Inspired

30 Days of Gratitude - 28

 

I’m still on photo’s of warmth and blue skies as there’s been little time for picture taking since returning home.

I love the line of the horizon…where the infinite beckons.  It draws me to wander…and to wonder.  It reveals the sun as it rises and conceals it as it sets.  I love the wide expanse of it and the possibilities it inspires. The horizon tantalizes my imagination.  

Where do you let your imagination lead you to and do you let it out to play...or have you been told to stay rooted "in reality"?

My gratitude for today is for imagination and how it inspires me to create a life of vision and passion.

 

Imagination is the highest kite one can fly.

 Lauren Bacall

 

 Inspired blessings to you dear friends,

30 Days of Gratitude - 27

The sun has set on our beautiful Hawaiian interlude and we’re back to the frozen tundra…well maybe not tundra exactly but looking out the window to all the whiteness around me, it’s looking fairly frozen.

Although it was an abrupt transition, I haven’t lost my Waikiki, wiki-wiki,  glow yet.  The picture above was taken the evening before we left, from our table at “The House Without a Key” restaurant in the Halekulani  Hotel .  It was an amazingly beautiful experience of traditional Hawaiian music and dancing with this view as the backdrop to it all.  I highly recommend it if you ever find yourself magically transported to the island of Oahu. Sigh.  I am truly grateful for the gift of this peaceful interlude in Hawaii.

And now it’s time to dive into the pre-Christmas hoopla and a trip to the Okanagan to see my dad…all the while, remembering and embracing the peace of the aloha spirit during the frenetic mob mentality of it all.

Is it possible? Yes. 

Can I do it?  I believe I can.

I’ll let you know!

Every decision you make is not a decision about what to do.
It's a decision about Who You Are.
Neale Donald Walsch

Peaceful blessings to you,

30 Days of Gratitude - 21

 Moonlights

Today is the full moon of Taurus…also known as a blue moon, the frosty moon or the beaver moon because, according to the Farmers Almanac, it was the last moon of the season for trappers to set their traps by moonlight before the swamps froze. 

The fairy lights on these trees make me think I should have been dancing under them but no, last night I was tired and heading home after a day of walking the length of Waikiki beach…twice…in the heat…and I was just happy to bask in the beautiful moonlight.

According to astrologers, tonight’s full moon is definitely a time of gratitude and healing…time to take an inventory of what needs healing in your life and anything that feels stuck or calcified or related to an old pattern. It’s not so much what you decide to do with these issues at this point but rather, it’s important to set the intention about things being different for you.

Setting an intention is a big start in the process of change. The gratitude part will set the right kind of energy to bring about what it is you are asking for.

So remember that this is an intense time of the deepest healing possible. If the universe is throwing you a curve ball, it is for a reason. Allow your “I don’t know’s” to be a position of strength, rather than weakness.

I’m setting the intention of trust to be fully present within me. 

    trust in myself

    trust in the universe

    trust in the perfection of imperfection

    trust that all is well and always will be well

    and yes, trust that I will have the strength and fortitude to walk my talk!

              

Today, I am grateful for a peaceful heart and I wish the same for each of you.

(…I’m also really, really grateful that I’m in Hawaii right now and not at home where it’s very cold and snowy!)

30 Days of Gratitude - 18

 

I wouldn’t exactly call myself a “bird watcher” but I do love birds and when I travel, I take a great interest in the different species of birds that I see.  This little fellow is a red crested cardinal, and they were introduced to Hawaii in the 1930’s. They travel in family groups and the immature birds have a brown coloured head. 

We were sitting waiting for the bus when this fellow hopped by and his beautiful colouring caught my attention and my delight.

I’m so grateful for these unexpected and delightful moments of joy that “hop” into my life.  When life get’s complicated, these beautiful gifts of simplicity and wonder put it all into perspective.  It’s like I’ve been handed the end of a brightly coloured ball of yarn which leads me through the maze to find peace in my heart.

Wishing you all, a beautiful peace of the heart,

30 days of gratitude - 17

 

Aloha…I’ve transported myself to the land of soft breezes and sunshine, sweet scented blossoms and cool, refreshing drinks.  Yes, oh yes…I’m talking a HawaIian paradise here!

Each morning I awaken to the sound of the surf, views of the pacific ocean rolling in, and surfers lying in wait of the perfect wave. (They all look miniscule from the 23rd floor).  The world surfing competition was taking place on Oahu this weekend but we were advised to stay away from the massive traffic jam of cars all trying to reach the north shore.

It never fails to amaze me how blessed we are in this age we live in, that we can board a plane in one part of the planet and emerge a few hours later in another completely different part.  When you stop to think about it, it’s absolutely, bloody amazing!

Although I’m well aware that true “sunshine” begins in my own heart, I’m so grateful for the technology that enables me to escape the cold dampness of a west coast winter, even if for just a few weeks…so very grateful. (and for that same technology that keeps me in touch with friends and family)

Sending grateful blessings to all via “the technology”!

30 Days of Gratitude - 10

“A truly creative person rids him or herself of all self-imposed limitations.”

Gerald G. Jampolsky

 

There’s a perfection to life that’s easy to miss

when we’re busy looking for perfection.

Ease up on yourself…give yourself a break!

By the way that you love yourself, you will be known

 and you will be treated by the way you love yourself. 

By your love you will be seen to love yourself well.

Loving yourself well allows other's to know how to love you.

 

I’m grateful for my seemingly imperfect life.  Every day brings me the opportunity to learn to love myself well!

 

...and love yourselves well too dear friends,

30 Days of Gratitude - 8

 

So often we think we’re not living in abundance…we’re short of money, time and maybe even love.  Last year someone pointed out to me that my definition of abundance was much too narrow and I needed to broaden my perspective.  I was a little surprised because I’ve always thought of myself as being open to different ways of looking at life but in this instance, my friend was right.

Just look around…if you’re in the northern hemisphere, how many leaves are lying on the ground right now, how many raindrops are falling, how many berries are on how many shrubs and bushes right now?  How many clouds are in the sky and how many birds cross our field of vision, flying south?

And if you live in the southern half of the world, how many blossoms are blooming around you right now, how many leaves are unfolding on your street and how many rocks are on the beach?

How many pennies, how many socks, how many emails, how many smiles?

Once we start noticing (and appreciating) our abundance in those small things that we take for granted, we begin to feel grateful for just how much abundance we really do have in our lives…and THAT feeling is what draws even more to us!

In fact, you wouldn’t believe how rich and abundant I am in golden leaves right now!

30 Days of Gratitude - 7

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.

It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order,

confusion into clarity....

It turns problems into gifts, failures into success,

the unexpected into perfect timing,

and mistakes into important events.

Gratitude makes sense of our past,

brings peace for today

and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Melodie Beattie

 

I'm so grateful for the liquid beauty that I awaken to every morning.  I'm surrounded by it, immersed in it and mesmerized with it.

Grateful blessings and peace all-ways in your life,

30 Days of Gratitude - 6

 

It’s an overcast, moody November day and despite the drizzle and “scotch mist” we trekked around Whittey’s Lagoon this morning.  The water birds were there en masse and we enjoyed the forest walk despite the dampness.  We’ve  had family visiting from out of town this week and it’s been lovely…our next catch-up will be in Mexico next February.  Different setting, different climate…same fun.

I’m so grateful to be connected with family and as we get older this isn’t something that can be taken for granted.  We enjoy and treasure the moments that we share together.

 

Happy shared blessings to all and thank you for sharing yourself with me…both here and on your own blogs.

30 days of Gratitude - 4

 

Located at the bottom of the stairs and sitting next to my front door, I have an antique Chinese table with hand carved dragons spanning the legs.  Sitting on the table is a pretty heart shaped ceramic bowl…a sweet gift from one of our children.  This bowl holds my angel cards and every morning when I come downstairs I stop to pick a card…or two or three…for the day.  Today's three cards were…adventure, gratitude and humour.

This month I’m focusing on gratitude, so that one was apt.

Life itself is an adventure…some days are more of an adventure than others, but it’s always an adventure and I LOVE adventures.

And humour…oh my friends, what can I say except that I just love to laugh, but I’ll admit there seems to have been a few dry spells over the past few months where I feel like I’ve…not exactly lost…more like misplaced, the laughter. Happily, my energy and laughter are both returning and I’ll take this card as a good sign that it’s alive and well in my life again.

I’m so grateful for this life adventure and more than once, laughter has been my saving grace!

Happy, happy blessings to everyone today,