POSITIVITY

I have been reading some books, inspired by my life, Positivity and Love 2.0 by Barbara Frederickson. While scientific, they are also educational and thought provoking.

Ten words of Positivity: Joy; serenity; inspiration; awe; hope; gratitude; interest; amusement; pride; and love.

Without exception, these ten words are present in my travels past and future.

I enjoy the beauty and discovery of the unknown. As I prepare for world travel, I am joyous in anticipation.

I am in awe of physical surroundings, the natural and the ancient preserved, and architecture visible in cities from cobblestone streets; bird song, flowers on the window sill brightly contrasting to old stone entranceways, large clay pots and vistas of deep blue seas.

I experience heartfelt gratitude for the plentiful opportunities to spend precious time aboard amazing luxurious and stylish cruise ships with my close family, friends and women travel club members.

The serenity I feel when watching ocean waves, as I stand, much like a lighthouse, illuminating and soaking in the fresh cool salty air.

Inspired by stories and the felt sense of being one with the universe, walking where world leaders, women, have stepped out and taken action before me.

I witness hope, evident in the eyes and exquisite dance of foreign and friendly people, who have found their freedom song and joyously share like no one is watching.

With curiosity and interest I explore and experience adventure in exotic locations, finding myself in the culture and story of greatness.

Laughing out loud in amusement, I can’t help but smile back at the experiences of soulful happiness.

Getting up, dressing up and showing up with pride for my own contribution to the global community, leaving gifts of kindness and grace in my wake.

I wait in anticipation of my next travel adventure! What will it be in 2014? A drive across the country in search of a new home and exploration of the great country I live in?

My travel dreams are always in motion.

With love,

Pamela

“Love yourself”

Someone asked on facebook, if I (or you) could go back to early life and leave two words to my (your) younger self, what would they be? I glossed over the question. I could not immediately come to two words that I thought were worthy of response.

Second question, “really? Not even two little words to make your life easier? What were the early years like? What did I struggle with?”. Returning to facebook this morning I read the eloquent and perfect answer from Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat Pray Love and a few other brilliant books). She goes through and writes about three choices of words. Phew, she too struggled!

The most brilliant life statement to me now, is the one I would give me then. “love yourself”. When all days seem dark and gloomy and when the sun shines bright, the one positive thought that leads to a happy feeling, confidence, and assurance, guaranteeing success is “love myself”. Just this year I have been working with my mastermind group to create a magnificent obsession, complete with goals, strategies and ultimate success story to live up to. At the end, in the middle and the part I need and want to keep reminding myself is “I love me”.

When I read about mindfulness and metta practice … the phrase “may I love myself exactly as I am” comes up. That same phrase for others “may all beings love themselves exactly as they are.” I am one of the “all beings”.

Well, younger self, here goes. I offer you two words that will sit in your heart, to say everyday in to the mirror. In fact, I am going to change the rules and make it three little words, and yet the biggest ones to live up to ……

Repeat after me, “I love me!”

(for your information, this took more than 20 seconds of courage to write!!)

With love for me,

Pamela

Just keep writing.

I have found Elizabeth Gilbert’s strategy about writing to be inspiring. Just keep putting it out there, write more and when you have something to say (as anyone who knows me can tell you, I ALWAYS have something to say), then write.

This little ditty poured out of me this week. Not sure why … And in keeping with my goal to stretch my comfort zone, engage in the practice of 20 seconds of courage, and also to not pre reject my own creativity as “not good enough”, I offer this freely and hope you will be kind.

What I mean is, to quote my mom, “if you can’t find something nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. I am not looking for helpful criticism or practical ways to make this a best seller, I am simply writing a blog. I am fulfilling a commitment to write a blog a week for this year.

The struggle of course is right now I have no travel planned except perhaps a drive across Canada this summer and to Revelstoke and Kelowna BC this April. Not exotic locations to be sure, but sweet family connections that I adore and treasure as the most precious of my wealth measurements in this life.

Here goes, I have procrastinated enough ………

Quenching my thirst

My voice is harsh, barely a whisper really
I know it is there, rich and full, with plenty to say …
What is the resistance?
Cracks from years of parched dry space with syllables never heard
Miles of craggy dusty lands, not a blade of fresh green having the courage to poke through
Caustic stink of acrid decay, words once spoken in delight of a child and smothered thereafter, grown withered with neglect
Shy and shamed from voices turned in to my own, self criticizing and blaming for creative blossoming daring to be heard
Today I turn the table. Today I take a stand. Today I eat the frog in my throat. Today I plant the fragrance of essential oil. Today I hear the echo of distant sounds. Today I delight in the delicate sweetness and spice of my own words on the page. Today I feel the passion of positivity arise from deep dark places I thought were buried and dead.
I am born as if to spring, and my petals reach out toward the heat of the healing sun. I reach and stretch and take action and then in a moment an unpredictable explosion …. I am open. I am alive. I love me!
No longer lost in thought. My soul has found it’s mindful breath. Words flow like a fast moving spring river from high in the mountain, bubbling over any barriers and gaining momentum as if speeding toward life itself. The orchestra of notes and silent space performing musical mastery.
Here, now, in this place, at this time, I am alive with my story. Twittering with birdsong, rich aroma breathed in, and witnessing sparkling gold diamonds dancing on the surface, life renewed along the spring water bed. Life giving nourishment from all my many senses, a buffet of vocabulary, a symphony of song.