grateful

Cheerful and Deep. Thank You, Kathryn.

Posted by Barbara Techel
Cheerful and Deep. Thank You, Kathryn.
My writing cottage – the space that supports my heart.

It occurred to me today as I began writing this post that I’ve been blogging for ten years now, having started in 2007.

When I first started, while I enjoy writing, there were times, I’ll be honest, it felt like a chore. I’d come to realize the reason for that was that I bought into the template of what I should do shared by those in the industry that set a specific standard for building an author platform. While that may work for some I often resisted, but was too afraid to follow my own inner guidance for fear no one would read my blog.

Oh, how I’ve grown!  The moment I let go of the should and surrendered to my own process, I’ve come to love coming to this place to share my thoughts, hopes and dreams. And I say a deeply, grateful thank you to each of you for having stayed with me on this journey.

I was reminded of all of this because of a lovely comment yesterday from reader, Kathryn who shared with me that she loves reading my blog and finds it “cheerful and deep.” It brought tears to my eyes and made my heart soar! Thank you, Kathryn!

I loved it and feel it truly represented what I hope my blog is for others — part of my mission is to be a positive face in the world while at the same time the more I come to understand about tuning in and listening to our hearts, I love sharing that deeper wisdom with you, too.

So thank you again, Kathryn. And thank you to all of you who are here. It means so much to me.

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.

Thanksgiving Mantra

Posted by Barbara Techel
Thanksgiving Mantra
My thanksgiving altar

Rain is heavy in the air this Thanksgiving morning as I lit a candle out in my Zen writing cottage.

Sitting in my wicker chair with Gidget beside me, listening to soft music play in the background I closed my eyes to move into my meditation.

The spirit of Thanksgiving is all around today and it was effortless, really, that grateful heart came to my mind as my mantra for today’s meditation.

Repeating this silently to myself it brought up many emotions for me. I’m grateful for so many people, animals, and things I hold dear. But I also realized I’m just as grateful for challenging times and lessons I’ve learned so far this year — even when I’ve struggled against them.

I’m reminded again that without times that we wish didn’t have to be when we are in the midst of them, that if we stay open to the gifts, the blessings most often will present themselves.

It’s a grateful heart that I have today, thankful for this day of Thanksgiving as our reminder to really stop and give thought to what we are most grateful for.

So I share with you today my mantra of a grateful heart…grateful for each of you who come to my joyful paws journal each day to read my thoughts, hopes and dreams.

My heartfelt wishes to you for a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving.

Thank you for subscribing to my journal posts.

Feeling Grateful for Each of You…and So Much More!

Posted by Barbara Techel

2013-11-28 18.42.24 eI hope your Thanksgiving was warm, cozy and full of laughter, love and all good things. May all those good feelings continue through the end of the year and into next.

If you are like me, you may be busy decorating the house for the holidays, curled up reading a good book or perhaps spending time with family and friends. Or maybe you are out shopping.  You won’t find me shopping though. No malls for this girl! But hey, if that’s your thing, happy shopping!  Did you notice that rhymed?  🙂  I am actually out the door soon as I’ll be helping with the set up of my friend Cassy’s new studio and shop like I did on Wednesday.  It is coming together nicely!

I just want to take a moment to say how grateful I am for each of you and being a part of my Joyful Paws community. When I left on my sabbatical in September, I was fearful I would lose some of you. But I came back to find you were still here, waiting patiently,  supporting me in your hearts. I am so incredibly thankful for all your support and kindness when I left, and now with my return.

I believe being grateful is a choice. I am reminded of that during this season of joy. We can certainly find many things wrong in the world just by turning on the news. But I choose to look for the good and find much to be grateful for. It is usually in the smallest of things or moments that I find my greatest joy. I encourage you to make a list of the things that bring you joy, which automatically leads you to feeling grateful.  Here are just a few of mine:

  • Smooching the girls (and John too!)
  • Snuggle time with the girls (and John too!)
  • Laughing with John
  • Curling up to the wood stove with a good book
  • Watching snow fall outside my writing cottage window
  • Listening to holiday music
  • Lighting candles

I really could go on and on, but I’ll keep it short. What brings you joy that you are grateful for?  Just leave a comment below- I’d love to know!

PS:  This year I want to say an extra special thank you to someone I am so grateful for.  That person is Stephanie from On My Way Home Dachshund Rescue who loved little Gidget with all her heart…. enough to let her go, even though it was one of the hardest things she ever had to do. She gave me such an incredible gift in Gidget. I’ll always be thankful for what she did for me.