Sunday Snippets

I am letting the pictures tell my story and linking up with tinniegirl today.

Hop over to tinniegirl and visit a few other blogs.

You never know what you might find that inspires you.

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.

Sunday Snippets - My Week in Pictures

A glimpse at my week in pictures...

I'm linking up with tinniegirl this week...I'm letting my pictures tell my story.

Thanks for visiting!

Sunday Snippets

My week in pictures...

I am linking up with Tinniegirl this weeks and her Sunday Snippets. 

I am letting the pictures tell my story.

Shared Message from the Universe - Perseverance

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 Facebook or Instagram then this picture will look familiar. Superman and I took a  walk on Saturday to beat the heat and see the hundreds of dogs that get walked early in the morning in Central Park. On our way there we past this and I, of course, had to have a picture.

The universe has been sending me messages without words lately. In my opinion, it is insisting that I be present more. 

The other day while lying in the grass enjoying the sky a squirrel jumped from one tree to another. No fear but knew that it was the shortest distance from he was to where he wanted to be and he just went for it. Maybe I need to trust and leap a little bit more but that is another post. Today, the message from these little fungi.

Perseverance: steady persistence in a course of action.

This grate surrounds a beautiful tree in Manhattan. All of these little mushrooms were growing up through the grate. Their stark white bodies against the rusty grate were beautiful. 

As I walked away, I just couldn't get over how there were so many. How they had grown in an environment that is not their normal environment. 

Where there's a will there's a way.

Keep fighting for what you want.

The artist in me needed to be reminded of this. 

Perseverance

Often, my stressful day job and my daily fibromyalgia pain can drag me down.  Combine these with a lack of patience and I then feel stuck. This results in me not moving forward, who am I kidding, not moving at all. 

Thank you, Universe, for reminding me that I need to persevere. I need to keep fighting for what I want. I need to keep going. 

So, I want to encourage you to not give up, 

to keep moving forward,

 to fight for what you want, 

to become who you want to be, 

to embrace perseverance as you enjoy the journey and live your dream.

What message has the universe recently shared with you? 

Photo-Heart Connection - July

I snapped this picture recently on a weekend in Central Park. 

The bride and groom were walking around the park with the wedding party, parents, and the photographers capturing moments and posing for pictures.

I'm the type of person that prefers to capture the unexpected rather than the posed image.

 I love to capture photos of brides in Central Park.

I captured this moment as they walked past me and were laughing about something and grinning ear to ear.

 I was honestly more captivated by the way she held her dress up and the fact that she was wearing her heels. (I would have been wearing converse sneakers or cowboy boots.)

There are a million stories that I could make up about the couple but they are mystery to me as I only saw them for a moment. May they have a lifetime of happiness.

This photo makes me smile as I imagine their joyous life together.

I am linking up with Kat at Kat Eye Studio and her Photo Heart Connection today. Each month she asks us to review the photos that we have taken during the past month and select the photo that speaks to our heart. Please visit her blog and stalk the other participants posts - the photos are amazing and the stories that have been written about them are touching.

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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In the picture...Reflection

 Today I'm linking up with Urban Muser and her monthly in the picture theme.

Urban Muser hosts a self portrait link up each month and inspires us with a theme. This month her {in the picture} theme is reflection. I took this literally and had a blast capturing my reflection around NYC.  

capturing my commute home                           (c) Lori Moon

when it rains wear flowers                     (c) Lori Moon

I always 'need' a cup of coffee                              (c) Lori Moon

playing with my reflection                               (c) Lori Moon

Where can you capture reflections of you?

Make sure you hop on over and check out the other amazing self portraits this month.

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.

Sunday Snippets

 My week in pictures...as seen on Instagram:

I am joining up with Tinniegirl this weeks and her Sunday Snippets. I am letting the pictures tell my story.

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. 

Pausing Today...

No long post today. I just thought I would share a photo of the different wall textures that I see every day.

 

What every day item can you capture in a new way?

Moments of a Little Bliss

I am linking up with Liv Lane and her Little Bliss List today.

1. Looking up...in NYC you just don't do it...unless you are a tourist. Well, I vow to do it more often.

2. Visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art on July 4th with Superman. A little exercise for my knees, air conditioning, his hand in mine, and art - it was lovely.

3. Time spent playing and experimenting with watercolors. I am having so much fun doodling with watercolors.

4. Learning that my newly adopted cat, Java, is still a kitten, under a year, she gained a pound in the last 5 weeks and grew. There is hope that I can break her habit of biting, yippee.

Moments of bliss.

Hop over to Liv's blog and see what little moments of bliss others had this week.

What moments of bliss have noticed in your day lately?

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.

Sunday Snippets

Today I am linking up with Tinniegirl and her Sunday Snippets.

{sunday snippets} A collection of photos from your week.

No need for words. Let the pictures tell your story.

Visit Tinniegirl to see some other great shots.

Shared Messages from the Universe - Om

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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Breathe

Inhale...

Exhale...

I remember the day that I took this photo. 

It was a day that I took off from my day job 

to specifically explore the city and take pictures. 

I remember because I had been walking 

around for hours 

and this reminded me 

to breathe, to pause and to take a break.

This is exactly what I need at the moment 

as I start back at my crazy day job today. 

So, I will be pausing 

from blogging until Friday.

Only a few days

 but a few days will be

 all I need as I will miss you.

Have you paused lately?

Have you taken the time to breathe?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -       

Have you noticed any Shared Messages from the Universe?

Share your message by joining my flickr group by the same name: Shared Messages from the Universe and post or link your photos.  Share those written messages that you walk by most of the time.  Those messages that all of a sudden you notice, you read, you react and they move you forward.

I'd love to see the messages that have inspired you!

Day 22 May Flower Challenge - Architectural Elements

  Welcome to day 22 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.  

I continue to see flowers in the architecture around Manhattan.

When Superman and I are out and about my camera is usually in my hand. 

He often has to pause and wait for me while I snap a picture. 

This Brownstone (townhouse) has floral elements all over it's facade.

A Carriage House on the Upper East Side.

A floral window grate. To me, it looks like the flowers are dancing below. 

Join me tomorrow when I share how I created my own floral wall clings/decals. 

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.

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.

Day 18 May Flower Challenge & A Little Bliss

  Welcome to day 18 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 rule is that your blog post or flickr photo that you link must contain flowers. Click above on the May Flower Challenge Page to learn more. 

A few found street art photos to qualify as my flower a day in May for my May Flower Challenge.

Also, today I'm linking up with Liv Lane.  Every Friday, Liv hosts the Little Bliss List link party...it is about listing the little things that have touched our hearts and made us feel joy, peace, warmth, love and/or a little bliss during the past week. So, I'm jumping on the bliss band wagon.  

1. Found flowers...seriously they just keep crossing my path.  I am having so much fun with my May Flower Challenge - posting a flower a day in May. Those of you who are participating, I hope that you to are having fun. You each are inspiring me with your flower photos, stamps, drawings, paintings, collages, paper flowers - - flower art!  By the way, it isn't too lane, join in some flower fun at any time and share your flowers.

2. During the past weekend, Superman and I attended a small artist fair in NYC.  I just had to have this. 

Designed and made by Jessie Driscoll of Made From Coins. This lovely little flower is made out of an antique silver dime. Visit her site to see and learn more.  

6th Street Flowers At My Feet                     Photo by Jazmyn Henry

3. The found flower bandwagon...a dear friend, Jazmyn, who lives in the NYC keeps seeing flowers. She is an avid reader of my blog and a huge supporter of my creative journey.

This lovely flower presented itself to her one day and she just had to snap this great photo, share on her facebook page and tag me.

It made my day.

4. A big thank you to Superman this week. He not only has made dinner for me most of the week but he also has been the cat wrangler.

With a new young cat in our house poor Tucker has had a workout lately and their play time has been rather rambunctious during the day while Superman works from home.

Little Java is half of Tucker's size but full of spunk.

What has brought you bliss this week? Get inspired by reading the other bliss bloggers today by clicking over to Liv's blog. 

Also, don't forget to visit the other May Flower Challenge participants by clicking on their links below.

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.