the money tree - part 2

So did you look at the Money Tree video from last week? Did you guess what would happen?

I was totally surprised. 

For me this experiment is an interesting take on our state of mindfulness...especially around what we are tell ourselves we want more of. 

Given all the information and stimulation out there, I don't expect myself to notice everything. Impossible. I would however have thought that something different - and something I want more of (like art, like money hanging from a tree) - would grab my attention. And maybe it would, I don't know.

But this video has made me wonder:  what have I walked past this week, totally unaware?

         A magnificent work opportunity?
                          Feeling a sense of belonging in my community?
                    Creative inspiration? 
                                                      Love?

Am I spending more time on the wishing and wanting (potentially augmenting my sense of lack) and not enough on the appreciating and celebrating what already is (potentially augmenting a feeling of trust and wellness)?

Are you?

the money tree - part I

If you walked by a money tree ... what would you do?

Amy decided to find out. She hung bills in a small city tree along a busy sidewalk...and then filmed what transpired.

What do you think happened?

Myself...I imagined people would respond with delight, maybe call their friends to come see, take a few (perhaps take a lot). But really, in my heart of hearts, I thought what would happen is that some people would end up adding their own money to the tree and a recurring cycle would begin.

I did not expect what actually happened...and it has really piqued my curiosity about how we're living today. Check it out:

The Money Tree 

home sweet home

I know, I know it's been way too long between posts.  Not sure why... I certainly haven't forgotten.

All I can suggest is that the past two months have taken way more out of me than I'd acknowledged to myself.  Or because I'm trying too hard to write the 'perfect' post that aligns with what has been going on for me. Maybe too much has been going on.

The past few months have been a real life experience of rolling with the punches (change, the unexpected, disappointments) while simultaneously appreciating what was making it possible for me to move forward.  Last week in yoga class the teacher spoke about how falling was inevitable - whether from a balance posture or as an aspect of life. The important thing was how we fell and how we got back up again.

old floor and frame out - starting from zero again

Here are a few more images of the journey these past few months.

mike and andrew leveling the floor

Learning that 'pouring' the concrete actually involved several guys and wheel barrows and fast attention to detail. Concrete hardens fast.

voila - the new floor

Though the floor was supposed to be 'driftwood brown' the terracotta acid wash' look was one of those unexpected but happy surprises. 

                                       

 

Friends, resourcefulness, thoughtful surprises, attitude, fresh air, sleep, good food, music, writing, healthy choices. These are what kept me on track...one moment at a time.

couldn't have done it without these  friends 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you!

Merci mes ami(e)s!




Sacred Settling In?

For the last couple of weeks I feel like I got swallowed up into a kind of cocoon.  Once the construction was complete, the walls painted, the furniture moved in...the rest of the process of moving back in has almost been a sacred experience.  I wanted and needed time to be alone to putter, try out, make the subtle adjustments as I lived in the space. Now I crave witnesses, people to come and share in my joy. Like my friend in her seventh month of pregnancy, I too felt that this creation process asks for a mixture of community and solitude  The trick is to get the timing right.

I am thankful to be getting back up relatively gracefully as I once again feel settled and grounded. I'm already turning my attention to what comes next:  the focus being creating an abundance of inspirational connections as I meet folks and brainstorm ways to offer my services during these challenging social - economic times. Stay tuned:  I'm convinced that new opportunities are coming my way. Maybe they include you! 
 

Rafiki - as happy to be finally home as Linda!

 PS  Can you believe that I'm already dreaming of how the loft might be converted into an open and inspiring space for conversations and maybe a dorm? Yup...and this space below can then become the art studio-playroom I've always envisioned! Three cheers for dreams and the courage to make them reality, no matter what the odds!  
 

simple pleasures

Creativity to the rescue.

A few weeks ago, in a spontaneous moment, I started a game with my 9 year old friend.  I am staying with her and her Mom while I am temporarily ousted from my home. (Nice friends eh!?)

With a number of women in this household an abundance of toilet paper rolls and tissue boxes tends to accumulate. I decided to do a spontaneous sculpture one day with these items. A few days later my young friend re-arranged things to create her own work of art. And we've been playing back and forth ever since.

Here is today's creation. I almost used tape and decided that nope, the idea was to be able to simply use the materials that were present. It was fun to see where my imagination went by honouring that boundary. 

Simple pleasures like these helps to remind me that there is more to life than renovations. I can feel the chaos fade to background.

Thank goodness for 9 year olds to remind and inspire me!

this too shall pass

Dare I say it?

Given all my talk about, my belief in, authenticity, I have to.  

I have officially hit the "I'm-tired-of-handling-it" phase.

That's where I am.

That's all I can be right now.

This too shall pass.

midstream reflection of a renovation

Planned or not, renovations sure present an interesting metaphor with which to perceive and work through our own internal journey of change or transition.



Discovery:
what's really going on below?






Clearing the Decks:
getting ready for the work to be done.





  


Letting Go:
cleaning out what is no longer useful ...and keeping what is. 





Midstream Reflection: taking time to notice where I have landed.  

• Appreciation (it's still standing...and so am I).  
• Anticipating the next step which will bring different materials and support.  
• Acknowledging the guiding force and trust I put into my underlying intentions and vision

 Shivers of excitement emerge as my body-mind-spirit begins to make the move from fear and overwhelm to trust and possibility. Silver lining's and gifts begin to surface out of the chaos and rubble.

Wherever you are along your transitional journey, Breathe Big and know you're not alone.  

Linda

another layer

The sound of my typing blends with the sound of my floor being ripped up.

What a journey the past two weeks have been! Though there are still many unknown's and a number of fears, I am feeling better - compared to Monday.

Monday the worker didn't show up. Monday I couldn't get a hold of him to find out why. Monday all the stress came crashing down on my head and weighed very heavy.  How could I have been so proud of myself regarding how I was handling things and now suddenly I find it all too much?

After some pondering, some paddling, some sleep...I've got a hunch as to what might be going on. Clearly we're dealing with different layers and time lines when we're dealing with loss and grief.

When my brother died I think I went into logistic mode. There's so much to do, including supporting family members and his friends. I felt strange but not like how I would have imagined I'd feel at such a huge loss. It seemed buried or far away some how. Seven months later (last weekend) I'm in Toronto and suddenly I feel a wave of sadness. It hit me with no warning:

This was Peter's city.
        I'll never see him again here.
                 I'll never see him again period.
 
A similar pattern seems to be showing up with this sudden unexpected (nor desired) renovation. You keep it together in order to get what needs to be done, done. Contacting and meeting with the various people who can advise you, choosing the various folks to do the work, figuring out how the heck you're going to pay for it, and packing and moving and asking for help to get all your stuff out of the way. That's what I had control over.

Now that that part is done...it's out of my hands to a large extent. I have to let go. I have to trust the people to come and do what they said they would. When they don't, or when it changes from what I understood, I suddenly feel all the stuffed down feelings that go with this whole change - overwhelmed, frustrated, scared - anything but strong.

Like another layer of grieving.

What helped me through that period? Sleep for sure. Let's not underestimate the power of rest. Reminding myself to breathe, big, deep, belly breaths. And I think the biggest thing for me was expressing those raw feelings. First privately through uncensored journal writing, then to an empathetic ear or two. And allowing the tears and the anger to show too. All these things helped me find my balance again.

So here's what I want to remember when attempting to live aligned through a tough time:

• Acknowledge that there will be layers and various depths. 
• Listen to your body. 
• Feel what you feel. 
• Ask for and accept support.

What about you? Anything you want to add that has helped you in your experiences?