365 Inspirations—139: Feeling Blessed

Our view of Puget Sound this evening

“Gratitude bestows reverence.....changing forever how we experience life and the world.”—John Milton 


My husband and I often house sit down on Puget Sound for 4 lovely cats. We feel lucky to spend time with them and blessed to be in this place. Tonight we ate dinner in the dining room and this was our view. I made a tossed salad and baked a fish and we ate very slowly staring off in the distance at all the ships passing by as the sun slowly set. We cleaned up the dishes and went for a lovely stroll around the neighborhood.

Last night my husband took me to a concert in Seattle. He took me to see Snatnam Kaur. It was an Indian kirtan-style concert. Snatnam's voice is so beautiful and the tableau and guitar player were out of this world. You could not help but feel blessed just hearing the sounds.

At Snatnam Kaur Concert

I think every single moment of our lives is so important and I'm trying to remember to stop and feel appreciation for the wonderful things that are already in my life.

It's easy, in the hustle and bustle of life, to forget to really to be fully present to what is right in front of us.

There's always something more that we are waiting for.

I'm a firm believer in the fact that if you make this moment an important one and make it count, all the other moments will follow suit and that will become your life. Make this moment really good!

Did you make your moments count today? Are you making them count right now?

365 Inspirations—138: In Memory of Daisy, An Inspiring Cat

"We all want to love and be loved, and Daisy and I were a love match."—Sarah Lawrence

Do you have a cat? I don't, so I live vicariously through my friends' kitties. Right now we are house sitting for four wonderful cats. I always look forward to the opportunity. Spending time with these cats reminds me of a very special cat.

When I first went to visit my friend Sarah's apartment, she let me pet Daisy. Daisy was the softest kitty I've ever touched. Daisy was such a sweet cat, but I noticed right away that she couldn't walk very well. She would take a few steps and then fall down and had to be propped back up on occasion. My friend let me know that her cat had what's called Cerebellar Hypoplasia, a neurological disorder that develops while a kitten is in the womb of a mother who has been exposed to the Distemper Virus. Cats with CH are born with an underdeveloped cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls motor skills. CH cats have a lack of balance and coordination. However, the cats are not in pain and can live very functional, loving lives like all other cats.

Sarah first saw Daisy in May 2009 at the Average Joe Cat Show, a fundraiser for Purrfect Pals, in which people enter their family cats for a variety of categories. Various other cat organizations are often present too. Jessica, the foster mom of Daisy, brought her to the show to give Daisy a better chance of being adopted. 

Sarah stopped by Jessica's table and had an opportunity to see Daisy walk. Daisy took a couple of steps with wobbly legs and fell over on her side. After learning a bit about Daisy, Sarah thanked Jessica and walked on with misty eyes.

But since that very first meeting, Sarah couldn't stop thinking about Daisy. Through a bit of effort, she tracked Daisy down and eventually adopted her.

Hearing how Sarah came to adopt Daisy made me feel quite moved. Most of us want to adopt a cat in perfect health and without any problems. How many people could truly adopt and love a kitty that has special needs? 

Not many.

The way Sarah loved this cat, just like her fully-functioning cat Catalina, was just so touching. She spent so much time training and giving attention to these animals equally. It was very impressive and inspiring. 

I was so inspired by Sarah's love for her cats, particularly Daisy, that I planned to interview her for this blog. The day before I planned to come for the interview, Sarah had to put her precious Daisy to sleep due to liver failure. The cat had been suffering and it was time. Fortunately, Sarah had had four wonderful years with Daisy who was about 13 when she adopted her.

I was one of the people who attended a very special memorial service for Daisy on March 3, 2013, one month after her passing, and was surprised to see how many people had also been touched by Sarah's love for Daisy and Daisy herself. People sang songs, created and read haikus, created works of art and someone even sewed a lovely pillow.

 I never thought I could feel so much, but I did. I felt a lot of love. Guests also made $3-$5 contributions to the Daisy Memorial Fund to help with the care of Edward, another CH cat way across the country in New Jersey at Tabby’s Place  http://www.tabbysplace.org/SN_page.php?id=888, a shelter that helps a lot of special needs cats. Here's a picture of Edward:

What I was inspired by was the fact that true LOVE comes in ALL forms. Some have children, others have animals and some people have a loving mate, family members or friends. There is no ONE way to LOVE or create a loving home or environment. Maybe you live in a community or on a farm with many people or maybe you live alone, but get your love from your life or work. Maybe you tend to plants or your garden. Maybe you teach or write or paint. There really are many ways to show and share your love.

Here's a little of what Sarah had to say about Daisy and a video of Daisy:

"All day long and all night long, her trust, devotion, love, and companionship were a treasure.  We took comfort in the familiarity of our routine together but never took each other for granted.  Now I’m sad that my little sweetheart is gone.  There will never be another Daisy.  But I’m glad we could share our lives, connect so deeply and genuinely, and just love each other, which is what it’s all about."—Sarah Lawrence

Do you have a pet? Do you consider your pet part of the family? Could you ever adopt a special needs animal?

365 Inspirations—137: Going Electric

"When you use a manual push mower, you're "cutting" down on pollution and the only thing in danger of running out of gas is you!"—Grey Livingston

We have a push mower. I tried to use it once and it took me three hours to do a four by four patch of grass. That simply is not going to work. So I bought the next best thing today—An ELECTRIC mower!

Right before we left for our 10th year anniversary to Las Vegas, we had two defunct gas mowers in the garage (hand-me-downs circa 1970s probably) and an old weed wacker. My husband tried to weed wack our  entire back yard, which is no easy feat, since our back yard in Seattle is quite large. He got half-way through the project and the thing caught fire, sputtered and died right there on the lawn. I could barely see his face through the white cloud of smoke that was between us. At that point I thought about tearing out the lawn completely. Actually, half of our front yard has now been converted to a stone Zen garden and it's not too shabby.

Anyway, we left the rest of the yard half finished and went off on our trip. Then life took over and before we knew it, the grass was practically up to our knees and we were becoming those neighbors that people whisper about. We were the eyesore of the block.

I couldn't take it anymore, so I bit the bullet and drove down to Sears today to look at mowers. My goodness, Sears had a lot of mowers. There were riders, side blowers, ones with Honda motors, mowers with attached catchers, mowers with gears, self-prepelled mowers—you name it.

All of these mowers the sales clerk showed me required gas with a special kind of gas stabilizer. Suddenly I recalled the fumes and white smoke from our weed wacker that exploded not too long ago and found myself saying, "Can you show me the electric ones?"

Off in a corner sat a rather large battery operated mower and one smaller one that required an extension cord. The price was right, but our sales clerk was surprised we were even looking at it. It was like we had entered a Harley shop and all we really wanted was the electric bicycle in the corner.

I didn't care. I was tired of white smoke, gas, yanking my arm out of the socket practically to start the darn thing. I wanted something simple, environmentally friendly, smooth and easy.

The best things about this new little mower are:

1. It's good for the environment
2. It is quiet, yet powerful
3. No need to pull any cord to start it, just plug it in and push the lever
4.  It's inexpensive
5. It did a pretty good job on our knee-deep lawn

I ended up buying an electric weed wacker too, but ran out of zap at the end, so my husband said he'd try and weed wack later. He has really bad allergies, so I'm doing most of the mowing these days. Good thing this little machine is a snap to use! Here's a photo of our spruced up house. I love that it is in the city, but has so much foliage and trees around it:

Do you do your part for the environment? Have you worked in your yard or garden lately?

365 Inspirations—136: Channeling Pele, The Goddess of Volcanoes

Pele, Goddess of Volcanoes, by Herb Kane

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."—Albert Schweitzer

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd feel a connection to a goddess. I'm not really even sure what that means. However, since visiting the big island of Hawaii, I've had many dreams and thoughts about Pele, the goddess of volcanoes.

I feel like she is with me daily. Even though she is depicted in human form, I'm not really sure she can be considered human. She is a force of nature.

I walked on the her lava late at night and in the distance I saw fire spewing out on the edge of a cliff high above the sea.

This volcano, Kilauea, is still very active.

I feel a strong urge to return to this land.

I don't know why.

I feel I have more to learn there. Something is calling me to make a bold move and just go.

Pele is thought to be the goddess of creativity and change, two things that are quite dominant in my life right now. I don't really know if I'm channeling Pele, or she is channeling me. I don't know why I keep having dreams and thoughts about this place.

The Big Island of Hawaii, particularly the Hilo side where I spent quite a bit of time on my trip, feels very sacred. This part of the island, near Kapoho, feels untouched and very pure to me. In this area, I swam with dolphins, sat in a natural pool that was heated by the volcanic rocks beneath it and sank my feet into a black sand beach.

There, I felt I was finally waking up to a very deep part of myself. A part I had forgotten or dismissed. Perhaps there is a whole side to me that I've yet to get to know.

Me at La Push, Washington

I'm ready to know that part of myself. I'm ready to let the flame within me grow.

Do you feel a connection to any particular place or even to a God, goddess or deity? How have these things appeared in your life? Have you made changes in your life because of your experiences with these things?

365 Inspirations—135: Inspiration is Always There

"Cease trying to work everything out with your minds. It will get you nowhere. Live by intuition and inspiration and let your whole life be Revelation."—Eileen Caddy

 In 2010 I wrote 365 Lessons on my blog and those lessons will become my next book. Here's Lesson 131 titled Inspiration is Always There:

I've heard people say, "I'm waiting for inspiration to come to me." or "I'm waiting to be hit with inspiration." You may be waiting a lifetime. Inspire means to breathe in. You don't wait to breathe in, you just do it. Inspiration can also mean to be "in spirit." For each person that will mean a different thing. For me, it means tuning in to the divine within. Or more simply, "tuning in." Inspiration is always there. The space within you is always there. But it is clouded by thoughts, emotions, and activities. Because the human mind is so cluttered with thoughts, it's very hard to see the inspiration.

So much of life is about "doing" and very little of life is about "being." There is an emphasis in Western culture to do. You can't forget the Nike ads which said, "Just do it." While I do believe action is also part of being, alot of the "do it" that gets us stuck happens in our thoughts. We have "to do" lists and those lists are LONG. Sometimes too long and humanly impossible. We have plans, we want this and that and need to go here or there.

Inspiration is hard to see if the our vessel is full....full of information, full of plans, full of worries, full of ideas, full of ________.

When you empty your vessel, when you start to let go of all those things that are clouding the clarity or emptiness or spirit that exists in you, you will start to feel inspiration again. If you keep your vessel or your inner space clear, you will find that inspiration is always there and it doesn't come from you specifically.

When you are empty, inspiration is able to move through you. Many writers talk about how they have no idea where the words came from. They just sat down and let go and this is what came out. The very act of "trying" to write something inspiring doesn't work. Inspiration comes from space within. If there is no space within you, if you are tired, stressed, overworked and underpaid, unhappy, worried or sick, it will be very hard for you to see the inspiration that is always there.

Keep your vessel clear, leave an empty space within you, clear your calendar, keep a regular walking schedule, pray, do yoga or practice meditation. Find a way to create space for yourself everyday and you will find, if you practice keeping yourself clear, that inspiration is always there. Inspiration doesn't come to you, YOU are IT. Don't try to look for it, just let go, clear a space and "be."

Is inspiration a daily part of your life?

365 Inspirations—134: The VOICE Within

"Do not follow where the path may lead.  Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail."—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Can you hear it?

 Do you pay attention to that little voice inside you, or do you quickly dismiss it and follow along with what is comfortable and known?

Recently that voice within me is becoming louder and louder and ever more distinct. The more I follow its guidance, the more I'm led to exactly where I'm supposed to be.

It isn't always easy. Sometimes I have to let go of things and move away from people, organizations, habits, routines, schedules, places, home, familiarity and even comfort.

Following your inner voice can be scary. It can be downright terrifying!

But what is the alternative?

To do something that no longer makes you happy? To live a life that no longer fits you?

I'm listening to that voice within. It's leading me to places I never thought I'd go. I trust that voice. I am willing to go through the uneasiness and even the suffering to live the life I am meant to live.

Today I honor that voice that is distinctly my own. It is my inspiration this evening.

Do you trust and follow the voice within you?

365 Inspirations—133: Soup of Love....

"Only the pure in heart can make a good soup."—Ludwig van Beethoven

Soup. Can it be an inspiration?  I was out of town over the weekend and am still catching my breath. Tonight was rather loooonnnng. Remind me that it's not such a great idea to write blog posts AFTER a 5-hour teaching gig late at night!

I stopped off at the grocery store to pick up miso and tofu because my stomach hurts a little, but I'm hungry. I teach from 4:50pm-9:40pm and don't get home until after 10pm, so I'm often starving.

I walked in the door with all the ingredients to make a hot, soothing bowl of miso soup, but no energy to make it.

My husband agreed to make it while I write this post.

He just walked in my office and handed me the bowl of soup and said, "Here's your soup of LOOOVVVEEEE!"

I can taste the love in the soup! Seriously.

I feel very lucky to have a husband who will make me soup after a long day at the office (he, he!)

It's the little things that really count and I'm so appreciative this evening of this hot bowl of deliciousness sitting next to me that was lovingly prepared by a very kind man.

What are some little things that have made your day? Has anyone done something kind for you lately? Have you done anything kind for someone else?

365 Inspirations—132: There's No Place Like Home....

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow."—Lin Yutang

I know I've written about home before, but it deserves another mention. We had such a great trip, but it's always good to come home and sleep in your own bed. We had to wake up at 4:00 in the morning because we had a flight out of Las Vegas at 7:00 and the shuttle was going to pick us up at 4:50.

As soon as we got home, we hit all our favorite haunts. We had sushi for lunch and while my husband was teaching a yoga class, I went to the Korean supermarket and made him his favorite Korean soup. After dinner, we actually walked around the neighborhood and admired everyone's yard.

Sadly, our yard needs a bit of help. We have two lawnmowers in the garage that are defunct and a weed wacker that blew up right before we left. Yoon got half way done with the backyard when it started smoking and then just stopped.

This weekend, rain or shine, I want to go buy a new mower and get our yard back to the shape it should be in this time of year. My husband Yoon used to LOVE to garden. He did it constantly when we first moved into our house. Now he has such terrible allergies that he doesn't dare try, so I'm going to take a crack at it this coming weekend.

It's a little overcast right now in Seattle and there's a bit of rain. All the plants and flowers are growing wildly, so things need to be pruned or cut, otherwise it gets out of control.

So good to be back and now I'm going to click my heels together like Dorothy and perhaps I'll be transported to my bed! So tired...good night all. More soon!

Did you have a nice weekend? Do you like to spend time at home and in your yard or garden?

365 Inspirations—131: Cirque du Soleil's 'O' Show

“ ‘O’ is liquid magic…”—

Los Angeles Times

I'm posting this early because I won't have internet access tomorrow. We are heading out on the town to see Cirque du Soleil's 'O' show. I've been anticipating this show for a long time. I'll add to this post later and let you know how it was. But for now I'll leave you with a video sneak peek of the show....

Have you ever seen a show that you would recommend? What was inspirational about it?

365 Inspirations—130: You Can Do Yoga Anywhere

"Vegas is purposefully constructed as a self-enclosed and isolated biosphere, sort of what a recreational colony built on the moon might be like."—Marc Cooper

For those of you who haven't guessed yet, we are in Las Vegas. Last Christmas we came here to celebrate Yoon's 40th birthday with some friends and we were so impressed by the Cirque du Soleil shows here (we saw Beatles Love and Zumanity), that we promised each other that we'd come back for our 10th year wedding anniversary to see 'O,' which is the masterpiece of Cirque du Soleil shows!

Tickets are not cheap to see 'O' and they are rarely discounted. People who have seen this show have told me that you will never see anything like it. The level of showmanship and choreography of this show is, apparently, unbeatable.

Since my husband is a yoga teacher, he is very impressed in these shows to see what the human body can actually do. He finds it inspirational.

Of course, you don't have to flexible or in any special place to do yoga. You can just start where you are and you'd be amazed at the results in only a few days.

I was told I'd never be flexible or be able to bend or touch my toes because of scoliosis. However, yoga has helped me in so many ways and wherever I am, I try and find a way to practice it!

Today at the pool at the Stratosphere Hotel, people were sunbathing, swimming and even sky diving off the top of the Stratosphere Tower.

 It was strange to  be sitting by the pool watching humans free fall off the building every now and then. But this is Vegas and anything goes.

Do you exercise or practice yoga. Do you do it on vacation or wherever you are?

365 Inspirations—129: Celebrating TEN YEARS

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”—Lao Tzu

Internet is spotty here, so these posts may be short! I had to type this post on my iPhone! Not easy!

Yoon and I ran away for our 10th year wedding anniversary...

Here are some photos that may give you an idea of where we are! Can you guess? Don't tell if you already know!

Are you married? Where did you spend your last anniversary?

365 Inspirations—128: Leaving on a Jet Plane

"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."—Robert Louis Stevenson

That BRIGHT PINK suitcase of mine is heading out on another journey tomorrow. I'm leaving with hubby on a jet plane at the crack of dawn. I'm just getting to my post now. I had to pack and get everything together in the last hour. It's almost midnight!
I'm excited for our upcoming journey.

Can you guess where we are going?

It's probably not where you think.

Should I give you a hint?

Nah, I'll post tomorrow and let you know.

We are going away for a special occasion and we want to see something that we promised each other we'd see at least once in our lives.

I guess you could say it's on our bucket list to see it, but I'm not really a believer in bucket lists. I believe that if you live fully and on purpose, naturally you'll do, see and be everything you need to.

So I'm going to go get some shut eye because we have to get up really eeeaaaarrrrlllly. "Leaving on a jet plane" is my inspiration tonight and my soundtrack this evening.

Tune in tomorrow where I'll be blogging from another world all together.....

Have you ever left on a spontaneous trip? Can you guess where we are going?

365 Inspirations—127: Do What You Love....

I was a guest speaker this evening at a non-fiction writing class at the U of W

"Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally."—David Frost

Late last night, after writing a post about "struggling," I picked up an old book from a shelf in the living room. Someone gave me that book in 1993 or 1994 at my good-bye party. I had just quit my job.

The book is called Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow. The title says it all.

I needed to revisit that book last night. I needed to remember the circumstances in which I received that book.

I had recently graduated from college and, after an endless job search, I landed my first job at a vocational rehabilitation firm as a job developer. My job was to make cold calls to businesses asking questions about various jobs.

It was good pay, I had my own office with my name on the door, I had great benefits.....but I wasn't happy.

After a meeting one day, I gave my boss my notice. I still remember that day so clearly. I felt so incredibly free. I felt like my car was flying on the way home. At a good-bye party, a co-worker gave me the aforementioned book. She told me that she was proud of me for following my heart. I can't forget that day.

I had no idea what I would do. I lived on ramen for the next few months and got a job as a hostess at Tony Roma's. I moved into the basement of a house because the rent was cheap. I got rid of things. I had a garage sale. I downsized.

I had free time, so I read the book. I volunteered for a literacy program and helped teach a 13-year old boy how to read. Eventually I ended up in Mexico teaching English and later ventured down to South America. My life of teaching ESL and traveling had begun. And I really loved it.

I still love it, but I'm being called to do something else.

Today I was a guest speaker at a non-fiction writing class at the University of Washington. I talked about my journey from blog to book. It was a wonderful group and I felt I had so much to share. I felt I was in my element.

I know this is what I want to do. I want to share my experiences through writing and through classes/workshops/retreats in order to help others fulfill their own dreams, whether it be writing, blogging, knitting, skydiving, unicycling or juggling.

I feel I have a lot to offer and I'm ready to not be afraid of that anymore. I'm ready to move completely into who I am and help others get there too.

This is my calling. This is where I'm headed.

Are you following your passion? Are you living an authentic life that fits who YOU are?

365 Inspirations—126: Struggle

"Opportunity follows struggle. It follows effort. It follows hard work. It doesn't come before."—Shelby Steele 

 Can struggle be an inspiration? Can I learn anything from it? I think so. I'm struggling right now with something and I can't go into details. I'm at the end of something.

End of my rope, perhaps.

I'll get through it, but I don't want to struggle through it anymore.

I want to let go.

I will let go.

Struggle is my inspiration because it is struggle that brings us to that new level of awareness. Afterall, we are really just struggling with ourselves.

The signs are there that things will change.

Today I met a friend for coffee. I only met her once before. The first time was after she read my book and then recognized me on a walking path and said, "Are you Katherine Jenkins?"

I met that person in a coffee shop today for the second time. She had just quit her job and has no plans of what to do next, but she felt this strong pull to completely let go, despite all her fears about it.

Basically, she jumped.

And she met me for coffee after she jumped.

Perhaps I'm the first person she's talked to in-depth since she jumped.

And then a friend called out of the blue....

Something about synchronicity...about the fact that we all are here for a reason...that we all have a purpose. We had talked about it last weekend and the very same subject showed up in her life two more times in one week! She called me to tell me that. She called to tell me that it was important.

And then, in a DAZE driving home from a 5-hour late-night teaching stint tonight, I saw a sign that read:

Your New Home is Closer Than You Think....

I have no idea what that means. Isn't home where the heart is? If it's a new home, does that mean I've had a change of heart?

Not sure what is going on friends, but I'm not much of a struggler. I'd just as soon let go, but I'm facing some fears right now. I don't know how it's going to all work out, but these friends that showed up in my life today assured me that sometimes you have to leave the "how" out of it. You have to ask different questions. Here's my question for you:

Have you ever let go of something despite all your fears of what would happen to you? 

365 Inspirations—125: Friends Walking Across America

Walking with George in Shoreline, WA 2010

“There comes . . . a longing never to travel again except on foot.”—Wendell Berry 


In 2010, while writing 365 Lessons on my blog, I wrote a post (Lesson 275, Walk with Inspiring People) about my friend George who is walking across America. Almost four years later and my friend is STILL walking! He made it to Virginia and I believe his final destination is Washington D.C., so he's almost there! He started in Washington State! While walking, he's met so many people and his journey is so inspiring. Recently I heard that he met a young man on his journey named Andrew Forsthoefel who was also walking across America. They met in Louisianna. I just listened to Andrew's radio segment on NPR: This American Life about his journey. It was very inspiring. Here is the link: http://transom.org/?p=33988. Andrew also blogs here: http://walkingtolisten.com/
And now for the post I wrote about my inspiring friend George who is still walking...go George! Here it is:

My friend George is one of the most inspiring people I know. He set out on a walk of inspiration across America in honor of his mother who died of cancer. He's walked through storms on the highway and cliffs near Big Sur, California and through the desert to El Paso. He's slept on the side of the road near power lines, couch surfed on couchsurfing.org in order to find a place to sleep, talked to school children about the importance of walking, and touched so many people on his walk of inspiration.

Here's what his website, enjoythewalk.org says:

"On September 20th, 2009, I, George Throop, began a nine-month pilgrimage of inspiration. I'll walk thousands of miles across America, from Washington State to Washington, D.C. Taking countless steps across America, I hope to inspire you to take positive steps towards personal growth in your own lives..."

He estimates his walk will take longer because he is currently taking a break and will return to El Paso, where he left off, sometime in December. We caught up with him in Washington State and had a chance to take a walk with him. Here's are some pictures of our inspiring afternoon:

We took a walk from the Indian Restaurant where we dined to Yoon's Yoga Bliss, where my husband teaches yoga.

I felt so lucky to have had the chance to walk and talk to George today. He's living his dream and hoping to inspire others on his journey. He hopes that others will catch his spark and be encouraged to ignite their own dreams. He has met people of all walks of life and is impressed by the generosity of strangers. People have offered him meals, a place to stay and friendly conversation. He has even had strangers join him on his walk. If you happen to meet George on his walk or catch up with him somehow, you are lucky! His inspiration is contagious!

Do you like to walk? Do you think you could walk across America?