Monday, April 30, 2012

Fun sayings, positive affirmations and powerful quotes.









We grow neither better nor worse as we get old, but more like ourselves.
~May Lamberton Becker (1873-1958)
  American literary critic




 In real love you want the other person's good.  In romantic love, you want the other person.
~Margaret Anderson (1893-1973)
  American publisher






I'm just going to write because I cannot help it.
~Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855)
  English writer






This is one of my favorite positive affirmations statements:


When you find your purpose, it is like your heart has been set alight with passion. You know it absolutely, without any doubt.


Rhonda Byrne
Creator of "The Secret"








Here is an excerpt from Deepak Chopra M.D. book Creating Affluence~Wealth Consciousness in the Field of all Possibilities.


"R" stands for the fact that receiving is as necessary as giving. To graciously receive is an expression of the dignity of giving. Those who are unable to receive are actually incapable of giving.  Giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe.


Giving and receiving do not have to be in the form of material things. To graciously receive a compliment or admiration or respect also implies the ability to be able to give these to others.  And absence of respect, courtesy, manners, or admiration creates a state of poverty irrespective of the amount of money you have in the bank.










Eckhart Tolle's book ~ A New Earth  shares his view on being able to let go of the "stuff" inside your head.


Carrying the Past:


The inability or rather unwillingness of the human mind to let go of the past is beautifully illustrated in the story of two Zen monks, Tanzan and Ekido, who were walking along a country road that had become extremely muddy after heavy rains. Near a village, they came upon a young woman who was trying to cross the road, but the mud was so deep it would have ruined the silk kimono she was wearing. Tanzan at once picked her up and carried her to the other side.


The monks walked on in silence.  Five hours later, as they were approaching the lodging temple, Ekido couldn't restrain himself any longer. "Why did you carry that girl across the road?" he asked.  "We monks are not supposed to do things like that."


"I put the girl down hours ago," said Tanzan.  "Are you still carrying her?"








Have a beautiful day,




photo: 'big mountain' PKM




joy,




Rena




www.talktotheturtle.com



Sunday, April 29, 2012

The art and charm of gratitude







Guest teachers Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, Iyanla Vanzant, & Bishop T.D. Jakes on the Oprah life class tour in Toronto, Ontario Canada was pretty amazing.  The real charm of the life class televised event this April for me was   the mentioned quiet layering of gratitude as a daily practice.  Oprah speaks very openly about writing down in a gratitude journal five things that you are grateful for everyday. 


The thing I notice more and more about Oprah as her own positive quiet corner is a  honest level of gratitude.  In true Oprah form she doesn't lay claim to inventing the idea of a  gratitude journal, she just shares openly and  in a very soft voice that she actively engages with gratitude as a  daily practice.  I have actually been inspired to use this level of "gratitude happiness"  with my friends.  If there is a situation that a girlfriend is having trouble with I will bring up the Oprah gratitude idea and instead of saying "just stop those negative thoughts", I offer this question up instead.  "Quick, tell me two things that you are grateful for right now at this moment."  What it does is it makes you stop and come back into your present moment, and back into your body where you can breathe in and out and collect your thoughts. 


The idea or the common thread I see amongst all these different teachers that are pursuers  of inner happiness is being present with the moment at hand.  I  am now able to comprehend  the significance of  genuinely tapping into where you are right now.

By being present where you are right now, it gives you the opportunity of clarity to have acceptance of where you are.  When you have acceptance of where you are at this moment you are able to create new positive  thoughts  in your mind.  If you are always in a place of gratitude you energetically list yourself available to welcome happy experiences into your life. 


All of the guest teachers on the Oprah show used their life experiences to shape their desire to help others understand themselves. Louise Hay is no exception to this group and her video on healing your life is really good to watch.  Particularly her clear explanation of mirror work.  Mirror work is looking in the mirror into your own eyes and saying "I Love YOU".  You have to try it just once. It is a very powerful experience.  It is not as easy and swift as you would think at first glance.






Enjoy the wisdom in this Louise Hay video: Approx. 12 min in length.













Have a beautiful day,






photo:  'reflection' PKM






Joy,




Rena


www.talktotheturtle.com








Friday, April 27, 2012

Unusual gift ideas for you; List 100 things to do before you go. pt 2





The inspiration of writing a life list of 100 things to do while you are here on planet earth is really a liberating and freedom based process. Not limited to ten things you want to do but 100 really opens the door for your imagination.  There are many websites available as idea platforms, but my original inspiration was from Maggie Mason of Mighty girl.  The unusual gift idea for yourself in creating a life list is to make the most of every moment of our existence.  It is giving yourself permission to be happy.  Clarity and focus of forgotten thoughts is what you stand to benefit from.

One website that I found inspirational was that of John Goddard.  His website shows a checklist spreadsheet ledger format.  He has accomplished so many adventure based goals that it makes me gasp and say to myself, oh my goodness. What I took away from  his website  by reading the many things that were on his list was to focus on the journey and not the destination.  

Although goal setting is important it is by  living our daily truth of self love that sets the seeds in the ground firmly to grow.  By being honest with ourselves and filling our day with integrity and small rituals of peaceful thoughts this can keep us on our path of happiness.  We all need to find our own way to find inner harmony, and working with a life list is a very uplifting energetic experience.  What is really fun is to know is that your life list is exclusive to you.  It does not need to meet anyone else's criteria. It is your dream.

I find couture fashion to be beautiful art expression.  When you study fashion history you  discover that we interpret our economic and social commentary through the way we dress as individuals and even as communities.  I spent some time this last week  looking at the runway shows of the larger houses in Paris, France.  Givenchy, Dior, Prada, Chanel, for example and I so appreciate the beautiful construction of these garments on the runway and the sheer mastery of the tailors and seamstresses who take these visions and turn them into art.  

You can visit the shows themselves now online and also the Couture houses now include short videos outlining their overall theme.   It is with this admiration of the art form of couture I kick off my life list part 2 with house of  Lanvin Fall 2011 video.  (click here to read the first 33)





34. Sit at a Couture fashion show of a legendary label
35. Buy that cowboy hat in Ennis Mt. I missed the last time
36. Take photography lessons 
37. Be a prolific photographer
38. Meet Joel Osteen-a handshake at a book signing
39. Own some land
40. Learn how to fly fish (catch & release)
41. Go swimming at Lake Havasu, Az.
42. Go swimming in  Antigua 
43. Bake my own bread (like Grandma's)
44. Go to a flea market in 3 different countries
45. Walk on the Great Wall of China
46. Visit Fernie, B.C.
47. Meet Hillary Clinton
48. Never use a swear word (no matter what)
49. Go for lunch in Santa Barbara
50. Swim at Lake Ennis Mt. (again)
51. Visit Switzerland
52. Swim at the Mandalay wave pool in Vegas
53. Own a Porta-bote (a folding boat)
54. Attend the Rose bowl parade in Pasadena
55. Tickets to the NFL Super Bowl
56.  Fourth of July parade in Cody Wyoming
57. Take a creative writing class
58. Write a book that is filled with wit and laughter
59. Have a beautiful garden
60. Create a cookie for a baking contest
61. Experience a Tony Robbins workshop
63. Visit the gem show in Arizona 
64. Meet Louise Hay (again)
66. Go to San Francisco for business
67. Visit 3 art galleries in New York City


I am back to dreaming my last entries to finish my life list.  My imagination is already dancing out the door  across the lawn on the way down to the ocean....



Have a beautiful day,



Photo:  'Happy trails Mare' PKM



Joy,



Rena