Quote - No Easy Walk

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There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.  ~Nelson Mandela

Beach Photo Walk

Hugs,

Quote - Like a Bird

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Like a bird with broken wing

that has traveled through wind for years . . .

I sleep and my heart stays awake . . .

~George Seferis

Full Moon Dreamboard :: Full Strawberry Moon

This is the Full Strawberry Moon which asks, "What delights are you dreaming of?" To participate, please visit Jamie Ridler Studios.

I really felt the need for lots of white space in my collage, not for lack of beautiful images, but because It just felt right. That's something I'm looking for not only in my dreamboard but in my life right now. I need an abundance of space to relax into and allow time to journal and reflect - time to heal and grow. We spend so much of our time planned and scheduled and I would like plenty of unscheduled time for a change. With that comes time to commune with nature - to ground and go into the woods.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful Full Strawberry Moon!

Hugs,

Lately

:: She Reads ::

Two Whole Cakes by Lesley Kinzel

An excerpt:

"Women in particular are prone to directing their anger at themselves rather than at the pair of jeans that fails to fit both their hips and waist at the same time, as though the jeans' expectations must necessarily prevail over the actual dimensions of the body you've had for your entire life. If the jeans don't fit, it must be your fault. You should change to fit them, because the jeans are in charge here. If you refuse - silly, stubborn person that you are - then you are relegating yourself to fashion struggles in perpetuity."

So true as we always turn the blame on ourselves for a garment failing to fit properly. "I'm so fat." "My hips are too wide." "I look like I'm pregnant with triplets." yadda, yadda, yadda.

:: She Listens ::

An oldie, Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits

:: She Watches ::

Safe Haven - Loved the book and the movie!
Pitch Perfect - How come I haven't seen this movie until now? Loved it!

:: She Explores ::

June Full Moon & Solstice Celebration with Sage Goddess tonight

:: She Creates ::

Lovely journal pages for Journal your Life

:: She Loves ::

A photo walk on a (mostly) secluded beach (more pictures coming soon)

Hugs,

Quote - Desire

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Desire presses ever forward unsubdued.   ~Sigmund Freud

When words are not necessary

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I've never heard my grandmother's voice. Grandma Rosie, my dad's mother, had a stroke when I was little which left her unable to speak. She lived down the street from us which allowed me to visit her often. It was then, at a young age, that I learned that love does not require words.

I always felt closest to my Grandma Rosie than anyone else in my family. It seemed to be an unspoken pact between us that both of us as the black sheep of the family should stick together. Words were never necessary for us to understand the other. Our hearts were linked to intuitively know what the other needed.

When I was in elementary school she had another stoke and was moved to a convalescent center to help care for her. We visited her on Sunday's after church and it was always me she reached out to for a hug and a kiss on the cheek. It was towards the end of my time in elementary school, perhaps 5th of 6th grade, when she walked towards that bright light of heaven. My heart broke and I felt so lost without my rock. But I knew deep down that her voice had returned and she was speaking sweetly with our Heavenly Father.

I was reminded of this lesson again as an adult during my visit to India. I sponsor a lovely girl in Rishikesh so that she may have the same opportunities as the boys with her education. I was able to meet and visit with her at her school and was given permission for us to attend aarti together one night. Our English levels were not at the same level so we could speak in broken English but not carry on a long conversation.

This night was my first ever attendance of aarti and it was the most beautiful ceremony I've ever attended. Manju, my sponsored friend, would show me what to do as offerings and candles were passed around. The singing and chanting were stunning although I didn't know the words. I didn't need to know them because I could feel them. My heart was bursting at the seams with all the love and fellowship between all these strangers who accepted me right into their devotion.

Words were not necessary that night at aarti because I could feel the love, as with my grandmother. Language could have been a barrier but instead love built a bridge.

Hugs,

Quote - Light

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There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.   ~Leonard Cohen

Lately

:: She Reads ::

Still reading Women Who Run with the Wolves + Feng Shui Your Life by Tisha Morris

:: She Listens ::

Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

:: She Watches ::

Warm Bodies - super cute! + this season of True Blood premieres tonight! 

:: She Explores ::

Summer Solstice 7 Journeys with Pixie Campbell

:: She Creates ::

This cutie at the local art center

Uniquity post for The Declaration of You Blog Lovin' Tour

Finished the turquoise + magenta dreamcatcher

:: She Loves ::

Savoring Mediterranean food + art journaling brain dump

New Moleskine's for Journal your Life

Prettied up my inspiration board area

Have a wonderful week!

Hugs,

Quote - Dance

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Except for the point, the still point, there would be no dance, and there is only the dance.  ~T.S. Eliot

The Declaration of You :: Week 2 :: Uniquity

The Declaration of You will be published by North Light Craft Books this summer, with readers getting all the permission they’ve craved to step passionately into their lives, discover how they and their gifts are unique and uncover what they are meant to do! This post is part of The Declaration of You’s Blog Lovin’ Tour, which I’m thrilled to participate in alongside over 100 other creative bloggers. Learn more – and join us! – by clicking here.

Ever since I was a small child and into adulthood I've felt like I was different from others. You could say I was a black sheep, lone ranger, or even an ugly duckling. It's only been the last couple years that I've stepped into my uniqueness and acknowledged my true self.

You see, all this time I thought there was something wrong with being unique. Doesn't everyone want to fit in? Not anymore. I would much rather claim my uniqueness than to fit into some mold. I don't have to be a copy of someone else when my own true self can shine brighter than a carbon copy.

In the story of the ugly duckling, the poor sweet duckling was an outcast and did not fit in with his family or community. It was when he later discovered that he was actually a swan that it all made sense. Of course he couldn't waddle like a duck or swim like a duck or look like a duck because he was not a duck! As a swan, he could be his amazingly awesome self, his true self, and everything made sense.

The moral of this story is: Why try to fit in as a duck when you were meant to stand out as a swan?

Be the swan.

Be your beautiful, marvelous, and unique self.

I can’t wait to be a part of The Declaration of You’s Facebook party this Friday at 9-9:30a PST/11-11:30a CST/12-12:30p EST. We’ll be chatting in real time about Uniquity over at facebook.com/TheDeclarationOfYou. Hope you can join us!

Hugs,

Quote - The Rose

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How did the rose ever open its heart and give to this world all of its beauty? It felt the encouragement of Light against its being; otherwise we all remain too frightened.   ~Hafiz

Lately

:: She Reads ::

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

:: She Listens ::

A Drop in the Ocean by Ron Pope

:: She Watches ::

Gangster Squad with my man Ryan Gosling

:: She Explores ::

The Making Space Cleanse with Hannah Marcotti and Journal your Life with Susannah Conway. Both start tomorrow!

:: She Creates ::

Turquoise and magenta dreamcatcher in progress

:: She Loves ::

Random acts of kindness! This is a RAOK coffee I received at Starbucks on Friday. Pay it forward, baby!

CSA weekly veggie pickup

Which became a delicious salad

More found feathers

And another found heart. This one in my Teavana tea.

Hugs,