photo credit Maggi Helga

There’s a part of you that always knew. People may have believed that you were a blank slate, innocent in the ways of the world and uneducated about yourself, but still — you knew. You always knew, even when you began to question if your perceptions were real, along with your tastes and preferences. You knew, deep down, who you were, even when you started to compare yourself to others and judge what was right and wrong and what was OK or unacceptable. You began to listen to the people around you and to doubt. But you knew. You always knew what made you strong and happy within yourself.

And you still know. Somewhere, inside of you, is the original blueprint — what you know you need in order to feel authentic. Find it again. Retrieve the essence of the soul that came into being with your birth and nurture it. Ask the questions that bring you back to you.

Most of us spend our lifetime unaware of who we really are and thus never get to enjoy that person. You can remember what you already know, and go there.

It’s never too late.

    I’ve been volunteering at Connections, a nearby equine therapy facility, and have been enjoying myself tremendously. I especially like learning about equine-assisted psychotherapy and how it can be used in many situations ranging from corporate training to working with adolescents dealing with substance abuse. Learning new things keeps the brain sharp and exposes one to many new service opportunities! 

A few friends and I enjoyed a lovely Sunday eating deviled eggs and pasta salad and working on our spring dreamboards. I especially love my cowboy and horse  pictures and the one of the blue-footed boobies!

These have been my Valentine favorites ever since I discovered them 27 years ago just before my daughter was born. Now they’re an annual reminder of just how sweet February can be.

This past weekend I participated in Jamie Ridler’s first Dreamboard Telecircle! Such a wonderful concept – joining people together around the world to share the experience of creating one’s own dreamboard. I love what I came up with, and plan to work with it more to continue to find out what I’m telling myself with my choice and arrangement of images.

Sometimes you just have to go where the wind takes you. This Sedona hot-air balloon was aiming to land miles away but apparently got blown down my street. Fortunately it made a very neat landing in front of a school, to the delight of the children there I’m sure.

photo credit fotomossa

This question has been sitting on my desk for a few weeks now, scribbled down in haste when I first saw it. I know a gem of a message when I see one, and this reminder has sure come in handy.

I got a new laptop last weekend, which was the good news. The bad? Well, my programs got transferred but my email addresses didn’t seem to come with them. You know that moment when you first feel the horror of something monumental going wrong? I kept clicking on my address book again and again, as if I expected the addresses to magically re-appear after the 5th click.

Well, they didn’t and the voice in my head started screaming “Ohmygodhowdidthishappen?I’mgoingtodie.” And then I happened to glance at my note: What’s perfect about the problem? I can’t say that after seeing it I immediately jumped up and went into problem-solving mode. But the screaming voice quieted down enough to consider the possibility that there might be something positive hidden in the seeming disaster.

Long story short: After talking with my husband and daughter, I understood that I had transferred an older version of the email program and that it might very well be outdated in a short amount of time. But if I purchased the newest version and re-entered only my most current addresses I would have not only a better, updated program, but a much more efficient and effective address list to work with.

It does make sense to look at problems as opportunities. And life being what it is, I should probably enlarge my note, frame it and hang it in front of my nose.

Photo credit Tut99

We’re getting California’s major rainstorms now and keeping an eye on the potential flooding of Oak Creek. Hope it’s not too bad what with the construction of the new bridge there.

I’m glad I was able to get out earlier this week with my friend, Cynthia, and have lunch at The Jazz Bouquet. What a unique concept for a shop — tea, flowers and jazz! On this particular Tuesday afternoon, they served a lunch of sugar snap pea soup with parmesan cream garnish, carrot and goat cheese sandwich with green olive tapenade, a choice of teas, and a chocolate truffle. Along with lunch came a concert by Eric Miller, a very talented local jazz musician.

Now I plan to comfortably hunker down and wait out the storm…

If you’re looking for some new, life-affirming DVDs to help raise your spirits during the grey days, I’d like to recommend Infinity and The Shift. They’ll make you think, and feel good.