A Lesson in Impermanence...They flew the coop!

Over the last month, I have watched a hummingbird family grow.   I believe I witnessed the courtship and mating.   Definitely saw the sweet little nest.  Missed seeing the eggs (too hidden), but saw Momma sit there, and finally observed her feeding the two little guys, and watched them grow!   This weekend, they flew.   We missed the maiden flight of the first sibling, but got to see the second guy flit from branch to branch as he tested out his wings!  

I felt like Mamma hummingbird was there to teach me a lesson.   She backed off as the birds grew up....  becoming more and more scarce.   She never seemed to mind how much they soiled the nest, and pushed it out of shape and to it's limits.   What started out as a tidy little pad, ended up pretty messy.   Then one day, no one was there!....   Not mama, and not the kids!   My kids crave that same independence and space that mama "H" gave her kiddos.  

Impermanence is part of life.   Detaching from those we love, a necessity that will only cause suffering if we fail to do it!  With a 17 and an 18 year-old testing their wings, I must watch from a bit further away than I would like, as they soil the nest, and ultimately fly off to their own life.   

Behave As If This Is The Day You Will Be Remembered

I love Dr. Seuss!   So much wisdom, packed in a fun little rhyme!   As I embark on my job search this week, I will keep in mind that companies should be measured by lesson number 4.   I encourage all to examine your life and make sure you are behaving as if this is the day you will be remembered!

Invitation to the Tea Party!.... Not the political kind.

TEA TRAY 

for Chiara's Party

When I was a stay at home mom, and Chiara was a little girl, tea parties were a very regular occurrence.  Sometimes it was just Kiki and her stuffed animals.   Sometimes it included dear friends.  As Kiki became Z, and I began to work full time, the tea parties all but stopped.   We did have high tea together at Harrods, her answer to having to sit through an live Arsenal match, but other than that tea parties were few and far between.  Shortly before we left Seattle, Chiara asked to have a tea party.  I was thrilled!  Home-made scones, cucumber sandwiches, fresh berries....  I love everything about a tea party!

Tea is so civilized.  It is yummy food in reasonable portions.  It is a moderately sized beverage, that comes naturally sugar free that you can't guzzle down.   It is mostly a chance to gather with friends and enjoy their company.   Also a great excuse to wear awesome hats, dress to the nines (if you are so inclined), and share electronic free time together (who could possibly leave their cell phone on for tea!)

In this era of electronics, we are forced to be a bit less civilized.   Friend's blogs, and facebook photos and personal anecdotes have to serve as my substitute tea party.   Today, I invite you all to virtual tea at my place!

The View 

From Chiara's Most Recent Tea Party

Happiness Is a Choice!

Last night, I listened as Chiara interviewed Chauncey about happiness for a school project (Click to see her website).

It was such an awesome experience.  His words are still with me this morning:

..."So you know how you would do something over and over again if you want it to become a habit?...  I think the same thing applies to positive thinking in order to attain happiness, 'cause happiness is just a choice in a single moment.  And if you make a habit of choosing to be happy, then you will be consistently more happy.   And I guess, my goal is to be choosing to be happy so frequently that it becomes such an intrinsic like habit, that it just becomes a part of who I am and I am just happy all the time."....

Oh, I wish I were as wise and creative as my kids!   I am a proud mama!

Chiara's Freestyle Website

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!.... and Share!

I have always loved the sentiment:

REDUCE!

REUSE!

RECYCLE!

Somehow I think Share needs to be there too!

So I will share some of my favorite ways,  that I see these concepts at work...

1.  Nancy is the Queen of Recycling!   She has made an incredible recycled haven in her backyard...  including her decking, and even a room in a recycled container, that I believe she is using as a bed and breakfast.   Here is a link to her very cool blog!

RE: Place in PDX

2.  Anna, my new friend here in the bay area.   She is the amazing recipient of a set of new lungs.   Anyone who knows someone with Cystic Fibrosis can appreciate just what an incredible new lease on life that a set of lungs can provide!  I am in awe of her!   She kicks butt at U-Jam and is training for the World Transplant Olympics in South Africa.   She designed a T-shirt with an incredible message...  (front) Go Green....   (back) Recycle Yourself.....   Become an Organ Donor!   Check them out on her blog.

Anna Bananas Variety Show

3.  Finally there is my daughter, Chiara- I am in awe of her.   She is a die hard shopper at Goodwill.   She finds cool clothes, and then embellishes them.   Some have been graced with images that she stencils and spray paints either onto patches, or directly onto the garment.   Other items have been enhanced with other fabric details from material that she has accumulated. Then there are studs!   

She encourages us to save any glass jars that our food comes in.   Every day she brings coffee to school in recycled peanut butter jars!   She is so cool!

I am blessed to live a life where there is abundance.  Plenty to reduce, reuse, recycle and share!   

Please share any ways you are inspired to go green!

If It Is Important to You, You Will Find a Way! If Not, You Will Find an Excuse!

This is my truth for the day.   Until someone had decided to make a change there is no way that you can  convince them.  As I examine my own life, I find this particularly true...especially when it comes to raising kids.   What are some examples in your own life where this is the case!   I love to see comments pop up!

REMEMBER- YOUR FOCUS DETERMINES YOUR REALITY

Your focus determines your reality.   This has been the tag line on my personal emails for as long as I can remember.   It is a classic line from Star Wars' Episode I, spoken by Qui Gon Jinn.  It has been the mantra that we have fed to our kids since they were young.

Craig moved to the bay area in September of 2011.   We knew that I would follow, but with two kids in high school it was unclear when that would happen, but at that point Craig encouraged me to focus on what I wanted when I got to California.   Craig's intention was for me to focus on my career.   I knew  I wanted to take a bit of a sabbatical, so my focus was on finding a great group of women to surround myself with at our new home.

Mission accomplished.  My sister Ruth and dear friend Sue were already in the area, so I had a head start on this.    Within months of my moving here, my mom decided at nearly 80 years old, she would leave the state she where she had lived her entire life, and join us in the Bay Area!

I started working out at the YMCA, and  found an amazing group of women.   Younger, older, from all around the world, it is amazing.   I love this group. They are kind and supportive.   They believe in themselves and each other to make the world a better place.   I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by their energy!

Next, I knew I wanted a neighborhood book club.   Poof!   All it took was putting that intention out there at the community picnic, and a book club was formed!   Another great group of women, all within a block of my home!   Yep, your focus truly does determine your reality!

Anyone who knows me, knows that my passions are:  my family, books and soccer!...   Guess who won the Supporter's Shield last year?....   THE QUAKES!  -my new club (yes...still an enormous Sounders fan too).   Okay now proof positive of your focus determines your reality....   One of my all time favorite Sounders is now sporting the kit of the San Jose Earthquakes!   Mike Fucito is here!

Settled, I am.   The kids are acclimating.   Craig is loving his job.   One "little" detail remains, my career.  So it is now with intense focus that I am thinking of all the characteristics that I want in my next position.    I look forward to letting everyone know soon, where I end up!

Thanks for reading this post to the end.   As you can see, I believe it is one of the most profound lines ever to appear in a movie.  Please comment and share your favorite movie quotes and how they have impacted your life!

Good, Better, Best....

GOOD

BETTER

BEST

NEVER LET IT REST

'TIL YOUR GOOD IS BETTER

AND YOUR BETTER IS THE BEST!

I will forever hear this little mantra in Mr. Brawder's voice, my high school chemistry teacher.   I may not be able to tell you any atomic weights, or recite the periodic table, but that life lesson stuck.   

It is my wish for you to uncover your life's passion, so that it is easy to put this wisdom into practice!