Hi guys!
As I was dealing with some of my own winter blahs I was inspired to write an article about what to do when you’ve got that "stuck feeling" as part of my regular contribution to the Ladies Who Launch blog.
If you find that you are feeling a little stuck and you are ready to get things rolling, you may want to take a peek at my article Feeling Stuck Ladies? Take Action! Read Feeling Stuck Article Now!
Enjoy!
Joelle
It is Sunday.
I have been thinking.
I have a purring cat in my lap and I have been called to write.
At different times in my life I have questioned “what am I here to do?”
Actually at certain times, asking “what am I hear to do?” was not even a blip on the radar, it was more… “What am I going to do?” In early parts of my life there has been a quest for knowing myself, to understand where I can find happiness and peace. It was not about how to serve. Service was a natural result of my action in the world but I was not asking the question “How can I serve the world?” I was asking “How can I make it in this world?”
Also along the path I noticed that certain things that were clouding the bigger picture have fallen away. For instance I have let go of the idea that I need to be someone important or special. I now know that my importance and special-ness is equal to the rest of us, it is inherent and not something that needs to be sought.
As the years have passed and I have found my path, found my own way to peace and joy and deepened my understanding of this world, I have found my way to a faith in things and a knowing that all is well and always will be. From this place I can really see the opportunity to let go of protecting myself and let go of my concerns and my needs and truly release my will and allow myself to be taken to a new calling, one that does not have a concern for my welfare, one that is truly rooted in service.
From this fresh place I can ask the question “What am I here to serve?”
The answer is clear… it is love.
It is for the world to know love, for its people to live in peace and for people to have access to daily joy.
I am here to share the magic in the world and the beauty of life.
I have known this for some time but there were a couple of things that have softened the impact and have gotten in the way of fully declaring it.
1) Who do you think you are to show people the magic in the world?
2) How do you build a business plan around that?
To the first, I can say that I know who I am. I am just a person, like anyone else, who has a calling and to leave it unanswered would be a disservice to myself and the world.
As for the business plan, today I can see that it is unnecessary. I know that I will be provided for on this path so what there is to do is move forward and watch and listen and all will be revealed.
This is a dawning of a new era for Joelle.
I know what the next step is but I am not sure what comes after that and that is ok.
Let’s dance my friends! Life is such a brilliant mystery. Let us revel in it and celebrate it!
Thank you for listening. May these writing support you on your own path to knowing the magic and walking your path.
HUGS to you!
Joelle
Happy Monday!
For my husband and I, casual conversation and a glass of wine over a fine meal is one of our greatest pleasures. It is not uncommon for us to spend several nights a week out at some of our favorite restaurants sharing the events of our day and enjoying each other’s company.
With that being said, something has been happening over the past several months that is creating some new patterns in our life; new patterns that excite me as I imagine the possibilities.
As many of you know, last fall I took on a 21 day cleanse, the lessons from this were many and as a result I have created a greener, more vibrant diet, relying less on animal protein (because now I know I can) and bringing in much more of the crazy greens and stuff like seaweed and Kale, foods that in the past I really would have had no idea what to do with.
Add to this my husband’s passion for the environment and the litany of information and documentaries he has brought into my life regarding GMO’s ( genetically modified crops), pesticides, and fish mercury levels and I find we are now shopping organic, GMO free, buying free range eggs and choosing our meat and fish very carefully.
Then add that I am preparing to get pregnant. Yep, you heard me. Unless some intriguing unforeseen circumstances arrive, we will get busy and start our little family shortly after our 2 year anniversary coming up February 14th.
With all these factors I have a heightened desire to serve my body, serve my family’s health and serve our not yet conceived child by creating a pure, clean, non-toxic, healthy environment using all the knowledge presented.
So with all of this background it will be no surprise to you that our weekly trips to Whole Foods have become less of a novelty and more of a necessity as we stock up on everything from organic produce to almond milk to hemp seeds (a brilliant protein source, by the way.)
This Sunday’s trip was a carefully planned event as my dear husband has recently rediscovered the joy of cooking. He has treated me to his special patented stir fry two weeks in a row (the ingredients of which you shall never know as he has sworn me to secrecy) and he was anxious to bring his creation to the dinner table a third time.
After all the stir fry ingredients had been acquired, while we were looking for whole grain, imported Italian penne (I read that the Italian pasta is a great buy as it is held to a high governmental standard and to a high consumer standard by the people of Italy) my husband picked out an organic vodka sauce and a roasted pepper sauce and he said to me….”Hey babe? How about I do the cooking this week?”
How delightful is that!!
So for the days to come I will play kitchen assistant to his iron chef and together we will create natural, clean, vegetable-filled delicious meals in our home. Ahhhh.
Isn’t it amazing how “simple” the “simple pleasures of life” can be?
May your days be filled with simple pleasures, lovely meals and delightful company.
Sending hugs,
Joelle
P.S. Some day, in the not too distant future, Jeff and I plan to live in the woods, with a garden, composting, singing Koombya 
. Ok, maybe not Koombya but there will be singing and a brilliant community and meals with friends on the patio and great wine. Yummy!:-) For now, we will make meals together, watch the falling snow from under fuzzy blankets, cuddle our cats and continue to create the life we have imagined. Smooch!
Hi gang! In today’s issue of the Livloud! Newsletter you are invited to Have an Uncommon New Year!
Then read on to make 2008 an Uncommon New Year and a year to remember! Read Article To your greatness! Joelle
Hello everyone I wanted to get back in touch after a lovely holiday!
My husband and I spent a week in Canada with my mom, sister and extended family and I could take up pages just sharing about the joyful traditions, the amazing meals and all the love. I won’t do that however, instead I will sum it up by saying, my family rocks, Winnipeg was a wee bit chilly and my husband and I would be very happy living at my mom’s house, she is the consummate mom!
I will be putting out a new issue of the LIVLOUD! Newsletter this week to address your New Year ambitions, but if you are anxious to begin creating I invite you to check out my article, Dream Along With Me which I wrote for Ladies Who Launch, a wonderful women’s organization committed to entrepreneurship and creativity as a lifestyle.
We are enjoying a delightful 60 degree day in Cleveland and while it is ridiculous to have this kind of weather in January, It has put the biggest smile on my face. I love the smell of green. Ahhhhh.
Have a fabulous Tuesday. We will talk soon.
Love,
Joelle