confession friday

happy friday!

*I confess that I hope you read the post below and think about honoring a special woman in your life!

*I confess that "time" scares me a bit... it seems to be true that time speeds up as we age. example: it was just Monday, I swear. And now it's Friday... and I have to keep those "I haven't accomplished enough this week and I was a horrible mother" thoughts from creeping into my heart. Because that kind of thinking just won't help. And it won't slow down time, either.

*I confess that I'm sick of spin class. I used to love it, the way it created a killer workout in a small amount of time. I'll most likely keep going, but I'm feeling extra lazy these days.

*I confess that sometimes I just pick up the largest chunks of dog hair on my floor and throw them away... instead of vacuuming. Because I just don't have time to vacuum (and when I do, my youngest child is napping... and we live in a small house... you get the picture).

*I will always confess that the way women treat each other breaks my heart almost every day. The competition for "who's right and who's wrong" when it comes to just about anything... parenting, religion, clothing... on and on. I'm trying to simply look for the best in everyone and respect their choices, knowing that what's best for one person might not be best for me, and vice versa. Wouldn't it be amazing if women really stuck together as a team in this way? Only due to the common bond of being goddess women, and for no other reason and with no other expectations? That would be revolutionary... let's try that together :).

*I confess that, for the past year, I bought nothing for myself as a self-challenge (from September 2009 through September 2010). I was very interesting to learn about myself through that journey. But my confession has to do with right now. Prior to my self-challenge year, I hadn't bought many clothes for many years before then, either. So, my clothes were pretty worn. And now, I confess, I'm going a little overboard (well, by my standards, not by hollywood's :) ) in my shopping. But it's like I finally found what I like, what makes me feel comfortable and beautiful and feminine and myself all in one breath. It's fun! Maybe I'll post pictures of clothes soon :).

*I confess that my next challenge involves eating every speck of food in our freezer and cabinets to save money and to clean out.... before going back to the store. So far it's been sorta fun, and has forced us to get creative.

*I confess that I hope you confess today... here, on your blog, in your head, wherever. Clean out the junk, friends!

Have a great weekend!

xoxo!

this space...

hello lovelies!

I have an idea. I love using this space for the thoughts that float through my mind regarding our spirits, our bodies, and the goddess women who inspire us. I haven't been able to access that creative part of my thinking as much lately, due to my eye healing and other writing jobs (not to mention my main job of MOM) that are keeping me really busy.

So.

My idea? To share the space. Do you have a woman in your life who has inspired you? Would you like to honor her here? You could write up a little essay about her and email it to me along with some photos if you wish. We would agree on a time to post your piece, I would publish it here, and then you could share your work (the link) through email, facebook, twitter, wherever, to alert your friends and family. The goddess you're honoring would have a day of feeling loved and cherished by you, and we would all get to learn about a lovely goddess and be taught by her life and her example.

email me at goddessmission@gmail.com if you would like to partner with me to honor your goddess(es)!

inspiration

Autumn is my favorite time of year... it provides such inspiration. I wrote this piece for the local magazine... and wanted to share it here, too. I'm working on a wonderful goddess feature for next week... and this week I'll focus on the beauty that surrounds us.

October Air, by Rebecca

What is it about the air in October? Our atmosphere shifts, and everything becomes clear and cool. The moisture is wicked from the air and the wind carries the scent of change. The shivery breezes from the west and the cozy whispers from fall campfires invite us to breathe deeply. The beckoning of thicker coats and leathery boots and turning the thermostat from cool to warm remind us of seasons past.

Fall is my very favorite season. Nature seems to show off… it is time for the harvest, and in our area it is always bountiful. Apples and pumpkins and fragrant breads and soups reenter our lives and comfort our senses. The last thunderstorms of summer usher in a new, ancient air that leads us into our holiday season. Festivities abound as we prepare for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Old scenes flicker as we reflect on autumn.

This air evokes a sense of change, a break from the heat, and a chance to experience fresh breezes and fond memories in the same breath. The beauty of the leaves against the dark blue sky is a brilliance only seen in October. Cherish this time… take long walks and enjoy these rare fall days.

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting 
and autumn a mosaic of them all."
- Stanley Horowitz

sunday stirring

"On such a day each road is planned
To lead to some enchanted land;
Each turning meets expectancy.
The signs I read on every hand.
I know by autumn's wizardry
On such a day the world can be
Only a great glad dream for me--
Only a great glad dream for me!"
- Eleanor Myers Jewett, An Autumn Day

goddess: NieNie

I'm a bit behind schedule this week, but I still wanted to do a goddess feature! This week's goddess has been on my mind and heart as I recover from my surgery. This eye surgery has been way more of a doozy than I thought it would be, and honestly, every time I thought of this goddess I found strength. Because what I've been through, just one eye surgery (with another to come in a few weeks), has been nothing, NOTHING, compared to what Stephanie Nielson (nicknamed "NieNie") has been through.

I started reading her blog after she almost perished in a plane crash, a crash and a survival story that made national news, and even Oprah! She and her husband were burned, but lived. Stephanie's body is over 80% burned, and she will endure pain and surgeries for the rest of her life. She writes with such honesty and truth that I crave her inspiration for my own life, especially when I'm dealing with pain.

Stephanie is of the Mormon faith. I do not share this faith with her, but I still feel a connection as a woman and a mother. I love that I can learn from her and what she believes, but I don't feel intimidated or judged for not sharing her faith. She just freely shares her life, her recovery, and her journey, in an intimate and sweet way. I think this is such a great example of how we aren't all the same, but we can all respect, love, and learn from one another.

One thing that I love about Stephanie is her idea of beauty. She seems to see beauty in a different way than I have never experienced, and by reading her words, I've started to see beauty in many different ways and on many different levels than I did before. She is a great teacher of appreciating the gifts life has blessed us with.

I hope you enjoy reading through her blog and learning about this lovely lady. Her life is a testament to strength and perseverance!

recovery...

Hello goddesses!

I'm continuing to recover from my eye surgery... but I can't wait to continue to share some lovely goddesses with you over the coming weeks!

Healing from this surgery has been far harder than I expected, but all is well. I do believe that my "will," or my spirit, needs to allow the healing to happen, and pain can get in the way of that. So I'm concentrating on the positive. Hope you all are well!

Our bodies are our gardens - our wills are our gardeners. ~William Shakespeare

I saw what I saw...

lovely readers...

I hope you know how cherished you are. Every cell in your body was mysteriously and beautifully created. You are the only you.

When I think about people, and how important each person is, it brings me to my knees in awe and in joy and, strangely, in heartbreak. I want every person to be nurtured, to have enough, to be cared for. The world doesn't work that way, but you and I can be a part of not only better loving ourselves, but better loving others. This song cuts deep into this idea, shedding light on what so many of us us desire- for our world and our lives to be restored to beauty, peace, and abundance.

I saw this with my own eyes, too. I'm grateful every day for my eyes... and I'll be gone from this space for a few days while I recover from eye surgery. I'm hopeful that all will be fixed and that my eyes will bless me once more. In the meantime, enjoy this video- let it inspire you to think deeply about those you love and those who need your love.