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Thoughtful Wish, Feelingful Gift, Words Are Powerful Things

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Every Christmas my mom would bake the most wonderful cookies and fudge for weeks. Starting in October, she spent hours wrapping a roomful of the most beautiful gifts — some for kids I hardly knew. She hand wrote and addressed hundreds of personal Christmas cards. And it took her nearly a week to decorate the most sparkling, beautifully lighted tree.

Christmas was my mother’s holiday. She delighted in giving Christmas to everyone in so many ways. For days before and after, people dropped by to be part of the way she made the holiday about sharing. For those who couldn’t come to our house, she made deliveries.

Every cookie, every bow, every card, every tinsel on the tree was a thoughtful and feelingful gift for us all.

Today, I sit with my hands on these keys and realize what I can offer has to be wrapped up in words. So I offer these words to you.

Christmas_warmth_Christmas_gift

May your life be sweet. Here’s a wish that every cookie or sugary treat will remind you of the sweetness in you that I see. Here’s a hope that you bring it out. Share it. Carry it on your sleeve.

May your time be beautiful. Here’s a wish that every gift you receive will remind you of a beautiful moment that you value. Here’s a hope that you capture that memory. Picture it. Write it. Tell it to someone who would know what it means.

May your relationships sparkle with joy. Here’s a wish that every star will remind you of someone who has been a light in your life. Here’s hope that you fill your heart, your mind, and your future with constellations of people who shine.

May you always know my gratitude. Here’s a wish that I can tell you that in person soon.

That’s my thoughtful wish and feelingful gift in words to you.
Only words, but then again, my mom would say, “Words are powerful things.”

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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Distraction or Opportunity

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It’s summer and I have summer things on my mind.  

Bonfires, camping, the beach, music festivals. picnics, road trips with friends… You get the idea. 

Today I was working away, attempting to “get things done,” as we’re all focused on productivity these days, and I just kept getting distracted. Distracted by invitations, phone calls, cars driving by with windows down, music blaring, people streaming by on their way to the pool. 

beach2I’ve been working on writing this post for two days and my mind just kept drifting. I couldn’t think of anything to write. 

All and all it wasn’t a very productive day. 

I started thinking about it differently when someone on Twitter pointed out that I might not be distracted by summer but distracted by work. 

And you know what? Maybe it isn’t summer. Maybe I just need a break and instead of looking at it as not being productive I can look at it as an opportunity.  

A wise friend I haven’t seen in a while once told me, when I was complaining about not being able to write, that in order to draw from the well you have to make sure it gets filled up. 

She’s a farm girl – she thinks a lot about rain 😉 

I think I’ll call her to see if she would like to go to the beach this weekend. 

I’m going to use that distraction as an opportunity. 

from Kathryn Jennex aka @northernchick

What Can Authenticity Create?

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This week as we recorded our first podcast (it airs Monday morning), Lorelle asked about authenticity. I answered that it’s who we are when no one is looking, when we’re being naturally and infinitely true to our humanity. Authenticity isn’t something we teach. It’s something we can see when it’s there and something we sense when it’s missing.

Authenticity is a bright harbor morning anticipating the sailboats arriving in their own time. It’s not proud, noisy, or meant to make us larger. Authenticity offers respect and shines on all things within its reach.

Authenticity is golden. It can’t be faked, borrowed, or stolen.

When our hearts are connected and other directed, we shine like that sun on the water. We show the promise of who we are and who we could be.

Nothing is more authentic than a decent human being. Authenticity creates joy, trust, and energy. It’s is our gift to each other wrapped in respect for all things living.

Share your promise this weekend. Create an authentic memory.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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Just Sayin – With Grace

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This week on Twitter I noticed the usual people tweeting the “rules”, the usual complaints about “spammers” and  the regular complaints about auto-DMs. I also noticed a LOT of talk about unfollowing. (My response to all of that? Surely there’s more important things available from the whole wide world at our fingertips than *that*) 

I watched discussions in the stream and through blog comments that talked about relationships, feeling used, anger over being unfollowed, and hate towards people regarding their choice of how they use a social platform.


I started wondering if the web has afforded us a false sense of confidence. I wonder if this confidence leads to a certain bravado that influences the way we behave towards others because we don’t actually have to physically face them. For example, if someone chose not to have a conversation with you at a large gathering would you grab a podium and announce to the crowd you disapproved? 

We all have aspirations, goals, and intentions that guide our behaviour; a core belief system that influences our every action. Sometimes we live our life according to that “moral code” and sometimes we ignore it.
 
I choose to live my life online the same way I do offline. I aspire to live in a state of grace. I work at that daily. Just sayin’. 

What do you think?

U2 Lyrics – Grace

Grace
She takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name

Grace
It’s a name for a girl
It’s also a thought that changed the world
And when she walks on the street
You can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness in everything

Grace, she’s got the walk
Not on a ramp or on chalk
She’s got the time to talk
She travels outside of karma
She travels outside of karma
When she goes to work
You can hear her strings
Grace finds beauty in everything

Grace, she carries a world on her hips
No champagne flute for her lips
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition

What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings
Because grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things

Grace makes beauty out of ugly things

from Kathryn Jennex aka northernchick

From Out of Ideas to New Energy Everywhere

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I've been thinking . . .

about being out of ideas.

Oh yeah, billions of us log on to the web everyday, but I only know a few and the few I know are a lot like me. If I’m not careful I find that everywhere I go I hear people saying the same things. Funny, it’s easy when everything is too the same to start comparing things. That’s also when I start to feel out … out of gas, out of sync, out of ideas.

Yet, I think the problem may be that I’m in — not out enough.

A person, a product or a business has to stand out to perform.

When I’m tired of feeling out of gas, out of sync, out of ideas. I get out of that routine, out of my way, out the group and scene I’ve been and suddenly I discover I’m into all sorts of outstanding new things.

Sometimes the fastest way to move my mind is to move my feet off the usual path away from the usual group I’m in.

Then new energy, new ideas, and a new view surrounds me everywhere I am.

Know what I mean?

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What Do You Do Because Sometimes You Know How?

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This morning I had my morning all laid out. I knew exactly what I was to get done. I was ready prepared and willing, until I turned computer and Tweetdeck served up this short note.

3 things that stop me from doing… “Over Coffee…”
(http://twitthis.com/8ln6i4) Inspired by @lizstrauss

Who would I be not to see something like that? What I found were thoughts that started like this …
I love to write and doodle. So why don’t I do more of it? What am I afraid of? And how do I stop the fears and get going again?

And my head and my heart answer, “Yeah, I know. I get those feelings too.”
I read that post. Then I read the next — the one with the beautiful painted in drawing, the one I only wish or dream I could make myself.
Who would I be not to respond?

Because Sometimes I Know How

Every writer gets stuck for words.
Every writer gets caught up
or lost looking for an idea to explore.
Every writer has an ego that pushes words out
and a critic that tears them down.
We all have time that we hope
and fear that will never write again.
If only I could draw and paint a lady so lovely,
But I write I write instead
because sometimes I know how.

What do you do because sometimes you know how?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Image: Barbara Hartsock
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