Author: valeriecameronmerritt

A snippet of Father’s Day at ours:

Under the wilting peonies, two broken affirmation bracelets and a hand of Fatima were thoughtfully resting as a reminder of roots and creative approach. I placed them there yesterday, admiring the spot for its frequency in line of sight.  As my family arrived for Father’s Day dinner, appetizers began to fill the small breakfast table and the bowl disappeared into the active scene for a little while until my sisters partner, John, asked, “hey, Valerie, can we eat these too?”.   He was smiling like a opossum (that’s what my grandmother would have said – “that boy was smiling like a opossum”. What does this mean? I do and don’t know.  I suppose it’s a sly, joking smile but how this became associated with opossums?  Well, I’ll have to look into that…) My mother answered before I could, “John don’t eat those.  That’s some of Valerie’s spiritual stuff.  Just wait, she may start lighting candles and burning off burdens and writing out blessings.  You never can tell with that one.  I think she must be feeling mostly okay if it’s just a bowl of beads on the table.” John: “so if I did eat them, what would happen?” Valerie: “a direct and severe shedding of what no longer serves you.  You can eat them if you want to.” Quiet covered the kitchen.  Mouths went into thin lines and heads nodded.  My sister danced around the kitchen with swinging bell sleeves and a long button down dress.  It was a romantic sort of garment. “Cowboy caviar, anyone?” she smiled and filled the empty speckled bowl.  Dad: “Yummmmm, yes, please.” He settled into a chair next to John.  Everyone continued to enjoy the edible appetizers as I prepared a pitcher of club soda and lychee juice with lemon and bitters, and I thought to myself, “you never know what will be a conversation starter or bring it to dead halt.”

Affirmation:

I invite the positive aspects of myself forward.  I embody kindness, love, and joy.  I float high above the thoughts in my mind to embrace a higher perspective.  

What are you inviting?

 

I haven’t felt as on top of the whole being my best self thing the last couple of days.  I’ve found myself pulled in different directions and wishing I had been more present.  Where’s my now and where am I in it? A step behind maybe.  I’m sharing this because even though I’ve seen some old habits relapse — something for sure is different than it used to be. I’ve been able to speak kindly to myself and would want so much to support you in speaking kindly to yourself too no matter what’s happening.

It’s okay to experience yourself in various degrees of alignment.  

Perhaps if you can think of it all as a dance, it will feel more playful and easier as it shifts direction.  If it’s like a box step, you’ll go forward, to the right, back and to the left on repeat (assuming you’re not in the lead and you won’t feel you are in some life moments). You’ll find yourself in a moving spiral dance.  Forward.  Right.  Back.  Left. You may move lightly or you may misstep.  Both have value.

Remember to talk to yourself as you would a friend.  Whatever words you would choose to lift the spirit of another are worth being said to you.  You deserve kind words in your brightest moments and those not so bright ones too.

“When joy is a habit, love is a reflex.” – Bob Goff

Practice joy! It’s going to be worth it!  I promise. ✨💫💛

This can’t be said too many times:  make time to feel gratitude, focus on the parts of life you’re thankful about, tell people, and write it down!! Find a journal you love and commit to a simple practice that can change the dominant themes in your life for the better.  It’s especially heartwarming to go to sleep feeling grateful.  Try for 10 minutes of writing before going to sleep and I bet you’ll see a happier trend in your mornings!

Affirmation for pure contentment:

I am satisfied with who I am.  I feel so pleased with life and myself.

Not to be egotistical or conceited but to feel satisfaction and worthiness in loving yourself…  I hope you’ll practice saying this until the affirmation sinks deep into your bones and becomes part of you! Feel the perfection that you are – the work in progress – the blossoming beauty with more to come!

 

If you can find a few moments in the next days to be absolutely present, take time within those moments to focus your energy on your heart center.  Notice your body and your life force.  Does the energy you possess feel scattered?  Is it caught up in something that happened yesterday or are you worrying about events that could be part of tomorrow?  Can you call all of your attention and energy back to you and focus on it collecting at the heart?  Be with your heart as your only objective.  Let the rhythm of your heart beat be the voice that draws you inward. Try for a while to meditate on this pulse.  From here, imagine the collected energy as a color that resonates with you.  Send the color into the room around you.  Let that beam be filled with the feelings of joy, adoration, and love.  Imagine the color surrounding and brightening the hearts of those you cherish.

Joy emanates from my core.  Feelings of adoration surround my loved ones.  We are light and love.

How wonderful will this day be if you allow yourself to focus on the things that easily fit and flow with you!? Let things, people, places, and experiences that lift your spirit be highlighted in your thoughts and conversation.

Whats’s easy?  What feels good?  This is what deserves your attention.  Tell everyone about the good in your life!

 

“In a beautiful world that has come to hooray the hustle I find my sweet loving soul rebelliously dancing to the contrary — an upside down, inside out, reversed, lapsed beat. It’s mysteriously boundless, surprisingly wholeheartedly, perfectly un-calculated and wrapped in a tangible fabric that is made out of shooting stars and moonlit expanse. For this season, busy has no place.” – Tess Guinery

Let your life take a hiatus from busy for a little this weekend.  Take a moment to notice what the earth is up to around you, which at this time of year is particularly beautiful!  When you’re back in the hustle of everyday, perhaps you can carry along an internal feeling of abundance and blooming!

 

Have you ever found yourself drawn to another without being quite sure why?  This can be romantic, platonic, or any number of scenarios.  It could even be fascination bordering revulsion but nevertheless you’re drawn in… It’s simply someone that captures your attention.

Consider the qualities about the person. Could it be that they’re hosting attributes that are complimentary to your own?  Could it be that you are drawn to what feels absent in you?  On the path to becoming the best version of yourself without seeking to live that through or in opposition to someone else, it can be helpful to understand the pull of others.

Practice noticing your internal atmosphere to nurture the next steps in relating.