Sails, Soul, Direction - Yes, Please.

I love quotes.  I love quotes and words that make me think.  

I'm on a Teddy Roosevelt kick right now - and I was struck on how a few of his quotes are aligning with my current life path.

...

On self-knowledge: "Unless a man is master of his soul, all other kinds of mastery amount to little."

Being single - in my 40s - working for a company and people that I am passionate about - no one left to raise but my own standards and self... there has been a lot of soul searching and self-evaluation about my life's intent and direction.  Meredith used to call me a "temp" - meaning I was never settled. There was always another direction, another place to improve, another opportunity.  I'm planning on taking the next few years to focus on bettering this person - this Simone.  Mastering and developing my better self/soul... game on.

On inaction: "To sit home, read one's favorite paper, and scoff at the misdeeds of the men who do things is easy, but it is markedly ineffective. It is what evil men count upon the good men's doing."

Recently my heart was grasped, wrangled and then a strong attempt at crushing it was attempted.  Silly me.  But it was the red flags, it was the lies, it was the inability to sit and be silent when poked by a stick...  Do not ever lay down and cower when faced with a bully - be the unsilenced voice.  Be the banner of right when right has been lost in smoke and mirrors.  Push past the fear of rocking the boat and be the sails.  Be the anchor in rough seas and the sails when right presents itself - even if it's uncomfortable - be the sails.

Reminding myself of a recent blog: http://sim1says.blogspot.com/2017/09/pitbull-ms-worldwide.html

On conflict: "The unforgivable crime is soft hitting. Do not hit at all if it can be avoided; but never hit softly."

One of my favorite Simone writings included a comment, "I play hard, but land soft..."   If you're going to jump - jump.  Don't half-ass your choices or your life.  If you bring out the stick - you'd better be ready to use it.  If you don't have to use the stick - don't use it.  But be prepared to back up your direction and destination. 

...

Y'all - I'm finding my known skin that I never knew.  It's pretty awesome.

Be you.  Just be your best, fearless, hopeful, joyful, appreciative self.

Be kind.  *sigh*   Be kind.

Much love from the Wildling in the North - (or your neighbor if you're in Montana).

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Lucky One Ponderings

Lucky enough to be front row, center for Willie Nelson and Allison Krauss & Union Station in Missoula... I can't tell you how amazing that experience was...

A song that always resonated with me was "Lucky One" ... makes me ponder what we think the 'lucky one' looks like in our world.

The lucky one:

* Is the family who could have a family - where children were part of family growth and possibility
* The lucky one was the person who was never tied down by the of heartache and triumph of having children
* A soul never knowing either bounds - only their own... wander free and ready for the next wave, boat, tire and tread
* I feel more adept as the "lucky one" in my life... because I leaped.
   Dude - that's not lucky - that's just having blind faith that life will make the world a path I can travel after giving anything I had in my own right.

At this precipice of faith and opportunity,  I typically shy away... (rightfully so - I've had my share of precipices) ... I need the base that rights my Simone ship.

Ms. Krauss is now crooning "Let Me Touch You for Awhile" ...

This 40 something with the miles and miles ahead... is quite the adventurer.

Just be still, Simone.  Be the rocket and the comet - don't chase butterflies.

Be - in the every way possible - real.

And I wish that for you... read this - don't read it - know it - live a "did do" life...

But be you.  Be genuine and let your heart grow into areas you never thought possible.

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Ready. Set. Wagon Wheel.

Figuring out my way.

Smiling.  Feeling ... hopeful... and just...

Ready.

Hey - life?  I'm ready.  Let's go.

Some Old Crow Medicine Show to assist with our adventures.

"Rock me mama like a wagon wheel, rock me mama any way you feel."

This makes my heart smile.  Ready to grasp upon the most beautiful and bruised parts of life.

Ready?

...

Go!

(love you mighty, faulted, beautiful souls....)

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Red Lips

There's a group of women who don't take photos.

And never - ever - would they wear red lipstick.

In fact, when I was first brave enough to wear red lipstick as a 30-something (I wore it a lot in high school) - another woman quipped at me, "I see you're wearing 'whore red' today."  

Yeup.  Didn't wear that color again.

Pffft.  Silly rabbits.

I was in the group that didn't take photos until Athena called me out on the fact that if I keeled over - my children would have close to zero photos of me.  Then I worked on some self-reflection... 

• There's a reality that living my best me might be the best thing I can do
• I can rock some red lips
• Photos give me an opportunity to fit into my skin.  I like me.  I like opportunity.
• Women, you go be your best self - that's all you have.  For that matter, support every woman who wants to be her best rockin' self.

I feel like I've shaken off the dust of doubt and found that right, real place again.

It's awesome.

It inspired red lips - just for morning coffee at a cafe - alone with a pen and my heart pouring out.

Bringing the Storm

... because kindness matters...

It does.

... forgiveness is mental health...

It is.

... by letting go of the past, you're grabbing hold of your future...

Tis' true.

My current pondering is simply this, when do you not turn the other cheek?  When is enough - enough and you not only stand tall, but push back?  Or do you let situations resolve, knowing that someone is a bully and move on and let them live their life?

Or do you push back because they picked the wrong dame to bully?

These are the things I ponder - because y'all know what I always do.  I let the situation resolve itself, I remove myself from the situation and I move on.  Wasted time, wasted effort ... reminding myself that bringing the storm means you're in the storm.

Which reminds me of a quote that is on my desk:

When faced with the Devil - do you scorch the earth or bring the storm?

I choose the storm.  Because I know how to sail my own ship.

Just pondering... because that's what I do.

May you know your power, your heart, and your might.

Love to you crazy, beautiful souls.

Means Something

He'll cherish you.
And want you to feel secure because you've been the only secure part of your life.

He'll love your laugh - and will inspire more of it.
And he will get your quirky, funny point of view of life.

He'll make you think - and in return - you'll do the same.
And when you don't see things the same way - it will be just fine.

He'll inspire you to be better - because he reaches for better every day.
Better doesn't mean more - it means growth and enlightenment.

His word means something.
And because it does to him - it will to you.

He'll read to you and maybe, if he's in the right mood, he'll sing to you.
And you will feel your body relax and return to its center.

He'll look at me with adoration - because by this point - he is all you see.
And he'll know your own adoration by my sigh and smile - look into his eyes.

He'll be amazed by stars, trees, bodies of water and stone.
Which means he knows adventure - he knows the meaning of "onward"

One day... He'll be.