Permission. No Guilt. A Life Wish

Posted by Barbara Techel


I felt myself not wanting to do much of anything today after lounging around all day yesterday.  So I had to give myself a little pep talk.  “Ok, Barb, time to get on with the day. You have my full permission to move into things at a leisurely pace. No hurry. Take your time.” Ah, now that felt like a good idea.

So I started with a leisurely walk with Kylie, my English yellow lab. She’s not much of an exerciser and I’ve often been frustrated by it. But lately I’ve seen a few of the neighbors taking their dogs for a walk through the athletic field which is behind our house. It is surrounded by many trees and a nice wooded area. The dogs always look so happy heading down the path. I like to try and watch for their return which is usually about a half hour later, because it brings me such joy to see happy, tired dogs with their tails wagging with pure delight.

Hmmm, I thought- maybe Kylie would like a leisurely walk instead of how I would walk- which means getting my heart rate going, doing it to stay in shape, etc. So instead of approaching it as exercising, we went to explore and take in the sights of the morning. Boy- did she have fun (and so did I)!  She was hot on the smells of the previous dog tracks and was having the time of her life. A few times she would stop and look up at me and as if to say, “Wow, Mom, this is really fun!  Can we do this more?  Can we? Can we?” I smiled and said, “Sure girl, I will try and do this more with you.”

I think we have to give ourselves permission to not only slow down when we want, but to move at a pace that is comfortable for us. So much guilt we tend to put on ourselves to get so much “stuff” done. I don’t want anymore guilt. Kylie reminded me of that today on our walk. I want to live an even simpler life than I did last year and the year before.

The last few years I have set  alot of goals for myself though I’m not really a fan of goals. But the past few years I have written down 5-6 things I want to accomplish each year in terms of my Joyful Paws business. I’m proud to say I’ve accomplished every one of them. But as I moved through my day today the afternoon found me out in my writing studio sorting and organizing things that needed attention. I also grabbed my dry erase board where I write down my goals each year and wrote down three things I’d like to accomplish for 2012 for Joyful Paws. That’s it. No more. It feels right. They are three big goals, so I think it will be enough to keep me busy. But it will also give me time to enjoy more walks with Kylie… as well as with Frankie once the weather is warm again so she can come along in her doggie stroller.

So it’s my hope that you give yourself permission to live each of your days just as you would choose. No guilt. Just pure pleasure.

A Life Wish

May the days and years ahead of you be filled with

OPENINGS

that you may sense clearly the path you choose to walk;

VISION

that you may see, search, and dream without limitation;

SENSITIVITY

that you may hear and follow your own innter guidance, discern when to act on behalf of yourself and/or others and when to simply be and let be;

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

that you may taste the fruits of success; and,

POSSIBILITIES

that you may discover what you want and need, know who you are, give to others of your heart’s joy, have the courage to stand for your own convictions, and believe in yourself no matter what

~Raphaella Vaisseau

Annual Holiday Tradition. Life Uncommon

Posted by Barbara Techel

Every year John and I make a date to drive around in the nearby cities to look at the holiday lights. We bring along our favorite Christmas CD's to add to the spirit of the season. One of our favorite CD's is singer Jewel's holiday CD. We especially like the song, "Life Uncommon." That song evokes deep emotions for both of us.

The holiday after our chocolae Lab, Cassie Jo, died from bone cancer, we were esepcially missing her. The line in the song that says, "set down your chains" had us thinking of her battle with cancer, and how she was now free. Though she really didn't seem to be in pain until the very end, at the end, we knew she struggled. Knowing she no longer had those chains of pain upon her made us happy for her– though we missed her dearly.

That Christmas season, driving around, I received a gift I remember clearly to this day. As the song played, tears streaming down my face lost in the sorrow of no longer having Cassie Jo to hold, I looked out the window and saw her. There was a full moon high in the sky… and there she was running in a field next to me– her ears flying in the wind. She was so happy. I knew then that she would be with me always– and she stopped on by to let me know she was okay. Maybe some wouldn't believe I really saw Cassie Jo, but as the song says at one point, "move out of the way all you unbelievers- there's a new army coming and we are armed with faith" and so it is that I know without a doubt, I saw her. It's all I need.

So every year when we drive around to look at the twinkling lights, I think of Cassie Jo. I no longer see her, but I feel her in my heart. This song is ours- our connection to her spirit- which shines just as brightly as the day we brought her home as a pup.

As we discussed when to do our annual tradition which we did last night John said, "I'm not sure anymore where all the good holiday lighs are." When he worked more on the job sites for his construction business, instead of his home office like he does now, he would see houses lit up at night on his drive home that he wanted to show me. I said, "It's not what matters." To me, it's our time of deep connection- words often not spoken, but there is a spirit of love so full in our car that it is palpable.

Wishing you each a life uncommon this holiday season and beyond….

Winter Solstice. Choosing to Be Happy

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

Winter Solstice begins at 11:30pm tonight. Now the days will grow longer and brighter once again. I don’t mind when the days are shorter and darker as I love to hibernate and get lost in my books reading at night with Frankie snuggled in beside me. But I find myself looking forward to the days that will now begin to expand into more light.

I’ve been struggling with some personal issues that have been deep for me. And in a place I don’t often find myself… restless, sad, and unmotivated. It’s a very uncomfortable place for me to be.

Last night as I turned off my light and closed my eyes, I decided to ask once again for guidance. I also decided to list in my head many things I am grateful for. I also decided to choose to be happy despite some growing pains I am having.

I love the new book by Cheryl Richardson & Louise Hay, You Can Create an Exceptional Life. Louise talks about how she thanks her bed each night for being her place of rest and she chooses to wake up happy and thankful each morning. All our thoughts, are just that… thoughts. Louise teaches us that we get to choose them.

So I tried that once again last night. I dont’ do this on a daily practice, though I keep trying, but fall away from it now and then. But I chose to make it a choice to go to sleep happy and wake up happy. It worked! I felt lighter and happy waking up today. Has it solved my inner conflict I am struggling with?  Not quite, but I have hope I will come to a place of settling with that too.

I found myself chuckling at myself because I teach kids that they have a choice to be positive or negative, and here I am struggling with it. But we all need reminders. I’m happy for the tribe I surround myself with which are great reminders for me. I also think sometimes you just have to go deep into the darkness, sit in the uncomfortableness of it, and pray again for the light, consciously choosing better and better thoughts.

As I got up and on with my day today, I smiled at a quote I cut out of a magazine recently that I taped on my bathroom mirror. I’ve decided when I find a good quote, I will tape them around the house as a way of being positive reminders for myself.  Here is the quote:

“In a way, winter is the real spring, the time when the inner things happen, the resurgence of nature.” -Edna O’Brien

Yup, inner things are at work inside me. I’ve felt this for awhile, a new transition of which I can’t quite name yet… but I am reminded with the Winter Solstice and this quote, that I will emerge a stronger person.