"Choosing Succulence is a deliberate act of personal revolution. It means waking up! Embracing your true self, studying your patterns and letting out your most alive self . We all have one!
(SARK~ Succulent Wild Woman)

I have gotten all my SARK books out and am feasting on them now. They make me smile, laugh, and believe in things that once upon a time, I would never have dreamed. It is a joy*full and wonder*full day!

I have a new haircut, my little car is full of gas, my larder is full of good things to eat, and my little sanctuary is clean, warm, welcoming, & cozy. It is a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I have all my windows open and there is a slight breeze. I can hear leaves falling off the trees, it is a sublime sound.

Today is the 4th anniversary of my divorce and I intend to celebrate. (Not sure how yet, but it is going to happen! *LOL*) This has been such an incredible time in my life. I have said it before and I will say it (I’m sure) again, I am so grateful for my marriage and divorce from Michael. I know without a doubt, I had to go through it! I would not be the person I am or be WHERE I am if I had not had that gift.

I’m not saying it was easy by any stretch of the imagination. There was a great deal of pain, confusion, despair and at times feelings of complete hopelessness, Not only did I survive, I THRIVED!

My life now is not perfect! I have a few problems and dilemmas with which I am dealing, but I am happier now than I have ever been and that is extraordinary  gift. I have such abundance in my life (again, which has nothing whatsoever to do with money). My heart is full, I have what seems to be a perpetual smile on my face, and I am at peace.

I bought my turkey last night…HUZZAH! I am starting my own tradition this year. I am going to have my very own Thanksgiving. Last year was my very first Thanksgiving all alone and it was horrible. Not to mention my oven died about an hour after putting the turkey in. THIS year, now that I have the first one over, I am ready to celebrate! I can fix all my favourite dishes, watch what I want, listen to what I want ….heck I may even treat myself to a movie(I really want to see Déjà Vu). I have so much to be thankful for this year!

Next weekend I will be decorating for Christmas and begin my baking. I have not done any holiday baking in years and I am just itching to get started!

Well, time to decide what to do to celebrate today. Have a marvellous weekend. Be sure to do at least one thing that makes you happy and brings you joy.

Love, Light and Laughter,
Ame

 

"Our mental attitude is the X factor that determines our fate."
Dale Carnegie

What an absolutely beautiful evening. The darkness attempts to embrace me as I enjoy the flickering of the candles around my sanctuary. All my water fountains calm me with the soothing cadence of the water over the rocks. I am listening to this wonderful station on Live365 called Gentle Sounds~New Age which perfectly complements the calm, joy*full and peace*full aura that surrounds me this evening.

I know not why I have been blessed with this glowing, deep-seated, joyous feeling over the past four days, but I am grateful to the very center of my being for this blessing. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened. It has been quite mundane as a matter of fact, with the exception of spending some time with my ent. Indeed, given a couple of circumstances in my life at the moment, one might think I would be hanging by a slender, pure silver, slightly frazzled, ethereal thread and by virtue of that fact would be worried and frantic. Much to my delight, I am not!

I choose not too look to closely at this wondrous state of serenity and joy. I embrace it, accept it, revel in it, and thank the Lord and Lady for it from the very core of my heart. I have always tried to find little pockets of joy in everyday. I look at it as a treasure hunt, and I am never disappointed (even if I only find one little pocket). However, never has it just burst over me like a fresh spring shower, quenching me down to the deepest part of my soul. It is an amazing gift.

My heart is so full of gratitude and joy; it can hardly be contained. When I remember to write in it, I do have a gratitude journal. I had no choice but to write in it this morning! The first thing on my list was being grateful for my wonderful, ordinary life. Pure and simple. The abundance I have in my life, which has nothing whatsoever to do with money. The difficult times in my life which makes times like this so much richer and deeply joy*full. My home, my family, my ent, my job, my dear friends, autumn…the approaching holidays…so, so many things!

My ent came to visit me on Halloween, stayed for not quite two weeks, then flew to Hawaii and his new home for the next three years. It is always a joy to have him stay with me. He warms my heart and makes me feel loved, accepted and cherished. I am grateful I have such a dear, precious friend that loves me for who and what I am. I was on vacation last week to spend time with him and his visit came to an end all too quickly.

Friday was a very lazy day. I indulged myself with watching a few of the old soaps I used to watch. *grins* I am pleased to say that I was able to not succumb to the temptation of getting involved with them again (especially in light of the fact that they have apparently brought back some popular couples from when I used to be caught up in the soaps.) Yea me! *LOL* I puttered about my sanctuary enjoying the fresh fragrant breeze that teased me through my open windows as I worked. I revelled in the cool weather. I LOVE autumn; which may be a wee part of the reason why I am so alive and jazzed at this time). I suddenly found ideas forming and floating around my head about possibly rearranging my small living room, but put them to bed as it was late and I was pleasantly tired.

Saturday night I had a lovely dinner with some girlfriends, to celebrate one of their birthdays. I am afraid I have rather become a hermit in the last few months for assorted reasons, so it is so wonderful to go out and socialize with friends. It was heartwarming and soul satisfying. I returned home in time to settle down all comfy on my couch for my weekly dose of Brit Coms on my PBS station. My three favourites are “As Time Goes By,” “The Vicar of Dibley” and “Keeping up Appearances.”

Sunday began with my weekly laundry (Oh, I do love the smell of freshly washed clothes! I love to hold freshly dried towels to my face and just inhale. *grins*) I settled down after lunch to watch the latest “Harry Potter” movie again and fell asleep not quite half way through it. Which is not to say it was a boring movie; it is quite thrilling actually and I loved it! I apparently was just strongly in need of a nap! It was a loverly nap for a Sunday afternoon. It took me a while to wake up, but as I was re-entering consciousness, the ideas from Friday night once more took flight in my brain and I knew I had to attempt to do something different to my little abode.

After careful consideration, I began my task about 6:00 pm. It was soon apparent that what I had in mind would NOT work, but decided to think outside the box and much to my amazement and delight, I ended up with a living room I am most comfortable in and at the risk of repeating myself, take a great delight in occupying. I finished about 10:00 and sat on my couch basking in the new feeling of contentment and joy in my small but oh so warm and welcoming living space.

I took a long hot shower and climbed into my wonderful and welcoming bed with soft, clean, fragrant sheets. I talked for a time with my ent, then snuggled down for good read. I had a difficult time falling asleep, as my right leg was restless and wouldn’t settle down. I found myself having to keep it moving and it was most distracting! I finally found a position that seemed to help and finally fell asleep.

What an absolutely wonderful day I had today! I got up a half hour earlier than I normally do...in fact I am going to work on getting up an hour earlier or more, so that perhaps I can begin to practice meditation and work on my spiritual self. I have been sorely neglecting my spiritual life and one of the lovely results of this deep wondrous feeling is to focus on my inner life as much as I do my outer life. In any event, I had a leisurely breakfast, perused Beliefnet .com and found some wonderful articles to set me on my path of learning and growing. Got dressed and had all my things gathered with time to spare.

It was my first day back to work and I couldn’t wait to get there. I was in this totally awesome place and knew that no matter what I might face at work, I would handle it with a smile. I learned a long time ago that Mondays are all about the attitude with which you begin the day. I fall victim often times to allowing other people’s attitudes colour my own and that attitude ruins the day be it Monday or Friday! With one small exception, this day rocked! I was busy, but in control. I was cheerful and upbeat and it showed in utterly everything I did today.

Tonight I have spent reflecting on my day, journaling and giving thanks for everything in my life. Next on the agenda is a bite of dinner, some studying and meditation, my one show on Monday nights I have to watch (I am only human, you know) then bed, book and sleep. The perfect ending to an almost perfect day!

Love, Light, and Laughter,
Ame