To The Core

I have often heard that "the Core" is the base of everything.  I recently discovered the value of having a strong core.  In our bodies it means having strong back and ab muscles.   Without that strength we have all sorts of aches and pains.  We can't move as well or as fast.  I do think that is important, because on an emotional and spiritual level it connects us to the flow of life.  Our intuition. Our peace of mind.  Our sense of purpose and who we are.  When we are weak at our core, life is difficult. It is more than a challenge to pull our selves up and out of a funk. It is almost like we are rotting from the inside out.  No fun.  No joy.
How do we get a strong core.  Physically, it is working those muscles out.  Emotionally and spiritually it is also a work out.  Learning to shift our mind set from negative to positive.  Setting boundaries that honor who we are, and sticking to those boundaries. Standing up for who we are.  Eliminating worries (because worry takes us out of the moment and 90% of what we worry about never happens.  The other 10% we can deal with).  Stop trying to control everyone and everything and stay in the moment.  Whew!  That's a work out!  And like a work out, at first it might be a struggle to see the value in doing the work out.  Yet if we keep at it consistently, we begin to see, feel and know the value.  Soon we are strong at our core.  Nothing can shake us.  Creating and living a great life is really possible.

Are you ready to do a Core work out?   Get yourself strong to the core?

Until next week...create to feel great.

46 projects complete!  6 to go (I can see the finish line in my sights!)

This week's project is a little crocheted lady bug.  A Swap-Bot friends' grand daughter was in ill and in the hospital.  I heard she loves lady bugs.  So, I hope this brings her some cheer.  It made me smile to make it.

Yeah But...

As summer begins to wane and we head into fall, I'm doing my annual home improvement dash to get 'er done.  The pattern is the same, in the winter I dream of all the stuff I want to get done.  June rolls around and that is still rainy and cold to do anything, but I gather supplies.  July and August, something always comes up and gets in my way of starting.  This year, I was focusing on Portland to Coast and nursing my back, which I had sprained my sacrum.  So, September, my dear friend, here we are again.  The list is still long and growing.  The supplies sit waiting.  The motivation is gone, baby gone.  Yet, I love the completion and the feel of re-doing a room or taking care of my house.  And frankly between you and me, it really is the only way I'll do a deep cleaning or any cleaning for that matter.  With such a long list, where to start?  I thought if I could get only one room done in the house which one?  Two are on the A list.  My dining room and the creation of my writing room.  Broadside pointed out, I'd be happier if I worked on my writing room.  I went into "yeah, buts..."  If I do the dining room, we'll have it for the holidays.  We can have people over to enjoy it.  I'll do that room first then the writing room will be my treat for completing the dining room.  Yeah but...
Broadside was quick to point out that if I did the writing room first and has a place to write, I would maybe get the writing done I've been wanting to focus on all year.  Yeah but.  He got tired of the yeah buts and walked out of the room, saying something like...you can yeah but all you want.  Is that getting where you want to be?   When did he a) get so smart and insightful? b) start listening to me when I coach?  He asked a good question.  Writing room it is!
It was my project of the week. It took me a week to pull this small little space together.  And well worth it.
The room has always had good energy. It was once a kitchen, before we moved in to the house 17 years ago.  A family of four once live in the upstairs, where Broadside, Gus, MickeyGrrrl and myself sprawl out. (the upstairs isn't that big.  I don't know how those folks did it.)  This room was a junk room for years.  Now that it is re-done...I'm doing a different kind of cooking in it.  I'm also now inspired to do the dining room...after some more writing! Sidebar...it is tough to admit it, but Broadside was right.  The room makes me happy and I'm writing more and feeling good about it.  Again, another simple shift.  I love my house. I love my life and the people who are apart of my life.  I'm also discovering that taking care of what I love is another source of joy.  Whew.  I think the re-do of this room was my final exam on that lesson.  I'm feeling like I aced it.

Before....Yuck.

Until next week...create to feel great.
45 projects complete 7 to go!   Home stretch is coming into my sites!

Much Better!  My Purple Haze Heaven.
Complete with floor cushion
for MickeyGrrrl!

Hitting A Wall And Seeing A Million Stars

"To accomplish a great thing, we must not only act, but also dream:not only plan, but also believe."
~Anatole France 

I can now say I walked to the Oregon Coast.  I competed in The Mother Of All Relays.  I knew it was going to challenge me.  I had NO idea in what ways. More on that in a bit.  I want to talk about my stats. I'm so proud of the fact that I took 4 minutes off my walking time.  Averaging a 16.5 minute mile. Our team finished in 35 hours. I didn't know I had a competitive streak that ran so deep in me. It came out. Because I had injured my lower back in July, I didn't compete against others, I competed against myself.  I really had to find that source in me that believed I could do this thing.  And I did this thing.

I have a million stories etched in my mind and heart.  I have thousands of lessons, I want to share the most important ones I took away, as they apply to life, at least my life.  So, not in any order...

1) There are Guardian Angels.  I met one from Australia who helped me pace myself, work out a shin splint and told me I could do this thing. All within the first two miles of my walking adventure.

2) Have a plan for the end.  I had no idea the physical and emotional tole this event and prep of the event takes.  Couple that with sitting in the hot sun for two hours and team mates wanting me to take care of their questions and concerns.  I hit a wall.  Not pretty, but we all survived.  Having a plan for the end before leaving town would have helped.

3) When going after a great thing...have a good friend with you.  One is the minimum.  I was lucky to have one of my best friends with me.  Made the world of difference.

4) I need more cowbell in my life.  Every time a van with a cheering cowbell ringing team passed me, I knew I had to keep going.  So, more cowbell.

5) Look up from time to time.  Especially at night.  I saw the most amazing star show while I was trying to get some sleep in the non-sleeping field.

6) Add some flare to what you are doing, and don't hold back.  I had made gold lame visors, yet I saw folks being so creative and really going all out.  Making the event even more fun.  I love adding flare, and I sometimes hold back.  I always regret this move (the holding back, never the flare.)

7) Don't down play the accomplishment.  If it is a big deal for you.  It is a big deal.   If it is a big deal for someone else...help them celebrate, and that celebration looks different to everyone.  It's still a celebration.

8) Everything is important, yet very very little of it is serious.

9) I'm a whole lot stronger, smarter and funnier than I allow myself to be everyday. 

What's next?  I'm training for next year. I'd love to get on a team with a group of friends and folks really wanting to have fun and really into pushing themselves.  I'm not giving up event walking. I enjoy it way too much. After walking over 11 miles, in some of the best areas my state has to offer, walking looks a little different to me.  Time for a walk.

Until next week...create to feel great!
43 projects complete!  9 to go!

One last P2C craft.  A gold canvas duffle bag.  The right size for over packing all I thought I needed on the road. It served me well.

Gone For A Walk

Dear Readers and Followers-
If you are reading this post on August 24th or 25th, I'm out walking.  Walking from my hometown of Portland, Oregon to Seaside, Oregon, on the Coast.   No I'm not walking the entire 129 miles.  I'm apart of a 12 person relay team.  I'll be walking 11 miles over two days.  Over hill and valley.  Singing, walking and riding in a van with 6 ladies, one of them a dear friend.

I've been training for a year to do this walk.  I'm nervous and excited.  So, why did I decide to do this event?  To focus.  Focus on myself.  My health and well-being.  To heal and lose weight (which I have...50 pounds, thank you for asking.)  To prove to myself that I can do something so off the chain that it shakes up my entire approach to life.  So, it is not just a walking event for me.  I think sometimes we have to shake up our lives in a healthy way.  I can not wait to see the sand of Seaside and my dear husband on the sidelines waving me in. 

So, focus.  Over the years, I've discovered that what I focus on manifests itself in my life.  With this Campaign, I've focused on my creativity and creating a positive attitude.   I have more creative flow and I'm able to shift my thoughts, outlook and attitude to the sunny side of things quickly and with ease.  With Portland to Coast training, I've created health, strength and endurance.

What to focus on next?  I'll think about it as I walk.

Until next week...create to feel great!

42 projects complete...10 to go!

Another P2C craft....First Aid kit.   Hopefully, we won't need it, but just in case...We'll be ready!

pockets for all the supplies.  Bag flattens for ease of operation.

Ah! Resistance-I'm Callin' You Out!

As I'm writing this, I am five days away from doing the Mother of All Relay Races- The Portland to Coast Walk.  Yes.  That is right...I'm walking to the coast with 12 others.  I've been working towards this event for a year.  I've walked.  I've injured myself.  I've healed and I've walked some more.  I've been crafting cool stuff to take with me to make life easier for myself and my team mates.  The start day is in my sites.  I was excited until I heard that the speed in which everyone else is walking this event it is going to take 40 hours!  Really!  My first thought was, "well screw this noise.  If no one is going to push past their fears of being uncomfortable I'll stay home."  I'm now at- it is what is.  Maybe this is my team mates pushing and doing what they can.  If it takes 40 hours. It takes 40 hours.  After all, some team has to be last. Right?
What I felt I was hearing was my resistance to pushing myself coming up.  It is always easier to look at someone else and what the are doing or not doing than look at our self.   Yet the blame game never gets the job done.  This applies to long distance relay walks and everything else in life.
Once again, the trick is to stop and realize what is going on.  If something feels off. If something feels negative. If something feels like pushing a rock up a hill.  Call it out!
How did I get out of this place I found myself in?  I focused on the fun!  I focused on making it fun!  I've still got some days to train.  All my training is fun stuff I want to do or fun places to walk to.  I have an MP3 player loaded with only high energy fun favorites.  I have a treadmill where I work that my boss set up to help me train on the downhills. I get creative and make stuff.  Most of all I keep in mind that bottomline- it is me out there on the road walking. This fantastic experience will be what I bring to it.  With my walking times, my attitude and my energy.   Resistance can now hit the road, but it sure as hell doesn't get to walk along the same road I'll be walking.

How do you send resistance packing?

Until next week...create to feel great!

42 projects complete! 10 to go!

One more P2C project...an arm strap for my MP3 player.  I discovered that my best walking pants, don't have pockets.  And I love walking and singing to music!

90 Percent

With the Occupy Movement we started hearing about the 98%.  Years ago, columnist Dear Abby, talked about 90% of what we worry about never happens.  The other 10 % we can handle.   Recently, I discovered the Secret Society of Happy People.  They proclaim that most folks can really be happy 90 % of the time.   They peg, 90% because of that 10 % which is life that often times just grabs at us and we can shake it no matter what.  Happiness happens, they say.  Sounds almost effortless.

Being sort of an all or nothing kind of girl, 90% doesn't seem like it it hitting the mark.  Yes, 100% of the time is a nice lofty goal.  Again, that 10 % gives us some wiggle room and takes the pressure off of being perfect.  What I'm finding is most days hitting 90% is not an issue it is an easy stride, so I go for that 10%.  That extra 10% is a wonderful feeling.
So be it worry or happiness we can always handle that 10%.

Do you think you are hitting the 90% happiness scale everyday?  If not what would you like to do to hit that mark?  If you are hitting the 90%...go for the extra 10% for a week and see how it feels.

Until next week...create to feel great!

41 projects complete.  11 to go.

More P2C projects....I volunteered to make my team, The Under Toes, visors to wear for the event.  And being me...not just plain visors but gold lame visors (well for the ladies- black with gold trim for the men).
I think we'll be able to see each other in the crowds.  15 days and counting to race day! Yikes!

Lighting The Way

This last week, I was part of an amazing theater experience.  Lights Up! workshop production of Anything But Brilliant - A Love Story.  The play is brilliant.  The road to creating this wonderful work has been brilliant.  And a love story in it self.  It furthered my lesson and exploration on the theme of working from a place of love or a place of ego.  This was full on working from love.  All aspects.  And my oh my it was fantastic.
I've heard it said that "Love is the light that you see by".  This was certainly the case. We have to willing to hold the lamp for ourselves and others. That way we all shine so brightly and the path is clearer.
I know it can be challenging in the world that doesn't want it to work this way.  Yet we have to be strong.  We need to stop, check and ask..."Is this coming from love or ego?"  Here's how I will know for sure.  Everything will go dark. In the darkness there will be doubt and confusion.  Resistance and sadness.  That is the signal ego is at work.  Love brings light. Fluidity and ease. Joy and delight.
Now who doesn't need that?

Are you willing to attempt to stop, check and ask..."Is what I'm doing coming from love or ego?"  At least for the next week, just see what happens in your life.

Until next week...create to feel great!

40 projects complete!  12 to go!

The project of the week is my Lime green fleece polka dot blanket for Portland to Coast.  I know I'll be sleeping in the van and on the ground.  I want something light and warm (we are headed to the Oregon Coast..it get's chilling in the mountains even in August.).  So there it is.  Count down to relay has begun. 20 days.  Yikes! I better put the crafting down and do some walking!