Lately, I'm finding that I really have a lot to learn about boundaries. It's not as though I'm a weak woman, or that I've been a doormat, and I don't typically let people take advantage of me. It's more like I've usually just managed to either create or work out situations that I can deal with in life. Or, I've walked away from them. 

But these days, life has been showing me that there are times when you can't just tell someone to eff off and be done with it.

Of course, I've known that in my rational mind for a long time, and really, the actual saying of eff off most often only happened in my head anyway~ but still...the ability to wave and walk away has been something I've long appreciated. Whether you smile or yell when eliminating a connection,  it's sure nice to have the option of severing things. 

But sometimes, for whatever reason, a person has to have ongoing negotiations and interactions with people and situations they don't necessarily want to be involved with. If you're trying to do it in a way that doesn't feel toxic and cause angry eyebrow wrinkles, it requires a whole heck of a lot of skills. 

I will admit that I have lacked these skills. So, in trying to work out how to deal with such things, I sought out the words of wisdom from people who have some expertise.  It quickly became apparent that learning to set healthy boundaries would be an important step in avoiding feeling venomous.

One of the most valuable things that anyone has said to me in regards to boundaries and interacting with people and situations you're not terribly fond of, is to keep your boundaries firm & friendly.

I have to say this is quite a concept for me. Firm AND Friendly. Like, at the same time?  (........)

It's Friday, and I'm celebrating the weekend with a few of my favorite things....

And a few things I don't have images of, but are also among my favorite things:

* The sound of a gaggle of girls giggling into the wee hours of the morning

* The enthusiasm of my Boy Child dreaming big dreams

Happy Friday! Hope you enjoy a weekend full of your favorite things, and if you're inclined, please share what's making you smile in the comments below :-) 

The first few days of a new year always have such hope, such promise. By a week into it (or by the 3rd day) I know a lot of people are already feeling over it with the idea of anything new or different happening. 

I may be a little late to the party but personally, I'm feeling like my 2014 scheme fest has just begun, and I'm super excited about all the possibilities. 

I've been spending a good deal of time playing with ideas and dreams~ looking back and releasing, looking forward and brainstorming. It's been a bit yo yo-ish, but in a pleasant and rhythmic way rather than a spastic one.

Since I really like crazily scribbling my schemes onto paper, preferably in rainbow colors, and often accompanied by pictures, I've been having a fantastic time playing in my 2014 Amazing Life Planner. I also did a wall spread of 2014 calendar pages, and am starting to sticky note in dates and details.

There's just something about writing stuff down that seems to make things more likely to happen. It's crazy. For example, one thing I put on the list of things I'd like to do in 2014 was to get a disco ball. They're shiny and fun, and I've wanted one to spruce up my chicken coop for years. 

Well, a day or so after I wrote it down, not one, but two came into my life. They weren't anything that had graced the ceiling of a swanky night club, but rather 2 small Christmas tree ornaments that I knew needed to be liberated from a future of being attacked by a friend's cat. (I left a note explaining that I took them, and was pretty sure the friend would be OK with it. They were. Plus, they had like 20 more, so it's not like there was a shortage.) 

Neither disco ball is going to go in to the hen house because I decided I really would rather demolish that coop and get a new one, and for now, I'd rather they spread the shiny light around my bedroom and my car. Or, I may wear them as earrings at some point, I'm not sure.

Yes, my disco balls are little and silly, but the point for me, was that it happened~ not in the way I might have envisioned, but nevertheless, I got what I hoped for, and more even! And I'm noticing that this kind of thing seems to happen in lots of ways, and in things much bigger than tiny sparkly decorations.

Setting intentions, then being open to the way things unfold without getting hung up on an exact details can lead to some amazing positive results.