MAGIC

Indulge...

...in the magic around you.  Within you.  Within all.

Let your light shine bright, and always let love be your guide.

Warmest and Brightest of Holiday Seasons!

~Marci Renee

CHILL

Lately...I haven't been feeling well...

Not the standard issue holiday cold most are suffering from, but moreso internal organ stuff my genes have plagued me with.  I was actually pretty bummed since it caused me to miss a day or two of life as I had planned it.  Holiday parties, teaching audition, dinner with friends, etc.  The truth is...my life is one big schedule right now.  I have to consider my full time job, and my full-time love/aspiration.  Along with those...friends, family, romance, and a little bit of fun.   I literally had to have a come to jeebus with myself, and remind myself that life and nature just have another plan.   We could all use a reality check, and a day away from our daily planners (or fancy iphone apps that do that for us).  Below are 8 tips on how to unplugg yourself, to tune into yourself.  To-Do lists, beware!

*  BACK AWAY FROM THE LIST! - Take a step back from all your prioritizing and potential productivity.  Are you feeling overwhelmed?  Chances are...yes, you are.  Imagine yourself  physically in the day you're planning.  Are you filling too much into your time?  What is the importance of some of your "things"?  What can you hold off until tomorrow?  What doesn't really need to be done at all?  Who can help you?  Chances are there's an item, or 2, or 4 in your que that can be eliminate or prioritized better once you ask yourself one or more of these questions.

*  NATURE'S WAY - the truth is...sometimes life has it's own plan for you.  Embrace it.  Nothing is going to crumble to pieces if you miss a day at the gym, don't get to that party, or need to put the dry cleaning off until tomorrow.  Quit taking your list so seriously and start taking living your life seriously!

*  FUN - don't forget that!  Often we do, all too often.  Remember the things that make you, you...and the activities you enjoy.  Remember to get some of that lovin' in.

Most importantly...remember to ALLOW yourself to be nurtured and loved!

*  IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES - of a "to-do" concept that works for you.  Rather than planning your week, let your week plan you.  Feel out how you're feeling that day, and figure out what works in that day, and what doesn't.  What doesn't work will have another place.  Lofty?...yes.  Ideal?...YES! 

*  CHALLENGE - yourself.  One day away from your planners and all things that read "schedule".  I triple dog dare ya.

*  IDENTIFY - what's ailing you.  It could be physical, mental...whatever.  Identify the reasons WHY you need to go about things in a different way.  Realize what's not working for you, and how YOU want to work it.

*  ACCEPTANCE - nothing catchy here.  Only with pure acceptance untouched by the infamous ego, can we truly...

*  CHILL, BABY - sit back, relax, and nurture your doing self.  For many of us, this includes a myriad of things.  Urban retreats, couch retreats, or tropical retreats.  Either way...make absolute sure you're easy on yourself.  Inside and out.

You're welcome!

And loved...

L.O.V.E

....this time of year it's everywhere!


Commercialized and wrapped up in a pretty little package.  It's even part of Bloomingdales print ad campaigns for the holidays.  One 4 letter word expected to generate bundles of...revenue... 

So, naturally I wonder....what does this 4 letter word mean to you? 

My example above turns it into something tangible...that you can literally hold in your hand.  Hopefully we're all aware that's not REALLY what love is.  Which then....makes me think of one of my favorite Bill Withers jam's...

"People try to create feelings just the same as love.
In the name of love, in the name of love."

The norm for our stereotypical love affair is boy meets girl, girl meets boy, boy meets boy, girl meets girl.   The couple gets carried away, intertwined in one another, becomes one...and then the story goes on.   It all either gets along famously, or is endlessly tragic. 

But when was the last time you had a love affair with yourself?

(c'mon...you knew that was coming, right?)

Really though, if you think about it..when was the last time you wined/dined yourself?  Got dressed up for yourself, and then paid yourself compliments?  Impressed yourself thoroughly with all the qualities within you that are almost cellular?  Not the on the surface variety of self-love...or even neccessarily the gratifying kind(you studs).  I'm talking the kind of love that rocks you to you core.

Think of an onion, and imagine yourself peeling the layers away.  As you get to that bare, dark core...what resides there?  When all of your layers can't hide what makes you you!  If you can't imagine anything residing there...think of what you'd LIKE at your core.   If you already know what's there...embrace it.  Lovingly acknowledge the good, not so good, and the indifferent.  Own that core...because it's who you really are.


That's love.  Knowing, accepting, and acknowleding who you are from the inside out...and DIGGING it!  Too many times we rely on a person, place, thing to supply us our love...when it's within us all along.


Leaving ya with Bills words rather than mine this time...


"And there really ain't no feeling quite the same as love.
In the name of love."