When we don’t know what the “new normal” will be like, instead of worrying about it, we can open up our hearts and lean on our intuition. How can I do that, you ask. The first step is to let go of your control and let your intuition guide you. You will be surprised and pleased with the outcome. Attend my free workshop, “Let’s Paint Intuitive Spring Flowers” and we can learn this technique together!
I’ve known Antuan for five years. As we worked in the salon together, we talked about our customers, our work, and occasionally about our families.
I didn’t have the courage to ask him about his feelings and thoughts about the human injustice that’s been displayed towards Black Americans and people of color in our country.
I finally got the courage to ask Antuan if he would be willing to engage in a video conversation with me where we both share with each other about our feelings during this time of unrest and anger in our country.
Antuan agreed and we shot this video.
I found out that Antuan and I have something in common… drawing and love for our animal friends. I asked him if I can share a few of his artwork and he agreed. His art is so different from my art and when I thought about our differences, I realized this is what makes America great. It’s because every ethnic group brings their unique cultural gifts to the table. When we are able to open our eyes and hearts and learn from each other, the end product is called INNOVATION!
Thank you Antuan for opening up your heart to me. We all have a lot to learn from each other. We will create societal changes by working together toward our goal.
Surely you’ve seen some of the videos of penguins wandering around zoos and wildlife flourishing in cities while the human traffic is diminished. What about video chats? How many of you have met your co-workers dogs and cats or introduced your pet on a Zoom call? Animals bring us all so much joy, especially at times of crisis. How do you think rescued animals and animal welfare organizations are surviving during this COVID-19 season? Please watch this video conversation I had with Brenna Anderst of Pasado’s Safe Haven.
Meet Some Very Special Animals…
Here is a story of Babs, Ole’ and Jaque. We at Studio 904 Hair Design have been supporting Ole’ and Jaques for three years. These sweet donkeys are loved by our team and customers. Watch this video!
Visit Pasado’s Online for a Virtual Tour
Join Pasado’s Safe Haven for our first-ever virtual tour! You’ll have a chance to “meet” the charming animal residents from the comfort of your home as they take you on a walk around the sanctuary.
If you’re interested in learning more about Pasado’s Safe Haven and the important fight to end animal cruelty, please visit https://www.pasadosafehaven.org/
The wait is over! Many of you have asked me if I would create a simple art class that will take you from beginning to end, resulting in cards, tags, and miniature art.
Please see the poster below to get the details of this class. We will have a good time in this interactive Zoom workshop. No experience is needed. Sign up soon so you can gather your supplies. You will receive the supply list right after you register. I hope to see you there!
When I think about the COVID-19 pandemic and the stay-at-home quarantine that we are now experiencing, it feels strangely similar to the time when I had a bad fall a few years ago. While walking one early evening with Max, my Terrier dog, another dog owner approached close by. Unfortunately, his dog did not have a leash and immediately lunged at Max. I had to do everything I possibly could to protect him. To make a long story short, I fell during the process and sustained a terrible injury to my mouth; it resulted in 33 stitches and the loss of two teeth.
The dog’s leash wrapped around my legs and I fell face down and sustained a terrible injury to my mouth. It resulted in 33 stitches and the loss of two teeth. This unfortunate incident forced me to sit back, catch my breath, and reevaluate my life.
To make good use of my time while sequestered at home, I decided to start keeping a journal to help make sense of the events, put my life into proper perspective, and formulate a new vision for the future.
My untimely accident made me wonder if the last three months have offered any of you the opportunity to catch your breath in the same way. Of course, life during a world pandemic is harder in so many ways. It’s not solely about us as individuals; it is the tragedy that the whole world is going through while watching the grim news hour after hour on our TV, tablets, and phone screens.
The one thing that the shutdown is forcing all of us to do, however, is to hit “pause” on the way we used to live. It is also giving us more free time to reexamine our lives. For most everyone, our schedules are cleared, we have fewer distractions, and we can no longer hide behind the excuse of “I’m just too busy!”
Since many of you now have extra moments to reflect, have you noticed that both good and bad things are coming to the surface and being exposed? The familiar patterns and insecurities in the way we do things magically appear when we slow down enough to think about them, right? Our rhythms, habits, desires, and underlying worries are all magnified during these types of traumatic situations.
This process is certainly not an easy one because it makes us feel uncomfortable to think and rethink about our core values. How we decide to make this work, however, is valuable and important, so it is worth a little discomfort. Are you exhibiting these same feelings in your life? If so, ask yourself these questions: What will we learn from this? What changes will we make because of this? What do we want to keep about this slowed-down pace? What are we excited to get back to?
My Little Art Practice
Can you relate to this drawing? Does it feel like you need to hang on to your life because things are changing and it feels totally out of your control?
In the midst of worrying about catching the virus as well as its economic impact on our lives, let’s make an effort to catch our collective breaths, look for beauty and goodness, and accept the reality that we are going to have to reset to a “new normal.” Someday, I hope that we can look back and see how the time we spent during the COVID-19 quarantine helped us to pivot our lives in the direction of becoming not only more caring and giving persons, but also ones who have developed a strong sense of purpose for improving social consciousness in our world.
I’d love to hear your viewpoint on what the new normal might look like for you. Please leave me a comment below.
Thank you all for submitting your favorite six ingredients recipes! These recipes are simple to make and require only a few ingredients. Hopefully, you will have these ingredients available in your kitchen or pantry. Recently I discovered a great go-to-Japanese recipe website called Just One Cookbook. I love this site because every recipe is shown in a video cooking format. Just One Cookbook here.
This simple, so good for you salad dressing was submitted by Tassie. It tastes great over any greens. Download here.
Michele said she has been making this simple recipe since her kids were young. She is so happy that her grown daughter asked her for the recipe. Download here.
I tried this recipe because it was so simple to make. Download here. If you like gardening and cooking, go to Kevin Lee Jacob’s website, Garden for the Home.
Thank you Tassie for sharing your favorite scone topping with us! Download here.
Greg is our computer guy. He said he and his family enjoy this salad for dinner almost every night. Download here.
This recipe was submitted by Sunnie who received this delicious rice recipe from her friend Henry. Download here.
We did it! We made it through the 30 Days of Abundance. Let’s celebrate and pat ourselves on the back. Please watch my video of appreciation.
Abundance
When a door unexpectedly closes, take a few moments to sit in silence. In a short period of time, a window will open with an abundance of new options to pursue.
Think of all of the times there were seemingly no good options to pursue, but better opportunities eventually emerged. You realize that there is always more than one way to handle any situation, good or bad.
Now it’s time to dream your dream, see the abundance, find your purpose and step into action!
You can download this template and add your favorite colors, and write your own dreams and goals
I created a daily content to share with you by pulling one of the cards from my Magical Mindshift Card Deck. This inspirational card deck was created because I wanted to share the things that I have learned from building a life and business I love.
If you would like to have your own card deck to bring you inspiration daily, or give as a gift to a special person in your life, you can purchase one here.
To create a happy and fulfilling life requires clarity in thinking, courage, and self-motivation. We have the power to change the way we think simply by changing the words we use. That’s why I love positive words, like the ones I have included in this deck. They propel your thoughts in a constructive direction and force you to focus on what you want to achieve. By putting yourself on the right track and following your values, you are choosing to live a life of purpose.
How do you begin? Start by making small changes – word by word – and you will soon find that you have more balance in your life and are creating a happy life that you love to live.
I would love to hear your final thoughts about the 30 Days of Abundance plus any ideas you have on how it can be improved.
On another note, do you remember the Six Ingredients recipes that I asked you to send in? I will send them to you on Thursday. You won’t want to miss them!
Here’s another chance for you to access any of the 30 Days of Abundance.
I hope you’ll go back and find inspiration wherever it feels like a good fit for what’s happening in your life!
Wow, today is the 29th day of the 30 Days Abundance. I just couldn’t let this end without sharing a story of my dog Shiro who helped me to survive and stay strong during the chaotic period after World War II.
Excerpt from Chapter 7: ABUSE
My body shook. I wanted to jump out of my skin. Huddled at the base of the closed shoji screen with Shiro sitting close to me, we heard Father’s angry voice grow louder. Shiro whimpered. “Shhh, Shiro. Be quiet or we’ll get in trouble.” She cowered and licked my face over and over in an attempt to comfort me. I squeezed Shiro’s warm body, she was the only comfort I had.
Forever
Nothing is forever. Everything in life has its high and low moments. Recognize that the only certainty in life is change.
We do’t know what we’ve for until we lose it, but we also don’t know why we’ve been missing until we find it. By mastering the art of “letting go,” new opportunities will almost certainly arrive in the future.
Even today, sixty-six years later, there is hardly a day that goes by that I don’t think of the Good and bad times that I had with Shiro. People often ask me, “What kind of terrier dog was Shiro?” I always reply, “The only dog group that I know of today that resembles Shiro is the Jack Russell Terrier. “Shiro is the reason why I love this breed of dog.
In 2006, I found a dog that I loved as much as I did Shiro. I named her Yumi. After she passed at a young age of four, I wrote a book, “Yumi’s Life Lessons” in her memory. Proceeds from Yumi’s Life Lessons are donated to various organizations that support the welfare of animals, including farm animals.
"Kay hopes that "Yumi's Life Lessons" will help encourage the humane treatment of animals and motivate others to help animals that are desperately in need of a home, attention and most importantly, love.
Book trailer for Yum’s Life Lessons.
I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being. – Abraham Lincoln-
There is one thing I know for sure, when our beloved friends pass on, they always take a piece of our heart with them.
I love to hear about your love story with your pets … who are with you now and the special pets who have left our world.
Enjoy Every Day of Abundance!
If you’re getting started late or joining us in the middle of these 30 Days of Abundance, here’s a quick list of what I’ve covered so far. I hope you’ll go back and find inspiration wherever it feels like a good fit for what’s happening in your life!
