Just Begin

Hugs,

Love is the Answer

Hello, lovely ladies! I just got back from a short trip to Huntsville for work. I had a lots of alone time in the car, exploring a place I’ve never been, and a little shopping – oh yeah, and some work. LOL. On my drive back yesterday I heard a song during the midday flashback that I haven’t heard in a while and frankly had completely forgotten about. I really listened to the words and was brought to tears. The words speak directly to my heart, caressing the tender spots that were magnified due to the Connecticut tragedies last week.

I Believe - Blessid Union of Souls

I believe
That love is the answer
I believe
Love will find a way

It’s hard to imagine that some people are capable of such horrendous, violent acts. Please keep in mind that they are the minority. We, those who have faith in our fellow man, are the majority. Seek peace. Seek love. And never stop believing. Love is the answer.

Hugs,

P.S.
On a similar side note...
How powerful are these lyrics?

Why can't we just see
that all we do is eliminate our future
with the things we do today
Money is our incentive now
so that makes it okay

Exactly. What we do today affects tomorrow. Children are our future. What are we teaching them?

Emotional Self-Discovery :: Unwrapping the gift of Empathy

Today I want to share with you something that I learned recently about myself that has made my “weirdness” finally make sense. I’ve heard people talk about being an empath but it always went right over my head. I guess I wasn’t quite ready to connect the dots.

In October, I took Hannah Marcotti’s Spirits of Joy in which there was also a Facebook group to share your responses to prompts. Day 23’s prompt was: Take a quality that you believe you possess that you wish you could change. Explore shifting this, molding it, expanding it, working with it. This was my response:

A dear sweet soul responded to me with this:

YouTube Link

I checked it out and holey-moley, it was like Dr. Orloff was talking about me personally! Things finally started to make sense as to why I do certain things which seem odd to others but aligns perfectly with being an empath. My sensitivity (which I’ve written about here many times), my need to have space with myself after crowded events, wanting to always drive myself so I have a getaway car (LOL), finding it necessary to retreat during heated debates, my mood changes after being around negative people (energy vampires), my carrying of other peoples burdens, my tendency to anxiety and depression, my inability to live with others, my finding relationships overwhelming, my emotional overeating, and my sensitivity to smells, sounds, and voices. There is a reason for all of this!

I was intrigued by what Dr. Judith Orloff could share and have since picked up her book Emotional Freedom in hopes that it will help guide me on ways to block out negative energy, not carry the emotions of others, feel more grounded, and to use this gift to help others instead of hurting myself.

I feel so empowered to now have some answers to my emotional quandary! If this is something you’re familiar with I would love to hear what you have to share. Let’s help each other and learn from each other.

Hugs,

Magical Journey

A friend shared this clip on Facebook of Katrina Kenison reading an excerpt of her book Magical Journey. Beautiful! I'm going to have to check this book out when it releases in January.

Hugs,

You are beautiful

Good morning, beautiful beings! I wanted to share a few fun self portraits that accompany a special You Are Beautiful project I have in the works. Please, please watch the video below and know that you are an amazing, unique, and beautiful person! Know it. Feel it. Believe it.

Go. Be. Amazing.

Hugs,

The Known Universe

Absolutely breathtaking and a reminder that we are such a small part of a huge universe.

Spiral Illustrations

Is that not the most amazing thing you've ever seen? The spiral illustrator is Chan Hwee Chong of Cue Art illustrating Girl with a Pearl Earring. Amazing!

image credit

Have a little faith

I have faith in you!

Hugs,

TGIFive on Friday

This might be the cutest cuddly creatures at play video! Enjoy!

1) I MUST make a Dear Universe jar to send gratitude and wishes out into the world!

My Smiling Heart

2) How to BE the Change from Liv Lane. Liv is so right on about being yourself and doing what you love to BE the change you wish to see in the world.

3) I just came across WISH (Women's International Summit for Health) and really enjoying the talks on health, fitness, wisdom, relationships, etc by an array of inspiring speakers (SARK is one of them!).

4) Have you heard of One Word? One word is displayed and you have 60 seconds to write about it without thinking into it.

5) Hanging Out on Our Growing Edge from Jamie Ridler reminds me of how much I miss yoga and one of the things I really loved was that no matter your level we are all the same, we are one, on the mat.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Quilling with Yulia Brodskaya

The images below are the quilling artwork of Yulia Brodskaya whose stunning work appears in magazines, advertisements, and book covers. Quilling is a technique that involves strips of paper that can be rolled, shaped, and glued to the background. Gorgeous!

This video show's Yulia's work, Christmas in Wonderland for the Italian department store Coin.

XOXO,

TGIFive on Friday

I can't get enough of this song, Safe & Sound by Taylor Swift + The Civil Wars for the upcoming movie, The Hunger Games.

1) I Dare You on Kind Over Matter
2) How to Mix Chalkboard Paint in Any Color from A Beautiful Mess

3) The Evolution of a Doodle from Alisa Burke

4) Don't forget to ask whether the stories are even true from Kate Courageous. It's like she was telling the painful story buried in my heart.

5) Stop Searching, Start Being from Metta Drum. Oh, I have felt that emptiness that can't seem to be filled.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Against the Grain

Amazing colored pencil stop motion video created by Dropbear (Jonathan Chong) teamed with the indie-folk artist Hudson for his song, "Against the Grain."

XO,

TGIFive on Friday

Bonnie at Going Home to Roost shared this sweet chalkboard animation video called Autumn Story by Firekites. The animation and music is too awesome to not pass along to you. Have a beautiful day!

1) Letting Go *free* printable download from My Concrete Sky

2) DIY flour sack screen from Flea Market Style

3) *Free* love tags from Danita Art

4) Love is all you need tear-off poster from Kind Over Matter

5) There's so much bravery in this post from Suzi Blu, Mediocrity and the Cult of Martha.

XO,

TGIFive on Friday

 

If you haven't seen this video floating around check it out. It's worth a look to remind us to spread a little kindness. Have a wonderful weekend!

1) To pair with my post yesterday, How to destroy a friendship (and other meaningful relationships), here is a great post on fostering relationships, 20 Things to Start Doing in Your Relationships.

2) I love these abstract Black and White Wall Art panels from Alisa Burke.

3) Love is in the air with these *free* Chevron Valentine's Day Party Printables from Tatertots and Jello.

4) The *free* Right-Brainers in Business Video Summit from Jennifer Lee is returning this year (Feb 27 - Mar 9)! Get your ticket here.

5) The Great Lesson of Loneliness from Metta Drum. Love this...

XOXO,

You're beautiful, it's true.

 

Ladies, you are so much more than what can be viewed in a glance. You are more than your body shape, size, or skin color. You are more than the airbrushed images you see in magazines. You are more than you believe you are. You have thoughts, emotions, and dreams. You are amazing, a miracle, brave, bold, and beautiful.

Brave Girls Club

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. ~Confucius

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A number on the scale doesn't define who you are as a person.

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Don't let others decide your self-worth.

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Believe it.

 

XOXO,
Amanda

Don't quit!

How To Be Alone

This video has been circulating on the web lately and is absolutely beautiful. It's called How To Be Alone by Tanya Davis and Andrea Dorfman. If you haven't seen it yet, please take a few minutes to watch it.

I first saw it here: http://www.viviennemcmaster.com/blog/2011/2/5/day-5-of-14-days-of-self-love-how-to-be-alone.html