Memorial Day

http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. ~Joseph Campbell

What does hero mean to you?  Write about those we honor today as well as any heroes in your life (including yourself!).

Celebrating Self = Self Care

http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

I was honored to be the guest expert this month for Journaling Moms Coach, Tina Games and the members of her Journaling Moms Cafe. Tina has given me permission to share this link as a sample of what she offers in her virtual cafe. Both she and I had a great dialogue about the importance of self-care and self-celebration, which is what my journaling work is all about. We also talked about my book, "Lifelines: Celebrate Your Journey" and its companion journal and monthly planner. ~ Enjoy the audio (there are some writing prompts included in the conversation) and feel free to post any comments.


http://recording.freeconferencecalling.com/mp3/276729/276729/IA9688_05212010100512430_1052706.mp3
 

The more you praise and celebrate life, the more there is to celebrate."  Oprah

Consider in your journal how you've seen this quote in action in your world.

Emily Carr Journal Prompt

Emily Carr painting - public domain

Oh the glory of growth, silent, mighty, persistent, inevitable.  To awaken, to open up like a flower to the light of a fuller consciousness!  I want to see and feel and expand, little book, you holder of my secrets.  (Emily Carr, 10/17/1930 journal entry)

Write about how this quote and/or painting call to you.

May Queen Musings

May Queen Musings begins this weekend.  Drawing will be tomorrow night ~ any post or joining on FB or blog since the contest was announced will be included.  Hope to see you there!

On another note ~ I just posted to Facebook and wanted to include here a thought about illness.  I've been at home sick all week (coming from someone who only calls in to work when others need me) & ran across this quote which reminded me that my to-do list was bogged down in responsibility & I forgot to blow bubbles ~

My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more running barefoot through the grass. ~Terri Guillemets

Write your own "to-do" list as if you are a child and then carve out some time to follow through.

Minding the Moments

(graphics fairy again ~ she rocks!)

I recommend to you to take care of the minutes; for hours will take care of themselves.

Lord Chesterfield

How did you take care of your minutes this past week?  How will you take care of your minutes this coming week?

Eight Days a Week

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.
John Burroughs


If each day had more hours, what would you do with the time?  If those hours added up to an extra day, what would you name it?

Gift from the Sea

Interesting that a book written by Annie Morrow Lindbergh in 1955 still holds true today.  She writes in "Gift from the Sea":

For to be a woman is to have interests and duties, raying out in all directions from the central mothercore, like spokes from the hub of a wheel.  The pattern of our lives is essentially circular.  We must be open to all points of the compass; husband, children, friends, home, community; stretched out, exposed, sensitive like a spider's web to each breeze that blows, to each call that comes.  How difficult for us, then, to achieve a balance in the midst of these contradictory tensions, and yet how necessary for the proper functioning of our lives.  ...How desirable and how distant is the ideal of the contemplative, artist or saint-the inner inviolable core, the single eye.
What are your points on the compass? Do you need to change your direction?
(self-advertising for a moment - I will be offering a set of guidebooks by summer about mapping out your journey including Inner Compass, Crossroads and Treasure Chest)
* many thanks to graphics fairy for the image - http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/
**did I mention that each comment counts for the book giveaway drawing? :)

Focus

So I've been lax this week - I haven't posted or even journaled much.  It was a hard week for numerous reasons and getting through each day was an accomplishment.  I came across a quote that set me straight (right on time for the weekend!):
       Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention.  Greg Anderson

Where does your focus need to be?