Pitching Perfect...

I am posting this photo in honor of the Perfect Protest.

An author, speaker and all around amazing woman that I adore just released a book that I am excited about getting: The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown

I am going to see her speak later on this month and I can't wait.
You can read more here.

Just imagine.
If we were able to let go of being perfect and instead were able to embrace who we really are... how much power would that unleash in the world? How much more compassion, love and healing could we focus on? How much more joy, peace and laughter we could partake in... how we could delight in life instead of comparing, contrasting and finding fault.

Just the other night I wrote this after a conversation with a friend...

Permission...

Whose permission are you waiting for?
go out on the dance floor,
write that book and stop the words from rolling around in your heart,
paint that picture that has been burning in your soul,
take that picture that you can see in your minds eye,
sing the song that is unsung in your heart,
create that thing that only you can see,
Live your life!

Give yourself permission.
Talk back to the fear.
Say NO when doubt whispers in your ear.
When you thinking, "but everyone else can do it so much better/prettier/more creatively/sexier/more authentically"....
STOP.

You are not everyone.
You are YOU.
Wonderfully, authentically, beautifully you.
Created to experience joy,
share love,
and to delight in all of the things we have been given.

Give yourself permission...
The world is waiting!



So... What would you do? How would your life be different?
What are you waiting for!?!?!!?

What I wish for you...

I originally wrote this for a friend... but realized there probably wasn't a heart that didn't need to be reminded of these things...


What I wish for you...

I wish for you peace, in this place of not knowing and of the shifting sands, I wish for you the knowledge that you are never alone, that you are held.

You are a child of God, loved, cherished and always looked out for.

I wish for you strength when yours is wearing thin,
hope when yours has been misplaced, and love to replace the fear.

You are a woman of integrity, of great passion and fierce tenacity.

You will be okay... it will require tears, prayers, soul searching, the love of friends and family and the grace of God, but all of these things you have, and you will be given exactly what you need.

I trust in this for you.

I see to the heart of you- and there is nothing but beauty and love.

These things I promise…

It won’t feel like this forever.

Somehow a path will be found,

the way will be made

~ even if it looks impossible now.

Remember impossible can also be I’m Possible.

Surround yourself...

Minnesota Zoo- Summer 2010

When you have lost sight of who you are you must surround yourself with

people who remember.

Brandi Carlile- Minnesota State Fair 2010

You know like you do when you take a great picture, see great art, or hear a beautiful song. Every fiber of your being resonates with recognition and anticipation. You feel it all the way to your core leaving no room for doubt. When you come to the silent still places there is no objection, there is nothing but a resounding YES! from every fiber of your being.

Great art is like this, great writing, great friendships...
and great love should be too.

Gentle Spirit...

Butterfly at the MN Zoo- Summer 2010

Something I found from 2004 that I had written... and it spoke to me today...

Within you is the voice of a gentle spirit.
If you listen, it will speak to you of strength
and encourage you with reassurance.
If you trust in it,
it will lead you home.

It’s time, gentle soul,
to wake up and share the beautiful person you are.
You’ve slumbered for a season, hiding yourself from the world.
Now it’s time to show off your colorful wings.
So look within yourself and let your spirit guide you.
Flutter into life-
its embrace waits for you.