The past few weeks have been tough. And magical. Both at once.
I thought were going to make it through cold and flu season unscathed. A month ago, I had missed only one day of work because my daughter was running a fever. Guess I should’ve knocked on wood.
In February, at least once a week, either my husband or I were home with a feverish, coughing, and/or throwing up little girl. If you have kids, you know how awful it is to see them suffer. If you could take the suffering on yourself so they could be healthy and well, you would do it, right?
Sigh. If only it were so easy.
Annnnd, because Paloma has been so sickly lately, she hasn’t been sleeping. You know what that means? Yep, you guessed it. It means Mommy hasn’t been sleeping either.
I’ve been like the walking dead for the last month. Dark eyes, dry mouth, shuffling around, moaning and groaning through nearly every minute of every day.
No bueno.
So, let’s talk about what’s been good. Lots has been good, actually. For today, though, I’m going to focus on one thing.
Space.
Yep. I’ve been creating space in my life, and it feels SO amaaaazing.
“What do you mean when you say you’ve been creating space, Wendy?”
Well, funny you should ask.
In January, one of the things I promised I was going to do this year was have more fun, play, be more creative and stop running around like a crazy person trying to be everything to everyone.
All. The. Time.
I’ve actually managed to do this. So far this year, these are some of the cool things I’ve done that are rather out of the ordinary for me:
Done an “adults only” overnight with my husband in Jerome, Arizona at a cozy bed and breakfast.
Taken a “ghost hunting” tour while in Jerome, complete with spirit box detectors and sensors.
Gotten off my strict whole foods diet to enjoy a few drinks.
Taken a beginning photography class using a Groupon.
Gone out and practiced my beginning photography on any willing specimen.
Taken an art journaling class at The Occasional Artist in Glendale. (The photo at the top of this post is my first attempt at art journaling.)
Created altered art by taking a “Junky Doll” class at Craft Fusion in Chandler.
Left my familiar little center of the universe in Central Phoenix to actually travel to places like Glendale and Chandler.
Finished creating and launching my new website.
Not bad for someone who is not used to having much play in her life, right? And, there’s more in store…because I’m intentionally making room for magic and miracles in my life.
For example…
At the end of the year, I was home, looking for something non-work and non-business related to read. I picked up a book I’ve had for years, but never bothered to open – “Taking Flight,” by Kelly Roberts. I devoured the thing from cover to cover in a day.
While reading the book, I learned about a retreat near Seattle called “Artfest Rising.” I got really excited when I got on the internet and found out it was coming up. I got really disappointed when I got on the internet and found out it was sold out.
Damn!
But…
I made a decision that I was going…no matter what. I had no idea how it would happen, but I just knew it would. Soooo, I got myself on the waiting list, I cleared and blocked my work calendar, and I checked with my husband to make sure he would be OK with my leaving for several days.
Then, I forgot about it.
And, I lived my life, doing all the new, exciting things I had set out to do this year.
Last week, I got an e-mail from the “Artfest Rising” creator, Teesha Moore, saying a spot had opened up and that it was mine if I wanted it. I replied immediately, saying “HELL YEAH!” And, I booked my ticket – 10 minutes later.
In communicating about follow up details, Teesha sent me an e-mail that said this:
“And, just so you know…when you asked to be put on the waiting list, I honestly thought there was no chance. I had SO many people already on the list…over 50! But around Christmas, we had a cancellation and I went through about 40 of those looking for someone. The holiday craziness made most waitlist people re-think their involvement with Artfest. But that cleared the path for you!”
Magic and miracles. I’m telling ya.
I know that my trip to Jerome, photography class and art classes happened because I made the space in my calendar and in my life for them. Just as with those, I am absolutely, positively convinced I am going to Artfest because I did the same thing with it.
I set an intention.
I believed it would happen.
I created the space for it to happen.
Then, I let it go.
So, now I’m testing this theory with some other things in life. In the coming, weeks and months, without obsessing too much, I’m going to set about making room for what I want. More importantly, though, I’m going to continue to “work” on living my life, being in the moment and having fun.
If there’s something in your life you want but that seems to evade you, are you making space for it?
Is there something you can do to free up more space for it to happen?
Do you believe it can happen?
Send me an e-mail or leave me a comment and tell me about it.
And now, I’m off to have morning tea with my daughter.
Sending you wishes for a week filled with space to create magic and miracles.
All my best,
Wendy