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» Blog Archive The Magic of No: How Saying No Enables You to Say YES to Something Better – Colette Baron-Reid’s Blog

Do you ever agree to do something even when you know you don’t want to? Are you having difficulty walking away from a relationship, job, or living situation that you just know isn’t right for you? Does saying “No” and setting boundaries cause you worry or anxiety?

via www.colettebaronreid.com

I have been learning this year that "No" is a powerful tool to regaining one's self and moving in the correct direction.

Happy Summer Solstice!

How to Manifest Money

I’ve written a lot about the Law of Attraction already, but in this article I’m going to focus specifically on the how-to aspects of manifesting money.

via www.stevepavlina.com

Was reading this post by Steve Pavlina and it made me think that this really could be applied to anything that one wants to bring more of into their life. A subject which I have been working on with some success.

Getting Some Luxury in Life

Long ago I read something from Erma Bombeck about not saving the good stuff for special events.   It hit home but took a few years for me to put in place.   Now I wear rhinestone earrings with my scrubs because I am not going to formal parties anymore.   I wear expensive perfume because how it makes me feel.   I learned a year ago that there truly is a difference from a well constructed expensive bra versus $20 version.  The quality eyeshadows depth of color is like an oil painting in a museum versus fingerpainting.  Quality clothes that cost more also fit better and make me feel better.

 

Small amounts of luxury go a long way to making me feel good.    I have been learning it is better to have one luxury item than a bunch of affordable  items of the same.   They never look right, do not last and do not make me feel special.

 

In the world of knitting this is why I do not go to big box stores for my yarn.   I get a lot of happiness out of wearing my knitted items but the time spent actually knitting the item with the yarn sliding through my fingers is full of joy.   There is a difference between a $3-6 skein and a luxury skein.   The feel, texture, color and how the knitted item will hold up is all very different.

 

Imagine my delight when Knitch decided to do yarn clubs.  Ah so many to pick from and I knew somewhere inside of me I was sliding into the no knitting zone.   But I decided to join their Luxury Yarn Club. 

 

 

I was stunned and thrilled when I opened the box and found Habu!

 

I have been wanting to try Habu for years but never have.    Part of the Luxury Yarn Club also includes a pattern.  

 

I have started to knit a Habu Merino stole.

 

If I Had My Life To Live Over

by Erma Bombeck

The following was written by the late Erma Bombeck after she found out she had a fatal disease.

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ...

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back.

© Erma Bombeck

 

May Day

Last weekend I dove into Martha Stewart Living which the focus was gardening.  

     

That lead to me going down the seed packet isle

 

scoping out bulbs and getting three tomato plants.

 

Your 97 year old self.

Was reading the latest regarding Survivor on Jeff Probst's blog and then discovered this gem of a post from him.    Truly brilliant I think and I had to share.   Enjoy.

 

 

"I discovered a ninety-seven year old version of myself while talking to a good friend about his romantic relationship. After years of staying with a woman who didn’t trust him and whom he didn’t trust, I finally crossed the friendship line and told him I thought he should end the relationship. For good.

I just said it. Flat out. You need to break up. I knew I crossed the line but it didn’t do any good anyway. He gave me more reasons about why now was not the right time. I suggested that he was missing out on something beautiful by staying in something so limiting and often demoralizing. Nothing was connecting. Finally, I suggested that he imagine that he was ninety-seven years old. Even though you’re not ninety-seven, just imagine that you are. You’ve lived a good long life, you know what’s what. You know what matters and what doesn’t. You know when something is worth fighting for and when you should simply walk away. Now imagine you are advising your own son who is in the same romantic situation. Knowing what you know now that you’re ninety-seven, what would you tell him to do?

I didn’t have to say anything else. He said simply, “I get it.” He ended the relationship the next day. Sadly, they got back together a few months later and as of this writing are still struggling, wasting more precious days caught in the web of an untrusting relationship that sucks all the love out of love.

The idea of a ninety-seven year old version of me stayed with me. I found that even though I’m far from ninety-seven, I could access that part of myself easily. It’s as if it had always been there, just waiting to be utilized.

I realized, I don’t have to wait until I’m ninety-seven to use this wisdom. I can pop in whenever I need it. I named my new alter ego, “Poppa J.” It sounds better when you give it a bit of a drawl as you say it. “Poppppuh Jaaay. Poppa J knows what to do in almost every situation. He gives me the best advice. Advice that comes from a place where ego does not reside. Advice that has no master. Just a guy who has lived a good long time and knows that sometimes, most times, you should stop fretting and just kiss the pretty girl. He knows when it’s time to quit a job and go for your dream. He reminds you to say, “I love you” over and over and over. He also smiles a wicked grin when he gives you permission to tell the asshole to go F themselves. They probably need to hear it and it just feels good to say it. You don’t always have to be nice and agreeable. Sometimes being selfish and dick-like is exactly what the situation calls for. And you should follow it up with a beer for having the guts to stick up for yourself. He’s also the wise old dude that reminds you that sometimes masturbating is actually better than a booty call and that fantasies are wasted if you don’t ultimately find someone with whom to share them. Even if you never act on them, sharing them can be a really fun turn on. There’s nothing wrong with sex. Poppa J loved him some sex.

This whole notion that we can access the wisdom that lives inside us first came to me a few years ago. I was involved in a fundraising campaign for St. Jude Cancer Hospital. Ali Mills was an eleven year-old cancer survivor. We became fast friends as we worked on the campaign and though she was only eleven, she spoke as if she were… much older… say, ninety-seven.

It was very clear to me that Ali had accessed a deeper truth. One that resides inside all of us, regardless of whether we’ve actually experienced the event that would provide the wisdom. The wisdom is there, we just have to trust.

Ali taught me so much. Her writings were insightful, her comments on life penetrating. She also taught me that friendship can happen instantly and can be as strong and powerful as you desire. You don’t need years together to have a deep friendship in the same way that years of time spent together does not necessarily mean a strong friendship will result. Sometimes it’s just there or it isn’t.

Poppa J has shown me that most things are not that difficult to figure out. If you just slow down long enough to ask the question and listen clearly enough to hear the answer, many problems are easily solved. You may not like the answer, but your gut will know it’s right."

Eye Candy Friday

 

Okay I know it is a silly photo of Annie but we all need a little humor right?   Plus she is such the good girl when she is modeling, how could I resist?!

 

Enjoy a little silliness this weekend.  It is good for the soul.

Knitting Bag

 

This is a wonderful early Christmas present.   Should clarify that this was an early Christmas gift in 2010.  It is a Namaste Malibu bag.   Had been wanting it for quite a while with a certain cousin know this.  She and another gifted it to me which was quite lovely act in itself.   Have to say I do love it.  Very roomy and fashionable.  

 

Suppose this post should have been written long ago but there was a time when words and energy to blog were hard to find.   Would briefly think about the need/want for posting but it would slip away while dealing with everyday life.   As for knitting, it suffered too.   Would bring my knitting along and do a few rows.  Then I would just pull it out and look at it.  This of course was followed by just bringing it along.   Last time I really was knitting was over our snowed-in Christmas in Asheville.

 

But this week I received a package of yarn.  It was yarn from a company that I had always wondered about aka craved but had never taken the plunge.   And there it was sitting there in it’s glory.   Hoping my knitting urge is truly back.  Let’s keep our toes crossed on that one.