this morning when my alarm went off i had a very clear and immediate internal dialogue with myself: “today, today i’m going to take notice. i’m going to practice, if i must, to be grateful, to find my own path back to simple abundance. it starts today.” it’s funny how we can find ourselves just a tad off track, and then it sort of snowballs into a place of complete unfamiliarity where you don’t recognize anything, including bits of yourself.
today was a day of practice for me. i took the camera everywhere, including my routine morning walk with bella and into san fran on my green bike. i stopped to notice, to capture the moment, the details. surprisingly, i found myself wanting to walk and ride further, to see what other treasures i might find. it was a gentle exercise on remembrance.
i also met mati and christine at cafe gratitude in the mission today. we ordered dishes with names like “I AM ABUNDANT” and “I AM REFRESHED” and “I AM SUCCULENT” and each time we ordered something, our server would repeat the phrase to us (you ARE succulent, you ARE abundant, etc). pretty cool. it was a great place to go just hours after having my internal morning thoughts. in their bathroom was a painting with the words “where i put my attention creates my experience.” so true. another message from the universe….in a bathroom of all places.
it was also pure delight to sit and cozy up with my art friends and talk about life, about dreams, about upcoming weddings, birthdays, books. these two are true and real and honest and sharers of their lives. love it.
i love that today felt like the awakening i knew was coming. i hope to continue the new practice of taking my camera on everyday excursions. i have a feeling it will remind me to capture and remember the details that i tend to notice anyway, but forget too quickly.
inspired by this (by way of andrea), i’m also going to start capturing more of my hearts. i see them everywhere and i can’t believe i haven’t been capturing them! here’s one:
and this sums up my thoughts exactly (taken from the book my friend sent me recently. i love it when someone sends you something that you needed, though they likely didn’t even realize just how perfect it would be for you, so thank you friend).
julia cameron from the sand of paper
yes, hearts are everywhere, but not as wonderful as the great big heart that is smack dab in the middle of great and wonderful you. xoxo
oh i love the gratitude cafe! it’s one of my favorites. SO happy you have this collection of women to inspire and keep you going.
Since Julia Cameron is my new favorite person . . . I have started reading The Artist’s Way. This is so up my alley . . . . thank you!!
The whole post was great!
Mary Ellen
sweetness kelly! thank you for you.
xoxo
What a wonderful positive post, full of gratitude.
Thankyou, just what I needed.
Megan
It feels like abundance is pouring out of your photos and your words today. Beautiful!
Thank you for a gentle reminder that we need to enjoy our walks, our friends, tea, flowers.
Hearts are indeed everywhere because life can be so loving…
🙂
Great photos-I especially love the lilies.
Sounds like a great day and new beginning:)
i love this post! so fun. and i always see hearts everywhere, i didn’t know about that site on andrea’s blog, but i think i will make it a point to capture the love everywhere too!
xx
Kelly, you might enjoy reading Peace is in Every Step
and
The Miracle of Mindfulness
by Thich Nhat Hanh
They are both really great books about being in the present moment and centering yourself in your life.
🙂
Nice post about your re-awakening, here’s hoping for this feeling to arise in each of us daily!
thank you for this, kelly.
I AM GRATEFUL.
xo
k
oh…i see two of my favorites!
i am sure you all had a ball.
if you see christine again, give that chick a hug from me. mati
too, but i have never truly met her, must through our i-world.