An invitation

GIVEAWAY:  I invite you to come and explore with me– I am offering a journaling  e-course starting next Friday– I promise it is low impact (check the Beginning tab for more information).

To make it easier to decide to attend, just leave a comment on this post and I will choose three people (or all of you if three or less!) for a free pass sometime sunday evening. If you’d like to comment and not be considered for the giveaway just say so in your comment. No harm, no foul.

It is casual I promise, no grades, no deadlines, no assignments. Just ideas, encouragement, some insight and some suggestions– ideas that can be used anytime.

It will be very low key, perfect for hot summer days.

Think about it. Leave a comment.

Come play.

***

Two beautiful things dropped into my lap this week- saying exactly what I needed to hear:

First, from my friend the wondrous Maya Stein, this amazing last line from her 10 line tuesday poem:

Longing is a deep and ravenous animal. Give it what it’s asking for.

And another gift in my inbox from my weekly More In You mailing:

“You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.” (Joseph Campbell)

It is odd just how uncomfortable it can be to hear what I need to hear– I squirm a little (ok, sometimes more than a little), feel like I’ve been caught.

Yes, I say, I know, I know.

Yes, I do know, but this is so much more than just knowing. This is about BEING, and this is about tending to our Selves in a focused and loving way.  But how often do we do that? How often do we allow ourselves to even hear our own longing? To even acknowledge our own restlessness? Our own hunger? It is always so much easier to be busy tending the needs of others. How hard it seems to be present for ourselves. To be able to say, I want. It takes bravery to say, I may not know what I am wanting, but  I know that I am.

Image used by my own permission, taken in Seward Alaska, 2004.

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8 thoughts on “An invitation

  1. I always look to see what the story will be about your chosen image. Today I looked and saw it was one of yours! It is beyond gorgeous.

  2. “Image used by my own permission” – so much in so few words – lovely.

    I believe this is why I express myself best in Haiku form and short notes inside cards. The next step, for me, is to develop those notes to include in cards I make for clients…

    But I hear you, Kate. First I need to tend to myself and that is so needed. We are in the midst of a heatwave that is ‘nice’ in many ways, and totally awful to those with many health issues. So, flattened as I am why do I still insist on ‘doing’ when I know, often advise others, we are meant to be human beings?

    Be still…I will.

  3. I’m very intrigued by your e-course, but my weekends are always packed full. I am assuming I could work on the exercises during the following week? If so, please count me in for your giveaway (so generous and kind!). Thank you. By the way, I found you through boho photography.

  4. The quote from Joseph Campbell really struck a chord within me. Call it the result of a mid-life crisis, or just the associated angst of turning 40, but I am suddenly so very aware of how far I have strayed from where I know my heart needs me to be.

    I feel like what I thought was meant to be just a little stepping stone in my life somehow became my path…my yellow brick road…and I stayed on it for a much, much longer time than I thought I EVER would.

    It’s like I was afraid of focusing on the things that really mattered to me…what I am passionate about…my dreams of being a writer and an artist…and so, I just became more and more involved in things that didn’t really matter to me or fulfil me, but rather, just filled my day.

    I so wasn’t happy, and because I wasn’t happy, I thought I needed to change myself…adapt. (Why do women do that? And after all, my negative self-talk went, how many people can really make a living as an artist/writer? Better to choose a more reliable career path.) ARGGHHH!!

    What I actually needed to do was move away from those unimportant distractions, and move towards my own True North…to follow my passions, live artistically, and let happiness, satisfaction, and joy find me. And Mr. Campbell is right! Now that I have gotten out of my own way, opportunities to nurture my rusty talants have risen up to meet me in abundance.

    Thank you for this gentle reminder and affirmation Kate!

  5. I just wandered over from Kelly Rae’s blog – I just finished up her e-course! Please count me in for the giveaway – and thank you for your generosity!

  6. Hello Kate!
    I also discovered you through Kelly Rae’s blog. I just finished taking my very first e-course (Kelly’s “Flying Lessons”) and really enjoyed it! I would love to take your e-course as well and I would be thrilled to be considered for your giveaway! 🙂 Thank you for the opportunity!

  7. Like others I popped over here from Kelly Rae’s site! Seems so serendipitous though, especially as my breathe caught in my throat when I saw the words ‘journalling e-course’…feel something calling me here and looking forward to exploring more of your words. 🙂

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