Tag Archives: be you

What the World Needs

I rarely clean windows anymore, plus these are the original windows from when this house was built in the 1960’s, so it’s hard to tell if they’re clean even after you clean them. While outside watering the flower baskets hanging above each window, they get rinsed by the watering and that works for me.

Months ago I bought a sign made of metal and love seeing what it says, so I’ve moved it around to various areas of the house trying to find a space I’d see it most often. It didn’t do very well hanging on the wall because the pale grey color of the wall wasn’t enough of a contrast to be able to read it immediately. The letters are laser cutouts through metal, so it’s heavy.

It was purchased from Magnolia and I’m pretty sure it’s the title of a children’s book, but no matter, it’s something each and every one of us needs to know and be reminded of daily, regardless of age. This is what the world needs…

The best location by far for this sign is hanging in front of a window and it doesn’t surprise me that all it needed to really shine was some light behind it. The light shines through even the dirtiest of windows. Find your light my darling and let it shine because the world needs who you were made to be.

In Awe of the Moment

You know I’m feeling better when I slip on a sarcastic saying t-shirt and go for a walk. That will be the one time you bump into a neighbor you’ve never met before and they’ll want to stop and chat, but you hold firm to no apologies for the shirt.

Afterwards, I really wanted a cup of coffee, but not just any coffee…I wanted a magical cup of brew, so that idea took me to the coffee shop where I first purchased the shirt. When I stepped into the shop, the girl behind the counter busted out laughing and commented on the shirt. I ordered my favorite drink, picked up a couple of funny cards to send to friends and came home.

The coffee tasted like magic.

During my walk, I couldn’t get over how perfect the outdoor temperature was. I stopped at one point in the middle of the street and looked up at the sky to marvel at the shade of clear blue. I could have stood suspended in that moment for an hour, but heard a truck coming up behind me and moved out of the way. If someone would have looked out their window and saw me wearing this t-shirt with my face tilted toward the sky they probably would have wondered what the heck I was doing, but that didn’t bother me.

If they asked I would have told them….

I’m standing in awe of the moment.

You can listen to me read this post here:

Life is Designed to be Fun

There are pieces of me that are trying to find their way home. Over time little pieces fall away, or become buried by circumstances, but if they truly want to live in your heart, they’ll find their way back. For this to happen, we need to slow the pace, so stillness is on the schedule for the remainder of Barb’s year. This may sound insurmountable considering the holiday season is speeding toward us, but I want to step into the new year on solid ground with clarity.

One of my recent FB memories was a cheetah print pillow from 10 years ago that I was giving away. It was my daughter’s and from the photos shown that day, I was trying to find homes for things she’d outgrown.

Earlier this year I was visiting a local shop and a cheetah print pillow sham caught my attention. The front was a soft, t-shirt-like material, but the back was a solid color that felt like linen. I carried it with me through the store while chatting with the shop owner because it was the only one for sale. She offered a down insert for it, but out of all the pillows I’ve collected over the years, surely I had one to use. This pillow is a cherished addition to my home.

I had forgotten cheetah print makes my heart happy. It’s a simple pleasure that fell away like I was supposed to outgrow it, but obviously didn’t. While writing this I recalled some of my favorite Christmas ornaments are cheetah print and if glitter, or sequins are added…even better! If you feel pieces of you have slipped away that you used to enjoy, then set an intention to start saying yes to what sparks your heart and say no to things that don’t. Your heart song doesn’t age.

My daughter visited and as we sat chatting she laughed at every daily occurrence conveyed. The things that naturally occur seem normal to me, but I could easily write fiction because most are unbelievable.

It’s a well kept secret…life is designed to be fun.