Freedom

 

“The unhappiest people in this world

 

are those who care the most

about what other people think.”  

 

― C. JoyBell C.

 

*****

 

Accepting life as it is

 

“Mindfulness is simply being aware

of what is happening right now

without wishing it were different;

enjoying the pleasant without holding on

when it changes (which it will);

being with the unpleasant without fearing it

will always be this way (which it won’t).”

 

 – James Baraz

 

*****

Keeping an open heart

 

 "Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken.

If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one,
not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries;
avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.
But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change.
It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”  

― C.S. Lewis

 

*****

 



Slowing down

 

And so taking the long way home through the market I slow my pace down. 

 It doesn't come naturally. 

 My legs are programmed to trot briskly and my arms to pump up and down like pistons,

but I force myself to stroll past the stalls and pavement cafes. 

 To enjoy just being somewhere, rather than rushing from somewhere, to somewhere. 

 Inhaling deep lungfuls of air, instead of my usual shallow breaths. 

I take a moment to just stop and look around me. 

 And smile to myself.
For the first time in a long time, I can, quite literally, smell the coffee.” 

 
― Alexandra Potter

 

*****

Good self-care

Made these dolls many years ago

 

*****

“Growing into your future with health and grace and beauty

doesn’t have to take all your time. 

 It rather requires a dedication to caring for yourself

as if you were rare and precious, which you are,

and regarding all life around you as equally so, which it is. "

― Victoria Moran

 

******

In the quiet

It is only when we silent the blaring sounds of our daily existence

that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us,

as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts.

 

 ~K.T. Jong

*****

Reaching upward

 

“Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous,

the cheerful, the planners, the doers,

the successful people with their heads in the clouds

and their feet on the ground. 

Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world

better than when you found it...”  

― Wilferd Peterson

 

Living life to the fullest

 

“Yes: I am a dreamer.

For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight,

and his punishment is that he sees the dawn

before the rest of the world.” 

 
― Oscar Wilde

 

******

 

Being unique

I'm being a little more flexible with myself so

you may not see my blog every day. Happy Easter!

 

*****

“If you celebrate your differentness, the world will, too. 

 It believes exactly what you tell it—

through the words you use to describe yourself,

the actions you take to care for yourself,

and the choices you make to express yourself. 

 Tell the world you are one-of-a-kind creation who came here

to experience wonder and spread joy. 

 Expect to be accommodated."

― Victoria Moran

 

******

Trusting the process

 

“Do not be afraid; our fate
Cannot be taken from us; it is a gift.” 

 
― Dante Alighieri

 

****

 

Being the light

 

“There is nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.” 

 
― Marianne Williamson

 

*****

Living in the moment

“You can't stop the future
You can't rewind the past
The only way to learn the secret
...is to press play.”  

― Jay Asher

 

******

 



Celebrating the milestones

 

For my 50th birthday, I did a wardrobe make-up. I got rid of all the clothes that I bought because they were on sale and went shopping for things that made me feel good in them.

 

This year I turned 60 and did a house make-over. Everything is light and soft. I feel more at home. Love, love, love it....

 

******

 “If you celebrate your differentness, the world will, too. It believes exactly what you tell it—through the words you use to describe yourself, the actions you take to care for yourself, and the choices you make to express yourself. Tell the world you are one-of-a-kind creation who came here to experience wonder and spread joy."

― Victoria Moran

******



Good self-care

 

I'm taking a few days off. Be back soon!!!

My poem

 

Star Gazer

 

A bright little star fell down from the sky.

The little girl ran barefoot across the earth…

catching it with open arms.

This beautiful star glowed with warmth…

inviting her to bring it closer...

to her heart.

 

She grew to love the little star.

But there came a time when she knew...

she must let her star return to the sky.

She knew she must find the strength…

to say goodbye.

And so she did.

 

Nowadays when the moon is full

and the stars are twinkling…

she longingly looks to the sky...

searching for the star that shines the brightest…

for she knows it was once her star…

and in some mysterious way, always will be.

 

Being true to yourself

 

 

“Ester asked why people are sad.
"That’s simple," says the old man.

"They are the prisoners of their personal history.

Everyone believes that the main aim in life is to follow a plan.

They never ask if that plan is theirs or if it was created by another person.

They accumulate experiences, memories, things, other people's ideas,

and it is more than they can possibly cope with.

And that is why they forget their dreams.”  

 

― Paulo Coelho, The Zahir    

 

******

 



Being confident

 

“I can no longer stay quiet in this world,

I have a voice and I feel it reverberate off my internal walls,

making its slow climb upward until its melody...

can be heard all around.”  

― Elin Stebbins Waldal

 

*****

 

Having faith

 

“I have come to accept the feeling of not knowing where I am going.

And I have trained myself to love it.

Because it is only when we are suspended in mid-air with no landing in sight,

that we force our wings to unravel and alas begin our flight.

And as we fly, we still may not know where we are going to.

But the miracle is in the unfolding of the wings.

You may not know where you're going,

but you know that so long as you spread your wings,

the winds will carry you.” 

 
― C. JoyBell C.

 

*****

 

 

Mirror work

 

 

“People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.

A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake...

 

  A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life...” 

 
― Elizabeth Gilbert

 

*****