·
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Pride on the Plaza…
Part
of our Saturday includes the annual Pride on the Plaza Parade. Gay, Bi, and Lesbians spend the last week in
June celebrating. Events culminate with
a parade. People watching at this event
is great fun.
Miss
Zia, Mark and I park ourselves across from the judging stand and make friends
with people around us. I blow soap
bubble and Miss Zia stands watching, tail wagging, waiting. When the Dykes on Bikes roar past, our
usually tranquil dog joins the cheering crowd.
Her unusual voice attracts attention, and despite the roar of the bike,
people turn to stare at Miss Zia and her enthusiastic, but puzzling
communications.
We
leave the festivities behind and head home to prepare for houseguests.
Tomorrow
is the last day for the annual rodeo events.
I wonder how many cowboys found their way to the Pride on the Plaza
events!
·
Friday, 27 June 2008
I
love that at the local grocery store I can see real working cowboys in tight
jeans, dusty, pointy-toed boots complete with spurs.
You
DON’T see them at Trader Joes!
There
are two sides to
Many
people come to
I
like to see the real people, I love the weather and the morning walks in the
wilderness when the sun just peeks over the mountains and the turtle doves sing
to me…that is the part of
·
Thursday, 26 June 2008
I
am at work, but decided to take a break and share the article below - I did not
write it.
The
article is about passion, living intentionally and with integrity. If I
were keeping up with my journaling (one of my passions) I would be posting this
online along with a thoughtful commentary on this same topic.
Unfortunately, I seem to be letting life harness me, rather than
vice-versa. Work and outside demands leave
little to no time/energy for personal joys and pleasures much less any
household responsibilities..
Life
is good - especially when you live it on purpose! 8-)
__________________________________
Feature Article: Fueling the fires of
passion and tapping into the Law of Attraction
It's been said that one's life purpose is the intersection between one's
passions and the needs of the world.
In Feng Shui, passion is represented by the Fame & Reputation area and
directly across the Bagua is the Career & Life Purpose area - which means they
are intimately connected. There is no separating passion and purpose.
Passions are the things you love to do in your life, regardless of whether you
actually have done them yet or not. Passion is where your eyes light up, your
spirit is raised and you are so excited you can barely stand it - or if you're
a more subdued person you get a little pixie grin on your face whenever you
think about it, or talk about it!
Passion fuels the fires of inspiration and makes the heart and mind open to
possibilities all around you.
In short, to live a purposeful life, it's important to know what you're
passionate about.
It's exciting, and it can also be scary. You're delving into the deepest most
vulnerable parts of yourself.
If you're ready to dig deep, take some quiet time to ask yourself: what do I
love doing, what do I gravitate towards, what do others acknowledge me for,
what inspires me or lights my fire? Think about all areas of your life: your
work, your home, what environment would you like to live in, friends,
community, family, your spirituality, health, creativity, travel, animals,
love, learning......etc.
To guide you, first you need to know the difference between a passion and a
goal: A passion is a way of being. A goal is an outcome. For example:
Passion: Living life abundantly.
Goal: To eliminate world poverty.
Passion: Being part of a strong community.
Goal: To move back to
Now, take that quiet time and complete the following sentence:
When I'm living my perfect life I am…..
Make a list of 5-10 things, each starting with a verb. For example... living,
being, enjoying, creating, riding….. etc.
Then, put them in order starting with the one you feel most passionate about.
Create a list of your top five. It doesn't mean you can't have them all, but it
works best to focus on 5.
Here are some strategies for using this new found knowledge.
1. Create a passion board. Create a collage of images and
words that represent the essence of each of your passions. This is a powerful
thing to do. Put it somewhere you'll see it often.
2. Write your 5 top passions on a number of 3 x 5 cards.
Start with the words "I'm so happy and grateful to be now living these
passions" and then list your 5 passions. Underneath write "This or
something better now manifests for the good of all concerned".
Place them strategically in your home and carry them with you.
3. Rate your passions: on a scale of 1-10 (one being almost nonexistent). To
what extent is each of your passions showing up in your life?
In my 12 month program we're working with passions right now. And I'm looking
at my own. When I rated mine, they were mostly 9's or 10's. Great, except my #3
passion was a 1. It's been on my list of passions for a few years, I've talked
about it, my friends and family know it's important to me, but where is it?
Not surprisingly with a score of a 1, it's something I've put absolutely no
energy into. When I look at my other passions, they're what I put energy into
every day, so they rate high.
The one that's not showing up puts me out of integrity with myself. (Integrity
is also related to the Fame & Reputation area). I had to do something fast.
I don't like to admit this, but the reason I hadn't put any energy into this
one is because I didn't think it was possible. Duh! Exactly what trips most of
my clients up from time to time - not knowing how something can happen so they
give up on a dream.
Well, I changed all that fast! All I'll say right now is that when I took a few
minutes to start looking at possibilities and doing some research on the
Internet, I discovered this one is completely within my reach and highly
possible.
And it's going to happen. I can't tell you how excited I am!
So, my coaching request to you is to take a few minutes to write down your
passions - in all areas of your life.
Choose your top 5 passions to focus on for now.
Rate them. Is there one that barely shows up in your life? Perhaps feeling
vibrant and healthy is one of your passions but it's a 1. What can you do today
to get back into integrity with yourself and put some energy into this passion.
The faster you do, the faster the Universe will step in to support you. There
is something very attractive about allowing yourself to feel your passions and
take action on them - it's the Law of Attraction after all.
If you have no 1's what about the others? Are they all a 10? If not, what are
you willing to do to remedy that?
Your passions are a major key to living your life on purpose. When you don't
follow them, your life is not only not much fun, it also feels like a struggle
because you're not in alignment with yourself.
Now, what are YOUR top 5 passions?
You might be surprised!
Please come share them on my blog.
©2008 Vicky White - All Rights
Reserved
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? Please do! Feel free to
reprint any article on your web site, your own newsletter or message boards.
Please include ©2008 Vicky White, The Feng Shui Coach. Get Vicky White's FREE
"5 Biggest Attraction Mistakes " report and her FREE articles to
boost your creativity and your bottom line, at: www.LifeDesignStrategies.com
____________________________________
Just
one more things to share this morning...below is a eulogy (or an essay) from a
favorite blog of mine (Google "37 days" and visit this blog and Patti
Digh's other sister blogs...great stuff!). I love the title of this essay
and the Mary Oliver poem says it all...
I
am, living my life on purpose...or trying to anyway!
_______________________________________________
Don't end up simply having visited
this world.
It was late when we got there, to Mary Alice's house. A visit that was
years ago now, so the details don't remain with me in deep clarity, but the
sense I had of that space is still so strong--from out of a dark night we
entered into color. It was the first time I had ever been in a house that was
fully, completely, totally someone's. It was somehow hard to tell where Mary
Alice began and ended, the house was so much a part of her. I remember vivid
color and art in unexpected places--not just on the walls, but on the
furniture, floors, ceilings. It seemed absolutely magical to me, with nooks and
crannies and lovely bits.
She was a painter, an artist, someone--it seemed to me--who lived life
completely on her own terms. Years ago, when Emma was little, we would all meet
up for wonderful afternoon garden parties in the village of Waterford, and Mary
Alice would be there, her artist's eye working, later creating paintings that
captured the sense of the day, in this case, the very soul of Emma playing in
the corner as the adults made hand-cranked lavender ice cream and ate risotto
and chocolate tortoni out of martini glasses. May
Mary
Alice died today, less than a week after a brain aneurysm felled her. And so, a
moment to wish her soul repose.
Gay saw Mary Alice recently at the farm, looking strong and reading Mary
Oliver, this:
When
Death Comes
When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn;
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse
to buy me, and snaps the purse shut;
when death comes
like the measles-pox;
when death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,
I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?
And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility,
and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,
and each name a comfortable music in the mouth
tending as all music does, toward silence,
and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.
When it's over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
When it is over, I don't want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.
I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.
-Mary Oliver
From New and Selected Poems
May
we all be married to amazement. May we not end up simply having visited this
world. May we wish a peaceful journey to Mary Alice who is entering another
dream.
__._,_.___
·
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Day
lilies: a reminder to live in the moment.
Each
blossom lasts just one, brief day.
Walk
outside each day and look around, breathe, focus. Life is so short and we squander so many of
our precious moments caught up in trivia, anger, competition, worry, regret,
fear… The “trick” is to turn away from
these lies (and they are just illusions conjured up by limited mortal man) and
acknowledge the beauty and joy, the abundance that is there all the time.
As
I type these few words, I hear the gentle cooing of a turtle dove. I am so blessed.
And
now it is time to go off to the office.
Thank goodness for the sweet start to the day.
·
Monday, 23 June 2008
With
gasoline at over $4 a gallon, Mark says he should just quit his AmeriCorps “job”
since the stipend barely pays for the gas to get there! 8-)
A
bit of a stretch, but gas process seem to be modifying the life styles of some
people we know. A couple people we know
have found an excuse to get a scooter.
We “truck-pool” with one another these days.
Actually,
Mark’s AmeriCorps position ends in just a few weeks. He will be unemployed for a while as we
navigate the next phase of our life’s adventure. There may be a trip back to
My
AmeriCorps*
What
is ahead for us? I do not know exactly,
but I know that we will continue to find joy in life and to find ways to make a
difference. And that is all I really
need to know.
·
Sunday, 22 June 2008
E-Mail and Computer
Challenges Continue
The
joys and frustrations of technology continue to challenge me. I recently switched to a new/different e-mail
program, because my old friend Eudora does not seem to like the
Technology
does keep one’s mind engaged. You can’t
really get complacent when computers are woven into your life.
·
Saturday 21 June 2008
NMCL Annual Meeting is OVER!
8-)
My
accelerated work demands are winding down now; for a time anyway. The NMCL annual meeting and associated
activities are over. I worked a couple
17 hour prep days this week and did lots of loading and unloading as we took
our show on the road (Socorro).
I
am grateful for my sweet spouse who kindly pitched in to help me with my work
challenges. He and Miss Zia also tagged
along to the actual events. Mark
generously stepped in to rescue our Office Manager more than a couple times
(audio-visual equipment, banners, boxes, etc).
Paws for a Cause
Early
today we participated in the Santa Fe Humane fundraiser. We arrived at the park early and Miss Zia
took one sniff of the lush, green grass and flipped over on her back to roll
exuberantly in the grass. It was a
pleasure to see a creature enjoying anything as much as our pup seemed to be
enjoying that roll in the grass.
Hundreds
of dogs and their owners converged on the park and at about 8AM we started our 5K
dog-walk to the Plaza.
Despite
having just three legs, Miss Zia held her own with the large pack, and trotted
along quite happily. At the halfway
mark, panting and tired, she found a puddle and laid down in it to cool off.
On
the walk back, she got very excited when we walked past a tennis court. Those bright yellow tennis balls flying
across the net reminded her of her own tennis balls and ohhhhhh did she get
excited. She lunged toward the court,
jerking my arm out parallel to the ground.
She let out a wistful yelp and had all the people smiling at her.
·
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Last night I worked until 2AM
and so did Mark!
We
collated my annual meeting recruiting materials, hole-punched and installed
combs non-stop.
Imagine
if I was a paid employee!
·
Sunday, 15 June 2008 – Father’s Day
Grandkids,
daughter and spouse are here. A lovely whirlwind
trip from
We
do nothing – we hang out. It is good
They
cram themselves into the Mustang and head off leaving behind only pleasant
memories.
·
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
A
colorful flotilla of rubber ducks floats on the koi pond. A belated Easter gift – rubber ducks are just
the thing to kick off summer.
Zia
barks at them. I smile.
·
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
The
redheaded granddaughter is here for a week.
Over
the weekend we drove to
Mark
takes the week off. He and Miranda play
together – they visit the library and the Children’s Museum. I head off to work. I have a heavy work load…only one day off and
I pay for it by working far past midnight.
Sigh.
·
Monday, 9 June 2008
I
continue trying to stay in the now, but somehow it is such a challenge. My calendar is (continues to be) scheduled
up.
How
to change that?
Or
how to change me?
I
crave unscheduled time to let life unfold and to just simply be. Hammock time…
More Stuff…
My
laptop still has issues with e-mail.
Certain e-mails simply shut down the e-mail program. I cannot delete the “offending” e-mail, so it
is a very frustrating situation. With
over 300 e-mails to skim through, this slows me down significantly.
·
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
I
really miss my morning hours. When we
were in
The
best part of the day is in the morning.
I would like to have more time to enjoy the start of my day.
In
a few minutes it will be Thursday - the 5th of June is my daughter’s
birthday. She will celebrate by
attending her graduation ceremony. She
earned her MA and I am very proud of her.
· Monday, 2 June 2008
"… Create Alignment - in all things. Your environment needs to represent where you're going, not where you've been. When you remove things you no longer use, love or feel inspired by - it leaves space for you to hear the whispers and follow your inklings. That's how you discover your dreams. What is most important to you? When you look at where you put your time every day, does that reflect what's most important? …What do you want more of? Are you surrounded by symbols of those things? What do you want less of? Have you removed symbols of those things?…"
- Vicky White ( www.LifeDesignStrategies.com )
If I cannot give freely and with joy, should I continue?
I value service before self, but I also know that (paraphrasing Stephen R. Covey) if my ladder is leaning against the wrong wall and I climb to the top, I have gained nothing. The illusion of progress and meaning are not the same as the reality.
I did not spend my day doing what was important to me. I do not want more of it.
It may be time to move on…it is time to move on.
One of the things that I came away from in reading the CS lesson today is that I must listen for that still small voice. I must put aside my opinions and the clutter in my mind and listen.
I must quiet my internal dialog and listen for the angel voice to guide me. (I can't hear that whisper because of my own mental verbal battles!)
A
second thought from the lesson is that I can communicate in a supportive way in
all my communications. I can banish the
clutter (the "lies" of bitterness, anger, pressure, etc) from my
thoughts and my life and simply listen for that still, small voice. I can breathe in the beauty and joy of the
divine.
Sorting it all out…
ab
TO
READ
MAY
POSTS OR OTHER, OLDER ENTRIES,
RETURN
TO THE ARCHIVES ON THE LEFT.
FYI:
If you want to read about our
Peace
Corps Ukraine adventures,
start
with January 2005 - May 2007.
Happy
Now
we are having AmeriCorps*
here
in beautiful
Life
is good!
ab