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I Almost Slept Through the Little Bliss List…

liv — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:15:24 +0000

Every Friday, the Little Bliss List provides a chance for us to celebrate the little things that brought us hope and happiness this week. I do believe when we focus on the sweet stuff of life, the sweet stuff multiplies. And by sharing those small gifts in our lives, we help others notice the gifts in theirs.

Oh boy! Here in the U.S., it’s a holiday weekend. I’m so looking forward to lovely, lazy times with friends + family. But first, I want to honor the goodness that swooped into my life this past week.

1) First and most exciting? I took a nap yesterday! A perfect nap, really – under the covers, window open, rain pitter-pattering on the roof. Haven’t done that in sooo long and it felt sooo luxurious.

2) My blogging ecourse kicked off on Monday and I’m over the moon – once again – to witness so many women digging deep, connecting with each other and fine-tuning their purpose & passions. I know I created the course, but I feel so lucky to be part of it.

3) I wore my favorite flower coat to my favorite nursery…to buy flowers. I got so many smiles and comments from fellow shoppers, it made my day!

4) Well, this, of course was a serious highlight.

5) True confession: I missed only two episodes of American Idol this season {I’m a little obsessed}, so it was way fun to watch the finale on Wednesday. And I like Phillip Phillips – especially now that I know he plowed through the season despite needing 8 surgeries for kidney issues these past few months. Wow – such resilience inspires me.

Hope you, too, have things to celebrate this week before you celebrate Memorial Day. Feel free to share your own little bliss list in the comment section or via your own blog – and please visit others who post their bliss here {just click on their photos below}! You can participate in the link party below through Sunday at midnight central.

{Wanna share some badge bling? Click here to get yours!}

Come Get Messy: Can You Spot the Miracle Here?

liv — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:27:28 +0000

To most folks, this pic probably seems pretty straightforward: you see a super-cute kiddo playing in the dirt. But when I look at this photo, I see so much more. In fact, I see a miracle. Can you spot it?

I see ten tiny toes happy to be out and about, no matter what surface is beneath them. I see ten little fingers about to make a glorious mess with a toy train and a pot full of dirt. I see our super-duper-special boy content enough to just play - and it chokes me up.

This could never have happened last spring. I remember sitting in the front yard with one of Truman’s therapists as we tried to coax him onto the grass, urging him to let just one little toe touch the soft, green grass. But Tru was riddled with fear, on sensory overload. It was as if we were asking him to walk across fire. He couldn’t handle touching most textures. And any mess – whether a speck of dirt or a smudge of butter – on his skin or clothes threw him for a total loop.

The difference now is like night and day. Tru can make a mess with the best of them; sometimes I see him tense up, but he looks to us for reinforcement – laughter, smiles, nods usually do the trick. I wish I could have whispered in my ear a year ago that this part would get better; that change would come, slow and steady.

Our journey with Tru is teaching me to trust in new ways, to accept where he and we are in the moment. I catch myself sometimes, feeling scared and worried. Asking myself questions about his tomorrows that are impossible to answer today. My heart knows worrying gets me nowhere, but my head can be a stubborn stick-in-the-mud. I find comfort in reviewing the gratitude list that’s practically engraved on my soul: for his amazing team of advocates and therapists and caregivers, for people in his life who adore him no matter what, for his bright-as-sunshine spirit, for his physical health, for weighted blankets and Nuks and Thomas the Tank Engine, for my flexible schedule, for chocolate milk, for everything that contributes to his well-being and, in turn, to our family’s.

Remembering all of that goodness shifts my frame of mind. But nothing does it better than noticing and celebrating these milestones that feel like little miracles. They remind me this messy life is perfectly beautiful.

Little Changes, Big Shift: Inside My Studio

liv — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:31:32 +0000

This is one of my favorite sayings: scatter joy. But over the past few days, it’s been more like scatter stuff at our house.

Ryder trying out the new piano

We received an incredible gift last week: a beautiful piano passed on to our boys by my mom’s longtime neighbors, who downsized and moved. Suddenly, I was forced to free up a wall in our living room. The wall we chose had shelves that had been slowly overrun by kids’ books and toys. So, under cover of night, I threw away two garbage bags full of mismatched toys and stuffed animals and moved a few gems {the boys haven’t even noticed!}. And I quickly moved some of the furniture and accessories into my dudio {former dining room turned studio} – chairs, lamps, books, an iPod player.

The piano looked perfect in its new spot, but my dudio looked like a tornado had hit it. I decided to take the opportunity to re-organize and reconfigure my work space this past weekend. The result? The space feels wonderfully cozy and totally me.

I thought you might get a kick out of seeing the latest transformation…

A while back, I took this chair out of this corner…and now it’s back in. It just feels right there. Alongside paints and stamp pads, the corner includes an apron and birdhouses made by my boys {with help from my mom}, Tru’s cowboy hat, and framed art by Ryder. I love celebrating their creativity in this space, too.

Umm, you guys? I built those sets of drawers! I was pretty darn proud of myself. It was well worth the effort, because all of my greeting cards and shipping supplies are now tucked away in one spot, and that big bottom drawer is actually a filing cabinet. Heaven! My assistant, Claire, really inspired me to do this – and now she never has to ask where anything is! {Artwork on the wall is by Rachel Awes and Leah Piken Kolidas}

I am head over heels for this little nook, with another comfy chair, table and a lamp {that extra light makes such a difference!}. The other night, as I worked at the big table, Brad sat right there to chat about my work projects. He calls it my lounge. ;o) {On the table is a jar full of affirmations from my soul sister stew girls and a deck of inspiration cards by Sonia Choquette}.

This shelf had been in the living room, so I relegated my flimsy black one to the basement and moved my books into this. The lower shelf includes lots of my dad’s old notebooks and an already-full file box {from Target}. Above it is an arrangement of paintings by moi {except for one, which features a fave quote: “She believed she could, so she did”}.

These dried flowers are from my grandma’s memorial service {she passed last May}, displayed in a tea cup and saucer that she painted. It’s sweet to have a little bit of her art around my art.

This is a great spot for working at my laptop, with a big window at my back overlooking our front yard. I love that this studio doubles as an office. For me, it’s perfect to have it on the main floor of our home. I can hear the boys playing and I have everything I need whenever inspiration strikes. Maybe someday I’ll move it all out of our house to separate work and home, but it’s perfect for now.

Before, my books were a jumbled mess. Now, they’re organized by category {these, for instance, are dedicated to creative living}. It feels so good to have them at my fingertips; I’d forgotten I even owned some of these titles! Ha!

Isn’t it just amazing how a few little changes can transform a room and your feelings about it? My living room feels more purposeful with a new piano vs. a wall of toys. And the dudio? I loved this space before, but now it has a new energy. It invites me in and makes me eager to create goodness and scatter joy. Such a sweet place to be.

* * * * *

FYI: I’m having a blast getting to know the newest group of students in my How To Build a Blog You Truly Love ecourse, which kicked off Monday. They are motivated, reflective and so kind! People are still joining the class {registration ends June 4th}. I’d love to have YOU, too!

53 Seconds at the Beach

liv — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:52:13 +0000

I took this video on my iPhone at Santa Monica Beach so I could transport myself back to the ocean anywhere, anytime. It is my ultimate happy place. And while I’ve grown pretty good at getting there in my mind, there’s nothing like seeing and hearing it for real…or close to real. Look at those glorious waves. Imagine your toes in the sand. Listen to the children laughing, the wind blowing, the world breathing in and out and in and out.

I thought you, too, might enjoy a minute at the beach, even as you sit at your desk or kitchen table or on your lunch break. And so, I give you…dear you…the wonderful, beautiful, magical ocean.

My Life in Pictures: The Little Bliss List

liv — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:39:55 +0000

Every Friday, the Little Bliss List provides a chance for us to celebrate the little things that brought us hope and happiness this week. I do believe when we focus on the sweet stuff of life, the sweet stuff multiplies. And by sharing those small gifts in our lives, we help others notice the gifts in theirs.

My head is full of blissful images from this past week – and so is my hard drive. So, I thought I’d share this little bliss list is pictures. A feast for the eyes and food for the soul…

soaking up the ocean air :: santa monica beach

walking & talking with jeff, a friend for 30 years :: huntington gardens in pasadena

a toast to deep joy :: mati mcdonough, andrea scher, kelly rae roberts, nicole limon

fresh & fabulous food :: teahouse studio, berkeley

pretty in pink :: oakland, ca

So, when you think of bliss, what images from the past week come to mind for you? Share your own little bliss list in the comment section or via your own blog – and please visit others who post their bliss here {just click on their photos below}! You can participate in the link party below through Sunday at midnight central.

{Wanna share some badge bling? Click here to get yours!}

On Purpose

liv — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:04:00 +0000

I love this quote so much I want to marry it. It’s so true: unshakable joy + serving others = real purpose. True in life…true in work…even true in blogging.

Participants in my blogging ecourse are often surprised that we go so deep, so fast – digging into discovering the true purpose of their blogs. But I really believe this is the most important piece of creating and maintaining a blog that feels rewarding and fulfilling.

Think about your favorite blogs. I’m willing to bet you can tell the writers enjoy what they do and that their posts consistently offer you a great takeaway: maybe you find yourself laughing, expanding your mind, learning of new resources or feeling inspired. That doesn’t happen by chance; it happens on purpose.

It is seriously such an honor for me to watch my ecourse participants uncovering their true passions and purpose. With the next round of How To Build a Blog You Truly Love set to start next week {woot!!}, many graduates have been writing blog posts about the ways this course helped them change course. Each one chokes me up because I feel so grateful to be part of their journeys and to witness them shining bright. I thought it would be fun to share a handful of them here. Hope you’ll check ‘em out and show these brave bloggers some love…

Kirsten Tulsian of PurpoSoul didn’t even have a blog when she started the course, and now she’s flying across the blogosphere on a unicorn! She writes, “Not only did I learn about building a blog, but I also completely transformed into a person who knew I could do anything that I set my mind to.” AWESOME!

Naomi Wittlin of Poetic Aperture has done fantastic work on clarifying her blog’s purpose and presentation. Of the course, she says, “I can’t say enough good things about it.”

Jess Morrow of Invincible Summer recently wrote a post called Seven Reasons You Should Consider Blogging, filled with great advice for bloggers-to-be. In it, she writes that the course “truly helped me to hone in on my message and to work out so many of the nuts and bolts of blogging.” Yay!

Christina Berry of Chrissy Inspired de-cluttered and really focused on defining her passions during our course. So great! She writes, “If you want to take your blog to the next level, this course is a ‘must-do.’” {Blushing!!}

Jen Zimmerman of Unfolding Page has been blogging for a while, but lacked focus and commitment. She found both this year – hooray! She seemed to really enjoy our class, but I especially loved reading this: “The blissful bonus of the class is the connections I’ve made with so many fabulous women! I am absolutely tickled to be part of this creative community.”

Thank you so much, ladies, for the kind words and for taking this course to heart! For those who think purposeful, passion-filled blogging sounds like a blast, join us starting Monday! You’ll be part of a community of bloggers-to-be and bloggers-in-bloom signing in from eight countries {at last count!}. I can’t wait!

Sweet Serendipity: Signs From the Road

liv — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:15:34 +0000

Shortly after we lost my dad last fall, I felt like I was being called to California. He had planned to spend time teaching there after his so-called retirement this year. So, when I learned about two creative workshops in Berkeley with awesome-blossoms Andrea Scher and Kelly Rae Roberts, I knew it was my cue to head west.

The first two days of my California trip were primarily spent with academics that my dad worked with and loved. I stuck out like a sore thumb, I suspect. I over-shared, I cried a couple of times, and I probably didn’t even use the right fork at meals. But I cherished my time with these professors and researchers as I gather information and contribute to pushing my dad’s vision for Sparks forward. I listened to their stories about him, learned more about their work, and imagined him walking through those campus courtyards and hallways with books under his arm and pens in the pocket of his button-down shirt. I wondered whether he was aware of and okay with my interactions with these scholars, despite me stumbling all over myself.

Next, I flew up to the bay area for the second leg of my trip. On Saturday, the photography workshop with Andrea started at 10am. I just assumed the second workshop, on Sunday, started at the same time. Umm, it did not; turns out I was an hour early. So, I walked to a nearby cafe in Berkeley and began to write down some reflections in my itty bitty notebook. I sat down by the window with my chai latte and had only written about 10 words when my phone rang. It was Suzanne, a friend I’ve mentioned here before who’s a professional intuitive. I answered.

“Where are you?” she asked.

California, I told her. And she proceeded to say she just had to call because she could see me so vividly writing in a quiet place with a little notebook, by the ocean. The closer I am to the ocean, she said, the clearer I am. It’s totally true; I feel more like myself whenever I’m by the sea. I told her I had already spent some time at Santa Monica Beach, but she urged me to find a way to get back to the ocean again before leaving.

And then she said my dad was “with” her, hand over his heart. Saying I did him proud. Saying I did better than he could have {which is so like him}. Saying I brought a modern energy to the work, to the conversations, and that he couldn’t be more proud. In tears, I told Suzanne what he was talking about, that I’d just spent two days with some of his peers talking about sparks. I thanked her for reaching out at the perfect time. Had she called an hour later, I wouldn’t have been available to get that sweet message from my dad.

I walked back to Teahouse Studio, hoping my face wasn’t too blotchy from crying. The place looked magical; I found my seat and saw this beautiful message awaiting me:

It took my breath away. It was such a sweet gesture to lovingly call out my own spark – and extra-meaningful after my experience at the coffee shop. After our workshop, I asked if anyone knew how I could get to the ocean before flying out the next day. Someone suggested a nearby bay, but Andrea stopped them.

“No, you want the real shit, right? Like the ocean ocean.”

EXACTLY! She pointed me to Cliff House in San Francisco – a restaurant perched over Ocean Beach. It wouldn’t be easy to get to and I’d have luggage with me, so she said, “Let’s just manifest a really kind person there who will take care of your bags.” The girl speaks my language. I immediately envisioned it being a total breeze – and I could sense her doing the same for me.

The next morning, rather than navigate the subway and train systems with my suitcase, I splurged and took a cab. I had no idea the ride would be so long, but I was lucky to have a fantastic driver named Ricky. We talked about his background, his dream of becoming a police officer, his love of helping people – essentially, we talked about his spark. He absolutely lit up when I offered suggestions for furthering his dreams.

When we finally arrived at Cliff House, he offered to pick me up later and take me to the airport. I wouldn’t have to worry about calling another taxi. And you guys? He kept my bags while I ate lunch and took pictures along the beach. It was the perfect ending to my trip; another sign from the road that I am always right where I belong.

Remember Who You Are

liv — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:52:58 +0000

The other night, a man told me he loves killing people and wishes he was back in Vietnam. He was sitting on a bench in downtown Oakland. Probably homeless. Definitely disturbed. I was already anxious, walking back to my hotel from the subway after a day-long photography workshop in Berkeley {more on that later!}.

The day had been lovely, but I had nothing planned for the evening ahead. The more I thought about it, the more it scared me. I’m not used to being away for so long from my boys. I’m not used to being alone, fending for myself in a strange city, or even just eating dinner alone. I’m not used to walking past people who are sleeping on the sidewalk or holding their hands out with hope for spare change. My heart ached. My mind raced. My stomach turned. With every block I walked, I felt more anxious. Even though I knew my route, I felt totally lost. And, as you might imagine, having someone declare his love for killing people didn’t help matters.

I know my place in the world when I’m in my own corner of the world. And if I’m traveling, I always do so with a label and purpose: as a mom, a blogger, a speaker, a consultant – always with places to be and people to meet. Walking down Broadway in the middle of Oakland, with nowhere to be and no one to meet, my throat tightened and my eyes started to sting with tears. Who am I in this place, I wondered? Who am I, really, in any place? I started to make a list in my head, answering the question as I walked:

I am still strong here.

I am still brave here.

I am still a mom and a wife and a daughter and a friend here.

I am still compassionate here.

I am still creative here.

I am still intuitive here.

I still matter here and everywhere.

I reached my hotel, feeling my spirit rising. As I turned the corner, I noticed this wall covered in street art with these words: Remember Who You Are. It was like a neon message from the universe, validating all that I’d just honored about the core of who I am. Turns out I did have somewhere to go and someone to meet during that long and anxious walk. I’d been coming home to me.

{Pssst! Quick reminder that the How To Build a Blog You Truly Love eCourse kicks off a week from today – May 21st. Join bloggers and bloggers-to-be around the world – we’re going to have such fun!}

A Waking Dream: The Little Bliss List

liv — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:03:40 +0000

Every Friday, the Little Bliss List provides a chance for us to celebrate the little things that brought us hope and happiness this week. I do believe when we focus on the sweet stuff of life, the sweet stuff multiplies. And by sharing those small gifts in our lives, we help others notice the gifts in theirs.

So…this is the view from my bed this morning. Like waking up in a dream! I’m in California for work and play. Last night, I stayed with family friends in their gorgeous guest house; it’s like being in a big top circus tent designed by Pottery Barn. Swoon. I adore gorgeous interior design, so this is my bliss today.

More bliss: I met some lovely people, had lunch on a cool college campus, navigated the LA freeways by myself {thank god for GPS}, and spent a couple hours walking through the gorgeous Huntington Library & Gardens with my friend Jeff {a buddy since first grade}. More pics to come.

I’ve got another busy day ahead, so my list’s a bit brief this week – but I want to know where you found and felt bliss this week, too! Share your own little bliss list in the comment section or via your own blog – and please visit others who post their bliss here {just click on their photos below}! You can participate in the link party below through Sunday at midnight central.

{Wanna share some badge bling? Click here to get yours!}

Learning My Lesson: The Art of Saying No

liv — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:45:58 +0000

I recently turned down two big opportunities. One kinda high-profile, one probably quite lucrative. Some folks would probably consider my walking away to be downright craaaazy, but I gotta tell you: it felt soooo good. Yes, I could have done either job, but neither one would have made me happy in the long-term or aligned with the work I’m most passionate about {including this blog}.

I knew pretty darn quick that neither opportunity was a good fit for me. I wasn’t jumping out of my skin with glee. My heart wasn’t doing cartwheels. I didn’t call Brad with an “oh-my-god-you’ll-never-believe-this” moment. The deafening silence within me was my cue to think twice.

It took years to reach this point. It used to be that every time an opportunity crossed my path, I said yes. I didn’t have the heart to say no to people {part of my deeply-rooted talent for people-pleasing!}. Whenever someone asked me to do something within my skill set, I would jump on board. I would do a good job. And, then, instead of feeling fulfilled or purposeful afterwards, I would often feel drained and deflated.

FINALLY, I realized doing stuff I was good at was not the same as doing work I was passionate about. We are all so lucky to be born and raised with many abilities – but we’re blessed with particular gifts and interests that, when given priority, can lead us to our purpose. Now that, my friends, deserves a hearty hell-YES!

{P.S. Last week, I talked with Sabrina Ali about the power of saying no and how to say yes to bliss. Honored to be part of her Claim Your Bliss interview series - check it out}