Category Archives: gratitude

Buster wisdom: Sitting in the grass and the power of *and*

22 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in animal wisdom, gratitude, managing time

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My head is positively swirling with ideas, to-dos, tasks, brainstorms – you name it.  And I am tired.  I just returned from an incredible coaching mastery retreat where I was supported, inspired, and filled up.  And now there’s so much to do!  And I want to wave my wand and have it all done now. The actual doing is a different story, as I suddenly feel the overwhelming urge to nap…

I spent the early morning today at the collision center dropping off my car and picking up a rental.  You may recall, when I was all zen about not worrying, that our car died.  And we bought a new one.  Not only new, but from the future!  A 2013!  And then a distracted driver backed into it while it was parked in front of our house last week.  This was not part of the plan.

So my wand waving waited. On the way home from the collision center, I stopped at the farmers’ market and bought peaches, blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, squash, eggs and more.  I filled my bags with healthy local food.  My computer and my wand waving waited a little longer.

As I opened the gate I saw my best wisdom teacher, Buster, resting in the shady front yard.  I unpacked the food, then stepped barefoot into the lovely grass and joined him.  And breathed.  Because if I don’t have time, on a beautiful sunny day, to sit in the grass for a few minutes, then something is really off.

This week I’m going to believe in the word “and”.  I can work toward my goals *and* sit in the grass for a few minutes.  I can complete tasks *and* cut up strawberries.  I can drive to unexpected places like collision centers *and* enjoy the trip, rocking out to the 80’s on satellite radio.  I can write *and* I can nap.  I can create *and* I can breathe.  Wow.  Buster knows.  We are so lucky.

What are some of your *and* statements for the week?

 

Surprise for Mothers’ Day

13 Sunday May 2012

Posted by in animal wisdom, gratitude, nature

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I couldn’t figure out why the brown thrasher was making so much noise- scolding and scolding! – and then I saw it, right at chest height, right next to the trail. No wonder she was worried!  What its is about a bird’s nest that brings out the childlike wonder in us?  Those perfect little eggs nestled in that beautiful nest, created completely by instinct by the mother bird.  What a lovely surprise!

No more waiting for normal

08 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in gratitude, managing time, thoughts

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A very un-normal anniversary breakfast – definitely special!

Have you ever said to yourself, “I’ll get to that when things get back to normal.  They’re just so crazy right now!”  Do you wonder when you’re going to have a “normal” day where you can accomplish all those tasks and routines that never seem to get done because of some unusual or unexpected event that pops up?  Do you get frustrated because your vision for daily life isn’t the way you actually live?

Recently, in a coaching mastery class, I was encouraged to “claim business hours.”  This makes a ton of sense, as those of us who are entrepreneurs can find ourselves working all hours of the day and night, leading to exhaustion and burnout if we’re not careful.  My master coach confessed to texting in the tub back in the days before she claimed her own business hours.

Well,  all I can say is I’m working on it.  This is harder than I thought!  And the reason I’m finding is that I never seem to have a “normal” day where I can stick to a set routine.  Our car breaks down and we need to buy another one.  And then I need to go back to the dealership to handle paperwork, pick up the license plate, etc.  Or it’s Jazz Festival and we have house guests.  Or it’s Mardi Gras and we have house guests, not to mention parades! Or a friend experiences a sudden loss.  Or someone gets sick. Or I need to do taxes. Or I’m going out of town.  Or the moon is full and I take our visitors out to the swamp for an impromptu moonlit wordless walk.

So I’ve given up on normal.  I’m not sure that “normal” days exist!  And instead of worrying about it, I’m just embracing each day as special.  I can still set general goals, make sure I’m not working all the time and have a basic idea of what I’d like to accomplish.  Then when I inevitably move things around and do everything in a completely different order than I’d envisioned, with new activities tossed in and other tasks abandoned, I can remember that all is well. And it doesn’t make sense to wait for “normal” to prioritize what’s most important to me. Normal’s never going to come. Instead, it’s another unique, special day, in a very happily un-normal life.

What about you?  Does your “real life” match your vision of “normal life”?  Do you get frustrated with surprises and interruptions or adapt to them?  Do you prefer strict routines or just a basic framework?  What makes your days special?  How do you embrace the unexpected?  Please feel free to share your stories, thoughts and tips in the comments – I’d love to hear from you!

Fourteen things I’ll treasure from four days on the AT with a good friend

15 Sunday Apr 2012

Posted by in gratitude, hiking, nature, walks

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1. Fragrant pink azaleas blooming.

2. Basking lizards.

3. Dogwoods.

4. Cliff views.

5. Irises.

6. Cute privies.

7. Campfires.

8. Hot drinks on a cold morning.

9. Fields with cows.

10. Spring green and Sky blue.

11. Creeks.

12. Cozy shelters.

13. Being on a woodland path that stretches across thirteen states for over 2000 miles.  That’s magical.

14. Sharing a very special place and new experiences with a dear friend who’d never been backpacking before.

It’s easy living, and time stretches in beautiful ways on the Appalachian Trail.

It’s a joy to get out of my mind and into my body.

To breathe hard going uphill.

To feel the heat and the cold and the wind.

To eat because I’m really hungry.

To stay hydrated like I never seem to manage to do in “real life”.

To walk and walk and walk with nothing to do all day but walk.

I look forward to sharing similar experiences with a very small group of women for a few nights in May, 2013.  I’m thinking May 23-27. More details will be coming, but if you want to get on the interest list now, email me at carla@livingwildandprecious.com.  It’s going to be amazing!

Celebration and Vacation!

05 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by in celebration, gratitude

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I’m exactly the same as I was yesterday morning.  But I feel just a little more capable, a little more powerful, a little more sure.  Coaching teaches us not to seek external approval, but today I’m celebrating that I’ve completed my tests, passed with flying colors, and I’m now officially a Martha Beck Certified Life Coach!!  Whether I want to admit it or not, it’s really nice to hear from a master coach that I know what I’m doing and I’m doing a good job, and to have the “official title”.  And now it’s time to celebrate!

I’m leaving for a week of hiking on the Appalachian Trail tomorrow! I’m going with a dear friend who’s never been backpacking, and we’re starting at the same place I started my  flip-flop thru-hike three years ago – at beautiful McAfee Knob!

While I’m away, I’ll mostly be soaking in the joys of hiking and being outside for 24 hours a day, but I’ll also be ruminating, planning, and dreaming. Because– mark your calendars–  in May 2013 I’ll be taking a small group of women who want to learn to take care of themselves in the woods on a fantastic coaching and backpacking retreat!  And I’m so excited to share this incredible experience with women who’ve been dreaming about it – all those people who ask me all the time, “How did you do that?” and say,  “I would love to hike and backpack, but I don’t know enough about it.”

So if that’s you, sit tight and put a big circle in May on your 2013 calendar- the little one in the back of your planner- or if your calendar’s electronic I guess you can just type it in!

I’ll also be playing around with wordlessness and oneness during my trip to the woods and I can’t wait to tell you all about what happens!

Enjoy this beautiful time of spring, rebirth and renewal, and if you take a wordless walk, email me your story and photos to carla@livingwildandprecious.com, and I’ll feature you on Wordless Wednesdays!