Each day offers a new opportunity to drop the old, stale mantras that continue to hold us back from our full potential of living a fulfilled life and more importantly giving and receiving unconditional love. Our experiences can leave us disillusioned and create an internal dialogue that leaves us bitter and cynical. Only when we drop the veil of fear and allow our authentic self to feel every experience, without judgement, is when we are truly set free from the bounds that restrict our souls from flourishing, flying and being present in the moment.
Opportunity in Adversity
06 Aug 2012 Leave a comment
in Reflective Musings Tags: Adversity, Opportunity
The difficult places take us on adventures we may have never traveled had everything been easy. I, for one, am thankful for those tough spots and the opportunity to change my path at any given moment. Spontaneity and flexibility are key. It is those experiences that create the opportunities that can lead to the fulfillment of our own soul story that is unfolding every day. Peace and Love ♥ ♥ ♥
The Virtue of Patience
28 Jul 2012 Leave a comment
Thought for this afternoon ….. Patience.
When we have to bear certain circumstances usually beyond our control and sometimes just within our reach, our patience is tested. It can mean the difference in how we interact in the Universe. As I was reflecting on my own life at this moment I thought of a Warrior, the courage and steadfastness on the journey. Love is always patient and that is where I try to dwell…. then I found these two quotes:
The strongest of all warriors are these two — Time and Patience.
LEO TOLSTOY, War and Peace
Patience is cultivated in the storms of your own heart and mind.
CHRISTINA FELDMAN, Compassion
Sunrise
Digging deep this afternoon ♥ ♥*´¯*♥ ♥
TGI(TODAY)
27 Jul 2012 Leave a comment
Dwell in the possibility of your inner journey … allow yourself to feel and experience all it is. Be brave, steadfast, and love yourself unconditionally…. all of the parts that are you. Life begins when you accept the challenge to LIVE and love with all you are and be who you are. ♥ ♥ ♥ Instead of TGIF …. TGI(today)
Adversity and Challenges
24 Jul 2012 Leave a comment
In life, it is those trying times that test our resolve to live, to love, to be loved. Vulnerability isn’t something that is easy to attain. Our nature is to put up the walls and defenses on the premise of survival. What are we really surviving if we aren’t open to all that life is? And all that love has to offer!? I am thankful for the people in my life – you lift me up, make me laugh, share in my joys and sorrows and most of all challenge everything I am, so that I may learn and nourish my soul daily. Namaste’
Mindfulness
19 Jul 2012 Leave a comment
In the midst of chaos, find peace. In the midst of pain, find comfort. In the midst of sadness, find light. The Universe conspires to bring us exactly what we need in the moment, we just need to pay attention and be present to find our center. Practice mindfulness and non-judgement everyday – this includes being kind to our own souls! Namaste’ ☮ ♥*´¯*♥*´¯*♥ ☮
Courageous Love
10 Jul 2012 1 Comment
in Love Tags: Courage, Journey, Love
When you allow love to reach the depths of your soul,
You begin to heal the fragments of pain that tend to sneak
in and attach at the core – trying to disrupt the joy that resides there.
Unconditional love requires great strength, courage, and perseverance.
The reward it brings is sometimes beyond the realm of reality,
Almost bordering fantasy, but well worth the experience and
trials of the journey.
A refreshing light inside – lending a dream to the dreamer
and a pallet to the artist.
The reality of it is there if you allow it and BELIEVE.
My Place of Tranquility
Tranquil Meditation
14 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Life
These days you won’t find me dwelling in the past or looking ahead to the future much, but today I will reflect on where I was one year ago. Aside from the fading scars and the strategically, tiny, dotted tattoos that now reside on my body, you wouldn’t look at me and think “Oh, she had cancer.” I still feel so blessed to have an amazing surgeon, whose warm heart and healing hands removed the cancer that invaded a tiny space in my left breast. I am so grateful for his compassion and consideration when making the incision that would mark this event for life.
Mark this event for life. Those words just struck me this moment…. That moment was a new starting point, and a shift happened at my core. Life, such a force, so fragile and fleeting. I can’t really explain the new-found freedom I have to actually just BE, and I am not sure why it took a life event like a cancer diagnosis to flip that switch back on. I have felt from the first day of the diagnosis until this moment that cancer gave me LIFE, it taught me so much about myself and what I am made of. It stripped me down naked to my core.
When you have cancer, people are curious, they have lots of questions. If I could tell you one thing about having cancer it would be, cancer is an individual experience, it is a personal, intimate journey, from the diagnosis, to the decisions about treatment, to going through the treatment and everything after and in between. The next thing I would like to tell you is if you know someone going through treatment for cancer the best thing you can do for them is be there, be still and listen. You will figure out what to do to “help” by just listening. Be there, they need you.
I am thankful for each and every one of you. For all of the love and support I have received over the course of the year, and to those that went that extra mile, you filled my heart with peace and love. Thank you for listening, thank you for your friendship, thank you for being there for my family.
Embrace today…. this moment. Live and love unconditionally. Play, gosh learn to play again. Laugh, find joy in the little things!
Let love surround you and lift you up!
Much love always,
Natalie
A Continuum of What Is…. 2011 into 2012
31 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in Love Tags: Love, Moment, New Year's
As the calendar year comes to a close, I am not looking at it as an end or a beginning, but as a continuum of what is. I have no resolutions to make, just reflections observed on a moment by moment basis. All I have is right now. Right now… I will live out loud, love with a fierce passion that radiates to all, be humble and compassionate and comfort those who need an extra hug or kind word. I will be me in the most authentic way the moment brings. Right now… I will take care of my mind, body and soul with the same love, compassion, and care I do others. I want to thank each and everyone of you for being a part of my life and my journey each and every moment we are on this planet together. Love, Light and Peace to all this New Year’s Eve.
N.
I Hear You, Because I Listened
11 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in Life, Love, Unchained Tags: Connecting, Listening, Nature
Lately I have practiced a lot of listening. Listening to others when they speak, listening to the sounds of nature, listening to my own internal voice…. just being still and listening. There is so much knowledge to gain when you are still and listen. We get so busy in life, with all of our stuff, we sometimes forget to connect to the rest of the world. One way to connect is by stopping, becoming still and taking time to listen. Listening is also the highest form of respect you can give another person.
I have made it a point to really listen to what people are saying in conversations. Sometimes I think we just get used to giving certain answers when conversing. Yes, uh huh, oh really, etc. seem to just come out when we aren’t fully listening to someone who is speaking to us. I am not sure if I do it because I am not interested or I am just distracted, but when I find myself straying from the conversation, I have made an effort to pull myself back into the fold and listen with intent.
Nature is all around me, and I feel blessed to live in such a beautiful place. I have at times taken for granted the beauty that is around me. The beach and ocean is my favorite place to just go and relax, meditate, and write. I have made it a point to get there every day I can for almost four months now. The sounds you hear at the beach when you listen, can be interpreted as many things. People’s voices can bring joy and excitement at the spotting of a shark or birds feeding on bait fish. The sounds of the birds flying over or sitting just offshore can alert to bait fish in the immediate area, or if the seagulls are swarming, someone may have food out. The waves moving into the shore are my favorite though. The ocean is mighty and immense. The waves can go from sloshing to crashing. I am always awestruck by it all.
Take time today to stop and listen. Each moment we are given is for us to live and learn, to share and love. Give the biggest gift of love and respect, listen to others with interest and awareness. Listen to your own thoughts and reactions. When you listen with awareness it is easier to discern and let go. If you shut out the “noise” around you, you close yourself off from life, love and possibly your next revolution. 
rawlifeliving 