Inspiring families to find their happy place.

Starting + Beginnings {Giveaway!}

January 15, 2013 by 17 Comments
ipod 2012 408

ipod 2012 408

This past summer, we visited my family who now all lives in the rural mountains of Georgia.

We traveled to the highest peak — Brasstown Bald.

The cool temperature was a natural escape from the heat.

And the high elevation offers something we don’t always get — clarity.

Where we’ve been. Where we are headed. Who’s around the corner. What sits on that tree top.

If only we could just sit on the mountain of our own lives some days and see what is coming around the bend.

I’ve been enjoying the concept of “Start Where You Are” very much. Beginnings. Fresh, lovely beginnings.

I’m in the middle of one right now.

I chose not to climb the corporate/political ladder and, therefore, my full-time job is likely ending in May.

And so the beginning I’m in the middle of is carving myself a new life not just for me, but for my family.

This new road is rocky and has me wondering if I can sustain Awesomely Awake full-time?

Can I be a full-time Writing Mama again?

Will carefully walking into such uncertainty bring some level of security, at least eventually?

My amazing husband believes we have to listen to the Universe. That it is telling us something.

I’m listening. I’m waiting for the answers.

You are all guiding me. 

I’m sitting and waiting, and as Awesomely Awake as ever.

And while I do that, I continue to be profoundly moved by the growth here.

Pinch me.

I must be dreaming. 

As I work through this personal life change that may very well only be taking me back to my authentic self … here are few things you can look forward to this year.

Parenting Book Club — Our first book will be “Peaceful Parents, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting,” by Dr. Laura Markham, creator of AhaParenting.com. We’ll start the book Feb. 1 and work through the entire thing one chapter at a time over on my new Google + Community, The Art of Parenting. I’m co-hosting that space with a bunch of awesome Mamas.

More Awake Mama Series — I am terribly behind on these but I can’t wait to get back to them. I have some amazing Mamas lined up.

Project 52: Stay Awake  — Of course, this is happening each week.

The 10-Day Awake Adventure — I will take you on a journey from distracted parent to awake as a family. The only thing you need is to be open to the changes you will find once you begin. This is the handbook for my book, “The Playful Family.” For 10 days, you will discover new ways to connect, engage and have fun together. This will be a Pay What You Can e-mail course with a Facebook group. First Adventure takes off on March 1.

Capture the Moment– The days are long but the years are short and we don’t want to miss a thing. Each day we have a choice. We can float through and survive or we can stand solid and balanced and aware of everything happening around us. This 5-week e-course will be the guide you need to remember in detail all those amazing moments that have passed right before your eyes — moments that you knew instantly you need to remember but haven’t done a think about. Moments where you witnessed amazingness only offered to people who are raising little humans {and who are awake enough to notice}. First session starts Feb. 15. and ends March 15. Registration opens very soon!

The Abundant Mama Project — Of course, more of this. More. More. More. Next class opens Nov. 1.

Winter nature journal imageAnd, now … I am happy to offer a giveaway of another e-course that I think sounds just lovely being hosted by A Natural Nester.

I just met the author and I am thrilled I did. Because right now, where I am, it’s winter in every sense of the word and taking a little e-course on nature journaling sounds about exactly what I need. So I signed up … and then Liz offered two of my luckiest readers a chance to join in on this e-course as well!

The course offers you a chance to learn to record your observations, perceptions, and feelings about the natural world around you with:
* six comprehensive, themed lessons on nature journaling (see course outline below).
* six creative writing prompts to build your nature journaling practice.

* six seasonal writing prompts to help you discover and connect to the natural wonders of WINTER in your specific environment.

* creative exercises to get you exploring, recording, and connecting to your natural world.

So, here’s your job. In the comments below, tell me what YOU need most right now in your own life, where you are.

Leave your name and EMAIL in the comments below and let’s get nature journaling together! Deadline to enter this giveaway will be this Friday. 

 

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Filed Under: Creativity, Intentional Parenting, Motherhood Tagged With: , , , , ,

Amaze Yourself & Be Fearless

May 13, 2012 by 10 Comments

Photo Credit: D Sharon Pruitt via Flicker

Sometimes the biggest act of courage is a small one.
– Lauren Raffo

You play it safe all the time. There’s too many worries, too many things to do.

Not enough time.

And all of those what-ifs pile up on top of each other, weighing us down.

Best to err on the side of caution. Best to play it safe. Best to do what’s right.

I have a secret for you.

I get tired of never taking any chances. I get tired of worrying.

I get tired of always doing what’s best for others.

Let’s hook our dreams to the back of a rocket, light it up and let them soar into the universe.

Let’s burn our fears that are holding us back and ignite the dreams that will propel us forward.

You got this.

Do the hard. Push your way through it. Put in the effort.

Tell yourself it will be OK because it will be.

No one said this dreaming business was going to be easy.

Some people never gave you any credit. They never understood you anyway. They never heard your cries. They never cared about your dreams. They only shoo’d you along now, patted you on your head, laughed at your big city dreams.

They don’t know you. Not then. Not now.

You know you. You know that brave center that exists inside of your core.

Call upon that force without thought, without fear and just let Her roar.

Whatever it is that sets your soul on fire. Light a candle and give it life. Keep lighting that candle each day until it’s true or until you’ve moved on.

Whatever it is that’s keeping you back, hugging that wall, hiding under that stone, toss it like a stone in the river.

Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand-and melting like a snowflake.

– Francis Bacon Sr.

Uncertain of the future? All you need is right here and right now.

Take the first step. You have you.

You don’t need anyone’s permission but your own. You don’t need anyone telling you what you already know to be true.

Find your energy list.

Do the hard.

What’s that one thing you keep thinking about? That one thing that is nagging you this way and that?

Not sure?

Let’s do some writing and activities this week to figure it out.

Writing Exercise I:  If money is no object, how would you like to spend your days? What would you do? Where would you go? How would you live? Perhaps there is something you’ve always been afraid to do — like flying. Perhaps you want to be an artist. Or live in another country. Write it all down.  Write it down and keep it in a very special place that you can refer to often.

Dream Catcher Activity: Let’s pretend the above is possible — and it very well could be — and take one tiny step this week to making it happen. So, for instance, say you want to be a photographer and have your own business. Make a list of three things you could do to turn that dream into reality. Pick one of those things and do it this week.

Please share your dreams here and that one tiny step you plan to take this week. I will share one of my dreams on the Awesomely Awake Facebook page on Monday.

This week’s intention, incidentally, and the exercises are based on a writing course that I have taught called Fearless Writing. It’s a great self-discovery creative writing class for writers and want-to-be writers that I will be offering online later this year! Please sign up for my newsletter to get the details on all e-courses that I’ll be offering. Sign up on the right sidebar. People have been asking for this course to go online, and I’m happy to make that happen.

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Filed Under: Intentional Parenting, Mindful Living Tagged With: , , , ,