My Grand Themes

I'm reading Writing the Sacred Journey, by Elizabeth J. Andrew. She asks questions through out the book. The one that got me thinking was

What are some of the grand themes of your life?

She frames these as: what keeps coming up in your journal? What do you ponder at night? What do you want to ask others at potlucks?

I had just spent time going through our photos to create a slide show for New Year's Eve with friends. Seeing what I have taken photos of through out the years made me think about the themes in my life.

MY grand themes?
Adventure, exploration, trying new things
Celebration
A sense of wonder
Love of the wild, natural world
Making a difference
Story

Are these the "grand"themes of my life?


Photo source:flickr :himalayan-trails

My Bucket List

Over Thanksgiving Break, I watched the movie Bucket List with my family. It got me thinking. Whether I live my life intentionally or not...time passes and one day I will die.
What do I want to do before I die?
I'm starting my bucket list. I'm a little hesitant about what I write down.
My stepfather said that finishing his cabin up north so it was an all season home was on his list. And when I said: So why don't you do it?" He responded "Exactly"
Once you have put something on your bucket list, you have to ask "So what's stopping me?"

Here is what I know so far:

See the Redwoods ( we are planning a trip Summer 2010)
Go on a Vision Quest ( I'm trying to find out if I can do this is WI)
Visit Rachel's Carson's beach in Maine
See Jane Goodall's chimps ( visit Africa)


When I dream, most of what I dream about is traveling.


Photo source:alcoholicaman

Relfections from my second mentor meeting

Here is what I want to remember
I am intentional: I started Quest saying "I want to live my life intentionally."  My mentor held up the mirror as she was listening to me to point out that I am already very intentional about many things that I do. I have high standards I am finding out.  I am intentional ( I wrote this in my journal twice)  but I want to practice being intentional on a day to day basis and also think about how this fits into the big picture "What is the purpose of my life?"

Gratitude: I am being reminded how much I have to be grateful for. I challenged myself to the 29 Day Giving Challenge and so far what I am learning is...I am given a lot of gifts...every day. 

Live with the end in mind:  I have been thinking about death lately ( because it is winter and I went to a funeral recently) and that our culture shys aways from death..even thought it is the one given in life. At one point I wrote out my thoughts/wishes for "When I die" I'd like to take a look at that.  I also want to write a bucket list and an ethical will for my kids.


Know my default: is positive, enthusiastic and "yes".  Which is a wonderful way to live..but often means I say yes to more than I can do. And I add too many things to my own list. ( For instance I check out more books from the library than I can actually read :))  Balance is something I want to work on.

Be proactive about "filling my well"  I am learning what things help me to feel centered ( walking the labyrinth, my yoga class, retreats, drawing.)  Now ( as my mentor pointed out to me) the trick is to be proactive about fitting these into my life. In other words don't wait to get sick to realize that I have taken on too much.  This is about balance and being intentional ( and paying attention.)

Balance between being and doing: my intention for my meeting with my mentor was to allow time to be and then I talked non stop for about 2 hours. :)  I was briming over with everything I have beent thinking about and reflecting on.  And this is who I am ( that's my default mode in action)  My menor gently pointed out the disconnect between my intention for out meeting and my marathon relfections. :) So we ended with a quiet, still meditation. :)  I love having a mentor!

Photo Credit: flickr aperte/489430756/