Merry Christmas!

This week has zoomed by. I had plans (oh yes I make plans)but needed to tweak them a bit due to an over-used back. But you know what? Resting, slowing down and even stopping for a short time was what was truly needed.

 This is how I imagine my evenings. A small cabin somewhere nestled in the woods. Maybe not the snow but I'll take it!

I encourage you over the next couple of days of busy-ness to take time to just be; to find that warm, cozy place in your mind.  Remember that you are loved and that you are LOVE.  God is with us and in us; with you and in you.  Honor the great spark of light and love that you are.  Those around you will see this in you.

Be safe, be loved and enjoy the holidays.

In love, peace and joy.
Doll

The Girl Effect - make a difference!

Where did the summer go?

Goodness me. Hot weather, humidity, time with friends and family and now back to business as usual. 

That's kind of how the summer went for me.

Lots to do this fall.  Choirs, students, church and more....

The Raw Divas is NOW Tera Warner.  Making some terrific changes and I'm excited to be part of it!

More to follow!

With the arrival of Fall time and changing leaves come some really hard, heart-filled questions that are causing me to really dig deeper.  Guess it's like digging those few inches to plant the tulips now that will bring beauty in the spring.  I'm planting, but this time, in myself.

Um and yes...it's only 6 months til spring!

Enjoy the day!

hugs til again,
Doll

I am satisified!

... with what I have, with the person I am, and all that I do.

Day 2:  Be Satisfied With What You Have

That is an affirmation that I use often.   For me, this is the basis of my life.  If I can be satisfied with what I have, then the journey to living small is so much easier AND I love living small.

Currently we're living in a very small 2 bedroom apartment (650 sq.ft)  We've lived in smaller and in much larger but at this size it feels "just right".  Moving from a 3 bedroom, plus extra rooms house, down-sizing was certainly a interesting task. Everything we didn't want we put on the front lawn on online in Free-Cycle  Most things went to new owners and to be honest there's very little of what we left behind that I feel I need or miss.  (except for the in-ground pool - I'll share about that another day)

I have no need to want what others have.  I might desire to replace a very large couch that seems too big for the room and non-too comfortable for my back.

Society gives us so many opportunities to want more; to make us believe we NEED and in fact CANNOT do without more.  The advertising, growing malls and out-let stores, all shiny and new, invite us to come, buy, enjoy and even to the point of pointing out that we cannot live without what they are offering.

How can this be sound teaching?  How can we model a better life for our children while we are running from store to store loading up the car and the credit cards?

Being satisfied with what I have means that I take time to be grateful for the goodness around me.

1. my loving family and friends
2. a warm, dry, safe home to live in
3. fresh fruit and veggies in the fridge
4. communication devices so that I can keep in touch
5. my work in music, in ministry and on-line
6. my body's ability to heal itself

Of course the list could fill the page but I believe you get my drift.

For today:  I will take notice of all the good things around me, enjoying the moments and loving life.  I am truly blessed!!!

Til again,

Doll

Simplify-ing My Life

I just read this:

"To lead a simple life in reasonable comfort, with a minimum of possessions, ranks high among the art of living.  It leaves us the time, resources and freedom of mind we need for the things that give life value:  loving, helping, serving and giving."     -Eknath Easwaran-

Great statement!

This week I picked up 100 Ways to Simplify your Life by Joyce Meyer and am inspired to share my thoughts with you on simplicity and living small.  

So, my goal here is to write each day on the 100 ways that she mentions and to share how I intend to implement those steps.

Day 1:  Doing 1 thing at a time

This is not as simple as it appears.  In a world where multi-tasking is the norm and single-minded focus flows against the crowd I often wonder how I can still my mind and focus on just the moment; the one thing I'm facing.

From listening to music while I work, Facebooking while I listen to a podcast [is facebooking a verb?] to playing a piece of music while watching the choir, the director and paying attention to the 2 year old off to the side who simply can't stay still, this is my "norm".

I love what I do.  I love that I can do many things at a time.  I love that I have a feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day.  What I don't enjoy is the feeling that I have to rush through the things that I do.

I go for a walk with the dog - no time to enjoy the flowers.  Just hurry up and get it done.

I listen to the TV or a podcast - hurry up and get to the point already

Driving to where I need to be - no time to enjoy the scenery  just worry and fret that I might be late.

For Today:

I can do well in many things but if I could focus on one thing at a time how much better would I complete the task?

Does any of this ring true for you?

For today I will be fully present in the moment as I work and play.

Would love to hear how you manage to focus.

Til again,

Doll

*100 ways to Simplify your Life, Joyce Meyer  

Mondial Festival

Mondial Festival

Mondial Festival-Laval June 2011 GJS

I did it! The bathroom scale is gone!!!

Well, I didn't but Nick did on my behalf.

The scale in the bathroom has disappeared.  Had a nice chat with the Doctor this week.  Since my moods in the day can be so incredibly swung by the numbers on that machine he suggested I stop weighing myself everyone morning and that perhaps once a week was enough - even every 2 weeks when I go in to see him.

This is huge for me. I had no idea the kind of anxiety getting rid of that thing would cause for me.  Definitely not a great experience. 

Having the pleasantness of my day dependent on a thing and on the numbers that thing spits out at me is just plain wrong, unhealthy and not where my attention needs to be.

Is this something you struggle with?  I would really like to hear how you have over-come this kind of relationship.

Til again,
Doll

ps  those aren't my legs :)











 

3 Reasons to rise and shine on hump day!

Here's the short list:

1. the sun is shining
2. the birds are singing
3. life is meant to be lived and enjoyed!!

What's your short list today?

Monday's Moments

You know the days pass and weeks pass and soon you find yourself in new season.  Summer is creeping up on me and although some things are winding down to allow for some leisure activities, I'm finding myself saddened to have closed out the season.

What happened to the winter? What happened to all the meetings, rehearsals and time running around in busy-ness?

Well, that's what happens when life happens, when my life happens.  If I don't take the time to really appreciate those around me or those moments that happen unexpectedly, then how can I really be "present"?
As we move towards a new month my intention is to be right where I am.  I need to be fully aware and instep with all the wonderful moments around me.
Here's my plan:

1. clearly define my goals and tasks
2. plan moments into my day that allow for deeps breaths and for sending love outwards
3. remind my dear hearts how much they mean to me

And last, but not least, to SMILE!

Simple?  Sure is!
Want to join me?  What would happen if you set your intentions for June?
I would love it if you could share we me.

hugs
Doll

ps  a slow paced song but beautiful and I dare you to watch it ...see you're smiling already!!

SMILE!

(cross-posted in www.bodyenlightenment.me/coaching)  Want info? Ask me.

It's the weekend!

One of the things I like to do on Saturday is plan out my calendar for the coming week.  By doing this task I'm able to enjoy the rest of the weekend without concerns about my to do list.

I like to be organized but need to allow for flexibility within the structure I set up.  Make sense?

So I "plan" free-time into each day.  Not that the time is free or that I have nothing to do but those times are when I knit, spin, exercise, talk with a friend, write personal emails or even Blog if the spirit moves me to do so.

Well, now that I've finished up with my calendar for the first week of June, I'll be off to spend time with Nick and maybe even go for a hike.

Enjoy your weekend! Be sure to fill a few moments or hours with things that make YOU feel your best!

Til again,
Doll

On the road to...

I spend way too much time trying to figure out my life and some days it seems that my life moves on without me.

This is not really a bad thing.  If my life waited for me to make some decisions I would truly be stuck.  Perhaps I already am...sort of stuck.

What I've needed is change.  Change to how I see things,  how I feel about things and what I do with my time.  These are tough choices to think about.  However, making no decision is making the choice to stay where I am.

I love this picture with the word written in the sand.  Have you ever been stuck in the sand?  Have you ever wiggled your toes so that you sunk down even further?  I remember how that feels and the further down you go the harder it is to move.  Right?

So, I've made the decision to change; to move forward with my life.

Here are some of my basic changes:

1. alter my dietary choices to include high protein, low fruit, gluten free
2. set my personal boundaries and stick to them
3. enjoy my personal time without guilt

OK, for some of you this may seem very simple but for me this is huge and life changing.

I would love to hear your ideas.  Do you struggle with change?  If so, how do you move forward?

Til again,

Doll

Tuesday's Word of the Day: CONSISTENCY (how to get there)

CONSISTENCY

or rather...the road map to consistent behaviors.

Here is my problem.  The lack of consistency.  Well, I guess the lack of it is really being consistent.

I'm talking about creating plans.  Plans for my food, physical activity, household tasks and on and on.  I spurt out of the gate and do well but at some point the energy fades, the ball stops rolling and the result is evident.

Lack of energy, weight gain and sour mood swings are what comes from not following through on a steady, consistent basis.

Is there an answer?  Gosh I hope so 'cause if not there would be no hope. 

Here's a  3  step plan of action:

1.  Create the plan 

• - build a routine into a daily calendar
• - make sure the time is realistic so that it creates success  and doesn't set yourself up for failure

2.  Engage your friends and family in your activities.  

• - make sure they understand what you are trying to do
• - give them access to your calendar so they know the plan

3.  Allow for spontaneous changes - both good and bad

• - sometimes it's just better to go with the flow and not fight what's happening

I know, we all would like a plan that's more specific.  So, here's my personal plan for fitness.



1.  I'm taking the time to look at my calendar to book times for exercise both at home and at the gym

2.  I'm letting Nick (my dear husband) know what the plan looks like so he can alter his day if needed

3.  I know that there will be detours in my plan so I have a few exercises I can manage if I can't get to the gym and some that I can do inside when the weather is chilly and wet.


Again that may simple over simplified but maybe simple is better.  Right?


Next up...planning my meals.


Do you have a plan in place today?  Would love to hear from you.

Back from a long time away.........

Yeh I know, but I am back!

Life has kept me busy and focused on other things but I know that I really need to focus on me for a while.

So...here I am once again. Seems like I pick up the pieces from time to time.  Put them down then pick them up again.

Do you ever feel that way?  I'm like that with diet programs, music, knitting projects and more.  I start one then find something that peaks my interest then move over to whatever that is at the time.

This definitely creates variety but also much CONFUSION!  It's time to get rid of the confusion.  It's time to put into action a plan that will work.

When it comes to my body and health this kind of confusion is not good.  My metabolism gets all messed up when I bounce around like that.  The bottom line is that although I'm not gaining weight I'm also not losing.


My intention:  to get to goal weight feeling full of life and energy!

To get there I need to eat lots of greens, balance all my food choices, exercise and get enough sleep.

This is a simple plan that I quite easily make difficult.  I think about it, stew about it and turn it upside down then fall back to old habits.

Are you like this?  Are you able to stay on a give program for long periods of time?  Would love to hear from you.

Enjoy your day!

Hugs
Doll

Fact vrs Problems

I know, there are many ways to look at facts and problems.  Here's my take today on my own, my current snapshot:

FACT VRS PROBLEM

FACT                                                                        PROBLEM

 I am obese                                                               I eat too much

                                                                                I exercise too little

I can change this fact but not without action.  Not without consistant, constant and current action.  It's not what I do tomorrow that will make a difference.  The actions of today, of now, will create the change to my current FACT.

So, today I can:

1. make good food choices
2. get some fresh air
3. move my body

Simple?  YES!!

Today I am filled with dedication, determination and desire!

 (also posted here: www.livingfoodsottawa.com/blog)