Sand softer than silk

Opportunities for personal growth, eh? A couple have gotten my attention and energy in the last few months.

“No blaming, no name-calling, no judging,” has taken more awareness and effort than I expected. I think I do pretty well as far as taking responsibility for when I miss an appointment, forget something or such, and don’t blame anyone or anything else.

Yet I started noticing that when someone pulled out in front of me or rolled through a stop sign, or some action I did not approve of, I tended to call them a body part and judge their intelligence and/or their lack of awareness of the world around them.
My, oh my. This continues to challenge me some, but my awareness is improving. How am I doing on a scale of 1 to 10… we won’t go there yet.

“Let go, release, and trust.” I am enjoying this affirmation from Natalie Ledwell very much. Who knew how much I did the ‘what if?’ mode or imagined negative or half-hearted results. So I do what I can, then I let go of what-ifs, release worries, and trust. Trust the Universe, trust that I’ve done all I can, accept that things fall into place: any of those work.
There is such freedom this gives me. I can mow the lawn, check on literary agent queries, fold my laundry, and put extra pumpkin seeds in my granola without nagging thoughts nudging at me.

.

.

.

.
Who knew hen and chicks cactus, sempervivum, grew stalks
that bloomed!

.

.

.

.

.

(c)MDessein

From an article by Jack Canfield I read a couple days ago: he said make 3 promises to yourself each day. Promises that you absolutely will keep, be they simple like drink an extra cup of water today or a larger task you’ve delayed doing. Whatever they are, Fulfill Them each day. He says it will improve your confidence and self-trust. I’ll try it.*

At my daughter’s in the high desert of eastern Oregon last week, my wondrous son-in-law is walking barefoot outdoors and suggested I do the same, as the sand was so smooth and cool in temperature. I was wearing my socks and shoes, thinking that I did not want dirty feet, so politely smiled at him. Later that afternoon, one of the grandkids fell outside and I rushed out of the house to pick her up. As I held her, standing barefoot in that cool, smooth sand, I went, “Ah, this feels so good. Like silk,” and walked slowly back to the house.

May you find sand in your life that is smooth as silk to walk on~

Thank you for reading.