Bloom & Grow

Yesterday the words to the song "Edelweiss" from "Sound of Music" popped into my head as I was starting to ponder this blog, and most pointedly two words repeated themselves a few times, "bloom & grow." And I thought, aha, what more perfect two words can there be for August?

I couldn't quite relax with the concept yesterday though. It has been a crazy week. On one hand it has been absolutely perfect. The weather has been sunny and breezy (not yet the Lion's roar of an August I've come to expect and dread) and just unbelievably gorgeous. I have had a wonderful time with my family and my gentleman friend, (who bought me a pink rose the other day and they are my favorite). I've even continued on my "opening space cha cha" slowly cleaning and organizing and reimagining how I use my living and work space.

On the other hand it's a time of "hurry up and wait," wait for approval for projects to move forward, for funds to arrive. Things are very positive but there are possible glitches, as always. You know how that is, right? Usually when this happens I begin to push, both mentally and physically. How about you? I double check, I clarify, or I run around and try to find new gigs just in case everything goes "poof" and in the process I get over tired and wear myself and of course get migraines.

There is a part of me that wants to do that run around now, but it's voice is small. There's another part, a bigger part, that simply wants to rest and enjoy the sunshine. This louder voice right now wants to cuddle my baby nephew, enjoy a beautifully prepared meal, or even create a beautifully prepared meal, talk on the phone with friends and family, dance at the Long Beach Funk Fest, take a short car trip, enjoy naps.

In other words, I just want to relax and think of anything but work. Basically I just want to relax and own that I've already received my "Permission Slip from God."

What I am finally honoring is that the wildly creative side of me, the side that connects the dots with alacrity and flow, makes up buzz worthy event ideas, paints pictures well with words, comes up with sexy copy, helps others get to the heart of their mission and see their path more clearly, needs rest and down time just as much as jamming along on the computer, reading researching and readying on the Internet.

And I'm owning too, that in order to be valuable and useful to others I don't necessarily have to conform to a rigid ideals of the appearance of professionalism. I am a professional. I am reliable. I do what I say I'm going to do. If I have erred in the past it would be on the side of hyper-vigilant, of giving to the point of overwelming people with too much, too fast, too soon.

So maybe I can ease up how I need to come across and just be myself. Maybe myself is more appealing anyway, who knows? Maybe my longer to add a sexier twist will be welcomed and enjoyed?

Yesterday while still battling with myself on the rest concept, still worried that I hadn't yet done enough on two specific projects, I came across the "Crazy Sexy Life" blog of "wellness warrior" and author Kris Carr. I had read about her initially in Lance Armstrong's magazine about six months ago. I had been very touched by her story, of her dealing with a very tough tough cancer in an amazingly positive way, so I was thrilled yesterday to be led to where she writes and vlogs regularly.

If one wanted to study authentic story telling, done with honesty, integrity and cheeky sexy fun Kris is an ideal subject. I am inspired by her approach and her balance. She is prepared to succeed in getting her word out (actually she has succeeded beautifully, including a visit to Oprah), her mission is clear, her outreach creative and solid.

But what I feel is the crucial crucial point that so many of us miss in our rush to try and monetize an idea is that she is also actively living her wisdom and taking us on a journey of what it is like to allow healing in the midst of dealing with one of the toughest kinds of cancer. As she learns we learn.

How could this be applied to your life's work? I'm certainly pondering how I can better apply it here and for my new upcoming research and book project. How could I help you dear reader better understand what I've learned and realized? I'd love to hear what you're realizing, blooming and growing within yourself as well.