New Tattoo

This is my new tattoo I got a couple of weeks ago.

The symbol inside the circle of beads is an "Om Shanti" symbol.

Here is a synopsis of its meaning:

"Like many mantras, this one begins with "Om". Om has no meaning, and its origins are lost in the mists of time. Om is considered to be the primeval sound, the sound of the universe, the sound from which all other sounds are formed.

In the Brahminical tradition, from where Buddhism undoubtedly obtained mantra practice, Om is not just the universal sound, but the sound of the universe itself. For example in the (non-Buddhist) Mandukya Upanishad, it is said:

Om! — This syllable is this whole world.

Its further explanation is: –
The past, the present, the future — everything is just the word Om.

And whatever else that transcends threefold time — that, too, is just the word Om.

You could regard Om as being the equivalent of white light, in which all of the colors of the rainbow can be found.Om is therefore a sound symbolizing reality. It represents everything in the universe, past, present, and future. It even represents everything that is outside of those three times. It therefore represents both the mundane world of time in which the mind normally functions, and the world as perceived by the mind that is awakened and that experiences the world timelessly. It represents both enlightenment and non-enlightenment.

Shanti (Pali: Santi) simply means "peace". It’s a beautiful meaning and also a very beautiful sound. The shanti is repeated three times, as are many chants in Buddhism. In Buddhism as well as in Hinduism the threefold Shanti is generally interpreted as meaning the Threefold Peace in body, speech, and mind (i.e. peace in the entirety of one’s being)."

Now, while I do not practice Buddhism, the whole concept of this meaning resonates with me.

I have plenty of times when I feel that life around me is out of control and I need to find a place of peace.  A place to just "BE" and allow that wild roller coaster to follow through on it's path.

I have said before that I am Passionate.   And Impatient. And Stubborn.  And VERY Caring.  These things I know for sure about me.  I will be the first to admit it.

There are so many things and events and people in this world that I can accept.  But just like any other person, there are certain values I hold strong to me and how I want to live my life that I will not deter on.

I first saw this symbol on a charm of a necklace that my dear friend, Stacy, sells.  I know I have mentioned her Bella Wish shop on many occasions and showcased necklaces that I have purchased from her.  When I bought the necklace, that holds this charm, a few years ago, it was my little reminder to me to work at Peace.  With myself.  With others.  With how people should treat others.

Now that's not to say that I don't have my fits of emotion.  I do, believe me I do.  And everyone has to.  You can't bottle that up inside.  It will eat you alive.  Especially if you are passionate about things.  Yes, excitement is a wonderful thing to do, but having that anger and hurt is also a normal part of being human and you have to let that out too.  Obviously it's best to emit that emotion in a manner that is not harmful to yourself or others.

The other day a friend posted about how her girls were having an epic meltdown, and how I said I wanted to be a little kid again and have that meltdown.  And she gave me "permission" to do it.  And I should be able to do it.  I should.  And I did, to an extent.  I screamed so loud in my car that I scared even myself.  But a buildup of emotion has to go get released somehow.  And if I can scream in my car to emit some of that release, that has got to be a good thing.  Because honestly, do you really want that emotion eating you up inside?  You've got to be able to release it.  And it was done in a way that did no harm to anyone (except maybe my vocal cords).

To get back to Peace.

And while I could certainly wear my necklace every day to remind me of it, I wanted something more permanent on me that I could look at every day.  A reminder of who I resonate to be, and truly am, inside and out, amid all the chaos.

Paying it Forward

Here is my youngest with an entire outfit (including the shoes, but not including the backpack) that were "hand me downs".  I have two gorgeous friends, Jenna and Amy, who have been so gracious enough to give me some  of their daughters' clothing that no longer fits.

And my youngest loves them as well!  It's like getting a whole new wardrobe (literally) of gorgeous clothes!  She is still at that age, where it doesn't "have" to be a name brand for her to wear it, but fortunately for her and me, some of the clothes ARE name brands.

To be able to have friends like that who share like that, are awesome!

I love doing the same as well and have clothes that I have set aside to give to a friend (actually 2 friends)

In times like these, it's always good to "Pay It Forward" whenever you can.  Whether it be passing clothes down to help defray costs of having to buy new ones, helping to watch their children, running an errand or two for them, or just helping out in any small way, even by listening, or inspiring someongANY little bit can help.

Let's face it.  Times are tough these days, some, more than others.   There are those, including myself, that are trying to live out their dreams of pursuing some sort of art, or career, or whatever, trying to make it on their own, and having that little bit of extra help, truly, TRULY means the world to us.

I used to be able to give more than I do now, but I still try to find some way to pay it forward,  in any way I can.  Or help out someone I care about in whatever small way that makes their life a tiny bit easier.

Do something nice and good for someone, because it IS the right thing to do.

And it makes the world a better place.

Word of the Year - 2012

Textures by Kim Klassen

Word of the Year.

This is a word that encompasses you and what you want to have as YOUR word for the year.  This word belongs to you.

It can be a word that helps you get through things.

A word that will give you strength throughout the year.

A word that describes you.

It can be whatever you want it to mean.

Last year my word of the year was:  CHOOSE.

A powerful word.  A word that gives me ownership to what I do.  I don't HAVE to or NEED to do it, I CHOOSE to do it.

It was a word that resonated with me from the year before and followed me into last year.

Last year another word started resonating with me.

The word was: PASSION.

This word describes ME.

It's a word I use in my descriptions of me, whether it be on Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, etc.

I am so passionate about so many things.

From my children to my beliefs.

From my art to my creations.

From my family to my friends.

From love to even, yes, loathe.  (I dont' like using the word hate)

Passion is what keeps me going.

Passion is what helps me to aspire to what I want to be.

Passion is what describes my feelings.

Passion is, ultimately, ME.

What is your word of the year?

What is that ONE word that can describe you and what you want to use to help you get through the tough times, the wonderful times,  and just everyday life?

Try finding a word.

It helps.

Trust me.

My Fly Tribe Gals and I are each doing a post about each of our Word of The Year.  Please take some time and read about each one of our words.   Thank you Kelly Rae Roberts for bringing us together.

All you have to do is click on this Fly Tribe Logo/Button and it will take you to our culmative page with all of our blogs.  Thank you.

From The Heart

The Original Mrs. Claus

In my opinion, the best presents are the ones that come from the heart.

Oh sure, there are those presents where you are like WOW, I can't BELIEVE you gave me that!  That is SO AWESOME!

Yea, everyone loves to get those.

But the presents that I will always remember the most?

The ones that are given from the heart.  Where you put your heart into it.

Whether it's something you looked high and low for, knowing that that person would absolutely LOVE it, whether it's something you made, or whether it's something you did for that person.

I love to give.

I love to see the smiles on their faces.

I love to make things for people as well.

Every little stitch, every little bit of fabric, or the photo I created.

Almost 7 years ago my mom passed away.

6 days before Christmas.

I can't even remember what was in those presents that she gave that were under the tree that year.

You know what I kept?

The tag that had her writing on it.

That's what I remember.

Her writing.

That's what I kept.

When my sisters and I went through her belongings and divided up the decorations there was Mrs. Claus.

She made this as a decoration for our house one year.

I always loved it. Correction....we ALL loved it.  But that was the only really one thing I wanted.  So my sisters let me have it.

But I knew my one sister truly loved it too.

So I set out on a mission.

Through ebay.

And found the exact pattern that my mom had to make it, many years ago.

And I made my sister one for Christmas.  And I was able to find most of the same exact fabric that my mom used, to make the original one years ago.

And it made me so happy to make it for her and surprise her and give it to her for Christmas.

And it's not how much it cost me to make it, it was about giving her something, from my heart, that would bring a smile on her face.   And believe me, it shocked the hell out of her when she first saw it, lol.

And, truly, that's all I want for Christmas.  Happiness and something from the heart.