Tag Archives: journey

Street of Dreams

Street of Dreams

 

 

My neighbor around the corner used to walk her little boys by my house with their big wheels.  We would chat sometimes and she mostly complained about the people who lived behind her who were constantly annoyed by the noise wafting from her back yard when her family and friends were in the pool or just out BBQing.   And she always punctuate the conversation with “But I will never move!  This is my dream house!”

Imagine my surprise when a couple months ago, her sons now graduated from high school, I spotted a big fat For Sale sign on her property.  Now they are gone- to where I have no idea.  Since her sons were old enough to travel the neighborhood independently, our only communication was a wave as I drove by her house.  She was usually outside meticulously manicuring her yard and garden and/or washing down the entire street in front of her house in her bathrobe.

When doing therapy with children, a very common assessment tool is called “House, Tree, Person”.  The child is asked to draw all three on a blank piece of paper and the idea behind this is that they will “project” into the drawing aspects of their inner world.  I’ve always loved doing this with my little clients, allowing both of us to relax and get to know each other.  (And of course, I love any opportunity to color with my set of 64 Crayola Crayons-Burnt Umber and Brick Red being my favorites..)

In my quest to “let go” in 2015, I threw away all my notes and paraphenalia from graduate school, including my very first House, Tree, Person drawing.  But it doesn’t really matter.  Every one I’ve ever drawn looks just like this one.  I did this the other day sitting at my kitchen table.  You might ask if this is my “dream house”.   Not really.   I think I’m the only woman on earth who has never longed for her “dream house”.

Rather, I have many houses that I dream about.

Shortly after we moved from sunny California to Portland Oregon, my son Patrick, then 9 years old,  had a vivid dream about our family home we had sadly left behind.  He was outside playing with his brothers and the neighborhood kids with squirt guns.  Out of water, he attempted to charge into the kitchen for a refill but found the front door locked.  A stranger opened it and promptly announced “you don’t live here any more”.

Pausing here for a brief meltdown.

I grew up on Halo Drive in Compton, California.  I had my babies on Tedemory Drive in Whittier.  I sent my first son to high school from SE 31st Street in Portland, Oregon.  And I launched all three of them into adulthood from my current home on Del Monte Avenue.   Each house was a “dream house” to me because the people I loved the most made it just that.  And in each house, a part of me was projected on to the walls and floors and empty spaces as my own personality and inner being grew and developed, magically displayed like a crayon drawing on a clean white piece of linen paper.

I’m moving, downsizing, cleaning, sorting and putting up for sale once again a house I will someday dream about.  I’m feeling both excited and sad and several other emotions in between. But I am holding the tension of the opposites deep within as I go through this process.   It’s time to make a change, to grow in a new direction, to take a chance, to redirect the energy in my life.   It will be a bittersweet journey.

I will take this home with me.  Every house I’ve ever lived in has taken up permanent residence in my heart and soul, carefully placed on my own personal Street of Dreams.

And I can revisit them any time I like.

 

“Baby, love never felt so good!” ~ Michael Jackson

“Baby, love never felt so good!” ~ Michael Jackson
These two… 

 

He leaves her little notes around the house, in the silverware drawer, on the bathroom mirror, in her favorite coffee cup.  She makes sure he eats healthily, supports his dreams and believes in his goodness and integrity.

 

He is strength and tenderness.  She is courage and grace.

They complement each other.

And three short weeks ago, Peter and Brianna committed to a life together as husband and wife.

 

There’s something very contagious about young love.

It draws us in and mesmerizes.  It holds us spellbound.  It makes one want to try a new recipe for dinner or say hello to a stranger on the street, be a better person, sing in the shower, color a picture with crayons.

 

Peter and Brianna make me optimistic about the future of our world.  We pass the baton to our children and find such satisfaction in seeing how easily they grab hold of it and run with confidence, taking with them all our hopes and dreams invested.

I wonder if we really know our children fully until we observe them navigating the major milestones of life- making their way in a career, establishing a community of friends and colleagues, taking on the challenges of marriage and all the joys and responsibilities that go along with it.

 

After years of mothering and guiding and teachable moments, the tables have turned.  I am a witness to my children’s journeys.

 

I am being taught

about joy

about life

about love..

 

And baby, THIS love never felt so good!

 

A Leap of Faith

A Leap of Faith

Not your traditional slab of cattle on a plate…

This Labor Day BBQ included seared Ahi tuna, mixed brown rice and roasted eggplant to begin the journey into fall and celebrate the change of weather and all things new.

I attended the International Association of Yoga Therapy Symposium in Pacific Grove Friday through Sunday and am now inspired to practice pranayama breathing, a daily mantra, meditation, positive thoughts and healthy eating.  A perfect transition into a new season as well as a  fitting attitude adjustment for the new academic year.

I hadn’t planned on taking this picture of dinner, but it just looked so lovely on the plate and I was “in the moment” seeing it in all its’ beauty, colorfulness and nutritional value.  How often do we stop and appreciate something so basic?  A plate of wholesome food in my funky backyard in the awesome Indian summer weather.

Life is good.

I threw caution to the wind when I registered for this yoga conference and agreed to room with two other women whom I had never met before and knew nothing about.  I found this beautiful quote yesterday on the Breathe Yoga Studio Website:

Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith.

~Margaret Shepherd

I lept and the universe rewarded me with two room-mates  who I couldn’t have hand picked better myself! We were off in search of  coffee in my Mini at 6am the first morning and then to our yoga practice at 7am- talking about anything and everything as though we’d all been friends for years.   Friday night we walked to the local restaurant for happy hour and Saturday night we escaped from yogi land and enjoyed some great Sushi at Crystal Fish in downtown Monterey .   Three days into the conference we were hugging and saying our teary goodbyes, promising to stay in communication and visit one another in our three different states. (Those are United States– not states of mind, bliss, transcendence, etc…)

All these beautiful moments come to mind when I gaze at the photo of my Labor Day feast.

My goal is to make leaping in faith more a part of my daily life so that I can experience the unexpected blessings that the universe has in store for me.

In thanksgiving for my two new friends- Kim and Tisha.

Namaste