behind courage there is love
One of my favorite videos. I can watch it over and over and over again.
Love the story.
And so apt this week, at least for me. It's definitely been a week of pushing past the comfort zone. But, it paid off. It does.
In Love and A Sense of Home
Yasmeen
Vibe: Chill
Special: Feeling at home
Thanx: TS regarding expression
Music: Coming Home by Skylar Grey
Courage need not be in the form of a big dive off a cliff. Sometimes, it's a soft, sweet, gentle glide forward with slow and gentle steps. Sure footing...cautiously, optimistically. Slowly, softy, surely taking steps forward, solid in your conviction, and confidently in the direction of your courage.
Sometimes courage comes from a very small space inside you, a little voice that hints and teases and sometimes eggs you on. Sometimes, you just take one small step, one easy kind gentle step. You try. You see how it feels. And then you take another and another and another.
Sometimes courage can be sweet or delicate or nice. No...really? Yes, I think it can. It's not all bravado and ruggedness.
Eye contact at the store when you usually avert gazes or hold your head down.
Reaching out to shake someone's hand.
Hugging someone.
Smiling at someone.
These small acts can serve to lift you outside of your comfort zone. Slowly, sweetly and gently. Courage isn't this big public dance on a stage in front of millions. Sometimes it's just a step forward, gently and sweetly.
In Love and Sweetness,
Yasmeen
Song: Sleep Like a Child by Joss Stone
Mood: Surreal
Special: Full Moon
Thanx: MG for her support. Keep your 'eye' on the prize
Oops. Yes. So late on this one.
PRETTY THINGS
So, a simple one. Make or create something pretty. Something that's quick, easy and pretty so it makes you smile and makes you feel good. That's it.
Or, as always draw, write, paint or twirl pretty.
In Love and Pretty,
Yasmeen
Song: Bossa Nova by Dave Brubeck
Vibe: Pretty and fun
Special: Bought myself pretty flowers
Thanx: To DB.
Love this video about comfort zones.
This is about moving forward, taking chances and addressing fears.
Enjoy!
In Love and Comfort,
Yasmeen
Music: Got to Give It Up by Marvin Gaye
Mood: Nicely elated
Thanx: NC for painting movement
Special: Lots of fun number coincidences lately.
Oops...another late entry.
Or, oh crap this posted while I was just playing around with it. Oh well. Double crap...the other post I was working on disappeared. Oh well...chuckling. Back to this post.
Okay, this is a favorite of mine. Nope...Nah...Don't feel like it...Don't make me.
Sometimes, the courageous step is doing something we don't want to. But when is the best time to do that? Tomorrow? Next week? Next year? Probably, not ever.
Sometimes pushing through challenge and discomfort frees us from entanglements
But, I don't wanna...
Don't make me...
Please no no no no...
Um...lemme try...
Wait, not now...
I'll just watch. You do it.
I'll watch.
Okay, I'm ready to try now.
No, not ready yet.
Oh, I did it.
Um...Hunh?
Okay, what now?
What's next?
I did it.
Oh crap. I did it.
Where are my excuses and fears and concerns and worries? Crap. Now, I can't find them. I know I set them somewhere. Did I pack them?
Oh, okay back to I did it. I didn't want to but I did.
Hmmm....
In Love and What the...oh well,
Yasmeen
Music: The Power by SNAP!
Mood: Calm strong. Finally awake. And now even.
Special: I feel like whatever it was...passed. Feel finally awake
Thanx: To SSM for that lovely surprise. So Starry.
Musing...The other I was working on, that was entitled Element of Choice, disappeared on me. I wonder what that was about. Wonder if I'll recreate it for next week. Hmmm. Love this image up there. Sorta like Escher.
COURAGE
I wonder what it would be like to draw courage or to create a dance around it? Would you whirl around with scarves? Would you jump up and down? Is courage running up a lot of steps like in Rocky?
Is it sitting there for a long long time, till your wrist hurts, writing and expressing pain and sorrow? Is it sitting there writing about great successes, about times when you stepped forward in courage?
Would you draw? Paint? Scribble? Stand on your head?
Or, just whirl around with your "cape," from the first Expressive Exercise a few weeks ago, screaming "I am courage. I am courage. I have no fear. I have no fear."
Just play with it. See what comes out. See what comes to mind.
In Love and Playing,
Yasmeen
Song: Nocturne by Rolf Levland (Secret Garden)
Vibe: Kinda intense and wondering
Special: Learning to accept those who do not understand me. It's okay...I think. LOL!
Thanx: KT for her amazing week of videos. Makes so much sense.
Musing: These tags continue to amuse me. Day trip. Hunh???
And a littl oops....thought I posted a while back. Oops.
Actually, I do. I smile and giggle quite a bit. I know it's not really a grown up thing to do but I do it anyway.
Here's a little levity heading into the weekend. Video from another fond childhood memory.
It's okay to laugh.
It's okay to giggle.
It's okay to feel good.
In Love and Giggles,
Yasmeen
Song: Hakuna Matata from The Lion King
Vibe: Chill calm and ease.
Special: Really awesome meditation today. All about the love all around us. Always there. Waiting and wanting to get in.
Thanx: To scheduling challenges. I think sometimes things work out as they are meant to but maybe not necessarily according to schedule.
I think the story of courage is one in which we get in touch with our power center, where we open up ourselves to possibilities and to smaller voices that we long since stifled, that we long since kept hidden.
Some of us are on hidden journeys shielding ourselves from so many of life's experiences. We're quiet, shy, hidden, lacking and fearful. Some of us think we can be seen in the smallness of who we may be. We think someone will find us, see us. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they can't because we are cloaked. In hidden voices, hidden experiences, hidden thoughts.
We believe people will ridicule us, shame us, control us, put us down if we speak up. We have a lot of proof that can happen as it has happened before and it is happening now. We have eyes and ears. We can see and hear.
But, do we speak up? Do we show up for ourselves? Our inner truths? Our inner thoughts? Our real selves? That deep down often buried true self.
Big questions are not always easiest to answer in a few minutes. But, there is a certain element of freedom in speaking our truths, showing up as we are. Not as others want us to or expect us to but as we really are.
Cool. Funny. Loud. Wacky. Serious. Contemplative. Laid-back. Adventurous. Curious. Imaginative. Quiet. Caring. Loving. Living.
Do you have aspects of yourself that you keep buried? Hidden? Secretive? In a tiny little suitcase in your tummy or packed away on a shelf behind volumes of stories in your mind? Does it feel good?
In Love and Curiosity,
Yasmeen
Mood: Really frickin' strong. WTH?
Song: Conqueror by Estelle
Special: Super cool chat with KW...thanx
Thanx: To my honey for commenting. And no I don't have lottery super powers.
I LOVE TO...
What do you love to do? What do you like to do? What do you kinda sorta maybe okay might...yes, that's too many words. What do you like and love to do?
Sometimes, we have a lot on our minds. Like a lot. Like a whole big chunk of lots and then we simply don't take the time for ourselves to switch gears, quiet our minds, and allow other thoughts to come in. Maybe thoughts about what we love or like. Maybe even who we love or like.
One of the reasons creativity and expression be can of benefit is not just because it's a distraction but because it can free the mind, allowing more purposeful thoughts to come in. For some of us it can be something we find we are good at. At the end of the expressive process, there are tangible results. Results that can help to move us forward in our courageous steps.
Hey, I'm good at this. Hey, I feel better. Hmm, now what else can I try that I wasn't so sure about?
Thoughts, issues and concerns that circle in the mind take up a lot of space and energy. This is energy that can be used to move forward creativity and creative options. Options are choices. Perhaps a topic for a later time.
Some of you may not wish to pick up a pen, brush or crayon. Some may not want to type or journal. But, some may just want to stack dishes nice and neatly. If that's you, at the end, admire your creative expression. Sit back and enjoy the rest of your day.
In Love and Expression,
Yasmeen
Song: Free Your Mind by En Vogue
Mood: Strong sleepy dancing
Special: Sleep. Woke up great. Groovy meditations this week.
Thanx: To RG for the lovely feedback.
