tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73883319119776329612024-03-05T04:47:15.445-05:00All things beautifulThese are personal and work related musings about healing, relationships, psychology, spirituality, and our animal companions and belong solely to the blog owner. All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.comBlogger301125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-59408439737666976782020-02-10T21:32:00.002-05:002020-02-10T21:32:45.214-05:00What Lies Beneath the Surface of Us? I have begun a new blog titled What Lies Beneath the Surface of Us? It can be found on my website.<a href="https://www.audreyoxenhorn.com/blog">https://www.audreyoxenhorn.com/blog</a>. I write about all of the big and small ways that we can easily witness the magic of us. I hope that you will join me by reading my new Blog.<br />
Thanks so much for reading All things Beautiful. It was my pleasure to write it and I am excited about the new direction.<span id="goog_820924025"></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at Siesta Key Beach</td></tr>
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<br />Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-1602328742975487812020-01-01T18:02:00.002-05:002020-01-01T18:02:50.814-05:00Happy New Year- 2020 and the Year of the Heron<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwn9o4I6lKO8IPB4VdJR9kNfUymXog4dxgLCU5xcITWEsHnfBfnZTHm1bxVtWz3k9exUUIXSDhc_a_9jJmk1mIa89V71REneXpx-lHmTmZw34Uo7eXZLB_opFgn9Q84Kz4276j3vgEUgb/s1600/IMG-4180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwn9o4I6lKO8IPB4VdJR9kNfUymXog4dxgLCU5xcITWEsHnfBfnZTHm1bxVtWz3k9exUUIXSDhc_a_9jJmk1mIa89V71REneXpx-lHmTmZw34Uo7eXZLB_opFgn9Q84Kz4276j3vgEUgb/s320/IMG-4180.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heron Mates</td></tr>
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Amazing that we are in the year of 2020. Life seems to go really quickly and then really slowly. They are so many moments of importance in the blink of an eye. I am sitting outside on this gorgeous winter day in Sarasota.The weather is in the 70's, sunny and bright. I am listening to the sounds of a Great Blue heron couple that has mated in the pine tree outside of my villa. They came together on 12.16.19 and they have been inhabiting one of the mid level branches since then.<br />
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They built a nest using pine tree branches by passing the sticks from beak to beak. Each day they add to it. When they are together, they make these clicking and guttural sounds to communicate their love connection. They are frequently moving the eggs around in the nest so that the embryos do not stick to the egg shell. They sit on the net about 20% of the time . Usually, they are standing near the nest guarding it. I am allowed to sit under the tree and write this. I feel very privileged that I can look up into the tree day or night and see one or more heron parents.<br />
The incubation period is about 25-30 days so I have relative quiet until third week in January. When I am up close like this, I realize how big and fierce this birds are. They have a wing span of 4.5 to 5.5 feet and they are 3.5-4.5 feet tall. They are magnificent birds. The coloration changes on them from bird to bird.<br />
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There is something so comforting about having them nest so visually close. I believe that they usually nest in colonies so this is an unusual location. I do live on a pond where there are plenty of fish for feeding themselves and their babies. Heron totem is about following your dreams and letting your inner knowing be your guide. Just as I am writing this, they have mated again. It is so very quick with the male above the female heron. It is quiet with only the rustling of their wings to note the event.<br />
They mate several times during the incubation in order for the eggs to hatch at delayed times.<br />
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Have a wonderful 2020 and more to come.......<br />
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<br />Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-88028756861556163512019-04-16T14:59:00.002-04:002019-04-16T15:00:34.722-04:00Clothing and Teens? What are they saying by what they wear?Teens often talk about their intentional clothing choices in my therapy sessions. They explain that what they wear is an important way of communicating who they are. I had a client who said that she would were the same jacket to school everyday of the year. Another one had purchased a beautiful red prom dress and now could no longer connect with it. She worried about not being beautiful enough to carry it off. Or someone else, who could only wear clothes that were a certain fabric or style. If they wore the uncomfortable piece of clothing, they would be stressed all day. Another student said that she wore perfectly matched colors and meaning-full t-shirts for the day's activities.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower earrings at Selby gardens</td></tr>
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I know that I have my own quirks about clothing. I won't wear clothing with tags that are left in, It annoys me. I sometimes wear the same pants for days in a row because it is what feels good to me. I won't wear wool unless it is below zero temperature . I don't like anything too tight or constricted on my legs, it makes me claustrophobic. I like wearing pinks and turquoises and don't like yellows and browns. I don't like wearing name brands labels on the clothing. And the list goes on and on. It all has meaning for me and I rarely say these things out loud </div>
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As adults, we are focused upon getting our children and teens to fit in and accommodate to spoken or unspoken dress codes. Perhaps we are losing an important conversation by not asking and listening to their answers. </div>
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Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-8197551466620492182019-03-29T18:54:00.002-04:002019-03-29T18:54:24.225-04:00TO RETIRE or INSPIRE<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70obbFxk5MyzN16q_LynYMF7lsORLufCKXnbKWW6b-XzvUWL7LlcpyNkboF0r4nC5I0ZSDriTvfgpHvh7GdkKk8ZqvqbxWRY7AAewBurIuU5sBivY3hwAjjcnFg92dgzDsqGSu1vwXKmB/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70obbFxk5MyzN16q_LynYMF7lsORLufCKXnbKWW6b-XzvUWL7LlcpyNkboF0r4nC5I0ZSDriTvfgpHvh7GdkKk8ZqvqbxWRY7AAewBurIuU5sBivY3hwAjjcnFg92dgzDsqGSu1vwXKmB/s320/butterfly.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whimsy museum , Sarasota, Fl<br /><a href="http://www.whimsymuseum.org/">http://www.whimsymuseum.org/</a>orida</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I do love to work. Actually I love having the balance of work and play. When I am not working, I feel that there is a piece of me missing. And when I am working, I need to remember the play part. I feel whole when I have both in my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My grandfather retired in his 80s in NYC. He was legally blind and deaf for the later part of his life. This did not stop him from traveling to Japan for a month at a time to buy new silk fabrics by feel. He loved working and he loved being respected for his abilities.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My uncle Harry worked as a furrier until he was 74 and then continued as the head of shipping at the Brooklyn Museum until he was 85.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My mother worked in ESL until she was 75 and then as a piano teacher and news writer until her late 80's. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I identified with all of them. I have always thought that I would find ways of recreating myself as I got older. And I find that I am similar to many other women and men of my generation that feel the need to be of value and find meaning in our lives. It is a good feeling to learn, grow and be noticed . Perhaps it is selfish but I don't think so. It feels so amazing to continue to work, mentor and teach as long as we can. We cannot fix the world but we certainly should not be deserting it either. So whether we are retired or working, it seems very important to continue to <b>inspire</b> ourselves, our friends, family and the community around us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Whimsy museum is a play space for adults and children where the art is both beautiful and fun. It is located in Sarasota, Florida and a wonderful destination for all ages. <a href="http://www.whimsymuseum.org/">http://www.whimsymuseum.org/</a></span><br />
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<br />Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-21262655964146239552019-01-25T19:49:00.000-05:002019-01-25T19:49:21.577-05:00Kindness in the Trump EraI have a walking habit. I love to walk and purposely chose my new Florida home in an area that would allow me to walk easily. I am lucky to have three different walking partners. One of them is my friend Lavilla and we walk at sun up three days a week. We regularly admire the beautiful Florida sunrises , the flowering trees, the herons and other big birds. We also talk about the miserable state of politics and how mean people can be to each other. As we walked today, I turned my admiration to Lavilla. <div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palm Tree</td></tr>
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She told me that she had been worried about one of the residents in our areas. This older man walks daily with two small white dogs on a long tattered rope leash. He usually responds to hellos from passing walkers wtih a gruff, hey and never stops to chat. Lavilla had noticed that he had not been walking for a few days so she took the moment of concern and did something about it.</div>
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She walked up to the front door of the man that had never expressed any kindness to her in order to check on him. He answered the door and she asked how he was. He smiled widely and told her that he was so touched by her concern that she was invited to come in and sit down. They spoke for a few minutes and then she left. </div>
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She felt so good about taking this small step. I continue to wonder what hundreds of small steps might look like in this world......</div>
Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-77936406342255265082018-10-02T15:59:00.001-04:002018-10-02T16:00:28.554-04:00Giraffe Mind- a new form of Mind Less Ness<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJC6osmypf9sUksCAXzUyduFHY_x3A7RE_MJ682w-BRGj_tYpq1K5SGDq0JJBd1oM3hVGbbLa4-sxCS5onPKAK1V0ISIb_F-wlFoKME8VNdM4ENH3slq8xxln5pu-NLqtijpUAgW3SZ4iw/s1600/zebras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJC6osmypf9sUksCAXzUyduFHY_x3A7RE_MJ682w-BRGj_tYpq1K5SGDq0JJBd1oM3hVGbbLa4-sxCS5onPKAK1V0ISIb_F-wlFoKME8VNdM4ENH3slq8xxln5pu-NLqtijpUAgW3SZ4iw/s320/zebras.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giraffe Mind</td></tr>
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I am amazed that it has been since May that I have written a post. I have felt ambivalent about writing one certainly. While I love to do it, I also realize that everyone is doing one these days and they are amping up the quality, advertising, complexity etc. It is all a bit intimidating and why bother.<br />
There are already too many things to read and much too much to remember..........<br />
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However, I can offer originality with my thoughts, feelings and paintings.<br />
As I created this painting, I realized that i am constantly looking at things in more than one way. it could be this, or that or none of those. I feel like taking a step back , seeing and naming the possibilities, helps us to calm our anxieties down and and be more present.<br />
I am suggesting giraffe mind as a new form of mind less ness.<br />
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Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-62782666535582381572018-05-21T11:21:00.001-04:002018-05-21T11:24:53.806-04:00Alligator Encounter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DzJg8to_nBaZPxoCXf3WFxEUbGQBvldRWF-XWVlT8RhZXAEyzppwujnWX87xs4jaHPl73r3zGk1DviBp_0DYtQGX3CwQrLTMYpye2YkWQ6PC-SHcgDcN1txKGIldOeW_fbv1d5FWzLhq/s1600/IMG-0105.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DzJg8to_nBaZPxoCXf3WFxEUbGQBvldRWF-XWVlT8RhZXAEyzppwujnWX87xs4jaHPl73r3zGk1DviBp_0DYtQGX3CwQrLTMYpye2YkWQ6PC-SHcgDcN1txKGIldOeW_fbv1d5FWzLhq/s320/IMG-0105.jpeg" width="320" /></a>Good morning<br />
I have lived in florida for about 18 months and I have always been aware of alligators. In the beginning, I was always on the look for them. I live by a pond so there was a very good chance that I would see them. I was nervous if I saw them and nervous if I did not.<br />
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<a name='more'></a> As I got my Florida bearings, I began to notice that they stayed away from humans and they are a tremendously helpful force in maintaining nature's balance. They create gator holes by thrashing with their tails and these abandoned holes become homes to multiple sea and land creatures. They are amazing predators and keep the ecosystem in balance by killing and eating the old and weakened animals. They can stay under water for 8 hours without taking a breath and they have come back from extinction. They are remarkable creatures of land and water and have been on the earth for at least 98 million years.<br />
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The other day I met an 8 foot alligator. I was reading outside on a beautiful spring morning. I looked up and saw an alligator about 15 feet from where I was sitting. I said something loud and the alligator looked up, leaped in the air and went back down the bank to the water. My heart eventually began to calm down and I went over to the side of the pond and it was still there. The alligator must have stayed around for about 10 minutes and has not been seen since.....<br />
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Totem meaning of the alligator.........When an alligator shows up it is important they they be seen as a force of nature with a strong message for us. They are fierce, patient and teach us how to be instructed by our emotions but not ruled by them. When we are visited by them, we can remember that we are stepping in powerful sources of intuitition, energetic knowing and connection to our deepest selves.<br />
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Interesting factoid is that alligators roamed as far north as New Jersey up until the 20th century.......Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-16049678086985891542018-04-17T13:21:00.001-04:002018-04-17T13:27:32.219-04:00The Forgotten Ingredient is LOVE<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love </td></tr>
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The forgotten element is love. We say that we love our children but yet we don't act as if we do. We yell at them, hover around them, diminish them in front of others and often lie to them . We would be horrified if we knew that we were doing these things. We often have the best intentions and yet we still do. And then we wonder why our kids are sad, unhappy and acting out. What if we realized early on that our children are our perfect mirrors and whatever is going on with them is important for us, as well. We will not be able to parent effectively looking at our beautiful mirrors more closely.<br />
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For so long we have parented using guilt as a strategy to motivate our children. Some of us dont really know how to talk to our kids without emotionally overwhelming them. It feels like love and yet it isn't.<br />
The mirror:<b>We are guilty</b><br />
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We have also gotten away with telling them to do things when we are not willing to to do the same things. They may acquiesce for awhile and then they no longer listen.<br />
The mirror: <b>We are not walking our talk</b><br />
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We have parented by not knowing what we want in our own lives and yet ask for our kids to be clear. They get so confused by this double message that they often get angry and can't explain why.<br />
The Mirror:<b>We are confused and living a life without purpose.</b><br />
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We parent by being reactive to what is going on without seeing the nuances surrounding the dramas.<br />
There are always bigger pictures, bigger stories and yet we only see what is right in front of us. There is important information on the periphery as well.<br />
The Mirror:<b>We are unstable emotionally</b><br />
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We parent by being our children's friends and then they don't listen to us. Our children need us to be their parents who act with clear-ity and love.<br />
The Mirror: <b>We need a life with good adult friends</b><br />
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Yes, there are so many opportunities to parent more effectively and I feel that if we change even one of these elements than things will beging to change permanently. What might you do differently?<br />
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<br />Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-35956609500054566782018-04-08T13:19:00.003-04:002018-04-08T13:19:50.564-04:00Parenting is Complicated<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tkTQ_1a7Ev6gqHH5AjWTCjJmyrkkG0ThPq0lIv0cPsqZvK2XOCdMXgppfGnLzECWht3yBpeI4w7zUx5StQQVQJ35EyUKkfj4RBT0m2Q9PVL2ST2IkhYg5NhMsPhotisop3QGgte8vlvT/s1600/IMG-5771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tkTQ_1a7Ev6gqHH5AjWTCjJmyrkkG0ThPq0lIv0cPsqZvK2XOCdMXgppfGnLzECWht3yBpeI4w7zUx5StQQVQJ35EyUKkfj4RBT0m2Q9PVL2ST2IkhYg5NhMsPhotisop3QGgte8vlvT/s320/IMG-5771.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Its complicated!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Everything feels complicated right now. I know that each generation thinks that their lifes were easier and simpler than the current one. Yet, I believe that when I was growing up and even when my kids, in their thirties now, had an easier time of it than current children Perhaps the dividing line is the accessiblity of the internet. Certainly, when I was parenting I looked to my family, friends and to my favorite parenting books to inform me about how to raise my kids. Now, we ask Alexa to tell us how long should my baby sleep or why is she crying so much and when should she talk?<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
The answers are omnipresent. We have so much new parenting research and information that is coming in steadily from the sciences and yet we remain unsure about how to proceed. I think its because the plethora of additional information has made us doubt our knowing in a destructive way. We don't trust ourselves any more. We need just a little bit more information and we don't know when to stop.<br />
<br />
There are so many things that we could be doing and yet we are frozen in place.<br />
meditation, tapping, hypnosis, breathing, channeling, reading walking, losing weight.....<br />
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I don't believe that these skills are not enough in themselves to help us break though the feeling of being frozen. I believe that we also need kind, authentic mentors to hold the way. It does not have to be a yogi, psychotherapist, a priest, or a shaman or your mother. The important factor is that it is someone that you trust and they appear to be living a good life in your eyes. They can guide you in seen and unseen ways to do this deep inner work of knowing yourself.<br />
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It is complicated and yet really simple.<br />
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<br />Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-58276930067386570692018-03-31T18:44:00.002-04:002018-03-31T18:45:58.886-04:00Ferocity and Online dating<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dSKpsmBo37v7UixRPcGkyM_aQqxqQ3EsQVJelpWl1YKJJL8joPUloR-bB_mQv54NPQn3R-YYSo8kX2CZ45SomGptCJ7QQRr8cflrx3XO-t7ziEjIq93WcDRU9bZBnnEdPgHEjpRNhAmM/s1600/IMG-5712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dSKpsmBo37v7UixRPcGkyM_aQqxqQ3EsQVJelpWl1YKJJL8joPUloR-bB_mQv54NPQn3R-YYSo8kX2CZ45SomGptCJ7QQRr8cflrx3XO-t7ziEjIq93WcDRU9bZBnnEdPgHEjpRNhAmM/s320/IMG-5712.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ferocity</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I feel as though everything that I do has passion, intention and great ferocity behind it. It is exhausting some days and no one else really knows the internal workings of anyone else.<br />
I do know that the days of telling people what they should feel like or do have diminished.<br />
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Isn't it time that we recognize that we all have our own healer or wise person inside of us.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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Recently, I joined Match.com and I have been focusing my ferocity upon this interesting dating ritual. Understandably, I am a psychotherapist and have been asking questions about humans for a very long time. And I have not dated for 34 years.<br />
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I started filling out a rather short profile of current likes and dislikes. Interestingly, there were no questions about my past. If you like they can be slipped in under current interests. And there is one question about employment or profession and that is answered by a pull down menu choice. So if you are not part of the pull down menu, than you are an <b>other.</b> Interesting how a life time of passion/work work is subsumed by the answer other........<br />
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What have I learned so far....<br />
Tell the truth in your profile and create your own box of wishes.<br />
Pay attention to what people say and what they do.<br />
Observe what people are like in the first five minutes after meeting them. There is a weath of important information.<br />
Offer what you have and do not focus on what you can get from others<br />
Pay attention to your own body language when you are out on a date.<br />
For example, I get strong headaches which is my sign that there may be incompatibility.<br />
When you have a gut feeling, listen to it.<br />
The disclaimer is that I have had two dates and one no show. As I said in the beginning, I am fercious in my passion to live what ever I am doing. I am sure there will be updates to these observations:)<br />
I do know that if you have a no show on the first date, things will probably not work out....<br />
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<br />Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-61250422943979958712018-02-26T22:07:00.004-05:002018-02-26T22:07:57.491-05:00The Shape of WaterLast night my friend and I saw the movie the Shape of Water. I loved it while my friend hated it. <div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9pJumQVw7o3sKZ5D_QhpacAvGhQ8SzbfFrpP0WzczyOLJuXAeE4WP0To0glMwWoM67uW2mChSetdGkK_4PC3BuVOcE3fvocozJHUuzgfWwp_pCT_bGgzrOarHYzUzzubOw6MHWqgBD5w/s1600/IMG_4917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9pJumQVw7o3sKZ5D_QhpacAvGhQ8SzbfFrpP0WzczyOLJuXAeE4WP0To0glMwWoM67uW2mChSetdGkK_4PC3BuVOcE3fvocozJHUuzgfWwp_pCT_bGgzrOarHYzUzzubOw6MHWqgBD5w/s320/IMG_4917.jpg" width="320" /></a><div>
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She seemed to see it as a confirmation that nothing ever changes and I saw the oppposite. Everything is aways changing.<br /><div>
When I was in my twenties, I believed in the magic of love. I believed that I could make a difference in the world. I could live better by making more conscious choices in my diet, environment, work and relationships. <a name='more'></a></div>
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In my thirties, I hit the decade where I morphed into being untrustworthy. In do not trust anyone over thirty. It was a ridiculous thing to say since gratefully we all turned 30. It set up a duality that lasted for decades. I did not trust myself fully to make the right decisions.</div>
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I married and had two babies and I thought by feeding them healthy food, being good parents, being a good wife that we were making a difference. </div>
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In my forties and fifties I worked really hard to prove that I had accomplished this dream of being conscious.</div>
<div>
in my sixities, i realized that I had left msyelf out of the equation. I realized that i am not fully consciou if i don't love myself. i did not take care of myself first but rather tended to everyone else </div>
<div>
I really wanted to have a marriage where I was understood and happy. I wanted someone to see the deepest parts of me. The parts that never stopped being curious and growing and wanting new experiences. My ex husband and I stopped doing that for each other a long time ago and had never found a way to communicate through this unhappiness. </div>
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I really liked the movie The Shape of Water because it showed a new way of creating relaionships. The Amazon Water God and the Mute Maid create an unusual and passionate love in the 1960's. They create life/love together in a new way. Loving the other because they are complete in their own right. Cinema often copies life. Movies are often a portal into new possibilities. I am looking forward to seeing the dramatic ways that love changes us in 2018. Heres to LOVE.</div>
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Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-7407120959477334572018-01-23T20:56:00.002-05:002018-01-24T13:38:04.822-05:00Foolishness<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJ-3M0aQHhsDNmu4-3MdWALmpMUyJM3p1oKgbnPT3sp6J1eUVTUjmiw2d3E2m0uENgCkCuY2lpb2hWBHZ2jFcMECnK2J3VdFzPIsvHxUq66PCnAst_FJpwHJH_59DNJWP9_FRt33sacyl/s1600/IMG_5296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJ-3M0aQHhsDNmu4-3MdWALmpMUyJM3p1oKgbnPT3sp6J1eUVTUjmiw2d3E2m0uENgCkCuY2lpb2hWBHZ2jFcMECnK2J3VdFzPIsvHxUq66PCnAst_FJpwHJH_59DNJWP9_FRt33sacyl/s320/IMG_5296.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foolishness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I believe that humans are always looking for connections<br />
to something bigger than ourselves.<br />
I believe that the core of our love affair with depression, anxiety and addictions is because we feel lonely. We have lost a sense of connection to something bigger than we are and that connection is ultimately a spiritual one. In this day of political correctness and constant conversationl sparring, it is uncomfortable and intimidating to say that we are looking for a Spiritual or God connection.. So we stay stuck wanting the Bigger connections and we are afraid to go after them.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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What if we could shatter and shift the world as we know it easily?<br />
What if we are capable of huge change?<br />
What if we begin blowing up the myth that there is only one way to live?<br />
<br />
The conversation might sound like this...<br />
We are easily able to get help to during really difficult moments in our lives....<br />
Money will fix some things but true love and caring will last a great deal longer.<br />
God and spirit have a place in both education and politics<br />
Eating junk food is good for us.<br />
Being foolish is satisfying and creates success.<br />
Taking risks is good for our health.<br />
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<br />
What beliefs do you need to blow up today?Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-74981564924433299222017-12-11T17:14:00.001-05:002017-12-11T17:14:31.504-05:00Children are the masters and we are the students........How do we know what we know and why won't we let kids know what they know?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoOlRqKkLAtTE3V-L-GyIVTzgewOkSHeDvhbfbqE9IbWFUQvYsDTkpK4Xz8EoSyiB1-l27BpHgMV_H9p8SiqXIFvhOLuff09Y6IWIP8tVOnosuEftmCojVXtHEohp1P4mj_k6Ls_UMp3s/s1600/IMG_5002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoOlRqKkLAtTE3V-L-GyIVTzgewOkSHeDvhbfbqE9IbWFUQvYsDTkpK4Xz8EoSyiB1-l27BpHgMV_H9p8SiqXIFvhOLuff09Y6IWIP8tVOnosuEftmCojVXtHEohp1P4mj_k6Ls_UMp3s/s320/IMG_5002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sea creatures </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Do you know that feeling when you are talking to someone and a word or a phrase pops into your head in repsonse to what you are hearing?<br />
Do you know that you know something is true before someone even says something.<br />
Do you know that you love certain colors, smells, tastes just because you do and not because someone tells you that they are good for you?<br />
Do you know the words that kids say that make you sit up and listen ?<br />
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<a name='more'></a>We were born knowing so much and yet we have let others talk us out of our knowing.<br />
Everytime we hear a news story, we recalibrate yet again what we should be feeling or eating or knowing. When do we stop letting others take away pieces of our knowing and simply speak for ourselves?<br />
Our kids and grandchildren are always teaching us how to do this. We label them as cute and dismiss them. <b>However, they are the masters at clear speaking and we are the students.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Children are amazing in their clear perceptions of the worlds. </b>They simply say what they know and do not couch it in niceness. As I am watching them, I am learning a few things. ...<br />
<br />
I am noticing that if I identify what I feel and say it aloud , then I can center or move into neutral.<br />
For example I notice that the wild fires are devastating Southern California<br />
And I feel really sad, mad, bad, etc .<br />
And I want to help by donating, sending love, imagining rain etc.<br />
The response simply needs to be authentic to be heard and helpful.<br />
<br />
Then I can take a breath and come back to me<br />
What is not helpful is to get stuck in everyone else's pain and drama. It aids to the fiery event instead of calming it.<br />
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What can you learn from your little ones today:))?<br />
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Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-50125969214347332132017-09-28T12:10:00.003-04:002017-09-28T12:10:58.161-04:00Roseate Spoonbill Chat<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOzvsW5JU5hSpUegkc2h67O7bMzXR7xrPIYYtXhkrjn2Hw8MQysE2VmViQ4SIWFd0XO2c3VcGzGCkneri55Pg2s1USLD_KGCUezgjiZf7P9M0nSE8UVE5u6TaWVdkHw4BODJx94pVgmbR/s1600/spoonbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOzvsW5JU5hSpUegkc2h67O7bMzXR7xrPIYYtXhkrjn2Hw8MQysE2VmViQ4SIWFd0XO2c3VcGzGCkneri55Pg2s1USLD_KGCUezgjiZf7P9M0nSE8UVE5u6TaWVdkHw4BODJx94pVgmbR/s320/spoonbill.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roseate Spoonbill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I am sitting at my desk speaking with the representative from Fitbit about a malfunctioning alta device and I happened to look up into the gaze of a Roseate Spoonbill.<br />
If you have not seen these beautiful birds up close, they are a gorgeous pink and white color, with a long bill that is shaped like a spoon at the end. They have a similar neck to a heron with the long s curve and probably a similar size to a medium blue .<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The spoon bill has been sitting out side of my slider for the past 10 minutes . She has been alternately grooming herself and looking in the window. Around her, there are dozens of shore bird on the pond behind my house. fFor the past few days, there have been more birds than usual and I have never seen a Roseate so close and personal before.<br />
I love when the birds come really close and appear to be looking in. I know that there is a mirror effect but I also know that there is intention behind the looking.<br />
I looked up the totem meaning behind the Spoon bill .....<br />
<br />
Spoonbills talk about the importance of being courageous in all situations. to always take full responsibility for what is happening in the present.<br />
It is also important to honor shyness and know when it is a helpful reponse and when one is simply hiding out.<br />
Another intriguing point was the effectiveness of simply being weary. Some things are just wearisome to deal with.<br />
And the importance of silence.<br />
<br />
So how does this relate to me now? I am in the process of buying a new home and preparing for the LCSW licensing exam so that I can practice in Florida. Dealing with hurricanes, new insurance and mortgage brokers, new contractors, new everything really which is both exciting and wearying. I am truly excited about the new and yet a bit weary about all that is to be done. I have bought a condo that is completely furnished so all of those things will need to be disposed of in an efficient and rapid manner. I have three weeks between when I close on the place and when I need to move out of my rental. It is wearisome, exciting, mgaical, and overwhelming right now. I have seen and experienced so much magic since I have moved to this beautiful part of the world. I am so very grateful and now for some moments of silence....<br />
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<br />Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-20903633201767160642017-09-08T14:21:00.003-04:002017-09-08T14:23:49.722-04:00Irma's Gifts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhXR1ltVVRfB1b0bnpD5h8xsvT298hLiExenfVLvAEY-B89iFVhUpxldXjNnF7UX8ImWcqudj5O7v4vY6xVk7yBp09UnmLzGdVFB8VZqwL-3naTw_ivLlePmKRmRfc4GQROuNgpK4wc8P/s1600/IMG_4104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhXR1ltVVRfB1b0bnpD5h8xsvT298hLiExenfVLvAEY-B89iFVhUpxldXjNnF7UX8ImWcqudj5O7v4vY6xVk7yBp09UnmLzGdVFB8VZqwL-3naTw_ivLlePmKRmRfc4GQROuNgpK4wc8P/s320/IMG_4104.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting</td></tr>
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Today, as I am sitting in the beautiful, hot calmmess of Central Flroida, I am wondering about how information comes to us. In the past, I have felt that I must be the originator of the idea or I could not claim to speak about it. without referring to them. <b> Things have changed</b>.<br />
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<a name='more'></a> There is so much awareness that is flowing through everyone of us that we can no longer keep up with who said what and credit them. For me, I have decided to write about what resonnates with my sensing. I will not credit it to others since it will be a deeply felt knowing of my own. Perhaps this is the way that we can shift out of the fake vs real news discussion. This concept has been as crippling as political correctness........ The struggle can be over. If we each say what we authentically mean and stand behind it. And this knowing can shift in seconds, hours, and days but in this moment, it is ours.<br />
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With that preface, I feel that Irma has alreay given me many gifts.<br />
1. The gift of having to make the decision to stay in Sarasota <br />
2. The gift of clearing out my resistance to change.<br />
3. The gift of accepting help<br />
4. The gift of trusting that I am exactly where I need to be and have the resources to be here.<br />
5. The gift of staying present in the frenzy of fear and ungrounded activity.<br />
6. The gift of being the love instead of sending the love. This is a big one.<br />
7. The gift of being the recipient of so much love.<br />
8. The gift of having many uncomfortable moments and days.<br />
9.The gift of writing this blog more often.<br />
<br />
As we continue to sit in the eys of this discomfort, you might ponder upon what gifts you have been given by Irma already. Much love.Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-24959542611460468542017-09-06T17:34:00.003-04:002017-09-06T17:34:58.788-04:00Hurricane Irma and blowing her away<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_92WrR4G31gDSsFbp-Kneue01-ZuL4yRxB-lXuYXNHixglfV-k37WilNHoUP_sF3Pb6_5UtkN79eJ2ICIwIMyGrcZQZQbaMKlv5vRVrpXChiLREZf3hyphenhyphenrD4BJFSRFe5CLlFXJegEQN3J/s1600/IMG_4042-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_92WrR4G31gDSsFbp-Kneue01-ZuL4yRxB-lXuYXNHixglfV-k37WilNHoUP_sF3Pb6_5UtkN79eJ2ICIwIMyGrcZQZQbaMKlv5vRVrpXChiLREZf3hyphenhyphenrD4BJFSRFe5CLlFXJegEQN3J/s320/IMG_4042-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Eye of GOD</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
During the past two days, I have gone through so many feelings due to the excessive and frightenting coverage of this hurricane. I survived well through Sandy in 2013 while living in NJ but here in Florida, it feels that there is deeper sense of catastrophe and doom. Certainly, Floridians have a much deeper and more profound connection to big weather. On Tuesday, much of the bottled water and automobile gas in many stores and stations was completely depleted in Sarasota. The constant topic of conversations was the storm and I was left feeling quite sad,anxious and uncertain.<br />
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I did my due dilligence of getting the necessary water, food, candles and other supplies needed but still felt that there was more to do.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
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Even though I had just written the last post on neutrality, I did not know how to access that state. Then a friend shared with me a brilliant way to take back our power in the midst of so much intentional and potentional chaos. </div>
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<div>
We are all focusing on the deadly strength of this storm but not on the very real connection to nature that we as humans have. We have all heard about the rain dances that the original peoples would perform to shift the weather. And there have been many documented instances where storms are directly headed for certain places and in the last minute shift to another place entirely. We also know that many of these huge weather events are a direct reflection of the chaos on the planet. <br />
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So considering this, I would like to ask all of you to take a few minutes right now to observe this important ritual. </div>
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Talk to Irma as though she is a real being. If you look at the above photograph, it was taken down the street from where I live about a week alog. If you look closely, you can see the eye in the sky. Why not see the eye in the storm, called Irma, honor her and ask that she blow out to sea. Then take a deep breath and blow out air. By doing this, we honor her for her power, acknowledge her message and thank her. My prayer is that that is enough and we do not need the devastation to receive the message that we need to do everything differently. Please take the time to do this for ourselves, Florida and our planet. Thank you.</div>
Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-50801935677907472017-08-27T18:24:00.005-04:002017-08-27T18:24:50.420-04:00Neutrality/ Inside the Now<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TIq6k7XYzxzcWwTWYBUeZrKKdydiSwumtnmdFPp471WfPrT5iXSAQW3U7ESBmlg6tYxqlp4dK1o4JUtL2AZy1Uh9RcM28zpTyBVumDobIQFvs950RHY7aTw9qhu-dZ0akHgi4v9mMpO-/s1600/IMG_4116+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TIq6k7XYzxzcWwTWYBUeZrKKdydiSwumtnmdFPp471WfPrT5iXSAQW3U7ESBmlg6tYxqlp4dK1o4JUtL2AZy1Uh9RcM28zpTyBVumDobIQFvs950RHY7aTw9qhu-dZ0akHgi4v9mMpO-/s320/IMG_4116+2.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neutrality</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This collage feels like a portrait of being "Inside the Now". Whether it happens when we hear a child's smile, feel a dog's breath, or see an image of Pema Chodren. We already know these feelings and simply need to recreate them. I don't know of a better way to do this than by being neutral. It is easy to lose our center and go into rages and lacks. It is also easy to see everything as being perfect. I don't believe that either way is honorable to ourselves.<br />
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Both extremes keep us out of the center and really sensing what is going on.<br />
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<b> How to find Neutrality .</b><br />
Finding a kernel of truth about the present situation and saying it outloud to ourselves and others.<br />
Taking an action that is in line with this truth.<br />
Doing this over and over again.<br />
By being the person that you have always known yourself to be....<br />
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Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-89117315336876888722017-08-23T20:00:00.001-04:002017-08-23T20:00:12.213-04:00Patience and Gel Plates<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbe9I1p4ARIauieS2_4Jrd7VC1n3qhYBkv9hCiahq73iG_iR56O85uYl5pbZyMcOXduchDyfP_bKA-ycKBAT-ShXi_EiEcku-t4CVXz1zXhgpuCeOPue6Q9ctRGijjacVz8d6SiNx1HY29/s1600/IMG_4114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbe9I1p4ARIauieS2_4Jrd7VC1n3qhYBkv9hCiahq73iG_iR56O85uYl5pbZyMcOXduchDyfP_bKA-ycKBAT-ShXi_EiEcku-t4CVXz1zXhgpuCeOPue6Q9ctRGijjacVz8d6SiNx1HY29/s320/IMG_4114.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">patience</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since the eclipse, I have woken up each morning with specific images and words. This morning was the same.<br />
My dream depicted a gell plate with a variety of images on it and part of the plate was still soft. Then, I heard the word patience.<br />
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This is an example of a monoprint using a gel plate. If you can imagine that the gel plate is made out of a combination of water, glycerin and gelatin. Once combined, it is poured into a cookie tin where it sits for twenty four hours before it gells. If you touch it before then, it will be all sticky and not work well. When I work with the completed plate, I use stencils, paints, and found objects to create the art. <br />
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We are in a great hurry to change things that we become impatient. We need to give our thoughts and ideas time to gell in order to create clear and established roots to anchor the changes. Often the strongest times to image the changes are before bed and upon awakening. Change is coming. Will you be patient enough to create your desires?Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-45509111990696657872017-08-22T08:54:00.003-04:002017-08-22T09:03:47.551-04:00Selfishness and Allowing, Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv97a0WXA_m_eZ3xoliNH-fGTmPbmMrgAwhQsHNi25lIbPU2Q92hreWZsyjrGUnjjLWc2bp1sk0xDzsvQh2pZmIAMrXtHzHytZAbdRLdmH0xIsQzD45_TupSHk6kubw2JfrqftDEhjGnII/s1600/IMG_4091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv97a0WXA_m_eZ3xoliNH-fGTmPbmMrgAwhQsHNi25lIbPU2Q92hreWZsyjrGUnjjLWc2bp1sk0xDzsvQh2pZmIAMrXtHzHytZAbdRLdmH0xIsQzD45_TupSHk6kubw2JfrqftDEhjGnII/s320/IMG_4091.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKdHrEg95rANiBhGXDZ8pxzjtcrNmVLOHMMwcvK3fULcSQEYmyyMKnTszL4DJWmRwy2T_nBz8_TPdJ9phuWIUYOjh0mxshZfFwE416Ah45K47s2ETlDXMWP0GGVeVELLihlhRTtBO5r-R/s1600/groundhog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKdHrEg95rANiBhGXDZ8pxzjtcrNmVLOHMMwcvK3fULcSQEYmyyMKnTszL4DJWmRwy2T_nBz8_TPdJ9phuWIUYOjh0mxshZfFwE416Ah45K47s2ETlDXMWP0GGVeVELLihlhRTtBO5r-R/s320/groundhog.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
During the eclipse, I began painting using yupo paper and Dr. Ph Martin's watercolors. Sometimes, I start with a photograph like the groundhog. The photo usually evokes a memory or feeling that I wish to recreate. About ten years ago, I took a Past Life Regression Hypnotherapy training class with Dr. Brian Weiss at Omega Institue. During one of the breaks, I noticed this big guy eating a gorgeous orange flower.<br />
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Fast forward to the present, I refound the photo and the ground hog appeared to be in such bliss.....<br />
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There is a selfishness that is gelling and coming to be on the planet. A new definition of "Selfishness" is simply allowing ourselves to enjoy what we already love without guilt or shame or any other crazy self sabotaging feeling. It is time to simply love being human on our beuatiful planet earth. Isn't this why we chose to be here?<br />
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Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-45254517322569565982017-08-21T17:35:00.003-04:002017-08-21T18:23:28.329-04:00Post Eclipse Selfishness<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiONK8l0xn4GrkVa6ohqB4lmmK_4aPRDSdq6zyGRyKbs_wGdqb1DSuWiV3vpyy4P46pvZIpsJ19rfxT8pjtHltU360eEV_MzqZ9DtM02hMPYvOcdXklEmave1PlOYg4E9TQOrpbpxfRPZ/s1600/IMG_0061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiONK8l0xn4GrkVa6ohqB4lmmK_4aPRDSdq6zyGRyKbs_wGdqb1DSuWiV3vpyy4P46pvZIpsJ19rfxT8pjtHltU360eEV_MzqZ9DtM02hMPYvOcdXklEmave1PlOYg4E9TQOrpbpxfRPZ/s320/IMG_0061.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ibis </td></tr>
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There was so much energy around the eclipse that just hours after it is over, I feel a great void. The visual of the eclipse was hardly noticeable in Sarasota. However I did feel tremendous amounts of energy leading up to the event and it made it challenging to sit still, sleep, and focus. Yet I found that I was able to have more intense physical work outs in the gym with very little effort. These are my thoughts post eclipse and clearly indicate how much things have already shifted.<br />
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<b>What no longer works?</b><br />
Words are less effective in communication.<br />
Finding the right word is often impossible and it is not due to rampant dementia<br />
Giving our power to others<br />
Helping someone else to make you feel better<br />
Saying repeated affirmations<br />
Healing the world<br />
Understanding yourself through your emotions<br />
Mind reading<br />
Being aggressive about getting what you want<br />
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<b>What really works?</b><br />
Clear actions<br />
Using fewer words<br />
<b>Being selfish</b><br />
Tapping into our feelings<br />
Asking for help clearly<br />
Healing ourselves only<br />
Enjoying ourselves as much as possible<br />
Allowing good fortune to come to us<br />
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So much has shifted and will continue to shift as our personal shadows come to the surface and we see them clearly. Being selfish is the challenge of our times. We have let others determine what that means. It is time to enjoy our wonderful gift of incarnation and truly enjoy this beautiful planet and all the life upon it. As I write this, There are two beautiful Ibis birds right outside my window. They are such lovely birds with long narrow pink beaks and pure white feathers.<br />
Enjoy your day.<br />
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<br />Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-66898144470508556202017-08-06T21:25:00.005-04:002017-08-07T08:53:32.619-04:00California Dreaming <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNbG51iEK5eEj8EwGgGrETfeVbnX0fdp-1hxyFMbO0itrlp-0SRgyG3wkPOnbaUHnvU7qzqdkDq3xAu1pxMMUCZDeYebc3uLhWPRbROJDR6YdRUH6NscMCOtRh9oNp8V6bgosxo2bGGtj/s1600/IMG_3839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNbG51iEK5eEj8EwGgGrETfeVbnX0fdp-1hxyFMbO0itrlp-0SRgyG3wkPOnbaUHnvU7qzqdkDq3xAu1pxMMUCZDeYebc3uLhWPRbROJDR6YdRUH6NscMCOtRh9oNp8V6bgosxo2bGGtj/s320/IMG_3839.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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During the 1970"s, I lived in the bay area for about 6 years. It was definitely a unusual and exciting time. What made it special were the people, the creativity and the newness of thinking out of the box. The fifties and early sixties was so very predictable and stable. I remember feeling that I would suffocate if I stayed in the East Coast and got married as many of my friends were doing. So when I went out to Ca, I had options that were unavailable back East. I was able to express more of who I was through music, art, living situations, relationships, food, classes and traveling. Its hard to imagine that I felt that my only employment options were to become a Physical Therapist or a Teacher. Relationships options were to marry or date in order to get married. Food was very bland and uninspiring.<br />
In California, there were so many more options and we were so high on those choices. ......<br />
There was magic in the air and all things were possible. There was an openness that was delicious.<br />
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And I have just returned from an 8 day trip to the Bay area to visit my dear friend, Judith. She and I were very good friends back them and we have been able to successfully reconnect after 35 years.That has been a gift. I wanted to love it as much as I had back then. This time, it was very congested and the driving was challenging all times of the day and night. There is a lot of wealth and there are huge areas of homeless tent cities that are uninhabitable and unsustainable. The openness of the 70' sand 80's has shifted to a much less tolerant time. Yet, it is still beautiful and awe inspiring and I am clear that I can't go back.<br />
In some ways, I tricked myself into believing that the west coast of Florida would be similar to the west coast . It really is not. .....However for me, like before, I am being gifted with many open doors and interesting opportunities to do new and different things in Florida as in California. I am grateful........<br />
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<br />Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-88577933151743737972017-07-04T17:14:00.000-04:002017-07-04T17:14:03.240-04:00Happy Independence Day<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMwoarDnrrLGS_lhOCmRRh6zBjqkWBAky5YnKAdeVGN_bA_rA0qbn23C8V3vdseaP5q9SPLbIRr5n-oenh5MqzPnS4itKi1YoxUY_Ea7Ng69tgbOd6prJErmuCWRVAZAgXWknTGAN5kTM/s1600/IMG_3338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMwoarDnrrLGS_lhOCmRRh6zBjqkWBAky5YnKAdeVGN_bA_rA0qbn23C8V3vdseaP5q9SPLbIRr5n-oenh5MqzPnS4itKi1YoxUY_Ea7Ng69tgbOd6prJErmuCWRVAZAgXWknTGAN5kTM/s320/IMG_3338.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Words Matter</td></tr>
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I was listening to the <a href="https://countryrebel.com/blogs/videos/lee-greenwoods-god-bless-the-usa-goes-a-cappella-and-its-the-best-thing-youll-hear-all-day">Lee Greenwood's Rendition of God Bless America</a> and thinking about today, I do not wish to live anywhere else in the world and yet there are days that are truly discouraging with our current President. I find myself having a mix of strong emotions every time I get a news link to a new tweet or simply another disparaging head line. I also know that reacting with such strong emotions continues to perpetuate where we are. Words and our emotional reactions matter.<br />
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Often when I am working with clients, I will ask them what is true in this moment?<br />
My answer is that Presidents come and go.<br />
As a country right now, we are extremely divided.<br />
There is incredible violence and mayhem<br />
There are many voices that are screaming at each other and not much apparent commonality.<br />
There are many people in the United States and the world lacking basic needs of sustainable health care, education, food and jobs.<br />
There are many more unhappy people than happy.<br />
My wish on this day that we stay clear about what we want for our country and listen to each other with ease and grace.<br />
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For this too shall pass and we will elect our next president and hopefully we shall have learned a great deal about what we want .<br />
<br />Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-79779522165034122742017-06-16T08:09:00.001-04:002017-06-19T12:09:40.006-04:00Trouble talk v. troubling talk<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1nPKg_aCPP7sRST8SI47WIfKs016R9-I9xFbGQVGqbuWuZ7hlspOZfpG3NCMh_k3OFjDrMEqNMBF2N0YjJQsEdm9UMGGIkUV1_eKn0Ca51lFIukGLddRacMHRNwlhAlYEOwOIHk0nHOT/s1600/IMG_3202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1nPKg_aCPP7sRST8SI47WIfKs016R9-I9xFbGQVGqbuWuZ7hlspOZfpG3NCMh_k3OFjDrMEqNMBF2N0YjJQsEdm9UMGGIkUV1_eKn0Ca51lFIukGLddRacMHRNwlhAlYEOwOIHk0nHOT/s320/IMG_3202.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frog Clearing</td></tr>
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<br />
Debra Tannen states that<br />
"Troubles talk is a conversation where women share their moments of frustration and irritation but without expecting a solution. Men, on the other hand, find it very hard to listen to such talk without wanting to help, and provide problem-solving".<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I am wondering if the solution lies somewhere in the middle. I am going to shift the focus away from gender to simply folks talking to each other. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Trouble talk</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">- when we talk as though our problems were created by someone else. We do not understand what role we played in the creation of them. We love to complain, rant and rave at others for hours at a time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: magenta;">Troubling talk</span><span style="color: #666666;"> - we talk about how in the present moment we are fully aware that we have created our current </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12px;">difficulties. We tell the truth about how troubling they are and clearly look at the inherent lessons.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12px;"><b>And then we take action. This is the most important part. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 12px;">We are all familiar with both men and women that continue to talk about the struggles with our current political regime as though we did not personally have a hand in creating it. Or </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">how did we get into this emotionally abusive marriage? Or I hate my job and I have nothing to learn from it?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">What if every situation gives us amazing lessons and the quicker that we learn them, the more quickly we can shift into a happier, more contented place. Troubling talk works because we take an action step and begin to see real movement in our lives. What is troubling you today and what step can you take to clear it up?</span>Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-31394335987824722092017-06-13T15:11:00.001-04:002017-06-13T15:18:38.810-04:00Part 2- Heron's message<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlyw-Txf2lXr80XfNsY_EaY4NnR-TDiyDvdV2zfkEOShzk_7v_RTOvtuPHtEsLcP7cblIkizaF766m68GR8d3w3hWXFerZdg5qPhCvgpuE2JTFe7fu7o2AGhX6LoYR1zZ7hlaU0KJZExE/s1600/IMG_3234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlyw-Txf2lXr80XfNsY_EaY4NnR-TDiyDvdV2zfkEOShzk_7v_RTOvtuPHtEsLcP7cblIkizaF766m68GR8d3w3hWXFerZdg5qPhCvgpuE2JTFe7fu7o2AGhX6LoYR1zZ7hlaU0KJZExE/s320/IMG_3234.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digesting Life</td></tr>
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Right after I published the blog post, I glanced outside of the window again and saw a great blue heron with an 8 inch fish in its mouth. The herons visit the pond frequently but I have not seen one swallow a fish whole.<br />
<a name='more'></a>The process takes quite a while. It has been about 10 minutes since I spotted the heron and its dinner. The fish is now totally inside the neck of the heron and beginning to descend into the stomach. It is fascinating to watch and notice that they remain very, very still during the process. I understand that the act of eating is the only time when they are not vigilant for predators. So even though, I wanted to close the door for the air conditioning, I held off until he was done eating.<br />
Heron's totem is about reaching for your own meaning in life. They are equally comfortable on both water and land. They are able to digest almost the entire fish. So they can take life in fully and let go of what is not digestible. Amazing birds. He has finished eating and is simply resting and waiting again.<br />
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<br />Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388331911977632961.post-29051544117154672462017-06-13T13:57:00.000-04:002017-06-13T13:57:14.869-04:00Integration at last<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXnlFuUX1e9g6o_yD1yHxq2uDGc33AxOqtA3QhRLn7F1E5j26Y8Sb1ivuYN9NHrMPviSm1woEAAZIA7w51iO8JspCg35OfubVMOpSGbILATgWA0lbK24RCUNSopER0ua1z0Sc9e8Y-8sn/s1600/IMG_3222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXnlFuUX1e9g6o_yD1yHxq2uDGc33AxOqtA3QhRLn7F1E5j26Y8Sb1ivuYN9NHrMPviSm1woEAAZIA7w51iO8JspCg35OfubVMOpSGbILATgWA0lbK24RCUNSopER0ua1z0Sc9e8Y-8sn/s320/IMG_3222.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the midst of change</td></tr>
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My last blog talked about slowing down as we move into the next stop on our life journeys. I have certainly slowed down and was amazed to see that my last post was in April. Since then, I have taken the time to continue reconfiguring my life in all ways. I am changing my work, my clothing style, my painting style, my relationships, my health, and my way of communicating . I am in the midst of creating a clean slate. It is overwhelming, exciting, refreshing, stimulating, scary and wonderful.<br />
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Just this morning, as I was in the midst of updating my main website, a southern black racer snake slid by the outside of my art room window. I needed to calm down, breathe and remember again that I no longer live in NJ......<br />
I looked up the totem meanings for black snake and it was to expect significant change in my life. It is time to clear out the old and bring in the new. The timing is impeccable. Thank you black racer.<br />
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Sometimes in our lives, we have the lovely anticipatory feelings that change will be happening and thank goodness I am not there yet. Well, this is the other kind of feeling, I am in the midst of the changes ...... Words don't come as easily when we make the gigantic shifts from thinking with our brains to speaking our intuitive knowing.<br />
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Please know that even though things seem so disarranged and chaotic , there is a significant healing pattern that is happening for each of us and at large.Love Makes a Family, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00921501821951555348noreply@blogger.com0