A Mountain of Challenges

Don't let a mountain of challenges block your path. 

Endurance and the Summer Garden

The utopia of a Spring garden—its newness and bloom surprises—is quickly followed by the Summer months of July and August. The garden grows double-time, basking in the vitamins from the sun and warm weather. This is the season that puts me to the test. Longer and more frequent days are are required in the garden, trying to stay ahead of the growth, the bugs and other challenges. The peak of summer gardening is all about endurance.

I often find myself asking, “Can I ever get ahead of the upkeep and care?” And, the funny thing is, after a long week of labor in the garden, I am always rewarded.   When I sit in my favorite spot over looking the garden at dusk, I relax and take in all of the joy it brings me. I know that it is never fully complete or finished. I accept that it is a work in progress. Actually, I love that it’s always a work in progress. Isn’t it all? The splashes of colorful flowers dotted across he varying hues of green are a backdrop for a very special kind of dance where humming birds and butterflies flow to the rhythm of the gentle breeze.  And it’s never the same performance twice.

We must all endure through seasons of extra work, some emotional or physical strain, and longer hours at different times in our lives. But no two days are the same. Each day is a new performance in the greatest work-in-progress of all: life.

As we endure through the peak summer months of a garden in full abundance, we welcome in the cooler and shorter days of the autumn season. In these periods of rest, we rebuild, prepare and find the strength to endure through all that is put in front of us -- every day and in every season.

Long Summer Days are for Creativity

Summer is our most gifted season around the globe. It's permission to soak in the beauty all around us. It's a time to watch things bloom and blossom and, I don't know about you, but I have the same urge within me to do the same. I am inspired to paint, draw and write. Others are inspired to cook, sing and dance.
My challenge to you is try something different. If you like to cook, find a new recipe. If you like to dance, dance to a new tune. If you like to draw, try a different size of canvas or a new medium. Experiment. I cannot underline how fulfilling it is to carve out some time for oneself in this way. It is truly a gift.

And if you don't consider yourself a creative person, I don't believe you!

Sometimes we just need a little inspiration. One of the best sources of inspiration is to dream and I find that magazines really offer me a chance to see something new, or something in a new way. Images within the pages inspire me or remind me of my dreams or just give me a sense of awe. Magazines are always trying to bring you to new places or revisit older ones in a new and refreshing light. I love that about magazines. And I love summertime!

In your creativity, you'll discover just how unique you are.

In the afternoon, you can often find the floor of my living room looking like this.
Spread out those magazines and give it a try!

Walk and Talk

Sitting in front of one’s computer does not grow creative thoughts or solve problems. The best thing one can do is walk around and share in conversation with colleagues and friends.

Take A Break!

As we rush through our everyday busyness of life, I find myself revisiting and reflecting upon my own "mantra" to stop, breathe and slow down to truly capture the gifted moments. 

With change being a constant and time moving more quickly than ever, I am reminded that I must give myself permission to turn everything off and to just enjoy the experience, my surroundings, and the quiet with no clicks of the camera, streaming of Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook conversations. 

Ahhh... an experience break...it is simple, free and right here, right now...Enjoy! I love looking at these recent photos of a trip to Europe and basking in these moments!

Sowing Seeds

This weekend in my garden, I found myself welcoming in the burst of spring. The birds and butterflies danced through the flowers and trees, while taking a break, here and there, for some nutriment from seasonal delights.  As I worked my way through the garden – pruning, feeding, spraying and cleaning out some of the beds – during each stop at a different section of the garden, I found myself thinking about the phrase, “sowing seeds.” I was preparing a garden bed for some new small plants—plants that I would feed, water and nurture to help them blossom and flourish to their greatest capacity. I thought about how the phrase is used with so many contexts in our lives, from gardening, of course, to biblical scriptures, business investing and ways to describe human interaction with marriage, family and friends.

As I continued to work my way through my garden chores feeling a little thirsty from the physical exercise of trimming, I started to think that this simple sounding phrase of sowing seeds is really about all aspects of life.  I realized that when one is sowing seeds, one must be willing to have patience, which we learn from the seasons of the garden and nature’s way—nothing is the same and the weather is often unpredictable.

We must be willing to trust our instinct and believe in what we are doing.  Whether it is in a relationship, a job or a hobby, we must be willing to spend the time to nurture and grow that relationship or idea with love and compassion in order to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor. And like the seasons of the garden, we must be willing to have peace in understanding that our lives, ideas and situations are always changing.

So as I dusted off the dirt, which I usually find myself in from head to toe after a day in garden, I looked around with such joy and a thankful heart for all that God has created for us to enjoy.

I realize that if we are willing to spend the time to sow seeds with patience, trust, peace, love and compassion, our journey through life will be a lot more bountiful and full of garden surprises…

Celebrate Womanhood!

It's a good month to celebrate being a woman. Think about and honor not only the mothers in your life, but take a moment to honor all of their daughters this month, too. 

Being a woman is recognizing your strengths.
Being a woman is recognizing your weaknesses. 

Being a woman is being human with all the necessary complexities.
Being a woman means being strong.

Being a woman means being a dreamer.
Being a woman means being an achiever.

Being a woman means being a giver. 
Being a woman means diving deeper. 

Being a woman means resilience.
Being a woman means brilliance.

Being a woman means not letting anyone else define you but you. 

May all celebrate the sacred gift of being a woman.