Reading Rebellion
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And also because the rebellious one in me says "we become what the common culture tells us to be"-- dang it.
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Tidying UP Self-Care
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Self-care can be ongoing, simple, and doable. Even in the busiest of lives. You can reset and reboot in moments all day long. This isn’t about eating or exercise. This is about deep self-care. About giving your body some love all day long.
Read MoreI've Got One...
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An autoimmune disease that is.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Did you know one in five Americans have an autoimmune disease?
And that approximately 75% of those are women.
Read Moresimplicity is moving to the right side of our brains!
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For most of my life I did not think of myself as creative.
I know now, deep in my bones.
We all are.
If you think you are not it’s most likely been taught, or criticized, out of you.
Read More100% Responsibility for Your Part
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Relationships can be so wonderful, and on the flip side so freaking challenging right! Even the relationship we have with our own “hamster wheel” minds.
Read MoreBeing Gazed To Life!
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Writing this post brings a smile ear to ear. This is the CPR of life. The moments I am present with another living being.
Read MoreIs this a Blind-Spot?
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Have you ever been at a meeting, a dinner table, or an event where one or two people do all the talking and the rest of the group sits in silence?
Right. Does it drive you crazy too?
Lately I feel like I am coming out of my skin when it happens. So I decided I needed to write about it because maybe it bugs someone else too!
Moments of Reverence
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I grew up on a Maple Tree lined street.
Walking home from school one Autumn day
I arrived at the end of my street and
looked up
into the majesty of dappled, colorful light that was raining down.
23 Listening Tips To Consider
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I have a bit of an obsession with listening. Or I could call it a innate curiosity.
Listening is a deep practice. It also has a quality of sacredness. I believe it could take us miles along the journey to a world that works for all. If we really, really deeply listen.
Here are 23 tips, or things to consider, play with, ponder, wonder about, and explore:
The Love of Reading
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I am a voracious reader. Books are my other best friend.
One of the most vivid memories of childhood is when my little sister and I would drag our red wagon across the street and up the block to our neighborhood library. You could take out 10 books every two weeks during the summer. Sweet...
Thank goodness for Skype. Here's why.
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When my children were young, and they asked what I wanted for a gift I would say; “world peace, or a homemade gift." I really meant that. All of it. I wanted my children to believe that was possible. Peace and homemade gifts.
Read MoreLaunching a Book into the World!
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Putting a book out into the world is exciting and scary. It reminds me of sending my children to kindergarten. I felt excited, worried, and nervous. I wanted them to be liked, even to be loved. I wanted them to be seen for their uniqueness, to be respected by others, to be welcome.
Riding on the handlebars...
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When I was a child we often rode three to a bike. One on the handlebars, one pedaling, and one on the seat.
The handlebar riding was both exhilarating and terrifying, a sense of freedom, and holding on for dear life. Being the pedaler was for the one with the most stamina, and being on the seat I had to trust the people in front of me.
The coolest part was we were riding together.
Read MoreI Wanted to be a Fish
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Yup. I did.
When I was a child, swimming underwater- was for me- the bee’s knees.
I was lucky enough to have cousins who had a camp on Lake Ontario and spent hours of time submerged.
Immersed I navigated the underworld of seaweed, sand, the pull of the tide, and the watery quiet, the unique coloration's. I let the tide move me and sometimes had to fight the current.
Read MoreFavorite tips to Name your "Gift"!
/If you haven’t named the gift you’ve brought into the world, 2018 could be a great time to just do it!
Here in the U.S. many of us never really figure out what our “gift” is. We don’t have rituals, and celebrations that honor our uniqueness. Because of that we can get caught up in roles, and identities that short change our capacity to share what is deepest in us.
James Hillman in, The Souls Code, calls our gift the “acorn”.
I wonder if depression and anxiety stem from not naming and claiming our true gifts?
I’ve been playing with these seven tips for awhile now. My acorn is something about discernment, curious seeker of truth, passionate hearted?? Not fully formed yet, and loving the process.
If you'd like to join me---
Fave tips to naming and claiming your gift!
Ask seven people what they think your gift is. Ask the oldest person you know, the youngest person you know, one or two people you have challenges with, and three people that get you. Take notes.
Place everything everyone said out in front of you. See if there are similarities, or strong differences. Play with the words. Write out a couple of sentences from what you gathered. Use bright colors, fancy lettering, have fun!
Leave it for a bit. Give your creative energy space to spontaneously flow. Notice what comes when you walk in nature, take a shower, ride your bike. Let your gift rise like the sun in the morning!
Sit with it. Bring in everything that was said, everything that arose, and be quiet with it. Let the words live in you for a bit. Notice what happens in your inner life. Is your body giving you a full body yes? If not repeat the process until you get a deep, heartfelt YES!
Is there an image, symbol, or animal that encompasses what it is? Would it be helpful to draw, paint, collage, or write a poem, or song that reflects it?
Own it. Notice what has developed, in you, as you’ve explored naming it. Let your acorn be the place you begin to lead from. Drop into your precious gift daily. Live it, breath it. Let it play you.
If that process doesn’t appeal to you, or you want more information you could do the strengthsfinder test. This test is designed to name your top five strengths. I found it really helpful. My strengths are; developer, connectedness, empathy, belief and input. Over time I’ve seen how these qualities shape my relationships, my work, all the roles I play.
Naming your gift can lead you into a larger world that is yours to inhabit. Your gift is the essence of your life force. Your unique being.
Owning it is like CPR for the soul. It can bring you back to life.
More than anything, we need our gifts to shine in 2018.
You Matter, Your acorn needs to be planted, watered, given sunshine, and loved!
Many Blessings,
Carol
All I want for Christmas...
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So tricky, this holiday thing, sometimes.
I remember when my kids were little and they asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I would say “peace on earth”. I haven’t gotten that yet. And I keep asking!
Over the years we played with sharing gifts of time, homemade gifts, appreciations and gratitudes and also material gifts. As my daughter said, we just like opening things. Boxes of tea, socks, soap, flashlights etc.
Read MoreHow to Unhook from a Difficult Holiday Conversation!
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Getting a pit in your stomach when you think about Thanksgiving dinner table conversation?
If so, this one’s for you!
For whatever reason stuff comes up around the holidays. We get triggered by someone else's behavior and being around family seems to bring stuff up. It's pretty common for us to label certain family members as bad, or wrong, or "the problem". We can also do the opposite, and see ourselves as difficult, crazy, or too sensitive.
Read MoreHow About a Quick Reset?
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Our senses are available in every moment to be a better friend to us. Here are some simple ways to reset!
Eyes- Our visual field takes in the world. When it takes in a computer screen, or violent images from TV, or video games it triggers stress in our nervous system. To shift this, choose a couple images, or a view you have available and rest your eyes on it. Take it all in; color, texture, expressions, and shapes. Notice how you feel looking at it. Give your nervous system a beauty breather a couple times a day.
Read MoreLife-Line Coaching for the Holiday "Dreads"
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Sometimes, for some of us, the fun and joy are lost during the holidays.
Would you like to change that?
How to Rock Thanksgiving Dinner!
Read MoreHow to Unlock Devotion
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Listening is a form of devotion.
Letting words like Mary Oliver’s linger inside you. Let them dance on your chest and in your head for awhile. No need to rush.
Sweet beautiful sentences like this “Attention is the beginning of devotion.”-are meant to be savored and to potentially change you and me.
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