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Girlfriends ~ Inspiration ~ Silver Jewelry Treasures

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Being Human ~

September 1st, 2010 · Inspiring, Tracy's Posts

Happy Birthday Christopher John!

Human beings are complex creatures if you really think about it. We can love passionately one moment and feel intense pain the next. Most of us walk through life completely unaware of what our purpose is until we meet someone who inspires us to find it. These sorts of people are sprinkled throughout the world waiting to help those who are unaware. I had a synchronistic meeting with one of those wonderful human spirits just the other day and he gave me a gift that can’t even be translated into words yet, I am still processing our connection. I promise I will share more with you at a later date. :)

There are also those who are here to get as much as they can, they’re not fussy what they get as long as they get great quantities of it. I describe these beings as “food” because they’re just here taking up space waiting to be planted six feet under, to be fed back to earth and start again. Hopefully next time they will open their eyes and see what’s out there and the potential they have to make a difference.

We can be self absorbed, self-centred, unappreciative and wasteful. We can be driven by greed, money and materialism. Some of us live in fear without trust and step backwards more than forward. But change and awareness is on its way, for the betterment of all human beings! If we want Mother Earth to be here for generations to come we need to listen. We need to wake up to what is really important, the survival of our planet! If our planet survives so do we. We need to stop believing everything we hear and start trusting our instinct and intuition.

‘Life is about choices and consequences’ We are all capable of making choices, we make them every day. With each choice, there is a consequence, it’s that simple. With every Action there is a Reaction.

I’ve come a long way because of choices I’ve made in my life. Having children was a choice that changed my life. I believe they are here to help change the world! My life took on an entirely different meaning, my heart opened up larger than I could have ever imagined. I became aware of what I would be leaving behind for my children, a future far beyond my lifetime. If I didn’t pay attention to my choices the consequences would surely affect them as well. What I did with my life became more important. I made a conscious choice to teach my kids that life is what you make it, and every single human being on this planet is able to help make change. It’s never too late to make changes that will benefit our world and the people in it.

We are all aware of the changes being implemented in ‘Going Green’ these changes have become the norm which shows us that we can make a huge impact on our planet if we put our resources together. We have become aware, which is a start, but we need to go further than that. We need be aware of the energy of the human spirit to make the biggest difference. Each thought that enters our mind, each word that rolls off our tongue changes something or someone around us. It’s our choice if we want it to be of a positive nature.

Gini Gentry’s teachings stem from the heart of Toltec wisdom. “Don’t go against yourself”, “Don’t create circumstances that go against yourself” and “Don’t align yourself with someone who goes against you”. By doing these three things you empower your human spirit.

I just went to Gini’s facebook page and have share her status because I think its perfect!

“To reclaim our authentic nature, we need great clarity and awareness to accurately observe our lives. Once we do that, we can begin to dismantle the beliefs that obstruct being in truth and living from the heart. We step away from our impeccability when we deny that we are the source of love we are seeking and don’t speak and act from this truth.” Gini Gentry

“Our lives are the sum total of the choices we have made” Wayne Dyer

I am being human, I am making choices that don’t go against myself…are you?

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There Are No Shortcuts To The Finish Line

August 30th, 2010 · Jacquie's Posts, Tossed Salad

Last week Tracy wrote a piece called Can I Start Again? in which she talked about what it would be like if we could get a free pass or a ‘do over’ at certain times in our lives. Using a great keyboard analogy, she asked if you would chose to Delete certain events? Control others? Maybe Backspace in order to make your life more ‘perfect’? Interesting…

I thought a lot about this all weekend.  Would I actually, for sure, want to redo any part of my life, and if so, why? Is self-editing, like when you have second thoughts and decide to delete an angry email instead of sending it off, really such a bad thing?

Instead of using a keyboard I’d probably use a TiVo remote control to adjust my life. I’d really like to have that pause button so I could stop the action and allow myself the chance to think up really good snappy repartee when in conversation. My partner would have no idea I was cheating but would just think I was incredibly witty. I could also use the fast forward buttons to skip over all the parts of life I’m not so fond of like housework, bill paying and waiting while my highlights (foils) are put in. I’d still have to do all those things, I’d just do it all at supersonic speed. Kinda like how the Bionic Woman would chase down the bad guys back in the 70’s.

The fast forward button would have to work just for me so that only I would be affected by it. What I mean is that I’d want all my girlfriends to marvel at how I was able to get so much done during the day without them knowing my secret. Painting, housework, the garden. Of course, I’d tell them all eventually… (once the thing broke or was lost. Remotes are always disappearing around here) but I’d enjoy feeling competent for a little while, at least.

You know, there are some people who do have fast forward buttons. They’re called employees! Gardeners, cooks, maids, paper filers! Crap! I need to get a job that pays really well so I can hire all the people I need to do the stuff I just want to fast forward over! There’s the rub! It’s all about working hard to create the life you want! There is no magic button, either on a keyboard or a remote control device or a GDO (shout out to all my SG-1 homies!) We have to work with what we’ve got day by day, and if you don’t like how things are going, find a way to change direction. Easier said than done, I know. There are tons things we can’t change that we wish we could so we have to work within a certain framework sometimes. We can always change our attitude, right? That’s something no one else can do for us! You can’t hire someone to have a positive attitude for you while you sulk in the background.

Perhaps having a positive attitude is the best way to affect change in ourselves and in others around us. A smile, a cheerful laugh, is contagious, after all.  Maybe all we really have control over are our reactions to the actions around us? How we choose to react sets the tone for the next action?

I think I’m going to concentrate less on what I don’t want to do and more on how I can do those things with the right attitude. Forget the fast forward button. I might miss a good joke along the way and that would be tragic! And have you ever heard a belly laugh played double time? Sounds more like an evil cackle… hmmm. The more I think about it the more I’m convinced to stick to real time living. Bottom line: There are no shortcuts unless you’re willing to give something up ~ and is that really worth it?

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Svaha Spirit Series ~ Passion Works Studios

August 29th, 2010 · Jacquie's Posts, Svaha Spirit Series~Sunday

Ahhhhhhh! I’m in true artist red zone, blow my lid off, can’t get any more inspired than this heaven! I’ve just found out about Passion Works Studio and am truly humbled, excited and energized. I get this way when I find a smokin’ deal on great shoes, complete a construction project at home (and it looks the way I imagined it would) but most of all what turns my crank is discovering new art and artists!

Passion Works Studio is a non-profit collaborative art studio where artists with developmental disabilities create along side other artists to produce commercial works of art. The pieces are highly imaginative, intuitive and incredibly personal. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if every community had a Passion Works Studio of their own! Plug in a cappuccino machine and you’d never get me to leave!

For more information on the individual artists like Harry Grimm, Bill Dooley and Carolyn Williams visit the Passion Works Studio website.

John Marquis is Passion Works Studio’s Featured Artist for the month of August. John has been with the studio for many years and has won the hearts of art lovers everywhere. His colorful paintings of medieval castles, hungry sharks, wise owls and fanciful monsters and bats delight the eye and spur the imagination! John Marquis creates art with a big bold style that features striking images and an ever-changing color palette. John is the shaman of the studio. He shares his calming humility with staff and artists as well. We are so proud and grateful to count John Marquis among our fine, prolific artists at Passion Works Studio. Congratulations, John Marquis, Passion Works Featured Artist for the month of August! You so deserve the honor!

Here’s an image by artist Harry Grimm called The First Family. I love Obama so I had to throw this one up here as well… ; )

Svaha!

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My Summer Reads

August 27th, 2010 · Bonnie's Posts

I will sometimes go for a while without wanting to pick up a book.  I’d rather enjoy quick magazine articles and flip lazily through the pretty pictures.  Then there are times when I can’t get enough of a good book and I crave another and another.  I’ve enjoyed a few this summer and, as they have been taking up quite a bit of my time, it occurs to me that they must be worth a post.

I also noticed that when I am surfing the net and I come across someone’s recommendation for a good book, I have to click on the link and check it out.  Maybe you feel the same.

So here are the books that I have had my nose deep into over the past couple of months.  If any of these interest you, just click on the book and you can purchase them directly from Amazon.  (Hint – I always order more than one at a time so I don’t have to pay for shipping ;) )

Sexy Hormones by Lorna R. Vanderhaeghe, MS & Alvin Pettle, MD

I found this book to be loaded with great information.  Some things I knew already but much I didn’t.  I find myself referring back to it often, which makes it difficult to lend to anyone (Sorry Chris). I was pleased to learn that the path my naturopath has had me on for the last couple of years is absolutely the right one according to everything I read in this book.  It is so empowering to have a clearer understanding about what is going on in your own body.

Women Food and God by Geneen Roth

Um, well, I’ve only read up to page 30.  I lost interest and haven’t picked it up again.  I guess I’m not really relating to it.  I may try it again.  Roth has been on Oprah promoting her book and it has been on a number of best seller lists, but for some reason I just can’t get past page 30 right now.  I’ll give it another try one day.

Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach

I actually pick up this book and read from it all year long but for some reason I go to it more frequently during the summer months.  I don’t know why.  I always find a tidbit of inspiration whenever I pick it up.  I love this book and highly recommend it.

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Not exactly a mood booster.  This is the memoir of grief that Didion wrote after her husband died from a massive heart attack.  Although it brought tears to my eyes many times, it was so well written and touching that I could not put it down.  It has me searching for more books written by her now.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

I kept hearing such buzz about  Larsson’s  Millennium crime trilogy that I had to check it out for myself.  I have to admit, I get it now.  I enjoyed this book so much that I went straight out and bought the next in the trilogy, The Girl Who Plays with Fire.  I’ll probably start this one today.  Part of the intrigue for me at first, I must admit, comes from the fact that Larsson died before his books were published and that there is now a battle between his long time love and his father and brother over the inheritance and book royalties.  Exciting!

Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

Funny! Funny! I laughed out load many times.  Be prepared though, this book is full of f-bombs and like expletives.  Beyond the profanity is some pretty wise philosophy though and at times very touching stories of family life.  Halpern started tweeting things his dad said and ended up with over a million followers before landing this book deal.  What do you know?  I enjoyed it immensely and hey, I see they’ve just created a sit-com starring William Shatner as the dad too.  Wow, Hollywood is fast.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

I’ve had this book put away for ages and finally got around to reading it after seeing a Facebook post by Jacquie recently where she spoke of it. Thanks Jacquie!  I appreciate the reminder because I really enjoyed this book.  The characters were rich ( I felt like I could practically smell them at times) and Gruen weaved such an interesting tale of circus life in the dirty thirties as well as perfectly capturing the essence of being 90…or 93 years old.  Loved it!

Well that’s it for my summer of 2010 reading list so far.  I’m always looking for good book recommendations though, so if you have any you’d like to share please use the comment section below to fill us all in.

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Can I Start Again?

August 25th, 2010 · Tossed Salad, Tracy's Posts

Have you ever wanted to start over because you screwed something up? I think it’s perfectly legal to ask if you can start again. We did it as kids while playing, we’d begin something and if it didn’t go as planned we’d ask if we could start over. When taking pen to paper to write a love letter, in the days of real romance, we crumpled up what wasn’t just right and started from scratch, several times! How many love letters were lost because of imperfection? How many moments were given away because of the fear of being imperfect? Think about it, your first kiss, riding your bike, making love, drawing a picture. Nothing is done perfectly to start, really close maybe, but not perfect in the real world. It gives us something to strive for. When we say, ‘it just doesn’t get any better than this’, if you really think about it, it can always get better. But what determines better? Stuff? Time? Energy of the moment?

Now that we have texting and email we just press delete and our mistakes are wiped away into thin air, never to be seen in their unperfected state. Sad don’t you think. All those mistakes gone to waste. We learn from mistakes.

Lets take this a little further, do you ever wish you could do the same with life. Look around right now at who or what is in your space and imagine for a moment that you could delete the mistakes you’ve made with a press of the a button, and start again. :) If this was possible, would you? If you did, you wouldn’t be who you are today. You would be perfect! Can you imagine meeting someone perfect? It would be like a writer having only final drafts, no works in progress, nothing to improve upon. It would never work! Nobody’s perfect! We need imperfection in our lives to create balance. It would be really easy but the end result would be no feeling of accomplishment. I don’t like a bunch of loose ends in my life either, I like to have things tied up or at least comfortably undone. I love all the flaws and character traits someone of the opposite sex has to offer, it makes them more interesting. Its part of the story of their life.

I told Scott of my idea for this post and he took it even further. What if we could run our lives with the buttons on our keyboard. I mentioned earlier Delete, but maybe delete is too strong to start, perhaps we could first Backspace a little and re-do a moment we wish we had done differently and then decide if it was delete worthy. Esc, who hasn’t wanted to escape from a moment or two or three! Control, you have it when you press the button. Enter/Return to a moment in your past, just pick one :)  Options, a pop down menu comes up and gives you options to pick from depending on the scenario. Volume, now were talkin, no explanation needed on this one! Fn,(function) cause sometimes we just need a little help doing it.

Would you have married the guy standing in the door frame looking at you, or have bought the desk you’re sitting at just because it was on sale. Maybe the room you’re sitting in wouldn’t be a colour you’ve learnt to live with? You might have held eye contact just a little longer with the guy at the coffee shop. Talked to the elderly women a moment longer before she crossed the street. I don’t think there is any particular moment I would delete in my life, but I would go back to several and not rush through them so quickly. I would enjoy every intoxicating moment. I wouldn’t walk away from a kiss that touched my soul because of time or circumstance. I would try to remain in the moment as long as it allowed.

I don’t think starting over is the way to go, although it sounds easy to just ‘delete’. Accepting the choices we’ve made along the way and not taking the easy way out must have some positive force in our lives, don’t you think? You have to live with no regrets and if you make mistakes along the way accept them as part of what made you who you are and focus on what really matters. At least you started…

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10 Ways to Make Your Life Easier…by Beth Cook

August 23rd, 2010 · Jacquie's Posts, Tossed Salad

I came across this top 10 on another site and thought it made a lot of sense.  I’ve been guilty of #’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 and… yeah, better throw in 10.  What about you? Any others you would add?

I’d like to give credit here to Beth Cook, the author of this list, and to GirlsGuideTo.com for letting me reprint it.

A list of ten things to avoid for an easier life…

1) Drunken Texting – Drunk words are sober thoughts right? Wrong. Even if you do spend your lunch breaks lusting over your boss, I highly doubt that he will appreciate an in-depth description of your underwear at 3am. His wife may also resent it.

2) Buying Clothes in the Wrong Size – Don’t. Yes that dress might be ‘gorgeous’ / ‘just like the one Scar-Jo wore in that film’ / ‘perfect for the Christmas party if i diet a bit’… but if it’s two-sizes-too-small then DON’Tbuy it. It’ll never see the light of day, just take up precious closet space.

3) Skipping Bums and Tums to Watch Desperate Housewives – Slumming on the sofa with a bar of Galaxy and staring at Eva Longoria will only make you feel guiltier about missing your weekly exercise. Be good, wait for the Sunday repeats.

4) Leaving That Important Report Until the Night Before It’s Due – Yes it’s boring but you’ll feel SO much better if you get it out of the way early, (and a lot less guilty about going out for cocktails with the girls).

5) Changing Yourself For a Man - Have you ever read ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’? No? Read it. If he doesn’t like you now then no amount of haircuts, crash dieting or new and ‘interesting’ hobbies will change it. Accept it… and move on. It’s his loss.

6) Blindly Following Every Fashion Trend You Lay Your Eyes On - That sequined tutu may have looked AMAZING on the catwalk in Milan but there’s no chance in hell you’ll be able to rock that on a high street in Bognor Regis.

7) Work Flings – We all love the thrill of a workplace romance; secret kisses in the hallways, flirty inter-office emails, what’s not to love? Try sexual flashbacks and awkward glances over the boardroom table when your ‘passionate affair’ goes south.

8) Argument-Fueled Revenge – OK, he may have called your best friend ‘heavy‘ but playing Frisbee with his prized Rocky collection will only result in more arguments and a lot of guilt sex.

9) Cutting Your Own Hair – Unless you WANT to look like The Joker, this is one thing best left to the professionals. (As is dying, perming and any other complicated follicle artistry).

10 ) Those Last Few Chocolates - Yes you may have eaten half of the box but NO that doesn’t mean you HAVE to eat the rest. Put them away. They won’t feel ‘lonely’, they’ll feel happy that they didn’t suffer the same painful death as their friends.

Here’s my own # 11 : Surround yourself with truly wonderful people - do I even need to explain?

Cheers Everybody!

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Svaha Spirit Series ~ Monument Valley

August 22nd, 2010 · Svaha Spirit Series~Sunday, Tracy's Posts

Scott ventured to Monument Valley, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico for the first time several years ago. They say touring through the Valley is best by horseback. Scott chooses his passion, the motorcycle, to make the trip. He came home the first time with a very different outlook on life. It is where he would like to have his ashes spread when he passes from this world to the next, it meant that much. A spiritual quest for a man on a motorcycle, awesome! He continues to go back year after year to be recharged spiritually. I would like to go and see the beauty for myself to see how it might affect me spiritually, just not in the heat of the summer on a motorcycle. I’ve been told it’s one of the most beautiful breathtaking spiritual places on earth. It is definitely on my bucket list! I think spring time would be most beautiful.

Monument Valley ~

Photographs taken by Scott Wellenbrink

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I Know Your Secret

August 20th, 2010 · Bonnie's Posts

I know your secret.  And it’s going to be alright.

You don’t have to feel like your life is a fabrication anymore.  You don’t have to live in fear of being found out.  It’s done.  It’s out there.  I know you’re embarrassed and I know you feel ashamed.  Those feelings will pass and in their place you will feel the lightness of relief.  Heavy made-up-excuses will start to fall away.  You don’t need them anymore.

Let the lies go.  They’ve become such a habit it’s hard to discern which is real and which is made up.  I won’t ask how you got to this point.  Details don’t really matter.  I won’t ask you the why’s, where’s and when’s.  None of it matters as much as right now.  Right now matters.  From this moment on, face to face, all masks off, no more lies clouding the space between us.

I know it’s hard to remember who you really are.  Life pushes and tugs at us. Life swirls us around kicking up dirt so it’s hard to see clearly at times.  We gradually lose our grip on the innocent joy we once embodied. But it hasn’t disappeared, it’s still in you.  It still is you.

You may find this hard to believe right now, but you hold so much power.  You can move mountains and make it all good again.  I would never say it if it were not true.  I believe it with every fibre of my being.  You can be all that you dream you can be.  So why not choose a wonderful dream for yourself; a magnificent, full of happiness, envy of all around you, kind of dream.  You’ve tried the nightmare, now go for the opposite.

I’ll be here.  I know who you really are.  I will be the one smiling knowingly when everyone else is wondering how you got to be so lucky.  I’ll know your secret.

All you have to do is dream it.

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Real Women

August 18th, 2010 · Celebrity, Humour, Tracy's Posts

I want to talk about Real Women! I came across the profile pics of Teri Hatcher fresh out of the bath. She was proving a point that not all celebrities get Plastic Surgery or Botox, lighting is crucial to a great photograph. She was showing the world that she has character lines regardless of what ‘they’ say. We all know who ‘they’ are so I am not even going to give ‘them’ credit for being ‘they’.

I met Teri Hatcher back in the 80’s when she had a part on MacGyver and she was just as beautiful then as she is now. She is a Real Woman. I liked her immediately and have watched her throughout the years and have noticed that she is aging gracefully.

On Desperate Housewives she is never the one with the forehead that looked like a freshly Zambonied ice rink. It’s distracting to watch someone talk and react from an actors point of view and see no emotion! I love when real women stand up and use their voices, it shows confidence in who they are, which is more than skin deep.

I tuned into Millionaire Matchmaker about two weeks ago to see what it was all about, Millionaire Shauna Raisch was the one looking for love, really good looking young hot love to be exact. Who isn’t but lets get real! She owned a spa and was in great shape. The more the interview process went on the more I realized that parts of her face didn’t move as she talked, she was either paralyzed with fear, the freezing hadn’t come out from a root canal or she had a lot of work done. I guess when you are the owner of a spa sometimes it’s hard to stop! It would be like a skinny cupcake store owner, or hair stylist who never changed their hair, you’d question what they were selling if they didn’t partake in it themselves. Shauna was a ’superficialist’ (appearing to be true or real only until being examined more closely) according to Patti Stange host of the show.

If I look deeper it’s not the work done that bothers me, it’s the frame of mind your in before doing it. It’s important to know why and that regardless of what you do have done, you are still the same age going in as you are coming out. That doesn’t change. It’s when it becomes an obsession, that the balance goes out and the dominos start to tip.

I sway back and forth on this subject. I have always said I wouldn’t do anything that involved a knife, but I am heading in the direction that I would think about filling a few lines with epoxy. I know that’s not the real word but you get what I’m saying. About 5 years ago my doctors office started to do Restylane, that’s the correct word, and asked if I would like a free session which was about a $500.00 value. Free or Guinea Pig? He showed me the lines he would fill in and it didn’t make sense to me. He wanted to fill in my dimples and laugh lines. I said no but thanks? In a few years I might be persuaded to get between my brow done but I’m not quite there, give me a couple more years of ‘the face’ (furrowed brow) and I might be game! This photo is what ‘the face’ would look like with Botox. Scott thought it would be funny to erase my hair line to make my forehead look huge, it’s funny how it fits perfectly for this post now, never delete pictures!

We did a photo session with Cathy Empey who is amazing at her craft. I had to get real with myself after that session. I will only speak for myself, there were a few photo’s that I cringed at, not anything to do with Cathy, but my perception of my body. I’ve let it go now but it was a challenge. After coming to terms with the fact that I look pretty good for a 40 something Mother of two, I suntanned on the wharf with Bonnie in my bikini not having a care in the world at who saw me. (that’s not entirely true I would have dove for a towel had a real handsome man shown up in his boat)

So ladies, would you have plastic surgery, botox or restylane? I would love to hear from our Male Energy on this topic too! Please remember that this photo has been photoshopped and my hairline was set back a tad!  lol

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Rotten Tomatoes for Eat Pray Love – the Movie

August 16th, 2010 · Jacquie's Posts, Tossed Salad


The scenery is nice to look at, and Julia Roberts is as luminous as ever, but without the spiritual and emotional weight of the book that inspired it, Eat Pray Love is too shallow to resonate.

This quote is from the Rotten Tomatoes, a movie review website that allows viewers to rate their favourite films, either earning them fresh or rotten tomatoes.  This new movie came out over the weekend, and although box office take wasn’t bad at all, I’m getting the impression the movie is a bit of candy fluff. I had a feeling it would turn out this way when I first saw the trailers with Julia Roberts smiling hugely at young men and giggling while chowing down on Roman fare. This wasn’t the way I had interpreted the book at all and I was disappointed Julia Roberts had been selected to be the lead. I saw someone like Naomi Watts or… mind freeze! Who’s the girl from Titanic and Revolutionary Road! I hate it when this happens so much! I want to say Catherine….Cath…. ahhh, Kate Winslet!! She can do angst so well and still look fabulous.

About two years ago the book club I belonged to did Eat Pray Love. I remember arriving at the table in the restaurant all prepared to talk about how wonderful the book was and how inspirational Elizabeth Gilbert had been to me. Instead the conversation was all about how self-centered and whiny and boring everyone found the author! I was stupefied! How could these intelligent, feeling women not understand Elizabeth’s struggle with her decisions? How could they not somehow empathize? It then occurred to me that these women were all either much younger than me and so had a lot less practical life experience, or were in a different place in their lives where all was sweetness and light. Several were either pregnant or newly married or freshly engaged. It seems none had ever been to the point of absolute distress so none could relate to Elizabeth Gilbert.

While I listened to these women completely squash Eat Pray Love I realized that if I was to be a participating member of the club I’d have to be honest and speak up for all the women (obviously not represented at this table) who had gone through some kind of emotional trauma and survived. I got up the nerve to say what I felt; that unless you’ve experienced the pain of a marriage break up or something similar you can’t criticize how someone else should or shouldn’t deal with it. I’ve never been divorced but I’m coming up to my 25th anniversary and you don’t get there by taking the easy road. Life can get difficult at times and everyone reacts to adversity in a different way. I’ve also been there for several friends who’ve gone through painful divorces or made difficult life choices, and one thing I’ve learned is to try not to judge their process. We are women, girlfriends, sisters and should support one another and not question or mock one person’s experience.

Now, when you put it all out there in a book you are bound to be critiqued. I get that.

In July my new book club, this time made up of women closer in age and education to me, chose Eat Pray Love to dissect in anticipation of the movie coming out. I was curious to see how this group of women would respond to the book. What startled me was that very few of the 15 women present in this group liked the book either! Come on! It was a best sellers for I don’t know how many months! Their reasons for not loving it were so different from the other group, though. They didn’t like the ‘diary feel’. Thought it read like a blog! Well!  What the heck is wrong with that! lol  These women, university educated, had decided the book wasn’t actually literature and I had to agree with them on this point, maybe… a little.  They all seemed to like the LOVE section the best. I thought the PRAY part was my favourite. Go figure. 4 months in an Ashram in India were more compelling than 4 months eating in Italy. Hmmmm.  We all agreed Elizabeth Gilbert is a pretty funny lady and that her humour was an important part of the book. I think one’s enjoyment of any kind of entertainment is directly proportional (proportionate? I didn’t say I finished university) to what experiences you bring to the table personally.  (I guess that’s why Zoolander will always be one of my favourite comedies  : )

So, getting back to the movie… without the spiritual and emotional weight of the book… says Rotten Tomatoes…  OK, now I know what NOT to expect and can go with my girlfriends and just enjoy it for what it’ll be – a lightweight chick flick.  Nothing wrong with those…

Reviews:

NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

“If a more likable writer than Gilbert is currently in print, I haven’t found him or her. … Gilbert’s prose is fueled by a mix of intelligence, wit and colloquial exuberance that is close to irresistible, and makes the reader only too glad to join the posse of friends and devotees who have the pleasure of listening in.” by Jennifer Egan

TIME MAGAZINE

“An engaging, intelligent and entertaining memoir…her account of her time in India is beautiful and honest and free of patchouli-scented obscurities.” by Lev Grossman

LOS ANGELES TIMES

“Gilbert’s journey is full of mystical dreams, visions and uncanny coincidences…Yet for every ounce of self-absorption her classical New-Age journey demands, Gilbert is ready with an equal measure of intelligence, humor and self-deprecation…Gilbert’s wry, unfettered account of her extraordinary journey makes even the most cynical reader dare to dream of someday finding God deep within a meditation cave in India, or perhaps over a transcendent slice of pizza.” by Erika Schickel

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

“This is an intriguing and substantive journey recounted with verve, humor and insight. Others have preceded Gilbert in writing this sort of memoir, but few indeed have done it better.” by John Marshall

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Svaha Spirit Series ~ I Am Everyone

August 15th, 2010 · Bonnie's Posts, Svaha Spirit Series~Sunday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSE!!!!!

This little video was a commercial for Orange, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators.  It is really simple and so is the message but the truth it holds is quite profound I think.

Allow this thought to roll around in your mind for a bit and see what I mean.   “I am who I am because of everyone.”

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The Loving Kindness of a Two-legged Stranger

August 13th, 2010 · Bonnie's Posts

I recently lost one of my best friends; my dear lab/border-collie cross.

We brought her home with us when she was only seven weeks old.  She was a small black ball of fluff. We named her Spot, although she was black all over, because it amused us at the time.  She took it all in stride.  She was a loving companion until the moment she died, exactly eleven years to the day when we first brought her home.  She was like that; unique and considerate. It was as if God had told her she could only stay with us eleven years and so she obediently left us on the promised date.

It’s been three months, but there are still times when I expect to feel her nose flip up my hand to pet the top of her head.  When I open the front door my heart still aches when I’m greeted by empty space instead of her excited tail wagging.  I am forever grateful for the love she bestowed on our family and friends.  She never judged us, never held a grudge, never left us feeling anything but love.  She was a wonderful gift.

Today I found the following story on Facebook and had to share it with you.  There are many stories of amazing, loving dogs out there but this story celebrates a rarer story; the loving kindness of a two-legged stranger.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought he had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven.
Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.
Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I’m easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,
God


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How to Be Alone by Tanya Davis

August 11th, 2010 · Art/Talent, Tracy's Posts

Every now and then you find a real treasure on the internet! I love this video by filmmaker Andrea Dorfman, and poet/singer/songwriter, Tanya Davis. I personally love being alone but occasionally feel lonely. It’s not often we are really alone but I think we have all felt the pangs of loneliness at some point in our lives. This video put it all in perspective!

Thanks for sharing Nathan!

HOW TO BE ALONE by Tanya Davis

For more information on Tanya, go to http://www.tanyadavis.ca or visit her facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/p…
For more information on Andrea Dorfman, visit her facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andrea-…

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7 year old Artist Kieron Williamson

August 9th, 2010 · Art/Talent, Jacquie's Posts

These videos are sooooo cute! Not only is this little boy an incredible artist, but his voice is adorable! So Coronation Street. Do they have kids on that show? They must. I get so jazzed when I see real god-given talent, and here it is in spades! I can’t wait to see what he does as he matures and his artistic vocabulary becomes even greater. He is a true prodigy is every sense of the word. Enjoy!

And another one with a bit more information…and more paintings!


Cheers,

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Svaha Spirit Sunday ~ Find your own Way

August 8th, 2010 · Inspiring, Jacquie's Posts, Svaha Spirit Series~Sunday

Jacquie janzen yeeAlthough this is a beautiful tribute to a wonderful dog, there’s also an incredible message for all parents in here. My youngest just graduated from high school and I want her to know that whatever she chooses to do in life she’ll always make me proud. You can’t make someone be or do something they’re not. Celebrate our diverse interests and encourage individuality. You never know what’s around the next bend in the road.

Enjoy your Sunday,

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