Gratitude

I have been challenged by my daughter to choose a word for the year of 2017 - a word that represents my intentions.  This word should help me accomplish my goals for the year.  So for 2017, I will focus my intentions and heart on the word - GRATITUDE.

This word is often used at the end of the year or harvest time to be thankful for the blessings that have been bestowed upon us thus far.  I am choosing to set my heart on blessings that abound throughout the day.  Oftentimes a major blessing overshadows a daily blessing and we forget to give thanks at the moment of receiving.

Daily blessings of - waking/breathing; sunshine/clouds/rain; health; family friends who are our "stretcher bearers"; freedoms; free-will; guidance; love; faith; strength; nature.  This involves living in the moment and being aware of the gift of the PRESENT.  Some refer to it as living with intention.

We all, my self included, can allow a situation to make us feel a victim.  Be grateful for those situations.  Step back and become an observer of it-you are not the only person to ever face a challenge.  Be open to life and embrace each day with GRATITUDE.

Creative Expression

This weekend the weather in Kansas City returned to winter with freezing drizzle and colder temperatures.  The city was all pumped for the Chiefs football playoff and the weather didn't deter our warrior spirit!

I decided to take advantage of the foreboding weather and spent the weekend upgrading my master bathroom with a fresh coat of paint.  Having lived in an apartment for the last six years I felt the need for a Google refresher course in the technique of painting. To know me as a senior adult is to know I am more calculated in my actions than I was 40 years ago.  My time and energy is more limited so I'm not fond of creating work for myself by trying to get the job done in a hurry!

I did the necessary prep work-finding the right color (or so I thought), prepping the walls-filling holes, sanding and painters tape.  Now for the creative expression of the loaded brush/roller and placing the pigment on the wall!! And viola-the color suddenly is not what I had envisioned...the lighting/mirror reflection brought out a different pigment along with the contrasting white tile, vanity and toilet.  All of my efforts were in vain.  Color can be highly subjective yet evoke psychological effects. I was hoping to create a tranquil effect not an energetic one,since the bathroom has interior walls and no windows.

Oftentimes we can do all of the necessary planning and preparation, yet neglect the natural forces that affect the end results.  When our anticipated results aren't achieved we need to stop, relax, give ourselves time to understand and appreciate the results, then determine what went awry and how we plan on achieving our mental result.


    The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry!

Spacious Living

The Leap Year of 2016 brought changes in every corner of my life-a mental, physical and emotional journey of purging.  That included sorting through my parents belongings to sell their home of 23 years; sorting and moving my own personal belongings because I vacated my apartment of six years; and sorting and moving my work space as my job responsibilities and location changed after ten years.  While I thought I was good at purging, we all know how we tend to fill up every nook and cranny with stuff, especially items neatly tied with an emotional bow!

Since the dust has settled, I decided to enroll in the course "A Year to Clear".  For those of us who have lost our parents, our emotions tend to get neatly wrapped up in their material belongings as a way to hold onto them and the precious memories of our childhood.  It has taken a lifetime to build up the stressful patterns that affect me physically and emotionally.  I am looking forward to discovering the space lurking behind my physical, mental and emotional attachments to my resistances and growing new habits.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Phil 4:7

Happy Sunday!