Huh, you say something?

Wouldn't it be lovely to [doorbell] be able to do one thing [dog bark] at a time and do it well?
To take on [dryer buzzer] a task and see it [baby cry] through to [phone ring] its tidy completion
That kind of [ooooh shiny] scenario is becoming less and less [sneeze] common in our [ouch!] distraction-laden tech world.

More and more often, people are getting fed up with the dangers posed by distracted drivers on the road.  In the area where I live it was reported that over New Year's weekend, drivers would be cited not only for texting or talking on cell phones, but also for eating and applying makeup... anything that could be considered a distraction from the focus need to drive safely and alertly.  The 'no drinking and driving' issue is no longer up for debate.

Early on in my texting days I would have been lumped into the pool of miscreants behind the wheel.  I was very VERY careful... but still.... there were a couple of times where I took my eyes off the road to glance at my cell screen for 'just a second'.... and nearly collided into someone or something ahead of me who had moved unexpectedly or stopped abruptly.  I eventually learned my lesson, without incident, thankfully.

The distractions we fall prey to in our daily routine can be far more subtle.  Aside from the obvious.... TV and the internet.... what kinds of things crop up and seemingly try to derail you from the task at hand?  I live with someone who is committed to interrupting me every ten minutes to impart trivia he's already shared numerous times, or ask me questions he already knows the answers to.  I lose my train of thought and have to 'start all over' trying to figure out where I was, what I was doing and where I was going with it all.  I have estimated that these interruptions cause me to require 4 hours to accomplish anything that should take me 1 hour... It's disconcerting, at best.  I also have a shockingly loud neighbor and a whiny pup who can not bear to play second fiddle to my computer or phone. 

What are your distractions?  And more important, how can you manage them in order to stay focused on what most requires your loving care and attention?  One thing is clear, if we do not handle distractions, they handle us.  So regardless of the means we employ to revoke distractions' powers, we must do so deliberately and consistently.  Little things like a microwave buzzer may not put our lives at risk the way a distracted driver could, but they still must be put in their proper place of priority and perspective in order for us to shine as brightly as those shiny objects we love to ogle.

with focus and joy 
xoxo

Says Who? Says Pooh!

My favorite poem from my favorite childhood book has been flitting about my noggin for days on end.  And so I share the sweet innocence and timeless wisdom of A.A. Milne's Now We Are Six

Us Two 

Wherever I am, there's always Pooh,
There's always Pooh and Me.
Whatever I do, he wants to do,
"Where are you going today?" says Pooh:
"Well, that's very odd 'cos I was too.
Let's go together," says Pooh, says he.
"Let's go together," says Pooh.

"What's twice eleven?" I said to Pooh.
("Twice what?" said Pooh to Me.)
"I think it ought to be twenty-two."
"Just what I think myself," said Pooh.
"It wasn't an easy sum to do,
But that's what it is," said Pooh, said he.
"That's what it is," said Pooh.

"Let's look for dragons," I said to Pooh.
"Yes, let's," said Pooh to Me.
We crossed the river and found a few-
"Yes, those are dragons all right," said Pooh.
"As soon as I saw their beaks I knew.
That's what they are," said Pooh, said he.
"That's what they are," said Pooh.

"Let's frighten the dragons," I said to Pooh.
"That's right," said Pooh to Me.
"I'm not afraid," I said to Pooh,
And I held his paw and I shouted "Shoo!
Silly old dragons!"- and off they flew.

"I wasn't afraid," said Pooh, said he,
"I'm never afraid with you."

So wherever I am, there's always Pooh,
There's always Pooh and Me.
"What would I do?" I said to Pooh,
"If it wasn't for you," and Pooh said: "True,
It isn't much fun for One, but Two,
Can stick together, says Pooh, says he. "That's how it is," says Pooh.

Let Your Imaginals Soar

Yesterday I jabbered on about how we are destined for more than the life of happy little caterpillars.... we are here to emerge as ineffable and majestic butterflies.  The parallels between the stages of caterpillar-into-butterfly transformation and personal/spiritual growth are uncanny.  Here are the 'facts' about this fairy-tale form of life, and how it serves as a superlative example of what we can expect from ourselves and our lives... and how effortless, painless, and peaceful the transformation can be.

Imaginal Cells and Transcending Change 

The genesis of the caterpillar’s transformation begins with the appearance of what scientists have termed “imaginal” cells. Researchers have no idea where these cells come from, or why they appear. 

They are termed ‘imaginals’ because scientists can only hypothesize that their purpose is to ‘imagine’ something incredible that is about to happen. 

At first, the imaginals are fought off and destroyed by the intelligence of the caterpillar organism. But the imaginals keep coming back and eventually form clusters of cells to strengthen their domain. 

Soon the clusters form bonds where they pass genetic type information to one another. The clusters resonate at a higher frequency then their host and begin changing the physical make-up of the caterpillar. 

At a certain point in time, the long string of clumping and clustering imaginal cells switches gears from simply being a group of like-minded cells into the programming cells of the butterfly. They literally reach a critical mass of influence where the caterpillar’s destiny is altered to become a butterfly. 

The pictures on this page show the beginning of the physical transformation the caterpillar undergoes, and certainly connotes a temporary state of chaos. 

What is happening amid this clump of goo is old caterpillar cells transforming into wing cells, into antenna cells, into digestive tract cells, and so on. A new consciousness being born. [wethechange.com]

The stages of growth and emergence in the life of a butterfly are clearly defined, each stage fulfilling a specific purpose necessary to achieve maturity. The 3rd & 4th are those that seem most magical, if not down right impossible.

1st Stage: Egg 

2nd Stage: Caterpillar 

3rd Stage: Pupa (Chrysalis) 

The pupa stage is one of the coolest stages of a butterfly’s life. As soon as a caterpillar is done growing and they have reached their full length/weight, they form themselves into a pupa, also known as a chrysalis. From the outside of the pupa, it looks as if the caterpillar may just be resting, but the inside is where all of the action is. Inside of the pupa, the caterpillar is rapidly changing.
Now, as most people know, caterpillars are short, stubby and have no wings at all. Within the chrysalis the old body parts of the caterpillar are undergoing a remarkable transformation, called ‘metamorphosis,’ to become the beautiful parts that make up the butterfly that will emerge. Tissue, limbs and organs of a caterpillar have all been changed by the time the pupa is finished, and is now ready for the final stage of a butterfly’s life cycle. 

4th Stage: Adult Butterfly 

Finally, when the caterpillar has done all of its forming and changing inside the pupa, if you are lucky, you will get to see an adult butterfly emerge. When the butterfly first emerges from the chrysalis, both of the wings are going to be soft and folded against its body. This is because the butterfly had to fit all its new parts inside of the pupa.
As soon as the butterfly has rested after coming out of the chrysalis, it will pump blood into the wings in order to get them working and flapping – then they get to fly. Usually within a three or four-hour period, the butterfly will master flying and will search for a mate in order to reproduce. [thebutterflysite.com]

May you also gently unfold your wings and soar this year like the monarch you truly are...
joyfully yours

Dethroning the King of the Caterpillars

I, like many people, derive heaps of inspiration from nature, especially the whole caterpillar to butterfly example which I am convinced was designed as a beautiful metaphor to encourage us to hang on, not give up, and hope and EXPECT to be and experience the very best, most glorious and unlimited life possible.

I will touch on the caterpillar->butterfly goop soup metamorphosis process tomorrow, but for now I want to mention a sweet little epiphany I had about the experience of being a caterpillar.

While in the caterpillar phase of life, we all do our very best.  We strive to be the most successful, attractive, kind, lovable and useful caterpillars we can be.  We even dream about life at the uppermost echelon of society.... oh to be the king of the caterpillars.

We engage in all sorts of worthwhile and laudable activities in order to lead a life of purpose and service, while pursuing happiness.  We show up for work everyday... we try to forgive (or at least not flip off) the driver who just cut us off causing us to slam on our brakes and splash our coffee all over our new designer duds.... we fight the urge to cash in our 'dysfunctional' family during the holidays in favor of being with the friends we call family ..... we pay our taxes, send birthday wishes and bake cupcakes for the fundraiser.
Wow.... we're busy! .... and doing such selfless good things to bless the caterpillars around us.

The problem we run into is when we STOP there...
because.....
the truth is.....
we are not meant to live our lives as cute little caterpillars at all....
we are meant to become magnificent butterflies.

We are not meant to plod inch by inch on our tummies in the dirt to get where we are going... we are meant to flutter over the meadows in an effortless dance on the breeze.

It is time for each of us to recognize, embrace and surrender to the exquisite butterfly within.... for that is who we truly are.

with flutters of joy...
xoxo

"You've been let go"

Most of us try to let go of things that no longer benefit us at the top of a new year.  There are people and relationships that we let go too, as part of our internal fresh start clean up.

But what happens if YOU are the one who has been let go?

Frankly, it can hurt.

I have been dismissed far more often than I have ever dismissed anyone.

The unedited wreath image used in this post sums up what just occurred in my life.

During the holidays, a few people close to me chose to render me obsolete.

I have no clue as to why.  Things were absolutely affable, amicable and all the rest.  No strife, no stress, no reason that I know of as to why I was discarded as no longer profitable or desirable as a friend.

The temptation for me to feel rejected and unwanted the last couple of weeks has been very strong.... and yes there have been a few bewildered tears.  But I have been determined to look for the silver lining that I know must encircle the cloudy emotions I've been feeling.  I thought about my best friends, and how they treat me -- the kind of friends you can go months or even years without speaking to and pick up right where you left off without any sense of awkwardness or hurt.... because you know, truly know, that they love you.... and always will.

I decided to stop looking at those who have severed ties with me as being people who obviously don't love me.  Instead I am looking at them as my brothers and sisters with whom I share a mutual affection as part of the family of man.  Whether or not they show love to me, or even feel it, I know it exists -- because we were created to love one another, pure and simple.

What a wonderful opportunity to start the year without the bogged-down feelings of rejection I wrestled with during the holidays, and, as always, to love more fully, deeply, and universally.

with love,
joy

This is the kind of pink slip I'd prefer, please

The Greatest Escape

A friend and I were chatting on Facebook yesterday.  He had several days off from work (unheard of for him) and after some contemplation, he came up with the following assessment of his present lifestyle:

What are my "escapes"?

• food/cuisine/cooking

• travel and exploration

• creating art

• reading

• the one thing I'm missing most is pampering apparently

My heart went out to him.... not because he wasn't getting the pampering he feels he is in need or want of.... but because of the whole concept of needing 'escapes'.  I was tempted to ask what it is exactly that he desires to escape 'from', but thought better of it, considering it would most likely come off as insensitive or non-understanding.... though I truly did want to know!

My heart goes out to anyone who seeks ways to escape his life.  I have been there myself.... but not in a very long time.  I am self-employed and choose to work more than twice the number of hours that most people deem normal and acceptable.  Routinely, someone will advise I get a massage or soak in a jacuzzi in order to relieve stress.... 'What stress?' I respond.

Each day I am learning more and more that our attitude, well-being and 'reality' has little to do with our circumstances and everything to do with our perspective. It takes some mental elbow grease and a ton of discipline, but when we wrangle with and overcome the incessant temptations to bemoan our plight of the moment, we empower not only ourselves but the good in our lives.

I am finding stress is in the eye of the beholder.  And so I choose to escape to reality... to the very real beauty and wonder offered to me in countless ways each day by every connection I make, each inspiring idea I am exposed to, and each opportunity I have to see loveliness, grace and kindness all around me.

Won't you join me in a stress-free escape to reality?  The water is perfect... and the view is even better. 

joyously yours...

Y'all packed?

C'mon...
.... What are you waiting for?
Let's go!
We have a whole year to visit!
Have you packed yet?

I made a packing list last night of the things I wanted to bring with me on this next leg of my life's adventure.  I noted tried and true keepers, items I've carried around for ages that have worn out their usefulness and are no longer needed, things that I had been dragging around most of my life that I never should have taken ownership of in the first place, and new things I wanted to have more of.

Of course I am not referring to physical items, but thoughts and qualities.  I have no interest in lugging around sorrow, stress, pain, heartbreak or lack.  And I am delighted to load on as much patience, joy, unconditional love, peace, self-worth and abundance as I can get ahold of.

This year looks to be pivotal for so many people in so many ways.  What will you bring with you into it and what do you expect to get from it?  Please come and join our little love circle on Facebook to share your inspiration and love.

Happy happy new year and new adventure to you!

totally joyously yours....