tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46560170809124483672024-02-18T19:32:11.424-07:00KJ's ExpressionsKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-3034972773553702052020-11-23T21:04:00.001-07:002020-11-23T21:07:13.901-07:00Intuitive art heals your spirit<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKsSNTjRMP-miOw927wx2FhK3ZQEmMnaKzlqQL-MDe-gX0WM_IchRXjxVB86yOrNKIcjSuzeDEAid6egtgNmRRGoP8soUcUG15vr9Ew2tscDQHg3LWmaVfzzT09lrN3xx4Bxd-CM9TRU/s2048/mandala+black+rev.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1918" data-original-width="2048" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKsSNTjRMP-miOw927wx2FhK3ZQEmMnaKzlqQL-MDe-gX0WM_IchRXjxVB86yOrNKIcjSuzeDEAid6egtgNmRRGoP8soUcUG15vr9Ew2tscDQHg3LWmaVfzzT09lrN3xx4Bxd-CM9TRU/w200-h188/mandala+black+rev.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="mso-element: comment-list;"><div style="mso-element: comment;"><div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_2" language="JavaScript"><p class="MsoNormal">Conversations are surfacing about ways we can heal from the
emotional rollercoaster of our country, the United States, as the year 2020
nears its end. I do not know about everyone else, but I am seeking some means
for healing. One way I pursue healing is through spiritual practices. Sometimes I wonder what the angels see. I
draw upon the wisdom of the words by Amy Grant, a courageous woman I have listened to since 1980.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If I Could See (What the Angels See)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>If I could see what the angels see<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Behind the walls, beneath the sea<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Under the avalanche, through the trees<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Gone would be the mystery<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>If I could see what the angels see…<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>If I could see what the angels see<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Behind the walls to you and me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>And let the truth set me free<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>I would live life differently<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>If I could see what the angels see.</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Amy Grant, 2007, <i>How Mercy Looks from Here</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes I wonder if art is the outcome of the messages the
angels from our Divine Source are sending us. When I was working through some
challenging life events, an artist friend shared the importance of intuitive
art and the expression of our spirit in mandalas. Mandalas, meaning circle in
Sanskrit, are visual expressions. The belief is that Mandalas are a symbolic
representation of the Universe and may be used alongside meditations. My
Intuitive Art teacher Elizabeth Sampson shares, <o:p></o:p></p>
</div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="mso-element: comment-list;"><div style="mso-element: comment;"><div class="msocomtxt" language="JavaScript"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“[Mandalas] are a form of meditation placing you in the
present moment and bringing you to a mindful state. The repetitive patterns
help to create intense focus and attention to detail. The patterns are soothing
and relaxing!” </p></div></div></div></blockquote><div style="mso-element: comment-list;"><div style="mso-element: comment;"><div class="msocomtxt" language="JavaScript"><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During some research I discovered that Carl Jung is credited
with sharing to the Western World the idea that mandalas may have a
therapeutic, healing impact.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="mso-element: comment-list;"><div style="mso-element: comment;"><div class="msocomtxt" language="JavaScript"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“My mandalas were cryptograms concerning the state of the
self which was presented to me anew each day . . . I guarded them like precious
pearls.” Carl Jung, <i>Memories, Dreams, and Reflections</i></p></div></div></div></blockquote><div style="mso-element: comment-list;"><div style="mso-element: comment;"><div class="msocomtxt" language="JavaScript"><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have found mandalas to be a means of giving me space to visually
create what I cannot say in words. The process provides me a space for healing
my spirit; intuitive art sessions provide a time to step away from the chaos of
the day. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.elizabethsampson.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth, theDoodle Nurse</a>, empowers me to allow the healing process of intuitive art. “Intuitive
art is your subconscious giving you the messages that are for your highest and
best,” Elizabeth explains. She shares her gifts on her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4G-lszQSJCFyGrqB_5PXSQ" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>
by guiding others like me who have no art technique training. Elizabeth
provides videos with guidance for creative expression that can be done by children
and adults with the basic materials of a pencil and paper. Additional art supplies
are suggested as one explores the creative spirit. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoCommentText"><o:p>Visual artists and musicians who share their work with
others are courageous individuals. From visual images and words expressed in
song, I receive wisdom, healing, and perspective. My challenge to you is to set a half hour in
your week aside to create space for your own healing. Consider intuitive
doodling and, eventually, challenge yourself to create a mandala while
listening to music that empowers your spirit. </o:p></p>
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</div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-47260028116646976622020-11-15T18:01:00.001-07:002020-11-16T19:46:17.501-07:00Podcasts of Courageous Women Revealing Truths<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPJdYJ6vqkFCEHwalDoxwkFahHr4B620y8fS1n4_jvUhApQLPGj7dOr5ZR4Ul8-6-bEUDpymwNaLGx5oy3fnq06zkGshFPmaFgGMj23IIymAmUSi-bMJJ2HcQJYbw6x0LAKhALqnmG94/s3156/IMG_20201019_191408332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="3156" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPJdYJ6vqkFCEHwalDoxwkFahHr4B620y8fS1n4_jvUhApQLPGj7dOr5ZR4Ul8-6-bEUDpymwNaLGx5oy3fnq06zkGshFPmaFgGMj23IIymAmUSi-bMJJ2HcQJYbw6x0LAKhALqnmG94/w400-h126/IMG_20201019_191408332.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">“Effective life coaching creates the space for the thoughts
to be spoken that allows strategic action to move one forward.” KJ Eveleth</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The pandemic has given every person I know in this world a
moment to pause. What do we do with this opportunity – this opportunity to
pause, reflect, and make decisions to propel us forward? A truth revealed to me
is this: <i>Smart, creative, courageous women seek other smart, creative,
courageous women. </i>In recent months I received the opportunity to cultivate
new, healthy relationships with amazing women. I also continued to explore
resources to strengthen the spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Hollowed out,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">clay makes a pot,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">where the pot’s not<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">is where it’s useful…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, the profit in what is<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">is in the use of what isn’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, translated by Ursula K. Le Guin,
chapter 11, Uses of Not<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Le Guin’s comment to this chapter is that Lao Tzu
illustrates a “counterintuitive truth.” During the pandemic quarantine we were
given a space of emptiness. We were also given a choice of how to use this
space. I chose to spend time grounding myself in my spiritual practices AND seeking
connection with smart, creative, courageous women. The year 2020 has revealed to
me multiple truths as a result.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">For many years I have had the pleasure of an amazing, life
coaching relationship with <a href="http://www.amykcoaching.com/" target="_blank">Amy K Musson</a>.
Life coaching provides space to listen to oneself and then strategically decide
what steps to take using this information. Incredible coaches lovingly hold one
accountable and intuitively know how to push one to reach their potential.
Through the work I do with Amy, many truths reveal themselves because of this
space she creates. And, I move forward within this container called life
coaching.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Recently Amy introduced me to Margaret Weniger, a woman
living her potential. Margaret used this time to create a podcast series called
“<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tYN1BwOJ6JDMKIfKEtz3o?si=4m3delEcQDG3uIKD0viU1Q)" target="_blank">RisingTide</a>” and her first episode interviews Amy, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tYN1BwOJ6JDMKIfKEtz3o?si=4m3delEcQDG3uIKD0viU1Q)" target="_blank"><i>Insights
from a Career in Coaching</i></a>. This podcast exemplifies the value of life
coaching and smart, creative, courageous women connecting with each other.
Margaret believes in the power of women sharing their stories. Margaret’s
podcast, like effective life coaching, is a container that provides space for
the revealing of truths. The interview with Amy contains a density of content
that brings me back to listen again and again. With each listening I walk away
with another piece of wisdom. The beauty of Rising Tide is the diversity and
unique stories of authentic women like Amy and Margaret.<i><u><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My challenge, both to myself and to the women in my life, is
to know our intentions align with our core values and to live with those
intentions by taking strategic actions forward. And just maybe, the words and
resources on this page will prompt you to listen deeply to the messages sent by
our Divine Source so that we ALL live our potential. Thank you, Amy and
Margaret, for your example of living your potential.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-43175006217452437232020-04-07T16:50:00.000-06:002020-04-07T16:50:54.203-06:00Naming It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRp8P-4U8toK9WZNF9S7qp6Y1bTduB2sPu1qb8Yda33PIbPJIgbrnIIjVfOA0E5GFoVrkBPi0PnwrEZErQQ0tccw_2wPhbwVAgIoOSsRVTB5t5HJuZUz7YqHXDmkuULTdFyfYNEh-p29U/s1600/IMG_20200327_103535258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRp8P-4U8toK9WZNF9S7qp6Y1bTduB2sPu1qb8Yda33PIbPJIgbrnIIjVfOA0E5GFoVrkBPi0PnwrEZErQQ0tccw_2wPhbwVAgIoOSsRVTB5t5HJuZUz7YqHXDmkuULTdFyfYNEh-p29U/s320/IMG_20200327_103535258.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>It lurks beyond a shadow.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>It blurs one's vision.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Maybe it appears out of nowhere.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Maybe it has been there all along.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>One day we find it holding us back.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We don't know how to name it.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We oppress the feeling</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Not knowing how to distinguish it.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>A friend may call it a Gremlin.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Another may call it the Enemy.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>But essentially it is the same;</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We call it Fear.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>If we say we experience no fear,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We have accepted the lie of the enemy.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>If we say we only know fear,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We have accepted the control of the Enemy.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Naming it declares the secret.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Naming it releases its hold.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Naming it brings understanding.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Naming it removes its authority.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>To go beyond naming the fear</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Requires the courage of one's spirit.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>To move through the fear</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Brings forth strength.</i></span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-61962848907828308792020-03-31T13:48:00.000-06:002020-03-31T13:48:51.650-06:00This Immense Place<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG96uQoF0MQcSjDgGcbbDYoMhSZgXqxVI0lLZc7cjmh_ibfKfvsq_JFJVrjFaacV6qJfPCAQsuJab_VR6bLYIKOeg6mGKyTDzRJyww9hU6k4IoyFUhVNxz_z10mToCljQdkhwmKTd2lfo/s1600/20140406_175302_Android.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG96uQoF0MQcSjDgGcbbDYoMhSZgXqxVI0lLZc7cjmh_ibfKfvsq_JFJVrjFaacV6qJfPCAQsuJab_VR6bLYIKOeg6mGKyTDzRJyww9hU6k4IoyFUhVNxz_z10mToCljQdkhwmKTd2lfo/s400/20140406_175302_Android.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonneville Salt Flats, west edge of Utah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>This Immense Place</i></span></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>by Kelly J Eveleth</i></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Salt flats imply a smooth way of travel,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> deceiving the low risk taker.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Soft shifting surface holds the traveler to a crawl;</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> when stopping to absorb more of the expanse</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> hubs become stuck.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In isolation one asks,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> "How did I get to this immense place?"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Western ridges scream,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> "Rugged terrain, only the strong survive!"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Appearing to be a trail only for the adventurous,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> rocks block the miraculous beyond view.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>An everlasting reward awaits those willing to choose</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> discernment, applying skills gained along the journey.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Accepting gifts of the Creator</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> the sojourner trembles with the humbleness as he asks,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> "How did I get to this immense place?"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"This immense place, you have chosen," breathes the Spirit.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"A desert is where you were and now you are here,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> yet never are you alone.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>My whispers empower you to move</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> toward majestic beauty</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> of this immense place." </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-44269245013377234472019-08-14T16:19:00.000-06:002019-08-14T16:19:53.964-06:00When the Sea Beckons<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYo5RskD33BY7AO7O81FJZGNGlzNxeSpDgcPTnpapHuEgxcpUCnekmL5ZS-QfToXfqSHupwLCtaJ24xXMCdgcbShOCbErrjLJtUN-hdIaV1fFaE4no9GDeJTGD7Np1AmjpbZ38vJLpr54/s1600/When+the+sea+beckons+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYo5RskD33BY7AO7O81FJZGNGlzNxeSpDgcPTnpapHuEgxcpUCnekmL5ZS-QfToXfqSHupwLCtaJ24xXMCdgcbShOCbErrjLJtUN-hdIaV1fFaE4no9GDeJTGD7Np1AmjpbZ38vJLpr54/s320/When+the+sea+beckons+2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the Sea Beckons<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like the hummingbirds singing in your ear,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or like the leaves whispering to the cells of your skin,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How do you respond?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you leave the desert sage brush<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And let go of your social obligations?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you throw an overnight bag in the back seat<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And fill your vehicle up with fuel for the 700 mile trip?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the Sea beckons<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is what my heart spirit desires<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like a child needing the comfort <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of a nurturing parent,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or a woman desiring<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Arms of a lover.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once the soles of my feet<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Feel the damp sand,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My lungs fill with the moist, salty air,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Sea recalibrates my energy<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To the natural rhythm of the waves.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When the Sea beckons<o:p></o:p></div>
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And I respond to its calling<o:p></o:p></div>
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With humble curiosity,<o:p></o:p></div>
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I receive the gifts of the sea. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-45862100825071594472019-08-07T17:11:00.000-06:002019-08-07T17:11:52.765-06:00Influencing Others<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Influence: the power or intangible action of one thing or person which brings about an effect on another (Wordsmyth.net)</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i> Matthew walked home from school in his small town and pondered a word he heard that day. As a third grader he became bombarded with words he did not know as they were not used at home. He decided to ask his mom if she knew what the word meant.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i> "Mom, what does the word 'influence' mean?"</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i> "Matthew, where did you hear that word?" Mom replied.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i> "At school. A book said that President Lincoln influenced the Civil War but the teacher didn't explain what influence means."</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i> "Well, I believe that there is a powerful energy force which people sometimes name as God. Since I believe in God I attend a church service and take you to Sunday School. You trust me as your mom. You know that I will always make sure you have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is trust. When I take you to Sunday School you trust that you are being told truth. So, as result of this trust, I am influencing you to believe in God as I do. My participation in activities of the church also influence your decision in the participation of activities at the church. I influence your behaviors," explained Mom.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i> "Ok, so does that mean teachers influence how much I learn?" asked Matthew.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i> "Teachers MAY influence you. But here is the thing, my intelligent son. Teachers present to you specific content to develop your skills, but you must make the decision to learn. A teacher can attempt to influence, but you must also want to learn," Mom said.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i> "So, because she shared a book with us about President Lincoln and I'm curious to know more, she has influenced me to research more and learn about the presidents," responded Matthew.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i> "Exactly!"</i></span></div>
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Can you identify the people, places, or things in your life which has greatly influenced you? Is there someone who influences how you see yourself which directly impacts the life choices you make, the kind of person you become? And when this person has a long term, positive impact upon you, how do you respond to that person? This last question is the one I have been reflecting upon.</div>
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The word <i>influence</i> has a Latin derivative of the meaning <i>"to flow in." </i>The beliefs of someone has flowed into me. Someone believed in my gift to communicate through written language. That someone influenced my decision to write, and then to write some more. The practice of writing influenced the quality of my writing as I opened myself to learn more during the experience. I received a gift that has no ending point. I trusted someone who then flowed into my way of thinking in a beautiful way. My problem is this: saying the two words <i>thank you</i> just doesn't seem to be enough. </div>
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Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-85401709443225319052019-07-25T19:34:00.000-06:002019-07-25T19:34:48.783-06:00City of GirlsI've just finished reading, actually listening to, the book <u>City of Girls</u> by Elizabeth Gilbert. I love the way she tells stories. Interesting how the timing of me selecting and finishing this book relates to other musings of late. The topic? Relationships, and the different kinds of relationships we have. At the end of the book, the author in her unique way reminds us that different kinds of relationships are necessary. As we grow into more of our authentic self, the need we have for authentic relationships also grows. I believe one of our challenges as a society is acknowledging the different kinds of relationships people require and finding the language to communicate within these diverse relationships.<br />
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I like how the main character in Elizabeth Gilbert's book conveys the unique dynamics of the relationships she experiences. The character is telling her life story, her perspective, when she is significantly older. In reflections of my own relationships in my younger years compared to the present I definitely see the changes of the needs I have. I also realize more concretely what my needs were when I was younger, why I made the decisions that I did. This reflection helps me in my current season of life. I remember an elementary teacher once telling me, "Kelly, remember that there is always an end in a friend." I was obviously misspelling "friend-freind" but I remember thinking, I don't like that idea. However, now I understand that some friendships are intended to be for a short period of time and others are intended to be for a lifetime. The challenge of course is knowing what kind of relationship each one is meant to be, having the courage to live one's values in that relationship, and through the experience hopefully gain the intended wisdom the Universe desires.<br />
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A moment in my adult years occurred in which I asked myself, "Is this relationship a mistake?" I now believe I was asking the wrong question. Numerous alternative questions in regards to relationships are available. This is why I believe in the value of life coaching. Well trained and gifted life coaches have the ability to ask different questions while pushing a person to live their core values. But, as I write this blog, I realize I'm getting away from my original reason for sharing my thoughts.<br />
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I really like the book <u>City of Girls</u>.<br />
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I'm not a professional book reviewer; I'm simply acting as a consumer of popular general adult fiction. And so, the book pushed me to see another perspective of the different kinds of relationships we may experience. Also, while one kind of relationship works for one person, that same kind of relationship may not work for another. Here's the secret, I think, when considering the different relationships around us: remove judgment. I love reading realistic fiction because a well written story allows me to explore how various relationships evolve and challenges me to ask different questions about the relationships in my own life.<br />
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-45208961276278334252019-07-23T18:41:00.000-06:002019-07-23T18:41:07.448-06:00Vacation Hangover<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDyIgwRwXLFE1y_p_AyGIRVQTh7lvhXkh3mQlOpu2On6CCUHiLEwto0KOEGxG5Ks9_iURuoWRsKhM88p4bpeDdTcbfLWo_I8sGI0A9wRRHg7z9IE0Tlaed62O-Yh05vrFRoRWWKWxEU0/s1600/IMG_20190719_133926_513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDyIgwRwXLFE1y_p_AyGIRVQTh7lvhXkh3mQlOpu2On6CCUHiLEwto0KOEGxG5Ks9_iURuoWRsKhM88p4bpeDdTcbfLWo_I8sGI0A9wRRHg7z9IE0Tlaed62O-Yh05vrFRoRWWKWxEU0/s320/IMG_20190719_133926_513.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Jolla Shores, San Diego, <br />the cliff/caves between the cove and popular beach</td></tr>
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I have a "vacation hangover." No, I didn't drink alcohol in excess. I went on vacation for 8 days. I went to my favorite location and spent as much time as reasonable on the southern California shore in the San Diego region. The weather was ideal. We hung out at different locations at different times of the day. Our accommodations were fabulous at my in-laws home. We were relaxed most of the time (except those moments when an idiot changes lanes, crosses in front of you too close at 70+ mph).<br />
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And I want to go back.<br />
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My husband said we needed to return on Saturday so we could recover before returning to work on Monday. But that Sunday was not enough for recovery because while my body was back home, attending to work/life responsibilities, my heart and spirit wanted to get up early and walk the path along La Jolla Cove while my mother-in-law completed her ritual swim. Instead, I awoke Monday to 80 degrees at 8 a.m. in the desert.<br />
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I console myself with the idea that we all must experience the waves of life. I am not retired yet, have a few working years left. I have a good life, applying my gifts in a capacity that benefits my community and meets my basic needs. But, there is a longing and a bit of anxiousness as I look forward to some day in the future that I can at least visit the ocean more often, as retiring next to it requires a sum of money that is currently not in the bank. <br />
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Today is Tuesday and I am still attempting to get past the "vacation hangover." I completed a lot of the work related to-do's yesterday that come with being absent for a week. Today, I got more completed. At home, well, I just want to sit outside and remember. The ocean is the place I 'let go' of the thoughts racing in my head. The sound of the waves releases the must do/should do thoughts in my mind. My spirit is simply present. "The beach is not the place to work; to read, write or think...at least, not at first," says Anne Morrow Lindbergh in her book <u>Gift from the Sea</u>. "One is forced against one's mind, against all tidy resolutions, back into the primeval rhythms of the sea-shore...and then some morning in the second week, the mind wakes, comes to life again." (p. 15-16 pub.1955) Lindbergh describes the ocean exactly as I experience it. I needed the second week! Then my creative spirit and mind would be ready to collaborate. Some day I'll get that second week, maybe even a third, and I will be past this wave.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-13653367382453259962019-07-07T16:08:00.001-06:002019-07-07T16:08:30.417-06:00Recipe for Relationship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes relationships are messy. Anyone familiar with the <a href="http://www.pbs.org/food/features/great-british-baking-show-hosts-judges/" target="_blank">Great British Baking Show</a>? Recently I got hooked on this reality baking competition series. Here is why: I learn life lessons from watching alongside the entertainment. I'm not just referring to cooking and baking techniques, either. I see a metaphor to the different kinds of relationships we have on our journey. I don't know about you, but not all of my relationships are the same kind or have the same value.<br />
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So first, I'm going to share a bit about the show with judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. Qualifying participants have a theme each episode such as cakes, breads, or biscuits. Each category has unique baking elements and participants are provided three opportunities in that category to demonstrate their skills. Two of the recipes are of the participants choosing in which they are given guidelines or criteria while one recipe is unknown until the day of the competition. My observation is that some participants have a diverse set of baking skills which gives them success in multiple categories while other participants are only successful in a few categories. The individual who learns how to create in the kitchen effectively in the majority of categories and applies a diversity of skills is generally recognized as the master baker.<br />
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How is the baking competition I describe related to relationships? Well, if one accepts the idea that not all relationships are the same, then maybe it can be accepted that a person can be really effective in some kinds of relationships and not as successful in other kinds of relationships. The person who learns to develop a diversity of purposeful relationships can essentially be identified as a very healthy human.<br />
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Developing a diversity of purposeful relationships I believe is a significant element of our journey as human beings. Enough social science studies have been done that I believe the readers of my page will accept the premise that we are designed by the authority of the Universe to be a species engaging in a diversity of relationships. The definition of relationship I am using is: <a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/relationship" target="_blank">the way in which two or more people or things are connected, or the state of being connected</a> (<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/relationship" target="_blank">Lexico</a>). Therefore, we can have relationships with people of different ages, different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, the animal kingdom at large, the natural elements of the earth, and the entity of the spiritual realm. Then there is also the subcategory of human relationships such as a family member, intimate friend, co-worker, coach, etc. In each of these relationships, while they have similar ingredients, we develop and interact with different nuances.<br />
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Back to the Great British Baking Show...sometimes the bakers receive judgments in that their product is well designed in appearance but lack the desired flavors or texture. Sometimes the judgment is that the product presented is very messy in outer appearance but has excellent flavor. The "STAR BAKER" of the category is the one who gets both the outer appearance and inner quality accomplished. The positive part about the "STAR BAKER" component is that the person can be different for every category.<br />
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Some of us are really good at developing co-worker relationships while some of us are challenged in this category. Some of us are really good at fostering relationships with the animal kingdom and some of us have difficulty being in the same room as a pet cat. Some of us figure out how to have healthy family relationships and some of us experience challenges we wonder if we are able to overcome. My point is this, most of us are constantly having to learn how to experience a diversity of relationships. Not everyone can be a "STAR BAKER" all of the time. The goal for us, I believe, is to strive for that balance of healthy and diverse relationships. This requires loads of forgiveness as learning frequently (if not always) includes mistakes.<br />
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During our learning on this journey, we also need another component. That component is encouragement. On the Great British Baking Show I enjoy the presence of the hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc. They bring a dash of frivolity, moments of empathy, and general support to the bakers. I am grateful for those relationships in my life who also provide these ingredients.<br />
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I am not a "STAR BAKER" all of the time. I experience life where relationships are sometimes "messy." My communication skills fail me, unkind thoughts flit through my brain, connection is lost, respect of time and space are ignored. Regardless of my mistakes, though, this will always be true for me: Life is a collection of relationships and we choose our relationships. And...some of my messy relationships have the most flavor.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-34289818565883845002019-06-28T16:34:00.000-06:002019-06-28T16:34:53.270-06:00Being Present<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently my good friend held her <a href="https://linktr.ee/juliejordanscott" target="_blank">5 for 5 Brain Dump</a> series. <a href="https://linktr.ee/juliejordanscott" target="_blank">Julie Jordan Scott </a>provides inspirational and motivational writing prompts that I simply love to participate in. Creating a community of writers and artists is one of her gifts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The above Tolle quote was shared during one of these writing sessions and that week I also had the opportunity to relax at the Sugar House Park (Salt Lake City area) before driving the 150 miles home. These waterfowl understand naturally what it means to "be present." So, how is it that our advanced human species finds this concept so difficult? I live in a what is labeled as rural Nevada and yet I love going to the city for the diversity of life and all the stimulation that is part of urban life. I've come to the conclusion that where one physically lives does not necessarily encourage or discourage one's behavior towards being present or not being present. I do believe that Tolle has touched on something...negativity. I also think that there is more to being present than what Tolle is indicating in this statement. I am still trying to articulate this elusive idea of being present for myself but I want to write about it anyway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have discovered that at different times of the day my energy and focus on the world around me is different. We all have patterns in our behavior whether we realize it or not. I've partly come to this conclusion from my writing moods. Sometimes when I write I am able to easily put words on the page that show what is happening within and around me. Other times I have trouble putting the words on the page. I have a sense that when my best writing comes to the page I am living fully in the present moment (and I also know that is when I am most tuned in to the spiritual energy forces at work). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the question is, <i>what do I need to do so I am more present in the moment more often? </i>Maybe, I need to first identify what is NOT being in the present moment. Do you ever go on "autopilot" when driving a daily route, or completing a routine task? This is not being in the present moment. Our brains develop automaticity for efficiency. For example, we train children to memorize basic math facts or phonetic patterns so that completing higher level thinking problem solving or comprehension can be the focus of the experience of learning. That memorizing is automaticity. As a human species, we've become pretty good at that concept to the point that our muscle memory can actually prevent us from being aware of our own actions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also have a very good brain filtering system. This again is for efficiency of functioning in our modern environment. What do I mean by this? Well, when I go shopping in a mall many things are happening all around me. However, my brain only pays attention to things I've trained it to notice like "On Sale" or "50% off" signs. So, in this case, I've limited what I'm paying attention to. So, while some may say "I am always in the present moment when I'm shopping" there are going to be periods of time that the individual is ignoring a lot of the environment like the noise or crowd of other people shopping.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, now that I've come up with some ways to describe not being present, I come back to the question, </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">what do I need to do so I am more present in the moment more often? </i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I believe on that day trip to the city and spending time at the park with my son, simply observing the ducks and eating a scoop of ice cream I was living in the present moment. I know this for a couple reasons. One, I had a great desire to take a picture. Taking photos is a way for me to stop and observe and allows me to create a recorded image of that present moment. Second, I fully tasted the smooth jamocha almond fudge ice cream and felt the crunch of the waffle cone in my mouth. On my day trips to the city, this example shows something simple I can do to stay in the present moment of being with my son. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More ideas are slowly coming to mind as to what it means for me to be present. This is why I write. This is why I love the prompts my creative friend shares with me. </span></div>
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<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-63433455918379023072019-02-25T17:23:00.001-07:002019-02-25T17:23:54.319-07:00RoutineSo, I haven't written for awhile. I haven't put any words onto the page. And why is that? I have been out of my normal life routine for two weeks! Even as I write this I am not at home. I had an unexpected family medical situation. And so I jumped on a plane to assist. Now, this blog post is not going to go into detail about the medical situation. That would not be respectful to the family member. However, let's just say this event has kind of put me at odds with the pen on the paper. This writing is a brain dump, unplanned, little editing, just putting words on the page as I sit in a Starbucks on the day before I travel home. So, my writing may not sound the same. But I suppose that is okay also.<br />
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I always have enjoyed vacations. Vacations are PLANNED out of routine get aways. This was not planned and while there are some good things that have come out of this trip to the home town of my youth, I do miss my Nevada home. I miss home routines. I like trying things new. I love the fact that I saw family I have not seen for, well, in some cases many years. I love having special bonding time with siblings. I love that the mystery aunt who always sends books at Christmas is now known a bit more. And my host during this trip is a beautiful person but I still miss my own shower, the looks my teenagers give me when I ask for chores to be done, hanging out in the other room while my husband goes through his routine in the evening after work. I miss the family cat either complaining or cuddling next to me. Two weeks and I'm ready to fly home.<br />
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All the family medical is not resolved. This is the not so good part of the trip. But, I need to go home to my routine and regroup, so to speak. So, my writing community, this is what you get today. Raw words, still with some protection of the emotions I am feeling, but still me.<br />
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<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-17020845311457174632019-02-10T18:39:00.001-07:002019-02-10T18:39:35.181-07:00Homemade Soup<div>
The business day done, meeting the demands of the work environment put to rest one more time, driving through some weather the couple miles to my home, and just wanting to warm up and relax. No hassle with fixing something for dinner, I'm just calling the family to the table and serving up some homemade chicken noodle soup prepared earlier this morning. Chicken chunks, softened celery, colorful carrots, thick noodles, classic? Oh but wait, what is the seasoning added this time? </div>
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My family has accepted that every Crock-Pot of my homemade soup is unique. I could never be a professional chef because even when I attempt to duplicate the recipe, the end product is not quite the same. And most of the time, the bowl placed in front of my family is enjoyable, except of course when it is not. Because you see, I learned how to cook from my step-father. I think of him now, almost 10 years since his passing, and wonder if he ever had any training as a chef or just in business management. Dennis taught me how to cook, not in our home as much as in his restaurants that I began working as a young girl. Anyway, he taught me that a recipe is a guide and once you learned the basic recipe, taste and experiment to add your signature. I learned all sorts of things from Dennis preparing foods for his cold and hot buffet, grill, and doing everything else involved in the business. And today, my go to meal for the family as a working mom is the homemade soup. <div>
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I create soup not from a specific recipe, but from a basic concept. I use what I have available. Soup requires a good stock (homemade is the best and most nutritious but not always available), a selection of veggies, a protein source, some dairy (even in light soup a small spoon of butter), a grain (sometimes simply in the form of a good cracker or bread to add as a side), seasonings, and a sweetener to bring out the contrasting spices. I fill up the large Crock-Pot, as I don't know how to make in small quantities, (when I'm an empty nester, we best buy a smaller Crock-Pot!) Ta-da! Dinner, alongside lunch for the rest of the week, is done!</div>
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I like creating soup because there really is no right or wrong way to make it. However, I imagine some would argue with me on that belief. A soup recipe is a guide. Soup is supposed to be unique to the situation. In the spring one may enjoy a light broth based soup and in the summer a cold Gazpacho soup. Come autumn, a warm squash soup may be desired or in winter a hearty, thick, creamy soup hits the spot. The key to good soup --- diversity. We all need diversity in life. Diversity keeps us healthy. Having alternate ingredients keeps us vibrant. Creativity is also an important element as through creativity we can experience 'awe.'</div>
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And if you think this post is just about making soup, read again. </div>
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Sometimes in soup I've added ingredients for their flavor or nutritional value that have broken down to a point my kids are oblivious, like cauliflower. And then some ingredients are always going to be obvious, like tomatoes. Then I occasionally substitute ingredients for a slightly different flavor, like leeks and my kids think I've simply added large green onions. Oh, and one day my kids asked, "What is agave? What do you use this for? The bottle is almost gone."</div>
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We all have a kitchen with staple ingredients. The secret is searching for unique ingredients at the right time, knowing when to risk adding something different or unknown, keeping staples close at hand for stability, and knowing it is okay to be spontaneous. Creating homemade soup and sharing it with others is my gift to my family and friends. </div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-40346905406538775182019-01-30T19:39:00.000-07:002019-01-30T19:39:31.860-07:00WordsI open the book<br />
The words speak of observations<br />
<br />
My mind asks, Will my words find the page ---<br />
Worthy to be read by others?<br />
<br />
"Maybe the desire to make something beautiful<br />
is the piece of God that is inside each of us"<br />
resonates within --- these words of Mary Oliver<br />
draw me to my own notebook of musings.<br />
<br />
The drum, guitar, and flute<br />
create a melodic rhythm<br />
drawing out the words in a pattern<br />
without rhyme<br />
<br />
What reason do I have<br />
for sharing the observations<br />
that mingle within<br />
<br />
A voice says, let them go ---<br />
Let the words go onto the page<br />
and the anxiety will also be carried<br />
<br />
Release with words<br />
the beauty<br />
and the ugliness<br />
that is world as you see it<br />
<br />
For belief comes from the words<br />
You speak<br />
<br />
*Mary Oliver quote from poem "Blue Horses" in collection Blue Horses, pub. 2014Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-48170079713596430822019-01-22T18:33:00.003-07:002019-01-22T18:33:36.173-07:00My Word for 2019Like my previous posts indicate, I entered a different creative community through social media. Being engaged with other Creatives has inspired me in so many ways. One of the things I have mentioned is having a key word with an intention for the year in place of a New Year's Resolution. So, after an amazing year of reigniting my creative spirit I have spent some time in meditation and discovered my word for 2019.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUsvH19FRRLhCA6pBxBxIdCcThYAhlhgge23PJvmAyWX1zxNFPJmXK899xfpZMquT7FFnTOUbJxT0hGcVg4r746bWkj6qNR2ClTUQblxZHJyq13tjALGRF5OuUuHQYz0SEQUe-P3AOVA/s1600/351917-012219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="1600" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUsvH19FRRLhCA6pBxBxIdCcThYAhlhgge23PJvmAyWX1zxNFPJmXK899xfpZMquT7FFnTOUbJxT0hGcVg4r746bWkj6qNR2ClTUQblxZHJyq13tjALGRF5OuUuHQYz0SEQUe-P3AOVA/s400/351917-012219.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The above image is the result of <a href="https://www.elizabethsampson.com/" target="_blank">"Intuitive Doodling"</a> that I learned from a wonderful woman named <a href="https://www.elizabethsampson.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Sampson.</a> She held an on-line self-paced class that I thoroughly enjoyed last spring. You can also find her videos on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4G-lszQSJCFyGrqB_5PXSQ/featured" target="_blank">YouTube</a>. I love her philosophy that there is "no wrong way" to doodle.<br />
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I have spent some time this month writing out what I believe. Basically, I want to believe that I can experience more fullness in 2019. A significant aspect of belief is spiritual belief. So below are the words I am sharing of where I am now on my spiritual belief journey. For those who have known me a long time, this may not be what you expect me to put on the page. And, for others, these words will not be a surprise at all. My challenge to others is this: write down what you believe because I feel that in doing so, you will live more intentionally.<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 22.2133px;">I believe that every human has a designated purpose but we are given free will as to how we travel the journey to fulfill that purpose. We have discovered how to identify some of that information through our Astrological birth map as well as other spiritual practices. We are given guidance and assistance through the angels assigned to us and those we call upon. These angels may share their message with us in a variety of ways, including through the energy of people we are strongly connected to. We have people placed in our lives to be an active participant with us along that journey and/or teach us something we need to know and understand for us to fulfill our purpose. The more we are in alignment with that designated purpose the more fulfilled we are. The more tuned in to the vibrational energy of the Spiritual realm, including the Chakra energy pathways, the greater awareness and potential for success we have of living authentically. Spending time in quiet, reflection, creative process, and meditation is essential to engage in the Spiritual realm.</span><span lang="en-US"></span><span lang="en-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-48799325206103107062019-01-21T16:11:00.001-07:002019-01-21T16:14:10.243-07:00Thank You 2018In January 2018 I was prompted by my writing community to write a letter in a way I had not done previously. The prompt began: Thank you 2018. And well, I tucked that letter away and found it this week. So, below I am sharing with others what I wrote a year ago.<br />
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<i>Dear 2018,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Thank you for revitalizing my creative spirit. </i></div>
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<i>Thank you for
bringing me into a community with other Creatives, encouragement,
accountability, and completion of small projects and initiating bigger ones. </i></div>
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<i>Thank you for guiding me on how to use my time, when to step back, when to push
forward. </i></div>
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<i>Thank you for sharing JJS's words --- breathe in
experience, breathe out poetry (creative expression).<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Thank you for answers, intervention and a means to minimize
the chronic health issues that attempt to hold me back from expressing myself,
engaging in living the life I desire. I am grateful for the lessening of
discomfort of fibromyalgia, arthritis, fatigue, and providing the options
given by the Naturopathic team at Full Circle Care. </i></div>
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<i>Thank you for the
consistent support and friendship of my fitness trainer.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Thank you for allowing me to share my gifts with others,
including the community of the library. Thank you for the inspiration for the
on-going literacy and STEAM program I've been able to develop.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Thank you for guiding my family on their journey. my oldest with his ambitions in the business world. my daughter as she is making decisions for college. my youngest's exploration of art.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Thank you for my husband's continued dedication to our family,
providing us with opportunities like a week in Washington D.C. Thank you for
his desire to give back to others through coaching basketball.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Thank you for taking care of my extended family members.
There are too many to list! And naturally, thank you for those special friend
relationships.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>And last, but not least, thank you for helping me declutter
my physical space to make space for more focused and fulfilled living. And, I can't forget our family's feline companion.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Kelly</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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And yes, this is what manifested during the year 2018.</div>
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-54202422142804360482019-01-20T17:52:00.000-07:002019-01-20T17:52:42.805-07:00Reset<h4 style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Take the Remnants of Gold from each Karmic experience and use it as a ladder to climb above it." <a href="https://encouragemysoul.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Chakra Wanda</a></span></i></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m0aFDIVdNny-InA51pcpLR_hWGPsaFiTlIzieKdM9aommP28TOsJtfG3wM8SO9-sVP6fOpUzensMv16UFM9gymkLtJ5FAiFYAMLyozEJKlIHoUoNPeGVtZ5A7vEO7cfAEvvBp3JxhMc/s1600/22663.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m0aFDIVdNny-InA51pcpLR_hWGPsaFiTlIzieKdM9aommP28TOsJtfG3wM8SO9-sVP6fOpUzensMv16UFM9gymkLtJ5FAiFYAMLyozEJKlIHoUoNPeGVtZ5A7vEO7cfAEvvBp3JxhMc/s320/22663.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/bridgitvespercarone/" target="_blank">pictures courtesy of Bridget Carone</a></td></tr>
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This blog post is not what I originally had planned after my 'Bottom Line for 2019' writing. However, I believe it is appropriate to share as my words below do reflect my authentic self to those who care to read my musings.<br />
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Today is the day after the Women's March 2019, the Sunday of the three day Martin Luther King weekend for those of us fortunate enough to have Monday as a "holiday." While others in my realm of awareness have been strong advocates voicing their concerns of justice, equality, human rights, and many other significant needs of humanity, I have been in "Reset Mode." At one time in my history I had considered this to be a negative or unproductive moment of my journey. However, I have come to recognize the value of this reset mode.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQxTCi5IVXixEHKSehT0CGwtucH-QCRhzxFH3Kwmr6_J0L52Q9H_yi3CL2WDRZ_1iQOX4H9rlNF96ak0vvolmaw_q4sxrRr546v6Jl6qo6W3NfJfkXrJ3lZy84-_n-CMHcf73H5aMH1k/s1600/22662.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQxTCi5IVXixEHKSehT0CGwtucH-QCRhzxFH3Kwmr6_J0L52Q9H_yi3CL2WDRZ_1iQOX4H9rlNF96ak0vvolmaw_q4sxrRr546v6Jl6qo6W3NfJfkXrJ3lZy84-_n-CMHcf73H5aMH1k/s320/22662.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/bridgitvespercarone/" target="_blank">Pogonip in the Desert</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In the past I have struggled with the internal gremlin dialog I experience during reset mode. Phrases such as: <i>what a waste of time; here we go again, retreating from the world; get your lazy butt up and do something; stop using your physical health history as an excuse; here's just another example showing why you are not good enough for _________; at least use this time to write and put some words on the page.</i> Well, the reality is, I eventually do put some words on the page. But, this only occurs after blocking out everything around me for awhile. Let me explain or, as my writing coach says, show you.<br />
<br />
January brings many messages: the new year on the cultural calendar; winter at its peak in the northern continent; resolutions or intentions.<br />
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For a week the low pressure system in the high desert of northern Nevada creates a grayness of continuous clouds, cold winter humidity, and pogonip as seen in the image above (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bridgitvespercarone/" target="_blank">pictures shared by friend Bridgit</a> a few miles from my home). My physical body goes into hibernation mode. A partially finished crochet blanket rests on my heart, gradually expanding with each double crochet stitch. The television screen displays a historical fiction drama. Crumbs from simple sugar comfort foods sit on a paper plate. Social media notifications are ignored on the cell phone. Hours pass by unnoticed until an inquiry concerning dinner is made. Blank morning writing pages cumulate as no words are swarming in my head...until that moment when I awake and half remember a dream in my light sleep stage. Then reawakening begins.<br />
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Sometimes pogonip happens. It is not expected or planned for. It just exists for a little while and eventually melts and life goes back to normal. Like the natural world of select conditions leading up to the pogonip, events occur leading up to my reset mode. <br />
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There are moments when I can no longer take in the happenings of the world around me --- not the big issues of the world like the National Women's March; not the near close to home chaos of a random shooting in a shopping mall I was in 24 hours previously; not the smaller events in my community of a new pizza take-out business my daughter is now employed at; not even the fact that I am out of a favorite creamer for my coffee and it would only take a half hour to create a grocery list and go get some basics. I've reached a tipping point that has put me in reset mode. My spirit and energy must pause and this requires blocking out all but the essentials. I make adjustments at my place of employment because I know that I can do just the essential tasks and get caught up on my bigger projects when this passes. I can post pone bigger decisions and giving of myself because I know that after my reset mode the Universe will give me the energy I need for the tasks at hand and my greater intentions.<br />
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So, this is what I know about being in reset mode. It eventually passes but sometimes I also need a rope. There is a connection between what I am writing here today and what I wrote earlier this month on bridges. When building something, there is value in having a safety rope. Sometimes we slip and have to pause and reach out for a rope to pull us back so we can continue our journey. In most cases, that safety line is essential because we are human, after all. And, during the recent freezing fog I experienced a moment when I literally was standing on a slope of black ice. Standing isn't exactly the right word, however. I was hanging with every ounce of strength to the car door as there was no way I could stand! It was a time when I said, "Nope, my plan is not going to happen!" I could not get from point A to point B and had to completely change plans.<br />
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At the top of this post is a quote from a friend who is tuned into the spiritual realm. She recently received a message which she shared, "Take the Remnants of Gold from each Karmic experience and use it as a ladder to climb above it." <a href="https://encouragemysoul.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">(Chakra Wanda)</a> So, what I received from this message is: Reset Mode, the pogonip, is also its own Karmic experience. I can choose to listen to the gremlin dialog or find the remnants of gold waiting for me to grab onto. While building my bridge to the new decade, I cannot be afraid of the moments of "Reset." I must believe that the strands of strength will be provided for that bridge.<br />
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Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-37019625776947691072019-01-03T22:43:00.000-07:002019-01-20T15:16:19.749-07:00Bottom Line for 2019Recently my life coach <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmyKCoaching/" target="_blank">Amy K</a> asked me the question: What is your bottom line for 2019? Now, in some conversations this may be in reference to financial status. But for me, that isn't what it is about, or is it? Financial status reflects investment. Investment of time, money, resources...hmmm. So, what if I ask the question this way? How am I going to invest my energy, time, money, resources in 2019 and for what desired outcome?<br />
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Here is my response: 2019 is the Bridge to a New Decade, a New Season. This concept of a designated time related to a bridge comes not from my own creativity, but rather an extension of something a friend created. <a href="https://linktr.ee/juliejordanscott" target="_blank">Julie Jordan Scott</a>, with her collaborator <a href="https://www.facebook.com/paula.puffer" target="_blank">Paula Puffer</a>, created a FaceBook Group called<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/bridgetothenewyear/" target="_blank"> Bridge to the New Year</a>. Each day in the month of December they offered prompts for us to share a response in any creative platform we wanted. As we finished up I realized that for me 2019 is a Bridge YEAR. So what is a bridge? What are bridges for? How are they made?<br />
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What is a bridge? So, the word bridge can be used in multiple ways. The essence of the word is linking one thing to another. As a noun it is a connector piece, or location. <i>The <b>land bridge</b> allowed the two communities to share needed resources.</i> As a verb it is used as an action word meaning to help get over or through challenges. <i>The school liaison <b>bridged</b> the language barrier between the parents and teachers. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
What is a bridge for? Many times along our journey of life we need a structure or tool to help us get from point A to point B. This can be thought of in a very physical sense, like the physical structure of a bridge taking an individual over a river. And, this can be thought of in a more abstract way, like taking time in the month of December to reflect and respond to prompts that help us close out the year of 2018 and open ourselves up to the possibilities of 2019.<br />
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How is a bridge made? A bridge is a structure. But this is the little bit I know about bridges. They need to also have some "give and take" and not all bridges work for all situations. Imagine the foot bridge created in the rugged mountains and compare that image to the bridges that are located in the San Francisco Bay area. When we were responding in the FaceBook group Bridge to the New Year, the creators recognized that the participants needed different ways to respond, some flexibility. A structure was provided but we had some "give and take."<br />
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My Bottom Line for 2019...get across the bridge! So, in January I am exploring what I need to first create my bridge, then I will be putting the foundational structure together. In the process I am including some flexibility with the end result in mind. I'm soon going to be an "empty nester." Yep! My oldest child is <i>almost</i> completely self-reliant now functioning in the adult world. My middle child graduates from high school in May of this year and is on a journey towards higher education. My youngest becomes a senior this year and graduates May 2020. The time has come to put my resources and understandings together to live my best life in this next new season of the journey with my husband. I won't be detailing my bridge here in this post. But, some people know that I need to see the big picture. I like to have a sense of knowing where I am and where I am going. It is okay if the energies of the Universe guide me slightly differently than I expected but I need a support system with a destination in mind.<br />
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So my questions to those who share their time reading this blog post are: Is 2019 a Bridge year for you? What is your bottom line for 2019? What will you need for your bridge? And, what support system will you put in place to get to your destination?<br />
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-14256391223293162172018-12-07T20:03:00.000-07:002018-12-07T20:04:56.814-07:00Fullness 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yZcqXd-rIzMrybI72rdk_LLZdjs1ASBOZmrHoK0r0IJE0Tat2JxMKx_uPTJtHW-wLIrvqKbaqRA3ajI_2KmmiKcuaPqPCOwIEmpXQKPQmp1dE8Lqc-U2YAaIj9k22YeyaNryPj15FWU/s1600/fullness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yZcqXd-rIzMrybI72rdk_LLZdjs1ASBOZmrHoK0r0IJE0Tat2JxMKx_uPTJtHW-wLIrvqKbaqRA3ajI_2KmmiKcuaPqPCOwIEmpXQKPQmp1dE8Lqc-U2YAaIj9k22YeyaNryPj15FWU/s320/fullness.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Once again I am writing in response to the <a href="https://facebook.com/groups/bridgetothenewyear/" target="_blank">Bridge to the NewYear group</a> of creatives with <a href="http://creativelifemidwife.com/blog/" target="_blank">Julie Jordan Scott</a> and <a href="https://facebook.com/paulapuffer" target="_blank">Paula Puffer</a>. The prompt is
in regards to my word for 2018 - Fullness. I have also done a <a href="https://www.pscp.tv/w/1mrGmYDrOoDGy" target="_blank">Periscope broadcast</a>/<a href="https://twitter.com/kellyjeveleth" target="_blank">Twitter</a>
post but decided to also write. A year ago I was not feeling fantastic
physically and anyone<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who has had health
issues knows, the physical challenges we encounter has a relationship with our mind and spirit. So, without going into too many details here, I did
some work with my life coach and chose the word fullness for 2018. Or, I could
say, the word was selected for me by a higher power. Anyway...below you will
find some highlights in how I found fullness in my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In 2018 my husband and I made the decision to do some home
improvements. Anyone close to me knows that when my husband and I have the idea
to do something at the same time, it (whatever it is) must definitely get accomplished
because that scenario does not happen frequently. With much debate we painted the inside of our home, replaced carpet, and completed some necessary decluttering. Though I
have to say, more decluttering is on the list for 2019. Working jointly on a
project with the family is a true place of fulfillment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another action step I took to experience fulfillment is to
create more sacred time and space for creative expression. My creative
expression came in multiple forms. I began to broadcast on social media
(something new for me) and joined the beautiful <a href="http://perigirls.com/" target="_blank">PeriGirls</a>. I discovered how
doodling/coloring can provide special messages from the spiritual guides through
a wonderful artist <a href="https://www.elizabethsampson.com/about-3/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Sampson</a> and her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4G-lszQSJCFyGrqB_5PXSQ" target="_blank">Art of Intuitive Doodling</a>. I began
to explore more of the grand dreams I have with the fabulous <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pchawla79" target="_blank">Pooja Chawla</a> and her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/daydreamersintl/" target="_blank">DreamCircle</a>. I'm writing more and have been learning what it takes to write a novel
(I've been a writer for awhile but this is a new kind of writing for me). I
have Julie Jordan Scott to thank for more writing support. I've been able to
acknowledge to a greater depth my gift of creative expression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A place I spend 30 hours a week is the public library. I'm
the Branch Library Assistant and in rural Nevada that means I'm the only one in
the building and pretty much do everything needed. Ok, so some management
things have to be done by the main administrative location, but I am the one
who greets the patrons and attempts to help them with whatever task that is
needed. In a six hour day I have assisted as many as 40 patrons from book
selection to office store type tasks (faxing, copies) to finding government or legal
documents on the internet. The area of work I receive much of my fulfillment is
through my integrated Family Literacy and STEAM Program (Science Technology
Engineering Art Math). I create a space that allows me to put my teacher hat on
without the stress of my former job as a public education teacher. I simply
provide "prompts" for learning and go with the flow of the children
and their parents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The most meaningful fulfillment has been through
friendships. I've had the opportunity to spend quality time with long time
friends and new friends. Some of my friends have had a tough 2018 and I'm
grateful that I could be present for them at times of loss. And, there are also
wonderful moments like sitting at a California beach with essentially no one
else around except a close friend and being blessed with the presence of
dolphins close to the shoreline. And then there was the time of improving my
skill of taking photos with a master of social media, opening up the way I see
things. My daughter is now eighteen, a senior in high school, and I feel that
we are closer than we ever have been. I treasure these last days before she enters
the young adult college world this next fall. I've already mentioned the
accomplishment of taking care of our home with my husband. And, I have two
sons, currently ages 16 & 22. Each have brought joy in my life in their own
unique way as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I guess what the Universe has reinforced in my life about fullness
is this: I can intentionally enjoy and capture the moments along the journey. Maybe I'll write more on this in future posts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Enjoy the captured moments along the journey!</i></span></h3>
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-14446613940963378502018-12-03T21:42:00.000-07:002018-12-03T21:42:40.547-07:00Just Stuff about MeI have joined a group of Creatives instigated by my friend Julie Jordan Scott and Paula Puffer. My intention is to post more content in the month of December for our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/bridgetothenewyear" target="_blank">Bridge to the New Year</a>. You can find us on many social media platforms but our base is on Facebook.<br />
<br />
Below you will find my first writing to the prompt: Interesting Things About Me<br />
(I've limited it to 18 for the year 2018)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. I'm 50 but most people think I'm much younger when they
focus just on my facial features.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. I have 3 beautiful children, a young adult son working
on a Masters in Accountancy already working in a Public Accounting firm, a
daughter senior in high school ranked #1 in her class currently holding the
highest ACT score of her class and known for her writing, a multi-faceted
artistic son a junior in high school.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. I began working at a young age in my step-father's
restaurants. By the age of 13 I could hostess a banquet, waitress, bus tables,
do heavy duty dish washing, cook using a commercial grill & fryer, do the
prep for any item on a 100 item hot and cold buffet (including all the salads).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. By the time I was 18 I also learned the skills for every
department in a small grocery store owned by my aunt and uncle, worked in a Roller
Skating Rink and again learned how to do every job and being the D.J. was the
best, worked in a Moneysaver, and of course had numerous baby sitting jobs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. Maintained highest academic status (Honor Roll) in high
school even while simultaneously working a lot of hours. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. Knew I would be an elementary teacher at the age of 13
when put in a sink or swim situation in a church setting. I accomplished that
working in public education over a span of 20 years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. I've lived in 6 states -- Washington, Idaho, California,
Arizona, Montana, Nevada -- living in Nevada the longest from 1992 to present.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've lived in 14 towns
from rural to city, along mountain streams to river valleys to the beach to the
desert -- Peck, ID; Clarkston, WA; Mesa, AZ; Riverside, CA; Huntington Beach,
CA; Long Beach, CA; Port Hueneme, CA; Whittier, CA; Bozeman, MT; Craigmont, ID;
Winchester, ID; Clearwater, ID; Lewiston, ID; West Wendover, NV.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. I'm an only child but have five (half) siblings and I'm
the oldest with my youngest only sister born when I was 17. When I took my
little sister and brother (18 months older than sister) out and about with my
long-term high school boyfriend, my teachers thought they were mine and I was living
a double life. Some may classify mother's present husband's three children as
step-siblings but I never lived with them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. I met my husband playing pinball my freshman year at
college. We now own that particular pinball machine called Pin-Bot..<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
11. I did not know my husband's first name, only his last,
when he asked me out for our first date to movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I
told a girlfriend about him and she knew his first name and they were friends!
I also knew this was the man I would marry at the end of that first date.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
12. My favorite female musical artist is Amy Grant. I've
seen her perform live at least 5 times and </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
enjoyed a one on one 5 minute
conversation with her with basically no one but her band in the background. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
13. I play Bunco, a dice game. I discovered that my great-grandmother
also played Bunco and so now when I play I know she is with me in spirit. When I
had my first born, we had a 5 generation picture with this great-grandmother.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
14. I have recovered from home bound Chronic Fatigue with
Immune Dysfunction and severe Fibromyalgia. I removed myself from the public education
setting to seek accurate assessment and healing (primarily naturopathic
doctors). I still have to pay attention to my body's messages and work on
healthier living but spent the past year on a selective diet that has healed a
leaky gut under the guidance of an ND. Mild Fibro flares, arthritis,
inflammation while still present at times, no longer prevent me from living
fully. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
15. I love chocolate, blush wine, cats, watching movies, music.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
16. I am writing a novella. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
17. I am a librarian <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">without</i>
holding a MLIS (Master's in Library & Informational Science). During my
first year of teaching I said to a friend, when I'm tired of the classroom, I'm
going to work in a library. Officially my title is Branch Library Assistant.
But here's the thing, I'm the only staff person (other than my sub) in a small
town library and do almost everything. Obviously, some tasks & decisions for
media management is done by others in the system but my boss is 120 miles away!
For my community, I've been the Librarian since September 2015.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
18. I love books! I have an eclectic collection. In 2018 I read 75 titles, not including children's picture books which would put me
over 100.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-49519057931369982712018-10-12T16:01:00.001-06:002018-10-12T16:01:27.796-06:00Authentic Teachers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrA18KvcMuzW8I14dNpEdEd5KEvE-dt2gzU8A38YOGW2vDypYAs43iMTEetLv2pHwe8Py_2BlRMr-UPToODMvuV9XGIA_SaPo1L2td14Y_ETTCfqqCiADVwOZxDIPm1uxeT1RzDoRpto/s1600/Fotolia_67857378_XS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="451" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrA18KvcMuzW8I14dNpEdEd5KEvE-dt2gzU8A38YOGW2vDypYAs43iMTEetLv2pHwe8Py_2BlRMr-UPToODMvuV9XGIA_SaPo1L2td14Y_ETTCfqqCiADVwOZxDIPm1uxeT1RzDoRpto/s320/Fotolia_67857378_XS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>One of the things I remember about high school were the behaviors of my teachers outside the classroom. I did not live in a tiny town but I did see some of my teachers in different community situations and sometimes had the opportunity to interact with them. A few teachers attended the same church I did. My parents did not attend the church so my interaction as a teen was strictly by my choice with the church community. I observed how my teachers interacted with the other adults and us teens. They were always positive and caring. So when they demonstrated that behavior at the school I knew it was real, not just a persona, not just pretending that they cared for the students in the classroom, not just doing something because it was in some job description for teachers. They were real and authentic. I knew that if I went up to them on the school campus needing assistance, they would follow through and provide assistance as needed. I came to understand that sometimes these individuals went above and beyond the basics when they saw my needs. These teachers who are now retired most likely will never see this blog. But, I thank them. I thank them for being people I could trust and people who truly cared about me when I needed assurances.</i>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-89807602186430060052018-10-04T14:56:00.001-06:002018-10-04T14:56:14.004-06:00Teachers Influence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLMog9TdaDKF-RZNsHBTUTb9OOyNEtrpDoJlqXx1sJ5mpaDt9HcZnLlebrEDGwnXf1iLJw3elHsEHU0ZuWKlQfaqFJld9fep-lFnFL8G7PrqkM3MwlrdM6PQ2yB05S6pB7tkonc3QLOQ/s1600/Fotolia_219992083_XS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="346" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLMog9TdaDKF-RZNsHBTUTb9OOyNEtrpDoJlqXx1sJ5mpaDt9HcZnLlebrEDGwnXf1iLJw3elHsEHU0ZuWKlQfaqFJld9fep-lFnFL8G7PrqkM3MwlrdM6PQ2yB05S6pB7tkonc3QLOQ/s200/Fotolia_219992083_XS.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who are the teachers in your life? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all have teachers influencing us regardless of our age. Teachers have teachers who influence their thinking, behaviors, and actions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I use the word teacher, I am referring to people who hold the role in your life whom you receive instruction, guidance, and modeling. I am not speaking solely of the person in our society who participates in a position in a formal education system. For example, a supervisor in a restaurant may be an effective teacher to the business' employees which contributes to the effect of a very successful business.The teacher who influences your life may be someone you have never met in person and be a celebrity who through her public life has shown her authenticity, her growth, shared her life teachers, and as a result has taught you incredible ideas pushing you to explore your beliefs. The teacher who influences your life may no longer physically walk on this earth and their teachings are accessible in print or other forms of recorded history.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I ask the question because teachers influence who we are.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes, people who hold the role of teacher interact with you in such a way that what you learn is actually destructive to your ability to do your best at a specific time. I imagine that in most cases that interaction that held you back from the fullness of learning and growth was not intentional from the teacher. But the reality is, this can happen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have many teachers I can point to that I feel are key to my growth and learning as a human being. I am a teacher who has had many teachers. And, I expect the Universe to continue providing teachers for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I challenge you to share below who the teachers are in your life and reveal the key lesson, event, or message that took place. You don't need to reveal a specific name (just label 'Teacher X' if you want). During the next few weeks I will be adding a series of posts revealing some of my teachers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." Henry Brooks Adams</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-40685246027205810582018-09-11T11:58:00.000-06:002018-09-11T12:00:05.471-06:00Visual Expressions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiat5fijUs5cyCRyOB2EXi3XNONPfHnTjw56qVyzlh0KyMTYWVd4PHqXffMxDmm-u2D3CI-GhDrv3zlLFeWdImUS-Sgpdy2KWhSDpjBR7o9Uc-jAzQBvXVHuBYhVdEtIqI12QytNIWStQ/s1600/Fotolia_17383998_XS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="424" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiat5fijUs5cyCRyOB2EXi3XNONPfHnTjw56qVyzlh0KyMTYWVd4PHqXffMxDmm-u2D3CI-GhDrv3zlLFeWdImUS-Sgpdy2KWhSDpjBR7o9Uc-jAzQBvXVHuBYhVdEtIqI12QytNIWStQ/s320/Fotolia_17383998_XS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h4>
<i>"I am a leaf floating, leaving my anchor."</i></h4>
<h4>
<i><br /></i><i>"I am a leaf in the autumn returning to my roots."</i></h4>
<h4>
<i><br /></i><i>"I am a leaf allowing the breeze to move me."</i></h4>
<h4>
<i><br /></i><i>"I am a leaf dancing in the wind."</i></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I awoke this morning feeling like crud. A slight cold/sinus issue dampened my intentions for the morning. Instead of telling a friend who I planned on collaborating with this morning that I felt like crud I gave her the visual: I feel like a brick that had bricks fall on it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Word choice in language is powerful. The words we hear, read, and write influences our state of being. We use words to describe how we feel and experience the world. The more words we see, hear, and read gives us more choices and freedoms. Everyone has a unique experience with words. What a gift we have in the ability to record our experiences through written expression. While "a picture paints a thousand words" is an old saying, we have the opportunity to write down what we see, hear, feel, and experience from that picture. I encourage you who have taken the time to read this blog to join me in writing a thousand words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Do you notice that in the first paragraph I select verbs in the past tense? Do you notice that the verbs in the second paragraph is present tense? If you recall what the words "verb" and "past" and "present" mean, thank your English teachers.</span></i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I titled this post as "Visual Expressions." I selected an image of fall and immediately wrote four personal expressions. This little exercise took just a couple minutes for me. Each statement created a different understanding of the subject <i>I</i>. This is an example of the power of words and how we understand people, places, emotions, ideas, and things. We can learn about our self, others, and the world we live in when we take 5 minutes at a time and put words down on the page. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, I do have a greater purpose of writing this blog today. I am part of the Julie Jordan Scott Word-Love Writing Community. And, Julie is creating a women's writing group that begins this month. I love the way technology of today allows people from diverse locations the ability to interact and support each other. If you are curious, have any inclinations towards writing, I encourage you to explore what Julie is putting together. I am signed-up already. I love interacting with Julie on all the social media platforms out there. She is pretty easy to find. So, go to this link: <a href="http://creativelifemidwife.com/septpassionatewritingcircle/">http://creativelifemidwife.com/septpassionatewritingcircle/</a> . I look forward to meeting and supporting other creatives in this passionate writing circle.</span><br />
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-59878153335604142632018-09-03T18:53:00.000-06:002018-09-03T18:53:15.755-06:00Friendship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg6kUbOuaUkZIW784L_725dh-99rFDmbdW2cNPiXwtjE_0NjMt5lntSGrtGnYpLtNUrnDYj5VZ-MikDjeb8Lpy6u8jo1pfyfoWjX0X_sy0trnmJgvchF_CNQImVYZIlMOQYE0YOJY_Ag/s1600/Fotolia_197005918_XS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="424" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg6kUbOuaUkZIW784L_725dh-99rFDmbdW2cNPiXwtjE_0NjMt5lntSGrtGnYpLtNUrnDYj5VZ-MikDjeb8Lpy6u8jo1pfyfoWjX0X_sy0trnmJgvchF_CNQImVYZIlMOQYE0YOJY_Ag/s320/Fotolia_197005918_XS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Recently I've been reflective on the different female friendships in my life. I'm hoping everyone who is reading this post has that one person that no matter how much time passes, can interact as if they just saw each other yesterday. I have a couple of those. One friend I'll give the initials JJ (and not to be confused with another friend with similar initials who I'll refer to in a moment). Anyway, I've known JJ since junior high and now I'm... well let's just say old enough to be a grandmother even though currently I'm not yet and she is. So, JJ and I can talk to each other about anything and everything. We had a very long separation due to life circumstances but once we found each other on social media, all was forgiven. We have our challenging jr/sr high school years that has partly bonded us. But, there are also specific experiences that have bonded us during the adult years.<br />
<br />
I also have a newer friendship with a woman with the initials JJS. We have somewhat different life situations but have amazingly been able to find ways to support each other, find the right words to share part of our stories, exchange creative work. We have also found similar interests in books and other components of life. What is wonderful about the friendship is that we have only spent a tiny amount of time in each other's real physical presence but through social media platforms have developed an awareness of each other's needs. While there is no way we can know for sure what to expect in the long term, I anticipate more personal growth for both of us as a result of this connection.<br />
<br />
This year has been one of other, multiple, new friends as well on social media. I am amazed how one connection on social media has led to another. Let's just say I love what technology and social media platforms have brought into my life. Each person I've met through the live broadcasting has a unique life story or gift to share and provides an opportunity for being part of something greater than myself. I live in a rural, smaller populated area and so this has been a good year for expanding my interactions with others. There are just too many stories to share in one writing<br />
<br />
Another reason I've been reflective on friendship is that I have a couple other friends who during this past summer have experienced some challenging life experiences. Many times I don't know exactly what I can say or do to help other than tell them I am here for them. I believe that empathy is an essential component to friendship. Empathy is sometimes confused with sympathy. Sympathy can be defined as a natural kindness for someone experiencing something unpleasant. Empathy, however, is understanding how someone feels more because you can imagine yourself being that person. Circumstances of the other's experience may be different, but the emotions, the life decisions involved are similar enough that there is a greater awareness and knowing. I would also describe empathy as something I feel at a deeper, spiritual level.<br />
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I am writing this post today because I sometimes wonder if we as women tell each other often enough how much we appreciate who they are. I believe that for the most part, women are nurturers who need nurtured by other women. I also believe that personal life coaching is essential because a good life coaching relationship champions who you are, makes the space for your growth, and in some cases is a critical component in the decision making process. And, I have been very fortunate in my co-active life coaching relationship with someone who has modeled these characteristics well. Yes, we women are all different in some respects, but for the most part I think we are more alike than different in regards to needing each other.<br />
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We are meant to honor each other's journey, give each other a hug as often as possible, and even verbally say, "I love you for who you are, not just for what you do."Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-43357424267550470522018-07-10T16:57:00.000-06:002018-07-10T16:57:55.923-06:00I Write Because...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GqaVJVOyooV-6BxNQXYg-FHCeyAq9yCHRpY5YA_gCVQQL79sEnFEIPhAvWJVNen3ujA-yfwyE17Ho7DyXKWDAA3Rtm4jSg3G__mumcL4DzmlDtC6FnEFUnyrSNF-KYN7dQzcQ0EYbMI/s1600/IMG_20180710_121706196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GqaVJVOyooV-6BxNQXYg-FHCeyAq9yCHRpY5YA_gCVQQL79sEnFEIPhAvWJVNen3ujA-yfwyE17Ho7DyXKWDAA3Rtm4jSg3G__mumcL4DzmlDtC6FnEFUnyrSNF-KYN7dQzcQ0EYbMI/s320/IMG_20180710_121706196.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Custom Writing Pen from Chakra Wanda Creations<br />www.facebook.com/chakrawandacreations</td></tr>
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The Foundation...a writing prompt provided by Julie Jordan Scott, Writing Retreat, 5 for 5 Brain Dump, July 2018<br />
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(Part 1) I write because through writing I discover. More about myself. More about others. More about the world. The Life Force becomes known. I write because I need to be intentionally aware. I write to know what I taste, smell, see, hear, feel, understand, believe matters. I write because I like to share the voice inside me, like there's more to me than what other's can see with their eyes. I write because I want to record the world as I see it, hear it, feel it, smell it, understand it. I write because I believe that there is more to this life than just "the doing of life." There is a greater purpose, role, place in the workings of the Universe than what one can observe on the surface. I write because I need to reflect, need to listen to the messages of my Creator, need a tool to help me grow and live a fulfilled life.<br />
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Writing gives me a way to articulate taste, touch, smell, sound, sight, feelings.<br />
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Writing allows me a way to discover.<br />
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Writing allows me to document, to plan, to manifest, to ask questions, to wake up the inner spirit, to encourage, to create space for creativity, to feel the emotions of life, to experience the "aha's" that Oprah references.<br />
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(Part 2) I like to write free flow of thought as Julie encourages. And then, later, I like to reread what I wrote and expand, go deeper, reflect, and pull out the nugget of what my inner spirit really wants me to discover...<br />
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When I write I am expressing more than I can when I don't write. When I set time aside to put words on the page, whether the words are just for me or for sharing with others, I become more observant. I pay attention to others, nature, the workings of the Universe, to me. When I spend time writing, I listen more. I listen to the whispers of my spirit, I listen to the whispering wind. Without writing I become stagnant like the pond that doesn't have an inlet or outlet. Without writing I lose focus and my sense of being in the moment. Without writing I lose momentum. Without writing I ignore the creative spirit wanting to be heard. Discovery implies learning. I write because the process is an essential element of who I am. Through writing the authentic self is known.<br />
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<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4656017080912448367.post-40414101062583810612018-07-09T20:29:00.000-06:002018-07-09T20:29:22.433-06:00Peace Looks Like...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVGpjA4rWinMKCnpVNOTEuyjZWO2I7gtym-GaqS05YaBq6SuTyMdMNyBwFOgfr27STBuQsPnSdt4EQ2bMZgUUMwbhuQI-qei228XE_Yr7LMtL6vJ9Fl4dkOGLlKj-gtO5sPlY8qYQSUA/s1600/IMG_20180709_192041352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVGpjA4rWinMKCnpVNOTEuyjZWO2I7gtym-GaqS05YaBq6SuTyMdMNyBwFOgfr27STBuQsPnSdt4EQ2bMZgUUMwbhuQI-qei228XE_Yr7LMtL6vJ9Fl4dkOGLlKj-gtO5sPlY8qYQSUA/s200/IMG_20180709_192041352.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
Below is a response from a prompt selected by Julie Jordan Scott and her 5 for 5 Brain Dump Writing Retreat in July 2018.<br />
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(Part 1) Peace looks like this almond tree growing in my back yard, a desert terrain with a little TLC. Peace smells like the summer evening breeze. Peace tastes like a light glass of blush wine after a full day of work. Peace sounds like the birds chirping in the morning and evening.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKoP41V-9PhU2mlQDtjVcEImeDVu_WKKHbcUvdWJk1l0rKAk1wn3hQxuV_ZBQJ43bFV35T89SEI6GV4LDy5xXw2GgCCKpOb2xh4U8zsbfgZ51ESKtjuJPWGYzh99nQTAFIEwUA97yaQg/s1600/IMG_20180709_192058851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKoP41V-9PhU2mlQDtjVcEImeDVu_WKKHbcUvdWJk1l0rKAk1wn3hQxuV_ZBQJ43bFV35T89SEI6GV4LDy5xXw2GgCCKpOb2xh4U8zsbfgZ51ESKtjuJPWGYzh99nQTAFIEwUA97yaQg/s200/IMG_20180709_192058851.jpg" width="150" /></a>(Part 2-written after more prompting and reflective thought) I remember peace during a few precious moments in time during my turbulent teen years when I sat with a girlfriend (Julie Johnson) on a fork of the Clearwater River in the green north Idaho forest. We slid our bare feet onto the river's edge cold dirt, splashing the clear cool water on our warm skin. We tossed pebbles into the shallow water asking the questions about life we didn't have answers to. We were independent thinking young women who were also still required to be semi-dependent on others. We could laugh at the simplest things, or let the tears silently roll if needed. We were alone in many aspects and yet our friendship has remained after nearly 38 years. We both wanted more that summer day of the unknown. More peace within. More peace with others. And for that blip on the continuum of our lives we found much needed peace through each other. And we can still capture that in a few simple words while living 300 miles away. Thank you, my friend.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041766317476525470noreply@blogger.com3