Spring
Like nature, winter slowly forced me to hibernate and rest. It forced me indoors and to slow down. It forced me to dig deep for warmth and light. Like nature, winter helps me shed off a few layers that needed to die.
Then comes spring! Where every bloom reawakens another piece in my soul, that was hidden for the cold long months. It restores hope and vibrancy. Suddenly, I feel full of energy much like a bloom opening up to the sun. I feel the earths energy flowing in me and giving me what I need.
Spring is a great time to allow what is buried deep inside blossom! We all have seeds, that just need a little sunshine (light) shining on them and a little love.
What will you let bloom this spring? New project ideas, or picking up ones you set down for the winter? Allow the colors popping out of the ground and dancing in the winds inspire you.
Take sometime today to plan how you want to bloom this spring!
How do I want to?
In many ways. Like the hundreds of different flowers that fill my eyes with joy, so does the hundreds of ideas growing inside of me. One is to become more committed to my passions. Do more: yoga, meditating, studying, Ayurveda, Herbs, weaving, creating, painting, writing. To let the seeds to blossom even grander than I could imagine! Then open myself up to what else is to come. I'll be spending an hour this afternoon in the flowers allowing the ideas to pop up!
Nature is a powerful force, displaying her strengths all around-as are you. It's time to bloom!
Hashtag I am here FOR Steve.
At some point in our lives we will all learn the inevitability of disappointment. It will happen to you. It happens to everyone. Plans fall through, accidents, illness, etc.
I had a teacher in undergrad, who used to say, "You can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle lives disappointing moments." It sounds like a weird thing to be thankful for, but I'm thankful I learned that disappointments WILL happen early on, and my mother always helped us learn to turn that disappointment into something good.
Because life with ALS, disappointments come a little more frequent, so we are turning our today's disappointment into something good, and we need y'alls participation. :)
So if you know Steve and I at all, you know we used to enjoy being out and about in many ways. Some of our favorites were of course live music in all forms, sporting events (that was totally for Steve ;)), Steve's art shows, events thrown by our amazing friends, the river, traveling, etc. We just loved being around others and in the hustle and bustle.
Our outings have obviously decreased as Steve's progressed to currently we haven't been out of the house together except to go to the hospital. Steve has an art show tonight at ABV gallery, 7-11 where you can see all his incredible paintings on display. Steve's art shows in the past have been some of my favorite outings. I would love to see the joy on Steve's face as he watched people be moved by art he created with his wheels, and how inspired everyone was by Steve's drive to make beauty out of adversity.
We have been looking forward to going, until we realized we aren't. Steve's had a cough the past week, much like he gets every change of season. Unfortunately he was up coughing last night, so much that he had a full blown panic attack. Needless to say, a night of no sleep and that kind of trauma on the body has left him feeling not well enough to go.
So in an effort to take a disappointing situation and turn it into a good one, I am asking that everyone who goes tonight; take a picture and when you share it include hashtag #IamhereFORSteve as you are all there for him, since he can't be.
Why stop there, if you are ever at a concert, festival, at the beach, sporting event (especially UGA), traveling, etc; and you think of Steve, take a photo and use the hashtag. I know him feeling like he is at all these places with you, helps him.
So today I will be making our day at home together special, we will be skyping with everyone at the show, and we will be following on social media the hashtag, so we will be there with you!
Even in life's disappointments there's still beauty. In this case it's that technology can help us feel connected to those supporting us. <3
#IamhereFORSteve
xo
I had a teacher in undergrad, who used to say, "You can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle lives disappointing moments." It sounds like a weird thing to be thankful for, but I'm thankful I learned that disappointments WILL happen early on, and my mother always helped us learn to turn that disappointment into something good.
Because life with ALS, disappointments come a little more frequent, so we are turning our today's disappointment into something good, and we need y'alls participation. :)
So if you know Steve and I at all, you know we used to enjoy being out and about in many ways. Some of our favorites were of course live music in all forms, sporting events (that was totally for Steve ;)), Steve's art shows, events thrown by our amazing friends, the river, traveling, etc. We just loved being around others and in the hustle and bustle.
Our outings have obviously decreased as Steve's progressed to currently we haven't been out of the house together except to go to the hospital. Steve has an art show tonight at ABV gallery, 7-11 where you can see all his incredible paintings on display. Steve's art shows in the past have been some of my favorite outings. I would love to see the joy on Steve's face as he watched people be moved by art he created with his wheels, and how inspired everyone was by Steve's drive to make beauty out of adversity.
We have been looking forward to going, until we realized we aren't. Steve's had a cough the past week, much like he gets every change of season. Unfortunately he was up coughing last night, so much that he had a full blown panic attack. Needless to say, a night of no sleep and that kind of trauma on the body has left him feeling not well enough to go.
So in an effort to take a disappointing situation and turn it into a good one, I am asking that everyone who goes tonight; take a picture and when you share it include hashtag #IamhereFORSteve as you are all there for him, since he can't be.
Why stop there, if you are ever at a concert, festival, at the beach, sporting event (especially UGA), traveling, etc; and you think of Steve, take a photo and use the hashtag. I know him feeling like he is at all these places with you, helps him.
So today I will be making our day at home together special, we will be skyping with everyone at the show, and we will be following on social media the hashtag, so we will be there with you!
Even in life's disappointments there's still beauty. In this case it's that technology can help us feel connected to those supporting us. <3
#IamhereFORSteve
xo
Are you really that positive Hope?
I get asked a lot from those on the social media world, "Are you really that positive Hope?"
The answer is mostly yes. You see, I like everyone else, experience a wide ray of emotions through my days. I experience the angers and frustrations life offers, and yes I feel sadness often. I acknowledge all emotions because how can you move past them without acknowledging them.
However, I don't set up camp there, and this is important. I noticed about 3 years ago, that when I was feeling weighed down from the burdens that come with ALS, and sitting for long periods in the frustrations or sadness Steve would get sick. The more aware I became of my emotions the more I could see the direct effects it would have on Steve.
So, I decided that in order to be the best caregiver I can for Steve, I was going to find ways to stop setting up camp in the negative. It was hard, and if you knew us you saw the struggle. This was before Steve & I shared everything openly on social media, so if you were following us from the outside you may not have seen the struggle.
It was there, and then I found yoga. It not only helped me to become more present of the moment and to actually face what our days had, it helped me become more accepting. I would be in total denial of Steve's progression of ALS, as would he; and yoga helped me get a reality check while also providing me skills to deal with the reality.
People my whole life have told me, that I have a gift of finding the good in the bad, and it sort of amplified after I started implementing a practice into my daily life. Now it's how I end my day. I recognize the hard to face realities, feel those emotions for a minute, and then search for the good in it. Truth be told, 100% of the time I find it. It's always there, it just takes a different perspective.
Learning to find more good in our situation, also opened me up to more good in myself. I didn't think I had any talents, until I just started to paint for a release, and then slowly my soul opened up to creating in all realms.
Today it's true, on days where I'm off, because yet again, I'm human and I have them; Steve has bad days too. Knowing this connection we have keeps me very mindful of choosing the positive. Because I chose this life with Steve, I choose to make it the best I can. I can't change ALS or the toll it has taken (and will continue to do so) on Steve's body, but I can choose how we live our lives.
So, I choose positive. It's not always easy, but on days that are really hard, and Steve's looking to me out of eyes full of tears for that hope; it's worth it. To be able to provide Steve with that extra boost to fight this disease. It's always worth it.
The answer is mostly yes. You see, I like everyone else, experience a wide ray of emotions through my days. I experience the angers and frustrations life offers, and yes I feel sadness often. I acknowledge all emotions because how can you move past them without acknowledging them.
However, I don't set up camp there, and this is important. I noticed about 3 years ago, that when I was feeling weighed down from the burdens that come with ALS, and sitting for long periods in the frustrations or sadness Steve would get sick. The more aware I became of my emotions the more I could see the direct effects it would have on Steve.
So, I decided that in order to be the best caregiver I can for Steve, I was going to find ways to stop setting up camp in the negative. It was hard, and if you knew us you saw the struggle. This was before Steve & I shared everything openly on social media, so if you were following us from the outside you may not have seen the struggle.
It was there, and then I found yoga. It not only helped me to become more present of the moment and to actually face what our days had, it helped me become more accepting. I would be in total denial of Steve's progression of ALS, as would he; and yoga helped me get a reality check while also providing me skills to deal with the reality.
People my whole life have told me, that I have a gift of finding the good in the bad, and it sort of amplified after I started implementing a practice into my daily life. Now it's how I end my day. I recognize the hard to face realities, feel those emotions for a minute, and then search for the good in it. Truth be told, 100% of the time I find it. It's always there, it just takes a different perspective.
Learning to find more good in our situation, also opened me up to more good in myself. I didn't think I had any talents, until I just started to paint for a release, and then slowly my soul opened up to creating in all realms.
Today it's true, on days where I'm off, because yet again, I'm human and I have them; Steve has bad days too. Knowing this connection we have keeps me very mindful of choosing the positive. Because I chose this life with Steve, I choose to make it the best I can. I can't change ALS or the toll it has taken (and will continue to do so) on Steve's body, but I can choose how we live our lives.
So, I choose positive. It's not always easy, but on days that are really hard, and Steve's looking to me out of eyes full of tears for that hope; it's worth it. To be able to provide Steve with that extra boost to fight this disease. It's always worth it.
Rid the negative self talk
Often, I've tried to stop myself from gossiping, or judging others. I would find myself thinking negatively about someone and catch myself, or I would be with a group of friends, and catch myself gossiping about someone that wronged me, or simply annoyed me. Realizing I didn't want to be putting that energy out there, I've made an effort to rid the judgment gossip talk.
However, never did it dawn on me to stop that sort of talk about myself. I just kept right on in, with the, "You're so spacey." "No wonder you messed that up, you hot mess." "Don't mind me just loosing my mind today." "Oh you look like a mess!" "Ugh, I suck" (this one happened at least 100 times a day when I would forget something). I could keep going but you get the point.
It's not enough to just stop the negative talk about others, you have to stop it with yourself. How we talk to ourselves influences our lives more than we realize.
I started to pay attention to how I was speaking to myself and how my days would go.
On days where I started the day saying, "I'm so spacey today, I can't focus on anything and I doubt I'll get anything done, I'm just an idiot." I would have spacey days where I really couldn't focus on anything. I would get frustrated at everyone mostly myself, and the negative self talk just brought me lower and lower.
Then on days when I would start the day saying, "I'm amazing and capable of conquering whatever life throws at me today. I'm strong, focused, and powerful." I would get so much done, with ease and focus. I would enjoy the moments I was in and really felt capable and strong.
Why do we work on how we talk to others, but not on self talk? I'm pleading with you, if you haven't started to try to talk nicer to yourself, do so now! Watch how a little self love can completely change our lives. The positive affirmations you say to yourself can change based on your needs that morning, be creative with it; but try it!
Some great affirmations to try:
I'm so intelligent, I'll change the world with my mind!
I am strong and capable, and will do great at everything I set out to do today.
I am focused and can accomplish everything I want with ease.
I am beautiful damnit!
I am love, and will show love to everyone I come in contact with today; especially myself.
I am talented, and today I will use my talents to add light to the world!
I am passionate and with my passions I could cure illnesses using my voice.
I am awesome. :)
BECAUSE YOU ARE.
I love you all. xo
However, never did it dawn on me to stop that sort of talk about myself. I just kept right on in, with the, "You're so spacey." "No wonder you messed that up, you hot mess." "Don't mind me just loosing my mind today." "Oh you look like a mess!" "Ugh, I suck" (this one happened at least 100 times a day when I would forget something). I could keep going but you get the point.
It's not enough to just stop the negative talk about others, you have to stop it with yourself. How we talk to ourselves influences our lives more than we realize.
I started to pay attention to how I was speaking to myself and how my days would go.
On days where I started the day saying, "I'm so spacey today, I can't focus on anything and I doubt I'll get anything done, I'm just an idiot." I would have spacey days where I really couldn't focus on anything. I would get frustrated at everyone mostly myself, and the negative self talk just brought me lower and lower.
Then on days when I would start the day saying, "I'm amazing and capable of conquering whatever life throws at me today. I'm strong, focused, and powerful." I would get so much done, with ease and focus. I would enjoy the moments I was in and really felt capable and strong.
Why do we work on how we talk to others, but not on self talk? I'm pleading with you, if you haven't started to try to talk nicer to yourself, do so now! Watch how a little self love can completely change our lives. The positive affirmations you say to yourself can change based on your needs that morning, be creative with it; but try it!
Some great affirmations to try:
I'm so intelligent, I'll change the world with my mind!
I am strong and capable, and will do great at everything I set out to do today.
I am focused and can accomplish everything I want with ease.
I am beautiful damnit!
I am love, and will show love to everyone I come in contact with today; especially myself.
I am talented, and today I will use my talents to add light to the world!
I am passionate and with my passions I could cure illnesses using my voice.
I am awesome. :)
BECAUSE YOU ARE.
I love you all. xo
Learning to stay in the moment...it's life changing.
The more into my yoga/Ayurveda practice I go, the more self aware I become; which helps me notice ways in which I, myself, am bringing negative energy, to myself.
When I am too focused on my to do list, as it's usually enough to fill an entire week for one day, I find myself on edge. Constantly feeling pressure like there's not enough time in the day. Feeling like I can't keep up. I will experience anxiety, I will snap on you if you interrupt me (sorry Steve), and all in all I am not really that productive. Most of my energy is spent worrying about the next 5 things I need to do that I'm not able to do the thing I'm working on very well.
The other 70% of my life when I'm truly in the moment, I'm patient, focused, in the flow, happy, fun, loving, compassionate, all good adjectives, etc... Ever notice when you are truly living and feeling the present moment how all of a sudden you are overwhelmed with gratitude and peace. It's a wonderful feeling.
Staying in the moment takes practice. I have to work on it everyday. It takes being aware of your mindset. Even yesterday, trying to get my listing done, I found myself sighing and huffing when I would be interrupted by Steve. Mostly everyone that follows us often looks at me as an angel, which is encouraging. :) However, the truth is I'm human like everyone else, and I have to catch myself.
Meditation has taught me a trick to come back to the moment. If I start to notice the extra jittery Hope kicking in, I stop what I'm doing, and take just 5 minutes to sit in silence. When it's nice outside I especially like to do it outside. Sometimes I'll do it with Steve, if I'm getting impatient with him, so he can see me take the effort to come back to the moment.
I love taking care of Steve, he IS my number 1 priority, and I love it even more when I'm really there in that moment enjoying his presence and laughing with him while we are doing one of the hundreds of things we do in a day for his care. He deserves me, being me, there with him. Not the me, with my mind on the 100 things I may or may not get to that day.
How often are you living in the list mode vs the present? Are you aware of it? If you find yourself feeling that weight of your to do list, take a break, and allow yourself to focus on THIS VERY moment, because the reality is that's all there is. It's all that matters. Is this moment.
When I am too focused on my to do list, as it's usually enough to fill an entire week for one day, I find myself on edge. Constantly feeling pressure like there's not enough time in the day. Feeling like I can't keep up. I will experience anxiety, I will snap on you if you interrupt me (sorry Steve), and all in all I am not really that productive. Most of my energy is spent worrying about the next 5 things I need to do that I'm not able to do the thing I'm working on very well.
The other 70% of my life when I'm truly in the moment, I'm patient, focused, in the flow, happy, fun, loving, compassionate, all good adjectives, etc... Ever notice when you are truly living and feeling the present moment how all of a sudden you are overwhelmed with gratitude and peace. It's a wonderful feeling.
Staying in the moment takes practice. I have to work on it everyday. It takes being aware of your mindset. Even yesterday, trying to get my listing done, I found myself sighing and huffing when I would be interrupted by Steve. Mostly everyone that follows us often looks at me as an angel, which is encouraging. :) However, the truth is I'm human like everyone else, and I have to catch myself.
Meditation has taught me a trick to come back to the moment. If I start to notice the extra jittery Hope kicking in, I stop what I'm doing, and take just 5 minutes to sit in silence. When it's nice outside I especially like to do it outside. Sometimes I'll do it with Steve, if I'm getting impatient with him, so he can see me take the effort to come back to the moment.
I love taking care of Steve, he IS my number 1 priority, and I love it even more when I'm really there in that moment enjoying his presence and laughing with him while we are doing one of the hundreds of things we do in a day for his care. He deserves me, being me, there with him. Not the me, with my mind on the 100 things I may or may not get to that day.
How often are you living in the list mode vs the present? Are you aware of it? If you find yourself feeling that weight of your to do list, take a break, and allow yourself to focus on THIS VERY moment, because the reality is that's all there is. It's all that matters. Is this moment.
Creating.
This afternoon i'll be doing a new listing for Hopie Hippie, as I took the first part of the year off to get Steve & I healthy.
It feels good to be creating more regularly again and to see people get joy, peace, love, etc from my creations.
As a creator I see first hand the comparisons that happen. The, "Oh this person makes these too, you should check her out, see how you can improve yours..." These comparisons seem innocent, until you say it to someone who already feels inadequate because they don't feel like they can compete in this vast creative world.
I'm here to tell you no matter how much your creations look or don't look like someone else, you keep making from the heart. As long as it comes from a place of love and something deep in yourself, you do you.
Your creations are a piece of you, they are special, and they are enough. You don't need to compare your work to anyone else. As long as you are putting in YOUR own thoughts and energy to the creation that's enough.
I hope one day instead of holding yourself to a standard based on how someone else does something, we ALL learn to hold ourselves to OUR VERY OWN standards.
My standard is this: Make something that makes me feel something. That invokes an emotional response and that I can feel the love I put into it. Then, put it out in the world, knowing someone out there will see it and feel connected to it, and buy it. It's not about the money; nor is it about, does my so and so creation look better than there so and so. It's, did my creation add some light to their lives? Did it make them happy? Do they feel the love? If so, then my creation has reached the right person.
Aside from taking care of Steve, creating new things that help add light, love, color, zest, happiness, and positive energy to the world, brings me belly fulls of happiness. That's what it's all about. :) *clap clap*
It feels good to be creating more regularly again and to see people get joy, peace, love, etc from my creations.
As a creator I see first hand the comparisons that happen. The, "Oh this person makes these too, you should check her out, see how you can improve yours..." These comparisons seem innocent, until you say it to someone who already feels inadequate because they don't feel like they can compete in this vast creative world.
I'm here to tell you no matter how much your creations look or don't look like someone else, you keep making from the heart. As long as it comes from a place of love and something deep in yourself, you do you.
Your creations are a piece of you, they are special, and they are enough. You don't need to compare your work to anyone else. As long as you are putting in YOUR own thoughts and energy to the creation that's enough.
I hope one day instead of holding yourself to a standard based on how someone else does something, we ALL learn to hold ourselves to OUR VERY OWN standards.
My standard is this: Make something that makes me feel something. That invokes an emotional response and that I can feel the love I put into it. Then, put it out in the world, knowing someone out there will see it and feel connected to it, and buy it. It's not about the money; nor is it about, does my so and so creation look better than there so and so. It's, did my creation add some light to their lives? Did it make them happy? Do they feel the love? If so, then my creation has reached the right person.
Aside from taking care of Steve, creating new things that help add light, love, color, zest, happiness, and positive energy to the world, brings me belly fulls of happiness. That's what it's all about. :) *clap clap*