Life Is Not Perfect

Life Is Not Perfect.  Today I feel like a fraud - I certainly don't feel Yellow - I certainly have no energy or motivation to go out into the world and Spread The Yellow (and when I read back over this sentence - I do not feel like a fraud - I just feel real).

We went to bed late - I am worried about my Family - and as I am stressed, this had a ripple effect and caused my Man and I to have a disagreement.  Before we fell asleep we were Best Friends again and we went to bed saying all these nice words to each other, taking turns to shower each other with compliments. - it was so sweet - my Man would say a word and then I would say a word - it just went back and forth - "Sexy", "Spunky", "Princess", "Prince", "Queen", "King", "Goddess", "Handsome"... it was a wonderful way to fall asleep.  I am eternally Grateful for my Man.

I woke up and I was so tired.  I dreamt through the night - I can't remember what my dream was about - yet dreaming makes me feel tired.  When I am conscious that I have been dreaming through the night, I wake up exhausted, almost like I have actually been on the adventure through the night.  I was talking to the Manager at the Bookstore and she was telling me that she also dreams at night and that it is important to write down the dreams - she said that if we do not pay attention to the dream, it is like, not opening a letter that has been sent to us.  I like this analogy.  This morning I can't remember the exact details of the dream - although it is about my Family - and the real life emotions are the same.  I have been told that the most important part of remembering the dream, is remembering the emotions (how did that make you feel?) rather than the story.

I didn't want to get up today.  My throat hurts, my head hurts, my back hurts.  Life Is Not Perfect.  My Life Is Not Perfect.  I could have actually stayed in bed all day - and I had this feeling, to my surprise, that I couldn't wait for the day to be over.  I bring out my Cheerleader part of me and get out of bed to go Walking.  I enjoy being out in the world - I just enjoy being out in the fresh air.

After a visit to the chemist and a bag of potions for my throat and headache, I walk home.  I decide to stay home, and not go to work today.  I make myself a Priority and choose my Health.  Life Is Not Perfect and I am not feeling my usual 120% and yet I can still look at what is within my power and make a Choice.

Life Is Not Perfect - I just want to hang out on the couch.  I even google Yellow flower images and Yellow images - and I love seeing Yellow. 

And as I look at the images of Yellow flowers, I look over on the dining room table and see my Yellow roses - I am so Grateful that my Man buys me flowers.

I love sleeping for a couple of hours and hanging out on the couch is a treat - just a chance for Self-Care.  I read a chapter 'Discovering Your Values' from my book 'Spiritual Business' by Kate Forster - "When you live with your Values, then you are on the right track.  But how on earth can you live them if you have no idea what they are?" - I also like the quote "Too many Values and you are never sure what to grasp at when the winds of change are blowing."  I also love the words "I believe that your own Values as a person, when they are brought into your own business, will make an exceptional company.  It will be a 'self-realised' company.  A company that understands what it is here to provide and is more successful as a result."

I love this book - it is making me think about my own Business - in a natural, flowing way, involving my Yin, rather than just being in a traditional Yang corporate style.  I reread some of my notes about Values from our Coaching Textbook 'Co-Active Coaching' - some of the key sentences I like that help define Values are - "Values are who we are.  Not who we would like to be, not who we think we should be, but who we are in our lives, right now... Our Values serve as a compass pointing out what it means to be true to oneself.  When we honor our Values on a regular and consisent basis, life is good and fulfilling... Important life decisions are easier to make and outcomes are more fulfilling when the decisions are viewed through a matrix of well-understood personal Values."

I remember looking at Values at College - considering our own Values and also the Values of our Clients.  Rather than looking at a long list of Values I loved the process of identifying Values by considering - Peak Moments In TIme, Suppressed Values ("looking at times when a Client was angry, frustrated, or upset") and "Must-Haves" ("look at what they must have in their lives").  I love the idea of having my Values in print - and also having Values that are both my Values for my Life and my Business.  I find that my Journal, and artwork paper and coloured crayons are perfect for putting my Values on paper.

I love putting these words on paper - My Values.  I will now put this sheet of paper up in our Study, next to my Vision Boards - so that I may see them on a daily basis.  These are my Values for My Life and My Business.

Today's main feeling has been that Life Is Not Perfect and yet when I look at my Values, I see LOVE large and right in the centre - and I know that I am so blessed to be able to score this Value 10 out of 10.

Yes, Life Is Not Perfect, and sometimes, like today, I am going to feel less than 100% - and yet I can Honour myself and just have a day to myself - sleeping, relaxing, sitting on the couch watching a fun TV series.  And I am Happy that today I was guided to relook at my Values.  Health is a big one for me - and that is why I decided to stay home.  I know that I could have gone to work and put on a Happy face and yet I am glad that I put my Health as a Priority - as now I feel ready to get back to work tomorrow and give my best - to Honour my Commitment of work, to strive for Achievement, to be in Celebration when I exceed my Targets.

I have listed 17 Values - there are a lot of Values on this list and yet they are all very important to me.  There is the opportunity for me to look at a Values-Based Decision Matrix - make a list of Values in Priority and also Scale each Value, the degree to which I am honouring each Value - this is the type of work that would be beneficial to a Client.  And yet, as I look at my List, I am so Aware that I do Honour my Values - today I just needed a day to Spread The Yellow to myself.  And soon my Man will be home and he has offered to make us dinner - I am so Grateful that he is so capable and so natural and has such a huge capacity to Spread The Yellow to me - just the small things that Make A Difference.

And I hear a knock at the door - and I am Excited - our Organic Fruit and Vege Box has arrived.  I love Mondays - did I just write this right - this morning I had Monday-itis - and yet now I feel so happy with this delivery.

I am also Delighted that I get to talk to the owner of the Business and tell her how much I love getting the Fruit and Vege Box and that I have been telling my friends about her Business.  I ask her how long she has been in Business - Emma tells me that it has been 1 year.  It was so great to talk to Emma about Business - Emma tells me that she has had such great results from being involved in the "Shine" Magazine - and that it is very affordable for each quarter and that I may be able to get an article written about me.  I love the "Shine" Magazine - it is a wonderful magazine - this is how I found out about Shire Organics and now I am a raving fan.  I may have just been given a Next Step from the Universe for my Business - yes, time to introduce myself to the Community - time to tell them that "I Am Here".  Promoting my Business SHINE Coaching in  the "Shine" Magazine is a perfect fit.   I fill my fruit bowl with all the wonderful pieces of fresh, organic apples, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit, nashi pears - yum!!!  Life Is Perfect!!!

Take A Moment

It is Good Friday.  What does that mean?  Religion - it can be such an interesting topic, and the responses to any questions are personal (and 'should not' require explanation or justification - just pure acceptance).  Many would agree, that it certainly is a Good Friday - since most of us have the day off work - and I would agree that this would make it a great day.  I Google (just love Google) why is it called Good Friday - and this is a response "Christians believe the day is 'good' because the message of Easter is of Christ's victory over sin, death, and the devil... Believing in the Good News of the Gospel (Jesus, son of God, who died and was raised again) is our hope."

Growing up Catholic and now being a blend of Christianity and Spirituality, I am comfortable with Jesus and with God.  I am Spiritual, I embrace Christianity, I also love the Buddhism philosophy - and yet if you asked my opinion on my beliefs, I do without doubt believe in God.  I have recently experienced the gift of Miracles in my own life - with my Mum and her journey with cancer.  Yet I remain open to learning and embracing Spiriuality and respect the beliefs of others. 

Today I am choosing to have a quiet day - in honour and in respect.  I did Take A Moment to reflect on Jesus and his dying on the cross - he was brave and loved us.  I remember watching a television show last night and one of the characters was saying that she had a dilemma and the priest said - "Ask, what would Jesus do?"  I love this question, as Jesus was always open and acted from a place of love. 

This reflection made me pick up my Bible tonight and I was reading where Jesus Teaches about Light - Matthew 5:14-15 "You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  I do love these words. 

I also feel that if someone I loved died today, then I would reflect on their life - so I reflect/ actually revisit the life of Jesus through his teachings in the Bible.  It is interesting, I read so many books, sooooo many books, I love reading, I love great words, I love learning - and yet I am realising that there are some great messages in the Bible - Matthew 7:3-5 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

I also love Matthew 7:7-12 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  (sounding like the Law of Attraction) Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

Wisdom abounds... and surrounds me...

Today I was "supposed" to run, according to my Goal plan but I have a cold and have been feeling tired - so I did, what I never would have done, all those years ago, when running was "of most importance to me", I allowed myself to sleep in, and then decided to just go for a nice long walk in the sun.

It was very wonderful taking a relaxing walk.

As I was walking around the Esplanade - I was able to Take A Moment, many Moments and savour the breathtaking views.  Along the Cronulla Esplanade there are so many park benches, so many people run and walk the Esplanade - and yet the seats provide a great opportunity to just sit and be with the view.  As I have recently discovered, many of these park benches are dedicated to past residents of the area - it is beautiful to read the inscriptions on the plaques.  I felt the honouring and silence that you feel when you are at a museum or at a cemetry, certainly in reverance - to just Take A Moment and read about these people who were loved.  Here are some photos - photos of the benches, the words of dedication, and the views from sitting on these park benches. 

I was very touched to Take A Moment to reflect on these people who are now gone from the lives of those who loved them. When I sat on the seats dedicated to those people who had died at an older age, I was still, and in a quiet Moment, I asked them to flow their wisdom to me.  Yet, when I sat with the sorrow of the small boy who had died so young (see photos below) Nicolas Watkins, who died at 8 years old - it saddened my heart - I could not imagine having my Nieces taken from us - I was humbled by their dedication "God has Nic in his keeping, We have him in our hearts." - I do not know how this young boy died, yet I was gracious in the knowing that his family maintained their faith...

There were other park benches, and other beautiful words, and I am happy that I had the time and inspiration to Take A Moment.  There was one woman who had died at the young age of 35 - it made me think of how lucky I am to be alive, and that I need to make the most of my time and be Grateful for every day, and make the most of every day. 

I wonder about the words that would be written and inscribed for me - and I realise that I have a Choice of the life I choose to lead, who I choose to be - certainly spending time with those I Love is the most important to me - and I am so Inspired to Spread The Yellow, and Make A Difference.

I found my path back to busy Cronulla, so many people out and about enjoying the beach - it was wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves and enjoying the ocean.  I was also happy to run into an old friend, a dear friend - who shared with me his wonderful news that him and his Wife are having a baby.  I am so happy for them.  After quiet time and reflections on dear Souls who have passed - it was wonderful being in Conversation, in Congratulations, as my friend looks to Welcome a new, precious baby into their Life, into the World. 

Life - what a GIFT...