Simple Things

Goddesses of the North (green candle), East (yellow candle), South (red candle), West (blue candle) and the Great Mother (purple candle in the middle) watch over all of us.

This week, I've been reminded all about the simple things in life.  The simple pleasures that are all around me.  Last night for example I had the simple pleasure of enjoying a home made tasty meal, watching some TV and just enjoying being in the moment.

When was the last time you got to spend just enjoying the simple things in life?  Perhaps you have children, and snuggling with them at bedtime is a simple pleasure.  Maybe spending time out in nature is a simple pleasure.  Or even taking a breath of fresh air is a simple pleasure.

Did you know that some people who are incarcerated in jails don't even  get that?  Yes, they get 1hr a day outside of their cell in the "yard", sometimes that "yard" is enclosed, no fresh air at all.

Simple things can be so small that some may not even see them as simple pleasures.  The ability to see, feel, touch, taste, and hear.  I am reminded of many who I know who have lost one of their main five senses in life.   People on the earth are amazing beings,  if we lose one of our five senses something else picks up the spot and glows more.  I know for me, even though yes I wear glasses, my hearing has picked up from where my sight is low. 

Even being alive is a simple pleasure that some may over look!  I know today there are celebrations of death and life!  Marriage and yes even divorce/separation!  I am blessed and grateful to be alive today!  Are you?

There are many others in the world who do not have a roof over their head to call home.  I am reminded of this today as the Great Mother decided to spring on us a snow storm.  I am here at home in my apartment with my cup of tea writing, while outside there are many who do not have a warm dry place to stay.

It's also like looking at things you are grateful for.  They can be the smallest little things.  Have you made your list of what you are grateful for?

Take pleasure in the simple things.  For really everything in life is a simple thing, it's all just stuff!

Growth

Wow!!!! What a week I've had!!! So much great things have been appearing in my life! I am over come with emotion of gratitude, love, and passion! So much growth is happening in all areas of my life, and I'm riding the roller coaster of life, and not letting go!

On Monday I found out that I was to start my new job. I was training Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Today (Friday) I was back at the day care one last time. I miss the kids, but this will be a great step in my growth in the working realm of my life.

I loving my new job, it's going to be so great to be supporting families going through a struggle.

I'm also feeling lots of gratitude for the opportunity to be dancing this coming Sunday at the Sun and Salsa Festival here in my home town. I'll be dancing two numbers with fellow members of the Sizzle Girls. One dance has just five of us, and the other has 13 of us. It's been on my vision board to perform with the Sizzle Girls, yes, but the next step was to perform at a festival. And that's going to be happening! And I can't wait!

With Awakening Goddess, I've had positive responses from women who've I spoken with. I am so grateful and proud all at the same time to let you all know that I've been invited to speak/inspire/dance at an event here in my home town for women only. It's called "Heart Open to the Max" Ladies night on Aug. 5. To be in a room full of women, inspiring them to live their life to be fully who they are and accept their own wisdom, beauty, grace, and power will be an amazing experience for me.

I am excited for this opportunity. There are so many people to thank along this journey. My dance teacher Di especially for teaching me everything I know about Burlesque dancing. My spiritual teachers Suzanne, Satyen, and the entire Sr. Staff team of WarriorSage for teaching me about living my passion, and how to figure out what my passion is. My parents who wish for me to be happy. Well you know what Mum and Dad? I AM happy. I am truly happy when I'm living my passion. To be dancing and inspiring other women to dance in this ride called life.

Where are you growing in your life? Where are you stuck and need a push? To grow is to have courage to step out of your comfort zone and live the way you want to live!

Find below a beautiful mini movie that I found on you-tube. It's all about growth and living! Very powerful!

To be alive

Aaaahh.....to be alive is something I am very grateful for. This quote came to my e-mail box this morning, I find it quite fitting! "I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it." ~ Rita Mae Brown

What does that really mean though? To be alive and enjoy life? I want to encourage you to make a list of what you like to do, and then follow through on it! What makes you happy? As I've said here on this blog before, what makes your heart sing? Put those things on your list! You don't have to do everything on your list every day, but maybe pick one or maybe two things to do. It can be simple or elaborate as you wish. If having a cup of tea makes you happy and it's something you enjoy, then do it!

To enjoy life....what a wonderful idea! I love enjoying life! I'm doing something right now that I have been wanting to do, and have now done it three times, and hope to make this more of a regular theme in my life. To be sitting at a coffee cafe here in Calgary writing on my blog. I like the atmosphere, people watching, and the vanilla bean latte with a bagel has been wonderful.

I'm creating the perfect day for myself. First sitting here in the cafe, next I think I might go for a walk by the river. Later I'm going to a social dance, getting all dressed up and going out to have some fun! And I started out my weekend, last night by volunteering for St. John Ambulance. I love volunteering as well. To give something back to the city that I call home. The event that I was at, was the music of Billy Joel, performed by a cover band called Jeans N Classics, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra was there back up music. It was a great concert! Here is there blog! http://jeansnclassics.blogspot.com

To be fully awake and not on auto pilot is to do things that make you happy. It also may challenge you a bit, but I know that the universe doesn't put things in front of you that you can't handle. Trust me, I've had some curve balls thrown my way and I've always come out on the other side stronger and more awake then before.

For example if any of the women reading this blog and are in Calgary, wish to learn the art of Burlesque dancing, please I invite you to contact me. I wish to inspire you to be fully who you are and accept your own wisdom, beauty, and grace, through the art of Burlesque dancing. It will be filled with lots of laughter and ease.

See below three pictures that I had done while at the Brazilian Burlesque Gala on May 7th. These amazing photo's were taken by Impressive Photography. You can check out there website here! http://www.impressivephotography.com These pictures are the ones that I ordered. I will be doing another full photo shoot with them in a couple of months. I can't wait!

Where does your gratitude come from?

Have you ever thought about where does your gratitude come from? Or what you are thankful for? I've done the what am I thankful for many times. But the where does my gratitude come from, was a new twist on the question.

My home work from my coach this week is all about being thankful and meditating on this subject. The other question to meditate on is where does my gratitude come from?

I decided to do my meditation in the bath by candle light. I soaked and did my best to quiet my mind. And say the question, of what am I thankful for, and where does my gratitude come from. It took a bit of time for me to settle into this question. But eventually I did.

Here's what I came up with tonight. I am thankful for being alive, for being able to move my body. I am thankful for having good friends and family around me to support me. I am thankful for having a job, a place to live with hot water and power. I am thankful for all the experiences I've had so far in my life. Yes, even the ones that I was challenged by, for I learned from experiences that I was challenged by.

Where my gratitude comes from, proved to be a bit more difficult. My gratitude comes from a place in my heart, that is rooted in my body cells. My gratitude comes from those who I love. From my teachers/mentors in all aspects of my life. I am very grateful for all of them.

I will be completing this meditation once per day. I am curious to see what comes up for me as I delve into this topic for myself. I wonder how many layers of the onion I can peel away.

What are you thankful for? Where does your gratitude come from?

Enjoy this little video I found on you-tube this evening. All about being grateful, and thankful.