Thumping Do It

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Sitting in a group with others, my mind is completely distracted with
“Eleven. Do it.”

Ugh, the voices are back. Now is NOT the time.

Actually, it’s not a voice but a thought out of nowhere. Completely left field. Like a spark of light. Like seeing a mouse run by, when there should be no mice. It causes a double-triple take as you think, ”what the?…is that what I thought it was?” And you know you will not see the mouse again… at least not during this moment. Continue reading »

Bits of Truth

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“Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may have one foot on the brakes.

In order to be free, we must learn how to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain.

The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life.”
~ Mary Manin Morrissey (inspirational speaker)

What could you let go of, even if it’s just for today…
And then try it again tomorrow. Continue reading »

These 3 Things

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My friend owned a day-spa. Seriously, this is a great friend to have. I was her guinea-pig when it came to new techniques and treatments (for free no less).

In the treatment room hung a poster: Ten Rules of Brushing. I’ve stared at that sign during facial masks, body wraps, and yes…while being waxed (something to take my mind off the pain). Reading this sign often, seeded it’s wisdom in my brain—which became a routine.

Not that it matters but some of the rules were: Continue reading »

Bits of Truth

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“Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to skip over the hard stuff, but it just doesn’t work. We don’t change, we don’t grow, and we don’t move forward without doing the work. If we really want to live a joyful, connected, and meaningful life, we must talk about things that get in the way.”
~ Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW

Let me be SUPAH honest with you; Continue reading »

Bits of Truth

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“Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. SO WHAT. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident, and more and more successful.” ~ Mark Victor Hansen (inspirational/motivational speaker, founder/co-creator of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series)

So really, what could I add to that? It’s such a complete thought. It’s coaching in a nutshell (if there could ever be such a thing). This one, this quote, it’s going in the art journal. Continue reading »

Year End Crumbs

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My husband says, “Weeds again?” as I toss a baby lettuce and field-greens salad.

A little perturbed, but I smile looking into the bowl.

He’s right. These ARE weeds. Someone has masterfully packaged things that I’d otherwise yank from the earth with my purple gloved hands and toss into the yard-bin. Now I toss them—bare handed—with a yummy honey-lemon-poppyseed dressing.

Still smiling I’m thinking—who does this stuff? Who thought to package these—weeds. Genius.

And who thought of eating Continue reading »

Bits of Truth

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“I haven’t failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”  ~ Thomas Edison (American inventor – phonograph, motion picture camera, and a long-lasting practical electric light bulb – just to name a few)

Today give yourself permission to make mistakes. While we don’t set out to make them, we stifle creating beauty by never trying. You never know when that “light bulb” moment will arrive. Continue reading »

Bits of Truth

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“Until we extend the circle of our compassion to all living things, we will not ourselves find peace.” ~ Albert Schweitzer (German theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary)

Sherry Meneley . soiledwings.com . sherrymeneley.com . soiled wings createHEART create heart truth soulution soul’ution life coach coaching

Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht

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Grandma stared off in the distance— maybe a sea and lifetime away—as the voices of a dozen Mennonite children angelically sang, “…stille nacht, heilige nacht…” an old German song.

I was one of those children.

Being Mennonite typically translates to an innate musical ability. And since presumably all Mennonites can hold a tune, being in this choir was an honor. But I didn’t know that—this choir was just something “we did.” And I had a crush on Brent Dyke, a cute boy and choir member. So I gladly showed up and learned to sing in German—the routine, and way to pay homage to my Mennonite German(Prussia) heritage.

Actually, eighteenth century (and back) Mennonite’s spoke low-German—a fading and nearly lost language. My grandparents taught Continue reading »

Finding Normalcy in an Abnormal Christmas

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The icebreaker topic what are your traditions/what are you doing for Christmas Eve and Day?” felt like ice in my veins. I told myself to buck-up and get my happy face on so I’d be ready to breeze through my turn.

But the truth was: I did not want to talk about my Christmas, and how abnormal it would be.

Maybe I’ll lie…

As the women around the table spoke, I realized I wasn’t alone. Continue reading »

Time Out Chair

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You and me. We’re not so different.

I know you’re not always a brave or cheery as you claim to be.

I know you wonder what they really think.

I know you have been looking in the mirror too long. Noticing lines, bumps, gravity.

I know you eat cookies fast, because somehow that makes it not count. I know you throw away fast-food wrappers before you get home. I know you toss out receipts and remove retail tags before anyone can see you’ve been shopping. I know you cut the size-tag off clothes when the manufacturer erroneously adds four more sizes than you know yourself to be…or puts an X by your L.

I know you laugh, when nothing is funny at all. I know you Continue reading »