ahhh . . . s p a c e

 My favourite word for the month is       S  P  A  C  E.       It is something very rare in today’s society, much less in an individual’s life. Having done years of amateur graphic design I remembered an important aspect of design that adds important visual content to newsletters, magazines, posters and brochures. The same thought adds to the importance of space which I need in life.

 From About.com Desktop publishing –  ‘One of the hardest concepts to teach is white space in design. Perhaps it is because the terms used to describe white space sound negative. White space is nothing. It’s the absence of text; the absence of images. White space is emptiness. It is negative space. But it’s not wasted space. White space provides visual breathing, room for the eye. It breaks up text and graphics. Add white space to make a page less cramped, confusing, or overwhelming.’  
http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/designprinciples/a/morewhitespace.htm

Now to paraphrase for a personalised application:

One of the hardest concepts to learn is developing S P A C E in life. Maybe it’s because S P A C E  seems empty.  S P A C E is where you do nothing and are nothing.  S P A C E is considered such a waste in today’s social environment. But S P A C E  is a place . . . a place where I am free to breathe . . . deeply and thoughtfully and safely.

S P A C E  gives me room. It is a safe in-between place in the demands and responsibilities of life. It allows my day to be ‘less cramped, confusing, or overwhelming.’

I did a ‘free write’ with the word  S P A C E  this morning and came up with the following list:

imagine                play freely                           breathe                fresh                     clean                                    pure

white                    untouched                          open sky              create                   clear                                   ALIVE!!

Give yourself some S P A C E   today and see what happens.

How many apples in a seed?

 

  I keep having an image of a bird flying in the air, carrying a bag full of seed in it’s beak.I have actually had it for a number of months now, but for some reason it is much more persistent. A quote I read years ago and which has become one of my favorite is “You can count the seeds in an apple, but you can’t count the apples in a seed.’ This is a compelling statement and for me brings up the notion of the powerful potential that is within us all.

On day I began to notice that I needed to clean up my gutters on the roof of my unit. I noticed what looked like a small shrub.  When I got a ladder to remove the shrub, I realised it was not a shrub at all, but a baby fig-tree!!! Imagine what would have happened if I would not have attended to it!! I planted it in a pot and then later on gave it to a friend who gladly received it and then planted it in his rain forest garden. So how did the seed end up in the gutter of my roof? Most likely a bird flew by and dropped a seed!!!!

So I’m really not sure why I’m telling you all this. I am sure that there is a moral to the story somewhere. Maybe it is just to keep alive within us that there is much greater potential within us all than we realise and that most people give us credit for. How about you? Why don’t you go walking around your garden and see what surprises present themselves.

P.S. by the way, anyone out there who is or knows a good artist? I would love a logo of a flying bluebird with a bag of seed in its beak. It’s always worth putting out there.  :)

 

Things are happening . . .

 Yes, I know it has been awhile since I have written anything, at least on this blog. but things are happenings beyond this blog. Such as, I have started second semester studies again, Faith, Revelation and Theology.

Work had been hectic, as all the casuals before me have now fitted into part-time permanent positions, leaving me as the top-dog casual to help the newer casuals – who are already flat-out with work. More casuals have been hired . . . in the process of training, so hopefully things will begin to settle a bit there.

And finally I am endeavoring to launch out in some areas of self-employment . . . I have discovered the ENAR and am in training to become an ENAR therapist (more about that later) and also I am working in the area of art/art therapy but that will be awhile before something comes about . . .

right now is the desire to “Help people live better.”  My own life experiences and knowledge gained in a number of areas will provide the avenues I believe that will help this come about. 

In the meantime remember to live without limits.

Somewhere over the rainbow . . . a new direction

   The past year has been one of change and transition. I am doing life differently. Slowing down, being still, being, listening to silence, discovering the wonderful world of the contemplative . . . and knowing at this point in my life I am needing a different direction . . . especially when it comes to my work situation. I’m dreaming, reviewing my passions, my desires and imagining possibilities . . . It has not been the most pleasant experience, as through this process I have also been experiencing various physical health issues that have become somewhat chronic. But I am looking at it as an invitation and the prompt I need to change directions. Your thoughts, prayers are most appreciated.

I’m still here . . . and still flying.

Only 262 words!

Hello again . . . after several weeks away completing my last assignment for the semester and experiencing a few aches and pains from a wrist condition here I am once again.

I am learning to get into the flow of blogging and all the other aspects of my life. I have a frien,d who of all things, blogs about his woodworking hobby, now turned business. He shares the little things he does every day in a simple, enjoyable way. I actually look forward to receiving his posts.

So too, it’s the little things of my life that I discover give me the most joy and pleasure. A busy life hides the surprises that life wants to reveal to us at times. I am trying to learn how to live on the ‘other side of busy’, in the midst of responsibilities that I know that are still important to attend to.

One way I do this is when I need to be at work at 6 am. Not as much traffic on the road then and I attempt to drive to work going no faster than 50 kms through the town I live in. There is one place where I know I am going to go up over a bridge, which lifts me up to view the sky, and the see the sun beginning to rise over the expanse of the sky. It’s as if He is greeting me ‘Good morning’ and ‘Welcome to the day.’ And I can breathe deeply again.

What is something you do to discover the surprises life has for you?

Please comment.

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The gift of awarness

Only 226 words!

   Finding the freedom to fly is learning to live without the limits. It’s the limits in life that prevent us from discovering who we really are and what we can really do, either self-imposed or otherwise. It usually takes the form of trying to meet the expectations and requirements of others and ourselves. This is a great robber of even knowing who we are. We are so busy fulfilling expectations that we can’t catch a glimpse of the real us. We are robbed of our true self, voice, expression and life. 

I love watching children. They are only interested in being who they are and are full imagination that helps fulfil their image. 

I began to discover some limits to my own life a number of years ago. I began seeing a naturopath and every time he would comment how stressed I was. I thought he just said that to everyone. But as a result, I began to take notice of my life. I began to become aware of what was really happening to me, inside and out, physiologically and emotionally. I became aware. I think that is a good beginning in finding a freedom that can bring us into a truer dimension of life with ourselves and others.

“In an address at a Spirituality Conference, Anthony de Mello (1990) spoke of awareness. He said, “What you are aware of you are in control of; what you are not aware of is in control of you”.

Is there something you might be able to come aware of that will provide you more freedom to fly? Please comment below.

‘Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly . . .’

   In Robert A. Johnson’s book ‘Living Your Unlived Life’ he offers a set of questions that helps one take inventory of unlived life. The first question he asks is ‘How would you title your life story?’

 ”Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, was the classic Academy Award- winning ballad song sung by Judy Garland, in the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz. A favorite line is ‘Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly . . . oh why, oh why can’t I?’ Baby boomers will certainly remember sitting in front of the TV, watching the story unfold as Dorothy ,the Tin man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, all the little munchkins,  the wicked witch, the good witch, and of course Toto go on an amazing journey. As a little girl I shuddered when the wicked witch made her debut and gave a sigh of relief when Dorothy threw water on her.

 In a quest to live my unlived life, I have discovered that there is a little bird in my heart that is not afraid to fly anymore. I am finding the freedom to fly. There are  many situations that can prevent us from living and being the fully created person  God has intended, so I thought I would create an ‘autoblography’ to share some of my experiences and maybe encourage others to try their wings. May you discover new possibilities and opportunities in discovering and living your dreams as we fly over the rainbow.

How  would you title your life? Please comment.