Story of Now

Dear Daughter- I love that you want to wear a dress for playing in the dirt. May you always keep a strong sense of self and throw the "norm" out the door. May you be respectful of rules but know when to break them! Keep your heart young, dear daughter of mine.   Love, Mom 

  We often hesitate starting towards our dreams because we can't imagine how we could possibly attain them. We get stuck.  We make excuses. The key to keeping your dreams alive is to believe in them and start building the path with small steps. Dream big, start small.   If you dream of being a rock star- sing, dance, put on a mini-concert for one or two people, then a larger group.  Maybe you dream of a different job...you are working at a desk yet dreaming about being a full-time artist.  Make art when you can, engage in conversations with other artists, show your work online, have a gallery showing in your house. Maybe you dream about going on vacation, but feel like you just can't afford it. Put a date on the calendar a couple years out.  Make a jar that says "vacation fund." Add money to the jar instead of buying that latte, candy bar, ipod tune, outfit. Maybe you dream of being peaceful but currently feel overwhelmed. ...

  I rarely have trouble falling asleep anymore but there are some nights when I just want to yell at my brain "shut up and go to sleeeeep!!!"  My mind will race with worries, ideas, things I need to do, things I need to say, things I forgot to do or say.   It's like my brain is puking at the end of the day. I have tried everything from breathing slowly, counting sheep, studying the backs of my eyelids and nothing seemed to work. That is nothing until I started repeating the word "nothing." A thought will come up and I just think "nothing."  I keep repeating it and somehow it works because the next thing I know it's 2 or 3 in the morning and I am on my first middle of the night bathroom trip. Try it out the next time your brain is trying to keep you from sleeping. Just repeat in your mind "nothing." I don't suggest "nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing" over and over but more like a medita...