This year I am 64…

Forward Planning:

So most people make resolutions and goals on January 1st each year. As I have aged I have found that my birthday marks a special time for me. Considering next year will be the big “65″, I am making my intentions for the next 12 months now.

Writing Intentions:

Heading forward into November NaNoWriMo with dedication to finish my 2014 novel.

• Connect with other dedicated writers
• Re-read my novel and drop the mid-action change to the remote retreat
• Brainstorm the crisis point and options to redevelop the events
• Creating a story board to the point of change

October – research plot change options

Personal Development:

• Journaling
• Art Journaling
• Planners
• Walking (daily)
• Eating better meals (homemade)

Financial Planning:

• No spend weeks
• Tracking utilities and regular costs
• Saving goals
• Trackers – weekly
• Pay down all debt

Loved ones:

• Mindfulness – moment by moment
• Capture those special times by camera
• Write letters
• Spend time with each person when the option arises
• Document every special time
• Say “I love you” every day

Summary:

So this is just the general ideas of a very happy 64 year old on her birthday. Dinner with family, drinks and time with plans for a renovated office space, and that makes for great birthday celebration. Thanks for joining me.

 

A Course In Miracles – Made Easy

Mastering the Journey from Fear to Love

By Alan Cohen

I have considered studying A Course in Miracles by Dr. Helen Schucman and Dr. Bill Thetford, for years. I have friends who have not only read the material, but practice it every day. These friends I consider spiritual mentors and wonders in today’s world.

When visiting my local bookstore recently, I found this book:

Now anything that is made easy sounds very appealing to me, since I am a “let’s get it done quick” kinda girl. So for $15.99 I bought it. What a great deal! Having gone through it from start to finish (another of my foibles), I have to state it was my favourite buy in a long time. Yes, it started out rather slow, and after the first 3 chapters, I wondered why I was reading it. Then my world opened up. I started to write quotes that touched me in the moment. Soon I was writing quotes and paragraphs of self discovery. I then went to title pages and journaling all day to discover what the writing said to ME that day.

Now in no way would I attempt to tell you what this books says. I truly believe that its message, similar to the original text, is to be read by your heart. Let your spirit soar in celebration of new and renewed ideas. Enjoy every day of reading, and be sure to take your time to let each day’s message swell within you. I believe you could read this book many times and get new messages every time. The sign of a true work of the spirit.

At the end of the book, Alan Cohen, lists 14 things as “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about ACIM but Didn’t Want to Have to Read the Whole Course to Find Out”. Although I believe there were many different things to draw from the book (for me), I will be spending the next 14 Mondays sharing those truths with you. Let’s call them my Miracle Mondays! Please join me as I continue to grow from this amazing book.

(Disclaimer: All quoted text is from Alan Cohen. In his book A Course in Miracles – Made Easy, he references his material thoroughly for your additional clarification. I am not selling anything. I am no reaping any benefits from sharing this material. I do not propose Christianity, Paganism, Witchery, Buddhism or any other faith. I believe this material transcends the limits of human religion and falls clearly on The Universe!)

I am what I am. I don’t need to produce anything to prove it.

In starting the James Patterson Masterclass, I picked up the book Honeymoon by James Patterson. He uses this novel as the reference for his classes. I started to read it and was immediately caught up in the fast paced, sharp writing that is JP’s style. Short, brief chapters. Lots of action. Startling reveals as the characters meet new characters. Wow. This is why I am taking this course.

I am spoon feeding my characters to my readers. I lay out too much detail and leave nothing for them to discover or relate to for themselves. I am saying too much!

In the past, the volume of the writing was the goal. It wasn’t necessarily the quality of my writing, but rather the quantity that I focused on. After all, if I am a writer, I should have lots of writing. This is parallel to my quilting. If I am a quilter, then I have to have multiple works in progress and finished quilts to show for it. I am hard at work doing exactly that right now.

So as of today, I have a new mantra.   I am what I am. I don’t need to produce anything to prove it.

Creative Emergence – September 2015

I have subscribed to Creative Emergence with Andrea Schroeder for the month of September. This is a free 30 day journaling event where Andrea helps you focus your intentions and dreams. Since I have made a number of changes this school year, I felt this was a great supplement.  Some of the changes I have made are:  1) one year personal leave from teaching at CNC, 2) signed up for 2 courses at CNC:  Literature and Composition and also Composition and Style, 3) committed myself to write my book (or two) before next spring, 4) signed up for James Patterson’s Masterclass. With all the education and learning happening, I wanted to ensure I stay on focus with my dreams and goals. That is where Creative Emergence with Andrea Schroeder comes in.

I recently finished The Motivation Manifesto by Brendon Burchard. This was an amazing course where he taught the 9 factors in creating, maintaining and sharing motivation. This was perfect for refocusing on my writing. Keeping the motivation going day after day, is tough and more so for the solitary writer. I am still following Brendon in his High Performance Academy presentation. All are to help balance the writer and the my life. Having a tendency to throw myself in too deep and give up too soon (burn out), I hope these new personality and spirituality leaders will help me balance the next year.

So if I tend to regularly post here again, it will be thanks to my “team” of experts and motivational speakers, that I have gathered about me. Now to source a personal team of draft readers and editors. . .

Repost: My Personal Divinity – Part 1

Blending church religion with pagan and naturalist concepts is usually a stretch, however, over the last few years I have felt called to do just that. For me, this means exploring many avenues of spiritualism and searching for my truth. Not wanting to push my faith onto anyone, I feel it is imperative that I not fake or deny this path publicly. I have found many friends on this path, both old and new. Being open to one another, being true in all things, and being curious and not judging, are my strengths. I love new ideas and an open door is an invitation to explore within. I hope you feel encouraged to walk with me as I search out new paths and travel in new directions.

The Great E-book Pricing Question

Deep down I dream of publishing a book at some point. I have played with writing, but see little to encourage me right now. I do have a number of very articulate and entertaining friends that I hope get to read this blog. I am reblogging this one for future reference because I like his reasoning.

Shadow vs Light

What an amazing day . . . started with a great sleep in! Oooh sleep. I am in love with my pillow, btw.

My husband made me an amazing brunch that made me feel so pampered. I am in love with my husband, btw.

I went to a Divinity group where 9 brave ladies shared their hearts with each other. We shared pain and shadow. We shared the pain and mud we felt. I personally had spent a week of nightmares, depression and sadness. I am a “Divine Child” of God. I feel His presence all around me all the time. I see beauty and joy where others see sadness and darkness. I honestly live wearing rose colored glasses.  Buy this week was enough for me to call the group and say – “not coming”. My darkness this week encouraged me to go underground and work this out alone. But, then the call from the group leader sharing that a number of the ladies felt “negative”, dark and struggling. Ok – I decided that this is where I needed to be.

Yup! Meditation, sharing and love – a bath of love – a fountain of peace. This brought me to a place of acceptance and compassion. Compassion for me and all those around me. A place of sharing the truth – good and bad – and a place of “it’s ok”. Beautiful ladies of all shapes and sizes, being real. Can I rise up and meet the challenge? Feeling small, feeling innocent and unprepared, I join in wholeheartedly (thank you Brene Brown).

To summarize, the ladies and God (the Universe) join to surround me in a space of safety and love. I am strengthened. I am rebuilt on the outside to reflect the inside. I am at peace.

Will I face tomorrow rejuvenated and uplifted – YES! Will I have more darkness to face – yes, but I am feeling strong and fulfilled!

Thank you ladies. Thank you spirit. Thank you God.

Blessings dear friend.

Lucky today

 

 

It isn’t often I get to have one of my grandsons spend the night at Gramma’s house – tonight is special. I picked up Daphne and Gaberiel at the pool at 3 and headed straight to McDonalds for the great post-pool meal. We had a great meal time and enjoyed each other’s company. We then headed to drop off Daphne at her aunt’s house while Gabe and I got to head home to play on the Wii.

After a game or two of Worms where Gabe won over and over again, we put in Animal Crossing. Gabe had a great time and actually enjoyed reading at least half of the dialog. He ran around picking up apples, talking to the townspeople and picking up special items. He played for a long time since the dialog was easy to read and follow. We then watched some TV and chatted with Tara and Dale on Skype. What a privilege!

Gabe has been a sweetheart. He has been a real gentleman and enjoyed helping me with getting my paper, letting the dogs in (and out). He is polite and hasn’t talked my ears off – just had lots of good comments to share. Loved having the company since hubby left at 6 to go work at moving furniture at the office and go for dinner with the family. What a joy! Every gramma needs a special night of love like this. Don’t miss out. Given the chance, spend the time one on one with your grandchildren and get to learn what they are thinking and learning. They grow so very fast . . .

Everything is ok . . .

When you “blow up” at a spouse, you always need to defuse the situation as well. Well it is nice to know that I am still loved and appreciated and that my spouse was feeling as unappreciated as I was. Hmm – now that is interesting. While I felt unheard, so did he.

Guess that is why 35 years later we are still together. Honesty. I stated how I felt, and he stated how he felt, and we both listened.

The miracle is that I see him as stronger than ever, when he admits to feeling threatened. Wow! Listen and learn.  Always.

Remember to hold hands. Look into each other’s eyes and love – quietly or verbally. Just love.

Anger

I have wondered how people could express so much anger – anger to spouse, children, co-workers etc. Where does the confidence come from to show that anger and not be afraid that there wouldn’t be repercussions? No one gets so angry as to walk off – forever. No one goes off the handle and says FU to your face? Hmm . . . Haven’t felt the need to express that anger for a long time – but tonight, well, I have hit my proverbial wall.

After many years of accepting that the pattern of “ignoring” my opinion was ok, I quit! No more will I accept that my knowledge and experience of 60+ years is of no value. I am a professor at a College. I get paid for my skill of helping students learn – no, I do not teach!  I facilitate their learning. I watch for the “a-ha” moments and that means I can quit presenting and restating the information. The student “got it”!

So why does my mate, my husband of 35+ year, ignore my knowledge, my skill? Why does he feel that when it comes to “training” the uninitiated, that I have no value. A stranger accepts my skills more than my husband or my family. Why?

I believe it comes from the fact that I have not fought for the right to be correct! I haven’t told my family that they are wrong when they say “you don’t know”. Sorry Family! I do know! I am aware of how to teach. I am trained through my Provincial Instructor’s Program from Vancouver Community College to present the material in such a way as the END RESULT IS KNOWLEDGE!!!! How dare they assume that their mundane ways of confusion will present to the student as anything other than a confusion of information!!! Not Knowledge!

Yes, I am angry. I AM FURIOUS! To be so discredited by family is not only unfair, unnice, but infuriating! Next – confrontation.

Here it comes now. . .