with 2017 comes fresh starts, beginnings, expansion and a brand new palette. the first of the year always seems to hold such potential and possibility. i am hoping 2017 will bring some changes to this little space in the months to come.
may this new year hold for you love, happiness, laughter, growth, kindness, and the whispers from the universe to remind you that your presence in this world is a gift to many.
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this project (a text to your first love...so interesting to read what others shared)
moving honesty from an inspiring artist
what a super cool idea
since high school, she always had stellar taste in super cool tunes and now she has launched her own FM station (way to go, friend!!!)
this great project and her beautiful eye
what a beautiful love of learning
and in the words of my sweet friend, today and everyday...simply be love.
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today is a day for ritual. i clean up the stagnant clutter from around the house. i smudge, light candles, and place essential oils around our home to move energy and lift spirits. i listen for a guiding word that whispers to me and will accompany me in my year ahead. i write down the things which i no longer wish to carry with me and burn them away to make space. i let go. and while i gave up resolutions years ago, i set desired feelings for my upcoming year and find that guiding word. and with that, i open to spaciousness for a new year.
my wish for you on the eve of this new year::
may you navigate your path safely
may you feel the guiding hands of those who love you helping to clear your way and encourage your journey
may you find beauty in the world around you, and may it bring you peace
may you find courage and grow
may you find stillness and calm
may you find a shooting star overhead and remember to wish
may you feel love in your heart and may you share this with the world
“This is what one thirsts for, I realize, after the smallness of the day, of work, of details, of intimacy - even of communication, one thirsts for the magnitude and universality of a night full of stars, pouring into one like a fresh tide.”
~Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea
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in these in between days, i have several priorities i work towards and one of those is to complete susannah's unraveling for the new year. i have done this since 2010 and it is a beautiful way to acknowledge all that the current year has taught and gently release it into the universe. and then turn with a fresh eye to dream up all the possibilities the new year could offer.
within this process, i find my guiding word for the upcoming year. it's rather magical how the word surfaces. i wish i could say i had more of a specific process for it, but i don't. i rattle around a few possibilities for days and see how they feel. words bubble up to me for a variety of reasons. it could be a word that will anchor, that will expand, that will ignite, that will soothe - my world and my reactions to it - i don't seek a specific action. i haven't uncovered my word yet for 2015, but i am okay with that. it's a gentle process and one that needs to happen organically.
until then, i am spending my last few days of 2014 gazing at lights that make cities look like fairy wonderlands, walking through art exhibits that whisper to my heart, savoring the laughter and lego creations that are sprawled all over the house, and filling up blank pages in my sketchbook.
bright blessings to each of you in the new year ~ buon anno! xo s
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1. the scent of a real pine tree in my home
2. hot cocoa
3. the anticipation of the holidays through the eyes of two excited little people
4. twinkling lights
5. winding down a year and reflecting upon all she brought, taught, and provided
6. classic holiday movies and music
7. holiday markets
8. the shows at my boys schools
9. the kindness that seems to hang in the air
10. the vibrant colors of the season ~ found in the sky, in the shops, and on the streets
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last night i read this book to the pirates. we talked about the life and work of dr. martin luther king jr. we talked about how he inspired others and fought for equal rights with his heart and with his words. we talked about the weight words carry - how they can sink or buoy.
this morning i asked my littlest pirate, 'do you remember who we read about last night - what he did?'
he answered enthusiastically, 'yes, martin....he liked big words like love!'
today, may you carry the power of love with you and may it carry you when you need it most.
"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend."
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
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so we welcome in another year together!
and as i get clear on what is most important for my world this year, i am welcoming in growth, change, and the awareness that comes with all of this.
today is always a bittersweet day as we pack up the decorations from the holiday and face the excitement of a new year. it feels as if one stands on the ledge of both ebb and flow.
as we stand on this ledge together today, here is my wish for you in this brand new year...
may it be a new year rich with possibility,
may you face it with courage in your heart,
may healthy breath fill your lungs and stabilize your body,
may your dreams whisper in a way that you can hear,
may you find beauty in the everyday,
may you cultivate and navigate a purpose in your life that will guide your heart,
may you help another without asking for anything in return,
may you laugh with wild abandon,
may you enjoy long, lingering meals with your chosen ones,
may you stop to wish upon a star and gaze across the constellations with wonderment,
may you listen to your inner wisdom (especially on the hard days),
may you embrace new beginnings each morning and find peace in the sunset each evening,
may your tribe support, nurture, and lift you,
and may love continue to fill and expand your heart.
~ssperl 2014
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as the year begins to draw to a close, i wanted to take a moment to thank you for following along with me. i am grateful for the community shared here and the connections we make from sharing our stories and our journeys together.
wishing you a wonderful holiday - may it be full of love, laughter, peace, and the comforts of family and dear ones.
buon natale
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so much is in limbo at the moment and of course, this carries an unsteadiness an unease that resides silently in the background of everything, but we are focusing on the busy weeks ahead and all the memories that will be made from them this holiday season.
this weekend was spent hunkered down in the kitchen, baking up platefuls of goodies to share with friends. there were old favorites plus some delicious new recipes, like this and these, that were sweet additions. with each ribbon i tied, i focused on gratitude for that person and how they have affected my world here. a complete heart warmer!
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