Discover Your Bliss

Quote to ponder

"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."  Mark Twain

Sesame Street turns 40 this month

Yes, that's right - Sesame Street turns the big 40 this year! 

I am so grateful to have grown up with such an amazing show fulls of fantastic songs!

What's your favorite Sesame Street memory?  How can you apply what you learned on Sesame Street to you life today?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

246 vintage neckties that kept me stuck

This week I had a major a-ha moment about 246 vintage neckties.  

Why - you might ask - do I have 246 vintage neckties?  The potential, the possibilities, and the creativity.

I purchased this mega-huge bag of neckties (more than 246) at a garage sale several years ago.  My head spun with the possibilities of what I could do with these neckties (translation: cool sewing projects).  

Did I use the ties?  Yes, yes I did.  I made cool applique Christmas stockings for my parents (a cowboy and a cowgirl) as well as a rocking reversible Christmas tree skirt (one side had cowboy boots made from the vintage ties that looks amazing).  I also made a black sling purse.  

My guess is that I originally purchased closer to 300 vintage neckties.  

After the Christmas projects, I didn't do much with the ties, except for get a huge plastic box to store them in my closet.  

Fast forward to today.  I realized that the neckties now lower my energy instead of uplifting it.  They're more of a burden than a joy.

I've listed them on Craig's list and know that I will soon report that they have sold (cross your fingers and send me lots of selling the neckties energy).  Also, if you know of anyone that would want them, please let me know.

Comparing the energy of having the neckties and what it will feel like to have them gone is interesting.  I'm giddy with joy about them leaving, which underscores my a-ha about their role in my life.  

Instead of working on fitting them into the projects I want to create - it will be more important to find materials that will work with my ideas (and obtain those materials when I want to create a project and not the reverse).  

I look forward to reporting good news soon about the neckties and their new home.  

How do evaluate the 'stuff' in your life?  What question would support you in deciding what stuff stays and what goes?  

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Clearing clutter via eBay

When the usual question of What do you want to do this weekend? made its way to me, I simply stated, "I want to put stuff of eBay.  Seriously, I want it done this weekend." 

Some people love putting stuff on eBay, while others - like myself - don't care for it too much. 

After a lot of sorting and preparing on Saturday, I finally got 13 items listed.  Ugh. 

I'm getting more and more serious each time I do a 'sort through' of my things and this time I'm in the red zone of seriousness. 

I refuse to keep things that do not support my energy and that I don't absolutely love. 

Eleven of the thirteen items I listed were fabric.  I realized that I was keeping fabric because all of the potential it held in my mind and not the practical reason of 'Will I ever use this?'

There was fabric in patterns that I love, yet colors of the patterns that I will never use (I had two really cool retro patterned fabrics of clothes and clotheslines in colors I don't like - light pinks and blues). 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will sell and I can get the stuff out of here to make room for me to put away the things I do use and love.  Ahh...just thinking about all that open space is peaceful.

I just took a peak and saw that I already have watchers on some of the items - which is fabulous! 

My backup game plan (for items that don't sell) is to either group more of the items and re-list them or to put them on Craigslist and go the local route.  

My plan is to put more things on eBay this week - as well as - have another marathon eBay session on Sunday. 

Here's how I see it - the more work I put into getting my stuff out of here, the quicker I will have that space to breathe and the sooner I will have the clutter disappear. 

Just like the famous words from the song - You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd:

All you gotta do is set your mind to it

knuckle down, buckle down - do it, do it, do it

So far anyone out there that needs a bit of inspiration this week - just remember the inspirational words from Rodger Miller and 'do it, do it, do it.'

What's the one thing that would support you the most when it comes to getting your most 'disliked' task accomplished?  How will you ask for that thing and when are you willing to set yourself in motion?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

 

Happy Halloween!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Halloween.  

 

Wishing you lots of 'treats' without the 'tricks!'  

Halloween Eve

If there's Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, then why can't we have Halloween Eve.

Today, I am declaring an official holiday - Halloween Eve.  

 

How will you celebrate?  What's the gift in having an extra day of celebration? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Reduce stress in less than a minute

Is your list of "to dos" overtaking your desk, home and mind?  Feel like you'll never climb out from under the endless sea of "to dos?" 

Never fear - a quick and easy solution awaits you...and it's really simple. 

Figure out what the most important thing is that you need to do today is and do that.  Just that one thing before moving into your next in line "to do."  

I've found that I can sometimes do all sorts of things on my "to do" list that are less important - simply because I don't want to do the most important thing (or think it will be too challenging to complete). 

By choosing what's the most important, I've discovered that the residual stress as a result of procrastination begins to disappear.

I invite you to practice selecting just one "to do" today and pay attention to how your energy begins to shift after you've completed that number one important task.  Who knows...you might just get more done as a result. 

What's your most important task today?  How do you determine what's important in your life?

I'd love to hear your insights and discoveries. 

Halloween costume practice

Halloween is almost here.  Have you had your Halloween costume practice yet? 

What?  You aren't' familiar with a costume practice?  Read on. 

Your costume practice is an important part of your costume presentation. 

Instead of waiting until the day of to put on your costume, it might serve you better to have a full dress rehearsal a few days before the big day.  

Put on all the pieces of your costume and do your makeup, hair, etc.  It's also important to time yourself doing this so you will have an educated idea about prep time. 

This weekend Jon had a makeup run through (I was the makeup artist).  We found out that it will take an hour to get him into full make up and hair for his costume (it's top secret).  We also want to change a few things, so we're having another run through on Wednesday.

What's so cool about a costume run through?  You might find out that you're missing a piece of your costume or realize that what you thought might work doesn't.  Isn't it wonderful to have the gift of time to get that missing piece or experiment with new techniques? 

What gift does pre-planning give you?  How does being prepared feel?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries...and your costume ideas, stories and tips. 

Quote to ponder

"If you can dream it, you can do it."  Walt Disney

Breathe in the present moment

Just a reminder to breathe in the present moment today (and everyday). 

Feeling challenged?  Close your eyes, take a deep breath and follow that air (mentally) as you breathe.  That's it - just one breath and you're in the present moment - simple as that. 

Anytime you feel stressed, worried, tense, concerned, etc. - just pause, breathe and relish the moment (no matter how you feel).  It's that connection to the present moment that will begin to bring you calm, peace and clarity. 

Feeling happy, joyous or excited - do that same breath and it will anchor you deeper into the present moment. 

Many positive emotions are positive because you're already experiencing some of that present moment.  Even if it's just a taste. 

Think about it - when you're experiencing negative emotions (or something that you'd rather not feel) - where are you?  The past?  The future? 

By aligning yourself with the present moment, you can begin to shift to more positive emotions - even if it's allowing yourself to be and feel sad.  Sadness becomes a positive emotion when you allow yourself to drink it in in the present moment.

What are you willing to practice today?  How can you begin to incorporate the present moment into your daily life? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.