As January is coming to an end
Chinese New Year begins
and holds close the symbol
of the dragon
a magical, mystical beast that has the breath of fire.
In Yoga, the breath of fire pumps the body to new possibilities
and cleanses any stagnant energy.
Let us all empty drawers
empty thoughts
purge criticisms that do not serve us
and
welcome in
support
skill
and
loving possibilities
that take us further
deeper
into our process
and create
a Beautiful Beyond.
I found a sweet potato in my pantry this morning. It was wrinkled and soft around one edge, on its way to sweet potato heaven. The other side was firm and ready to be enjoyed. I thought, “What can I do with this sweet potato?”
Then, I remembered the frozen turkey carcass from Thanksgiving. Soup seemed like a good idea.
So, I peeled the firm part of the potato and sliced it. I put it into the pot with the frozen turkey carcass. I added a few carrots that were also on their way to carrot heaven, a tomato that was a little wrinkled on the top and the dried rosemary and thyme that I had saved from the fresh rosemary and thyme on Thanksgiving. Then came an onion and lots of kosher salt, fresh pepper and fresh parsley. Water was added to absorb all of the flavors and make a rich broth. It is simmering now. It will be lovely along with some good Parmesan Reggiano and some broken pasta and a toasted slice of bread with fresh olive oil. Ahhh… bliss.
Finding the good properties and possibilities within a vegetable that looks on the outside like it is “done” is like finding the smoothness that lives below the rough exterior of ourselves. We are all a little rough around the edges, protecting the vulnerability of our hearts and holding close to security. There might be a new idea just waiting for us to peel back the layers of resistance that keep it locked inside.
Collaborating with others is the mingling of the vegetables in the soup. But the carcass, the body, has the flavor. Especially in the bones that hold the marrow, that hold the softness and the depth. We are our marrow. We are our depth. We have our own distinct flavor.
You might want to think about what is stored within you and what needs to be mingled with other components to create a true flavor. What is ready for thought heaven? Send it up. You will make room for the new that may be a great combo with the seasoned ideas that are just hanging around. And then you will find the perfect blend, conceptually and creatively, to incorporate it and share it with others.
Like the soup that started with the wrinkled sweet potato and the will to rebirth its value, you will reveal a whole new purpose and possibility within yourself. Like the sweet potato, you may be onto something, but halfway there.
Utilize the richer half and take a cue from the half that has transitioned on. Use the good stuff, discard the rest.
Blend, simmer, season and serve. All of us. With who you are.
Organizing your thoughts is just as important as organizing your things.
The conversation about clutter is immense and yes, relevant. Decluttering involves sifting and sorting through possessions. This overflows into your lifestyle of relationships, diet, work and habits.
Think of putting flour into a sifter as you watch the lumps disappear and become a refined soft mound in the bottom of the bowl. Sometimes, there are lumps that are hard and won’t go through the sifter. These are the throwaways in the decluttering process or the things that go into the donation bags. Or these might be the habits that are discarded forever because they are no longer useful. Lumpy flour does not a smooth gravy make. Less than excellent habits ultimately create havoc.
The decluttering happens before the organizing. The organizing happens when the coveted possessions, routines, relationships, thoughts, are ready to be honored and put into a system. This is what happened to me one morning this week.
I woke up and my mind was racing. I had different categories of thought bouncing around with no place to land. I realized in that moment that I needed to get up, go to the table and organize my thoughts. They were important and paving the way to my future. They just needed a system so they could be utilized.
It took a few minutes; I created a notebook with a different page for each category. This organizing method allowed me to see projects that could be fulfilled and projects that needed the cooperation of others. Then, with lightning power, I was able to access my inner life project. I knew what I needed to do stay on my inner track of production for myself. This would directly impact the progress of my projects.
My willingness to organize my truth took me into the ultimate service to myself.
Now, days later, many of my thought patterns organized, I am more peaceful. Many projects have been completed. My mind is now free to welcome in new thoughts.
Organizing thought is just as important as organizing things. In fact, the organization of thought is essential to a successful clutter-clear and organizing system.
If you have many thoughts racing thought that brilliant mind of yours, try sitting down and organizing them into a system. You will swiftly find the thoughts that have no real home in your mind and be able to discard them and then pay attention to the thoughts and ideas that are advantageous to you right now. You will mine your mind. You will find your gold and honor yourself by organizing it into a working plan. I know that you will create wonderful results.
Declutter – Organize – Honor- Results. An invitation for joy and ease. There is now room for it.
A Home For Your Muse 