Tag: quotes

SOUL SEEKERS: Thoughts by Sue Monk Kidd

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maxresdefault-2I just watched a Super Soul Sunday with Oprah interviewing Sue Monk Kidd and wanted to share a few of my highlights from it. Enjoy!

Sue Monk Kidd has a unique story–mother, wife, nurse–the “safe life” and when she turned 30 she felt a deeper calling and purpose. She then announced to her family, “I am going to be a writer.” She wrote for years and at the age of 53 had a NY Best Seller from her book, The Secret Life of Bees, which was a best seller for more than 2 years & sold over 6 million copies.

I have not read any of her books, but her interview was inspiring. I am sure I will pick up her book to understand her even more. The BOLD quotes below were from the interview with Sue Monk Kidd. I then follow those up with my own thoughts about the quotes.

At one point in her life she read the works of Thomas Merton and his words really meant something deeper to her. It made her seek beyond herself and her religion.

 

7205282830_d87f20552e_b“The attention of the heart is truly what prayer is.”     I liked this thought because you can see how true it is. If you find wonder in the symmetry of leaves or the shadows of a tree, you can get lost in the lines of nature and become calm. OR, you can get lost in the attention of the world and not find peace, but noise and distraction. Where you place your attention does matter.

 

favim-com-23027“We are always seeking a place of belonging.”     I could relate to this thought because so much of my life was spent in a religion that is very tribe like. When I decided to seek my own path, it has been my path that I have had to find my own sense of personal belonging and freedom. I have not had to place my beliefs or my place in the hands of others. It is my space. My place.

 

4“Something that brings us alive, pay attention to that.”     We are all seekers of things that make us come alive, that fill us with excitement, that give us that sense of wholeness and purpose.  When you begin to learn something new, to find a new direction, there is something that comes alive within us and and we want more.

 

10-reasons-every-girl-should-study-abroad-4-1473842587“There is no place so awake and alive as the edge of becoming.”   I think we can all relate to this thought because we have had moments, inspiration, thrill as we stand on the edge of an idea, a dream, a newness, a becoming. You feel so alive!

 

rumi-voice-words-listen-2s5j.jpg_thumb_600w-square“Listen to the yearning within.”     I think we all need to get to that point where we truly listen within and wait patiently for direction, answers, inspiration and have a faith that we will begin to hear the yearnings of our heart.

 

pic-Love-Heart-Hands“Ask for the thing that lies at the bottom of your heart.”    I think as we begin to truly listen within, we will get deeper and deeper to the true knowing that lies at the bottom of our hearts. We have deeply innate knowing of a greater divineness that is held deeply within our hearts. It is the greatest gift, if we can learn to unbury it.

 

635836773350119896432457799_who-am-i-1024x575“Who am I?” Oprah shared how she was asked to answer this question and it took her a few days to really take it in and answer—NOT the labels she has or the labels the world has given her.     Sue then shared a similar experience—all the labels of the external self vs the TRUE inner self. She said, ‘maybe that is the point to life, to discover that part, to align with it, become more a part of it.”

 

thank-you-1“Always seek, but always acknowledge when you find something.”     This was a very true point for me. I have been a seeker for most of my life & I hear this thought & know I have not taken the appropriate time to say THANK YOU for the many gifts I have been able to Seek & Find. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

 

St.-Clair-Beach-Sunrise-8She quoted William Wordsworth saying we need “spots of time” to remember we are holy, this is divine.     I like the idea of having “spots of time” throughout your day to get quiet, to remember the holy reverence that is life.

 

862-03808243“We truly become what we pay attention to. If we pay attention to our fears, worries…that becomes our life.”     This is a good reminder for all of us to pay attention to what you truly pay attention to.  Are your days filled with worry and regret? or are your days filled with gratitude and love? Listen to the words you say, the thoughts you think and what energy you are putting out into the world. We truly do affect our lives & those around us. What are you focusing on?

 

45biglovequotesrefurbOprah then did a Q&A:

O: Point of Life.    SMK: to LOVE and CREATE

O: What you know for sure.   SMK: Just to BE is HOLY. Just to LIVE is a GIFT.     BEAUTIFUL.

Hope you were able to take something good from the highlights of this interview. I LOVE learning and sharing. We can learn from everything and everyone!!

Have a beautiful day. -H

 

 

 

 

Addiction. Damn it!

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Addiction is a tricky idea & a dangerous one to those who are trying to find the deeper, better part of themselves.

How does anyone move on from actions, thoughts, abuses, emotional ties, things that seem to bind to the core? It is hard to see people struggle with inner demons and unable to see the chain that is dragging them farther from their higher self.

Addiction. Damn it!!

So, with that happy thought. smile. smile. I am going to find some images and quotes that may shed some light and take any of you out there that struggle with addiction to a better place for THIS moment. This one is for my brother. May you find hope. LOVE YOU.

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I LOVE YOU BRO. May each day find you a little better. xoxo

Lessons from the movie Moulin Rouge

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ImageThe movie Moulin Rouge is a mix of vibrance, colorful characters, amazing scenes full of dazzle, great music, creativity, wonder, jealousy, rage, lies, all tied together with a beautiful love story that truly is a bitter sweet. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I have always found the beautiful, emotional ride touching.

Here are a few of my lessons from the incredible Moulin Rouge…

The overall take away  THE GREATEST THING YOU’LL EVER LEARN IS JUST TO LOVE AND BE LOVED IN RETURN.  Beautifully said. Warning: If you can’t take and appreciate this lovely statement, then you may not enjoy the movie.

You are worth more than you have any idea:  Begin now to see the true treasures and gifts within yourself. (Whether you are a penniless writer or a courtesan) How you see yourself does matter in the end.

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LOVE is better than diamonds. There is a beautiful transformation of Satine from when she sings “Diamonds are a girls best friend” & believes money to be the saving grace for her life—-to the later Satine that is truly in love with the penniless writer. You see the outcome of love.  His gift was always his song & the love he had for her in his heart—not diamonds.

ImageMy gift is my song. And this one’s for you. And you can tell everybody that this is your song. It may be quite simple but now that its done. I hope you don’t mind, I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words. How wonderful life is now you’re in the world.

There will always be people to fuel a fire of rumors. Don’t be one of them. Rumors have a life of their own & once you take one and pass it along…it becomes a part of you. The outcome, whatever it may be, sadly is part of you. You will not be able to hide, the deceit, the energy it carries– springs from you. You are part of the tragedy or ill will it bestows upon someone else.

Jealousy truly is a bitter substance. Whether you are jealous of your neighbors yard, your husbands secretary, the car your sister has, become increasingly afraid you will lose…something, anything…you are playing with fire. Jealousy is a rage that burns within, so do whatever you can to snuff it out before it consumes you.

Follow your heart. You only have moments within your life that you can truly follow your heart & listen to what it yearns for. Luckily Satine followed her feelings & was finally free.

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True friends care and believe in what is best for you. Harold Zitler cared for Satine, but in the end he just wanted her to finish the show (at any cost). But Christian’s friend Toulouse always believed in the love between Christian and Satine & he told him to go back to her because he knew their love was true.

Even the most bitter sweet endings inspire the heart to know true love. “Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and then on not-so very special day, I sat down at my type-writer and I wrote down our story. A story about a time, a story about a place, a story about the people. But most importantly, a story about love. A love that will live forever. The end.”

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There are always beautiful things to take away from any movie, so I hope you when you watch Moulin Rouge you will find some of your own lessons from this love story. enjoy.

Some additional quotes from the movie…

il_fullxfull.303269165 tumblr_l9njq3Ik8a1qzh6cro1_500Moulin-Rouge-Top-Romantic-Movie-Quote

Fun SUMMER Mix

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Summer Mix

“Hey! It’s Summer! Be free and happy and fanciful and uninhibited!”  -Terri GuillemetsImageSummer is a fun time to mix-it-up with something new…try some new music, read a new book, find a great vacation spot, something new to make for a family picnic…I am going to shake it up and start doing some Mixing. Here is a fun SUMMER MIX you will find at my house. Enjoy!!

Good SUMMER READS     

“One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by.”  -Jeannette Walls

ImageA few books in my collection that are good reads: The Happiness Project by Gretchin Rubin: Why I spent a year trying to sing in the morning, clean my closets, fight right, read Aristotle, and generally have more fun. This was a great book with wonderful perspective. It helps you see someone else’s life perspective, how to insight and good anecdotes for real life. A Good SUMMER read. She also has a new book Happier at Home. I may read it this summer.

A few more from my bookshelf: Dr. Wayne Dyer, has many amazing books, but Being in Balance is a pick for this summer  –  Andy Andrews has numerous inspirational books, The Traveler’s Gift, The Butterfly Affect & The Noticer are just a few good ones I have read  –  Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea is one I have been saving for a summer time read  –  Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements  –  Loved the fable by Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist – Robin Sharma also has some great books including, The Monk who sold his Ferrari   Hopefully something here will spark an interest!! Happy Reading.

Good SUMMER FOOD

“Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer’s year–it brings to the harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul.”  -unknown

ImageSummer is a fun time to do an outdoor bbq, make some yummy, cold pasta salads, toss up a fresh garden salad or step out and try something new to MIX into your summer routine. I came across this great recipe for fish tacos—looks good, something new I want to try.ImageFood Network Fish Taco with Watermelon Salsa—sounds delicious!  Here is the link to make the yummy dish. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/fish-tacos-with-watermelon-salsa-recipe/index.html

Here is the link to their other yummy sumer recipes   http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes-and-cooking/fresh-healthy-summer-recipes/pictures/index.html

I came across another good site that has 100+ summer recipes. Here is the link http://www.theurbanbaker.com/100-great-summer-recipes/

Good SUMMER MUSIC          

“In Summer, the song sings itself.” -WCWilliams

ImageDemi Lovato has a new album out & this is a good song to dance to called Neon Lights. I also love her new song Nightingale—beautiful.

Other fun SUMMER songs you’ll find in my playlist include:

Of Monsters & Men, Little Talks and Yellow Light  –  Lana Del Rey, Young & Beautiful from the movie The Great Gatsby  –  Jessie Ware, Wildest Moments  –  Ellie Goulding  –  Katie Melua, Just Like Heaven, Thank you, Stars, Nine Million Bicycles, If you were a Sailboat  –  Calvin Harris, I need your love, Feel so close, Sweet Nothing  –  One Republic’s new album – something mellow Carinthia….hopefully you will find something in this list you like.

Good Family FUN SUMMER SPOTS

ImageHere is a collection of top vacation spots according to different sources:   the first has a whole listing for Best Vacations around the world   from travel.com http://travel.usnews.com/

the next comes from familyvacationcritic.com   http://www.familyvacationcritic.com/10-best-vacation-bets-for-2013/art/   (Fyi #4 spot is near my home in Utah)

the 10 Best Budget Destinations for 2013 listed here from budget travel.com   http://www.budgettravel.com/feature/best-budget-destinations-for-2013,12651/

and don’t forget to…

Image“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.” -John Lubbock

Image“Find Joy and BeWILDerment!”   Step out of your comfort and be free, a little more WILD in your day! Get out in nature, notice the little details, see the wonder in all you do.

ImageEnjoy Summer! Enjoy every moment. Seize the warmth, the sunshine, the cool lemonade, the starry nights, the sandals, the memories you make with those you love.

HAPPY SUMMER!  -Heather

Wisdom from my favorite podcast teachers

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“There is a voice inside of you that whispers all day long, “I feel this is right for me, I know that this is wrong.” No teacher, preacher, parent, friend or wise man can decide What’s right for you—just listen to the voice that speaks inside.”  -Shel Silverstein

Much of my life I have spent searching for what spiritually felt right for me, the voice inside that spoke my needed truth. I spent many years debating others views, fighting words that were said, feeling hurt and alone. It was when I began to listen within for what was right for me that many doors opened to teachers that I needed in my life.  Many of the following people left imprints within my heart. They shared a thought that sang to my soul, they sparked something that lit me up, they were the spiritual & self-improvement mentors that I have gained much guidance from. I wanted to share some of these amazing people with you–they hold depths of wisdom and light. I am still finding more every day….but that is what life is about…a true journey for the soul.

John Kabat-Zinn, a great teacher, author of Mindfulness, Professor of Medicine & Director of the Stress Reduction Clinic & the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine

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He shares a beautiful metaphor for meditation—he says it is like the ocean, the ocean has waves, a current, just like your mind has chatter. It is when you are able to get below the surface that there is calm.

“Perhaps ultimately, spiritual simply means experiencing wholeness and interconnectedness directly, a seeing that individuality and the totality are interwoven, that nothing is separate or extraneous. If you see in this way, then everything becomes spiritual in its deepest sense.” -John Kabat-Zinn

Elizabeth Lesser, Author and cofounder of the Omega Institute

Image“How strange that the nature of life is change, yet the nature of human beings is to resist change. And how ironic that the difficult times we fear might ruin us are the very ones that can break us open and help us blossom into who we were meant to be.”  -Elizabeth Lesser

“If we can stay awake when our lives are changing, secrets will be revealed to us–secrets about ourselves, about the nature of life, and about the eternal source of happiness and peace that is always available, always renewable, already within us.”  -Elizabeth Lesser

Dr. Wayne Dyer, Self-Help author of 30+ books & motivational speaker, father of 8

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“Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.”  -Dr. Wayne Dyer

“Your children will see what you’re all about by what you live rather than what you say.” -Dr. Wayne Dyer

Cheryl Richardson, best-selling author and Life coach

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“Your best teacher is the person offering you your greatest challenge.” -Cheryl Richardson

“There is nothing heavier than the burden of potential.” -Cheryl Richardson

Sarah Ban Breathnach, Best-selling author of the Simple Abundance Series

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“Whatever we are waiting for–peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance–it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.”  -Sarah Ban Breathnach

“The authentic self is the soul made visible.”  -Sarah Ban Breathnach

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, brain scientist, author of My Stroke of Insight

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“Just like children, emotions heal when they are heard and validated.” -Jill Bolte Taylor

“Peace is only a thought away.” -Jill Bolte Taylor

“Emotion only lasts in our bodies for about 90 seconds. After that, the physical reaction dissipates, UNLESS our cognitive brain kicks in and starts connecting our anger with past events.”  -Jill Bolte Taylor [This can be around any emotion. So what she is saying is your emotion of anger…can only last for 90 seconds and then its gone UNLESS we re-trigger it by thinking about things or events over and over—something to seriously think about]

I would highly suggest watching her interview with Oprah on Youtube–amazing story.

Marianne Williamson, spiritual teacher, author and lecturer.

ImageOne of my favorite quotes of all time. [I am sure it is loved by many of you.]

“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.”  -Marianne Williamson

“Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we have learned here.” -Marianne Williamson

Well, that is all for today. I will share some other great teachers another day. I hope these thoughts will open a door for you to learn a little more about these amazing people. Maybe they will crack open a needed change within your heart, maybe they will guide you to the possibility within. The lessons are endless and ongoing, the teachers are gifts delivered in a daily podcast. Enjoy every moment. Learn every day & Find Happiness in everything you do!!  -Heather

Fyi–you can hear most of these people on Oprah’s spiritual podcast shows. They are great to listen to while you are out walking, driving, just need to be inspired. There is always so much to learn.

What you can learn from Disneyland!

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I was creating a activity book for my ten year old daughter for our long drive to Disneyland a couple weeks ago and came across some great Disney quotes…

So, I thought after a fun trip in Disneyland last week that I would write about some of the fun things I learned from Disneyland!!

“Hakuna Matata…it means no worries.” -Lion King    This is a great lesson for our little family. We are in between jobs, but decided to put worry aside and head to Disneyland for our daughter’s birthday. You only have birthdays once a year, so we lived by the quote Hakuna Matata…no worries & we will always have our memories together in Disneyland for her sweet, one and only 10th birthday!

“Faith makes dreams come true”  -The Rescuers     Where do dreams begin? They begin with each small step that takes you closer to anything your heart desires.  It is taking the first step that seems to be the biggest faith building moment.  I have been thinking about faith every single day, knowing that doors will open.  “Put your faith in what you most believe in.” -Tarzan

“A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view.”  -Aladdin   I am looking at each day as a new adventure, not knowing where our little family will be, if we will have to move, if Kate will be able to handle change…each day is a new day, full of surprises.

“The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you UNIQUE”  -Walt Disney  My daughter reminds me of this daily. She has this amazing ability to shine…like children do. She is fearless and full of enthusiasm. While we were in Disneyland she wanted to stand out, be noticed, so she danced everywhere (she has done this since she was little in any theme park). On her birthday she was given two Disneyland birthday buttons, which she wore proudly (on her shirt & hat–so everyone could see them) and enjoyed everyone telling her “Happy Birthday.” While we were watching some street performers, they asked for some people to join in, my daughter jumped at the chance. She didn’t hesitate and walked out into the middle of probably fifty people and began to dance with the performers. No fear!! Proud to be who she is and happy to shine, like she was meant to!!

“Happiness is a state of mind.”  -Walt Disney  I know we were happy enjoying ourselves on every little favorite, simple pleasure. We were happy eating our churros and Mickey ice creams every single day!! Our daughter was Happy waiting in 45 minute lines to see the princesses. My husband was Happy even though he was running between parks to get fast passes. After three days straight—I was Happy to find a quiet bench. You can find Happiness in everything!

“What if it’s not everything that I dreamed it would be? What do I do then? You get to find a new dream.”  -Tangled   There is always a bit of struggle in any type of change—new job, new baby, new move, new relationship…but you do your best to make things how you imagined, and if it seems tainted or not how you envisioned, then you begin again to find something you can cherish, something you can learn from, something you can take with you into a new moment. There truly always is a silver lining in all things, you may just need to look a little closer to see it.

“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever.”  -Walt Disney   After walking around Disneyland for three days, there was no shortage of childlike adults sporting their sequined Minnie ears or pirate jack costumes. It is always fun to see families in the spirit of Disney with matching Disney shirts, little girls twirling about in their favorite princess dress and little boys fencing with their new plastic swords.  Watching people makes you  truly see the child within everyone and understand Walt’s sentiment that  laughter truly is timeless and has no age limit.

“It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell.”   Thank heavens for additional pages in our life story. We take for granted that we have another day, yet hopefully, we find a grateful heart for another page, a little more of our own story.

“Dreams do come true, and maybe something wonderful will happen.”  -Giselle, Enchanted   This is already true for everyone. Something wonderful happens every day…you get a gift…a new day, a new chance to begin again, another moment with your children, a new love to live, a new dream to fulfill, another story to tell…

I hope these thoughts will help you to make it a better day. That you will look at today a little differently and that your life will shine a little brighter.

Thank you Walt Disney for creating a place where people can let go of worries, find a little magic and believe in dreams. You truly are a man of inspiration.

Have a beautiful day.  -Heather