We do not seem to know how long our ride will be.  I blew bubbles with my kids the other day over a barbed wire fence.  They flew wildly into a pasture full of obstacles, cactus, and Longhorns.  Some popped in the air right away, some met with unforgiving nature so soon and others remained high in the air, riding the wind until almost out of sight.  No bubble was doing a better job than the other, no bubble was lucky or unlucky in my observation.  They simply were.  All beautiful and perfect, riding the wave.

This picture is a tiny piece of dry ice, spinning its life in circles through liquid until ‘It’ was no more.  Every day we go out into the world and give what we have to give with those we love and those we misunderstand.  For as long as WE have.

Enjoy.

 

It is ok to have nothing to say.

It is just fine to watch and add no energy.

It is worth kind listening.

It IS OK to have nothing to say.

“Seeing beauty in a flower could awaken humans, however briefly, to the beauty that is an essential part of their innermost being, their true nature. The first recognition of beauty was one of the significant events in the evolution of human consciousness. The feelings of joy and love are intrinsically connected to that recognition. Without our fully realizing it, flowers would become for us an expression in form of that which is most high, most sacred, and ultimately formless within ourselves. Flowers, more fleeting, more ethereal, and more delicate than the plants out of which they emerged, would become like messengers from another realm, like a bridge between the world of physical forms and the formless. They not only had a scent that was delicate and pleasing to humans, but also brought a fragrance from the realm of spirit. Using the word ‘enlightenment’ in a wider sense than the conventionally accepted one, we could look upon flowers as the enlightenment of plants.”

~Eckart Tolle from A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose

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. ✨💫💛