Shutter Happy ~ Day 12 ~ A Hobby

It brings me great pleasure to pair a quote 

or a prayer that I love with pretty clip art.

Another favorite hobby of mine 

is collecting hearts. 

❤️

#shutterhappy

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Breathe September 2017 :: Day 10 - Joy

May the blessing of Joy abide within you. 

May the blessing of Peace rest upon you.

May the blessing of Love flow out through you.

May all the blessings of Grace be yours.

~unknown

#BreatheSeptember2017

🌻   .   ❤️  .   🌻

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April Love :: Day 5 - Favorite Quote

This quote from 

The Language of Letting Go 

by Melody Beattie 

is one of the first I ever memorized. 

Decades later it still soothes, quiets, and comforts. 

#aprillove2017

.           *           .

Tranquil Tokens

Very kind, deeply touching words 

sweet surprise card

tucked in with my hearts and talisman. 

💕

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Wordless Wednesday ~ A Quiet Reminder

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Life is like a camera . . . .

Saw this on Facebook 

and am very grateful for it's 

wise advice.

I think I shall keep it close 

both 

as our office moves from

tax season to billing season 

and

as we prepare for our visit

to see my family next month.

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Angel Sunday ~ One Day at a Time

I pulled this little dear out recently so she could gently remind me to take things one day at a time.  She's been with me a long while, dating back to when I was going to Al-Anon on a regular basis.

After my Moma died 17 years ago, I no longer wanted my relationship with her to be defined by her alcoholism so I stopped attending meetings.  Well, that, and the program just didn't fit well for me anymore and I knew I needed a fresh perspective.

I truly do understand and appreciate why they need a "singularity of purpose," focusing only on their literature and principles.  Having too many sources, sometimes very conflicting ones, would simply cloud and confuse things for members, especially newcomers, who often so desperately need those safe spaces and unwavering guidelines.

I remain grateful for my time in those rooms, my very dear sponsors, and for all I learned there which I still carry with me.

In time, what I found to be true for me is that I needed more and the freedom to explore the many other wonderful avenues where Grace and my heart were leading me.  Smiling softly because it felt really right for me to follow my heart seven years ago by leaving (the) home (of Al-Anon) at 18 years  "old" (of being a member), something I never really did (yet) with my childhood home.

And, now, as we are planning a visit to see my family in Texas next month and the feelings and anxiety are beginning to arise?  This sweet angel's company and wise reminder are most welcome company.

She is quietly reminding me to practice Grace, Mercy, Enough, and Hope.

.           *           .

Trust in Grace

I took Brene Brown's e-course on The Gifts of Imperfection last fall and had a couple more assignments to complete before the 2nd session starts this week.  (If you haven't read this gem of a book yet, I would highly recommend it.)

When she first invited us to come up with a mantra for the first page of our art journal, I felt sad.  I didn't think I had a mantra.

Grinning now because awhile later, a warm smile spread across my face when I playfully thought to myself, "yes, you do, you big silly!"  I have been saying to myself and writing at the end of almost every single email I send out (for over 5 years!) a gentle reminder to "Trust in Grace."  (Grace is my fond nickname for my Higher Power)

Yesterday morning I had a lovely time pairing my deeply personal and gentle reminder-mantra with one of my favorite selfies.  The pretty pink butterfly is a visual reminder to Hope, too, my word for this year.  

I am really, *really* enjoying the fact that this will now be the very first page I see every single time I open this journal of mine.

.        *         .

Wordless Wednesday ~ Hope Lives Here

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Taking the Pledge

In Brene Brown's "Gifts of Imperfection" e-course, 

our pledge is: 

 

I am imperfect and I am enough.

Yes.

(This is me, trustin' that simply showing up is Enough)

. * .

Affirmation (Prayer) ~ Let Nothing Disturb Me

I love this prayer and whenever it finds it's way into my inbox, I always take the time to pass it along.  Smiling because it's a quote from my patron saint, St. Teresa of Avila, whose name I chose (or did she choose me?) at my confirmation.

Let nothing disturb me, nothing

frighten me.  Let nothing take

away my peace.  I wait with

trust and patience, knowing you

are providing for me.  I lack for

nothing in you, [Grace].  You are my

strong foundation.  You are 

enough for me.

When someone or something

challenges my inner peace, I 

turn to [Grace], trusting that I will

be given guidance and strength.

~ St. Teresa of Avila

(This is me, practicin' believin' that simply showing up is Enough.)

.     *     .

Affirmation ~ Grace Loves to Look at Us . . .

Just reading this lovely passage softly out loud brings a lot of comfort.   

"[Grace] loves to look at us,

and loves it when we look back at [her].

Even when we try to run away from our

troubles ... [Grace] will find us, and bless us, even

when we feel most alone,

unsure if we'll survive the night.

[Grace] will find a way to let know that [she]

is with us *in this place,* wherever we are,

however far we think we've run.

And maybe that's one reason we worship --

to respond to grace.

We praise [Grace] not to celebrate our own faith

but to give thanks for the faith [Grace] has in 

us.  To let ourselves look at [Grace], and let

[Grace] look back at us.  And to laugh,

and sing, and be delighted because 

[Grace] has called us [her] own."

Amazing Grace

by Kathleen Norris

page 151

.     *     .

~ 

Affirmation ~ Today I Will Wait . . .

For whatever reasons, I've tended toward anxiousness in my life so rather than waiting, my first response is to do something, anything!  I've learned over time and experience that this isn't always (usually) the best way to go about things.  Intentionally slowing down and actively waiting can be very hard for me, especially when it's been awhile and/or I'm feeling *really* anxious.

All that to say that this affirmation isn't always the easiest one for me to pick up again.  But, as I've found with so much of Melody Beattie's writing, if I'll patiently stay with it, as best I can in that moment, her words eventually begin to sink in, soothing and nourishing the ragged, parched places in me.

This "affirmation" is taken straight from her book, The Language of Letting Go:

Today, I will wait, if waiting is

the action I need in order to 

take care of myself.  I will

know that I am taking a 

positive, forceful action by

waiting until the time is right.

God, help me let go of my fear, 

urgency and panic.  Help

me learn the art of waiting 

until the time is

right.  Help me

learn timing.

I found a full version of her beautifully wise reading here.

May we all learn how to take good care of ourselves by practicing waiting (when that's appropriate).

.     *     .

Affirmation ~ What the Heart Wishes to Help . . .

While I don't have this one memorized, reading the words always soothes me.  Smiling softly because maybe that's how it's meant to be.  I need to read the words over and over, like a favorite bedtime story, to help remind and assure me (from "the outside") that not only do I not have to try to be everything to everybody, I'm not meant to be.  

More than that, I simply can't.

I am a wonderfully made human woman with needs, wants and desires, just like everyone else, not a machine who can keep crankin' it out.

And for this eldest sister who always felt like she always had to give and do for others, even to the point of not taking care of her own needs?  And still gets tripped up by it?

It is a tremendous gift . . . 

. . . and relief.

"But the cries of the suffering world

cannot all be answered by a single

person all the time.  We can truly only

choose to respond to those that allow

us to go home on a regular basis,

otherwise our heart-lights dim to 

almost nothing.  What the heart wishes

to help is sometimes different from 

what the soul's resources be.

If a woman values her soulskin, she will

decide these matters according

to how close she is to and how

often she has been 'home.'"

Women Who Run With the Wolves

by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

page 282

.     *     .

    

Home

I made this journal while on a retreat several years ago.  At the time a lot of things were shifting inside and I wasn't sure where I would land and/or end up.  

As I was flipping thru magazines, I didn't quite understand why the words "Act of Daring," touched my heart but they did.  As an act of trust, I cut them out and put them at the top of this journal that I wasn't certain I'd actually ever use.  (I've used spiral-bound notebooks for decades because they lay flat).  

What I *was* sure of was that I loved the picture of the prairie dotted by pretty flowers.

Now, several years later and having walked thru a lot of changes, I am using the journal to record my dreams.  It's such a gift to look at the cover which affirms me in a very deep and unexpected way.  Yes.  Some of the changes I've walked thru have been brave acts of hopeful daring.

Seeing the beautiful prairie blooming and thriving speaks to me on a profound level, reminding me of what can (and does!) happen when I follow my heart's leading and longing.  Even when I am not sure where my path is taking me, just like when I made this journal, I can trust that my journey will take me home to where I belong.

I've also enjoyed rediscovering the pictures I chose to sprinkle throughout my journal on that warm summer's day.  Each one is a welcomed and well-timed "surprise."

This windmill reminds me of my West Texas roots and raisin' because windmills are everywhere there.  It's a very visual reminder that prairies aren't always as full of life as in the picture above.  Nourishment is crucial and sometimes I must dig very deep for the life-giving and sustaining water that is necessary for my survival.

This picture reminds me that bridges are a very comforting metaphor for me right now. I feel like I am on a path to a new place. I'm not exactly sure what it will look like but I am on my way. The wood that the bridge is made of reminds me of some of the fences on my childhood farm.

Ahhh, she says with a warm and tender smile, perhaps I am right on time and my soul, along with Grace, has been and will continue to lead me right where I need to go. Indeed, I am coming back home to my heart . . .

. . . or have I always been here and didn't realize it?

Either way, I am blessed.

Truly.

.     *     .

Affirmation ~ Life is a Process . . .

This little post-card sized "affirmation" has been sitting on my desk "altar" for awhile now.  It's been good medicine to read it as I wait for my screen to load or for a report to run.

Life is a process that 

includes problems that can't

always be easily resolved.

How refreshing to learn that

I don't have to resolve every

conflict today.  I can simply 

let conflicts be, focus on 

peaceful images and think 

loving thoughts instead.

It is based on the meditation from July 18 in the book, A Life of My Own, by Karen Casey.  (I was unable to google a copy of her wise meditation in it's entirety)

.     *     .     

.

Affirmation ~ Detachment is the Wonderful Gift . . .

The first time I posted one of my affirmations, someone commented that she didn't think she could memorize like I did.  Smiling because I'm not sure I could remember them either, especially when in the thick of it, unless I had them written down.  In fact, I've enjoyed creating little "post cards" with them using clip art and fonts that make me happy, just like this picture.  

I've recently needed to go back to this affirmation in particular so I thought I'd share it here this week.  It comes from the reading for May 3 in the book, Courage to Change: One Day at a Time in Al-Anon II:

"Detachment is the wonderful gift of

allowing my loved ones the privilege

and opportunity of being themselves.

Today I am learning to experience

my own fear, grief, & anguish.  This

helps me to be willing to trust the

same growth process in others, 

because I know first hand about the

gifts it can bring.

Sometimes it is more loving to allow

someone else to experience the

natural consequences of their 

actions, even when it is painful for

us both.  In the long run, both of us

will benefit.  Today I will put love

first in my life.

All I have to do is keep my hands off

& turn my heart on."

(emphasis mine)

I haven't used this one in awhile so it's taking some time to re-memorize it.  I'm smiling as I type because I know from working with them in the past, that repetition is very good medicine.  Each time I say it, it's calm wisdom sinks in a little deeper, reassuring me that all is well.

Again, my affirmations aren't necessarily word-for-word.  Sometimes I will paraphrase them so that they make more sense and are more powerful for me.  If you'd like to see the original version, you can view it here.

.     *     .

Affirmation ~ I Have Not Gone Away, Child

(holding my nephew 

the day after he was born)

About twenty years ago, I started memorizing passages that spoke deeply to me and that I loved.  Since I was using them as such, I took to calling them "affirmations."  My sense was that if I had them memorized, I could pull them out of my self-care toolbox anytime I might need them.

I couldn't have possibly imagined how very important and crucial this practice of mine has become.  Sometimes it can be hard to remember to start working with one, especially when I am in a really rough spot.  Still, I *know* from a lot of experience that, just like a loving mama patiently stays with her sweet crying child who can't hear her in the moment, I, too, as best I can, just need to stay with it.  Eventually the little one inside my heart does calm enough so that the healing wisdom has a chance to soak in, nourishing my aching heart with just the right medicine.  Once that happens, I know that it won't be long before things will start to ease and shift for me.

The very first "affirmation" or wise passage that I took the time to memorize remains my dearest and most favorite.  It comes from the reading for July 12, "Letting go of Fear of Abandonment," in Melody Beattie's wonderful and very wise book, The Language of Letting Go:

I have not gone away child.

I am here, *always,* 

Rest in me, in confidence.

All in your life is being guided

and planned,

each detail.

I know, and I care.

Things *are* being worked out 

as quickly as possible 

for your highest good.

Trust and be grateful.

I am right here.

Soon you will see,

and know.

(Emphasis mine)