Fellow Weirdos Unite!

In honor of Halloween, and moving into the month of November, we are going to explore the art of being Weird.  There are many who walk to the beat of a different drummer, one that is different than the norm.  There are many of us who are looked at as strange and some of us are just plain odd.  Merriam Webster defines weird as: "1. of strange or extraordinary character: odd, fantastic.  2.  of relating to, or caused by witchcraft or supernatural, magical."  This month's blog is devoted to those weirdo's who walk among us, those of us who stepped out of the shadows and walk their own paths with their heads held high.  This story is real, honest and actually freeing to admit, and I call it my own.

I've been called weird for all my 66 years.  As a kid, I never felt as though I fit in, it was hard to be different in a milk toast world.  I was never part of the "in crowd," I always felt very alone.  I was never the one picked first in PE or to dance with at the Saturday night dance classes.  I was the outcast, the off beat kid who wasn't tall, blond, or excitingly pretty. It was tough in those days of San Marino living.  To this day I still carry the scars of being That Girl, the one who in some respects, lived in the shadows.  Over the last three decades however, now that I have gained my self confidence and walk my path, the feeling of being weird or alone has disappeared.  Now I'm me, just who I am and who God meant for me to be.  What you see is what you get!

My path is different than some, off beat from others and not of the normal necessarily, but it's been my journey to walk.  Many years ago when I found spirituality and changed my life, I was the different one.  I was not one of the norm or like those with whom I interacted with daily. For awhile I tried to embrace what I thought was normal but three years ago, I re-found my center, my real self and now once again I am "different."  Life is much better now and I'm back to being me.  Now that I'm back to being me again it's not as daunting, and the feeling I need to fit in is not important any longer.  I actually like who I am and the path I'm on. I came out of the shadows and now I'm the one who speaks her truth through this blog and in other venues.  I may not be a great inventor, artist or song writer but I will continue to make my truth heard, even though it's not necessarily true for everyone.  I will continue to be honored that this blog is read and I read the comments with an open mind and heart and feel truly blessed.  

Remember, Thomas Edison, Nickola Tesla, Mark Twain, Henry Ford, Florence Nightingale and the rest of those who stepped away from the norm?  They walked their path, chose their journey, and lived the lives as they were called to live.  All of these brilliant people were deemed "weird" by the societal norms of the day.  We would not have electricity, telephones, modern nursing, fine literature or the mass produced automobile if it wasn't for those "weirdos" who stepped out from the shadows and claimed themselves and their calling.   In this day and age, those who are innovative, creative and have a dream, need to come out of the shadows and been heard.  Take Elon Musk for example, I bet in his youth he had a hard time fitting in.  Look at all he's accomplished, he was one of those who brought the electric vehicle out of the shadows and into mainstream thinking!  There are many more new ideas out there waiting to be discovered.  Just imagine if these great thinkers, the weirdos of yesteryear had been shy or reticent!  Our lives today would be surely different.

So I challenge you dear reader, step out of your comfort zone, look to your purpose and live your life when you find your true calling.  Life is too short to be someone you are not.  Life is what you make it, enjoy and go forth fellow weirdos and rejoice!

"The person who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd.  The person who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever seen before." - Albert Einstein

Full Moon over Meridian Idaho October 21, 2021

Radical Self Love

Recently I started reading about Self Care or Self Love (we can call it both actually) and pondered the subject more during my daily meditation.  Sadly, I believe that we women tend to put everyone else ahead of ourselves.  Somewhere on life's journey we need to remember to start caring for Me, the person in who's skin we live, 24/7.  The body and soul that we should be nurturing is us, me, myself and I.  Now, please don't get your feathers ruffled and scream how selfish!  It's selfish not to think of ourselves as we can not care for others, if we are not in a good space within our own being.  Self care is necessary as we move along this path of life.  Men and women both need time for ourselves, time to nurture ourselves and time to learn to live a fruitful and happy life.  

First all, Radical Self Care is not simply taking a bath once a day and brushing our teeth.  Self care has to do with our mental, physical and emotional well being.  I write all the time about my passion for journaling.  My mental well being is comforted by what I write in my pages.  The most offered advise I give to those who ask is to journal every morning, put your thoughts on paper and don't be shy.  The more one expresses one's self in the pages of our very private journal, the better we feel.  The point is, with your pen in hand, pour out your heart.  I read recently that by writing in long hand, on paper, tunes one into one's heart and the divine within.  Writing on a lap top or iPad can cause distraction.  So invest in a good pen, buy journals at the nearest Ross or TJ Maxx and write away! Trust me, what ever was bothering you when you sat down to write, will magically disappear.  You dear one, have cleansed your heart by your own hand.

Radical Self Love also encompasses our physical well being.  I strongly encourage each and every one of us to develop an exercise routine and stick to it.  I work out three days a week at the gym and I'm back to walking Bonnie daily as the weather has cooled off.  We walk over a mile a day and the fresh air alone on our daily walk is invigorating, soul cleansing and a good meditation as well.  I also golf, bike ride (not as much as I'd like) and I'm going to learn how to play Pickleball when I have time.  My intention is to go hiking again now that's it's cooled off here and the fall colors are beautiful.  So people get outside, move your joints and breath in the crisp, cool fall air.  It's good for your soul.

During the winter months, we can still practice our  Radical Self Care inside and away from the snow and ice.  True friends are so important in our daily self care routine.  Having one or two really good friends to connect with on a regular basis, to share thoughts and ideas with, is so important. If it's snowing or raining, zoom a friend as it's still a break in the daily routine. I zoom a lot as some of my wonderful close friends live elsewhere and now that I'm used to it, it's fabulous!  Since the Covid crap is finally going away, meeting for lunch or if the weather permits is a trail walk, is a way to get ourselves out of the daily rut of life and be out among the living.  People need people but be careful as there are so many out there who do not have our best interest at heart.  You'll know after one or two discussions if "that" person is someone you resonate with.  I'm currently reading a book called Dodging Energy Vampires by Dr. Christiane Northrup.  These energy vampires are out there and they walk among us. Learn to avoid them at all cost as they are toxic and will suck the very life and energy from you.

Radical Self Love also encompasses what we think.  Norman Vincent Peal wrote a book called The Power of Positive Thinking.  His basic premise is how we think is what we are.  The book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne takes it further.  How and what we think, we can manifest into what ever we want.  These are extremely simplistic explanations of both books but basically; how we think is how we present ourselves to others.  How we think is how we live our lives and how we think is who we bring into our lives. The Bible says; "For as he thinketh within himself, so is he."  Love yourself by thinking positive thoughts and ideas.  Once one puts out the positive, one will receive back from God, positive.  It's simply a universal law.  

Last but not least, our spiritual well being is not only important but necessary for our entire human experience.  I'm not concerned about what my readers believe, I'm concerned about the nourishment of your souls.  I probably just sent a few into a dead faint but honestly, what one person believes in may not work for the next.  I've long ago left the proselytizing game and only try to spread love and light through my actions and deeds.  This blog has been a game changer for me as I've resonated with so many.  Living here in the United States, gives us all the freedom to worship and enjoy a spiritual experience in what ever way seems appropriate to our well being.  The point is, finding a spiritual connection to believe in, study, and be at peace with, is the key to our innermost well being.  

In conclusion, Radical Self Care or Radical Self Love is really an amazing concept once we get the hang of it.  Taking care of our mind, body and soul is a privilege and one we should never let go of.  This mind and this soul is the one we carry on into eternity.  We only live this life once, so make it worthwhile while you're still here and make it worth the effort.

The following appeared in my email queue this morning... how appropriate! 

The Tastiest Insights are often the simplest solutions by Matt Kahn:

Ingredients:

Several generous scoops of self-love

A few pounds of love for whatever arises

A pinch of "How may I serve?"

A sprinkling of integration of ego

A potent teaspoon of unwavering integrity