A Powerful Day of listening, 1-13-13

We traveled up Interstate 5 from Los Angeles to San Francisco for our Fearless Women Book Event that happened today on the 13th day of the year 2013. It felt pretty auspicious to have a book signing on this day. As I began the day today I wondered what this day would bring

The last two months of last year was my "crash and burn" time with health challenges which propelled me into a reviewing of my truth, my passion and what was I doing with this Fearless Women journey. I had created books, jewelry, a membership site, an event and nearly 10,000 fans of FB. But I pondered, "what's next?"

Before the book event we met a friend for lunch. I gave her my new book and while she was looking at it two ladies at the next table were curiously looked over her shoulder to see what this book with a woman holding a sword was about. They were obviously mother and daughter. The mother looking very high brow looked over and said, "What is this book, Fearless Women?" I explained to her it was a compilation of 50 women with a vision of a new and better world. She proceeded to ask me what makes a fearless woman. I answered her by telling her that I believe everyone is fearless we need to move through it to love. The absence of fear is love. Her daughter kept shaking her head, "yes." This older and seemingly very worldly woman persisted in her questions about being fearless several times but in different ways. It made me smile because I felt she was a messenger from Spirit challenging me to explore and find clarity by answering the questions I was pondering these last couple of months.

I found myself really thinking seriously about her questions. In retrospect it was a wonderful rehearsal for the book signing where there were more questions asked about "being fearless." I want to be as honest and transparent as possible, living in my truth. Honestly, though, I really don't feel fearless a lot of the time but pray to fear less and be in gratitude more.

Life is such a journey of fearless challenges and wonderment. In this new year, I long for more joy, peace and harmony. I welcome more answers to the questions. I see that the river of life is beautiful when we learn to flow, trust the current and know that the direction you are going is the perfect one...at least for now.

Google (one of my teachers) led me to this song, "Revive your Soul and Flow in the River of Life!" A perfect song to end this day and this blog. Take care, you deserve the best!

 


Yours in the fearless flow of questioning,

Mary Ann

I Googled Directions to the Road to Enlightenment...

Inspiration comes from amazing different places when we open our heart and mind, stop and pay attention. Teachers come in all different shapes and sizes. When you choose to live a fearless life and walk the yellow brick road to Oz, stop and smell the poppy's even if they make you sleepy.

 

When I Googled directions for the road to enlightenment and found myself here. Low and behold someone made a t-shirt. How convenient!

Google is a great teacher. Don't you think? Perhaps Google is really the Wizard of Oz. But don't trust the man behind the curtain. Trust yourself, trust your knowing and you will find your path way home.

Good night sweet dreamers of light. Tomorrow is another day of joy, adventure and discovery.

Your in eternal fearless learning,

Mary Ann

Can I really follow my bliss from my easy chair?

Today in my quest to find inspiration throughout my day to write my daily post, I find the my muse of words, Linda Gabriel on Facebook posting that she wrote a guest post on Tiny Buddha. It truly resonated with me as in my new years zeal to create my resolution for 2013, I stated I was committed to "being in my truth and follow my bliss." However, can I really follow my bliss from my easy chair with my laptop computer on my lap and HGTV on TV (which I tend to call the Oracle...the TV that is not HGTV)?

Linda turned on a light in my brain when she said, "If you are going to follow your bliss, the supposition is that you already know what it is. Maybe you do, and maybe you don’t. Yet."

Yes, Linda, you are right "what is my bliss?" The six points in Linda Gabriel's post opened my truth seeking eyes to the fact that I need to find what my bliss is or at least narrow it down to one bliss at a time so that I can follow it. Trying new things, being open to possibiites, being curious and trusting life. Well, I guess that means I have to leave my chair and my house?

When I am in LA at my home photo studio, I work work work, strategize and work some more. Linda's six points to discovering you bliss is very helpful. Her last point in finding your bliss is "trusting life." Yes, I am a big believer in trusting what life brings, being grateful and enjoying the journey.

And speaking of the journey, one thing I am very passionate about and confirms that in some of my searching moments of bliss finding is that I adore inspiring women to be the best they can be. That gives me a big inhale of happiness and exhale of peace.

So I am following my bliss up I 5 to San Francisco to share my new book, which Linda Gabriel is featured in and is the co-author of, Fearless Women, Visions of a New World at Book Passage. I look forward to sharing my journey creating my book project and listen to some of the other women from the book joining me, tell their story and hearing the beautiful voice of Karen Drucker doing a special performance of "I Am a Gift," featured on the CD that comes with the book. Yes, that feels like bliss to me!

Hey, I'm not only getting out of my easy chair tomorrow but getting in a car and driving up north on a fearless joureny to Northern California on the I 5 following my bliss.

What's your bliss and why are you following it?

Yours in fearless bliss following,

Mary Ann

Stop Whining and Look at the Sky!

Today being the 10th day of my commitment to the 31 Day bog challenge, I realize at 11:45 that I still hadn't written my blog. I'm looking around the internet in between watching Stephen Colbert to find something to inspire me. So many things every day when I pause for a moment, take a breath and look around, I find true wonderment.

Sometimes when I hike Fryman Canyon I pay attention to some of the snippets of conversation that I hear as people pass by on the trail. It's a practice I engage in for my own mental therapy. I feel like Spirit may give me messages through conversations from a hiker/teacher of life that passes me on the trail.

The best message I have eavesdropped is by a mom hiking with her family behind me. Her 10 year old daughter was whining that she was tired of hiking and blah blah blah. This particular day was warm and stunningly beautiful with a blue blue sky and puffs of white clouds that looked like they were painted by Monet. While the girl moaned on and on the mother says, in a very calm but firm voice, "Stop whining, look at the sky." It was a gasp moment for me! This was a zen moment, a gift of a Cohen for me to meditate on again and again.

I have used this inspired message in my life over and over again. It works every time I get depressed and wind up my whine machine. I go outside and look up at the sky or look at a tree or smell a flower and see the real truth of life. It's those moments that change your perspective from dark to light.

When I shared this message I heard on my hike she got it right away. Rebecca does beautiful pottery and decided to create a mug to inspire people to vote. On the mug it read, "Stop Whining and Vote."

I invite you to meditate on this Zen Cohen and see where it takes you. For me, right now, it's going to take me to bed, to dream and to luxuriate in the journey of deep sleep.

Yours in Fearless non-whining,

Mary Ann

The Pot Roast is Well Worth Writing About...

Here I am on day 9 of my 31 day blog challenge. As I flow through my day I wait and watch to see what will get my attention or tickle my inspirational insides to write a blog post. My friend Teresa is visiting us from Tennessee and said, "Well, the pot roast is well worth writing about!"

Well, this picture is not quite as pretty as my husbands dish. And speaking of dishes, Joe, my husband aka Singing Chef Joe, I also refer to him as my hunk of burnin' love is a fabulous cook. I am blessed to have such an amazing man that loves me, takes care of me (in sickness and health) and supports me and most of all cooks for me. Yes, I am a lucky broad!

All I must say is the pot roast was divine! As far as inspiration, it was sumptuous...the taste, the texture, just plain yummy.

Well, ladies and gents...that's my blog for today! I am filled with pot roast, great wine and great company. Life is great!

In full fearless bliss,

Mary Ann

A Love Letter to a Fearless Woman

On the 8th day of my 31 day blog challenge, I look for inspiration through my day. This time it came from my Goddess Badass friend, Christina Dunbar, with a sexy sweet heart and a soul of a poet. I have observed Christina over the years explore her Goddess side, her sensuous side, her bad girl side and mix it up with some warm brandy, chocolate and life experience into a smooth tasting coaching, speaking and empowering women branding.

“Visionary women don’t dream big, they dream BIGGER. Visionary women don’t expect to get it perfect, they allow themselves to be messy. Visionary women don’t play by the rules, they play by their passions. Visionary women don’t follow logic, they follow intuition. Visionary women don’t just say “why”, they say “why not?” Visionary women don’t hide out; they make their entrance on stage. Visionary women don’t dismiss their pain, they share their story. Visionary women don’t start a company, they start a movement.”~ Christina Dunbar

She inspired me in her last blogpost to write my own love letter to myself and to all fearless women. A letter to read when I am down, doubtful, insecure and stressed out. Oh dear, I think I need to read it now! LOL. Here goes...

To you my gorgeous, sexy, bodacious, change-maker, hilariously funny, warm & big hearted, soul-searching, deep thinking, ageless, brilliant visionary warrior, sword wielding Fearless Woman...

I'm speaking to you...
From the depth of my aching soul
My heart throbbing self of self....
Yes, you...look in the cosmic mirror and see who you are...
Really are....
I hand you the mirror sweet sister of everything brilliant and shiny...
You are the breathe of God and Goddess of all...
Make your mind sing with all the knowing that you have and will have...
Know that the ancestral sisters who blazed the trail before you are always with you to guide you
To push you, every so gently with, sometimes, their red spiked heals and taunt you with their caustic humor so that you can truly see the beauty not the beast you think you are and who you know you truly are
Oh ferocious wild Woman, dive into the water and drench yourself with all the fear you know that is deep in your Venus heart and just... let...go.....
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh....much better now
Float
Smile
Be naked in your new found truth
Luxuriate in the tears of realization
And weep for your whole self...the whole world...the whole Universe...
And surrender to the river of life
And finally, finally press the easy button 
Allow yourself to have the peace, the quiet, the freedom, the time, the completion, the total support, the hugs, the kisses, the love and everything everything that you have yearned for in your heart of hearts.
I love you with every part of my body, heart and soul.
And if you remember anything
Know, just know that I am here for you always and forever.
You are the bomb...

With Fearless Love,

Your Fearless Wise Woman

I Am Lost & Now I'm Found

This is the seventh day of my 31 day blog challenge. Just when I start racking my brain about what to blog about I get an inspired email from a friend of mine. She said, "In a way, I'm avoiding to face my life by staying here (at her mountain cabin)...I like what you told me, rather than I'm lost, may be I'm....what's the word you used? Finding" myself?"

I replied to my friend that I think rather than seeing yourself being "lost" see yourself being "found". It's one step in front of the other. Make a choice to do something and if it doesn't work, choose again. It's so easy that we complicate it and agonize over not having the right answer.

In this new year, I think we all wrestle with finding our passion, following our bliss and creating from our heart place. We over-think things and then either hide out, stay in confusion and overwhelm. Well, I say just make a choice any choice and if you don't like it choose again. Don't question it just do it! Yes, now doesn't that feel better?

Yours in fearless choosing,

Mary Ann