Cherry Blossom Soup

On being uprooted. Or, finding home.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:54:20 +0000

This morning I awoke into a rush of anxiety and adrenaline. We need to vacate our San Francisco flat by June 1, but don't yet have a new home.

It's not that we'll be homeless. I know that. There are many places we can go, even temporarily. But I'm the kind of girl who loves thick roots. I'm the kind of girl who finds deep deep comfort in home. In "this is the sunny spot where the cats nap at 3pm," "this is where I read my book and chomp popcorn after Kayne goes to bed," "this is the window out of which I watch the fog float by Sutro Tower, always changing, always beautiful." I love the illusion of safety, comfort, and stability.

We've lived here for eleven years. And I love that I have memories of my son at two, padding up and down the halls in his diaper. Or at four, wearing a pink cheetah-print dress, strands of brightly-colored necklaces, and a crazy hat. Or all the years of elementary school, sitting in our sunny kitchen with him as he does his homework. I love the pencil markings on the wall of his ever-increasing height, as he has oh-so-quickly shot up to nearly my own five feet two. I love the yellowed sign hanging on the door that says, "The quieter you become, the more you can hear," that has been there for more than a decade.

As the uprooting has happened, all the packing away and sorting and tossing, I've increasingly felt like I'm losing everything. Things I used to be able to count on or to hold are gone. Everything is in flux. I feel lost, even to myself.

So you can imagine what a gift it was to me this morning when I found that my friend Maya had posted a short piece of writing online about how we carry our lives within us. How there are rooms within us for all of our loves and memories and small moments of joy. It was the perfect medicine for me, helping me to remember that I am my own foundation. No matter where I go, I carry with me all of everything I love. And there is room for so much more.

One of the little miracles of this short piece of writing was — I wrote it. At first I didn't remember. But then I saw my name and the date at the bottom of the entry. Last year when Maya was on her Typerider journey, she posted the prompts she was offering every day. A group of us followed along in an online community. This (below) is my submission on June 10, 2012. Little did I know then that I was sending some medicine to my future self ... a little bit of healing from far away to now:

"I choose to believe that I am safe. That life is kind. That coffee is
not really bad for me. I choose to believe that doing yoga will create
more space inside of me so that I can build more shelves, stash more
memories, expand that walk-in closet of my belly...I choose to
believe I can breathe so deep that the heart grows a little bigger,
that the lungs hold more air, that the chest walls stretch to allow
room for the twelve red helium balloons I gulped in. I choose to
believe that when I die, when they cut me open to distribute parts
here and there, that they’ll find my mother’s laugh that day when she
had a marshmallow stuck to her upper lip from her cocoa. That they’ll
find the red Fluevogs and matching cloche. That they’ll find the
firepit and all the smoky laughter. That they’ll find my happy
cheerleading skirt with the blue and gold pleats. That they’ll find
dried mango slices and the sound of a ukulele at the beach. That
they’ll find drawers of my son’s silly songs and colorful artwork.
That they’ll find the bicentennial gold coin, the Archie comics, the
one small bunny that darted across the lawn that morning in San Diego.

I choose to believe that I can breathe it all in, like liquid color.
That I can dig a basement, fill the attic, stuff the hall closets of
my body full of things that tickle and tick. I choose to believe that
there are endless hidden passageways and cubbyholes, just waiting for
me — inside of me. I choose to believe there is room for it all."

- Sherry Richert Belul, June 10, 2012

I wonder if Maya knew how important this was to me today. I suspect she did. And as I send it out to all of you, I send with it my hope that there is someone else out there who needs this medicine. Someone else, searching for home, internal or extrenal, who might find some comfort in what you carry, in what is yours, always.

How Plant a Kiss Day Saved My Life

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:19:03 +0000

This past week was the Plant a Kiss Day Celebration, in which nearly 20 women bloggers, and dozens of fourth grade girls all created something separately out in the world to bring a little magic, joy, poetry, color, and connection in unexpected ways.

It was such delight for me to organize this event and to host my own celebration in the world. And at the same time, it was an incredibly sad, stressful, and anxious week for me.

A really dear man (the father of my best friend from childhood) died. I so wanted to travel across the country for the funeral and to honor his life and spirit. But we are in the midst of trying to find a new home by June 1 and my son is going through lots of middle school trauma and I just couldn't make everything line up in order to be there for the funeral.

I was holding all the sadness around this death and not being able to be there for my friend. I was also holding the stress and anxiety of not knowing where we will live in a month. And, I was feeling scared for my son, so wanting him to easily find his way amongst the emotional minefield of being twelve.

To boot, my Squawky-Polly mind chose to kick me while I was down: recounting list and list of reasons why I am such a loser. Wrong turns I've taken. Comparisons to others. It even turned all my practice tools into shoulds: you should do yoga, you should make a gratitude list, you should listen to your self-coaching recordings. Aghhhhh! Piling on expectations and stress to an already-difficult week. You get the picture.

So what happened was, in the midst of all of this internal upheaval, I also got immersed in kindness.

I got to not only organize the whole Plant a Kiss Day event, but to be a recipient of all those acts of kindness. Even, and especially, the one I hosted: a Bubble Flash Mob. I got to experience firsthand, not just the lightness and joy of these kinds of kindness, but the real necessity of them. In the midst of sadness, anxiety, upheaval, and loss, we all desperately need moments of unexpected joy. It is what heals our cells.

As I've continued to slowly savor each Plant a Kiss Day blog post, it feels like applying some cool healing balm to my bruised insides. I could easily have fallen into a deep pit of darkness and fear. And that could have led me to some even scarier places. But all the small joys of the week jolted my attention and turned me around to face a different direction.

My Zen teacher, Cheri Huber, has a saying that is one of my favorites: "The quality of our lives is determined by the focus of our attention."

Each Plant a Kiss Day activity was a turning of the attention away from fear and anxiety to kindness and joy.

So on the outside, it may seem like a free lemonade stand or handing out flowers or making bubbles are sweet little light things to offer the world, the truth is, these small acts are enormous in their impact. You never know what might be exactly the small encouragement someone needs to keep going.

That's what they were for me this week.

So, don't fool yourself, thinking the title of this post is exaggerated. Our lives get saved every single moment we are able to fill ourselves with joy. Even, and especially, when that joy is mixed with grief, sadness, and fear. We are saved by kindness, over and over again.

Sherry

Delights...

Check out photos of the Bubble Flash Mob.

Read the amazing posts from the other women bloggers about their Plant a Kiss Day events/insights.

Read my guest post in Kind over Matter about Plant a Kiss Day.

Plant a Kiss Day Bubble Flash Mob!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:52:32 +0000

Monday, April 29 was the 2nd Annual Plant a Kiss Day.

In the spirit of Amy Krouse Rosenthal's work,18 bloggers set out to "Plant a Kiss" in the world on April 29. We each did something we thought would spread a little extra joy, color, connection, poetry, or magic in the world. Then we watched to see what would happen!

Today all of us are posting about that experience. (Check out my own activity— a Bubble Flash Mob — below!)

This year, we had a whole group of 4th grade girls who joined us in planting kisses! I will be sharing what they conjuted up with you via this blog as soon as their teacher gets a moment to breathe and gather it all together. Wheeee!

Click here to find links to all of the participating bloggers and hop around to see how each woman was uniquely inspired to celebrate Plant a Kiss Day. After you blog bop, I'd love it if you'd come back here and tell me all about your experience! I wanna hear about what resonated with you, what surprised you, what made you smile ...

Bubble Flash Mob 2013

In the case of my own Plant a Kiss Day activity, I think the photos tell it better than I ever could! I will say this, one of the many many moments that had me grinning was at the end of the day, back home over dinner, when my son said to me, "Mom, I had a great time today. And did you see all those people smiling? Did you see all the little kids running around and giggling? You made a lot of people happy. I'd say that's a very good thing."

A very good thing, indeed. Big thanks to my niece Tara for doing the publicity, to Ian for making all the really big bubbles, to Bob for doing the photography, to Kayne for videotaping and juggling (that's him in the last photo, interviewing me), and to the Executive Bubble Committee of San Francisco for surprising us with tons of bubbly fun! Also, special thanks to all the foks who came out to join us and create a beautiful bubbly community!

It was really amazing and uplifting to see how something as simple as bubbles could connect all of us and make life feel so magical!

If you're ever feeling lonely and in need of community, simply go to a public place with a basket full of bubble to hand out and watch what happens!

Haven't seen enough? "Pop" on over to my post-event promo page for even more bubble photos!

Join us for Plant a Kiss Day 2013!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:44:46 +0000

Celebrate Plant a Kiss Day

April 29, 2013

Plant a Kiss Day was created to celebrate the message and spirit behind Amy Krouse Rosenthal's work and the whimsical book she created, "Plant a Kiss," which is beautifully illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.

"In this gentle tale about hope, kindness, and sharing, see how one small acts blooms into something grander than anyone ever could have imagined."

What small act could you set forth to bloom? Join us!

How to Participate in Plant a Kiss Day

1. Consider doing something on Sunday, April 28 or Monday the 29th, which would spread a little color, connection, poetry, art, or magic in the world. Get inspiration here:

Watch the trailer for Amy's book
Check out this tutorial on making "Fortune Kisses"
Read what other bloggers did for the event in 2012
Check out my list below of simply acts with big impact

*The scope of what you do isn't what is important. It is the intention and the consciousness you bring to it. So, for example, posting one piece of colorful art in a public restroom could take you just a few minutes, but if you are present to what it feels like to intentionally want to bring joy to strangers, the impact can be really powerful. For you and for the unknown folks who will be touched by it.

Here are some REALLY simple things that could have a big impact and ripple effect:

Consciously letting someone in your lane while you're driving.
Buying a single flower and handing it to an elderly woman walking down the street.
Consciously offering an authentic compliment to someone on the bus.
Bringing a basket of fresh fruit to work or the dance studio along with a cheery note.
Sending a thank you note to the clerk at your grocery store, your librarian, or the mailman.
Sending your child to school with flowers and a handmade thank you note for the teacher.
Purchasing a small gift card for iTunes or a local bookstore and leaving it with a card for a stranger to find.
Standing on a corner of a busy street and simply smiling at people and saying hello.
Print our the "Free Compliments" poster from Kind Over Matter and post someplace public.
Play an instrument, create art, sing, or knit someplace public and invite folks to join in.

2. If you're a blogger, write about what you did and how it felt. Post your blog to go live on May 1, link to it on our official Plant a Kiss 2013 Page, and join our Blog Hop Party!

3. If you'e not a blogger, you can still participate either by posting about your "Kiss" on the Simply Celebrate Facebook Page or by hopping around from blog to blog to simply get inspired by all the Plant a Kiss Day acts and events happening around the country.

Questions? Email me!

Just wishing on a Wednesday.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:22:34 +0000

This morning I was led to Jamie Ridler's website, and in particular, her "Wishcasting Wednesday." Every Wednesday she leaves a prompt and folks can respond via their blogs. I love the simplicity of it. I love the community. Most of all, I love the intention behind it.

It's been my experience that simply turning my attention to something is the first step in calling that something into my life. And having the courage to call what we want into our lives is one of the most profound ways of celebrating who we are.

Today, the prompt is: what do you wish to tend?

My wish is this: I want to tend a deep belief in myself. One which transcends all the monkey mind chatter that constantly tries to undermine my efforts to live the life that awaits, just beyond the door of disbelief.

If you have a wish for yourself that you want to share, leave it in the comments; I'd love to hear!

The beauty of the universe.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:23:52 +0000

The fourth graders at the Hathaway Brown School in Cleveland Ohio have been participating in a special program designed by Director Koyen Parikh Shah in which they explore the concept of sisterhood and success. The "Enough" program helps the girls seek a win-win perspective in life.

I've been fortunate enough to meet some of these great girls (well, virtually!) because they'll be participating in the 2013 Plant a Kiss Day. Recently Koyen and the girls kicked off a Skype call we had by sharing with me some of the things that remind them of the beauty of the universe.

I was so delighted and uplifted by our conversation that I asked if I could share their thoughts with my blog readers. They all shouted, "Yeeaaaaaahhhhhh."

Hope you enjoy the girls' musings as much as I do. What a reminder to keep our minds focused on the good things in our lives!

If you are inspired to leave a comment about something that reminds YOU of the beauty of the universe, that would be so wonderful so the girls will see how they've inspired others.

I am reminded of the beauty of the universe when...

I am playing outside (Elisabeth P.)
I am in nature (Isabel H.)
I am skiing up on snowy hills and when I hear the birds calling in the spring (Yasmine)
I go to the park and see the trees (Kimorah)
I see birds fly (Nia)
I play with my dog and look at the stars. And nature (Ashley)
I am with my friends. They are a big part of my life. My family is too.
Everyone is friends. And at the beach (Reese L.)
I see all the trees and nature and animals that people are trying to save, and when someone is nice to me. (Katie M.)
I play with my cat and when good things happen to me and others and when I am near the water and hear the waves (Zoe. K)
Sometimes I think what if I was never made? This makes me glad I live somewhere I can survive. (Aubrey)
I am skiing with my family (Sarah C.)
I think of my dog and see his puppy eyes looking at me (Sarah S.)
I see people have their hair [pulled] back and show their face (Jiahe)
I see people being nice to each other (Chandini A.)
I am playing soccer or when I am with my family (Nicollee H.)
I see Sirius (Jessica C.)
It is spring and I see all the beautiful flowers and I see all the animals and when I am with my family (Sophie L.)
I see all the trees, animals, nature at the beach and when I see all the stars (Eleina S.)
I am by water. The way the water is sometimes calm, sometimes rough, it makes me see that nothing is perfect. (Violet W.)
I am with my friends (Rachel B.)
I play with my cousins (Eloise H.)
I hold my baby sister (Ashmita P.)
Good things happen to other people (Kallie W.)
I am in nature. (Isabel H.)
I am mad at a friend and [feel] ready to forgive them (Sophie C.)
I am skiing very fast down a steep hill, particularly on black double diamond hills and moguls. (Maxine G.)
I am at the Metroparks (Tara C.)
Someone compliments me (Claire S.)
I am in nature and when I am with my family and friends (Cara C.)
I am up high and when I see the flag (Amari E.)
I have somebody to share my ideas with (Abby R.)

Thank you Koyen Parikh Shah! I am excited to share in the excitement of Plant a Kiss Day with you and the girls!

Call your mom!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:47:06 +0000

One of the things on my 10-10 list this morn (10 things I'm grateful for; 10 things I'd like to invite in) was looking forward to seeing my mom next week.

She turns 75 this year and she's healthy as can be. (Knock wood!) She's also really fun and funny and likes to have dance parties where we dress up in silly hats and costumes. Sometimes we have theme dinners and dig up stuff in the house to make it fun. (In the attached photo we're dressed up for an impromptu show!).

She negotiates things with my son like "eat this one baby carrot and you can have three cookies." She's a whiz at crosswords and is kind to strangers she meets and is the person who taught me, "As long as you have a book to read, you'll never be lonely."

I just sent her a note to tell her how glad I am that I get to see her soon. If your mom is alive, how about sending her a card or give her a call today, just because.

Here's another pic of my mom: from a Mexican Fiesta night at her house. Isn't she great?! Seriously, call your mom today. Or if your mom is no longer around, call your favorite aunt or your sister.

Connect. Now. We all keep thinking we have forever. But what we have is NOW.

xo!

Do People Even Know They're Alive?

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:18:53 +0000

This is a guest post by Laurie Wagner, an amazing writer teacher and friend. I love the question to ask myself, "Do I know I am alive?" Just the asking is a way of awakening to life.

Do People Even Know They're Alive?

by Laurie Marks Wagner

The other day in Wild Writing I found myself writing about longing, and longing took me to love, and then I got embarrassed because I thought I should be writing about something more important – like work – and I struggled – felt a little lost in the land of love. And when I feel lost, I make a list.

Change the girl’s sheets

Edit student writing

New poetry for class

Move green cabinet

Get back to Joanie

Party on the 20th?

Don’t forget the bills!

Call Thomas

Get back to Markie D.

Sell cuisinart

Paint the car door

Get the car stereo fixed

School yearbooks

Pay for the AP test

Mend Ruby’s dress for the show

Eye stuff – Zoe

Ah, I can breath again. I know where to go, what to do. I won’t wake up lost. If you need me you can find me between Call Thomas and Get Back to Markie D.

But it’s been dawning on me that these lists, they become my days, and my days become my life. And then that’s it. Finito. Bye Bye. I’m nearly 53, then I’ll be 70, then 80, and I wonder, as I amble toward the very end, whether the last thing I’ll write will be “Close your eyes Cookie.” I wonder if these lists I make, my little marching orders, will be the rails I cling to through my life.

A week or so before my Father’s death, four years ago, he asked my Mother, “Do people know they’re alive?” The question might have been inspired by the fat doses of morphine he was on, which rendered him dreamy and other worldly, but I also think it came from lying in his bed for the last four months and watching friends and family buzzing around him, coming and going – visiting for a bit – then running off to make a meeting, get to the store, get ready for a party, get a package to the post office. He was outside all that living now. His days of running around L.A. meeting people to talk about the various nonprofit groups he supported, playing tennis, heading to the office to look at plans for a new construction – those days were over.

In bed for last four months because he was too weak to walk, I’d station myself on the other side of the bed with him, or sit in a chair by his side. During the day he’d listen to classical music from the local L.A. radio station, the glass doors to his room opened to the garden. Maybe he’d be reading or sleeping. At night the television was often on – he was a Dodger’s fan – he loved Rachel Maddow. And I remember how when the commercials came on – ads for fancy cars speeding around mountain highways, ads for drugs that promised to bring a spring back into your step, ads for home insurance, new mortgages, and trips to Mexico – how embarrassed I’d get because our world, the one we were buzzing around in, the one he was leaving us to live in, seemed ridiculous, without merit, empty, stupid. We’d sit there the two of us, side by side staring at the screen – Dad bald, weak, in diapers, his body ravaged by chemo and radiation, me, checking the clock every now and then, cherishing my time with him, but hoping to get outside for a walk, make time for my work, get to a store before it closed, maybe visit a friend.

“Do people know they’re alive?”

I can’t speak for you, but for myself, I think I forget all the time.

Laurie Marks Wagner teaches online and in-person writing classes. Her latest offering, 27 Prompts is a daily, self-directed wriitng practice that I have tried and loved. Check it out here. It is a practice of coming to life, day after day.

Photos/illustrations copyright Laurie Wagner

What I've learned from my coaching clients!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:13:06 +0000

There are so many things I absolutely love about my coaching clients and I learn tons from each of them every time we have a call. But there's something that I've been noticing — and appreciating— as an overall theme with all of my clients.

It seems there are just four simple steps that my clients take over and over again which lead to the results they want in their lives. Wanna know what they are? Get ready ... cuz you can do these four simple steps, too!

Step One: Frustration.
Clients first come to me because there is something in their life that just doesn't feel quite right. For one person it might be that she knows she has a book in her, but just can't get motivated to write the darn thing. For someone else it might be that he has an incredible job and family, but he is burnt out and just doesn't have as much fun as he wishes. Someone else might be starting a business or wanting to get more deep sleep. Whatever it is, there is a sense of frustration that "the life I have isn't quite aligned with the life I imagine in my head." That frustration is good because it like an alarm going off, telling us there's something in our lives that we need to wake up to! So the first step is this: make sure you pay attention to frustrations in your life; they've got something important to tell you.

Step Two: Intention
Just showing up for the coaching call shows a deep intention and without sounding too woo-woo California, I think there is something magical about just setting aside the time to focus on an aspect of our lives. It is like the universe or God or the divine says rubs its/his/her chin and says, "Well, hey there, this person must be serious about wanting to write that book. How can I help?" To boot, there is the added oomph of the intention to take action on whatever arises as the next steps for the project/goal. How can you show up for yourself and take action steps on things that are important to you?

Step Three: Completion
I'm not a scary person, but every week most of my clients seem to do all the things they committed to! Since I suspect it isn't because they're afraid of me, I think it because they absolutely love the feeling of staying true to themselves and their word and what they want for their lives. Every action item that gets completed moves us on to a place that is closer to where we imagine ourselves. But the BEST part is that every completed action step just feels so darned good in the moment! Don't let monkey mind talk you out of finishing the action steps you set for yourself: push through any resistance and watch how great it feels.

Step Four: Celebration
Did you hear what I said in that last line? I hope so, because it is really really important. When we are being true to ourselves and the life we know we want to live, then it is a joy to take the steps that lead us closer to the heart of it all. And a BIG part of what I encourage for my clients is that they celebrate every step of the way. Our culture is way too focused on what is missing in our lives or in ourselves. Every tiny baby step we make should be wholeheartedly appreciated and yes ... celebrated! So once you've completed what you said you'd do, think up some fun way to acknowledge yourself. It could be a tangible gift or taking youtrself out to a movie or sending yourself an "atta girl" card in the mail. Just don't skimp on the celebration!

If you've got a special dream or a project and you want some ongoing support and someone to share the fun, I have some coaching slots open and would love to tell you more.

Speaking of coaching and celebrating ...
I completed Rich German's Epic Coach Academy! Wheeee!

That's Rich and me in the pic to the left. I Photo-shopped my certificate into the photo and very nearly placed it so it would look like Rich was holding it in his hands. You know, like the old "Price is Right" shows where they'd hold up a big fake check? It was fun to think about, but the truth of it is, I don't have the Photoshop expertise to deftly slip the certificate under his arm with the coffee. Just use your imagination, okay!

The thing I love most about Rich German is his combination of know-how + humor + heart. Oh, and ... he has this contagious energy that bubbles over the phone lines and always gives me a jolt of joy.

Rich's program was a year long and covered a zillion aspects of the business of coaching — everything from the nuts n bolts of scheduling and sales to the more elusive strategies for dealing with self-talk and self-sabotage. One of the aspects of this program that I loved the most was the combo of practicality and spirituality. I felt like I could be a whole person and not have to leave parts of me behind!

If you're already a coach or are thinking of becoming a coach, I wanted to let you know that Rich has a FREE CALL happening this coming Thursday — March 7th at 3pm PST. The call, How to Build Your Coaching Empire, will be all content and no sales. Rich will be sharing some of the ways to begin getting more clients. Yay!

Just to let you know, I am an affiliate of Rich's. But one thing I can promise you is that I would never promote anything that I don't know, love, and trust. If you have any interest at all in building a coaching biz, this call is free and I can guarantee it will be fun!

Something simple for your feel-good toolkit.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:13:25 +0000

I'm taking a course called Awakening Joy and it is chock-full of practices and experiences to help folks see where joy springs from and how to create more of it. This past Tuesday, at the live (yes LIVE, isn't that awesome!) meeting, one of the special guests was Sylvia Boorstein, a lively and delightful meditation teacher.

During the evening, Sylvia shared with us a very simple practice that resonated deeply with me. I wanted to pass it along to you.

She was talking about driving in traffic. And how sometimes driving can cause the ole mind to start chattering and complaining. So she started doing a practice of focusing her attention on something and simply saying, "thank you."

She'd be driving along and see a tree. "Thank you."

She'd see a person walking by in a blue windbreaker. "Thank you."

She'd see a blooming magnolia tree with purple blossoms.
"Thank you."

She'd spot a yapping dog. "Thank you."

Over the past few days, I've been trying this simple practice out and it is truly soothing and brings a sense of well-being.

Try it! And let me know how it goes, okay?

Unexpected wisdom...

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:53:43 +0000

Take Two! Sorry for the missing link to the audio-gram!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 15:28:18 +0000

Whoops! I'm so sorry! The audio love-gram link wasn't working yesterday when I sent this. Click below to listen to an audio I made just for you!

I hope you'll listen all the way through because there is a very important message in it that I'd love for you to hear. Leave comments below/on the Facebook Page, okay?

You are missing some Flash content that should appear here! Perhaps your browser cannot display it, or maybe it did not initialize correctly.

P.S. If you're receiving this audio-blog via the RSS feed and it doesn't play right, click here to find it on my blog.

Valentine's Day Audio Love-Gram for you!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 02:09:42 +0000

Hi everyone! I've had an absolutely beautiful and connected day sending audio love-grams to people who are going through a hard time right now.

I'm so grateful to everyone who emailed me today to send me requests for this so that we could offer a bit of light and love to folks who are lonely, grieving, worried, or disappointed today.

After sending so many of these audio notes, I realized that I wanted to create one for YOU. It is six minutes long and I hope you'll listen all the way through because there is a very important message in it that I'd love for you to hear. Leave comments below, okay?

You are missing some Flash content that should appear here! Perhaps your browser cannot display it, or maybe it did not initialize correctly.

P.S. If you're receiving this audio-blog via the RSS feed and it doesn't play right, click here to find it on my blog.

Do you know someone who is lonely or grieving today?

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:28:29 +0000

I want to celebrate Valentine's Day by offering 14 acts of kindness to 14 folks who may be feeling left out of love today.

Maybe you know someone who recently experienced the death of a spouse or has been undergoing a difficult divorce? Maybe a friend or relative is single and lonely and dreading Valentine's Day because they feel all alone? Maybe someone —maybe you? — feels disappointed, holding chards of broken dreams?

I'd love to offer free audio love grams to 14 people. These are short (2-4 minutes) audio messages I send via email. They can be anonymous or the person can know it is from you. Basically I just let people know that one of the missions of Simply Celebrate is to help people express their love for each other and the audio love gram is one way for folks to do that.

If you're one of the first 14 people to email me, I'll give you more information. We'll keep it really simple. A very simple celebration of love.

Valentine’s Day Secret Juju Love Mission

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 01:54:24 +0000

Here’s the thing: we all long to be seen and loved exactly as we are. Not because we won a towering trophy for excelling at digikikidowhat. Not because we’ve got a big office and a fancy job title. Not because we don’t have wrinkles or do have money or might be the next “it” girl. We want to be loved simply for being our own wonderful, unique, chipped-but-valuable selves. Right?

So as Valentine’s Day quickly approaches (insert happy harp music here), wanna know the secret for being completely filled-to-the-brim with that kind of yummy love?

Give it.

What? Yep. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but the way to feel deeply and authentically loved is to give deep and authentic love. The more you give, the more you get. It’s so simple to do, but oh-so-easy to forget.

If you’ve got 30 minutes to play along, I want to invite you to see for yourself. (You trust me, don’t you?! And chances are, this is just a gentle reminder for something you already know in your bones.) My Valentine’s Day Secret Juju Love Mission is a no-fail way to get that Hallmark swoon-n-glow — and to create that feeling for someone else at the same time. Win-win: yay!

All you’ve got to do to join this secret mission is to create one Love List for someone in your life and send it to that person anonymously via old-fashioned snail mail. What’s a Love List? It is simply a list of five or ten or twenty or one-hundred things you love about someone.

If you've been following Simply Celebrate for awhile, chances are you already know how to create a Love List. Scurry along and start another one, okay!

But for those of you who are new, here’s how it works: set a timer for 30 minutes, turn on some music you enjoy, and perhaps dig up a photo of the lucky gift recipient. (That’s for inspiration, but you may decide to include it as part of the presentation!) Next, get out a pen and paper and start thinking about things you love about this person. Let yourself be open to all kinds of thoughts that drop in. Let’s say this is a gift for your best gal pal. Don’t you just adore her hiccuppy giggles? Do you love the way she greets you with a squeal and a warm hug whenever you see her? Perhaps you love those Sufi poems she gave you, her swingy ponytail, the way she dances, or her blueberry muffins. Or maybe you love the memory of your college trip to Paris when you wore the blue beret and she donned the red one?!

Let yourself brainstorm about who she is, things she’s does, what you’ve learned from her, funny stories, and favorite memories. Give yourself permission to be as silly, sweet, sincere, or sarcastic as you want! This gift is about being exactly who you are and reflecting back to her who she is to you.

Once you have your list, you can present it as-is or get creative. I’ve got a free video and download that give some ideas on unique ways to present your Love List.

Will your best friend guess that it’s you who sent her this secret Valentine juju gift? Well, probably. But still, isn’t it delightful to have that moment of “Huh? What’s this? Who is this mighty envelope of love from? I bet Johnny Depp sent this to me.”

And don’t forget what’s in it for you! It is absolutely positively 100% impossible to create a Love List for someone without feeling a rising tide of no-giver-no-receiver-just-wonderful-love. (And if you have any experience with Zen at all, you’ll get it pretty quickly that these things on this Love List are all projections! You couldn’t see ‘em, if they weren’t a part of you!)

Need a little added incentive? The first ten people to email me and tell me about their experience making the Love List will receive a free audio-gram — another great ninja love gift! (Besides gettin’ that gift, you’ll also receive the pleasure of knowing how happy it makes me to hear from people who have made Love Lists!)

Ready. Set. Valentine’s Day Secret Juju Love Mission ... GO!

Love list copyright Jill Lambert

Make a Love List for Yourself! (Guest Post by Keri Nola)

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:22:01 +0000

Wheeee! I'm excited to be a featured guest on Keri Nola's Conversations that Matter Teleseries. On February 12th, Keri and I will be talking about self-love — just in time for Valentine's Day. Because the answer to, "Is there someone special in your life?" should always be "Yes, me!" No matter what your love life looks like, it most definitely should include you!

Here's a piece that Keri wrote to share her experience of the Love List with you ... enjoy!

My Journey of Creating a Self-Love List

by Keri Nola, Author & Holistic Psychotherapist

I will admit that the road to loving myself has been a long, curvy, and adventurous one to say the least!

I have realized that for me, the experience of self-love is a process and a journey rather than somewhere I arrive and stop. Each day, I choose to cultivate moments of sacred pause in which I remember my infinite worth and allow the truth of my value to be the place I launch decisions, plans, and relationships from.

Over the years I have been creating a self-love tool box filled with a collection of ways to honor and celebrate myself and in my work as an author and holistic psychotherapist, I share these tools with others as well.

I recently attended a workshop that Sherry was facilitating and she introduced me to process of making a “Love List.” During the workshop, Sherry guided us to take a few moments to create a love list for someone in our lives. As I began to write, I felt drawn to use this as an opportunity to acknowledge and love myself although that wasn’t exactly the assignment. (I’m generally a non-conformist.)

I came up with several things I love about me— and found myself feeling warm and fuzzy, like someone draped a comforting blanket over my shoulders. This experience made me realize the huge value present in simply taking a few moments acknowledging and honoring myself. I have since added this activity to my self-love tool box and gravitate toward it as needed for a little boost of tender loving care!

I love that I can use the lists I’ve already created as a quick booster of self-compassion by keeping them available to review as needed or I have the option of adding to the lists or creating new ones as I desire. I’m all about personalizing self-care rituals that resonate and having options to choose from so I don’t get bored with the same old, same old.

I have found that the journey of allowing love to be present in our lives is a delicate balance of both giving and receiving. Have you shown yourself some love today?

Would a Self-Love List welcome some of the love you desire and deserve? Consider creating your own today!

****

I hope you'll join Keri and me on Tuesday evening, February 12 at 6pm PST for Keri's Conversations that Matter Teleseries. We'll be talking about self love and it'd be fabulous to have your energy and input during this free call.

You can win a copy of Keri's book, A Year On Your Path to Growth: Daily Inspirations to Reconnect With Your Soul. Simply leave a comment below by 12nPST on 2/12 that tells one thing you really love about yourself. I'll randomly choose a winner from everyone who comments and will announce it live on the call with Keri Tuesday night. If you don't have a Facebook account, feel free to email me your comment and that counts,too!

______________________________________

Keri Nola is a highly regarded Holistic Psychotherapist, Author of multiple self-help titles and Founder of Path To Growth, LLC, an integrative healing center based in Central Florida. She blends traditional and holistic wisdom to create products and experiences that support people in reconnecting to their authenticity, reclaiming their power and living the lives they deserve and desire.

Keri’s real life experience paired with her extensive education and work background makes her a compassionate, balanced, and sought-after professional in the areas of personal growth and development. For more information, visit www.pathtogrowth.com, join Keri on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pathtogrowth and follow her on twitter @PathToGrowth

Life's too short to wear beige panties...

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 22:27:45 +0000

SIMPLY CELEBRATE NEWSLETTER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

If you know me at all, you've heard me say — maybe ad nauseam — "there is so much more to Simply Celebrate than oom-pah-pah and party pinatas; it's about a deeper, more radical, unexpected celebration.

Simply Celebrate is about framing small moments so those moments become cinematic. It's a minute-by-minute arms-open-wide embracing of what is. It is a celebration of the human spirit and everything that happens on our journey— be it sweet, tangy, spicy, or bitter.

So, um, what's this stuff about panties?! You can't get more frivolous than underwear, right?

Wrong.

I've been watching in my own life. For years. Watching when and where and why I choose to celebrate. Seeing what gets included. And what gets left out. And most fascinatingly —if that's a word, or even if it isn't— I've been watching what choices I make lead to (or away from) a feeling of celebration.

Important note: hopefully by now, you know I use the word "celebration" as a synonym for vitality, joy, peace, self-acceptance, and/or plain ole happy-to-be-aliveness.

We've been led astray by our culture to think that celebration needs to be pulled out of storage for use on special occasions. That we've got to dust it off and use it "for good" like we do the black tux and the fine china. No, no, no. Celebration can be right here, right now, on this anyday Wednesday. That feeling of being alive and loving ourselves and our lives can — and usually does— start with the smallest of details in our lives. And, well, that's why we're talking about panties!

Think about it. Most likely there aren't that many people in your life who see you in your skivvies. (If there are — then, hmmm... that's requires a whole 'nother metaphor that I'm not ready to tackle!) What does it say to yourself if you're willing to add some zest and color and fun in an area of your life that is not for public consumption? What does it feel like to want to be whimsical or sexy or fun because YOU want a life that feels whimsical, sexy, or fun?

This is one thing I know for sure: how we treat ourselves first thing in the morning sets the tone for the whole day. What if you woke up and before you leaped (or rolled or dragged) out of bed, you took a moment to think about your day and imagine one or two fun things that could happen. Then you don your celebratin' panties, drank from your favorite coffee cup, slipped into your za-zing red shoes, and whispered sweet-somethings in someone's ear — maybe even your own—all before 9am?

Do you think the day would have a little added kick? You betcha. Do you think you might smile at more strangers? Uh-huh! Do you think you'd walk a little straighter, feel a little higher, be more open to crazy magic? I know it, sista!

This isn't frivolous stuff. We're talking about the moments of our lives. They ain't endless. They ain't replaceable. They ain't ho-hum. Once-in-a-lifetime magic? That would be every moment of our short lives.

Do you see that when we start the morning with the intention to feel a little more alive, we start scanning our world for ways to carry out that intention? The mind looooves a mission. It loves to connect the dots. And maybe you've noticed that if we aren't clear and firm about what dots we want connected, the mind tends to scan for what's wrong and construct its own picture. Left to its own devices, ole monkey mind will create a thick book of connect-the-dots that reveal pictures of flat tires and disappointing dates, of broken dreams and jiggly underarms.

Seize the morning like you're a circus come to town. Surprise yourself with crazy-striped tents and the smell of caramel corn and high-flying acts all of your own making.

Slip into those "just-for-good" undies —just because. And just for you.

And giggle your way through the day, leaving 'em all wondering why you've got that devilish grin on your face!

Celebrating in the Dark: Making Friends with that Green-eyed Monster

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:46:34 +0000

I coined the term, "celebrating in the dark" to give language to what it means to find joy amidst stuff that is actually really hard and often quite unwanted.

This week I had a "celebrating in the dark" experience around becoming that ole Green-eyed Monster. Everywhere I looked it seemed like people were better than me. I was wearing this invisible, but sure-feels-really-real set of lenses that made me see everything in terms of "them vs me." Their success versus mine. Their level of self-expression versus mine. Their bank account versus mine. Envy was really getting the better of me.

Ugh. Not fun AT ALL.

And then, thank goodness, I attended a workshop led by my Zen teacher, Cheri Huber.

During the workshop, Cheri said something that really made me sit up and listen. I'm not sure I got it exactly as she said it, but it went something like this:

"We are each a cell in the body of the Buddha. Everybody's contribution is unique and necessary. Whatever we bring is perfect. That's why comparing ourselves to others is silly. It is like comparing a cell in the spleen to one in the heart. EVERY one is essential and plays their perfect role."

That statement was to my green monster what that unexpected bucket of water was to the Wicked Witch of the West. My monster simply withered away. I could see that comparing myself to anyone is absolutely silly. I am living my life. The only life that is here for me. There is no other better version of me in which I'm kinda more like her and kinda more like him and a little more of this and less of that. I'm just me.

It became so obvious to me that I really love my life and I love who I am. I am incredibly fortunate in a gabzillion of ways. When I am present to my life and simply living it, there's nothing wrong at all. In fact, there is so very much RIGHT.

But yowza, when that ole "something's missing" monster takes over my body, watch out.

So here's what I'm going to do: since I suspect that monster will return, I'm going to be ready. With bells on. Green ones maybe.

I'm making myself a poster with a photo of Mr. Envy (see him above?) and also a photo of me. (Probably me riding a fat-tired bike on the boardwalk, just having fun.) Then, I'm going to put that quote of Cheri's on the poster. I'll hang that poster where I can see it often to remind me that when I'm green with envy, I just need to remember that I am in exactly the right place in the world, doing exactly the right thing, having exactly the right experience. I'm simply the best me I can be. And no one else can fill those Sherry shoes.

Sounds easy, doesn't it? Yep, it's that black and white. (Er, at least in this moment!) The Green-eyed Monster gave me quite a gift this week.

And speaking of that ole "monster" ... I realize I don't need to be afraid of him and try to kill him off. When he shows up, I can simply see him as a green light — to remind me to love my unique, one-of-a-kind life.

Green-eyed monster illustration © Can Stock Photo Inc. / bertoszig

All that glitters...

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:17:55 +0000

Confession: I haven't yet taken down my Christmas tree. (Thank goodness it's artificial!)

I like it. I like the little lights. I like the holiday glow. And I really like that every ornament on the tree connects to some piece of family history or a special story. When I was a kid, my mom let me pick out an ornament every year. Then, when I left home as a young adult, I brought all my ornaments with me.

I started the same tradition with my son. And every year I also always add one ornament that signifies something from my year.

In 2012 I neglected to find or buy an ornament for the year. I keep a list of which ornaments my son picks out and which I add every year. So I was bit bothered by that empty space next to my own choice for 2012.

And then, last week, when I returned from 12 days in Ohio with my family, there was a package waiting for me. I opened it up and it was a handmade star ornament, with glitter! This ornament was a gift from an exceptional 10-year-old boy from Wisconsin named Christopher.

Christopher is the son of one of my wonderful coaching clients. In December, Christopher launched a program called "Socks for Seniors," in which he collected nearly 200 pairs of new socks to distribute to the elderly. I'd heard about his generous efforts and sent him a note and small gift card to congratulate him on his program and tell him how inspired I was.

As a thank you, he sent me a card back and the wonderful ornament he'd made! (See, that's it, in the photo!).

What I love so much about this ornament, besides the simple fact that it was a gift from such an amazing kid, is that it truly does represent something very significant and personal to me about 2012. One of the most valuable experiences I had was my 48-48-48 Kindness Project, which I launched for my 48th birthday. I offered 48 acts of kindness to 48 people in 48 hours. It was an incredible experience in so many ways — but mostly in showing me how easy and possible it is to find connections to strangers when we're willing to show up, be fully present, and make an offering.

Christopher did that through his sock project. And by sending a stranger (me!) a special ornament. When I see this ornament, each of those pieces of glitter reminds me of how he reached out to dozens of seniors by giving them socks. It reminds me of my birthday project where I got to connect with so many amazing strangers. It reminds me how fun and easy it was to connect with a terrific 10-year-old 2000 miles away. And it reminds me of all the possible and potential connections we can make with others out in the world.

All that glitters is not gold. But sometimes, like with Christopher's ornament, it's worth way more than gold!

See why it's so hard to take my tree down?!

2013: Sending you a great big YES

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:44:09 +0000

Hi. Welcome to 2013.

I'm sitting in the quiet kitchen at my mom's house in a tiny town in Ohio. There's a pair of blue jays clamoring for bread outside the window and a small brown wren just landed on our snowman's twiggy arm. (I'm surprised she was brave enough to go near him; my 12-year-old boy created a "SnowTerminator" with a paprika-red eye and a matching ice mask covering half his face!)

I'm still in that "holiday bubble" and it is such a delicious place to be — no schedules, no carpools, no rushing from here to there. Lots of time to enjoy the simplest of pleasures like taking three days to finish the Sunday New York Times Crossword puzzle — and that's with seven of us guessing!

In the midst of this quiet joy, I wanted to take a moment to connect with you and thank you for being such a huge part of the past year — and years!— for me. Just as I love sitting around my mom's big kitchen table, chatting for hours, I love sitting around (virtually) with all of you — sharing conversations and participating in celebration events together. When it comes right down to it, these connections to one another —whether online or live— are the real backbone of life. They mean everything to me.

So here's what I really want to say to you as 2013 begins to unfold... here's why I logged in this morning... the word YES.

My wish for you — and me— in 2013 is that we let ourselves be called by everything from quiet whispers to bold ruby sunsets to unimaginable dreams to whimsical purple striped leggings to cliff edges and soft landings to sparkly things on the ground to almost imperceptible shadows from the third story window.

Let's be called. Let's listen. And let's respond with a certain and unequivocal "YES."

Let's make a pinky pact to say yes to ourselves more than we ever have in our lives — even if it's scary or if it means being bolder than we've ever been.

In honor of this "yes," I want to share with you a short poem I ran in the Simply Celebrate newsletter way-oh-way back in 2003. For some reason, this poem popped into my head last month and I've been loving being reconnected to it. I love the power and playfulness of YES and am hereby declaring it my One Word for 2013. All those internal naysayers of mine can go find another nest! It's 2013 and ... YES!YES!YES!

God Says Yes to Me
By Kaylin Haught

I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic
And she said yes
I asked her if it was okay to be short
And she said it sure is
I asked her if I could wear nail polish
Or not wear nail polish
And she said honey
She calls me that sometimes
She said you can do just exactly
What you want to
Thanks God I said
And is it okay if I don't paragraph
My letters
Sweetcakes God said
Who knows where she picked that up
What I'm telling you is
Yes yes yes

***
"God Says Yes To Me" by Kaylin Haught.
Reprinted by permission of Steve Kowit from The Palm of your Hand. Copyright 1995 by Kaylin Haught. For further permissions information, contact Tilbury House Publishers.

Photo by Ian Fratar

Holiday Stress Buster: the "no need to do" list

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:48:33 +0000

I'm creating a "no-need-to-do" list that includes these things:

*No need to make anything look perfect: Banish Norman Rockwell and bask in my own norm.

* No need to stop taking care of myself during the holidays: the more I take care of this body, the more I have to give to every body.

* No need to buy gifts out of obligation; give my attention and presence always. Give gifts when it feels organic and free.

* No need to say yes when I feel a "no" inside of me: listen and act from my own truth.

* No need to let the ghosts of holidays past haunt me: bring my spirit into this day, now.

*No need to save celebration for specially-marked days: do it, say it, wear it, give it, be it ... NOW.

A tiny petal of beauty in the rush of life. (Look out!)

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:55:37 +0000

Last October when life gave me the idea for my 48-48-48 Kindness Project, I got to meet a wonderful woman, Laura Shovan, who requested an act of kindness for her daughter. I was happy to oblige.

And then — surprise!— I received a "backatcha" act of kindness from Laura: she sent me a hand-knitted bookmark along with a copy of her prize-winning poetry book, "Mountain, Log, Salt, and Stone."

Love that circle of giving!

Recently Laura contacted me to let me know that she was inspired by my birthday project and is doing a kinda-similar one for her own upcoming birthday, a postcard project. Now only did I love hearing about her project, but it was a reminder to me that I had earmarked one of her poems to share with all of you. And, gulp, I'd forgotten to do so.

So now, without further ado, and to keep the kindnesses circling, I want to share with you this poem of Laura's that really speaks to what it means to notice the everyday, ordinary beauty of our lives. Because, the secret is, when we frame a single ordinary moment, it becomes simply extraordinary. Sometimes in the rush of life we forget to look in the most obvious places for the beauty of our lives. Laura says it exquisitely:

Because We Were Rushing to Catch the Bus

we did not notice the rain.

Too late for umbrellas,

we ran down the sidewalk,

wishing we'd taken the car.

Because we ran

under rain soaked trees,

the children's heads were damp

when I kissed them at the corner.

Because the children were gone,

I walked home alone.

Dishes in the sink

waiting.

Because of the dishes

I bent my head

before the kitchen window.

A petal fell from my hair —

a pink thumbprint against metal,

pink against the gray day,

pink against the absence of children.

It shook me awake.

Because we were rushing to catch the bus

I carried beauty, unknowing.

—Laura Shovan

Poetry copyright Laura Shovan ; To purchase her book from Amazon, click here.

Showcasing Love Lists 3: Guest Post by a Love List Maker

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:19:54 +0000

Last week I led a telephone workshop and my good friend, Suki, was on the line. During that call we spent a few minutes starting a Love List for someone in our lives. I asked people to share their experiences and Suki shared something that I thought would be helpful for all the Love List makers out there! Her idea was to include a short story to exemplify items on her Love List. She offered to write up a guest post to explain it — and also to share the wonderful story behind her idea. Thanks, Suki!

Love List Story
by Suki Haseman

One of the exercises Sherry had us do as a part of her telephone workshop was to make a Love List. I started jotting things down for my granddaughter, Lila, who is seven. One of the things I listed that I loved about her was her honesty. And then, because of her age, I felt she would need an example of what I meant by that, so I wrote out a story providing an example. This led to the letter I sent off in the mail today to her which I have included below.

I am a person who loves words that round out and expand the intent and meaning of what we say and write, so I feel that the story approach with Love Lists would work with people of any age — even if the expansion is one line and not a letter. As I was writing the letter, the experience of that day was alive for me all over again and I felt so connected to Lila even though we are 3,198.7 miles apart as the crow flies.

Thank you to Sherry for this providing me with this exercise which has expanded my world and hopefully the world of my granddaughter and of all of the people whose lives will touch hers. A love list knows no boundaries.

Suki's letter to her granddaughter:

Dear Lila,

I wanted to tell you one of the things that I love about you. It is your honesty. Let me give you an example. When you were five you and daddy and grandma met up in Arizona to celebrate Easter. I had bought a hat for you that I thought you would love. When you opened it you tried it on and it was too small, so I told you that I would exchange it for a larger size and send it to you. You were very quiet and kind of stared down at the ground. When I asked you what was going on you said, “I’m a little bit afraid to tell you.” I replied that I hoped you could feel that you could always tell Grandma anything. Then you told me that you didn’t really like the hat and didn’t want another one.

It was very brave of you to be honest. Sometimes people don’t like that, even when we try to be very kind when we do tell the truth, and while it is very important to do our best to be kind, it is very important to be honest both for ourselves and for others. So I just want to tell you again that I admire you and hope that you will always be able to tell me anything that is on your mind or in your heart and that I will do my very best to listen to you with an open mind and an open heart.

I love you.

From Sherry: I think Suki's idea to include some stories behind the Love List items is absolutely marvelous. And, as we can see with her letter to Lila, detailing just one thing we love about someone can be a beautiful gift!

Photo copyright Suki Haseman

The New Black Friday: Showcasing Love Lists 2

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:26:08 +0000

This week and next week, I'm sharing with you some ideas of how to present Love Lists, a unique gift idea that a bunch of us started on The New Black Friday.

Artist Jill Lambert is making a one-of-a-kind handpainted Love List book for her daughter, Isabelle.

Each of the inside pages is painted in a unique way and after each page dries, Jill adds the Love List items onto the page.

You can find Jill's artwork for sale on her Etsy site. She's got lots of new products for holiday gifts.

You don't have to be an artist to create a Love List book for someone in your own life. You can simply use postacrds, cut-outs from magazines, scrapbooking papers, or photographs to decorate your book.

The New Black Friday: Showcasing Love Lists

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:58:41 +0000

Oh! New Black Friday was so much fun!

Thank you to everyone who participated by staying home part of the day and creating Love Lists as gifts for people in your life. Special thanks to those of you who emailed me stories and photos of your experiences. I don't have the words to tell you HOW MUCH this means to me. Every story and every photo is truly a gift to me. (Insert musical interlude here to express my great joy!!!)

Over the next couple weeks I want to share some of the stories/ideas with you. Just because The New Black Friday is over doesn't mean we can't keep creating Love Lists! Maybe these stories will spark an idea for you. I hope so. They certainly inspire me.

The first story I wanted to share is of the Love List Tree that Amy Hinton Williamson created in New Jersey. I just LOVED that Amy took the Love List idea and turned it into an activity she could do with a class of girls. And that in turn, they could all share this inclusive art tree with anyone who wanted to participate.

Here's the story Amy sent me:

"I lead art and self-empowerment classes for girls in New Jersey, and this summer we created a Wish Tree in a local park. We decorated our tree with mail tags filled with wishes for our friends and family and invites the community to add their own wishes. During Hurricane Sandy three weeks ago most of the wishes were destroyed or blew away in the wind.

When I learned about Sherry's Love List idea I immediately knew we would begin a new tree: a Love List Tree. The girls in my class made beautiful love list tags for their loves ones and we hung them on our tree, along with an envelope filled with blank tags. The community is invited to turn Black Friday upside down and make a love list instead of a shopping list. They are invited to give the gift of love. Find the girls and their tree here, on the Brave Girls Art Blog."

Scroll down to enjoy more photos of the Love List Tree!!!

I'll be posting more Love List photos this week. :-)

Photos copyright Amy Hinton Williamson and Brave Girls Art

Let's make it about love, not shopping.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:38:43 +0000

Hi everyone,

Wishing you all a beautiful and connected Thanksgiving. If you're traveling, be safe!

Just a reminder of my invite to join me on The New Black Friday. We're gonna make Love Lists for people in our lives. Everyone who makes at least one Love List on Friday can email me to receive a free gift!

I'll be online, on the Simply Celebrate business page from 1pm-1:30pm Friday to answer any questions you have or just to share in the virtual community of folks focused on creativity and LOVE that day!

In case you missed it the other day, here's a link to my video: The New Black Friday. Please pass it along so we get lots of people joining us.

In the meantime — have an absolutely WONDERFUL Thanksgiving with people you love! Breathe deeply, relax, and enjoy the love.

I'm grateful to be connected to you and to get to share so much of life's best stuff.

Sherry

The NEW Black Friday: Make Love Lists Not Shopping Lists!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 23:47:56 +0000

Have you heard the news that some stores are now opening on Thanksgiving evening in order to get a jump start on Black Friday shopping?! Enough is enough!

So many people in our country are in debt and there is already so much stress associated with the holidays. It is time to turn this all on its head and get our priorities back in order.

I'm rebelling.

Will you join me?

I want us all to stay home part of the day on Black Friday and create a Love List for someoene in our life. Let's leave an emotional imprint, not a carbon one!

Check out the 2 minute video I created, make a Love List for someone you know, and email me on The NEW Black Friday to let me know you did so. I'll send you a free gift.

P.S.

Will you please pass along this link to folks you know so others can join in the mission? http://www.thenewblack-friday.com

My 3 Fave Ways to Celebrate in under 10 Minutes ...

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:25:26 +0000

1. Play dead

I know this may feel counterintuitive, but the first way I practice joy is to remind myself every morning that I am going to die and everyone I love will die. When I consciously remember that my days are limited and that at any moment I could lose someone I love, I bring more attention to what a gift life is.

When my son walks out the door to go to school in the morning, I look him in the eye, I tell him I love him, I give him a big hug. When I have lunch plans with a friend I remind myself on my way how much I love this friend and how important THIS lunch is — right here; right now.

Thinking of death doesn’t have to be morbid; it can be a reminder of how much we love and who we want to be while we’re here. Otherwise, it is way too easy to think we have all the time in the world.

2. Treasure hunt the hidden gems.

Bill Cunningham said, “Those who seek beauty are sure to find it.” I think he's right. This is what I do: I go on a 10 minute walk to the post office and consciously ask: what is beautiful? I might see an elderly couple walking hand in hand. I might see a tiny red flower poking up through the cement. I might see a child's chalk drawing of a happy sun. I might hear someone laugh across the street. Seeking beauty is one of the quickest routes to celebration. (And if you're on the way to the post office it is a two-fer 'cuz you also get your errand done!)

3. Create extraordinary moments.

One of the best things I ever learned was how to frame a moment. It is simple and can turn any single moment into something that feels cinematic. Here's all you do:

Get here.
Be present.
Consciously know that you are alive and that want to feel extraordinary.
Look someone in the eye.
Listen closely. Take a risk and share something vulnerable and real.
Make someone laugh.
Reach out to a stranger, even if you're scared.
Look at the stars and repeat a line from a poem to yourself.
Pretend like you're drawing a frame with your hands and see what is inside that space and in that moment.
Surprise someone with a phone call, a note, a flower, a kiss.
Say out loud to someone, "I love being here with you right now."

It is so incredibly easy to create an extraordinary moment. That photo up above is of me and my beau, Ian. We were driving down the highway and saw this amazing field of sunflowers. We could have just driven on by. But instead, we stopped. That in itself was extraordinary. I loved the feeling of being lost among the rows of these giant flowers!

But then, Ian crouched down and said, "hop on my shoulders so you can see the whole field." THAT was an amazing, extraordinary moment. I will never forget the feeling of perching precariously on his shoulders, laughing and being surrounded by an entire field of happy flower faces! He was running down the rows — I was holding on for dear life — and everything felt exhilarating.

Guess what? Extraordinary moments just like that one, when strung together like jewels on a necklace, make up an extraordinary life.

If you're interested in five other quickie ways to bring celebration and joy into your day, check out my free download, "Joy is a Practice"

If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 04:46:04 +0000

Hi. I love this short bit of philosophy from Kurt Vonnegut. I try to pay attention and voice when life is good. But this is advice I would love to heed even more in life! How 'bout you?

"And now I want to tell you about my late Uncle Alex. He was my father’s kid brother, a childless graduate of Harvard who was an honest life insurance salesman in Indianapolis. He was well-read and wise. And his principal complaint about other human beings was that they so seldom noticed it when they were happy. So when we were drinking lemonade under an apple tree in the summer, say, and talking lazily about this and that, almost buzzing like honeybees, Uncle Alex would suddenly interrupt the agreeable blather to exclaim, ''If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.''

So I do the same now, and so do my kids and grandkids. And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ''If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.''

That’s one favor I’ve asked of you."

Free tele-class tonight: Celebration as an Antidote to Scarcity, Fear, and Despair

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:30:48 +0000

I've been invited to lead a workshop as part of the Personal Transformation Summit. All the workshops are free and there will be no selling on the calls. I'd really love it if you could join me for this.

My workshop, Celebration as an Antidote To Scarcity, Fear, and Despair, is something really close to my heart — all about celebrating exactly what is, rather than being caught in a story about how we wish things could be. I've got some personal experiences to share and a few in-class exercises for you.

It's all happening tonight, Monday November 5th at 6pm PST/9pm EST. But if you can't be there live, you will get the replay if you sign up. Here's the FAQs ma'am (or sir):

What the heck will you be talking about?:
Here's the official class write up: Using disappointment, depression, and anxiety as her teachers for the past twenty years, Sherry has developed products and practices for celebrating ourselves, the people we love, and the shape of our lives — even when none of those look the way we had imagined. During this workshop, Sherry shares some simple (and delightful!) tools and exercises she uses often to create a life of celebration, no matter what the circumstances.

How about if the circumstances are the holidays? Got any tricks up your sleeve to deal with that, huh?
No doubt, the holidays bring up a whole mess o' different feelings for people. There's lots of joy and love and fun and hoopla. But there's also a lot of stress and worry and loneliness that go on. During this class I'm going to be having a special focus on the holidays.

Um, what's a tele-class?
A tele-class is simply a class that happens via the phone. A bunch of people (or, uh, just me if no one else shows up) call in to the same bridge line or conference line and we get to be together in a virtual way. Usually the line is muted most of the time to so there aren't a lot of crazy noises like dogs whimpering and kids yahoo-ing. But there is also time when there is open discussion and Q & A. The best part? We can't see one another so we all get to come in our pajamas or with our hair in rollers.

Where do I sign up for this great workshop that I can take in my pajamas?
Just click right here!

What happens after I sign up?
Once you sign up via the above link, you'll receive an email from the conference organizers with all the details about how to access the call this evening. Then, at 6pm PST (that's 9pm EST), you simply cozy up in your favorite chair dial the number, enter the access code, and voila — we'll be in a virtual parlor together, beside a fake fireplace. Just to make it easy for you, here's the link again!

Will I need to bring anything with me?
Yes. Please bring some paper and a pen. We'll be doing a few in-class exercises to make things interactive and fun.

What if I can't make it at that time?
Well, good thing you asked! If you sign up for the tele-summit using the link below (or above! They're the same!) you'll be sent information about how to access the replay.
Sign up here and you'll get the free replays, too.

What else would I want to know about this here summit?
There's a whole slew of great folks who will each be sharing free workshops to offer you useful tools for personal development. There will be NO selling on any of the calls, just pure, helpful content. Here's what you get. For free. Really. Just because we all want to be the change we want to see:

- Enjoy FREE personal development workshops
- Meet amazing individuals who are following their passion to help others
- Hear their secrets to living a life of joy and abundance
- Learn specific techniques that you can use to enrich your life
- Join a growing community working to raise social consciousness
- Be the change YOU want to see

Hope you can c'mon by TONIGHT, Monday November 5th at 6pmPST/9pm EST!

Email me with any questions!

Seek celebration; even in the dark corners,
Sherry

What's the best gift you ever got?

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 03:19:38 +0000

SIMPLY CELEBRATE NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Remember my 48-48-48 birthday project earlier in the month? I committed to offering 48 acts of kindness for 48 people in 48 hours? Well, I got a wonderful email from Jennifer Devlin who was inspired by my project. I want to share her delightful story with you.

I also want to see if this sparks any memories for you of something maybe just as wonderful in your own life. As you're reading her story, be thinking about a creative and loving gift you've received in your life. (Cuz you know I wanna hear about it!!)

So ... after reading about my birthday kindness project, Jennifer got the idea to put a spin on it and turn it into an amazing birthday gift for her mom. Here's what she did: she put a call out to all her friends, colleagues, and social media connections and asked folks if they'd be willing to send a birthday card or treat to her mom:

"My mom's 64th birthday is next week, and as a gift to her, I want to wish her Happy Birthday 64 times. I would love to have 64 people send her a postcard, note or card — a physical piece of mail to make her day. It will cost you some time and a stamp, but it would mean the world to her, and to me.

It doesn't matter if you don't know her, or don't know her well.. the message is the gift... an uplifting, inspiring note. As I get older, I realize that "things" don't really matter, it's intention and I think this is the best gift I could bestow on her."

Well, as you might guess, people were more than happy to join in this loving project. (I did!) Jennifer's mom was absolutely surprised, touched, and overjoyed with the outpouring of love she received!

Jennifer told me her mother thought there was some mistake when she opened her mailbox and saw all the mail! "She read each card and letter aloud to me over the phone," said Jennifer. "I could tell my mom was beaming. Sure beats a sweater as a gift, hands down," Jennifer laughed.

I am tickled at hearing about the ripple effects of my birthday idea. I just love the idea of Jennifer's mom going to the mailbox and seeing lots and lots of handwritten envelopes in there from complete strangers. Jennifer said some folks even sent handmade treats! And I agree with Jennifer 100% when she said that as we get older things start to mean less and intention means so much more.

What about you? Have you ever received a gift that was overflowing with love, care, and intention? What stands out in your mind as the "best gift ever?"

Would you be willing to leave a comment below letting me know about that amazing gift? (If you're reading this via email, click here; otherwise, just scroll down to the comments section.) If you're not on Facebook, you can email me.

Talking to Jennifer got me excited about adding some revisions to my creative gift giving ebook, Present Perfect: 127 creative, one-of-a-kind, no-to-low cost, wow-em gifts they'll never forget. I'd love to collect personal stories, like Jennifer's, to include in the next edition of the book. So please, let me know the best gift you ever got!

What to do when you're in the dark.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 19:21:44 +0000

Note to myself:

When you're in the dark — grieving, disappointed, apathetic, uncertain— do this:

Make a movement, no matter how tiny, toward an opening. Seek the pinprick of light in the distance.

Call a friend whose voice is like honey. Do something kind for someone you love — or a stranger. Listen to music that makes your heart feel like a house with wide open windows. Wear polka dots. Comfort yourself like you were four with a fever. Soak in a lavender bath.

Look up at the night sky. Open your mouth. Inhale as many stars as you can.

(Thanks to Britt Bravo, teacher of "Juicy Blogging," an ecourse I'm currently taking, for recommending the challenge of creating a 100-word post!)

Live the questions.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:47:13 +0000

I was on a coaching call yesterday with a dear client. We were talking about how so much of life is unresolved at any moment. That things are always unfolding and how helpful it can be when we stop trying to figure things out and instead, let go into trusting that which we do not know.

During that conversation, one of my favorite quotes dropped in (from a book I read 20+ years ago) and I wanted to share it with you:

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”

― Rainer Maria Rilke (Letters to a Young Poet)

Project Kindness: 48-48-48

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:54:18 +0000

Last week I wrote to you on my birthday, letting you know that the idea had dropped in (thanks, Life!) to offer 48 acts of kindness to 48 people in 48 hours. All I can say is, "Wow." I had no idea the profound effect this experience would have on me.

I don't know about you, but for me birthdays can be a grab bag of emotions. One year I might just roll along and savor all the gifts and greetings and attention. Another year I might feel incredibly lost or lonely inside. Sometimes there just isn't enough attention in the world to fill up the pit inside. Sometimes my birthday cup runneth over with joy and celebration. Sometimes the passing of another year fills me with comparison, regret, or questions: I thought I'd be there by now; look at her, she's a decade younger and way more successful; am I living as fully as I can? I do my best each birthday to just stay close by my own side and offer kindness, compassion, and celebration no matter how I'm feeling.

But this year, I hit gold.

This year, with life's perfect guidance to turn my attention to others, I found myself having a birthday that just kept giving and giving and giving. And as cliche as it sounds —and lordy, I know it does— there was no separation at all between myself and the people I was giving to. It was just simply flow. energy. joy. life. offering. receiving. connection.

Every email I received from one of you— "my sister has a heart condition and she is scared," "my daughter tried out for cheerleading and didn't make it," "my friend is grieving for someone she dearly loved," "I am overwhelmed," "my mom is lonely," "she doesn't know how she will get through this" —every email like this cracked my heart open a little more. With each one, I let in the feelings of what it is to be a human being. All the sorrow and disappointment and heartbreak and loneliness.

But I saw so clearly how those feelings don't exist in isolation. Like a vine, wrapped around a tree, each one was encased by someone's great love and concern. So I didn't just see the daughter who felt like a failure. I got to see the mother who loves that daughter with love as big as the moon. I got to see the friend who would do anything to take away the sorrow of someone she loves. I got to see how those places of vulnerability, fear, grief, and anxiety are fertile ground — perfect for compassion to stubbornly poke its little green head out of the hard ground and into the sunlight —not only for the person experiencing them, for but everyone around. I felt that compassion, over and over again.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a birthday of mine which was really hard. One in which I got to experience, "celebrating in the dark." i can't help but connect the dots to this birthday, seven years later, in which there was also a lot of celebrating in the dark. Every time someone wrote to me about a loved one who was having a hard time, there was the hard time, yes. But there was also the absolute love wrapped around that pain. There was someone in pain. There was a loved one wanting to offer kindness. There was me, a stranger, reaching out in some way to offer compassion. There was the one in pain receiving the kindness and offering back a loving connection. There was me, receiving that connection. There was a feeling of us all being in this together. One moment I'm the stranger giving kindness; next moment you're the one offering. Celebrating, together, in the dark and in the light.

I know I haven't even gotten to tell yet about the various experiences — the flowers and books and gift certificates and poems and all — how and what I chose to offer to each person. But drat, this email is already pretty long. And very shortly, Ian, Bob, Kayne, and I are packing up the car to head to Half Moon Bay for a belated birthday celebration, which includes pumpkins and a hay bale maze and the ocean's roar! I gotta run!

I'll tell more soon. This has truly been an experience in what I call the "circle of giving." And it isn't done. I feel a nudge to continue this 48-48-48 project in some way. I'll keep you posted.

Thank you so much to all the folks who responded by letting me know the people in their life who needed a little extra support and compassion. Each of you deserves the greatest of kindnesses for your big hearts and generous spirits!

Love,

Sherry at 48

Will you help me celebrate my birthday today?

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:16:48 +0000

It's my 48th birthday and I just returned from a retreat at a Buddhist monastery in the Sierra foothills of California.

During the retreat, my teacher, Cheri Huber, used the expression "unrelenting kindness." I've been turning the expression over in my mind. And holding it in my bones.

So it isn't surprising that when I got home and began to think about what I wanted for my birthday, the expression, "unrelenting kindness" dropped in. Last night, I found myself making a numbered list from one to 48. I decided that I would find 48 people to offer kindness to in 48 hours.

Some obvious suspects came along right away. People whom I knew were having a hard time or who might simply be in the place of needing a little special attention. I decided to send cards through the mail, leave some audio messages, and order a few books for people.

I am also making small financial donations to folks who are raising money for great causes. Later tonight, my beau and I are going to buy some sunflowers and hand them out to strangers on the street.

But I'd also love your help! I'm wondering if you — or someone you know— may be in need of some extra kindness? If so, will you send me a mailing address or email address and I will add you/them to my birthday kindness list? Just tell me in a sentence or two why you or your friend could use a little boost. I'll take it from there.

You probably all already know the real secret to this unrelenting kindess thing, right? It is impossible to offer kindness to someone without feeling the effects myself. So on my birthday, I'm giving myself 48 extra opportunities to receive kindness. You can't beat that!

As I wrote that just now, I remembered a quote I read long ago. Looked it up on Google ... and here it is: "The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose."
~Hada Bejar

(We all just witnessed a little magic! I had already chosen to use that photo — above— of the roses, which were sent to me today by a dear friend. The fact that life ended my blog post with that quote about the roses delighted me. It gives me pause to think of how often life comes in at exactly the right moment to bring us something we didn't even know we needed.Or, like a fun hat, life brings us the perfect topper that adds some whimsy or beauty!)

Don't forget to email me SOON with the snail mail or email address of someone whom you think could use a little boost of kindness. I can't wait to help.

Sherry (celebrating 48 today!)

Even more (super) power to ya!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 17:21:14 +0000

Remember last week I posted in celebration of Andrea Scher's new Superhero Life website? Well, it has been so absolutely delightful to hear from so many of you — telling me what your own superpowers are. I love it!

(By the way, that's Andrea, over there, to the right, leaping playfully!)

Anyone who leaves a comment on that blog post by Wednesday the 19th at 12n PST will be entered to win two weeks worth of customized audio boosts. I promise, they are so cool! It's like having your own personal cheerleader as you go about your life. Plus, you'll wanna leave a comment because it is a fascinating exercise to think about what your superpower is. C'mon by and tell me yours!

Please visit and comment by 12n PST on Wedneday the 19th to be entered in the drawing. (If you don't have a Facebook account, you can also email me your superpower comment! I'll throw those names into the hat, too. And yep, it will be an actual hat for the drawing!)

Here's to our collective powers! To inspire you a bit, here is a list of some great bloggers who helped celebrate Andrea's launch last week by writing their own posts, just like I did, about their superpowers. Check 'em out. I've been skipping around to read each of them and have been loving the journey into celebrating superpowers.

SARK Superpower: Joy

Marianne Elliott Superpower: Caring

Karen Walrond: Superpower: Cheerleader

Laurie Wagner Superpower: A digger

Jen Downer Superpower: Photography

Hannah Marcotti Superpower: YOU

Catherine Just Superpower: Willing to be transparent

Mati Rose Superpower: Choosing color

Susannah Conway Superpower: Truth-telling

Jen Louden Superpower: Cheerleading

Design Mom's Gabrielle Blair Superpower: Recognizes beauty

P.S. Don't forget, I really want to hear your thoughts about your own superpowers. If you're reading this via email, click here to leave a comment via Facebook or click here to email me. Otherwise, if you're live on the blog page, just click here!

Photo copyright Andrea Scher.

More (super) power to ya!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:26:50 +0000

Today we're celebrating superpowers. But not the kind of superpowers like leaping tall buildings in a single bound. Nope. The everyday extraordinary kind of supehero superpowers. Like how Andrea Scher describes 'em:

"To me, a Superhero is someone who invites her wisest, bravest, most alive self to come out and play, every day. This doesn’t mean having all the answers, being unshakably strong, or performing dramatic feats of heroism.

It means being someone like you – and someone like me. Someone who is anxious and uncertain, oh, say, 50 – 80% of the time. Someone who wants to live a juicy, full, courageous life — but doesn’t always know how. Someone who understands that vulnerability just might be the greatest superpower of all."

I'm with Andrea. I love recognizing the superpowers in those of us who may not be wearing fancy capes with our muscles bulging like Superman. But nevertheless, we're overcoming huge obstacles every single day merely in our intention to be fully awake and alive.

This week, Andrea launched her fabulous new website, Superhero Life. In celebration of this launch, she invited some folks to blog about our own superpowers. While you're reading my superpower story, be thinking of your own!

My superpower?

I know my greatest superpower thanks to my dear friend Laurie Wagner, who kindly pointed it out to me on my 41st birthday (seven years ago!) after I'd been sobbing all day, feeling like a complete loser. I actually can't remember all the things that led to that moment. But I can guess some had to do with splitting up with my husband. And others probably had to do with the publisher telling me that "no, after all, they weren't going to publish my book." Or maybe it had to do with a general sense that no matter how hard I tried I just plain couldn't keep up with the Joneses. Or anyone else.

I was deflated. I was tired. I was beaten down.

In order to buoy my spirits, I was hanging out with Laurie and two other wonderful friends, Kirsten and Maya. Maya had cooked a delicious meal that was as nurturing as it was tasty. Laurie had filled her colorfully tiled tub with steaming water, lit a candle, and given me some soothing smelling soap l so I could soak away my weariness. And Kirsten was meticulously baking a gorgeous lemon pie.

I've never liked cake, but have always adored pie. And wow — Kirsten was going the extra mile with this birthday pie. She'd used only the freshest of ingredients, had carefully measured out everything, and painstakingly created the most intricate and lovely of lattices for the top.

As she slipped the beautiful pie into the oven to bake, I stole away to soak in the tub. I remember listening to the comforting clatter of dishes and that low tone of voices from the other room. I remember feeling open and raw — you know how that is when you've cried yourself silly? I remember drying off with a plush towel and feeling the flush of warmth from the kitchen hit me as I stepped inside and sat down on a chair, awaiting the pie. I felt warm and soothed and loved. I felt so grateful for my friends' love and care. I could feel the beauty of the day seeping into my spirit like an elixir.

I sat in the kitchen and watched as Kirsten picked up the oven mitts and opened the oven door. I watched as she carefully slid the pie out of the oven and into her mitted hands. I watched as she calmly stood up. I watched as she started across the kitchen and headed to the counter. I watched as the pie toppled out of her hands and fell to her feet, splattering somewhat, but mostly plopping into a few messy hills of lemon pie.

Everyone was flabbergasted. It happened so quickly. We were stunned at the sudden loss of our beautiful birthday pie.

I quickly grabbed a plate and a spatula, knelt down, and began scooping the parts of pie that hadn't touched the floor into the plate. "It's fine; it's perfectly fine," I said. " It's just changed from pie to lemon tumble, er ... crumble. We can still eat it. It'll taste just as great." I scooped up as much clean pie as I could and made a little sculpture of lemon goo pie mess on the plate and carried it to the table where the others were sitting. Got any candles?"

As we all sat, laughing now, and tasting our "lemon tumble pie," Laurie grabbed my hand, looked me in the eyes, and said: "I want you to know that this is who you are. You are the girl who can scrape the fallen pie off the ground and turn it into something delightful."

Laurie's insight helped me see that even though my squirrel mind wanted me to think that I was all about disappointment, and despair, that the truth was, I had a hidden superpower that enabled me to turn those dark places on their heads and find a place of celebration within them.

Yes, my marriage to my husband ended. But the relationship didn't. Seven years later and we still live together, raising our witty and wonderful son in a home full of laughter, love, and joy. Yes, yes, that darned publisher changed its mind about my book, but I simply self-published the book, and in the process learned what it meant to create my own successes. Yes, sure, there are always the jaunty Joneses with whom I can't keep up, but when I'm dancing with my beau wearing a knock-em-dead outfit that I got at a San Francisco thrift store for just $22, who the heck cares what those Joneses are doing. I'm having too much fun to notice.

My superpower is the ability to conjure up celebration, even in the dark. It doesn't always happen as quickly as it did with that fallen birthday pie, but I trust that I can make it happen.

You know the best part about our superpowers? We get to use 'em for ourselves sometimes, but mostly we get to use 'em to help others. And as I'm writing this, I'm thinking that Andrea Scher is gathering a whole community of hundreds of people with amazing superpowers. Imagine what we can do for one another — and the world at large. The joy could be staggering.

You've just heard about my superhero power. And if you visit Andrea's new website, you can read about hers. But what about you? Got an idea of one of your superhero powers? I'd love to hear!

I'm going to do a random drawing from the comments and choose one person to receive two weeks worth of customized audio boost messages. These are verbal "attagirls" or "attaboys" that arrive when you least expect 'em to cheer you on and remind you of the superhero you really are. Wait til you see how powerful these messages can be!

Please leave a comment below by 12n PST on Wedneday the 19th to be entered in the drawing. (If you don't have a Facebook account, you can also email me your superpower comment! I'll throw those names into the hat, too. And yep, it will be an actual hat for the drawing!)

Here's to our collective powers!

Take an ant-sized step today. Then celebrate.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:36:17 +0000

I want to dedicate today's blog post to my amazing coaching clients who are truly heroic in my mind. These folks inspire me every single day with their courage to keep putting one foot in front of another, taking whatever next small step toward that which brings them joy or makes them feel more alive and expansive.

Taking a small step is no small thing!

Sometimes it feels like everything in us — and outside of us — is fighting to keep us down. To keep us from our dreams. To confuse us with dizzying mind-talk and heads filled with fog.

But real courage is moving anyway. It is taking that one small step, even though we have no idea where it might lead us.

Over and over again this week I have watched, oh-so-happily, as my clients have donned their virtual hero's capes (and sparkly leggings) and mustered up the nerve to lift one foot and then another, up up up, onto the next step.

I've been inspired to take my own small steps. I'm doing some baby tests of the effect of positive auditory messages. Of the power of using our voices to truly support ourselves and one another. I'm sure you'll be hearing more about that soon. As long as I keep seeking that next step!

We can do this. Every one of us can do this for ourselves. And when we do, it is so important to recognize that it truly is the hero's journey to keep moving forward, even — and especially— when we have no idea what the next step is or whether it will appear.

When you take a step toward something that calls to you from deep inside you, like beautiful birdsong from deep in the forest, when you take a step, promise me that you will also take time to celebrate yourself. Don't skip this step! Take a moment to whisper "atta girl" (or "atta boy"!). Or jump up and down or lie in the grass or write "good job!" in lipstick on the mirror. Notice your heroic self.

Today, celebrate the smallest of steps.

Small gifts. Big impact.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 16:23:03 +0000

The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose. —Heda Bejar

I’m fortunate enough to be a part of a delightful collective of women artists whom I met in a class called “Flying Lessons” taught by Kelly Rae Roberts, an amazing and colorful visual artist, entrepreneur, and spirit. Today, a bunch of us are participating in a blog hop on the topic of "The spirit of giving." Down below you'll find links to everyone who is participating. Hope you'll bop around and meet all of these amazing women artists.

The Spirit of Giving...

The first thing that popped into my mind when I thought about the spirit of giving were the words, "small gifts; big impact." Last January, I chose the word "gift" as my One Word for the year. And as you can imagine, I've been living into that word all year long. And recently, I've been looking a lot at the big significance of each small gift we offer.

The other day I was going to visit a friend and decided to buy her a bunch of sunflowers because she'd been going through a difficult time, dealing with some loss in her life. As I was walking home with my coloful floral purchase, I decided to stop at the bank.

While waiting in line, this older woman, maybe 65, came over to me and said, "Oooh, those sunflowers are so beautiful. Are they real?" I smiled, "yep." She said, "I am like a butterfly when it comes to sunflowers. Could I touch them?" I smiled even more broadly, loving her description of herself as a butterfly. "You betcha," I said.

As she was gently caressing one of the flowers, I tugged another one loose from the rubberband holding them all together and pulled it free. As she straightened up to leave and find her place in line again, I said, "Here. I think this one wants to go home with you" and I gave her one of the flowers. (I knew my friend, whom they were a gift for, wouldn't mind a bit that I was giving one of her flowers away!)

The older woman looked at me in disbelief, as if I had just handed her $100 bill and told her to take it home. She said, "Really? You mean it? For me?" Her utter joy was contagious. I laughed, "Yes! Enjoy!" She held her hand to her heart and said, "Oh, this has made my whole day. Thank you so much.Thank you."

One sunflower. That's it. And as you are already probably guessing, not only did it make that woman's day. But it certainly made my day. And when I shared the story with my friend later, I'm pretty sure that it made her day, too.

Here's the thing. Money is kinda tight for me right now. I hesitated when the idea dropped in to buy the flowers in the first place. But I just decided to follow the nudge to buy 'em. Then, when I went to the shop, they were more expensive than I'd expected. I hesitated again. But I bought them anyway, enjoying their bright flower faces myself and just knowing that they would cheer up my friend.

That amount of money I paid for those flowers was absolutely nothing compared to the amount of joy it brought. And of course as these things often go, I thought I was buying them for my friend. But along the way, that small gift had a huge impact on a stranger's life. And my own.

Here I am, a week later, and still talking about those sunflowers and the butterfly of a woman in the bank. It's a gift I may never forget. No doubt, life's intuition was spot on.

Note to self: every day follow life's nudges to give gifts. Handwritten notes, a kind word, a single flower — these small offerings can have a profound effect on someone. And the real secret is, each gift we give is a joyful offering to ourselves.

August is the Anniversary month for the group of us who all took Flying Lessons together. In the spirit of celebration, we decided we'd like to give back to the world by Giving Flight. Kelly Rae is offering her "Flying Lessons" class again this year and we decided to take up a collection so that we could offer a scholarship for someone to take the class for free. Well, that one scholarship quickly turned into EIGHT scholarships. And Kelly Rae has generously agreed to match our donations. Sixteen lucky folks will win a spot in Kelly Rae's next class!To enter the giveaway, visit the official Flytribe page.

In addition, I want to do a little giving myself by offering 3 free copies of my ebook, Present Perfect: 127 Creative, No-to-low Cost, Wow-'em Gifts They'll Never Forget. I will do a random drawing of everyone who leaves comments on this blog post by 12n on Saturday August 25 . Three folks will win a free book. The ebook is chock full of great gift ideas that may cost little, but have a big impact!

You can meet the generous "Flytribe" women in a really fun way by hopping around to their blogs. See list below!

Janet Forrest http://www.tatterednworn.wordpress.com

Cat Athena Louise http://www.catathenalouise.com

Stacey Bockness Curry http://starhitchedwagon.blogspot.com/

Kris Lanae Binsfeld http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com/2012/08/19/giving-flight-giving-back/

Renee Burke http://happilyeverafterbyreneeburke.wordpress.com

Mary Sterk http://www.justmarydesigns.com

Michelle Reynolds http://www.shellsinthebush.com

Constance Rawlins http://livingwithinyourharvest.com/2012/08/19/fly-tribe-anniversary/

Kelly Hoernig http://www.kellyhoernig.blogspot.com

Cindy Jones Lantier http://www.lantier.org/2012/08/the-gift-of-giving/

Kathleen Conard http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/2012/08/giving-back.html

Claudia Dow http://www.claudiadow.blogspot.com

Susan M. Walls-Beverly http://susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com/2012/08/flying-lessons-and-art-of-giving-back.html

Linda Barutha http://lindabaruthadesigns.blogspot.com/2012/08/giving-back.html

Linda Kinnaman http://lindakaysart.com/blog/2012/08/19/my-dream-journey-one-year-now/

Cheryl Dossey http://www.cheryldossey.com/

Sofia Dabalsa http://sofiadabalsa.blogspot.com

Jill Lambert http://jill-lambert.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving.html

Sally Rose http://sallyhow2.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-gift-of-flight.html

Ursula Smith http://EasyScraps.com/blog

Deborah Eaton http://www.deborahgeaton.com/blog/

Lori Leissner http://www.leissnerart.com/2012/08/giving-thanks-giving-back-giving-flight.html

Creative Clearinghouse http://creativeclearinghouse.com/Online-Class-Reviews/blog/Ursula-Creative-Clearinghouse

Lenore Angela http://lenoreangela.blogspot.ca/2012/08/giving-back.html

Katharina Star http://www.blog.katharinastar.com

Rachél Payne http://wp.me/pWRyw-10P

Deborah Velasquez http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com/

Shannon Etnyre http://www.livingwithumami.com

Live Laugh Love Retreats http://livelaughloveretreats.com

Kelley Miller Artworks http://kelleymillerartworks.blogspot.com/

Wini Dougall http://artloveandjoy.blogspot.com

Carol Bray http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving-back-by-giving-flight.html

Tracy Yarbrough http://chickpeastudio.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving.html

Diane Enright http://dianeenrightphotography.wordpress.com/

Jamie Burch http://www.dancingdownserendipitystreet.blogspot.com/

Mary Cottingham http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com

Susan Dietz http://flutterbeforeyou.blogspot.com

Lori Moon Studio http://lorimoonstudio.blogspot.com/2012/08/fly-tribe-blog-hop-giving-back.html

Kim Hyer http://www.apaperaddict.com

Tina Carlborg http://www.tinachicky.blogspot.com

Catherine Pistone http://catherinepistone.blogspot.com/

Mary MacIlvain http://maryart.macilvain.com/

Carolyn Chenault http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/the-big-giveaway

Your best tips for turning scarcity on its head?

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 02:18:08 +0000

Last week I posted a video with one of my favorite tips for turning scarcity on its scrawny li'l head. If you didn't have a chance to watch it, take a peek now. It's only three minutes. And I promise you'll learn an easy tool you can use in lots of different ways.

I've been thinking a lot about the topic of scarcity/abundance. Next week I'm launching my six-week coaching program called Scarcity into Abundance: Talk Yourself into It. Just planning the class brought up all kinds of issues of scarcity — and abundance— for me!

For instance, thinking about pricing for the class. How much feels like "too" much to charge? How much feels like "too little?" When does Monkey-mind sneak in and question me for leading such a class? (That "who are you?" voice is a scarcity voice!) When do I feel like I have a lot to give? When do I feel like there aren't enough people taking the class versus lots of people taking the course? Is there enough material? Too little? Too much? I've been sitting back taking notes. Watching the interplay, like shadows and light.

I've been using scarcity/abundance as a measuring stick for my state of mind for quite a while now. When I notice I'm in scarcity, I love to look for ways to flip it into abundance. When I'm in abundance, I like to practice pausing to take it in, express gratitude, and watch the sensation of fullness grow.

This morning, following my meditation, I was enoying an expansive feeling of having enough. Of being enough. From that place I could see so clearly that my class will be perfect exactly as it is. The number of participants will be perfect exactly as they are. However it unfolds will be perfect exactly as it is. Enough. Perfect as is. Everything. Okay. Right now.

If you're interested in exploring this topic with me over a six week period, I'd LOVE to have you come along on the journey. If money is an issue, send me an email and let's see what we can do. I want to share these great tools and practices. That's where the real abundance lives.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts on ways that you shake up that scarcity skeleton in your own life. Comment here via Facebook or send me an email!