Embrace Your Gifts and Soar!

Fish Musings

Our small, outdoor fish pond has been a source of: joy, frustration, fear, sadness, anger, excitement, entertainment, and tranquility. We inherited six gold fish when we moved into our house only to discover that after a few years of bonding with them, a big, black snake decided to have them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Little did we know at the time that all was not lost. Miracously, a few fish eggs somehow managed to produce three, tiny orphans. One of those offspring disappeared but the remaining two fish clung to each other, grew up and became parents themselves this summer.

First I see one baby fish, then another and as they keep appearing, it becomes impossible to get an exact head count on this lively bunch. As I watch the new babies swim around, I imagine that the two big fish must have been awfully lonely to produce such a clan. Problem solved! Now, they have their own fish community.

Most of the fish have learned to associate me with food, so when I walk toward the pond, they swim in my direction and prepare their mouths for delicious, golden flakes of fish food. I toss the food into the pond and watch the fish gobble up the food with gusto and passion.

My eyes are drawn to those three baby fish who hang back though. For some reason, they do not join the other fish. They hover in a corner and miss out on the abundance of food that is floating in the water. They are smaller than the other fish and I assume they are not growing as rapidly because they are not taking advantage of the food that is being offered to them.

It confuses me. Why? Why don’t all of the fish take advantage of the abundance of food? What holds a few of them back? Is it fear? Are they unaware of the grand opportunity that is so close to them? Are they too proud to accept help? Perhaps they do not feel worthy of receiving. Maybe they are afraid to obligate themselves.

I guess those little survivors don’t realize they are cheating themselves out of an opportunity to grow to their full potential. While they are surely surviving, I have to wonder if they are thriving.

Lucky for them, I sprinkle a little food on their side of the pond too. It will be a happy day when I actually see them swim up and chomp, chomp, chomp!

Happy Sacred Sunday everyone!

Beverly

Win 6 Life Coaching Sessions

This is a contest where everyone is a winner!

That's right! You are a winner. I already know this about you. The question is, do you know this about yourself?
 
If you participate in this contest, you are guaranteed to smile and feel great about yourself. Here is all that is required to play.
 
I want to know how you are embracing your gifts and soaring.
 
Your entry will begin with...
 
I am so proud of myself for...........

The grand prize for this contest is...

Six full length , powerful sessions of life coaching valued over $550.

Now, here's the fun part! Your entry (essay, poem, list, written words) will be returned to you when you least expect it. Out of the blue, you will open your mailbox and discover positive, encouraging words written about you, by you. 

Ready to play? Details below.

Good Luck to all!
 

Blessings!
Beverly

----------------------------------------------------------------

Enter the Embrace Your Gifts and Soar “I Am Soaring!” contest. 

In 500 words or less, please describe how you are soaring in life. Attach your name, address and e-mail address to your entry. Also, please state how you learned about this contest. All of your information is kept strictly confidential and will not be sold or revealed to any other organizations or people. This includes your essays, poems, lists, etc.
 
Begin your poem, list or essay with

I am so proud of myself for...........

Here are some questions to reflect on as another starting place for your entry.

• What are you doing in your life that makes you feel good about yourself?
• How are you proud of yourself for the ways that you show up in life?
• What values do you honor that reflect the most wonderful things about you?
• What challenges have you overcome?
• What accomplishments have you achieved?
• What is beautiful about you, inside and out?

Mail “I am Soaring!” entries to:
Embrace Your Gifts and Soar!
The I’m Soaring Contest
P. O. Box 1341
Jackson, MS 39215

Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your entry. Your entry will be returned to you as a way to remind you of all of the great stuff about you! Won’t that be a nice surprise?

The winner of this contest will receive a total of six, forty-five minute coaching sessions, valued at over $550. All entries will be placed in a basket and one entry will be randomly selected at noon CST on Monday, September 15th.

HOW TO ENTER

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. To enter, complete the official entry form available at www.embraceyourgifts.com.  To be eligible, entries must be completed and received by September 13, 2008. Incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries shall become the property of Beverly Keaton Smith who is not responsible for lost, misdirected or delayed entries. Entries received by telephone, fax or e-mail will not be accepted. Entries must be mailed to Embrace Your Gifts and Soar! I am Soaring Contest, P. O. Box 1341, Jackson, MS 39215. All entries must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope from the participant.

CONTEST RULES:

The contest is open to all women, age 21 or older.
 
The prize is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded.

Decisions of the contest judges are final - no substitutions will be available.

One entry per person, deadline to enter: September 13, 2008. Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope must be included with entry in order to qualify for drawing. Attach your name, address and e-mail address to your entry. Specify if you would like to added to our e-mail list and please tell us how you learned about this contest. All of your information is kept strictly confidential and will not be sold or revealed to any other organizations or people. This includes your written entries. 

By claiming the prize, the winner authorizes the use, without additional compensation, of her name for promotion and/or advertising purposes. 

In accepting the prize, the winner acknowledges that Beverly Keaton Smith may not be held liable for any loss, damages or injury associated with accepting or using this prize.

The person whose name is drawn as being the winner of the specific prize will be required to explain why she wants to work with a life coach before the prize is awarded to her. Life coaching sessions will be provided over the telephone.  Winner calls the coach at a prescheduled time that is determined by the coach and winner.  Winner is responsible for all charges related to her telephone service.
        
Beverly Keaton Smith, CPCC
Embrace Your Gifts and Soar!
I am Soaring Contest
P. O. Box 1341
Jackson, Mississippi 39215

Making it a Rainbow Day

 This small hand painted tile hangs in a spot where I see it all of the time. I like the idea of painting my own rainbows. This means I don't have to wait for fate to majestically place one within my view...and of course, I love that too!

Here are 10 ways that I paint rainbows for myself.

• Go to Youtube and watch my sister, Becky Phillips sing from her heart.
• Connect with animals. plants, nature and people.
• Create win-wins.
• Take naps
• Pray
• Write
• Dance
• Count my blessings and practice gratitude.
• Travel
• Dream Big

How do you paint rainbows for yourself?

Blessings to you,

Beverly

Meet Terri Smith of The Terri Lynn Show

Loads of gratitude going out to Ms. Terri Smith of the Terri Lynn show. She invited me to join her for a conversation on life coaching and I eagerly said, "Yes!" I was so impressed by Terri's thoughtful questions and her professional manner. She did everything possible to make me feel at ease during the taping of her show. Click below to hear what we have to say about affirmations, values and slowing down. Vew the entire show at http://terrilynnshow.com/

Heat, Heat...Go Away! Little Jingo Wants to Play.

  

The sound of an opening door tells my cat, Jingo, that she has an opportunity to escape from the oppressive heat that July brings to the deep south. As she begins her short trek toward the house, her slow pace makes me wonder if an invisible ball and chain is attached to her leg. After making it halfway to the door, she unexpectedly plops down on the concrete driveway. I encourage my two year old kitty by saying. "Come on Jingo, you can do it. Just a few more steps and you will be indoors where it is cool."

Jingo looks defeated and determined as she gets up and aims her slow moving feet toward the door again. Immediately after entering the house, gravity yanks her hot body onto the cool floor. Jingo stares out into space as if she has just been through the most harrowing experience of her life. A few minutes pass before Jingo snaps out of her trance, gets up from the floor, eats dinner, drinks water and curls up on her favorite chair for a nurturing nap.

The next day, Jingo stays indoors even though I give her the opportunity to go outside and play. Apparently air conditioning is more appealing than watching birds, chasing frogs and hunting for bugs during the hot, steamy days of summer in Mississippi. My other cat, Banjo, figured this out weeks ago.

Hope you're staying cool, wherever you are!

Blessings!

Beverly

PS: photo of Banjo and Jingo playing outside in September 2007. 

You Never Know What You Are Going To Encounter...

 

I love how my teal blue, linen skirt flares out around the hem. I’m inclined to purposely sway my hips when I walk or at the very least, twirl until I lose my balance. My summer sandals with the floral design whispers "I am woman" to anyone who notices them. As I dash out the door to run a few errands, I delight in feeling girly and carefree.

I shift my green Miata into gear and settle in for a thirty minute drive. Within two minutes, I catch a glimpse of a white, majestic horse with grand wings trotting away from his castle. I am sure that this beauty is preparing to take flight so I make a left turn into the long gravel road that leads to the castle. I want to notify the king at once. My tiny two-seater forces me to drive slowly so the gravel will not attack the car. It seems to take forever to reach the entrance of the castle. When I do, I am disappointed. The castle is merely a modest home with a screened in front porch. There is a wrecked car parked under the carport and an open building that resembles a small barn. Next to the barn, there is a grassless, fenced empty pen.

What if I get shot for trespassing? Someone with a driveway this long has to be keen on privacy. I discourage these thoughts by focusing on the horse. I’m afraid he is getting too close to Interstate 20. What if he forgets how to use his wings and runs smack-dab into a car? I open the porch door and ease up to the main door of the house. I knock and ring the bell at the same time to convey my sense of urgency even though I already know that no one is home. The house feels too quiet and of course, the horse has wisely planned his escape.

The horse almost makes it to the Interstate before I find him. After getting a better look at him, I realize he looks old, tired, hot, underfed and neglected. His coat is a dull, dingy, shade of dirty snow with extra black markings speckled along his tummy. The majestic wings have vanished. Maybe he has a good reason for running away. I admire his attempt to go for it, yet I know that I cannot bear to see him get hurt because of reluctance on my part to sidestep a few errands.

Miracously, the horse turns around and heads toward his house. I’m thankful to see him move away from Interstate 20 even though I doubt he is going to simply trot home and go back to bed. I reach for my cell phone and call my husband. "Greg, give me the number for the local police! There’s a loose horse on the road and I’m going to save it." You would think this kind of news would invoke a substantial response, but my husband just says, "Where’s the phone book?"

As I call the police, a couple drives up and joins my horse rescue mission. The guy in the driver’s seat shouts from his car window to mine, "Call 911!" I want to say, "Don’t tell me what to do!" but I politely respond, "I’m calling the police now!" I continue to follow the horse while the other couple follows me. I stop my car, get out and briefly talk to the concerned couple about the horse. I’m glad to have their company and feel more hopeful that this horse ordeal will soon have a happy ending. As I return to my car, I say, "You never know what you are going to encounter in a day, do you?" Everyone laughs and nods because none of us expected to be on horse duty this afternoon.

With my car’s help, I herd the horse toward the side of the road. When I get a little too close for comfort, the horse shoots me a look that says, "Give me a break, would ya? I was just trying to have some fun!" After this, he picks up speed and gallops into my neighborhood and disappears. When the police arrive, I tell them all I know about the horse and wave good-bye. Relieved, I take a deep breath and focus on my list of errands again. 

I doubt that horse is going to be happy about being captured. My guess is that he will pursue freedom again. If he does, I hope he will sprout magnificent wings and safely travel to a magical wonderland with green pastures, cool breezes and waterfalls of love before happily returning home.

by Beverly Keaton Smith

Copyright 2008; Beverly Keaton Smith

Embracing Gifts and Soaring!

I am filled with gratitude for women who Embrace their Gifts and Soar! Here are just a few who come to mind.

Want to see more beautiful soy mandala candles like the one pictured above? Visit the Luminous Soul website to see their full selection. While you are there, meet wildly talented Stacy Wills of A Magic Mom and Her Mandalas. I've purchased some of these mandala candles and I can tell you first hand, they are high quality candles that bring a good dose of positive energy into any room. They make great gifts too!

Looking for inspiration to create your own mandalas? Visit Cheryl Finley at Art in Every Day and ask her about joining the Mandala Oasis on line group. It's one of the best free resources around for gaining tips, inspiration and support on creating mandalas.

Christina Frei makes being a dork about the coolest thing ever! Visit her dork friendly website at Dork Central. Find out what kind of dork you are (I'm a coconut dork!) and learn about other great, fun, entertaining things about dorkiness. Geared toward kids and a great play land for adults too!

If you are looking for support, wisdom, guidance, understanding or resources about perimenopause, pull up a chair and visit with Jennifer Boire at MsMenopause. Her blog is packed with wonderful insights, resources and wisdom regarding this transitional time in a woman's life. I often read Jenn's latest post and feel more at peace about some of the changes I am experiencing in my body during this phase in my life. Highly recommended!

Judy Berry is a whole lot more than Just Jootie. Judy has a gift for weaving stories, wisdom and inspiration all into one lovely package. She can take something that seems like an ordinary, every day occurrence and fill it with sparkle and meaning. Her endless creativity always finds a way to warm my heart.

If you've missed out on ZenaMoon candles, now's the time to explore the ever growing selection of candles that encourage and empower by offering a wide variety of quotes and inspirational phrases that support you on a path that is in alignment with your soul. Carla Blazek's blog, Zena Musings is a winner too and she is the originator of the the popular Sacred Sunday blogging community. Yea Carla!

Karin over at CreativeChaos is not only a master of making the most beautiful crafts ever, she is also a gifted writer who naturally threads humor into her creative writing. She's pretty darn good with a camera too. This lady has it going on!

There are so many more women I could add to this list. If you'd like to share how you are Embracing Your Gifts and Soaring, drop a note in the comment field. I'd love to hear from you.

Blessings!

Beverly

A Butterfly or a Bra (or a ........)

The sand hugs my toes as I walk along the shore of the beach. I notice a young boy playing in the surf. He is full of aliveness and spunk, unlike the grandfatherly man who is with him. The boy gives his head a sharp turn to shake stringy, wet hair from his eyes as he holds a small open shell up in the air so his grandfather can see it. "When shells are open like this, they look like a butterfly or a bra."

The boy's conclusion seems to fall upon deaf ears so he adds more enthusiasm into his voice as he repeats himself. "WHEN SHELLS ARE OPEN LIKE THIS, THEY LOOK LIKE A BUTTERFLY OR A BRA!" His words are still ignored so he turns toward the ocean, tosses the shell into the water and looks at the horizon as if it is speaking to him.

I resist my temptation to run up to the boy and scream out,"What else does your imagination call forth? You've thought of two great possibilities! Now, what else does an open shell look like?"  But, the moment is lost and the window of opportunity closes as I decide to quietly continue my solitary walk along the shore.

As the boy and his grandfather disappear from my view, I enter a contemplative mood around the subject of imagination and options. It is empowering to search for several possibilities in any given situation. Limited thinking and smaller outcomes are often generated from the "either/or" and the "this or that" approach. Who wants that? There's always at least three or more options in any situation. The best way to make a well-informed choice or to get the most desirable result is to explore as many possibilities as possible. Instead of getting stuck in "black or white" thinking, search for other colors too.

So, what do you see in the photo above....besides a butterfly or a bra? (there are no wrong answers!)

 Blessings!

Beverly

Remembering Dad

Dear Dad, Today and everyday, I think of you. Thank you for all you taught me, all you left me and all the love you felt for me. My deepest wish is that you can still feel the love and gratitude that I have for you. I miss you but I know that you are still with me in spirit.  ~Bev

 

This photo was taken early in the morning on June 11th, which would have been my father's 70th birthday. I was vacationing at Fort Walton Beach, Florida with my family and when I stepped outside to welcome the day, I discovered this gift. I am absolutely certain that Dad sent it to me!

Happy Sacred Sunday and Love to all!

Beverly

Bucket Listing

As I settle in for an eight hour flight across the North Atlantic Ocean. I look at my seat-mate who is a member of a women's tour group that I'm traveling with. I ask her if she is excited about the days ahead and she enthusiastically says, "Oh yes, going to Switzerland is the last thing on my Bucket List. I'm very excited!"

While her words impress me, the fire in her eyes pulls me in and makes me curious to know about all that she has already checked off of her Bucket List. I do not ask because I don't want to pry. Still, I'm amazed that she has been so timely and efficient at creating and completing a Bucket List. When I suggested that it is time to make a new Bucket List, she agreed. I could tell by her big smile that she had already been thinking the same thing. 

In case you don't already know this, a Bucket List is a list of things you want to do or see before you "kick the bucket". The term was made popular in the movie, The Bucket List starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. It's a very touching and inspiring movie that will be released on DVD on June 10th.

My ten day trip to Switzerland was rich with new sights and experiences. The photo above was taken as I took a solitary walk down the sidewalk by River Ruess in Lucerne, Switzerland. The sun was beginning to set and it seemed to cast a large spotlight on the far away snow covered peaks as a storm slowly made its way into the city.

I've been thinking about my own Bucket List. What next? What do I really want to do or see before I die?

Isn't it great to know that you can complete everything on your list and then have enough time left to make a new list?!

What would you put on your Bucket List?

Something to think and dream about, eh?

Blessings!

Beverly

Nurturing Sleep

How perfect it is that human beings require sleep!

Here's when I think sleep is the best thing ever. It's when I have been sleep deprived and am functioning on nothing but fumes. Finally, the opportunity to bury myself under an inviting blanket envelopes me and I instantly fall into the deep sleep that I yearn for. This sleep is so powerful that I'm certain it transports me directly to heaven. 

This is how I spent my sacred Sunday afternoon after rising at 3:00 a.m. to catch an early morning flight that transported me from Connecticut to Mississippi. Oh, how I loved diving into slumber land this afternoon!

How do you feel about sleep? When is your favorite time to grab some zzzzzz's?

Happy Sacred Sunday to you!

Beverly

PS:

The above photo was taken from a restaurant called Elizabeth's Cafe in Madison, Connecticut. When I looked out the window from my seat inside the restaurant, all I could see was a photo so I took out my camera and captured the moment. The tree was just beyond it's flowering peak and the pink petals were falling like snow. What a magical moment!

Sisters

Do you recognize this man? I'll always see him as Willie Wonka even though he's better known as Gene Wilder. One thing that has always struck me about this icon is his amazing blue eyes so it was a real treat to see those blue eyes in peson!

Gene's latest book is The Woman Who Wouldn't and even though I've not read the book yet, I've got a signed copy in my possession now.

I'm away from home spending time with family while waiting for my new nephew to be born. My sister-in-law, Mendy, will be giving birth any day now. Doesn't she look great?! 

If you have any suggestions for encouraging a baby to be born, I'd love to hear them. I really want to see this little guy before I go home! We've been taking daily long walks/hikes, sipping Raspberry tea and enjoying a few spicy meals.

Speaking of births and sisters, a big Happy Birthday goes out to my sister, Becky today! 

There is much to celebrate today and everyday. Today, I am celebrating and giving thanks for my sisters.

What will you celebrate?

Blessings!

Beverly

Connect, Dance, Love and Write!

This mug has been in my house for two years and I've never taken a sip out of it until this past weekend. I couldn't find my standard travel mug so I tossed this one into the small bag I packed for my trip to Atlanta, Georgia where I attended a workshop on combining physical movement with writing called "Write of Passage" presented by Lori Saltzman. (If you ever have the opportunity to work with Lori, go for it. She is a masterful leader and this particular workshop is powerful and fun!)

I bought this mug when I was in Taos, New Mexico attending the Writer's Spa led by Jennifer Louden and Suzanne-Falter Barnes. I have enjoyed admiring the mug but never felt inclined to actually use it. Now that I've christened this mug, I am eager to hold it in my hands and enjoy many more sips of hot tea while being reminded to "Connect, Dance, Love and Write" since it now holds sacred energy from the powerful workshop that I attended. Isn't it interesting how there is a time and place for everything to unfold in divine perfect order?

What infuses your special, sacred objects with meaning?

Blessings!

Beverly

Sacred Kitchen

If the kitchen is truly the heart of the house, my house was slowing moving toward a heart attack.

Okay, sounds dramatic, I know, but I really hated my kitchen until last week. It felt small and cluttered and it needed a good spring cleaning. My answer? Avoidance! Since my husband does most of our cooking, I had a good excuse to stay away from the kitchen.

While visiting friend and colleague, Susan Freeman, in Boulder, Colorado, I walked into her immaculate, inviting kitchen and got a good dose of inspiration to give my kitchen a mini make-over. Thank you Susan!

My husband and I cleaned out the kitchen cabinets and let go of many items we did not use. This created a lot more space in the cabinets so nothing is stored on the counter tops anymore. Now, our kitchen feels bigger and healthier! Next, we cleaned out the pantry and tossed out food that was expired or unwanted. Then, I pulled out the rubber gloves and cleaned under the sink, in the cabinets, the pantry and the appliances. 

To top all of this off, on sacred Sunday we went to Linen's N Things and purchased a new set of pots and pans along with a few other odds and ends. I've also decided to wash more of the dishes instead of relying solely on the dishwasher so I picked up a dish rack too.

Since I plan to learn to cook, I knew the first step was to make the kitchen as inviting and functional as possible. Yes, really! I am going to learn to cook. As someone who grew up haunted by eating disorders and body image problems, I spent many years seeing food as an enemy instead of my friend. However, there was something about visiting Susan that made me want to step into a new perspective with food preparation, the kitchen and making healthier choices. While the eating disorders of long ago have been healed, I guess a little residual dysfunction was still hanging on and separated me from the joy of cooking.

Here's to happy kitchens, delicious healthy meals and strong beating hearts that pump aliveness into bodies and homes!

If you'd like to recommend good cookbooks or share healthy, easy recipes with me, I'd be grateful! You can post them in the comments so others can enjoy them too or send them to Bev @  EmbraceYourGifts.com

Blessings!

Beverly

No Show, Rocky Flow, No Woe

The final performance of "Tuesdays with Morrie" was presented at New Stage Theatre yesterday and I really wanted to see it. Greg was not available to go with me and I didn't know of anyone who would be free at the last minute, so I decided to enjoy the performance alone and call it an artist's date.

I learned about the concept of an artist's date years ago after reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. The idea is to have a date with yourself once a week in order to feed your connection to your creativity.

I have noticed that since I've been working on a few creative projects, I have felt the need for a creative connection to something outside of my own stuff. Perhaps the concept of an artist's date not only feeds creativity but brings inspiration and a break to those who are already in a creative mode.

After driving into a very full parking lot, I got a little intimidated. I am a little rusty at going to these kinds of events alone. Now that I've been married for almost seven years, I usually have a companion. Nonetheless, I got out of my car and walked into the theatre. Apparently many others had the same idea because several other hopeful people were waiting to get tickets. I decided to wait it out and assume that I would get to see the show. When they told those of us who didn't make it into the coveted seating area that the show was sold out, I was so disappointed that I almost cried. I walked back to my car feeling as if I'd lost my best friend.

Coach Beverly came out to give me a little pep talk. "Everything is how it is meant to be. Everything happens for a reason. What did you learn from this? How do you turn lemons into lemonade?" Before I knew it, my car was heading toward a women's clothing store and I found some great, fun tops that suit me perfectly. I topped off the afternoon by going shoe shopping and even though I didn't find any that I liked, it sure was fun trying on shoes and being selective about all of my purchases.

Big lesson here? Go with the flow. When the music changes, find a new way to dance. Everything does happen for a reason and everything is how it is meant to be. I really believe that.

I'm still feeling inspired to schedule weekly artist's dates with myself. Now that we have entered the the glorious season of spring, the juices are really flowing. I want to do everything I can to support the ever expanding right side of my brain. If you have any fun, suggestions for a solitary artist's date, I'd love to hear about them. Just leave a comment and share if and how you nurture your creativity.

Happy belated Sacred Sunday!

Beverly

PS: Photo of Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii taken by Greg Smith in April 2007.

Happy Easter!

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Humpty Dumpty. I pretend that the kings horses and kings men really can put Humpty back together again. I am totally unwilling to accept that Humpty's existence ends after he falls off of that darn wall.

Sometimes life feels like that though. We take a great fall and sink so low that we think we will never shift back into joy.

One of my dad's favorite sayings was, "this will pass" and he often said it to me when I felt that my life had hit bottom permanently. He was right. My woes and troubled times have always passed.

Just as there are seasons in the year, there are seasons in all aspects of our lives. If you are in a tough spot, remember that the darkness will pass and you will see the sun again. 

Happy Easter and blessings to you,

Beverly

PS: here is the cartoon that Storyteller mentioned in her comment. I posted it, removed it and now am reposting it. Thanks Storyteller, this made me laugh too when I first saw it!

Sisterly Love

This photo of two redheaded sisters was taken about 38 years ago. The camera did a great job of capturing our youth, giggles and joy.

Lately, I've been feeling old....er. I seem to age over night. I'm bouncing along, living my life, and then one morning I look in the mirror and see someone I do not recognize. Then, I realize that an older version of me has arrived.

Nothing is going to stop the aging process and I'm not sure I'd want to stop it if I could. All the phases of life are precious.  Even so, I know the present is really where it's happening now. No need to spend too much time and energy worrying about getting and looking old, (aka future.) No  matter what I look like on the outside, I know that the little girl in the photo will always exist in my heart!

Happy Sacred Sunday everyone!

Blessings,

Beverly

PS: Thanks for sending this photo Mom!

Live Now

Randy Pausch delivered his "Last Public Lecture", entitled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams", at Carnegie Mellon University on September 18, 2007 after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. He appeared on Oprah in October 2007 to give a ten minute repeat performance of his now very famous, inspirational speech.

This is a true heartwarmer that underlines the value of truly LIVING in the present moment. Even if you've already seen this video, it is worth your time to watch it again. I promise! 

Grow, Grow, Grow.

Two small rosebuds, one yellow and one pink. That's all that remained from the dozen roses I brought home two weeks ago. The rosebuds slowly turned a dingy shade of brown so I tossed them into the garbage can this morning.

A tinge of sadness filled my heart as I looked at those rosebuds for the last time. They did not achieve their full their potential. For some unknown reason, they failed to open up and show off the beautiful petals that God gave them. Now their lives have ended and their chance to bloom is over.

I wonder why they did not bloom? What did they need that they did not have?

Is there anything in your life that wants to open up and bloom? What supports your growth?

Blessings!

Beverly

The Jewish Talmud states that, "every blade of grass has its own little angel saying, `grow, grow, grow.'"

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~ Anais Nin ~

God Winks

Today is my Sacred Sunday. Yes, I know the calendar says that it is Monday but I'm resting today and have given myself permission to do nothing. While doing nothing, I logged onto my GoogleReader account and discovered that Lisa at Groggy Froggy posted a video of Josh Groban singing "You Are Loved."

I started the video and then closed the window so I could hear the song without seeing the image. Normally, I would not have taken time to  listen to the video but the dip I've fallen into has left me feeling drained and discouraged. I figured checking out the video would be an okay thing to do. Since I'd been on my computer for awhile, I had a lot of open windows so I began clicking the X's on the upper right hand corner to clean up my desktop. As I heard Josh sing lyrics that included "don't give up" I came upon this open window.

Whoa! Couldn't help but feel that the universe was giving me a very clear message in that moment. I didn't know this pop-up ad from Travelocity was on my screen until I started closing the extra windows.

I gotta tell you, I needed that! Thank you, Universe, for sending me a God Wink! Another thank you goes out to Lisa for introducing me to an inspirational song I had never heard before.

To learn more about God Winks, visit http://www.whengodwinks.com/ or read about synchronicity.

(Bev and Buddy...doing nothing...which actually led Bev to exactly what she needed! February 25, 2008)

Yet another reminder that it really is okay to do nothing!!

Blessings!

Beverly

Oldie but Goodie

I'm not one of Kevin's biggest fans so I did not watch "Field of Dreams" until a few weeks ago. I could not believe how much I loved this movie! I'm going to assume you've seen this movie since it was a big hit in 1989. Remember the scene with the following dialogue? It really struck a chord with me.

John Kinsella: Is this heaven?

Ray Kinsella: It's — it's Iowa.

John: I could have sworn it was heaven.

Ray: Is there a heaven?

John: Oh, yeah. It's the place where dreams come true.

Ray: Maybe this is heaven.

When was the last time one of your dreams came true? Did you notice how it felt? Did it feel heavenly?

When I think about some of my fulfilled dreams, I am so filled with awe and gratitude that I feel like I achieve a heavenly state of mind. It is the most incredible feeling!

Do you have a dream that feels too big to achieve? (I confess that I do!) Try watching this movie for inspiration. Even if you don't have a super big dream, this movie might inspire you to create one!

What's your favorite inspirational movie?

Blessings!

Beverly

Beauty Energy

As we prepare to leave Nick's restaurant on Valentine's evening, the waiter brings two roses to the table. He hands one of them to me and the other one to my mother. I feel like royalty as I carry my rose out of the restaurant. I silently marvel at the power one flower has to top off a perfectly wonderful evening with my mom and husband.

Even though my rose has started to droop, the memory of receiving a beautiful rose still lives through this photo that my mother took of her rose. It seems that she also felt the power of beauty and managed to capture it by taking this stunning photo.

Once I attended an outdoor workshop where I realized just how powerful beauty energy can be. We divided into groups and one group was in charge of adding "beauty energy" to our space. I was amused when I stepped into one of the porta potties and discovered fresh wildflowers strategically placed inside the green plastic walls. I am not a big fan of porta potties but those colorful wildflowers stood out and demanded that I focus on nothing except their beauty. A normally unpleasant experienced instantly became delightful due to a handful of flowers laced with the intention of adding beauty.

One reason I enjoy visiting the blogs on my blogroll is because I am inspired and uplifted by the beautiful photos, words and sincerity that shines on the screen of my laptop. Reading your blogs is just one of the many ways that I strengthen beauty energy in my life.

What about you? How do you nourish yourself with beauty energy? 

Mom, thank you for sharing this beautiful photo and so many good times with me.

Happy Sacred Sunday everyone!

Blessings,

Beverly

Sometimes A Song by Dan Fogelberg

The soft sound of falling rain inspires me to light more candles as I listen to soothing music while addressing Valentine's Day cards. As I seal close to thirty cards to precious people in my life, I hum along to the newest release by Dan Fogelberg called "Sometimes A Song." This is a Valentine song that Dan wrote for his wife, Jean Fogelberg. She arranged to have her gift from Dan distributed as an MP3. I downloaded my copy from Amazon.com. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of this touching love song will go toward research to find a cure for prostate cancer.

I love that Dan Fogelberg continues to impact this world after his untimely death on December 16, 2007. It is a true testament to the hugeness of his gifts and heart. Please support Dan and Jean's efforts to find a cure for prostate cancer. For only 99 cents you can purchase this song and support the cause.

Blessings!

Beverly Keaton Smith

Let's Talk About Money

Please credit to Beverly Keaton Smith if you use these money photos or reprint this article.  

 "It's so hot, you could fry an egg on the sidewalk!"

One hot summer day, my young hands reached into the refrigerator and sneaked a few eggs into my pocket. With great expectations, I cracked the shells open over a sidewalk and waited for them to start cooking. Through the sting of disappointment, I learned that expressions are not always meant to be taken literally.

My neighbor saw me playing with the eggs and mentioned it to my father. Our neighbor thought my experiment was funny. My father did not! Dad casually asked me, "how much do you think those eggs that you took from the refrigerator cost?" I replied that I didn't know. Together, we calculated how much money I had wasted by ruining perfectly good eggs. The small amount was deducted from my allowance and I learned that next time I should be more secretive with my experiments. Okay, the bigger lesson I took away was that money is hard to come by and should never be wasted. I guess this is just one of the episodes from my childhood that shaped me into a "saver." 

Many times, I coach clients around the issue of money. Usually, there is a core limiting belief that gets in a person's way of accumulating money. Often, the core belief is something along the lines of

Love of money is the root of all evil.

I'll get my rewards in heaven, not now.

Money is scarce and hard to come by.

These perspectives are core limiting beliefs which are very effective at keeping money away from your bank account. Here are examples of positive perspectives around money.

Money is freedom and I deserve freedom.

I love money and money loves me.

I am a money magnet. I have the Midas touch!

Since we choose our perspective around money, wny not choose a belief that is positive and affirming? You can reinforce your money magnetism by creating a structure that reminds you of your positive perspective on money. I recently moved into a new office and the window shade that was hanging on the window broke and fell to the floor. Instead of buying a new shade, I hung my money boa across the top of my window to serve as my reminder that money is abundant and constantly flowing to me. I love looking at it and being reminded that money is always within my reach. Also, my money boa sparkles with joyful memories and energy because it was a gift from friend and colleague, Laura Howard West who owns the Center for Joyful Business.   

With a crazy stock market and fears of a recession floating around, it is even more tempting to fall into a negative perspective around money. Why not reflect on your core beliefs about money and see how they are working for you? If you find you are operating out of a limiting belief, try updating your belief and see what happens. There's not much to lose and everything to gain!

I'd love to hear about your core belief around money. If you'd like to share, leave a comment. We can all inspire each other to generate even more empowering beliefs around money.

Blessings!

Beverly

Keeping A Vision Alive With Jewelry

Perhaps it is unusual to see a ring that dances and affirms a vision. Maybe that's why people often ask me about the ring that I wear on my thumb.

My ring is the keeper of words that have special meaning to me: Embrace Your Gifts, Soar, Circles, Women, Love, Movement, Joy.

I love wearing a ring that was made just for me. I told my friend, Lil McKinnon Hicks the words I wanted on this ring and quietly sat in her studio and watched her skillfully turn pieces of metal into jewelry.

The loops on the ring are loose so I never know which word might catch my eye. The ring's movement accelerates a feeling of aliveness and reminds me to focus on living in alignment with my life purpose. Most importantly, this ring connects me to feelings of gratitude for having wonderfully gifted, inspiring, creative, supportive women in my life.

If you have special words you would like to wear on a ring, send a note to Lil at mail@lilmckhjewelry.com.

Expansion

It is cold and sunny on this sacred Sunday so I built a fire and hung out in my sacred space. Inspiration to take inventory of 2007 set me in motion and I spent some time reflecting on the past year and my slow steps into 2008.

Taking Inventory

Last year I got the idea to write 100 things I did in 2006 from Carla Blazek. Making that list showed me that 2006 was much fuller and richer than I realized so I vowed to make a list every year. As I made my list today, I enjoyed being reminded that 2007 was packed full of good stuff. While it may sound daunting to list 100 things you did in a single year, I encourage you to play with this idea and see how it works for you. This is a great way to get an overall view of the past year and acknowledge your triumphs while taking note of what you would like to change in your life for the next year.