As a reminder - my intention this year is to bring more roses into my life. You can see details about that means over on this earlier post, but the short version is that "roses" is my catchphrase for me to double-check whether I am being true to the causes and attitudes that are central … Continue reading Roses and the Power of “Yes”
For the New Year, I'd been looking for a quick, shorthand way to identify all the various bits of my Diva philosophy in order to have a one-word intention to keep me focused; sort of a personal "code word." Much like "River of Cream," the solution was staring me in the face, patiently waiting for … Continue reading Roses
This was an especially nice idea - I'm thinking of it as "stealth kindness." I think that sometimes we get a little wrapped up in wanting to be "caught" being nice - you see it in some charity pictures (mission trips, soup kitchens, and so on) where people pose with the folks they're helping out. … Continue reading Advent 10 – Stealth Kindness
In the spirit of "progress, not perfection," I've missed the last few days of this blog. The combination of the end of the semester (madness, I tell you!) and an out-of-town visit to do some Grown-Up Stuff will have that effect and I'm rather proud of myself for not getting all "tore out of frame," … Continue reading Advent – Catch Up!
So much of this "Advent Adventure" comes down to that - just be present. It's the end of the semester, which is a tumultuous time. Add in the holidays and the people crossing your path can be all sorts of half-crazed with stress, pressure, and worry. All the more reason to start with a hot cup … Continue reading Advent 4 – Be Present
I'm starting to get into some kind of groove with "Advent Adventures" - today was about seeking opportunities to fulfill the "tasks" (that makes them sound too much like chores - I'll work on finding a better word) that my Reverse Advent Calendars set out. Beginning the day with a short meditation is, I think, … Continue reading Advent 3 – Seeking!
It's Day 2 of the "Advent Adventure" and I didn't quite manage to cover everything today. My "task" on the Reverse Advent Calendar was to "let someone in front of you in line" and I just didn't stand in any lines today - I'll work on that one tomorrow, I took a few minutes first … Continue reading Advent 2 – Campaigning!
As we head into the holidays, I think it's an excellent time to visit this Essential. There's a joke-not-joke that the reason there are so few well-known female artists is that male artists have generally had wives. The point being, that in order to be creative, you simply have to have a space carved out … Continue reading The Essentials – Ask for Help!
I've written before about the therapeutic effects of frequent, brief breaks from workaday life (regular readers will remember my devotion to the "12-Hour Vacation") and I am completely convinced that these breaks allow me to return to my everyday life recharged and enthusiastic about the myriad responsibilities I juggle (usually, but not always, pretty well). Not … Continue reading Try Something New!
No, it's not a yoga move or some sort of dance-Pilates-aerobics maneuver. It's FAR more scary than that! It's time to do what you think you cannot do - and I don't mean touching your toes. You and I are, as Carl Sagan wisely noted, made of star stuff. No, really. The very iron molecules … Continue reading Diva Stretch!