Category Archives: Service

Gratitude Friday

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This post is a mashup of The Little Bliss List and Joy Jam, and as such is meant to celebrate: the little things that brought me hope and happiness this week, the sweet stuff of life, those small gifts that brought me joy this week. By sharing them, I not only make public my gratitude, but maybe also help you notice your own good stuff and send some positive energy out into the world.

1. The flower bed in front of the building where I work is in full bloom.

2. A good night’s sleep. After a week of not sleeping well, and the full on insomnia the night before, sleeping well last night was so nice.

3. I forgot my lunch again. But, the good news is that means I get to have lunch with a good friend, two times in one week!

4. Lots of rain in the forecast this weekend. Okay, when I say “lots” I mean Colorado lots, not Pacific Northwest lots. This is good for my yard, but also means I will be getting extra rest this weekend and the temperatures will be cooler.

5. Dexter wagging his tail again. I mentioned yesterday that he’s suffering a bought of Cold Water Tail, Broken Tail, Dead Tail, Broken Wag, or “broken butt toy” as a friend calls it. But it’s getting better, and seeing him wag his tail this morning was one of the best things all week.

dexter and i, much much younger

6. A Prayer for Moving Forward from Sandi Amorim of Deva Coaching. I left a comment for Sandi explaining that I think I’ve been praying this, wordlessly, formlessly, for a long time, but she gave me words, so here goes:

Are you there God [the one whose real name I do not know]? It’s me Jill.

I’ve had it, I’m done, I surrender.
I hereby give up my need to do it my way, and I’m asking for help.
Help me be clear, and of service.
Help me show up and share my gifts.

And please. . .

Help me get out of my own way.
I want to shine so bright that even you God, have got to wear shades.
I know what I’m here to do.
Help me do it.

Amen. And thank you, Sandi.

7. Speaking of amazing women… Two things were announced this week that are going to be so fantastic wicked awesome, I can’t hardly stand it.

Susan Piver announced her new Open Heart Project “Practioner” option, a year long paid subscription to so much good stuff I almost can’t bear to think about it, I get too excited, breathing becomes difficult, my chest gets tight, and I tear up. She will continue with her Open Heart Project “Basic,” so if you are interested in starting or maintaining a meditation practice, you should sign up. Since the new project doesn’t start until June, once you get on the mailing list, you will hear all about the “practitioner” option, if you are interested. For me, it’s such a perfect fit, such good timing, it feels like something Susan is doing just for me.

And, if that weren’t enough, I’m on the Roots of She mailing list, and this week Jenn Gibson announced the guides for the upcoming session of her Self-Love Warriors ecourse (hang on to your hat, tighten your seatbelt!):

Body: Hannah Marcotti, business and life coach and creator of Joy UP [soft and tender hearted warrior mamma whose presence is like an embodied lullaby]
Mind: Susan Piver, writer, teacher and New York Times best-selling author [amazing being of light and wisdom, fearless, brave and open hearted warrior]
Heart: Susannah Conway, photographer, author, retreat leader and creator of Unravelling [creative visionary, giggle instigator, maker and sharer of beauty & encouragement]
Soul: Jennifer Louden, bestselling author and the leader of the Savor & Serve movement [the queen of everything, who will show you how to be queen of your everything]

If you’ve been reading this blog, you know that these are four of my very favorite women and self-love is one of my very favorite topics, so I can’t wait for this course!

Bonus Joy: Mother’s Day is this weekend. I have a mom, she’s great and she loves me, and I love her, and I get to remind her tomorrow. “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body,” (Elizabeth Stone). I’m so glad she was willing to make me, to care for me, to love me, and to let me “go walking around” outside her body.

Wishcasting Wednesday

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image from Jamie's post

What do you wish would spring into your life?

Balance. A natural rhythm, an organic way of being that is simple yet powerful, filled with ease and good cheer, stillness and space, focus and intention.

Confidence. A clarity and certainty that is unshakeable and unbreakable. A sense of myself and my place in the world. Trust in my calling, faith in my purpose and path. Connection with my truest self. No need to ask or search or change, but a deep knowing, for certain and for sure and for good.

Connection. A wise woman told me this week that my view of myself as separate is killing me. This requires dissolving ego, (whether I feel superior or inferior to others, that’s ego), because as long as it remains strong, I think I am alone. I want to embody connection, to remember that we are the same, to see myself as equally worthy of love, acceptance, and belonging, and to know with utter confidence that we are connected, all of us and every thing.

Surrender. I don’t mean giving up, at least not in a negative way. And I don’t mean I want things to be easy. What I mean is loosening up, not too tight, not pushing or rushing, but rather slowing down, accepting–surrender, let go, release attachments, sink in, be here now, without agenda or judgement.

Embodied Wisdom. In Buddhism, this is often referred to as “skillful means,” Upaya in Sanskrit. It’s being what I know, manifesting that truth, the method and technique with which I might reach enlightenment. This is my compassion and wisdom in action. This means that my heart and mind are in the same moment, the same plane of reality, experience, and existence.

Opportunities for Service. Not service of the ego, aggression or greed or confusion, but service that eases suffering, shifts reality from aggression to love, confusion to wisdom, anxiety and fear to acceptance, attachment to freedom, depression to good cheer, numbness to awareness, speed to mindfulness, illness and dis-ease to health and well-being, hunger to contentment, poverty to abundance.

Love. It doesn’t matter what the question is, the answer is love. The more love, the better.