Birthday week Day 5 – Taking time to pamper

On day 5 of my birthday week countdown, I embrace the importance of taking time for yourself. To pamper yourself or do whatever else that makes you feel good. Life is hectic more times than none and it’s easy to skip routines and rituals, tossing them to the wayside in a day that never has enough hours. I have written about it many times and continue to do so, because it’s important and keeping a good balance is life changing.

It’s on this day 5 that send this reminder out to you, and myself, but honestly it feels like I have already turned this into an entire week of pampering. Some of these things I have skipped for far too long, and this week I reintroduced to nourish and take care of myself. Plus you’d be amazed what it can do for your self esteem. Let’s get it straight… life pulls and tugs, it takes us in a million directions each day. At home we relax and let ourselves go. We deserve it, right, and we have worked hard. We are in the comfort of our home, so who’s gonna see anyways! Am I right? But we don’t realize that we are actually doing ourselves and partners a disservice. That it affects our attitude and makes us settle into a routine. A routine that can have many side negative aspects, including being a killer of all romance. So you hopeless romantics out there hear me when I’m saying that it’s not a matter of dressing up, but what about sexy messy? And even if you do dress up and wear your Sunday best, I’d say go for it. What I’m talking about is the messy bun, the long shirt and bare legs, painted toes in leg warmers, maybe no make up but only lipstick. Not practical and you are a busy Mom with kids? You still need to find time to pamper yourself, whatever that means to you. It can be physically or psychologically. A pampered mind is just as important. So if it means you take time out of your day to read, stargaze, dream as the clouds roll by, take a walk in the rain, nap, do some arts and crafts, listen to music or whatever it might be, please give yourself that gift.

My pamper week so far included taking extra care of my skin. It’s summer and healthy, hydrated skin is beautiful all year around but especially in the summer when we showcase it more than usual. Mine happens to glow more since I started the Green juice and with four days in the books I have lost 6 lbs. (In weight, but in reality it feels like much more counting the emotional baggage that so often weighs us down. And PS. this prescheduled Post was written Sunday, 3 days prior to posting it and I hope more pounds have come off by the time this goes active.)

I have started using skincare for my face and body again. Lotions and potions I still have from my days managing a high end beauty shop. Ok long story short, I’m lifting myself back to before the weight and age dragged my facial expressions down. 😂

One of my favorite pamper moments this week was when I decided to color my toe nails. I can’t remember the last time that I did and I loved it. It’s a small thing with a big impact, and immediately I felt sexier and pampered. So even if you have kids or are super busy, I think each woman has that super power and can do it. The way I see it is with painted toes, in legs warmers, bare legs, white long shirt, loose…maybe your mans dress shirt, hair up in a messy bun with red lips. If you need to tone it down maybe add leggings and lose the lipstick. What do you say…instant sex appeal and diva status hahaha. And what about you my dear male readers…wouldn’t you enjoy to see your woman like this? A win win if you ask me. ❤️

Birthday week countdown Day 6 – Taking a dip

On day 6 of my birthday week countdown and the temperatures being in the 90’s all week, I am treating myself to a dip in the cool blue goodness of my favorite swimming hole. Water always helps the arthritis, loses any tension I might hold in the body, and just look at that place!!! Wouldn’t you love to hang there for the day?

It’s a moderate climb to the lake and the good thing is that it’s only a little over a mile. I don’t do well hiking in the heat and usually by the time I get there, sweating and all, the water is more than inviting to cool off. I remember back to as I hiked it the first time years ago and what challenge it was for me. Having to stop along the way and rest, struggling to catch my breath. It’s almost surreal to think back to it as I realize I was years younger but in worse shape than I am now. I have definitely gotten stronger and these days I can handle the trail with much more ease and without stopping. Even in the heat and I guess I’m just determined to get there sooner rather than later, knowing the water and the rewards await.

The spot I visit has a perfect, big, flat, rock at the water’s edge that is partially shaded by mid afternoon. Usually a breeze kicks up later in the day making it a perfect spot to escape the heat, do a little swimming, and take an afternoon nap. Even with temps in the 90’s down into in The Valley, up there at higher elevation, it usually feels comfortable and much better.

It’s also where “Slitherine” lives, a Mama water snake with her baby and it’s the only thing I’m less fond of. I’m sure it’s because several years back I dislocated my elbow in a fall almost stepping on a snake by accident, with over correcting on wet, slippery ground. Since then snakes and I are not the closest friends and I wasn’t happy seeing Mama snake hang out under the rocks where I enter the water. I thought for sure she would be startled just as much as I was and stay away. That was until I was sitting there, on a rock, feet in the water, all of a sudden seeing some movement and her slithering right over my shins. Yeah, unexpected, just like the huge scream I let out hahaha.

Birthday week countdown Day 7 – Wishing Rocks

Picture taken from Pinterest

My birthday is arriving this month and talking to my girlfriend the other day, she asked me if I was looking forward to my birthday and if I was getting excited about it. For a moment I starred at her written question as if I was observing myself to see how I felt about it. What finally came to mind, was that although so much personal progress had been made recently, it also became apparent of how much hard work it really has been. I was determined and motivated no doubt, but was I enjoying the journey along the way? I couldn’t answer at first, but my realization came in the sense that I really have done very little on the fun side for myself. The pampering side, the laugh out loud side, something that would celebrate ME and all that I had accomplished. Instead I just powered through and kept on in the same manner. I knew I could use a break, and then suddenly I remembered another friend who has always celebrated her birthday with an entire birthday week, taking the week leading up to her birthday to do something meaningful for herself. I decided to partake this year and this is my first post, 7 days out from my birthday, counting down to day my special day with remembering wishing rocks.

I am an avid rock collector and have rocks from every place I ever hiked to. There is always one that catches my eye and my selection has grown quite large over the past 14 years of hiking. So large that on my quest to lighten my load, I have gone through many and relocated them in my front yard. It looks beautiful, but it was hard and I wish could say that this was my forever home where I can always admire them, but I know it isn’t and the time is nearing I will have to say a final goodbye. Yeah, weird I know, and yes we are still talking about rocks.

Somehow I’m attracted to the striped ones and I have a great many. Legend has it that if you find a rock with a white stripe running around it, it is a wishing rock. If you make a wish for yourself, it will come true, but if you make a wish for someone else, ALL your wishes will come true!

Today a wish goes out to whomever is reading this or not, for you to always be safe and that your deepest dreams to come true. 😉

Also last night at 3 AM my elderly neighbor was taken by ambulance and fire department. My prayers go out to here and I hope she is ok. Let’s send her some positive energy and healing vibes. Thank you.

Today I release…

We constantly evolve. We change, and whether we realize it or not, we don’t stay the same. Our experiences shape us as we travel along the journey, with it leaving ever changing impressions on ourselves. Sometimes finding the timing to realize we have changed and changing our ways on how we deal with our experiences and lessons is not always in sync. Sometimes the same methods don’t work anymore and yet we try to tackle our lessons with old familiar tactics that are simply outdated. If we are not the same anymore, the same results all of a sudden no longer suffice.

But it’s not only our reactive state that’s most important, but also our consciousness and awareness. To recognize these times even if you look back on it in hindsight. You have still recognized it and have the opportunity to correct and address up it course of action. In all honesty, it’s quite a bit that comes at us most of the time, and why not release a little of the energy that makes us feel heavy and weighs us down.

So today I release….let’s say it together.

Toxic thoughts and emotions

Unhealthy environments

Unfruitful relationships

Thoughts of revenge and in forgiveness

Thoughts of envy and strife

Negative words I spoke about others

Negative words I have spoken about myself

I let it go today, right now and I love a life filled with love, peace and freedom.

You may face some of these points from time to time, and you don’t need to be perfect. You have just put it out there for the universe to hear and it’s your intention and your willingness, your awareness and your consciousness that counts. 🙏🏼

Back at the ranch

With the trip concluded and back at the ranch (back home), there was no denying that my time spent, brought much needed bliss to my soul. I had scaled mountains, and pushed myself to new heights, crossing a waterfall with rushing waters, while feeling more sure footed than usual. My body felt stronger than ever, and I had the feeling that I had turned a corner, reaching a new milestone. A few times I felt near tears, wanting to give up and just sit it out, not taking another step and just give in to that inner voice of exhaustion that wanted me to stop, give up, and rest. I struggled with it especially during the last hike, but it became apparent that much of it is mental and that you can push past it, and so I did. I slept on the ground, under the stars. I grounded with Mother Earth, a little stiff the next morning but full of healing, and I saw majestic places many never see in their lifetime.

Sure I had trips like that before, and was no stranger to moments like these, and yet something was different this time around. I didn’t immediately knew what it was, but the answers literally fell into my lap. Something had shifted, something was no longer the same that would allow me to continue in the same old fashion as always. I was no longer the same and I like to think that I was evolving to a better version of myself, one with improved health. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact time it happened, but being out there, I felt it and it was liberating. Pain is the worst, debilitating, and robs you of your life quality. It was gone for the most part and I would say that walking more, kundalini yoga and my spiritual growth, all contributed to this shift. Now that I was “here”, I also knew that new circumstances required new measures because if you continue to do the same old things, you will get the same old results. And if you are not happy with your now, maybe you need to take a different approach to yield a different outcome. I was ready to move on and recognized the moment.

Either way, I felt gifted and grateful, and somehow I knew that I was perfectly aligned to take the “Now what” question to the next level. To somehow find the courage to take the next step in this transformational journey of my life, even though much of the insight would come in hindsight and was only revealing in tiny pieces.

Shortly after getting home, one of the gifts that fell into my lap was the discovery of a book about natural remedies for all kinds of ailments. I felt called to expand my learning and take the occasional dabble in homeopathy I was already practicing to the next level. I’ve long loved the natural approach to healing and I’m not a big fan of conventional medicine and big Pharma. There was a time, long ago when I had to take the steroids and the harsh medicines that did more damage than good, because I was in so much pain from the rheumatoid arthritis. Back then I couldn’t function and had to mask the pain so I could go to work and earn a living. It was a costly bandaid to ease the pain but treat nothing in any way. Much has changed since then and it’s been years that I tossed those harsh drugs into the trash. With the help of energy healing I have learned to control my pain levels and with an entire year + under my belt, my focus is shifting to repair the damage caused from this chronic disease I carried for so many years. Sure it can flare at any moment and come back full force, but in the meantime I’m arming myself with knowledge and health where I can to combat it if it does.

Not too long ago I discovered essential oils and I fell in love. I have treated allergies, headaches, pain, an earache, stress, swelling and inflammation so far with great success. Was this the next step? It surely felt it was.

The importance of where we direct our focus

If we look at the path, we do not see the sky. We are Earth people on a spiritual journey to the stars. Our quest, our earth walk, is to look within, to know who we are, to see that we are connected to all things, that there is no separation, only in the mind.

Native American; source unknown.

Being humble

Being humble doesn’t mean that you can’t show off from time to time, and that you have to hide all your uniqueness, beauty and talents. No, but being humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how m h difference we can make in the lives of others.

~Gordon B. Hinckley

Can you imagine how much this would change the world and how we interact with each other? I see a world flooded with love and compassion and it takes each one of us to make a start. To try and start our days with the goal of impacting somebody positively throughout our day. Once we have that down packed, it becomes second nature and we build on it.

You might say “nobody has ever done that to me, or nobody has ever treated me right.” I know what it feels like and there will always be cause and reaction, but you don’t have to be a product of someone else’s bad behavior. Wouldn’t you agree that you are much better than that? Somebody treating you poorly, does not excuse it give you the right to pay it forward, become disgruntled and now treat others the same. You have bridge to cross, a decision to make which path you are going done. Choose wisely.

Relief Reservoir

And finally I was at the top. After 4+miles, 68 flights, and close to 10.000 steps. Along the way I was rewarded with beautiful Waterfalls, Rocky Cliffs , and Rushing waters. A spectacular hike with too many pictures to show and many more special moments to refer to.

I had done it. I climbed up, up, up and away and was driven by the new, a place I had never been before. That always seems to fuel the fire a tad bit more and helps muster reserve energies I never knew I had. It was windy at the top, but beautiful. It felt serene and the feeling of accomplishment was rising within my soul. I sat and scanned the area, from the snow dotted peaks where a trail continued to meander over it’s pass, to the shoreline and it’s cliffs. A few backpackers arrived scouting out the area for a suitable campsite and I couldn’t help but marvel in how amazing it must be to camp in a place like this under the full moon or a dark sky full of stars. It’s beyond words let me tell you.

Soon we would make our way back down to the trailhead and sometimes down is more strenuous for me than up, believe it or not. A steep trail down with giant stone steps and boulders is tough on the joints, while a steep trail up gets your heart pumping while sweating out all these toxins. I guess each has their pros and cons. The trip would come to an end this very evening and already I knew that new insight was gained from connecting with Mother Nature and from being still. From leaving it all behind and letting the daily routine be replaced with adventure and new motivation. And still I had no clue how much of it would present itself in the days ahead.

Precious time

Artist unknown

Precious time, a gift truly special and something we are truly powerless in the face of it. In a lifetime, there is no knowing how much is left, and in our day to day life, we have 24 hours to fill our day with whatever we set out to tackle.

During my working days I was dreaming of having extra time, of not working and having more freedom to do what I felt always fell short. How glorious it would be I thought. Well, I haven’t worked in two years, and it feels as if I need 36 hours in my day because things still fall to the wayside. Sometimes it’s hard to wrap my head around it, but I know I’m truly blessed, for I don’t know if I would be alive today still being amongst the rat race.

On a daily basis, things are still left undone, put aside for another day, but I have become a master listening to my body. I know when it feels strong and is ready to climb a mountain, (most of the times, although sometimes I still don’t give it the credit and think I’m tired), and I know when it’s time to give up powering through the day, doing too much, and just give into an afternoon nap. I know when the creative juices flow, and when there is much to write about and to share. Other days I recognize the whim to just stare at the sky and let the clouds pass by while I daydream or catch up on activities that fell short during my childhood. To breathe deeply and take advantage of the awareness of every little sense that tells me that I am alive and that nothing but my current moment matters right now.

In the last two years I have learned to be a student of life. To leave the corporate career behind that taught me to analyze profit and loss statements and financials, but to take into account my own treasures, including immeasurable gifts such as time. I’ve learned about my own profit and loss and it taught me to reevaluate my path. It learned what is essential for ME to be successful in life vs. making someone else successful. Have you ever noticed that our success is measured by our possessions? When was the last time someone asked you if you were happy? Happiness and success don’t seem to share the same roam when it comes to the thinking of most people, but it does form me.

Today my days are filled mostly with what I choose. Being a student of life I expand my knowledge with myself in mind, how to turn things around and continue to get healthier. I try to keep the balance, but fact is something, somewhere, always falls through the cracks and 24 hours are simply not enough. I’m learning to be ok with it and not to fight it.

For me it has been not responding to your kind comments that have always meant so much to me and to whom I’m forever grateful for. I feel you truly deserve a comment back and I don’t mean to come across as if your insights don’t matter, because they are treasures to me. You sticking by my side day after day, whether I say something or not is truly inspiring and touches my heart. Thank you. So with several posts scheduled and my swollen elbow getting better, I can type again and once again I’m in catch up mode. So don’t be surprised if you get a response from me to a super old comment. I’m working my way back 🙏🏼😉

The ache for home

“The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place we can go as we are and not be questioned.”

~Maya Angelou

I have lived torn between two countries for most of my life and it’s not easy. You always experience some kind of homesick, and it’s hard to answer where and what you call home. Mom always said “well you wanted it that way”, and it is what she believed since I was the one who left, but I know it’s not true and I couldn’t have imagined how hard one decision would spread over the term of a lifetime.

Home is where the heart is they say, and home can be anywhere, although you never forget where you came from and where your roots run deep. It’s understandable and yet sad to me that the EU has closed its borders to people coming from the US. I’m sure somehow I probably could get in being a German Citizen and having a house there, but it would be under strict guidelines and quarantine I’m sure. All understandable and yet for the first time it feels as if I can’t return to the place of my roots, home. For now at least.

In the end I believe that this quote is all encompassing and home truly is where you are accepted as you are and your heart finds peace. Where you are understood and not questioned. Home is a place where you can be and sometimes if you are lucky, a place where your tribe and likeminded people live. People you have something in common with, people who can value you and where you can contribute.

May we all have such a place, even if it is in more than one home. 🙏🏼