Quote:

When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us. 

-Helen Keller

Quote:

Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.


-Will Rogers





Photo by Kimberly M .Voss

Say YES!

So I stumbled across these words:

"Before you can start making decisions about what you don't want, you would be well served to understand what you do want. If you have the big picture of YES mapped out clearly-and are grounded in your own passion and purpose-then it will be far easier to identify what's not a fit for you." 

This quote from a book I am reading, "The Productive Writer" by Sage Cohen, is referencing how to start saying YES to things in your writing life and start saying NO to the things that aren't going to help you achieve your goals. Her words can go well beyond how she used them in context.

Life in general is difficult, and much of our time is spent being indecisive. There are so many approaches we can take to improving the purpose we long for. She is correct in saying our decisions need to be based on what the "bigger picture" holds. Our goals are very important and before we can be certain of what we don't want, we better know with absolute certainty what we do want for ourselves.

People change over time and so do our goals. Sometimes they change direction abruptly, but move forward from that point, change perspective and push on. See yourself at the finish line, that vision alone should drive you.

I am guilty of pushing things away that I don't think I want for myself.  If I had mapped out what I really want, would they have been on the DO want list? Her words stuck with me. I will make the conscience decision to map out my goals and take a little more time understanding what I do want that will keep me grounded in my own passion and purpose.

Sage Cohen is wise in reminding us:
"There is no other person in the world trying to accomplish exactly what you are striving for, in the context of your unique personality, skills, education, training, work, family, and lifestyle mix."

Never Sleep

Imagine if there was no need for sleep. If our bodies and mind never needed to sleep, imagine what we could accomplish in 24 hours. There always seems to be a need for more time in the day. Which is true. We have so much on our to-do-list every day and in the evening it would be nice to just sit down and relax for as long as possible before heading off to bed. (Most of the time it's finishing our work in overtime, no relaxation, then off to bed probably much later than hoped.) Wouldn't it be wonderful to have enough time to complete our lists and have plenty of time to relax, then one day creeps into the next, no sleep required. 


I read about a reporter asking a celebrity, "if you had any special super power, what would it be?" Her response was, "I would like to have the power to have no need for sleep!" Her comment stuck with me, obviously, and I have given that idea much thought. THEN, I realized, if we never slept our lists would get longer and longer and longer. We would overwhelm ourselves with needless tasks, and the thought of our prime time shows starting at midnight gave me a laugh. There would be no down time until we were 6 feet under. So today I'm going to make a point of making a short list of things I have to do and stop worrying about my lists running into each other day after day. There surely isn't anything that has to be done thats life or death. It is what it is! Sleep is what keeps me sane, most of the time. I'd rather have the super power to have laundry wash and fold itself! 

Poem: Hold Fast Your Dreams

Hold Fast Your Dreams

Hold fast your dreams!
Within your heart
Keep one, still, secret spot
Where dreams may go,
And sheltered so,
May thrive and grow-
Where doubt and fear are not.
O, keep a place apart,
Within your heart,
For little dreams to go!

Think still of lovely things that are not true,
Let wish and magic work at will in you.
Be sometimes blind to sorrow. Make believe!
Forget the calm that lies
In disillusioned eyes.
Though we all know that we must die,
Yet you and I
May walk like gods and be
Even now at home in immortality!

We see so many ugly things-
Deceits and wrongs and quarrelings;
We know, alas! we know
How quickly fade
The color in the west,
The bloom upon the flower,
The bloom upon the breast
And youth's blind hour.
Yet, keep within your heart
A place apart
Where little dreams may go,
May thrive and grow.
Hold fast- hold fast your dreams!
                                      -Louise Driscoll

This is a beautiful poem by Louise Driscoll. I enjoy reading it over and over again. The book "A Child's Anthology of Poetry" is one of my best purchases to date. Every time I read a poem from this book, whether it be the first time or 5th, I reflect on it differently. Poems are supposed to have an emotional effect on you. They surely do. Many of the poems in the book are for children, but as you read this poem, I think you'd agree that it's aimed for adults as well. Much like the other poems, adults will interpret them differently and find deeper meaning within each one. I hope this poem finds your heart as it did mine.

Inspired vs. Want what he/she has syndrome

I often ask myself the difference between inspiration and the "I want what he/she has" syndrome. If you envision one of your rooms redecorated, do you become inspired to rip out the carpet and start with a blank canvas, or just swap some things from one room to the next. If you see someone offering up a hand to someone in need, are you inspired to offer a helping hand as well. If someone has decided to start up their own business, do you become inspired to do the same? You get where I'm going with this. Did you see someone remodel and you want the "feel good" effect as well? Do you want that feeling someone else had when helping others? Do you want to feel success like someone else has?

I think in my own experience, inspiration and the want syndrome comes from the same place within us. We want to feel inspired often, it's what keeps us going and motivated. In turn seeing by examples of others triggers the "I want to feel that too" part deep inside us. It's perfectly fine to want to feel inspired through actions of others and move forward and act ourselves. We may not always act on it when inspired, but recognizing a good idea when you see it often times sticks with us. You can always act on it later, even expand on the idea if need be. But there is a moment where you might have the dreaded "I want" syndrome with no inspiration attached. The I need, need, need what he/she has may just lead to less cash in your pocket and a pile of regret.

Site to see

As a business owner and previous shop owner on etsy.com, I would like to spread the word about how wonderful it is to make special holiday purchases from etsy.com. There really is something for everyone, a one stop shopping crafters market. It seems there are fewer specialty stores to actually visit these days. The cost is too high to rent and many of the retailers on the site are artists of many styles and specialty products that would hate to jack up their prices just to make rent. There are so many beautiful items people are making that catch my eye. It's very addictive to go from one shop to the next, amazed at such talent people have at their craft. There is a shop for just about everything; Art, jewelry, hair accessories, clothing, baby items, household items, candle making, vintage items.....the list goes on and on and on. When you visit www.etsy.com this shopping season, I know you will end up with something special for yourself as well. I am always able to find something I never knew I always wanted. Shop safe and secure online with Etsy in the comfort of your own home.  Grab a cup of coffee and put your feet up, it's time to SHOP!

www.etsy.com

Poetic Part of Me

Many, many... many years ago, or so it feels like, I tried my hand at poetry putting every thought on paper. With my teenage view of the world, I mostly wrote about serious issues. I must have been a disturbed teen or had a very depressing imagination. Then, I fell in love and that need to write became love letters. When I left my parents home, I didn't box my possessions, nope not me. My happiness said, "throw that crap away, you'll never need it again." Garbage it was, or was it? High School photos, notes and my binder of poetry all found it's way to the dump. Sad as it may sound, they have crossed my mind several times since, but only NOW do I regret having "thrown" away my poetry. That was me. My own form of expression and I abandoned it, threw away my thoughts. Poetry for me was a way of saying so much, using so few words. I abandoned MY style of expression years ago. (Probably would have been a best seller collection in this day and age.)

I have been putting pencil to paper again. The quick wit and rage from years past has certainly stayed in the past. Poetry has taken a turn for me. There is rhyme, reason and excitement in my words. I think it comes from the desire to write for Children and having a different view on the world as an adult. Today, I would love to have read what my teen views looked like on paper. The pictures and notes addressed to me can remain in the trash, the poetic part of me I threw away was priceless.