The Red Shoes

I don't know what it is about me and red shoes.

Somehow, they symbolize to me a sense of personal power. Of standing out in the crowd. Of not being afraid to be who you are. Of freedom.

When I was young I was that shy little girl standing off by herself in the corner, afraid to be seen, afraid to speak her truth, afraid of being different from everyone else, even though, in my heart, I already knew I was different. I did everything I could to fit in, to be just like everyone else. Except it didn't work.

I was like the ugly duckling in that old children's story. I was a baby swan living among ducks.

Not that there is anything wrong with being a duck.

I wanted to be a duck. I longed to be a duck.

As time went on, I grew more and more different from the crowd. I think at some point I realized that if I was going to be different, I might as well be really different.

From trying to fit in to determined to stand out, I began to challenge those around me to begin to think for themselves. I questioned all the established rules and regulations of the belief system that I had identified with for my entire life. It did not go over well.

My story can be found HERE.

Last night my hubby and I were watching a documentary on the evolution of thought revolving around the cure of cancer. I learned that the technology and the revelation of the leading scientists that are now right on the edge of a major breakthrough in the cure for cancer actually had been suggested by scientists way back at the beginning of the century but they did not have the technology or the knowledge of how to put into action their original findings into a workable antidote.

Sometimes those of us who choose to think outside of the box are only the forerunners for those who eventually share the revelations to the world.

My point?

Do you have something inside of you that is churning, burning inside of you that you are sure will change the world? Does it seem to be at odds with the collective thinking of the day? You are not alone! Many of  us have been in the position of being the person who is caught wearing red shoes in a sea of loafers!

Don't be afraid to stand out! Don't be afraid to throw caution to the wind, to stand up and reveal your true self to the world!

It may not go over well at first.

The original scientists who came up with ideas concerning a cure for cancer never got the recognition in their lifetime for the ideas that they presented.

Here's another suggestion... what if you are wrong?

I have struggled with this one myself...

This has been my conclusion..

So what!

Bottom line is, if you feel JOY, if you are not harming another living thing,  then Get out there and do and say and be what gives your heart JOY!

Let me warn you that others may or  may not share the joy you are feeling! Allow them the right to feel or not feel joy, as long as you are not harming them in any way, or taking away their right to choose their own path.

I have learned that our souls give us this sure fire way to know if something is right for us or not. When we decide to go ahead and do or think or say something that is right in line with our soul's purpose, we get this amazing feeling of JOY.

Just for today, think about what would give your heart JOY. Throw caution to the wind and PUT ON THOSE RED SHOES! 

I am embarking upon an adventure and I have decided to take my red high heel shoes with me. I am going to take some photos of those red shoes with things that have brought me joy.. whether it be sitting at the beach, watching a sunset, or riding with my feet hanging out the window blowing in the breeze!

My goal is to really really experience JOY. Whether I am doing something profound or just mundane. I choose to experience JOY in my life.

What about you? What would change in your life if your goal was to EXPERIENCE JOY?

The challenge is on.

LET US ALL FIND THE JOY WITHIN OUR SOULS AND LET THAT BE OUR INNER COMPASS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS RIGHT FOR US!

PS...I found this image of the red shoes HERE. I am hoping all future pics of red shoes will be my own, but if I find one that I just can't NOT share, I will give proper credit..

Goodbye to the Old, Hello to the New!

Yes, I am going to add my thoughts to the thousands of others out there encouraging you to let go of 2013 and all the things that did not serve you as you welcome in this New Year.

However, I also think it is a good time to be thankful for all of those memorable events of the past year. Whether you look back at 2013 as a wonderful year or a challenging one, I am sure it is safe to say that you, like me, had a mix of both!

At the beginning of the year, Spirit told me that this was to be my year to embrace my power. This did not mean that I was going to lord it over others or flex my spiritual superhero muscles or even save the world. I learned over the course of the year that this meant that this was the year to start having faith in myself, and confidence in my purpose and calling.

I experienced a wonderful few days at my first "event" in New York where I gave mini ten minute readings back to back all day.

I expanded my monthly classes to include a second location in the neighboring town of Leesburg.

I welcomed new healers into the world in my first Reiki I class after becoming a Reiki Master.

I had the privilege of joining a record number of couples into wedded bliss!

When a part time position became available at the Post Office, I bravely bid on and was awarded the position to give me more time to do my weddings and spiritual work. This was a huge step for me, to surrender a portion of my income that is set and always there to jump into the unknown of at least partial self employment!

I began writing my second book, which I have been avoiding for at least two years now, due to fear of how it would be received by people who have known me in my past and even in my present. There are things in this book I have never told anyone!

I was so privileged to attend a week long mediumship training class with amazing mediums John Holland and Janet Nohovac. I learned so much in this intensive week that really honed in my gift and boosted my confidence in this area of my giftings.

I am so thankful for each of these experiences and hope to carry them into the next year as I invite Spirit to be an even more present force in my day to day walk of service. My only request of Spirit is that I be allowed to be of service to others while also making sure that I don't overextend myself to the point of not enjoying my life.

If you are in a place of desiring to be of service to Spirit or in any way compelled to make your part of the world a better place, you may notice that you sometimes put yourself last on the list. For me there is always a blog to write, a class to prepare for, a chapter in my book to tweak, a soul to help. This is good. But sometimes I look back and realize that I am not having any fun! Oh yes, serving Spirit is fun in itself. But sometimes I need to put on my joy hat and just go out for a run or take a hike outdoors or maybe even go shopping!

If you are even reading my blogs then I bet you are someone who has a desire to be of service to Spirit in some way, or you are curious at least about your spiritual side.

Let me encourage you to have balance in your quest for enlightenment. We are here to make the world a better place, but sometimes we take ourselves too seriously! Serving Spirit should mean  doing those things that make your heart sing and your inner self dance a jig! If it doesn't give you joy, then maybe it is time to rethink something! Take a break!

One of my intentions for the coming year is to laugh more. To spend more time in nature. To soak in life here in this planet. To love more.

Sometimes the best resolutions are ones that are easy to keep. Sure I would like to give up some of those things that are not good for me, but for now, I just want to do what makes me happy. I encourage you to do the same.

Yes, I still want to be of service. Some of my most incredible joy comes when I give a message from Spirit to someone that delights them, heals them, or in some way makes them feel better than before.
When I attune someone to Reiki it is such an incredible surge of joy that it is indescribable.

So yes, seek Spirit. Explore your spiritual side. But if your spiritual practice is not giving you joy, then maybe you should try something else. Take lots of breaks. Laugh a lot. Go out with your friends and family and treasure the experiences that make you laugh.

This is my sincerest wish that you may find 2014 the year when you discovered a new depth of joy that you never knew was possible. When you healed from your past hurts. When you forgave those who in some way challenged or offended you. When you learned to accept others who do not see life or God or the world in the same way that you do. When you stopped being afraid.

Remember that you can't be full of love and full of fear at the same time. You can't be full of joy and depressed at the same time. Go for the joy. Go for the love. Let go of everything else.

And so it is.

Toy Story

Recently I was connecting with a client and suddenly got the image of one of the Toy Story movies, when Woody was about to be shipped to some museum somewhere. That cute little girl toy, I don't remember her name, was in her box. She had forgotten what it felt like to be loved by someone. She had resolved herself to the assumption that this was all that was left for her.

The message that came through was that it was not too late to remember what it feels like to be loved!!  Get out of your box and go running toward love!!

I am not saying that the love that is out there waiting for us is romantic love, although it could be. It could be the feeling of family, or community. It could be the feeling of being on the right path, fulfilling your purpose, or having that job that fulfills and maintains you.

How many of us build a box around ourselves, when circumstances change our significant relationships?

We experience hurt or betrayal in one of many forms. We feel violated. In the movie, the little girl toy had experienced rejection, through no fault of her own, simply because her owner had grown up. Tossed aside for a more age appropriate focus, the little girl toy felt lost and confused. Her purpose in life, which was to be loved by one little girl, was in question.

Along the way, she was acquired by a man who saw her value only as a museum showpiece. Safe in her box, she resolved herself to the assumption that her days of love and abandon were behind her.

Then along came Woody, who convinced her that life was still out there to be experienced and that there was still plenty of love to go around! All she had to do was get out of her box and go for it!!

Have you put yourself inside of a box? Have you been left behind by love? Has a primary relationship ended, whether it be a romantic relationship, or perhaps a friendship, or even your relationship to a career or spiritual path? Did you think that love came only in one form, and without it packaged up in this neat little box, it was unavailable to you?

It is time to open up that box you put yourself in, and jump out!! Yes, you may anger or frustrate someone who only sees you in one scenario: tightly wrapped up in this neat little package, visible only through cardboard and plastic. You may have to fight your way out, against those whose lives are affected by your escape!!

The path to freedom is seldom paved before you!! It is challenging!!

If you are experiencing thoughts related to: there is something beyond this box I have put myself in, take heart! You are not the only one who has ever contemplated escape from neat little boxes! You can do it!

Now I am a total advocate for making a plan! Sometimes you have to stay in the box long enough to plan your escape! I stayed in one of my boxes for many years until I had made a plan of escape, and even then, it was wrought with roadblocks and challenges. But eventually, I made my escape, and wondered, after it was all over, what took me so long! But life is not meant to cause regret! I thank the box for the learning experience! I thank those who assisted me in building and maintaining the box for all those years of finding out what doesn't work and what makes me sad so that I would recognize pure joy when it came along!

The first step is recognizing that you are, in fact, in a cardboard box, waiting to be shipped to a museum.

The next step is realizing that you do have alternatives. I don't know how many people I talk to that don't realize that they do have options. No one is stuck unless they allow themselves to be.

Here is a BIGGIE!! Other people's happiness is not your responsibility. If you are not happy, but someone else is, it is not your responsibility to be miserable so someone else can be happy. Each of us are responsible for our own joy. We each have to learn to find the joy within ourselves first, and then we can find joy in our relationships.

Here is another "I should have had a V8" kick in the head moment:  sometimes if you do everything in your power to make sure someone else is happy, and they are not required to do any work to find that happiness themselves, they are not going to appreciate all your self sacrifice!

Okay so here is your assignment:

Look around your energetic self: are you in a box of your own making? Are you blaming someone else for putting you there? Are you convinced you have no options or that there is no life outside of this box?

It is time to sit down and make a plan. What steps can you take to open the box and get out? What obstacles can you perceive may come along that you are going to have to face, and when they do arise, how will you face them?

Sometimes someone will come along and point out the obvious to you, like Woody did for little cowgirl in the movie. Hey, there is another option! Get out of the box and go find that love, or that job, or that alternate spiritual path, or......(you fill in the blanks!)

If there is a question in your mind, is there something out there I am missing? Is there more to life than this? the answer is YES!! Now get out of that box and go find it!!