reveal

I have been reading the most amazing book called "reveal" by meggan watterson.  I met meggan at wanderlust last august and from the moment she stepped in front of me I felt her energy.  I felt her love. I knew that whatever doubts I had about taking a trip so soon after my mom passed away had been swept away as she started to speak.  she spoke with such passion, such conviction and so much love.  she opened my eyes and my heart to what I felt was lost inside myself.  I was fortunate enough to speak with her after and thank her for coming and sharing her story and insight.

here she speaks about her book:

I was patiently waiting for the book to hit the shelves and finally lost patience and ordered it on my ipad.  I believe in buying books in the bookstore.  there is something magical about walking into a book store and searching for that one book and when you finally find it and are holding it close to your body .  you get that little dancing feeling in your gut.  at least I do.  It is like I am carrying a gift with me up to the counter and as soon as I place it down the cashier picks it up and my hope is that they too well be curious enough to check it out.  I love to share what I am excited about and what is moving me.

so for now this book is in digital format for me and I have been highlighting passages left, right and centre.  I imagine meggan's voice speaking to me as I read through it.  when it finally hits the shelves I will purchase a hard copy.  I have hard copies of all the books that I couldn't put down and that I read over and over again, share with friends and keep close by to surround me with knowledge at my fingertips.

I wanted to leave you with one of my highlighted paragraphs that helped me tremendously this weekend.  a reminder that the work that I do brings me happiness and needs to be shared.  I will carry these words with me as I move forward to share my passion with more and more people.  enjoy!

"this is the veil that lifts:  our soul-work in the world is not ultimately about what it earns us in dollars or brand names or quantifiable things.  rather, it allows us to feel the invaluable sense of happiness and fulfillment that comes from knowing we have made our own unique contribution to the world.  we receive the most when we give the love we are here to share.  soul-work is not something we have to go out and search for;  it's getting the sacred chance to reveal exactly who we are.  love."  reveal - meggan watterson

read more...

one of my goals for the summer was to read more. I had picked out some books to read "fo sure" and I cannot recall what they even were cause I have been reading up a storm. here are some of my top inspiring reads:

kathryn stockett - the help

I actually listened to this audio book. the characters had different voices and I could picture exactly where they were and what they looked like. I love that these women came together and took risks to tell their story. beautifully written and I so thought it should be a movie and IT IS GOING TO BE!

sark - inspirational sandwich, transformation soup, eat mangoes naked, the bodacious book of succulence

I have loved sark forever and while packing up the studio I came across her books and began reading them over again. full of color and inspiration and marvelous stories. most recently these words have stuck with me "I believe that we need to go to where we want to be, and the resources will follow us. impossible means I'm possible!" taken from inspiration sandwich.

anne lamott - bird by bird, grace (eventually),

I started with the dvd about her and loved it. one of her lines "it's good to consider where you are going to be at eighty. I believe at eighty we are not going to wish we spent more time cleaning our houses. I believe at eighty we are not going to wish we stayed out of warm tropical water because our thighs were not firm." I think she is beautiful and I love her voice. her words are so true and her struggles and her strength have me looking at myself and believing that "I am ok".

cheryl richardson - the unmistakable touch of grace

again another audio book. love these for the studio! the recording was of an actual weekend retreat and I loved hearing the participants stories of grace. I love cheryl's voice and her statement of "every person we meet has been put in our path for a reason". she has me thinking more about my "touches of grace" and how if I just surrender to it rather than fight it I end up with more peace. recently I have had oodles of moments that stop me to wonder "why has this come to me now?" and I am just going with the flow.

linda woods & karen dinino - visual chronicles, journal revolution & meeting in the ladies room

beginning with visual chronicles and journal revolution they were early inspiration for me in my visual journaling. "have no fear" and "rise up and create" they encouraged me to look at the everyday things like receipts, tea bags and recycle items as pieces of my life. examples of how to include them in your journals and your art and how to celebrate the truths and the trials of life.

most recently their "meeting in the ladies room" which sits on my side table for anyone who comes over to pick up because I think everyone should read this book male and female. it is a gathering of different women from all over with their stories, thoughts and reflections. it made me laugh. it made me cry. mostly it made me realize that when I look in the mirror of any bathroom it can totally determine my mood for the day. I also realized that I have a serious problem with public washrooms. ick! it will have you remembering many moments in bathrooms - alone, with girlfriends, kids, strangers and for me most recently my mom. I love these ladies and you will too!

enjoy reading, listening and soaking up inspiration from all these fabulous authors!