It is Friday, time to reflect upon the past week and all that I have to be grateful for.  This has been an interesting week filled with new experiences.  I have worked really hard on the new online class I am teaching beginning on Sunday.  This is a new experience for me and I am really looking forward to working with four great women.  It has been so nice to have so many people encouraging me to do this and helping me along the way.  When it all came together yesterday, it was really exciting.  I love to create new things and creating a class and  teaching it online definitely falls into that category. Just a few  of the other things that I am very grateful for this week are:
A fabulous art class
Cool mornings
Summer evenings
That we discovered Greg's flat tire on Friday before we left the neighborhood
That the garage discovered the nail in my tire before I left to go home
A great cup of Chai tea
A great new restaurant
Time with family and friends
What special moments are your grateful for this week?

It is Wednesday and time to be inspired by Jamie's Ridler's group of wishcaster's at Wishcasting Wednesday. Today Jamie asked, "What do you wish to enjoy?"  I thought for a minute about all of the wonderful things that I am fortunate enough to enjoy and then I remembered something that means alot to mean.  I wish to enjoy the beauty of each season.  When I was working, I would go to work in the dark and come home in the dark and rarely got to really enjoy the different seasons.  The first fall I was home I kept saying to my friends, "This is the most beautiful fall.  The colors are awesome."  I did the same thing with each season. And then I realized that yes it was a beautiful fall, or winter, or spring, or summer but it was even more beautiful because I was taking the time to enjoy it.  So my wish is that I never miss or take for granted again any season of the year or actually any season of my life.  Each one is special and I want to be fully present to enjoy each and every special moment that it has to offer.

                                                                   It not because things are difficult that we do not dare,  
                                                                      it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.         Seneca

 I am finding the quotes in The Artist's Way very interesting and thought provoking.  The quote above really spoke to me this week.  I love starting something new but I have found  that the first step is often the hardest step to take.  Once I get over my initial fear of failure things become so much easier.   I often compliment people on something they can do that I can't and nine times out of ten the reply is, "Oh, that is easy."  I always remind them not to take their skills for granted because something is always easy once you know how to do it.  We all have skills that we take for granted because we have used them for so long and they now come naturally.  Don't take these skills for granted.  Share them with the world.  It needs you and what you do so well. 
We all have something we want to learn or do but hesitate because it seems so difficult.  Take that first tiny baby step. See what happens.  See where that step leads you.  Sometimes you will find that you were right, it is too difficult and it is not something you want to do at all.  More times than not you will find that the first step leads to another and another until what once was difficult will become easy and natural and something you don't have to think about at all.  What step would you like to to take this week?  Take that first step and then share what you have learned with the world.  It needs you and all that you have to offer.

Life is full of ups and downs.  But I have found that when I recognize and concentrate on those very special positive moments and events, they seem to take over and the downs don't seem nearly as important.  For several months on Friday, I have written about just a few of the special moments that occured during the week and that I am grateful for experiencing.  This practice has quickly become a habit that I don't intend to break.  This week just a few of the special moments that I am grateful for are:

A telephone call with my grandson who was so proud that he was now going to kindergarten in the "big school".  As a former kindergarten teacher I was not surprised that his favorite thing was time on the playground.
Cool summer mornings on the backporch where I read a great mystery.
Tea with a friend who shared all the wonderful things that she learned at a writer's conference.
Painting a thank you note.  It was fast, fun, and if I do say so myself turned out pretty good.
Beautiful and delicious tomatoes from a friend's garden.
Sharing an empty beach at the lake with my husband on a breezy morning.  He ran his boat while I read.
Hearing from friends on facebook or comments on my blog letting me know what special moments they experienced.
Laughing

I would love to know what special moments you experienced and are grateful for this week.  It would be so much fun to see this movement grow and grow.  It is exciting to see the world through positive eyes and to share that view with others. 

                       "Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it.  Action has magic, grace, and power in it."
                                                                                                                                                            Goethe
                                                                                                                                               The Artist's Way p.67
I've looked at the above picture over and over again and each time I did all I could see was what was wrong with it.  Today I looked at it through the words of the quote I read in chapter three of The Artist's Way.  The flower is just beginning to bloom.  Although it is not perfect, there is magic, grace, and power in what is happening.
Sometimes it is hard to start something new or to share our work with the world. Just like the flower above, our idea might not be completely ready but there has to be a first step, a beginning, and that beginning does not have to be perfect.  The flower is standing  up tall but it twists and turns just a little.  New ventures are like that.  They are going to be almost ready to bloom but there will always be  twists and turns that we don't expect.   When we believe in ourself, our ideas, and our dreams  those twists and turns can be filled with magic, grace, and power just like the flower.  Do you have something you would like to begin this week?  Let's all take that first step and then share it with the world.  I know it will make a difference not only to you but to someone else who is also ready to bloom.

                                                                                           
                                                                                               Circle of Dreams Workshop
                                                                      When you share your dreams with the world, magic happens!

It is Friday and time to reflect upon the special moments of the week that I am grateful to have experienced.  This week I thought I would make a list.  Usually, I feel compelled to explain everything but this week I hope that the list will speak for itself. 

Some of the special moments that I am grateful for this week are:     
The laughter of children
Watching my husband launch the model boat he has been working on for many years
Help from a new online friend
Enjoying the sights, smells, and sounds of nature
A very thought provoking bookclub meeting full of people I have never met before but being inspired by their stories
Enjoying lunch at a new and different restaurant
Launching my online workshop Circle of Dreams
Working on my book
Taking pictures
A great yoga class

Each day is special and unique.  I find that when I take the time to reflect upon all that is good and beautiful in the world that I live in, more good and beauty seems to appear each day.  I would love to know what special moments you experienced this week.  I have found that there is power in sharing!



Circle of Dreams Workshop
When you share your dreams with the world, magic happens!

                                                                   
                                                          Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
                                                               Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
                                                                                                                                                  Johan Wolfgang von Goethe

It is Wednesday and time to join all of the Wishcasters at Jamie Ridler Studios.  This has become something that I look forward to each week.  Not only have I met many wonderful people through this group but as an added bonus many of my wishes are coming true.
This week Jamie asks, "What inspiration do you wish to follow?"  I am inspired by the magic of my dreams and the dreams of others.  I love thinking of new things and making them happen. I love waking up in the morning excited about something I am going to do that day because I took a chance on me and my dreams.  All great things begin with an idea and a dream.  Dreams can be big or they can be small but once we own them and take the steps to make them come true they are always powerful. 
Last week I wrote about opening the doors to Circle of Dreams. Because of all of your encouragement, I have decided to make that dream come true.  The first Circle of Dreams will begin on Sunday, August 28. Let the magic begin!
                                                                                                
                                                                                                     Circle of Dreams
                                                                  When you share your dreams with the world, magic happens!

                               "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. "
                                                                                                                                                                            Eleanor Roosevelt 
I believe in dreaming and I believe in making my dreams come true.  Over the years my dreams have changed and grown and changed again.  But there is one thing that has always happened for me.  I have always had the support and encouragement of others when I was trying something new.   Right now I am about to launch my first online workshop called Circle of Dreams.  I wrote about the Circle of Dreams alot this week on my blog and I know that it is time to begin this venture.  My launch date will be in three weeks.  My vision is for a small group of women to join together online each week to share their dreams and together take the steps that are necessary to make their dreams come true.  The curriculum is written, the activities are waiting, and I am excited about starting.  There was alot of synchroncity happening in my life this week.  From the insights I have gained from Jamie Ridler's Circe's Circle , to the reading I did for Paula's online Artist's Way , to the people I happened to bump into who told me about their dreams and the part I had in making them come true everything was telling me now is the time to start Circle of Dreams.  I have added a Circle of Dreams page to this site which should answer many of your questions.   If you are interested in learning more about Circle of Dreams or  joining this group, please let me know.  I can't wait to meet you and learn all about your dreams.  Together we can make them come true. 
Have a great week and take that first step to making your dreams come true.  I just did!!!