"Put up, or Shut up"

I'm not insulting you. That's what I've dubbed the year 2011. My "Put up or Shut up" year. For context, 2010 was "Try one new thing each month" year.

So, this is the year I'm making good on all the dithering.

I finally realized that it would never be a perfect time to write a novel, that I would never polish my writing enough to feel good about blogging, and that I may not be perfect, but it's perfectly ok to be me.

There's a church I've driven past a million times, and for months I've found excuses not to get my rear in gear on Sunday morning. Snow, too tired, rain, bad hair. And finally, FINALLY  I knew I had to either go, or drop the whole idea.

I'm glad I went.

And so, this is my lesson, if I feel like checking something out, I'm going to do it, or let it go. How much time have I wasted worrying about doing something? Too much. I decided to put myself out there with teaching some classes, which made me sweat because who was I to have such grand ideas? Well, why not me? And I had little cards printed up, with such a pretty design. And when I handed one out, I realized I forgot to put a phone number on them.

A year ago this would have absolutely made me believe I was not meant to do this. Now, I just laughed and wrote my number on the card. It's not the end of the world.

I don't have to be perfect, and neither do you. We're all wonderful Works in Progress, and unless we get over ourselves, we're never going to know how Wonderful we all can be.

Summer, finally

I see I've been lax again on posting.

Spring lasted 32 minutes and we swung into summer in late May. Like everyone else, I was catching up on yard work (machete and boots) and housework (windows!). Well, that has meditative qualities too. My mom was a world-class Spring Cleaner. She'd strip beds, wash walls, pull out the pots and pans and scrub it all. The house smelled fantastic afterward. It was a rite of spring.

Me, not so much.
But I do focus my intention when I'm cleaning - not just removing dust and dirt, but on lifting the energy in the space. Just like your rooms can smell stale, the energy can get stale too. An open window with and a stiff breeze can start the process, and if you can smudge with sage, even better. (Note: walking through your house with a lit cigarette is NOT smudging. Just saying.)

So, now that the plants are planted, windows are washed and grass is at a manageable height, I have no excuses about missing a post.

Ohio Spring

Thank you Sun, for making an appearance.

I forgot what you looked like, and the plants I planted three weeks ago have grown gills. I was hoping for flowers, but you know best, Mother Nature.

Stepping up our game

We need to step up our game for the people in our lives. . Use the gifts we have to help us elevate ourselves, and to powerfully aid the people around us. Just by being the best ‘us’ we can be. Not stretch ourselves too thin, but to be strong enough to support and lift others, and wise enough to respect and set our own boundaries. It really is time for gentle warriors  - strong in themselves, supportive of others. 

Connections

Every now and then I feel overwhelmed by what I can't do.

I can't solve the budget crisis. I worry about the people who need heating assistance or food assistance when those programs are being cut. I resent the amount of money spent on overseas wars, when our own people have unmet needs like the aforementioned heating and food assistance. I mean really, why is anyone in America going hungry?

You may feel this way too - substitute the topics that overwhelm you.

But, I can bring my gifts to the table. I'm a connector. I connect people to what they need. If we're playing Trivial Pursuit, you want me on your team, because I have a gift for knowing where to find information, and retaining arcane pieces of it.

That seems small . Those gifts won't cure cancer, but a smile might lift someone's spirits. Knowing the answer to someone's question might point them in the direction to solve their problem. Listening fully might make someone feel that God is listening too. You never know how positively you impact people. But as small as this seems, it gives me the sense that I do have power over my life, that I do make a difference (and you do too.)
And that uplifting someone uplifts us all.

Mercury Retrograde

Which typically means communications can go awry and issues from the past - that you thought were settled - come back.

Are you able to ride out Mercury Rx? Does the 'knowing it's MRx' make it easier?

My friends are split on this. Some say if your vibration is strong enough and you're confident in yourself, it should have no effect. And others are cautious about doing card card readings.

For my part, I say having a heads up never hurts, even if you are settled energetically, perhaps others are not.

I AM

Back in the (Catholic School) day, we sang a hymn called "Here I am, Lord." Basically, you were telling God you were ready to serve Him. "I have heard you calling..."
I think it was Dr. Wayne Dyer who said to start each day thinking "How may I serve?" And for years I adopted this as my morning that. That, and gratitude.

But, what if you repunctuated that hymn so it became "Here, I AM?"

Recognize that you are answering/activating/accepting your own divinity.