Getting Schooled

By Nature’s Inspiration

What Lessons Do You Take From Being Out In Nature?

We Are a Small Part of a Bigger World

I experienced a good portion of the West Coast in my eleven years living out there. Nothing stops you in your tracks faster than seeing elusive wildlife you should not encounter (i.e. bears, coyotes, etc.). We are a small part of a bigger world – we are interconnected.

The power of Mother Nature! From lightening to rainbows. From a storm surge to a sunny day. From watching the clouds roll in to the waves coming in and out. Simply amazing!

Seeing the Redwoods in California, Half Dome in Yosemite, the Bison in Yellowstone . . . the beauty reigns supreme! 

A Small Part of a Bigger World

Beauty

I think about what nature has witnessed and weathered. How it has survived and continues to experience growth.

Some trees do not grow roots deep, but grow out to other tree roots for support. I find that fascinating! It reminds me to ask for help as well as take help when offered. It reminds me that I can connect to my roots, but grow wings to experience. It reminds me that I am not alone and that I have a network of love and support. To be the best that you can be with support from yourself and others!

It reminds me to reach my full potential! To share my abilities, talents and gifts. To learn, grow and gain life experiences. To look for the possibilities and opportunities and not set limitations or even high expectations. Practice to progress . . .

It reminds me of my own beautiful self and the love I have for myself! I am not like anyone else. I am who I am. I am who I need to be. I am discovering my passions and finding my purpose in living it each and every day!

Beauty

Simplicity

I enjoy the quiet that nature offers! The peace in the silence and the calm in the solitude. Unplugging and disconnecting from technology and the overall hustle and bustle. It is cleansing, refreshing and recharging to your whole being! 

Keeping It Simple (Photos by RSheridan)

What Inspires You From Nature? What You Are Learning or Have Learned From Nature? Love to Hear, Please Share!

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Everything Is Connected I

Being Grounded

I am interested in learning more about chakras from a whole body correlation and connection! The mental energy and the emotional energy can block or affect the physical energy. There needs to be a clearing for clarity and a cleansing for balance. I am not an expert on chakras and this is just my opinions, insights and revelations about chakras.

The 7 Main Energy Centers In The Body, Known as Chakras.

1. Root Chakra – sits at the base of the spine, at the tailbone.
2. Sacral Chakra – located two inches below the navel.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra – located three inches above the navel.
4. Heart Chakra – located at the heart.
5. Throat Chakra – located at the throat.
6. Third Eye Chakra – located in the center of the forehead.
7. Crown Chakra – located at the top of the head.

Finding Balance . . .

1. Root Chakra – connection, support, safety, grounded.
2. Sacral Chakra – committed, creative, passionate, outgoing, ability to take risks.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra – self respect, self compassion, control, assertive, confident.
4. Heart Chakra – gratitude, compassion, forgiveness, joy, trust, love.
5. Throat Chakra – words, communication, expression, listening, truth, honesty.
6. Third Eye Chakra – clear, focused, reality vs. fantasy, wisdom, insight.
7. Crown Chakra – being and living in the present moment, trusting our inner guidance.

The Lessons . . .

1. Root Chakra – self preservation.
2. Sacral Chakra – to honor others.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra – self acceptance.
4. Heart Chakra – I love.
5. Throat Chakra – to speak up and let your voice be heard.
6. Third Eye Chakra – to see the big picture.
7. Crown Chakra – to live mindfully.

“The best way to start balancing the chakras is to start at the Root Chakra and work up to the Crown Chakra.”

On my journey of self I am learning to build a solid foundation to practice and progress from! I started building a solid foundation in my fitness and then continued on to my well being and then my whole being. This is where some of my interest in chakras comes from. The biggest lesson I have learned is that everything is connected!

My energy is an important player and a powerful player in living my life! My physical energy not only gives me strength, but taps into my mental and emotional strengths and weaknesses. Again everything is connected! I am working on releasing and letting go. I am working on cleansing in regards to my energy (i.e. achiness, stiffness, tightness, etc.). I am working on my weaknesses to make those weaknesses stronger and eventually strengths!

I need to find the balance that works BEST for me and my whole being! I need to tune into my imbalances and blocks from within myself and work out. I need to tune into what I am compensating for. Is it over active or under active? I really need to listen to my whole being and its needs! I need to take care of the one body I have been given and do the best I can for my whole being!

I find it interesting that emotional imbalances in the root chakra affect the basic survival needs! The ability to provide for life’s basic needs!

(Photos by RSheridan)

Here’s to Whole Being Wellness! Here’s To Being Curious and To Learning, Exploring and Growing! Love To Hear Your Thoughts, Please Share!

Natural Connections

Interacting With

Your Whole Being

How Do You Communicate, Interact and Connect With Yourself On A Daily Basis?

Communicate By . . .

• Listening to myself and my needs.
• Finding solitude and solace to just be by myself.
• Reading and writing and photography.

Interact By . . .

• Taking time for myself and my needs.
• Being open and embracing the possibilities and opportunities.
• Trying new things.

Connect By . . .

• Becoming one with myself.
• Becoming one with nature and the great outdoors.
• Being in the present moment.

Experience By . . .

• Being open to what life has to offer me.
• Getting out there and soaking it in.
• Using ALL of my senses.

Grow By . . .

• Being genuine and being true to who I am.
• Valuing, believing and having faith in myself.
• Taking those teachable moments and learning from those moments.

I especially love getting lost to explore and adventure! I enjoy getting outside to the great outdoors. I enjoy surrounding myself with nature. I find it healing and restorative to my whole being!

I find it is important to connect and reconnect with myself and my whole being each and every day! I find it helps me pause and be more aware and mindful in the present moment. I feel like I can breathe and relax. I find it helps me be more grounded in who I am and what I want to be doing!

(Photos by RSheridan)

How Are You Doing? Are You Communicating, Interacting and Connecting With YOU and YOUR WHOLE BEING? Love to Hear, Please Share!

Getting Schooled

Lesson Time

Do you have a particular lesson that continues to show up in your life?

I do! Sometimes it is nice and other times it hard knocks me in the head. Why? What am I NOT getting?

STOP hitting the repeat button already!

Doing . . .

It is one thing to know what I need and what I want, but it does not happen when I want it to happen! I cannot time it or schedule it to just happen. I certainly have no control over certain things! Why do I worry and stress? Why do I add pressure and tension? Just let it go, right!

 I need to do what I love and spend my time doing that instead! I need to do what makes me happy and brings me joy. I need to take pleasure in that. Maybe the lessons would be more enjoyable and fun!

Being . . .

I need to be in control and take charge in living my life! I need to release the ego and let go of the attitude that is trying to take control and be in charge at times. I need to have self confidence instead of self doubt and fear. I need to use my energy and power for the good and the positive!

I also need to be in control and take charge of my emotions, feelings and thoughts! I need to reign it in instead of it riding right over me, especially in emotionally charged situations. I am working on leaning into discomfort and facing my feelings and fears! I find it doable and that I can cope and deal. I find my comfortable place to be okay with it and move on again!

Practicing . . .

The most important lesson that comes back to me in a good way is to always love myself no matter what! I tap into feeling good about myself because it helps me feel good about what is going on. I tune into my confidence and own it. I look at my needs and what I care about and let the rest go!

I am practicing patience, but I still have very little of it to give to myself let alone others! I am finding that when I am in the moment and focusing on the task at hand that patience becomes a little easier because I am in the process. I am enjoying the process. I am discovering that good things happen in being patient!

Slowing . . .

I enjoy slowing down and being mindful! I am amazed at what I am aware of and what I pay attention to now. I am able to tune in to myself from the inside out and connect with myself. It is exciting and fulfilling!

In slowing down I am taking the time to relax and rest too! I need that down time not only for my sanity, but for my whole being. I feel less panicked and do not feel that fight or flight response either. It all works out in the end, so why not ease into it, relax and just get comfortable!

(Photos by RSheridan)

Here’s to Working It, Gaining From It and Being Rewarded! Love to Hear Your Thoughts, Please Share!

No Longer Holding Back

Life Lessons In Letting Go,

Releasing “STUFF” and

Getting Out There!

Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 or even 30 years? I am starting to loathe this question. How about living for today and taking it moment by moment instead? How do you measure yourself? I want to measure myself by getting out there and making memories! I also want to share those experiences and memories with myself especially as well as other people too.

• There is pressure, stress, worry, and anxiety.
• There is lists of all kinds floating around and taking up valuable space.
• There is the setting of goals and making resolutions.
• There is mistakes and failures as well as accomplishments and successes.
• There is calendaring, scheduling and trying to get around and get things done.
• There is measuring and progressing.
• There is adjustments, changes and transitions.
• There is the falling short, limitations and setting high expectations.

Quite a bulleted list, especially with 24 hours in a day with 4 to 8 hours of that 24 hours asleep!

I understand change is going to happen in my life if I like it or not! I think it is perfectly okay to be a little unseated by change because I am not sure of the impact it will have in my life. It can be a little daunting, especially the uncertainty and the unknown. I like to think in terms of what I need or want or what is best for me in times of change. Turn it into a good and a positive!

I know for me I need to take the time for myself and take care of myself during times of change! This way I can shift and adjust as well as grow and evolve to ultimately make those changes. It is about taking responsibility (control/power) and making a commitment to progress. I like to think of fear as a driving force to love myself to progress, to practice and to experience growth through change!

I am learning that to change I have to address the hurt and deal with my emotions! I also have to let go and release the anger too. That is what is holding me back and resisting change in the first place! I can move on without doing this, but I know I will be in a better place if I do though. Pretty much throw the garbage out and clear the air!

The number one thing I struggle with is valuing, believing and trusting in myself! When I have that trifecta I can pretty much do anything I put my mind to and set myself into action mode. I have to imagine and visualize what I want and need in order to get out there and go for it. I have to be brutally honest with myself at times and give myself a self check of reality too!

(Photos by RSheridan)

Sometimes The Beaten Path is the Path To Be On! Other Times You Need To Get Off and Get On Another Path or Create a New Path! Love to Hear Your Thoughts, Please Share!

Dream BIG

Dreams

I do really well dreaming, imagining and visioning! I usually lose my place when it comes to taking action. I do a lot of starting and stopping and not much focusing and finishing! I tend to focus more on the next thing instead of the task at hand. I do not take the time to enjoy the process!

Motivations and Drives

I wonder and ponder about my motivations and my drives when dreaming! My motivations are either about getting through my daily life and focusing on my wants and needs. My drives are either introverted or extroverted selves. In knowing myself better I can tune in and tap into my hopes, wishes and dreams!

I want to interact and connect with myself on a deeper level! I want to be involved and be integrated to a bigger part of my little world. I want to find that balance between being and doing. I want to be true to who I am and honor myself by going after what I want in living my life!

Nourish and Nurture

I wonder and ponder about how I feed and fuel my passions! I seek out inspiration to spark my creative side. I seek out adventure to tune into my curious side! I seek out opportunities to learn and grow as a person. I seek out what life has to offer me by being open and experiencing it!

I want to take action and make it happen! I need to move forward and not get stuck in one place for too long. I want to make good choices and decisions to find the directions to keep me moving ahead! I am hoping it will help me clear a path on this journey of life.

Receiving and Reflecting

I wonder and ponder about what I have received and what I will continue to receive in my life! I want to be more aware and more mindful when in the present moment. I need to slow down and enjoy the process more too. I appreciate and I am grateful for what I do have in my life!

I have been taking the time to reflect on my day! I can release, let go and move on. Tomorrow is the start of a new day!

Lessons and Living

The hardest lesson I had to learn is believing in myself and trusting myself and my intuition once again! I lost myself there for a while and stopped using the talents and gifts I have been given. I did not stop questioning and challenging myself, but I was not listening to myself for the answers either. I had to create the space I needed to find that part of myself and it feels good to have it back!

(Photos by RSheridan)

What Is ONE of Your BIGGEST Dreams? Please Share, Love to Hear!

Relationships

Are Lessons In Love

Lessons Within Lessons and

Lessons of Life

Relationships are teachable moments with multiple layers and many lessons, especially in relation to other people! Just think about what you learn and what you share and what you gain in experiences from those relationships. Think about the relationship you have with yourself too. Pretty Amazing, right!

I love that I can be myself in certain relationships! I do have a voice and I can express myself. I feel that I can be open and free with who I am within that relationship. I can show and share myself and my many layers!

Showing Depth

It is a process though and it takes patience and commitment! I have to create that connection. I have to develop that communication and that interaction. I have to build on that relationship!

I need to trust in myself in order to open my heart and let another person into my inner circle! I can be more open and accepting of what I want to share about myself with another person when there is that trust too. Then there is the possibility and the opportunity to nurture, flourish and grow as a person!

Being Open

I enjoy when growth is a natural process between two people! That ability to build each other up instead of break each other down as individuals. Love versus Fear. Happiness versus Jealously. A desire to benefit and gain as well as experience and grow from and with each other!

I enjoy knowing where the boundaries are in order to give each other the personal space that we both need and want in a relationship! The giving and receiving. The listening and supporting. The respect, esteem and love for each other!

The not trying to change that person and letting them be who they are! The being there for each other when figuring out who we are, where our place is, what we want to do, and how to just live life in general!

Walking Side By Side

I love being an individual and having independence within a relationship! I certainly know it makes me a better partner and friend to myself and other people. I need my own interests, passions and dreams. I need to take time for myself and take care of my needs as well as my whole being!

Then I am not relying completely on another person to do that for me because I can do that for myself! I am nurturing and nourishing myself. I am feeding and fueling myself. Then I can spend time and share with another person and be there for them!

Some relationships are brief while others may last a lifetime! There will be lows and highs. There will be ups and downs. I think the greatest gifts to take out of any relationship is those lessons in growth and gaining life experiences!

Experiencing Growth (Photos by RSheridan)

You never know who you may meet as well as impact or transform by communicating, interacting and connecting with each other!

Every Interaction, Every Relationship is an Evolution in Love and Growth, Especially With Yourself! Love to Hear Your Thoughts, Please Share!

The Teachable Moments

In Living Your LIFE

Experiences

The experiences in my life lately have been some teachable moments packed full of life’s learning lessons! Sometimes these experiences turn into laughable moments because that is the BEST way to get through it!

Sometimes these experiences come one at a time and then sometimes these experiences come in waves. Every experience is different and plays by its own rules too! I enjoy playing the doubting and the potential outcome game, NOT. Just get it over with and rip the band-aid off already!

There are times I stop to think about it. There are times where I want to give up and take the easy way out or just surrender. There are times where I seem to go against the flow more than with the flow. I so wish I was one of those people that could surrender by just accepting what is happening in my life at the present moment and just go with the flow!

Acceptance

How do you accept let alone embrace what is happening in your life?

I am very much a challenger and a controller! I usually get defensive when challenged because I want to be the one in control. I do not let go easily and accept what is happening in my life lightly! I usually want to take action and just get it over and done with.

I am slowly learning that resistance and trying to take over control of what is happening in my life is futile! Plus I am probably missing the best parts too. I certainly do not need to add stress to my life that is for sure, but of course I do! I struggle with either not doing anything or tackling it head on. There is no middle ground for me or at least one that I cannot see!

The hardest part for me has been finding patience! I am impatient with myself as well as other people. My impatience has just added fuel to the fire in certain situations! There are times I want to run like heck through certain situations and move on to the next thing. Sometimes I will run through multiple next things in a month’s time too!

What Truly Matters

The last thing I want to do is waste my energy reasoning with my own mind and my own emotions! Sometimes my mind is experiencing something totally different than what is truly going on. Then my emotional self kicks my rational self right out of there and my emotions, feelings and thoughts go on hyperdrive! My main goal is moving through the experience so I can move forward once again.

It really comes down to believing and trusting in myself! Instead of fighting against myself! The hardest part is hearing it, listening to it and taking action. I need to have a positive mindset, really follow my intuitions and be true to the real me with what I am experiencing in my life. It is not easy, but I am doing it for me and my well being!

I truly want to focus on what serves me and matters to me! Not get held up or stuck on the dumbest things, especially the trivial things. Life is way too short to be doing that and need to get on to living it! I am figuring out what I want in my life and what truly matters to living the life I want.

(Photos by RSheridan)

Have You Laughed Today!!!

MOMENTS In Time

Life is NOT Always Pretty

I have my moments and I have my “MOMENTS”! I get emotional, ticked off and have “a moment”. I am done beating myself up about it too! I see it as opportunity to learn from and grow from the experience. I take it as a life lesson and at times even a blessing!

I try to take on too much and try to be everything for everyone! Then the cracks start showing and slowly things start falling through those cracks. I know if I take on any more things are going to be flying instead of falling! I know I cannot do it all, so why do I set myself up to believe I can. Then everything that has been falling and flying ends up crashing down around me!

Like a constant game of tug-of-war going on! I feel like the rope in being tugged and pulled. I so want to be that person that finds the middle ground and that can just be happy right now!

I am going to experience moments of disappointment, discontent and oh why me! I need to be able to work through my emotions, feelings and thoughts in order to move forward once again. I need to be able to find solitude and go within myself to deal and possibly heal. I have to find the process that works best for me!

I enjoy the life I do have! I crave many things and have many interests, especially traveling, exploring and adventuring. I need to be let out of the box every once in a while to ignite my creative self. I prefer to be journeying on the trail instead of being stuck in a rut. I love being outdoors and becoming one with nature.

I really think it comes down to sorting out what you need and what you do not need in your life at a given moment! Sometimes this sorting out brings up the good, the bad and the not so pretty in me. I have to reflect on what is right in my world and love on that a little more when life is trying to trip me up and throw me off balance. It happens and no matter what I need to accept and embrace ALL the moments in living my life!

I think of those obnoxious weeds that keep popping up every time I pull one or two! I have to get the weeds under control in order to let the flowers grow. I need to spend my time doing what I love and living the life I do have!

(Photos by RSheridan)

Remember to Embrace and Accept ALL that Life Has to Offer!!!

Take a Number

Take a Seat

I have “Next Disease”! I am always looking for the next anything. I fool myself into thinking that I am not holding myself back by looking forward to the next thing in my life. Next, please!

Taking a #!!!

I am learning to embrace the unknown with open arms! I am discovering that being open to the possibilities can be a life lesson as well as a blessing. I am growing while expanding my world! I enjoy welcoming my world with open eyes instead of with my eyes closed and my head under the covers. Much better way to live life!

I need to push less and let go of the control at times! Instead I need to get in sync with my inner drive and outer ambitions. I can no longer force things to happen in my life! I am learning to be and be more in the present.

One BIG World Out There

I am starting to believe that the journey is the process of living my life! I am in charge of living the life I want. I am finding inner happiness, becoming healthier and getting out there more. The destination is the here and now!

I am discovering my beauty from the inside out! I am taking the time I need to love and do for myself. I am slowing down in a way that feels good for me. I no longer want to hold myself back!

Discovering My Calm and Collected Self Again (Photos by RSheridan)

Hang Out!