30-Day Soul Work: Intriguing, Challenging and Rewarding.

Posted by Barbara Techel

220002In reality, I’ve been consciously listening to my soul since I was 38-years old. After having been let go from a job (which I now see as a huge blessing!), I was lost for a time being.

And the reality of being lost is I’ve experienced that feeling on and off over the years. The lesson in it? This is part of life. This is when growth happens. This is the evolving of my soul.

Yup, it’s a fact. I get into this deep stuff. So it’s not surprising that the book, the lotus and the lily, A 30-Day Soul Program, by Janet Conner, caught my eye. But I ignored it for a few months.

Guess who wouldn’t let me ignore it? You got it! My soul. The book cover, Janet’s name, or the title kept showing up in some fashion or form. I understand more and more now that when something has crossed my path at least three times, I know my soul is screaming, “Pay attention!”

January 5th I took the leap and dived into the book.  I’m relieved to be on Day 10 today. The past few days were to review the last year, write about it on the page, and get down to the nitty-gritty of the lessons I needed to learn.

Ugh. I balked at this! I didn’t want to do it – 2014 challenged me in so many ways. I madly wrote on the page, “I don’t want to talk about painful things! I want to be happy! I want my life back as I knew it!”

But then I took a sneak peek ahead into the upcoming chapters. I know – I shouldn’t have. But I needed something to motivate me through the tough stuff. It worked.

And guess what happened? I felt another uplifting shift in my healing. From writing about all the painful stuff, digging out the blessings, I began to feel a new sense of purpose.

I then sat down yesterday afternoon and made a SoulCollage card. I wasn’t sure I was going to share it. But I decided to because it really was so healing—in many unexpected ways.

It’s the first, of what I call, a painful SoulCollage card I’ve made. At first I didn’t like it. I didn’t want it in my deck. But as I put the images onto the card, I felt myself trying to hold the tears back. But then I let them come and it was a release. Another letting go. Another healing step in my journey. Another piece of my soul’s work done.

That morning, after doing my writing on the page which wasn’t easy, having then begun my day, I also had a wonderful “Spirit Wink” as Janet calls them in her book, which happened to me a few hours later. But that I’m saving and will share in my newsletter tomorrow (if you don’t get my newsletter, you can subscribe on the right hand side of the page).

At the end of the 30-Day Soul program we then get to make a mandala, which along with the last 30 days of soul writing, is to “help your connection with the vibrant presence of the divine within.” Looking forward to the continuing journey.

What Every Woman Needs: A Gingerbread Man.

Posted by Barbara Techel

gingerbread manI’m really grateful that John takes care of hauling the wood inside from the garage to keep our woodstove stoked. When he is dressed in his ginger colored bib overalls and coat I always call him my Gingerbread Man. Every woman needs one. I especially love that my Gingerbread Man is man enough to use my lovely wicker basket to carry in the logs. Gotta love a Gingerbread Man like that. Like I said in my post yesterday, “He’s a keeper.” Absolutely a keeper. And the Gingerbread Dog (a.k.a. Kylie) sure looks adorable beside him when they are outside. Ah yes, this is what makes my life meaningful.

He’s a Keeper.

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

john and gidgThis month marks 36 years that I’ve been with John. Not all of those married.

I fell head over heels in love with him when I was a freshman in highschool. He was a senior. Off to college he went. Returned in six months. It wasn’t for him.

We began to date. We dated for six years. Fresh out of a two year college degree, we married. It’s been bliss every since.

Okay, well, maybe not complete bliss. We’ve had our ups and downs. Some big ups and some big downs. But I wouldn’t trade any of it. He’s a keeper.

This past fall we went through some tough challenges – well, at least challenges to us.

But as we’ve moved into the New Year, I’ve felt a deeper sense of love and compassion from John. He’s always been a very caring man, but there is just something more now.

It’s the little things, really. Lately he’s been telling me how pretty I am. Not that I really need to hear that all that much anymore, as I’ve gotten so much more comfortable in my own skin. But still, it feels good to hear it. And I hear it differently than when I was younger. It feels sweet and makes my  toes tingle.

It’s the way in which he talks to Kylie and Gidget. How he looks when he’s loading the wood in the woodstove, talking to Gidget who is often times beside him, “helping.” My heart does sommersaults for the love I see radiating from him in those moments.

It’s how he has learned to settle in at the end of the day, comfy in his flannel pants with “Life is Good” yellow labs on them, and his slippers, relaxing across from me in the living room in the big maroon chair. It wasn’t always easy for him to do this.

It’s the way in which he wraps his arms around me in the morning. Hugging me before he is out the door. The way his arms feel around me makes me feel safe and secure. Different than from when I was young and when it was all about reassurance.

I’m truly proud of the person he has become and how he is willing to keep growing, even when things have been difficult.

He is so much a part of what defines a meaningful life for me. So, Yes. Yes, indeed. He’s a keeper. Lucky lady am I.