Soul Whispers - All I Have To Do Is Listen

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and reminds me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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ALL I HAVE TO DO IS LISTEN

Could the message be any bigger?

It was even written in all caps.

This time of year can be exceptionally busy. 

Often we are so wrapped up doing things for others 

that we forget to listen to ourselves, our bodies, our hearts.

This reminded me that I am not Wonder Woman

 and I have to listen to what I need. 

All I have to do is listen.

I have a tendency to do too much. 

The city does that to you. It is easy to forget to slow down.

So, this season I just wanted to remind you to listen. 

A good cup of tea or hot chocolate

and a little people watching 

may be all you need to re-energize.

Slow down when you need to 

and remember to pause.

Just repeat this to yourself...

All I have to do is listen.

Shared Messages from the Universe - The Listening Heart

 It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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The Listening Heart

Disclaimer: I totally understand the importance of the message here from a religious point of view and I do not mean any disrespect by my interpretation that follows.

When Superman and I walked past this message, I knew I had to have a picture, and I also instantly knew that this answered a question that I had been asked by a friend - "how do you find the messages".

Well, I believe that I don't really "find" them - they find me.  

I believe that the universe whispers to my soul, that I listen with my heart, and that this is how I receive these messages. 

When I'm not stuck in 9-5 zombie mode, I truly believe that one of the reasons I notice messages like this is because I listen more with my heart.

I consciously become more present in my every day when I can calm my mind and be exactly in the moment of where I am.

It sounds easy, but I'll admit it isn't, especially in a city of 8 million people. All of whom are in a hurry to get to where they are going...each with their own busy energy and most of them are in zombie mode that it isn't easy to be present.

zombie mode: The mode that a person is in when their mind, heart, and soul are totally somewhere else than where their body is at a particular moment.

I'll also admit, there are times when I'm in zombie mode - I just want to get where I am going and my thoughts are caught up in the fact that I am late, or I'm wondering if I need to get cat food, or I'm wondering if I remembered to blog, or did I finish the document that my boss wanted, or, or, or, or...

BUT...when I breathe, let my thoughts calm, and step out on to the concrete with a open heart...the messages embrace me or it is probably more likely that I embrace the messages. They are always there. There are just times that I just may not be open enough to receiving them. My heart may not be listening because it has been closed or turned off because I'm in zombie mode.

So, I consciously choose to open my heart, to be present, to receive the messages. 

I want to encourage you today to be more present. 

Calm your mind and snap out of zombie mode for a few minutes during your lunch break today.  

Also, remember that the messages don't always show up as words.

You may see dragonflies, feathers, hearts, squirrels leaping from branch to branch symbolizing that you may need to take a leap of faith, or you might simply hear the laughter of a child. All reminders to your heart and to your soul. 

Embrace them with your listening heart.

Shared Messages from the Universe - Practice

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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I know people that equate practice with work. 

Practice in my mind equals play.

P R A C T I C E  =  P L A Y

As a child, I remember taking piano lessons (by the way I took them throughout grade school). I also remember that I could not memorize music.  No matter how long I practiced it just wouldn't stick in my head. But, I didn't let that stop me.

I could get lost playing. 

I could express how I was feeling just by the song that I chose to play. 

I miss playing the piano.

Now, I am learning and practicing to use watercolors, inktense pencils, tombow markets, micron pens, peerless watercolors, and I believe that I have learned what I like and what I don't.

P R A C T I C E

What do you practice?

Are you learning something new? Or, trying to perfect a technique?

I want to encourage you to approach your next practice lesson as play. 

Pay attention and see if just by making that shift in your mind if practice can be more play instead of work. I bet you'll find more joy in the practice.

P R A C T I C E  =  P L A Y

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Shared Messages from the Universe...Stand Clear

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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I took this picture about 5 weeks ago and at the time the message that came to my mind was...look out, here I come, stand clear and get out of my way. Forward momentum! (The picture that was in my head me as a warrior carrying my sword above my head rushing into battle.)

Well, that isn't how my last 5 weeks ago have gone.

They have, in fact, been the exact opposite. I have Fibromyalgia, diagnosed 16 years ago (wow, I hadn't done the math lately) after years of not knowing what was wrong. Learning to live with Fibro, instead of against it, has been my choice.

I say this because I could have chosen to become of victim and lived my life a certain way because I have it. But, I didn't, I chose to live with it - to pay attention to my body, to create self-care routines that help instead of hinder. I'll admit that some days are easier than others and stress plays a big part of me being able to cope with the pain.

Many things have been stressful the past couple of months and stress is a trigger to make my Fibro pain worse. My reaction was to stand clear. In some ways, I unconsciously chose to back away, a defense mechanism to stand clear. In other ways, I chose to stand clear. The bottom line is that I needed to back up, slow down. 

Well, I went too far...

I withdrew, I became mechanical and put on my blinders. I focused on having to function (go to the day job, blog post on certain days, go to physical therapy, remember to eat, sleep...I need so much sleep). All of this has made me sad, intensely super sad, a deep sad that I haven't felt in almost a decade. I've had moments of joy, good times with friends, giggles with children but poor Superman has seen my sadness. He's held me, helped me, been patient and supportive - I love him to death.

By the way, I'm writing this to share where I've been. It is part of my journey. It is who I am. I believe that out of the darkness comes light and I'm done standing clear. I need to move past this. So, slowly I am turning toward the light.

Happily, my body has started to feel better during the past week, I've gotten a lot of sleep, I took myself on artist's dates both Saturday and Sunday with my camera and took some pictures in Shakespeare Garden in Central Park. I've also been reading Renee Burke's SumMEr of Me series and it has reminded me that I need to embrace where I am and take care of myself.

I believe that I have turned the corner. I have put on a different pair of glasses to let a little more light in so that I can see the world around me a little bit better.

Now I know I am back on track, I have my sword slightly raised and will work on raising it higher as I move forward into my world.  Stand clear because I am making my way into battle for the life that I want.

Shared Messages from the Universe - Yes

 It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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It is such a little word...yet, it carries so much power.

Y E S

If you are like me thoughts, ideas, and questions are always on your mind.

While out for a walk the other day, during a rather stressful day at the crazy day job, there were a few questions that were on my mind. 

Well, these blue little Yes stickers were stuck all along my path. 

I could have walked anywhere that day during lunch but the universe guided my direction. I was constantly reminded that the answer, at least on that day at that time, was Y E S.

I could have easily not noticed these little stickers. They are only about 1.5 inches in diameter. 

And, I'll be honest, I probably didn't notice the first couple. 

But then I started to see them more often.

Like the universe was validating my questions.

I laughed out loud.

Y E S

I hope that you pay attention today.

 Is the universe trying to tell you something?

By the way, I'm going to have to see if the universe ever says no in the future. 

Messages from the Universe - Created

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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Superman and I escaped the city this past weekend and drove to visit the lovely Deborah Velásquez and her family.

Deb and I met while taking Flying Lessons, spent last Thanksgiving together and share a wonderful friendship. She is a fabulous artist and simply just fun to hang out with.

Deb and her son E have often told me that finding messages from the universe in the rural town where they live is difficult. There are few billboards and very little graffiti - unlike NYC.  

I am so inspired because they decided to create messages from the universe for me. These greeted me, hung in a tree in the driveway, upon my arrival. 

I love that they made me messages from the universe. 

I think my favorite is: Make Your Own Luck. :)

If you are having difficulty finding messages where you live - I suggest you make your own. Maybe you can hang them at the end of your driveway. 

Shared Messages from the Universe: Me = Love

 It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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If you follow me on Instagram then you may remember this photo. 

It was taken during the first week of May and I was just starting my flower challenge. That's also the reason for the boots.

Me = Love

Love = Me

There used to be a time in my life when I would have walked right past this, may have not even noticed it or if I did I would have just grinned and kept going.

Now, they touch my heart.

This touches my heart.

Things, like the above, make me smile from within and I smile for blocks.

Me = Love

I walked for the next hour doing errands but smiling deep within myself (and every once in awhile smiling for no apparent reason) because yes, me, I equal love. 

Had I not been present. Had I been too busy trying to get to where I was going. Had I not noticed I would have missed out on that hour of inner bliss.

I choose to be aware of my world around me. I choose to see the little things and to harvest joy from them. I choose...and now it is who I am and I do not have to consciously see...it is just the way I am. 

I notice things that most people walk past. I believe that each of us can harvest the simple beauty of each day if we only noticed the little things a little more. So, I feel that it is part of my responsibility to help you see the world that is around you for the first time by sharing how I see my world.

How I do this is by being present. 

Being where I am, which in NYC, often means I am surrounded by hundreds of other people who are so focused on getting to where ever they are going that they miss where they are in the moment. They rush, they are rude, they push, they don't smile, they don't make eye contact...by the way, I choose to smile, to say thank you and excuse me. I choose to be present not for them but for me.

Me = Love

Love = Me

My dear friend Renee at Happily Ever After is hosting the sumMEr of ME - a calling forth of self care. Hop over and visit her blog, click the link on her post and watch her video it will make you smile and then choose - decide how you are going to care and honor yourself this summer. 

Too often we put others before our own needs and we forget that by honoring what we need, who we are and where we are going - we actually provide more for those around us. 

So, Me = Love, Love = Me... I encourage you to become more present in your every day, to notice those little things that you used to walk past, to embrace your journey because You = Love.

How are you going to begin? 

Shared Messages from the Universe

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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Be...

Do you often find yourself with a long list of things to do?

Do you get overwhelmed with all of it?

Is your mind often thinking about the next 6 things that you need to accomplish?

What about what you are doing right now? Are truly savoring it?

Are enjoying the moment? Did you notice the flowers that you just walked past or the beautiful building that you just drove past? Or, are you just rushing to get to where you are going and focused on what comes next instead of the now?

I believe that too many of us rush through the moments of our lives trying to get to the next item on our list and we forget to enjoy where we are, we forget to enjoy the journey, we forget to be.

The photo above is one of those moments that I almost missed. I was doing laundry, in my world this means that I bag my dirty clothes and I carry them six city blocks to the laundry mat. Or, often Superman carries them and we pay by the pound for a service to launder them. But this time, it was my turn to actually do the laundry.

I walked past this photo opportunity five times before I captured it. Five times. I was so oblivious to the opportunity. I was so focused on getting to the laundry mat, running an errand while it washed, getting back, being bored, calling my brother, reading my magazine...that I missed the simple experience of the warmth of the newly laundered clothes. The smell - I love the smell of a dryer.

By the way, once I slowed down and by the time I was folding my last load I was finally in the moment. I was embracing where I was...I was in the state of being in the moment, in the now.

As I left the laundry mat, carrying my two bags of freshly folded clothes and blankets, this is when I noticed this message. I literally stopped, as you see my feet positioned in the photo above, to reposition the bags I was carrying and I laughed out loud. I snapped the photo with my phone.

The universe was reminding me to be. I walked home carrying the laundry with new eyes and a new heart. I noticed the sounds of the nearby restaurants, the colors of the fruit at the corner fruit stand, the traffic, the sky...I noticed the moment.

So, today, embrace where you are, the moment, the situation, stop living in the what if and savor the now. Be.

Day 21 May Flower Challenge & Shared Messages from the Universe

 Welcome to day 21 of the May Flower Challenge.

I'm fascinated with flowers. They are all over my tiny apartment. I photograph them all the time. I draw, paint, doodle them, create them out of paper... I also see them all over the NYC. Each day I will post flowers and I hope that you will join in. The only rules are that your blog post or flickr photo that you link must contain flowers. Click above on the May Flower Challenge Page to learn more.  

On Mondays, I usually do a post called Shared Message from the Universe.

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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Last week I shared the photo of the truck with a flower on the back of it. If you missed it click here. This week. as I was looking back through my photos from the past month, I came across the above photo.  This was taken the same day as last week's Shared Message from the Universe photo.

What are you crazy for?

I remember taking the picture and thinking...chocolate, coffee, sand between my toes, the sun on my face, animals, creating art, Superman, my family, my friends who are my family, cowboy boots, being in the moment, taking pictures, watching people, discovering something new, flowers, hot tea, a good book...

What are you crazy for?

The photo below is of my favorite flower beds. This townhouse is on 79th Street in Manhattan and every year it has the most beautiful flower beds.  Whomever lives here must be crazy about flowers, too.

Last weekend as Superman and I walked home from Central Park we walked past this building (below). We've walked past it numerous times before during the past 5 years but I've never looked up before.

Check out those flowers!

This building is between 10-12 stories high (I'm going by memory). Whomever designed this building must have loved flowers - at least I'd like to think so.

So, what are you crazy for?

And, what are you doing about it? 

I say...embrace it! 

Participate by linking your blog post to my blog post. Each day during May, starting on May 1st, on my blog post I will have a linkytool available so that you can link your specific blog post (not just your blog but the post itself) to my blog post. And, please remember to link back.

Participate by linking to the flickr group - May Flower Challenge- and adding a photo of your flower creation. Make sure you add your photo to the linky below each day that you post.

Shared Messages from the Universe & my 150th post

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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Billboard: Times Square NYC: ad for Hyundai Motors - Photo by Lori Moon

I love the photo above. I stood in Times Square and watched this video ad 6 times in order to capture these messages from the universe. I love how they are opposites.

I have just completed the Hello Soul Hello Business e-course hosted by Kelly Rae Roberts and Beth Nicholls.

Thinking about my business as a person, uncovering my why, who, what and how, creating a community with other like minded artists, and building confidence have been the highlights for me.

If you've been following along you know that I have added pages above to expand by having an online store and offering  an e-course. These wouldn't have happened if not for these two ladies. During the past year I have taken a total of 3 classes from them, each class gave me a different set of tools and I feel that I have learned a lot.

I also feel that now is the time to execute, to make things happen, to try it, to know that I am probably going to make mistakes, and to accept that that is ok. To know that if I wait for it to be perfect, it will never happen because perfect is an ideal and honestly unrealistic.

New Thinking New Possibilities

They are endless...now all I need to do is go for it.

What have you learned recently? Has it inspired you to think differently?
Will it lead to new possibilities for you?

By the way, I am celebrating with a little happy dance today because this is my 150th blog post. Help me celebrate by sharing a few words or, even better, let me know what song you are dancing to today.

Thank you, each of you, your comments and participation warm my heart and soul.

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Just a reminder that tomorrow, May 1st, my May Flower Challenge begins. I am hosting a link party each day. The only rules are that your blog post or flickr photo that you link must contain flowers. I'm fascinated with flowers. They are all over my tiny apartment. I photograph them all the time. I draw them, paint , doodle them, create them out of paper... I also see them all over the NYC. So, each day I will post flowers and I hope that you will join in. Click above on the May Flower Challenge Page to learn more. 

Shared Messages from the Universe - Love Me

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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On Friday, as I walked around NYC with my camera, I was surrounded by LOVE. 

 I saw this beautiful word everywhere.

The above picture is the very first thing I noticed when I climbed out of the subway in Chinatown, NYC.

It made me think about being selfish and how it is necessary to remember to take care of yourself. 

LOVE ME

Being selfish has a negative interpretation and I'm going to go on the record and say 

- enough already!

 It is necessary to take care of yourself; to slow down, to pamper, to spoil, to breathe, to love yourself. 

You are the only one who knows how you feel physically, emotionally,mentally, spiritually, etc. Therefore, you are the only one who will know when you need a break. You are the only one who will know when you shouldn't try to do six things at once. You are the only one who will know when you should pause.

So, I want to encourage you to spend a little "Love Me" time today. 

You deserve it!

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday...

I am hopping on Julia's weekly hop, What's on your Workdesk Wednesday today over at Stamping Ground.

I am honestly too embarrassed to share what my desk looks like because this past week I did not sit at  it. It has become a catch all for unread mail, unfinished homework from Hello Soul Hello Business worksheets, whatever I didn't want in my purse, and random stuff. (I so need to clean it up!)

Instead this past weekend, I enjoyed being outside and took a ton of photos while at the Farmer's Market (well in NYC we actually call the Green Market) but I was raised with it being a Farmer's Market so that is what I still call it. On Sunday I shared a mosaic of the sign photos that I took. Since then I've done a little cropping and straightening so I thought I would share what I've been working on, which is my photography.

By the way, I love cheese (I blame this on growing up in Wisconsin - Mom, it's your fault).

Roses sold from the back of a van. 

 Handpicked during the dark the previous night or early early morning before arrival.  

 I had to have one of these.  Yum!

 And, I just love this shot.  

Market goers: the lady with the dog, the baby stroller... I love the stacked crates. 

So, do me a favor and hop over to Stamping-Ground and stalk a few blogs to celebrate WOYWW.