The Gypsy on Adventure

Great Card from Beth

Great Card from Beth
Originally uploaded by Gypsy Froggie.

I received this card in the mail today from Mizz Beth! What a great card! Some of the business cards from where we haunted! Looks like she is talking about the tie dye pants I bought in the French store! Giggle...

So clever that Beth girl is! Thanks honey!

Rose

My over grown garden...and rose bush in bloom.
Originally uploaded by Gypsy Froggie.

We were out working in the garden today...every thing is over grown and wild from Winter. So Michael took down the wisteria that was in the plum tree, trimmed the tree and the trees next to our walkway from the neighbor. I moved things on the patio and swept...we have more to do tomorrow AND buy some fleurs too.

Radical New Hair...its SHORT!

I was bored with the Bob hair cut that was getting to look more like Rozanna Dana Dana Dana than a good cut! I told my NEW Hair artist to go for it...take it where it was telling her to go. I like it. A girlfriend from work recommended her and I am glad she did! I was having a bad hair week so by the time I got to Michelle I wanted ALL of my hair cut off! Giggle

The hysterical thing, the FIRST thing she asked me was "When are you going to dye your hair!?" Giggle Snort Grin...I told her when I wasn't working in an ultra conservative job and I can have my hair bright orange/red or purple if I want to! But NO I wasn't going to start dying my hair to hide the silver...I was going natural! I can't afford to touch those puppies up all the time and frankly I don't like the feel of dyed hair. I like my hair soft. Instead of the  plumped up straw that my hair used to be in high school days when I died it blond and purple all the time.

She liked that I gave her freedom, and she was SO awesome and sweet! She kept telling me I had beautiful eyes and a great neck. So she used the razor to make it wispy in back for a soft look. She just kept telling me how awesome I looked and how young and that this "younger cut" will show off my personality more, and she couldn't believe I have a 28 year old AND a grand son! LOL I think I want to keep her in my pocket to talk to me all day!!Good length I think AND stepped up in the back with little wispsies

And if I feel uncomfortable with short hair weight wise it will give me inspiration to shed the pounds! : )  Yeah I am aware that from the side you can see my double chin AND that no matter what I do I can't hide the fact I am over weight! I sure as hell can enjoy the journey!

I am liking the new cut...it was nice to tell the new hair artists go with what your feeling! AND I needed something artsy!

 

I Feel Good Challenge

DAY FIVE: Personalize Your Sanctuary

In subsequent weeks of the challenge, we'll be returning to our sanctuaries again and again --- to practice yoga, to meditate, and to rejuvenate ourselves. Today is the day to make your refuge feel like home.

To do: Carefully choose a handful of items that will support you on the path. Placing photos nearby of people who inspire you is a nice idea, whether it's Gandhi or your grandmother. Or hang up a photograph of yourself that represents you at your most peaceful.

Plants or cut flowers are always a good addition. They bring a connection to nature and help to purify the air. Make it a sensory experience with candles or incense for aromatherapy or a fountain for the soothing sound of running water. Bring in a floor pillow or yoga mat for comfort, and a book of poetry, notepad and pen for contemplation. (You may also want to use that pad and pen to keep track of the "things to do" that will inevitably pop up. That way you can jot down whatever arises and return to your quiet time confident that you're not forgetting anything important.) You don't need to go overboard or fret that you don't have enough stuff. Our goal is to make sure that whatever is in your sanctuary is there for a specific reason.

Now that your room is set up, I encourage you to spend some time there each day. Make a commitment to spend 10 minutes a day there this weekend, whether you're relaxing, rejuvenating or just sitting quietly. What will truly make your space sacred is the moments you spend in it. You are the room's most important accessory.

Missing and thinking of my son

I have been thinking a lot about Vernon... I know he is going through a rough time and I am just hoping that he still believes his wishes will come true when he blows on a dandylion! I wish for him that through his divorce he will grow, he will choose happiness rather than bitterness. That he will make good choices and that the choices he makes will lead to his higher self. The self that will take care of him and teach him to love himself that that is key to loving some one else. AND that he can trust again. That he doesn't have to judge new people in his life by those that walked in his past.

I hope that he will learn that the past is that...the past it is dead and gone. That in order to be happy you have to live in the present without regret. That there is NO regret when you view your life as the journey...not the destination. That in the journey is joy within the sorrow and that sorrow makes you breath in deeply the most minuet essence of joy. That you can find what is spiritual without being a fanatic religious person. That religion keeps you from seeing things some times, you can be religious and loose your way. But if you are spiritual you are open, you don't judge, you embrace and expect others to be the same and when they aren't you just realize they are not as far along the journey as you are.

To leave bitterness at the door. To embrace only love. To act in honoring yourself and the relationship you had. Not the bad ending. Not to do anything you will be ashamed of. And that in courage you can see that even if it is hard not to lash out and be an ass, you can choose to view it a different way. You can feel sorry for the person attacking you. It may be hard but you can release your anger and get past it. You can live in the moment and not trash yourself with drinking and smoking and sleeping around. That won't fill you. That what can fill you is the fact that you can learn and love and not fall.

Choose happy baby. Choose happy! And don't live in regret, don't live in anger, and don't live in a space that will make you ashamed later. Be sober. Be healthy. Mind what you put in your body. You only have one. Take care of yourself and you will be attractive to others, they will see the spotlight beaming from your spirit and want to be around that. Your aura, the inner most you will shine! You are shiny! You are bright like the sun!

Hang in there it gets better! Believe in the wishes you can make on a dandylion! They can come true! : )

I Feel Good Challenge

DAY FOUR: Prioritize Happiness
"I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness."  --the Dalai Lama

In order to be able to make choices that make you feel better as opposed to worse, you have to be able to answer this very simple question: What makes you happy? Is it winning the lottery? Finding a bargain on a cute outfit? Getting a promotion? Crossing the last thing off your to-do list?

I strongly believe that it's none of those things. Studies have shown that people who win the lottery go back to being just about as happy or unhappy as they were before they won. Money, possessions and status are all external things. They can't really change how you feel on the inside (once your basic needs for food, shelter and clothing are reasonably met).

True happiness comes when you can stop resisting things as they are and learn how to be content, no matter what's happening around you. It also comes from doing more things that bring you joy -- helping others, taking care of yourself, pursuing a passion, delighting in the many wonderful things (such as a sunset or the sound of the rain) that exist all around you.

Your assignment: The Dalai Lama says "The greater the level of calmness of our mind, the greater our peace of mind, the greater our ability to enjoy a happy and joyful life."

Following his thoughts on how to cultivate true happiness, dedicate as much time as you can today to doing things that help clear your head. Whether it's taking a walk around the neighborhood before or after work, sitting quietly in your sanctuary, spending time outside on your deck and listening to the birds, or dancing in front of the mirror with a hairbrush for a microphone, just do it. Practice doesn't always have to be serious -- have some fun!

Your fellow challengers and I would love to know what makes you happy. Come share your thoughts on the iFeel Good group forum.

Tough day and a little shock at the end...

Well what a hell of a week at work...AND I felt like today was a waste! I guess something happened to the retirement invitation I made...when I printed today the date was NOT on it...yet yesterday it was there!

Oh well...I found out by putting it out to the department so 200 copies WRONG...the good news it was NOT send to the outside agencies or family yet! So I had to REprint 300 before I left...so tomorrow MORE folding! GAH

Then I went to take off the pics of me today...I am doing that Self-portrait for 365 days and help me to see any weight loss and FORCE me to look at my entire body rather than just my face! Grin

And here is the thing. I think we all have to embrace what and where we are. How will I ever get this weight off if I don't tell my body I love it just the way it is...our minds are connected to our reality! AND being brutal to myself where I wouldn't be that way with a stranger is not alright! So Although I am not happy about where I am I am sure going to try to embrace it and deal with it in a kind manner. 

I found several old photos on my camera from LAST July that were on the Camera memory and not the memory stick I bought...I was SHOCKED to see my Alien girl back in July... I didn't think I would ever see a new photo of her...but today I did.

Although it made me sad...I was happy to see this... and remind me how much I loved her. How much I do miss her and how some times in the silence I can still hear her pur!

I Feel Good Challenge

DAY THREE: Finding Balance
Now that you've cleared some space for yourself, it's time to do some big-picture thinking. What do we mean by balance, and what does the mind-body connection have to do with it?

To me, balance comes from choosing what makes me feel better instead of worse (eating a salad versus a double bacon cheeseburger, for example). It also means accepting what life presents without trying to change it, cling to it or push it away. It sounds simple enough, but balance is a lifelong process. You can never "get balanced" and then be done with it.

To achieve balance, we must be aware of our own needs. We all have an internal wisdom that lives deep inside our bodies -- it's what we refer to as a "gut feeling." The problem is that in today's stressful world, there is so much going on that this voice is nearly drowned out.

The mind-body connection is the channel of communication between your physical and emotional self. Many events in life, both good and bad, can cause anxiety or stress. If you try to ignore these feelings or don't know how to cope, your body knows something is amiss. It responds by exhibiting symptoms like stomach pain, back aches, exhaustion or insomnia. Once you learn to pay attention to these signals, you will find that your body communicates its needs quite skillfully.

Learning to establish good emotional health -- through techniques like stress reduction, meditation and exercise -- will not only make you happier; it will also make you healthier. This is the heart of mind-body medicine -- and this challenge.

Your assignment: Spend 10 minutes sitting quietly. If your mind is racing, lie on your back on the floor with a pillow underneath your knees. As you begin to relax, ask yourself, Is there anything my body is trying to tell me? Make a mental list of any physical ailments you are or have been experiencing. Now think about what's been consuming you lately. Are you stressed at work, angry at a loved one, planning a big move? What underlying emotions do you associate with these things? Don't discount any thoughts that pop into your head. Just make note of them. 

Are others experiencing the same symptoms as you? Talk about it on the iFeel Good group forum.

Finished Bracelet

Well had to share the way the bracelet turned out! We traded two a piece. I added one more of mine to fit my wrist! I tried to figure out how to put beads in between...but gave up and only used the tiles! I am happy with it! I really like it!

I Feel Good Challenge

DAY TWO: De-Clutter Your Sanctuary
Today we're going to take the next step in creating our sanctuary. We're going to de-clutter.

Getting rid of things we don't need can be a great catharsis. It helps us stop worrying about things that don't matter. I know I feel a palpable sense of relief when I finally go through the pile of papers that inevitably accumulates on the kitchen table. Purging also frees up space for new things to come into our lives --- possessions, sure, but also intangible things such as hopes, habits and attitudes. Buddhists believe that it's our attachment to things that impedes our happiness. What kinds of things are you hanging on to that don't really serve you anymore?

To do: Remove anything in your sanctuary that doesn't help you stay on the path to becoming more balanced. We already discussed the television, the computer and the phone. You should also move any gossip magazines, "beach" reading, piles of work and bills. Even mementos, in excess, can be distracting. Make piles of stuff: one to throw away, one to donate, one to move to a more appropriate part of the house. Again, be vigilant. We'll decorate your sanctuary later in the week, so today, think minimalism.

Once you've cleared some space, give the area a good cleaning. You don't want to be sitting on cracker crumbs in your area of refuge. (Trust me! I know. It's very uncomfortable.) Let the hard work you do today be an outward manifestation of your drive to create a more balanced life.

When you've finished, sit quietly in your sanctuary and soak up the feeling in the room. Notice how it has changed since you cleaned up. Over the next few weeks -- and beyond --- remember that cleaning and maintaining your sanctuary can help renew your dedication to your practice.