By the sea ~ 4/52

Watching the water from inside the car.  Admiring my favourite combination of greens and blue.  My two babes sound asleep in the back.  Listening to the sound of my breath.  Giving thanks for the few minutes I'm taking to stop and just be, for a morning filled with the sound of laughter, for conversations that get you thinking in an inspired kind of way and for finally embracing time enough to give a little dream a real go.

xx

What are you most grateful for today?

Because now is good enough a time

I read this quote the other day...

 

"It's a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you're ready. I have this feeling that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now. And you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any." ~ Hugh Laurie

And it resonated with me or perhaps dawned on me. Whatever it did I actually stopped what I was doing. Walked away. I stopped to just be. To journal. And let clarity arrive.

 

Here's what I realised.

1. I've put two big dreams (they're actually connected - can't have one without the other) on hold for the past year. Because, in my defence, other opportunities crept up. But also because... maybe I'm not ready, or maybe it's just not the right time, or what if I do all that work and then it's just not good enough, what if nobody likes what I've created ... you get the picture.

 

2. Worse than being on hold I haven't even started. Haven't even taken the first step. I've just let my dream sit up in my head in dreamland and swirl around with no destination, no timeline, no real agenda. No starting point.

 

3. I write more than 5000 words each month for publications. Other people's publications. Yes that's my job as a freelance writer, yes that's what I love doing, and yes that's my career... But I don't give my own writing the same time of day and space or credit. Yes those other words are paid work, yes I enjoy writing them, but the other writing - well if I'm honest that's where my heart lies... and that just has to deserve a little more attention.  Somewhere in my week. Somehow...

 

And so instead of wondering, instead of trying to create a plan, action list or timeline.. I just started. Just like that. No holding back. I just opened a new journal and I wrote. And then wrote some more... 

 

The words came easily, the ideas kept bouncing and I felt free. Finally, I was doing it. No matter about an ending point, no matter about being good enough. Just letting my heart take the lead.

 

Because there's no perfect time and now is good enough a time.

 

It feels wonderful to simply begin.

 

xx

Anything you've been putting on hold? Any new dreams or plans you've recently begun? x

Growing {through motherhood}

I wrote this post for Josie's blog, but it felt like it very much needed to be here too...
 

Motherhood is more than I imagined it would be. In almost every way. More love. More beauty. More challenges. And even more pulling me in the direction of my heart.

 

But it's the growing that amazes me the most. That I grew my girls. And how they grow themselves. And more so how that love we share expands and increases and heightens and grows with every experience we share.

 

I've been in awe and wonder {and exhaustion too} at how motherhood has encouraged and nurtured me to grow and heal. Each day. Little by little. I find myself checking in with my heart, making changes, adjusting priorities and learning continually as I go.

 

Motherhood has encouraged me to ask the question: what makes my heart sing? To listen to the answer. And then act on it.

 

And in doing this, motherhood inspires me each day to grow further into the me I want to be. As my girls grow, I grow.

Each day as a mother I am given little reminders to savour moments, to allow myself to dream and to slow down even further. To pause and reflect amid days of chaos. To pause and give thanks often.

 

Motherhood reminds me in its fleeting heart-filled moments that I am blessed.

 

xx

And as I read back on these words this morning, I realised I needed this post more than ever today. Sometimes that growing is filled with challenges, but I find {and needed the reminder} that it always comes with an opportunity to heal, evolve and learn something new. Elisa xx

Has motherhood taught you more about yourself? Do you feel you're constantly growing and learning too? x

An act of kindness

I read an article in our local paper this week that has kept me thinking, filled me with hope and reminded me how the littlest things and just a few kind words can inspire change and make the biggest of differences.  

Two teenage school girls left a series of anonymous handwritten messages inside their school's girls bathrooms last month. Little words of inspiration to remind their friends and the rest of the school girls of their worth. To make their friends smile, feel good about themselves. To bring messages of hope to those like their close friend who were replaying words of hurt in their head. Messages like never give up, you're beautiful, don't worry what bullies say, you're perfect just the way you are.

In the article a teacher says students left the bathrooms smiling. And news of the messages quickly spread around the school.

And its got me thinking about the positive, encouraging, uplifting words we use towards each other. And the kindness support and confidence they give. And how the littlest gesture of kindness can have that ripple effect and be felt for so much longer than its moment lasts.

Yesterday as I ran around the house catching up on housework miss three thanked me for being great helper. She said I'm doing a great job. And she's proud of me for all my helping. It made me smile to think she'd noticed, and then voiced her kindness. And when I thanked her a beaming 'you're welcome' came back. 

I'm not sure how to raise inspiring confident young women who speak their kindness and dream up projects from their hearts then see them through. But I hope I'm headed in the right direction, and I really hope I do.

xx

{Grateful for kind words, actions that inspire and opportunities to grow and change. Elisa x}

~ Linking late with the 52 Weeks of Grateful at its new home here.

What are you most grateful for today?

The day-time moon {meant to be}

 

This week I left home on a surprise visit to hubby's work at the time little miss three and little miss 18 months would normally be going down for a nap. As we drove away from home I questioned what I was thinking, but kept driving anyway. The girls were happy, and didn’t look one bit sleepy when they normally would.

As I drove I looked out at the road before me, to the hills and the dark trees standing strong against a blue and stretched-cloud sky. And that’s when I saw it. The moon. Three quarter’s full, high in the sky and standing bright and proud, as though it was exactly where it was meant to be at this very moment.

I pointed out the moon to miss three: “But mummy, the moon is meant to be asleep! Silly moon. It forgot to go to sleep?”
“The moon must be staying up when it normally sleeps. Just like us, we’re normally asleep now. Today’s the moon’s doing something different. Mixing things up a bit...”
Miss three still thought the moon was "being a little silly".

She kept her eyes fixed on the moon. And it followed us for the whole thirty-minute drive away. As if to say, you’re right where you're meant to be at this very moment too. And offering a reminder that what I see, experience and take in is exactly what I’m meant to know and learn and notice... at any given time.

And it was kind of refreshing to throw routine out the window for the day. To see the look of love and surprise on hubby's face as his girls chased each other into his arms. 

And to spot the moon in the day-time sky felt a bit like seeing a rainbow. Full of wonder, amazement and perfect timing. And that feeling that you’re witnessing something special {life} for the first time.

xx

{Joining in with the community at 52 Weeks of Grateful. I'm grateful for the lessons ~ big and small ~ life has been throwing at me lately. Oh, and in case you're wondering, there's definitely no moon in that image! But it is one of my favourite sky images I've taken. Elisa xx}


What do you see when you look to the sky? What draws you in most – the moon, a rainbow, sunshine or clouds dotting a bright blue sky? And are you feeling grateful? xx

A little shop {a proper introduction}

 

Five months ago I had a play at creating some prints using my words {words inspired by life, love, gratitude and the stories on my blog}.

Inspired by my morning ritual I wrote: "Look to the sky and see wonder in sunshine, rainbows, starry nights, shades of blue, cloudy days, sunset and the full moon."

And then came words for my girls.

For the big {little} girl: "It's a sunny day every day I am with you."

And for the baby girl: "Sweet dreams my beautiful baby. I love you forever."

{These words, now made into 8inch x 10inch prints, sit framed next to the bookshelves in their room.}

I wrote these words as a reminder for my heart. Inspired by this post.

I wanted them to be the first thing I saw in the morning, so they became a print to sit on my bedside table.

Then came mantras I love: Give thanks. Dream big. Choose happiness. Be mindful. Find joy. Just breathe. Go slowly. See love. 

And {my favourite} a reminder of what I can choose to do each day:

All that was quickly followed by a request for words {Their love story began} for a bride and groom, and words {A star is born} for a special little someone who graced our family with his presence just recently.

Somehow {little by little} this part hobby, part dream {but mostly fun and my kind of creativity} came together.

And with a little portfolio of words and prints in a folder under my bed, I hesitantly decided it was okay {scary and exciting} to share them...

And so, I opened a little shop: word-art prints from the heart. Inspired by the stories on my blog.

xx

~ I'm so very grateful {a little blown away actually!} for the support, encouragement and kindness I have already been shown. There's a link to my etsy store in the sidebar, and a menu tab above too. Or you can view my word-art prints/designs here. I plan to share images of new designs via With Grace & Eve's facebook page {not on the blog}, if you would like to join me there too. Elisa xx

~ And links to just a few of the many bloggers who create and have inspired me recently: Krystal {Jack Loves Josie, and on facebook}, Julie {Button Tots}, Tammi {Dear Molly} and Rachel {Ink Paper Sew, and on facebook}.

{Falling into place: my post on the journey of an idea to a little dream to this little shop is here.}

Have you started a new venture lately? What or who is inspiring you right now? x

Falling into place

An idea wondered about for long enough that it becomes a dream.

A dream given time and action, enough for it to become a possibility.

Work that's fun and creative, work that's part-love, part-new, part-adventure. Work that's not work at all really.

But work is done and plans are made. And still she wonders if she should let this little dream see the day.

Just one little idea, she could so easily throw away.

She ponders that option, and then she considers giving it a chance to thrive.

And so she plants that little dream like a seed into her creative soul, and she nurtures it with a little love, a load of fun and allows it a spark of possibility.

The universe responds with lashings of support, whispers of encouragement. She feels surprised, and grateful.

And she watches how her creations grow, at the same time threatening to make it all come tumbling down.

And then amid hesitation and thoughts of failure and embarrassment, she halters. She thinks, what if they like it as much as I do? What if they think it's ... good?

And then a little voice from deep within her yells "You can do this" and "It's okay to try something new."

And as she thinks about those words her concentration slips. She dips out of her doubting mind and into a soul that knows how to soar and a heart that dares to dream...

She floats there for long enough to offer life and her dreams {even the little ones} a real go.

She decides in herself to believe.

She decides to stand back and stand out of the way.

And just like that, it all falls into place.

xx


{I've been on a little journey of sorts this past few months. Having a battle of heart and mind, pondering dreams and dreaming when I'm not. Yesterday I opened a little shop to accompany my blog. It's a bit of fun, and my kind of creative. But as the story goes, it's taught me a lesson or two in stepping out of my comfort zone, and away from fear. Feel free to check out my word-art prints ~ inspired by the stories on this blog ~ here. And I'll write a proper introduction for this little venture soon... :) Elisa xx}


How do you feel about stepping out of your comfort zone? When was the last time you gave something new a go?

 

This dream

I've been thinking about Martin Luther King Jr and his dream. And reading his speech over {and over}.

Getting lost in the power of his words. Trying to visualise his strength {and sense of hope}. His belief that change was possible. And the unity he dreamed of would exist.

I've been thinking of how much has changed since he spoke those words in 1963. {And trying not to dwell on what hasn't}.

I feel grateful for his words, his courage and wisdom. I'm inspired by his dream.

But it's this line I keep reading, and getting stuck on. It gets to me {every time}.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

xx

{You can read Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech here}

 

Plans and dreams

Health has been on my mind this week {because it hasn't been in my body to a strong degree}.
 
Closely followed by plans and dreams and a generous mixing of the two.

I'm keep planning and wondering how things will pan out {if only I could just stay in the moment}.

And if my inspiration will lead me where I want it to. With a dash of hope, luck, inspired energy, just maybe it will.

This week has felt big, with large doses of sluggish but slices of light and sparks of sunshine too.

And it's got me thinking about what I'm grateful for:

Inspiration. {It's lingered longer than expected, long enough for me to begin to see it through.}

Breakfast. {it's my favourite meal and the one where the three of us always manage to sit down and eat together}.

Practises that start as rituals then effortlessly become a {natural} part of your day.

The moment you first notice that healthy feeling coming back {after a week of sick}.

And especially, the freedom to plan and dream and follow where inspiration leads.

 

xx

 

What are you most grateful for this week?

 

{Linking with gratitude to Maxabella & Kidspot's 52 Weeks of Grateful xx}

Inspired

Inspiration took me by surprise this past week.

One little comment suggested my way. That's all it took. And my mind and heart started drawing dreams and building plans.

And I forgot what it felt like to be inspired {a mixture of excitement, dreaming and wonder with a dash of anxiety and a peppering of fear but that invincible feeling too.}

Inspiration hasn't visited me in such a big dose in oh-so long. 

And I'm really relieved it's here. Because without inspiration there may have {most likely} been waiting and lamenting going on {and wondering too}. 

Instead inspiration {friends with motivation and luck and optimism and chance} has brightened my recent days.

And as I make plans and changes to see inspiration through I can feel it in my heart and mind too. 

xx

Oh, and i discovered this week inspiration is contagious! Are you inspired too?