Embrace Your Gifts and Soar!

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

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

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

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.

What do you want for yourself for 2008?

That's the big question. Usually, I embrace this question with great gusto during the first few days of January and create a theme for the year. This year, I didn't feel like thinking about it.

I had already decided that I wanted this year to be about LOVE. That seemed good enough to me. I looked at my other themes from years gone by and realized that I didn't want to feel limited by a theme anymore. So, today I made a giant list of things I want for myself in 2008.

I am out of the box with the idea of creating a theme and it feels great to know that I can have it all! The first steps are reaching clarity on what you want and then setting the intention that you will have it. (Thankfully, I had inspiration to expand on the theme idea from good friend Lil McKinnon-Hicks as I witnessed the blessing of her new studio with positive words written on a poster board.) 

My themes from the previous years have manifested so I am ultra excited about stepping into this BIGGER place with creating a New Year's theme. (Read more about Setting a Theme for the New Year.)

Letting Go

Since I had all of this positive mojo going, I decided to take advantage of the fire in the fireplace and do my own private "letting go" ritual. I said good-bye to depression, low energy and procrastination. These things have been getting in my way lately and I'm tired of them. I'm ready to shift into higher spirits, more energy and inspired action that calls me forth into the direction of my dreams and deepest desires. I wrote  the unwanted words on a piece of paper and set an intention to release the negative energies as I threw the paper into the fireplace and watched the paper turn into ashes.

I notice that this sacred Sunday feels like the very beginning of my new year. Isn't it great that we can make all of this up as we go along and we really don't have to follow anyone's rules or a date on the calendar?

Happy New Year to Me!

and you too!

With Love,
Beverly

The Socks Were Hung By The Chimney With Care..

Imagine my surprise when I walked into the den and discovered our newest "stockings!" My husband added some of his socks to the mantle so our pets would have stockings too. Now the three fish, two cats and one dog are covered. Wondering how he got the socks to stay up there? Blue painter's tape. You can see the roll on the hearth.

My first impulse was to take the Hane's athletic socks down immediately but I quickly decided to let them stay. This has been a month of home improvements so I never got around to bringing out the holiday decorations. The love hanging on our mantle is enough for me this year. I treasure the real stockings that my mother-in-law made for us. The socks pretending to be stockings are a reminder of how much love our pets bring into this household. Also, I have such a sweetheart for a husband! He sacrificed his socks for our pets! Yes, I'm feeling quite a bit of Christmas love on this Sacred Sunday! I hope you are too!

Happy Holidays to all!

For those who love Christmas music, here is a fun quiz you might enjoy.

http://living.aol.com/holidays/lyric_quiz

Blessings!

Beverly

Sleepless in Clinton...again

Sleep. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. I guess this is one of the gifts of premenopause. At least, that is how I'm trying to look at it. I have to admit, I miss my solid nights of sleep. I love sleeping and dreaming so on the nights I suddenly wake up anywhere between midnight and 3:30 a.m., it feels like I'm missing out on something wonderful that I used to take for granted.

I can always tell when I'm not going to be able to go back to sleep for awhile. I used to fight it by trying to force myself to go back to sleep. That didn't work so now I just go with the flow. "Oh, I'm awake. What can I do now?" I often grab my laptop and write or read. Sleepless nights give me the perfect opportunity to check in on the blogs that I discovered when Carla started up the Sacred Life project.

At first, I found blogs that appealed to me and added them to my site so I could check them regularly. It was difficult to put the names of authors with each blog. Now, I've got it! For example, I know that Lisa at Groggy Froggy recently left a dissatisfying job to begin a new chapter in her life. Jane over at Painted House 52 has this incredible photo posted on her blog of her breasts painted in pink cake frosting. She did this to show support of women getting their annual mammograms. Olivia over Happy Luau has started posting wonderful videos of herself on her blog and every time Patti over at Welcome To My Universe posts a photo of one of her paintings, I want to run to the nearest craft shop and buy my own supply of brushes and paints and give it a go. Karin over at Creative Chaos is so good at combining her creativity and humor and I'm hoping to meet up with Julie from S'up? one day in the near future when I visit Atlanta. Actually, I'd love to meet all the women in person who share their lives with me through their blogs. Now, wouldn't that be fun? One great big bloggers party! Whoa, what a special day that would be!

I love to click through my whole list of blogs that I have posted on my blog and take a peep into what's going on in each person's life. I am inspired by the courage, creativity and realness of each blogger's journey that I witness from afar.

So, this morning at 1:21 a.m. I'm giving all my fellow bloggers on my list a great big thank you for sharing your hearts with the world through your precious blogs.

I feel connected to each one of you and am grateful to be sharing this journey with you.

G'nite...(maybe)

With love,

Beverly

Hello! I'm Cartwheels! What's Your Essence's Name?

Essence: the most significant element, quality, or aspect of a thing or person.

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Friday we had the best time in my women's coaching circle. After connecting to our hearts, we each adopted a name for the essence of our being. I offered the women in the group these questions to help them connect with the unique name of their essence.

Who does your heart want you to be next week?

What word, phrase, animal or object symbolizes who your heart wants you to be?

I named myself Cartwheels to represent my essence. Why Cartwheels? I see cartwheels as being fun, playful and joyful. They make me think of movement, adventure, risk taking, strength, and a willingness to look silly. Cartwheels offer me lots of points of view so they remind me to try on different perspectives and CHOOSE one that works for me.

I also like the open heart pose that comes with getting ready to do a cartwheel. Imagining that I am doing a cartwheel under the sun or in the rain connects me with the earth and my love of nature. Also, Cartwheels holds the intention that I will remain strong, flexible and physically fit. However, if I fail while doing a cartwheel, that is okay. I can just pick myself up, recover and go for it again.

I get very excited when I think about the possibility of doing cartwheels anywhere and everywhere! I can do them on the beach, indoors, in green luscious grass or while hiking on a mountain trail. Cartwheels makes me think of being big, versatile and expansive. Also, I love that a cartwheel is a circle since circles hold sacred meaning for me.

Another thing I love about naming my essence Cartwheels is that other people can do cartwheels with me. This means that cartwheels symbolize community, friendships, laughter and joyfully co-creating with others. Also, I can see myself wearing fun, bright colorful clothes while doing all kinds of cartwheels. Like snowflakes, every cartwheel is different and unique so I have lots of inspired actions and freshness around me.

Cartwheels demand that I take up lots of space so my big, bold self can be Free and Alive! This makes the little girl in ME and adult part of ME giggle with delight. I'm also glad that Cartwheels connects me with my breath as breathing deeply is essential to generating the energy I need to keep a cartwheel (and my life!) in motion.

I bet by now you think I am a pro at turning cartwheels. Here's the truth. I can not do a cartwheel! After trying many times when I was a little girl, I finally gave up and admitted defeat. So, another thing that Cartwheels brings to mind for me is doing things I formerly believed I could not do. Cartwheels turns the idea of defeat into an opportunity to create from all that is around me...even failure.

Wow! This essence name is loaded with meaning for me. Now, here is my challenge to myself. I am going to go outside and stand in my freshly mowed backyard and attempt to do a cartwheel. I'll have to drum up some courage for this one because I can't begin to remember how many years it has been since I've tried to do a cartwheel. The best thing about this is I know it's okay if I still can't do one. At least I will know I had the courage to try. (Of course, this brings the "ask for help" piece to mind too. No way I'm going to try to do a cartwheel all by myself! I'll have a spotter named Greg close by!)

What name would your give your essence? Please leave a comment and tell me. I'd love to hear what comes up for you around this question!

Blessings!

Beverly

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

Precious Cleaning Moments?

Peter Gabriel makes cleaning house more bearable but it's still not fun and tends to make me grumpy. There are too many other things I'd druther be doing so cleaning often falls to the bottom of my list of priorities.

I've tried to change my perspective around cleaning house and even cut out this picture of a perky looking lady doing housework but her energy has not rubbed off on me yet. However, tell me that you are coming over and I will clean like a mad woman! Since my sister-in-law is flying in this week, I am in deep cleaning mode.

Thankfully, Greg, my husband, helps with household chores. After walking through his clean kitchen, I go toward the closet where the Swiffer Mop is hiding. On my way back to the bathroom, I glance into the den. There I see that Greg has placed our two Webkinz stuffed animals side by side on a pink pillow. I stop, put the mop down and take in the moment. Despite my grumpiness about cleaning, my husband still found it in his heart to creatively say "I love you." 

Never would I have thought that an unexpected sacred moment could be found in the midst of Windex and Scrubbing Bubbles.

What are some unique ways that you tell your loved ones you love them?

Beverly