This SO speaks to me ...!

I'm enjoying the miracle, AND trusting what's unfolding ...!

So, so, SOOOOO much joy!

SOOO much gratitude for ALL that it took!

SOOO much appreciation for ALL that I have!

SOOO much anticipatio for ALL that is coming!

YesyesyesyesyesyesyesYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Lovely Girl,

Look around at what exists in your life right now, beautiful friend. Look at the events that had to be orchestrated to get you to exactly where you are, doing exactly what you are doing, with exactly who you are with, learning exactly what you are learning and experiencing exactly what you are experiencing.

Look at all of this and know that it was meant just for you. If it feels like you are in a place that you would rather not be at this time, just know that you are in the middle....on the way from here to there....and that you will get through it...that it will last exactly as long as it's supposed to last and teach you exactly what you are meant to learn. And later, you will see how this time was one of your very greatest teachers.

If you are in a place that feels miraculous and wonderful...full of beauty and peace...be sure to marvel in it. Breathe it in, know that everything brought you to now...and that there's always a reason that will take your breath away.

Everything matters. Every decision matters, every experience matters, every relationship matters, every interaction matters, every lesson matters. Each piece creates a whole that is the life you are living in this moment.

What a miracle.

Have a beautiful weekend.
xoxo

Shalom & Namaste ~
Dena

Re-Evaluate ...

Dear Important Girl/Guy,

We often don't realize it...but sometimes we find ourselves giving all of our best energy to the very things that we don't want. We do this in lots of ways...by obsessing about things because we wish we could overcome them...by not forgiving things that have hurt us...by continuing to do things that we know are not right for us because of guilt or shame or expectations....or even fear. Sometimes we have just done the same thing for so long, that it has become a habit, and even though we don't want to give any more of our time or our life to it, we just keep doing it anyway. Sometimes we feel trapped, like there is not a better way, like our choices are gone. We always always always have the ability to choose.

There are lots of reasons that we waste minutes and hours of our precious day doing things that STEAL OUR TIME FROM THE THINGS THAT WE WANT THE MOST...from the places where we are truly needed...the places where we will find the most happiness...the places where we belong.

And that is how we must view it, sweet friend.....each minute we spend lending ourselves, our time or talents or energy or thoughts to something that we really want nothing to do with is time that is stolen from the things that really do matter to us. Each minute spent with the parts of our life that we want to be free from is a minute that we are not at peace....a minute that is spent feeling miserable instead of joyful.

PPlease evaluate your time, lovely. Evaluate where you are giving your very best self. Evaluate what it would will take to get back on track. It is worth the work, it is worth the scary steps that it may take to get there. You gotta be in charge of this....no one can do this for you.

You are so important...and you have such important things to do.
You are strong, capable and it is time.
xoxo

Shalom, Dena

The Choice of Change

So, so very timely...!

Dear Lovely Girl (and Magnificent Man) ~

It is going to be ok. Take a deep breath and then another, and just know that everything is going to be just fine.

That big thing you are fearing is so much bigger in your imagination than it is in real life...and it is all going to work out. You know from experience that not everything is easy, or comes easy....but that you have always made it through everything that has come along. You will make it through this too.

Please don't be afraid of change, dear friend, change has to happen for things to grow...for things to get better.....for things to become what they are meant to become. Change is good. Change is uncomfortable and scary and sometimes seems unnecessary....but change MUST happen for things to progress.

You have a choice in this moment and in the next....and the next and the next and the next. So, if it's too hard to choose peace in this moment....know that you have the choice to choose it in the next. You get as many chances as you need to choose to feel peace......and, you can do this. You can feel peace even inside of uncertainty.

Just be still, and listen very closely.

It really is going to be ok....and there really is a plan.

You are very very loved.

xoxo

Shalom & Namaste ~
Dena

Keep Dreaming ...

Y'know, I actually believe this ...! :)

Dear Fantastic Girl,

Someone's got to dream the big dreams...or the big stuff won't happen.....someone's got to fix the stuff that's wrong, or it will continue to get worse....someone's got to be wise and experienced...or there will be no one to turn to when the wisdom is needed. Who will it be?

If you're thinking, dear friend, that you are not nearly enough qualified, or deserving, or "right" to be the one with the big huge dreams....the ways to fix things...or the beautiful wisdom..........sweetheart, it's time to change your thinking.

The world needs those gorgeous ideas brewing in your mind, or who else will make them happen? The world needs all of that passion that goes along with the burning desire in your heart to make things better and to fix what is wrong...or who else is going to do it? And.....honey.....all of those hard things you are learning...those lessons, those trials.....ALL OF THEM....those are the things that will bring the wisdom and the experience that is so needed in the world....because, if not YOU...who else will have it?

Get ready, sister........there are big things planned for you. Keep dreaming, keep fixing, keep helping, keep learning, keep sharing.
Keep with it.

You are needed.
You are loved.
xoxo

Peace ...

A message to me, maybe for others as well..?

Dear Gorgeous Girl,

Peace is good. Peace is so so good. It is worth it to travel whatever lengths you need to go to feel peace. Often, peace is right in front of our face if we will just silence everything else out. Then sometimes we have to make really tough choices or go to great lengths to feel at peace. Whatever it takes, it is worth it. Always go where the peace is, especially the peace in your heart.

Peace is defined as in the dictionary as: freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, etc.; tranquility; serenity. But peace is also defined as the normal, non-warring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world (or within ourselves!).

Another definition of peace is silence; stillness.

Sometimes we are at war with our own selves, sometimes with an issue -- an addiction or an illness. Making peace with that part of ourselves is a huge step toward peace. Sometimes we just have to COME to peace with it. Some things are a lifetime struggle, a part of us that we just have to come to peace with -- and constantly seek peace inside of it -- and help that part of ourselves seek for peace.

When making tough decisions, you will never regret making the decision that brings the most peace to your heart. Sometimes it doesn't bring the most peace to your LIFE in the short term, but if it is what brings the most peace to your heart, that's the place to go. Always go where the peace is.

Seek peace, sweet girl.

You are loved.
xoxo

Hold Out For the Good Stuff ...

[Yet another wee bit of wisdom from the Brave Girls' Club...]

Dear Patient Girl,

There was probably a time in your life when you wanted nothing more than to have cookies for breakfast every single morning, when you didn't want to practice your reading or do any of your homework, when you were absolutely POSITIVE that you wanted to marry that boy down the street. But someone who knew better than you did made you eat your eggs and toast, made you read for 30 minutes a day -- and life happened in such a way that may have broken your heart when that 14 year old boy chose baseball over you.

-- and you ended up with the life you were SUPPOSED to have, not the one you thought you wanted before you knew what you know now.

Sweet friend, it still works that way, you know. We still think we know what is best for us..we think we know exactly what we want...and when it doesn't happen we want to lay down on the floor and kick and scream and throw fits like a toddler. Or, sometimes our heart just feels like it might break into too many pieces to ever come back together.

But then, the GOOD things happen. The things that were supposed to happen all along...the things that were so much better than what we thought we wanted...the things we didn't even know existed until they showed up in our life EXACTLY when they were supposed to, sometimes after waiting for a very very very long time.

So hold out for the eggs and toast, sister. Hold out, be patient -- the good stuff is coming.

There's a plan for you, and it's gonna be good.

xoxo

I believe this, and the believing feels delicious ...!

Shalom & Namaste ~
Dena

Nebulous Hope ...

[Another message from the Brave Girls' Club]

Dear Miraculous Girl,

We all have a beautiful, amazing and happy life that is meant for us, but we must do our part each day. We just have to.

When everything seems to be awry and we feel like we have nothing left to cling to, it is our responsibility, and in our power, to cling to HOPE.
We need to look for the things that will bring even tiny glimmers of hope, because hope grows when we focus on it -- and turns to faith, which turns to miracles.

It all starts with hope, though.

When all that you can do is HOPE, it is enough. But don't ever STOP hoping. Hope is the little seed that will help you find faith again, that will help you work toward all that is in your heart...hope is more important than we can ever imagine and we must do all that we can to hold on to it, to never let its light get blown out. W must always hold tightly onto hope -- protect it, take care of it, believe in it.

What is hope, exactly?

hope n.
1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.

Keep your beautiful mind focused on hope...your heart is already there. Just keep hoping, then keep the faith, then expect miracles, and be willing to take those miracles in whatever form they come in even when you were expecting something different.

Brave girls have hope. -- yes, you have hope. Keep your hope alive. Spread hope to others.

You are so incredible, so very beautiful, and ohhhh so loved.
xoxo

Shalom & Namaste ~
Dena