9.21.2015

Choices and Dragons


It was posed to me, innocently enough, as a question, "You do know there's no Prince Charming to rescue you, right?"  That question became my mantra back then, but I didn't really comprehend the power of those words until recently.

There was a period of my life when I was merely existing in a shell of myself and I grateful for the routine of my job and motherhood to get me through day by day.

I scrambled to find meaning in anything - my children, church, quotes, books, art, music, people.  I needed to belong to someone, to something so that the mere acceptance by them would give my life meaning.  It was such a struggle because everything I used as a substitution for happiness left me empty.  When the song ended, the book ended, the music ended, the people were gone, children went to sleep, I had only myself and the pain was crushing.  I could feel the ache of my heart all the way to the tips of my fingers.  I wanted to be saved.  I kept praying that someone would scoop me up, take away the hurt, provide me with comfort, shelter, security and love I so desperately needed.  And, every day, I was left with just me and me alone.

I wish I could go back and find that moment when I decided, when I consciously chose, to stop looking for happiness outside of myself.  Ever since that moment, life became a little clearer, day by day.  I wish I knew what I was doing, who I was talking to when I stopped and decided to put myself first.  I wish I knew what sparked the change.  All, I have is gratitude for that moment when the Universe brought me the clarity I so desperately needed, to decide one path over another.   Because, life, is about choice.  Everything, every moment is a choice between positive and negative, right versus wrong, love over ambivalence.

When anything but love is selected, then the energy of that choice manifests in our relationships and in our health.  We remain unsettled, unhappy, conflicted and those feelings tear at our physical being.  The doubt and uncertainty create a magnet for only seeing devastation and negativity, and carrying on with less than ideal behaviors as temporary highs to provide us what we think is happiness and love.  We can't see the possibility of something better.  We eventually lose faith in ourselves and stumble back into the abyss when the high wears off, or suddenly goes away.

Every positive choice we make, when we chose to love ourselves more, builds and attracts more of the same to us.  We gain confidence in our choices.  We see the world differently and no matter how uncertain the situation in front of us, our positive frequency allows us to remain hopeful and present...there is no doubt, no uncertainty.  We know because our entire being and vibration allows us to know we're at harmony with the love around us.

This picture I attached - the dragon is every bad decision and unhealthy relationship.  It's impossible to slay a dragon, dragons don't die.  They feed off our negative emotions and choices and grow in strength and size.  But, when we begin to love ourselves more, choosing to heal our hearts, make stronger choices, we shrink the dragon to a size that can render it harmless against us.  It remains with us, each day, waiting for a morsel of something to feed it.  But, the choice is ours.

At the end of the day - are our choices feeding or taming the dragon?

1.22.2015

Four Decades

My 40th birthday is in 4 days and I'm reflecting on four decades.

In 40 years, I became a big sister ...4 times.  I've lived in 4 states.  I lived in another country.  I've traveled to numerous countries and across the US.  I made lifelong friends and lost track of others.  I watched my family fall apart - watched my mother struggle with alcoholism and my father battle mental illness and the effect of PTSD.  I dated different guys, met one whom I married.  Had 2 children, divorced, met the love of my life and realized that I won't be married again.

I've made amazing choices...I've made devastatingly terrible decisions.

And, now...I'm wondering where I want things to go.  How do I want the rest of my life to go?  What do I want to leave as my legacy?


1.20.2015

Where is this Going?



I named this picture when I saved it originally as "where is this going?"   Something about the path in the woods and not seeing the beginning or the end of the journey.

This is sort of where I am right now...enjoying what's in front of me, day by day...but wanting so badly to know where the road is taking me.  

For 2015, my epiphany star to follow is CONTENTMENT.  I think for years now, I've been so focused on what's at the end of the path that I'm failing to see, feel, touch, and embrace each moment of the journey.   I've failed to feel the moments of gratitude...

This journey since 2010 has been one of pure faith - 
 I had to take a step without any idea of how it was going to turn out, and hoped that when I took that first step, the stairway would appear before me.  Every bit of the way has been a blind walk on an entirely new, unpredictable path.  It's exhausting sometimes - not knowing what's actually going to happen.  Just knowing deep down that how life is now is a lot better than it was.  That's all I can cling to day by day - that today is better than yesterday, and resting my head at night with the intention that tomorrow will be better than today.