B*a*g Essentials to Fend Off Surprise Attacks from Your Inner Critic

The loser in my brain just told me I couldn't write this.  Her negative voice can be quite tenacious at times.  I guess being aware of her presence is much better than being deaf to her damaging blows. (Off to soak in the tub to flood her out.) Ok, I'm back. She's always trying to stab holes into my "CAN DO" fuel tank. She's been known to slap a "Baggage Welcome" billboard advertisement on my back while greeting me with her passive aggressive cynical pat on the back.  HA! HA! Funny joke, me walking around completely unaware that I was inviting my own and my neighbor's baggage into my space.

Here are some of her more famous subliminal attacks & my B*a*g essentials needed to fend her off.  Prepare your B*a*g!

"If I was as (adjective) as (amazing woman's name), I could (accomplishment)." This type of talk could keep you from surrounding yourself with amazing women that you NEED.  Bag ESSENTIAL #1 - Supportive, smart, funny, giving, amazing women in your life, in the real world and the virtual world.   

You need living breathing examples.  The more authentic they are the better. Their brilliance shines through as they share their struggles.  Their authenticity will feed the awesomeness in you because that is their goal. They won't feed your inner loser. They expect a lot  from you, hold you accountable and give you grace, all at the same time.  They do this because they know doing this "woman thing" is a team effort.  Gossiping and judging doesn't serve us. Real success is earned and is truly inspiring.

5 Authentic Women (and Men) I Know.

1.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
5.  

Put them in your B*a*g and add yourself to the list.  I am (positive adjective) and I will (accomplishment).  One of the most challenging parts of this essential is that you may need to subtract some people out.  It's not that you don't love them or that they are horrible people.  In fact, why not ask them to join you in creating a more positive space together.  Sometimes they're not ready and as you separate you may feel lonely. I am posting a great video that might help with the alone thing, at the end of this post.

"When I (accomplishment) I will (feeling or destination)." We need to flip-flop this one.  You must feel worthy first to know that you deserve to accomplish the goal.  For example:  I have struggled with cutting out Diet Coke out of my diet.  I've been doing very well.  I may have 1 a day, but many times none, compared to 6 or 7 a day.  It has had a profound affect on decreasing my brain fog.  "I deserve to feel good." has detoured me straight away from the pop machine and to the water cooler on more than one occasion.  Bag Essential #2 - Creating a space to feel the feeling of the accomplishment in preparation of achieving the goal.   

Feeling worthy of the accomplishment fuels you and gives you strength to take action.  The journey creates the actual feeling, which is the OH YES fuel that keeps you going.  Visualize a picture holding the moment of FEELING.  Creating a vision board is an awesome way to create feeling.  I wrote about vision boards on the Survivor Manual.  A dear sister, who is on my top 5 authentic woman list, Terry Grahl, always says, "Get the cart before the horse."  She creates that space of feeling with grace and faith.  Go to the  Enchanted Makeovers website, which is a non-profit organization that creates beauty and worthiness for all women.  This is a shining example of this B*a*g essential.

I can't (action).  You're not holding yourself accountable when this one creeps up.  In reality you are saying, "I am not willing to...." following by "because (insert excuse)"   Let's start with one reason I was not willing to write the best post that I could possibly write tonight.  I read great blogs everyday. They inspire me, challenge me and provide tools I need to accomplish my goals, BUT I have a terrible habit of comparing myself to them because I don't feel worthy.  "If I was a talented writer like Donald Miller, I would have best selling books and a blog that has tons of readers."  "I won't be a talented writer if I don't write and surround myself with great writers."  My obstacle is my inspiration, which created the space to feel the feeling of writing my best and sharing it with you, risking being rejected. See how that works?  B*a*g Essential #3 - Do for others.  

Doing for others inspires you to find your gifts and to continually strive to do your best and improve.  When this happens you tend to the health (mind, body and spirit) of the vessel that delivers the gifts.  By doing so, you become keen to the sounds and feelings of a oncoming surprise attack from your inner critic, stopping her dead in her tracks.  If one person has an OH YES moment while reading this, it is worthy of my efforts.  If nobody reads this it is worthy of me practicing my craft, with intentions of helping others.


   Our inner loser is a broken record, force fed to us.  In Modern B*a*g Ladies lingo those broken records are bought and borrowed beliefs that don't align with our born, buried beliefs.  Time to toss out those records!  THEY"RE BROKEN! WE'RE NOT!  Speaking of records "I want to be a billionaire so freaking bad..... I want to be on the cover of Forbes Magazine, smiling next to Oprah and the Queen."  Hey it's not my dream and who am I to step on their dream.  Our inner critic is quick to judge.  Watch the music video, pretty good actually.

No More Pussy Footing IT in Auto Pilot

Alarm, snooze, alarm, snooze, alarm.  OK, the feet hit the floor, now the search for an outfit that looks half way decent and is comfortable. Shower, dry, lotion, dress (wrangling the boulders into their holder. the most exercise I will probably get all day), brush the snags, hair-do, makeup. LIGHTS~CAMERA~ACTION.  "Gavin! Time to get up." (insert a banter of some morning grumpiness) We rush out the door.  Backing out of the driveway, fleeting joy catches my eye.  ERRRRRT. Brake. Stop. "Gavin, did you see that?"

I've been on this joy ride for a few months now.  Myself and two other dorky moms got this things rolling. Get the back story here.  Here's the deal. 

Everyone has a purpose. It doesn't start by finding it. It starts by giving it to yourself. It leads you and pulls you towards IT. A continuous cycle of mystery and discovery. The pursuit.

What is your IT?  I really couldn't say, but it's not doing to just fall in your lap.  Purpose is joy.  Joy is purpose.  You have to give it to yourself.  Plain and simple, not easy.  So, back to this joy ride thing.

The Ultimate Yellow Joy Machine

I've been seeing YELLOW finches flying everywhere lately.  There are a few of us who have given ourselves the purpose of finding joy in the color yellow. We see it. We take a picture. We post it on our public Flickr group here. We write a caption. AND in October we will gather all the images and create a video montage of YELLOW Joy.  You can read about Tracie's reconciliation with YELLOW here.  This ride is creating an amazing collaborative story!


"Gavin did you see that?"  I'm jolting out of auto pilot by YELLOW finches yet again.  But, today as the finches swoop low a gorgeous blue bird zooms by high.  We follow it down the street (blue bird), but loose the trail.  I keep thinking how I could get a picture of these little joy flights.

I drop Gavin off at day care and make it to work.  Annette comes into my office.  She's becoming such an amazing painter.  She shares each new child of emotional labor with me.  This is what she lays on my desk.

I'm in LOVE! "Annette, I must buy this painting."

She too has been admiring YELLOW finches for a few weeks.  It is their mating and nesting time.  It was pure joy the instant I laid eyes on the painting.  I shared the Yellow Joy Machine story with Anette.  Her emotional labor brought someone pure joy.  JOY. JOY. JOY. RADIATING YELLOW .

Pure JOY can't be found in your auto pilot mode.  It takes intention. Don't pussy foot around.  The Ultimate Yellow Joy Machine is just one ride.  Catch one of your own.  Pick something that will represent your joy and seek it out. It is your purpose.  Let's put the pedal to the metal and keep this riding going.

Motoring in the Bright Lights

Mom to 8 year old son, "Gavin, What should I write about?"

Son replies, "Write about the bag lady in Vegas, duh mom,"

Gavin and I were in Vegas spending some time with dad and husband this last weekend.  Tom works in Vegas.  He works for Lifetime Fitness, a high-end fitness and wellness company.  He's in charge of the on-site construction of their fitness centers, which takes up to 16 months to build.  He comes home to Minnesota 3 weekends a month. We thought it would be nice to see where dad spends most of his days.

As I merged the Modern B*a*g Ladies' graphic with the photo of the original Vegas sign, the contrast and similarities hit me.  At the bottom left of the MBL graphic it says, "follow the signs". Now if I were lost in the middle of the desert, Vegas would be the flame and I would be the moth.  The signs are so obvious. The contrast between the dull tan desert landscape and the enormity and gaudiness of the strip causes me to admire the engineering and entertainment feats, yet disgust in the waste and excess.

Vegas causes me to immediately crawl into my shell. In these environments of enormous energy I question my nature and do self destructive comparisons.  The more self aware I am, the stronger the contrasts become. What I know about myself, and what I have written about before, is that my Traveling Sanctuary has a diesel  motor, which is to say that I like things slow and easy going, like the subtle rolling hills in MBL graphic.

 Diesel motors need to stay plugged in (at least in cold weather) to get their engine going.  In contrast, a zippy 5 speed motor needs more coolant to keep it's engine running. My husband and son definitely have 5 speed motors and my daughter has a diesel motor.  Tom and Gavin fill the space with high energy.  Paige and I can sit quietly for hours and be perfectly content.

Neither is right or wrong.  It is as it was meant to be.  Being aware is the key and accepting your gift, which is your born nature is a form of self love.  

Think about your Traveling Sanctuary engine and what type of fuel you need.  This diesel motor needs a dose of high octane jet fuel from time to time.  And I believe 5 speed engines need to find their own personal formula of coolant from time to time. 

What type of Traveling Sanctuary car are you?  Make? Model? Color?  You can see mine above in the graphic. Hey, it's actually a little sporty.  I even have the top down. I'm not sure Thunderbirds came with diesel motors, but this my blog and I can imagine anything I want.

Picturing yourself as a car can help you think about what fuel you need and your proper maintenance schedule.  Use your imagination and draw a mental picture.  When I am in a high energy environment, I am not joking when I say that I remind myself that I am diesel motor.  It has value and I don't need to swap motors.  I was meant to have this engine.

Sun Flower Power ~ Drink Up ~ Fuel Up

This is where I go for lunch at least once a week, Hope's Harvest Health Food Store. I love everyone that works there.  I get more than a healthy dose of good food.  Their spirit fuels me.  Susan, the owner, puts love in the food.  When she makes your sandwich she thinks to herself, "I love you."  You can taste the love. There's a sign in the window that says Hippies Welcome.

This is a Hibiscus flower.  Did you know you could drink flowers?  

This is spearmint.  It goes really well with Hibiscus.

1 Gallon Water

1 Glass Container

2-3 Tablespoons Dried Hibiscus

1 Tablespoon Spearmint

8 hours of Sunshine

 Strain

Enjoy!

Surround yourself with people that fuel your spirit by sharing their (H)(E)art.  I learned about Sun Flower Power.  Drink Up. Fuel Up. 

Learn more:

Health Benefits

Buy Dried Hibiscus

Buy Dried Spearmint

History of Hibiscus

The Best Fuel is FUN & FREE

Yes, it's true, the best fuel is free.  That is, fuel for your Believe Act Go Traveling Sanctuary.  And a Victoria Secret Catalog Contains Free Fuel.

 Fuel - Intangible energy you generate from within your feminine power.  It is eco-friendly and infinitely renewable.  Your joy and love shared with others fuels the fuel, multiplying the fuel.  It's a beautiful cycle.

Case in point:

• One Daughter
• One Mom
• One Friend
• Friend's kitchen
• One Victoria Secret Catalog

Passing the time, waiting to savor an amazing Fourth of July meal I flip through a Victoria Secret catalog, sitting on the kitchen island counter top."Paige, assuming I am 50 pounds lighter and would look fabulous in any of these outfits, pick which outfit I would choose for myself.  Don't point it out until I tell you I've made my decision."

You're sitting, waiting for an appointment or at one of your child's activities. You're riding in your car.  It's seemingly wasted idle time, but in reality it's the prime time to have fun and learn something about your friends and family.  It's free time, literally free fuel time.

Taking turns picking our favorite outfits was a fun game.  I think we had a accuracy rate of 80%. "Why did you pick that?" I learned more about how her outer style reflects her inner spirit; earthy, eclectic, whimsy. 

Sharing and having fun is the best fuel.  You don't need to spend money going to the movies, bowling or going on an expensive vacation to fuel the fun.  What fun, free games do you play?  When and where?  What do you learn about your friends and family members? 

Help Fuel The Ultimate Yellow Joy Machine

Join Us in Creating The Yellow Joy Machine which will be part of the The Joy Project 

Modern B*a*g Ladies Truth: The sooner you find an excuse to find joy, the sooner you can spread it.

Pick your joy color. Be prepared to find the joy in that color every day. Take a picture. Add an applicable caption about your joy. Post it here on the Yellow Joy Machine.

Survivors today have many outlets to break the silence and move forward with healing.  The intent of The Joy Project is to give survivors a chance to show the world what living a joyful life means; to express joy though art, poems, pictures and videos that actually define what joy is, where it is found, what it looks like, what it means, and how to live it.  It is a chance to shift the focus from trauma to joy.

Tracie, Vanessa, Megan and I will work on a submission video montage while at the conference.

The Joy Project is open to all attendees of The Army of Angels Conference.  Learn more about the conference.

www.flickr.com More in Yellow Joy Machine pool

Truth Seeking in Hot Wings ~ Riding the Wave

Seriously I just ate a whole order of Dominoes hot wings.  Good thing I grazed solely on fruits and vegetable all day leading up to my truth seeking hot sauce mission.  Truly today was pretty tough, yet I was strangely calm, for me anyway.  Today we found out the my dad's cancer is back after 10 years of remission.

So, mom called with the news this morning while I was at work.  She handed the phone over to dad.  At first I was pretty calm, but then I started to cry a bit.  That was hard for dad, as it was all pretty fresh, just getting the call from the doctor and all. He handed the phone back to mom.

We talked again tonight.  This time it was more like the normal Kim and dad talking kind of stuff.  I was telling him all about Angela's Bible Road Trip, beings dad and I have always had deep philosophical "truth seeking" talks, ever since I was about 12 or so.  I went on to tell him about the process of re-doing my website and the plans for Modern B*a*g Ladies.  He said, "As long as you are seeking the truth it will all work out."  I do believe that. 

Tonight he asked me to write about the days to come, as we face whatever this cancer journey has in store for us. Dad has a feeling about it.  I know about those types of feelings, as the power of feminine can transcend gender.  Let's take a little jaunt.

I want to take you to the sanctuary of my grandma’s home.  I’m going to close my eyes while painting a picture of the experience with my Grandma Veronica.   Our family of 6 would enter into this modest bungalow after a long car drive.  Grandma’s house was lived in.  No plastic covered couches or fine breakables to be concerned with.  The breakfast nook was on the right as we entered the back door.  We would be eating breakfast there the next morning, watching birds outside the window at the birdbath and feeders.  Red Cardinals!  (My brother claims this is an inaccurate recollection.  Cardinals don't aren't found that far north. He's wrong.)

As I walk into the dining room I see the table where we played games and did puzzles.  I think I did that Under Dog puzzle hundreds of times.   Toby the parakeet flew freely and swooped down and perched on grandma’s shoulder.  Handmade paper helicopters with paperclips, launched from the top of the stairs.  I was fascinated with tossing things down the laundry chute.  We would venture down to the basement to retrieve our parachuted items, making out way to play a game of dart; you know the real kind with sharp points.   Occasionally, I would sleep with grandma.  I remember feeling the most peaceful feeling laying with grandma,  a peace that I hadn’t felt much in my life until recently.  I later learn from my dad, that while lying with my grandmother she was most certainly in a state of prayer.

As I grew older, visits to my grandma’s,  grew further and further apart.  I was getting on with my life.  I slowly but surely, began to bury my born beliefs, with bought and borrowed ones.    How could I be so eager to leave this sanctuary behind?  Both the physical and the one within my heart.

Later in life I learn that within the sanctuary of my grandma’s home, she was a victim of abuse by her second husband, who was an alcoholic.  Her first husband, my grandfather, passed away when my dad was only 6.  My father tells me stories, that as a teenager, he would attempt to defend and protect his mother.  Iggy spent much of their money on alcohol.  My grandmother and 3 sons were left with little.  She eventually divorced Iggy.  She struggled so hard for herself and her sons, yet I know she never lost faith.   I know this because I was there with her feeling her love.  I felt safe. I was safe with grandma.  My dad says I am very much like my Grandma Veronica.  I feel her presence with me much of the time. 


My dad once spoke of his father's passing and recollects his mother, my Grandmother Veronica, fainting upon hearing the news. 

Veronica couldn't have imagined the power she possessed as a young woman. Grandma Veronica did not have power over others. She did not have an abundance of money and had more than her share of hard times, which required her to reach deep inside to access her power. Her life and well being of her 3 sons depended on it.
 

I am the benefactor of my grandmother's feminine power, which transcended through my dad to me. I must do my best to honor this gift and share it with others.

In the windows surrounding my kitchen sink I perch birds figurines.  Yellow, Red, Brown.  Occasionally I see a real cardinal outside.  Oh grandma, I know you're there, guiding me to the truth.

I leave you tonight with this;  Travel I say. Reach out in search of the truth and if you happen upon a full order of Dominoes hot wings along the way, well hell sometimes you'll have a weak moment.  Accept the fact that you ate the whole thing and set out again. I'd say I left this day on a pretty damn good note.

Modern B*a*g Lady Truth #7

You raise the collective JOY meter to F when you're smiling, laughing, singing and dancing OR when you put the "ing" in your "A". What's your ING-AY, today?

HONK!!! HONK!!

Universal Truth: Burning dirty, cruddy fuel in our cars pollutes the air we breathe.

Middle Pieces - Fundraiser Enchanted Makeovers

On May 16th I had the opportunity to speak at the St. Alphonsus Mother Daughter Sister Luncheon.  St. Alphonsus church is my childhood church.  When I presented at the ladies retreat a year ago, Rev. Joseph P. V.  Phung invited me to speak about the non-profit, Enchanted Makeovers, as a team member.  When I pulled up to the church on Sunday May 16th I recalled how I dreaded going to church as a youngster. What a contrast on that day. I was thrilled to pull up to the church with my mom.  I thank the women who represented God's love in action back when I was young.  They provided the framework for which I build upon today. The luncheon raised $600 for Enchanted Makeovers. I share a short story I wrote at the end of the photo montage.  Enjoy!

Your Gift & Art Lead Others Down Their Path ~ Connect ~ Share

He said, "You are a closet intellect, seeker of the truth." Intellect means many things and the idea that he thought my intellect was in seeking the truth, well when you connect with someone it's a divine assignment.

He gave me a gift last week, not having any idea the timeliness and meaning. See when you treasure art, create art and share yourself and your (H)art, amazing things happen.

He read it once on the back of a book and made a copy. He made a copy of the copy and shared it with me.
It reads:

When a man literally walks in the light of his soul and the clear light of the sun pours through him - revealing the Path - it reveals at the same time the Plan. Simultaneously however he becomes aware of the fact that the Plan is very far as yet from consummation. The dark becomes more truly apparent. The chaos and misery and failure of the world groups stand revealed. The filth and dust of the warring forces are noted, and the whole sorrow of the world bears down upon the astounded, yet illuminated aspirant. Can he stand this pressure? Can he become indeed acquainted with grief and yet rejoice forever in the divine consciousness? Has he the ability to face what the light reveals and still go his way with serenity, sure of the ultimate triumph of good? Will he be overwhelmed by the surface evil and forget the heart of love which beats behind all outer seeming? This situation should ever be remembered by the disciple, or he will be shattered by the disciple, or he will be shattered by what he has discovered..... Alice A. Bailey.

PEACE This is the word that comes to mind now. He explains, "This had certain meaning long ago when I first read this. It has more and different now. I thought you would appreciate this." He will never know the extend of it; that is was the Plan way back (the copy, which now is a copy of a copy). Peace in connectedness and not so much the spoken word.

I am now on a path of discovering Alice A. Baily.   You could join me or you could be on the hunt for that copy you made years ago that belongs to someone you know.

Your Gift is your Art.  Share. Connect.  It leads you down your path of Discovering Your B*a*g.

A Reason to surround yourself with people you admire - Chris Brogan

Chris Brogan challenged his readers to write a quick blog post about the importance of story in our lives. It's so like him to give a call to action and is one reason I follow him. You need people like that in your life, whether that be on the web or in person. Funny thing is that I did this "assignment" many months ago, which goes to show that the most important thing to do is to start creating your body of work even when you are not aware of where each piece will fit together. I refer to a dream in this post, which was a symbol of how critical we can be of ourselves. Some time later, I had another dream. A crowd of people where gathered in a small community hall. The windows were open. It was a beautiful spring day. All at once every person turned their heads and ears towards the open windows. Smiles formed upon their lips. A beautiful song could be heard.

January 5, 2009 - When you view your life as a story it becomes magical, even when it doesn't bring a happy ending. It's the magic of purpose, awareness, understanding, connectedness. To tell is to listen. To listen is to tell. "Life, I'm listening."

So you see, my purpose is to tell stories and it is so freaking FUN! I have given myself permission to view the world with a young. hopeful heart and mind. I have given myself permission to be truthful, honest and open. I have given myself permission to be myself, while realizing my inner critic can be as harsh as Simon Cowell. I actually came to myself in my dream, disguised as Simon Cowell, just so I could tell myself my writing stunk. This proved to me that we are our harshest critics.

So I say, "Simon Cowell, stick it up you know where" and I will continue to wake up saying, "Good morning world, what will I write about today?"

I journal, post on my blog and write a weekly newsletter, which would be quite the surprise to Mr. Wilkerson, the toughest English teacher in southeast Iowa's tri-county area.

So what's Kim's point today? Blah blah blah, get to the point. Even if you can't quite find the time to journal, don't want to start a blog or don't have a fan base that you fantasize soaks up every single word of your newsletter (a girl's gotta dream), you should view your life like you are required to share it through the written word. Why? Because when you are looking for material you have to be open, aware. You start to see the thread that connects the dots. You again view the world through your children's eyes. Besides story telling is fun even when you're reading silently to yourself.

Honestly, I write for me and I hope you get some enjoyment from it as well. And Mr. Wilkerson, I give myself an "A" for this post.

Modern B*a*g Lady Truth #6

Your #1 job is to help other people be successful because you sure in the "H" "E" DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS (well maybe oars in this case) can't do all this "stuff" by yourself.

Seriously folks, think about it. Where does this truth not apply? I challenge you to think of one area in life that is not about helping others succeed. For example, the hard working person that picks up your garbage from he curb each week is helping you succeed by clearing your creative space (your home or business) from clutter and filth. You therefore can be be productive and creative. Challenge me on this one and leave a comment.

I'm reading this awesome book by Tom Peters, The Little Big Things, 163 Ways To Pursue Excellence. Actual it's more like a travel guide I will have with me at all time in my Traveling Sanctuary B*a*g. Where doesn't excellence apply? And what is Tom Peters doing with this book, but if not helping others succeed. I don't care if you are a mom home schooling your precious children or the "head cheese in charge" of a billion dollar company, excellence matters. So, I say this book is for everyone. I'm saying so because I want you to succeed in whatever your heart desires.

Here's Tom's thoughts on the subject of what I believe to be Your #1 Job. "The "business" of leaders at all levels is to help those in their charge (like the person in charge of your garbage) develop beyond their dreams- which in turn almost automatically leads to "all that other stuff," such as happy customers, happy stock-holders, happy communities."

Universal Truth: You are a leader to someone. (How are you doing?)

Music

I shall not live without music.

It seeps into my pores.

(1)The beat, I See.
(2)The beat, I Hear.
(3)The beat, I Feel.
(4)The beat, I Taste.
(5)The beat, I Smell.
1 - 2 -3 - 4 - 5
Music is the 6th

Dance in my head. Dance in my seat. Dance on the floor. Dance on the table. DANCE.

I shall not live without music.

Singer, songwriters, who don't do it for the fame but may accept it just the same, consider this a nod from across from the room. Our eyes meet and you know what you mean to me. It pours in. I dance through life. I am rich. Sometimes I cry. I will never be the same.

Inspired by Chad Elliott. Please visit his website.

Modern B*a*g Lady Truth #5

The sooner you find an excuse to find joy, the sooner you can spread it.

For some unknown reason the GPS kept activating on my phone. Well it had to be the Dorky Mom FBI division seeking out their top operative for another mission. I was ready and willing to serve my fellow Dorky Moms. I awaited the arrival of the SUV. I would be briefed on the newly released inappropriate jokes and dork dances. Goal: embarrass our children and make them fearful of growing old and acting just like their mothers.

I tweeted two of my informants, Tracie and Meagan. I would be parachuting down momentarily. We were instructed to seek out yellow colored objects in which to construct THE ULTIMATE YELLOW JOY MACHINE.

Universal Truth: Everyone has a purpose. It doesn't start by finding it. It starts by giving it to yourself. It leads you and pulls you towards IT. A continuous cycle of mystery and discovery. The pursuit.

Modern B*a*g Lady Truth #4

She who insists on constantly riding "too busy highway" will run out of fuel just before "get real" exit.

Universal Truth: Old habits are hard to break and new ones hard to create. Unfortunately, sometimes we need a good kick in the ass.

Modern B*a*g Lady Truth #2

When you view yourself as a Traveling Sanctuary™ your motor is passion and purpose, your fuel is joy and love, and your fumes nourish the universe.

Universal Truth - Our spiritual environment and physical environment are connected. Both need a green approach.

Birthing a New World - International Women's Day

I wrote this post last year. A re-post is in order today, International Women's Day. I find it interesting that I feel more comfortable saying, It took balls to do this or that, rather than saying the word vagina. Can you imagine a man saying to another man, "Women (man) that took a huge vagina to take that risk." This makes me laugh out loud. Now let's practice together, "vagina, vagina, vagina." How about, "It took a magnificent birth canal to deliver those types of results."

I had the distinct pleasure of attending a local performance of "The Vagina Monologues" in Red Wing last night. Red Wing, having a population of only 15,000 I feel rather lucky to have The Sheldon Theatre, which brings performing arts to our community.

In the 1990's, playwright, Eve Ensler interviewed over 200 women about their sexuality and their vaginas in particular. From those interviews she wrote "The Vagina Monologues" and performed the show across the country. Ensler was deeply moved by the number painful stories of physical and sexual violence women shared with her after her performances. In response she created, V-Day. V as in Victory, Valentine and Vagina. In February, March and April she permits organizations to produce a Vagina Monologues as a fundraiser. Since 1998, V-Day events have raised over $60 million for local beneficiaries working to end violence against women and girls. Last night's performance benefited our local Goodhue Wabash Sexual Assault Services.

Here's a peek at some of the titles, "The Little Coochie Snorcher That Could", "My Angry Vagina" and "The Flood". The monologues were real, touching, funny and sobering. It fueled my desire to express my true self even more in my work and in my writing. I was so impressed with the women's performances and proud to be a woman......a women with A VAGINA!!!

The performance profoundly echoed my thoughts of "We are real. We are not yes ladies. We are Oh Yes Ladies and it feels really good." It reaffirmed the misconception that all of your private thoughts are to stay private. Headline...... Kim Lampe Loves Her Vagina. Um no, that's not what I meant. It all goes back to being the Traveling Sanctuary. The safe place for others. There will be a day when somebody needs to share some private thoughts. Will you be the safe, secure landing place?

If my vagina could talk it would say, "I hold much power. I will take great care with this power." I am pleasure. I am pain. I'm a *itch. I'm a lover. I give birth, hence my space shifting ability. I have something very important to say. Get down here and listen would you?"

In some weird way I left the performance feeling like all my womanly power was centered in my vagina, which means I must have two hearts and two brains. Watch out world here we come.

I am So Damn Passionate about....

I am so damn passionate about writing that I got out of bed at 12:00 am to write this.

I am so damn passionate about my personal mission that I would do it even if I didn't get paid. (oh ya I'm not making any money, yet.)

I am so damn passionate about hearing the click of the keys that I am not copying and pasting "I am so damn passionate" at the beginning of each sentence.

I am so damn passionate about the mission of Enchanted Makeovers and Angela Shelton that I do my best work when it is in the name of their (our) mission.

I am so damn passionate about seeing somebody's eyes light up when they have an Ah Ha moment. A moment of clarity that sets them down a path of discovering their B*a*g.

I am so damn passionate about joining forces with other passionate travelers of life.

I am so damn passionate about truly being myself.

I am so damn passionate about listening to other's stories.

I am so damn passionate about helping others succeed.

I am so damn passionate about dancing.

WHAT ARE YOU SO DAMN PASSIONATE ABOUT? LIFE WITHOUT PASSION IS MEDIOCRE AT BEST. You know that saying, "pay yourself first." Pay yourself with passion first and the money will come. I believe in your passion. Do you? One can always start with, "I am so damn passionate about finding my passion."

I Hope I Get Your Voicemail

Oh good, I am rounding the curve, out of the "dead zone". I was on my way home from work and thought I would call my friend Rosi(E) Beachy(E). Some time ago, I had started to place an E at the end of her first name. I guess subconsciously I thought she had a great anchor woman name. "And now back to the newsroom, with Rosi(eee) Beachy(eee). Rosi(eee), what's the update on our late breaking news flash?" This is a friend that gave me a birthday that reads, "Happy Birthday to someone who's just the right amount of weirdness for me." I always tell my kids that when somebody calls you weird take it as a compliment, even when that wasn't the intention. Ya saying that Rosi gets to see and hear my "weird" from time to time is an understatement.

She had moved to the east coast a while back, taking a sales position with our employer. With her new position she was spending more time traveling in her car, a car equipped with XM radio tuned into "Oprah Radio". We'd give each other our best Maya Angelou and Dr. Robin voiced advise during our phone conversations. The chances that I would catch her in her car was high.

As far as transparency goes, I'm pretty see through. You know, the kind of revealing that is mysterious. I could use a negligee analogy, but that would be weird. Yah I know, go with it. There's a time to reveal just enough and a time to reveal it all. Listen and you will know when and with whom to reveal.

"Happy Birthday to someone who's just the right amount of weirdness for me." Rosi brings out a side in me that I love, but many times question. Why question it? That's weird in an irrational kind of way. As I started to discover my B*a*g I had to make a commitment to being a better friend, which required me to share me with my friends. There were friends that embraced "me" even when it seemed a bit outrageous. There were friends that would just knod and smile. They didn't really get it and that's fine too. Rosi gave me that birthday card at the beginning of my re-birthing process. She probably doesn't even know the magnitude of her gift. She said to me that I was "ok".

Rounding the corner out of the dead zone. I better call Rosi before I forget. 70's on 7 was blasting from the radio. "Gee I hope I get her voicemail." It's 6 o'clock her time and she's probably enjoying diner with her family. It's important to have family time and not answer the phone. Glen Campbell is blasting....

I've been walkin' these streets so long
Singin' the same old song
I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway
Where hustle's the name of the game
And nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain
There's been a load of compromisin'
On the road to my horizon
But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me

Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Getting cards and letters from people I don't even know
And offers comin' over the phone

The next day on the way to her next sales calls, Rosi gets my voicemail. The Dancing B*a*g Lady had left her another weird voicemail. It put a smile on her face and spring in her step. Ever time I hear that song I think of Rosi and am inclined to leave her a musical voicemail.

Pave the streets of your success with friends who accept and embrace YOU. There will be less compromising on the roads to your horizons. I LOVE YOU Rosi(eee) Beachy(eee). You're one BIG rhinestone in my hat.

Fuel Your Believe Act Go Traveling Sanctuary

When you create a sanctuary within your heart you can take it with you everywhere. When you travel with the intention of sharing that sanctuary with others, they find the sanctuaries within their hearts. Traveling Sanctuaries(tm) create physical sanctuaries, which fuels the Traveling Sanctuaries(tm). Many times when others observe you're being a Traveling Sanctuary(tm) they think to themselves, "I'm having what she's having." And so goes the glorious cycle. Kind of like the chicken and the egg. If you think about it too hard you get confused. Don't think. Do!

Here's a visual example of what can happen when you fuel your Believe Act Go Traveling Sanctuary and share.



Love you sister! Thank you for sharing your fuel.