giggles from the couch :: the power of choice

On this episode of giggles from the couch I talk about the power of choice and how YOU have the power to choose how you show up in each and every situation.  You can choose to carry in fear and suffering or love and grace.  The choice is yours.  

With this choice a certain type of energy is brought into the room.  What energy do you want to infuse into the situation?  

In the video I give you three ways to help you choose grace over fear.  What tricks do you have up your sleeve?  What steps have you taken to help you find the positive in a situation that you do not want to be in?  Share in the comments below.  We can learn so much when we share with each other.  

when you knew me

You knew me when I was afraid of the world
Clinging onto you like a life raft
I held on tightly because I had no idea how to swim
Unsure of my own self
Floundering on my own two feet
I did not know which way to go
Or even how to begin to take that first step
You saw me in my darkest moments
Scenes I wish not to repeat
We stood alongside one another for as long as we could
And then we both knew we had to part ways
Even though I struggled to say that final goodbye
I needed to discover who I am in this world
And you needed to fly
There are times that I wonder what it would be like if you saw me now
Would you recognize the women in front of you
No longer timid and afraid, but firmly standing on her own two feet
I know we will never have another conversation
Our worlds are to far apart from one another
But the memories of our times together are held deeply in my heart
The good and the not so beautiful
You held me when I needed desperately to be held
Sheltering me from the world
Giving me time to pull myself together
And you pushed me when you knew I was ready
You weren't there to watch me fly
But it was you who helped me find the initial courage to try

invite color into your life

Invite color into your life
Seek out the opportunity to reach toward your edges
Feel that ping of being uncomfortable
And stretch yourself a little bit father

Invite in the unknown
Allow yourself space to navigate your own path
Reach and grow
Find where it is you want to go

You are filled with a divine light
The universe wants to see you shine
Take that small step forward
And stand tall in the life you are meant to be living

creating community

For awhile my heart has been craving a deeper connection to a creative community.  My 9 - 5 side job doesn't fuel me with this type of inspiration and as each day passes the calling has been getting stronger and stronger.  I knew that I could no longer silence the inner dialogue that has been screaming; "invite people in"

I have been hesitant to welcome people into my home because it is not very large and there is no great spot for people to gather and create.  I have been saying to myself that I will wait until we finish the house.  Yet the construction hasn't even begun and if I keep waiting I may just burst.  

So I took the leap and set up a creative gathering.  I invited people to come to my home for a night of vision boarding.  Sometimes when we take a leap and invite others in we are unsure if they will be receptive to what we are offering.   It can feel scary to put yourself out there.  However, the only way we know if something will work is if we give it a try.   You must push past your fear and leap.  Along the way you will learn how to fly.  

I had no idea if the people I invited would be open to vision boarding, all I knew was that I craved a creative community and in order to get that I had to follow my heart and invite people in.  The individuals I invited said yes even though some of them had no idea what vision boarding was.  They knew my passion for life and were drawn in by that.  

I prepared with love a vegetable soup and grilled cheese sandwiches to nourish the creativity.  It was the perfect meal for the cold and snowy weather that was taking place outside.  We gathered around my coffee table and chatted as the sound of ripped pages filled the room.  We laughed, we joked, we shared stories.  We got to know one another just a little bit better.  

My heart filled with love and joy as I watched individuals who have never created a vision board before be so open and into the process.  They ripped away and shared magazines.  Hearts began to open as treasured images and words were found.  Admits piles of papers was someones dream being recognized and coming to life.  

Slowly their visions appeared even if they weren't sure they had one when they began.  With intention each image or word was glued to the page and it became clear what their heart was yearning for.  When we quite our minds and grant ourselves permission to dream we are able to see what it is we are seeking.  

We even broke out the washi tape and colored pencils to bring it all together.  It was beautiful to see what images and words each person was drawn to.  After we had finished we took some time to go around and share our boards.  I loved hearing everyone dreams and what each image represented for them.  It always blows me away how much our hearts open when we are in a safe environment to share what it is we truly want.  There was no judgment, just love.  

I am so grateful for the women who showed up with such open hearts.  They filled my tiny home with laughter and love.  It was a blessing for me to have them gathered around my coffee table.  Through their open hearts and love they encouraged me to keep reaching for my dreams.  

Having a creative community is important for me.  I thrive in a creative environment and need that deep connection to keep me moving forward.  I can already see this community deepening as we continue to gather and I am definitely going to be putting another one on the calendar for April. 

What dream is living in your heart?  What have you been longing to do?  What one step can you take to make it happen?  Go ahead and take the leap, you never know where it will lead you.  

mandatories

Life can sweep me up in a whirlwind in a quick second.  It is crazy how fast it can happen.  My to do list seems never ending, the dishes are piled high in the sink, the laundry needs to get done, and the is still un made.  Auto pilot commences and I am flying from one thing to the next not funny present in the moment.  

I am not a fan of when this happens.  I drive to work and don’t even realize I am driving until I arrive in the parking lot and open the door.  Has that ever happened to you?  Your mind so distracted you become lost in a hazy cloud unsure of which way is down.   

To keep myself from venturing down this path I have chosen to add a couple of mandatories into my every day routine as well as some go to self-care practices that ground me quickly and remind me of the journey that I am choosing to take. 

Mandatories:

• Meditation every day even if it is only for 10 minutes.  Before leaving the house for work in the morning I light a candle, sit on the floor in my living room, and let my thoughts go.  Sometimes I am doing this act in jeans before running out the door and that is ok.  
• Nourishing my body.  Choosing to provide it with the fuel it needs to make it through each day.  That isn't to say that I am a perfect healthy eater, chocolate chips cookies and chai tea find there way in.  However, I try to be more conscious about what I am choosing and not just grabbing things because they are quick.  

Then there are my go to self care practices that I sink deeply into when my body is craving some love

• Writing.  Putting words on paper has always helped me figure things out and navigate my way.  It is on the page that I solve problems, breathe life into my dreams, and allow myself space to let go.
• Capturing the moment through photography.  I love how technology has provided me the opportunity to have a camera in my hand at any moment.  Taking photos on my cell phone is one of my favorite ways to slow down and seek out the beauty.  It gives me the chance to capture the moment in a quick and easy fashion.  
• Creating alters.  I have many different alters around my house and I love tending to them, rearranging them, showing up to them to drop in a wish.  They are where I go when I need to recenter.  

We all need self care tools that we can turn to.  Little things that don't take much time and effort, but fill up our wells and help us navigate our paths.  

Each and every day YOU are creating a beautiful and divine life.  Yes, YOU are doing that even through your everyday moments that you feel are ordinary.  

Take a moment to appreciate this life you are working so hard at.  Fill up your well.  Take time for you. Enjoy your one wild and precious spin on this great planet.  

Want to gather with a group of women who are looking to do just that?  Join me on March 1st for a four week online journey where we will unfurl into our beautiful lives through:

• Writing
• Photography
• Practicing Ceremony
• Creating Alters
• Meditation

No fancy equipment or experience needed.  I will be taking you through many different ways to approach each exercise and you will learn how to open up and unfurl into your beautiful life.  There will be special guest post from Kelly Barton, Vivienne McMaster, Christine Mason Miller,and Donna Wynn.  I hope you join in on this four week adventure. 

essential oils

Recently I have dipped my toes into the essential oils pool and I am in love!  Quickly certain oils have found there way into my daily routine.  

I love beginning my day with a tall glass of water.  There are many health benefits to doing this.  Water hydrates you and helps your body to flush out toxins.  It give your brain fuel and fires up your metabolism.  I add a few drops of Lemon essential oil to my water each morning.  Adding lemon to your water gives it an extra boost.  Lemon is a natural antioxidant and has cleansing and purifying properties.  

Frankincense oil has many benefits including it's ability to ease discomfort, elevate your mood, and improve many different skin conditions.  I have added add a couple of drops of Frankincense oil to my face lotion and the size of my pours have improved dramatically.  I love it!  

Another oil that I use daily is Melaleuca.  It is known for it's cleansing and regenerative properties.  I have had an issue with one of my toe nails not being so great for forever.  I have tried every over the counter medication that they have and nothing has worked.  I apply the Melaleuca after the shower and it is really helping to clean up my toe nail.  

One of my favorite oils is becoming Peppermint oil.  If you work in an office environment you know that everyone is seeking out caffeine around 3 o'clock for a pick me up.  Simply inhaling the Peppermint oil lifts me up and gets me more focused.  However, I really love adding a drop or two to my hot chocolate.  Now that is one delicious afternoon treat with health benefits.  

If you are interested in essential oils feel free to reach out to me and you can take a peek at my DoTerra shop here.  I started selling these oils simply because I totally fell in love with them and saw how integrated they were becoming with my daily routine.  They have been life changing for me.