Life's Gifts

I am so full of energy, it is an amazing feeling right now. The last couple of weeks, I have been struggling with a cold but who has time for that, you know? As you can see, I’m still working on my site. I’ve been behind on a few things, hopefully I’ll catch up this weekend. The week before last, I had a wonderful visit with a friend whom I had not seen since high school, we’ll call him Dr. S. We had a fun time in Tampa, where he lives… good food & drink and great conversations. I took some neat shots of Tampa University, where he is a professor, as well as Ybor City. I will be posting those shots soon here and on the website Save My Sunshine if I can figure out how to make individual galleries.

Last weekend was a little rough due to my cold really kicking in, Dr. S. came to Orlando to have some fun and to meet up with some other high school buddies. We met up for lunch and then for drinks later that same night. Sunday was spent trying to rest up and get over my illness before I started my new job on Monday! Yay.. a new job!

Monday I was off to Kansas City. By Tuesday night, my brain hurt and I was exhausted. It is hard putting in a full days work. But at the same time I was and still am so energized by the people I met, the strengthening of relationships and connections with others, and the work I’ll be doing.

I really fell behind in my writing and photography last week. I think I am a week behind in the 365 Project – Photo a day! Yikes. I took some pictures last week, but not enough. I’ll do better next week. I’m going to need to re-learn how to balance my creative projects with my work load. I tend to go full steam ahead on whatever I am working on, so I will need to make balancing a priority.

So.. last week was also full of wonderful gifts from amazing women. First and foremost, I have to mention Amelia Maness-Gilliland over at Mom’s Daily Retreat – Notes from the Edge. She is such an inspiration to me, she is an amazing woman, with a big heart, who manages to find time to take care of her beautiful family, manage her amazing careers, learn and reinvest in herself and still have time to spread kindness to so many. Amelia, thank you for taking the time to check in and always lifting me up.

Thank you to Karen at Journey to Spirit Through Art and Creativity for checking in on my blog and taking the time to comment! That means so much. Your blog postings are so honest, candid and evoke such emotion. Thank you for sharing your journey through your blog with me.

Aren’t surprises in the mail the best! I was filled with joy to receive beautiful handmade flower magnets from Lily in the mail last week. I opened the package and did a happy dance! Thank you Lily for sending such joy! You can check out Lily’s website here.

Also in the mail… (it was a GOOD mail week!) I received Dreamsetting Kits I had ordered from Amelia Critchlow over at www.ameliacritchlow.co.uk. Check out her blog here. I ordered one for my daughter and one for myself, they are so sweet and lovely, I can’t wait to start working on them. Amelia calls them a ”mini-book of dreams and goals to be carried around in your bag or wallet for daily reminders of your aspirations and dreams.” Isn’t that awesome! I encourage you to check out Amelia’s art and blog she is such a talented artist.

I would be remise if I didn’t mention Susannah Conway, she is the reason I was able to meet these wonderful women. It was through her e-course Unravelling that we all became connected. Thank you Susannah for bringing these wonderful women into my life.

I value the relationships I have in my life, both with men and women. They are the most precious gifts of all. I learn something everyday from the people I surround myself with and I am so grateful and honored to have that opportunity. The more we allow ourselves to open up to others, the greater connections we will make, there is nothing that can replace an intimate feeling with another person, to be able to open up and not be hindered by fear or self-consciousness, open our minds to new possibilities… can you imagine the power and freedom that can bring? There are no jobs or material things that can replace a positive human connection.

If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? ~Stephen Levine