Finding the joy in the holiday season

Hi All,

I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving had a wonderful holiday. I am finally emerging from the turkey overload ;-)

Ok, so it is the day after Thanksgiving here and what do I see as I drive around town, everyone is out dumping there pumpkins and corn stalks and putting up their wreaths and holiday lights as the radio alternatively plays christmas music and holiday gift buying commercials. Cut to relaxing at home later and putting on the TV and lo and behold commercial after commercial for buying christmas gifts. People don't stay in the moment anymore, I feel like it is one holiday or event done and then rushing to the next one. (disclaimer: my husband was one of those people putting out the lights on our house, he said it was too nice of a day and he wanted to get it done....)

Each year I get more and more discouraged during this time of year, the holiday has become more and more about commercialism and stress over buying the perfect gift for so and so, what about peace on earth and good will towards men/women, I guess that isn't commercial enough. I know I am letting the commercialism get to me and I can choose to ignore it, but it is so hard when it is coming at you from every direction. So this year I am going to try something different.

Every time I get annoyed or discouraged or start to feel the holiday stress creep in, I am going to stop, breathe and take in whatever moment I am in. After pausing I am going to look for the joy in the holiday season, I know it is still out there. I will surf the net for inspiring stories and go through my collage images that I have collected from my magazines and look for uplifting pictures to bring me back to the joy. I am also going to rethink the need to overspend on gifts and try to find gifts that may cost less but are just as meaningful. I don't have to compete with anyone and sometimes just getting together and spending quality time with your loved ones can be a gift itself.

As far as the holiday music bombardment I will turn it off when I need to and then play some Cd's at home when I am in the mood to hear them. There are some beautiful holiday songs that I love and I don't want to be turned off to them before the holiday even gets here.

I am determined to put the joy back into the holiday season for myself, so this way I won't start turning as green as the Grinch and answering to the name of Scrooge!! I'll let you know how it goes.

What do you do to beat holiday stress?

Namaste,
Karen

Wednesday Wishcasting: What step do you wish to take?

Image from Gaian Tarot

Hello fellow wishcasters and dreamers. Today's wish prompt over at the wishmaster's Jamie Ridler's Studio is: What step do you wish to take?

Hmmm... pondering.....hmmmm..... I tend to go with the first image or word that comes to me and today it is...

STRENGTH, I wish to take steps toward's building my strength, in mind body and spirit. I tend to look outside of myself for strength and security and I am slowly but surely learning that if I don't have that within, I will not be able to find and connect to it outside of myself. Does this make sense?

So I am slowly building a foundation of strengh and security within so I can finally give from that foundation and be open to receiving from without.

Some steps I am currently taking are:

1. Grounding myself throught meditation and other centering practices.
2. getting back to my Reiki self treatments, even a few minutes a day.
3. Exploring my creativity, it really seems creating brings me into the now.
4. Walking 30 minutes a day and exploring the Anti-Flammatory diet.
5. learning how to say yes but also no when necessary.
6. Exploring my spirituality and what it mean to me to have faith and trust.

Looking at this it seems like it is all about me but when you spend your life with everything being about someone else you can get lost in that cycle. I want to break out of that cycle and start a new healthier one that will benefit me and the loved ones in my life.

What steps do you wish to take this week?

Reminder: Gratititude Giveaway

Namaste,
Karen

Thanksgiving

Image: http://a4.vox.com

Hi All,

I have had so many health issues the last few years that I have let it get me down. I think these problems have alot to do with stress and the way I handle it.

I really believe stress can be so very harmful to our minds, body and spirit. I am committed to finding better ways to handle the stress I have in my life.

I was just starting to feel the stress of preparing for Thanksgiving at our house when I stopped myself and thought are people really going to think less of me if my house is not spotless and perfectly decorated. I am sick this week as it seems to be every holiday season and I need to just work around it and whatever gets done is fine, I will be ok with that.

We will have food on the table and friends and family over and that is what I am choosing to focus on, the friendship and the community spirit of Thanksgiving..

Of course I say that now, I will let you know it acutally pans out ;-)

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. I leave you with this Thanksgiving poem:

Thank You Life

Thank you for this breath
Thank you for this inhale
Thank you for this exhale
Thank you for this Life

Thank you Heart
Thank you for this pounding
Thank you for this pulsing
Thank you for this Love

Thank you feet
Thank you for this walk
Thank you for this run
Thank you for the Dancing

Thank you Eyes
Thank you for the Sunrise
Thank you for the Sunset
Thank you for all the Colors

Thank you Ears
Thank you for The Music
Thank you for the Rhythm
And Thank you for the Stillness

Thank you Hands
Thank you for the Caressing
Thank you for the Clapping
And Thank you for the Holding

Thank you Mouth
Thank you for the nourishment
Thank you for the Wine
Thank you for the Kisses

Thank you Nose
Thank you for the Flowers
Thank you for the Pines
Thank you for the Sniffles

Thank you Arms and Shoulders
Thank you for the Carrying
Thank you for the Burdening
And Thank you for the Hugging

Thank you Voice
Thank you for the Expression
Thank you for the Word
Thank you for the Gift of Creation

Thank you for this Day
Thank you for the Light
Thank you for the Stars
Thank you for the Night

Thank you Self
Thank you for the Laughter
Thank you for the Play
Thank you for You

Thank you for the Emotions
Thank you for the Joys
Thank you for the Tears and Sorrows
Thank you for the Richness

Thank you for the Abundance that is.
Thank you for the Abundance that is given.
Thank you for the so many experiences and so many things
Thank you for this Dance.

Thank you Life

by Gary van Warmerdam

The Truth and a music video

Here is my truth for today...

I am sad, deep down in my soul sad.. trying to find my way to joy..

My song choices today fits my mood. I know there are many versions of the Hallelujah song but I really love the quality of Jeff Buckley's voice here. (click below)

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

Then there is this Kenny Chesney song which I just heard recently and I would like to carry this song with me during this sad time, it gives me hope. The link is below as well as the lyrics.

Kenny Chesney/Dave Matthews: I'm Alive

So damn easy to say that life’s so hard
Everybody’s got their share of battle scars
As for me I’d like to thank my lucky stars that
I’m alive, and well

It’d be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me, I’m alive

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessin' can’t you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
And I’m alive, and well
I’m alive, and well

Stars are dancin’ on the water here tonight
It’s good for the soul, when there’s not a soul in sight
But this boat has caught its wind and brought me back to life
Now I’m alive, and well

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessing can’t you see
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
Now I’m alive, and well
Yeah I’m alive, and well




Namaste,
Karen

Wednesday Wishcasting - What do you wish to Embrace?

Hello Wishcasters. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: What do you wish to Embrace?

For some reason my very first response to this prompt was sadness, my eyes actually teared up. I think because I am missing that feeling of a loving, caring embrace in my life. Though I have family, friends and a husband I think in some ways I have a barrier that I have built up based on past events in my life that taught me distrust, fear, anxiety and shame.

So the big question is can I embrace myself and accept me for who I am now in this moment and trust that others will follow?

So the answer to this prompt would be that I wish to embrace myself in a warm, loving and nuturing way, a way that will make me feel like everything is going to be ok. I was not embraced this way many times as a child so I will have to learn how to do it now as an adult, the time for waiting for others to do it is done.

Ok, Jamie you really got me this week.. You truly are a Wishmaster!!

Sending you all love and virtual embraces today. I look forward to reading your wishes today.

PS: If you have not entered my Gratitude Giveaway yet here is the link if you would like to enter:
http://deldino.blogspot.com/2009/11/amazing-giveawayscome-see.html

Namaste,
Karen

Feeling oddly silent

Good Eve,

I have been feeling oddly quite these last few days.
Trouble sleeping, body aching, out of sorts.. words are hard to find. I have just been losing myself in sci-fi fantasy books, I guess I need a break from reality right now.

Today is also the 5th anniversary of my Dad' death, maybe my body holds the memory of that day even though mentally I am not focusing on it.

Just wanted to pop in and say hi..


Namaste,
Karen

A Pause for musical entertainment

Here is one of my favorite Joni Mitchell Songs.
Enjoy and have a wonderful Friday. (Click on Title below for video)

A Case OF You

Wishcast Wednesday: What Do You Wish To Dare

Image

Hello my fellow wishcasters. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio Jamie asks us this question: What Do You Wish To Dare?

The first thing that comes to my mind is that I wish to dare to live my life with trust and faith that things are unfolding just as they should and I am exactly where I need to be at this point in my journey.

The last few years I feel like things are falling apart around me, my marriage is not as secure as I would like, my health seems to be worse, my anxieties greater, my fears more intense. Yet when I look a little deeper I see things are being stirred up so I can move through some stuck places.

In all areas of my life I am being given messages to wake up, to transform, to grow and sometimes those messages can cause discomfort and uncertainty.

So my friends I wish to Dare to live my life with faith and trust that I have the tools to get through this time in my life and that things are going to be just fine, I just have to let go and step into the flow!

I wanted to let you know I am having a gratitude giveaway here at my blog so click below if you would like to enter.

Gratitude Giveaway

Have a wonderful week and I will see you all here next week.

Namaste,
Karen

I'm Feeling a little bit Country

In honor of the Country Music Awards that are on this week, I am posting a country music video for your listening pleasure. I like the women in this video, they seem kick ass and confident if you know what I mean.

Enjoy...

Jason Aldean - She's Country

The Joy Diet: Play

Hi fellow dieters, I am late this week due to some computer technical difficulties. I think my husband was contemplating smashing our laptop with a hammer ;-)
I am back online so I am ready to join in this week of play over at Jamie Ridler's Studio where we are book blogging, "The Joy Diet" by Martha Beck.

I love this quote from Julia Cameron regarding your true life's work being like play, I hope to find that some day. It kind of goes along with what Martha Beck is saying about play being good for your career. Here is the quote:
"What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do. When we do what we are meant to do, money comes to us, doors open for us, we feel useful, and the work we do feels like play to us."

I have to say I was not really that keen on Martha using September 11th as an exercise, for some reason this does not feel right to me, so I did not do that one. I actually have family members that are in law enforcement and one cousin who lost people he knew at Port Authority. I can't even remember what I did that day or the next, I think it was spend in fear and anxiety, so no not so keen on doing that exercise, no offense to Martha just a personal choice and I do get what she is saying here.

I was thinking about the part when Martha talks about your present life/job and does it serve the goals you have. I am currently working at a part time job in an accountant's office and on first thought I would say no, this does not serve my larger goals... but... when I thought about it some more, it really does serve my larger goals. The way it serves my larger goals is in the way it has allowed me to take a break from a higher stressed job in a corporation that was really not serving me. My current job also frees up time for me to do things like this book blogging and some other online adventures, as during non-tax season my hours are 9am to 2pm.

I think I am in a learning stage in my life, gathering information and skills that are currently serving my life's purpose.

I also like what Martha says about setting an alarm/reminder for fun. I am going to set an alarm on my cell phone and when it goes off it will be like a commercial break in my day, a time out for song and dance! I am also lucky to have a very playful dog who reminds me to play (with her!) as soon as I get home. (see her picture above)


Gratitude is on my mind especially during this time of year so I have decided to have a "Gratitude Giveaway" at my blog. Click the below link if you want to enter.
"Gratitude Giveaway"

Wishing all my fellow dieters a wonderful week, until next time.

Namaste,
KAren

Thank you Giveaways at my blog.

Hi Guys,

I have had a wonderful time here blogging the last few months. Some days I post fun things and other days I almost feel like this is a diary of sorts where I have released some emotional stuff, it has been both fun and cathertic.

I have met the wonderful wishcasters and book bloggers over at Jamie Ridler's Studio as well as some amazing folks in some online classes that I found through the blogosphere.

The support I have found here has really touched me. There are so many stories to listen to and to share, it really is a small world. I have met some people I would have not met otherwise, especially those overseas as well as well as all over the USA.

It is the season of giving this time of year and I would like show my gratitude here at my blog with some giveaways.

All you have to do is leave a comment here with the answer to this question:
What do you do to put a smile on your face when you are feeling down?

So now on to the good stuff. I am offering 3 giveaways and here they are:

First Giveaway: A spot in the e-course Unravelling with the amazing, inspirational and generous Susannah Conway. I have just taken this course and it has been truly eye-opening and has moved me forward out of some stuck places. You can read more about it by clicking here: Unravelling: Ways of Seeing Self.

Second Giveaway: A $30.00 Gift Certificate to Michaels Art Supply.

Third Giveaway: A $30.00 Gift Card to Amazon.com

Good Luck everyone and I wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season.
I will be choosing the winners on Friday December 4th.

Namaste,
Karen

Wednesday Wishcast:What do you wish to experience?

Hello my fellow wishcasters. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio our wish guru asks the following: What do you wish to experience?

I have to say nothing is coming to mind right away like usual and I think that could be my fear/anxiety getting in the way here. So I am sitting with this question for a few minutes to let it sink in....

So I would like to experience.....freedom from fear and anxiety, not the save your life kind but the every day mind vigilance, monkey mind, always looking for the other shoe to drop, inner critic..you get the picture.

And then with that freedom in place I would like to experience the joy and adventures of a life well lived. Adventures into creativity and community with family and friends.
More adventures and every day moments lived with passion and companionship with my husband without the insecurities.

And I would love to experience the kind of self love and healing that will allow me to let peace, love and happiness into my life without the road blocks I usually put up.

So my fellow wishcasters, what do you wish to experience today, and may your wishes come true.

Full Moon Dreamboard - November

Please click on above picture to get a better view.

Hi All,
I am a little late posting my dreamboard, but I'm here now.

This month Jamie over at Jamie Ridler's Studio asked us " What do you want to bring with you into this final quarter of the year? If you set intentions for 2009, is it time to renew them, to infuse a final burst of energy into making those dreams come true? What will you dream of for the Full Frost Moon? Come back and share your dreams in our online circle on November 2nd"

So I thought about it and the intentions I want to renew and carry through to next year are as follows:

The intention to find balance in my life, spiritually, mentally and bodily (health).
I want to make the choices that are good for me and let go of some of the old choices that are about anxiety and coping. In my board this is represented with the woman in yoga balance pose, the healthy refrigerator sign, the grapes, the keening woman, because I believe if I let myself feel the pain that I repress and let it out through emotions like crying it will be very healing.

The intention to keep up with my creativity with myself and in community. This is represented by the group of woman at the bottom with the words "share your stories" and the paint at the bottom right.

The intention to trust and have faith in love in my marriage. This is represented with the wedding couple at the bottom with the word "trust".

The intention to give thanks for what I do have. This is represented by the two bottles on the right side, it is hard to see but they say "thanks" on them.

The intention to create a warm loving home. Represented in the warm, inviting living room on the bottom left.

There are also the bottles for wishing, dreaming and hoping, I always want to remember those. There is the budda for spirituality and the Reiki drumming circle because I went to get back to my Reiki Self treatments.

The center picture is from the We'Moon calendar and it is titled "Healer" this is a reminder to heal, love and find balance in my life.

I had a very hard time taking this picture with my camera so I had to darken the picture, I hope you can click on it and see more details.

See you next full moon my fellow dreamers.

Namaste,

Karen

Happy Birthday Dad - Thinking of you today

Today is also my Dad's birthday, he has been gone for 6 years now, it is so hard to believe it has been that long.
He died of esophageal cancer, which was hard watching him go through, especially being so involved with the caretaking.
He was a man who loved his food and near the end he could not really eat much, but we made him yummy shakes. He was very strong right to the end.

My family had a period of time for about 5 years where 4 members (Dad, Father in law and 2 Aunts) were suffering from cancer back to back and eventually passing away. I was involved very closely with 3 of them and was actually there at the time of death with my Aunt and Father in Law. It was like I was on autopilot, I can't really remember much of it, you are kind of in a time outside of regular time. I have to say I did not have any warm and fuzzy experiences at the time of death, it was a little scary to see someone actually die.

Anyway I am sorry to go on and on about this but It just came up for me. I think with each illness/death a little piece of me died and I feel numb sometimes.

I went to visit my Dad's grave today and left a little bundle of marigolds/lavendar/rosemary and one of his favorite candies, Reese Peanut Butter Cups.

I miss you Dad, we had our differences and there are some things I may never know about you but I know you loved me and that meant the world to me. Love you.

The Joy Diet - Ingredient Treats~

Hello my fellow dieters over at Jamie Ridler's Book Blogging Group.
This week in "The Joy Diet" is the ingredient TREATS. Well I have to admit although I could not find the time to read this chapter this week I kept the idea of "treats" in my daily thoughts. Here are some treats I did have time for these last few weeks.

A long overdue shopping spree to Anthropologie, I love this store and I try to save up for a visit here and there. I love going in and browsing it is just so beautifully layed out. Here is a picture of some purchases I made, most on sale, which was great.

Click for larger view.

I have treated myself to some online courses in writing/art/photography and even a retreat class from a fellow wisher/dieter which I am loving, thanks Kathryn at Collage Diva. I have to say these treats have paid off in spades, they are treats that just keeps giving. I have met some wonderful people and I have discovered some creative energy in me that has been longing to get out and play.

And of course as the picture above shows I have treated myself to some dark chocolate everyday, just some at the end of my work day, I don't drink coffee so this is my pick me up treat.

And finally I continue to treat myself to this book and blogging with my fellow dieters, it has been a wild ride and I am enjoying sharing it with all of you.

I look forward to reading all about your week with treats and I will add to this post when I read the chapter.

Have a great weekend!
Namaste,
Karen

Wednesday Wishcasting-What treat do you wish for?

Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wishcasting prompt is WHAT TREAT DO YOU WISH FOR?

Well this is going to be short and easy today, no lengthy ponderings. This wish has been coming up for me in some online classes I am taking. Here it is.... READY....

The treat I wish for is to find my way to the SQUAM Art retreat in September of 2010. Now to do this I have to overcome some insecurities, which are feeling inadequate or feeling invisible at an artist's retreat. Then there is the thought of how am I going to get there, it is a 6 hour drive and I really don't think I would feel safe making that trip alone. There has been some interest in car pooling, but do I take the chance and put a deposit down in January and risk that by September plans will work out with traveling companions?

I think the answer my wonderful wishcasting friends is a BIG FAT YES! I will trust that things will work out. So this is the treat I wish for, what treats are you craving this week?

Namaste,
KAren

How do you dress up your blog and some musical entertainment.

Hi my fellow bloggers.
I was wondering if you can share any tips and techniques you have used to dress up your blogs? I would love to spruce up my page but there is just so much information out there. I tried a free template but it deleted all my links and it was limited in what it let me add.

Any help would be appreciated very much.

I leave you with some music to enjoy.

Feeling Good - Nina Simone

Namaste,
Karen

PS - the pic is a mosaic of some of my tree pictures, I love trees and I take pictures of them wherever I go.

The Joy Diet - Ingredient: Risk

Hello fellow Joy Dieters. This process has been very topsy turvy for me, I am up then I am down then I spin myself around! I am really enjoying being shaken up a bit because you know it is better than the numbness I was experiencing in my life.
I am acutally FEELING things and that is a very good thing.

So this week in the Joy Diet is RISK and here is what Martha Beck says: Risk: Take one baby step toward reaching your goal. The only rule is it has to scare the pants off you.

Some of you may know I sometimes express my feelings in poetry, not pretty, flowy poetry, but short static rhyming poems, that is just the way my brain is producing poetry right now. I have had no training in poetry or creative arts, I have just been dipping me toes in. I am going to take a BIG RISK here and share some of my poems that come from a deep, sometimes dark place in me. I would like to shed some light on them. I figure if I really want to explore poetry and put myself out there with my words I have to willing to expose myself to others, even if I RISK them judging me.

I would like to learn more about poetry and poetry writing along with some art techniques because one of my dreams is to run one day retreats for like minded souls where I can lead them in different art projects and such. So this next year I am going to try to learn and grow as an artist and a poet.

Here are some of my words that came from a place in me that is slowly being uncovered. I am giving that side of me it's say.

Thanks for listening.

1.
You look at her with something in her eyes
while I watch something within slowly dies
do you see me here where I stand
won't you reach out with your hand
I've tried to tell you how I feel
now it's left for me to heal

2.
Put on the weight, the protection you need
if you were sensual, where would that lead
somewhere unknown and not so sure
to be loved, to be touched, not impure
are you ready now to take that chance
to wake from this self imposed trance

3.
Raised in fear, not knowing what to trust
bodyguards and bullets, they were a must
in hiding, when can we go home
out there, does danger still roam
how can the child figure it out
finding trust, when there's only been doubt

4.
What would it feel like without the guilt and shame
Can I live with myself with no one else to blame
Did the choices I make help pave the way
though I may have felt that I had no say
Letting go of the past and the hold it has on me
May this be the beginning of setting myself free


Namaste my fellow dieters. See you here next week, same bat time, same bat channel.

Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos)

Photo Credit: http://www.thaneeya.com/

The Mexican holiday of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) that takes place on November 1-2 has always intrigued me. Imagine sitting in the cemetery and celebrating with your relatives, those alive and those dead. I love this below quote from the SanFranciso Gate.
“The difference between the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) and Halloween mirrors the contrast between U.S. and Mexican attitudes toward death. Halloween's frightful images reflect the fear of being dogged by vengeful, if not gory, spirits; the Day of the Dead is an exuberant reunion with friends and family members who have moved on to the next stage of their journey.”

It seems a great way to honor your ancestors. The art created around this day (see Skull above) is always so colorful and vibrant not ghoulish.
I have posted some links below with some great information about the holiday. The link for Mexconnect has some beautiful photos on their page.

My Dad’s birthday is actually on November 1st so I think this year I will visit him in the cemetery and leave him some marigolds and sweets.


Dia de los Muertos Links:
http://www.livinginseason.com/category/celebrations/
http://www.mexonline.com/daydead.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead
http://www.mexconnect.com/tags/day-of-the-dead
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/10/21/mexicomix102109.DTL&type=travel

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to say YES to?

Good Morning fellow wishcasters and our Wish Guru, Jamie Ridler. Today over at Jamie Ridler's studio the wish is, "What do you wish to say YES to?".

As always such a seemingly innocent question leads me to some big revelations.

I wish to say YES to ME! I wish to say YES to loving and taking care of myself. I have no problems saying yes to those in my life so now I would like to say YES to myself.
I will list some things here as a reminder to myself of the things I know are good for me and all about taking care and loving myself:

1. Giving myself permission to be creative, to be in creative space, I KNOW this brings me back to self and grounds me to the here and the now.
2. Going back on Nexium for my Heartburn, with the intention of it being short term. I tend to thing all or nothing, so I avoid medicine because I don't want to stay on it forever. But my heartburn effects my asthma and I need to listen to what my body is telling me.
3. Getting my diet cleaned up and really noticing what foods are good for me and which ones aren't. I feel this is the only way I will be able to get off Nexium if I go back on it and ultimatly heal myself.
4. Moving my body, even if it is just walking daily to start.
5. Practicing my Reiki self treatments as another healing element in my life, for mind body and spirit. I became afraid of it because sometimes it made me feel things I could not explain.
6. Getting back to Spirit Singing, I know it works for releasing stress/anxiety.
7. To DREAM BIG and allow those dreams to be expressed in my life.
8. To having Faith and Trust even if I don't know what's to come.
9. This is a big one: saying YES to saying NO, when no is the right choice for me.

I know these things are good for me but I often do not choose to do them. In the last year I have been trying hard to figure that out, and the conclusion I come to is I often do not love myself enough to do what is good for me. I am stating for the record that I want to love myself and give myself a chance to be the person I am meant to be. I want to set myself up to succeed, not fail!

So fellow wishcasters what are you saying "YES" to today?