I am having so much fun being me. I am thankful for all the qualities that make me who I am.
These words will lead to good things if you can get past how silly or ridiculous you may feel initially saying this to and about yourself. It’s absolutely true! It’s good to be you!!
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.”
Maybe this weekend will bring peace, relaxation and quiet…maybe not alone but with someone 
that you are so very comfortable with less words are needed. Longer pauses are allowed. Joy between the two of you or a group of you is possible with large mental space IN the in between.
Space to BE with others.
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.
Remembering ….is an act that should be full of intention and awareness. Without intention, we sit and soak in the past …we get lost and stay there.
Remember, Respect, Honor. Then release and come back to the NOW where we all live and walk together.
“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!
This weekend, enjoy your FREEDOM! Your health and your choice to eat, do or watch something for pure JOY. The present moment and day offers so much. It doesn’t have to 
be important (best if not), it doesn’t have to be seen by others (best if not), it doesn’t have to be even worthy of Social Media (best if not).
Maybe the best way to choose is that is it simple worthy of your gratitude journal or an unconscious smile.
IN JOY.
Breath of Joy is a simple and extremely effective breath for :
Stand or sit with your feet comfortably wide (a solid and confident stance) and exhalethoroughly. Breath IN breaking your inhale up into 3 parts, like 3 sips of air. Filling in the belly, ribs and chest. This is ONE breath, in 3 sips.
For your next breaths there are arm and body movements. Knees stay softly bent.
1st sip – arms reach shoulder height and in front of you.
2nd sip – arms rise out like a T, shoulder height.
3rd sip – arm reach up with enthusiasm over head (even if you are faking it for now).
EXHALE – forward fold quickly swishing your hands between your knees/legs letting IT ALL GO. Every ounce of air quickly pushed out.
Start again. 5 of these breaths can change rough patches in your day and add energy during a long drive, a break during training/meetings or getting you through moments of negativity and stress.
-Namaste –
Presence and Positivity 