Intention - Calm/Peace

It's Monday again, and time to set an intention for the week.  Thanks Andrea!!

From ABC Creativity, Andrea's creative and inspirational site.

Every Monday, I share my intention for the week and welcome you to do the same.

This is not about setting goals or creating to-do lists and working our tails off to achieve them. This is about taking some time to be quiet and still and ask “What do I need this week?” and setting an intention from there to align ourselves with that. It’s about paving the way for success, joy and dreams come true to find us throughout the week.

Last week, my intention was to "plan"--plan what to do with my extra time now that I had turned my cable TV off.  But...what I found was that I was unsettled as having a TV has been such an integral part of my life--almost addictive, which is the reason I wanted to turn it off.

But...it takes time to settle down and get used to the idea of not being with a TV, so this week, I'm actually going to give myself a break and just try to be calm and at peace with the quiet in my home before I try to fill it again.

I'm also going through a huge lifestyle shift with my eating habits changing to just "real" food (no bad fats, no sugar, no white flour, etc.--only fruit, veg, and "real" foods).  This is also a HUGE shift for me and I know it's right for me.  But, just like the TV, it takes time to adjust to the change.

And peace and calm is exactly what my mind, body, and soul need this week while I'm in this transformative place in my life.

Thanks!!

Intention: Plan

Every Monday, Andrea at ABC Creativity asks, “What do I need for this week?”

She states, “This is not about setting goals or creating to-do lists and working our tails off to achieve them. This is about taking some time to be quiet and still and ask “What do I need this week?” and setting an intention from there to align ourselves with that. It’s about paving the way for success, joy and dreams come true to find us throughout the week.”

This week, I feel I need to plan. I finally took the leap I discussed about a month ago (or longer) and turned off my TV channels as of last Friday.  So, I have more time on my hands to do the things I want to be getting done, but I don`t want to find another way to waste that time so I need to do some planning on how to spend this new precious time I have.

I know that some of the things that I want to be doing are:

- Reading

- Taking a bit more care of my home (I do keep it mostly okay, but maybe a bit tidier)

- Cooking `real`and `clean` foods - after my gallbladder attack I am cooking more and making salads, salad dressings from scratch, etc.  I will need to continue to do that.

- Listening to books on tape

- Walking or exercising -- with my precious dog, Ruby

- Spending time on my creativity -- I`ve actually had a few `commissions`of afghans to make so need to make the time to complete them (I would have normally worked on them while watching TV so will  now probably work on them while I listen to books on tape)

- Explore my creativity more--I like to try  new things

- Collaging and dream board(ing)

- etc.

Have a great week everyone!

C.

Intention - Heal

A big THANKS, as always, to the visionary Andrea from ABC Creativity for the reminder to set an intention of where we need to focus our energies for the week.

This week, it's very clear what I need to do for myself and where my focus needs to be--I need to heal.

Last week I had back pain and stomach pain that turned out to be a gallbladder attack.  The pain was not the worst I've felt but it was up there--and it's still with me a bit, but getting better each day, each hour.

I take this very literally as a wake up call from my body telling me that I need to take much, MUCH, better care of it than I have been--no more quick meals made up of over processed foods, no more junk food, no more fattening dairy (I'm already lactose intolerant--why I was pushing it, I don't know!), sugar will need to go by the wayside as well.  Now, it good, whole, nutrient-filled, REAL foods - vegetables (that you actually might need to peel--not prepeeled), fresh fruits, foods that come from nature and still look like it!  I'll even start cooking again--which I love to do, but have been procrastinating about-- "I'm tired!" (imagine whining child there)

I really look at this as a blessing, it really could have been a worse reaction from my body.  And...it's not like my body hasn't been telling me in many subtle and not so subtle ways already to "TAKE CARE OF ME!"  So...the kick in the ass...

And, as I said, I am very grateful for it!

So, here's to healing physically, but also spiritually, and emotionally which will lead to my continued thriving in this life!

Thanks.

C.

Intention - Prosper

Andrea at ABC Creativity sends out a weekly reminder to set an intention for your week--but that is only the tip of the iceberg of what she does.  Check out her site, she's fabulous!!

Last week my intention was to "move" into "being".  Start to do some of the things that are going to serve me best as I move into my yearly intention of BE!--more on that in another post coming out this week.

I had set up a couple of rooms in my house to inspire my creative juices to get flowing--and they have.  I went swimming this week, had a friend over and we did collages together--and gabbed about...everything and nothing.

This week, my intention is to prosper.  I've done my budget for the next few months and it didn't look good at all, so I'm cleaning out some items out of my house that I no longer use or need -- and selling on kijiji. 

Plus I decided to sell baby blankets and afghans, other crocheted items.  I've had this plan for a long time but finally put up at least one ad here for baby blankets.  I'm going to do up some other posters and put them around as I love to crochet and people may want to buy them.

A friend and I are also pursuing doing Dream Board classes--we have a few times already lined up and we're looking at other options too.  All of this has been practically filling my mind the last couple of days but I feel like I'm accomplishing things and "moving" in the right direction.

Thanks as always for listening/reading!

Have a wonderful week!

C.

Intention - Move!

Thanks as always to Andrea from ABC Creativity for the weekly reminder to set an intention.

Last night I spent some time thinking of my One Little Word for 2011 and came up with "BE!"  Last year I spent waaaaayyyyy too much time really not accomplishing anything--a lot of time in front of the TV being tired and cranky.  Yesterday I spent the day getting my two creative rooms ready for me to start my engines running.  When I look at the rooms, they make me happy--see yesterday's post for pictures.  They may not be much to anyone else, but when I look at them and see how spacious my creative room is to allow my creative juices to flow--and how cozy and comfortable my den is to allow me to relax and just "BE!" I just feel more energetic.

I just want to talk more about my word for the year, it is "BE!" but that is just a prefix for so many other words that I want to be this year as well (where needed, I've included a brief description):
- being
- belay - secure
- belive - by and by
- because (I can)
- believe
- becalm (soothe)
- on behalf of (myself)
- behave (the way I want to)
- bedazzle - beautify/impress
- beget - produce
- begin
- behaviour
- behind (support)
- behold (beauty)
- and the list goes on (I'm still working my way through the dictionary)  ;o)

When this came to me it just felt right--I want to "BE!!"  The word "DO!" was a close second or "Focus!" but "BE!" included it all.

As for this week, I want to begin to move into the direction of being.  Today, I'm spending the day collaging, dreaming, journalling, and listening to music--right now it's Celtic (which, for me, is energetic and soothing all at once).  I also want to start moving my body more--yes that "exercise" word.  I want to start dancing around my house like I used to--to feel the joyous movements and feel the music flow through me.

Have a wonderful week everyone!!!

Weekly Intention - Let go

Thanks to Andrea Schroeder for setting up Weekly Intention - What do I need this week?

This week, I feel like I need to "let go".  I have a few things that have been troubling me and I know that thinking of how they trouble me only keeps me in that frame of mind, so I need to let go of the troubling thoughts, or else turn them on their a$$ to see them in a more positive light.

One of the things I need to let go of, but struggle with letting go of, is a relationship I have with one of my brother's.  It's just become hard to be around him.  I feel judged negatively, I feel like he can't see who I really am, and I feel mad about this.  I have an idea of what may have caused this negativity from him--a family difficulty from 10 years ago and how we both dealt with my father's passing--but I have tried to talk to him about it and he says there's nothing to talk about.  Yet...I get rolling eyes when I speak up in a conversation around him, or laughing to himself--little things that hurt me, and I wish they didn't.  I have tried distancing myself more from him but this hasn't helped, because just about every time I'm around him there is some sign (eyes, grunt, laugh) that hurts me again.  And...I'm sick of being hurt.  Of course, I know that the fact that I'm hurt has to do with me and not with him.  I can't change him, I can only change me and how I react.  But...it's family...and it's hard...as there are so few of us.  So, even though I know I need to not let his actions bother me they do, and I don't seem to know how to stop feeling hurt or angry.  I've tried to love him, and prayed about sending love to this conflict as I know that love can heal this but again, I can only do this for myself and lately the scale of anger and hurt is heavier than the love.

I also need to let go of my thinking that I struggle with money.  I know that this thinking also keeps me in that state of mind--struggling.  And since that is not where I want to be, I need to flip it.  Struggle means:  battle, effort so the opposite of struggle would be peace, or ease.  So..."I am at peace with money!"  "Money is easy for me!"

And, finally, I'm letting go of my hair (again).  I'm getting my hair cut into a very, very short pixie tomorrow--similar to the picture at the top of this page.  Right now, my hair is approx. shoulder length, but it gets in my eyes, in my face and when I look at myself in the mirror, it just feels and looks HEAVY.  This happens to me quite often when I decide to grow my hair so I just cut it off again.  I love, love, love my short hair but keeping it short can be expensive so I might just have to go with getting it cut with a razor by my friend.  Well...we'll see about that.  Hello easy hair!!

Hope everyone's week is the best ever!!!

Happy, happy holidays to all, however you celebrate this season of love, peace, and harmony!!

Weekly Intention - Joy

The Fantabulous Andrea Schroeder from ABC Creativity sends a reminder every week to set an intention. I'm so very grateful for people like her who help to remind me of where I'm heading!

Last week, my intention was to luxuriate in my rest and enjoy the energy when it came and I pretty much have followed that.  My house is slowly coming together--not that it's that bad, just not quite where I want it to be and a few more days and it should be back to "normal"--whatever that is.

I also had an intention of looking for and being "joy" and I also had a few moments of that too. I set up my Christmas tree--and I really love it!  This year I didn't use garland or ribbon just all of my tree decorations and covered the branches!  I think it's great!

And...I never do this but when I saw this outfit at the dollar store, could not help myself...

This is a picture of my dog, Ruby.  She definitely brings joy into my life.  She is the sweetest temperament, full of joy--always has been.  She is confident, happy, and loving--just like I wish to be, well, am getting there.

So, I will continue to look for joy wherever it may be.  Inside of me and around me.

Have a great week!

C.

Weekly Intention - Luxuriate, Joy

Andrea Schroeder sends out a reminder every week to set an intention for the upcoming week.

Here's mine this week...

If you've been reading for a while, then you know that I've been struggling with exhaustion and low-energy for a while.  I've found out why I've been so tired (sleep apnea) and have been given a CPAP machine to help with that.  Although there has been some progress it hasn't been as fast as I would have liked.  So...this week, instead of being frustrated with the progress I'm going to luxuriate in my rest so that I really enjoy it and also relish the energy that comes in fits and spurts lately--so that I wring every second of joy out of that too!

My house is slowly coming together again.  When I was so tired it was hard to keep up with the tidying, etc.  It's not TOO bad but not where I'd like it to be, but it's getting there.  I'm going to enjoy the clean and tidy rooms around my house too.

And...I'm going enjoy the process of setting up my Christmas tree and putting out my decorations.  I have ALWAYS LOVED the Christmas season and the joy, peace, and spirit of it.  But over the last few years that has stopped for several reasons.  One of them is because the spiritual practice I was following didn't really support/follow it.  The other is more personal...when I was a child I LOVED Christmas, I used to get so excited that I could hardly sleep and very seldom slept well on Christmas Eve.  I would wake in the morning and sneak downstairs to see what Santa had brought me and play quietly (I think I was quiet), until the rest of the family was up. 

I guess I really just felt so loved by the presents I received and was so excited to see what had been wrapped up just for me.  Also, it was a time of family.  We spent the time with cousins, aunt, uncle and much loved grandparents.  When my grandmother died, a big part of Christmas died with her for me--our family just didn't seem to know how to fill the void she left behind.  Either at Christmas or any other time of year.  She was a woman filled with the joy of her family and also loved Christmas and would be as excited as I was.  Over the years, my brother's and I have gotten older and set in our ways and the joy has gone out of the Christmas time.  I don't know how to bring it back--well, I can't bring it back for my family, but I can for myself.

So, here's to the joy of the season.  I'm going to decorate my house this week in all my crazy decorations and my work cubicle.  Because I LOVE to do that, it's one way I share the joy of the season with others.  And...I'm going to do some baking, and all of the other things I used to do to relish in this time of year.

Okay...now I feel like going out and buying presents...

With joy in my heart...

Thanks!

C.

Weekly Intention - Rejuvenating Sleep

Thanks as always to Andrea...

This week, my intention is still to rest, have restorative/rejuvenating sleep.  I have my CPAP machine but am having some time adjusting to it--sores on my face, unfortunately. 

I've had one great sleep with the machine and woke up with more energy than I've had in months and months.  Cleaned the house, fixed things that needed fixing, enjoyed the energy, etc. etc. I haven't had good sleeps since then due to the sores, but am getting fixed with a new mask today till my nose gets used to the other one.   Having this energy, even if only for one day, lets me know how great it is to have restful sleep and that very soon my sleep will always be as restful as my body and mind needs.

Here's to restorative sleep!!

C.

Weekly Intention - Leap

Thanks again to Andrea for the reminder how important it is to set an intention...

So, this week, I think I need to take a leap into unknown territory. 

When I came home from work on Friday, my TV, phone, and Internet had been cut off due to a miscommunication with my service provider.  I was mad about the miscommunication as I couldn't do anything to fix it until Monday but after I had some time to think about it, I realized that about a week ago I had mentioned, "I think I need to have my TV turned off."  Divine intervention???  I think so...

I find I just spend too much time in front of the TV wasting a big chunk of my life.  I'm addicted to it...I know it.  Even this weekend, I had to have "something" on the TV--I rented a couple of movies from the Library or had a relaxation DVD on.  Not all the time, mind you.  Just periods, when I sat down to rest--because I also found I was more productive, finding odd jobs to do around the house. I call this meandering around the house, tidying, cleaning, and organizing "puttering" because I'm not in my usual "cleaning frenzy", it's actually very peaceful and then a sense of accomplishment when I'm done a particular task.

Today, I talked with my service provider, figured out what the miscommunication was and had the services put back on again.  But...I don't think I should have.  Actually, it's only the Internet I think that I "need" right now.  The TV I'm addicted to and the phone is useful, but not necessary as I have a cel phone.

The next bill is coming out tomorrow and, according to the service provider is another huge amount.  And, since I also want to save money, I think I'm going to take a leap and get my TV and possibly my land line turned off.

I'm scared, so that's my leap, learning to spend time alone without too many visual and mental distractions.  Maybe this, seemingly HUGE leap will lead to other great things in my life.  I think it will...which is another reason I'm scared.

Thanks for listening.

Weekly Intention - Clarity

A big thanks to Andrea for this reminder of setting my intention every week!!

This week's intention is for  C L A R I T Y.  So that I may see more clearly what I need to be doing on a daily basis to live my best life.  And for the clarity I need to see where I'm going.

I've been very sick this last week with a head and chest cold that has really knocked me on my keester.  Although, I am physically feeling a lot better the remnants of the cold are still here to remind me to be kind to myself and not push myself too hard or feel guilty for what is or has not been done around the house.

But, over the last several days, I've been "puttering".  Doing things that are not necessarily on my "to do" list but are little things that have been bothering me.  For example, today I went into my "junk drawer" in the kitchen--I can't even remember what I went in there for--and decided to weed through it.  I had accumulated a lot of "junk" that I didn't even need.  How  many key rings does one person need?  Not the fancy attachments to the rings, just the rings themselves--they may be useful I guess.  NOT!!  I  probably threw away and/or moved half of the items in the drawer so I only have what I want to have stored in there.  I'm a fairly organized person so there were already small plastic baskets in the drawer so there's some semblance of order and now they are all just much cleaner.  It really didn't take long, but it sure felt great to have it done.

As I look around my home, there are a few other nooks and cranny's that probably need the same treatment and I'll get to those soon while I'm in this "puttering" phase.

Also, I feel like, in many ways, I've been living too unconsciously again.  Avoiding, addictive behaviour has been more normal for me lately than I'd like to believe or admit.  So, I'm admitting it here...

If I am more clear about my life and to live my "best life" I need to be making better, clear, choices that reflect the person I want to be and not the person inside of me who wants to keep me where I am...

I also found this journal software program that I really like.  It's great to have this blog to "talk on" but there are often lots of personal, private things that I am working on and my writing is so messy when I'm trying to get so much out that it's hard to read and I forget things.  The software allows me to still have a beautiful and creative place to write my private thoughts.  I think that journalling is also a great way to clear the path...

Thanks as always to anyone who "listens"!

C.

Weekly Intention - Dance

Thank you Andrea for helping me set my mind in my best intentions for my life.

This week's intention is **Dance**.

Thinking of dancing brings to mind joy, confidence, laughter, moving my body, feeling good.

These are all feelings I wish I felt more of, more often--I do feel them, and I'm pretty easy with the laughter, but the joy of life seems to be lacking some days as I go through living my "normal" life.

I wish to feel the uninhibited joy of dancing, laughing, floating along like a child with freedom of movement and the confidence that I can do anything.

Work like you don’t need the money,

love like you’ve never been hurt,

dance like no one is watching.  - Satchel Paige

I Hope You Dance - Martina McBride

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,

May you never take one single breath for granted,

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,

Whenever one door closed I hope one more opens,

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance...I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,

Never settle for the path of least resistance,

Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth taking',

Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',

Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,

When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,

Give the heavens above one more than just a passing glance,

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance...I hope you dance.

I hope you dance...I hope you dance...

Thanks!!

Weekly Intention - Breathe

Thanks to Andrea for the reminder of setting a weekly intention!

For this week, what came to me when thinking of what I need this week was...

B   R   E   A   T   H   E

- Breathe in the fresh, crisp, fall air.

- Breathe while walking every day with my dog--a new daily intention

- Breathe while I sleep (I might not be doing that too well--checking if I have sleep apnea).

- Breathe before taking the first fearful step into...whatever scares me.

- Breathe in relaxation

- Breathe in gratitude

- Breathe in joy

- Breathe...

Thanks!!

C.

Weekly Intention - Trust

I have started many blog posts over the past few weeks but when I read them over, have found that they don't contain the vibe I hope to be creating with this blog.  The last several weeks have found me very tired, lacking energy and motivation, and not as positive as I'd like to be.  I certainly understand that we all go through these types of periods from time to time and I also believe I know why this is affecting me now.  I just wanted to share this as I have not been writing as many posts as I would have hoped over the last several weeks.

So...this leads me to this week's intention--thanks Andrea!!.  I'm still sticking with the same "theme" of trust, faith, believing...as I'm going through a situation at work with a duty to accommodate for me.  I have had environmental/chemical sensitivities since I was a teenager but over the last 20 years has progressively gotten worse.  I now have an issue at work that I need to have accommodated but the process has been more onerous that I thought it would be. This situation has also caused me more stress than I would have liked it to--hence the trust, faith, believing intentions.  I know that my life is heading in the "right" direction for me to live me best life and that any perceived obstacle by me is a part of the process.  The problem is that as a human being, I tend to be more reactionary than my spritual being is. 

So...I am sending my trust, faith, and belief into the Universe, knowing that it's response to me is my best life! 

Thanks!

Weekly Intention - Faith

Thanks to Andrea at ABC Creativity for the reminder of setting a weekly intention to help guide me on the path towards my best life.

This week, the old standard of "keeping the faith" is reminding me that I don't need to be in control of every thing in my life and that letting go is sometimes the very best choice for me to make.  Just trust in God and the Universe that my best life will unfold as I make the "right" decisions to move forward.

It's very hard for me to let go and to trust as I have had so many people control my life--from childhood into adulthood--that I have huge boundaries where I can control my life.

Of course, I know that the amount of control I feel I need to have over my life is over the top so I continue to work at keeping faith and trusting that life is unfolding as it should.

In a lot of ways, my control has actually limited my life as fear makes too many of my decisions.

There is a lot going on at work lately which has caused me to have a lot of stress and feel out of control.  This has been going on for the last few months and it is really affecting my health.  If I could let go, trust, and have faith, then perhaps I could be living my best life with more of a sense of security than I am.  I could let go of limiting behaviors and beliefs and open my heart and mind to possibilities that I can't even think of.

I heard something this weekend that struck a cord in me.  It's simple but really made me think...

Change is growth.  - Jamie Salé

Thanks and have a great week!

C.

Weekly Intention - Making time for me

Thanks for Andrea for helping me set weekly intentions. 

This week's intention is to make time for me and the things that are really important to me.

Over the last couple of week's my full time job has really ramped up after a long period of very little activity--this is a really good thing for me as I was feeling very unsure as to where I belonged or what I should be doing.  So, to finally feel like I am being useful is a great thing.  The problem is that I stopped making time for me.  As you can see, I haven't written in my blog for a week and half!  I haven't had time (or made time) for my Sacred Sundays (working or other obligations).  And I haven't even done the Wednesday Wishcraft!  I'm not happy to see that. 

This blog is very important to me.  I've actually stopped doing other stuff like Facebook, etc. in order to dedicate myself to this blog, but, again, the last couple of weeks I haven't been very dedicated.

So...again, my intention this week and in weeks, months, years to come is to make the time to do the things that are important for my well-being.

Intention - Finish/Complete

Another week, another boring intention for me, but it's really where I feel In need to focus myself...to finish/complete outstanding projects that I have on the go.

The wonderful and vivacious Andrea at ABC Creativity always has these great intentions, like this week is Sparkle!  How can you not love that! 

One day, soon, I will have some beautiful and creative intention, but for now, in the cocoon stage that I'm in, I feel I need to "clean house" and continue to make room for more wonderful living and prosperity.  And it is coming!  Small, but new opportunities are coming to me every day!

Intention - Cleanse

Such a busy, busy time for me right now--so unable to get to my intention until Wednesday!

...with that said, my intention this week is "Cleanse". Because I'm soooo busy, I feel my life is getting a bit cluttered with "stuff"--my desk at work, my desk at home, my laundry is piling up, my mind is full of ideas, etc., etc.

So...my intention this week is to take the time to clean out the chatter and ideas in my head as well as clean my house, my desks, etc.

I always feel better when my house is clean and tidy, I feel that life is full of endless possibilities when I don't have to worry about the dust to be cleaned or the piles of clothes needing laundering.  When my desk is clean at home, I feel I have room to create whatever I want!  And this is such a freeing feeling. 

So...time to clean up knowing that as I "clean" that I am making room for better and prosperity in my life!

The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining. - John F. Kennedy

Thanks!

Intention This Week - Faith (again/still/always)

Thanks Andrea for the reminder of the weekly intention!

Over the weekend I had some epiphanies, and what keeps coming up for me is "faith".  Having faith that life is working the way it's supposed to, that I'm unfolding the way I'm supposed to, that the choices I'm making in my life right now are the right ones for my future--moreso than ever before!

Keep the faith!

Keep on moving

This week's intention for Andrea Schroeder is "movement" and thatis close to what comes up for me when I think about what I want to focus on this week.  

My intention is to "keep moving"--in a physical, mental, emotional, dicovery...way. 

I keep moving my body to help it get stronger and stronger and healthier and healthier.  I keep moving in a mental, emotional, discovery way so that I keep moving forward, upward, onward to my best life and learning about myself in the process.

Last week's intention was "trusting the process" and it was a bit of a struggle.  There's a lot of change going on with my workplace right now and I'm not sure where I'm going to end up when all of the changes are done.  I'll have a job, but I want to make sure that it's "meaningful work" and that it's a challenge, rewarding, and has room for "moving".  I had some trouble trusting this process last week and felt I had to do some things to assert/protect myself due to the changes.  I'm still not sure how it's all going to work out, but I need to trust that it will...

Thanks!