Posts Tagged ‘Inspiration’
How Will You Celebrate Spring?
Monday, March 22nd, 2010
“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”
~Margaret Atwood
The seeds planted in the dark days and nights of the Winter season are now bursting through the earth. Do you see them?
The hope and trust we placed in the cold earth is showing us the miracle of life in fruits and flowers. What does the season of Spring mean to you?
As we celebrate a new season of longer daylight, blooming buds, birds singing, and warmer days, may we honor the seeds within that are pushing through. What seeds are you watering?
How will you celebrate Spring?
Let’s all put our hands in the dirt!
Mary Anne
Irish Inspiration
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
Take time to work;
It is the price of success.
Take time to think;
It is the source of power.
Take time to play;
It is the source of perpetual youth.
Take time to read;
It is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to be friendly;
It is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream;
It is hitching your wagon to a star.
Take time to love and be loved;
It is the privilege of the gods.
Take time to look around;
It is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to laugh;
It is the music of the soul.
—Old Irish Prayer
TED Talk ~ Enjoy the Gift of Storytelling
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story
I am a storyteller. Here is to sharing more stories! Mary Anne
Empty and Full
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
I am a creature of habit. Every morning, after getting ready for work, I check my emails, read a few blogs, and scan some ‘tweets’ on Twitter. I look for inspirational quotes, stories, and book recommendations that make my mind and heart expand. I always find something.
Recently, I read a tweet of a Haiku poem by Stevie Ray Robinson, and I immediately emailed it to myself so I could print it out and put it in my journal. It expressed in a few words the simplicity of being empty and full, and fading illusions.
Beginning and end…
Empty and full of all thoughts…
Illusions fade now
Each word has meaning. The words, empty and full of all thoughts, repeated in my head. There is a sense of flow and nonattachment. In infinite time and space, my habits could be less restrictive and more expansive. As I create new habits of self-love, self-care, deeper connections, expressing my voice, and writing daily, this Haiku reminds me of something my beloved teacher and friend taught me many years ago with the expression, “We ought to take our work very seriously, but not take ourselves so seriously.
Some of my habits will fade away and the ones that remain will be full of passion, happiness, and love. May every word I express today be generous and expansive.
To being empty and full,
Mary Anne
Thank you Stevie Ray Robinson for sharing your beautiful Haiku. I want to dedicate this blog to my friend Louis Alloro for deepening my understanding of limitless time.
Gratitude Attitude
Monday, July 27th, 2009
“What are you grateful for?” asked one of my teachers at the start of her class a few weeks back. Answers ranged from new clients, to family, to new learning, to friends, New York City, museums, to health. The teacher then asked if it was common for us to think about what we are grateful for as a regular practice. Much to her surprise most of the class said yes. “Really – you have established a way of noticing what you are grateful for?” she asked. Students began saying they write daily, or have a morning or evening ritual of expressing their gratitude list. Surprised by this, the teacher then asked, “Well, do you think other people think this way? Is this normal in our society?” The conversation was meant to lead us towards believing that “other people” view the world from scarcity and not abundance. And of course, there are plenty of people that view the world from lack of, receive their information from local newspapers, and watch doom and gloom on the news.
Here is what I discovered from that conversation. I realized that gratitude is an attitude that once you have it, you can make it a regular practice like brushing your teeth. I began to question if people really do think about gratitude. Interestingly enough, I began to do an inventory of the significant people in my life who impact who I am and who I am becoming. I realized all of these people have some form of expression of gratitude that they share. As I like to quote my friend Fr. Bob, “You are who you hang out with.” So, I choose to hang out with people who are grateful for what shows up in their life – including the tough lessons. I am surrounded by gratitude!
Here is my experience: when I am open, the world is open, when I am grateful, the world is grateful. Yes, there are times when it is easy to say what’s not working, but by creating a gratitude habit, I can create a new gratitude attitude every day. As Louise Hay says, “Gratitude opens the way for more good to come into your life.”
What’s your gratitude attitude? What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for new learning, my life partner, Lorene, the opportunity to buy a new car, incredible co-workers, my clients, the White Mesa allyu, my coaching colleagues/friends, my friendships of unyielding support – Paulette, Val, Joe, Louis, Didi & Ellenrita, my family, my blog, books, meditation, the building of international connections (South Africa), my chiropractor, a massage, my faith, and my ability to hold space & so, so much more!