Daily Pleasures

   

         A couple of weeks ago my friend Robin came over and was helping me with a daunting and overwhelming task.  We had already been going at it for hours when I turned and noticed my beautiful antique French art deco champagne glasses.  Suddenly I announced, “We need champagne” and I headed to the store for a bottle. When I returned with a taco shop lunch and a very nice bottle of champagne, I filled my very favorite champagne glasses with the bubbly.  I have owned these glasses for about twenty years and first used them to toast at my wedding.  I think I have only used them maybe once or twice since then.  They are my most cherished possession and I have kept them safe in a case for years; afraid of taking them out and using them for fear of breaking one.

          Now, this morning, while in the pantry getting coffee to make a pot, I noticed that I still had a bit of Kona coffee my friend (Robin once again) brought back from Hawaii last year.  Kona coffee brought over from Hawaii is a delightful pleasure for me and I tried to make it last as long as I could.  As I looked at the half empty bag, I realized that I wasn’t really enjoying it because I was only using it for special occasions.  It was so revered that I put it up on the shelf (pedestal) and rarely used it.  I realized that day that I wanted to enjoy all my favorite things as often as I could, whether it was a special occasion or not. 

          How many things do we put on a pedestal afraid to touch it, spoil it or break it?  How many things are brought out only for special occasions?  Are we missing the pleasures in life because we are afraid that there isn’t enough to last so it’s best if we use it sparingly?  I have to say it was a huge “aha” moment for me when I realized, that for me, saving something for a special occasion was based in the low energy of lack.  I realized that day that I wanted to enjoy all my favorite things as often as I could, whether it was a special occasion or not.  In order to make a change, I had to change my way of thinking.  Abundance is the opposite of lack and is a powerful energy that is strong and flows freely if allowed to.   I now allow the things I was holding on to for special occasions to be held in the energy of abundance.  There is an infinite (abundant) amount of joy and pleasure to be found, so if I use up my favorite coffee, there will always be more coffee.  If I break a favorite glass, an equally precious glass will enter my life.  There is always enough to go around.

          Nothing can be enjoyed if we do not use it (or look at it).  The pleasures in life are meant to be enjoyed daily, not only at special times, and there is always enough pleasure to last a lifetime.  So, replace lack with abundance and begin living a meaningful life now.

Which of your favorite things would you like to incorporate into your daily life?  Please comment here and share with us.

In love and light,

Christine

Creating for the Sake of Creating

Forward:  I posted this blog on my other site Blog.livdivine.com on November 8, 2011.  I thought it was worth posting again.  Enjoy!  

We have all started projects and some of us have actually finished one or two of them.  Others have dreams of other artistic endeavors like writing, painting & sewing.  The thing is we all at one time or another have had the desire to create.  So what stops us from either getting started or complete something once we do start it?  One thing that gets in my way is fear that what I create won’t be good enough.  No matter how my heart urges me to sit down and write or sew I seem to put it off.  It’s too scary.  Recently that changed for me.

Creating is Good for the Soul

I love to crochet. As a child, my mother taught me how to crochet a chain and the single crochet stitch. Through the years I dabbled in scarves and blankets, but stayed away from anything more complicated than the one stitch I knew or that required a pattern. About seven years ago I fell back into the art while grieving the death of my sister. Crocheting gave me something to do without having to think too hard. It calmed me and kept me in a safe place where I could safely go through the grieving process. As time passed, I realized how much I enjoyed it and was inspired to take a class or two in order to learn to read crochet patterns (and learn a few new stitches). I am still not very proficient, but I can read patterns and am proud to say that I have expanded my repertoire (hats, purses, ponchos...) of crochet projects. You could say that crocheting is my go to creative outlet and relaxation.

But why do I love it? Well, there are the practical reasons, for instance; it is portable so I can take it anywhere; it keeps my hands busy when I am trying to stay out of the refrigerator, and there are so many quick and easy projects out there so when needed, I can attain instant gratification. Pretty good reasons so far, right? But, the real reason I love to crochet is because of what it does for my soul. It allows me to connect with the power of creation and with that comes peace. The steady motion of my hand is hypnotic as I work the yarn in and out of loops, placing me in a type of meditative state. My breathing clams and so does my mind. Ahhh, pure relaxation.

A few years back I was doodling on a piece of paper and my hand went into the motion that makes the infinity pattern (∞). As my hand moved through the figure eight-like motion, I noticed that the movement was familiar to me. I realized that the motion that the hand makes while crocheting is similar (if not the same) to the motion that is made when the infinity sign is drawn. I wondered if there could be a connection between infinity and creativity.

Definition of Infinity - unlimited extent of time, space, or quantity

Definition of Create - to make or bring into existence something new.

Have you ever noticed that when you are in the creative process you allow yourself to open up, remove limits, and lose a sense of time (a.k.a. being present)? Maybe part of the creative process is to enter infinity and be in a place of endless possibilities, a studio where ideas can be joined together to make something (anything). Knowing that what we focus on attracts more of the same, it makes sense that the more time we spend in our infinity studio,  putting ourselves in a place of endless possibilities, that that energy will continue to overflow into our everyday lives. Imagine having that sense of peace, calm, and being in the moment 24/7.

Now, I am not saying that everyone should run out and buy a skein of yarn and a crochet hook in order to find inner peace. What I am offering to you is the encouragement to spend some time during each day (week, month, whatever you have time for) in your own infinity studio, exploring the possibilities. Remember creating is good for the soul.

Here is my latest creation....

Thanks again for visiting Meaningful Living Now. I would love to hear about your creative experiences so please feel free to leave a comment.

In love and light,

Christine

For the pattern for this Poncho, please visit creator Patti Gonsalves of Dandelions Dreamers.

   
   

   

Themes of the Past Can Give Clarity to the Present

     Feeling the need to purge and doing a little Spring cleaning (OK, Fall cleaning) I started to go through my books.  I never get rid of books.  I go through every other area of my house fairly consistently, except for my bookcases.  I love my books and I can not imagine letting go of any of them.  So I found it odd that I had the "urge" (which for me, is another word for message from intuition) to go through my shelves of books and pull out the ones I no longer want/need.  I guess you could say that I have an eclectic collection of books.  Everything from romance novels to books on medieval castles.  As with most book lovers, I consider all those pages stacked side by side on the shelves, my friends.
     As I began going through the top shelf of one bookcase, pulling out the books to be given away I became nostalgic. Memories of when I had purchased a book came back to me along with the memory of what I was going through emotionally, spiritually or physically at the time.  I could see how when I got excited about a subject I would buy several books on the topic and find out all I could about the concept or technique.  Mystery, romance, self-improvement, weight loss, relationships, exercise...the list goes on.  I soon realized that I was looking at a sort of history of my life.  Each book and topic represented a time of exploration and a time of growth.  It was similar to looking through an old photo album and remembering who you were "back then".
     One theme that seemed fairly constant was that of writing.  I have many books titled "How to Write (fill in the genre)".  I have books on how to awaken your creative side of writing, books on character development and even the beginnings of many books I had started to write.  As this blog represents I still have the desire to write and it was amazing to realize how long I have had this dream. 

     If I had ignored the "urge" to clean out my books I would have never gone through my "photo album" of books and realize that writing for me is not just a dream, writing is my life purpose.  Writing is what my heart has desired to do since I was a little girl and has carried on through adulthood (as my book collection is witness to).  I can't believe that I have not seriously acted on my desire to express myself through words sooner.  I'm still not sure which genre I am destined to write, so for now I will continue to follow my "urge" and keep writing this blog.
     Living in the past is never recommended, but taking a quick look back to see if there are any themes running through your life can be eye opening. Take a moment to walk down memory lane and for a clearer picture, this time be an observer not a participant  I found confirmation of my life purpose when I took a glimpse at the past.  What will you find?

     Thanks for reading this blog and sharing my dream with me.  Please feel free to comment and share what you find when you take a look back.

In love and light,

Christine

P.S.  I could never bare to part with my historical romance novels.  They have saved me many times and hold a special place in my heart.
    

Distractions begone...the time is Now!

     I have been wanting to start this new blog for sometime now.  Some how scanning Pinterest for "creative inspiration" and Facebook to "keep in touch" with friends seemed to take up my spare time and so this blog has been put off.  It is amazing that after all these years of recognizing all my little tricks to distract myself from doing what I want to do or what I am suppose to do (meaning my heart really wants to do it) I still  find new ways to avoid, distract, and procrastinate from doing the things I really want to do.

     Meaningful Living Now means doing it now not later.  If there is something you have been wanting to do or try, look and see where you are spending your time.  What is preventing you from trying out that new thing?  My favorites are reading ( I don't mean just one good book.  I mean book after book after book), T.V, computer and all it has to offer.
     
     Here are some tips for getting away from distractions and doing something NOW:

1. Acknowledge that Nagging feeling that you would like to do something and keep putting it off.

2. Notice how much time you are spending on something else especially when you are not benefiting from it  (could be as simply as to much T.V. to being wrapped up in a friend or family drama).

3. Take a break from the distraction for one day and see how much time you have to contribute to what you want to do.

4. To many things on your list of things to do? Take it from a mental list to a physical list and start with the quickest and easiest thing to do.  I love to check off a list!

5. Most importantly, enjoy the experience you have allowed yourself.  It is important that you notice how great if feels to do what your heart has been wanting you to do.  It feels great doesn't it?!  That nagging, uneasy feeling goes away and you feel good.

     This is an Intention Bell. The little card that came with it says, "The intention behind this bell is to "call" the word attached into being and let it's energy fill you, spreading outward through you".  I hang this one with the word Now on it, on the rear view mirror of my car.  Every time the bell rings (bumps in the road and if the music isn't too loud so I can hear it) it reminds me to come back into the moment, into now.  I found mine in a little store called New Moon Haven in Catalina, AZ and they come with different words on them and make great gifts  They are from Deepbreathdesigns.com so you can try the website for more information.

     Meaningful living now, is really just doing the things that matter to you and bring you joy and sometime we need to teach ourselves how to do that.  Take that first step!

Thanks for visiting Meaningful Living Now and please feel free to contact me.