I know, I know…there ought to be some limit on the number of guitar posts one person can post in one week.

So, this is an itty bitty post.

When I decided to follow my heart, I totally *really* did not care what type of guitar I would get. I simply wanted to play. I planned to get a used guitar on Craigslist and be done with it until I ‘planned’ to stick with it.

But…since all of this took place near my b-day, Mark did all of this research and found a sweet deal on a Yamaha starter package. Which was totally fine with me since… I did not even know anything about guitars at all.

Then…we found a crack in the body of the guitar and went to go take it back. THAT is when we found a used Fender acoustic/electric. And, all of a sudden Mark was on a mission to make that guitar mine!

Half an hour later, we were walking out with this primo sweet piece for about the same as the starter (which, by contrast was harder to grip at the neck). It is so awesome and I’m already getting the hang of it!

Mark swears that Fender was NOT there the day before… which just goes to show you… show up, ready to receive and bring on the gifts!

Mine looks like this, and it sounds heavenly – especially now that I know *exactly* where to place my fingers to make it really hum.

Since I last played guitar (mmm, 6th grade anyone?), I have learned a LOT about sound, vibration and myself.

Playing guitar is a wonderful way to meditate too… I am SO present that hours can go by!

Looking for a Dream Life:

• ruby red slippers
• how much tons of ruby are mined annually
• candyland nursery
• fender acoustic electric craigslist
• ruby red slippers photos
• shocking pink roses big pictures#

Wow, last week’s show was such a fun surprise! We took a wonderful trip through chakra candy land – it’s like your very own candy shop! I could literally feel my entire body buzzing from the energy we shared!

If you want to go on a trip through your very own candy shop, go check out and visit the show from 4/30/09.

As we co-created together, this fun way to explore all the riches within it made me realize that the sun, moon and stars really are just the beginning!

Looking for a Dream Life:

• ????????? CandyLand The World of Sweets
• Heaven and candy land
• wonderful trip to candyland

Belinda’s Dream – Our backyard… pre-treatment

I know, I know, I talk about roses A LOT! But I just can’t help it! I LOVE them!

What am I noticing these days? ROSES – they are *EXPLODING* in our backyard, they are FULL of the goodness of all that is divine, and I feel like this rose energy is within me, too.

On another post, I believe I shared about planting a ton of roses a couple of years ago. I began dreaming about them nearly every night for weeks. I found myself in front of roses in all sorts of ways. Oprah had a show about HER rose garden. I picked up a magazine, and there they were. I closed my eyes to meditate, and the roses would appear in my meditations. Some part of me was asking for the energy vibration of these beautiful creatures. I literally couldn’t ignore them.

We trekked to the Rose Capital of the world, which luckily for us, is only about an hour and a half away. After talking to the owner of Chamblees Nursery in Tyler, Texas, he fixed us up with a new breed of thornless rose called a Jefferson Rose (called that because he found this little gem underneath an Oak tree in Jefferson, Texas. These beauties grow EVERYWHERE – even under an oak tree in the shade). This bush type rose blooms from March through November with these luscious tiny tea cup white roses (yes, these are the ones I saw in my dreams).

We planted them along the fence that borders our pool area and, now, just two years later, they are HUGE! As we pulled into our yard last night and I saw them sparkling in the dark, I felt so happy, happy, happy. The energy of the rose is unmistakable … soft, gentle, yet powerful, rolling, healing.

We also have some other rose bushes – Belinda’s Dream (see photo above), which are pink roses with these luscious layers and layers of petals. They look like a fluffy rose, and then we have some ‘unknown’ varieties that we bought by the side of the road because we ‘loved’ the colors. Like, seriously, we were driving BY, and they REACHED OUT and said COME BACK…Chance saw the first one and I heard the next one… and the one I heard is now in the back of our fence, it has grown two feet by two feet, and the blooms are SIX INCHES WIDE on these gorgeous long-stem roses. What color? Of course, PINK, as I believe the only one who loves pink more than Elle Woods (Legally Blonde) is ME! They come out this HOT, SHOCKING PINK color and then, they turn light shell pink (see below)…it’s like getting TWO ROSES in one!

The Elle Woods Rose – I just named it that!

I hope you are loving something as much as I’m loving the gift of these beautiful roses! They sing to me, they speak to my soul, and they make life so, so, so sweet.

Happy Earth Day – Again!

Do you have a dream? Been playing small? This theme of playing small is one I’ve been seeing with a LOT of people these days – Eeeek! I’m wondering if I’m playing a bit too small too?

I happened upon this video and was struck by how MUCH we can learn from Susan.

First, Simon asks her what has kept her from singing before now (she’s 47). She says, “I haven’t been given the chance.” Hmmmm, is this true? Or has it just not been the right time for her? What is for you? Trust me, I’m asking myself these as I ask them here!

I’ll put my own answers in italics… I haven’t been ready.

Second, she begins to go into her head…thinking…she trips up her speaking, and people really begin to think she is going to be bad – ever notice that happening? You go into ‘thinking’ or ‘trying’ mode and it backfires on you?

Uh, yes, like EVERY TIME! I’ve finally figured out that no one wants to see, hear, experience my ego… they want ME.

Third, she runs off energy by moving a bit and going into her protection zone… seems like it is probably humor. The audience responds with MORE distaste.

My protection zone used to be more information… just give more information, that will get us out of here. Now, it is my breath…no hurry, just breathe.

Fourth, she begins to center… answering what her TRUE DREAM is… to be a singer like Elaine Paige. This links her to her TRUTH. How do we leave our dream by the wayside when we feel judged? Or when people seem to not ‘understand us’?

At some point, I figured out, what difference does it make? I can either say what I want now and not endure the pain of ‘woulda,’ ‘coulda,’ ‘shoulda.’ Or I could endure the pain of being misunderstood. Either way, it felt painful and by going with what I wanted to speak in the moment, I found that wonderful things happened!

Fifth…she sings from her heart…from her soul…with all she has. And gets the gift that comes from that. How many of us would have buckled under an entire audience of people laughing? Going into the ego of feeling bad?

When you’ve got the goods, you know it. If you don’t feel like you’ve got the goods yet, keep going. Keep reaching for your dream. Soon enough, you’ll have them – more like you’ll be consciously connected to them – because you’ve always had them! And, when you know it, go with it! I’m really KNOWING it… and it feels great!

What is your dream? Your BIG, BIG, BIG dream that you hold inside? Let it out… share it with us… tell us… and let us also ENERGIZE your DREAM!

Looking for a Dream Life:

• What can we learn from susan boyle

As all of you know, I’m cleaning out emails by the tons of KBs (more like MBs), and I’ve come across so really amazing emails. It seems a shame to throw them out! So I thought I would start a new category called Juicy Bytes and will share them with you! Not sure how this will work, but I’m sure it will all be splendid!

I sent this email to a woman who sent out a question over a listserv – sorry I don’t have the original email, but here’s my response to her question about ‘gift ideas’ for a friend going through cancer. This exchange occurred in January 2008 – too many good vibes to go to the delete button for sure!

Hi -

One of my dearest friends had breast cancer a few years ago. She had a pair of ruby red slippers she wore her last day at chemo. She wore them out… like Dorothy clicking her heels and going home.

Since then, we’ve celebrated milestones. I don’t know if everyone is the same, but with my friend, the ‘date’ on the calendar each year is one where she is reminded because of oncologist follow-ups. So, on her one-year anniversary, I sent her two glass shamrocks from Red Envelope because we were feeling so “lucky” to have her with us and to express gratitude that she is alive and well. On another year (her anniversary is close to St. Patrick’s Day), there was another four leaf clover kit.

For your friend, it is going to be close to Valentine’s Day, so maybe something having to do with hearts and being heart to heart with her. Then you can have that special heart connection with her upcoming milestones.

What I found from listening to my friend is that it is the little things that meant so much. A yummy dinner dropped off when she didn’t feel like cooking, little cards sent here and there to keep her spirits up, a visit to drink tea – just to be together. I believe it is most about what your friend cherishes. My friend cherishes human connection above all things, so these are mini celebrations of who we are.

As I type this, I am reminded of all the crazy things we did during her cancer journey. We twirled around in circles in the Starbucks parking lot and let balloons go with our wishes attached. We took a day off to pamper ourselves together. Another day we just window shopped and ate and talked and talked. Another day we curled up at her house sipping tea and making plans for the future – our future together.

I was not one of the ‘inside’ team for my friend. She had many others who had gone through chemo who were there for her to show her the ropes on wigs, medicine, etc. I was there to be supportive and to hold the faith. I believe we all come with our ‘home team’ – each with our perfect role. Maybe your gift can be reflective of who you are for your friend. Or maybe it can be something that will help her feel more like herself – a housekeeper for a month if she’s feeling behind on housekeeping, a day at the spa for renewal, etc.

Best to you and your friend. We’ll be celebrating her recovery! I’m sure you will find the perfect gift to celebrate her life!

Hugs-

Tina

Here’s her response to my email:

Dear Tina,

Thank you So much for such a thoughtful and endearing email.  I read it over several times, not just for the ideas you suggested, but for the warmth and understanding you portray.

I completely agree that is the little things in life that allow people to realize how lucky they are to have such caring friends/family, etc.  It has been that exact human connection which has strengthened my girlfriend, and myself. 

After having her first chemo session, I realized it would be nice to stop by the hospital during her next one and keep her company for a while.  She loved the idea, and asked that I bring her lunch and we could act as though we were having lunch out together.  I did, and this became a ritual for each of the next sessions.  It helped her pass the time, and it helped ‘us’ to reinforce our already committed friendship.

With your terrific ideas, and those of others, I narrowed my gift list to a ‘pamper me’ event such as a massage/facial, a housekeeper, monogrammed slippers (which I saw on Red Envelope), a lovely cancer awareness bracelet (made by a woman, to order, with proceeds going to the ACS).  But-in the end, I think I am going with this-I am having dinner with her and 2 other friends this week.  I plan to bring my camera and have someone take a picture of the 2 of us.  I will take that picture and buy a beautiful frame and give it to her as a sign of what our friendship means to me.

Thanks again, Tina, for such a lovely email.