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Amelia Earhart observed, “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” Let the 31 Day Spreading HappYness Tour begin for Team TLC!!! Every day this month we will … Continue reading
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Just some thoughts to share … Every single person lives in their own version of reality. We smooth the way for our own well being and happiness when we remind ourselves of that. Making decisions that are in our best … Continue reading
This past Sunday we put together our version of Family Rules … Ran across this idea on Live with Purpose. Instead of the traditional rules, list what IS expected (instead of what family members are NOT to do)! I added my own twist of things that have meaning for us.
It’s not as simple as I’d like, but turned out pretty good for our first one. The next one we create will have less words and carry the same meaning.
Non-Judgment
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” – Mother Teresa
And so it is … I accept and realize that to become enlightened and enrich my own life I must stop searching, trying so hard, and waiting for some “thing” to happen. I must be that which I seek. I embarked on a Journey of Life just over 30 days ago. For at least the next year, I plan to dedicate myself to a different 30 Day Journey of Life at the beginning of every new 30 days.
The first 30 Day Journey of Life was Giving. The second 30 Day Journey began this past Tuesday … Non-Judgment. I like to think I’m pretty good about keeping my opinion to myself. And, yet, I deeply wish to take this further. I want to halt judgmental thoughts before they enter my mind. For me, this is a deeply ingrained habit. Having Thomas and Lillian in my life has already propelled me forward with acceptance, compassion and being non-judgmental. I would say there has been a 100% shift in this area for me since September 14, 2001 … the day my beautiful daughter was born. Having her handsome brother arrive on November 13, 2005 just added to the gift!
For the next 30 days I will fill my thoughts with “Today I shall judge nothing that occurs”. When my mind begins to wander or dwell, I will come back to this thought. Especially, if I begin to judge a situation, event or person.
I’ll write about this at the conclusion of the 30 Day Non-Judgment Journey.
“We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It’s one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it’s another to think that yours is the only path.” – Paul Coelho
This past Tuesday, it was time to nourish my soul …. I went for a walk and sat for a while …
As the butterfly swoops by, as the last remaining leaves rustle, as the sounds drift by, as the sun shares it’s warmth with me, as the soft breeze cools my face…
Pondering, accepting, releasing …. Soaking it in ….
As we choose to believe we must always be “doing” so hard and “doing” so much and choose to believe in lack and that we need something or someone to make us happy, the belief and obsession to have more and more ….
All we need do is return to nature so as to feel and see and know the abundance that surrounds us …. The abundance that is ours once we choose to live a true and authentic life.
Peace is ours once we discontinue to identify with what we have and what we accomplish. The search for this peace is a worthwhile quest. Knowing that we are valuable just because we ARE and not believing that we are valuable only when we have accomplished something … This is a concept that brings instant peace when we truly grasp it and live our life knowing this.
Add the ingredient of resilience …
Add the fortitude to stay true to this thought pattern when old negative thoughts and thought patterns rear their ugly head …. AND
Joy, Happiness, Contentment and Peace is OURS.
This article is now part of my inventory in Inspired Living.
I enjoy taking the time to share information with y’all that I think is helpful and give you ideas to live an Inspired Life. So, if you feel this helped you in any way, toss a tip into the tip bowl on the way out of Inspired Living.
If you can’t afford to donate, please feel free to pass this article along to others who might get some help from it. Thank y’all to everyone who has donated and shared in the past. I don’t always get a chance to respond, and the donations, shares and comments are my indicators that what I share is helpful. Thank YOU!
I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. -Henry David Thoreau
In mid-December 2006, Thomas, Lillian and I came to Reno to spend Christmas with my Momma and step-father, Frank. That trip turned into a separation from my husband and eventual divorce in September 2007. The year between September 2006 and September 2007 was one of the hardest, most uncomfortable and foggiest years of my life. I had landed in the darkness of my life. If you had asked me during that time if I could go back in time and change things so this were not to happen, I would have given you a resounding YES!!! Now, six years later, I see the wisdom, strength and courage that grew from having gone through this experience. I am grateful for having gone through this. I know that sounds weird, but that is how I feel. Had I not experienced this darkness, I would not be where I am today. This isn’t about what led to the separation and divorce. We’re all adults and we are aware these things happen … This is about sharing how discouraged and defeated I felt back then. It’s about how going through that led to the footsteps that brought me back to myself and brought me to where you see me today … Happy, Peaceful, Strong and going confidently in the direction of my dreams …
It was surreal, overwhelming. This could not be happening to me. Can I just blink my eyes, make it all go away, and put life in reverse? I could barely function. I had no appetite and had to force myself to eat. I still had about 40 or 50 pounds of extra weight that I had gained when pregnant with Thomas. The weight just melted off daily and was gone (plus some) in a matter of months. No doubt about it, it was TOUGH … GOSH DARN tough!! It wasn’t just tough, it was dreadful. I sought professional help before even coming to Reno. I began seeing a family/marriage therapist in Tacoma, Washington in September of 2005 and continued to have sessions with her via telephone for several months after coming to Reno. After my kids went to bed at night, I would cry and cry and cry. If they were awake, sometimes I would sneak out into the garage and cry … Thoughts of “How am I going to do this?” just swirled and swirled in my mind. I could find no peace. During that year, I had thoughts of ending my own life**. Although I had these thoughts, they were short-lived. These thoughts would only last about a nano-second as the split second thought after that was of …. Thomas and Lillian. They kept me going. They kept me moving through the motions. They helped me heal. They helped me grow. Where I am today seemed impossible, thoughts of the future were daunting … Like it would NEVER happen. Yet, it DID!! And now I’m going to write about it.
I had no idea how I was going to be a single mom to one year old Thomas and five year old Lillian and with the added component of Lillian being special needs. It was overwhelming to even think about. One thing I knew was that if I could just make it to both of them being school aged then everything would be okay. If I could be a mother to them, raise them, infuse them with what I thought they needed before they were with other “teachers” and “mentors” during the day (as opposed to being with me); then I would have the freedom to go full force in the direction of my dreams. Thomas began first grade this year and Lillian went into the fourth grade. I made it!!! Here I am!!
Here’s how I fumbled and bumbled my way through my experience …
This isn’t going to work for everyone. It’s just what I did and what worked for me. Hey! We are all DIFFERENT!! What works for one person, will not work for someone else. The key is to not give up. Keep on keepin on until you find the perfect recipe for you .. the magic ingredients that will mix well together for you and cook to perfection to bring you through whatever uncomfortable experience you may be going through. One critical thing to keep in mind is to let yourself have those moments, days or even weeks where you aren’t trying so hard to get past and through. It’s crucial to ask for help if you need it, whether it’s professional help or help from friends and family. Be with the uncomfortableness so you can learn and grow within.
Another component that I have just recently completed is a forgiveness exercise. This actually was part of a Money Magic Coaching course facilitated by my friend, Jamie Cooke of MC2 Wealth Solutions, LLC. As part of the course, you write forgiveness letters. This was very healing and therapeutic. Absolutely not something to be done while you are experiencing the rough time. It’s been 6 years now for me. This was just part of the process. I know I’m not done healing and growing and learning. I do know this though … I’m further along than I was 6 years ago and I hope to not be done learning and growing for a very very very long time …
**Please seek professional guidance and support of friends and family if you are experiencing these types of thoughts.
This article is now part of my inventory in Inspired Living.
I enjoy taking the time to share information with y’all that I think is helpful and give you ideas to live an Inspired Life. So, if you feel this helped you in any way, toss a tip into the tip bowl on the way out of Inspired Living.
If you can’t afford to donate, please feel free to pass this article along to others who might get some help from it. Thank y’all to everyone who has donated and shared in the past. I don’t always get a chance to respond, and the donations, shares and comments are my indicators that what I share is helpful. Thank YOU!
I hope to always be exploring and creating adventures y’all!
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” -T.S. Eliot
This article is now part of my inventory in Inspired Living.
I enjoy taking the time to share information with y’all that I think is helpful and give you ideas to live an Inspired Life. So, if you feel this helped you in any way, toss a tip into the tip bowl on the way out of Inspired Living.
If you can’t afford to donate, please feel free to pass this article along to others who might get some help from it. Thank y’all to everyone who has donated and shared in the past. I don’t always get a chance to respond, and the donations, shares and comments are my indicators that what I share is helpful. Thank YOU!
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First, let me clarify that this Giving Journey is not about neglecting myself and my needs and putting others first. This has EVERYTHING to do with taking care of myself. I am ready to receive the good that I deserve. … Continue reading
GIVING
“Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.” –Mother Teresa
And so it is … I accept and realize that to become enlightened and enrich my own life I must stop searching, trying so hard, and waiting for some “thing” to happen. I must be that which I seek. I am embarking on a Journey of Life on this very day. For at least the next year, I plan to dedicate myself to a different 30 Day Journey of Life at the beginning of every new 30 days.
The first 30 Day Journey of Life begins today …. GIVING. I will give of myself like I have never given before. I will help those who need it, I will spread kindness, I will do whatever is in my power to help anyone who asks. I will live my life with this being my priority for every day for the next 30 days. I will do this for my kids (Thomas and Lillian), my family, my friends and complete strangers.
I will do this and expect nothing in return and ask for nothing in return.
I will write and share about this Journey as it unfolds …. (Go here to read how the first week went …)
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” –Lao Tzu
I know I’m not alone in having those times (far too many) when my shoulders and neck have made themselves at home nestled right under my ears. Now, although my shoulders may be happy there, the tension this creates is not happy news for me and my brain!!
I also know I’m not alone in having zero to very low funds to invest in rejuvenating activities so I’ve put together this easy and free list in the hopes that you find a thing or two that works for you.
If you find this content helpful and/or inspiring, and it feels the thing to do, I invite you to buy me a coffee … Thank you!
Now that you have a starter list, add your own ideas and personalize this list. Be creative and have fun with it. What do you think? See some on this list you plan on trying right away? Please share your thoughts for easy and free ideas for rejuvenation!!
Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!
Coming Soon!! “Words of Alchemy” is the latest book coming to life! Shooting for near the end of July 2019 for publication date.
Amazing news! My 17 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here.
Wonderfully exciting news! My 13 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.
Go here to see latest soul writings. xoxo