “and all who are good and  listening whether I believe you exist or not” (Okay, I was desperate and not about to miss a single helping spirit)  to help my daughter.

As I walked the path down the mountain, I turned a corner and there was a Momma Black Bear and her two children.  My dog gently sat beside me and watched – which in itself signalled a magic moment. My hiking friends watched. And I started to cry because I knew the Bears were a sign that the Universe was listening and my daughter and  family were supported.

And now…

And now.. fast forward to yesterday.  On Wednesday, I will be having a second surgery for breast cancer.  In many ways, this was feeling easy. ’Ridiculous!’ and some “WTF’s”  yes,   yet in comparison to what Megan went through, my diagnosis seemed simple, and still does.  But results from a lumpectomy weren’t ideal and this past 10 days, as I wait for a masectomy … well, actually, I’ve kind of filled the days with beautiful things, with the help of my family and friends.. spas, hiking, paddleboarding, games, dinners, sketching, writing., even having my breasts painted by artist friends (thank you), playing with grandchildren …  I’m doing what I can to connect to energies that feed my soul, to hang onto as I heal.

A series of events evolved into my sharing what was happening on facebook, (I hadn’t intended to share.. that seemed very hard for me) and now I’m in awe .. total awe.. at the spirit lifting support from friends and family a result.  So, yes, I am feeling supported.

And it is a bit scary anyway.  But here’s one more thing for you to imagine. Imagine my awe once again, when today, a large beautiful black bear with a rich brown snout, bounced across our path.  This time, I was in my car with my 4 year old granddaughter, driving back from a hike.. that’s good because there was no houseboat to send her to.  I gasped in delight, and she gasped in delight: ” a real bear! I’ve never seen a bear in real life!”   I stopped and watched the Bear run up the mountain side, pausing, graciously to allow a photo.  I don’t know why the photo is blue tinted.. except perhaps that the spirit of my Dad happened by.  He’s always been all about ‘blue.’ I do know that the Bear was ever so kind to show up and remind me that I can be brave. But I don’t always have to be. I am supported. There is magic.

                                         And they all lived happily ever after.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On this journey,

I will use creativity

I will use magic

I will use laughter

I will use adavan …

I will hang out in nature

But most of all, I will bask in the love and support

and wonder of those around me

For all of that, I feel blessed

~~~~

My wish is that we all start sharing our magical stories.

Perhaps you’ll recognize that a magical connection you’ve had was truly

a magical connection and not ‘just a coincidence’ and that you can let go of ‘the scientific explanation.’

Perhaps, like me, when you share the stories, it helps to bond their truth within you.

The more stories we tell, the more normal the magic of the Universe will become.

And that simply opens us up for even more.

I wish for you a safe place to share your magical stories. And if perchance this is the place, you are most welcome.

And thank you for reading ALLLL the way to here!

One Minute Self Discovery in a Mug

Part 1. Time ~20 seconds: 

Why is your favourite mug your favourite? If you have more than one favourite, what’s the common theme?

Example: My favourites all remind me of special stories in my life. Either ones I’ve made with messages from the faeries or ones gifted to me.. from Disneyland!

Part 2.  Time ~ 40 seconds:

Write a sentence as if you are the mug beginning with “I am…

♫  Hum de dum ♫ I’ll have a sip of tea while you finish..

~~~~~~

We had some fun on facebook when I posted this activity.

Kate:  I only drink coffee out of the Bunnykins mugs

The message she discovered from her mug:   “I retain a sense of childlike wonder”

Michael Topic: My favourites have bears on them.

The message: “Mine says that I am strong, kindly, but prefer to remain unmolested. “
(click Michael’s name to see his awesome blog “Creative Ideas for Starving Artists”)

Hope Mikal:  I have two favourite mugs. One is inherited from Jordan’s grandfather, it is a piece of art. It looks like a old man with a beard and a fish is jumping which makes the handle. My second one is a to go mug with a special little tea steeping part attached, it is pretty and green. I get excited to use it! =)

The message:  “I am a good friend.”
(click Hope’s name to reach her Hope-Full Universe Artist’s page)

Una Connor:  I rotate mugs often, break them and try not to get too attached. However, I see a theme:  it’s comfort, and convenience, does it hold enough to completely fill my bladder, does it touch my lips just so? Will I end up with yet another coffee stained shirt and lap? There are so many options, and not one can look like the other or I hide them away in the back pantry until it’s mate or sibling gets broken.

The message: Mine says “I like to reinvent myself and strive for perfect imperfection while trying to maintain some kind of dignity in a world that doesn’t often acceprt different.”   (click Una’s name to see her unique artworks and book)

And my mugs’ messages:  “I am full of messages that are simple yet when really heard, magical. I am the pause when fully sipped brings a chance to believe in more. I am the imagination made practical and drinkable.”

Oh, I like my mugs. They are wise.

If you’d like to share what your mug has to say… please do!!!

 

A pen, the back of my hand, a bookstore.. and redirecting my life.

I hadn’t gone into the bookstore with the plan of redirecting my life.  It just happened that way. One of those series of synchronistic moments that lead you to … well, in this case… not only an ‘aha’ or twelve for me, but an awesome exercise in self discovery for everyone.

My original purpose was to see if any novels leaped out at me yelling, ‘Read me! Read me!”  That helped… I had walked in with the intention of being open to noticing.

I walked past the gardening section and thought, “Wow, I don’t ever buy gardening books anymore.”  At one time it was a passion of sorts, and I do like to play in the dirt.. but I’d probably be just fine if someone else planted the dirt.  That was curious.

I could feel the little niggling naggling thoughts that have semi-consciously nagged me each spring ( ‘why don’t you put more effort into the gardens?  You used to love the gardens!”)  simply bow out graciously.  My gardening interest was no longer worthy of a new book and that’s okay.

A smile curled onto my face as I let go the nigglenaggles, and realized I was beginning an adventure in the bookstore.

And so I asked myself,

           “What no longer captures your interest?”

           “What DOES capture your interest?”

I even asked,

“What has never captured your interest?”

I wandered through the book store making a list on the back of my hand:

What books no longer capture my interest?

tournament ski boats, waterskiing,  dog training, creativity, self-development, visual art, pottery, home renovating, technology.

That’s rather curious since these things, other than the interest in dog training and home renovations, ‘define’ me.

What REALLY captures my interest and excites me?

quantum physics, science of mind, travel (as always), writing, games, hiking, camping, wilderness survival, paddleboarding, maybe kayaking,  outdoor maps, tall ships

What has never interested me?

magazines about organizing closets.  (Just in case I’ve ever felt guilty about my closets, I now know I can let it go and acknowledge it’s ‘not my thing.’)

I left the store with a new backroad hiking map book. AND a great basic guide to backpack camping. When I’m out in the woods,  which is often, I realize there’s a lot I don’t know. I was practically skipping out of the store excited about learning more.

BUT what about those things that define me?

I walked out of the store knowing, again, how important it is for me to finish my own book.. my crazy true story about creativity and life.  I don’t need to read any more books in those areas right now. I simply want to trim the current 350 pages to a more readable and concise and flowing 150.  Maybe tips from those ‘organizing closets’ magazines might be helpful. Ha!

I walked out of the store with a plan to sell my lovely and precious tournament boat.

That’s big. Trust me, this is a REALLY big decision for me. But dynamics have changed, and the bookstore adventure confirmed I’m as crazily excited about paddleboarding and other outdoor adventures as I once was as my ‘most- obsessive- and- insanely- passionate- waterskier- ever” self.

I had a bunch more discoveries.. but really, how long can a post get? The point though is that ‘what lights my fire’ is essential for me, through the ups, downs, thick and thins, crazy wonderful and crazy-making moments in life.  Sometimes we need to give ourself permission to notice that we are ever evolving and what worked in the past is allowed to shift to something new.

So.  All you need to get clear on your direction is a pen and your hand and a little visit to the bookstore.  Napkins, or even a notebook could work as well as the back of your hand.  Arrive delightfully open to discovery and armed with the three questions above.

Wishing you many aha’s as you  let go what isn’t serving you well.. and welcome what is right for you right now!  I wonder if you’ll be as surprised at the absolute clarity and as excited as I am from my discoveries!

The Easter Treasure Hunt!!

You did it!!!

{THe OOPS Factor: for those of you who got this post before you even knew what was going on… OOPS!  Thought I had everything covered.  I’m modelling that imperfection is okay?!     The Treasure hunt officially begins on my facebook page..  You can start here: https://www.facebook.com/musingsandmud}

Now, to continue….

Simply post the phrase you came up with in the comments section and you’ll be entered to win a $20 gift certificate from the Book Depository.. Any book, free shipping world wide!   That’s fun, yes?

The draw will be made via an internet draw contraption graciously provided by Random Draw.

Thanks for treasure hunting!  May your Easter and your life be full of all sorts of magical moments.  Oh, and please do tell us about the magic in your life! Not required to be entered in the draw, but really.. I did this so you could all meet and get to know each other.   ~smile~

And again, Huzzah!!

Janet

In the works is a crazy wild wonderful blog tour which will be full of cool prizes, and connect kindred spirits with some of the finest creative, compassionate, inspiring bloggers I know. If you’d like to learn more, or if you’d like to be one of the wild and wonderful bloggers participating, please subscribe to this blog to keep updated.

Do What A Four Year Old does…

“Writing is important because it helps me hear
what my mind is saying.”
Evalee       Age 4

My 4 year old granddaughter said this as she ‘wrote’ lines and lines in her notebook.

She and I agreed that it would be nice also to share this drawing.

I say, Go do what a four year old does.

What if you live magically today?

Kabing!

You landed in the magical sharing spot!  (For those of you who didn’t arrive via flight or rainbow, then you probably didn’t find this through my newsletter)

Sooo, what if you lived magically today?

What would ‘magically’ mean for you?

I’d adore beyond imaginings if you share.

Why? Because I know one person’s ‘magical’ might be a trigger for another person’s ‘aha.’  And another person’s ‘magical’ might be another person’s “oh, I’m not crazy after all – there’s others like me!”

And because sharing is caring. ~smile~ (okay that’s a grama nana statement coming out) and sharing is a way that kindred spirits can inspire and support each other.  THAT always evolve into more magical things happening.

Thanks for being here! And a joyous and happy St. Patrick’s Day to you!

Cars: But if it keeps on ticking….

This week I get to drive my daughter’s 92 Honda Civic. She’s borrowed my car for a trip because..well, it’s possible hers isn’t as dependable.  Driving her car brings me back to a little issue I have about ‘stuff.’

A few years ago I traded in my 91 Honda Civic for my nice Toyota Matrix.  But I resisted doing this so much!

“Why would I get rid of it? It’s still running! And the rusty fender isn’t going to fall off anytime soon,” I would say to my other daughter, who would respond:  “Mother. You have a business. Your car cannot be a beat up piece of crap.”

She was right of course. And I do love my Matrix.  I had to justify the change because I really did need more room for grandbabies and for camping gear, and not because it wasn’t suitable for a woman running a business.  There’s a rebel in me who really dislikes doing things for ‘social acceptableness.’  There’s a rebel in me who is horrified by the waste that is so often based simply on making sure our ‘status symbols’ are current.   Not so many years ago, we knew those old traded-in cars just kept on ticking in someone else’s hands. Not true anymore. How many old cars do you see around these days?

And really… there’s a lot ot be said for old Honda’s.

1. Megan’s car still has better gas mileage than most nowadays. When I traded mine off, there was an offer from the government to give money back for trading to a more fuel efficient vehicle.  As it turned out, NO car I looked at was more fuel efficient than my 91 Honda. Seriously? 20 years later and none in my ‘range’ are better? (No, I wasn’t looking at the very expensive hybrid cars, it’s true.)

2. You stop worrying about .. oh, things like “mom backed into my car and wrote “oops sorry” on the dent.”  (It’s still there.. a bit hard to see in the picture)  You stop worrying about those things because really, is it worth a lot of repairs when it’s this old and may not last? But it has kept on lasting. And maybe I should get it fixed for her.

3. You can say to some young new driver who is horrified that he backed into your car and took out the side mirror, “That’s okay. Just get the mirror fixed. The crunch is fine.”   You can imagine how much he loves her.

Besides it gives the car symmetry and balance.  One crunch on each side.

Now the very cool evolution I see happening amongst some people is this: Less waste, more simple. Simple lifestyles. Small homes. Cabins on land shared with others. (I’m in for this one.. anyone else?) Old cars and old furniture are okay.

And what is starting to evolve is that others see people making these moves as brave and innovative.. and perhaps a move like that is going to become the new status symbol, instead of the bigger homes, fancier cars, etc.

I heard someone say the other day, ”Did you hear that so and so is moving out into a cabin for $200 a month? Sold their big home and simplifying!” And they said it with admiration instead of what we might have heard in the past.. scoffing judgementalism.

I think we’re going to see more of that:  approving attitudes.

But I don’t think we are at the point where I wouldn’t be judged as to the success of my business if I were driving my old rusty Honda. I don’t think I’ll hang a “Musings and Mud Coaching Studio” sign on Meg’s car this week.

Megan, on the other hand, can be the beacon of a changing world by hanging onto her little civic until it decides it’s time, or until it is no longer safe to drive.

Really, it all comes down to making choices based on what’s right for you and your lifestyle and your dreams, and taking care that those aren’t being determined by external factors like media, consumerism, and society’s expectations of what you should be doing.  There’s nothing wrong with wanting a new car.  There is something wrong if you want a new car only because others think you should get one.  Thank goodness I could justify my new car for camping and grandbabies.  ~smile~

Thoughts, anyone?