Day 16,156: Journaling the Changes

You wouldn't know it by checking in here, but I have been journaling up a storm this week. I have always been a pen-to-paper kind of girl and have stacks of journals to prove it, but I also continue to look for tricks to transfer some of that enthusiasm to this venue so that I can share more of my day-to-day life with you (as per the name of this blog). If I could grant you a peek at what I write for myself every morning, oh my, there would probably be a lot of eye-rolling and oh-brother-not-this-agains. I beat the same drum. A lot. But it is the best way that I have found to process things. A good chunk of my journaling time this week has been spent off of the drum and in productive contemplation of my beloved Workshop ... specifically, the hits and misses of 2009 and where I would like to see things grow in 2010. It's revealed to me a lot of surprises and opened doors that I hadn't even noticed before.

All that I do through the venue of Jakk's Magic Beans Workshop is offered in the spirit of service. That will never change. But, in the days and weeks ahead, you will see changes on the JMBW website that reflect changes the way that some services and creations will be offered in 2010 and beyond. I look forward to the freshness of giving new ways of doing things a try. It is all with the intention to be of greater service and support. I readily admit that I am still trying to figure out what works best for this business and all of you whom I have the privilege to serve through it. I swear, it's all that I can do to keep from giving it all away. It is an urge that I do not want to completely resist.

As always, I welcome suggestions and feedback, either here in the comments or via e-mail. Thanks again for joining me on this creative journey.

Mandala Monday

Running a bit behind schedule this week, but a fresh mandala is now ready for you to download and color.

I have been enjoying this break between Christmas and New Year's Day. I came into this time off work with a list of things that I wanted to accomplish. That list has now been put aside. This is a time of rest and replenishment. I am taking long, luscious naps. I am journaling with abandon. I am trying to let go of the habit of trying so hard.

The tide may turn by the end of this week. It always does, eventually. But I'll gladly ride this wave of non-doing while it lasts.

Day 16,148

Fresh, new mandala ready for you to download here. Happy coloring!

I am finishing up the Waterfall I Reiki shawl. Obviously, it has taken much longer than anticipated. These shawls, as with most creative projects, have a way of taking as long as they need to take and I try not to push the process. And December has a way of speeding some things up while slowing others down. As much as I enjoy the holidays, I look forward to more free time and a more dependable routine.

What are you finishing up as we prepare to finish up this year?

Mandala Monday

This mandala ought to keep you busy for awhile. Ready to download here. Happy coloring!

Day 16,135: At Random

Has it really been one week since my last post? Really? Let's catch up.

Celebrating ... our new front door. Our old door was well worn when we bought the house seven years ago, but it was solid wood and had enough charm left in it for us to put its replacement at the bottom of our wish list. Many seasons have come on gone, leaving it warped and troublesome. As my daughter struggled, yet again, to get it open then closed one morning last week, I had to thump myself on the head. I'm a feng shui consultant, for goodness sake! The front door is the mouth to our house! With only a minor twist of my husband's arm, we marched ourselves to the local home improvement store and selected a brand new door that is not only beautiful, but energy efficient too. (Hello, tax credit!) Now we are delighted to more easily welcome family, friends, and wonderful new opportunities into our beloved home. What better time than during the holidays and for the fresh new year on its way?!

Accepting ... that I am behind schedule on the Waterfall I Reiki Shawl. *sigh* I had hoped to have time to work on it every single day, but have discovered that promising to do anything every single day (short of the non-negotiables, of course) is a tough one to keep. The turnaround time would not matter so much if I weren't hoping to crochet two shawls per month. In retrospect, I realize this goal may not be realistic in light of everything else that I have and want on my plate. At this point, Waterfall I is halfway finished and I am thrilled. The colors of it remind me of the sky this morning. Robins egg blue, with wispy swatches of lavendar and slate gray. The healing of the bruised horizon after the storm.

Appreciating ... your understanding for missing Mandala Monday this week. I will be back on schedule next Monday.

Day 16,128

This Full Moon in Gemini has brought a cold, steady rain. Not so great for the labyrinth walk that had been scheduled for noon today, but perfect weather for crocheting, which is how I contentedly spent my lunch hour. It was a nice way to press the reset button midday and return me to my work-work refreshed. It is delightful to see and feel this shawl begin to take shape after only two days of stitching.

After purchasing and preparing the yarn, each day consists of what I call a symbol series. One series is a row of each Reiki symbol ... the mantra for which is chanted into each stitch. It's very meditative, but energizing for me as well. If I stay on schedule, which should not be a problem, this shawl should be finished by Thursday, December 10.

When I can steal a free minute, I have really enjoyed catching up on reading gratitude lists from Thanksgiving. Heaven knows that I love me some lists. My favorite mermaid, McCabe, left me longing for a Thanksgiving group hug with my girlfriends. Kelly Rae had me all swoony with the photo of her dining room table. What is it about a beckoning spread of art supplies? Gets me every time. Might even love them more than lists. And although many in blogdom have intended to do so but failed over the years, Karen kicked butt and came through with a list of 100 things. Last but not least, I busted out in a full-on happy dance when I discovered that Pixie posted her holiday wishlist for this year ... for that I am very grateful.

It may be too late for a gratitude list here (although is it ever really too late to give thanks?), but I might be able to drum up some kind of list. (Please don't remind me that I never finished my list of 44 wishes for my 44th birthday. I assure you that the 45th wish is to do a better job of finishing what I start.) Stay tuned!

Mandala Monday

Ready to download here. Happy coloring!

P.S.
I would love to know how Mandala Mondays has been fun for or helpful to you. Share your testimonial here in the comments or via e-mail to me.