sperlygirl

dwelling in the in-between...

i love this quiet time between christmas and new years. for me, it's a time of reflection and renewal. time to take a look back, to dream forward, but also find some simple stillness within the present moment. the rush has settled, yet the bustle of school and schedules has not yet begun and there is this real sense of peace and quiet that these days bring. it is such a gift and i am grateful for it all. 

i have decided on my word to guide 2012, it is, express. inspired deeply by some events this past year that broke my heart wide open a bit more, it feels all the more important, fitting, and precious.

2011, my word was gratitude and i feel she stayed with me, close at hand - close to my heart, all year long, whispering gentle reminders when i became lost in the whirlwind of the everyday. her whispers grounded me back to the present and allowed for space to appreciate - even if it was only momentary. she taught me a lot ... reminded me of a lot this year and for that i am grateful.  i hope to hold on to all that she brought me this year.

a heartfelt thank you to each of you for sharing this space with me, accompanying me on my journey, taking the time to pen comments of support, encouragement, well-wishes or shared stories.

wishing you buon anno and may 2012 be the fullest expression of you! 

sharing love...

wanted to share some happy news and inspiring tidbits...

first of all, i am so very honored to be featured here on meri's lovely blog. she is a gatherer of inspiration and i am blushing at being a part of what she has collected. i do hope you will stop by.

that magical pixie is assembling a 'mother of all release' ceremony on the 22 december and i plan to join her - virtually linking arms with all my 'sisters' of the soulodge. (you can also check out pixie here on jamie ridler's newest podcast).

this talk by louie schwartzberg on gratitude has stayed with me, powerful for sure

lastly, i was completely inspired today by this incredible yogini and her lifelong commitment to her teaching and practice.

 

seeking out the wonder...

lately, i have been trying to make sense of things, of life. now, i know and have been here long enough to know that, really - there is no sense in life, only mystery. too often, my heart is reminded of this. most days, i am okay with this. there is something about acknowledging the mystery in life that reminds one of the wonder. and it's that place of wonder that holds all the magic in this world. spend time with a child ... and really listen to them, and you will glimpse it. 

along with the mystery, it's the connections we make as we pass through, that add the value to our world. these connections, allow us to experience. with them may come happiness, heartache, frustration, anger, birth, death, transformation, growth, frustration, expression, or bliss, but their very presence provides the opportunity for expansion and meaning. perhaps more than anything lately, i have been reminded that each one of the connections in my world, is such a gift. 

*this poet captured me when i first heard her online several years ago, and her talk here spoke volumes to me this weekend (thx susannah), i invite you to watch*

 

 

gathering gratitude...

found this recently, had copied it down sometime ago and it resurfaced, wanted to share. 

"What is life?

It is the flash of a firefly in the night.

It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.

It is the little shadow which runs across

the grass and loses itself in the sunset."

Crowfoot, Blackfoot warrior and orator 1830-1890

with gratitude...

today, i offer my humble thanks to all those who serve(d). for your service and that of your families at home, i am sincerely grateful. 

thanking joe...

my first year of college, i took a class called The Power of Myth all about the teachings of Joseph Campbell. i remember reading that book and all the discussions that followed in class, and feeling like someone had just shook me awake to the world. a few months later, my world came to a devastating halt when my father suddenly and unexpectedly passed. and in the many months that followed, while i was trying to piece back together my life and find my new place in it - a copy of joseph campbell's a reflections on the art of living: a campbell companion was never far from my grip. on some of the lowest of days, a quote of his would carry me and provide the lift that very little else in my world could offer at that time. i don't know why exactly i felt such a powerful and instant connection, but i did. approaching twenty years later, and that same book still accompanies me. and then i discovered this new film (thx marissa) and all those "a-ha's" from freshman year psych class have reved up once more. 

 

"Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning." ~ Joseph Campbell

 

farewell steve...

for all you left this world, a simple thank you just doesn't seem to cover it. 

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” Steve Jobs

*worth a listen...again*

welcome summer...

and here she lands...i welcome you SUMMER with open arms - we are gonna have such a great time! totally nodding along to this great tune as i welcome her.

(photo by j)

with gratitude...

we wanted to thank each of kai's teacher's at his asilo for all that they have provided for him these last couple of years. as a parent, there is no greater gift than watching your little one flourish, and he has there at this sweet school. as a teacher, i recognize and understand the challenges and obstacles that come up in a classroom so i am deeply aware of the work involved.

so i decided to whip up something useful yet fun for each one. this is such a simple project (a little time consuming but well worth the effort). i simply found some beautiful papers (these are what i used) rounded the edges and layered for contrast. i used modge podge to adhere them to the clipboards and then smoothed out with an old credit card to be sure to get out any air bubbles. then i sandpapered the edges to create a more unified look. and finally finished them off with a butterfly and pretty ribbon.

we will write each teacher a special thank you note and kai is busy creating a drawing for each. 

powerful words...

each of these lovely ones wrote such powerful words this week. they spoke of stepping into our truths, navigating our ways down our creative paths, claiming our radiance, and fostering up all of the courage it takes to do just that. i was inspired by each of their words and thought i would share.

words on dreaming, on navigating obstacles and fears, on claiming your humble and well-deserved radiance

and this beautiful poem from this wonderful artist

Close your eyes
Gather all the kindling
About your heart
To create one spark.
That is all you need
To nourish the flame
That will cleanse the dark
Of its weight of festered fear.

from "For Courage" by John O'Donohue

and of course, along the journey there must be music ~ beautiful music to keep us moving