Profound Simplicity

You get lost and just when you start to get really frustrated you look up and see a store you were trying to find last week.  You miss the train and just as you’re starting to give in to the aggravation you sit down next to your future husband.  You trip and fall and just as you start blurting out profanities you look up and see that it saved you from getting hit by a bus.

Isn’t it amazing when life takes you by surprise? Life protects us, wants to show us what we’re capable of and every once in a while will remind us to laugh at ourselves.

Being the W Chaser has lead me on a journey I don’t ever want to end.  It finds me appealing to my better nature, is introducing me to new people, and has encouraged me to think outside the box.  Questioning, wondering and philosophizing finds me finding meaning in the smallest gestures and I am in love with the epiphanies.

The other day my friend Nicole, a woman I highly respect and admire, and I were on our way to a meeting in an office building in a busy downtown area. At first we walked right past the door with it’s faceless stainless steel expression, it was was nondescript and uninviting.  But at second glance it wore the proper address at the top of it like a hat.

As we approached the door, I kept saying, “This isn’t it. It can’t be. This door is so locked!” And she kept saying, “It is. I know it is”. Reaching the door first, I wrapped my hand around the elongated handle, all the while still saying, “No, this can’t be it.” And as I pulled on the door it didn’t budge. I couldn’t open it. But Nicole insisted that it was the right door and as I stepped aside she effortlessly opened the door!

Laughing our way to the third floor, I had an epiphany. We couldn’t believe how simple, yet how powerful the message was.  I saw Nicole again at a dinner party on Friday night and we were still talking about it.  It was that significant a message.

The metaphor that door represented for me that day was really profound and the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

Embarking on this 30 day challenge has allotted me moments of insecurity and as we all know the disparaging voices can start to play like a broken record if we let them.  Could we really do this? (insert your personal challenge here)  Do we have what it takes to see this through?

If you tell yourself no, then no it will be and it will deplete you and no doors will open and there will be no windows of opportunities.

But if you tell yourself yes, then yes it will be and the doors will fly open like the pearly gates of heaven and you will have more than you ever dreamed possible.

You ready to scream yes from the rooftops?

photo courtesy of http://www.zentao.org/zen-sfondi-desktop-wallpapers/zen-bamboo-relaxation-sfondo-schermozen-bamboo-relaxation-wallpaper

By pcarlson Category: blog, Featured, Recent Posts

h.o.p.e

Have undeniable faith in your dreams

Open your eyes to the miracles all around you

Positive reinforcements will present themselves when you least expect them

Expecting the best out of your life will give you exactly what you ask of it

photo courtesy of http://sathyasaibaba.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/zen-pictures-zen-buddhism-wallpapers/

By pcarlson Category: blog, Featured, Recent Posts

Honor the Past

The past will always catch up with us in some way shape or form. You think you can run from it but wherever you go there you are. You think you can bury it but then something triggers a memory and your reminiscence is in someone else’s voice. The best thing you can do is honor it, forgive it, and move on.

Forgetting doesn’t move us forward and regretting keeps us trapped in our own history. I had a moment where I was losing sight of where I have been. There is so much to be proud of, plenty to be grateful for, and a great deal to look forward to.

Sometimes the best way to remind ourselves is to go back in time. Dr. Wayne Dwyer was on the tv this morning while I was getting ready for the day and something he said stood out for me. He said, “Let Go and Let God”. Time to let go and know that the past is where it belongs and it has no place here now.

I found this piece I wrote many years ago and was reminded of the importance of looking to a new future while remembering to honor the past.

I Have No Idea

Why I let the night come and take me… Wrapped up in misconceptions and no time to think… Trying to be someone I am not for someone I don’t know and the regret hurts my heart like the loss of a childhood toy.

 As the morning came sleep should have taken me but instead I let myself be taken away._ Now my tears a constant flow for not being myself. I am not that girl that looked into the eyes of a stranger that had no idea of who I was. I have no idea who I was… I know who I wanted to be but was not thinking clearly… My breath left me as I read the words… 1 didn’t want to leave you… but it had nothing to do with me… It was someone else’s agenda and I could have been anyone…

I believed what I wanted to believe and my music stopped and my eyes went hazy and the passion was bound to leave me stranded to face the darkness alone.

No pretention here just a lost soul who was misplaced into the wrong moment at the wrong time_ There shall be no sobriety of the eyes today as I cleanse my spirit and hope for better days. Through the glistening I will find the spark in my eyes that shall keep me pure and willing to love and not be frightened and afraid.

No more searching the unknown through the dark when the sun shows my true nature. I’m just a girl with pure intentions too naive to venture out… I shall no longer be intrigued by the idea of someone who doesn’t exist and I shall cry quietly.

We all have a past and the best part is, we all have a future. And our future is contingent on what we do today.

Find something from your past that reminds you of how strong you are, and brilliant, and courageous.  Honor it. Love it. Forgive it. And set it free. Do this for each thing on your list.

You ready to let go?

photo courtesy of http://pdwallpaper.blogspot.com/2011/05/nature.html

By pcarlson Category: blog, Featured, Recent Posts

One Moment

Too tired to share something new so I thought I would share story I wrote in a writing workshop.  A lot can happen in A Moment…

     The weather couldn’t be more perfect. A wonderful seventy-six degrees with no humidity and the bluest of skies with some big fluffy clouds that my mother always referred to as “mash pa-de-da’s”.   All around me, the scent in the air is unmistakable, like the smell of morning the day after it rains. The first day of spring in New York City.

     There are people everywhere.  A woman picks up after her little Yorkshire Terrier as a delivery boy whizzes by on his bike.   The UPS guy is whistling to himself loading the day’s deliveries as a Taxi screeches to a halt to fetch a very handsome man in an expensive suit who announces in a British accent, “JFK please” as he shuts the door behind him.

     As my navy blue Mary Jane’s reach the curb, I sense something familiar.   I do a 360 on my heels sending my skirt into a Frisbee like Marilyn Monroe scanning all around me but aside from the guy that thinks I am checking him out and winks at me, nothing is out of the ordinary.

     Taking the last bite of my soft Carvel Chocolate ice cream cone, I wipe my mouth, throw out the napkin and look up as the UPS truck pulls away and I see my father across the street.  My stomach flips, my heart soars and I break out into a run through on coming traffic, with my hand flaying in the air calling out to him,  “Father wait. Father”.   A car comes too close to hitting me.

     He slams on his breaks and I slam my hands onto the front of the car, apologizing profusely.  I look up, regaining my composure, past the driver to see my father disappear into a skyscraper and away from me.

By pcarlson Category: blog, Featured, Recent Posts

Strength and Will

Almost half way through the month and it’s getting harder to stick to the plan.  My work days seem to be getting longer and I of course am getting more tired.

On more than one occasion I have found myself encouraging those on a get-in-shape 30 day challenge to do at least a little something everyday, even if it’s 5 jumping jacks. So I must heed my own advise. Through my yawning is an underlying determination to see this through. And I have realized that the same philosophy of doing a little something everyday actually applies to the rest of us in whatever venture has been undertaken.

You might be experiencing similar feelings so I hope you’ll join me in doing what we can, when we can. There’s integrity in that and you’ll feel better for it, I promise.  Let’s keep going and keep reminding each other that we can do this. It’s only 30 days. And who knows where it might take it us!

Life is always changing and tests our strengths and will,

A lovely dance by moonlight, the grass perfect and still.

Keep the faith in the sunrise and welcome the day,

Walk with your head held high and the gifts will come your way.

The Universe will give to you all that you ask,

So be strong in your intention and unwavering with your tasks.

Hope is undeniable just let love lead your heart,

Always choose to be honorable, a perfect place to start.

Never hold ill thoughts or give power to your fears,

Live your life with integrity and your wishes shall appear.

Live, Love & Laugh everywhere you go and

Peace, Love & Light on you shall be bestowed.

photo courtesy of http://www.mmprint.com/blog/2011/easy-color-splash-guide-black-white-photos/

By pcarlson Category: blog, Featured, Recent Posts

When In Doubt, Post-It

How are your resolutions holding up? Are you still embarking on your 30 day challenges? What are you doing to keep up the momentum?

Baby steps, little reminders and a lot of love will go a long way to accomplishing your endeavors.

If your goal was to get the gym everyday, you can’t be hard on yourself if you had a long day at work and you can’t get there. But what you can do, is something to show yourself you can keep your commitments and you respect yourself enough to follow through. Before you get in bed, do push-ups, sit-ups or even some jumping jacks.  This will send a positive message of accomplishment to your brain and help you hold true to your word.

If you ate both pieces of bread with your sandwich at lunch and you were meant to cut back on the carbs then for dinner have a vegetable medley or a salad with no dressing. Make up in some way for your splurge by cutting back on something else. This way you are still keeping your pledge to follow through with a healthier meal regimen.

If you are getting caught up in the frustration of not seeing the extra pounds melt away, or the bank account is still lacking or you just can’t keep yourself motivated for whatever goals you set for yourself, be patient. Change takes time and can be gradual. But lasting change is worth the hours, sweat and regulations you put on yourself to help you achieve your desires. And lets face it, we are our most important investment.

Suggestion. Get a pad of post-its and write little notes to yourself. Stick the post-it notes all over your house, car and if your area is private, at work. Write your encouragements, and affirmations. Always state them in the positive first person and as if you have already accomplished that desire. Be creative, be silly, be serious, be whatever it takes for you to know that you are on the right path and doing a little something everyday is better than doing nothing.

Here are some examples for your posit-it notes:

Mirror:

I am so beautiful (handsome) / I have the best smile / I am approachable / I love you

Inside Front Door:

I embrace every opportunity / I seize the day / CARPE DIEM!

Drawers:

Underwear drawer – I am so sexy / beautiful / perfect / hot

Fridge:

I eat healthy / I eat my veggies / I am nutritious  / I eat fruit for desert

Misc (near your bed so they are the last ones you see):

I worked out today / I ate healthy / I am starting to see a difference / I am so proud of myself / What a great day! / I am so blessed / I am so grateful / I am  so __________

By pcarlson Category: blog, Featured, Recent Posts