21 Days Without Complaining: I Am Gratitude.

During this morning’s meditation, Deepak told me that my true self sees only gratitude. This got me thinking. How would this view change the world if we saw only gratitude in all situations? Along this line of thought, Adventure Sister Emy recently inspired me. After a March where I just couldn’t seem to get going, Emy inspired me to use April to refocus on myself. By going back to all the healthy initiatives that I had been working so hard on recently. Daily meditation, avoiding refined sugar, financial wellness, 40 day yoga practice, and 21 days without complaining. Then it hit me! How does gratitude change these things?

Of all of the health initiatives listed above; the 21 days without complaining has been the hardest for me. I believe what you think about you bring about. So it makes sense that if I was focusing on not complaining what I was actually attracting was more and more complaining. What if, instead of 21 days complaint free, I work on 21 days of gratitude? When a situation arises that I may be tempted to complain about, I will instead look for something within it to be grateful for. Find the underlying blessing or lesson in each situation. This is not a new idea or concept, just a new way to focus on my life, in order to live it to the best of my ability. To be the best person I know how to be. I do not want to be that person who drones on and on about things I am not pleased with. I want to be grateful.

Last night, I once again placed my purple bracelet on my wrist. This morning is day number 2! I will flow through the next 21 days with gratitude in my heart. I will change the way I see the world. I will know that life loves and supports me while I love and support others. I will know that when something or someone pushes my buttons; there is always something to be grateful for. Noticing these opportunities to embrace my deep and true nature, will propel me forward to success in this endeavor.

Many of you have reached out to me to let me know you would join me on the 21 day adventure to a more positive mind set. Are you still with me? What success have you had? What things helped you stay the course and get you to new days without moving your bracelet? For those of you that are new to this adventure, please click on the embedded links to learn more. I would truly love updates on how you are doing on this path to a world were gratitude rules.

Thank you for reading my blog today. I love you. May you find all the blessings in your life, as if by magic.

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It’s Not Much… But It Is

A friend gave me a gift recently. She handed me the pretty wrapped package and said; “It’s not much but…” I witness people doing this all the time. It’s like they feel embarrassed that there is not a 50 foot yacht wrapped up behind that red and white package.

The gift was very much. It was her communication to me that she loves me. It was her way of wishing me well in this festive time of year. Her gift was well thought out and something that is truly useful and meaningful to me. She took the time to think about me and choose a gift that I would definitely love. She took the time to shop for something special for me. She spent her money, which takes time to earn, to buy something for me. Her gift was very much.

Time is something many of us feel short on. It seems like it just flies by and we end up needing more hours in the day then we have. When someone spends that precious commodity to give us a nice gift, it is very much! There are so many people that touch our lives that we cannot possible give them all gifts. I feel so blessed and special when singled out as someone, important enough, to add to their Christmas list.

When you give gifts to others, whether it is this holiday season or anytime during the year. There is no need to say; “It is not much”, to the receiver. Because to them, it is much. It is a communication of; “I care about you”, “You matter to me”, “Thank you for your friendship”, and so much more.

I am so grateful for this friend. I love her. She did not need to give me a gift to let me know she cares but I will think of her fondly every time I use her gift. Friends are such a blessing. That is the real gift for me, to be her friend.

Thank you for reading my blog today. I love you! May you have kind and loving friends in your life, that let you know you matter, as if by magic.

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Have You Heard of the Buy Nothing Movement?

I first time I heard of this amazing idea was when my friend Dawn mentioned it to me. At that time, there was not a group in my neighborhood, so I moved on from the idea. Later, when I relocated to a different neighborhood, I thought for sure there would be a group. Nope! How could this be? It is such an wonderful idea. So I decided to look into it further. What is Buy Nothing and what could I do about the lack of a group in my area?

The Buy Nothing Project is the idea, that instead of sending no longer needed stuff to the landfill, you can give it to your neighbors that need it for free. It is run as a private group on Facebook. Each group has defined neighborhoods with their streets set as boundaries. You can only belong to one group and only the group for the area you live within. There is a reason for this. The groups are intended to not only prevent usable items from heading to the landfills but also to help build community. It is encouraged, that when you pick up an item, you arrange a time when you and the gift-giver can meet. There by helping to build a community and helping neighbors get to know neighbors. This is such an amazing idea, right!?!

It is also possible for neighbors to borrow items from other neighbors or put up posts asking for something (maybe something someone no longer has need of). Gifts of service can also be given as well on the buy nothing site. Maybe someone needs help with lawn work or a ride somewhere. It truly is a community (and Site) of people just giving and helping one another.

So how could neither of my neighborhoods have this amazing group? I went to the website to see what could be done about this and I found my solution quickly. There was no one willing to be a administrator of the site in those areas. So I could volunteer to be the administrator of my local group if I wanted to start one there. I am pretty busy but I felt that this would be worth it. I reached out through the website and volunteered. In no time at all I was starting my own neighborhood group. I worried if I would be able to grow the group large enough that it would become self-sustaining, healthy and active. I knew a few people in the group and had recently joined the My Neighborhood App. That was all it took! The group grew quickly and gifts began being shared freely and it took on a life of it’s own. I am proud to say that my neighborhood Buy Nothing group currently has 270 members and counting.

Some groups are more interactive. Some run contests, which are fun. Like can you gift something everyday for some many days, would be one example. I read about another group where a whole wedding was planned and all items provided by the Buy Nothing Group! Wow! That is really great some random acts of kindness. It is also encouraged that the first to respond should not always get the item automatically, but rather people should comment why they were hoping for the item, then a selection made for the person with the biggest need or the most interesting reason to get it. Additionally those posting items are encouraged to tell a story about the item they are offering to their neighbors. Gratitude is always encouraged amongst the group. Freely expressing thanks for items received; is a beautiful way to keep the neighborhood vibration high and intentions pure. All of this is meant to continue to build strong a community and spread love.

Do you belong to a Buy Nothing Group? If not, it’s is worth looking into. If there is not one in your neighborhood, do what I did, volunteer to be the Administrator! There are resources and support people to help you and offer suggestions. I have found that being a Buy Nothing Administrator takes very little of my time and is very worth while.

Thank you for reading my Blog today. I wish you a lifetime filled with random acts of kindness, as if by magic.

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Guidance

I have a vacation looming. A time when I will be all alone in the forest. A magical dance for me with the Fea Folk and Nature Spirits. I am so looking forward to getting off the grid, out of my head, and away from responsibilities. I will have a glorious time, in nature, away from any commitment except to myself. Doesn’t that sound glorious!

When this vacation started to grow near, I started thinking of all the things I could ‘use” the time for. Finishing my Wellness Coaching Certificate, blogging, writing additional chapters for our books. The list was lengthy and growing. It would be easy to fill my days alone with “to do’s”. There is a monthly group I facilitate here in the Twin Cities (If you are interested in attending, message me and I will give you the details). This group is to help people explore their intuitive gifts, find a community of like minded souls, and enjoy be authentically who they truly are without judgment. It was at this group that I asked a question for guidance. I told the group I have this blessed time coming, where I will be alone and have time for myself. I will have the space to do whatever I need. The space to be completely free of responsibility to another living soul. I let them know my “to do” list as rapidly growing with things I could “check off” my list as done. I asked for guidance as to how to spend the time.

I must tell you, that I feel even the question itself was divinely guided. I do not remember feeling conflicted about how to spend the time, only glad to have the time and space. We had extra time at the end of the group and I wanted to allow the group one final opportunity for practice. No other questions were raised so I asked. The guidance, I received, was unanimous. Do not work on a “to do” list. No blogging, no journalling, do not study, do not busy yourself with stuff. BE quiet. Walk/hike, kayak (slowly), sit in peace with nature, meditate, float, and just allow time and space. I guess I was surprised at one level and not surprised at another level. I would not have asked the question if I felt the direction of my “to do” list was where I was supposed to go with this blessed time. I am, however, a person who is driven. I like to use every little bit of time productively and not “waste” it.

Ah ha! There lies the Truth! Time spent in the Now, with your True Self, is never wasted. I realize that I feel if I am not checking something else off the list as done, I feel I have not really been productive. In reality, what could be more productive than living in the now, finding my Joy, just being with me? How is it I have not been able to see in the past, really see and appreciate, the honor and the gifts of Time and Space to just Be? It is in this time and space I will be free to really and honestly experience God. To feel and become Aware of my connection and integration, into the Collective Consciousness.

I feel blessed for these wise Eternal souls in my life. I appreciate their Bravery to be a part of the group and to give their nonjudgemental Guidance. Thank you to all who channeled this advice for me, I Appreciate you!

Thank you for reading my blog today. I wish you a lifetime of clear Guidance and Blessed Friends, as if by magic.

Trust Yourself

How comfortable are you with your intuition? Can you listen to that little voice deep inside of you. Do you know that feeling you get when your inner self is trying to guide you? Today I want to talk about some ways you can practice with your intuition. Begin to trust that voice of consciousness that is there to help guide you.

First though, you must learn how your intuition talks to you. It may be many different ways. It may be a feeling in your stomach. Did you know that the gastrointestinal system is often called the second brain? Deepak Chopra said, “If you say ‘I have a gut feeling about such and such’ you’re not speaking metaphorically, you’re speaking literally. Your gut makes the same chemicals that your brain makes when it thinks.” When you are making simple decisions like, “Should I have spaghetti or stir fry?” or “Should I wear the white shirt or the blue one?” check in with your gut. It will help you start to trust your gut. Then you can move on to checking in with bigger and bigger things.

Another technique, that can be used, is body testing or muscle testing. This is often used when selecting things to put in our bodies, like supplements or ingredients in food, but can be used for other items as well. There are many ways to do this. The way I do it most often is to stand still. I hold the supplement to my chest and ask if I should take it. If I should, my body will tip slightly forward. If I should not, it will tip slightly back. If you have never tried this before, it can be fun to start out trying it with various foods.

A third technique can be to notice what comes to mind often. I do this with my jewelry. Much of my jewelry has various purposes. I wear my Ganesh neckless to remove barriers, mirrored earrings to protect me from negativity, Amethyst for calm, Chakra colors for balance, and so on. I instinctively know which jewelry to wear for the day because it will keep coming to mind. When I am going about my day I notice what is happening and am frequently rewarded with confirmation that my intuition was correct as various experiences show up and my purposeful jewelry is there to assist me.

By practicing with your intuition on these little simple ways, you can better understand how it works and learn to trust it on a deeper level. Before long you will be using it to make bigger and bigger decision. You will find that once you get a feeling for your intuition and how it “speaks” to you, that it will not lead you astray.

Thank you for reading my blog today. I wish you a lifetime of your intuition leading you boldly toward the life of your dreams. I love you.

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Blessings Beyond What Is Typical

We have an employee wellness program where I work. One of the wellness activities was to make a list of things we are thankful for. There are so many reason why we should focus on the items we are thankful for. It improves mood. What we think about, come about. We are more likely to be generous with others when we recognize the gifts in our own life. I am sure anyone reading this could immediately come up with many blessings we have in our life. But what of the things we take for granted? What of the things that are hidden blessings?

Immediately when thinking about what i am thankful for I go to the standard blessings. My 3 beautiful daughters and stepson, 4 grandchildren, supportive husband, my home, job, my Adventure Sister Emy, dear friends, smart coworkers, and the like. I live a blessed life. My life has always had a way of working out and having things fall into place for the best. Of course we all have different blessing. What I call blessings, others may not feel the same way about. I may have blessings others do not; they likely also have blessings I do not.

There are so many things that we take for granted that others would consider a true benefit. I have always been healthy and as such I have taken my health for granted. Recently when I broke my wrist and did not have the use of my dominate hand I learned appreciation for my right hand. Another thing I have always taken for granted is the mobility we have by living in an age where planes, trains, and automobiles are plentiful. I had an elderly patient tell me one time about when she was sick as a child. Her father had to put her in the back of the wagon or buggy and hitch it to horses. It took them two days to get her to the hospital for treatment. Additionally it was winter so wrapped up in warm blankets was her protection form the elements. I know she was grateful for getting to the hospital. How different is that from our lives today. Emy Minzel, my Adventure Sister, has a blog post coming soon on EmyMinzel.com about another area we often don’t count as an blessing but it totally is. It should be on her blog by Jan 6th or 7th. I encourage you to look for it.

Hidden blessing are those things that do not seem like something to be glad for in the beginning. A teenage daughter coming home pregnant, can feel like the end of the world. After your grandchild is born, however, it can feel like the world is new and full of more love than you knew was possible. A divorce, can feel like everything is crumbling. It may take years of healing and mourning the loss of the marriage, but one day you may be ready to move on. The next marriage or relationship may be much healthier and more supportive. Or perhaps simply having a healthy self esteem and view of yourself will be the price at the end of the hard times. I once had a job that I loved. I decreased my hours to put family first. The owners made a decision to demote me and hire someone else into my position. At the time I felt so hurt and like such a failure. I quit that job and ended up in a much better job where there was more opportunity for advancement and better pay. Sometime God or the Universe conspires to bring us to better places, even though the path may be painful.

As I look out the window at a beautiful sunny day sparkling off the snow that blankets the backyard, I am grateful for the 3 degree Fahrenheit temperatures. After all it is 20 warmer than it was a few days ago and the sun is shining. Count your blessings, make a list of things you are thankful for, start a gratitude journal. What ever works to help keep your blessings in the front of your mind. Do not forget those things we take for granted and those times in life that turned out to be for the best, even if it didn’t feel like it at the time.

What hidden blessing have you had in your life? Have you had experiences you would like to share that made you realize something/someone you were taking for granted?

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