donkeys

Look Who Followed Me Home

Posted by Barbara Techel
Looked Who Followed Me Home
Art work by Kellie Montana

Dare I say I love donkey’s as much as I love dachshunds? Well, perhaps it’s like being a parent. You love all your kids and each one offers something different you love them for. That must be it for me and my love of doxie’s and donkeys.

I didn’t plan on stopping at a little antique and artistic shop on my way home today. But something told me to. And well, it just could also be that I recently re-did my living room with new furniture and some new decor, and now am taking my time thinking about updates for the kitchen too, so everything flows.

I’ve gone from dark furniture, to light tans, soft blues and greens, with splashes of purple and gray. Painting the living room and kitchen is in the plans for the future so that a new wall color will flow more nicely between the two spaces.

When I saw this donkey, I put my hand on my heart, and softly gasped. Then tears pooled in my eyes and in my mind I said, “Oh, how I love you dear donkey.” 

It seemed I stood there forever, mesmerized by such a sweet painting. I love supporting artists. And well, I love donkeys! Such a win-win. 

But then I tried to talk myself out of it, as I usually do. While it’s not an original, the price tag $49.50. Not bad, really. But should I really spend the money? New furniture has certainly not been inexpensive. Though the furniture before this, we had for close to 25 years. The new change has had me swooning every morning lately when I get up each morning and turn the lights on.

But oh, this painting was tugging big time at my heart strings. I went to the register with a few small purchases in hand. I mentioned to the clerk how I loved the donkey painting. “I may be back,” I said.

I can be a worry wart about money and sometimes live in a space of lack or worried about the potential of lack. Or the “what if” there is an emergency? In part, I know this is due to the economy plunging in 2008 and along with so many others, we had to make some very tough decisions.

It’s interesting in that last night I listened to a replay from coach Jocelyn Mercado talking about money and how so many of us live in this space of worry and thinking we shouldn’t have this or that. Or if we have more money it will make us bad people. She said money isn’t bad, it’s people who can be bad. She talked about how we need to shift our money around doing good things with it.

I definitely try to be conscious of what I spend and not spend above my means. And then there’s the whole accepting abundance in your life, showing the universe you believe you are worthy, and more abundance comes to you.

And who can argue with my heart that just adores donkeys? As the clerk rang up my small purchase, I noted the change on the counter as I was looking what I had left in my wallet. 

“That’s it,” I said. “Who am I kidding? I’m taking that donkey painting home with me. I just love him and life is short.”

One of the things I take great pride in is our home. While we don’t live in a mansion, within these walls I think there is a whole lot of love. We live simply in that we enjoy being home on the weekends, just hanging out and talking, playing Yahtzee, or watching movies.

To fill our space with things we love and make our hearts happy…well, that just adds that much more to the love. And so the donkey painting followed me home. During the drive back to my little cottage in the village, I smiled as Gus rode in the front seat with me.

Once home, and looking the artist up on the internet, I discovered that the donkey’s name is Gus, and the artist, Kellie Montana describes her work as “whimsical renderings of the ordinary.”  And so this purchase is so much more. It’s about, yes, my love of donkey’s, but also my love of home, and my love of supporting artists. Seeing Kellie on her website and feeling the joy that oozed from her face and her page, well, it just makes it feel like a big time win-win-win. 

XO,

Barbara

Looking to the New Year. Living a Life Uncommon.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Looking to the New Year. Living a Life Uncommon.

Looking ahead to the New Year, I’m filled with hope, excitement, and yes, some nervousness and fear. From all indications of what I’ve observed about this particular mix of emotions of the past, this signals I’m on the right path and exactly where I’m supposed to be.

With Christmas now gone, I’ve realized I moved through it much easier than in the past. I believe in part it’s because I’m much better at letting go of expectations. I also believe it is because I have a much better perspective and understanding of who I am and what is important to me. Though I know I am never complete in this process, and I am a work in progress.

In years past, I’d have to have the whole week between Christmas and New Years just to re-group and find my way back to center. Where as this morning, I was eager to get back to my writing cottage and work on details for a Women’s Creative Sacred Soul Circle I’m forming for the winter months.

This is somewhat new territory for me, but something I’ve had a vision of for many years. There are many workshops I’m giving thought to while also keeping myself in awareness mode of not filling my plate too full, like I can tend to do. But I’m feeling very called to stay in a centered, sacred space of my own, fully engaged in what I’m feeling pulled toward….even when I don’t always have a clear picture…but putting my trust into the fact that a master plan is already in the works.

While workshops for women are my main focus for this year, I also want to stay dedicated to my blog because it’s a place that I’ve really come to love. While I thought I’d continue work on writing another book, I’m feeling called to table it for the time being. Though I will simmer in it and save nuggets of wisdom I find or that run across my brain, writing them down and collecting them in a folder should the time come to write that book.

I’ve realized I was struggling with letting the book idea go for now because I had mentioned it in my latest book, Wisdom Found in the Pause that it was something for my readers to be on the lookout for. It’s always a feeling that I’ve disappointed others if I don’t finish what I said I thought I was going to do. But I’ve realized holding onto something just for the sake of not wanting to disappoint others means I only really disappoint myself and more importantly, it blocks me from moving forward.

I continue to want to lead a life uncommon. What that looks like to me is continuing to do my own inner work, encourage that in others, live a life of creativity and less stuff, take some short jaunts away in our van we are in the process of converting to a camper, collaborate with my friend Rachel on future Talking Sticks workshops, and other workshop ideas we have in mind, a possible online collaboration workshop with my friend, Dawn of Animal Voices, and also volunteering to help with geriatric miniature donkeys coming to LaValley Equine Sanctuary this spring.

The other reason I feel it is a life uncommon is that I think too often we push aside our intuition and let fear get in the way, thus losing out on doing what truly matters most to us.  Everything I’ve written about my New Year ahead feels so heart centered and is coming from a place that feels true and right…and most of all it feels incredibly meaningful to me.

And as my mom eluded to in a note to me this month that when she looks at me she still sees a little girl trying to figure everything out and get it right, but she also sees the strong individual I am letting her light shine and spreading it out into a world that can sometimes be gloomy.

And she’s right…It’s important to me to try and make a difference in this world. I’ve come to realize that it does not have to be something grand and big…it just has to come from that sacred place within me. Because when it does, it by default does make a difference…it’s that positive and bright light of following your own soul’s wish, which it desperately wants for you to do, that you begin to live a more fulfilled life…and when you do, other’s who wish for the same will see that and want it too.

So my focus for the New Year is to continue to follow that true, inner light of mine, provide a sacred space through workshops for women to help them open to their soul’s whispers and inner light and to keep writing here on my blog. I also look forward to learning more about donkeys and being open to what lessons they will no doubt have in store for me.

It’s my hope that you will continue to return to my blog time and time again and that I can provide you with inspiration and encouragement to live fully into who you are and not only seek out, but truly live a meaningful life that is right for you.

“If you trace our roots to the very essence, you find we are all connected. On a deep level I am a tree and birds perch on my arms. In the Land of the Imaginative Heart, I am connected with spirit and earth.”

~Laura Hollic, soul artist

Photo above by Kevin Thom. Makeup by Rachel Duff. Costume, model Laura Hollick.

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.

For the Love of Donkeys

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

For the Love of Donkeys

In my newsletter on Friday I wrote about how donkeys are dancing in my head this holiday season (opposed to sugar plums!). I’m sharing what I wrote below, in case you aren’t a subscriber to my newsletter. If you wish to be, I give away a different book each month, one that I’ve read and enjoyed, if you’d like a chance to enter and win. You can subscribe here.

On Saturday I shopped local at one of my favorite shops in Elkhart Lake – Two Fish Gallery, with fine art and craft and most recently added, Fair Trade. I just needed to finish up a little Christmas shopping.

It never fails when I shop Two Fish that I find something for myself. But one certainly deserves a little Christmas gift for oneself, right? When I spotted this colorful donkey with the perky pink ears, well, I giggled out loud and I just knew she had to go home with me. I was smitten on the spot! She was made in Peru under the Fair Trade Act, which is something I feel good about supporting, along with small local businesses.

And that makes four donkey totems I now have residing in my Zen writing cottage. Donkeys and Dachshunds are starting to really take over this place!  But I’m totally happy with that.

So without further ado — the reason for my donkey excitement of late– read on…

Donkeys Dancing in My Head

I am just busting at the seams in anticipation of a dream that is coming true!

How long I’ve had this dream?  Well, quite honestly, it feels like forever.

I thought it would never come true. But yet, I held onto hope that somehow, someway it could happen.

That’s the thing with dreams. You may envision it one way, but being open to unexpected ways in which it can come true, just might prove to be better.

I believe my dream originally began when I first started reading some of Jon Katz’s books about life on Bedlam Farm of which he had a donkey named Carol.

He then acquired Lulu and Fanny. Several years later he would rescue Simon, a donkey that could barley walk, and when he did, was in much pain due to the cramped conditions he lived in.

For a time being, I was also friends with a woman who had four miniature donkeys. Many groups of special needs adults and children visited the donkeys. I was able to witness the magical and heart warming connection one sunny afternoon, writing a story about it for our local paper.

My love of donkeys has just continued to expand. Whenever I get a chance to see one, I have to contain myself because I just want to squeal out loud. Well, truth be told, I usually do squeal!

As much as I’d love to have donkeys of my own, it just isn’t feasible. We’d have to have the land to do so and of course, there is the cost.

But I never gave up hope.

I’ve known Rachel (who I’m teaching an upcoming workshop with) for a quite a few years. 

Two years ago she established LaValley Sanctuary, which takes in geriatric and special needs equine. The location of her sanctuary? Only five minutes from my home!

While Rachel currently has four horses, she also wants to bring donkeys to the sanctuary. The challenge?  Funds to build the shelter they require.

But along came someone who wanted to help financially and offered the funds for the lean-to to be built. Thank you, special lady for supporting this dream!

Now it’s just a matter of time. Rachel’s significant other, Jeremy, is a carpenter who has provided the skill and labor for the sanctuary’s current buildings.

So this spring, the lean-to will be built for the donkeys!  And the fences will be put up. And guess who has already been solicited to help?  How did you guess?!

It’s true!  I’m going to be a ranch hand and help with installing the fencing for the donkeys before they arrive.

Dreaming of donkeys all these years and wishing to be involved with them in some shape or form is finally coming true.

Perhaps not in a way I could have ever guessed, but it sure does feel right.

So you never know how a dream can come true! And so this holiday season instead of sugar plums dancing in my head, well, yes… yes, indeed…donkeys are dancing (and prancing) in my head!

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.