Be Delighted!

I am completely INSPIRED after being in the presence of SARK at her Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper workshop! She has been a "paper mentor" to me for many years - meaning I have learned and grown from her books! So to meet her and spend the day with her was a dream come true! "DELIGHT YOURSELF FIRST"...was one of her key messages that day. I realized that when I delight myself first, it is then that I make the biggest difference with others. For so many years I lived my life trying first to please others and so many times I miss the mark, sell out on myself and am left dissapointed, empty, or just plain exhausted. This week I'm taking on "being delighted" sharing it with others and having a blast! Do you want to play? I'd love to hear your stories!

Imaginary Cozy Chairs in the Spirit of Motherhood

I have been on a journey called 10 Keys to Compassionate Parenting for about 4 weeks now! It's a workshop about parenting, but about parenting yourself too. What a new concept that has been for me. I take great pride in being a great mom for my boys, but to be a great mom to me...whoa! What does that even look like? I have been taking this on and while it feels a bit awkward and uncomfortable, I have also had moments of it feeling rich, soothing and comfortable. This all takes place over the phone and the facilitators do an amazing job of creating a space over the phone as if we were all sitting around in cozy chairs sharing the spirit of being women and mothers learning and growing from the comfort of our own homes. The MUTE button has been quite the life saver when the boys get crazy or my stomach growls...but, engaged I am on the call anticipating the next golden morsel that is sure to surface. We take turns stepping out into vulnerability, willing to share our story for the sake of seeing something new possible! Check out what I am excited about! http://www.marcitjader.com/registerforevents.htm

Choose Happy...

Have you ever noticed how some days you feel happy and others you don't. When you look around, nothing has actually changed in your life to cause the shift in your experience...except your thoughts. Today, I noticed for myself that I could choose to be happy, regardless of the circumstances that surrounded the day. Upon making the choice today, my experience of the day was altered. I felt better, which impacted my actions, which shifted my experience....all from a simple choice to be happy.

What might shift in your world if you were to choose HAPPY?

I think I met an angel...

It was an ordinary day and an ordinary event, but an extraordinary experience. I took my boys to get their haircuts. Prior to going I contemplated postponing this to another day...I'm sure glad I didn't. We arrived at Great Clips, signed in and had a seat to wait our turn. Not five minutes later a tall, grey haired, 80 year old man came through the door. He immediately engaged with the boys stirring us all into giggles and smiles and took a seat near us. In talking he told me he recently had heart surgery and felt lucky to be alive. I could see he was not feeling well and restless waiting and told him please go ahead of us. He was gracious and sat down for his hair cut. He went on to tell me of his 16 grandchildren and love for kids. When finished he walked to each of my boys and handed them each a dollar bill. He walked back, he thanked us for making his day - I didn't have words to express how he had touched ours. As he walked out the door I had the urge to run after him, grab his hand and ask him if only he could stay a little longer. I was left with the feeling that he disappeared after walking out the door. What happened was not about what he did or what he said, but the presence that he was. The feeling in that room that day was like no other. The presence of this man was pure love and joy. It was angelic. There was a woman across the room who witnessed the encounter. After he left I looked over with tears in my eyes to see tears in hers. We talked about how amazing it is to have someone you have never met before touch your life in such a way. She said, "if you ever wondered what it is like to be touched by an angel....now you have". It made me pause, ponder that which is larger than life and feel gratitude deep within my soul...so grateful that we were right where we were at that moment. After sharing this story with my sister, she sent this to me! Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

Be open to the extraordinary in the ordinary. Share your stories!

A New Year...A Fresh Perspective

I'm back! Ok...it's been way too long since I last blogged. I guess that tells you a little about my life. 2008 was a year of immense change and transformation for me and my family. You will see more of me in 2009. Taking this time to go inward and focus on home and family has brought new life to Sanity Journals. I am busy designing for 2009. I look forward to celebrating with you a new journal I will be launching in February as well as exciting events that will spark your pen to paper!

What are you up to this year? What are you creating for yourself? I would love to hear the wonderful, creative, or off the wall things you are up to!

Happy New Year!

A reminder...

Today I wrote a reminder on my mirror to make time for the little things, because they are the big things. The to-do list will wait. Sometimes I actually find myself thinking that the to-do list will get done and I will cross that last item off and then relax. Ha! Like that is going to happen! Think of what you might experience if you "paused" the to-do list. I'm going to hit pause tomorrow morning and have my coffee outside! I just might take some time to play cards with the boys, chat with friends, sit and watch my boys ride bikes, read a juicy book or whatever calls me in the moment. What will you do with your pause? EnJOY!

Change comes in all sizes...

It seems like forever since I last blogged. Life took on a new pace for awhile and I chose to let go temporarily of some activities in order to maintain my own sanity! Now that the dust is settling I have found time to blog again! My husband has taken on a new business venture and for the past several months we have been preparing, putting structures into place, learning to work together in a new dimension, and creating a new dance that involves less time together. I am figuring out how to take on these new roles powerfully and stay sane and connected to the people I love! I haven't held it together 100% of the time, but am glad to tell you that I am journaling my way through it all and that is how I stay sane! Change...this time showed up in many sizes and shapes all at the same time creating a space that at times is very awkward, challenging and exciting all at the same time. I am going to tie a knot, hang on and stay on for the ride, after all this is my life.

What is going on in your world? How are you being called to change and grow? Take five minutes today, grab a journal and step back, widen your angle and take a look...are your actions aligned with your bigger picture for what you desire in life? Happy Journaling!