New Year, New Blessings

Happy new year to YOU!
May this be the year your dreams come true . . .

I'm so excited about this year because soon I'll be releasing the third novel in my Robbin' Hearts Series, Sherwood's End, which ties up Robin's & Creek's adventures as they come full circle into healing, wholeness & lasting genuine love. (Look for Sherwood's End to debut on Amazon & Kindle shortly!) For me, this is a huge milestone & dream come true--I'll finally have finished a series! This event represents a big breakthrough for me. Why? Because writing books that are fresh, original, and yet deeply touch the soul is hard & requires the mental fortitude of a marathon runner. And this can be said of any big dream, right? When the going gets tough, and I feel like the end is nowhere in sight, I often have to remind myself that "Everything I want is on the other side of discipline."

And FAITH . . . 

Because to do anything beyond the ordinary "same old", you have to both envision the big picture & then take the small, often frustrating, baby steps each day to make it come true. Sometimes you have to contend with people who subtly hint that you can't achieve your goal--that you'll never be up to snuff. And sometimes (gulp) you have to confront the fact that you need to remove those influences from your life. Since I'm a group hug kind of gal, that's really hard (& often traumatic) for me. I naturally support others & love to see their dreams come to fruition! So I'm always shocked (& deeply rattled) when others don't want the same for me. But here's perhaps the toughest part about achieving what you want in life:

YOU HAVE TO LOVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TO MAKE YOUR DREAMS HAPPEN.

Which means, YOU have to be the one to take the lid off & allow your dreams to fly.

Yep. As hard as it may be, there often comes a point where you have to stare for a long time in the mirror & say to yourself "Is it really other people or circumstances keeping the lid on my dreams, or is it ME? Do I have the guts to put my dreams first, despite setbacks, enormous labor, and the occasional ridicule of others? Can I love myself enough to truly listen to the whispers of my heart & make this happen?" 

Because I hate to say this, even to myself, but sometimes I realize that the resistance outside of me is actually reflecting the insecurity & doubt I have inside of me. And it's fascinating that whenever I drum up my courage, and make the unwavering, internal decision that "This is going to happen come hell or highwater," suddenly the naysayers start to disappear! A dear friend of mine likes to remind me that "Crazy finds the cracks." In other words, when I have cracks in my spiritual armor, such as doubt, insecurity & low self-esteem, strange people seem to come out of the woodwork to put me down or throw bizarre roadblocks my way. But when I shore myself up and decide within me that I deserve this dream as much as anyone, and to hell with what other people think, all at once crazy goes a runnin'. . . 

Yet what that sometimes requires is the courage to stand alone. 

For me, one of the most challenging obstacles I tend to have toward achieving my goals is the long-standing wish to fit in. Ouch.

Hello? It's not possible! Most people don't run around writing down the intimate conversations of their imaginary friends, Diane! On top of that, in terms of Myers-Briggs personality types, I'm an INFJ, which means I'm something akin to 1% of the total population & my mental processes are by far the least understood by the masses. I am, in a word, considered weird. Some of my dear friends even claim that in another lifetime I would have been burned at the stake (& the verdict is still out for this lifetime, too ; ). But probably because I'm a twin & come from a large family of 5 kids, I always hold out this hope in my heart that my group-hug idea of the world can come true. Yet as I get older, I've slowly learned to become more content with my oddness--and the price required to write thoughtful fiction, which is exactly this: You must to be willing to observe & say what others refuse to talk about. Because beyond the norms, traditions, and comfortable routines of our society lie the real yearnings of our souls--our ache to be loved & truly known--which most of us artfully suppress for fear of encountering derision. And to give voice to those heartbreaking whispers in the dark that we're reluctant to let others hear is at times the most revolutionary & original thing you can do. And it will most certainly make you be perceived as "different."

That's okay with me. Finally . . .

Because after all this time, I'd rather be different and real than fit in. And being authentic is the only way I know to achieve my dreams. Here's a little secret: your soul won't tolerate anything less. I honestly believe that your own soul will throw roadblocks into your life until you get back on track with the real YOU. Your heart yearns to travel the path that only it knows, not the well-worn path of others, so be grateful for its guidance. You may not have a lot of company on your route, but the colors will be brighter, the music purer, the friendships more true, and the dreams far more satisfying if you take the steps you know your soul is urging your towards.

So here's to a grand 2015! I pray you will listen to your heart & experience huge blessings & breakthroughs this year! And most of all, I pray that your dreams will always light the way toward your true spiritual home. 

LOVE, MAGIC & MIRACLES TO YOU IN 2015!

Photo credit note: All images on my blog are either my own or were gleaned from pictures in the public domains of popular social networks like tumblr, facebook or pinterest. If you own the copyright to any of these images & do NOT want them used publicly, please contact me & I will take them down immediately! : )

Get Your Shine On!

I know what you've been through over the last year: Heartbreak. Betrayal. Illness. Separation. Unemployment. Death of loved ones. It's called the human experience & the Wheel of Fate leaves none of us unscarred—sometimes so deeply we don't know how we can ever prevail. But I also know something else—something beautiful—about the human spirit: after a period of grieving & bestowing tender care upon ourselves & others, the capacity of the human heart to regenerate is truly miraculous. I like to think it's our gift from what many of us call God. Each of us is a piece of that brilliant sun, the Source of life, that keeps giving us the grace & love & energy to reanimate our souls to reflect more of that radiant light. So it's not only our birthright, it's our duty to shine.

You weren't set upon this earth to cower under a rock or to be anyone's victim. But the trouble is that's exactly what some people will try to make you believe if you dare to use your gifts and (God help them) dare to live out loud with an attitude of abundance & blessing, no matter what your circumstances look like. Such faith & bravery & pure love of life is called "unrealistic", "impractical", "uppity", or even "arrogant" (yep, I've heard it all). But you know what? The other people who've been trying to drum up the courage to live life to its fullest, despite all the odds, will turn their hearts towards you like daisies to the sun. If you listen carefully enough, you'll hear the music of their spirits cheering you on—championing you—applauding every big & brave step that you take. Why? Because way down deep, I think ALL of us know that every time one of us dares to shine, the whole world becomes that much brighter.

I believe every bold act of living abundantly & from the heart sends a ripple through the world that says "go for it" to all those whose lives have been crimped by forces beyond their control. And I think that power is magnetic—that when you dare to shine, you become an earth angel who can help others shine, too. Sometimes directly, by the way you actively seek to assist people to overcome physical obstacles, but also by increasing the light to help them find spiritual doors that can be a catalyst to reach a whole new level of freedom & victory.

So as the calendar gives us a new start this month and turns to the fresh hopes of 2014, I'm going to think about the ways I want to shine this year. And of course, I'd be delighted to hear about your journey, too (because don't forget, your bright light bolsters my courage to make 2014 a banner year as well!).

While making my list of ways to "shine" in 2014, I also remind myself that no act of authentic radiance is too small (in my humble opinion). Even the loftiest goals, like a hundred-pound weight loss or seeking a total career change, have to begin with the first small steps. And I never underestimate the psychological power of ANYTHING that makes you feel truly good about being YOU. Even if that comes from simply indulging in a soulful book or a sparkly new pair of shoes (preferably both! : ).

As for me, I'll be listening to Florida Georgia Line's sassy country tune "Get Your Shine On" while jogging out in nature to replenish my soul. And with every step I take, I'll be imagining the joy of new growth & new accomplishments in my life—no matter how crazy my dreams might seem to others—and all those bright angels who'll be waiting to give me a big hug at the finish line. Some of those angels are the people who've been my generous supporters, even when I was really down, and others are the radiant souls who've gone before me who hold spiritual lanterns to guide my way. But one thing you can count on—as I progress on my journey, I'm going to make sure that I hold spiritual lanterns high enough so that others can see how brightly they shine, too.  And in doing so, our horizon is guaranteed to fill up with a most glorious & inspiring light . . .

(Photo credit note: All images on my blog are either my own or were gleaned from pictures in the public domains of facebook, pinterest, or other popular social networks. If you own the copyright to any of these images & do NOT want them used publicly, please contact me & I will take them down immediately! : )

It's A New Dawn, It's A New Day...

Welcome to 2013!

I know I'm forever the optimist, but I can't help it—turns of months, moons, seasons & years all inspire me as opportunities for glorious new beginnings. And regardless of any sorrows or disappointments I might've experienced in the past, whenever I'm at the cusp of a new phase I always feel an upswell of joy. Deep in my soul, I just know anything is possible in this big old world because there's something eternally sacred out there that loves all of us & is leading us to our highest good. And with every chaotic disruption or even dark ending I face comes the birth of something that I'm convinced will be an opening—a new & creative portal—that will take me exactly to where I should be. So color me sentimental (hey, I wear that badge with pride—it means I've got a heart!), but I would love to offer you this day a bit of enchantment to help you spread your wings & soar in this fresh new year. It's my HOPE SPELL (or affirmation, or manifestation, whatever you feel comfortable calling it), and it goes as follows:  

(Skyview near my twin sister's house)

HOPE SPELL

Focus on the bright blue horizon in this image—feel its wide open space as a new freedom for you, regardless of anything you might've experienced in the past. Then imagine a warm, fluffy cloud swelling beneath you & lifting you higher, carrying you towards your dreams. You know you will believe in them, you know you will work very, very hard for them—but for just one moment, let yourself completely relax & ALLOW the angels to take you there! Don't let your rational mind fight this miracle. Just for once, accept their guidance & assistance as a total gift of grace. You don't have to earn their help or achieve any kind of elite "worthiness"—the Universe already loves you & wants to work with you! Feel the angels steer you in ways you never expected towards your brightest year ever. Now look around—what do you see as the manifestation of all your dreams? Take a picture in your mind of your version of abundance, and then smile . . . for all the angels are rejoicing . . .