No Need For Fear to Rule

My coaching session the other day centered on Fear and how fear has been a lifelong companion that I give far too much power to! The session led me to much writing about fear ~ speaking to fear and giving it permission to sit off in the corner! While writing, I became inspired to create my fear into the snake it resembled during my coaching session. My snake became a project that combined crocheting, needle felting and wet felting. With each stitch and step in the process I named how fear has shown up in my life and an affirmation of letting it go!

Do you let fear into your life? Do you give it far too much power? Does fear rule parts of your life? I highly recommend creating something that represents fear. As I created my snake, I could play with fear and actually become delighted in the silly nature of fear. Now, it can sit off in a corner somewhere in my house so that I can see it, acknowledge it and smile as I move forward without it controlling my life!

I suspect that most of the people I know would never suspect that fear has played such a prominent place in my life. Well, like the snake, my fear has been stealthy and quiet, yet there nonetheless! When my daughter was young, I didn't have time to allow fear to have a place for long. My life, then, was about doing the next thing. Now that she is an adult and creating her own family, I have more moments when fear takes a seat next to me.

I've decided that now is the time to get to know this little gremlin inside and have a serious confrontation with it. I've given it form by making it into a snake. Quite fitting actually!

I'll keep you posted with what I learn about moving forward in spite of fear.

New England Snow and Creativity

I woke this morning with the strongest urge to go on a road trip - anywhere would be nice. I love to drive and spent much of the day imagining where I could go. But alas, I returned home and went walking with my dog instead. It was snow showering all afternoon. My dog, Sachi, decided it was a good snow to taste as she walked along. This was the first snow she decided was good enough to taste. I was curious... So I leaned over the snow bank to have a taste myself. It was sweet! I never thought of snow as tasting sweet, but it was! Well, I'd rather be joyfully tasting the snow with Sachi than shoveling!

This winter in New England has left us with snow everywhere! This is the first week since Christmas that I've been able to work an entire week.

My walk earlier this morning was listening to the songs of early spring birds returning. I imagine they are surprised at how much snow there is here and so little food. Tomorrow morning, I will shovel a path to my birdfeeders to be sure there is enough for them to eat.

Every week has had a day or two of significant snow of a foot or more that involved hours (did I say hours??) of shoveling and clearing snow from walkways, the driveway and off my roof. Missed days at work are nice until it is every week. This week, I've been very happy that I've been able to work every day.

So what does this have to do with the photo I posted? It has been so cold and there is even too much snow and not enough time to go snowshoeing, which I love. So, what do I do? I come home from work and knit, crochet or make things to while away my time. I love making things! I am using up my boxes and boxes of yarn and fabrics to make space for more!

In the process of making booties, wash cloths, blankets, quilts, salves and lotions, I finally created my Etsy store ~ something I've wanted to do for a long time. My first listing is a PDF of my directions for the booties that I make for my granddaughter and for gifts, hence, the photo above! Next, will be some of the booties I've already made. They are so luxurious! I may have to make myself a new pair since winter doesn't seem to going anywhere soon...

Posting all of this here is my commitment to myself to list more over the next few days. I would love to see my Etsy store become a place where I can sell the things I make. Which gives me even more inspiration to keep creating! I can only use so many wash cloths myself!

I am making a list of the things I love to make or have already made. Next is to list them. Please check out my Etsy store. My "seller" name is '1wisewoman'. Go to etsy.com and look for me! I would love to know what you think and then tell your friends.

I'm signing off for now. I've got a knitting project to return to!