JUMPING OFF A CLIFF OR BEING LIFTED OFF A CLIFF...

OK, here it is girls! (Sorry about the format.) Before I left for Peru, I had a massage and was told that my body felt like it was in a cocoon. "Of course," I had told my body worker. I was going to Peru and was going to be sprinkled with 'fairy dust' and I was going to be released from my cocoon on my 57th birthday, leaving the past behind. So I thought I would help things along by 'jumping off a cliff!' Well, much to my surprise, I was expecting what I call "the first half of life;" running to the end of the cliff, scared to death, screaming 'Geronimo!' But much to my surprise, I received "the second half of life," version. A much gentler experience. As we ran toward the end of the cliff, the wind simply lifted us gently upward. The result was the same, being carried effortlessly in the breeze, riding the the 'air bubbles.' It really brought home to me that everything doesn't have to be hard.

BENEFITS TO BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR

OK girls, here's another view of the Dingle Harbor on the South-West coast of Ireland...next stop...New York, New York!

I was having trouble trying to decide if I should publish my first book with a 'supported self publishing company' or to publish it myself. I had my regular 'panty-twists, (as you all know) trying to decide what to do. In this discerning process, I began making my famous list! I decided to share it with you, just in case you're wanting to become your own entrepreneur! A couple of the benefits of taking a chance and moving forward with your dreams are: 1. It gives others a creative space to show-case their talents and share their creative ideas, and 2. hopefully, it will give others the opportunity for employment! (Eventually!:) 3. Why give your profits to another company when you don't really need their services. 4. You may become so successful that you're able to help the world, the planet or whatever pet passion you possess. And then finally number 5. What ever happens...at least you tried!

While doing the research and trying to figure out all the little details, can be trying, but also rewarding as you're gaining knowledge and learning something new. By breaking things down, step by step, the overwhelming feelings seem to subside and clarity begins to emerge. (Until the next panty-twist!) Happy Weekend!

YOU CAN DO IT! Evolve to Live; Publishing Division

Since I can't upload my paragliding video...(yet) jumping off a cliff in Peru for my 57th birthday...here is a picture of one of my favorite places in Ireland The Dingle Harbor. When I start putting the book A YEAR IN A SUITCASE together, there will be lots of fun things to see. But for now, I've spent several days trying to get ready to publish WAITING TO DIE...IS BULLSHIT! And although I take one gi-normous step forward one day, the very next day I feel like crawling in a hole because nothing is right! However, the good news, after many hours, I've figured out about ISBN; Library of Congress number and Bar Codes!

I kept thinking back when we had decided to build an in ground swimming pool. I talked with several contractors, no one wanted to deal with moving the underground utility lines in the back yard. I researched it, my dad and I dug (by hand; ours and 4 pairs of little hands) across the entire length of the back yard, a new trench. The utility company came and moved the lines, for free, I might add and now all the contractors wanted to build the pool! Crap! I already did all the hard work, No, thank you, I'll do it myself! Which I did....same thing seems to be happening with the publishing of the book. New Publishing Co. Evolve to Live....Publishing Division!

I SPENT THE NIGHT WITH 'THE MAN'!

True to form, getting ready to leave my last place of refuge, I begin my usual spinning; what's next, totally living way into the future, not enjoying the moment or the journey of my life at all! I had just left the movies I had attended with a friend and I had the opportunity to enjoy her and a wonderful dinner, but I chose to go back to the house I was staying at and sulk! Well, let's call it 'process!' I decided to go home and process the anxiety I was feeling. That sounds better! I nearly made it there, when all of the sudden my car made a U-turn! Involuntarily as far as I could tell, it just flipped around and as Gerdie, my friend's GPS would tell us when we didn't make a u-turn she was telling us; she said in an annoyed tone, "Turn left! and then Turn left!" That's exactly what my car did, it turned left, and turned left, right to the grocery store! Well, now that I'm here....OK, I have no idea why, but I bought a box of Cap'n Crunch and a little jug of milk...and consciously, ate 1/2 the box with every intention of eating the other half the next morning! (It was even on sale for $1! It must have been fate! I decided that "The Man," was better than 'The Boys!...Jose Cuervo, Jim Beam, Jack Daniels and Johnny Walker!

Here I am, nearly ending this leg of the journey here in Arizona and the anxiety begins to creep in once again. The good news is that I now recognize the panty twist that comes along with the unknown in my life. On this year journey of saying ‘yes’ to what shows up, I’m getting pretty good at ‘settling in.’ It’s when each part ends that I begin to squirm. I can say, the twists are less in intensity and duration, nevertheless, they still rear their ugly little heads signaling more trust and healing needs to take place.

Speaking with one of my daughter’s this morning; she was able to put it all into perspective for me. “Mom, it sounds like you’re playing a game of musical chairs! You’re just fixating on moving from one chair to the next with the goal being sitting your butt in a chair! How about enjoying the music along the way. If there’s no chair left when you arrive, well then, another door will open up! Deal with it then! Stay present in the moment, you're in Arizona today." Don't you love it when you're children are smarter than you!

What I know that in living in the moment; I don’t have to know anything except what is here and now…and that would be bed! Sleep with the angels, dear girls!

YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL!

You really can have it all. I realized this in Ireland when I was in the small town of Killarney with 3 detailed things on my list to find. It took awhile, but when I found the last one, a very specific hot water bottle, I remember thinking, “Wow, you really can have it all!”

I have been telling my friend about this phenomenon. The tricky part is to know what it is that you want and then to be specific.

I had been looking a town homes in a resort area in Arizona and I said, “I like everything but, this and this.” My friend said, “Well, now you see what I have been telling you all along, you have to compromise!” Well that got my dander up big time! Remembering back to Ireland, I said, “That is absolutely not true! We can have it all!” From where to live to relationships and anything inbetween! If you can think it up. It’s there for you!

And in this case, my friend was buying a house in Arizona. We had been looking for over a year, and much to both our surprise, this trip, she got it all! Down to an incredible view of the Santa Rita Mountains, from her dining room and back yard, to east sun coming in her bedroom window in the mornings and absolutely everything that was on her list.

Yesterday morning, she mentioned, she had wanted a territorial style house, one with the flat roof. “When you’re putting out there, what it is that you want, I always add; “This or something better!” Now God is not on the spot!

A Garth Brooks song comes to mind; “Sometimes I thank God, for unanswered prayers!” My friend got a really great looking house. I said, “Perhaps, by not getting the flat roof, you were spared extra maintenance in the future.”

Self Care....Creating your own space!

This Year in a Suitcase journey, sometimes feels a bit unsettling to me. As I read back on my goals I set on my birthday this year, one was to have a place to come home to between traveling. I remembered back when my life was in major transition and my friend Ernie, helped me set some goals on my 50^th birthday. The first one, “Create a place to call home, and it can’t be your job.”

I am noticing this is an issue for several others in my life. My friend, I am in Arizona with moved out of her home, bought a motor home and was going to travel for 1 year. It’s been 8 months and she’s looking for some ‘roots’. We set a goal for her, “Create a place to call home, and it can’t be your motorhome!”

I just spoke to my young adult daughter on the phone; recently married, she too is looking for a space of her own. And then my sister, married 30 years, has bought some property in the desert for retirement. She feels bad because she wants a place with 2 master suites. She thinks it’s selfish. I on the other hand think it’s very wise to have your own space, it models for others good boundaries and it’s great self care. You remember the old saying, “When mom ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”

In my marriage of 30 years, if I had claimed some space for myself instead of giving up everything for everyone else, (the martyr syndrome) I would probably still be married.

Motto: Take care of yourself. What is best for you, is best for those around you. Here’s to your health! Great Boundaries! PS....Chris just bought her new digs today!

YOU THINK YOU KNOW, BUT YOU HAVE NO IDEA!

This is it! This cute little holly tree is the culprit! Today I was going to tell you, the mouse in the house I'm sitting for may have been a false alarm, (the jury is still out on that one) and talk about assumptions. Well, let’s talk about assumptions anyway. When I was in Ireland, one of the jobs I was doing; was taking all the linens from the room upstairs that had been thrown into big black garbage bags for transport from one house to another during the remodel. I was washing everything so that it would be clean for the new house. After weeks, I had come to the end of the pile and as I dumped the bag over, I noticed mouse droppings along with a squeaky sound. I am not good with little critters especially those with tails! Ask my old housecleaning partner, (she's not really old). If there was anything with a tail; like a lizard or mouse, you would find me on top of the bed screaming until she rescued me. So a mouse in the house was not exciting to me! I called my friend’s brother who came (eventually). When he arrived, I said, “See these droppings, hear that scratching sound? It‘s over there in the corner." I pointed out the place as I quickly left, closing the door behind me. (What? A mouse can't crawl under the door?) Several minutes later, he came out with a smile. "Come with me outside, it's the holly plant outside scratching the door in the wind."

Because there were mouse droppings, I assumed there must be a mouse! Once again I'm reminded, YOU THINK YOU KNOW, BUT YOU HAVE NO IDEA!

Ireland

I began a journey for a year, researching my next book, A YEAR IN A SUITCASE. After leaving Hawaii, I went to Ireland to stay with Fr. Seamus' mother while he was remodeling her house. The weeks turned into 4 months and I was asked to stay longer, but I asked myself, "Would this bring me joy?" It was just a few days before Christmas and while I had nowhere in particular to be for the holidays, staying in Ireland with Seamus and his family all being home for 2 weeks would not bring me joy. So my time in Ireland ended. It was a wonderful experience and this is a picture of me taking a beautiful walk on the beach. P.S. I'm here housesitting for a friend in Arizona. It's late and it sounds like a mouse in the laundry room! Dang it! Sleep with the angels my two devoted followers!

HOLA, FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS!

Hola, Faithful Followers, You courageous women!

Where did I go? I seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth! Well, at least it feels that way for me at times. I have no excuse for my neglect to the blog, just that the timing wasn't right and being 'technology challenged' without regular internet access it just felt like 'work!'

I am back in the states and currently in Shaurita, Arizona, housesitting until the 12th of March. For the past 6 months, I have been traveling; researching my next book; A YEAR IN A SUITCASE. I will be sharing the year journey of trusting and

saying 'yes' to the opportunities that come my way, along with all the fun and anxiety that gets stirred up for me. ALOHA