“From the moment we are born, people tell us that the world is like this and like that, this way, that way. It is natural that – for a certain period of time – we end up believing what we are told. But we must soon push these ideas aside and discover our own way of living reality.” Warrior of the Light, Paulo Coehlo
“If I should have a daughter, instead of “Mom,” she’s gonna call me “Point B,” because that way she knows that no matter what happens, at least she can always find her way to me. And I’m going to paint solar systems on the backs of her hands so she has to learn the entire universe before she can say, “Oh, I know that like the back of my hand.” And she’s going to learn that this life will hit you hard in the face, wait for you to get back up just so it can kick you in the stomach. But getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air. There is hurt, here, that cannot be fixed by Band-Aids or poetry. So the first time she realizes that Wonder Woman isn’t coming, I’ll make sure she knows she doesn’t have to wear the cape all by herself because no matter how wide you stretch your fingers, your hands will always be too small to catch all the pain you want to heal. Believe me, I’ve tried.”
Word.
I fell in love with the spoken word performance “B” by Sarah Kay featured in her TED talk.
Listen.
It will move you.
Dear Kalista,
You celebrated a significant milestone on Saturday, June 21 – the 4 month anniversary of your birth.
A lot happens in the first four months of life: bonds are formed, major developmental milestones are reached and a tiny human becomes a small person.
Here is what I have learned about you so far:
You have great timing. Full stop.
Most of your behaviour points to “extrovert” but I can see that you are also deeply sensitive. That is a powerful and tricky combination. You absorb the energy around you and then project it right back. Thankfully you are happy and going with the flow 99% of the time.
No one would ever guess to look at you that you have a temper. But you do. You really do. (So that’s the 1%.) Sometimes that means I’m jumping through hoops to keep you content. Other times it means that we butt heads because we get frustrated that things aren’t going the way we want. Most of the time, we move on pretty quickly. What’s a few temper tantrums between friends?
Your eyes are constantly changing colour. By the hour. Sometimes they are a blue-grey, sometimes they turn a dark olive green and other times they are hazel. This fascinates me to no end. It’s almost like a changing art exhibit. Everyday – a new masterpiece.
You love to be read to daily. I watch you memorize the images as I rhyme the words. Your list of favourite books is growing. (And so is mine!) But you cry every time I attempt to read you Maurice Sendak’s book Where The Wild Things Are. You are a mystery.
You adore Mojo your monkey. He makes you smile instantly when you see him. I am almost jealous. I say almost because I get the same reaction from you when I sing: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”.
You like to party. We often put on some retro latino music and salsa dance in the living room. More than once this has resulted in spit up all over me. But you always have a smile on your face and that has taught me to “just go with it”.
You grin and laugh at the funniest and least sophisticated words. Potty humour totally does it for you.
You are mesmerized by the sound of running water, entranced by our ugly kitchen cabinets (for some completely unknown reason) and fascinated by other babies.
You are the most engaged audience member of my daily un-televised cooking show. When we’re in the kitchen together, you seem curious about what I’m doing. Out of all of the ingredients I have ever used for my lunchtime meal, to date, the lemon is what fascinated you most.
You love to sit up, push yourself forward, and stand on both feet. (Supported, of course.) You demand to be upright almost all of the time. Oh and you demand to be with me all of the time. You don’t like to be alone. I’m not yet sure if it is a “baby” thing or a “personality” thing. Only time will tell.
You are choosy about how much you “talk”. It seems to me that you vocalize only when you really have something to say.
You like to sleep. (At least, for right now.) While this is good news for your previously sleep-deprived mama, it does mean that sometimes you use sleep to work out emotional challenges. You are a sensitive soul and I hope that you find peace in your slumber. But when you don’t, I will be there.
You are growing at the speed of light. Once a petite 6lbs 8oz (then 5lbs 14oz) and 18 1/2 inches, you are now 15lbs 4oz and 25 inches long. I take personal pride in every roll, dimple and ounce on your little body.
Over the last four months, you have had some important firsts. The kind that all babies experience. But instead of keeping record of your first spit up and laugh, I have instead documented your first adventures. Like your first photo shoot, first walk in the neighbourhood, first flight, first party, first 10k hike, first library card, first yoga class, first play date, and first piece of artwork.
The wonderful thing about firsts is that they are just the start.
With love,
Mama
(a.k.a. best bud, co-adventurer & dance partner)
This was the poem that kicked off an exploration of “motherland” at a workshop yesterday.
The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Barry
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Today I thought I would share some new discoveries.
This book is offering me insight into the mystery that is Kalista Isabelle.
No current travel plans but I’m thinking that this Canadian gem would make an awesome destination for our next trip.
I found this perfectly delicious recipe. I’ve made it twice in the last week as a fix for my after dinner all day long chocolate cravings.
These malas are gorgeous. I recently bought this one for my mom.
Full disclosure: I am neither a Louis C.K. nor a Common Core fan. Reading this article opened my eyes to the collateral damage that results from bad policy excused as good intentions. The author doesn’t seem to get that.
Two weeks later, I’m still thinking about this movie, its message and breathtaking cinematography.
I totally dig how this t-shirt speaks the truth.
I never realized how low budget time travel could be. Very clever.
Of all the things that promote violence in our society, I’m confident that Hop on Pop isn’t one of them.
Wow. Hard to believe that four whole months of 2014 are done. Gone. Over.
When I set the intention to “be present” in 2014, it was in an effort to live fully and embrace the abundance all around me.
One easy way I could do that was to capture daily moments in photograph to savour the blessings and record them as future reminders.
Using the Project365 app I have amassed 120 beautiful photos detailing everyday moments in my life since the start of 2014.
Behold the abundance in my life.
I’m looking forward to continuing this project and seeing how it evolves throughout the year.
Isn’t it true that some days are spent wishing for tomorrow? Lately I have been reminded by more than a few people, that this period of time right now will disappear before I know it. These irreplicable hours that become days which become weeks are filled with unique experiences that will never again happen. These messy, sleep-deprived moments blurring together to form a new normal will, at some point, be missed and longed for.
In the words of Mary Jean Irion:
Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.
Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.
Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.
Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so.
One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.
Right now…we are collecting smiles like lucky pennies.
Right now…we are treasuring warmer temperatures and walks by the lake.
Right now…we are finding our flow through meditation.
Right now…we are embracing our inner yogini.
Right now…we are having fun with modern technology and using it to keep in touch.
Right now…we are surrendering to the schedule of a newborn.
Right now…we are building community in new ways.
Right now…we are growing and changing all the time.
I came across this poem recently as part of a guided meditation on happiness. I fell in love with it immediately.
From “I Heard God Laughing: Poems of Hope and Joy” by 14th century Persian Sufi poet Hafiz and translated by Daniel Ladinsky.
Saints Bowing in the Mountains
Do you know how beautiful you are?
I think not, my dear.
For as you talk of God,
I see great parades with wildly colorful bands
Streaming from your mind and heart,
Carrying wonderful and secret messages
To every corner of this world.
I see saints bowing in the mountains
Hundreds of miles away
To the wonder of sounds
That break into light
From your most common words.
Speak to me of your mother,
Your cousins and your friends.
Tell me of squirrels and birds you know.
Awaken your legion of nightingales –
Let them soar wild and free in the sky
And begin to sing to God.
Let’s all begin to sing to God!
Do you know how beautiful you are?
I think not, my dear,
Yet Hafiz
Could set you upon a Stage
And worship you forever!
Back in 2010, I added a section to the Inspired Practice website called 10 Things I Want You to Know About Me. Instead of a boiler plate bio, I thought it would be a great way to shine light on the person behind the business so that prospective clients and collaborators could gain insight into who I truly am.
Now that I have added a new role to the many I already play in life, I was inspired to write a personal post with little known facts and perspectives for an even more important audience – my kid.
My darling Kalista,
Now that you are here, we spend our days growing together as mama and baby – learning about one another and how to thrive in this new NORMAL. Being a mom is one very important part of who I now am but I wanted to find a way to communicate other non-mom related things about myself. The kind of stuff that has evolved over the last 32 years of life and that contribute to my substance and character. So I created this list of 21 things I want you to know about me.
With love always,
(from the PERSON you know as)
Mama
prairiegirlbyday.wordpress.com 