In which you might need a little life coaching

Don't we all? As I mentioned last week, I realized that I have woefully neglected myself the past few months and I am making up for lost time. Mercifully, the self is quite forgiving. I have worked through some issues in the past week that have dogged me for years simply because I decided I was ready to really pay attention to those little things that niggle away at the back of your mind but are never serious enough to demand real attention. It is astonishing how resilient the inner self is and how quickly and gratefully it responds to focused effort.

I'm not trying to be cryptic--my demons are mild and harmless fellows for the most part. For example, last week I realized for the first time that there are a few areas in which I am a people-pleaser. I don't like treading on toes or exerting my authority--stop laughing, I can hear you--but I discovered that it is precisely the times that I am uncomfortable doing so that I need to be able to feel confident in my choices. Oh, dear. I've slipped into cryptic again, haven't I? In that case, let's move on.

When I realized I wanted to do some personal growth work, I assembled my toolkit--books, podcasts, my journal. I printed out three months' worth of Daily Oms that I had neglected to really read and began to highlight them. And I found Christine Arylo's Self-Love Studio. Right now Christine is offering a FREE seven week teleclass with some of the most amazingly motivated and inspirational guru-chicks! I was intrigued by the fact that the class was free and at a convenient time--9pm Eastern on Wednesdays--but when I saw the roster of speakers, I signed up.

I should admit that I was a trifle skeptical and looked around for some fine print, but the class is entirely free. You can purchase MP3s of the classes if you like as well as some ancillary materials, but you can also just take advantage of the teleclass and invest only your time. I am sorry to say that I found the class too late to hear the first speaker, but I made it in time to hear Kimberly Wilson, and if you sign up now, you'll be right on track for the five remaining classes. If you're worried about spam, I will tell you that I have received two e-mails from Christine's studio with class details and that's it.

So, a little free life coaching from some amazing women--what's not to love?

In which I am Scottish

Like most Americans, my genes are a hearty stew of whatever bits and bobs Europe and the Americas had to offer, but the better part of my heritage is Scottish. I adore Scotland. I have visited twice and would go again tomorrow if I could; in fact, I probably OUGHT to because I plan to set a book there soon...I digress. I have a tendency to romanticize Scotland, but then don't we all? And in my mind's eye, when I think of Scotland, I am roaming the heathered hills wearing clothes like these. I discovered Sandra Murray thanks to the delicious blog written by the ever-luminous Alessandra at Gypsy Girl's Guide. Alessandra is a regular source of inspiration, so much so that sometimes I have to click away and save part of a blog entry for later because she has given me just too much to think about at one time and I want to process it. I am still gutted that our schedules didn't work out for us to meet up the last time I was in San Francisco because she is at the top of my list of people whose necks must be hugged.

In which we talk Edith Wharton again

A week or two ago, I flogged Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome as the perfect late winter read. (Don't forget--"Ghost Hunters" will be at The Mount next week.) A day or so later I was cleaning out some clippings and ran across this quote by Edith Wharton, which I absolutely love: If only we'd stop trying to be happy, we could have a pretty good time. And since I am a fervent advocate of doing LESS as often as possible, I heartily agree.

Also, a few frugal and fun reads I came across recently: The Thrift Book by India Knight and Kath Kelly's How I Lived On A Pound A Day. (She's not kidding. She actually lived on a pound a day for a year, and that includes everything but rent. I deeply admire the spirit behind her experiment, although I'm going to respectfully decline to undertake such a thing myself. For starters, hitchhiking in my neck of the woods would probably get you arrested before it would get you where you want to go...but I digress.) Knight's book has some great ideas for families on a budget and how to cut corners without cutting out the fun stuff. They are both British books and available on the UK version of Amazon.

And I have succumbed to the lure of the Twitter. If you want to follow, I'm deannaraybourn.

In which we coddle creativity

I don't really like that title as it makes creativity sound like eggs, but I'm trying to get this posted quickly because my self-imposed work deadline of 5pm is fast approaching and honestly, the lentils aren't going to cook themselves. (I'm experimenting with different whole grains and beans. This week it's all about the lentil.) Anyway, last week I was perusing the delightful blog, Living the Beautiful Life, and discovered a gorgeous poster she'd created for seven tried and true ways to stifle creativity. She got her inspiration from a blog post by Christine Kane, and you might enjoy reading the original post. I thoroughly concur with them ALL. And actually, the more I think about it, the more apt the metaphor of creativity as egg seems...

In which I talk about power books

No, not the computer. A few years ago, when I was feeling rather desperately overwhelmed by various and sundry pressures, I created a power book for myself. I'm not sure how I came up with the idea; I think it was one of those organic little projects that just happened. I took a small blank book and a shipment from Artella and went to work. I selected the pictures that best represented women with power, who radiated confidence and strength. Then I went quote-hunting, finding the best quotes to prop up my flagging spirits. I mined the words of Eleanor Roosevelt and Winston Churchill and Marianne Williamson, but I also collected inspiration from less expected sources, like children's books.

Once I had assembled my quotes and images, I put everything together in my blank book and labeled it a power book. It exists for no other reason than to remind me of what is possible, what is do-able, what is within reach if I remember to ask for it. One of my favorite quotes was a line of dialogue from Christopher Robin in A.A. Milne's beloved Pooh books: You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. It has a wonderful rhythm when you say it aloud--it might make a very good mantra, come to think of it.