HAHA

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I am living a bit of an unconventional life situation!! My husband of 31 years has been working a job that he took in Montana. He is back and forth…We have lived and moved all over the West for various job positions throughout our marriage. We have always made every situation work!! Having him away makes me even more aware of the things I truly love, miss and value in him. When he is home, we just laugh and have so much fun being together.

I am creating this post for myself, so I will always remember the funny memories, the pranks, the laughter…THANKS, LOVE. I miss you soo much when you are away.

He just left this morning and what did I find tucked away in my workout shoes—a candy wrapper that he had nicely folded and left in my shoe to remember him by! That guy! He is so fun! I miss you, Love.

A couple fun stories that I want to always remember: While he was just here visiting–the two of us were following one another to return his car rental but had to fill up our gas tanks along the way. I pulled in first and my husband was in the diagonal gas pump near me. I smiled at the gas attendant and pointed at my husband’s car, “Please harass that guy in that car, He is from Montana!” The gas attendant smiled and approached my husbands car. I couldn’t wait to see what crazy antic my husband would pull.

NOTHING!! What. so, not like him. hahaha

We dropped the car rental off and I asked my husband what the gas attendant had said to him. My husband smiled at me & told me that the guy told him “that lady wants me to harass you!” My husband then proceeded to tell me what went through his mind… and that he had to do all he could to not jump out of the car…”I was about to get out of the car and make a HUGE scene and say, “I spend one night with you and now you won’t stop following me!!’

I busted out laughing!! I thought it was soo hilarious!! We played back and forth of what we would have said and done IF he had actually done that!! He keeps kicking himself that he didn’t. We laughed and laughed at the funny antics…we would have been yelling from two different cars, everyone wondering what was going on…I responding, “Yeah. you wish. One night…more like 31 years!!” Then we would have got real serious and my husband would have said, “Get over here!” and we would have kissed and smiled, waved and said, “Nothing to see here!!….Only in Oregon!” hahaha.

We just have so much fun!! My husband is always pulling pranks, having fun and is always the one who brings the FUN to any gathering. He makes life a JOY!! He has all kinds of fun impressions like Mickey Mouse, Shaggy from Scooby Doo and He sings like Kermit the frog, but loves it too much to care & will literally leave our neighbors goodies & sing them a telegram type message…My daughter and I often look at one another and laugh at the silly, made-up songs he creates all the time! He is constantly singing…it is hilarious!! He is always up to something…he has done golden egg hunts with his co-workers throughout the office, poppers on toilet seats and door knobs, filled someone’s shower with floor to ceiling stuffed animals and stacked home decor that just fell out when the shower door was opened…he has done the traditional Pennies on faucets, Saran Wrap on toilet seats, Freeway food fights with family, driving around with Michael Myers masks…his Halloween costumes are always crazy [he is so notorious and memorable that one of his young nephews for Halloween dressed up as Jon & it was classic]…he has rolled dozens of golf balls onto our neighbors yard to make him think the golfers on the course were hitting them near his house (our neighbor was so upset, confused and it was hilarious)…took ten bags of raked leaves (from our yard) over to our brother-in-laws and dumped them in his yard……he is always up for a spontaneous illegal firework run because he is a bit of a pyro (ironically we did start our neighbors yard on fire with the whole fire dept showing up–that was crazy **special note to self: Kate & Jon minutes before fire started were in the drive-way with lighters, smiling and looking suspicious as people drove by**)…he hung a scary halloween floating doll “Annie Lilleth” that he rigged to the garage when we opened the door…AND then also had her fly in front of our neighbor’s window…hilarious….he did a RickShaw race with brother-in-laws up a hill and won…he is a huge Survivor show fan & has actually gone to the casting call & made it fun for those there…he is known as the “Bat man” in our neighborhood because we live in a woodland forest with lots of bats & on various occasions they slip in the garage door into the house. He gets his fishing net and wrangles them back outside. BUT, he also pranked me by hanging one in our loft bedroom with a string from the ceiling so it looked like it was flying….ahhhhh. Terrifying!! He is always hiding to scare our daughter or setting up elaborate door traps and getting her to jump–its a bonding thing they try to do to one another…haha…he LOVES to embarrass our daughter and any boy she is dating by announcing, “We have Kate and so and so here” in restaurants, in front of her college dorm, etc…..He embarrasses friends and family with loud restaurant announcements like… it was my sisters birthday and we show up at a local restaurant and what does my husband want to do…walk in with a megaphone with the siren on!! haha.The whole place stopped, shut up in SILENCE and I think everyone wondered if we were there to rob the place. The cooks in the kitchen…EVERYONE in the whole place…stopped. It got silent so quick…seriously!! Then my husband announced that it was my sister’s birthday & had everyone sing!! It was hilarious. BUT One of the BEST…he went on a guys camp trip (with brother-in-laws and their boys) and backpacked into the wilderness. Before he went he downloaded Grizzly bear sounds and when he was there he hid a speaker in the bushes. In the middle of the night he began a little tease that made one brother stop, listen and ask if anyone heard anything. Everyone in their own tents, all listening….my husband waited and then hit the sound again…my husband just laughing in his tent as they all started scurrying, grabbing shoes, bear spray and alerting one another that there was a bear nearby….my husband was rolling with laughter. He got them soo good!! It was epic!

We just have FUN!! Its all the little things that are not even on here—like laughing together, silly dances or food fights in the kitchen, playing off one another and creating fun for those around us—like a pizza party last night where my husband and I started a fun wave with all our neighborhood friends for our neighbor Wayne’s birthday…the “Wayne Wave”—we all laughed and smiled.

My Jon is just FUN!! He always makes me laugh and I miss that most. I miss just having him around whistling, joking, laughing and playing together. We just bring life to one another in the joy…the FUN of life!! When you enJOY someone—life is just better. I miss that most!! When he is here—life is the best!!

So, find those people who bring JOY…surround yourself with them and appreciate the time you have with them. We all know there are plenty of people who KILL JOY or who drain an occasion…be someone who brings the JOY, who lights up a room, who everyone is genuinely HAPPY to enJOY.

THANKS for doing YOU, UNAPOLOGETICALLY. LOVE YOU SO. xoxo

Important Quest

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“Nothing shapes our journey through life so much as the questions we ask.”
Greg Levoy

I LOVE that…IMPORTANT QUEST[IONS]—Deep diving and finding those internal coordinates of your inner compass that hold and offer your distinct directions, personal directives, paths to living, etc…it is a guiding system that will lead you to your greatest work. The grandest quest of your life….the QUESTIONS that lead you to…Finding out WHO you are, WHERE you are going, WHAT you want… for your one, beautiful life.

I am a lover of unique words…questions…and a deeper depth of personal knowledge and understanding of oneself.

We are always journeying to find our best selves, a higher version, a more evolved, wiser, well-adjusted version, right??

I figured this would be a good place to start…a bunch of questions to help you see some things clearly for yourself.

Take what you like…run with the wild ones that excite and light you up. It is your life!! enJOY the journey.

According to Gemini:

It’s fascinating to consider the questions that truly drive a meaningful life. While the “right” questions can vary from person to person, here are five that often resonate deeply:

  • “Who am I?”
    • This goes beyond surface-level identities like profession or relationships. It delves into your core values, beliefs, and what truly makes you unique.
  • “What do I truly want?”
    • This encourages you to look past societal expectations and external pressures to identify your authentic desires and aspirations.
  • “What is my purpose?”
    • This isn’t necessarily about finding one grand, overarching purpose, but rather understanding what gives your life meaning and how you can contribute to the world.
  • “How can I live a life of integrity?”
    • This question focuses on aligning your actions with your values and living in a way that feels authentic and true to yourself.
  • “How can I cultivate meaningful relationships?”
    • Humans are social creatures. Meaningful connections are vital to a happy life. This question encourages you to consider how you can nurture and strengthen your relationships with others.

According to PsychologyToday article

Part 1. Your Essentials: Who Are You Today?

This is a chance to get reacquainted with the real you. It’s a reality check to remind you who you are at your core. Answering them should be a breeze, but note any areas that give you pause. 

1. List 5 adjectives or traits that describe you.*

2. List 5 roles that you fulfill.

3. List 5 of your skills and abilities.

4. List 5 of your possessions that provide insight into who you are as a person.

5. List 5 life experiences that have helped define who you are.*

6. List 5 attributes that your closest friends and family would say describe you.

Part 2. Your Authenticity: What Do You Know About Yourself For Sure?

It’s one thing to know some facts about yourself; it’s another to feel confident and certain about those characteristics. Let’s look at how predictable and stable your sense of self is. 

7. When you think about who you are, what aspects of your personality are most clear to you?* 

8. In what ways does the “you” that you present to the world match who you really are?* 

9. Think of three examples of when you stayed true to yourself despite societal or peer pressure. How can you continue to do this? 

10. What are three of your most important personal values, and how can standing by these beliefs benefit you in the future? 

11. What aspects of your personality stay the same regardless of the situation? 

12. Look at the “your essentials” lists that you’ve created for questions 1 to 6 in Part I. Do any of these traits conflict with who you think you are? If they do, how can you be more consistent? 

Part 3. Your Self-Esteem: How Well Do You Know What You Stand For?

Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s easy to focus on what’s wrong and forget everything that’s right. 

13. What are your three best qualities? 

14. If you compare yourself to others you know, what are you especially good at? 

15. In what ways is your life better than the lives of other people you know?* 

16. List three things about yourself that make you proud.*

17. Describe three of your greatest accomplishments in life. What’s your next big goal? 

18. What things do you struggle with? Do you know anyone else who shares these struggles?

Part 4. Remembering the Way You Were 

Time to get reacquainted with yourself and remember who you used to be before life got in the way. There’s a lot of good that you may have left behind.

19. List three things you enjoy but don’t get much opportunity to do. What steps can you take to do these things more often?*

20. What parts of who you are as a person have fallen by the wayside? What can you do to help bring them back?* 

21. In what ways have you put others’ needs ahead of your own? How can you restore the balance and start focusing on your own needs more? 

22. How can you make time in your schedule this weekend for at least one hobby you haven’t had time for recently? 

23. Think back to the type of person you wanted to be when you graduated from high school. What positive attributes did you have that you don’t think you have now? How can you rediscover these today? 

24. Spend an afternoon looking through photo albums and reading old journals. In what ways could you benefit from becoming reacquainted with the person you were in the past? 

Part 5. Your Work Life: How Can You Get the Most Out of Your Job? 

We spend a lot of our waking adult life at work. Like it or not, that can shape who we are. But we don’t have to accept that passively. Instead, we can take control by seeing work as an opportunity to improve ourselves. 

25. In what ways does your job help you improve as a person? How can you ensure that this will continue in the future?* 

26. What types of new and interesting things do you learn at your job? How have these experiences benefited you?* 

27. What new responsibilities that you’ve taken on at work do you enjoy? In what ways have these made you more effective at your job? 

28. How could you make the mundane and boring part of your work more interesting and fun? 

29. In the past five years, what new skills have you acquired at work? How have these been beneficial? 

30. Looking ahead to the next five years, what additional areas of expertise can you develop? 

Part 6. Your Future: How Can You Become an Improved Version of You

Time to step out of your comfort zone. Push yourself. Try new things, and discover new facets of who you are. Who do you want to become?

31. What are three new and interesting activities you could try? Which of them could you start next week? 

32. What are three topics you would like to learn about? Create an action plan for deepening your understanding of at least one. 

33. Challenge yourself to improve in three ways this month. What steps can you take toward accomplishing each? 

34. Which three places would you like to visit in the future? What could you learn from visiting each place? 

35. In what ways have you improved as a person over the past five years? How has this helped shape who you are today?*

36. Think about ways in which you could grow as a person over the next five years. How will this help you reach your full potential?* 

Working through these questions will provide you with the opportunity to gain greater insights into yourself and enhance your self-knowledge. That’s important because being more clear about the self is linked to greater life satisfaction, happiness, better mood, and lower stress. As Aristotle said, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” 

Hope you can find some time to do the work for YOU.

Peace, Love and Light to you today. -H

GIVE. SPREAD. DO RAK

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I decided that this year I was going to begin again to try to spread KINDNESS around like confetti. It is a great thing to do all year, but it is especially wonderful for LOVE month…and also RAK week.

Take this link and post it. share it. do it… SPREAD LOVE & KINDNESS.

Please do SOMETHING to teach LOVE and KINDNESS to those around you and spread it …KINDNESS IS contagious!!

We have enough garbage going around…spread something SO GOOD FOR EVERYONE.

I just wanted to put together something that could help in some way.

YAY FOR RAK KINDNESS DAY….and RAK WEEK (February 14-20 this year)

Get out and do RAK’s and then strive to do a little more and a little more and….BOOOM…you can’t stop.

JUST BEGIN!!

HAPPY DAY.

XOXOXO

PS almost all the images were from Pexels. Thank you beautiful photographers.

PEACE. LOVE. LIGHT. KINDNESS in all you do. xoxo. -H

What treasures did you find this year?

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BEFORE YOU READ THIS….please read my last January Post https://yourhappyplaceblog.com/2024/01/

THEN….you can actually answer this question to your fullest.

WHAT TREASURES DID YOU FIND THIS YEAR? As I ask myself this question and I immediately gravitated to LOVE LETTERS TO MYSELF that I have been writing ONLY since September. For me, seeking a deeper connection with something greater than myself has been a need, I should say longing. When you begin to ask a simple question and then just write what comes to you…its like a secret portal for the soul. Its like another layer to your own story. For me, there is magic in finding the hidden places within yourself. There is a necessary connection to a higher place when you have this knowing that there is more beyond your own stories you tell. There is something greater beyond what you can see and feel and a knowing that you are just a conversation away from that existence. It is a gift. I highly suggest you try it.

Another treasure that I would say….LONG-DISTANT LOVE….TIME WITH THOSE YOU CARE ABOUT. This comes in two-fold. My little family got into a job crisis that caused my sweet husband to pick up and move to a different state so we could financially survive. At one point this year—-I was in one home on the Oregon Coast, my daughter in her apt a couple hours away on her college campus and my husband in an apartment in Montana. Talk about long-distance. We have all been living separate lives, which has been life-changing and also eye-opening. My husband didn’t truly appreciate living in Oregon & his time on the coast–he genuinely just wanted to move back to Utah. Now, he lives in Montana and now talks about just needing to get back home, to Oregon. Sometimes we have to truly lose something to genuinely appreciate it, right? Well, the three of us have been home all together for the holidays. It has been weeks of quality time, laughs, memories, moments creating memories, lots of movies, games and time together. We constantly just keep saying how nice it is to be all together. We are cherishing this time because in a couple of weeks we will all be alone again (my daughter doing a study exchange in France, husband back to work in Montana) and having our long-distance relationships. I don’t think you REALLY appreciate those closest to you until they are gone…or at least…at a distance for a period of time. IF anyone out there is not feeling the love for those closest to you—-maybe take an extreme route and have an extended period of time away to truly find your feelings…to unearth the treasures that you have lost.

The other gift—MY DAD…almost losing my Dad to a five-valve bypass of his heart. He was a walking dead man..that survived. I looked at a picture of him taken for Christmas and thought, “he was almost not even here for that moment…that picture.” Since I am out of the state I flew in to spend some time with him after the surgery. Talk about life-altering. My Dad has always been the picture of health drinking his “green juice” every morning with his supplements, playing pickle-ball with guys half his age, so really he could have probably been gone a long time ago if he had not taken such care for himself. Good for you, Dad!! My Dad has always been the spark that ignites the fun in the family. The guy who works so hard to get family together to make those connections. He has been the one who strives to make it to grandkids recitals or swim meets or soccer games. He truly enjoys his family and those connections. They are his treasure and we almost lost him!! He is the families treasure and we are so grateful to still have him around.

OH, LOLA….This was definitely a treasure and a heart-break. To see the genuine love and care that my husband gave to our beloved dog at the end of her life. To see him sacrifice and clean and wrap her decaying body that was being savaged by cancer and just love her through so deeply. I have seen my husband take care of both of his Dads at the end of their life and I know the great, sincere care he gives, but to see his genuine, deep love for our dog was another level. I watched him with such admiration and bravery as we all escorted one another to the vet to say goodbye. It tore my little family apart. We were all in such tears of despair. To see my daughter so bravely handle such a hard situation, I will never forget. She was stronger and braver than me. I couldn’t be so brave. It was an incredibly heartbreaking day, but our family was there together. The treasure was giving so unconditionally to this little dog that loved so deeply. A dog that my husband didn’t want in the beginning (four years earlier) was now a dog that he has cherished and loved on another level. It was so good to witness such love….that was a treasure. Our Lola…such a gift.

LIVE WITH INTENTION…Learning to be more intentional in all I do from one of our sweet 90 something neighbors who takes time to HANDwrite long cards, she says thank you for every little detail of a gift you give (even down to a banana), she takes yarn and has special knots she ties to make handmade ornaments. She lovingly puts little pieces of herself in all she does. I have boxes of little details she has made that I don’t dare get rid of because I have never met anyone like her. She is a treasure. Thank you beautiful, Patty. You are an incredible example to ALL around you. xoxo

Another treasure—LOTS OF LITTLE MOMENTS that CREATE BIG MEMORIES. Seeing my daughter look up at a giant Redwood tree this year in awe. Watching my daughter laugh with her Dad at funny videos on social media. Walking through the forests where we live and walking strand lines of the ocean together. Seeing my husband so excited to take out tumbled agates after they have been rock polished. Looking at pictures of our beloved dog, Lola that we lost and will never forget. Taking my brothers ashes to the ocean and having them blow back at me into my hair. Love you, Scotty. You will always be with me. haha. Always reading loving letters from my little family. The sincere happiness my husband shared with me in videos, photos and enthusiasm over the phone with his many beloved fishing trips in Yellowstone this summer or his joy at a new pop-up camp tent to make his weekend campouts alone bearable. Finding and seeing JOY in those you care about—priceless gem. My sweet husband giving me one of my beloved childhood stories (The Velveteen Rabbit) and then being able to read it to my daughter this holiday season while she was sick. Lying by myself on the wet, golf tee box and looking straight up into the sky with a prayer and seeing a bird so high up in the sky. It was a beautiful moment to feel like what it would be like looking down from heaven (a very big—I see you moment) . Walking the beach with my Jonny when he is home is a priceless gift and treasure—I appreciate it even more now. Just time together is more appreciated, whether its simply driving to get gas or walking a thrift/antique store together. Seeing the colorful northern lights from the coast with my little family and taking fun photos. Having sunrise and sunset moments with my daughter over the past few months I will always cherish. Seeing my daughter’s excitement and hearing her happiness as she experienced so many different places in the world this year—Her independent adventures & day trips that brought her such happiness—sea shells & big outdoor showers in Fiji…the smallest dolphins, blue penguins, fur seals and Mtn hikes in New Zealand, so many moments & places in France with someone she loves…so many memories of her pure Joy! So memorable. Watching baking shows together and having our family Survivor binge watches are always great treasured time together. Having my daughter break down in tears after I surprised her with a decorated Christmas tree in her room (knowing she had no time to decorate) Watching my sweet daughter mature and grow in her relationships with friends, family and falling in love. Its amazing to see such growth from those you care so deeply about. My sweet dog, Teag that makes me feel so loved and cared about (he has been a huge help when I am all alone) & the little moments when we literally stretch together each morning. Having sincere conversations with my brother and feeling like I am a safe place for him & he for me. Feeling loved and appreciated by valued friends & neighbors. Giving our neighborhood a small lantern fest on Christmas Eve & having people grateful for the light. Convertible rides along the coast with favorite music. Inspired podcasts full of inspiration and life lessons. Books to share wisdom. Music that can transport you to special decades of your life…even a dance, a kiss, a lifetime moment. We were just reminiscing with our daughter about when she was a newborn and how we would stay up watching MTV and listen to the song “Running” by No Doubt & how that song can take us back to that sweet moment in time. It is amazing the power music has….really all of our senses–they take us back to so many places. Which brings me to Photo moments that can touch you with a treasured moment from yesterday to 20 years ago. It is amazing how talking, sharing, seeing, feeling little moments can take you right back to those special, treasured spaces of your life.

EVERY DAY Every day is full of little treasured moments. Write them down or snap a shot so that you hold onto them even longer. It is the moments that are the real treasures in our lives. We live and seek and find them every single day. The moments are what make our lives really rich…..with the things that matter the very most. Those are the real gems. Hold on to those with all your heart. xoxo

Asked my family for their “reaction”Treasures”: They talked about one or two memory highlights from the past year & one tangible thing you could actually put into a treasure chest. Jon–Memory from this past year—walking the streets of our neighborhood, pretty brown trout that I caught that he can still replay back in his mind. Tangible thing—pontoon boat that allowed him to float some amazing rivers. Kate—tangible jewelry that represents various moments and very meaningful memories…photos…moments, intentional photo moments or selfie moments…brings the memories of places, people and important moments to her and her life.

There are sooo many moments for everyone. Take the time to even write down or reminisce over some of the many memories made over the last year. That in itself is a gift—to hear what is meaningful and memorable to one another is a priceless treasure. Take the time together.

HAPPIEST NEW YEAR. May you find everything you hope for…long for…need…wish for…desire…seek…may you find it. xoxo

MY GIFT TO YOU

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MY GIFT TO YOU.

LOVE should be for every season and every reason in what we say and do. Right?

At least that is something to strive for on a more regular basis.

So….I cannot emphasize this enough. I just started doing conversations and love letters to myself after hearing Tim Ferris and Elizabeth Gilbert talking about her morning ritual.

Take some time and simply write a love letter to yourself. In reality, you are starting a conversation with God…the Universe…the source of all things…whatever makes your heart sing. You are trying to understand and see what would be said to YOU. This has been a truly inspiring exercise for me and I would highly suggest it. Take the time, begin the practice. It doesn’t have to be every day. I usually write when I FEEL like I am in a better head space to listen and tune in.

I begin the love letter to myself with various things…Oh darling, My love, Love, Beautiful…[this in and of itself is interesting to see what you hear and feel on even a basic level…what do you hear yourself being called?] Then, I just sit with myself for a few minutes and type any thoughts that come to me…questions, advice, conversation…anything. I often feel like its a two-sided conversation and so I type out both sides. It is humbling and interesting to hear words come up that I never use or ideas and thoughts that don’t seem like me. It definitely helps me connect even deeper. I close my eyes, listen and type whatever comes up.

It has been a beautiful gift to myself. It makes me feel even more deeply connected to the greater life we all live. There is such a vast beyond, a timeless space that awaits a conversation with us. Don’t miss it. Don’t take it for granted or question every little thing to look beyond the possibilities of such treasured conversations and love. We all need it. WE NEED AND CRAVE THE GREATER LOVE.

So, with the holiday season upon us, I would gift you this…give this beautiful gift to YOURSELF. Gift it to your families, friends and loved ones. Open the door of deeper conversations and love to those YOU LOVE.

We ALL NEED MORE LOVE.

Simply try it. BUT, I would suggest in all fairness of any process….you TRY it more than one time. You need to allow and believe in something greater than yourself and the greater LOVE you deserve.

That is MY GIFT to YOU.

Happiest of Holidays and LOVE always. xoxo

HAPPY World KINDNESS Day!

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What WILL you do in the world today?!

Every day we have an opportunity to be kind, to show up, to notice and appreciate, to be a little better than we were yesterday, BUT TODAY….IS THE DAY!!! For all those other days you had best intentions, should have, would have, could have…YOU CAN INTENTIONALLY do RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS…even ONE.

Just ONE little thing you can do can make a shift in someone’s day—make that automatically someone AND YOU. We always benefit from doing something kind for someone. We all know this, but why do we always have too many things on our daily to do list that often leaves out making a small, tiny difference in someone’s day!! Don’t think–just DO.

Here is a list of ideas…go do something small. Go make a difference. BE KIND.

Begin with a SMILE AND BEING AWARE OF THE ENERGY YOU ARE SHARING. We all bring something to the world—make sure you are being and sharing kindness. PEACE. LOVE and LIGHT to you.

Here are some ideas I posted another year…SPREAD THE KINDNESS

SMILE . Write a thank you note to someone you are thankful for . Leave random love notes . Celebrate someone you admire by taking them out to breakfast or dinner & share with them things you appreciate about them . Take some of your left over change & make people smile as you drop it in tip jars . Write fun messages in chalk on local paths or park areas . Leave change at a laundromat . Leave a Happy Day note on random cars . Buy flowers for a friend or teacher . Organize a local activity to pick up trash & fishing line (doesn’t break down for hundreds of years) in your local park . Make cards for Meals on Wheels . Do a sock drive for your local United Way (most needed item at shelters) . Leave a kind note in library books you have checked out . Genuinely listen to people when they talk to you . Turn off lights you are not using . Say kind compliments to others . Share something positive . Hand out some $1 bills to kids at a dollar store . Buy a huge bag of bird food & feed the feathered, little ones . Offer to walk an elderly person’s dog . Deliver positive notes to an elderly home . Put your phone down and invest in the people around you . A little way to say Thank you–give little baked goods or candy bars to those who give you great service at a drive-thru, nail salon, grocery store, delivery driver, mailman, etc . Write encouraging notes for strangers to find . Share something yummy with your coworkers . Give an unexpected hug to someone . Say hello . Walk a path, smile & say hello to every person you see . Start a family gratitude text chain (daily text of five things you are each grateful for) or family gratitude journal . Take a vase of flowers in to an elderly person who doesn’t get visitors . Plant a tree . Make a meal for someone . Give movie passes or tix for an event to someone who would enjoy them . Share a favorite book with someone . Make pinecone bird feeders . Thank local heroes (police, fire) by dropping off a fun bbq kit or baked goods . Ignore your phone when you are with someone for an entire day–try it! . Reach out to someone you have not connected with in awhile . For one day make sure you say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ . Write a letter to a teacher or mentor (someone who has inspired you) & thank them for the influence they have had in your life . Clean up a hiking trail near your home . Connect with someone who seems alone . Send a great joke to someone . Ask someone a highlight from their day . Be happy . Use a reusable grocery bag . Take some time for yourself . High five a stranger . Be present with people . Give longer hugs . Always remember the ‘golden rule’ . Check your personal attitude–is it positive or negative . Get grateful . Do your best to spread some kindness & love . More ideas…

Here are some additional ideas from the RAK website and other sources:  Get someone’s door . Be polite & treat people with kindness . Clean up graffiti . Donate used books to a library . Give care packs to the homeless (or a blanket) . Share your talent of music with the elderly . Help someone with yard work or snow removal . Let someone go in line in front of you . Write a note of appreciation to a teacher . Mentor a child who needs a friend . Pay for a coffee for the person behind you at Starbucks . Return shopping carts . Thank your police or fire department with a fun note or treat . Write a letter or email to someone who made a difference in your life . Visit an animal shelter . Take a bag of dog or cat food to your local shelter . Pick up trash at the beach or nearby nature trail or neighborhood . Send a nice note thanking a soldier . Be a designated driver . Give someone flowers . Visit someone who is sick . Collect canned food and give it to your local food bank . Donate $1 to your child’s favorite charity . Start a charity day at your work & give the money to a good cause . Help someone with their groceries . Give hugs . Leave a nice note for your local mail carrier . Thank your child’s bus driver or crossing guard . Plant a tree . Give compliments . Send something inspiring to those you have on your email list . Be a nice driver on the road . Take shorter showers this week . SMILE . Start a piggy bank for a cause . Share something yummy with coworkers . Say thank you to your school principal and office help . Tell your parents (or send a letter or email) how much you appreciate them & everything they’ve done for you . Let your staff leave a little early from work & thank them for all they do . Give flowers to be delivered with meal delivery programs . Make valentine hearts for the elderly home . Give someone a “heart attack” on their door (bunch of paper hearts that say nice things) . Invite someone new in the neighborhood over for dinner . Have your child take a bunch of fun stickers or suckers and hand them out when the final bell rings . Genuinely thank your waitress or customer service agent or barista or car driver for doing such a good job . Make and share kindness bookmarks or give them to the school library to give away . Leave a $20 in an envelope and leave it for someone in need . leave random notes of kindness on a public mirror or bulletin board . give freely . spread LOVE AND KINDNESS everywhere you can…

JUST DO IT!! xoxo

PEACE. LOVE. LIGHT. JOY to you -H



Shh. A vow of SILENCE

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“Listen to silence. It has so much to say.”  Rumi

I was almost living a type of monk life–in a way. [without the meditation 24/7, robes…smile.smile.] No one but me and the dog for months at a time. Besides occasionally hearing from my daughter or friends or family via phone—I have been secluded in my little, beach house all alone. A kind of personal retreat for awhile. I would have background music playing with gorgeous images of places around the world playing on my tv via YouTube. I would work on projects or go on a walk…I have felt so productive…mostly calm. Honestly, sometimes lonely, but I genuinely appreciate the quiet and the alone time.

I think that is why when my daughter came home (from college) to stay for this semester it has been a bit of a challenge juggling our personalities, personal needs, car, time, meals, wants…she wants tv in the background when she works on stuff. I need calm music. It is a time of finding balance. Seeking to find that place within myself where I can exist and be my best.

My daughter and I have been struggling daily with communication, so I teased, “Well, maybe I will take a vow of silence.” Her response, “that’s stupid.”

Honestly, our time together has had very high, memorable moments of walking on the beach together, driving the coast with the convertible top down on a sunny day listening to fun music, moments laughing at memories… but it has also been a lot of conversations with struggle, frustration, intensity… as she tries to find her wings and break free from me. Often I feel things might be better if I just took a vow of silence…honestly.

That may seem a little extreme, but it got me on the wonderment of the benefits and why, oh why, do monks and highly spiritual people usually find some sort of benefit from periods of SILENCE.

Think about it! What happened to the slower times where people would get lost in the silence of washing clothes & hanging them on the line outside, or doing dishes by hand, raking leaves, planting flowers, handwriting letters and cards, reading the paper, ironing a shirt for work…etc. Things use to be a slower time. Silence was found a little easier in the slow stitches made in creating a quilt or outfit by hand. Today there is more of a rush, not a stillness in the between actions of the day. We are on a constant hum of being busy, checking all media, reading texts, making social posts, cars that drive while we work or watch, as well as work, exercise, school, family, etc.

My daughter just spent a month in France with her boyfriend and his family. She came back talking about how fun it was to wash her clothes and then hang them on a line outside to dry. She had a glimpse of a simpler time–when silence was found more often in the daily chores or activities of our lives.

So, what happened to us? Our society use to have more time in silence, even within the doing. Now, we just rush and move within a greater chaos and feel more overwhelmed, anxious and stressed. We are overstiumlated by technology, scheduled busyness, status, expectation…the list goes on and we are left without those moments of silence that help calm, create, and move us to a greater depth within that opens us to something better and healthier.

So, with the change of our lives I decided to jump in, research SILENCE and share, so here we go… the benefits. the method. the maybe you should think about trying to take a vow of silence for yourself…

A VOW OF SILENCE…even for a day! Begin with an hour.

I am going to begin with an hour and go from there. I think we should all at least experience it for a time.

VOW OF SILENCE: On a basic level it is deciding to just take some time to be silent and not speak. To some people they may look at it as means of protest or of deepening their spirituality.

This study1 suggests that silence causes the most brain and neuron growth of all the sounds in mice.

Silence is indeed golden, and many people choose a vow of silence to go inward or reflect on their communication patterns.

A vow of silence is a commitment to abstain from speaking for a set period. People often undertake vows of silence for spiritual, personal growth, or mindfulness reasons. When you can’t speak for an extended period, it can lead to deeper reflection and awareness of your thoughts and emotions.
-scienceofpeople.com. [great article with some further details https://www.scienceofpeople.com/vow-of-silence/#:~:text=People%20often%20undertake%20vows%20of,%2C%20weeks%2C%20or%20months%20long.]

HOW and WHY

According to Healthline: They contend that even people who aren’t religious or spiritual can experience profound benefits from observing a period of silence, whether it’s for a couple of hours or several weeks.

It is a good way to disconnect [from devices, technology, work, life] to truly connect within and on a higher level

It quiets your mind from the external chatter and helps quiet the internal chatter as well.

It awakens a deeper, innate awareness.

Silence may also help people become more mindful and connected to themselves and others.

“You feel more in touch with the universe and yourself,”… “As a result, you’re more creative, you’re more articulate, you get less angry and your negative emotions take a back seat. You’re more aware of your emotions and what you’re thinking, feeling, and saying.” -Michelle Thielen, Yoga Faith from a Healthline article

The farther you pull back on an arrow, the farther the arrow will go when it’s released. We humans are no different. To go further on the spiritual journey, we need to withdraw from all the senses and sense objects and sit in the cave of our hearts…in silence. -artoflivingretreatcenter.org

HEALTH BENEFITS:

Silence may help your health in several ways, including:

one of the benefits is experiencing [silence is] a dopamine reset – being able to create more “pause” between your addictive and reactive tendencies. -myspiritualshenanigans.blog

Silence helps with mental acuity, stress, concentration

The hippocampus—the section of the brain that regulates memory, emotion and learning—is the beneficiary of silence, according to several research studies. In one 2013 study, mice who were given two hours of pure silence each day grew new cells—complete with functioning neurons—in their hippocampus regions. -guideposts.org

Silence can set the stage for the practice of mindfulness, which has a range of mental health benefits. “Being mindful and aware of what is happening in the present moment can reduce anxiety, quiet racing thoughts, and calm the nervous system, says Sarah Kaufman, a licensed master social worker based in New York City. -Psych Central

Promotes Self-awareness: Silence can help increase your self-awareness by giving you the chance to observe and accept your thoughts and feelings without judgment. -Psych Central

SOME GUIDELINES:

HOW LONG: Up to you on length—a day, a week, a month…an hour…you decide.

Just begin—you can begin small with five minutes and grow your practice from there.Take the time that FEELS good to you. Find a quiet space, set a timer for five minutes and get rid of any distractions or external noise. Your mind will race but will eventually find a rhythm and begin to calm and slow. Just breathe.

Try a Daily or Weekly Technology Fast
Instead of reading on your smart phone during lunch, try eating in silence, savoring every bite. Or program your phone to block calls and your computer to “sleep” for a certain period every day; use that time to slow down, breathe deeply and think freely. You might even fast from technology on your day off or all weekend -guidepost

Nature calls Walking in the woods, meandering down quiet streets, strolling down a beach, or sitting on a bench and just listening to the wind…nature has a special space that opens up and welcomes silence.

WHY are you wanting to take a vow of silence for a period of time? You want to practice more of a mindfulness practice? You want to develop better listening skills? You want to reach a higher, personal spiritual place?

Silence empties you and creates space for creativity, joy, purity, and innovation to dawn. -artoflivingretreatcenter.org

HOW long do you desire to be silent for? For an entire day? A few hours. A certain period of days with certain hours to practice silence. A morning? Maybe two days of the month you do a 24 hour silence vow. Do you want to be silent UNLESS someone asks you a question & then you respond. Will you communicate via text or online during this time? Will you be alone or around people during this time? Is it more an all or nothing period OR blocking out specific time during your day? Do you need to take it to a more serious level and sign-up for an actual retreat or scheduled session with a professional? You decide.

A Sample of a Silent Retreat: In a silent retreat, participants take a vow of silence for 3–4 days based on the length or duration of the program. A vow of silence entails. [taken from artoflivingretreatcenter.org]

No gestures or greetings to fellow participants or staff.

No speech or communication through any medium for a given period

No writing or reading

No looking in the mirror

SHARE your plan, so people are aware of what you are trying to do for yourself. Make notecards if necessary to ensure people understand and see your commitment (especially if you are in any social situations–like work)

TOOLS to make your time intentional. Turn your phone off and take the time wo distractions. Do you want to journal during your time? Do you want to take walks in the woods or at the beach? Do you need to plan it as a special hotel occasion? Make time to reflect and ponder feelings, thoughts that come up, self-awareness, inner work that needs to be noticed, etc.

TAKE NOTE observing what is playing on your mind during silence may unlock creative ideas, personal thoughts and prayers, messages to yourself, personal needs or wants…make a note or journal the various feelings that come up

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT…TOO MUCH NOISE. WE NEED SILENCE. Studies report that most adults spend between 3-6 hours a day recreationally on their phone and 3-6 hours at work using their phone. Look around your staff room at the next break and observe the use of phones. When I walk or am at the gym most people have devices in their ears. All this stimulation and information, whether it is auditory or not, is noise to our brains. It is a cultural norm now to be constantly preoccupied, and immersed in noise, information, and diversion. Is there a cost for this constant noise?

Overstimulation or hyperarousal of the brain due to constant information, noise and demands can leave people feeling burnt-out, and anxious and with increased feelings of anxiety, failure, and humiliation, in addition to difficulties with creating boundaries with others​3​. Continuous noise can affect our mental health, create panic, increase frustration and over time the mind can lose the capacity to concentrate on things ​4​ Our brains are simply not wired to listen continuously.  Cognitively we are listening at a rate disproportionate to our cognitive capacity to process and pay attention. https://www.stemlynsblog.org/the-science-of-silence/

shhh. Breathe. Be still.

Take the time to make space for silence. Our society has created environments that almost indulge in speed, technology and doing. We can only hope that people can begin to see the necessity of space, stillness, and quiet that opens pathways to enhance our brains and lead to more balanced lives. Silence allows us to channel higher awareness, creativity, imagination, dreams… that will open the doors to better health, heartfelt connections, personal clarity, less anxiety and awaken a higher part of ourselves.

shhh. Silence does have so much to say.

Have a beautiful life. Begin today. Be still and listen. Peace, Love and Light to you. xoxo. -H

Just LOVE

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Love and kindness are those qualities you hope you can authentically show up for in all you do. For the friends who need your support and care. For family. For the close, loving relationships that mean the most to your life. AND For yourself.

Recently I had heard a podcast with Elizabeth Gilbert and Tim Ferris and Liz was explaining a personal exercise that she has found so beneficial to her life….A Love Letter to Yourself. The idea being—having a two-way conversation with God and asking, “What would you have me know”…and listening to the loving response about what God would like you to hear about you.

Now, this is not a new idea and I consider myself someone who prays, has conversations with God and who seeks to be in tune to guidance and a belief in a greater divine. BUT, I have written myself five letters in the past couple of weeks and it has been a beautiful gift to myself. I cannot explain the difference of seeing words come to you and typing or writing them on a page and then going back later and reading them. It is a beautiful experience to say and hear things said back to you. It also seems to bring such clarity and guidance of things that seem genuinely important to myself and what I believe on a grander scale. It has been wonderful.

Highly suggest you try it. I decided to get up early, go on a walk and then sit down to write the letters to myself. Just allow. Open yourself to the dialogue and just begin. Don’t overthink. Just listen and feel your way across the page. It is very connecting.

xoxoxo

So, then I decided to challenge my husband to try the same exercise. He is generally pretty skeptical about any of my far out or not normal requests. It is all fine and good for me, but for him….here is the scenario…me asking him and suggesting what a nice opportunity it could be for him after he had been on a nice walk. I suggest, ‘Maybe try writing yourself a love letter tonight and see how it goes and then maybe you could do it a few more times to see how you really feel.’ He immediately responded, “I will do it for you tonight, but I am not going to do it three more times.” I shared, “Well, if you are not wanting to do it for yourself, then don’t bother. I don’t want you doing it for me, you need to do it for yourself.”

Needless to say, he did write the letter to himself and then he shared it with me. It was a beautiful note and it made me tear up in emotion at the sincerity and kindness that was shared. His skepticism of course chimed in, “Well, it was probably all in my head and I don’t know. I just started to look at it like I was in a conversation with God and that’s what came up.” I smiled and teased, “Of course. That is what you do. Of course you are going to hear your own voice. Its like a two-way conversation, but God is not all of the sudden going to have a different voice in the conversation.” smile. smile. “It is a gentle way of connecting and hoping you feel of your worth and love.”

I was grateful he took on the challenge and I was gifted the opportunity to hear the words he shared from the letter. It was a genuine, loving conversation that meant something deeper.

I highly recommend trying this simple exercise for yourself, with family, with your children…it is a connecting exercise that helps everyone feel a little more LOVE. Period.

Some other ideas to connect with God on a deeper level:

Tune in EARLY–I always heard Wayne Dyer share that he had a lot of inspiration come to him in the morning hours—around 3 am. That is when he would do most of his writing. He felt it was the best time of day to tune in.

PRAY–Prayer truly is a great way to simply begin. You can do a written prayer or just begin to ask, connect and talk. Nothing needs to be formal. Just pray from your heart.

CREATE–creativity through writing, art, music…is a very basic way to connect on some level. Many years ago I worked for a lawyer & I found him to be a very inspiring person. I asked him for a list of his top books he would suggest reading. The top of his list, “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron. I was shocked that he had an artist book at the top. He just shared that it took him out of his normal routine and challenged him on another level. That is why he liked it so much. Another great book that I am reading currently, Rick Rubin’s book, “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” Also a great read. Creativity is within all things—the creation of all that is comes from an idea of the imagination…the seed of a dream…a divine spark…a whisper of a possibility. Creativity is a doorway to another depth, a challenge and connection beyond.

READ something inspiring–There are so many people in the world with their unique talents, stories, experiences, lives they’ve led and you can learn so much from them. Find those people or stories that inspire you, read from the masters, learn from the leaders of old, tune in to those people who inspire you and shed light on your world. Follow those souls who bring you to awe. When you read something and FEEL something–listen, take note, be aware, wake-up. When you read something and highlight the whole book…Follow that.

MUSIC–I genuinely feel more alive, inspired on another level when I hear a piece of music that seems to lift to the heavens. I just heard Coldplay’s new album & the song “One World” —it is a gorgeous song that has a lot of instrumental. [enJOY the instrumental parts in this song—gorgeous] It just took my soul to a heavenly place. Music can be like that. Whether its lyrics or the tune or the instruments…there can be pieces that set your soul free. Im sure every song is different for each individual. PLAY the music and see how it FEELS to your soul. Music has a power all its own. The heavenly muses play through us to bring it to the world to share. What a beautiful idea. Truly listen to the beauties.

CALM–through stillness, your breath, meditation, yoga, movement [like walking]…there are so many variables of things that can bring you to a quiet place and allow you to fall into a flow or a deeper rhythm of calm or a focus that transports you higher.

Tapping into your own STRENGTHS or PURPOSE–you have your own unique gifts that lead you to a higher calling to share with the world. Maybe you are really good at lifting people through leadership or have a natural eye for photography or easily string together a beautiful combination of words in writing. Everyone has things that light them up and get them excited. Follow that excitement and enthusiasm to those things that stir your soul and energize you. Chase after them, learn and grow through them and get yourself to a place to share with the world. YOU do you. The rest will come.

Pick a SPIRITUAL TOPIC and study it for a year & share what you learn–I remember when Wayne Dyer decided to do this with the Tao and got rid of everything material in his office space. He then carried a copy of the Tao with him everywhere and began to focus on one part for a specific set time. He then created his own ideas to share.

Keep a list of DAILY BLESSINGS–aka gratitude lists. You can do this on an individual basis or you can ask every family member to also share in this. Have everyone share blessings around the dinner table OR you can also share before bed OR you can also have everyone text things to one another throughout the day to keep the conversation and connections going.

Some other sweet ideas I found online to tap into a DEEPER CONNECTION–Go on a prayer walk around your neighborhood & pray for each individual as you pass their home . Blow a kiss to the sunrise or sunset and give thanks as you enjoy the beauty . Look at tiny details in nature and give thanks for the awe and amazement of such creations . Sing hymns that resonate with you . Go on a hike and give thanks for the grandeur and details all around . Light a candle every morning and read a devotional of some kind . Find a local cathedral and just admire the beauty and detail within the walls . Create your own prayer bead ritual and give thanks in your own way with each bead . Practice being of service by cleaning out your old & donating to those in need . Practice solitude with a specific time or day to have a technology break . Ask God to bring someone to you that needs you to help them . Write down personal miracles or moments of grace that you or your family were given . Once a week [over dinner or breakfast] have everyone share something that they felt helped them feel connected to God in some way . Have everyone in your family write down their own stories or experiences of when they felt God touch their lives .

Strive to JUST LOVE–Love is the opposite of all that is harsh or detrimental or destructive. It is a place of peace, light, calm, a higher place to seek to exist. Do all you can to simplify, grow in kindness, become a little better each day, let go of fear or judgements, calm the waters of chaos or anxiety…do all you can to strive to come from a higher place of love. Practice that. Every thing takes time, so you may as well practice to come from LOVE than anything else, right?

There are many little things we can seek and strive to do to bring a deeper connection with God. Coming from a place of LOVE is the greatest goal. Take it day by day…write a love letter to yourself. Write a love letter to your children. Help a neighbor feel loved. Be love. Spread Love.

As Coldplay says in the song…IN THE END, IT’S JUST LOVE.

DO THAT. xoxo

Peace, Love and Light to you. -H

Trouble with AI

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Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist. -Pablo Picasso

There is so much excitement, fear, information, misinformation, disconnect…about AI and it is and will be an ongoing conversation for sometime.

I just read a story in Rick Rubin’s book, The Creative Act about an ancient Chinese boardgame, GO. Here is the story from his book: Some three thousand years ago in China, the strategic board game Go was developed. Some believe warlords and generals based it on the stones they’d place on maps to determine their battle plans. Besides being the oldest continually played board game in human history, it’s also one of the most complex.

In modern times, beating this game became known in the artificial intelligence community as the holy grail. Since the number of possible configurations on the board is larger than the number of atoms in the universe, it was believed computers didn’t have the processing power needed to beat a skilled human player.

Rising to the challenge, scientists built an artificial intelligence program called AlphaGo. The program learned to play by teaching itself, studying more than 100,000 past games. It then played against itself over and over until it was ready to challenge the reigning grandmaster of the game.

In move 37 of the second match, the machine was faced with a decision that would determine the way the rest of the game would be played. There were two apparent choices to be made. Choice A was the kind of move that would signal the computer was playing a game of offense. Choice B would signal it was playing a defensive game.

Instead, the computer decided to make a third move, a move no one steeped in the game had ever made in thousands of years of play. “Not a single human player would choose move 37,” one commentator said. Most thought it was a mistake or simply a bad move.

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The grandmaster playing against the machine was so taken aback, he stood up and walked out of the room. He eventually returned, not with his usual confident composure but visibly shaken and frustrated by the experience. In the end, AlphaGo won the game. And that never-been-seen- before move, experts said, was the one that turned the course of the game in favor of the AI.

In the end, the computer won four out of five matches, and the grandmaster permanently retired from competition.

Upon first hearing this story, I found myself in tears, and confused by this sudden swell of emotion. After further reflection, I realized that the story spoke to the power of purity in the creative act.

What was it that allowed a machine to devise a move no one steeped in the game had ever made in thousands of years of play?

It wasn’t necessarily its intelligence. It was the fact that the machine learned the game from scratch, with no coach, no human intervention, no lessons based on an expert’s past experience. The AI followed the fixed rules, not the millennia of accepted cultural norms attached to them. It didn’t take into account the three-thousand-year-old traditions and conventions of Go. It didn’t accept the narrative of how to properly play this game. It wasn’t held back by limiting beliefs.

And so this wasn’t just a landmark event in AI development. It was the first time Go had been played with the full spectrum of possibilities available. With a clean slate, AlphaGo was able to innovate, devise something completely new, and transform the game forever. If it had been taught to play by humans, it most likely wouldn’t have won the tournament.

__________

I look at this story with a perspective of seeking to find places within ourselves where creation, curiosity, dreams, divine patterns, timing, designs seek to play with us on an individual basis. Have we LEARNED too many human patterns? Have we let our ego run wild and have forgotten the deeper connections and creations within us? Is there a way for us to pull back the habits and conditioning of expectation, perfection, drive and business to begin to slow, seek, dive deeper, listen and try to follow those unexpected surprises and desires that are waiting for our attention.

I don’t know. We are definitely conditioned creatures and society continues to prey on us with trying to sell us on fitting in or creating like everyone else. That is where our attention needs to be. We cannot truly bring anything authentic into the world if we are just creating by following and copying everyone else.

We have every ability to also make unexpected moves or take steps that lead to new learning, destinations, creations, patterns and ideas…we just have to work on believing in our ability and the individual power we have in our own right.

I just had a conversation with my daughter about Instagram and how certain songs create social connections, so there are soo many people on Instagram playing the SAME music, creating the same layouts…to hope to catch other people’s trends and follows. Does that make sense?? Maybe in an automated world. BUT, we are creators, so what is happening to the desire to seek new, create new, delight the senses and awaken another part of the world with NEW content, individual content, creativity that is soulful and is sought out in wonder, awe, creation…

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE seeing people tapping in to nature shots, adding music that touches on deeper levels, catching a glimpse of awe and wonder in a sunrise or sunset. There is so much beauty being shared. I sincerely do love and appreciate so much of it. I just think there can continue to be even more depth when we are tuning in to a higher frequency of divine creativity.

Looking at AI—there is a lot of incredible technology that is just barely tapping the surface. After watching the Oprah special with many BIG players in the AI space, I was honestly more concerned about what bad things will be used and created than anything.

For me, AI can write and construct beautiful sentences, share stories that have detail, make videos that have incredible cinematic visuals, make unexpected moves but what it does not have….HEART. The authentic heart of everything creative that is within every single individual. We are ALL creators, whether you believe it or not. Divine creation and its ability is within us. AI will not ever be able to duplicate that depth of creation.

That is all I am going to say.

May you continue to write from your heart, share your stories, create your art…because no matter what systems can and will be built—the machines will not have YOUR uniqueness or the divine creations YOU will bring to the world.

—-Peace. Love and Light to you. xoxo

FOG

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a thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the earth’s surface which obscures or restricts visibility

something that obscures and confuses a situation or someone’s thought processes.


Living on the Oregon Coast you see a lot of FOG…marine layer…mist…there are a variety of words or descriptions of what people call it. Huge areas seem to disappear. The island mass that stretches out to the sea can be gone in a moment. Mountain sides, lighthouse structures, roads…can all be covered and it is almost like they magically disappear.

It can be quite magical or mystical or scary—if you are driving in it. It can be beautiful or haunting—it is all how you look at it. The other wonderful thing about the fog is that it can wisp across the sky like fast moving clouds that magically open windows of blue sky above. It is amazing and breathtaking. You can be standing high above on an ocean lookout and see nothing but white fog and then within minutes the fog may move and begin to give you a sneak peak of the gorgeous view below. You patiently wait for more and more of the fog to lift to share the secrets below. Magic.

THE FOG ALWAYS LIFTS

Life is like that…there will be grey days or moments, tough conversations, hurt feelings, broken hearts…but the fog always lifts. The light comes back out, the joy may be found again around the corner.

I believe a lot of our lives are spent asleep, and what I’ve been trying to do is hold on to those moments when a little spark cuts through the fog and nudges you. -Rufus Wainwright

what can we do to awaken out of a life fog?

Follow the spark or nudge—They always say–follow what lights you up. Do you seem to continually get excited about certain topics, books, ideas, places, people, etc. follow those sparks because they will help you find those things that light you up. OR do you seem to keep getting particular nudges with opportunities, conversations, books that stand out to you, a course you are interested in taking, a talk that keeps popping up on socials and catching your attention. There are things…almost hints or clues that come in to your life to help guide you. look for them…sparks, nudges….like life guideposts or personal clues to your best life.

Create a vision of clarity—what does your best life look like? What seems to lift your mood? What seems to drag or drain your energy? You can ask yourself a myriad of questions that get you seeking some clarity for various parts of your life and what you want or need. If you don’t seek and find the answers than you will continue to just be stuck without vision…lost in a type of life fog.

Less time on tech: Step away from the fog of compare and despair, constant scrolling, time stealing, fomo, etc. Even LESS time on your phone or technology will give you a better sense of control. Let go and take breaks away from it.

Get out of your head and into your body–movement is key. Your brain is like a super computer and it can easily go into sleep mode, so make sure you are getting up and moving every 30 minutes. This shakes things up, awakens you and pulls you out of brain fog. Plus, if you find yourself getting in your head about stress, work situations, relationship issues…etc. Movement is a great elixir for stress and getting out of your head. Breathe. Move. Let go.

Are you getting the necessities? Enough sleep, hydration, awareness of personal needs, good foods to nourish…

Connection: Even the simple act of smiling at someone can change your mood or energy. Often we need to do something simple for someone else—to get outside of ourselves, our surroundings, situations, etc. Get outside of yourself and do something nice for someone—even a stranger. Leave a note, send a card, give someone flowers, buy someone a coffee, make and take dinner to someone…a simple gesture helps you step out of your personal fog.

Do we even know we are wandering around in a fog?

Do you have those moments where you feel out of sorts, not yourself, a bit low, unmotivated, less energy…could be an emotional weight caused by stress, anxiety, fear…and we feel a bit confused of how to feel or what is going on. Maybe you feel like you are avoiding or procrastinating or just unmotivated…Some called it ‘brain fog’, others may say, ‘depression’ but in reality, we all have those moments where we may just feel heavy and unclear in life. That is okay.

Take the day to recharge, ask yourself clarifying questions, get moving, connect, do the little things and the fog will begin to clear.

Peace, Love and Light to you today. xoxo -H