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!
Always, always, ALWAYS - when I stop actively living the lessons I've learned on my Diva journey, I fall back into old, destructive habits. One of the worst of these for me is perfectionism. The problem with this insidious disease (and it IS a disease, make no mistake about it!) is that it doesn't look … Continue reading The Essentials – Strategic Retreat
I recently ran across the notion of "September resolutions" - intrigued, I read on. The idea seems to me to be a sound one - instead of making resolutions in January, when most of us are worn out, run down, and wondering how we'll stretch the bank balance until the end of the month, why … Continue reading September Resolutions!
Among the Essentials for any true Diva is some form of creative activity that brings her great joy. Note that I did not say that it needs to be something she is "good at" doing, nor does it need to be a money-making venture. (I maintain that we lost something Good and True when hobbies … Continue reading The Essentials – Creative Action