following your heart

How My ‘She Shed’ Helped Me Reach a Higher Calling- My TV Interview with CBS 58.

Posted by Barbara Techel

CBS 58

If you weren’t able to catch my interview on CBS 58 this morning, here it is as a replay.

My best friend, Victoria, called me this morning after she saw the interview. And what was lost on me for a moment, came into full view when she mentioned the fact that she was reminded of our friendship and the loss of my chocolate Lab, Cassie Jo, ten years ago when she caught the photo of her in the interview.

I wrote about Cassie Jo in a post yesterday. She was the one who inspired me to find the courage to look into my heart to discover I wanted to try my hand at writing….follow my heart…and see where it would take me.

The fact that this piece about my writing cottage, my writing, my books, my animal advocacy, and encouraging others to follow their hearts aired today, a decade later of some pretty pivotal moments in my life…. well, it would be hard to convince me that spirit is not working magic in my life.

It took me many years and lots of hard work on myself to come to a place of acceptance of who I am. I am proud of this story that Reporter Marshanna Hester & Photojournalist, Brian Urbanek, captured so beautifully….and I’m so grateful.

It truly is my hope that this will inspire other women to know it is more than okay to stop each day and find quiet and creativity for themselves.

Maybe a space of one’s own isn’t quite in the cards yet, but a dream for the future — but to find a way in which to honor yourself and your needs right now, in the way you can best fit it in at this time — this is my hope.

I truly believe that when we do, we are better for it — and that is what you take out into the world — and everyone around us benefits.

We all need to find a way to shine our inner light and I encourage you to shine yours starting today.

A Poem: A Periwinkle Dragonfly Sat Upon My Knee

Posted by Barbara Techel

dragonfly

Well, hello there Miss Periwinkle Dragonfly upon my knee. Are you here to see me?

I indeed am, she said.

What is it you wish to speak to me about? I asked.

I noticed as I flew overhead a moment ago that you are reading, The True Secret of Writing by Natalie Goldberg.

Ah yes. I see you are a very smart dragonfly who can read.

Yes, being periwinkle gives me this magic power that other colored dragonflies do not have.

You are lucky as ones world expands in unimaginable ways being able to read.

Indeed. But you see, we all have magic power within us.

There is no secret, really. No secret to being creative, or flying, or being who you are.

Yes, I realize that Miss Periwinkle Dragonfly. But being human, I need to be reminded quite often, I said.

And precisely why I landed upon your knee, she said.

To share with you my magical periwinkle wisdom that the secret really is just allowing your heart to follow what matters most to you…and just doing it…every chance you get.

That’s it, really. No secret.

Ah, yes, you are wise indeed, just like Natalie Goldberg who shares the same wisdom.

Thank you for landing upon my knee as confirmation for me that following ones heart is really the only way to fly…and write…and create…and live.

This is my job being a periwinkle dragonfly – to spread the magic of listening to ones heart. I’m glad I could be of service.

Thank you Miss Periwinkle Dragonfly. I will carry your magical wisdom in my heart.

—

Inspired by a periwinkle dragonfly who really did land upon my knee as I was reading Natalie Goldberg’s book right outside my writing cottage today. If only I’d have had my camera nearby!

Letting Go.

Posted by Barbara Techel

techel writing cottage inside 7When we follow what moves us, we break open what is possible and the light of the soul spills out of us. -Mark Nepo

Letting go to make room for new things to expand and evolve in your life at first sounds easy, doesn’t it? Though the times I’ve found it hardest to let go is when it is something I enjoy.

As fall is approaching I have some new projects I want to consider, and an adventure I want to explore and take part in. That meant letting go to open space for this to allow to unfold.

Little “signs” were calling out to me, but at times I tried to push them aside. It is sometimes easier to stay with what we know, than push ourselves out of the nest and expand our horizons.

Part of it also is that it is scary. I worry, what if I’ve made the wrong choice?

It can be really easy to let fear take over and go back to what is comfortable, and then never take a leap. But I remind myself of something I decided when I was scared to write my first children’s book — to listen to my heart and let it guide me.

My soul, different than my heart, but the essence of who I am, feels the need to grow again. To learn something new. To hopefully evolve.

Though I’m not ready to share what new adventure I will be taking part in, I can say that I want to continue to write, which I’ll be doing right here on my blog and for my newsletter. My new adventure, I hope, will only serve a greater good for my writing, and encouraging and inspiring others.

So….in regards to my book I was working on, well, that I’ve decided to put on hold for now. It’s not ready to yet be born. This was a very hard decision for me in some aspects, but then in some aspects, not. One tough part for me is that I don’t want to disappoint those who have been waiting to read another book from me. While I can’t promise if this book will ever be born, or it may morph to something else, I remind myself it only means letting go for now, and whatever is next will reveal itself when it is time.

One thing I do know for sure is that if I don’t take this leap then I will always wonder “what if?” I’d rather try, explore, and let it unfold as it is meant to be.

Even when I don’t know what the end result will be and trusting that it has its purpose….I’m going to trust my heart, follow it, and see what happens.

PS:  My writing cottage is featured on Tiny House Talk blog — with lots of photos! It was such an honor. Thought you might like to check it out.