Going With The Flow of Challenges

A picture of one of my favorite places in Germany. The island of Hiddensee where I was fortunate to spend a couple lovely weekends. Everything happens in divine right order.

Everyone knows that selling a house today is a situation that requires a great deal of time, energy and patience. I feel really blessed that I have had approximately eight showings in the last two and a half weeks, but what I really want is my house to be sold. So like everyone I face that eternal challenge to go with the flow and trust that everything is in DRO; Divine Right Order and that my house will sell just as it should, to the family that is most suited to my house. Waiting is a challenge, but like finding a new job, or moving to a new continent….something I have done several times over it always falls into place at the exact right moment and you experience that light bulb moment of “ah, this is why I needed to wait.”

I remember some years ago when I was searching for an international job and I lost out on one in Dresden, Germany because their email didn’t reach me in Hawaii before I headed to the job fair in Houston. I remember standing by the Dresden line saying to myself, maybe I should request an interview with this school. But, something held me back and I didn’t get in their line, didn’t interview and then flew back to Hawaii finding that they had in fact been interested in me. I was crushed and disappointed.

Fast forward another eight months I now had two job offers, one in Indonesia and one in Berlin, Germany. I opted for the Berlin, Germany post. Taking that job changed my life and deepened my love of travel and expat life. If I had taken the Dresden job I would have never met the special man who shared my life in Berlin. Everything happens for a reason, DIVINE RIGHT ORDER I remind myself today as I wait for my house to sell. Blessing and love to each of you!

Photo Credit: Lisa Overman

 

Finding Joy in the Simple Moments

There are so many things that demand our attention and time every single day but something I’ve learned through my many losses is to take time to appreciate the small moments, the heart felt pleasures that come into our days and nights. I had a sweet moment of reflection last night when the man I’m dating simply touched and held my hand. It was the softest, simpliest touch but it meant so very much to me. Tonight when we talked I shared what that meant to me. Many times we forget to appreciate the small things that touch our hearts and our lives. On this day, with this man I wanted him to know what his touch meant to me. May each of you find a sweet moment in your day that you treasure; may it open your heart allowing you to share what the moment meant to you, someone in your life will be appreciative.

Photo credit: Flickr photo by: Perseverando

 

Creating The Life We Believe In

Sometimes our lives become way laid by responsibilities and the challenges we face. For the last few days I have been dealing with personal challenges of my own. Which I will discuss further on a future date. For today I just want to say that this week has been a real reminder to me to always focus my life on what I love.

Fortunately for me I’ve found ways to do that. These days I focus my energies on my book, getting my new website up and ready to go, writing on this blog and learning how to live a simplier life near the beach again.

It isn’t easy and lately it has been damn hard and scary. But if I can take anything from this week that feels good it is the fact that I am doing what I love and I love the life I am creating for myself. I believe in what I’m doing, what I’m creating and that gives me so much joy and pleasure.

So for those of you out there, trying to figure out how to create the life you love, amid a job that stifles you, or a relationship that challenges you beyond what you ever dreamed, take heart. Take small steps; small steps lead down the same path of success I am walking, and small steps mean you are less likely to fall on your ass and make stupid mistakes. How do I know this? The voice of experience I can assure you…laughter.

There are times to take big leaps. I know I have made them. Accepting a job, sight unseen on the island of Guam. It was the BEST decision I ever made and I spent three amazing years there. Ditto for giving up a great job on Guam and heading for Hawaii. That one was dicey for a bit. I worked two jobs for a while until I found a full time job in my career field of the time…education. It did work, but it was rough for the first four months or so. That is why I say; take some small steps and get your balance and then when you feel really confident, leap into it.

It has always paid off for me. Doing what I love has brought me jobs where I found adventure, new friends, new cultures to explore and eye opening experiences that forever changed me. So this week while I face my own challenges I’m reminded that I’m leading the life I love. I take joy from what I do and what I believe in and besides family and relationships what could be better than that?

 

Trying Not To Let Life Drive Me Crazy

We have all had that moment when we want to drop the phone or computer out of a five story window and watch it explode into a million pieces because we are so fed up with it we can’t bear another second. Today is my day for feeling that about my phone service. Verizon customer service to be exact. I just spent 54 minutes on hold with Verizon to disconnect my service.

For a company that professes to have the biggest network of support in the country I would say something is severely lacking when a customer has to wait 54 minutes on hold and then speak to three different reps to finally get service disconnected. Finally after 30 minutes I went online, hoping I could disconnect the service that way. I made my way through several screens searching for something that allowed me to discontinue service. Finally I found it, clicked it and got a message that said please call verizon to disconnect service. Sweet Jesus…that is screwed up! I have to say that everyone I spoke to was very friendly and helpful. But seriously how far does that go when one is ready to toss the phone off a cliff?

I kept my cool and was actually really nice to them, probably because they sincerely seemed interested in helping me and were trying their best to make sure the service was taken care of. Of course some of my frustration came from listening to their FIOS bullshit advertizing for almost an hour. It’s pretty pathetic when you’re trying to advertize your services to those of us who aleady have them! Give it a freaking rest! In the end I have actually disconnected service and received friendly support while doing it. Would I recommend anyone else calling Verizon today… not a freaking chance!

 

Accepting Where We Are

Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is recognize that we need to slow down, take care of ourselves and step away from the insanity. I have been feeling really in need of a good rest lately. I’m certain this is due to months of showing my house, living in a house that must always be in pristine show order, writing and editing a book, writing for two websites and trying to sort, box and divest myself of a certain amount of belongings. This is certainly enough to make anyone desire a good rest.

A Wonderful Memory of My Day at Maui Hyatt Spa
Photo credit Lisa Overman

So what does this writer do for herself when life becomes too much?
Eleven Things I’ve Done For Myself in 24 Hours.
1. I took a long bath with a sea salt scrub scented with vanilla and cinnamon that I made myself.
2. Read a good novel whose value is strictly pleasure.
3. I chose to eat some very healthy food, lots of veggies, vitamins and mangosteen juice!
4. I sat in the sun for 45 minutes on my patio.
5. I watched Oprah’s show. She’s always inspiring!
6. I slept nine hours.
7. I went to bed early.
8. I limited my time on the computer.
9. I limited my television time to a couple favorite shows.
10. I came up with a list of ways to break away for a couple days this month.
11. I ordered one my favorite Hawaiian Coco Mango lotions and shower gels from the Hyatt Kaanapali Spa on Maui.

I hope these will help each of you! What works for you when you need a good break?

 

Live What You Love notes from an unusual life

Today I discovered the most amazing thing, Bob and Melinda Blanchard, who wrote “A Trip to the Beach” and “Live What You Love, notes from an unusual life.” have a website devoted to inspiring and sharing examples of how others have followed their path of doing what they love to change their lives!

The website is http://www.livewhatyoulove.com Look to the right on my blog roll of great websites and you will find a link. I’m impresed with the continual inspiration their lives offer each of us in a search to create what we love in our own lives. Read their books and check out the website!

 

Jump In

Jump In!
By: Mark Burnett

This is an excellent book! This is my second time to read it, and I find Mark Burnett both intelligent and very inspirational. This book is a pleasure to read and very insightful for those who are striving toward creating a successful and adventerous life for themselves. Mark Burnett has created his success by working hard, believing in himself and taking risks that he felt were right for him.

 

The Islands of My Life

Canoe and children picture taken on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Beach shot Kailua Beach, Oahu, Hawaii.

Whenever I am feeling in need of tranquility I think back to moments I’ve experienced while living on islands in the Pacific. Guam sunsets at Tahiti Rama’s…sadly now long gone from Tumon Bay. Where tables graced the sand and your feet could feel the softness of the sand while you enjoyed a drink with a lover or friend.

Oahu, Hawaii, where I loved driving along the North Shore in the winter months when the beaches were closed to all but the very best or insane ….surfers. Along with many others I would sit on the sand, mesmerized by the huge waves and the skill of those surfing the dangerous waves. I find a sense of peace in the magnitude and strength of the ocean. It reminds me that my struggles and problems are just one small part of a whole and to work at taking a larger view of the struggle I may be facing. (I could certainly use that bit of my own advice today…..laughter.) There is something special about islands, they touch me with their magic and their beauty. May these pictures bring each of you a sense of the beauty, tranquility and peace I found there. Treasure your day!

 

Island Wise

Plumeria flowers on the Big Island of Hawaii

There is a book I love, that I keep on my dresser. When I want an uplifting quick read about the islands of the world I open this book to a random page and for a moment I am transported back to the islands I’ve lived on and loved in my life.

Today my random page in “Island Wise”
“lessons in living from the islands of the world” is from the island of Jamaica.

“The first thing I do when I come to Jamaica is to bury my watch in the suitcase and set my inner clock to the islands pure tropical tranquility-that slow cooking joy that the islanders create just by viewing time in their own unique way.”

“Dr. Breeze is their name for the trade winds that blow in over the Caribbean Sea to cool an island day. The doctor just makes everything feel “irie” they say, i.e., simply wonderful. And if the bus, your dinner, or your guide is late, someone calmly says, “Soon come.” Translation: It’ll happen sooner or later, just relax.”

“It doesn’t take long to begin to appreciate this “soon come” take on life. It’s the essence of island time.”

 

“A Year by the Sea”

Sometimes grief is not only from a death. Sometimes grief comes with the loss of a relationship or the realization that a relationship is changing and you’re at a cross roads where you have to determine whether you can heal a relationship or whether it will end. It wont be the same depth of grief, yet it will be a grieving process just the same.

A Year by the Sea

is a thought provoking book about the transformations a woman goes through in her life. Joan and her husband are at a crossroads when they separate with him taking a promotion in a different part of the country and Joan moving into their summer cottage on Cape Cod. The book details the journey of Joan’s life during the year she lives at Cape Cod and the transitions she makes personally and within her relationship with her husband.

I felt this was an excellent autobiography for anyone contemplating their own life transitions or transformations. It was moving, realistic and thought provoking. She has written one or two others since this one.