Rain Drops Falling on My Head

I remember when rain opened up a whole other world. As a child it provided us with instant mud pie making materials, was a hoot to drive my bike in, and lets not forget the joy of jumping in a puddle to see who could make a bigger splash! Ahhh, the innocence of childhood when things were still simple enough for us to not only notice the little things but take great joy in reveling in them.

When's the last time you did something like that? Noticed something and got so engrossed in it that you had the time to soak it all up? Why do we let ourselves get so wrapped up in the chaos, so convinced that things have to be "just so" that we rule out the opportunities that present themselves for such simple pleasures?

I'm proud to say that there are a few memories from my adult life in which I was still able to capture some of that magic. Admittedly those moments weren't often enough, so I'm working on that. Still, here's a few that might give you a few ideas:

• getting a magnifying glass & burning "Sara + ...." into our wooden deck
• sitting on our back porch (with aluminum roof) listening to the hypnotic music of the rain
• laying on grass watching creatures navigate the towering blades of grass
• getting caught in a soft rain shower while riding my bike & instead of running home, slowing down - even taking the long way back just to feel it

Yes, I'm well aware that three recollections does not a inspiring story make - but they're the ones that really stand out in my memory and will be cherished forever. As for the occasional rain drops falling on my head, well I primarily grew up in the very wet state of Louisiana and have always had an affinity for storms and all that come with them. I usually have my bed against, or very near a window and have spent countless hours laying there with the window cracked so I could listen to as well as see the wonderful world outside when it rained. After childhood, I wasn't as keen to get wet unnecessarily - so this vantage point was ideal. I could still see the rain drip, mist, caress or pelt the window panes...smell the sweet, fresh, new air that rain brought with it, and watch it all change my little world right before my eyes.

So while I haven't jumped in a puddle in quite some time - next time I just might! And whether its that or some other simple observation of nature you stumble upon...I invite you to find a way to embrace and enjoy it for all its worth as well. After all, life moves fast enough as it is - why not tap the brakes now and again and enjoy those rain drops falling on your head?

Happy Birthday To Me...

I love birthdays - and not just in the traditional sense of revelry (admittedly I have a strong sweet tooth and adore any kind of positive attention). I love birthdays because of what they mean to me, which include but are never limited to:

...I have had the opportunity to enjoy another year's worth of experiences

...I have the opportunity to plan out even more adventures

...I am living in a decade of my life that is totally different from the one before

...I am about to embark on or am a year closer to one of my golden years (these are ages I identified earlier in life to be of significant and wonderful importance to me...thus far I've been right every time)

To me, birthdays symbolize what most people think of on January 1st...a new year full of new possibilities. That said, at the sassy age of 36 I fully expect to:

...spend 6 glorious months with my mother on a road trip

...fly in the heavens without an engine

...touch a whale

...find answers to some big questions I have

...write a book

...start my own business

...tingle from my head to my toes with excitement and awe

In a way, those are an awful lot of birthday presents and quite frankly - the best kind :) I am so blessed...so appreciative...so thankful...and open to all that the Universe has in store for me that I cannot see just yet. Amen and Hallelujah!

Ask and You Shall Receive

How many of us have heard this? How many of us believe this? Now...how many of us live by this?

This idea came charging back to me as we had a little mishap with backing the car off the tow dolly and ripped some plastic thingy almost off. It was practically dragging the ground, so I didn't want to backup - lest it get caught on something. On our hunt for a birthday lunch spot, we pulled in next to an Auto Clinic and thought we'd have'm take a look. I turned to Mom and said, "Don't worry, it'll just take a couple of screws and $5." They put it on the lift and had a look....took a mallet of sorts and started pounding on something...got a small box of something and snapped a few things in...all for - you guessed it, $5!

As someone who is attempting to live by (and continue to learn about) Law of Attraction, the way I tend to think of this is more along the lines of "thoughts become things"...generally meaning that my outlook and expectations impact outcomes. This philosophy, or concept, was instilled in my long ago when my parents were going through the d-word and as the eldest child I was in full swing of trying to care for everyone and everything (amidst the hormones of the early teen years). My mom exposed me to the Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. I seriously doubt that I read it, as I was rebelling against any required reading from the parental units, but remember very clearly discussing the power of the subconscious mind.

Ahhhh, the power of the subconscious mind. How many of us have heard of this? How many of us believe in this? Now...how many of us live by this? Yeah, I know. There are so many things we should do, follow, abide by, etc...that I find it hard to keep it all straight. The beauty for me, though, was the exposure at an early age. The idea that our subconscious doesn't judge right from wrong, truth from lies, or the possible from the impossible was a powerful idea to me. It was a way to influence things I didn't think I had control over, a way to look beyond the present and look forward to the future. It was how I dealt with things during that turbulent time and it absolutely became part of my core beliefs. Without a doubt, it has played a part in my life every since and only in the last few years have I found a name for the spiritual sense that goes along with it. (Abraham-Hicks opened my eyes to the Laws of Attraction, Deliberate Creation, and Allowing.)

So today's $5 event was a reminder to me that we make choices all the time with the thoughts we entertain. I could've been a nervous nelly and worried that it was going to be a few hundred dollars and take a few days, but that's not my style. Instead, I decided it wasn't serious and figured we'd bump into a solution soon enough (even if it involved duck tape). My thoughts were "this isn't a big deal" and "we'll find someone to pop a few screws in and be done with it". Needless to say, Mom was on the same page with me remarking when we went to the campground office today "I'll hang out here in case I see a young man to ask about a good local mechanic so that he can tell me he'll take care of it on the spot."

Yeah, we asked and we received. Thank you Universe!

Sitting In The Dark

I mean this both literally and figuratively.

I am literally sitting in my RV in the dark at a Wal-Mart. They are kind enough to lend their vast parking lots to overnighters that just need a place to park. The unspoken rules are that you don't push any slides out, run the generator, or do anything else that makes you appear to be anything than a large vehicle parked as best you can. As I am on a straight shot to pick up my mother for our 6 month adventure, I didn't see the need to pay roughly $30 for a few hours of electricity when all I need to do is eat, walk the dogs, play on the computer, and sleep. My fridge runs on propane as a backup, so I really don't need anything. Hence, sitting in the dark typing away on my Mac.

It was this literal situation that made me realize the presence of the figurative one. I don't mean to imply that I'm lost, yet I can't help feeling like I don't know what in the world I'm doing quitting my job and taking off for 6 months. Well, that's not entirely accurate - obviously there were reasons for this course of action...but every now and again I get the sense that while I was definitely led to this decision, the reasons have not all been revealed.

This may seem daunting to you, but honestly its quite exhilarating for me! If you were to ask my ex-husband how much I like anticipation, he'd no doubt recall the years of Christmas' in which I tried to delay the present opening with one excuse or another (gotta go to my mom's, my dad's, his parents, etc.). It became a joke of sorts, but the truth of the matter is that I liked the feeling that an unknown mystery was about to unfold, and I knew without a doubt it'd be sure to please - so why not enjoy it as long as possible? In our fast paced world, where we set goals and work to achieve them over and over and over again...there's something special about that which we cannot control quite as much...those things that can be influenced but not forced into compliance...that requires a little faith and allows you the time to play with them in your dreams.

This adventure and what I'm feeling at the moment is along those same lines. I have some ideas of what will come to pass, like creating some priceless memories with my mother that will fuel my life learning even further...like feeling my eyes dry out because they're wide open trying to capture everything...like the rush of starting a new business with all that it involves. Those all sound great and there's sure to be more, but honestly I really like not knowing how it will all play out yet. Any other number of possibilities could come to fruition, like writing a book (or two) that crosses demographics...like being interviewed on Ellen (who is also a big fan of her mother)...like feeling heaven on Earth when we go whale watching and end up on a raft touching one up close and personal. Okay, so some of these may sound far fetched - but don't you see, that's the best part of being in the dark - anything can happen because its not over yet!

Yeah, now that I say that - I think the best part is that I think it may take a little more than 6 months to fully unfold. Hooty-hoo! As far as I'm concerned, this is the best Christmas ever!!!

I hum a lot.

Being human is hard. We enter this physical existence and quickly lose our connection to our spiritual side. What is the saying? Children are innocent until we corrupt them? Whatever it is, I think there's truth in the idea. Children don't have fear, aren't bogged down in the "should's" of societal rules, and generally just want to follow their hearts. Often times children are brought to church or are exposed to the concept of a higher being in another way, and while it may make a little sense - soon after life starts to get complicated and the challenge begins for us to stay connected to our spirituality.

You know what I'm talking about. There's a lot of commotion called life going on - like the kids needing to finish a report for tomorrow, a storm knocking out power and therefor your alarm, dogs are having accidents in the house, never ending projects at work, the bi-annual property tax bill that needs to be paid, etc. Its tough! There's a lot of plates in the air, and I'm sure we've all been there - or have even set up permanent residence!

Nonetheless I've found myself remaining more "in touch" with my spirituality side as of late and its been a wonderful respite! The inner monologue I have feels like conversations I might have with a shaman...or like getting daily doses of really good sermons. I find that I'm taking things in stride, accepting things to be perfect as they are - regardless of whether I can see why. Most importantly, I am happier in my own skin - accepting myself as-is.

All of this seems to have manifested itself into a humming extravaganza! I catch myself humming a lot now...usually songs that are familiar to me, but really whatever comes to mind. And now that I'm comfortable enough to just be me, I do it wherever and whenever! Funny how many people I surprise as I walk by sharing a little ditty on my way :)

Walking into buildings, waiting in line, driving down the street, sitting with my dogs outside - once perfect opportunities to let the mind wander over and through the continuous to-do list or current stream of worries...now a time of peace and acceptance. Now I slow down and notice what's around me, appreciate the obvious and indirect beauty (from the wind in the trees to the delivery truck bringing food to my grocery store), enjoy the feeling that everything is exactly as it should be, and I hum along the way. Its a vicious cycle really...the more I see good things, the more I feel good, the more I hum more, the more I feel at peace and in turn notice more good things.

I'm tickled by all of this because its a taste of something I've had before but lost in the daily grind of life. Now I plan on using it as a sign post to help keep me on this path. "Awareness is the first step."

So here's to our awareness, be it through humming or some other form...may we be aware enough to fully enjoy it when it's present, aware enough to know when it's not there so we can do something about it!