A Radiant Reflection

Projecting Your Authentic Self

So many women just don't know how great they really are. They come to us all vogue outside and vague on the inside. ~Marcy Kay Ash

Or visa versa. Sometimes, your authentic self on the inside is not reflected on the outside. Staying the same for safety sake when you'd rather exchange yourself for a sleeker version, means you need to awaken your own radiance to get out of the rut on the way you present yourself. Grab a magazine or catalog and cut out all the pictures of women and clothing you find attractive. Make a collage in your discovery journal (January 28) just like back when you were 10 and played with paper dolls. To help you discover your true sense of style, find your dream hairstyle, wardrobe and accessories, put on paper and then work toward that in real life.

Take the path to the "joy of surrounding yourself only with things you love, and the pleasure of wearing only clothes that make you look good and feel fabulous and project your authentic sense of style. If it's not, live without it." (note, sweats pants are never to be worn outdoors. No trips to the grocery store to replace the empty vanilla container mid baking or to the rink to pick up the kids because you don't have to get out of the car but risking the possibility. Other than lounging at home, they should be kept in the gym bag, taken out to work out and put back immediately afterwards. Oh, unless they are Winnipeg Blue Bomber sweats, to be worn proudly anywhere anytime lol)

Taking The Plunge

Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have ~ Doris Mortman

The idea in this chapter is to reveal rather than conceal your authenticity Exploring the way you present yourself to the world by your personal appearance is much more than the way you dress, do your make up or hair. It's about the many ways you chose to either expose or hide your authentic self and to finally acknowledge, accept and be comfortable with who you truly are. So take time to ponder and reflect, consider creative choices and shake off those past doubts and fears to understand your core. Treat yourself with kindness, gentleness, respect and patience. Sometimes you're the only one, and if so, you need to do it for yourself.

That's a lot of paraphrasing to say what? LOVE THYSELF!

Love Thyself
Words by Woody Guthrie, Music by Joel Rafael

Love thyself most and best
Love thyself day and night
Let no feared word cause thee
To hate thyself

Love thyself last and first
Love thyself more each month
Let no scared howl cause thee
To doubt thyself

Love thyself more and more
Love thyself loud and long
Let no bad dream make thee
Mistrust thyself

Thyself is all you'll have
From cradle to thy grave
Love yours enough to make
Us love ourselves

Thyself is all you'll have
From cradle to thy grave
Love yours enough to make
Us love ourselves

Outfitting a Comfort Drawer

A little of what you fancy does you good ~ Marie Lloyd

Hmm, Sarah sure expects to keep me busy with filling baskets over the past two days and now it's a drawer. That's okay because I already have my favourite indulgences in the top drawer of my bed side table, Surprisingly there are no chocolate or treats, and not because we live on a farm that has lazy...okay spoiled... cats so mice control is at it's worst, but lots of my favourite decorating magazines, book on the to read list, old journals written years ago in day times that have been set aside for digital diaries. Scented candles, nature cd's and hand made cards. The only thing she suggests to do that I haven't is line the drawer with pretty paper and wrapped the comforts in pretty tissue paper and tie with ribbons. I'm thinking I should since otherwise it could just be considered like every other junk drawer in the house!

March 6

Creating a Toy Box

Respect the power of play and the importance of fun! You're supposed to find another wicker basket or fabric covered box and be sure it has a lid, because what goes in is your business and your business only. Or not if you do want to share but it is important to get down to the business of play and fill your toy box with what ever you want. Go on an excursion to the dollar store and fill it with what ever tickles your fancy. Find things that will remind you to lighten up and take time to set aside seriousness and have some fun.

I have a hand made wooden toy box that was in my childhood home. I was the only sister that wanted it after we moved out and I feel lucky to have it but it's actually sitting in storage in the woodworking shed behind the house. It is still filled with all the Disney VHS movies my kids grew up on. I still have a VHS player so there is no need to sell any movies but I am going to have to bring the toy box back into the house. Not to be my toy box but for the 3 year old granddaughter when she comes to visit. I can see us cuddled on the couch under a hand made blanket watching Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin or Snow White. And of course The Sound of Music. I first saw the movie at the Avalon Theatre when I was a kid and it's been my number one favourite ever since. I will have to introduce Monroe to the movie when she is old enough to appreciate it. That could actually be already! I was 5 when the movie premiered and I still watch it when it airs on TV every year. I absolutely love it! Why do you think I play the guitar and never became a nun!

March 5

Creating a Hope Chest

"Hope" is the thing with feathers--that perches in the soul...~Emily Dickinson

Sarah didn't have a hope chest when she got married. Neither did I but then again I eloped. You might think that ship has sailed. Not hope, just the hope chest but it's never too late. My mother's hope chest was cedar lined and smelled wonderful. I'm sure the contents changed over the years and were quite different from when it was started to what's in it now. When I left home for university, it held her prom dress, wedding dress, baby clothes from each of her 4 daughters and more. Even though it probably started out as filled with items to create a new life, it ended up being filled with memories of the life she created. Years ago I bought a huge blue chest to store my life's memories from high school jackets, baby clothes, blankets and handmade sweaters. Now instead of a young woman's hope for a new life it's a grown woman's hope for grandchildren.

But Sarah wants you to start a different kind of hope chest for yourself. As simple as a small wicker basket filled with little projects for the future. Unique yarn for mittens, fabric for recovering chairs, books to read or what ever you want until you can set aside time to tend to them. You can make one for yourself and if you have a daughter, make one for her too and put in your favourite books by your favourite authors inside for her to read. It's never too late to start. Hopes and dreams are always in the making.

March 4th

Priming The Pump For Inspiration The well of Providence is deep. It's the buckets we bring to it that are small ~Mary Webb

Apparently creating an atmosphere to write is necessary to activate the right brain and to do what it takes to get the creative juices flowing. Some people need to do a ritual and do the same thing each time to get them into their place. Me? I can write anywhere, anytime and anything. Like now on the couch while everyone else is watching hockey (Dallas & Flames tied at 2 with 2 minutes left in the game, not that I care). I don't need mood music, lit candles and a cup of green tea to get me in the mood to write. I'm always in the mood. Maybe I could be more creative if I did create a reassuring ritual and a ceremony of comfort that inspired the spirit of my authentic self, but until I suffer from writers block, I think I'm good to go for now. This may not be a bright and shining moment in literature, but it's me, it's mine and it's... oh wait, yesterday's chapter spoke of hubris..an "exaggerated sense of self confidence". Well it's not a matter of confidence but complacency I guess. I am what I am what I am....that usually comes before a humbling. A heart attack is certainly very humbling, and it does not surprise me in the least that heart disease is now the leading killer of women.

My friend Lana had a heart attack at the age of 50 and at that moment, smoked her last cigarette. A month later, I followed suit. My Grandma Laval had a heart attack when I was attending University of Winnipeg just before I turned 20. You would think I would have taken better care of myself since then but I only quit for 3 years in 2000 and have now quit since Sept 21st. Hopefully it's not too little too late.

Time Smoke-Free: 165 days, 2 hours, 6 minutes 49 seconds
Cigarettes not smoke: 2476
Money Saved: $1089.00
Lifetime Saved: 18 Days, 21 Hours

Look at that. I have now gained more time to write in my daily blog/journal. Lucky me! Lucky you! NOT! lol

I've been writing since I was 12. From songs to Davy Jones to essays about rabbits in Grade 3. From romance novels on my Dad's old typewriter to blogs on the computer. My parents were both musician, and my Mum was an English teacher and my Dad taught French. I got corrected no matter what language I spoke! Pretty much the only French I know is the first page of the Grade 7 French text book that I memorized. I regret not learning my family's native tongue. Mind you it's not really French but Waloon as my Father's family was from Belgium (my Mother's family was from England and Scotland.)

Family roots are the ties that bind and the fabric that weaves your past and future. My family fostered creativity from day one and I am thankful for my upbringing that appreciated the arts and encouraged creativity and authenticity.

March 3

Setting Aside a Personal Sabbath Anybody can observe the Sabbath but making it holy surely takes the rest of the week. ~Alice Walker

It's been far too many years since I've been to church. I think the last time was Father's Day 2003 when I was living far away from home in Ontario and figured if I couldn't spend it with my Daddy, then I may as well spend it with the Big Daddy of all time. But making a day sabbath does not necessarily mean going to church, or temple, mosque or synagogue. It can simply mean taking a day of rest. A day of staying in pajamas and doing as little work as possible. No finishing undone projects from the past week or starting new ones getting ready for the next. It is for reverence, rest, renewal, rejuvenation, reassuring, rituals, recreation, rejoicing, revelation and remembering. Forget R&R, that's R to the 10! What matters is that you do something special that speaks to you soul. I don't think that painting truly speaks to my soul, as much as I do love redecorating and seeing the beautiful fruits of my labours. I will skip it today, but only because a trip to Edmonton to pick up a new vehicle has gotten in the way of any R&R, but my Sabbath will be Sundays. My Sabbath will be a do nothing day, not even to "putter" as I call it, when I clean house in what ever haphazard order, ADHD schematic that overcomes me. I will walk in the outdoors, take pictures of the landscape and be grateful and say thank you to the universe for all that I have been blessed with. If this is not what the Great Creator intended when She created the Sabbath, then I have no idea what is sacred. ~Sarah Ban Breathnach

March 2nd

There is no access to the elliptical tonight and after indulging in wayyy too much at Szechuan Village at dinner tonight, I really need to get moving and will have to go for a quick walk to wear it off. Even though I chose chicken & beef with veggies, the Szechuan Chicken was far too tempting. So much for the 17 day diet rules.

Today's chapter of "Simple Abundance" is Meditation: Many Paths to the Present Moment. Apparently, sitting cross legged with thumbs and middle fingers touching and chanting ohmmm is not the only one way to meditate. There are actually many ways and it's what you make of it. It's just a matter of making a time and a place to relax. To close yours eyes, breathe slow and steady, and get in touch with the silence within. Sarah asks to consider 20 minutes a day to do so... just merely consider. My 20 minutes will be at bedtime. Lights out, in bed, no reading, no writing, no iphone, ipad, ipod. No need to say no tv because I don't believe in a tv in the bedroom so no distractions but silence. More than likely instead of listening to my breathing, I'll have to listen to others’ breathing... loudly, sometimes grunting, or snoring, both dog and man to make it in stereo, but their loud night noises are quiet compared to the usual noise in my head and tonight I am thankful they are in my life.     

Simple Abundance

"March arrives, the last hurrah of winter and the first whisper of spring. Slowly our spirits reawaken, along with the natural world, bare, now blossom with new growth. Deep within we feel stirrings of hope. Turn over the earth in the inner garden. This month we plan the seed of the second Simple Abundance Principle. Simplicity - in the fertile soil of our souls."

Each year I start the book, Simple Abundance, A Day Book of Comfort & Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach and each year I stop reading the book around this time. It's like a new year's resolution to exercise and it putters out when spring weather arrives. In the 3 years I borrowed it from Tellisa and then got my own (thank you Leann & Jeff) I always find something else to do rather than give myself the gift of time to enjoy the special 10th Anniversary Edition. Well, this year, it's going to change. I will set aside my knitting, painting, decorating, riding, visiting, partying, tv watching and computer surfing... for just 10 minutes to read a chapter a day. The other 10 minutes will be devoted to the elliptical..and if I get lazy, then I can combine the two, but this is my vow. I WILL read every word in this book. I WILL use the elliptical for more than a clothes hanger. I WILL TAKE TIME FOR MYSELF! (and then take another 10 minutes to share it :)

MARCH 1

Day 1, 10 minutes on the elliptical and I'm beat! Stage 1, level 5 and my legs are already sore, but my back feels better and I actually feel energized. Now I need to unwind before bed and the perfect way to do that is to READ!!!! Rather than continue where I left off in "Angelina: An unauthorized biography", "Simple Abundance" it is! I love the fact that the chapters are just over a page long!

Today's chapter, "Restoring Serenity to your Daily Endeavors". Sarah says to dramatically change the quality of our lives, we can restore serenity "when women stop behaving as if they were whirling dervishes". I was quite offended...but then I googled dervish. Yeah, a spinning top, going in circles could be said of the same. Or ADHD. Start one project and mid stream you see something else that needs doing so you do it, then something else and so on. Squirrel! While multitasking is something that I tend to take pride in, apparently "Serene women do not become sidetracked.". In order to "recover our sanity" is to "concentrate slowing on completing one task at a time", all day, every day (just like Grace Kelly.)

So if concentrating fully on one thing at a time, maybe I won't have to retrace my steps as often. Like when I forget what I walked into a room for, or where I left my keys, put my cell phone or what chapter I was on. Oh wait, this is going to be easy.. tomorrow's chapter title is March 2nd! It's subtitle is meditation. That's going to be a tough one. How can I sit still for that long if I'm just learning how to be serene?

Life Path Number

Watching Dr. Phil today and a numerologist is on... thought I would search mine

1 (10/1, 19/1)

The Life Path 1 suggests that you entered this plane with skills allowing you to become a leader type rather easily. Your nature is charged with individualistic desires, a demand for independence, and the need for personal attainment. Many of our military generals, corporate leaders, and political leaders are men and women having the Life Path 1. When you display positive 1 traits your mind is capable of significant creative inspiration, and it possesses the enthusiasm and drive to accomplish a great deal. You are very good at getting the ball rolling; initiating new projects is your forte. You are at your best when confronted with obstacles and challenges, as you combat these with strength and daring. This is both the physical and inner varieties of strength. With this strength comes utter determination and the capability to lead. As a natural leader you have a flair for taking charge of any situation. You have a tendency to do this, even if, at times, it is not appropriate for you to do so.

Highly original, you may have talents as an inventor or innovator of some sort. In any work that you choose, your independent attitude can show through. You have very strong personal needs and desires, and you feel it is always necessary to follow your own convictions. You tire of routine and highly detailed tasks rather quickly.

You are ambitious and assertive in promoting yourself. Although you may hide the fact for social reasons, you can be self-centered and demand to have your way in many circumstances. That said, for the most part, you are considered very good company, friendly, good-natured, and a wonderful conversationalist. People like you and are drawn to you. It is a good thing they are, because you are very sensitive to disapproval and you don't handle it very well.

There are several ways that the negative side of the 1 can show up. The 1 always has the potential for greatness as a leader, but they may fail as a follower. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to follow for a while before you are allowed to lead and this can be a difficult time. When the 1 Life Path person is not fully developed and expressing the negative side of this number, the demeanor may appear very dependent rather than independent, particularly in the early years. If you are expressing this negative trait of the number 1, you are likely to be very dissatisfied with your circumstances, and long for self-sufficiency. This might be defined as the weak or dependent side of the negative 1 Life Path. On the strong side of this negative curve, the 1 energy can become too self-serving, selfish and egotistical. Avoid being too bossy and demanding.

Find out your Life Path Number at http://www.astrology-numerology.com/num-lifepath.html