The peace of God is shining in me now. Let all things shine upon me in that peace, and let me bless them with the light in me. ACIM
Monday's Course in Miracles
My daily spiritual practice includes reading, writing and meditating with the Course in Miracles. Each Monday I post the day's lesson.
The peace of God is shining in me now. Let all things shine upon me in that peace, and let me bless them with the light in me. ACIM
The peace of God is shining in me now. Let all things shine upon me in that peace, and let me bless them with the light in me. ACIM
The Power Of A List
I was expressing to a dear friend of how alone I felt in dealing with a current situation. It is a common theme in my single mom life and it paralyzes me each and every time. The thought," I can't do this all alone," freezes my mind and deflates my heart........Not the best way to create positive results.
After hearing me out, my friend lovingly suggested that I make a list of everything I have accomplished 'all alone' in these years of being a single parent.
What a genius idea!
Reading my list immediately lifted my heart.
I can't do this all alone suddenly became I CAN do this.
Nothing about the situation changed. I am still in the midst of dealing with it and some of it is cruddy, yet looking at my list of accomplishments has given me courage and hope and a 'you go girl' attitude.
I invite you to do the same. Make a list of everything you have accomplished and let it serve as a reminder to how strong you truly are!
After hearing me out, my friend lovingly suggested that I make a list of everything I have accomplished 'all alone' in these years of being a single parent.
What a genius idea!
Reading my list immediately lifted my heart.
I can't do this all alone suddenly became I CAN do this.
Nothing about the situation changed. I am still in the midst of dealing with it and some of it is cruddy, yet looking at my list of accomplishments has given me courage and hope and a 'you go girl' attitude.
I invite you to do the same. Make a list of everything you have accomplished and let it serve as a reminder to how strong you truly are!
Monday's Course in Miracles
My daily spiritual practice includes reading and meditating with the Course in Miracles. Each Monday I post the day's lesson.
I will be still an instant and go home. ACIM
I will be still an instant and go home. ACIM
Friday's Feng Shui:Two Super Powers
I am dedicating Friday's blog to all things Feng Shui. I love utilizing Feng Shui in my own life and in my coaching practice.
Last week I wrote about clutter. Please know, ridding our homes/minds/hearts of clutter is no different than how our body rids itself of waste. It is a daily practice.
Our homes have two super powers. The two places that crave the most attention are the entry ways and the bedroom. These super powers let the energy in our home and let us rejuvenate every cell in our body. Front doors and bedrooms matter!
Suggestions:
Doorway:
Do whatever you can with whatever you have to make your entry ways sparkle.
Put something in the color scheme of reds in your doorway.
Make a curve or turn with plants or rocks or (again) with what ever you have for the entrance. Try to make sure there is no straight line to your door.
Bedroom:
Make your bed.
Make it beautiful in any way you can.
Get rid of all electronics, exercise equipment or anything work related. If this cannot be done, cover them with a pretty blanket or a pretty something.
Put a plant in there.
My personal favorite: Fresh flowers in my bedroom at all times.
To my front door in the summer with my thumb blocking the road. AHHH!
Last week I wrote about clutter. Please know, ridding our homes/minds/hearts of clutter is no different than how our body rids itself of waste. It is a daily practice.
Our homes have two super powers. The two places that crave the most attention are the entry ways and the bedroom. These super powers let the energy in our home and let us rejuvenate every cell in our body. Front doors and bedrooms matter!
Suggestions:
Doorway:
Do whatever you can with whatever you have to make your entry ways sparkle.
Put something in the color scheme of reds in your doorway.
Make a curve or turn with plants or rocks or (again) with what ever you have for the entrance. Try to make sure there is no straight line to your door.
Bedroom:
Make your bed.
Make it beautiful in any way you can.
Get rid of all electronics, exercise equipment or anything work related. If this cannot be done, cover them with a pretty blanket or a pretty something.
Put a plant in there.
My personal favorite: Fresh flowers in my bedroom at all times.
To my front door in the summer with my thumb blocking the road. AHHH!
Monday's Course in Miracles
My daily spiritual practice includes reading and meditating with the Course in Miracles. Each Monday I post the day's lesson.
Let all things be exactly as they are. ACIM
Let all things be exactly as they are. ACIM
Friday's Feng Shui: Start with the clutter, 10 Tricks
I am dedicating Friday's blog to all things Feng Shui. I love utilizing Feng Shui in my own life and in my coaching practice.
Feng Shui is a 3000 year old Chinese practice of how our environment effects us physically, emotionally and spiritually. The goal of good feng shui is to arrange your space so energy can flow freely. While the principles of Feng Shui are important. They are not as important as to how you feel in a particular room and how your space is being utilized. I once had a ping pong table in the middle of my living room. It was perfect feng shui because my family spent an entire winter playing together.Feng Shui is not a one time fix because life is always changing and energy is always shifting.
As I have stated in a previous blog posts, getting rid of clutter is the most important aspect of Good Feng Shui.
10 Tricks to Getting Rid of Clutter
1. Keep the kitchen counters clean.
2. Set a timer for 15 minutes. Clean something. Stop when the buzzer rings
3. Make your bed
4. Something goes out before something comes in.
5.Before you leave a room look back and see if you can pick up.
6. A place for everything
7. I keep a red basket in the kitchen for stuff I can't deal with at the moment. I go through it every week.
8. Teach your children to pick up after themselves. (But know 80% of the time they won't ha)
9. Take baby steps. Tackling your entire house in a day will overwhelm you.
10. Take time for yourself. Clearing out brain clutter and filling your soul is the most loving act you can do.
Feng Shui is a 3000 year old Chinese practice of how our environment effects us physically, emotionally and spiritually. The goal of good feng shui is to arrange your space so energy can flow freely. While the principles of Feng Shui are important. They are not as important as to how you feel in a particular room and how your space is being utilized. I once had a ping pong table in the middle of my living room. It was perfect feng shui because my family spent an entire winter playing together.Feng Shui is not a one time fix because life is always changing and energy is always shifting.
As I have stated in a previous blog posts, getting rid of clutter is the most important aspect of Good Feng Shui.
10 Tricks to Getting Rid of Clutter
1. Keep the kitchen counters clean.
2. Set a timer for 15 minutes. Clean something. Stop when the buzzer rings
3. Make your bed
4. Something goes out before something comes in.
5.Before you leave a room look back and see if you can pick up.
6. A place for everything
7. I keep a red basket in the kitchen for stuff I can't deal with at the moment. I go through it every week.
8. Teach your children to pick up after themselves. (But know 80% of the time they won't ha)
9. Take baby steps. Tackling your entire house in a day will overwhelm you.
10. Take time for yourself. Clearing out brain clutter and filling your soul is the most loving act you can do.
A Present From God
I love September. For me it symbolizes new beginnings.
This year the new beginning has hit especially hard as I am adjusting to having my eldest away at college. Much of my thinking is of days ahead and the questions swirl in my brain.
"What will it be like when E goes to college?"
"What will it be like when S goes to college?"
"What will it be like when I have an empty nest?"
The thoughts that follow are both exciting and scary. I plot and plan and then change my mind and plot and plan and change my mind as I think of my future life. Today as I was out running with those thoughts rushing through my head.
I stopped.
I love setting goals and creating a vision of how I want to live. We all need to do that. However all of those thoughts were taking me away from now.
Now is our present from God
This year the new beginning has hit especially hard as I am adjusting to having my eldest away at college. Much of my thinking is of days ahead and the questions swirl in my brain.
"What will it be like when E goes to college?"
"What will it be like when S goes to college?"
"What will it be like when I have an empty nest?"
The thoughts that follow are both exciting and scary. I plot and plan and then change my mind and plot and plan and change my mind as I think of my future life. Today as I was out running with those thoughts rushing through my head.
I stopped.
I love setting goals and creating a vision of how I want to live. We all need to do that. However all of those thoughts were taking me away from now.
Now is our present from God
Monday's Course in Miracles
My daily spiritual practice includes reading and meditating with A Course of Miracles. Each Monday I share the day's lesson.
Creation's gentleness is all I see. ACIM
Creation's gentleness is all I see. ACIM
Robbing time
When I was in my 20s, I remember my dad reminiscing about years gone by. It was just the two of us sitting in the living room together. He was telling me stories of when my nine older siblings and I were small children.
His eyes glistened as he stated, "Those were the best years of my life, Gin-Gin."
His sadness bothered me. I wanted my dad with me at that moment, not lost in days gone by. I simply couldn't wrap my 20 year old brain around then being better than now.
I dropped my eldest off to college last week.
My emotions have been all over the place. I have spent many hours reminiscing of years past. I am guilty of feeling just as my dad did 30 years ago. As I look at all of the pictures of us on the walls I wonder, "Were those really the best years of my life?"
Memories are tricky and selective. Pictures are snapshots of happy times.
Then is not better than now.
Looking back can be fun, but too much looking back robs time to appreciate now,
His eyes glistened as he stated, "Those were the best years of my life, Gin-Gin."
His sadness bothered me. I wanted my dad with me at that moment, not lost in days gone by. I simply couldn't wrap my 20 year old brain around then being better than now.
I dropped my eldest off to college last week.
My emotions have been all over the place. I have spent many hours reminiscing of years past. I am guilty of feeling just as my dad did 30 years ago. As I look at all of the pictures of us on the walls I wonder, "Were those really the best years of my life?"
Memories are tricky and selective. Pictures are snapshots of happy times.
Then is not better than now.
Looking back can be fun, but too much looking back robs time to appreciate now,
Monday's Course in Miracles
My daily spiritual practice includes reading and meditating to The Course in Miracles. Each Monday I share the days lesson.
God is but Love, and therefore so am I. ACIM
God is but Love, and therefore so am I. ACIM
Mondays Course in Miracles
My daily spiritual practice includes reading and meditating with the Course in Miracles. Each Monday I share the days meditation.
I will receive whatever I request. ACIM
I will receive whatever I request. ACIM
Mondays Course in Miracles
My daily spiritual practice includes reading and meditating on A Course in Miracles. Each Monday I post the lesson of the day.
I judge all things as I would have them be....
He will relieve us of the agony of all of the judgments we have made against ourselves, and re establish peace of mind. ACIM
I judge all things as I would have them be....
He will relieve us of the agony of all of the judgments we have made against ourselves, and re establish peace of mind. ACIM
Mondays Course in Miracles
My daily spiritual practice includes reading and meditating on a Course in Miracles. Each Monday I share a lesson from the course.
There is no room in us for fear today, for we have welcomed love into our hearts. ACIM
Mondays Course in Miracles
My daily spiritual practice includes reading and meditating on A Course in Miracles. Each Monday I share a lesson from the course.
God's healing Voice protects all things today.
Your healing voice protects all things today and so I leave all things to YOU. I need be anxious over nothing. ACIM.
My day started with such angst yet holding on to these words in faith brought me back to my center.
God's healing Voice protects all things today.
Your healing voice protects all things today and so I leave all things to YOU. I need be anxious over nothing. ACIM.
My day started with such angst yet holding on to these words in faith brought me back to my center.
I am me and that is ENOUGH
When I first became a single mom, I spent many sleepless nights worrying about my children's futures. I was paralyzed in fear with the same question swirling around my head, "How can I be both mom and dad?"
Then one night I was startled awake at 3 a.m. with the answer. "I cannot ever be mom and dad."
The relief was immediate. I am enough.
I finally let go of the notion that I had to be something more than me in order for my children to thrive.
I finally let go of the fear that my single mom status was going to damage my children.
I finally let go of the idea that parenting teens was going to be too scary as a single mom.
I finally embraced I am enough.
Holding on to "I am enough" when life gets hard, parenting feels scary and overwhelming has made all of the difference.
Then one night I was startled awake at 3 a.m. with the answer. "I cannot ever be mom and dad."
The relief was immediate. I am enough.
I finally let go of the notion that I had to be something more than me in order for my children to thrive.
I finally let go of the fear that my single mom status was going to damage my children.
I finally let go of the idea that parenting teens was going to be too scary as a single mom.
I finally embraced I am enough.
Holding on to "I am enough" when life gets hard, parenting feels scary and overwhelming has made all of the difference.
Mondays Course in Miracles
Some of my daily habits have taken a back seat these past months due to watching a whole lot of:
Some of my daily habits have taken a back seat while feeling proud and shedding a tear or two at:
NEXT STEP: COLLEGE
And:
NEXT STEP: HIGH SCHOOL
Some of my daily habits have taken a back seat these past months creating this:
Some of my daily habits have taken a back seat while feeling proud and shedding a tear or two at:
And:
Some of my daily habits have taken a back seat these past months creating this:
While it has been quite a busy, fun filled, emotional few months, the one habit that hasn't changed is my daily spiritual practice. Those 20 or so minutes each morning keep me centered and grounded in love.
Today's lesson:
Today Belongs to Love. Let me not fear. ACIM
Choose Life
In her book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, Bonnie Ware lists not choosing happiness as one of the top five regrets.
I do believe happiness is a choice but is so much more than that. Our lives aren't meant to be all sunshine and roses. We all travel through dark times. How does one choose happy in those moments?
We can fully appreciate the joy when we honor the uncomfortable feelings that ebb and flow. We can't run from grief or anxiety or anger and expect to just be happy. Oh sure we can paste a smile on our face and start reciting affirmations in our head all day, but that doesn't bring joy. That just makes the feeling creep up in other ways, sometimes even as an illness.
Some of the most joyful moments in my life came after I met pain head on.
I was the first person to enter the funeral home at my mothers wake. When I saw her in the coffin something primal jolted me and I ran out the door and down the street sobbing. My sister was waiting for me as I turned back. We comforted eachother and then had one of the most memorable belly laughs of my life.
The day my father died I remember riding a wave at the beach and feeling so free and joyful even though my heart was heavy and my eyes were puffed and red from all of the crying.
Perhaps the biggest regret isn't not choosing happiness but in not choosing life. When we choose life we open ourselves to it all and then the joy bursts open.
I do believe happiness is a choice but is so much more than that. Our lives aren't meant to be all sunshine and roses. We all travel through dark times. How does one choose happy in those moments?
We can fully appreciate the joy when we honor the uncomfortable feelings that ebb and flow. We can't run from grief or anxiety or anger and expect to just be happy. Oh sure we can paste a smile on our face and start reciting affirmations in our head all day, but that doesn't bring joy. That just makes the feeling creep up in other ways, sometimes even as an illness.
Some of the most joyful moments in my life came after I met pain head on.
I was the first person to enter the funeral home at my mothers wake. When I saw her in the coffin something primal jolted me and I ran out the door and down the street sobbing. My sister was waiting for me as I turned back. We comforted eachother and then had one of the most memorable belly laughs of my life.
The day my father died I remember riding a wave at the beach and feeling so free and joyful even though my heart was heavy and my eyes were puffed and red from all of the crying.
Perhaps the biggest regret isn't not choosing happiness but in not choosing life. When we choose life we open ourselves to it all and then the joy bursts open.
Monday's Course In Miracles
My daily spiritual practice includes reading A Course In Miracles, writing and meditating. Each Monday I share the lesson from ACIM.
God goes with me wherever I go. ACIM
This is one of my favorite lines. As a single mother of three teenagers, I can often get caught up in the story of being all alone. This line reminds me that I am never alone and that the feelings of being all alone are simply a call to pray.
Here's us during the early years of singlemommyhood:
God goes with me wherever I go. ACIM
This is one of my favorite lines. As a single mother of three teenagers, I can often get caught up in the story of being all alone. This line reminds me that I am never alone and that the feelings of being all alone are simply a call to pray.
Here's us during the early years of singlemommyhood:
Spring Colored Glasses
When I look outside at the melting snow, the mud, the brownish green grass, and the many things I never picked up before the snow fell, my heart skips in joy. The knowing that spring is arriving makes my soul sing, and my step lighter.
As I was admiring the many sprigs of green in my garden and noticing just how much snow had melted since yesterday, I had an AH HA moment.
To the naked eye, all of this dirty snow, murky grass and mud is actually quite ugly.
It is beautiful because I know that soon it will burst into gorgeous colors.
If I can have that much trust in my landscape and my perennials why can't I have that much trust in my own life? What if my inner landscape of muddy, dull, 'forgot to take care of ' were signs of spring too? What if I didn't put those things on any kind of a timetable but simply helped the process with the absolute knowing that something beautiful would follow?
Even better what if we all saw ourselves through the lens of 'spring is coming' ?
Blessings,
Virginia
As I was admiring the many sprigs of green in my garden and noticing just how much snow had melted since yesterday, I had an AH HA moment.
To the naked eye, all of this dirty snow, murky grass and mud is actually quite ugly.
It is beautiful because I know that soon it will burst into gorgeous colors.
If I can have that much trust in my landscape and my perennials why can't I have that much trust in my own life? What if my inner landscape of muddy, dull, 'forgot to take care of ' were signs of spring too? What if I didn't put those things on any kind of a timetable but simply helped the process with the absolute knowing that something beautiful would follow?
Even better what if we all saw ourselves through the lens of 'spring is coming' ?
Blessings,
Virginia
Kahill Gibran's Words On Children
I have been thinking of and praying for each of my children more often than normal. Nothing is wrong. They are all healthy. Yet, they are teenagers and each one is in a space of tremendous growth. My role as parent feels vague. I listen. I love. I pray. I try my best not to worry. I get frustrated and snarky. I try to keep my sense of humor and I love more.
This morning I pulled out The Prophet, by Kahill Gibran and reread for the millionth time his words on children. The last four stanzas spoke deeply to me:
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent fourth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies so He loves also the bow that is stable.
This morning I pulled out The Prophet, by Kahill Gibran and reread for the millionth time his words on children. The last four stanzas spoke deeply to me:
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent fourth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies so He loves also the bow that is stable.
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