"For sale" is the only sign we need

I once was with a group of women.  We were all sitting on the comfy couch of a friend, in her lovely home.  It really was a lovely home.  The sky painted blue through the window.  The wind blew enough that in the pauses between our words spoken, we could hear the tree's branches, as they danced to their own rhythm.   We were sipping tea, contemplating how one knows if she is journeying along the right path, and if there are signs to illuminate or validate the decisions she makes.

One woman shared her process of buying the home she currently lives in; the home we were all in, asking these questions from that same comfy couch. Feeling inundated, this friend wasn't sure if this home was the right one to purchase.

"Give me a sign," she kept saying, as she scrutinized whether to bum it an offer.  This woman wanted some kind of indication that she was on the right path.  She wanted to be jolted out of bed while sleeping, with the hand of God slapping in the face, while hearing the words, "Yes, this is your sign.  Go buy that house."  

No hand of God came.

No messages in her dreams.

Nothing.

This woman felt a surge of anxiety to the point where she wasn't moving forward with her decision to purchase this home.  Days past, and a wonderfully wise friend offered words she'd never forget.
This friend said, "You want a sign?  I'll give you a sign. The sign you are looking for is literally in front of you."  Her wise friend shared that the wooden, 'For Sale' sign pitched right in the front yard was the only "sign" needed.  The "For Sale" sign was the bridge for a new owner to make an offer, and await for its acceptance.

Huge sighs of relief came over my friend.  She was waiting for the lightning bolt, but finally realized that life doesn't always offer them.  She needn't look so hard, try so hard or be so hard in all aspects of her life.  The "For Sale" sign was enough for her to submit her offer, which then led to her ultimate home purchase.

What path do we take?  What job do we ponder?  To whom do we sit with next to sip herbal tea?

Sometimes the answers are right in front of us, and if we are looking too hard, we may simply miss them.

What "For Sale" sign have you been missing in your life?

I'd love to hear!

Be a warrior of love.

I don't think there can ever be enough love in the world.  That's why there needs to be hippie warriors; those that stand tall, with their head aligned perfectly over their necks, arms held out in a "T" position, ready to hold an arrow that will target those who need love the most.

Many people are standing in line waiting for the arrow to hit them, and they may not even know it.  When it hits, they have two choices.  They can:

1)   allow the energy of the arrow to permeate throughout their bodies, nourishing every cell, which may help them heal physically and emotionally

or...

2)  resist the arrow's energy, only to find that they are depleted in every way, shape or form.

If you have the energy to give, then what's stopping you?  Our job is to share, and we can do so liberally.  It's the other person's problem if they don't accept what we have to offer.  Everyone is on their own journey in life, that's for sure.

So, go be a "hippie warrior of love."  How many arrows will you ignite into the world around you?
Oh, how I hope they are all received by those targeted.  Can you imagine what the world would look like?  I can, because I am a "hopeful optimist"!

Fear is my shadow

I thought I'd revisit an earlier blog post about fear being my shadow.  Sometimes she visits and she is all encompassing.  Have a read about how she took up a bit much of my mind space recently, and how I coped with her visit.

My article is on page 7 of Sybil Magazine:

http://pnder.com/SibPr/Sibyl%20Mag%20FEB-MAR%202014.pdf

Let's all tell our shadows to pack their bags when we embark upon something new in our lives.
Instead, let's fill our hearts with love (and more love) for ourselves.

Operation February

I haven't been feeling the love in our household these days.  Running here.  Running there.  We probably even saw a person (or two) in their underwear.

It's time for #OperationFebruary.

I cut out hearts.  I put them into a bowl, some with writing on them.  Some hearts say, "You are special to me."  Others say, "I believe in you", which is a family favorite.  Others are left blank where someone can express gratitude for an act of kindness, behavior or any other love fest they see another member commit in the course of the day.

I hung homeade, red "envelopes" marked with each family member's name.  Nothing fancy; just stapled sides, with a slot at the top for the hearts to enter their new home.  These artful wonders are taped to our dining room chandelier, so we won't have opportunity to forget that Operation February is serious business.

Each day in February, someone can help raise the love vibration in our home through these cut-out pieces of paper.  Although they're just words, they're so much more.  As we all know, sticks and stones can break bones, AND words can hurt.

#OperationFebruary aims to bring back love in our home, where it belongs.  Words of kindness.  Words that help another feel esteem and joy.  I will post back as to how we are all faring.

Care to join us this February?  It's never too late to start, because we all can use a dose of love!

Mindful Lisa: I had the courage to share from my heartOf all th...

Mindful Lisa: I had the courage to share from my heart
Of all th...: I had the courage to share from my heart Of all the things I've written in my life, I think the piece below is at the top of the lis...

Mindful Lisa: I had the courage to share from my heartOf all th...

Mindful Lisa: I had the courage to share from my heart
Of all th...: I had the courage to share from my heart Of all the things I've written in my life, I think the piece below is at the top of the lis...

I had the courage to share from my heart

Of all the things I've written in my life, I think the piece below is at the top of the list for the "Vulnerability Prize".   Some of you know that I had a very interesting summer that was met with health challenges.  I'm grateful for all the lessons that I learned along the way, and finally have the courage to share with the world, hoping that my story will help others.  

My story was published in the latest online Women's Spiritual Health magazine, www.SibellaPublications.com.  Look for page 24, where you'll see the article below.  There are many other great writers who have lots to offer, so be sure to sit down with your glass of wine, your cup of tea, or any other way that you can get quiet enough to sit and take in their words.  

MINDFUL BEGINNINGS

Perimeno-PAUSE – Taking Time For Healthy Reflection

By Lisa Pedersen

Sometimes perimenopause creeps up on you, other times with a big bang. In my case, it was

the latter. After mentioning at a routine physical my heavier menstrual cycles, an ultrasound

revealed ovarian cysts (one measuring 5.4 cm.) and a thickened uterine lining. An endometrial

biopsy and ovarian cancer screening were performed. Despite relief over the negative results, I

continually bled for over forty days, ultimately requiring intravenous iron therapy for the added anemia diagnosis.

Surgery loomed in my future, having been informed I should have the cyst, and part, if not all, of my left ovary

removed. This happened close to my 48th birthday. Here lay a pause I had yet to encounter: perimenopause.

I’m in the healing profession, counseling on the importance of self-care. This time, I was the person needing care,

especially if there was opportunity to continue life on this planet. I slept, cried and felt guilt for arriving at this life

event. Through working with healers, utilizing calming techniques, journaling and allowing others to help me, within

two months, my body changed to its natural state of health. A repeat ultrasound was miraculously NORMAL! No

more cysts or thickened lining. My doctor had never seen a woman heal within such a short time frame. All surgeries

were cancelled.

The following list may help women create space to graciously navigate menopause and beyond:

1. Find your “team”. Besides family and friends, mine included a medical doctor who prescribed natural

progesterone, an herbalist who offered herbs, an energy worker who used the art of touch and loving kindness, and

a gong therapist who played while I immersed myself in the surrounding vibrations. This didn’t happen overnight.

Find who works for you; be willing to accept their expertise, while listening to your own inner guidance.

2. Listen to calming music, or meditate. Taking time to pause is the true lesson for us all. We must slow down

and quiet our minds so that magic can take over.

3. Write about hopes, dreams, desires and resentments. Be honest about your relationships. I realized how

complacent I had become, needing to return to the joy of life’s offering.

4. Evaluate responsibilities and allow others to share the load. I felt exhausted doing what others could do for

themselves. I now ask myself the simple question, “Whose

job is this, anyway?” If it’s not mine, I move on.

My new lease on life begins nourishing my soul. Writing is one

act that falls into this category and I humbly share my story here.

What feeds your soul? Pausing well before menopause may help

you discover exactly what you need to live with optimal health

and well-being.

www.mindfulbeginnings.com

lisa@mindfulbeginnings.com