It's Sunday and I woke up early to a beautiful blue sky with lots of sunshine.  There still is a strong breeze but I know the sun will feel so good after all of this cold weather.  Today I have lots of thoughts floating through my brain.  It is so exciting to see the pieces of the puzzle falling together after working on my idea for eight months.  I realize that I am very fortunate in that I have been able to give myself time to decide what I want to do with the next part of my life and then to start moving in a new direction.  I have really been on a journey of self discovery and it has been wonderful, scary, frustrating but most of all exciting. 
Over the past eight months I have worked with many women, and a few men, helping them to begin their own journey.  I presented my workshops on a volunteer basis to see if I could be of help and if I would enjoy the experience as much as I hoped the participants would.  So far I feel that it has been a successful partnership for all of us.  So I am getting ready to take the next step and move back into the working world, sharing my own dreams and journey with others, as well as being a support system for those who who want to create a life where every moment is a Special Moment In TIme.  There are still so many things I want and need to do before I officially begin but I thought a strong first step would be to write  just a little bit about  what I am doing and where I am now in the process of starting my own consulting business.  As I continue on this journey, I will be sharing what happens and hopefully learn more about what you are dreaming and creating.

It's Friday again and it is time to think about all of the things that made me happy throughout the week.  This is a wonderful way to end the week but it is also a wonderful thing to do each day.  As I find myself living more and more consciously and in the present, I realize that my days are filled with many, many happy moments.  I think the thing that stands out most to me this week is how nice it is to be around people who are excited about what they are doing and are willing to share that excitement.  I have been talking to and  working with people of all ages who are starting or thinking about starting their own businesses.  The excitement in their voices is contagious and I realize how important it is to spend our days doing and creating something that we love.  For each of us that vision can be very different.  As I talked with people this week, it was so obvious from the smiles on their faces and the enthusiasm in their voices that when you are doing what you love life is filled with happy moments.  So this week I am celebrating the fact that I am moving closer and closer to creating a vision that was very foggy just a few months ago but is becoming clearer each day.

I, Ginny, give myself permission to DREAM BIG.  What a fun wish!  Ok, now I am going to share my big dream with the world.  I love reality shows.  I love the interaction between the people, I love the adventures the people get to experience and although some people look at me like I am crazy when I say I watch reality TV I really find the shows fun.  When I retired the teachers gave me a great Survivor retirement party.  So my big secret (and sometimes not so secret)dream has been to be on a reality show.  In working with one of the trainer's at the gym, I told him about my dream.  He is also a believer in dreams and is incredibly supportive of other people's dreams.  He didn't laugh, he encouraged.  He would be a great partner on the Amazing Race so when I workout that is my goal - to be on the Amazing Race with an amazing partner.  So with Jamie's encouragement, Todd's support, all of your help today, and lots of hardwork at the gym, I am going to DREAM BIG and work hard and maybe one day you will all get to watch me run the Amazing Race. 

As I have written before I am working with teachers on a workshop entitled All About You.  This is the last week we will meet and I think I have learned more than anyone in the class.  We have talked about having a vision, taking care of ourselves, learning to say no and lots more.  Each week as I prepared for the discussion, I realized what a huge and important topic we were discussing.  It was a journey that could continue for a lifetime because if we are growing and learning than we are going to change and change means looking at and reacting differently to things we are doing.  The biggest change for me is living my life intentionally.  I want to appreciate each minute as well as think about and plan for the future.  I know how important it is to look at the small things and to enjoy them but I also know it is important to look ahead and to plan.  Today I am going to enjoy the sunshine that has finally decided to visit us.  It brightens each room in my house as well as makes me feel happy.  In anticipation of spring, I am going to continue to reorganize my house.  In the past I have not thought of this as fun because I realize it is an ongoing task that really never ends.  But today with the sun shining in the windows and the music turned up, I am going to have fun doing something that in the past has only felt like work.  And when I am done not only will someone else have something new to enjoy but I will have a house (or at least a room) that has lots of space that can be filled up with sunshine.

Happiness this week is very simple -  feeling the sun on my face and sleeping in. This winter it has been very cold and although I like to experience the changes in each  season, this winter it has been really hard to get warm.  So looking at and feeling the sun on my face makes me very, very happy.  Today I slept until 7:30 and that made me happy.  I don't know if not being able to sleep has something to do with the cold and  lack of sunshine but when I slept in this morning it felt great. 
I think the best thing about posting on this subject every week is that it makes me realize that it is not the big things that make me happy but the simple pleasures in life that I so often take for granted that are the best.  I hope everyone can join me in a happy week filled with sun, sleep, and laughter.

When I woke up at three o'clock this morning and could not get back to sleep, I decided to check out Wishcasting Wednesday and see what this week's wish was.  At first I was not sure how to answer this week's prompt.  After a cup of hot tea, it came to me.  I wish to make a difference everywhere I go.  I hope that by interacting in a a positive, upbeat, hopeful way that I can make a difference.  I hope by smiling at people as I walk by them in the stores or on the street, I can make a difference.  I hope by being a good wife, parent, Nana and friend I can make a difference.  I hope that by living an authentic life that is true to my beliefs I can make a difference. When I go to the gym I see an elderly man dressed as if he is going to church working on the machines.  He makes a difference by being there three times a week and setting a great example for everyone else.  That is what I hope to do. 

This week was one of those even keel weeks.  No great ups and no great lows which was very nice.  Both my husband and I got great reports from our doctors so really nothing could make me happier than that.
I did go on an artist's date with myself to the fabric store and that was really fun.  It is not something I usally do but I really enjoyed looking at the fabric.  All of the colors and textures were so interesting this time.  Usually, I go feeling a little overwhelmed and anxious about what to buy.  This time I just enjoyed the experience and I think I found what I need to cover our favorite chair which needs a little loving care.
Listening to Jamie's vimeo made me happy.  For my meeting with the teachers next week, they requested that I speak about organization both at home and at work.  Surrounding yourself with things that make you happy rather than piles is a great piece of advice that Jamie shared today.  It was amazing to me that what she shared was exactly what I needed to hear.  If you have time, I have a favor to ask. In my post yesterday I asked for some help. If you have a tip that would help this group of young working moms stay organized, I would love to hear it.  That would make not only me but a group of great women very happy.  Have a great week!!!

Hi Everyone,
As you know I have been working with two groups of teachers on things that are important to them.  Next week, per their request, we are talking about the best ways to stay organized.  I emailed several friends and got wonderful pieces of advice but I was wondering if you would take a minute to help as well.  If you have any suggestions for staying organized that really work for you, please let me know.  We are meeting next Tuesday so any suggestions you can give me before then will be greatly appreciated.  After I compile all of the suggestions, I will post again on the subject and share what I learned from everyone.  It actually has been fun reading all of the suggestions I have received so far.  I am fairly organized but I believe once I start following the suggestions I have already received it is going to get easier.  So in advance thanks for all of your help.
Ginny

Yesterday at my writing class the homework was to draw a map of somewhere you had been and put an X where events had happened and see if this would trigger a story.  Today Jamie Ridler asked, "Where do you wish to travel?" so I decided to combine these two activities.  It was amazing because when I was thinking of each of these things independently I was drawing a blank.  There are so many places I would like to visit and so many memories I could place on a map but when thinking of the two things together an answer that felt right came immediately.  The place that  I would like to revisit, that has great memories, is a small house on the beach.  It is not my house but belongs to everyone who is lucky enough to visit.  I don't personally know the owners but when I walk in the front door, I immediately feel at home. Every small room leads to the ocean either through a door or a window.  There is a porch lined with rocking chairs and a deck for sunning.  There is a short path that leads to the beach,   The beach  is often empty.  When you do see a group of people it is usually a family enjoying a reunion.  People play with frisbees, walk their dogs, or read a book with their feet in the water.  There are no high rise buildings, shopping malls, or fancy restaurants.  It is just a place to go with your family to share time and make memories.  Thank you Jamie for today's question.  I've just added something important to my agenda.  I am going call for  reservations so that we all can  look forward to making new memories at an old favorite beach place!

This has been another great week in so many ways.  Of course there have been a few bumps in the road but that is life.  Now that I am focusing on the positive I am finding so many things to be happy about.  A good friend took me out to lunch for my birthday last week.  We stopped by her house first which was a treat in itself.  She is an incredibly talented painter and the creativity that is in every nook and cranny  of her farmhouse is so inspiring.  Then we went to a small mountain town for lunch.  I live in a warm area so although we do have snow it is very rare.  As we sat in front of the fireplace in the very small cozy coffeehouse, it began to snow.  Everyone was so excited!  It reminded me of when I was teaching.  When it would snow all the kids would run to the windows in amazement since snow is so rare here. You could tell the adults in the restaurant felt the same way,   If they could have let go of following what they thought they should do,  they would have run to the windows  As we walked down the mainstreet to look in the shops the snow was everywhere.  In just a few minutes we were walking in a winter wonderland.  It was such a beautiful sight and one that I only have to picture in my mind everytime I want to feel happy and content!