Remember Your Brilliance

Why be strong? Let's be soft. Let's feel the sadness. Why create an armour of strength? Let's melt into our deep dark grief.  Why create a shield? Let our hearts be broken. Let the love spill out until we are empty and drained. Let the love be our strength. Let our world be held up by light and love. Why do we need to be strong? Now is the time for softness. (This was a piece I wrote after seeing comments on someone FB page after death, reminding them to be strong - and thought why? )

Lately I have started my mornings with work on the computer, FB posts etc. However starting my mornings this way is not always in the best interest of my being, of my spirit. So today, I set myself up at my journal table, where it seems time slows. I light a candle and allow the light of the morning to filter in. I hear the outside world on the move and yet the ticking of my desk clock keeps me present. So this morning I am writing, reading and watching the sunrise over the trees. What is best for your spirit in the morning?

I saw this quote today and I love it. "Attention is the rarest form of generosity." It's from Simone Weil. Now, I wasn't sure about rarest, until I wrote it out. Until I sat with it. And, yes, it may be the rarest. What do you give your full attention to, ever? Your. Full. Attention.  Pay attention to your day, to your actions. Be generous with yourself. Be present. Be attentive. Fully. Even for 5 minutes. See how it feels to be fully generous.

A note of love  During Self Esteem Workshops - I have the participants create love notes for each other; words of appreciation for one another.  I feel this is so important as it allows the acceptance, the receiving and the gifting of the compliment. It is a practice for a lot of people.   At the beginning of the month (it's a 4 evening course over a month), and at the beginning, the women, of course, are new to each other.  So they may connect with each other on a superficial level, and this is fine. The writing of the notes is scarce and there are few secretly placed in the envelopes.  However as the month moves on and the women connect, as they feel for each other, as they see themselves in the other - as compassion rises -- the love notes increase.  The benefit of writing the love notes, the notes of appreciation written during our class are: For the receiver: it is a practice in accepting the gift of the compliment, without diminishing it it is a gift

Last night during the final evening of Building Women's Self Esteem, a participant called me over to ask a question. "Do you think is ever too late to go back to school?" "Ummmm? No!" At least that is what I believe.  I believe if you have the desire you then are given the ability to complete. Now; you may need to step up and raise the expectations of your daily life, refine your habits so that you become the person who is able to complete your dream.   Is it ever too late -- no.  In all fairness, she wasn't asking, was it too late to become something incredibly out of her reach - out of her scope - and as I write this; I also wonder what would be out of her range?   Is it ever too late, no.  I also believe - part of the success of the journey is in the enjoyment of the journey itself.  One never knows which path will open for them once they say yes! Begin with your dream, say yes. It's never too late.  #truthbomb from Danielle LaP

I have had an inspiring day, from the this gorgeous sunrise to the quiet of my afternoon.  I have been feeling more inspired lately and following through on the thoughts and feelings this has brought. Recently I began back on my treadmill after a good year of non consistent walking, the time felt right to begin, again.  {It's okay, to begin again} I have decided to walk for 30 minutes, while catching up on podcasts I have been saving.  One of these podcasts I listened to was Dave Ramsey speaking to Seth Godin - it was a wonderful conversation.  Seth shared how he believes everyone should have a blog, and write everyday, and it didn't matter if anyone read it. It mattered more, it was written. It matter more that an idea, a thought was shared.  He said it could be as little as 200 words, it was important to write. I thought, I can do that! So I am.  I am writing. I am not waiting for it to be perfect, or for when I have the perfect topic, I am going to write. Everyd

Where we live, in northern Alberta snows stills sits on the ground. I know this is true for many other parts of Canada as well. Therefore, since we don't see the tulips pushing through the cold ground or see the grass revealed, trampled and worn from the heavy snow of winter as many do in less northern climates do. We can still experience the feeling of spring. Colour, life, freshness, and renewal are the gifts each spring shares with us. We have cycled through the hibernating energy of winter. It is now time to shine with renewed sense of wonder, of life. This is how I feel when I experience spring in a vase. How does spring affect you?

Today it is the first day of spring. It is welcomed. Today is also the first day in a long while, perhaps a month, since I sat down with the healing, nuturing power of my journal.  I wrote intentions for moving forward, I wrote about desires I want to see come into full being.  I wrote. Is there something from your past, something from your wellness care that has worked and yet you have dropped it or it has slipped from your daily round? Is it time, now, to begin, again?