Respite for a Gypsy Soul

Posted on August 24, 2010 by admin

I call the side of myself that loves to travel my Gypsy Soul.  There is a magic, at times, to the exhilaration of travel and the exploration of new places.  There is also a special joy that can be found in embracing a far away city as a second home.   Since 2006, Washington DC has that place that has held my heart and has always nourished my soul.

Last week, however, I discovered that though I love DC, my soul was longing to return to Dayton, Ohio.  I’m fortunate that I can find the humor in that realization.  It’s funny how the Universe shows us that if we listen to our hearts, it will lead us into wonderment. Stepping off the plane in Dayton last Thursday, my heart beat told me the answer.

Sometimes, a Gypsy Soul finds peace and contentment when she least expects it.  I never dreamed that place would be Ohio.

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Inspirational Faces

Posted on August 15, 2010 by admin


Though I don’t agree with all the teachings of the Catholic Church, I still consider going to Mass as a way to center myself.  I find peace in the Rite of the Mass:  the scripture readings, the gentle practice of rising, kneeling, and sitting, the smell of incense on a Holy Day and the collective energy and faith of the people in attendance.  Today, I attended Mass at a favorite church:  St. Patrick’s in  Downtown DC.

I had actually removed myself from attending church for several years.  Oh, I occasionally attended church on Christmas Eve, but otherwise, I had moved to all spiritual practices taking place in solitude.  In August 2008, however, I felt a call to attending Mass again.  I was living out of a suitcase in DC and was delighted to find this beautiful church a mere two blocks from my favorite hotel.    I found a different peace in attendance of church than I had found in years past when my personal beliefs began to conflict with all the teachings of the church. Something magical was created as I began to create a ritual of rising early on Sundays when I was traveling, walking to Mass, and continuing my meditation as I walked back to my hotel.

Maybe it’s simply a maturity of spirit to realize that I can be at peace in my heart even if I don’t agree with everything The Church teaches.  When it comes down to brass tacks, my relationship with God is simply between ME and God.  My business.  Just as the relationships of others in their spiritual journey is THEIR business.    I can find joy in the sharing of sacred space, though.

Today, one of the Little Sisters of the Poor spoke after Mass.  The priest had already mentioned the Sisters were there to request donations.  I pulled some money out of my wallet to drop in their collection basket on my way out, but after she spoke, I put the smaller bills back in my wallet and pulled out, instead, a much larger bill.

This elderly little woman melted my heart.  She glowed.   The Little Sisters of the Poor care for elderly people who don’t have others to care for them.  In her voice, you could hear how much she cared for those people under her care.  Oh, what a wonderful way to start a day – to witness such passion.  When you come in contact with pure spirits of love and faith and passion, you cannot helped but be touched and inspired.

Now I feel like I’m glowing just from coming in contact with this lovely little soul.  I hope you’ve had a lovely day and find some love and inspiration in your world.

(Photo is Mine, St. Patrick’s Washington DC, September 2008)

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Favorite Views

Posted on August 11, 2010 by admin

When it comes to love, respect, and admiration of figures of the past, in addition of my love of Washington, I have a special place in my heart for Lincoln. On my frequent trips to DC, I have been blessed to stand in spaces where Lincoln once stood. And visiting the Lincoln Memorial is on the top of my list of special places of the heart. Visiting The Lincoln Memorial during the day is awe-inspiring. To visit Lincoln by the light of the moon is magical.

This is actually a view from the back of the Lincoln Memorial, where you see Memorial Bridge and Arlington National Cemetery.  It’s one of the things I like to do when I visit Old Abe….walk the full walk around the Memorial and gaze across the Potomac River out of the Federal City and into Virginia.  It’s one of my favorite views in DC.

The last magical visit I had was in June under the light of a full moon.  We had dinner and then drove to the Mall, walked through the Vietnam Memorial and then up the steps to Lincoln.  After walking to visit Abe, read the Gettysburg Address and the 2nd Inaugural Speech, we walked around to the back side, sat between two columns and gazed across the River.

(Photo is Mine, Taken April 2010)

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Catching Up: Adventures in Travel and Lessons in Faith

Posted on August 8, 2010 by admin

Friday was an adventure in patience as well as a huge sign from the Universe that I am traveling a path that I am meant to be upon.

I am in Dayton, Ohio this weekend. If flights had gone as scheduled, I would have had a couple of hours of time to kill in Dallas upon returning from Miami before I boarded my flight to Dayton. Instead, a domino fell that meant a whole new plan would have to fall into place with much tighter connections. The domino was the cancellation of my flight from Dallas to Dayton due to a mechanical problem.

As it happened, I had arrived at Miami airport almost three hours early for my flight to Dallas. The ticket agent, upon checking my bag through for me, suggested I try to go standby on an earlier flight, just in case weather in Miami held me up. She was the first piece of the puzzle that turned out to be my saving grace. While waiting to hear if I would make the earlier flight on stand by, I got an email from American Airlines that said my flight had been canceled. I called, and the agent began working her computer magic and said “If you can make this flight, we’ll be able to get you to Dayton tonight instead of tomorrow.”

I landed in Dallas at 3:40 PM and the flight for Chicago was due to depart at 4 PM. The flight attendants managed to get me moved close to the front of the plane and when passengers ahead of me found out I was trying to make a 4 PM flight, they parted, allowing me to exit first. I was originally seated in row 35. I trotted through DFW Airport, making my way from C Terminal to A terminal (as I had landed no where near the Train) and worked my way through the crowds past 20 gates. I arrived at the gate with 10 minutes to spare.  Talk about timing!   Once I got to Chicago, I had about an hour to breathe, grab a snack, and make my way to the Dayton flight.

One of my closest friends, BW, called to get an update on my travel adventures while I was finally sitting and when I told him of the tight connections, he laughed and said “I certainly hope you see that you’ve had a hand in this day. A not-of-this-world, divine intervention. It’s obvious you are meant to spend this time with XXXX.” I have to be honest when I say that I did feel that a guardian angel was watching over me.

(The only casualty of the day was no luggage until late Saturday evening. Thank goodness for Wal-Mart at 11 PM and a washing machine!)

The weekend has been amazing and I  feel so blessed to be able to have this time to explore this relationship. We’ve done nothing out of the ordinary.  We’ve gone shopping, explored the area, gone out to eat, cooked together, gone to a movie, gone to Mass together…. In the moments of what some would consider to be mundane, I’ve discovered contentment as well as a peaceful spirit.     Life is truly good.  I am listening to my heart and my instinct, doing my best to banish fear.

I personally believe this:  We truly must learn the lessons of our past, yet not dwell in them.  We must plan for our futures, but not wait for a future event to embrace life.  We must embrace the perfection (and imperfection) of our present, or we will miss the beauty and blessings of the moments that allow us to put our past behind us.   By seizing the day, we also build upon stepping stones to our future.

As I mentioned here and over at All Things Girl, 2010 is the year of Faith.  The Universe is reminding me.

And finally, I am listening.

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Grace of Friendship

Posted on August 8, 2010 by admin

I’m catching up on my email this evening after choosing to unplug (mostly) this weekend.  It’s been a perfect choice, to spend time in the present moment

A dear friend and colleague sent this to me on Friday and let me know that this was how he saw me. What a blessing to have such friends, who always see us in our best light.  How true it is that sometimes, it takes another to hold a mirror to our soul so that we can see the best.

“There is a twilight zone in our hearts that we ourselves cannot see. Even when we know quite a lot about ourselves-our gifts and weaknesses, our ambitions and aspirations, our motives and our drives-large parts of ourselves remain in the shadow of consciousness. This is a very good thing. We will always remain partially hidden to ourselves. Other people, especially those who love us, can often see our twilight zones better than we ourselves can. The way we are seen and understood by others is different from the way we see and understand ourselves. We will never fully know the significance of our presence in the lives of our friends. That’s a grace, a grace that calls us not only to humility, but to a deep trust in those who love us. It is the twilight zones of our hearts where true friendships are born.”  –Henri Nouwen

I’m truly humbled.  And I am blessed.

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The Breakfast Conundrum

Posted on August 4, 2010 by admin

I have to confess that breakfast is one of my favorite meals.  I love eggs and cereal and pancakes and fruit.  So much wonderfulness, so little time to enjoy.  It’s not unusual to find me fixing an omelet for my evening meal.

But back to breakfast,my conundrum for the morning.  Since completing the amazing Slim, Chic, and Savvy program created by Tonya Leigh (and losing 9 pounds in 4 weeks!), I’ve discovered that although I love breakfast foods, my body just doesn’t desire food until I’ve been up and moving an hour or sometimes longer.  This morning, I’ve enjoyed a cup of coffee while reading the paper on the balcony.   I’m not hungry yet and I need to leave in about an hour for meetings.   In the past, I would have eaten anyway. Then felt miserably stuffed during my morning meetings. Crazy, isn’t it, that I would have eaten even when I wasn’t hungry?

Maybe, instead of lingering over my shower and getting dressed, I’ll cut that short, check in with my body and see if it’s ready for something light.  Like yogurt.

Happy Wednesday.  Hope you make the most of this beautiful day!

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Seeking Solitude, Finding Peace

Posted on August 3, 2010 by admin

A couple of weeks after my mom died, a friend suggested that I run away from home for a couple of days. Thanks to a special on room rates, and pulling some work together, I came to Miami today and checked into the Epic Hotel. The places is AMAZING.

Today, I managed to spend some time poolside where I drank lots of water and read half of a book about the life of Jimmy Doolittle.   I also did so did a fair amount of thinking about relationships.  I find that I am feeling peaceful about the relationships I shed this past year.   I am also feeling wonderfully hopeful about the newly ventured upon relationship.  A friend told me that if you find yourself in a place of peaceful beauty and wish to share it with someone, then it’s your heart and soul speaking.

It was all in shady perfection:  clad in a bikini, protected by sun screen and a big straw hat, and nestled in a cushioned lounging space under a lovely cabana.  Yes, there were cabana boys.  They provided towels, lots of water, a sandwich, and short conversations.

I have some work that must be completed tomorrow, but around that, I plan a little more pool time….reading and woolgathering… meditation and writing.  Thankful that I am blessed with the ability to feel.

(Photo is Mine, Taken with my Droid, August 2010)

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Renewing a Love Affair

Posted on July 30, 2010 by admin

I mentioned yesterday that I was taking a risk and exploring romantic love again.  I’m here today to tell you about the renewal of another love.  No, I haven’t forsaken that incredibly sexy man, but I did renew an affair with an old love yesterday: the love affair with my golf clubs.

Through no fault of their own, I began neglecting my relationship with my clubs.  I know you hear the cliche of “it’s me, not you”.  Seriously, it was all me.  My clubs are the innocent bystanders.  There are half a dozen reasons why I stopped spending time with my beloved clubs, but I won’t list them here.  The important thing is that I have moved beyond the whys and why-nots and spend some quality time renewing my affair yesterday.

How could I forget how much I loved getting out on the golf course?  The weather was warm yesterday and though I can honestly say that though I’m not much of a “hot weather” girl, I enjoyed every moment of being outside in the 90 degree Texas heat.  After 17-months of being separated, my clubs were cooperative and supportive.  My golf partner reminded me often “let your club do the work!”, and when I allowed my clubs to do their job, it was pure magic.

Maybe my approach to the game of golf is different from others.  I don’t play golf to beat my last score or measure myself against others.  I also don’t play golf as a path to self-flagellation.  I play golf because I enjoy the experience.  I play golf to have fun.

Having fun is not a diversion from a successful life;
it is the pathway to it.—Martha Beck

Life is too short to not enjoy it.  I have a strong work ethic, and I’m no stranger to working hard.  Life, however, must have some balance, and we must allow ourselves to play. Being on the golf course reminds me that life isn’t all serious.  That I am allowed to have fun.  That I am able to renew my spirit through play.

When I am standing behind that little white ball, holding a carefully crafted club in my hand, I can allow myself to go into an almost meditative state.  Seriously, in that moment before a shot, there is nothing but nature, me, my peace of spirit, and the connection between a beloved Adams Club and the ball.   When you can discover a way to quiet your mind and connect it with your body, you can find yourself embracing the inner core of who you are and what you want in that single moment in time.   After several of those moments in a span of a few hours,  you discover that there is love in your heart and contentment in your world.   It’s another way of connecting with not only my intention for the year, but my intention for and my philosophy of life.

I haven’t made promises to my clubs that I can’t keep, I’ve simply vowed to take them out to become one with me as our schedules permit.  In the meantime, don’t tease me (too much)  if you find me admiring my beautiful clubs: all of their shiny little heads connected by flexible shafts to lovely grips.  I’m simply remembering the peace I’ve found in our time together.

And reminding myself that we can find peace in our souls in different places if we allow it.

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Taking a Risk

Posted on July 29, 2010 by admin

“Always do what you are afraid to do.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

If I haven’t mentioned it before, I am part of an amazing group of women involved in Tonya Leigh’s “Slim, Chic, and Savvy” program. On the surface, you would think our lessons are about what not to eat and what not to wear so that you look slimmer, but it’s not. It’s about living our best life. In both discussions and in lessons, we’re exploring our actions in relation to acting out of love or acting out of fear.

I have to admit that this is a huge lesson for me. If I am to dig deeply within myself, I discover that many of my actions of the past few months have been out of the fear of not wanting to have my soul hurt and my heart broken. This perpetual state of cocooning oneself behind protective walls leads to a troubled mind, a cold heart, and a sad soul. How, my friends, is this a place to live? How can you experience the true joys of the world if an important part of yourself stays tucked away?

The answer is you can’t.

2010 is the year of Faith. When I set my overall intention for the year, I knew that in order to grow, in order to live my best life, I would have to rediscover faith in myself.  What I didn’t realize at the time is that in order to have faith, I must embrace courage.

I am perfectly capable of living life in solitary.  I’m independent and driven.  I am blessed with good friends, both female and male.  I enjoy time with my family.  I enjoy my work life and the hours I spend with my clients.  The last couple of weeks, I have discovered that there is something I want:  more when it comes to a personal life.

Oh.  Wow. Talk about SCARY.  To open my heart to someone?  To allow them to see me when I am vulnerable?  To risk going through heartache?  Without risk, however, there is no reward.

So, I’m venturing in.  I am allowing my panic attacks if they come and am breathing through them (not eating through them).  I am not withdrawing away, but instead, am being more vulnerable and voicing my feelings and my thoughts.

Why would I risk losing something wonderful?   I have met a wonderful man who shares many common interests – like aviation, history, golf, good food, and laughter.   After several months of dinners and shared adventures, I realized that I had feelings for him.  I was afraid to mention them to him, but he is was more courageous than I and when he broached the subject over dinner, I confessed that I felt the same.  Why should I deny that I have feelings for him?  Just to protect myself from potential hurt?  Oh, that’s just silly!

If I am to live life to the fullest, I must live from a place of love instead of a place of fear.  My friends, it is time to take courage by the horns.  And as he said to me, it’s a time to  take a leap of faith.

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Embracing Fresh Spaces

Posted on July 28, 2010 by admin

Until this morning, I hadn’t decided yet if I would import any of my entries from my old space into this new one. I’ve never been a big believer that by simply deleting some entries, you can erase the past. In fact, I believe that denying the events of our past is denying us the opportunity to embrace our own personal history and can block us from learning the lessons we were meant to learn.

The Universe has a funny way of reminding us, and when a lesson isn’t learned the first time, well, it seems that we are destined to experience it over and over again until we learn it.  I’ve decided, instead, to keep in place my old archives, and use this space to start fresh. The past is still there where it belongs.  And I get a FRESH, clean notebook in which to write.

It’s like the beginning of the school year when I was a kid:  a new binder, fresh pencils and crayons, and packages of paper.

I had planned to launch this space last week but there was the every daunting task of what was “good enough” for a first entry here.  Then I realized that I had the answer:  ANYTHING I put here is good enough.

So, yesterday, I shared a photo of a Mount Vernon, one of the most magical spaces I’ve been able to visit.  To walk the grounds where George and Martha lived and loved is such a gift to the mind.  I’ve discovered, however, that there is more than history, the lessons from the past that we hope to embrace and learn.  If you only allow your soul to be open and free to the energy, you will find that it’s a special place for the heart.  After all.  George and Martha lived and loved there.

I think one of the most important lessons I have learned over the past couple of months that in order to have faith, I must have love.  In order to have peace, I must have love.  Not romantic love, although I’m a big believer that romantic love is a beautiful thing.  I mean a real love of myself. An open heart to love those in my life.  That thought process is part of what led to the purchase of this domain name.   I know in order to live the best life I can live, I want to embrace a peaceful heart and tranquil soul.  I want to love myself and those in my life with a open and forgiving heart.  And I want to embrace the lesson that small indulgences in our lives keep the balances of work and play.   In that vein, Peace, Love and Chocolate was born.

I’m going against the fashion of the day here, by the way.  I’m not here to sell anything or box myself into a specific area of thought.  Why would I try to be something I am not?  Why would I put myself into a box when I’ve fought so hard to be able to live my life outside the box when I so choose?  I am going back to my decade-long roots of blogging: the sharing of pieces of life in the hopes that by my openness and sharing, you see me for who I am at the core.  And in that core, you identify, embrace, and see a little bit of yourself within me.

Peace, baby.  Love freely.  Eat more chocolate.

(photos courtesy of Godiva)

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