Adventure...

Talking with someone this morning got me to thinking about how we define words and events in our lives. We were discussing our interpretation of being an "adventurous" person. I "Googled" the word - Adventure - is defined as an exciting or unusual experience, it may also be bold, usually risky undertaking with an uncertain outcome. So for me that would mean: EVERYDAY!

My everyday I consider- bold and usually risky with an uncertain outcome!

When I drive somewhere that I don't know, for me - THAT is bold and risky ( another story for another day).

Raising my children has/had to be the ultimate bold and risky with uncertain outcome that I can think of.

But then there is:

Meeting someone new, trying a different food, writing on this blog, being true to myself, playing big instead of small, being open to love, starting a project for my house, allowing me to be enough, leaving my hair gray, planting something new in my garden, sharing myself with another, saying okay to something when I have no idea, asking for help, cooking for others.

These things are not your typical "adventure" ideas but for my life they are. I could go on an on because just living life is always bold, risky and guaranteed an uncertain outcome. Sometimes I like that and sometimes I don't. Remembering that I am not alone on this journey is something I have to keep reminding myself and than I know "ALL IS WELL" no matter what the uncertain outcome is.

Letting Go...

Sometimes I find reading other peoples words comforting and food for my soul. The words below are borrowed and I am nurtured by them.

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We have within us a deep longing to grow and become a new creature, but we possess an equally strong compulsion to remain the same-to burrow down in our safe, secure places.

Letting go isn't one step but many. It's a winding, spiraling process that happens on deep levels.

Clinging creates a shrinking within the soul, a shrinking of possibility and growth.

Night empties us of our clinging. We're called to let go even our letting go. We need to quit forcing things and enter the darkness of true liberty, where we give up self-efforts and allow- and draw us to our moment of readiness.

When it comes to letting go, we have to arrive at a moment of genuine readiness.

We are offered the experiences, events and encounters that help us find the courage to open ourselves with gentleness.

It takes courage to become who you are.

The fruit of letting go is birth.

It was the beginning of leaving behind the first half of my life and those ways of living it that no longer worked.

Almost missed...

A tree outside my back door is in full color and it happened when I wasn't looking. I had a busy couple of weeks and didn't really get outside. When I finally did I was welcomed with this magnificent tree. The photo doesn't express the magnitude of it's beauty and because it is so close it really is a show stopper. But it was a good reminder of what happens when I'm not present even in the busy moments of my life. I have lived in my house for twenty years and look forward to the fall color display every year. This year I almost missed it... Whew

No thoughts...

Sometimes I am having no thoughts about anything in particular. At first I thought maybe that wasn't a good thing. I should have something I'm thinking about or wanting to work on. But today I don't have anything. Just enjoying the quiet morning, the leaves changing colors, the wonderful food options I have to choose from, reminders of people in my life that love me, work that is keeping me busy, birds that are chirping, cats that are looking to snuggle, books that I like to read, stores that are close by in case I should want for something, a car that sits in my driveway waiting for me, a computer that is available to keep me connected, and just this present moment to remember that it's okay to "just be".

Haiku...

The wind blowing cold

Leaves rain down as colors splash

Fall invites herself

Good morning...

It seems like in the past several years my getting up in the morning has gotten later and later coinciding with my going to bed later and later. Not sure how the late nights started creeping up on me. I keep telling myself it's okay and to just go with the flow. For many years I had to be up early when the kids were little and now that they are so much older maybe I've relaxed that part of me a little. Trying not to decide whether it is right or wrong just calling it an observation in my life.

Commitment...

I friend once said to me "commitment is something you decided everyday". This is what I want to do for myself... to wake up each morning and set my intention to be committed to myself as I would anyone else. For me that means, unconditional love, acceptance. patience and forgiving. I give them out so freely to others but forget to do the same for myself. Somehow I think I have different requirements and my expectations seem to be under higher standards then everyone else. So I am taking a step back and looking in the mirror with kinder eyes and what I see is someone who is loving, kind, and compassionate. When I commit to seeing "her" in the mirror everyday... Life is good.