Choose Happy...

Have you ever noticed how some days you feel happy and others you don't. When you look around, nothing has actually changed in your life to cause the shift in your experience...except your thoughts. Today, I noticed for myself that I could choose to be happy, regardless of the circumstances that surrounded the day. Upon making the choice today, my experience of the day was altered. I felt better, which impacted my actions, which shifted my experience....all from a simple choice to be happy.

What might shift in your world if you were to choose HAPPY?

I think I met an angel...

It was an ordinary day and an ordinary event, but an extraordinary experience. I took my boys to get their haircuts. Prior to going I contemplated postponing this to another day...I'm sure glad I didn't. We arrived at Great Clips, signed in and had a seat to wait our turn. Not five minutes later a tall, grey haired, 80 year old man came through the door. He immediately engaged with the boys stirring us all into giggles and smiles and took a seat near us. In talking he told me he recently had heart surgery and felt lucky to be alive. I could see he was not feeling well and restless waiting and told him please go ahead of us. He was gracious and sat down for his hair cut. He went on to tell me of his 16 grandchildren and love for kids. When finished he walked to each of my boys and handed them each a dollar bill. He walked back, he thanked us for making his day - I didn't have words to express how he had touched ours. As he walked out the door I had the urge to run after him, grab his hand and ask him if only he could stay a little longer. I was left with the feeling that he disappeared after walking out the door. What happened was not about what he did or what he said, but the presence that he was. The feeling in that room that day was like no other. The presence of this man was pure love and joy. It was angelic. There was a woman across the room who witnessed the encounter. After he left I looked over with tears in my eyes to see tears in hers. We talked about how amazing it is to have someone you have never met before touch your life in such a way. She said, "if you ever wondered what it is like to be touched by an angel....now you have". It made me pause, ponder that which is larger than life and feel gratitude deep within my soul...so grateful that we were right where we were at that moment. After sharing this story with my sister, she sent this to me! Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

Be open to the extraordinary in the ordinary. Share your stories!

A New Year...A Fresh Perspective

I'm back! Ok...it's been way too long since I last blogged. I guess that tells you a little about my life. 2008 was a year of immense change and transformation for me and my family. You will see more of me in 2009. Taking this time to go inward and focus on home and family has brought new life to Sanity Journals. I am busy designing for 2009. I look forward to celebrating with you a new journal I will be launching in February as well as exciting events that will spark your pen to paper!

What are you up to this year? What are you creating for yourself? I would love to hear the wonderful, creative, or off the wall things you are up to!

Happy New Year!

A reminder...

Today I wrote a reminder on my mirror to make time for the little things, because they are the big things. The to-do list will wait. Sometimes I actually find myself thinking that the to-do list will get done and I will cross that last item off and then relax. Ha! Like that is going to happen! Think of what you might experience if you "paused" the to-do list. I'm going to hit pause tomorrow morning and have my coffee outside! I just might take some time to play cards with the boys, chat with friends, sit and watch my boys ride bikes, read a juicy book or whatever calls me in the moment. What will you do with your pause? EnJOY!

Change comes in all sizes...

It seems like forever since I last blogged. Life took on a new pace for awhile and I chose to let go temporarily of some activities in order to maintain my own sanity! Now that the dust is settling I have found time to blog again! My husband has taken on a new business venture and for the past several months we have been preparing, putting structures into place, learning to work together in a new dimension, and creating a new dance that involves less time together. I am figuring out how to take on these new roles powerfully and stay sane and connected to the people I love! I haven't held it together 100% of the time, but am glad to tell you that I am journaling my way through it all and that is how I stay sane! Change...this time showed up in many sizes and shapes all at the same time creating a space that at times is very awkward, challenging and exciting all at the same time. I am going to tie a knot, hang on and stay on for the ride, after all this is my life.

What is going on in your world? How are you being called to change and grow? Take five minutes today, grab a journal and step back, widen your angle and take a look...are your actions aligned with your bigger picture for what you desire in life? Happy Journaling!

Reach out...

Sometimes in life we reach out to others doing things we feel we have to do. Other times we reach out from love. Do you ever notice, when you reach out from here, there is no attachment to the outcome and no waiting for reciprocation because you are reaching out for the sake of reaching out to express your love for someone!

Today, let's spread good vibes out in the world! Here are some ideas....

• Greet your husband with a huge smile and hug when he gets home from work.


• Surprise an old friend with a phone call or card in the mail


• Get down on your child's level and play a game or better yet - make one up! The simpler the better!


• Gift a bouquet of flowers to the woman in front of you at the grocery store!


• Listen to the people in your life...really listen

Do something OUT OF THE ORDINARY that is an EXPRESSION OF YOU! Don't forget to notice how good you feel after reaching out and brightening someone elses world!

Have FUN!

Amidst the chaos...I found balance within

Some people think you have to be in a quiet, meditative state to journal…I say not always the case! Today I sat in my yard watching 5 boys all under the age of 6 and wrote about my garden and how it relates to journaling. Amidst the chaos and sounds of boys yelling and running…I found balance within.

Similar to time in the garden, journaling helps me to connect to what is real and natural in life. The digging, pulling weeds, pruning, and nurturing in the garden is similar to what occurs when journaling, except you are growing the many aspects of who you are. The rewards of gardening are flowers, edibles, visual and sensual delights while the fruits of journaling show up as your roots of self confidence stretch deep into the ground, relationships bloom, intuition expands and you discover a fresh space of peace and gratitude for all that is good.