Mirror, Mirror . . .

. . . On My Wall

I don't know about you but I hate looking in the mirror. I'll take it one step farther and admit I really can't stand seeing my reflection anywhere or my photograph being taken. 

If you are interested you can read about my photograph phobia on this post, Day 27 Magic Mirror (Whew, that's a mouthful). 

My Magic Mirror LIES!

I don't hate myself but that mirror keeps telling me things I don't want to hear. "Boy you're getting a lot of grey. Your teeth are crooked and not so white anymore. And look at those wrinkles and huge pores. Is that a whisker growing out of your chin?"

And that's just the beginning. If that stupid mirror sees anymore of me, it screams and laughs. "Ha you are some weird shaped chick! And the belly, no wonder that guy you were interviewing asked when your baby was due." Yes that last part is true, it's not just a scene in a comedy, it really happened to me. Luckily I am not as sensitive as I use to be twenty or so years ago, otherwise I would have started crying.
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Well, now you know part of my dislike list. I am getting better at zoning out that critical mirror. Of course, it's easier if I turn my back on him.

Unfortunately, some days it is impossible to ignore Mirror. Those days are bad. I don't want to go out anywhere. People will stare. Teenagers will point and laugh at the circus freak. Small children will cry and run away. Those with bad hearts will collapse while grasping at their chests. I will not be responsible for some strangers death so it is just better to stay at home.

I know if I make an effort to fix my hair, put on some makeup and dress nice, I will feel better about myself. But. And yes there is a but. I feel like .... an ugly mutt getting a poodle hair do ... a blackbird painting itself red to look like a cardinal. Everyone will see I'm just a three dressed up as a nine and that's worse.

So how do I avoid those days? Let me think. The first trick is to get out of the house. Staying in can be a bad habit to break. Eventually you just can't go out in public.

I'm Not Listening

I think a big part of changing Mirror's opinion is my attitude. I think positive. I think gratitude. I am happy and I smile when I look at Mirror and he smiles back. He is just too busy smiling to say anything bad to me.

I also like to look at myself through the eyes of my family. They see the person they love. They see a smart, kind, important person. (Gotta love that movie. Can you guess what it is?) 

On the other hand, if I am feeling especially good I can tell Mirror to shut up and listen to me. I am grateful for being me. Yes I have grey hair and it is a privilege.  Not everyone lives long enough to have this much grey. I really don't have that many wrinkles and the ones I do have are a testament to my life. I am over weight because I have not spent enough time on myself, putting the needs of others first. 

Putting it into perspective. I won't be emotionally scaring anyone soon by going outside and being seen. I hope. :) I am not Quasimodo or the elephant man. I am just an average looking human being - not a super model - not a mutant. And I can live with that.



What does your magic mirror say to you?



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Photo of mirror from http://www.interiormall.com

Seven Paths: Lesson 1

Curtis Rivers

Curtis Rivers wrote a book called Seven Paths to Freedom which will be out sometime next year. He also has a free seven day course with the same title. 

I thought this course may just be the ticket to help me on my journey to inner peace and happiness.

I am blogging about this because I want to share it with you in the hope to inspire those who also want to make some positive changes in their lives - who want to enjoy living life with passion, having the courage to transform dreams into reality. Even if you don't follow me, you can check out the site, Seven Paths to Freedom.


The title for Lesson One From Curtis Rivers FREE online course, Seven Paths to Freedom, is "What do you really want?"

At the end of the lesson, Curtis asks us to "Write down a list of just seven things that you REALLY want."

He then adds, "Avoid writing 'win the lottery' or 'marry a millionaire' - ask yourself, if money were no object, if you never had to work another day in your life, what would you do." Well, I'm sure that is what most people wish for and it doesn't go much further than that. I know the law of attraction doesn't work like that. We need to know exactly what we want and make the message clear.

I have pictured what I would do with a lot of  money but I have not imagined what I am actually doing. 

www.branthaven.com

Let's try again.

I see myself walking up to my house and into the front door. There is a large brightly lite entry way. I have a huge smile on my face. 

Faith, comes running up to me and gives me a great big hug. She is excited and tells me about what she did while I was out. 

www.branthaven.com

To my right is expansive sitting area and to my right is a staircase to the second level.

I continue walking to the back of the house and look around the kitchen. Nicole, Christina and Beth are there with their daughters baking cookies. They all look at me, smiling. My granddaughters are chattering away for me to look at what they are doing. I feel so blessed.

www.livingdesignhome.com

There are some white fluffy towels on the floor because the girls were swimming again. We have an indoor heated pool. I promise to go for a dip in the pool with them after supper.

I walk upstairs to my bedroom and change into some casual clothes. My room is so relaxing - a true retreat to unwind.

After taking a few minutes for myself, I work my way downstairs to my art studio/home office/rec room/exercise area.

 I check emails and stop myself there because it is the weekend and I promised my girls to spend time with them.

I look around and feel so grateful. I have large canvases holding paint that I put there. Someone has already bought that picture. 

www.minimalisti.com

Over in the corner is a work station that my girls and I sit at and create all kinds of fun items. 

In the opposite corner is a area dedicated to exercising. Everyone in the family takes advantage of that space.

The walls are covered with pictures of my family and the trips we have been on. 




There are awards and letters of gratitude for my volunteer work at various charities. My daughters insisted on framing and hanging them. 

I go back to the kitchen and they are cleaning up. I look out the window at the four nearby houses that belong to Beth, Nicole, Christina and my Mom. 

I walk past the great room on my way out the patio door to the garden. Gary is sitting there with my son in laws doing whatever guys do.

From picasaweb.google.com

My garden is huge and well groomed. We have all kinds of vegetables and flowers. My granddaughters love watching the plants grow. They love picking and eating the fresh veggies. The cucumbers are doing great this year.

Is that seven? Is that what I am suppose to do?

Let's recap:
1. Spend time with my family.
2. Volunteer my time for different causes.
3. Blog. Write.
4. Garden.
5. Paint.
6. Travel with my family.
7. Swim and exercise.

What was your interpretation of this assignment?

You can sign up for Curtis Rivers' Seven Paths to Freedom Course at http://www.curtisrivers.com/products.html.

The Magic Never Ends

Day 30?

If we are counting, this would be day thirty. This blog was originally suppose to be only 28 days but it appears there is more to share than previously anticipated. Good or bad, you can decide. I choose good.

So let's continue.

I would like to share a quote that Rhonda has included in this chapter.

"I started out giving thanks for small things, and the moe thankful I became, the more my bounty increased. That's because what you focus on expands, and when you foccus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life."

Oprah Winfrey (B.  1954)

Media Personality and Business Woman

And this is what Rhonda Byrne has to say about gratitude;

"Gratitude is the cure for broken or difficult relationships, for lack of health or money, and for unhappiness. Gratitude eliminates fear, worry, grief, and depression, and brings happiness, clarity, patience, kindness, compassion , understanding and peace of mind. Gratitude brings solutions to problems and the opportunities and wherewithal to realize your dreams." Page 252 of The Magic.

Wow, she has a lot to say in that paragraph and for the most part, I agree. 

Let me explain.

1. The cure for broken or difficult relationships? I agree. 
2. The cure for lack of health? I don't know about this one. I'll have to reevaluate it a later time not because I don't think it works but because there was no real opportunity to test it out.
3. The cure for lack of money? Again, I don't know if gratitude is the cure for this one. 
4. Gratitude eliminates fear? Off the top of my head I have to say that I can't think of an example to prove this theory. Perhaps I just haven't had the right circumstances.
5. Gratitude eliminates worry? I will have to dig deeper for the answer to this one.
6. Gratitude eliminates grief? The answer isn't jumping out at me. Get back to me later.
7. Gratitude eliminates depression? I definitely agree.
8. Gratitude brings solutions to problems? I have to think more on this one.
9. Gratitude brings the opportunities and wherewithal to realize your dreams? I don't have an opinion on this one yet.
10. Gratitude brings happiness? I agree one hundred percent.
11. Gratitude brings clarity? I have to think more about this one.
12. Gratitude brings patience? Yes it does.
13. Gratitude brings kindness? Yes to this one too.
14. Gratitude brings compassion? Three times a charm. That is a yes.
15. Gratitude brings understanding? Yes!
16. Gratitude brings peace of mind? And YES again!

I will give you the reasons behind each of my answers on my next post.

What do think about Rhonda's comments on gratitude? Wrong!. Just kidding. There are no wrong answers. Just different opinions.

And I would very much like you to share your opinions. 

Day 28, Remember the Magic

"That's the thing with magic. You've got to know it's still here, all around us, or it just stays invisible for you."

Charles De Lint (B. 1951),

Writer and Celtic Folk Musician

Rhonda says, "There is no set number of blessings to find from yesterday, because every day is different. But I can assure you that every single day of your life is full of blessings, and when you have opened your eyes to see the truth of this, you will have opened your heart to the magic of life, and your life will be abundant and magnificent." Page 237, The Magic.

The Assignment

Today's assignment is to ask yourself: What are the good things that happened yesterday? Remember as many blessing as you can think from yesterday and write them down.

Last Nights Gratitude Stone

I was most grateful for the awesome sleep I had  last night. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I Am Grateful: (Day 28)

1. That I was able to get an appointment so quickly with the Optometrist. Being diabetic, I am suppose to have my eyes checked annually but it has been more than two years since my last check-up. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
2. For my healthy eyes so that I can see all the wonders of the world and the faces of my loved ones. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
3. That Faith's first day of school went well. She really enjoyed herself. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
4. Christina got up with Faith this morning, dressed her, did her hair, and walked her to school. on time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
5. That I was able to see my Mom today. It has been four whole days since she last came here to visit. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
6. That Faith went to sleep easily. She was over tired from the long day at school. She was easily upset and those kind of nights can be terrible. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
7. For the beautiful day because the girls were able to go for a swim after school. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
8. For the rain. All the plants in the garden were droopy and extremely thirsty.Thank you, thank you, thank you.
9. For our garden, the girls were so excited to see the large number of gourds growing in the yard.Thank you, thank you, thank you.
10. For my health. I just realized that I have been headache free for a long time. I can't recall right now when the last one was. Nicole and I were just talking about this the other day. We are so use to headaches that we don't even realize when we have one. We will be feeling a little grumpy then figure out it is due to an extremely bad headache.Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The First Day of School.

The Challenge

I am grateful for these good things that happened yesterday:

1. That our furniture was delivered yesterday.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.
2. That Nick moved the old furniture out to the garage. We were well overdue for new furniture. The sofa was about fifteen years old. The cushions were flimsy. The cushion covers were ripped. One side of the couch was being held up by my red tool box.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.
3. That we were able to fit the new furniture into the space in a pleasing arrangement.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.
4. That Gary didn't freak out because I wanted to keep the two wing backed chairs from the old set.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Conclusion

My problem is I was having trouble remembering what happened yesterday. It is a blur. I am sure there was so much more to be grateful for but I just can't think of it right now.

And even though the twenty-eight days are over now. There are two last chapters to the book called Your Magical Future and The Magic Never Ends so I will have at least two more blogs. 

I hope your memory is much better than mine. How did you do with today's practice? I would love to hear all about it. Share with me!