Embrace Your Gifts and Soar!

Hug Your Loved Ones While You Can!!

 

Last night was NOT my best night. Kitty Jingo was nowhere to be found and the temperature outside was dropping rapidly. Normally, she will not stay outside when it is cold so I knew that something was not right.

My husband, Greg, goes outside to look for her armed with the cat food container. He walks around the yard while continuously shaking the nuggets loudly. Since Jingo LOVES to eat, the sound of her food usually pulls her toward the front door immediately. When Greg walks back inside without Jingo, my heart sinks. Everything is pointing toward a reality I do not want to face. I stay up until midnight, waiting and hoping that she will come home. Finally, I go to bed with both ears open.

I awake at 2:30 a.m. and pop out of bed. My thoughts start racing. "Jingo is missing!! I've got to find her." I open every door and use my loudest voice to call her. Nothing.

I notice that Banjo, my other kitty, is not sleeping on the bed like she normally does so I start searching for her. When I see Banjo crouched in front of Greg's closet door, I feel hope creep into my heart. I know that Banjo is telling me, "Jingo is in there! Open the door and let her out!"

I slowly open the closet door and my long lost Jingo saunters out. She gives me a look that says, "I missed dinner. Feed me now!" I pick up Jingo and give her the biggest bear hug ever! I am so grateful to have the chance to scoop her up into my arms and hug her, hug her, hug her!

(Greg and I had both looked inside this closet for Jingo and saw no sign of her. Had no idea that she was inside the house the whole time!)

Twenty Four hours later....

Jingo peacefully sleeps on her favorite chair and my heart swells as I notice that tonight is one of my best nights ever!

THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!

Blessing to you and your fur-babies too!

Beverly

Photo of Jingo taken earlier this week. She was hiding!

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. 

Ebb and Flow

It's raining and cold. Over night it turned into winter. I am not ready for the colder air! Am I really saying that after longing for relief from such a long, hot summer? Kitty Jingo is snuggled on my legs that are propped up on a pullout that extends from the upper part of my desk. She is warm and I am enjoying her presence and her heat.

Greg and I are the proud owners of a dog who does not live with us yet. The nameless dog is being neutered and prepared for adoption. When I think about it, I panic and wonder why in the world I would invite such craziness into my life. Greg is allergic to dogs and we have two cats who are not likely to take kindly to this new creature who will be invading their territory. However, there is this part of us that wants to try it out and see how it goes and if we discover that we can not keep the dog, we want to find a good home for him. An adventure creeping in for sure! Will I really develop a need to add a "dog" category to this blog? Me? Oh gosh, let me slip back into denial while I can!

Oh, but the title of this post is ebb and flow. Why? Because I have not been inspired to write on this blog lately. It's not that I don't want to write but life has been pulling me in so many directions that I have no energy left over for blogging. Like most everything else, ebb and flow shows up in this blog.

I find it comforting to remind myself of the nature of ebb and flow. When the phone stops ringing or the e-mails stop popping in, I do not panic. I simply acknowledge that I have shifted into an ebb period and that flow will return when the time is right. Fortunately, I am experiencing lots of flow in my coaching business and unfortunately, this leaves a smaller space for writing. Eventually, the tide will turn and there will be lots of space in my life for writing again. Maybe I'll even get started on the book that is rolling around in my head.

Oh dear, my legs are falling asleep. I've gotta MOVE!

Before I go, I'd love to know...What are your thoughts on ebb and flow? How do you find balance for all that you have going on in your life...or better yet, all that you want to have going on?

Blessings!

Beverly

PS: Sunrise over Old Orchard Beach, Maine...photo by Beverly Keaton Smith

Choosing A Perspective

Perspective: a mental view or outlook

Jingo has chosen the EASY perspective for today.

What perspective are you choosing to operate from...just for today? There are a ton of perspectives out there...Remember, you get to choose the one that best serves you!

Happy Choosing!

Druthers Give Away is Tomorrow!

This kitty wants to give you a flower and I want to give someone a free copy of The Book of Druthers.

Click Here to learn how to enter your name into the drawing that will be held tomorrow!

(Drawing will be at 10:00 PM on Wednesday, September 26)

Fly Through Magnets

Poor little hummingbird looks broken. Sadly, it seems there is no hope for this symbol of joy. How can she fly when her body is divided into two separate pieces? Oh wait! Miracles happen! This hummingbird only needs to find the right home and then she can find wholeness and joy.

Now she is ready to fly! 

This unique belated birthday gift came to me last Friday during a lovely lunch at Kiefer's with soul sister Judy Berry. Each side of the bird has a powerful magnet on it. When you hold the pieces side by side on the inside and outside of a window, the bird looks like she's flying in or out of your room. The photo doesn't really capture the beauty and uniqueness of this bird magnet. From a distance, this actually looks real. At least, that's what Banjo thought when she happened to walk by!

This magnet can be found at Fly Through Magnets. Just click on the name and you will find all kinds of fun magnets to fill your windows with joy and delight!

Thank you Judy for such a fun gift! My newest sacred object is filled with memories of having lots of laughs and precious moments while sharing a special lunch with my radiant soul sister on a beautiful, sunny day!

What's sacred in your life today?

Beverly

Friends - Gotta have them!

Some might think it's still hot here in Mississippi, but most of us who live here are thankful for the slightly cooler days that have finally arrived at the back door. No longer prisoners of the weather, it's time to delight in temperatures that energize instead of zap the life out of us.

When I stepped outside and saw my two kitties hanging out in the tall green grass as they enjoyed our changing weather, my first thought was, "oh, I'm so glad they have each other!" I'm not saying they are the best of friends. There is some jealousy and territorial stuff that goes on between them. However, they are together more than they are apart. This tells me that they are friends in their own special way.

There was a time in my life when I had very few real friends. I knew something big was missing in my life too. I had lots of acquaintances and co-workers but my life was clearly void of deep friendships. I prayed and asked for God to send friends into my life. My prayer was answered. Now, I can not imagine being on this journey without my incredible friends...especially my girlfriends. They are one of my biggest joy generators and even when I'm not with them, I feel their presence in my heart. I know they are always there.

Dear God, Thank you for answering my prayer.

My favorite song about friends is "Friends." (music by Elton John, lyrics by Bernie Taupin)

I hope the day will be a lighter highway
For friends are found on every road
Can you ever think of any better way
For the lost and weary travelers to go

Making friends for the world to see
Let the people know you got what you need
With a friend at hand you will see the light
If your friends are there then everything's all right

It seems to me a crime that we should age
These fragile times should never slip us by
A time you never can or shall erase
As friends together watch their childhood fly

What's your favorite song about friendship?

with gratitude for all my friends...past, present and future!

Beverly

"A friend is a present you give yourself." ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Computer, Blogs and Cat, Oh My!

It's rare  but it happens. Yesterday, I was reading blogs and Banjo jumped on the bed, snuggled onto my back and took a little nap. It was one of those times when I actually had the camera within my reach so I couldn't resist capturing this sweet, sacred moment in the reflection of a mirror close by.

What's sacred in your life today?

Learn more about the sacred life project by visiting Carla Blazek's blog.)

Blessings to you!

Beverly

Going With The Unexpected

As I walked down the driveway this morning with a full can of garbage trailing behind me, I wondered "What's wrong with me? Why do I feel so blah?" And then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Tears came gushing forth. Could not have been any more unexpected.

Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of Memo's death. Truthfully, I do not usually think of this sweet little kitty as being dead. I feel that she is still so close by. But, this morning I longed to hold her, hug her, pet her, see her. Memories flooded in of watching the vet stick that last needle into her beautiful white fur. I gave myself over to the tears.

So what is sacred about today? Memories of the fifteen years that I shared with a sensitive, white, blue eyed cat who will always live in my heart. Here is a photo of Memo and Banjo snuggled up two years ago while Katrina was showing off in Clinton, Mississippi.

What is sacred in your life today?

(Learn more about the sacred life project by visiting Carla Blazek's blog.)

May your day be blessed with sacred moments.

Beverly

                                                            

Honoring "The Sacred Life"

As my husband and I prepared for a recent trip to Maine, these babies climbed onto the suitcase and offered to go with us. It's always so hard to leave them behind no matter where I'm going!

Since my cats play a big role in connecting me to a sacred life, I am sharing this picture for the first day of my participation in Carla Blazek's Sacred Life Project.

Banjo and Jingo connect me to "Sacred Living" because they are all about unconditional love. They remind me to slow down and be present to the sweet moments of life. They are a great symbol of the value of friendship too. I can hardly imagine one of them without the other one anymore. Having a friend is a very good thing! I also love how they run around like crazy, explore outdoors and nap a lot. Their life is all about ease, fun, play, being adored, rest and eating! These two make my heart continuously swell with love and awe. I am forever grateful that God created cats! (and all of the other precious animals too!)

I'll be making a short post about something that connects me to "Sacred Living" each day for the next three weeks. Thank you Carla for creating such a wonderful way to focus on the sacredness of life!

Wanna Play? Click here to learn more!

Don't have a blog? You can always start a handwritten journal to record daily reflections on what connects you to sacred living!

Onward!

Beverly