I do. I was thinking about this tonight. There is the person I believe I truly am, the person I want to be, and then there's this other sometimes nasty, sometimes scared, mostly self-conscious girl. What do you do with that? I feel I spend a lot of my energy fighting that little girl. telling her it's okay, that she'll be fine.

Death March - the path of a person, lost; without direction or passion in their lives; a road that does not fit but seems fixed, without a turnaround; a river whose current is sweeping you far away from your vision.

To those of you who read me or listen to me, you know I get a lot of inspiration from Eckhart Tolle.  I'm into A New Earth currently and read the phrase this morning, "Luminous Space."  Whew.

I love this quote by Po Bronson in What Should I Do With My Life?:  "Curiosity is a raw and genuine sign from deep inside our tangled psyches, and we'd do well to follow the direction it points us in."  I have discovered that the most challenging questions of our lives can be answered by the simplest instincts and impulses within us. 

This is a somewhat altered quote from The Invitation, a PHENOMENAL book and poem by Oriah Mountain Dreamer.  From the poem, here's the section: "It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.  I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy."
In the book she tells the story of how many times that last line "if you can be faithless and therfore trustworthy" has been altered and questioned.  Many individuals in her audience could not wrap their minds around how a person could be both faithless and trustworthy.  But I wonder...how often do we suppress our individuality, our uniqueness - how often do we NOT make our stamp on this world, because of an obligation, an expectation by another? 

It occurs to me that we too often apologize, either to ourselves or others, for things that are just part of us, naked and authentic and...yes, beautiful.  Eckhart Tolle talks about forgiving, even liking, that image in the mirror.  If you are friendly to the image in the mirror, it will be friendly to you.  Below the surface of looks, job, family, likes and dislikes, is the essence of you.  It is this that matters.  It's the difference between the surface body of water and the aquifer running deep below.  Tune into your aquifer and that of those around you, and you will become truly aligned with the essential elements of the Universe.  We are quick to regret aspects of our lives, wish for something different, something "better," but what we often miss (cause we're focused on what could be) is that the things we experience are crucial for us to achieve what we're here to do.  As Marcus Aurelius says, "Accept whatever comes to you woven in the pattern of your destiny, for what could more aptly fit your needs?" 

To all of you who have given me such great feedback over the past couple of days, whether over email or blog posts or twitter, I cannot thank you enough.  My heart is FULL with gratitude and inspiration, ackowledging that I have the great fortune to be surrounded by so many incredible people. 
To those who have added comments to my blog posts, what a thrill it was this morning to get in there and see two new comments added - woo hoo!! (:  Thank you - geez, how cool is that!
And a final thank you to my web master, Karen Rainsong and her hubby Josh, from Rainsong Design.  You two have created a site that not only feels like a good fit, but also has received NUMEROUS compliments both artistically and structurally.  You two ROCK!  And the fact that you're married and running a business together outside of your home is just too cool in my book.
And for all of you who have taken the time to "check me out" by perusing all the info shared in the website, or following my weekly emails...you are so often the strength that keeps me putting myself out there.  Thank you so much.
tam (:

There are so many times that I remind myself to practice what I preach!  And raising my two boys is often cause for such reminders!! (: 

Here's the thing that gets me the most about Susan Boyle...she didn't care what they had to say.  She walked off the stage.  And even in the later interviews, she expressed a focus.  She knew her path was not finished, just because she had received acclaim, prasie and adoration.  It turned my stomach to hear reporters rub in her face over and over again how she had received catcalls, etc. from the audience before she proved herself.  This brings up another point.  Why do we have to prove ourselves?  If we can accept that we ourselves have unfathomable depth, then why wouldn't every single thing around us also have unfathomable depth?  It stirs me to no end to see this woman persevere, despite ridicule and doubt and then further...despite applause.  I love it!

Hello Everyone!

Hey, if you haven’t seen it, please check out this link on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk&feature=haxa_popt00us02 It’s an incredible example of a woman defying the voices of “they” to pursue her dream, to be herself.  It’s inspiring.  It can be daunting, thinking of all the many “they’s” out there, isn’t it.  And frankly, that’s why so many choose to stay behind the curtain, to not reveal themselves for who they truly are.  Fear of rejection, of negative opinion all keep us hidden.  Look for that spark, that thing that can happen at any moment, and perhaps already has, that can motivate you to push right past the onlookers and be the person that’s crying to get out.  It’s never too late, don’t ever feel that way.  Grab onto whomever and whatever you can to accelerate beyond the bumps and walls that can get so easily in the way and be so daunting.  You too have a song to sing, and there are people out there in the audience waiting to hear, to be inspired…by you.