Inspiration Monday

So any day can be an inspiration day, but I've decided to declare Mondays the day to just gather inspiration and let everything else go.

So here are some things that are inspiring me. . .

personally:

camping in the backyard with the boys and creating delicious smores
using water color pencils with Sam
watching Sam eat his first frozen pop

professionally:
science notebooking (more about this soon)
filling up notebooks with ideas for next year

This Makes Our Summer

This evening my little family went to a concert inside the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It was located at Howe Meadow. There was an amazing rhythm group called HeartBEAT Afrika. It was a sunny and muggy Ohio evening. We threw down our blanket with other folks from so many different walks of life.

Sam charmed and entertained many around us--especially with his dancing and applause. It seemed like his favorite part was a trio from the band beating out crazy rhythms on plastic buckets. Go figure! The simplicity of a little one to remind us what's really important. And all of this was FREE!

That's the thing that really amazes me about this area. There is such a wealth of culture and experience at very little cost. There are more concerts to come in this series, and for anyone interested, Pitch the Peat has been rescheduled for August 4.

As we drove away before the concert even ended, with a little boy rubbing his exhausted eyes, my husband said, "This makes our summer." And I concur!

Chasing a Blue Heron

I live blocks away from the Ohio/Erie Canal Towpath. It's a great place to walk, bike, or run. I thoroughly enjoy the historical and natural significance of the this spot. Sometimes I try to imagine what life was like during canal days or even before that when the first Ohioans lived here.

This evening my little family took a stroll down to the canal, and we quickly spotted a blue heron, an often illusive resident. So as soon as we would get close enough to take a picture that sucker would take off. They are so majestic when they fly, but I didn't get to see much as I was messing around with the camera!

We would catch up to where he landed and was standing perfectly still, and he would take off again. It was as if we were playing a game of chasing the Blue Heron! We probably repeated this for close to a mile total. At the top I've included my 2 favorite photos. The one of him flying away was the last view we had, as he tired of the game. Ashh, summer!

Little Things Are Big Things

Earlier this week I was feeling down. As I processed this I thought about wanting something spectacular to make summer feel like summer--a trip, an event, etc. And then I started to think about what makes this summer unique. I'm really living a life most would envy. I have time to spend with my husband and son every day. I eat vegetables grown on a local CSA farm, and we go every week to the farm to get the vegetables. I cook almost everyday. I have time to read for pleasure and lots of professional books I don't have time to read during the school year. I get to take lots of little outings to parks, hiking trails, the library, and the inflatable pool in our backyard. I also have time to recharge with old TV shows, magazines, and little art projects. I hear the blissful laughter of a little boy, and I witness the beautiful curiosity as he explores his universe--birds, lightening bugs, dirt, water, etc..

To some these may seem like little things, but I know they are the big things that make summer really feel like summer. And I am so lucky!

In A Funk

I woke up this morning. It was already hot. As the sweat slid down my brow my emotions slid into a funk.

I can't explain it. I know some reasons for a little funkiness, but not this.

I suspect it might connect to how tough it is for me to just be human and not so doing oriented. I want to create lists of things to do and fill the time and space. I KNOW that wonder-full things enter in when I leave enought room. But, alas, I kick and scream the whole way there.

Over the weekend I got to go to 3 parks because I left some open space. The photo at the top of this post is the rest of my family on the walk. I was inspired and joy-full.

I hope tomorrow I will leave a space open and just let it be.

People Pleasers Unite, If That's OK With You

Sometimes I'm absolutely stunned by how much I want people to like me--especially after the resources I've invested in personal growth. This weekend I accidently cut in front of another customer at the grocery store, and she was mad. The whole way home I did this internal dialog of self flagelation. "Why did you do this? What if you see her again? And so on." Even when I tried to dial up the "Your human. It was a simple mistake." The other voice was louder and stronger.

But here comes the interesting "Aha Moment." Then I'm in the kitchen working on a salad that required a lot of chopping while my husband and son nap, and boy, does the resentment build. So there I go from I'm afraid this total stranger is going to hate me for the rest of my life (translation: I'm not being kind to myself) and I turn that into lets just be mad and petty with the people we love.

That people pleasing thing is so incidious and deep--YIKES!

Let's make a pact together today to quiet that voice and focus on the ones we do love--if that's OK with you!

Inspire

Every year I think of a new word that really fits me, and it becomes my personal and professional theme for the school year. Last year the word was THRIVE. I just decided on the word for the upcoming year. . .(drumroll) INSPIRE!

I was thinking about what inspires me. I walked outside with a camera and had to photograph these plants growing out of the wall by my driveway. It would seem impossible that plants would even try to grow out of blocks and mortar, but here they are, and I'm inspired.

Some of what inspires me here and now:

1. Sam (who danced on his knees like crazy at a concert last night)
2. Summer flowers in bloom
3. Water--puddles, lakes, oceans, rain, even baths
4. E-courses--Mondo Beyondo and Flying Lessons are the two that have inspired me this year.
5. Time to read for business and pleasure
6. Starting my year long plan for school and feeling excited
7. Inspiring other people
8. Time by myself

Stay tuned for more of what inspires me and how I plan to inspire others.