Time to Clean the Pipes & Clean Up the Life

You gotta love being a home owner. It's empowering and gives you a sense of accomplishment. Sometimes when I am cooking or cleaning, I pause to take in the fact that this is my home. I am so grateful for it and I find myself thanking God a great deal for this beautiful place. It's so wonderful to sit in it and say, "this is mine".

Along with all the wonderful feelings of it being mine, comes the challenges a house brings to my life. The issues and little things that give the house character are equally mine. From the yard, the basement, the landscaping, the crevices and the pipes...speaking of the pipes, mine are kind of old. I've only been in this house a little over two years and I've had a plumber here about 5-6 times...For everything that uses the pipes, I've had a maintenance call. Kitchen sink, bathroom sink, toilet and most recently the shower...

I believe there is a lesson in everything that happens to us and when I had a stopped up shower, the plumber had to come and snake the drain. He did, cleaned it out and now there's a leak. I called them again and the owner said something that was profound; sometimes when we clean old pipes, there's a leak. The only thing that was keeping the pipe from leaking before was the old stuff that was stuck. Something like that, I'm paraphrasing.

That hit me harder than thinking there was a clog in my life. See, I've recently started studying Feng Shui. They say that Feng Shui experts can visit a person's house and see exactly where people are doing well in their lives and where they are not doing so well. My own experience; I see what I don't like and I can draw my own conclusion. No need to pay someone to tell me what I already know.

I have gook I need to clean up and clear out of my life. I think this has to do with some anxiety about the future. Many people may not tell you this (or maybe they will) but getting laid off of a job, even one that you hate, is an emotional roller coaster. I still believe it is a great opportunity to find out something new about yourself and try a new field, but it's also a test of what you're made of.

In the quest to be open and available to learn new things, I have gotten away from my goals; my specific and tangible goals. What I've been putting on random pieces of paper are too general and most of all, unfocused. This pipe cleaning experience has awakened my soul. It has put a new fire in me to clean up things in my life and in my mind and truly go after what I really want. I took a lesson from my college self, where I was the most goal-oriented, achievement driven person on the earth. 

I remember my goal sheets then were divided into sections of my life. There were goals, action steps and deadlines for each specific target. So, I decided to do the same thing now. I broke up my life into 8 sections with 5 goals each and working to accomplish these 40 goals in the last 40 days of 2011. They are the following in no particular order:

- Health & Beauty

- Spirituality

- Family

- Career

- Home

- Friends/Socially

- Travel/Leisure

- Creative

I am a firm believer that you don't have to wait until January to make up resolutions. You can resolve to be THE BEST YOU any time of the year; in fact, it should be EVERY TIME of the year. Are you truly living your best life? Do you have a clogged drain in your life? Do you fill your life up with junk and get lost in the mess? Are you afraid to move forward? If you answered "yes" to any of these, perhaps you should pull out a pad and jot down your goals too. We can do this!!

Oh yeah, can't forget the affirmation(s),

My respect & Love for Life reflects in my actions & reactions toward Life.

and

I know my Life has meaning and I make it meaningful every day.

Day 4: Awesome. Clean. Grateful

Today was beautiful outside, and although I got the chance to see some of it, I spent most of the day inside working. The first part of the day was pretty domestic getting food and running errands. I got meat on sale and was able to use a church pantry to replace what I wasn’t able to get from Angel Food Ministries last month. I called them to chat about AFM to see if there was another program like it and they invited me in. I’m truly grateful!!

So I finished my menu for the rest of the week and today we’re having skillet fried pork steaks basted and seasoned with garlic, honey and barbeque sauce, seasoned rice and veggie medley. For dessert, we’re having Jello and fruit.

Breakfast was the usual toast and tea. For lunch I had the leftover brown rice, veggies and tomato slices. I’m feeling pretty good and this challenge, as well as all the comments, are keeping me motivated to stick with it. Exercise was nothing fancy, just plain old housework. I did some deep cleaning, window cleaning, lifting and moving, sweeping and dusting.

Side bar: If you really want a deep clean, you can skip the high priced stuff and go straight to any Dollar General, Family Dollar or Dollar Tree and pick up a bottle of AWESOME!! It's only a $1.00 and you will NOT regret it!!

Then I decided to follow up on some calls and paperwork. I started the list by calling to dispute a Red Light traffic violation I received in the mail. I KNOW I can turn on red, since there was no sign saying I couldn’t, so I had no intention of paying it!! I called and spoke to a very kind and helpful woman who told me about the ticket. Did you know you can view your red light violation video online? OMG!! That is sweet!! But if it proves you owe $120.00…it’s not that sweet. I didn’t come to a complete stop and if I had, I would not have received a ticket…I was a little upset, but I am grateful because I will have no points on my license and it will not be reported to my insurance agent.

Cleaning got me to thinking and I was so humbled today. I am also grateful for the things I received free this week:

-          beautiful vase with faux plants (great for my dining room décor)

-          food to replenish my cupboard

-          knee highs (it was a free gift to my Mom for an order she placed)

-          wi-fi thanks to the library

Whew, I really needed that that pep talk and cleaning spree. What a waste of money (the ticket that is)!! Lesson learned!! Well, at least my kitchen is spotless and I picked up my clutter and all the surfaces are clean!! Ahhh...good night!!

Oh, didn't want to forget today's affirmation:

"Life always deals me an easy card, and I gratefully receive it."

Day 29: Abundantly Happy!!

Oh happy day!! Oh happy day!!

It was good one. Started off on a good note with ZUMBA!! First, had a yogurt with flaxseeds and two bottles of water. Headed to the gym for a great class!! Then, got a little work done and drank some more water.

I spent some great quality time with my parents today too, chatting and watching the soaps (well me and my Mom anyways). We caught up on some things and of course Daddy was telling jokes and giving advice.

Once I left there, I got some more writing done, updated the budget sheet and wrote my Abundance Check. Want to write yours, check it out here: Abundance Checks

I also got in some reflection and gratitude time. I think I’m finally out of this mourning stage…I fully released the people I was holding on to and leaving stuff in the past!! It was a happy day indeed!! The word for today was indeed ABUNDANCE!! Abundance in life, health, love and happiness!!

Then, I got an unexpected call… J

See what happens when you release the old? The new steps in place!! Hey!!

Here I am holding my beautiful silk pillow/quilt I got from China. The detail is so intricately gorgeous and it always reminds me of wealth!! It’s no surprise I picked it up today!!

Day 25: New Day, New Outlook

What a difference a new outlook makes!!

I overslept today and had a hard time getting up. Then I dragged and dragged. I felt like I wasn't in a good mood. Not really sure why. Yesterday, I felt melonholy, today it was irritation. I knew I didn't want to feel this way all day, but I just allowed myself to feel it anyway. I just wanted to play it out, maybe I would learn something more. Finally, I decided to get up, take a shower and washed my hair.

Have you ever had a the perfect shower? One that seemed to not only wash the dirt away, but also wash away the bad thoughts, the irritation (whatever it was), the bad attitude? That was my experience today. I think by deciding to look better, I decided to feel better. I remember repeating one of my favorite affirmations to myself, "I deeply and completely love and accept myself". Those words alone combat the urget to feel fear, anxiety, insecurities and complaints.

I know many people believe that "life happens" (or sugar, honey, ice tea happens) but it really is true that we create the life that happens to us!! I challenge everyone, including myself, to use affirmations. If you already do, use them more often. I'll share a few, but the more personalized and specific you make yours, the better the results.

Money issues: "Money comes easily and frequently!!"

Health issues: "I am happy and grateful now that my body has restored itself to its natural state of health."

Doubt: "I now release all thoughts of limitation and I live my life freely."

Insecurity/Self criticism: "I love and approve of myself and see myself through eyes of love."

Fear: "I love myself and trust the process of life."

I think I even see a little glow in my pic today!! New outlook indeed!!

Day 8: Affirm This!!

I'm glad to share today's blog with you, as I just left a very inspiring and powerful EFT tapping session!! What is EFT you ask? It's Emotional Freedom Techniques and it's a healing system and practice that is used for emotional, mental and physical health. The practice of tapping helps to balance ourselves, removing the emotional blocks that come upon us daily. Feel free to do some research. You will not regret it!!

I was first introduced to the Tapping Technique at Elizabeth's_House here in Toledo. There I met Cindy Baker, an Energy Psychology Practitioner, who gave a detailed background of EFT and taught the tapping practice. Want to know more, check out her website at http://www.tapptoledo.com/

Our group started off by tapping to release weight, but it has since evolved into tapping on any blocks that we found came up in our daily lives over the course of 30 days. This is an awesome group of women with awesome stories about how tapping has worked in our lives. From the first time, I was hooked and I was happy to share it with anyone who would listen. I've even shared with an online Sister of mine and she reported back AWESOME results!! That's exactly what we experience in our sessions: results!! The group is growing and every time we tap, something shifts. Healing is there!!

Many of you who know me, know that I'm all about affirmations!! Well, practicing this technique takes affirmations to a much higher level. If you want to see a shift in your emotional, mental or physical life, if you want to break old habits and start new positive ones, or if you just want to live a much more positive and exciting life, start saying and doing affirmations. Learn some tapping techniques and pick up my book recommendation: You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay.

I literally carry that book with me every where I go. (If you see me, go ahead and ask me...the book is in my purse). She created what she refers to as THE LIST. In this list, she identifies a problem area in your body, the probable cause, then an affirmation for you to use for your problem, helping you to creating a new thought pattern. For instance if you are having:

Problem: Colon Issues
Probable Cause: Fear of letting. Holding on to the past.
Affirmation: I easily release that which I no longer need. The past if over, and I am free.

Whatever you're feeling is addressed in this book. Make sure to pick it up!! I know this was a long one today. Can you tell I'm excited? I am indeed and I am convinced that this works and I want the world to know about it!!

So let's get started (or continue for those affirmation pros). Say it with me...

"I am healthy, whole and complete and I deeply and completely love and accept myself ."

Go and be great, for all is well!!