in my pajamas….

It was like one of those anxious dreams where you are back in school but have forgotten to put on your pants…but it was not a dream.  I was caught in my pajamas at a gas station.  For real.

I had been to Atlanta to spend the night with my daughter and awoke early last Tuesday morning at 6:30 am.  Before I was thinking like a sane person I had the brilliant idea to beat the heavy downtown traffic by getting straight into my car and making a hasty departure.  My daughter tried to get me to change clothes but I assured her that I was awake enough to drive and would just go straight home and get dressed in Vidalia.  It is a three hour drive in optimum traffic conditions.

So… I made a quick pit stop before leaving – did not take the time to brush my teeth – picked up my bags and got right in the car in my pajamas.  I was just so smart!  I sailed through downtown and was south of Atlanta in minutes – yeah!  I called Eliza and told her I was OK and well south of town and then popped in some Broadway show tunes to pass the time.  It was a beautiful morning – I watched the sun rise and laughed at the other people stuck in traffic who were headed into the heart of Atlanta.

Everything was in my favor because I had left at 6:30.  Macon was a breeze also and I was soon on I-16 – the last stretch of interstate until the Vidalia exit.  Singing and driving – I slipped into a parallel universe and was enjoying the ride when I noticed that ugly little orange light pop on just beside the fuel gauge.  Oh my gosh…..I had forgotten to check my gas gauge before leaving Macon.  Anyone that drives on I 16 knows that the exits are few and far between.  In that pit of my stomach  – in my parallel universe – in my pajamas – I did not know where I was.   My mind’s “mapquest” data knows just two exits – where to get on and where to get off.   It is about an 80 mile stretch between so there is lots of time for singing and thinking and just whatever.   I was deep into the role of Aida when I saw the orange light so I had to snap back to reality.   I turned on the lady in the GPS  who has steered me wrong one too many times to consult her about gas stations.   She was little help.  No surprise there.  I don’t like her – never have.  The distance range was indicating that I had only 6 miles left before I was empty.

Panicked and in my pajamas!  No support anywhere if you get my drift.   I was about to run out of gas on the interstate with no underwear on.   As the “distance left to go” was shrinking right before my eyes I spotted an exit and zipped right off only to find that there wasn’t a station at the top or within sight.  There was nothing to do but get right back on and keep calm and carry on.  I was not, however, calm.  I was a zany mad woman…absolutely NOT in the mood to sing.

With less than 2 miles left to complete empty I spotted another exit sign – just one mile up the interstate.  I started doing that thing where you coast and accelerate – trying to make it, which I did.  There was a lone gas station with only one pump in site.  It was the kind of station that I would never stop at.  It sold bait and gas.  Good enough since all I needed was gas.  I got as close to the pump as I could and opened the car door to hide behind the pump while I filled the tank but to my horror there was “no pay at the pump”.  I was going to have to go in!  There were men inside drinking coffee – uh oh.

It was morning social hour at the station!   I finished fueling, mustered up my dignity and then started the slow walk toward the door with just a thin layer of jersey knit between my girls and those guys.  The windows were tinted so I could not tell how many fellas were inside sipping.  I walked as gently as I could so that things would not jiggle…  Once inside, I greeted all of the fellas as if I always wore my pajamas to get gas,  paid for it and then turned slowly (and gently) and left.   As I drove away I looked in my rear view mirror to see if they were laughing….I was!  I liked those guys for being country gentlemen.  I might even patronize that station again  – for gas and maybe a bucket of bait,  just for good measure.

on the tip toes of my Fred Flintstone feet…

This angel is me.  The folded arms, the wide hips, the messy hair – even her little Fred Flintstone feet.  There is not a crown on my head – yet!  But I am hoping….

I am waiting and with arms folded and embracing my confusion.  Standing as tall as I can I am on my tip toes and breathing deeply.   I need a “God wink” to give me direction.  My path has clear defined edges but I don’t know where it is going.  The scenery is beautiful though and for that I am grateful.  Today the sky is as blue as the bead in the photo above the angel’s head and the breeze rustling the leaves is like angel song.

But guess what?  I have good company!  So many people that I am acquainted with are on their tip toes also.  They too are holding their breath and waiting for something or someone to clarify their place in the world.  Maybe it is our age.  Maybe it is the economy.  Maybe it is ____________ (you fill in the blank with your “maybe”)…

Let’s promise each other not to give up.  Standing on our tip toes can only strengthen our feet and they are what keep us grounded.  I am breathing deeply and looking ever forward.  Today?  My mission is to find a crown….

ann of south carolina…

I have been wanting to write about this coincidence – perhaps to help me understand it.  It has great significance for me and I am not quite sure why.   By sharing it with you I am hoping that its meaning will become clear to me.

I had a woman that I admire very much purchase three necklaces from me several weeks ago on a Thursday.  She chose three for herself and one for a friend.   Her choices for herself are remarkable because she happened to choose three necklaces that were mine, at least in my mind they were.   The trio was part of my “Lettie stash” and they were hidden in  my drawer until the day that she purchased them.   I had only removed them from my drawer early that Thursday morning.  I don’t know why I was compelled to pull them out but I did.   To my surprise I would sell not just one but all three of them to Ann of South Carolina…

Obviously I approve of everything I make or I would not take the time to tie all of those tedious knots.  It is difficult to part with all of the necklaces because I put a little of myself into each.  But these three were special to me for reasons unknown.  I had squirreled them away because of an undefined attachment to all three.  I was unprepared for the coincidence that was about to unfold later that day.  Coincidences are amazing – a friend of mine calls them God’s winks.  I love that.  I must have noticed his wink at me on that Thursday morning because I pulled these out of my drawer and added them to my basket with all of the others.

I have not known Ann very long but I liked her the first time I met her.  She has the most beautiful smile.  The atmosphere of a room changes when she walks in for her enthusiasm about everything is contagious.  She is lovely and caring and giving.  Ann is the sort of person that I envy for her presence.  It is large.  It is wonderful.  She is a role model for the way I would like to live my life.  Her generosity is impressive and her compassion for those in need is beyond measure.  It pleased me when she expressed an interest in seeing my jewelry and I just happened to have it with me on this particular Thursday because another friend had requested to see it.

I let her look by herself along with her friend and she came back in the store with the piece shown at the top of this post.  I had just completed it the day before and as I said – I had made it for moi.  I told Ann how pleased I was that she chose the moth because I had intended it be mine but was happy to know that she would have it instead.    Then she told me there were two others that she wanted so we went out to my car for her to show me the pair so that I could place them on hold.  Well – no hold was necessary for they were not listed in my shop.  They had only been symbolically listed as mine.   I could not  believe that she placed the two shown at the bottom of this post in my hand.  I was speechless and at a loss for words to tell her what a coincidence was occurring.   I later gave her a hug and stumbled over some words that did not seem to convey how pleased I was at her choices.

My basket has over one hundred necklaces in it and Ann picked the three that had spoken to me because they spoke to her.  Unbelievable.   As I write this I think it is now clearer to me that I felt I was giving her a little part of myself.  She has given so much to me just by being a wonderful example of how to life a life  and as I stood there – not knowingly -  I was giving a cherished part of myself  back to her in gratitude.

I have just discovered that I don’t have a photo of the third necklace but it was faceted labradorite, wood and another vintage religious medal circa 1900.    I am glad they all found their way to Ann…and I am thankful as always.  I love the coincidences that occur in my life.  God remembers that I need a little encouragement every now and then and he winks at me.

they all come from ziplocs and tupperware….

Organized chaos is achieved with the items mentioned in the title of this post.  All of the necklaces that I have made have evolved from these ziploc bags and tupperware storage boxes.  I use the name ziploc and tupperware sort of like I use the name kleenex.  It covers all brands.   Do they even make tupperware anymore?  Anyway,  I thought it would be fun to share the process with you…

This is the first stop.  I rummage through all of these little plastic bags and find something that speaks to me.  I never know what I am going to choose when I start flipping the little bags over and over.  The beautiful decoupage basket was a gift from a friend so I especially love that it is the launch pad for my creativity.  I need to tell her what I use this basket for.  I think she would be happy to know that it is a “working” basket…..

I next turn 180 degrees and kick around these bags on the floor to choose what will be the body of the necklace.  And yes – they are always on the floor.  I have tried to keep them in the larger box shown but they just seem to jump out and stay out.  I blame it on my pair of Golden Doodles – Frank and Steve, but I am not fooling anybody.  Everyone that knows me expects to find me strung out all over the house when they drop by.

Then it gets fun.  I swirl these beads with my hand until I find the ones that will accent the chosen pendant.  I love the noise they make as I do this.  I lay them out in my palm with the pendant and try different combinations until I think it is right.  I usually know what I am looking for when I start the swirling.  I know most of the beads in this box very well.  All have been lovingly collected over the last two years.   Now I am ready to knot  – everything is  gathered up and poured  into a lap-size tupperware box and I am off to the chair.  I am ready to slip into a parallel universe….

This recliner is where I make them all….I kick the foot rest up and put on a movie or some music and start knotting.  That is my favorite mug on the table by the chair.  It says “If you can’t lose it, decorate it” and it has a photo of two full figured women in swimsuits in a loud floral pattern.   I love working out of my house.  We live in the woods but are inside the city limits so I can slip into town for lunch with friends which I do almost every day.  I am only two minutes away from everything unless I have on my pajamas and then I am five minutes from everywhere that serves food!

Photographs are taken on my back porch.  All of them.  You can see some of my bottles on the table.  I take my photos with my husband’s camera and know nothing about photography except how to turn on the camera and keep it on automatic…

Meet Maypup.   She is my assistant.  You can see that she is highly skilled at what she is required to do and that is to keep me company.   There is also a cat named Margie but she was MIA when the photos were being taken.  Margie is a manx cat and is extremely entertaining.  My husband, who is a veterinarian, says that they always have peculiar and funny personalities.  I love that she thinks she has a tail.

That Life is Good lunch box is my camera bag.  I sit the camera on top of the lunch box and connect it to my laptop to transfer the photos…other props are here, there and everywhere.  Literally – everywhere.

A make-shift desk has been set up on top of this wine rack.  My poor husband – he did not intend this to be part of my jewelry chaos.   This is where I sit and edit photos and then list the necklaces on Etsy.  Folders containing website info and tagging stuff are on the second shelf.  The fourth shelf is kept empty and is used as a foot rest.    I spend most of my day perched on this stool while working on the computer.  I remember that my instructor in design school told me that design was only about 20% creativity and around 80% paperwork.  That was in the 80′s – paperwork is now computer work.

My favorite part of the entire process is receiving feedback from my customers and friends.  They send me great stories – some of which I have already shared with you through earlier blog entries.  I also enjoy being connected to a global network of other artists via my little laptop.   I correspond with the  most interesting people and we attempt to promote each other in whatever way we can so I feel like I am never alone.  The entire process is gratifying and I am thankful that I find myself on this journey.  I am having fun and lots of it!

This is the most recent recliner creation……

waiting on the washer and dryer….

Today was supposed to include some fun around lunch time…but instead I find myself having to practice patience.  Since I work out of my house, lunch time is a big deal because it means I get out of the house and find my way to a table with some friends.  Today lunch revolves around waiting on a washer and dryer….

The delivery men arrived minutes ago and I was so pleased because I thought they might finish before lunch and I could skidaddle away to lunch outside on the patio at a local restaurant with my friends.  The weather today is outstanding and dining al fresco is especially appealing.  But when they opened the cartons with the washer and dryer in them it was discovered that both appliances were damaged.  Now I am a “scratch and dent” kind of girl so I immediately questioned the degree of damage – my cheap self thinking DISCOUNT!  They said it was bad but I will accept pretty bad so this did not scare me away.  We have six dogs and most everything we own is damaged.  A scratched washer and dryer will blend in beautifully around here.  In fact – I always ask for damaged items or floor models when possible.  So I climbed up in the truck with my skirt on and had to agree – it was pretty bad.  They have returned to the warehouse to get another set and this time I hope they will check them before they return….

So I am having to practice patience.  Early this morning I made a necklace – the one shown above – and there must have been some divine providence at work for the fact  that I chose to make this particular necklace on this particular day seems appropro.  While I was making it, I was imagining all sorts of things you might put in the little box….worries, patience, anxieties, prayers, dreams, baby teeth, tic tacs and so on and so on.  I was once told by a friend, Mary Elizabeth, that a great technique for managing anxiety and frustration is to have a mental box in our minds that we open and place the concern in – then we can deal with it at a later time when we are stronger.   But I love the idea of having a little box around my neck instead of just in my mind.  I am not going to use this necklace for my own purpose for it is empty at present and is awaiting an owner.  I need not mess it up with my “stuff”…

But as I sit and wait I am thinking about how hard it is to practice patience.  And I am not just thinking about patience with people…I am thinking about how important it is to be patient with one’s self.   I am frustrated daily with my own shortcomings  – wondering why I am not doing a better job at this or why did I not think of that or why did I eat that peanut butter…I could make a list on a piece of legal paper.  This is me needlessly beating up on me!  Instead I should be more patient with myself – remembering the affirmation I made up in my mind about a year ago.  “I am all that I need to be and that is enough” – which means I am trying and doing the best that I can and that really is enough.  Most people are doing the same thing I guess…..

I am waiting still…but doing some good mental work while I wait.  And wait…..where are those guys?  They said they were coming right back.  I’ll bet they are dining al fresco somewhere.

one final photo….

before it was hidden from me – again.  It has been hidden in our house for several weeks – even months – but it came out for a Saturday afternoon and I snapped this photo.  I also had three large tablespoons of this wonderful stuff.  I thought there was no peanut butter in the house to be truthful but I saw my husband eating a sandwich last Tuesday night and became suspicious.  I asked him what kind of sandwich he was eating and he told the truth.  I jokingly went over to the sandwich and threatened to smash it with my hand if he did not tell me immediately where the peanut butter was.  We laughed…

If you don’t already know about my obsession with peanut butter, vacuums and pearls you might want to revisit the blog written almost a year ago on September 25, 2010 (you can click on September 2010 in the archives on the lower right side of this page).  It explains how these three items were and remain valuable tools in my handbook on survival.

But back to the reason that the peanut butter came out of hiding…

I had a rough couple of days.  Enough said.

I needed a fix of peanut butter so I texted my husband (who was on a tractor) and simply said “where is the peanut butter?”  I then prepared myself for the imminent volley of texts that would surely follow about what was wrong and why did I need it and didn’t I know it was so fattening and so on and so on…  Instead I received a simple text that said “it is above the vent”.  No lectures or questions – just what I wanted to know.  That sweet man….. within seconds peanut butter was doing its job – comforting me.  Nothing works as well and I can’t imagine a better comfort food to be in existence than reduced fat Jif.

Then the mail came and it included a large package from China that was full of pearls!  I had been waiting for these for weeks.  My entire inventory was exhausted so I had long been missing them.  I love the feel and beauty of pearls.   Working with them is even better.  So now with pearls AND peanut butter I was quickly emerging from my hole.

But the best was yet to come….

Today I arrived home to find a brand new vacuum parked in my kitchen!!!  My husband surprised me with a brand new Dyson.  There is nothing I like better than a vacuum.  I plugged it right in and began vacuuming my “worries” away and then symbolically dumping them in the trash.  I vacuumed about 15 minutes and then parked it – still plugged in – I plan to get rid of some more anxiety tomorrow.

I am feeling loved.  No lectures about the peanut butter and a brand new vacuum – what a good guy I am married to.  He pays attention when I think he is not.

I looked for the peanut butter today while he was at work but could not find it.  He is very good at hiding it. Thank goodness I thought about taking a photo.  Now I have something to “remember it by” …..

my "worrybuster"

tell someone….

I read it.  I read it again.  And again……

I took a deep breath and put my hand on my throat and thought me?  Can this person be talking to me? ME?  I read it again and she was.  She even used my name…

Words are powerful.  I never knew that something as simple  as another person’s words could so profoundly impact the way I view myself.  But I had never received a compliment that “rocked” my world.  My perception of myself  is and always has been dark and cloudy.  Since I only have the option of looking at myself  from the inside out it is hard to see clearly.  I have questions and am now probably 2/3 of the way through my life and am still looking for my answers.

But you know….I don’t know many people that don’t have doubts about their purpose – their reason for being here.  Sure – we have family, friends, work, etc and those are enough reason for being here.  But we sometimes question whether our life has meaning beyond our own immediate family and friends.   We are looking for something more.  Another reason beyond the obvious.

If we are lucky, as I was, someone speaks up and says something that gives us cause to see value in what we do and who we are.  I can hardly believe that just 6 words from someone I don’t even know has changed my sense of worth.  Just 6 words was enough to make me hold my breath and as I breathed out my opinion of myself was altered.  Forever.

Tell someone or everyone that you know something that you value or admire about them.  Tell them.  Don’t just think it.  Say the words.  Write the words.   Do whatever it takes to let them know.  Your simple compliment could touch the core of their very being and change forever, or at least for awhile, their sense of self.  I would love to think that I had made a difference in someone’s life with my words.  I am going to use them wisely and try to do just that.

tell someone....

petrified to grow….

I was drawn to this pendant but I was not sure why.  I kept it as a “favorite” in my Etsy cart for many weeks before I thought I had finally figured out why I liked it.  With that realization I knew I had to purchase it. It wasn’t until many weeks after it arrived that I changed my mind about why it appealed to me.

This pendant is made from sterling silver wire twisted into a tree of life by my friend Ellen.  This one was unusual because it was done on and around a piece of petrified wood.  A tree of life – on petrified wood.  Wow.  Why was this pendant speaking to me?  I was first drawn to it because of the symbolism of the growing tree that represents life juxtaposed against a piece of dead wood – petrified wood.  I wondered if Ellen was making a statement?  I thought I would ask her but never did.  I tossed it into a basket and sort of forgot about it.

I had it for a couple of months before deciding to make something with it.  It had arrived in a plastic bag and had been safely in that bag  since the day I received it.  I had purchased it based on photos but had not actually held the piece in my hand.  I think the day I received it I must have been busy because I usually get everything out and play with it before putting it in my basket of goodies.  But this piece got buried and I unearthed it just last week and opened it’s tiny zip-lock bag and dumped it into my hand and began playing with it  -  still trying to figure out why I was so drawn to it -  still unsure what had compelled me so strongly to buy it.

Then I recognized myself in the pendant – I am the petrified wood and yet I am also the tree.  I am stuck because of lack of confidence and am afraid to grow.  But I AM growing so I am also the tree.  I am putting out new branches – sometimes reluctantly – watching some grow into healthy strong branches.  I also watch and hurt as some break off and fall into oblivion – leaving just a scar on my trunk.

This happened to me a couple of weeks ago.  I was afraid to try something new but was determined to branch out and see the task through.  Always held back by my own thoughts – this time I was going to reach a little farther and try something out of my comfort zone.  Push myself.  Grow a new branch.

But it was not a successful growth attempt.  The branch broke off as soon as it grew and left me even less sure about my direction.  It was shortly after the damage that I wrote “when pigs fly” which was about a party with a late and unexpected guest that saved the event and turned me around.  The guest was encouragement.  It was the fertilization that I needed to get me to climb back up in my tree and sprouting  new branches again – this time my roots were stronger.

Since then my tree has been sprouting new growth in many directions.  I am even extending a branch in the direction which was snapped off.  This is not easy for me.  Once I fail at something I am always reluctant to try again and I usually don’t.  I get “sap lock”.  But I extended a small branch in that direction just yesterday only to have a little bird land on it and the song that it sang is promise that the branch is stronger.

I am that pendant…..petrified to grow.  But I am doing it – I am doing it!  Sometimes just a twig at a time but with a stronger sense of self – stronger roots – the twigs will perhaps become fruitful branches.  Maybe a bird will build a nest in one……..I can only hope!

when pigs fly…..

I attended a “pity party” a couple of weeks ago that I was both hostess and guest at – it was my very own private party and it was lousy.  I was having one of those days when I was feeling sorry for myself and was flooded with thoughts of failure and disappointment about most everything.  Did not matter what it was – I was feeling like I was ready to give up and throw in the towel.   My prospect of success was the equivalent of “when pigs fly”……

I hope I am not the only one that has days like this.  Somebody please tell me that you do also.  I would love to think I am a normal sort of gal.  I spent several hours with my hands on my hips and a snarl on my lips before I realized that I was not having fun at the soiree and  had to find a way to snap myself out of it.  My first attempt at leaving the party was to text a friend and say “got any peanut butter?”    She knows me well enough to allow access to peanut butter whenever it is needed so it was just minutes before I was scooping a large tablespoon out of her jar.  In fact – I had two.  I would have stayed a bit to talk with her but it was the weekend and her husband was on the sofa so I vamoosed after the delicious fix and headed back to my home.   What to do what to do – the party was still going on in my head although the refreshments had been oh so fine…..

My other fail-safe tactic for breaking my mood is to make a necklace so I rummaged through my collection of pendants and inspiration came in the form of this flying pig that had been buried deep within the basket – it was a forgotten piece and when I found it I knew it was a much needed decoration for my spirit.  It would be symbolic of “staying the course” and this pig would help me.  I grabbed some pearls and found the accent beads that were calling and was quickly knotting a necklace that made me smile as it evolved.  It was to be for me – I would make pigs fly if only around my neck and a positive attitude was all that I needed to acquire to ensure success of everything that I was convinced was wrong.  As I knotted each pearl on my way to the end of the necklace I counted my blessings and found myself smiling…a photo was snapped and popped up on FB and the necklace sold!  Encouragement!  The guest that had been absent for a couple of weeks had arrived.   It was encouragement that I welcomed as my guest.   Any number of things might have ended the pity party but the universe sent me encouragement to entertain and I focused on it and the infinite possibilities of my future.  My friend Kathryn purchased the necklace when she saw the photo on FB.  She is a source of continued encouragement for me…I am thankful for her.

But the next morning brought me a gift in the form of an email.  More encouragement…..here are some excerpts:

“Dear Lettie -
I am the individual that has purchased three of your creations. One of them being the “Ava Maria” purchased today. I have a wonderful admiration for your work, and would have loved to add other treasures to my collection once I saw them all in person. I feel a very close spiritual connection with the “Ava Maria” and wanted to share my feelings with you. I follow your blog, and the recent one about the compass truly had me nodding my head in agreement. My needle is out of control, and I don’t know what I need to do.

As a child, I was never held or loved. There was much negativity with physical and verbal abuse toward me and my parents towards each other. I had a friend that was Catholic that gave me a plastic rosary when I was in kindergarten. She said that Mother Mary would protect her children and to always remember that. I would pray and pray that the yelling and screaming would stop when I was in my bedroom as a young girl, and prayed each time that we wouldn’t have to go to the ER that night. I would always hold my cross and say a special prayer.”

Her name is Brooke – she then proceeded to tell me some information about herself and her health – I so totally related to these tidbits of her life as they were somewhat akin to mine.   Here is the rest of her email…

“I made God a promise that I would not be like my parents, and I swore to myself that I would not break my promise to God. With that being said, I have a void when it comes to my own parents and to the lack of love from them. I have been looking at the “Ava Maria” for almost 4 months, and finally had the opportunity to look at it in person as well as have the opportunity to meet you! I went to Cafe Jonah with the attitude that I wasn’t going to purchase anything, but when I put the necklace on, I truly felt God’s presence and in my own special way, felt my void filled with “her” love.

Thank you for the wonderful gift and the most precious piece that I will ever own. I would love to meet with you one day and perhaps hear some of your thoughts about things that interest us both. Again, this has been an amazing experience and such an awesome thing that has happened in my life. I never knew that a person could “feel” a connection with a piece of art, but I have found out what that means.”

This kind of encouragement cannot be measured.   I wrote her and told her the significance of her email and received permission to use parts of it in this blog.    She knows that her email arrived at a time when I needed it and wrote me again to say how glad she was to have written it.    I have read her original email many, many times since receiving it.   It has become one of those moments that counts as “my happy place”.  I recall her kind words and I am happy….it is so simple.  Encouragement  was all that was needed to turn my boat around.  My attitude has been positive and sales have picked up.  No pity parties are allowed on my calendar now.    Encouragement.    What a powerful gift that we can give others.   Brooke and Kathryn sent me encouragement and together  we made a pig fly!  The universe is amazing.  It sends us what we need just when we need it as long as we remain positive and open….how cool is that!

the necklace that Brooke purchased

the inner compass in all of us…..

As all of us do from time to time, I find myself wondering what direction the rest of my life will take.  My inner compass seems to  be overactive – the needle bouncing all around and occasionally vibrating in a single direction only to start bouncing around once more.  And it’s not just me….

Both of my children are currently exploring their options.  Each in their own style – each with their own set of challenges and concerns.  Very different are they.  One a girl and one a boy.  Both on very different paths but yet with the same purpose.  They call me almost daily with options and concerns and ideas and worries.  I do what I can to encourage and reassure.   I am on my own tour of sorts and don’t have any answers for them.  They must find their own path and use their own compasses.  Their compasses are newer but mine is timeworn and a bit wiser.  I tell them that they must find their own direction – only them – and to remain open to possibilities presently unknown to them.  Staying positive and believing that good things are coming their way will ensure that they do.  One of them has embraced this belief system and has opportunities presenting themselves daily.  The other thinks I am wacko…..

And I have a couple of friends that are currently having trouble with their inner compasses as well.  We frequently talk about what we hope to achieve during our life.  One of the friends is experiencing the “empty nest” phase of her life.  She is wondering how in the world she will make it with her husband once the kids are gone.  I think that is more common than not.  We have a house filled with 6 dogs and 2 cats so we somehow never felt like “empty nesters” – but I don’t recommend this unless you are married to a veterinarian as I am.  Although I am responsible for each of the animals having joined our pack he loves them all as much as I do and the lifetime free health care makes for an easier situation. 

Young kids play into the decisions that another dear friend is trying to make.  Her compass is very active as well – her needle is jumping  – in fact it might be spinning.  She does not know which way to turn so just takes it one day at a time.  She is a wonderful mother and has to hold their compasses for her kids until they are old enough to manage them on their own for  her children are all under the age of 8.  And she has friends that are going through similar and even more challenging directional changes.  There must be something in the air….

Another buddy of mine is in a period of transition – big time.  I offered her a big hug yesterday and told her to “let the universe be her travel agent” – I love that quote.  I repeat it to myself often.  I like thinking that their is a divine plan for me and that I only need to show up and it will be laid out for me.  An easy plan to follow with obvious answers and fulfilling days….how wonderful would that be.  But we all know that it is not that simple.  Stumbling blocks just fall out of nowhere and throw us off course.  Illness, the economy, friends, any variety of bumps in the road must be navigated with our inner compasses.  We must trust our “hunches” -  that is our inner voice leading us in the right direction. 

One of my friends let her compass take her out of a marriage and across the country.  She is thriving in her new environment even though she has not yet put all of the pieces to her puzzle together yet – but she is getting close.  I admire her for following her heart – her dreams – her calling.   She is in Montana and living her dream.  All she needs to make it perfect is a job!  The last piece of her puzzle- the biggest one.  She is brave to leave that piece for the last.  She tells me that it would take a crowbar to pry her out of her new situation.  Her compass must be a deluxe version!

I think that my low self esteem keeps me from following new directions.  I am getting ready to do something that I have never done before in regards to my jewelry business and I am nervous and just plain scared.  But the needle keeps vibrating in that direction so I am determined to get there and see the thing through.  I hope that good things will come from it but that nagging little voice inside my head continues to tell me that I am somehow not worthy….there have been so many opportunities along my journey that I have passed up  because of that little nag inside of me but this time I will push forward.  My compass is telling me to move in a new direction.  I realized that if it was not the right direction I could just rechart my course – no big deal – and then the scaredy cat in me was tamed if only temporarily.

To all of us that are struggling with the direction of our lives – I say again, “let the universe be OUR travel agent” and trust your inner compasses.  If yours has led you down a path that you have not liked just imagine that you have a pretty new one that works better.  I am considering trading mine in…..I like this one because there is no North, South, East or West….just symbols that can be used for any direction I am called.