NaNoWriMo

Attempting to eliminate the ways in which I'm distracted with the intend to spend more quality time focusing on tasks I wish to accomplish, I've seem to have increased my number of social media group enrollments. What? Say it isn't so!

Alas, it is true. One friend and family group, one spiritual based, third one on the list is for writers and the most recent is for NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month, created by Amazon.com, I must say intrigues me. The idea is to write 50,000 words in a month with a goal to have the rough draft of a (or near) completed novel to edit. Broken down, that means 1,667 words written each day. During the month of November, I will have a NaNoWriMo word count widget included on the right column so we can keep track of the progress together.

They say a habit needs six weeks to be broken, how many did they say to establish one? As you've seen in previous posts, I write, I pause, I take a long break, then work on one of my novels again. I suppose there's nothing wrong with my yo-yo attention span with novel writing (mainly because there is no right or wrong - it is what it is). It'll be interesting to see what is accomplished at the end of the 30 days. My goal is to be faithful to my passion for writing. When I pick it up from the long pauses, I always ask myself, "Why did you stop in the first place? This feel so good!"

Shifting Gears

Focus is shifting from the sense that we have to get it all done to how can I relax? Realizing that being overworked, bombarded with deadlines, a to-do list without an ending is no longer a desired way of life; we seek serenity.

Meditation can be used to release the beliefs that no longer fulfill our journey, silence the continuous chatter of the monkey mind, balance energies, access internal wisdom, grounding and align with Self. Like exercise, we know meditation will help us to feel better, be healthier and so forth. Even though the intent is there, it's still resisted. Clocks are watched; and for the Go-Getter's on a constant run, the idea of stopping their busy life for 30-minutes (forget an hour) of meditation is put off for another day. Belief that there isn't enough time delays the action because how could it possibly be productive to stop the forward motion?

On the other side of the pendulum, there are those who try so hard they exert themselves to exhaustion to create a sense of relaxation that when achieved, it's not relaxing at all. Go, go, go, stop. Go, go, go, screeching brakes. This way of life can cause metaphoric whiplash. Ease into the new routine. Do it in baby steps if need be. As a friend told me years ago, "Take your time. This isn't a race. It takes practice. What happens when you slam on the brakes too hard? You smash your forehead on the steering wheel; and who needs the headache?"

Done in niblets, meditation does not require a person to sit in an uncomfortable position with index fingertips pressed against the tips of the thumb forming circular symbols to experience inner peace. Inconspicuous ways people meditate without realizing they are doing it may include:

• Taking a long walk through the woods
• Focusing on and repeating an affirmation
• Sitting in a boat waiting for a fish to bite
• Soaking in a warm bath watching the flame of a candle flicker
• Listening to a favorite song that teleports the senses to a peaceful momory
• Stepping outside from a long day at work and taking in a deep breath of fresh air
• Watching the sun set
• Staring out the kitchen window while washing a sink full of dirty dishes
• Loosing track of time while working on a hobby

Truly there is no right or wrong way to experience serenity; what matters is the intent. It is when focus shifts to developing a healthy relationship between physical and divine Self that true love of Self blossoms naturally.

Please share the ways in which you take time for yourself.

Middle of the Night

Ever wake up in the middle of the night with a profound thought that possessed the ability to move mountains of beliefs or at least shift them enough that sleep becomes next to impossible? This recently happened to a very close friend of mind. At 2:12 am this individual sent me the following text:

"Random thought #437: so if we're in charge of our own destiny and set up choices to decide the future, than why can't we see the outcome of our decisions prior to making them? Or do we choose to be blind as to not spoil the surprise of our actions?" -JK (posted with permission)

Ah, the poetry to me senses! Throughout the day as this task was accomplished and another started, the words on my cell phone were revisited. Somewhere in the middle of the afternoon, my friend wrote, "So what's the answer?"

Is there simple approach to the question? One that defines its concept? Nope. The answer is as individual as you and I. We perceive things differently; and when boiled down to the nitty-gritties in the bottom of the pan, our life experiences are still rather simular. It all traces to one complex four-letter word. We share the desire for basic needs, like food, water, shelter, and companionship. Simplifying the list, the key element to it all is (and what it is that we are here to experience) - love.

"Life is what you make it ~ you're the creator. What emotions, thoughts and perceptions are you using to define this moment?" -Cindy Kochis

We have freewill to create the lives to live. We are the creators. Without conflict we cannot appreciate and truly value the meaning of life. Each person, each being, each aspect of this moment was brought into our experience to bring awareness to Self, Oneness and various elements of Love.

So, if you received a text message from a friend asking, "So if we're in charge of our own destiny and set up choices to decide the future, than why can't we see the outcome of our decisions prior to making them? Or do we choose to be blind as to not spoil the surprise of our actions?" how would you answer the questions? Please share with us your answer.

Message in the Sky

Few thoughts invaded my mind as we rode through the countryside looking at the autumn colors. Nature is beautiful. It doesn't matter why or how the leaves turn to glowing yellows, flaming yellows or deep baritone shades of red. Truly I don't need or even desire an explanation; I revel in the miracle of evolving from one season to another.

Perched on the back of the motorcycle with camera ready to capture the moving scenery, I snapped a picture that took my breath away. A message in the sky. I didn't see the image before I took the photo. There was not a desired outcome or expectation. As soon as the image appeared in the LCD screen, I immediately snapped another picture of the same part of the skyline. The Cherub, male in appearance, looking down on us was gone, however the message was clear.

Our environment provides us with signs continuously. It is our option to pay attention. What is the message you receive when you watch the family of otters play near the riverbanks? How about the deer standing on the edge of the road? When you hear the caw of a crow gliding through the air, what's your first thought?

When something like this happens, trust your intuition to provide its meaning. Be open to the infinite possibilities. The first knowing (thought from the heart) that pops into your head is the message. The more you dwell on whether or not your are right or wrong, the less likely you will understand the intention.

Way, way back when while I was exploring my intuitive skills, a friend would have me interpret dreams. "What do they mean?" she'd ask. "What's your interpretation?" I would write it out, email it back to her and in most cases my version (let's just say) were not textbook. I got frustrated because I never had (and still don't) any interest in getting a dream interpretation book and was flat out told my answers were wrong. It didn't matter what the different symbols meant to me - I wasn't following the guidelines someone else established. Basically, it wasn't to her satisfaction. After some time later, in a completely unrelated conversation the experience was brought up and she informed me on the accuracy of the readings. She was impressed with the personalized insights she would never have gotten from her book.

We tend to discredit what we know (believe) to be true because we listen to the mind. The ego can be ready at a moments notice to dispense doubt like a candy dispenser. Instead of following our hearts, we have become accustom to turning to books and people we consider to be more knowledgeable for justification or approval or their interpretations. The priceless lesson my friend provided me was to trust my intuition and not to rely on another's. In some cases, their insight is based from their personal experience, fears, beliefs, and anything else you'd like to add to the list even though it doesn't pertain to your situation.

If the message is loving, nurturing and supportive, it came from the heart. Fear, doubt, lack, anger, rage and so forth only come from ego (mind) - not the heart. Only unconditional, pure love comes from the heart. Who's messages do you wish to hear?

Interwoven Messages

Fear is a belief. Fear from a past life can affect this life. Fear is part of our shadow work; an aspect of Self to be nurtured and seen for what it really is ~ withdrawal from Love.

In a conversation with a friend, I asked him if it was okay to tell him something he may or may not believe. He was open to what I had to say and listened. I asked him if he knew a woman who has passed on with long, straight black hair and the most beautiful brown eyes (the kind you cannot look away from). She appeared to be Native American Indian or at least part Indian. She came to me (she's visited on several occasions) this time just before I was getting in the bath tub for a soak and requested I share with this man her gratitude and love. He made a difference in her life. [As a side note, there's nothing like standing naked getting ready to put a foot in the warm water when something like this happens. Of course, I giggle at the irony as I write this article - vulnerability.]

At the time of the conversation, he seemed okay with the message. Uncertain of who the woman was, he was still appreciative. As we parted ways, I wondered if it was bothering him on some level. The next day I emailed a quick note just make sure I hadn't upset him. I explained, "It's that vulnerability issue - putting myself out there to 'get noticed' (and burnt at the stake)." The moment those consonances and vowels spread across the page, a flash back of the morning I woke up in absolute terror filled the mind.

The dream what horrifying to say the least. However, it answered the question I'd been asking for years - "What's holding me back?" I woke up knowing who it was that turned me into the council for being a witch in the days when innocent women where being burned at the stake or hung. The person was a loved one, a person I (in that lifetime) trusted with all of my heart and loved to the core of my being. Forgiveness, compassion and love surround the dream and still continues to provide me insight.

Learning to trust in the trust of trusting is not bravery ~ it is embracing love of Self unconditionally. Love is the key element to everything... What belief is holding you back?

Perception as Reality

Life's been a bit too serious lately. A new project started, another obligation scheduled and playtime extinguished. Simplifying is a new priority. Not everyone agrees or understands and that's okay. The desire to impulsively splash both feet into a mud puddle outweighs their voiced opinions on how they believe I should spend my time.

In each of us is an innate being, a beautiful ray of light, waiting to help us let go of old habits, destructive behaviors and unhealthy beliefs. Truly, it is a mind game. The more we become aware of the drama of feeling sorry for ourselves (for example), change begins. How would life be interpreted if no one complained about money, relationships, jobs and etc.? Think of the peace we'd experience.

"Allow all the emotions to pass through ~ feel freedom by letting them go… Don’t hold on to them (positive or negative emotions) for then blockages begin to form." -Cindy Kochis

Affirmations and adjusting our words to sound more positive are great as long as we are not attempting to cover up (hide) the underlying issues. Convincing Self with positive, choreographed words is not enough, the truth is in the vibrations of the emotions felt. I can tell you how wonderful life is while feeling completely miserable on the inside. I hid my reality from you for one reason or another. The real work is on the inside where thoughts twist and turn, morph and mesh, and create perception.

What are the labels you place on your forehead when you look in the mirror? Actually, do you even take the time to acknowledge the person in the mirror? Are you so rushed in the bathroom while you're getting ready for another day? Often times we neglect to see past the image of the person looking back. Spend time with that individual. Start the conversation by saying, "Good morning, Sweetie. Let's go have some fun."