Through The Tulips Words of 'Wiz'dom

November 30, 2013

Visions and Goal Setting

Filed under: Food for Thought,Inspiration,Life — gardener @ 9:12 am

Now that the ‘busy’ of November has passed and the Christmas season is upon us, I can actually kick back and enjoy this time of fun and festivities. It’s also a time for me to think about my business and what I would like to accomplish next year- a little goal setting and tossing around ideas with people I care about. I want to best utilize what I have already done, but optimizing Web 2 Print and other services are great options for me in 2014.

On my ‘to do’ list for December is make a business vision board for next year. Let the fun begin!

November 24, 2013

Fall Beauty

Filed under: Inspiration,Life — gardener @ 10:47 am

beautifulYesterday was one of those days when the weather couldn’t be better.  It was cool out-   and the skies were a gorgeous shade of blue, that I only notice this time of the year.    Rarely can I come close to capturing it in an image, but yesterday I came pretty close.

The sunset that followed this photo was as magnificent as this particular shot.    The blues became gorgeous shades of yellow, orange,  red and even purple.  It was breathtaking to say the least.

Many people dispise this time of the year, because it means cold weather is coming and the ‘death’ of summer, but I see it so much differently.  I see it as a resting period-  a time to rejuvinate, to pause and reflect.  Fall is one of the seasons where I find myself the most energized, in spite of the shorter days.

It could be days like this year round and I would be thrilled, but instead, I’ll be grateful for the ones we have, as I know it makes me appreciate the beauty of them even more.

September 30, 2013

Attitude of Gratitude- Letting the Sun Shine In

Filed under: Food for Thought,Gratitude,Inspiration,Life,Life's Little Hiccups — gardener @ 3:58 am

flowers
If you know me in my eyeryday world- then you know that even though I am human (thankfully) and do have my moments, that I do try to find the positive (silver-lining if you will) in every single day.

It’s no secret to those who know me- that this year my integrity has been tested,  my heart has been broken, and at one point I wondered if the pain of it all would ever get any better.

I won’t go into the details here, because quite truthfully- the details don’t matter.    Obstacles happen in life- and there is often this misnomer that if we choose to walk away from things that have become too painful and / or toxic to stay a part of that it is easy.   I can assure you- it’s anything but.   Especially when you have a half-hope that you could be wrong- that you’d really like to be wrong, only to find out that you are anything but.

It goes back to the quote from Maya Angelou that I love so much-  “When people show you who they are- believe them.”

So- it’s been a difficult year, but I knew that just as all things- that it would get better, and it has.   While some people would let an obstacle make them bitter- or let them live in a victim role, I know that I’m anything but.    Was I hurt?  Yes!

Did it make me question 90% of every relationship in my life?   YES

Did I allow it to make me bitter?    NO!!

Rather than become a victim to the story and make it about me-   I have thought and analyzed and been able to understand why things are what they are.    As I’ve mentioned before- it’s not about me- (it never was) and I know that I’ve always acted with integrity- even when I really didn’t want to.      That’s what matters- what I ACTUALLY did when called to task, as opposed to what I THOUGHT about doing..      The truth always takes care of itself..    It will never be my job to be judge, jury and executioner.

So now- months later, I can honestly say I’m better.    I’m grateful for the huge life lesson and the doors that it has opened since.

I feel the sun shining on my shoulders and it’s a beautiful feeling.

Grateful-   that’s me.

Traveling

Filed under: Gratitude,Inspiration,Life — gardener @ 3:45 am

Traveling- that’s something we’ve been doing quite a bit of this last month. I have so much to share about our adventures, and there are still adventures to be had.

The biggest thing, aside from seeing some amazing places and spending time with some of the people I love most in this world is the time to gain new perspective on some things I wasn’t sure about. Sometimes you need a fresh look at things and now I have that, and look forward to putting it into action.

One step at time- right now there is more fun to be had and adventures to take.

August 5, 2013

Gratitude Abound

Filed under: Gratitude,Inspiration,Life — gardener @ 1:09 pm

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” –Schweitzer

Earlier today- a dear friend posted this quote on her Facebook wall.    I absolutely LOVED it.  It resonated deep with me, not just because it is so beautiful (and to know me is to know how much I love quotes), but because it came at just the right moment-  the end of an amazing day, where I felt like I have awakened after a deep sleep.

Not only am I feeling grateful, I’m also feeling joyous for the simply amazing people that are a part of my life.     I claimed before my birthday that this year was going to be the best ever and now I actually FEEL that way.  When I look around, all I can feel is amazed.   This is MY LIFE-    Is it perfect? Nope- and you know what?  It never will be.  Perfection is a myth-     What it is for sure, is that it’s filled with many AMAZING people, who love me, support and encourage me and without knowing have set my soul on fire!!      I have a great life-  and I am SO grateful for that- for each and every blessing, and each and every person that is a part of that.

The sky is the limit-   🙂

June 30, 2013

Watering the Garden

Filed under: Food for Thought,Inspiration,Life — gardener @ 9:55 am

I was out watering my flowers and herbs a little earlier and I couldn’t help but smile at how great they are doing. I’m spending time with them daily- not lots, mind you, but enough to prune the dead flowers and to make sure they are getting the water and nutrients they need. The TLC is reflected in how they are performing- they’re beautiful.

This made me think of my own relationships- and how we should ‘tend’ our relationship gardens as we would our plants. We should give them plenty of TLC and nurture them so they can prosper and grow into something spectacular. At the same time, I realized that tending our relationship gardens is not a ‘one sided’ affair anymore than gardening is. We can’t expect to see beauty and growth in our gardens if we aren’t doing our part- anymore than we can expect for our relationships to become enriched if there isn’t investment on both sides. There’s a natural ebb and flow to relationships- where one may give more at some times than the other, but both balancing out and creating something special.

It left me thinking about my own personal relationships and what I’m bringing to the ‘garden’. What about you? Are you nuturing yours or are you letting your flowers die and wither? A little Sunday food for thought.

June 25, 2013

Smelling the Flowers

Filed under: Gratitude,Inspiration,Life — gardener @ 3:48 am

flowers
These aren’t roses (obviously) but I took this photo when I was out of town last week.  It was right after a needed rain shower that brought relief to the warm temps we were feeling.    I love how rain always enhances the color of things.

Rhododendrons make me smile.   In fact, most flowers do.   Before I stopped to enjoy them, I took notice that most people were buzzing past them without even a glance to enjoy their beauty.    Isn’t that what so many of us do?

We become so busy getting from point A to B, or from this appointment to the next and fail to notice the beauty right in front of our eyes.    Sometimes that beauty is another person and sometimes it’s a flower.

Do you take the time to notice?

A Month Later

Filed under: Gratitude,Inspiration,Life — gardener @ 3:38 am

I have not intentionally abandoned this space- I’ve had a lot to say, but so much has been happening that I’ve felt a little discombobulated at times. Thankfully that isn’t much the case anymore.

I burned my hand, have been doing some traveling, plus working. Those are all good things and I have to say that after all the bumps and road blocks that life has continued to remain good. It doesn’t mean it hasn’t been a bumpy ride for a good portion of this year thus far, but it does mean that as always those things pass and the journey continues. I am extremely blessed. It doesn’t mean that I won’t have struggles, but I know that I will make it through them as long as I remain true to myself and stay on the path I should be on. When I veer in the wrong direction- things become off-balance, very much like a washing machine that has all the clothes settled on to one side.

My biggest Ah-Ha moment this year- is realizing that keeping balance for me is living outside of my comfort zone, not in it. I know that sounds crazy, but in that comfort zone is where complacency happens. That’s the last thing I want or need. I believe for me to grow that doesn’t mean getting comfortable where I am and staying there- that I’ve got to keep moving- that’s where the real change happens. It’s time to get uncomfortable.

May 30, 2013

This Too …

Filed under: Gratitude,Inspiration,Life — gardener @ 11:03 am

I’ve been going through quite a bit emotionally lately- and quite honestly I had a moment where I wondered if things would ever change.   Marcel said that it isn’t like me to think so drastic and while he’s right- sometimes when everything hits at once it seems like it may not end.

But the old saying what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger is true.

Yesterday I woke up and it was as though a flip had switched and I felt completely different.    I no longer had the feeling of being overwhelmed with grief and sadness, but instead I felt like ‘me’ again.     I’m not one to run from things since I know it will only show up again down the road- so I’ve taken the time to ‘feel, deal and now ultimately heal’.

I feel great!  Carol’s birthday would have been two days ago and I thought about her and smiled.   I remembered all the wonderful times we had together and celebrated those memories.   I will always miss her- but I’m so grateful for the time we had together.

I have a gratitude app that I write my gratitudes in daily-(a recent thing) but I still want to share them here from time to time- if not daily.  I think it makes a difference to focus on the things in life that I’m grateful for-   and that isn’t always the happy, happy, joy, joy moments, but also the ones that make me sad, because even for those I’m grateful- for it is then when I learn the most.

Today’s bits of gratitude.

  • I’ve mentioned it a lot lately- but I’m so grateful for the people in my life that know me to the depths of my soul- who I am, what I stand for, and accept me for the person that I am.
  • For recommitting myself to good health both mentally and physically and all that it embodies.
  • People who continue to believe in and support my business.
  • Marcel and our relationship.   He is one of my biggest cheerleaders.
  • Vacation plans.

May 1, 2013

Happy May Day

Filed under: Food for Thought,Inspiration,Life — gardener @ 4:27 am

This past month flew by with a blur. I’m still wondering how May arrived and I seemed to have missed part of April. I think it was all the cold weather and the thought that it may stay cold forever that had me wondering there for a while.

I’m excited though because SPRING is here- and in all its glory! Granted, it’s still a little chilly, but the sun is shining and everything is blooming- I’m feeling more energized than I’ve felt in a long time and that within itself makes me very happy! Maybe I’m more solar powered than I thought.

The winter months did give me a lot of time to think and put some plans into action for better utlizing my time. I can ‘talk’ about it all day- but talking and actually ‘doing’ are two completely different things. It’s time to stop talking and start doing. I know that within itself is going to make a huge difference in my productivity.

I found myself writing a schedule in April when I had a lot to accomplish and by doing so, my producitivity levels increased 100 fold. Clearly it works- so it’s time to start scheduling everything. Hey- I can’t argue with what works.

Happy Spring!

« Newer PostsOlder Posts »

Powered by WordPress