Tag: journey

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The Top of the Mountain

Our lunchtime view by Heart Lake in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
The Top of the Mountain

The journey between our feet and the top of the mountain can be our biggest obstacle.

Our vacation is far behind us but the pictures quickly bring back the memories. This particular day found us at a picnic area overlooking the frozen Heart Lake in Yellowstone Park. My eyes intently focused on the top of the mountains as I soaked up every single minute of this space of tranquility. It didn’t seem cold even though each breath we exhaled was proof of the cold temperatures. The peace that surrounded our little moment far exceeded the current climate. It was something I wanted to bundle up and tuck away in my heart.

I realized that peace is easy to sense when you’re sitting in complete comfort with all of your needs supplied and no obligations demanding your attention. It’s also easy to sense when you can simply stare at the top of the mountain and declare how beautiful it is.

BUT what if you’re looking at the top of that mountain as your desired destination and all you can see is the path between your feet and the snow-capped pinnacle? What if your life depends on you conquering that road and its obstacles in order to challenge your real potential? What if the desire to know yourself better outweighs the desire to remain complacent in this journey we call life? What if you can’t live with yourself if you don’t TRY to meet the challenge?

I ask these questions because I truly love to be in the company of people who cannot even look at that mountain without thinking of a way to scale its terrain. They hold a glimmer of adventure in their eye. One can see their “wheels” turning!

It behooves anyone to surround themselves with these types of folks. They have no fear of failure because the odds of succeeding are just as great if not more. Frankly, failure is way overrated. I believe failure only happens if you never put one foot forward. Instead, it’s about mindset, determination, courage, and confidence. It’s about DECIDING you can do it.

As I lowered my eyes I began to see the vast frozen lake in front of us. The mountains stand in their majesty holding their own difficult course. But what about the journey before the mountain? The lake itself held one danger after another and it had to be conquered en route to the mountain?

The voyage before the mountain top experience can be the scariest and offer defeat.

Okay – enough – my point is this. Life is meant to be lived. Your life, my life, and everyone else who holds breath in their lungs. We are creatures with potential beyond anything else on this earth. Many times that potential is squelched because we find a comfortable spot and set up a lifetime camp while the view of the mountaintop becomes so familiar we don’t even look at it anymore. The longer we camp in one spot, the longer and harder the journey seems to present itself. It looks too hard to conquer and we get all tripped up in the nitty-gritty details until we talk ourselves right out of any possibilities of embarking on any new expeditions.

I leave you with this encouragement. Take a good and hard look at your mountain. This time, devise a plan to start moving toward that mountain top. Even if you have to navigate the frozen waters of fear and doubt. Each step you take is one step closer to success. More importantly, each time you take a step forward, the potential within is coming to the forefront. Excitement and courage begin to take the place of fear and doubt. Stamina strengthens and the muscles of faith begin to ignite! Release that potential inside yourself that has been there all the time!

It is true that “life is but a vapor”. Make sure you LIVE IT and by all means

Enjoy the Journey-VB

Check out some of our latest music released this year! It too holds a mountain top experience!

It's in the Music
https://lifesgoldenseason.com/its-in-the-music/
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In the Waterfall of a Golden Season

The power of the waterfall .
Yellowstone National Park

Do you feel like you’re in the waterfall of a golden season? Well, read on as I explain!

Waterfalls have always intrigued me. Kind of like fire. They are mesmerizing. I can stand there all day and stare at it while it does what it does every day whether or not anyone is looking.

My husband, being the generous and loving person he is, gave me a two week vacation to Cody, Wyoming for Christmas. First of all, he knows I absolutely love the mountains. Second and most importantly to me – he did the planning so I wouldn’t have to do a thing but get in the car.

The two week journey was scheduled for the last two weeks in May. I got in that car and didn’t look back. The world (or at least my world) has been moving faster than my mind can keep up. I am a processor so I don’t operate at full capacity when on overload for an extended period of time.

It feels good to be in a slower paced environment where one can realize there are parts of our land that still seem untouched by man’s hand.

This raven sat by the waterfall as a friendly greeter. There are many mystical and spiritual meanings in different cultures regarding the symbolism of an encounter with a raven. I simply enjoyed sharing my french fries with him as he shared his space with me.

It is certainly refreshing to see people soaking up the mountain air. The folks in this part of the country have a great appreciation for their heritage. I have a great appreciation for their appreciation. The mountains have a way of penetrating my soul and it seems that is a common thread among the natives and several of the visitors we have crossed paths. The only words I can think of to express what I see is “folks tend to breathe a little deeper in the midst of nature”.

The waterfall reminds me how small we humans compare to the power of natures own natural abilities. It runs with a mighty force propelled by the melting snow in higher elevations. Everything in it’s path must adjust to it’s speed, depth, and boundaries.

I can’t help but apply the same principles to this golden season as I organize a life timeline for the person I am writing about in the next book project. It’s quite an aha moment to see one’s lifespan on one single page strung along a list of dates. Much like the waterfall – we will have moments when circumstances caused by other elements will make us run faster than usual while outside of our comfortable boundaries. It may even seem so deep at times we wonder if we’re going to drown in the process.

There is hope though! The season is eventually going to change and allow you to catch your breath as the gushing waters lend only a tiny stream and eventually a solid duration of tranquility as ice on a frozen river.

I leave you with this encouragement. Evaluate your own life timeline and make the needed adjustments for it to portray the legacy that matches the desires of your heart. Take the time to stare at a waterfall if you need inspiration! You never know until you try it! Whatever it takes to make each season a golden memory.

By all means

Enjoy the Journey – VB

I would love to share a season of my life with you! You’ll find it on my Book Page. My favorite read is one written from the most transparent part of an author’s heart. That was my goal with Escape from Darkness. I hope you find some common ground in our journeys.

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THOSE MEMORIES FILLING MY MIND

Photo by Girl with red hat on Unsplash

Those memories filling my mind just won’t let me go. I have found myself in a place of very deep reflection these past weeks. (which really isn’t that unusual for me). I had another birthday this month so maybe it truly is “life’s golden season” that brings back nostalgia. I have also been binge-watching old childhood television shows on ROKU. Those TV shows had good morals, humor, and life lessons. Of course, it could be the research I am doing for my next book. Maybe it’s hearing the lyrics in music before it was so overproduced and polished. The days when music was written from raw life emotions or world events.

I don’t have the answers but I do know I am not the only one that seems to be reminiscing about the good ole days.

Frankly, I am beginning to believe that somewhere in the past 50 years we have become such polished people we have either forgotten or never knew how to be our authentic selves. It’s funny because when those rare face-to-face meetings occur with someone who brushes the world view to the wayside and instead lives out of a place of genuine purity – I am enthralled and even envious.

When I go down that deep hole of reflection and introspection I usually find a place in my daily routine that simply needs a change. Sometimes it’s an easy transition and sometimes it’s gut-wrenching.

For example – one little tweak of a schedule can bring hours of relief in a day. That’s easy.

However, changing a false mindset can literally feel like losing a limb. I was raised on a farm. Hard work, integrity, and honesty were deeply instilled values. We worked hard, played hard, and rested hard. I liked country living and watching the sunset from the porch. I liked being barefoot in the mud. I didn’t recognize it then but the freedom of the outdoors did something for my soul.

Photo by Johnny Cohen on Unsplash

We probably assumed the days would never change but they did and many of us changed with them in pursuit of a “better” life. The hourly wage and 40-hour plus work week took the place of sunsets and family dinners. I now better understand why I was terrible at punching a clock! It didn’t allow me to witness those beautiful things that happen outside the constriction of a schedule. Like dropping everything to watch a horse foul or a litter of puppies enter the world.

It seems many folks are looking over their shoulder to search for something they lost along the way. I leave you with this encouragement. All is not lost – it is a part of you that only needs resurrected. Show them the things they may not know like a family dinner. Require all electronic devices to go into lockdown for a moment on the porch as the sun explodes colors in the sky on its descent. Reach deep within yourself and let those creative ideas flow. How can the world possibly be complete without your contribution of beauty that only you can give?

Change is a good thing and we mustn’t grieve the past BUT we must remember we all have something to teach and we all have something to learn. Give of yourself as a teacher and a student and you will most certainly

Enjoy the Journey – VB

It's in the Music

The Latest Release Right HERE!! It’s a dream that came to life in my writing.

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Have You Shared Your Story?

Photo Credit: dreamstime.com

Have you shared your story? I absolutely love to hear people’s stories.

The current fast-paced world seldom lends time to listen to an entire thought from someone else let alone their entire story. Some of my favorite memories include listening to stories told by my Mother, Dad, Granddad, and friends. Now that I am older and most of them have transitioned to heaven, I have a much greater appreciation for their stories. It makes me want to go back and listen more intently to each one of them while looking them in the eyes with my full attention.

Listening in general is a lost art. The explosion of technology has replaced the evening gathering of families around the dinner table and things like the hot summer porch sittings with a glass of tea in hand – listening to the frogs’ chirp. This heart misses those times and silently wishes the world would slow down enough to appreciate each other’s presence a bit more.

I recently read All Over but the Shoutin’ written by Rick Bragg. His story entails his journey from Possom Trot, Alabama to his success as a writer. It’s not only inspiring, it will move your soul.

Each one of our stories has the same potential to inspire and give hope to those around us. I believe if we would only look a little closer it would be evident that each of our stories connects to someone else’s. I could relate to Rick’s love and honor for his mother.

I too have a mother that had a story. A story that began in 1921 on top of a mountain in Plumlee, Arkansas. Her journey carried her to many states as my Grandpa moved the family with his ministry and writing career. One year she bound the archives of his writings and added a brief summary of her written story to the front of one of the books. I would have never imagined how precious that gift would become to me through the years.

In her own handwriting, she included dates, a few short stories, and even a medical history of her generations. These are things we do not think of as valuable until they are.

The point is that these things only transpire if we invest our time to make them happen. There has never been a space in history that has given us the ability to research, create, share and archive as we have now. Our stories should not go with us on the day of our last breath. A piece of us must stay on earth to instill hope, reflection, and wisdom to those who are seeking.

I believe it is important to share our history with our families and friends and be equally willing to listen to their stories too. The truth is, even though a story is unseen, it can prove to be the most valuable influence in the lifetime of the receiver. Once heard, it will plant itself in a memory available for retrieval for the rest of your days! The richness of life lies under those things we strive daily to maintain like mountains of debt for big houses, cars, and the decaying junk we thought we just had to have.

Me and my Grandson walking together. He’s a big part of my story!

I have one grandson. The week he was born I started a journal of his time spent with me and his grandpa. My entries are as if writing him a letter. The pages are beginning to fill with heartfelt words of encouragement and wisdom from those moments. I tell him things his squirmy 8-year-old self doesn’t have time to hear right now! One day he will cherish the words and prayerfully hear the tone of love in my voice as he reads the journal. Perhaps he will be sitting outside on a hot summer evening with a glass of tea as written memories unfold into a pleasant journey of his own story. My hope is he will be inspired to write his story too and continue his portion of the massive connection of mankind.

I leave you with this encouragement:

Record your story. Write to your children or grandchildren. Be transparent as you record your story leaving no stone unturned. The golden seasons of life are meant to be told. Tell the story as if you were the most important person in the world – because you are and by all means

Enjoy the Journey – VB

Blogging is a GREAT way to tell your story! It’s easy to get started with a little assistance right HERE!

My Story

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It’s In the Music

Photo Credit: Lindsey Simon – Wild Free Adventure Photography

“It’s in the Music” is such a valuable phrase to me that I had it tattooed on my arm. It’s my one and only tattoo and I was 52 years old when I made the decision. Also, just for the record, it is true that getting tattooed fuels the desire to get another one! It’s now in my near future.

There’s a story behind why the phrase is so important to me. I will quickly track back 50 years from where it all started. I wanted a guitar. My mom and I drove 35 miles on a dark and snowy night to buy it. Lessons followed and my love for music grew with each note. I eventually picked up a few more instruments that offered the opportunity to perform with a band during my teenage years.

I write this with much gratitude because both of my parents were always supportive of my musical talent. They spent dollars they didn’t have on the finest instruments for me.

Sixteen years ago I had an experience that has since left me pondering the meaning of the message “It’s in the Music”.

Do you know how some dreams have so much impact you never forget them? Well, that’s exactly what happened. My mother who had passed 4 years prior, appeared to me in a dream. She asked me to sit in her lap. My grown self sat in her lap just like a little tiny baby! She looked deep into my eyes and said, “It’s in the Music, Vickie”. Just let me do this – and she repeated “It’s in the music” 3 more times. She began to blow her breath in my face. Ice blue crystals filled my entire body. I could feel them going through my veins as if I were wide awake.

There are some things you know beyond the shadow of a doubt even when they don’t make sense. I knew something had just happened that changed the trajectory of my heart toward the power of music. I have no words for it other than something in my heart began to explore what she meant. What exactly is in the music? Why did “I” need to know this information? What was the purpose of the blue crystal thingys?

At this time, I have only partial answers with a lot of gray areas. Here is what I know. Music is universal. It speaks to every age, language, and gender. The sound embeds into all five senses. A song can take you to places you’ve never been and put you right into the moment. One lyric can heal moments of grief, sorrow, or confusion. A melody can become almost a nuisance as it “gets stuck in your head” and make you spontaneously dance a jig or run a sprint. There is a lot of science behind that whole concept but that’s not my mission today.

My mission is to share this experience with you and hopefully inspire you to reach a bit deeper into a place of your own personal unknown. The song I am sharing with you today was recently released to the public. I wrote it in 2003 a few months after my mother transitioned to heaven but before the epic dream.

I sat all alone at a keyboard in a church sanctuary. Writers of music know the power of fiddling around with notes until they make a melody. There is no certain order as to how lyrics begin to accompany a melody. In this case, the lyrics fell right into cadence with the melody and were coming from a place of the sorrow I was experiencing at the time. It seemed as the lyrics were releasing my current state of sadness or grief. Eventually, I ended up in a heap of emotions underneath the keyboard.

I know each reader has had the experience of listening to a song that captures a piece of their heart but most listeners do not know the process a song has gone through to get to the place of its availability to the public.

First, there is the unction– that still small voice inside of an artist that starts to press from the inside pushing its way into existence. It’s raw and unpolished but nevertheless, it has arrived. It can be downright exhausting delivering something the world has NEVER seen or heard.

The second is the moment of sharing. That usually takes me a while because I love to hang on to the sacred and intimate moment of creativity. It’s a personal thing.

The third phase can take minutes or years. Framing the structure of the song. Finding its personality. This is usually done in the company of other musicians or producers. An artist usually knows if a suggested adjustment is going to fit the song’s purpose. It’s up to the creator as to how loosely they hold the reigns on refining.

Finally, the decision is made if a recording is part of the song’s destiny. I can tell you there is a multitude of great songs that have never been recorded. Their purpose is being fulfilled in other ways.

Then there are songs like the Holy of Holies that yelled the need to be shared in a broader avenue.

By the time we recorded this song nineteen years after its conception – it had already made its way into several situations where it dispersed peace and comfort. It carried the same healing with it I had experienced when it was delivered into my care.

The recording came at a time of the chaotic world upheaval of COVID-19. Musicians, conductors, and performers were squelched in their tracks with no outlets. They gladly and professionally served the song. We couldn’t have done it without their collaboration.

There is much more to say but I’m at the end of my words for today. The power of music is wide and deep with many avenues to explore. “It’s in the Music” is a message that will certainly unravel for the rest of time.

I leave you with this encouragement. Choose to look at music on a deeper level and when you get there- go deeper. It’s an endless road. When you see a music artist performing or writing – give them a word of encouragement. Most of us don’t even know the real power of the gift we carry. And last but not least from my heart to yours – please enjoy the

“Holy of Holies”

Now found on my It’s in the Music Page

and of course by all means

Enjoy the Journey – VB

It’s really not my gig BUT I LOVE TO READ THE FOOD BLOGS! So for all of you foodies out there who aren’t sharing your stuff –what are you waiting for? If I can do the blog thing – so can you! Give it a click and get started.

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Poverty vs Prosperity/What’s the difference?

This picture of the old farmhouse where I grew up was taken on a recent trip to South Dakota. It had been 40 YEARS since I had seen it.

Poverty or prosperity- which mentality do you have?

Wow-what a controversial topic. That question can challenge the best of us. Honestly, I had not given it much thought until one of my mentors presented me with the question. That’s when I had to take a close look at which of those lenses I was choosing to view my life.

Cultural programming has everything to do with how we define our lifestyle. My folks raised us knowing the meaning of hard work. We lived on a farm in South Dakota for a big part of my childhood. I remember the long cold winters when all hands were required to be on deck to ensure that both we and the animals survived. Summers brought long hot days in the wheat fields. Mom packed our lunch in a round dishpan and filled the water jugs to the brim. We loaded up the goods and spent the whole day in the field under a make-shift awning. (an old green tarp with holes in it that was strung from the truck bed to two fence posts stuck in the ground) She and my dad went around and around the field on their tractors all day planting crops. They would wave at us with each round and make sure all was well at the camp. I laugh as I write this just thinking about how dirty we were at the end of the day.

The look back helps me to identify how my mindset that surrounds my perspective on poverty or prosperity was developed. Lifestyle has certainly changed over the years BUT the mentality dug its roots and settled in for the long haul.

I could go on and on about how life was lived on the plains of South Dakota. The stories can easily mirror the “Little House on the Prairie” television series. It was those stories that set me on the path of reforming some very old mindsets.

The first thing was to explore what each of those words meant to me. With no purposeful intentions from anyone involved – my definition of poverty took on the persona of “hard work only brings more hard work”. It was an endless cycle of work to simply survive. Sometimes there were huge setbacks like hail storms that took out a whole crop. Even as a child I could feel the heartbreak and disappointment of my parents. The fear of lack began to box me into a very tiny space of small dreams. I developed a real ” poverty mentality“.

Cultural programming has everything to do with how we develop our life. Can we break out of what we know and into what is actually possible?

I’m not sure why it is often referred to as a poverty “mentality”. The more accurate description is an “impoverished soul”. Poverty is more than how many dollars you have or don’t have in your bank account. It runs deep into the crevices of your everyday life and can affect every decision you make. For example, our hard childhood culture left a residue of unworthiness that ran behind the scenes of my adulthood decisions. Decisions stretching all the way from what clothing to buy to who to marry! It’s hard to imagine how sitting in a field playing games and reading all day could develop into an unworthy attitude toward myself.

The truth is that culture does define us. The good news is we can be open to change if we want something different.

Somewhere on life’s journey, I realized there was another option besides “expecting lack” and “slamming every penny into a savings account”. There were faith and hope. There was an understanding of a new identity that could take the golden nuggets of teaching from my childhood and apply them to a more prosperous mentality. The type of thinking that refreshes your soul into knowing that no matter what – YOU ARE WORTHY of the precious things life can give.

The truth is that most of the present chaos of the world is simply not in our control anyway. It will gladly drain any faith and hope we muster up if we focus on it. The healthy option is to change your focus. I mean your eyes can literally move from one place to another. From the place of lack to the place of abundance.

I leave you with this encouragement. Don’t define your mentality of poverty or prosperity by your bank account. Instead , revisit your cultural upbringing. Look deep in your soul and ask yourself what you are expecting life to bring you. Do you really believe you deserve the gold that is waiting for you in this season? Will you take it when it presents itself? Will you restore faith and hope in yourself and those around you? Are you open to changing some old habits?

The next blog will bring a closer look at prosperity. In the meantime

Enjoy the Journey – VB

P.S. Writing brings me great joy. It also brings me great joy when others share themselves through writing too. It’s not hard to get your stuff out there for others to enjoy. Click here to see how I got started. These folks are fabulous!

My book is available on Amazon. “Escape from Darkness“

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The Risk To Blossom

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

~Anais Nin~

One of my favorite quotes. It has been printed on multiple cards and tacked to my refrigerator. It has been stuck with tape on the bathroom mirror, used as a bookmark in my bible, and as a desktop image on the computer. I need to see it to be reminded that remaining in the same place will eventually become painful. The old saying rings true: IF what you’re doing isn’t working, DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!

Compounded on last years pandemic demand for isolation, this year the nation has contended with the Arctic Blast of 2021. Confinement has presented different problems for different folks. Some dealt with power outages while others dealt with finding shelter and food. Some have suffered greatly from loneliness and fear. I simply counted my blessings. We live in a valley with steep hills that demand respect during winter episodes. The snow piled higher and the temperatures dipped low enough to set state records for this time of year.

A person like me welcomes such a break from the norm with open arms. The reflection during down time reminded me how uncomfortable being tightly confined can be. I’ve served my time in emotional prison. The breakout wasn’t easy by any means but there is no value to be put on freedom. The definition of the word speaks for itself: the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.There is power in being free to be yourself.

You see, there is no shame in exposing and unlocking our own personal confinements. They only become more toxic the longer we choose to carry them through life. Old and familiar strongholds keep us from blossoming into our full potential. It is true that the past can leave deep scars. Sometimes we’re left with a wide open wound that precedes us wherever we go. Without even knowing it we carry the stench of rotting flesh with us into every relationship. It can become a very lonely road. Our facade fights to stay in control and cover up the damaged goods behind the smile. Shame loudly reminds us to stay hidden or the world will reject the person underneath the rubble.

Folks have different heaps of rubble. No one’s journey is the same. The only common place on the trail to freedom is the decision to dump the load of sludge that has restricted freedom from being our fuel to succeed.

I leave you with this encouragement. Let this be the day to begin walking away from the pain of remaining bound in the bud of your past, addictions, emotional baggage, physical ailments, or trauma. Take the risk of letting one petal at a time open to a beautiful blossom. I promise the journey is worth the risk. I cannot wait to hear what you found on the other side. I hope you embrace the opportunities of stillness and by all means

Enjoy the Journey – VB

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Am I Enough?

Photo and quote By: Lindsey Ellen Simon
This is one of my favorite views…surrounded by towering trees.
It’s here where it gets quiet enough for the silent things to be heard and slows down enough for the hidden things to be seen. Where you can actually hear yourself breathe in life and feel every time your heart beats. Can these things be seen and felt other places? Sure…but the difficulty increases as the height of the trees decrease.

Do I really believe that I am enough?

I just returned home from an hour and a half massage! It was absolutely fabulous and absolutely needed. My massage therapist is a close friend and professional who is as genuinely concerned about my well-being as I am. She is so important to me that she gained honorable mention in my first book that was written during my own process of finding wholeness. I first had to define the term before I could pursue it! Below is the definition copied from the December 17, 2020 blog entitled “Wholeness”.

It is also a direct quote from the first page of “Escape from Darkness”.

Wholeness is the sense that my life is One – not many parts or many compartments, but one loving, breathing, ordered life. In the midst of the search for wholeness – two good things remain; my desire to be whole and the voice that can lead me to wholeness.

Wholeness allows me to embrace who I am and at the same time strive to achieve all I am capable of achieving and become all I am capable of becoming. Being content with who I am today and improving myself for tomorrow.

I believe wholeness is attained when we find the delicate balance that allows both to coexist.

Massage was a major player in my pursuit of emotional freedom. Yet it is only one of many things a person can do to rejuvenate a tired body or mind. It only takes a bit of thought and intentional effort to make moments of self-care happen for yourself. I personally love any kind of pampering. If there was a job entitled “receiver of professional self-care” I would certainly qualify. I have several ideas! It seems I frequent conversations including self-care more and more in these days of uncertainty, isolation, and information overload. It also seems there is a common theme that often relates to “unworthiness” in those dialogues.

Many women really do have difficulty seeing themselves as worthy of putting their own self-care in the budget. I believe most women are wired to BE the nurturer or giver instead of the receiver of such love. Things like massage therapy can be seen as fluffy and unneeded. However, if medicine is needed for well-being or illness, we quickly fork out the cash.

The question I raise today deserves introspection. How can we see ourselves as ENOUGH to feel worthy of “self-care” in this chaotic world of high demands and constant stress? I wish there were a clear fix-all answer. Somebody would be rich, wouldn’t they?

The answer is not quick and it certainly isn’t a FIX ALL remedy. The first step is a simple decision to pursue your own wholeness. The rest of the steps happen naturally as the progress is walked out. You may be led to a counselor, life coach, or mentor. You may find yourself on an extended vacation in the mountains. You may engage in totally new and improved daily routines that include walks, quiet time, writing, or cooking. Whatever brings your mind to the center of relaxation allowing your whole body to be involved is worthy of being put on the list.

I found a new person hidden under the rubble of stress and trauma once I dedicated time to run my race to wholeness. The first few steps were nothing more than tiny steps of faith because I had never seen myself as enough. Smart enough. Talented enough. Pretty enough. Worthy enough. My perspective has changed as time and discipline have ran their course. YES– I will schedule a monthly massage. YES – I will spend an hour each morning with a book or pen and paper. YES – I will protect myself from hitting the emotional ditch. I walk toward my dreams but with total awareness that it is a JOURNEY and NOT A SPRINT!

I leave you with this encouragement. Find that secret place like you see in the picture at the beginning of this blog where you can actually hear yourself think. Ask yourself “Do I believe I am enough? “ Your answer will lend a good starting place to begin a new self care routine. Practice saying YES to yourself. We all have room to expand and by all means

Enjoy the Journey- VB

Find more of Lindsey Ellen Simon’s pics on Instagram

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Life is a Vapor

Life is a vapor. It is here for only a short time just like the cloud that rests on this water.

Life is short….we say it frequently in casual conversation. We use the phrase like we truly understand the depth of its truth. I believe we all reach a place in our lives at one time or another where we wish we could lasso time and dole it out in smaller increments. You know, slow this train down a bit. Time doesn’t stand around and wait on us to find the courage to begin doing the desires of our heart. The sun still rises and sets every single day and what we do in between is the life we create.

Deep thinking but not profound revelation. It is a very simple concept. The responsibility of how we sculpture our lives lands solely on each one of us as individuals at the end of each day. The truth is life really is a tiny mist of vapor. I love how the Passion Translation of the bible states it :

James 4:14 But you don’t have a clue what tomorrow may bring. For your fleeting life is but a warm breath of air that is visible in the cold only for a moment and then vanishes!

It doesn’t take long to get motivated if you let those words penetrate your soul. The definition of the word fleeting does it for me. It means a short time or passing quickly. I am sure you get my point. SO where and how do we find the courage to consider these “fleeting” lives a true piece of art? A canvas that hasn’t been completely painted? A book that has the best chapters yet to come? A song with lyrics that one can’t get out of their head after they hear it?

Facebook is great at posting those videos that give glimpses of how we recorded our last few years. The memories remind me of the value of time already spent. Did I live in such a way that another could gain a leg up of encouragement when the going gets rough? Could one glean a ray of hope to keep putting one foot in front of the other by the way I have chosen to use my fleeting moment?

Here’s the deal. No one can do it for us. WE HAVE TO CREATE THE SPACE TO BECOME WHO WE ARE INTENDED TO BE ON THIS EARTH. For example, Thursday’s have become my favorite day. It has taken me several years to strategically create an entire day to designate as my own day to challenge my creative genes. I finally have a voice to say to the world “THIS IS MY DAY!” The seasons of raising children and full time work have now been completed. The entrepreneurial spirit within me has worked hard to build an income and be my own boss. There is nothing that can lend more freedom than being in control of your own time. There is also nothing that can be more challenging than learning to steward that time for its most productive potential. The learning curve is like a roller coaster with huge lows in the dips and big highs on the mountaintops. I certainly have not always stayed steady on the course but keeping a forward focus has been a key player in creating that space.

You see, when you begin to “LOOK” at that constant knocking of creativity in your heart, something magical happens. It unveils itself and begins to take up residence in your soul. The more you look at it the more it grows. A dream will respond much like a plant that flourishes under a gardeners nurturing hand. It’s very important the words spoken over a desire are positive because they are like food to its roots.

I leave you with these words of encouragement. Open the door to that constant knock of desire in your soul. Look through the peephole at the very least to see the grand thing waiting to enter into your life. Take a good “LOOK” at it! Everyone has something and it’s never too late to breathe it into existence. Furthermore, understand that EVERY day should be pointed toward a purpose because this is YOUR vapor. Make it count! Lives lived with intention are full of joy, peace, and fulfillment. They make it possible for us to

ENJOY THE JOURNEY – VB

PS….Dan Miller continues to have a large impact on my journey. Listen to some of his podcasts and explore the website!

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What are your DREAMS?

One of the hardest questions ever presented to me was “What are your dreams?”. I remember the feeling like it was yesterday. It seemed like the words had rolled off this person’s tongue in slow motion and came hurling at me one letter at a time. I quickly realized that I really didn’t have a dream. The only thing I knew was hard work and survival. Who knew there was a future with endless possibilities? Who knew life truly is what YOU make it? Who knew there was permission granted to develop the art behind the dream?

His name is Philippe Petit. I mention him today because his story both inspires and challenges me. I love people who make us think larger while presenting the opportunity to go beyond the normalcy of life and do something different. His story will certainly intrigue you, but it may also stir up an inner desire that is lying underneath a heap of excuses. You know, like all the reasons “WHY” your dream cannot come true!

The same amount of time is available to all of us. None of us get special privileges in the realm of time. Some folks reach their dreams quickly while others take them to their graves. Some folks with shortened lifetimes accomplish more than others who live several decades. What is the difference between these people?

Philippe’s movie The Walk portrays his determination to simply do what he was born to do. He didn’t take any detours. He called his desire his “ART”. It looked ridiculous to everyone around him but he endured the loneliness of rejection and unwanted opinions and stayed the course. He simply didn’t settle for the mundane of what the world had labeled “NORMAL”. At the age of 24 he completed his dream and became a famous artist of his skill. He stood high above a world that applauds his efforts to this day.

When a person dares to pursue a dream it inevitably begins to get others involved. A dream rolling with momentum is hard not to watch! It becomes attractive to those who are called to be noticed! There may be a season of loneliness and feeling misunderstood BUT suddenly one will find themselves with new friends of support and love. Philippe called those who assisted him in his dream “accomplices” to his art.

I leave you with these words of encouragement.

Ask your self “What is the art within me?” Pull your dream from beneath the heap of negative words and place it on the canvas of your life. Be a flicker of light in a world of darkness. I believe you will stand in awe as your tiny light transforms into an inferno of inspiration and hope. Keep me updated because I would love to be an “accomplice” to your art that has not yet been seen!

ENJOY THE JOURNEY- VB