Regardless of what people label what they are celebrating during the month of December, the common themes are hope, peace and, well, celebration. ♥

And every year about this time, memories begin to float by the mind’s eye. Moments we choose to remember, that bring us comfort and joy … A-n-d, there are moments we would rather forget.

Are you “haunted” by the ghosts of Christmases {Decembers} past and cold realities regarding Christmas {December} present?

Or maybe you are simply game for doing something a little different this year? What about beginning a new practice?

Let’s go Blue!

That’s right! Let’s adopt the color (and calm) of Blue to be our theme-color as we determine (read: uncover/make happen!) reasons to celebrate this month!

• small, simple victories
• inexpensive (or free!) treats
• minor moments of gratitude
• night sky beauty
• watercolor sunsets
• gifts of free time
• gifts of rest and inactivity

In short, give ourselves permission to host mini-celebrations, to take care of ourselves and to enjoy simplicity in the midst of the infamously busiest time of year!

Are you with me? If so, click here!

Then, declare your intention by leaving a comment.

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Decluttering {and other mundane tasks of space management} requires one to overcome the dread of deciding what to do with miscellany what-not … And that can be overwhelming. { to say the least! }

So, I decided to incorporate this task with my “Creative Every Day Month” activities. It allowed me to shift my perspective from “work” to “creative” mode and proved to be what I needed to press through to {done}!

Here are my notes …

1. Decide on your work zones. I had three …
2. Decide how long you will work {create}.
3. Take {before} photos.
4. Set a timer for 15-minutes.
5. Start in Zone 1 and work until the timer beeps.
6. Move on to Zone 2 (taking any items that need transplanting).
7. Repeat this process until your designated time is over.
8. Take {after} photos.

It is important to decide how long you will work on this task, since Perfection tends to take over {to the point of exhaustion} with these kinds of projects. Just another reason why we dread them!

• For before and after photos of my creative declutter, click here.
• Note to self: Blah! Your new timer needs some creativ-ization! ♥

Chapter of the week for The Joy Diet by Martha Beck:

Play

To discover Play, Beck recommends that we first “Figure out what your career really is.”

Ask yourself what mattered to you most after you experienced or witnessed a genuine tragedy. Remind yourself that your real career consists of the changes you wish to make in the world and the experiences you want to have before your life is over.

My answer: Advocacy. Which I have been fortunate to be involved with, wearing various “hats” since my teen years. So, what part of that challenge-question bothered me? More …

Risk and Treats: Living the life you love? Or merely the life you get going door-to-door? More …

Kathryn, The Collage Diva, inspired me regarding The Joy Diet Menu items, “Creativity” and “Risk” [more ...]!

Creativity was the chapter for the week of October 12th; Risk, the chapter for the week of October 19th …

Although this book has inspired its share of {ACTion} as well as prompting {creative} journal entries and strategic planning …

Well …

When I read a chapter entitled, “Creativity” that only includes mere garden-variety lists and to-do verbiage, I have to wonder if the author’s left brain has been busy alphabetizing lists, spelling checking and whippin’ the right brain into the proverbial corner — said fabulous creative side hovered, muted and ignored since childhood. ♥

So-o, just imagine my thrill and delight when I read Kathryn’s post!

I immediately grabbed my book and began energizing the pages of {formally boring} “Creativity” with color and zeal! Including the cover! Pictured above …

Color always temps me to the edge. Vibrant cheers — visually enticing me with varying hues, saturation and brightness of light reflected — inviting me to Beyond.

The Joy Diet: Creativity {Jamie Ridler}

This chapter surprised me. The call to action was somewhat unexpected. I assumed “Creativity” was about something artsy. It proved to be about art in a new way: creat-ing as well as creatively embracing action.

… in case you haven’t noticed, life is a full-contact sport, at least for the soul. One psychological equivalent of yoga, an activity that stretches and strengthens in a gentle but insistent way, is the act of creation. I’m using this term to refer to the process of realizing—making real—events, objects or relationships that originally exist only in our imaginations. [p. 67]

For me, the process of realizing involves collage, journaling, blogging. It also includes the “collage elements” I gather in my role as a consultant. Keywords, tidbits of experience and inspiration and old-fashioned encouragement attach themselves to me throughout my days.

The challenge: Observation — study … a plan of action … order, regarding said elements and conclusions.

Which is why this chapter impacted me so dramatically this week. I began to {have eyes to see} keywords that served to-do’s at my proverbial table. To-do’s consistent with the charge:

Don’t worry about how stupid, impractical, grandiose, or pathetic your idea de jour may seem. The only thing that matter is simply that you think it up then write it down. Every day. [p. 68]

When I read those words on Sunday evening, it was as though a small megaphone marked the beginning of that section and a large magenta exclamation mark was drawn in the margin of the page!

Emerging …

Monday, I journaled what I knew of the process a butterfly moves through in order to remove itself from the cocoon. The toil and time and trouble of emerging, allowing the butterfly moments like …

Decision.

This was the keyword for Tuesday {Make a Decision} and the realization that: Every beginning is a consequence — every beginning ends some thing. ~Paul Valery

Advantage?

That was the keyword for Wednesday. I was challenged to consider what advantage my goals offered to me — and to others and to future clients. What was unique regarding what I had in my heart regarding creAtive planning/living/discovery? Projects like this blog and The Star Garden and the Right Brain Planner and the eclectic mix of teaching materials I have been compiling and the techniques I have been employing with clients. {Creating Sustainable Competitive Advantage}

Love ♥

Thursday was a fabulous day of friends and family love. The cherry on top was reading Transformed; a gentle reminder that moving through to our dreams is about learning to dance in the rain!

Love makes up for practically anything. It covers us through sickness, broken hearts, disappointment and angst. Love is the only way I could have arrived at this point of my journey. {Even when I became convinced I had no love in my life …} A journey through broken relationships, shattered dreams, cancer, estranged adult children, marital separation and {apparently} “until Heaven” chronic pain and mobility challenges.

Conclude

Today {Friday} is my day for conclusion, compilation and connecting. My morning hours have been enjoyed via creating, collaging and writing about this week’s discoveries. This process will continue through the weekend as I explore the discoveries of other creatives in this book discussion. I am always inspired to think outside my proverbial box …

This chapter of The Joy Diet is so much more that what I have included here. For prompts and additional notes, visit Joy Diet Journal.

The Joy Diet: Desire {Jamie Ridler}

We have “an inexplicable inner knowledge of the things we are meant to do and be … enabling us to make choices in keeping with our purpose …” The longing “leads to another, then another, then another—then one day, quite unexpectedly” you are living it. [pp. 46-47; 56]

What do I really want? This has been a question I have been asking myself, journaling about, vision boarding about, pondering, researching …

Oddly enough, I recently realized {quite unexpectedly} that I already have what I really want.

So, how did I miss it? 

It was familiar — it was already a part of me. Like a seed within; growing — but in need of more light, time and care.

A part of myself that I became convinced wasn’t there because I was too busy looking for it to even find it. Despite it taking root and sprouting, it remained hidden in my garden of bloom and busyness.

However, I am blessed with friends and colleagues who saw it … And were faithful to point it out to me, watering and weeding around it. I am thankful to finally have “eyes to see” as well as …

• The willingness to capture it in text and image …
  

• To nurture it by eliminating the overgrowth of my garden, enabling me to enjoy both the beauty and discovery!

• To embrace Truth. To believe — as well as act! — upon said Truth.

• To “let the desire become intention” and “leave the beaten path” and to “ask ‘Then what?’ Imagine what your life will be like when your desire in fulfilled.” [p. 65]
  

Last week, I was empowered to face Truth in a deeper and more confident manner. Largely due to the encouraging comments I received.

As well as from the revelation that Truth is indeed difficult … And that as one chooses to press on in Truth, the more Desire is revealed, clarified and experienced.

Desire is growing within the heart all this time. ♥

What are your desires? Are you able to identify desires you have but remain unsure how to “connect the dots” from here to there?

I read a particularly helpful nudge from Leah, in her post, Connecting with Your Longing:

“And if you don’t know yet, how could you connect with that part of yourself?”

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by each experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, “I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” You must do the thing you think you cannot do.   ~Eleanor Roosevelt

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The Joy Diet: Truth {Jamie Ridler}

The impact of this chapter surprised me. The concepts of an inner and outer effects of Truth. The notion that we are blind to those things we wish not to see.

This sorry little reward—unawareness of our pain—is the payoff we get for failing to tell ourselves the disturbing truths we already know. [p. 27]

While I deeply appreciate the brevity and directness of this  practice, it does cut like a double-edged sword.

It was especially {double-edged} regarding my answer to the questions:

1. What am I feeling?
2. What hurts?

Oh! And the fact that the Action Criterion for this practice was “increase the supply of love in the world” …

Primarily said challenge is of a maternal nature. {nuf’ said} However, the greater question for me has become:

“Why does it hurt so much?”

Why are some periods of time like a lake with no ripples and then …

Bam!

I am suddenly in a hail storm of angst over decisions I have absolutely no control over.

As far as I can tell, this process is always hard, always painful, always so, so worth it. [p. 31]

I am pondering this quote. I am embracing Nothing and Truth as a daily practice. Just peeking at Truth when that is all I can bear. But faithfully peeking, nonetheless!

• Joy Diet Journal (via Lauren)

The Joy Diet: Nothing {Jamie Ridler}

I had grown up firmly opposed to doing nothing, steeping in the American work ethic, positive I could find fulfillment through effort, optimism, stringent calisthenics. and a high fiber diet. ~Martha Beck

Isn’t the story for most of us? It took some creative doing for me to discover the gift of simply being. Of doing {nothing} …

And it took nothing making sense before {nothing} actually made sense.

However, {nothing} has evolved through its faithful occurrence — and I dare say … I believe it has now become part of my day!

Like yoga, I have practiced {nothing} and met with varied outcomes, consistency and comfort levels.

In reading The Joy Diet written by Martha Beck — and participating in Jamie Ridler’s {The Next Chapter} book blog — I have become more comfortable with a “daily does of nothing-doing.” Something Beck recommends as the foundation of said diet {a way of living or thinking} and something to observe for at least fifteen minutes a day.

Note: I am only recently returned from a two-week vacation. I have enjoyed the mountain beauty of The Enchanted Circle of New Mexico as well as the scenic views of the high desert in the El Paso, TX area. During which time (and upon my return) I was delighted to experience {nothing} in an uncomplicated and open way …

Photo Credit

There are glorious moments when we are swept up with ideas and innovations … And we are convinced we will never — ever! — forget said dances with our dreams.

Then. We do.

Writing down one’s thoughts {collaging, drawing} is essential to dancing in the presence of the daily grind. And to accomplishing what we dream about. [Much has been written already, so I will also link to google results regarding that.]

How to remember inspirations:

• Maintain a journal, time planner or some bound (or otherwise contained) system. This is the most awesome and practical method of mapping the road to your dreams. It enables you to have a proverbial view from the sky, to see where you can delete, consolidate and literally create blocks of time for concentrated work, for tasks that will equip you and get you to your destination. [More about Blocks in a Box and tips for Right-Brain Planners here.]

• Promise yourself an appointment of quiet, uninterrupted time each day. This will eliminate (or at least minimize) procrastination and allow you to simply be, collect your thoughts and focus on simply breathing in … breathing out. Once quieted, begin to examine, ponder and write about where you want to go from here. [This can be a mere 15-minutes and it will actually create hours in your days.]

• Minimize distractions (turn off your telephones, announce that you are officially going invisible at (the time of your appointment with yourself and refuse to be interrupted for anything less fire or blood) I do this by setting my appointment when my family is sleeping and/or gone from home.

• Create an “mobile” office. This will allow you to collage, write note cards, journal, read, etc. while you wait for appointments, take a break in your day, enjoy lunch at the park, have a quiet moment at a library or the coffee shop — or any other of the countless moments sprinkled in your days (that add up to hours per week) when you find yourself with “extra time.” [There are countless ways to accomplish this; mine is simply a briefcase with pens, Post-it® notes, books I want to read, note cards and stamps, my iPod and my journal.]

Remember, the pyramids were built one block at a time. A great life and a great career is built one task, and often, one part of a task, at a time. Your job in time management is to deliberately and creatively organize the concentrated time periods you need to get your key jobs done well, and on schedule. ~Brian Tracy

• Begin! Just do something — anything — today regarding making the change to living the life you dream about! Imagine that every moment of your life is worth $1000. It is actually worth much (much ) more! Each moment expires and can never be replaced; each moment is actually priceless.

The main reason that we don’t do something right now is because we think that it is going to take too much time and right now we don’t have time or we don’t feel like doing it now. I want to look at how this kind of thinking actually creates an avalanche effect and before we know it we are suffocating under a heavy load of guilt and we are paralyzed by our inactions. ~Flylady

• Focus and think: Perpetual Motion … Purpose in your heart of hearts to make every minute count. Whether you are working, playing or resting — make every minute count! Consistent effort beats doing something “perfectly” (and never getting started …) every time!

Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have. ~Unknown