This May, we celebrate the women who have touched our lives in ways that have helped us to become the people we are today. Each of us has experienced a very unique relationship with our mothers. Still, at the essence of motherhood is the embodiment of love, devotion, unconditional support, and wisdom.
This month, I bring to you a collection of tributes from our community of women, sharing lessons they've learned from their mothers that have become their "greatest gifts." As I listened to each of these women share their personal thoughts and stories (often very poignant and vulnerable), I continue to discover an undeniable thread that runs through each of our lives. Our resilience, wisdom, strength and grace are born from our mothers and are spawned through life's greatest challenges. Each of our mothers sustained their own personal hardships, lived through great challenges, and endured loss, sometimes abuse, often without us knowing. And still, they worked at keeping a home and the work of daily living, all while raising us. A mother's love is unlike any other yet often goes unnoticed. It is often said that it is the purest and most selfless form of love. A love that can not be explained. From Pam Bartlett: "Mom turned 92 and is still the picture of beauty inside and out. She has always shown me the importance of self-care and that 'I matter.' She worked hard her entire life and made sure we had the best education. She put us through college, which ultimately led me to my career in education. Mom put her best foot forward in everything she did – at work, within her family and community. Because it mattered to her, she always did it with a heart of grace. 'Become aware, and be an advocate for what you believe in, so people don't walk all over you.' She lived through the most challenging of circumstances, and through it, not only did she persevere, but she thrived!!! It was the way she lived that I learned that I, too, can get through life's greatest challenges." From Stephanie Foster: "The greatest lesson I learned from my mother – this is easy to answer – is that she taught me how to love!!! Ellen is my ideal of motherhood. She is my role model and my best friend. I'm so blessed to call her my mom. She's 88 years old and has lived alone since the passing of my father in 2017. She is the epitome of strength, kindness and social flare. Mom taught me the incredible power of unconditional love – she and Dad were married for 56 years. She loved my dad always, even when he was a brat, when he was losing his memory and when he drove her crazy! She had staying power and found so many beautiful ways to express her love, often without saying a word. She taught me how to love myself – self-worth. She was always very proud of me, even when I wasn't. She was my rock when my life took an unexpected turn and when I started to doubt my own ability to love. She taught me how to let go. She taught me how to love my children, to give them firm boundaries and to understand the difference between what they wanted and what they needed. She continues to teach me how to love them as adults, to not ask too many questions, but to just be present. She also taught me how to make loving decisions. I recall one of the biggest decisions (at the time) of my life was which wedding dress I wanted. I asked her, begged her, hounded her – which one? And yet, she never told me. She just took me patiently to a million dress shops until we found 'the one'– the same exact one we found at the very first place! She demonstrated patience, deep-rooted love, grounded in pride and caring and boundless energy. But she never gave me the answer; she just waited and supported me until I could make my own decisions. Most of all, my mother's love has given me the ability to build my own home, my very own safe haven. Her love showed me how to turn a house into a home." From my cousin, Roseanne Carroll: "Mother was a lady through and through and always kept her sense of humor. I always learned from her example. She was very creative, sewed beautifully and made hats from leather. Her stitching was remarkable. She was a great dancer and an actress in college. Way smart! She had a photographic memory and could spell every word in the dictionary. Her creativity has inspired my appreciation for the arts. I remember her sitting at the piano every night. Her playing inspired me to take up the piano a few years ago." From my niece, Monet Rivera: "I'm reflecting on the profound influence my mother has had not only on my life but also on the lives of everyone in our family. She is a beacon of positivity, selflessness, and love. Growing up as the only daughter in our family, I experienced a uniquely close bond with her – a bond that has only strengthened over time. From my earliest memories, my mother was always by my side, participating actively in my world. She was my best friend – whether we were shopping together or she was driving me to my horseback riding lessons, she was always there for me. I remember the tears in her eyes when she dropped me off at college. It was the first big step I took alone, though I was ready – she and Dad did a great job of raising me. Her transition into grandmotherhood has showcased her unwavering love and dedication to our family. She attends their sporting events, helps tutor them in their schoolwork, watches them when my brothers and I are on vacation, sends them sweet cards in the mail, and spoils them with her love and affection. What truly sets my mother apart is her example of what it means to be a Godly woman. Her influence molds us still, teaching us the virtues of kindness, patience and faithfulness through her everyday actions. As we celebrate Mother's Day, I am reminded that while my mother is extraordinary, she also exemplifies the universal impact of all devoted mothers. They are the architects of home and the heartbeat of family life. Their endless reserves of love and sacrifice create the memories and moral foundations that shape future generations. Today, I honor my mother, a beautiful woman whose love and strength are the cornerstone of our family. Her legacy, built on selfless love and unwavering support, will undoubtedly echo through generations. I am eternally grateful to call her my mother, and I hope to follow in her footsteps." On this Mother's Day, I'd like to invite you to think about what you've inherited from your mother, what you learned from her, and how she inspired you to become the person you are today. Let's celebrate and be grateful for a love that is unending! Spring cleaning is off to a slow but steady start at my house. It can easily become overwhelming when looking at the big picture, so take my advice: start small! Even if that means starting with the junk drawer. You will gain satisfaction, which is exactly what we need to keep going.
Each of us is living in a time of our own personal transformation. In essence, we are creating alchemy with our thoughts and ideas as they flow into everything we do. As I embark on my own clutter-clearing journey, it's not so easy to let go of things I've carried with me from home to home and season to season. Could it be a part of our need for connection to a certain time in our life or a precious moment we would have held on to? It's the sentimental things I keep in a beautiful carved wooden box. The box itself is a keepsake, and everything in it is precious to me, though not something I need to look at each day. If you're like me, it's hard for you to let go of the sentimental stuff, the parts that imprint themselves into our hearts. I haven't been able to let it all go at once, yet each year, I get rid of a little bit more, only to keep my most treasured memories. While we declutter our space, we also declutter our minds. One of the most insidious forms of clutter can be our thoughts. The words we repeat to ourselves hold power, and we tend to believe them. Often, without realizing it, we might replay the same messages over and over again. In yoga, we practice being the observer of our thoughts, and since we are not our thoughts, it's the perfect time to let them go and replace them with positive messages. Are there thoughts you're repeating that do not serve you? Take notice and replace it with a positive affirmation. Is there a situation or relationship in your life that needs an upgrade? When we let something go, we are embracing change and releasing stagnation. We are releasing the past and embracing the future. "Letting go is not a one-time thing. It's something you have to do every day, over and over again." ~ Andie McPhee from Dawsons Creek Modern-day alchemy is living in balance in an unbalanced world. It is connecting with nature, others, and the truest part of ourselves. In essence, we are creating modern-day alchemy with the thoughts we choose, the words we speak, and the energy we extend into the world. How do we create modern-day alchemy?
I hope you've found a little inspiration from this and that creating more space in your life supports you in feeling lighter, and remember the journey is the reward! The tao of “Clear your space, clear your mind." Organization has never been my strong suit. In fact, it wasn't until I was much older that I realized that all I have to do is walk into a room and soon, every flat surface is covered with my stuff. Books, papers, mail, hair scrunchies, socks, you name it. Did I mention that the flat surface includes the floor? And, when I stop long enough to find a home for everything, it feels like new life has been breathed into my space. There is someone I'd love to introduce you to if you don't already know her: author and teacher Denise Linn. She has appeared on Oprah, Lifetime, the Discovery Channel, NBC and CBS. You can meet Denise Linn on her YouTube channel or peruse her many books on Amazon. She's also helpful to follow on Instagram. Denise explores and shares how clutter clearing is much more than simply removing things we no longer need. She has even claimed clutter clearing is an act of spiritual self-care and modern-day alchemy. Her story is compelling. As a youngster, she had a near-death experience and was shown we are all connected to everyone and everything through our energy. Since we are all made up of energy, everything we surround ourselves with affects us positively or negatively. Regardless, we form an attachment to things, so we think we need to keep them for the day we MAY need them. You might visualize a crystal clear swimming pool – so clear you can see through to the very bottom. As the breeze begins to blow, leaves float on the surface, and you can no longer see through the water. When the leaves are removed the water becomes clear and clean again. So it is with our homes. Our living spaces collect things simply from daily living, and it's important to regularly remove the debris. Without even thinking about it, we hang onto it, thinking we may someday need it, when in reality, the more cluttered our space becomes, the more cluttered we feel mentally and energetically. Clutter affects all areas of our lives, including our thoughts, our time and our relationships. We often associate our memories, dreams and emotions with belongings that connect us to our past (this gives me goosebumps). The very act of removing clutter clears up the energy and allows positive space for freedom, more peace and joy. What is clutter? First, ask yourself these simple questions to find out: Do I love it? Do I use it? Does it make me feel empowered? Does it represent who I am or who I am becoming? It isn't clutter if you answered YES to any of these questions! Here are some examples of what would be considered household clutter:
Here are some examples of what would be considered emotional clutter:
Did you know that you can have time clutter, too? Time clutter is obligations, relationships and activities that crowd out room for your personal growth and renewal. Keep yourself at the top of your priority list! What are the effects of clutter? Just as energy is constantly moving, we affect everything that surrounds us, and everything that surrounds us affects us, so be mindful of the things and people you surround yourself with. Studies have proven that those with more things are less happy than those with fewer. Having more means there is more to take care of. The more we have, the more there is to organize, robbing us of time and energy we will never get back again. We have an association with the objects that surround us. If they do not uplift us, they become an energy drain. Transform your space, transform your life! I am enjoying every page of The Sacred Clutter-Clearing Journal, and I think you will, too. Denise keeps it simple and relatable, while at the same time diving deep into all areas of life. Prepare to release the emotional roots of your clutter and create space for balance, abundance and health. Happy clearing! "Spring is nature's way of saying, let's party!" ~ Robin Williams
March has arrived, bringing us the first whispers of spring. As we welcome more sunlight and say goodbye to those chilly mornings, the trees once dormant are now popping with new life, and the sleepy hillsides are now a brilliant green, giving way to poppies that seem to call out, "Spring is here, it's time to party!" Sipping my morning tea, I came across an article by a photographer who captured the feeling of spring through his photography. His images brought out the way spring makes us feel! By capturing moments of sheer beauty in nature ~ they are so much more than pictures of flowers ~ there is a sense of life happening in this very moment regardless of the many things that continue to pull us away from the beauty in this very moment. I invite you to reflect: What are some of the places and things you love most about spring, and how do they make you feel? Together, let's celebrate spring! May you find JOY as we delight in the beauty of a new season. And relish the LIGHT bringing balance into our lives as we have equal hours of day and night. Seasonal shifts offer us the gift of RENEWAL, the chance to welcome new ideas, to reassess and often redirect our focus through a fresh new lens. May you seek ADVENTURE with new vigor. Explore a new scenic path, plan a picnic, or make something with your hands. AWAKEN to the sheer vitality of life! Have you considered trying or learning something new? Spring is a time of REBIRTH, providing us with the perfect opportunity to plant seeds of possibility and hope. Although we do not rely on nature as our ancestors once did, nature remains a constant, powerful force and our greatest teacher. Nature shows us there is a time to rest, a time to root, a time to bloom, and the promise that a new day lies ahead. As we plant the seeds of possibility and hope, let's give thanks for the beauty of life's cycles and our place within them. "I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will love the darkness because it shows me the stars." ~ Og Mandino
As winter blankets us with darkened skies, showers, and snow, I am reminded of how quickly time passes and that enjoying this season invites more peace, wonder, and coziness into my space. In that space of quiet darkness, there is a stillness, like winter, that clears the mind and centers us in the present moment. "The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become" ~ Robert Holden What helps you to become more present? What are some of the ways you can bring more of that into your life? For me, it is the practice of yoga that keeps me coming back into the body, creating space for contemplation and the gift of moving from moment to moment as life unfolds. We often move so quickly from season to season, perhaps missing the best thing about winter – the need to slow down and move at a slower pace, allowing the body and mind to rest and recover. Nature, our greatest teacher, is guiding us to recalibrate. While the darkness of winter lures us in mystery, let it be a welcome invitation to turn inward away from the cold and toward the light. With that, let's honor the mystery of winter and the strength it affirms, for as we grow stronger, we find presence with what each unfolding moment offers us by the very act of being fully and deeply present. WHAT I AM LOVING THIS SEASON: For your home: The scented glow of Fable|Rune's Sicilian orange blossom soy candle for its earthy fragrance. For your bathroom: Fable|Rune's sea palm & cypress cleanser and luxurious lotion. In the kitchen: Manukora Raw Manuka Honey from New Zealand has never tasted so good. Its rich, creamy caramel taste is delicious in tea and on toast, fruit and oats. It contains bioactive prebiotics not found in most honey. In the fire: I am burning almond wood mixed with oak. It makes for an extra warm and lasting fire on these chilly nights. What I'm reading: The book Living a Committed Life by Lynne Twist. I encourage you to start now if you haven't read anything by her. She is a visionary who lives by her beliefs and inspires others to do the same. I know you will be riveted by some of her stories. A small section of the intro from this book states, "When you are able to turn breakdowns into breakthroughs, then whatever comes at you in life can become a gift; it's all there to teach you, to empower you somehow. It's not that life's difficulties don't show up, but they show up in a way that you are served by them." Sending you the warmest of wishes! |
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