Open Doors

I just returned from an amazing vacation in the New Mexico mountains. There is no substitute for true respite. It is as necessary as breathing. I do forget from one mini vacation to the next just how much it is needed. I love traveling to new places. I have fond memories of trips abroad where I learned of other cultures and experienced history before my very eyes. Travel always opens my mind to new ideas.

Road trips, however, are a very different kind of travel. There is absolutely no anxiety of security checks, flight delays and lost luggage. It is the most freeing I ever feel to have the car fueled and loaded and simply drive away from the place I call home. The further I get away from home the more I begin to relax and wonder what experiences will come my way.

Such was the case last week when we took off to Santa Fe and Red River. A perfect location to unwind, breathe in the fresh air and notice again the world that God provides. For me it is as if the doors open and nature is there for me on the other side, calling me through the threshold and telling me that newness awaits.

I am reminded again that I have an abundant life and that I have enough. That blessings abound in my life and I have only to walk through that open door to discover what more life has to offer. When I returned home, the doors of my home welcomed me back, the doors of my office seemed wider to allow more blessings in, and the door of my heart remains open as I seek to keep the mountains and the gifts gained there ever present.

Hot Chili Days and Cool Mountain Nights

Very soon I will be heading west to "the mountains of New Mexico" to Red River for the "Hot Chili Days, Cool Mountain Nights" music festival. It is always a surreal experience to go from the

city, work and highways to this small town with a big fabulous view surrounding us where ever we look. It is strange how it works. When I get there, I become introspective, I breathe deeper, smiler bigger, gaze longer. I always say to myself..I am going to take a piece of this home with me. I then take the 9 hr drive home and almost by the time I get to the outskirts of my home I have left pieces of it along the way and "forget" those feelings when I get home. It is a shame because if I could hold on to that in my mind, heart and soul then the mountain air and the beauty of creation would be with me each day. This next week I will have another opportunity to take it all in again and with abundant effort I will hopefully bring more of it home to live with me.

This was the scene last year at the festival. It was our

first year to attend this particular festival. Mike had

his name drawn for a prize...two nights lodging in Red River!

Guess how we are using our certificate?

A true mountain top experience. We ride the ski lift

to the top of the mountain and the concert is on the deck of

the snack hut. You cannot create a background like this

in any mega concert venue. This artist is Richard Leigh.

Every time we go to Red River I get a picture like this.

I never get tired of it. We have so many like this in

our photo collection. There is comfort in knowing

that that mountain will always be there when I need it.

Chillin' and enjoying the music!

Abundance is..Hot Chili Days and Cool Mountain Nights!!

Reflecting On Our Words

It is July and 2009 is continuing to be an amazing year. I am still in wonder at the blessings life brings. Our group again shares their word of the year which began in January and continues to eeke it's way into our daily lives. Even when we are swamped, pooped, and overwhelmed, somehow our word continues to beacon a call. Join me in celebrating the end of a 7th wonderful month in the lives of my good friends!

Avtcoach...still practicing Abundance Mentality!!!

Julie Joyfully practices Excellence!
Excellence...
Completed Road Trips
Blue Skies
Ballet
Extended Family
Coming Home

AnnaMarie Actively Pursues Discipline!

As I move toward a more disciplined way of life, these are some of the things I have been trying to incorporate more of. It is not an issue of right or wrong, but of more or less. I want to get more organized, do more cooking, cleaning and exercise and get a decent amount of sleep. I think it is a never ending journey, but one that is worth the trip.

Roban Relates to Faith and Joy!

What brings me JOY? my daughter Hannah, good movies, great books, knowing that Craig is a caring father, Scout, twinkling Christmas lights, summer days before it gets too hot, blogging, taking pictures of Hannah, Akiane’s amazing art, Maggie, when a student ‘gets it’ and becomes a writer, morning light as it dances through the door, the smell of Biolage shampoo, doing things with Hannah, finding a hand-crafted necklace that has a meaning that resonates with you, being able to walk and run through the neighborhood, making new friends, eating good food, reading magazines (or looking at the pictures!), unexpected snow days, blue skies with windswept clouds, Autumn, scrapblogging, colorful flowers, driving my car, pampering ourselves, pedicures and summer sandals, my family, Starbucks frappucinos…. and so many other things I don’t have pictures of, like warm baths and cozy beds, a roaring fire on cold days, night sounds and falling stars…. The more I think about it, the more things I find that bring me joy!

My loving pal Peggy is creating her own spiritual journey for Balance and wishes you well!

Abundance is finding your way on your own journey!

Namaste,

Avtcoach

Still reflecting on our words....

It is the end of June and time again for our collective post on our words chosen at the beginning of the year. Through this shared experience this group of women have continued to feel such a support system of acceptance and care. Read here how each woman has continued the journey, alone yet not alone.

My Abundance experience this June comes in the form of a gift for myself.

"I have been blessed to be attending a Yoga class three days per week. Through this class I have also met some amazing women. One of the women, a new friend has added so much to my life in only a few months. We enjoy a nice cup of chai on Sat. morning after our yoga class.

The first weekend in June we went on an overnight trip to a retreat center about 40 miles from our town. We stayed in an old farmhouse. Here is the abundance of this 24 hour time away.

A glass of wine on the front porch, talking, watching the sun go down, watching the three new young alpaca's recently adopted by our retreat center owners, sharing again a viewing of the movie Chocalat while of course eating dark chocolate and sharing another glass of wine and talking. Feeling the morning breeze flow through the windows upon awakening in the morning, and taking turns getting a massage by a massage therapist who came to our farmhouse with table in hand..and talking. Enjoying an organic salad then taking a nap just because we can..and talking. It was a gift we gave ourselves and the shared experience was truly abundant. It is not easy to take the time to break away from old habits and do something new. We did it and we are only blessed beyond measure. Thank you Cris for our girl time away."

Abundance is.. sharing new experiences with a trusted friend.

Annemarie from So I was Just Thinking shares about DISCIPLINE.



“Discipline is remembering what you want.” David Campbell

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”Jim Rohn

“Discipline is the refining fire by which talent becomes ability.” Roy L Smith

“Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes.” Buddha

My daughter epitomizes the definitions of discipline described above. She has working since September towards the goal of attending the Showcase National Dance Competition. By setting an achievable and measurable goal, she was able to see that dream come to fruition this past weekend.

Caitlin spent several hours a week attending ballet, tap, jazz and technique classes without complaint. Additionally, her instructors would call weekend rehearsals. What was the result of all this work?

Two amazing performances and two platinum awards. Which just goes to show that when you have the necessary discipline, you can achieve just about anything.


Roban from Moments In Time shares this about JOY.


JOY. Amazing how such a small, simple word can make such a huge impact in your life (when you let it!). Acknowledging the joy in my life has been one of my goals this year. By focusing on the word “joy,” I hoped to leave worrisome thoughts behind as I looked for those proverbial silver linings instead.

For me, finding joy is really about slowing down to enjoy the moments that make up my life. It’s about stopping the thoughts that whirl through my mind long enough to truly enJOY what life has to offer.


As I focused on this word, I began to recognize joy all around me. I saw joy in a baby’s smile at the grocery store, in the words of a student, and in my daughter’s unique way of seeing things. I found joy in a rare March snowfall and in the serenade of cicadas and frogs on a warm summer night. I found joy while cooking meals for my family and when treating myself to a few good books.


I have found that joy is not elusive but awaits me every day if I just look in the right place. Joy, I found, is a simple thing to enJOY.




Peggy from Middle Age Ramblings shares this about BALANCE.


6 months, 26 weeks, 181 days, 4,344 hours......four Americans and one Australian united together believing by focusing and reflecting on our tools called words our journey would become clearer.


For me, without a doubt the journey so far has been very rewarding. Who would have thought that by focusing on a few simple words (Balance, Desire, Persistence) they would grant me so much power and freedom.

This month I would like to reflect on finding balance in the midst of life’s ups and downs.
In life there will always be ups and downs. When something negative happens, instead of agonizing over it or trying to oppose it, we should accept it and try to turn it into a positive. Similarly, when positive things happen in our life we need to be prepared for the fact that good things can’t last forever.

Instead of wishing for a life of complete happiness where nothing bad ever happens, these ups and downs should be embraced, because they are what gives life its colour and meaning.
In Taoism it is believed that the entire universe is a balance of opposites, symbolized by yin and yang (day and night, winter and summer, male and female, life and death, etc).



“The Tao is the One. From the One come yin and yang; From these two, creative energy (chi); From energy, ten thousand things; The forms of all creation. All life embodies yin AND yang; Through their union Achieving harmony”.
Tao Te Ching (Dreher translation)





Octamom shares about EXCELLENCE.



As we hit the completion of half of the year, I find myself amazed that July is right around the corner. Four blog friends and I started the year by each choosing a word that would be our guiding beacon for 2009 and at the end of each month, we have each posted something about how that word is shaping our year.

My word for the year has been excellence. When I selected this word, I thought it to be the element would wind its way through many of the areas in my life in which I seek to grow and improve, in my relationships, homemaking, schooling, writing, photography and walk with the Lord. To pursue excellence has become a lesson in degrees. How does one know when they have achieved 'excellence'? It's not really a destination or accomplishment, but rather an approach and attitude toward the duties and desires in life. And one thing that has emerged as I have pursued excellence this year is that it can be practiced in the smallest things. In my world right now, with so much of my time joyfully captured by the needs of small children, big goals could be frustrating. But to know that I can exercise excellence in making a bed, wiping a nose and reading a book to a child allows me to honor my New Year's goals without creating frustration and overwhelm, which is a very excellent thing indeed.





Dear Friends,
As we pass from the first half of 2009 into the next half it is my wish for each person to have something they can hold on to to take with them along the journey, to live in the moment, to be blessed with good friends, loving family and an abundance of self discovery.



Blessings,
Avtcoach

Inspire and Be Inspired

June's "Abundant" theme is "inspire another".

I have struggled in the past few months with my writing. I have had so many new insights and new experiences yet somehow, the words to describe them would not come. I could not seem to adequately convey them in words. Mental images, meditative states, progress in asanas were abounding. My blog had to take a back seat to these experiences. I did not have the words.

Along came an extended phone call from my blog friend Miruspeg and her words were timely. Her own blog posting routine, her consistency, her word focus of "Balance" and daily example encouraged me. I was inspired.

Then came the end of May and an opportunity to group post again about our word. The creativity of my friends encouraged me. I was inspired.

Like Dorothy in "Jerry McGuire", "I just want to be inspired."

My inspiration comes in many forms: really good writing, beautiful art, music and photography, the commitment that someone has to a daily prayer life, a workout schedule, a nutrition schedule. In fact, I find inspiration from those who keep their personal commitments to just about anything. I find the quality of "commitment to self" very inspiring.

One individual who exudes inspiring words and actions is Michael J. Fox. His recent television special "Adventures of an Incurable Optimist" paid homage to individuals who live life with a positive outlook. I don't think anyone could watch this special or finish his new book "A Lucky Man: A Memoir" and not be inspired by the way he is inspired by the human spirit himself and celebrates the way others inspire him.

So there is something to "Inspire, and Be Inspired"

If I feel this abundant about being inspired, and Michael J. Fox shares this sentiment, then maybe to experience abundance we must seek to "inspire another". You might be intentionally inspiring another in a variety of ways but I am most certain that each and every person is "inspiring another" in some way that they are not aware of.

I recently posed a question to a very close friend. "How do I help you?" The answer I received was more than I expected. This person who inspires me so much in many aspects of life has been touched in unexpected ways by me. That I might in a small way contribute to the abundant life of another is both humbling and amazing.

So, my questions are these: Can we decide to "inspire another" or do we "inspire another" by living a quality life of positive abundance and that in itself is enough? Does inspiration come spontaneously in a different form for each individual or are there qualities that are globally inspiring? What or who inspires you?

Abundance is....an unexpected gift of inspiration.

May Day! May Day! Read About Our Words!

It is with great pleasure that I step back into blogging as we close another month. My good blog friends Roban, Peggy, Annemarie and Octamom are at it again with the latest installation of "Reflecting on Our Words". Read, See, and Enjoy!

"May is a month full of life. Graduations, Weddings, Concerts, Recitals, and Championships. Bike races, Foot races, and Horse races. It is a month in Oklahoma for rain storms and twisters. You have to keep your sneakers on to catch up with the action. May is also "Better Speech and Hearing Month". I'd like to think of it as "Better Encouraging and Listening Month". My blog posts have been absent but my life has been full. I am truly creating abundance one step at a time. Blessings to you as we move into June. What will the next month bring?" AVTCOACH



Annemarie of "So I was Just Thinking" created a beautiful collage for her word "Discipline".




Peggy of "Middle Age Ramblings" chose Balance for her word. But like a true lady has changed course by adding "Desire" and "Persistence" to help her stay focused on her goals. Very insightful!





Roban from "Moments in Time" chose "Faith and Joy" for her words of the year. She too got into the scissors, paper and glue spirit creating her word collage.

Octamom has created her own special work of art for her word "Excellence".

Abundance is...creating your own guide.

Enjoy Success!

It could not be a more perfect time to begin posting again after a short hiatus. As I continue on the path of experiencing Abundance in my life I have a list of ideas ready to emote into weekly posts. The month of May has been for me "Enjoy Success". To put wings on my goals I chose this month to take time to feel proud of my accomplishments and applaud myself for some sound decisions I have made. It seems many times when we chose a goal for ourselves, fate or spirit would have it that some challenge will be put in our way toward that goal. May has been full of creative decision making as we maneuvered our way through a blown engine, two car collisions in two weeks, the purchase of a new car and a visit to a doctor for some preventive health goals. I guess you cannot enjoy success without a price. I have to smile and be thankful that May is closing and I can look forward to June. The good word for June is "Inspire Another" and I have plenty of ideas for that one. I look forward to Monday and sharing a group post of our collective words for the year.

Abundance is...meeting a challenge head on, and enjoying the success of the end!