slowing down

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Forced to slow down

Take a step back

Sit, and just breathe

Allow this moment to be

I am constantly on the go

From here to there

Always moving

Rarely taking a moment of stillness

But here I sit

Feet up, heart open

Soaking it all in

Healing

Learning that I need to listen

To my heart

My body

My mind

Learning to rest

Not try to get it all done

Allow space

Let time pass

Breathe deeply

Heart expanding

Hopes and dreams filling my head

As I stand back on my own two feet

sharing my heart

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I have been honored to share pieces of me on some of my friends blogs.  You can find them below.

 You can find me here:  Shine
Vivienne McMaster took fourteen days to focus on self love, a topic that is near and dear to my heart.  As serendipity would find it I had the opportunity to share a piece of my writing for her one of her days.  Be gentle with yourself and shine.  



You can find me here:  Navigating How to Begin
It can be difficult to begin, to take that first step.  But usually the hardest thing for us to do is the thing we need most to do.  Mindy Tsonsa, the creator of Wish Studios has created a space for individuals to show up and begin.  


You can find me here:  The Care and Keeping of Creative Souls
It is important to take the time to care for ourselves.  To listen to what our heart is saying and do just that.  Jen Lee has this amazing ability to truly listen to you and help you find what it is that is calling to you, what it is that your soul needs in this moment.  For me writing is something that helps me dig through life.  Jen's guide: The Care and Keeping of Creative Souls has helped me to dig deep and truly get inside.  








You can find me here:  Self Love

Vivienne McMaster took fourteen days to delve into self love.  She explored what it looks like, feels like, and can sound like for many.  She had a few guest post sprinkled throughout her fourteen days and I was lucky enough to be one of them.  Self love is a value that I hold dearly in my heart and I was truly honored that I was able to share a piece of myself on her blog.



  You can find me here:  I am better for it
I wrote a piece on Heartwing Sisters for Kollen Harrisson's I am better for it project.  It was incredibly healing to write this and share part of my past with the world. In doing so I was able to forgive myself.  Forgiving ourselves is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves.

  You can find me here:  I am enough
Tracey Clark has created an incredible collaboration of women showing sharing with the world their stories of being enough. It is an important lesson for all of to keep engrained in our hearts.  Because as we are, exactly as we are, we are enough.  

  You can find me here:  Letting go of fear
My friend, Liz Lamoreux was looking for some guest writers.  I was excited to volunteer.  When I tried to write the post my mind froze up.  I was fearful of not writing something good.  In order to write I had to let go of the fear.  Letting go of fear is necessary in life.  It allows us to leap.  When we leap we learn how to fly and goodness surround us.  

about me

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I am a writer
Using words to share the truth of my story
I am a photographer
Capturing what is real around me
I am a builder of community
Connecting individuals through words in the mail
I am a listener
Wanting to hear what it is you hold close to your heart  

In 2005 I wrote my first post on Giggling in the Rain.  When I hit publish I had no idea the world that I was opening up to.  A world filled with love, adventure, new experiences, deep friendships, and brave living.  It has been one heck of a ride and I am enjoying each moment.  

In 2012  I founded Love Notes, a project involving handwritten notes being sent through the mail ~ the real mail.  My heart has expanded watching individuals connect through this project and to see some of the beautiful notes that have been sent.  

Thank you for joining me here in this space.  

xo
Jennifer

Love Notes Post Card Project ~ an invitation to you

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The Love Notes Post Card Project is dear to my heart.  Each round that I have hosted it my heart has grown a little bigger.  It has been wonderful to see images of the postcards that are getting sent through the mail and hear the stories of people who connected because of the project.

The holiday season is filled with lots of hustle and bustle.  The Love Notes Post Card project invites you to slow down.  Take a moment to pause and reflect.  Provide a little bit of sunshine to someone who may be feeling overwhelmed with all that the holidays brings along with it.  You may need that bit of sunshine yourself.

So I invite you to join us as we send some Love through the mail.  To find out more about the project head on over to the

Love Notes site

or if you are already familiar with the project sign up

HERE

.  It is going to be good.

Love Notes Post Card Project ~ Won't you join us

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The Love Notes Post Card Project is back and we want YOU to be a part of it.

Do you dread going to the mailbox because there is nothing exciting in there?  Do you want to receive something else besides bills and catalogues?  Would a hand written note from someone brighten your day?  If you answered YES to those questions then this project is for you.

How it works:

*  The Love Notes Post Card Project will run for three weeks ~ December 9th - December 23rd

*  Each week you will send out one postcard to a fellow love note participant who is assigned to you.  Don't worry, you will receive an email with a special writing prompt for each week so that you do not have to stare at the blank page unsure of what to write.

*  Then before the week ends simply drop your post card in the mail

It is as simple as that. Postcards were chosen for this project because of their small size and less intimidating amount of space to write in.  You can buy a postcard, make a postcard, or send a little notecard.

Your name will be given to a fellow Love Note participant who will be sending love notes your way. Unfortunately I cannot 100% guarantee they they will send out there postcards, but my hope in my heart is that they do.

During this busy holiday season it is nice to slow down for a moment.  The Love Notes Post Card project invites you pause, sink into the moment, and write words from the heart ~ on an actual piece of paper.  Words that will brighten someones day and spread sunshine to all those hands it passes through.  Won't you join us?

Head on over to

HERE

to sign up.  Please note if you participated in the last round of the Love Notes Postcard project you will have to sign up again to be a part of this series.