MamaOwlsEmporium

Just Thinking ...

10/24/16 Monday

October is nearly over, November is closing in.  I am simply trying to break even before the new month begins.  Sometimes everything goes as planned.  Other times, not so much.  October was a blend of bumps and perfection, which is fine by me.

 

I was able to accomplish somethings I had on my Goals List.  I love Mind Mapping, it's fun and quite useful.  It makes me happy that I was able to not only share this love, but imprint it upon others who took it to a higher level!  I was able to work through lots of notes and a few prototypes to get the skeleton of my Focus Notebook ready to be shared in my Project Group as well.  Again, I was pleasantly surprised to see it was not only received well, it inspired lots of new ideas.  Each person was able to take that basic notebook and tweak it to their needs.  I love learning new things, and I love creating new things and sharing them.  The bonus for me is that I can pass on a practical tool to someone else, and then they can make the tool their own.  That, to me, is a fabulous thing! 

 

All the October Projects won't be completed, but I'm good with that. I prefer to work at an easy pace and let others follow along as they are able.  No real catching up is required.  My ongoing work along will slide on over to November, along with a couple of projects that simply required a bit more time.  I don't feel stressed, I don't feel that I failed.  I simply feel that I adjudged things as needed as I went along, and that is the way it should be for me.  That is what works best for me personally.

 

November is going to be filled with a lot of smaller projects as well as the "Travel" project I have been wanting to do for such a long time!  Finally - and I am really excited!

 

Brightest Blessings! Much Love and Light from MamaOwl

Just Life ....

It's quite strange at times to stop and take a good hard look at your life.  For me, the questioning comes at weird and random times.  There are no event triggers, no particular points that cause anxiety for me.  Thoughts just come rambling out of nowhere into my head. 

 

The last few days have been this way.  At this moment in time, we have political unrest and chaos, storms wreaking havoc all over the place, Hurricane Matthew's mess, and the approach of a powerful Full Moon.  I found myself ok one minute, and then in complete and utter overwhelm. 

 

So now, the overwhelm is still lurking in the shadows, while the strange questions are starting to pour into my brain.  The Full Moon is on Sunday October 16 - mere hours away.  If I can manage to pull myself together, I will be able to welcome a lot of creative power into my life.  If I stay in the quicksand, I will be stuck for quite some time.  Let the games begin......

 

The Pages Keep Turning… some days I simply can’t keep up…

 

     It’s quite cool outside this morning.  It’s October, my favorite month.  It seems that Fall has finally decide to kick in; a birthday gift from the universe I suppose.  The green crispness outside my window holds such potential, so many possibilities.  Another year doesn’t bring me sadness, doesn’t crush me or send me reeling with grief. It simply feels as though the time has flown by too swiftly. I glanced away for only a millisecond and suddenly I am 58 years old.  How strange it seems.  Isn’t is funny that when it comes down to it, you really don’t feel much different.  Some days I’m still that rebellious 27 year old that did exactly what she wanted to do.  Other days, I can’t imagine ever being that crazy girl ….

 

     I suddenly have the need to put words on paper; they spill out so quickly onto the page. There is so much inside me that I need to get out before it slips away.  The pages of the past are calling out to be; today I shall take a walk into the world of my memories.  I shall go back and revisit all the things that came together to make the puzzle that is me.   So as my eyes watch the birds enjoying the birdbath outside my window, my mind will wander back through time. As the squirrels scamper about, and leap crazily from one tree to another, I will replay all the little moments in time that created who I am in the here and now. I will smile, and perhaps laugh as I recall joyous bits of my past.  I will allow the tears to flow as I feel the painful times, the grief of loss.  And I will be blissful as I recall being that fearless 27 year old who fearlessly leaped out into the world. Although she struggled to keep her head above water, she had great appreciation for every moment.  She enjoyed every second and experienced everything in vivid color. That was the moment in time that I was exactly who I was, no apologies and no regrets.  I felt everything deeply and faced the world with no fear at all. Such a brief and fabulous time in my life. Every now and then, I catch a little glimpse of “DJ” and wish I could recapture the essence of that carefree soul.  And now, I feel tears streaming down my face.  I’m not sad, just wishing I could go back and feel that strong sense of self I had then. I honestly can’t put my finger on what happened, why I lost that part of me…

 

     So, my dear friends, take a moment as you begin each day. Allow yourself to drift back to that time in your life when you were the most pure form of yourself. Take joy in recalling what a fabulous time it was, and try with all your being to recapture that “strong sense of self” if you’ve lost it.  I know that’s what I will be working towards today, tomorrow, and each day this year.  It’s important, it’s something we all need a firm grasp on.  For me, October is Face Your Fear month.  I’m working through my list.  It’s not easy, but it’s necessary for me.  I need to be able to look that fearless 27 year old rebel that I was in the eye.  I need to tell her how awesome she really was, even if she didn’t know it at the time.  I want her to know just how much I need to get back in touch with her.  For, you see, I still am that crazy girl.  My age shouldn’t define who I have to be.  I’m allowed, I’ve earned the right to be myself.

 

     I leave you with the simple request that you try very hard to have a “strong sense of self”. Each of us has a bright light within, it doesn’t have to dim with each passing year. You are fabulous, you are fearless, you are unique!

 

     Brightest Blessings! Have a beautiful day! Much love and light from MamaOwl aka Debbie

 

 

 

Destination Me: Adventures at the Round Table

Back in mid August, roughly a month ago, I began to feel very out of sync in a Facebook Group.  It wasn't a bad group, I just felt like I didn't need to be there anymore.  So, I made a post on my timeline that I was going through the groups I was part of, and leaving some behind as they just weren't who I was anymore.  A lot of friends read that post. At some point, it became a very long conversation between me and three friends.  Another friend chimed in briefly that we should just start our own group.  A bit later, we took the conversation private and started chatting about just that!  We batted around lots of ideas about what we wanted the group to be, what the name would be, and how we would go about it.  Before the conversation was even over, one of the four of us had already created a Facebook Group with our chosen name.  Totally mind boggling how fast it all happened!

Surprisingly the group has grown quite naturally.  We wanted to have a group that welcomed diversity, empowered women to love themselves for who they truly are, and give each of those women a true voice in the group.  Our rules are quite simple, actually - we ask that you practice Kindness and Respect toward each other - those are the two things that are non negotiable!  It's a fast paced group at times, we have a lot going on (lots of Projects to take part in if you choose).  We are Readers and Writers, we are Creatives and Artists, we are both Teachers and Students.  The women in our Tribe come from a lot of locations, a lot of backgrounds, and we are in different places in our lives.  And yet, we find connection and love and caring within this safe haven we call our Tribe.  We find encouragement and balance, we even find ourselves - the real women we hide away at times. 

Our Projects September/October include read along groups for chosen books, creative endeavors, and projects showing you how to get it all organized and focused!  September has been amazing, and October has great things planned as well.  Totally your choice as to whether you participate! I am so incredibly blessed and thankful to be a part of this fabulous group of women.  Each and every member is so very dear to me.  I am especially thankful to three friends who share in the work that it takes to keep things moving, and grateful that those friends allow me to be who I am, no filter.  I love you so much ladies.

In closing, I ask that you think about whether this group might be a "yes" for you.  Would you enjoy the fun of a simple Round Table forum for women?  We talk about a whole lot of things!  If you're interested, look us up on Facebook - Destination Me: Adventures at the Round Table - we would love to have you join us! 

Brightest Blessings and Much Love and Light!  MamaOwl (aka Debbie)

Human Nature is a funny thing .....

It's been an interesting week.  (Yeah the typeface is Comic Sans - I like it, that's what matters.)  Human nature is such a funny thing.  The definition reads - the attitudes, feelings, and reactions that are typical of most people.  Hmmmm ......   what about the others? Are they the only ones who stop and say "What am I doing? Is this really the right things to do? Will my actions cause harm?"  You seriously have to wonder .......   

Trust is such an incredibly fragile thing.  A firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.  To believe that someone is good and honest and will not harm you.  To hope and expect that something is true.  Trust is confidence in the honesty and integrity of a person or thing.  Trust can be broken in the blink of an eye.  Can I trust you?  What an incredibly loaded little question. 

My daughter has recently lost her trust in people in general.  Like me, she chose to always see the good.  We were at a McDonalds that we meet at sometimes, it's always been a "trusted" safe place.  She slid her messenger bag a little to the back of her shoulder while getting a drink.  Someone reached into the front pocket of the bag and quickly slid her phone out and left with it.  In that little nanosecond, her trust, her faith in people failed.  The trust was broken.  I'm quite certain that Karma will pay the thief a visit, but that won't repair the shattered trust.  

I am a very private person.  I don't generally let people in unless I have faith in them.  The past has brought me to this. Trust sometimes comes very slowly, other times I just know they are deserving of my complete trust.  Every now and then, I break my own rules and let someone in.  Most times it ends badly.  I've recently done this again, and now I'm sitting back waiting for the fallout.  I see the signs, I feel the deception, the feeling is all too familiar.  The distrust is creeping in, the flames of my disappointment burn too brightly.  As a Witch, I know that I must keep myself in check or things could take a horribly wrong turn.  I choose to douse the flames, and watch things play out.  Emotions can be incredibly strong, they can cause great harm if allowed to do so.  But that is not me.  

Human nature is such a funny thing  ......  it can cause people to do incredibly unconceivable things.  

Be kind, Be smart, THINK before you act.  And please please please - keep those emotions in check.  No amount of anger (or passion, etc. ) is worth causing harm and having to live with the consequences of your actions. 

Brightest Blessings my dear friends!  Much love and light from MamaOwl . . . .

 

Its back to school time for some of the kids in my area. This time of year always feels like new beginnings to me. I tend to start new projects, go on a journey to learn something new, and make a trip to buy new notebooks, paper, pencils, and pens!

My personal "school" will start on the first of September, as I like putting down monthly goals. So, I will use the rest of August to decide what projects I will work on, what "classes" I will pursue as self study, and how I'll go about it. Of course, I'll also need to gather up some notebooks, pens, pencils, etc. - after all, you can't start school without school supplies!

Have a fabulous day my dear ones! Stay tuned!

Brightest Blessings from MamaOwl!

Season of the Spiders

I feel a little tingle of Fall today.  Yeah, I know it's still Summer.  But it's like Fall is waiting backstage - getting impatient - waiting to slip into that back row of the chorus line and sing and dance with all it's heart and soul.  And yet, it sits there watching, edging in quietly.  

The spiders are returning, the red blooms are back.  The little hummers are feasting on those tiny red flowers.  But I think it's the spiders that are bringing me the strongest message, the reminder that Fall is close.  They come back, every year.  They just start appearing, spinning their webs.  Then they sit in complete stillness until some unsuspecting creature becomes dinner.  But so goes the cycle of life.  

I'm enjoying my coffee and I can hear the soft singing of my wind chimes.  There's just a tiny breeze, yet I'm dreaming ahead to sweaters and boots.  In this brief moment, I shall take pleasure in the remnants of Summer, the sweet tease of Fall, and all that is this beautiful day.  Each season begins with the anticipation of what it may bring!  Cherish the memories that are the past.  Be present in each moment that is today.  And dream of the days to come.  Brightest Blessings my dear friends!  Much love and light to you from MamaOwl! 

And the Journeys Begins . . .

June 1, 2016 FACEBOOK Post

- Feeling determined.

Having a nostalgic kind of night. Sometimes I simply think too much. Where has all the time gone? And where the hell did the person I used to be go? My card pulls this month have forced me to rethink the path I'm on, the path that dead ended a long time ago. I see peers, old friends, employers - passing on. Some had long lives, some not so much.

Am I really honest with myself, am I happy? WTF is happy, really??? Is it contentment? Or is it being excited for adventures yet to be? Lately I feel so disconnected, so unsettled. I go through the motions of life. Some days I have moments of joy, other days just quiet despair. Did I make a wrong turn? Should I have done things differently? I simply don't have answers. I'm an optimist who's having rainy mists of doubt about who I am.

And so today I start trying to find my answers. 29 more days of June to work on me. That's my goal, that's my journey for the here and now. I suspect it's gonna be incredibly difficult. Maybe I won't like what I find. But that's where being willing to change comes in, walking on that unfamiliar road. Guess I'll find out. I've taken that first step, I've started the journey. Stay tuned......

 

Attempting to set up the new site. Unfortunately, lots of technical difficulties today. I start making change, only to be booted out of Wordpress. My site is visible one minute, and poof! - gone the next! Sadly, all three Domains are included in this mess I call my new home. Hopefully they will get it all sorted out soon. I'm very happy to report that I have no intentions of getting rid of my little Island Escape, here on TypePad. Right now, it's a total piece of Zen!!

Ok, I decided to back-paddle just a little. I had originally planned to drop my GabrielandGizzy.com Domain. But after a lot of research, and the realization that my entire Biz/Blog history is wrapped up in GabrielandGizzy, I decided to keep the Domain for now. It's all good. GabrielandGizzy was actually named after my alter ego (Gabby) and my sweet Chiny (Gizzy) who sadly crossed the Rainbow Bridge years ago. So, perhaps I am just sentimental - who knows.

Brightest Blessings my dear friends! Stay tuned for news of the new relocated website! Thanks for your support!!