A reason to smile...

Image by Lenka Novotná

"https://pixabay.com/users/jplenio-7645255

Image by Cindy Lever

"Looking at beauty in the world is the first step of purifying the mind."

Amit Ray

As the world seems to be enveloped in the unknown, I find myself needing more reasons to reach for a smile. Nature always provides! Whether it's being outside and hugging a tree, observing from my window or looking at beautiful pictures from the internet. The beauty and wonder of nature never cease to amaze me. It's free and accessible to all. May you find what makes you smile today!

Free...

 http://www.lisasonora.com/30-day-journal-project/

Keeping a journal has always been a big part of my life, it gave me a voice when I felt I had none. I've kept a journal since I was a teen and over the years it has taken different forms. My most recent is my art journal that I've posted about before. I've enjoyed seeing textures, color and whatever my little heart feels like creating. I consider it a journal even though I don't always write in it but my thoughts are the same just expressed in a different way.
Posted above is a 30 day journal project for FREE if  you want to give it a try... Hope you enjoy the process as much as I have. Try doing it with a friend... it's a whole lot of fun!!!

Do you Use...

 Do you use your college degree now; if you could do it over again would you attend college?

I can only answer this with the wisdom of hind site except the part of "do I use my college degree," and that answer would be no. If I know what I know now I would not attend college and I would set my creative spirit free, the one that I let myself and others keep locked up, imprisoned with all the rules, advise and pursuit of perfection. Going to college did one thing, it gave me the confidence that I did have the ability to learn ~ a feeling I lacked in grade school when I was told that I had a learning problem and was put in the "special class" with only a handful of other students. Everyone that walked by the room knew who was in there! And my mother never missed a chance to share this information. I do believe college is suited for some and some people it is not. I don't regret it, because like all past decisions, you can't change them, so I took what I liked from the experience and left the rest.

This is a cooperative blog that a friend and I are participating in together, so check out what she has to say about this question from her perspective http://gentlegull.blogspot.com/

Sea...

"Let the sea set you free."

I hope to do this very soon ~ visit the sea! There is something hypnotic about sitting at the oceans edge, or watching a river flow down stream. For the present moment I'm there, it takes all my cares away and even for a brief time I feel free.

Writing...

There is a free writing group starting tomorrow at my local library and I'm excited. I tell people I'm a writer who never writes. Even though that isn't completely true ( I do write two blogs) but it feels like it because I'm not writing all that I'd like. And these last few years have been the longest I've not been in a writing group, which I miss. It will be nice to be back in touch with those that like to write.

Hugs...

"...hugging is a powerful way to transfer energy to another person, because the two people's auras merge for that brief moment of a hug."

Kelly A Turner, Ph.D

Radical Remission pg. 70

My daughter made this sign one day when she was hanging out with friends. She said that was a fun and interesting day. Everyone reacts so different when offered the opportunity for a "free hug."

Go HUG someone today and feel the transfer of energy!

Moments...

Some moments are captured on video, in pictures, or in a painting, but some moments are just meant to be enjoyed and set free!

Hugs...

Touch is very important to the human experience and giving hugs ~ a lingering hug is awesome. I have a sign in my house that my daughter wrote one time when she was out with friends "free hugs." Have you given a hug today?

Coloring outside the lines...

Today when I did a product demo, it was offering a box of free crayons to anyone that wanted them. I thought it was interesting that adults would come to the table and say they didn't want one because they didn't have children. I mentioned to them that you don't need to be a child to enjoy "coloring outside the lines" with crayons. No one took me up on that offer, because they all walked away thinking they were adults and as adults "we" don't do that.  A gentle reminder ~ to play a little more...

Blame Free...

"A Blame Free World"

As I was listening to a book on tape http://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592407331 in the car she was talking about a "blame free world", and I thought wouldn't that be awesome. It certainly is something to strive for in each of our own lives and if we each did our part, we would be well on our way to offering our children and generations to come "a blame free world". What a legacy to pass on!

Open Door...

Today I was stuck working in a big building all day which is fine as long as I know I'm able to head outside to see the daylight and get some fresh air sometime during the day. But today that didn't happen and when I left I just wanted to run as fast as I could through the open door and scream I'm free, I'm free. I've never been a person who could stay inside a big store or building all day - I HAVE to get out, other wise I feel trapped and caged in. Crazy I know...

Freedom...

If you have felt trapped and imprisoned for a long time, freedom can feel unfamiliar and frightening.

Freedom comes in many forms. Having been out of a long relationship for a few years now I still found myself stuck. My thinking had been imprisoned and locked in a certain way of thinking. I didn't even realize the depth of my freedom. I kept hanging on to the familiar even if it wasn't making me happy and even though I knew it wasn't what I wanted. Then just the other day I had a "light bulb" moment. The thought kind of stuck me unexpected like a bolt of lightening - I am FREE. Yes, I am truly free. It still comes and goes in my mind as I try to wrap my head around the idea. To understand I can now step out of the prison I had placed myself in and the whole time forgetting there never was a key. I was free to walk out anytime. So on this July 4 holiday I am celebrating my freedom from my own imprisoned thinking.

Freedom waits on welcome, not on time. Freedom awaits your decision.

FEEL FREE!!!

resist yourself no more... walk free.

Wishes...

I just finished reading a young adult book called "The Wish Stealer" by Tracy Trivas. Below find a short review someone wrote about the book:

Do you believe in wishes?

Griffin Penshine does. She loves to wish on stars, and pennies, and anything else she can think of. She wishes for a baby sister and for her school to smell like chocolate chip cookies. Her life changes one day, when an old lady offers her a gift of twelve shiny pennies. Hoping the gift will bring her luck as she starts the school year at a new school, Griffin accepts the gift. As the day wears on, however, Griffin realizes with horror that each penny represents a stolen wish. She discovers that the old woman was a Wish Stealer. What’s worse, is that by accepting the old woman’s gift, Griffin herself, has turned into a Wish Stealer. Now Griffin’s good wishes will never come true, and the opposite of her good wishes seem to happen. To break the Wish Stealer’s curse, Griffin needs to return all twelve stolen wishes. She must return all twelve pennies to the people who wished on them, or the curse affects not only her, but her family as well.

This book left me wondering - Am I a Wish Stealer? Do I steal other peoples wishes when they tell me what that is? Do I steal my own by thinking I could never do that, or be sensible your to old, that's not practical. I have experience others stealing my wishes. I have a wish of being a writer and when I mentioned to many people, even someone that was a writing teacher of mine that I might go back to school for writing most everyone's response was "oh no don't do that" do something you can make a living at. I realize I too have sqashed others wishes because of my own fears that I projected on to them. Fears that were mine but let cloud my allowing of another to wish freely. Fears that I allow to hinder my own wishes. I will take all this as food for thought and next time I want to wish or another shares their wish with me, I can better respond with an open mind and heart and let that wish go free.