Keep it Simple

A loving and powerful reminder of the day...

Keep it simple.

Don't complicate it. Don't overwork it.

Purge it. Make space. Give it room.

Your ideas. Your heart. Your thoughts.

Keep it simple.

There is clarity in simplicity.

Much Loves,

Angela.

My Beautiful Words on Facebook.
My Beautiful Words on Pinterest.
Shop My Beautiful Words on Dawanda

Encouraging Courage. Encouraging You.

Random Thoughts... And Energy Flows...

Mother Teresa once said...

"I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there."


And the sadness, the shock of the past days have made me think of these words again and again... again and again.

We need to put our thoughts, our words, our awareness and our attention to the compassion of this all.

As in all situations of despair and loss, of hurt, and of all those doings that we can't comprehend, we can't let our focus drift from the hope that this wasn't all in vain.

I don't know how many lessons we still have to learn, how often history needs to repeat itself again and again... again and again.

But I swear, I'm not going to give up my hope that one day, we won't wake up to hearing breaking news as we did the other day... and so many other days in the past.

And I'm not going to give up my hope that one day, those lives taken and those families broken, are the gold in a beautiful mosaic that we piece back together.

Just like that beautiful Japanese word. Kinsukuroi. To repair with gold.

With the understanding, that something is more beautiful for having been broken.

Call me naïve if you like. But I'm not giving up my hope.

And energy flows where attention goes...

We have to focus our attention in the right direction... Consciously. Awake and aware.

Because in all the sadness, it's been so beautiful seeing the way people have been coming together. And holding each other.

Showing solidarity. Regardless of the religion or the race. Je suis Charlie.

Let's not give our attention to what went wrong or what caused it to go wrong.

Rather let's give our attention to making it good again. And right again.

And as Mother Teresa once said...

"I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there."

Much Loves,

Angela.

My Beautiful Words on Facebook.
My Beautiful Words on Pinterest.
Shop My Beautiful Words on Dawanda

Encouraging Courage. Encouraging You.

Random Thoughts... Take Time. To Make Time...

You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day. 

Unless you are too busy. Then you should sit for an hour."

Old Zen Adage

My own personal lesson of the day. Stop.

Take time. To make time.

These past weeks have felt like a wonderful chaos around me.

I'm dancing between my projects and client work, as though I'm dancing at four weddings and a funeral. All at the same time. In the same moment. And these pasts days, I feel like I'm the queen of dancing two steps behind, and out of tune.

But I hope, with a bit of grace.

Mind you, I'm in love with my work and I believe in my work, and hence I call it a wonderful chaos.

Wasn't it Nietzsche who once said, "You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star."

Thank you for that, Nietzsche. Thank you.

But this afternoon, I was driving home from a meeting and my mind was inspired and thinking of all the things I needed to do when I got back home. And all the things I wanted to do when I got back home. Home of course, is also lovingly known as my "Head Quarters"... and my "Heart Quarters".

And today was a beautiful day, an October beautiful day... In the distance I could see the vineyards, alongside me the harvest fields, and these glorious October colours....

And I heard myself in a monologue of thinking... I wish I had time to just stop and enjoy this all right now. Go for a walk, sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee...

The mind immediately replied in another monologue of thinking... Don't forget to make that phone call. You need to finish the texts for the website. You still haven't replied to that email. Schedule the appointment for next week....

And suddenly I heard something inside those thoughts say...

Stop. Right now. Inhale. Exhale.

Take time. To make time.

And then I knew what I had to do.

There is a little lake just outside this little town I call home.

A quaint little lake. With a walking path around it.

I remembered that one of the things on my infamous "to do" list that had not yet been accomplished over the past weeks was "Go for a walk around the lake. Collect hazelnuts."

In all the frenzy the past few weeks, I had been postphoning little things like this. And in that regard, I had been putting myself on hold.

Stop.

Take time. To make time.

And so, I went for my walk.

My mind was still inspired, but there was a calm in the inspiration. And I sensed my longing for awareness. Not the awareness of my "to do" list, and this phone call and that email, that appointment and this or that project. But the awareness of what was before me and around me, with each and every step. The awareness of the trees, the little pebbles beneath my feet. The stillness of the water. A bird that flew by.

It was like I had a deja vu of being a child. A walk of just a few steps could have taken me hours. The patience my mother must have had with me. And simply because as a child, I had to stop and pick up and touch each little flower along the way. I had to hold every little stone in my hand as though it were the first stone I had ever seen. It must have been something magical. And I looked at everything in wonder. Each crack in the sidewalk. Each person that walked by.

And I am probably guessing in saying, you were just the same as a child.

Aware. Awake. Beautifully wide awake. And in wonder.

And yes, I came by the hazelnut tree. Stopped, and picked each nut up, one by one by one. As many as my pockets could hold.

When I got back to my car, there was a different woman standing there, than the woman I was just an hour earlier. I caught myself smiling.

Stop.

Take time. To make time.

There's a little café at the lake. I had my notebook with me, the paper and pen type of notebook, I had my cigarettes with me. But most importantly, I had me, with me.

And I found myself thinking, now is the perfect moment for a cup of coffee. Me. My notebook. That little lake. Paper and pen. And a cup of coffee.

And I just sat there. I found myself writing down only two words. And those two words were, "Thank you".

I believe I was thanking myself. And maybe I was thanking God. And possibly I was thanking Life. And I was just thanking the moment.

Calm. Quiet. Happy. Inspired.

Meditation doesn't always have to be "om".

And meditation doesn't always have to be sitting cross legged on the floor, trying so hard to force yourself to meditate and not think about the laundry, or why he said what he said when you wanted him to say what... ommmm... but i think i'm hungry and when I'm finished with this, the first thing I want to do is make myself something to eat and... ommmm... am I the only person in the world that can't frigging just be quiet and sit here and meditate? Sat nam. And namasté.

No. Meditation is often just a walk in the woods. Or a walk around the lake. And being aware. Of you and yourself. And where you are. And letting the simple things in that moment be so beautifully real that you feel the colour, and touch the air and smell the breeze kiss your skin.

No. Meditation is often just a cup of coffee. Sitting there. Gazing. And catching yourself with a gentle smile.

No. Meditation is letting things stop. Even if just for a moment.

Take time. To make time.

And as the Old Zen Adage goes...

"You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day. Unless you are too busy. Then you should sit for an hour."

Much Loves,

Angela.

My Beautiful Words on Facebook.
My Beautiful Words on Pinterest.
Shop My Beautiful Words on Dawanda

Encouraging Courage. Encouraging You.

Change the Perspective...

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look
at change."

Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

It's all about the perspective. And it's all about the stance you choose to hold, allow yourself to hold...

If you and I were sitting together at a table, I would see the table from my "point of view" and you would see the exact same things on the table, but from your "point of view"... But each of us, would see a different perspective... And there could be something placed on that table, that only you could see, and for me, it's simply not there. It's not visible.

And beyond that table, there's a room... regardless how big or small. And again, there's people and things in that room that I would have my back turned upon and only you could see. I'd have to turn around, I'd have to stand up, I'd have to change my perspective.

And this applies to everything in our life. Every moment and every experience, is unique... Not only for what it is, but unique for each of us. And it's all based upon our perspectives. And how we choose to look at things and from where we choose... From which point of view, and with which emotion.

A few years ago, a situation arose and my team wasn't having one of their best days. One by one they were walking into my office, upset and pointing fingers and throwing blame at each other like spitballs.

Needless to say, I wasn't having one of my best days either. Usually I'd slip into the role of Mother Goose and try to sort and talk it out with them. But on that day, I just wanted nothing to do with the situation. It felt so primitive and small at the moment. Irrelevant.

I always had a fruit bowl in my office... And on that day, I stood up, grabbed an apple, stormed into the conference room and placed the apple on the middle of the table.

I had a few strange looks coming my way. Questioning looks regarding my sanity. I walked back into my office, grabbed the camera and simply told my team, "One by one, I want each of you to walk into the conference room. There's an apple on the table. I want you to take a photograph of what you see."

More strange looks. And a strange and loud quietness. Hush.

One by one, they went into the conference room.

Ten People. The same room. The same scenario. The same apple. On the same table. Nothing touched. Nothing changed.

I printed out each of those photographs and we all met back in the conference room. I laid each photograph out on the table.

Some of the photographs showed a close up of the apple. Some of those photographs showed the whole room and you could assume that maybe, if you looked really close, there was an apple on the table. Some of the photographs were dead on center. Some of the photographs taken to the left. And some taken to the right.

Each photograph showed a different perspective. Each photograph was unique.

I still had a few strange looks. And I still had that strange and loud quietness.

And all I simply asked, was how could it be, that each person walked into the room through the same door. And each person saw had the same apple on the same table in the same room with the same light and with the same intention of taking a photograph... So how could it be that I had ten absolutely, astonishingly different photographs?

I walked out of the room and simply left them with ten photographs and an apple.

Nothing else needed to be said.

Yes, it's all about how we choose to look at things. And it's about how we share our "point of view". However, with the wisdom and understanding, that someone else, might just see the moment, the scenario a little different than you. There are fifty shades of gray, so to speak. And someone else, might just feel the moment, feel the emotion, just a little different than you.

And that, changes everything.

Much Loves,

Angela.

My Beautiful Words on Facebook.
My Beautiful Words on Pinterest.
Shop My Beautiful Words on Dawanda

Encouraging Courage. Encouraging You.

The Kiss of Peace...

This photograph touched me. Dearly.

I do not want to approach this from a political perspective.

Or as a political subject.

I want to approach this with an open heart. And with open arms.

And I want this to be about us.

You. Me. Us. Together.


The one thing that we all share, is that we are here now. Living. Together.

In this moment. In this world.

And that in itself is a common unity. And a common unity is a community.

This world and this moment is our community.


And what I can't understand, is why we still have all this suffering.

All this hurt. All this anger.

And what is it going to take for it stop? Or for us to learn?

I don't think I have an answer.


But I like to think, and I have this glorious hope,

that it is with moments like this that love becomes our weapon.

Love. And a kiss. And not letting anything stand in the way.


And maybe we can't wake up in the morning and touch the whole world.

But we can touch that what is within our reach.

We can make a difference in our own little part of the world.

And it starts with our families. With our marriages. Or our lovers.

And it starts with our friendships. And our colleagues.

And it carries on with our neighbours.

Even with the stranger passing you by in this moment.

What would happen if you just smiled, and said a little hello?


That is how one world and life embraces another world and life.

And that is what brings us together. In common unity.


We are all standing in the same room in this moment.

We have all simply entered through another door.

And each of us have entered the room with a different story,

A different experience.

However, we are all carrying something called hurt or loss.

And we are all carrying something called a dream.

We are carrying memories of our first kiss. And of our last kiss.

And the longing for the next kiss.


We are all mothers and daughters, fathers and sons.

Not just of our generations, but of our own dreams and desires.

Of our tears and laughter. And of our fears and hopes.

And that stranger that just passed you by, the same belongs to him.


And that is what this photograph is for me.

Hope. And an answer.

A plea for us to love more. To kiss more. To embrace more.

Even if just with a loving glance that says,

"I see you.

I may not know all the stories you have walked and lived.

And you may not know all the stories which I have walked and lived.

But I see you.

And I will do my best to try to understand."


Those words, spoken with only a glance, can make all the difference.

Translate so many misunderstandings. And judgments.

For all these stories we ourselves have not yet lived.


This photograph touched me. Dearly.

It gave me hope. A hope I refuse to let go of.

Love. Let it be the only weapon we have.


Angela.

Photograph Credits:
"The Kiss of Peace" by Benedetta Polignone.

My Beautiful Words on Facebook.
Love Life. Passionately. Out Loud. And in Colour.
Dare. To be Bold. Cause Magic. Share Secrets.

Do It With Love...

"Whatever you do, do it with love. Or don't do it at all."

Angela Gwinner

Writing these words this morning, I found myself first wanting to say, "Whatever you do, do it with passion." And then I found myself visualizing different moments in life. Different tasks. Different situations.

And then I found myself with a personal admittance.

I am a passionate soul. And many things excite me and inspire me and many things set this heart of mine on fire.

But not everything.

Yet life sometimes requests us to do things that are not always the "I want to do..." list, but often on the requirement "I need to do..." list.

I can grudge having to do it. Or I can make a clear decision and say, this might not be my favourite on the to do list, but I'm going to put a bit of love into this... and surprise myself.

I can choose how I am going to approach it. Whether it is taking out the garbage (not just literally speaking, but also symbolically speaking...). Or whether it is paying the bills.

And then it came clear to me. I'd be damn good trying to convince myself that I'm taking out the garbage with passion.

But what I can do, is I can do it with love. The intention of love.

And love, I like to think, opens us to passion. All the more passion. And to gratitude. And to happiness. And to liberty.

Why liberty? Because it is a choice. A beautiful and empowering and liberating choice. Your choice. My choice. Our choice alone.

So. I quickly changed the words. And changed my perception.

Whatever you do, do it with Love. Or don't do it at all.

My morning thought. With a cup of coffee in hand. And you on my mind.

Much Loves,

Angela.

My Beautiful Words on Facebook.
My Beautiful Words on Pinterest.
Encouraging Courage. Encouraging You.

Random Thoughts... Live as if...

Friday.

And I believe I can simply only look back at this week with gratitude. And wonder.

And then more gratitude.

It was a week ago, a Friday night like tonight, and I sat down, poured myself a glass of wine and started writing. For myself.

Yes, that is a daily ritual, but last week, I felt myself in a different sense of writing, a different clarity. There was a different energy in those thoughts I was putting to paper. I can't say I was in a different sense of thinking. Maybe better said, I allowed myself not to think, or to over think. I simply allowed myself to write. Without putting any thought to it.

And maybe it wasn't quite "writing" as I am in this moment. It was more like mapping. Writing out an intinerary or an agenda (how harsh a word...) as though I were on a journey. I know where my starting point is, I know where I want to go. And as a Sagittarius by birthright, I love the journeys and the travels. I also (sometimes) love the little detours and unexpected side roads of those journeys too. And even when it is not what I expected, I am starting to learn more and more to trust, those too, are all for a reason. I'm learning to declare the destination, and start walking towards it, but to let life steer the way. I am simply learning to trust. To trust myself. And to trust life.

But last week in my writing, my mapping, it was all so clear. The start was clear. And the destination was clear. And so everything I wrote in between was very clear as well.

I had a conversation earlier that day with one of my clients... Explaining to her, on a business but also personal level, what I mean when I say, "Live as if... Work as if..."

And those that know me well, also know my conversations when I start on that philosophy of mine. They are best spent over a good cup of coffee, or yes, a glass of wine. But it just might be better if I save that conversation of writing with you, for another day.

However, I know there was an energy and an echo of that conversation with my client, that was still resonating with myself that evening.

The "intinerary" that I wrote was about the portfolio of clients that I am building with one of my projects. About the successes my clients are experiencing, and hence, the personal successes that I can experience through that. I take my work personally. Passionately, and personally. So I feel it right to call a professional success, a personal success as well. It was about who my clients are, and where my clients are. Literally, that itself was not only a mind map and a heart map, but also a worldly map.

I clearly declared my professional and personal passions. And that my clients are found in each of these.

A fashion designer. A jewellery designer. More clients in the world of interiors. A winery or two and then some. And a skin care line. Just to mention a few.

And I even went so far, as to name and declare a few of those that I would like to see as my clients. Those, that I would like to do magic for. And I simply sent out a wish and a prayer, that the perfect others, we'll find our way to each other as well. Those perfect others, that I can do good for, and that are good for me as well. That we both add abundance and goodness and purpose to each other and our intentions.

Well, consciously or subconsciously, I simply carried on living as if... And working as if.

Today, a week later and a glance over my shoulder, the magic didn't wait for me to arrive, magic came to me.

One new client with interiors. And another new client as a jewellery designer. But not just "a" jewellery designer, rather "the" jewellery designer that I had written down. With an exclamation mark.

And needless to say, they found their way to me. I didn't call, I didn't write... I simply lived as if. And I worked as if. I so to symbolically speak, cooked the meal, set the table and cleaned the house as if company was coming.

There was no expectation. But there was also no question. And there was no doubt.

And that's the secret, of the secret's secret.

Cook the meal, set the table and clean the house. Company is coming.

So, here's me in gratitude and in a state of wonder and all the more trust. With all the more gratitude.

It's all unfolding, just as it is meant to unfold.

I simply have to keep walking towards that goal, towards that vision. Not forcefully, but trustingly. And as if it's already there. Because it is already all there.

And for some reason, I just needed and wanted to share that with you. To remind you... Declare it. Speak it. Trust it.

And promise me, live as if.

Much Loves,

Angela.
My Beautiful Words on Facebook.
My Beautiful Words on Pinterest.
Encouraging Courage. Encouraging You.

Random Thoughts... You Have a Choice.

"You have a choice.
You always have a choice. Always."

Angela Gwinner

Reflecting on words of a conversation yesterday. Someone close to the heart telling me, "I didn't have a choice."

I heard those words on the surface and the conversation carried on and then suddenly I realised. Stop. Rewind. Go back a moment.

Did you just say, you didn't have a choice?

Maybe in that moment, I didn't hear those words. Rather I heard all the times in the past in which I spoke those words myself.

And I suddenly I realised how wrong those words are.

We have a choice. We always have a choice. Always.


I have a choice when I decide what I'm going to wear in the morning. I have a choice when I'm sitting at the café, declaring which coffee I want to have.

I have a choice when I see the homeless man sitting on the bridge, whether or not to give him a dollar. Or to smile at him to say "I see you, hello."

Or simply to walk on by, as though I didn't see him at all.

I have a choice when someone hurts me, on how I respond.

I can bend down to their niveau and throw hurt back, or I can rise above them.

With magestic dignity and greatness. And with calmity.

That choice is my ability to respond.

And that word in itself already says it all. My ability to respond is "My responsibility".

I have a choice when something doesn't go as planned. I can mourn. I can complain.

I can throw a tantrum like a little child that didn't get that toy they wanted.

Or I can give it another go. I can make the choice to see it as a treasure map hunt and that was the wrong clue.

Or I can simply decide that maybe, just maybe, that wasn't meant to be after all.

Something better is on the way. And that situation was just one of the stepping stones needed.

So suddenly I realised the defeat in those words "I didn't have a choice."

That in itself, was a choice as well.

So maybe that is how we have to perceive each moment. As a choice.

And with the same simplicity, as choosing what I want to wear, what I want to eat.

Asking myself in each moment, is this how I want to feel? Is this where I want to be?

Is this how I want to respond? Is this how I want to tell the world "This is who I am."?

I have a choice to change, or not to change. I have a choice to love, or not to love.

I have a choice to receive, or to keep my hands and heart closed.

I have a choice. And I can decide.

You have a choice. And you can decide.

We always have a choice. Always.


Just my little thought of the day.

Much Loves,

Angela.

My Beautiful Words on Facebook.
Encouraging Courage.

Everything You Do...

"Everything you do, do it with Love."

Those are the words I wrote to myself this morning. On paper. With pen. A loving reminder, I needed to remind myself of.

I want everything I do to be filled with love, the essence and core of love. I want it to leave little trails behind, a gold dust of trails... The words I write here, I want to those words to be written with love. When I sit down to do my work, put my projects in motion, I want that to be done with love. When I pick up the phone, either to answer or to call, I want that to be done with love. When I pour myself a cup of tea, that too, I will do with love. I don't want to leave anything out. Not a single step, not a single thought, not a single moment.

And I will speak these words again and again, remind myself again and again, "Do it with love. Do it with Love. Do it all with Love.".

I believe when put love back into the focus of all that we do, that is when a shift occurs. Within us, but also around us. It becomes the energy we nurture ourselves with. It becomes the energy we surround ourselves with. Yes, maybe it becomes this little gold dust that we laughingly throw into the air and it does this beautiful dance around us. Yes, maybe it becomes our secret supernatural power... That little something that leaves people around you, wondering and saying in a Harry and Sally kind of way... "I'll have what she's having."

And maybe we'll never know of all the wonders and miracles and changes that our love can give and put into the world. But then again, maybe it's not even about that. Maybe it's simply about all the wonders and miracles and changes that our love first puts into our own life and world. And the rest... It just all simply and easily falls into place.

I wanted to share that with you today. Because just maybe, you needed that reminder too...

So here it is, with Love.

Angela.

My Beautiful Words on Facebook.
Inspiring Hearts. Inspiring Souls.

Decide Right Now...

Decide right now, how you are going to choose to live your day...

There is clarity in decisions. There is power in decisions.

And liberty too.

And the moment you decide, you also declare. Deeply within.

You go into resonation with your declaration. And life joins you.

And should something or someone bring a challenge along to test your decision, your declaration... Take a deep breath, silently decide and declare once again. And remember, there too, you have a choice... Your resonation. Or their resonation.

The choice is always yours.

So go ahead, decide right now, how you are going to choose to live your day.

Much Loves,

Angela.

My Beautiful Words on Facebook.
Encouraging Courage. Encouraging Passion.

Random Thoughts... Allowing the Imagination...

"The greatest gift that you were ever given was the gift of your imagination."

Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Words I just shared with you. And words that I am about to write down on a piece of paper as I start a new page, a new chapter, a new book...

With words, written by hand. and words written from the heart... or maybe better said, words written to the heart.

I am going to use my greatest gift and my greatest power... I am going to use my imagination as I sit down to write my desires, my dreams, my manifestations and my prayers for the coming year. I am going to allow myself to be all the more bold, and all the more courageous with what it is I want to create and live and taste and experience and devour and accomplish and share and give and receive and become...

I am going to allow my imagination to take me on journeys not only on the maps of this world, but on the map of me and my heart and my destiny. I am going to let my imagination take me by the hand and guide me... And I am going to live a beautiful dance between surrendering and allowing life to unfold itself, but in the same breath to believe all the more and strive all the more and become all the more. I believe life waits to see if we have the courage to dance wildly and beautifully on our own before life joins us on the floor and starts to passionately tango and waltz and sway with us.

It was once said, "If you take one step to God, God takes ten steps towards you." And I believe sometimes, that first step is taken when we dare to imagine.

So I am going to imagine beautiful journeys and travels. I am going to imagine love greater than I ever dared believe I could give and be. I am going to imagine how beautiful it feels when I raise the veil of smallness and step into the glory of greatness. I am going to imagine more writing. More writing for myself, more writing for the world. I am going to imagine being published and I am being bold and courageous in even just saying that and allowing myself to speak those words out loud and not delete those words silently. I am going to imagine delighting and embracing more and more of my femininity. I am going to imagine more celebration my femininity. I am going to imagine how lightly and full of grace and ease my days can be lived. I am going to imagine my courage. I am going to imagine how magical it is to allow myself to fall... To fall into love and to fall into the sky and into open fields and fall into place and fall into life.  I am going to imagine my mornings of yoga and meditation and realising when I begin my days holy and sacred and centered, I live my days as such. I am going to imagine the liberty of being fearless. I am going to imagine abundance and how it flows to me and from me like the beautiful lull of the sea. An endless sea. I am going to imagine living in all the more gratitude. I am going to imagine and imagine and imagine... My greatest gift. And my greatest power.

And in writing these words here to you, and in the moment I sit down to write those words by hand and heart to myself, I am carving them in stone. I am bringing them to life and giving them breath. I am manifesting and allowing. I am creating and becoming.

This will be how the one chapter ends and the next chapter begins...

With my greatest gift. With my greatest imagination.

And with thanking you.


Much Loves,

Angela.
My Beautiful Words on Facebook.
Encouraging the Courage. To Imagine.

Random Thoughts...

What is a gift of Love that you can give to yourself?

I believe when we give, we receive the most...

But that is not only the magic that happens when we give to others...

It's also the magic that happens when we give to ourselves.


When we give ourselves time.

And we give ourselves permission... To say yes. To say no.

Or to dare ourselves to dream a little more. And a little bigger.

When we give ourselves appreciation and acknowledgement.

For all we have done, rather left undone.

And for when we give ourselves forgiveness.

Because forgiveness always begins with us.

When we give ourselves courage.

And when we give ourselves the strength to let go.

Or give ourselves the bravery of saying hello.

Because at the end of the day, it's all about Love.

Whatever we do, it's all about Love.

And that too, is what we should give ourselves.


What is a gift of Love that you can give to yourself?

Much Loves,

Angela.

My Beautiful Words On Facebook.
Encouraging Courage. Together.

Random Thoughts... What Are the Things You...

What are the things you are saying thank you for today?

Take a moment.

I believe, even here we often hold habits... Giving thanks for those things, we always give thanks for. Maybe, today we should try to find those little things in life that we have not yet ever given thanks for. And maybe, that even means all the things we take forgranted, we pass by with a blind eye, or even the things we curse.

What would happen if we learnt to find gratitude in everything? Even in our pain, our loss, our worries. What if we were to realize, even in those things, there is something to be grateful for? Even if we can't yet articulate it, but simply give thanks that one day we will understand. Or simply to give thanks, that we have the strength to get through that storm.

And maybe, this is the question we should be asking ourselves not just today. But everyday. Making it a mission, to find those thank you's that we've never seen or felt before. To find those thank you's we've never spoken or expressed before.

Take a moment.

What are the things you are saying thank you for today?

Much Loves,

Angela.

My Beautiful Words on Facebook.
Encouraging Courage. Together.

Random Thoughts... Stop. Or Start.

30 Things to Stop... 30 Things to Start...

"30 Things to Stop" I shared with you on Tuesday. "30 Things to Start" I shared with you on Wednesday.

I believe both these inspiring, provoking and encouraging "30 Things" belong to each other hand in hand. And heart in heart.

And your responses to the both of those "30 Things" definitely proved how they inspired and provoked and encouraged.

But it showed me something else.

It's always about how we choose and decide to perceive things. I personally am one that tries to very consciously choose my words, select words.

And by being conscious with that, I create energy towards what I speak, what I say and what I do.

Should someone ask me how I am, you'll never here me say "not bad"... I have yet to figure out why, in order to express something good we use two negative words?

How does "good" get defined with the words "not" and "bad"?

But I believe, Mother Teresa said and expressed it best with these words...

"I was once asked why I do not participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that. But as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I will be there."

And that is what this is all about. We create energy to what we focus on. The direction we want to go. What we want to ignite in ourselves. But also in others.

Do we want to focus on "Stop"? Or do we want to focus on "Start?"

Depending on the situation, both could be the perfect choice.

Speak good of what it is you want to accomplish. Of where you want to direct your attention and your energy.

And you'll be starting wonders.

Just my little random thought of the day.

Much Loves,

Angela.

My Beautiful Words on Facebook
Encouraging Courage. Together.

Random Thoughts... Building Cathedrals

You are building a beautiful cathedral.

I was walking through a small, humble chapel in Italy the other day. In Tovo San Giacomo. And although this chapel didn't hold the pomp and noble and its walls more than just weathered and worn, it was one of the most beautiful chapels I have ever seen. It was simply a chapel, not a cathedral. And walking through this chapel, I was thinking to myself, "Did they know they were leaving their unknown signature behind? Quietly, silently? Did they know they were making this world all the more beautiful for simply creating something sacred like this? Did they wonder of all the people, generations later, that may one day walk through these doors and say a prayer of their fears and hopes? Bringing in all their stories like an offering to the altar?"

These are the questions I have asked myself in all the chapels and great cathedrals I have ever walked through, as I said a prayer myself.

And then it dawned on me in that moment. Those weren't the questions they were asking themselves all those years and years upon years ago. They were simply answering. They were answering to their passion. And answering to their faith. To their belief and to their inner voice. They were answering to the only thing they knew to do. And they were answering to God.

These days, I believe we too often forget to simply answer, rather we are always questioning. We question what the reward is. We question if the work we do is seen or noticed. We question if we are good enough. We question if we will be loved. We question if we can make ends meet. And I have to admit, I catch myself asking these questions every now and then as well.

But the truth is, we are here to simply live our passions, our faiths, our beliefs, our dreams. And we are here to answer. We are here to silently, beautifully answer.

Last night I came across this video. And it went hand in hand and heart in heart with so many of my thoughts.

All those moments we feel invisible. Unseen. Unnoticed. All those moments we can't see our own worth.

Remember, you are building a beautiful cathedral.


Much Loves,

Angela.

PS. Thank you Nicole Johnson and Fresh Brewed Life, Inc.

My Beautiful Words on Facebook

Random Thoughts... and Charlie Chaplin.

"As I began to love myself..."

That is the start of a beautiful letter Charlie Chaplin is said to have written this on his seventieth birthday.

I believe if it was so, he may have only had one wish...

And that might have been, that everyone in the world would learn and embrace loving themselves. Because when we do that, we also discover a love and a compassion to this world, that is deeper and greater than any Love we may have ever imagined...

I know I'm still learning.

Much Loves,

Angela.

"As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth. Today, I know, this is AUTHENTICITY.

As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody as I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me. Today I call it RESPECT.

As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow. Today I call it MATURITY.

As I began to love myself I understood that at any circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at the exactly right moment, so I could be calm. Today I call it SELF-CONFIDENCE.

As I began to love myself I quit steeling my own time, and I stopped designing huge projects for the future. Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm. Today I call it SIMPLICITY.

As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health – food, people, things, situations, and everything the drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism.Today I know it is LOVE OF ONESELF.

As I began to love myself I quit trying to always be right, and ever since I was wrong less of the time. Today I discovered that is MODESTY.

As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past and worry about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where EVERYTHING is happening. Today I live each day, day by day, and I call it FULFILLMENT.

As I began to love myself I recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. But As I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally. Today I call this connection WISDOM OF THE HEART.

We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their crashing new worlds are born. Today I know THAT IS LIFE!"

Charlie Chaplin

My Beautiful Words on Facebook

Give Yourself Permission...

Give yourself permission.

All around me at the moment, that's the message I'm receiving.

And as we know, the message we need most whispers, or suddenly roars like thunder when we need it most.


Danielle LaPorte reminded me of that the other day. All she simply, but powerfully said was "Allow".

Martha Beck reminded me in the "Meditation of Acceptance" which I shared earlier with you.


So yes, I am giving myself permission.

To dare more. To love more. To say "yes" more. To say "no" more.

I am giving myself permission.

To dream more. To live more. To fall when I need to fall. To stand up when I want to stand up.

I am giving myself permission.

To be a woman. To be a girl. To play. To be passionate.

To be vulnerable. To be strong. To be fragile. To be graceful.

I am giving myself permission to be courageous.

Even if I am shaking in my knees.


And I am going to give myself permission to ask you...

What are you allowing yourself?

What permission are you giving yourself?

Today? And for the rest of your life?


Dare with me. Be bold with me.

Let's give ourselves permission.

And a whole lot of Love.


Much Loves,

Angela.

PS. And you also have my permission to permit yourself.

Just in case you need a helping hand.


My Beautiful Words on Facebook

The Starfish Story...

The Starfish Story. A Beautiful Story.

You may know already. Or you may not.

But promise to believe, whatever it is you do... You do make a difference.


The Starfish Story

Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions.

Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea. The boy came closer still and the man called out, ”Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”

The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.”

The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”

Adapted from the story by Loren Eiseley

www.MyBeautifulWords.com

Random Thoughts... Of a Journey...

Looking back at yesterday, I realised how subconsciously, I had chosen words and quotes about the paths we take in life. Our journeys and the choices we make at the crossroads we come to.

It was twenty four years ago that I packed a suitcase and I filled it with dreams, hopes, a few fears, a bit of  naivety, curiosity, a longing and a deep desire. It was twenty four years ago that I found my way to Europe and leaving "home" behind.

I don't think I was aware at that time, that I was choosing a path. I believe I simply responded to a call within, and I let myself be guided. Yes, I responded. As though it was a responsibility to myself. And for me, the personal definition of responsibility is the ability to respond.

And over the past twenty four years, I believe that suitcase I once packed has symbolically accompanied me over the years. Sometimes I lost a few of those "belongings". Sometimes I found them again. There were new "belongings" that came about, and some were replaced. Yes, maybe that is the way we have to embrace all our dreams and hopes, even our fears and our naivety and curiosities, our longings and deep desires. These are all our belongings. They are more our belongings that anything we can only symbolically hold and touch and feel.

I still call "home" just that. Canada will always be home for me. Thankfully and beautifully home. But finding my way to Europe, and here to Germany was also my "homecoming". The years and the stories and the generations and all those ancestors before me, maybe they lead the way.  Maybe they took me by the hand and guided me. And after all these years, as I stand here with a glance back over my shoulder, I can say more and more, yes I have been guided. By an inner voice and an intuition. I have been guided by my "belongings". But most importantly, I believe it is about allowing myself to be guided.

I lead my life, but in that same breath, I allow myself to be guided. I allow that inner voice to speak. And sometimes it only just whispers. And sometimes it roars. And maybe somehow that is where the wonder and the secret lies. Realising that when we allow ourselves to be guided by that inner voice, our intuition and that tender pull of the heart, we actually take the lead.

So here is to all of our journeys. Here is to all those moments we stand at these crossroads and choose to walk the way the heart pulls and that little voice calls. Here is to our courage and our dreams. And here is to trusting all of our "belongings", to trusting ourselves. Here is to leading, and here is to being guided.

Hold your hand out. Your heart knows the way.

Much Loves, and a lot of Gratitude,

Angela.
My Beautiful Words on Facebook

Random Thoughts...

Today. I found myself listening to Ella Fitzgerald.

"The Best Is Yet To Come"...

It was just a simple, happy moment, taking a break from work.

Pouring a cup of coffee. Sitting in the living room.

Autumn sun shining through the window. Eating raspberries.

And then suddenly there I was.

I didn't even notice the moment.

But I was dancing. Together with Ella.

Just the two of us.


Sometimes... that is all we need.

To stand up and dance.

And let ourselves be moved by all the moves us.


And maybe that's the question of the day.

When was the last time you simply danced?

With no reservation? And no hesitation?


Much Loves,

Angela.

PS. Thank you Ella.