lesso, play, inspiration

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Who Is Speaking Into Your Life?

I’m currently taking a course and in the last class, the coach asked that we refrain from reading any books besides the course texts for the 3 month duration of the course. I was completely floored by that request because I’m an avid reader; books are my thing; I read constantly; I love books; call me “Reader”! So you can imagine my resistance to this suggestion.

“This is sacrifice!” I said to her dazed. She reminded me that I didn’t have to do what she suggested but she is making the recommendation that if I do, I will be surprised by the “result”. The coach’s premise was that we often allow too many voices to speak into our lives when we actually would be better off listening deeply to ourselves and to God. This got me really thinking and wondering: how many people am I allowing to speak into my life every day, in the form of books, movies, programmes, friends and strangers?

What I have learnt this year is that indeed, I do have the wisdom to do my life and do it well. We are all equipped with the internal resources to live our best lives. To tap into what is readily available inside us though, we do have to take the time to be still and listen. For many of us, it’s a process of re-discovery; re-discovering that we are wise and whole and able. Doesn’t mean that there is no place for welcoming other people to speak into our lives. There is. We are wired and made for community; it is part of our human experience. What is called for though is a sense of discernment – choosing which voices to welcome and even then, being able to be still and weigh what is shared against our own internal wisdom and knowing.

So I am going to try my coach’s suggestion and “fast” from the constant companionship of books and see what happens. Already I am grateful for the prompting to begin questioning the influence of others in my life. I look forward to see what happens with more listening; less outside voices.

What about you beloveds? How many voices are you allowing to speak into your life? Could you use more internal listening and trusting yourself and your God? As the weekend begins, I wish you moments of stillness and the growing confidence that they bring, that you have all that you need to build your best, deepest, fullest life.

Happy weekend. Love, love, m

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monday inspiration: the spaces we inhabit

i’ve heard that the spaces in which we live are a reflection of who we are; that the state of our external spaces echo our internal space; clutter is not just clutter. by clearing the spaces in which we live we can affect what’s going on inside. i’m not sure it’s thaaaat deep but i do know that in my own experience, cleaning my room has led to a calmer feeling; removing clutter has left me feeling lighter; easier; more flowing.

“The spaces we inhabit and each thing within them hold our extended sense of self.”

– alison shapiro

i am currently rather obsessed with the idea of re-designing my home. (at the same time, i am also in the process of redesigning and re-embodying my life :- )* one of the looks that i am absolutely loving is white spaces, like the inspiring pics below. enjoy.

and what about you beloveds, what’s your take on the relationship between internal and external space? your experience of the same?  what one thing can you do this week to make your external space more of what you want?

have an inspired week!

love,love, m

p.s: i like this article by gretchen rubin “is the design of your office making you happy? or driving you crazy?“

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inspiration: funky collaborations

collaborations between the arts and any other sector, make me happy; as i have mentioned here and here  :- )* so, i am loving the new limited edition cans of Campbell’s Soup that draw inspiration from Andy Warhol’s famous work on the same. love!

happy, inspired week!

love, love, m

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Monday Inspiration: Favourite Colours

many shades of yellow.

What’s your favourite colour beloved? I’m currently in love with YELLOW. Completely. I want to change my sitting room wall to yellow. I want to wear it – accessories and clothes that are organic-egg-yolk-yellow! Love.

Just the other day I was thinking about it and realised that my favourite colour has changed or changes over time. I wonder if this is the case for everyone – that our favourite colours change with our life; situations; experiences; place of being; age… Curious.

I once asked my daughter, Sweetpea, this question and got a response that was kinda like this… “Green… Pink… Purple… Blue… Red… Yellow…” on and on. Wasn’t sure if she doesn’t understand the word favourite or that she just loves them all! :- )* I figured she loves them all.

So beloved, what about you? What’s your current favourite colour?

Have a bright and sunshiny week, the colour of yellow :- )*

Love, love, m

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Materialising “The Fire Starter Sessions” (and other things)

part 1:

the day danielle laporte announced that she was working on a book, i started waiting for it.

part 2:

it finally became available in bookstores all over America.

part 3:

my sister, the new yorker, is heading home for a visit a couple months after the launch of the book.  she asks” anything you want from this end?” my list is two things: one is danielle laporte’s book; the other is the backyardigans, a cartoon that my daughter absolutely loves but is unavailable here.

part 4:

she lands; she apologises. “so sorry, i didn’t bring your book”.

part 5:

deflated.

part 6:

my life is going on. occasionally i stop and wonder how i’ll get the fire starter sessions.

and then…

my pal; accountability buddy; friend mentions, “my brother is coming home from the U.S”. “cool.” I say “have a wonderful visit with him.”

brother arrives and as we’re catching up on phone, she says.. “oh and guess what book i have? yeah.. i asked him to bring it and he did”. The Fire Starter Sessions which we have both been craving is here!

fast forward to tonight and the book is sitting by my bedside as i close it and turn in to sleep. i am loving every page and what perfect, perfect timing to arrive to me! it feels kinda unreal that finally, it is here – by my bedside. long time coming yet here it is.

best part beloveds:

The things and people you deeply desire are making their way to you… sometimes in a long, circuitous route and one day, you will find them, resting gentle; real; easy, by your bedside.

amen.

love, love, m

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sweet african inspiration: ituen basi

http://www.ituenbasi.co.uk

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friday loving: love, kindness and standing up

this friday, i am loving those who stand up for others as demonstrated this week by jodie foster in the kristen stewart situation. kristen stewart has recently been even more in the news, but this time, not for her acting career but for her getting caught in an affair with one of the directors of the latest film in which she is starring. there have been a lot of negative articles and comments about this especially since the director is married and much older plus the fact that she is one part of an adored holywood couple with her boyfriend.

because of all the negative press and attention, jodie foster who has worked with her, this week wrote an article in the huffington post speaking up for kristen, asking that the media stop the negative reporting and essentially leave her alone. i applaud her for this because in a world that is so quick to judge and point fingers and insult, we all need that one person who will stand up for us. kinda links back to the issue of “covering each others’ nakedness with love“. i am loving that she chose to take this stand.

along the same lines, this week, i’m also loving kindnessgirl.com – a site that encourages random acts of kindness. we could all do with more kindness, no?

finally, couldn’t the world use more love letters? moreloveletters.com

as the long weekend begins, may you receive and give kindness and love!

kristen in balenciaga ad

love, love, m

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Monday Inspiration: Loosing Your History

I was having trouble watching videos on my computer the other day so I asked the techie guy to check what the problem was. I left him working on it and went to catch up with some artists. On return, he informs me that the problem is solved.  As I quickly log on to make sure all is working well, that’s when I notice that all my bookmarks have been deleted. All of them!

Now beloveds, let me explain. I have repeatedly said how much I love the World Wide Web and the plenty of fantastic information and access that it gives me to so much interesting stuff on art and creativity and spirituality and beautiful design and other good stuff. Whenever I’d come across a great site , I would bookmark it. I had bookmarks, saved over 2 years or so, put in different categories from “inspiration” to “blogs i heart” to “magazines” to “pending checks”. I saw my bookmark space as a place where I could go for inspiration and research whenever I needed. And just like that, I lost years of great content.

Here’s what I quickly realised in that moment – after the initial shock – I could look at it as a complete loss or I could look at it as a complete beginning; the presentation of a new clean slate from which to build new stuff. I have chosen the latter. I will find new interesting spaces; new bookmark-able  sites; new things to inspire and connect to – not the tried and true that I had saved up over the years. That’s what I am believing. So here’s to embracing new beginnings!

Have a wonderful week with plenty of new enriching possibilities.

Love, love, m

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monday inspiration: collaborations, mrs o and passion

Inspiration 1: Creative Collaborations: i love collaborations that bring seemingly unrelated sectors together towards a great cause and/or have a great story to tell. i stumbled on this one between the obama campaign and fashion designers : RUNWAY TO WIN: to raise funds towards the campaign, the designers have each made a special piece for sale. i love, love this project.

by beyonce and tina knowles

for further reading: here’s a link to a great article that looks at the support of the fashion industry for the obamas

inspiration 2: while we’re on the Obama’s…. Mrs O makes the list. It’s been a while since i checked out Mrs-O.com, the site dedicated to Michelle Obama’s fashion – what she wears almost every day. Then i did and seriously, very nice! Besides her beautiful clothes and great fashion choices, I am constantly inspired by how healthy and glowing she looks.

inspiration  3: Following your passion: I recently learnt that one of my favourite uncles has started taking flying classes. He turned sixty not too long ago and says he’s always wanted to fly so why not? The wise doc and I are both inspired by his choice.

Wishing you an inspired week!

Love, love, m

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