Write

I love to write. It frees me, if that makes any sense. It clarifies the million thoughts I sometimes have swirling around in my head. When I am feeling clogged up and my energy levels are low – I write. But I haven’t written anything in a year neither here nor in a journal – apart from shopping and To-Do lists. And writing this makes me realise just how much I have missed it. But that is all about to change. To ease me into writing once again I have turned to my old favourite – 100 Words. I welcome you old friend.

(100 Words)

Mondo Beyondo Part 2: Intentions for 2008

It is my intention this year to give up my job and begin my business. It is my intention to make two handbags and two other craft projects a week. It is my intention to source for ethnic ethical African goods to sell. It is my intention to get my Etsy store up and running by the end of March.

It is my intention to develop spiritually this year through prayer, meditation, yoga and exploration. It is my intention to have an open mind and be ready to receive all the goodness that is coming my way.

It is my intention to live in the NOW of life and not project too much into the future thus worrying about things I have no control over. It is my intention to let go of the past and not let it eat me up. It is my intention to forgive.

It is my intention to build on my relationship with my daughter – to cut down on my yelling and to engage more with her. It is my intention to be more in control of the relationship and not let my buttons be pushed by her so much.

It is my intention to take care of my body – it is a temple and I intend to treat it as such. It is my intention to be more mindful of what I feed it, how I treat it and to listen when it speaks to me. It is my intention to nourish it with the best foods I can find.

It is my intention to live authentically this year. To be true to myself and my belief system. It is my intention to listen to others but to follow my heart at the end of the day and not base my life choices on what other people think.

It is my intention to rid myself of all negative energy both internal (i.e negative thoughts, negative affirmations and negative actions) and external (i.e negative friends, bad TV, mindless literal media, idle chatter).

It is my intention to be more mindful of the language I use in daily life. Language I use in regards to myself, others and the world at large.

It is my intention to form opinions, make judgements and decisions from an informed perspective and not from the perspectives of others.

It is my intention to take control of my temper and my moods, to breathe and walk away when it all overwhelms. It is my intention to not let my mood for the day be dictated by an occurrence, event or external force. It is my intention to allow my happiness, peace and calm come from within.

It is my intention to put these intentions into practice.

Mondo Beyondo 2008 Part One: Completing

1. What do you want to acknowledge yourself for in regard to 2007?
(What did you create? What challenges did you face with courage and strength? What promises did you keep to yourself? What brave choices did you make? What are you proud of?)

My greatest achievement for 2007 was giving birth to my beautiful daughter. She has taught me that it is so much easier the second time around! She brings me such joy and after two years of trying to conceive she truly is a blessing.

My greatest discovery of 2007 was Yoga. Where have I been all these years? Living under a rock?? By far the most calming, centering, pleasurable physical and spiritual practice ever.

I’m glad I persevered with my blog(s) even though I questioned what the point was on some days. I barely had the time to blog and when I did manage to squeeze a post in nobody was reading!! But I’m, erm, above that… I blog for myself not for anyone else… I truly believe that, I truly believe that, I truly believe that….

2. What is there to grieve about 2007?
(What was disappointing? What was scary? What was hard? What can you forgive yourself for?)

I grieve the fact that I came home from hospital the same day I gave birth. In hindsight, I should have spent a night or two just to rest. I haven’t rested (in the real sense of the word) since.

I grieve that I didn’t make or sell a single handbag in 2007 and so ended up not starting my business as I thought I would.

I grieve that I let myself be pressured into stopping breastfeeding sooner than I intended to. And I’m still mad about it.

I grieve that I let myself be consumed far too often by negative energy.

I grieve that I severely neglected my faith.

I grieve that I didn’t take enough leaps of faith and act on my instincts more.

I grieve that I ‘let my body go’ and fed it junk when it was crying out for care and kindness.

But for all these I forgive myself and move on.

3. What else do you need to say about the year to declare it complete?

I may not have achieved all that I set out to at the beginning of the year but sometimes circumstances and events take over. Having a 2 hour labour and a gorgeous (now 7 month old) baby daughter more than makes up for it.

I DECLARE 2007 COMPLETE!

2008 IS MY YEAR OF AUTHENTICITY

Thank you to Andrea for this liberating exercise.

My Word for the Year

My theme for 2008 is

AU. THEN. TIC. I. TY
n. The quality or condition of being authentic, trustworthy and genuine

What’s your theme for the year?

Wellness Wednesday: The best thing to do ...

Just breathe in and walk away

Friday Fill-In #48

1. When my blog is broken, I feel like a part of me has been extinguished.

2. I saw the most amazing smile from my baby this morning!

3. _____ is the new movie I'm most looking forward to seeing. Movies? What movies? (:) having two little ones doesn't leave me much time for this pasttime!)

4. Work: Necessary but about to be canned!!!

5. Of all the new tv shows, I enjoy Rick Steins Mediterranean Escapes the most.

6. If only I could stop procratinating so much.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching Project Runway and hanging up the advent calender for my daughter which I have filled with little gifts for each day until Christmas ( I can't wait to see the look on her face when she sees it in the morning), tomorrow my plans include baking two banana cakes first thing in the morning for a baby christening on Sunday and then going for a birthday party in the afternoon and Sunday, I want to relax really but I can't as I will be attending the christening!

Wellness Wednesday: Realization

LIVE IN THE PRESENT

Unconscious Mutterings 251

1. Filthy :: beast
2. Therapist :: couch
3. Duck :: feathers
4. Slant :: eyes
5. Artist :: paint
6. Lease :: flat
7. Wish :: bone
8. Doormat :: welcome
9. Global :: warming
10. Apartment :: New York

Friday Fill-in #47

1. I enjoy being creative (and on my own) more than anything else.

2. Blogging satisfies my need for expressing myself, connecting with other (like minded) people and writing.

3. When I look at a full moon, I feel overawed everytime.

4. If I want a snack, I usually reach for a glass of warm milk and two slices of honey smothered toast.

5. The most recent movie I saw, Hitch, made me laugh out loud all over again. (I just love this movie)

6. If only I could decide on what I really wanted to do with my life then I could get moving!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to curling up with my book, Eat Pray Love, tomorrow my plans include going down to the German Market to stuff myself with Bratwurst and Sunday, I want to go to the craft fair at the Botanical Gardens!

MSL Day 8: Yoga

Inhale. Relax. Breathe. Exhale. Meditate. Relax.

Sacred

Pictures from http://www.yogawithamey.com/stickfigures.html