Jaynebug's Xanga

Shine ON!

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:02:24 GMT

Want to own this one? Check out the many offerings that come from so many good hearts over @saintvi! CLICK RIGHT HERE

(pats heart, and points to you)

Bowties, Big Glasses and Laughter

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:51:28 GMT

A picture says a thousand words. While working events we are always rushing around looking like we're not rushing. Smiling as the 'what's next" flies through your mind. Moving through a crowd of people watching, looking... awareness is your best friend. We work very hard, but one of the secrets to hard work is to have fun doing it.

I work for a woman who's a detailed, hands on boss. We both keep customer service to high standards. We have worked hard and laughed even harder. Those "hitting the wall" moments have been filled with laughter rather than tears although a curse word or two slips out from time to time. That makes us laugh harder some days. We make comments like, "that's a bruise," when we slam a heel under a rolling cart, or "how good are you with tweezers today" when we take a splinter from a wooden table. "Is that wall in your way?" We're there for each other.

Oh, don't get me wrong there are tough days, and when they happen thank goodness one of us still has a sense of humor and we pull the other one out. Having someone to vent to can be the best solution. We've made a golf cart our break room as it looks out over the vineyard. Well sit for a few minutes as we collect ourselves for the event or eat a quick bite of food before rushing back out to the main floor. It's a fast pace job and I love it. My body hurts for a few days when we're on a run with day after day event, and somehow we've found humor in that too. We'll come in and both of us are walking tenderly, and we'll look at each other and start laughing. Somehow the vibrations of the laughter wash away the pain and we move into the day.

Last week we did a wedding and the clients had hired a photo booth. We took advantage of the opportunity to extend the laughter that comes with our jobs well done. I know that if we didn't find humor, we'd be so uptight, and what good does that do me? It doesn't do me at all. I'm sharing this because we take ourselves so seriously and it puts us on the edge these days. Laughter can heal, protect, release, smooth over, and more and more and more.

A picture says a thousand words.

(pats heart, and points to you)

Dancing in the Morning

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:22:31 GMT

The two dance together as if they are one

Bending, swaying, locked in joyful movement

Ah... to be a palm tree frond

I take a moment before jumping into the fast paced day

My moment to 'chill' or fill with projects straining to be fulfilled

An orchid opening as I sit at the desk... Sweet eye treat mystery

Yoga for the mind... I stretch, I shape up the day in good

I'm floating in water...warm...releasing all tension

I Let It Go

I'm expecting humor to guide and extend and pass over and beyond...

to share, to exchange, for growth of the spirit

The two stand still for a moment then continue the dance in the morning breeze

Ah...to be a palm tree frond

(pats heart, and points to you)

The Path to Renew

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 17:21:33 GMT

Come along into the garden and we'll release the hold that has your body aching, your heart heavy, your tight shoulders that come from the stress that builds from living this busy life of ours. Here's a jacket as we have a bit of light rain. It won't hurt you to feel the moisture in this garden, my friend. Take a deep breath and close your eyes for just a moment. Let yourself into a "mind space" that lets you let go, renew, consider, process, and more and more and more. Not a time to "think", nope, it's a time to let yourself just "be".

The garden reminds me everyday how much things change within the natural cycles of life. What was a small sprout of life blooms into more. What was green and gorgeous yesterday is soon a cutting that we recycle into life giving mulsh to nourish the sprout of the future.

I have been told by many people that they just can't grow anything and I challenge them to let the plant teach them how. Taking the time to learn as we go is a gift to ourselves. Yes, of course it's great to have some knowledge to help us get started, but I have found that the yearning to expereince has taught me so much more. The garden has opened me up, taught me to allow all things in their time. To trust that the Spring will come and warm the cold hardened space. To have faith in trimming away what does not serve anymore, and to know without fear that new growth will come.

I've learned to surrender to the fact that right now is the place to be and yesterday already taught its lesson. I turn on the "APPLY" button in my brain and know that it's working and giving me the enlightenment, self awareness, and open hearted gifts that suit my gardening spirit.

But I talk to much. Better to let you find your way along the path yourself.

Know that if I was walking with you, I'd lean in and tell you that you can renew. You are the magic of yourself. Let it shine through when you can, and know that it's always waiting for you in your heart when you can't. Each day new.

On the light hearted side, you can dress any way you want in the garden...the plants don't judge.

(pats heart, and points to you)

Hanging Out with the Stars!

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:19:43 GMT

There's a lot to be said about hanging out with the stars. Working a fun event out at Edna Valley Vineyard. I'm sure the folks that monitor the security cameras got a laugh or two!

ANYWAY...

Private jokes with Marilyn

Catching some "rays" with Elvis! He was on a surfboard and looking GOOD! Check out the lips! Curly BA BAY! He makes my head look huge!

Striking a pose with Audrey. (I recommended the California sun for her overall color.)

Precious moment with James Dean.

Talking rum with Jack Sparrow. It wasn't what he said, more how he looked.

The Wicked Witch of the West was a camera hog! She was already a bit "washed out".

Too much fun and I get paid too!

Have a great rest of your week. Back to work I go!

(pats heart and points to you)

And now for something musical...

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:14:08 GMT

You just never know when or how you'll click with someone. In many circumstances, we're not even aware of the exact moment we click. Hard work can bring you closer faster. You see your strengths, and find your role in hard work. Shall we lead, shall we laugh, shall we push through together? Click Click Click!

I now work for a friend who use to be my client. I was referred to her through another client who had friends over playing Bridge who knew the lady who needed a gardener! (who lived in the house that Jack built)

She is a very fun woman in her seventies with a great sense of humor, knows what she wants and wants what she wants. She asked if I'd help her with a project to move her mountains of storage. I agreed. We worked for several months to get her moved out of a storage unit in another county, then go through said storage, sell or give away, and get organized. It was quite the ordeal for her. She had to encounter memories of her husband, her mother, and her collection of life's "I think I'll keep this" stuff. She handled it with grace, but she needed a hand emotionally and physically. I was that person. We clicked.

We'd go about our long day and quote poems, or sing songs from our childhoods. We shared many familiar songs. She'd start out by saying, "I wonder if you know this song." Then she'd sing the first few lines of the verse. I'd take it from there and sing the next lines and then we'd both just finish the song or chorus together. We'd be laughing or smiling one of those huge smiles you just can't wipe off your face. The kind that comes from deep inside and holds on to your face muscles. You know.

So poetry and music clicked us together as we work so hard and long to get her project done. We also had great sarcastic laughs. Got more familiar with each other as a long day can bring out the honest truth of yourself.

Clicking with people can be such a journey. I highly suggest it. Click Click Click!

So with this in mind, I give you the poem that she gave me in my birthday card a few days ago. Yes. I'm a year older, wiser, & don't forget much more humorous too. Life is just too short to not jump in and LIVE!

Always Something Sings

Let me go where're I will,

I hear a skye-born music still;

It sounds from all things old

It sounds from all things young

From all that's fair, from all that's foul,

Peal out a cheerful song.

It is not only in the rose,

It is not only in the bird,

Nor only where the rainbow glows,

Nor in the song of women heard,

But in the darkest, meanest things

There always, always something sings.

Tis not in the high stars alone,

Nor in the cups of budding flowers,

Nor in the redbreast's mellow tone,

Nor in the bow that smiles in showers,

But in the mud and scum of things

There always, always something sings. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

(pats heart, and points to you)

The Better Zone or Where Did I Leave The Zone

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 19:00:11 GMT

They take bites, chew, then throw out random comments.

"Oh man that guy is loosing his mouth guard."

"He's trying to be ASAP...As safe as possible."

"No time outs remaining."

"Go, go goooooooooo! Yeah!"

Late breakfast and basketball fills the room.

My mind drifts back to the keyboard as I check my mail, then do my posting & newsletter set up for the pub. There's a rhythm to the task when I let the noise of a room fade to the background. There in the zone my mind comes alive with thoughts and processing. Talking to myself quietly with some sense of control, if that makes any sence at all. Thoughts Thoughts Thoughts! Did you see the movie, For The Love of the Game with Keven Costner? He was a pitcher and when he'd take the mound, he'd say to himself, "Clear the mechanism," and the outside throb of the crowd would fade out. He was in his zone. His mind was now organizing the focus for his task. He commits to the focus. Now as he's pitching this critical "perfect game", the director has his thoughts as a flashback that are also going through his mind as a baseball player who is pitching his last game. His life is on the mound with him. It's intense. He's focused on the outside, but in his own head, there's so much more going on. Is he truly focused "in the zone?"

How about everyone we work with, or live among or ride on the bus, in the elevator, in the next office? They're doing the work or in many cases going through the motions of focus, but what else is going on in their heads as they work, play, pass you on the street. How big is the plate that they hold and take with them in a life? Do we have time to let the past come forward, thank it for it's time and lessons or dismiss it, banish it into the past forever and shut the door? Do we assume that everyone else has it all worked out in their focus in the zone? Maybe some do, but the more I'm out among the people, the more it seems do not.

Maybe people think they have no time to think in their zone. It's all about tuning out for them. Maybe others fine comfort in just doing and doing and doing with no time to think. Maybe the thinking stays focused on the material thoughts. I need, I want. Maybe that's the point. Maybe they don't want to think about what would make it better or less painful or even surrender to "It is what it is, right now." I do know that surrender is not defeat in the zone, it is a path to a better zone. My focus has become clearer since I surrendered to being myself with awareness of others inability to do the same thing and share rather than judge. If you can, you should. The world needs examples of people who bring a light to the zone.

Maybe I could maybe all day.

Reading this over, I ask myself...What were you thinking?"

I kicked myself out of my quiet comfort zone to ask myself if it is another way to escape thinking the thoughts that move me forward to a better zone.

Guess I'll have to think about that! I know there's room in my head for reflection.

(pats heart, and points to you)

For The Life of Me

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:18:44 GMT

I'll be taking the drive tomorrow. It'll all start out with that feeling of freedom. Ah! On the road. The day will be beautiful no matter the weather, cause "I'm on the road!"

Then I'll start thinking. The week will flow through my mind. I'll laugh at how my body once again absorbed more than my own stuff and I'll let some of it go as I take in the scenery. Can't remember for the life of me (I think I got that catch phrase from my mom), but few years ago I read and then passed on to everyone I knew about asking yourself if you can let something go. Did I share it here? Can't remember for the life of me. Anyway...I started using it with thoughts and pain. I'd put my hand on a hurting muscle and ask myself if I could "let it go." YES YES YES!, I'd respond...okay not that excited, more WILLING. You then follow up the letting go with, "and more and more and more."

Going up north to see my Mom as she celebrates 92 years on this fine planet. I have a gig on Sunday back home so it'll be a fast trip and a there's few friends who are worried that it might stress me out. It might, but since I'm on the road with a "all I need is love in my heart and a moment to think it through before opening my mouth," I've reassured them and myself (cough cough) that I'm going to let my life unfold now. Brings more emotion to the songs, right?

The week has been full, Full, FULL so getting out on the road sounds good. I'll put a cd in the player, let my mind do it's thing, let the thoughts pass and process and then maybe I'll open the window with a song in my heart and "let it go."

Makes room for more and more and more, and hey...most of it is good stuff, you know... it just gets clogged up with the icky negative stuff, because icky negative stuff is icky and wants to stick! I know, it's simplified wording because I want it to be simple. When I make something big in my thoughts...the universe always responds with more drama. When I move on and let go...drama moves on too.

It types out like a great plan. For the Life of Me.

We'll be talking on the otherside of it. (pats heart, and points to you)

How Do You Lead?

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 17:22:11 GMT

"Can I have your heart this week?"

"No. It's my turn. I asked for it last week remember?"

"Oh yeah, that's right, you did."

"Can I be on your waiting list Mrs. H?"

This is one of many conversations that has gone on about my heart. Oh...I suppose it's important here to tell you that the heart that is being requested is a sterling silver heart that I wear on a long silver chain. On September 11, 2001, I put it on and have worn it every day since. I wear it to remind me of the loss of people I never met, but whose lives affected me in a tremendous way. I also wear it to be my "touch stone" reminder to come from a place in my heart before judging, responding, or over reacting to life and it's events.

When I first started volunteering at Miss A and Hoop's school, the little girls and some of the boys asked about it.

"Is that a locket?"

"No. It is one solid piece."

"I bet I could open it for you."

"It doesn't open."

"Can I try?"

"Sure." I handed it over to the child as I had done many times so they could prove to themselves that it just won't open.

"My mom has one that's a locket."

"Oh really?"

"Why do you wear it every day?"

"Well..I like to remember to speak and think from my heart and this heart is my reminder."

"Can I wear it?"

"Sure."

They each wear it, and not one child over the three years has got into trouble with the teacher for not paying attention to their work. They wear it quietly and proudly. Each new school year a few new children get on the waiting list to wear it. Everyone who wants to wear it has had their turn. Amazingly, they always remember to get it back to me even when I've started out the door without it.

I wrote this in the Spring of 2009. These preteens are now getting ready to go on to the seventh grade. I still wear the heart and it still reminds me to stay grounded in my heart and has also been an opening for many conversations with adults about living life from the heart, mind, spirit and inner strength. Last week I took the class of 2012 out to the garden to take a class picture. They don't ask to wear my heart anymore, but I've heard them remark to each other about it.

"Remember Mrs. H's heart?"

"I loved it."

They still treat me like I'm no stranger as we spent so much time together when they were younger. They smile and wave in the hallways as they pass me at the school. With my daughter leaving this June, I'll be going too. Three children, nine years later and my heart still leads me home.

We build as we go.

"Oh Mrs. H!"

"Yes?"

"Don't forget your heart!"

(pats heart and points to you)

When The Gift Returns

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:31:40 GMT

When was the last time you had a great conversation? You know, the type that had you feeling more decisive, or maybe the one that put you over the edge to "do something about it!" Or how about the one that you learn something more about yourself because you listened, then thought about it, then responded, then laughed. Or when you're hurting inside, and someone takes the time to ask and friendships begin and new relationships with ourselves emerge, and... my list could go on and on, but I know you "get it." You are amazing!

These conversations as relates to myself have pulled me forward.

My conversations about problems are what they are; a venting, or processing. My conversations that just come up between friends and everyday new people in my "out in the fray" working world, well they are my stepping stones to learning what makes me tick.

"Wait." (tick tick tick) Not what makes us tick. It's more observing how we respond to life when engaging in repartee that goes beyond, "How's the weather."

I do love the ones that have me walking away smiling to myself. Warm fuzzy conversations are fine too. Conversations with 75 to 80 year old people have been gems of enlightenment. Reminds me most of the time that I should listen more and make eye contact with more people before time sweeps by. The eyes are true. I can spot the "BS" almost immediately, so it makes it easier to make my exit from the contact with no harm to any of us! All of them give me perspective. I like having my finger on the pulse of different life situations. Makes me grow like the gardens I tend.

Ah, but the gift you ask? What's the Gift Returning!

Last week I ran into three people who I hadn't seen in quite a while. All three brought up our last conversation as it related to them. They were smiling. (@saintvi posted a bit a go about smiling in situations and looking around your "waiting situation". She's a smart lady. )

Anyway...the three had been relating to other people within a conversation and they 'thought of me'. I myself have said that very thing to others.

Thank you for the Gift. Seems we've been passing around gifts for a while, supporting through thought. Thoughts create, you know. If you thought of one person at this moment, who'd made a difference in your life (big or small) you are sending them a gift right now. A loving thought just hit them. Poof! Now that's the good stuff. Our thoughts are prayers/energy/incert your form of connection here.

I'm getting the thought that I better get my tail out of here and go work in the succulent/cactus garden. There's gifts there too, but you know that.

(pats heart, and points to you)