Oh the places you'll go!

I have used the same picture over at my Safe Space blog (have a visit as I have just posted). I took it this Christmas and it gives me joy looking at it.

Today's Quote:

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know.
And you are the one who'll decide where you'll go.
Oh the places you'll go.
~Dr Seuss

Today's Question:

You are the only one who can decide where you will go. Where are your feet taking you?

About me:
My feet take me to wonderful places. I am very happy being me. I can steer it anyway I want. I don't have much but hey what I have got I use wisely now.
My feet will be taking me many places in 2010. I hope yours will too.

True Peace

Today's Quote:

"True peace is not just freedom from fear, but freedom from want." ~ Barack Obama (at his Nobel Peace Price acceptance speech)


Today's Questions:

In what ways are you keeping peace?

How can you be free from want?

About me:
I am keeping peace by going inside and truly knowing myself. This is a daily undertaking and one that is sometimes challenging. I want many things for myself and my family yet I know that we are all so very lucky and I am grateful for that. It would be icing on the cake but that's not to say that the cake tastes bad without it.....

A Love Like That

Today I am sharing a really nice little poem (or whatever you want to call it) which I love....

Even after all this time
The sun never says to the earth,
"You owe Me."

Look what happens with
A love like that,
It lights the Whole Sky.

~ Hafiz

Today's Question:

Where in your life are you feeling owed in some way?

&

Like the brilliant Wayne Dyer says....How can you want something more for someone else than you want it for yourself?


About me:
I feel like I am owed respect by people around me but sadly this isn't always the case and sometimes doesn't work out the way I would like. This is something I need to look at and stop expecting from external sources. I like Wayne's question as it makes me stop in my tracks and think from a different perspective. Try it for yourself....

New Phase

Today's quote:

“When what you’ve always done stops working, it’s simply an indication that a shift is about to occur. A new phase of your life is trying to emerge. Let it be born.” Unknown (by me anyway)

Today's Question:

What can you do in order to let the new phase begin?

About me:

I have recently let go of my coaching business. I thought this would be way harder to do than it actually was. One day I really wanted to do it and then just as quickly I realised that I was running a business to make a living and stressed myself out about it. I realised there were more productive ways of earning a living than constantly striving for your own thing.

My ego and need to be wealthy has diminished enough to enable me to let it go without feeling a real loss. As soon as I did let it go I had quite a few inquires about coaching and those I may take on (but only if they are really keen to make massive changes or ready to do the work it takes).

I started my new position with a great Not-For-Profit (NFP) on the 30th November and I am loving it so far. I can now feel at ease and enjoy giving back to my clients on many levels.

I am going to write an article and post on my Safe Space blog re leaving the old you behind but first I am enjoying learning my new role. Thank you for all of your support.

Solve

Today's Quote:

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein


Today's Question:

What problems or challenges are you aiming to solve?
How can you see them in a fresh perspective with new thinking?



About me:
I solved a challenge I had with new thinking. As some of you may have read recently, I decided to kind of let go of my coaching practice. I really wanted to work for a not-for-profit here in New Zealand. I got a position with The Leukaemia & Blood Foundation which I am extremely pleased about! It is for a great cause, I can bring all of my skills to the job and experience new ones, I have control over my day and will be giving back. It ticks all of my boxes and really resonates with me. I may still do some coaching work on the fringes but it will no longer be the only thing. My destiny lies elsewhere. I am coming from a totally different space now and I have never felt more aligned.


note: the beautiful pink tree (above) sits in a friends garden and I have fallen in love with it. I do not know what type it is so if anyone knows could you tell me as I forgot to ask.....x

Scissors

Today's post was taken directly from Today's Gift Daily Meditations for Families by Hazelden Meditation Series


Today's Quote:

We like someone because, we love someone although. ~ Henri de Montherlant


"Families are like scissors. They are joined in the middle but often spread wide apart, moving away from each other. When we're not feeling close to other family members- when it's hard to even like them- it seems like we'll never come together again.
But pity the scrap of paper that comes between our scissor blades! The scissors works together again and slices the trouble clean. When trouble threatens our family, we can slice it through if we move together in love and acceptance.
No matter our small differences, we are part of the same living organism, in a way. The family we live in has been together for many generations and we are just the most recent members. When we look at one another, we see the products of centuries of love."

Today's Question:

When I feel distant from my family, can I locate where we are still joined together?

What you could

Today's Quote:

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today's Question:

What would it take for you to be content with your day's achievements?

About me:
I have recently decided to go and work in a Not-for-profit organisation which enhances the lives of people. I have actually made it to a third interview with such an organisation here in New Zealand. I may then do weekend coaching for a few select clients whom I feel I can assist in living a more authentic life.
I have spent today preparing for this third interview but at the end of the day I got this far by being myself and if the role is meant for me then it will be.
I am happy with my achievements today so far...I have done what I could...have you?

Best Thinking

Today's Quote:

Now I heard this on a Hay House radio show and cannot recall who said it. Therefore, it's not an exact quote but the essence is there.

"If your best thinking got you were you are today and life isn't working, it's time to get thinking from some place else."

Today's question:

Where has your best thinking got you? Are you fulfilled in this place? Does what you do nourish you?

About me:
My best thinking took me to owning my own coaching practice. I enjoyed it for quite some time and loved being my own boss. However, for some time now I have had a strong desire to make more of a difference in the world. Give back more.
My husband gave me an amazing gift a while back. He was given the opportunity (from his university) to download 3 career guides for any industry. He got me the 'Save The World' one. He knew that I wanted to make a difference and he thought this might shed some light on working for Not For Profit's or Non Goverment Organisations. His best thinking often blows me away with its clarity. He knew what I wanted even before I did. He knew that being my own boss was no longer nourishing me. I am a people person people and I know that I would so love to work with others!
I am beginning to pick apart the industry and am loving what I am finding. It's exciting!!!! Everyone working towards a common goal and not just for the money or the "just a job", "just paying the bills" kind of way. Actually being of service to the community. Wanting something more for others than you want for yourself.
I would love to continue with my coaching practice but perhaps on a part time basis and most definitely in a new way (more on this in future posts).

Difficulties

Today's Quote:

"The seeds of wisdom, peace and wholeness are within each of our difficulties." Jack Kornfield

Question:

What could some of your difficulties be teaching you?


About me: I have faced many difficulties recently. I have changed so much as a person and continue to change every day. It's good change and it wasn't until I began reading A Path With Heart by Jack K that I realised that my spiritual practice is growing as a result of these difficulties, changes and the questioning of everything in my life. It is actually great to be pushed into new places and seek out new paths. I am in a place of contemplation and meditation of what may be coming into my life next.
Unsure and not even thinking of sharing with the world my ideas of what may happen is a theme I have to get comfortable with. One of the main parts of me before was sharing too early. Only to have people be confused. Not that I am living my life for other people but people can become wary if a person changes too much right in front of them. One thing I will say....I am excited about my future. I am growing every day in this beautiful life.

Storms

Today's quote:

"Nature doesn't create a storm that never ends."~ Dr Wayne Dyer

Today's question:

What is going on in your life that you believe will never end?

About me:
I have been going through so many storms lately. Internal storms that bring with them strange and new feelings that are not always welcomed. Changes are occurring rapidly and they push and coax me into new places of utter exploration. I am detaching from things I once held so dear and close. The port in my storms is the love my husband continually throws my way. I am so very grateful for this every day.
I so needed the time away with my family but gosh it's hard to leave them. I lived without the very person I cherish for 2 and a half weeks. It was hard but it has brought us even closer, something which I didn't believe could happen. Thank God for LOVE. x

Apology

Today's quote:
"An apology is a good way to have the last word." ~Author Unknown

Today's question:

What do you have to apologise for?

About me:
I apologise to you dear fellow bloggers. I have not been myself lately. I have had a heap of change to swim through recently....I will be away from computers until the end of September and so will reconnect with you all then. Keep positive & invite all of your emotions in to come play with you....xo

Tension

Today's Quote:

“Some tension is necessary for the soul to grow, and we can put that tension to good use. We can look for every opportunity to give and receive love, to appreciate nature, to heal our wounds and the wounds of others, to forgive, and to serve.” ~ Joan Borysenko

Today's Questions:

Are you putting your tension to good use?

What opportunities can you find?

About me:
Tension can create angst and angst can create more angst....After reading this quote, I realised that some tension can be healthy if viewed in a different way. If put to good use. I have not been putting my tension to good use lately yet I can find opportunities if I begin to look (of that I am sure). So join me in doing just that....Lets go on a journey together!

Contains Many Quotes....

Watch

Today's quote:

"You can observe a lot by just watching." Yogi Berra

Today's question:

What are you watching? What can you observe in your life? What might be the gift of that?

About me:
I have been watching lots lately. I have been very observant of my thoughts and where they take me. It is quite a good thing to do from time to time...otherwise they will run away with you....

What I might be

Today's Quote:

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
~ Lao Tzu

Today's Question:

What might you be if you let go/give up something that is no longer working for you?

About me:
I am thinking about letting something go. I am still thinking so I won't share here but I do love the above quote. Many times, when I have let go of something in my life that is no longer making me happy or content, something new and better comes in. Try it and see, only if you feel ready to do so.

Your art form

Today's quote:

"If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera." ~Lewis Hine

Today's question:

How do you tell your story? What is your art form? Your form of expression?
If you do not have one that you can think of...what might you come up with when asking yourself?

About me:
I guess I express myself in the written word...my journal, my blogs, writing my novel at the moment too. I have a goal of finishing it by the beginning of next year but I am not rushing it. There is no need, it's marinading.
I am thinking of new ways. I once painted with oils and really enjoyed it...perhaps I will take it up again....HHHmmmmm

Looking in the mirror

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Note: This post may require you to look at aspects of yourself that you may not want to see. Look away now if you feel this is too much to ask of yourself.


Today's Quote:

"It is not always a pretty picture we see before us. Staring at the uglier wrinkles in your soul, you'll realize that some hard work with fresh crayons is called for, because the map of the world that you've lived by is going to need to be redrawn." Suzanne Clothier


Today's Question:

Peering at the uglier wrinkles in your soul....which piece or pieces of your map could be redrawn?
s in your soul....which piece or p


About me:
I have been reading Suzanne's book recently. I have never had a dog and now I live with one, I wished to know more about these fascinating animals. My mother-in-law gave me many books and highly recommended Suzanne's book. I find her to be an amazing writer.
Bruno is 19 months old. He behaves very well....at times. I have been taking him out for the past 3 days on my walks. I have completely fallen in love with this beautiful natured dog and love spending time playing with him. My intention for reading the book is to gain a deeper insight into doggy behaviour. One thing I am coming to realize is that we must look at ourselves when training a dog. People ponder over the reason why dogs do certain things, why they misbehave and why they just don't do as they are told yet they rarely look at their own behaviours and motivations for doing something. Having a dog to learn and grow with may just be the best thing for my spiritual growth.

Educating into light

Today's Quote:

"Education is the movement from darkness to light." Allan Bloom

Today's question:

What might you desire to educate yourself on?
What would benefit not just you but people in your life?

About me:
Personal development is so very important to my life. I am continually educating myself so that I may be of greater service to my clients and those around me. Reading, absorbing, grasping and sharing learning can allow me to celebrate life in all it's glory.
We can take a step out of the darkness into the light when we are giving ourselves the right tools....

Greatness

I was given today's quote from Marie over at Art From My Heart. Thank you Marie! Please readers, share your favourites with me....

Today's Quote:

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
Mark Twain

Today's Questions:

Can you identify the people in your life that drain you? What are they saying to you? How are they acting? How might you accept them as they are instead of allowing yourself to be brought down by them (you do have a choice here)?

About me:
You… as an individual…can choose to surround yourself with whomever you wish. Moving about countries has it's challenges for me but also many gifts. I find new friends all the time and can choose to surround myself with people who bring out the best in me and I in them. I may limit the time I spend with people who I feel drain me but I don’t have to let them leave my life completely. Be with people who nurture you and bring out the positive person inside. Allow your greatness to SHINE****

Never fly away

I have a proposition....

Give me your favourite quotes and I will formulate a question and tell you about me. Regular readers- I am sure you have many....

For now I am going to borrow from my book LOVE and share with you a quote which really resonated with me.

Love me without fear
Trust me without questioning
Need me without demanding
Want me without restrictions
Accept me without change
Desire me without inhibitions
For a love so free.......
Will never fly away.

- Dick Sutphen, writer

I know I have one or two to work on in my relationship which has been 10 years this year and yet feels brand new as it's still so enthralling....

Now it's your turn to share

Inner Wisdom

Apologies for the lateness of this post.

I have been resting away from the computer for many days now due to a neck stiffness (an old injury). I was thinking that I sometimes may repeat myself in certain posts and although the quotes are different and I ask questions relating to them, the essence may be the same. Questions may be asked in a different way over and again, yet I believe that people continue to do the same things day in and day out and repetition may be required. Therefore I do hope that you continue to gain something from reading this blog regularly!

Today's Quote:

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." ~E.E. Cummings

Questions for today:

Reaching down into the very depths of your inner wisdom.....do you know who you really are? What you are truly capable of? Where you are on this wonderful journey? Where you are in relation to what you want?

About me:
At each point in this journey of life, we can change the focus, change our thoughts, change and grow to accommodate new things in our lives. After all, the beliefs we have are just a thought we keep thinking. We bang on and on about not having enough of anything and take the attention away from what we want enough of... I am prone to doing this myself at times. In my journey, I am all to aware that your thoughts create your actions and where will I be if I continue to think in an old belief system? Everyday in every way I am changing the belief and sometimes I write about how I have it all together yet I am a being who can have her off days too and usually I can coach myself to a better place. What then for the people who are still asleep out there? Who have no idea of anything greater than what they have in their lives...It can start simply enough with asking the questions above.....

Contemplation of things

Today's Quote:

"The Wright brothers didn’t contemplate the staying on the ground of things. Alexander Graham Bell didn’t contemplate the noncommunication of things. Thomas Edison didn’t contemplate the darkness of things. In order to float an idea into your reality, you must be willing to do a somersault into the unconceivable and land on your feet, contemplating what you want instead of what you don’t have."

~ Wayne Dyer, 21st Century Spiritual Teacher from The Power of Intention

Today's Questions:

What are you willing to do to to get what you want?

How can you cultivate that willingness?

About me:

I am all about the creation of new things. I once heard Geena Davis say "If a person can do it, I can do it." This stuck with me and I remembered it again when writing this post. What if a person hadn't done it though? Could you be the one?

I am creating and contemplating daily on what light I can bring out of the darkness!

Important Relationship

Today's Quote:

"The most important relationship you have in your life, is the relationship you have with yourself." Diane Von Furstenberg

Today's question:

What kind of relationship do you have with yourself?

About me:

I have a nice relationship with myself. After many years spent beating myself up, I have come to love who I am and am more confident about myself. I can spend time alone quite comfortably and look at myself with fresh new eyes every single day. I now spend each day after my shower (whilst I moisturise every part) giving thanks to my body for what it deals with on a daily basis.
I thank it also by nourishing it with exercise, good food and lots of cuddles with husband.....
When you can truly love yourself then you can truly love others. Inner peace is the ultimate joy (in my opinion).....
If you do not have a great relationship with your own self, I invite you to start noticing where you might begin....jot it down and get going....

History

Today's Quote:

"People say that history repeats itself but no we repeat history." Unknown

Today's question:

Where are you repeating habits that no longer serve you?

About me:

There are many habits which were no longer serving me. I chose to let them go. They were unsupportive behaviours, which were taking me in the opposite direction to where I could see myself going and flourishing.
Choosing one at a time and working on that is a small step towards empowerment.
How can we change something unless we know it's there...right?
We can begin to become more aware of our choices and actions. We can become mindful in every moment and choose to go a different way, a way which will honour that which we claim to honour and value.
On a larger scale, together we could change the world, so that we no longer repeat history....We've been there and done that and just look at the state of the world. There is so much potential to do so much good and yet people continue to harm and destroy our planet. The place we can call home....

Spiritual Journey

As the last post, I cannot recall who said this...and there is another coming tomorrow....

"We are not human beings on a spiritual journey but spiritual beings on a human journey."

No question today....

About me:
I believe that life has meaning and purpose and someone recently challenged me to think about what beliefs I hold in relation to the word spirituality. I googled it and came up with Secular Spiritualist- the adherence to a spiritual ideology without the advocation of a religious framework. I have been on a spiritual path for a few years so I'm not even sure this is the right term...but then I don't believe in boxing yourself into a certain frameowrk either.

Playing...

Similar to an old post but a lovely quote which I find myself returning to again and again....

It was written in a magazine article so I never found out the woman's name. A girl was on a course for something I can't remember and there were many young people on it. However, there was one woman who was around 80 years old and when asked why she had decided to do something like this at her time in life she replied:

"You don't stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing."

Today's question:

Where in your life have you stopped playing?

In what way does you inner child fight to come out and play?


About me:

Can you believe that I (at nearly 31 years old) thought on my 30th birthday, that I was old????? WHAT!!!!??
I did, I was upset....I was concerned about it all...the age I always thought I would never get to.....was suddenly there! I began to think that there was so much I wanted to still achieve and I was running out of time.
Thankfully I have such great support around me that I soon saw that in fact 30 is really young. I have heaps of time left to play. It doesn't have to stop. I can still achieve everything I set out to achieve. I can create anything I wish. Plus the fact that with what I know now...the next 30, 40, 50...60 years will only be bigger, brighter and indeed more playful than ever!!!!
Now where is that hula hoop....

Premio Meme Award

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his or her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values every day.

and

The PREMIO DARDO is designed to recognize unique voices and visions on the Web as well as to promote fraternization amongst bloggers of all sorts.

I was given this award by the beautiful Marie from Art from my Heart

I am going to tell you now 7 facts about myself (the rules).

Fact no: 1
I am a great wife

Fact no: 2
I often find it difficult to promote my own business

Fact no: 3
I know why this is and am working on it

Fact no: 4
I love my husband more than anything else in this world and he knows it

Fact no: 5
I sometimes learn the best lessons from my clients and that is why I enjoy the job of coaching

Fact no: 6
I have to have routine and structure to my life or else I am truly overwhelmed

Fact no: 7
I think I'm a little bit in love with everyone...people warm my heart and I always see their goodness

The number of blogs you’re expected to pass along the award to is variously given as 5, 10, 12, and 15 but like Marie I just want you to know that I read and enjoy your blogs regularly. I therefore don't expect that everyone has the time to post and pass on.....

http://zentofitness.com

http://beedrunken.blogspot.com

http://circlingmyhead.blogspot.com

http://sophiemunns.blogspot.com

http://womaninawindow.blogspot.com

http://blog.totalbalance.com.au

So there you have it!

Conversations

Today's Quote:

"A single conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of study." ~Chinese Proverb

Today's Question:

What wise person can you learn from in your life?

If that person has gone what did you learn from them? Do you keep the knowledge inside?


About me:

I don't have all the answers. A lot of people ask me for my wise words and I can dish them out but sometimes I feel like shouting...."I don't know, who does? Does anyone really have stuff figured out?" I have learnt a lot on my journey in life so far....there is still so much out there it scares me with it's vastness sometimes. I want to know it all and yet I don't want to know any of it.
A single conversation with a wise man is all very well but what about several conversations with several wise men or women? Would that be better than ten years of study?
I am getting back into a routine here in New Zealand and part of it is surrounding myself with people who are wisdomful, people I can learn and grow from just as my clients learn and grow with coaching.
I am beginning to contact these people and meeting them for chats over coffees......

Change it!

Today's Quote:

"If you don't like how things are, change it! You're not a tree." ~Jim Rohn

Today's question:

What can you change?
What aspects of your life are no longer serving you?

About Me:

There are many things which I was not comfortable with about the move to New Zealand and then I read a comment on my Safe Space Coaching blog by a friend over at Quiet Mind Meditation.
Going through a similar period in her life she said we are like artists at our new clean 'life' canvas. We can change anything we want. It's our life right??
I am changing the time I get up at. It was getting later and later as I felt like I was on holiday (living at the in-laws, normally is holiday). I am re-establishing my routine as you may have seen from my other blog and I can change anything I choose....mmmmm what next I wonder....

H-A-P-P-Y

Today's quote:

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Abraham Lincoln

Today's question:

What can you make up your mind to be happy about today?

About me:
I have had my ups and downs about allowing myself to be happy lately. I am deciding on how to run my business from a new country. How to 'be' around my in-laws (as we are now sharing a home). How to be in a relationship which has totally changed due to the fact that my husband is now a full time student. Out of my comfort zone? You bet!
How can I make up my mind to be happy today? Well, I can begin with putting a smile on my face and a skip in my step and realising that this change could be just what I need right now....

Rough Draft

Today's quote:

"Sure God created man before woman. But then you always make a rough draft before the final masterpiece." ~Author Unknown

Today's question:

If you got to do one dry run or make a first draft of something in your life before the final masterpiece, which area would you pick or have picked?

About me:
I guess I would have to pick my business. If I had a go at trying to run a business and it didn't matter if it was successful, if I could have had a dry run first, I could go though all the what if's and try new things to see if it could be perfect before I put any money into it. If it all went wrong then I would know what to include in the final masterpiece and what could be taken away.

Note: Just found the quote amusing!

Different Facets

Today's quote:

"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." ~E.L. Doctorow (click here for more on E.L. Doctorow)

Today's question:

What can you do to access different facets of yourself?




About me:
We each have many self's. We wear many masks.
I wore different masks for many years and still wear some today. I journal and meditate to find different aspects of myself so I guess that would be writing! Our daily interactions with those around us can highlight facets too (more on this in later posts).
Whenever I find a different part of myself it assists me in growing as a person. It makes me exist in a world which then seems like a playground.

Yoga Quote

My favourite pose of all time....Bakasana




Today's quote:

"Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are." ~Jason Crandell, quoted in Yoga Journal

Question:

What other opportunity's might present themselves for you to be curious about who YOU are?

About me:
I finish off every daily workout with a few Yoga poses. I find it centers me and makes me curious about my body and what it can twist itself into. It brings me back to myself and realigns my day. There are many opportunities which can allow me to become curious but Yoga and meditation are up there, high on the list.

Heart Play

Today I am sharing with you a little something that I came up with....

"Find a moment in every day. where you let your mind wander and let your heart play." Yvonne Anderson

Today's question:


Where can you bring more heart play into your day?

What would it take for you to find a special moment in your day?

About me:
I now make a point of bringing at least one moment into everyday where I allow myself the time to heart play. We are often so much in our heads and not in our hearts. Freedom to play gives us time to wander away from the tasks we feel we should do, to daydream about the possibilities of what we could.

LOVE

Today's quote:

"You can't see the angels, you can't see the air. You can't see my love but it's everywhere." Anonymous

Today's question:

What can't you see but know is present in your life?

What gifts are all around you if you choose to look?

About me:

It recently became clear to me that I have so much love inside me to share with everyone. There is a song which I love by a band called Love. It's called Alone Again Or. One of the lines goes like this "Yeah.... heard a funny thing, somebody said to me...you know that I could be in love with almost everyone. I think that people are the greatest fun." See video below.

When, like myself, you have true self-acceptance, you can actually view the world with non-judgmental eyes and see that yes, people may be different but we are all carrying around baggage. When we can dump it....Wow, that's authentic living.
This is why I coach people. I want everyone I love to feel this way.

Believe me though...it took a long time for me to be this open to change but when I was.....again WOW- anything is possible!!

Go look for the gifts....

Worry Not

Today's quote:

"Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday." ~Author Unknown


Today's questions:

What is worrying you?
What can you do about it today?
What would be available to you if worry was no longer a concern?

A little about me:

I used to be the world's worst worrier. I worried when I wasn't worried about something. There must be something wrong with me. You have to worry about something...right? Wrong- when we worry, we take ourselves to a place of fear and stress. Once I learned to let go of the worry, so many new avenues came up for me to explore. Explore I did and what I found has changed my life...literally changed it. I have true self-acceptance and I think it is when we come to this place that even more opens up for us. What we worry about hardly ever materializes anyway!

Surrender and life is yours for the taking.....

Enough Time

Today's quote:

"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresea, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein." ~Life's Little Instruction Book, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Today's question:

What have you been telling yourself you just don't have time for?

What might that be costing you?

About me:
I have had plenty of time the past year to do what I needed to do. I studied a lot last year and was working on my coaching business. I would go so far as to saying that I sometimes had too much time on my hands! I hear some of you gasp, but it's true. I have no children and I am in charge of the hours I work.
When my clients talk to me about the time issue- I feel guilty almost, that I have this as a luxury. Hearing their stories makes me feel so blessed for the time I do have.
Recently, I can relate a lot more to them, seeing my husband struggle with little time and my sister who told me the other day that she barely has her bottom rested on a seat all day long!
It can cost a lot though, my sister's health is suffering as a consequence and I shared with her that without her health, she won't be able to look after her children so she could start thinking of ways to have restful periods during her day!

Had to share this with you....someone sent it to me and it made me laugh. Good way to spend some time on a flight.....let it all come in before playing

Accidental

I was recently reminded of one of my favourite authors Maggie O'Farrell.

Woman in a window reminded me of her with her wonderful words.

So here is a piece of writing I love from Maggie...

" Black hair, plastered upright into spikes with rain, the shoulders of his jacket dark with water. An empty, crumb-studded plate sits on his table. A rucksack, battered and ancient, is propped on the floor next to him. He doesn't look like the kind of person this town usually attracts. He stands out. His clothes aren't right. Too impractical. They're not tweed or Gore-tex or wool. They smack too much of the city. He looks like an urbanite, Stella decides, looks like he's landed here by accident."

Today's question:

Where have you landed by accident?
What gifts has your journey provided you with so far?


More on Maggie O'Farrell

About me:
I can honestly say that I have never landed anywhere by accident. I am too much of a planner.
I sometimes wish (romantically) that I had arrived somewhere quite by accident. The closest I can think of is when I first came to Australia on my own when I was barely 20. A young, naive, unsure girl with big plans and high hopes. I thought I would be fine but I cried when I got off the plane in a strange place with no support whatsoever!
I was all wrong for Australia until I made myself right for anywhere....

Patience

Today's quote:

"Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off." ~Author Unknown

Question:

Whether it is counting down or taking a big old deep breath....what can you do to calm yourself so you can avoid blasting off?

What does patience mean to you?

About me:

I used to have a very short temper. I mean very short. Over the past few years I have mellowed...a lot.
Things that used to frustrate me just don't seem to anymore.
I worked with a coach whilst I was studying to become one and I can honestly say she has assisted in the change of the old me to a new and improved version...the best person I can be.
I use meditation...a very short space to collect my thoughts and ask myself in a deep down place "what can I do in this moment to stay calm and avoid any negativity?" I then imagine my body as a beacon of pure light and I can avoid the blast off that would have stepped into it's place before....now it's your turn....

Beauty

Today's quote:

"If one really loves nature, one can find beauty everywhere." Vincent van Gogh


Question:

What will it take to open your eyes and find the beauty surrounding you?

A bit about me:

I really am a nature lover. I love nothing more than taking walks amongst tall trees and listening to all the sounds of nature- it fills me to the brim.
Lately I have not been seeing the beauty that surrounds me as I am going through a lot of change which is quite emotional.
I need to remind myself that what we look for is what we get. As I have been ignoring all the beautiful things, I have been feeling low. This quote reminds me that yes, we can have our down times but we need only look outside, even to our own backyards to find beauty again which ultimately uplifts (well at least for me)....

The hill

Today's quote:

"If life is a race to a hill then that's not living." Yvonne Anderson

Today's question:

Are you racing towards something only to be running past the beauty of your life?



My thoughts:

I always thought that you needed to be going towards a hill. Some people have big hills that they can go towards and some people have small hills. Some get in a helicopter and go straight there but me...I like to walk through the village, talk to the people, take a detour or two and get caught up in the beauty of life around me. The hill is a metaphor for a place you want to be...a career you wish to have....an end goal.
Some people need to get there super fast but I'm slowly learning that this just isn't me. I like to see the hill yes, but if i never get there then so be it. The hill isn't everything. You may get there and realise that it wasn't all you made it out to be.
Take time to enjoy the journey of this beautiful life....

Awakening

Today's quote:

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens." Carl Jung (more here)

Today's question:

Do you have a vision?
Do you look into your heart?
What would it take for you to look inside and awaken?

At a followers request to learn more about me:

I have a vision but it's sometimes murky. I am learning that it's okay not to have a clear path. You can choose a hill and run towards it but I like to stop and smell the flowers along the way. I have an idea of where I am going and for me, that's enough right now.

I look into my heart more and more these days. Only when I do this can I find the truth. It feels safe inside me and I allow it to sing to me now and again. When it does I laugh out loud.

Looking inside and going down into the deepest parts of myself infuses me with all things abundant and true. As my muscles relax around my bones and my lungs breathe in fresh oxygen, I feel a connection with everything around me. From this space my compassion grows.

Until next time.....

Slightly more

Today I am giving you a passage which I read from a magazine I can't recall by a man whom I had never heard of.

I liked it though. He was commenting on the financial downturn and a new way of being.


" It's a series of forces coming together and we go down a new path. That path is slightly more virtuous, slightly more frugal, slightly more back to basics and slightly less excessive in a material consumption sense." David Chalke

My questions to you are:

What might your new path be?

Are you already on a path?

How can you be a little less excessive?


Couldn't find much on David Chalke other than he is one of Australia's leading social analysts.

Impression

Today's quote:

"Did you ever see an unhappy horse? Did you ever see a bird that had the blues? One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses."
Dale Carnegie

Today's question:

Who are you trying to impress? What is that costing you?

To read more on Mr Carnegie please click here

Apologies

My apologies for not posting yesterday.

I have had a busy time of late, planning my move to New Zealand (see here for more)! My days have been jam packed with packing and sorting out bits and pieces for the move.

I actually think that for the next couple of months I will be posting a quote and question every 2 days instead of daily.

I hope you stay connected and I will be back tomorrow....

Stay Shiny x

Well done

Today's quotes:

"Well done is better than well said." ~Benjamin Franklin

Today's question:

What have you been saying you are going to do but haven't?
How could you do it?

To read more on BF click here

Guest House

Today I give you a poem which I now love;

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

~ Rumi ~

(The Essential Rumi, versions by Coleman Barks)

Question;

How can you greet your new arrivals daily?

What can they teach you?

For more on Rumi click here

It's so weird how the universe works. Another blog I am inspired by is Quite Mind Meditation (see my other blog for link) and after I finished this post yesterday and saved it for publishing today, I looked over at my fave blog updates and lo and behold....QMM had the same poem as a new post!
This poem speaks volumes to me and obviously others. I hope you enjoy it.....