Rootbound vs. adventure-bound: selecting your course

Photo by Zach Reiner on Unsplash.

I’ve discovered I can’t sit still for long anymore. Oh, I’m able to stay put for 45-minute writing sprints that often morph into an hour and a half until I force myself to take a break. But when it comes to where I’m planted—whether in a particular home, vocation or season—my roots seem to need more space…[read more]

Letting go: opportunities to grow

Photo by Natalie Grainger on Unsplash.

As we welcome spring’s official appearance in Northern Arizona’s Rim Country, the possibility of a new season breathes fresh life into me. But without the end of one season, we can’t welcome a new season—which holds true in life, too. We say goodbye to…[read more]

Sky’s the limit

 

At the hotel I recently reserved in Sedona, the term ‘fitness room’ could be used loosely: two mats, two mirrors, a few medicine balls, balance ball and two pieces of working cardio equipment. Not bad, but also not my usual full-gym selection more than 150 miles away. Instead of pouting, however, I recalled hearing recently, in passing, someone mention the old adage ‘thinking outside the box,’ so I did. I utilized the equipment available to me and enjoyed two of the best workouts I’ve experienced in a few months. And, later in the day, when I stumbled upon a lovely metal ‘tree of life’ wall art for sale on the patio of a local Mexican sundries shop, I knew it belonged not on my patio, but displayed inside my home. Imagine the possibilities if we were to think outside the box even pertaining to our dreams. The breathtaking desert backdrop is the limit, for me. What about you?

In what way(s) do you think outside of the box?

All things are possible

Miracles occur daily. From the sun rising to setting to opening our eyes each morning, we witness marvels on a day-to-day basis. Even the seed of hope we plant in our hearts—to bring about transformation in our lives and the lives of others—is a miracle waiting to happen. My post, Be the change, focuses on being what we want in order to manifest more of what we desire; i.e., if we covet more love, we must be more loving, etc. During the past four weeks, as I’ve bid adieu to my forties and jumped headlong into the fifties, I’ve engaged in a personal makeover of sorts. It entails reflection, prayer and specific assignments that challenge me daily. In the process, I’ve discovered forgiveness, healing and growth, as well as an understanding that, as we change, it’s possible to effect change around us. But this requires living with intention and being true to ourselves. Always.

What possibilities do you hope come to pass in the New Year?

Image courtesy of Greenleaf Designs at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Hope begins in the dark

[Image credit: MR LIGHTMAN]

Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you
just show up and try to do the right thing,
the dawn will come.  You wait and watch and work:
you don’t give up. ~ Anne Lamott

For years I’ve routinely lived by the mindset that things always look better in the morning.  At night, when the world is slumbering yet sleep doesn’t come easily for me, my thoughts run rampant and I only see the negative staring at me through the shadows.  With the new dawn, however, my day has yet to be written and its potential is endless.  In Lamott’s quote, she puts a twist on the dark and finds a kernel of hope there.  And she says if you hold onto it — your stubborn hope for something better — the day’s promises show up.  But if you give up waiting, watching and working, at morning light, you may miss the possibilities altogether.

Does your hope begin in the dark or in the light of day?

Take the pain out of change

[Image credit digitalart]

When you resist change, you experience emotional pain and physical pain.
When you welcome change, you relax and open to new possibilities.
Resistance is an experience of fear and doubt,
and openness is an experience of love and trust. ~ Gary Zukav

Last week, a close friend pointed out my dislike of change.  Along this same vein, another accused me of being fearful.  I wouldn’t say it’s fear, per se, just that my fondness for routine tends to be rather overpowering.  I’ve rambled about change in the past — how it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, to live the status quo.  Shortly after the conversation about my aversion to change, I ran across the above quote.  Talk about the error of my ways practically biting me in the butt.  Not only have I been dealing with emotional pain, but it’s manifested itself in physical discomfort.  Because the truth is: I’ve been resisting change … not sure I “have the guts.”  But I want to be the person who welcomes change.  I want to relax and be open to new possibilities.  I don’t want fear or doubt to keep me in chains.  And when I come right down to it, change isn’t the painful part (for me, anyway).  It’s resisting, rather than welcoming, what is truly an inevitable in life.  From this day forward, I choose love and trust.

Is change something you typically resist, or welcome?

An attitude of gratitude

[Image credit: KROMKRATHOG]

In more than one past post, I’ve talked about revisiting dreams, putting others on the back burner until the time is right and/or shelving the ones we’ve outgrown or that just don’t make sense any longer.  I’m more than familiar with the first two strategies, but this week I’ve come to the realization that a couple of my dreams fall into the latter category.  Unfortunately, the ankle I injured several weeks ago and some other issues with my hips and knees (drat, how old am I?) mean my aspirations to run in my first race this month, as well as compete in a future sprint triathlon, need to be removed from my list of goals.  For the last few days, I’ve been working through my disappointment, and in lieu of a swift yet loving (according to an amazing GF) kick in the rear-end, I’ve decided this setback is simply another opportunity to replace one (or two) dream(s) with another.  And I’m happy to say the possibilities are endless.  Stay tuned.

How do you handle a setback, with attitude or with gratitude?