·         A 10-year-old is happy to have lazy summer days off from teachers, books, homework and sitting still in a classroom.

·         A 16-year-old is eager to make her own spending money at a summer job and get a glimpse into the business world she may enter some day.

·         A 22-year-old spends a brief interlude reminiscing about a not so long ago childhood while making preparations for a first job and brand new life hovering on the horizon.

·         A 39-year-old anxiously anticipates random unassigned hours during the week and perhaps an occasional Saturday or Sunday afternoon to herself.

·         A 59-year-old may have the luxury of choice as to when she’ll accomplish the many obligations in her life, but certainly not the benefit of more than the same 24-hour day allotted to the rest of us.

The beauty of living a Simple Abundant Life is that every day offers us freedom and a chance to break from our routine when we choose to tap into our Creativity and make something different happen for ourselves. Don’t automatically reach for the same type of tea, brand of cereal, book/magazine title, etc.

There is a lot of talk right now about folks having to take a “staycation” rather than a “vacation.” Meaning – have fun in your own back yard because it’s too expensive to drive/fly the family to a rest and relaxation destination. I’ve never had the expectation that I’ll be travelling once a year because I didn’t grow up going on vacations every summer. I have had the opportunity to take some wonderful trips and I look forward to doing more. But I also know that there’s much to be seen and to be grateful for in my own little corner of the world. We don’t have to wait for out of town guests to explore a local museum, take a hike on a Nature Path, or plan a picnic to enjoy Shakespeare in the Park. Every weekend offers a street fair, a festival or even a farmer’s market going on somewhere – that’s free entertainment for the whole family!

So let’s pay attention to our attitude and concentrate on how wealthy we are with possibility, rather then waste our wit and wile on outward situations in the world at large. Our internal landscape is wide open and your Spirit is ready for the freedom to run free. See you on the trail!

Ah, June! Does it have you looking forward to transitioning from the routine of the school year to the carefree days of summer? Or, are the days of summer more of a challenge than a blessing with chaos from an overbooked schedule leaving you feeling anything but carefree. Instead longing for the reassurance of resuming a reliable schedule in September, let’s take advantage of this temporary freedom to create our own schedule.  Fill it with the magic of summer’s delights:   planting a colorful flowerbed/flower pot next to your front door; a weekday afternoon getting your feet wet at the beach (or park) when you can practically have the whole place to yourself; watching the 4^th of July fireworks curled up on a comfortable blanket; taking a class to try your hand at a new skill, or enjoying the beautiful outdoors by taking in any number of concerts, festivals, or street fairs.

While there is a sense of security and a feeling of calm always knowing what to expect, it is good to shake things up once in a while. It gives us a chance to appreciate how good we have it when life is going along smoothly. My breast cancer diagnosis eight years ago really shook me up and made me step back and evaluate my life. I realized how much I could do to encourage my healing process with Creative activities.  Doing hands-on activities:  writing, planting flowers, painting a canvas, stenciling a wall, stamping a card, walking in nature, and even expanding my culinary abilities have all contributed to my well-being.

Summer is an excellent opportunity to expose your Wild side and become a little bit daring while not going over the edge. Try a new potato salad recipe, or bring mini Bundt cakes instead of brownies to the family picnic, visit a new exhibit at your favorite museum, attend your local Pumpkin/Garlic/Strawberry Festival, or indulge in an Ice Cream Sundae following the high school band concert.  I am especially looking forward to going to the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival in Golden Gate Park.

I wish you an absolutely delicious once-in-a-lifetime summer experience on your path to living a Simple Abundant Life.

Be well,

Mary

Living a Simple Abundant Life – May 2009

Create A Mothering Spirit Within Yourself!

As I watched my daughter drizzle glaze on a fresh batch Poppy Seed Muffins for my Mother’s Day brunch, I marveled at how far we’d come since our first Mother’s Day together. It was a double blessing in that we also celebrated her baptism that second Sunday of May 1984. I was awash with emotions as I held my infant because I was thrilled to at last be able to perform that simple, yet oh so significant, act. There was a time when I was afraid I’d never hear someone call me Mommie.

Mary and Tess on our 1st Mother's Day May 1984

Five years of questions and tests, interviews and forms, wondering and waiting, our infertility diagnosis was resolved with adoption. On April 10, 1984 my husband and I entered Catholic Charities as an anxious couple. We emerged with a beautiful baby girl. Our new little family fulfilled my life long dream.

If this May hasn’t brought you breakfast in bed, sweets, or a fragrant bouquet, it’s not too late to provide those things for yourself. While it is true we would like to receive them from others as an outward sign of their love, respect and appreciation for us, the reality is they don’t think to do it. You can satisfy your need to be comforted and nurtured by taking care of yourself. Start small because I know this is a hard concept for many women to grasp. We are not used to being on the receiving end of such gestures. Soak up the afternoon sun for 15 minutes before school gets out, rent a DVD and spend the afternoon lost in your favorite celluloid fantasy with a big bowl of popcorn, or perhpas buy yourself some flowers along with the weekly groceries.

Dear Friends,

Will you be my Valentine? As a little girl we would decorate shoe boxes with construction paper and spend hours cutting out hearts which we’d slather with white paste and glitter. Over red Kool-Aid and sugar cookies with multi-colored sprinkles we’d examine our haul of hearts in all shapes and sizes. This is the month of hearts, as we all know, but February is cause for celebration of so many other occasions. For instance, you may know it is Black History Month which is especially significant this year with our new president, but did you know it is also American Heart Month, Mend a Broken Heart Month, Parent Leadership Month, Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month, Relationship Wellness Month, Senior Independence Month, Sweet Potato Month, Youth Leadership Month, Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month, and (my personal favorite) Spunky Old Broads Month?

There is a theme here—hearts. Hearts wide open with affection. Hearts in need of mending, both physically and emotionally. Hearts swelling with pride. Hearts seeking compassion. Hearts in search of kindred spirits. With the media focusing so much on what is wrong in the world, and at the risk of sounding like one of those Spunky Old Broads we are celebrating this month, I’d like to invite all of us to open up our hearts and concentrate on someone who is right and beautiful and deserves our joyful appreciation. Someone who deserves to be treated in a special way whom we may have been taking for granted lately?  Who could that person be? Why YOU, of course! Romance yourself by taking the time for self-care:  a bubble bath instead of a shower, a manicure with pretty polish instead of a functional clear coat, 15 minutes alone in the morning with a cup of something delicious and time to prepare yourself for the day ahead, or 15 minutes spent admiring a sunset instead of immediately jumping up from the dinner table to do the dishes. Making time for ourselves is something I suggested last month (are you remembering put yourself on the list?), but it’s such an important message I’m going to repeat it. Self-care impacts not only your body, but your mind and spirit as well. Taking the time to take care of yourself benefits everyone around you.

Wishing you a Simple Abundant Life with our hearts wide open!

Be well,

Mary