Happy Friday 01.27.12

 

Oh my, an entire week has passed since I've been here to connect with all of you.  I'm full up with all that is going on in Hello Soul Hello Business.  It has me learning, reflecting, dreaming and planning.  All good stuff. 

With all of the soul searching this class requires, I can't help but think about my life in general terms, not just in business terms.  The artwork above, which I painted several months ago, with the words "life sweet life", is something I never would have dreamed up or felt compelled to express so long ago in my life.  Let's face it, we all have troubled times in our lives when perhaps we just don't believe that life is sweet.  Like most of you, I've been through some really icky, painful and sorrowful times in my life and I am happy to report that I came through those times believing that life is sweet!  That it holds so much for us if we only have faith in the process of living.  That if we can weather the storms of our lives, that we come through them more whole, happy and true in our essence.

I have so much to share with you in the coming year.  I'm embarking on a new creative career path, shaking my life up, and facing my future with optimism, grace and hope.  Next week, I'll share my plans for a new blog/website that will be the new home for this endeavor.  A place I plan to fill with real, authentic life stuff.  I can't wait to get started.

Happy Weekend my friends.  Fill it up with fun, laughter, creativity and love.

Peace,

Ann

Happy Friday 01.20.12

 

This week in the awesome class I am taking, we've talked a bit about a peak experience we've had in our lives.  We were asked to explore what it meant to us, the effect it had on us and our memories of it.  

I chose as my peak experience part of my trip to the Rocky Mountains this past September.  In particular, my hike with my husband the first day when we climbed straight up to reach Lone Pine Lake (pictured above).  It was a challenging climb, and round trip it was about 11 miles.  As I thought about peak experiences in my life, this one stood out.  It isn't like I hadn't been in the mountains before, or hiked challenging trails to see wonders of nature.  No, what made this experience different, is the difference in me.

The things I've learned about myself in the last couple of years allowed this experience to be so much more than those in the past.  It solidified for me these things:  That I am at my best, must calm and peaceful self when I am in nature.  When I am in touch with Mother Earth.  When my eyes are set upon the beauty of the natural world.  I feel whole, happy and at peace.  I find inspiration and become more passionate about life.  I simply feel, and felt that day, more alive and my true self when walking among the magnificence of the natural world.

There are other aspects of that day that made the whole experience truly special for me.  Heck, the entire trip was one of the very best I've had.  But when asked to pinpoint what made it a peak experience in my life, it was the feeling of peace of being me.

Here's to a great weekend.  Perhaps it will hold a peak experience for some of us.  

Hugs,

Ann

Outside the Norm

 Cactus in oak tree.  Pretty high up. I'm standing on a bridge for this picture.

Would you just look at this crazy cactus.  Growing out of a limb of an oak tree several feet up in the air.  What was it thinking?  Did it need to stand out from the rest of the cactus? Did it need a better view of the world?  Did it need to be up high so it could be closer to glory?  I don't know how this cactus got where she is, but I can relate.

I've started another journey - Rediscovering my passion for life.  Finding out what it is that will sustain me until the end of my days.  Climbing higher so I can be closer to grace, so I can have a better spot in the Universe, and better hear what it is saying to me.  This isn't about being up, so that I can look down.  It is about embracing my true self and discovering why it is that I am here.  It is about contentment, compassion, gratitude and love.  Maybe like this little cactus, I need to step outside the norm.  Give myself some space to grow and thrive, so that someday soon, I might help others do the same. 

Image © Ann Marie

Happy Friday 01.13.12

Hey Gang!  Happy Friday to you all.  I got back from my little beach get away yesterday, and it was all good.  Except for the part about the first place I had booked being a complete dump, unsafe, and a little creepy.  It didn't take me long to decide I couldn't stay there, even with my big hunk of dog with me.  So, I got on the phone and called the place we've been staying at for the last fifteen years, and was able to get a little condo room there for the two nights.  It took me all of about ten minutes to pack the car back up, grab the dog and hightail it out of there. Lesson learned.

Once settled in the new (old) place, I was able to focus on the healing power of the ocean.  To think about my life and the direction I want it to head.  About all of the many special and wonderful people in my life and even about those I haven't yet met who I know will help shape it in some way.  I was able to stand on that beach, one I've stood on so many times before, and reflect on all of the happy, happy times I've had there.  How my son, Zach, holds in his heart those happy childhood times playing and laughing on that beach.  How my life was enriched by sharing time there with my love, my child, family and friends.  That little stretch of beach will always hold a special place in my heart.

This was the sunrise on Wednesday morning.  Stunning.  And a reminder, that each day is new and holds in it everything I want and need it to.  I just have to look for it and believe.

And here is Hugo on one of our walks along the shore.  Poor guy gets kind of wigged out when he is taken our of his element and without our dog Rose and my hubby.  He wasn't really digging my need for long walks on the beach, but I'm glad he was there with me.  I love this dog like crazy.

And, true to my promise to keep my word of the year close at hand and always present in my mind, I brought it to the beach with me too.  I shared this image with my FB friends and one of them, Sofia, responded with the most beautiful thought:

"I keep picturing the water coming in and washing away all the hurt and pain. "

I wasn't thinking in those terms when I wrote it, I just wanted to capture the word written in the sand.  But when I read Sofia's thoughts, it made great sense and I could see the beauty in the metaphor.  

Here's to a great weekend full of fun, laughter, creativity, time spent in nature and love.

Hugs,

Ann

**All images © Ann Marie, That Girl Designs**

Word of the Year Blog Hop

It's here! The Word of the Year Blog Hop.  

Just pop over to the Fly Tribe blog to find a list of all the creative souls sharing their words through a post on their blogs.  I've already read through several, and the positive vibe coming from these intentions is amazing.  Each word is special to the individual for their own personal reasons.  Learning about what makes my friends tick is always interesting to me and I learn about myself in the process as well.  

We hope you will joy us. 

Please click on the link above, or on the Word Hop badge on the left side bar.

Happy Friday 01.06.12

Wow, the first Friday of the new year.  The weather here in Austin is so amazing.  Sunshine and warm breezes.  I wish our summers where like this.

Heading out next week for a couple of days of R&R.  Going down to the gulf coast which is a pretty easy trip from Austin.  Can't wait for the salt air and sound of the waves.  Just taking a last chance to get away for a few days before Hello Soul. Hello Business class starts on the 16th.  So looking forward to getting the class started and getting on with my creative biz dreams.  Making them a reality.  Sharing what I have with the world. Spreading creative joy.

Today I registered the domain name for this new biz and the heart of what will drive this business and my message to you all.

Live. Life. Wonderful.

Have a fabulous weekend friends.  Spread a little love.  Spread a little joy.

Hugs,

Ann

Image credit Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Fly Tribe

Well, what do you know, our fabulous, amazing, creative, supportive, loving group now has its own blog - Fly Tribe - thanks to Rachel Payne.   You rock Rae!  Pop over and check it out and learn about the Fly Tribe, how we came to be, where we are headed, and how the awesome Kelly Rae Roberts brought us all together in her ecourse, Flying Lessons.

I can't tell you how wonderful being a part of this group of creative and caring souls has meant to me over the past six months.  They encourage, support and show me love each and every day.  In the coming weeks I'll be sharing more bits and pieces of my life within this group and introducing you to some of my amazing new friends.  Next Monday, there will be a blog hop posted on Fly Tribe that will provide links to some of us who have chosen a word of the year.  (Mine in revealed in the post below.)  This is good stuff people, so make sure to check it out Monday.  Who knows, you might even be inspired to select a word that will be your intention for 2012.