12.15.2011

Cosmic Shifts >>>

*this photo was taken for a shoot I did for Softspoken that has not been fully released yet*

Tomorrow marks the day I will be putting my shops on vacation for two weeks.  For those of you who know me, you know this is a big deal for me.  Ive never really put my work aside for any given amount of time.  I kind of live and breath my work at all times.  Even when Im not working, Im thinking about it.  Okay, maybe I should not call it work, b/c for the most part, it doesnt feel like work.  And it all intertwines, the actual creating, the advertising, the photographing, the emailing, the packaging, the social networking, the errand running, the supply ordering... All of it.  But none of it really feels like work b/c for the most part I enjoy it all.  Okay, except for the supply ordering, I could do without that.  But this holiday season after the wonderful opportunity of being one of etsy's featured sellers, it has been a bit overwhelming.  It seems all my work has become is packaging.  I spend most of my day everyday making the orders for the day and packaging.  No time to make anything new or hardly daydream about making anything new.  I also have not even had a chance to begin to get caught up on tons of restocks for Ruche. And in between it all, I have some big things weighing on my heart as of late.  So Im really looking forward to this time I am taking for myself to explore these things.

Ive been feeling led lately.  Led in directions of healing, of finding news ways of living.  I keep creating connections with lovely ladies who exude love and healing power through their hearts.  I keep landing on websites and blogs that remind me of the deeper places in my heart, places I tend to forget about b/c I spend so much time being overwhelmed in my 'work' life.  Im seeking balance.  Im realizing I need to spend more time for myself and the things I truly love outside of work.  I need to find more time to explore hobby like interests, and take better care of my body, inside and out.  Find simpler ways of doing things throughout my day so that I can concentrate more on these things.  I feel like my heart is calling me to cultivate my life in a preparation for a new amazing chapter down the road.  And a big part of that calling is to slow down.  To learn to be with myself outside of creating.  Besides my huge passion for creating things, I daydream alot about other things that I never allow myself the time to do...

I have made a little list for reference, and I thought Id share it here as a sort of accountability.  These are things that make my heart swoon when I think of them, and always seem to make an excuse for why I cant complete them each day... I tend to do them for a little while, and then fall off with it...

cook homeade healthy meals for dinner
cook more things from scratch
read more books
write poetry
garden
write handwritten letters
sing and record
learn to play the banjo
collage art - for myself
artsy photoshoots - just for fun
connect deeper with friends
have friends over to my house
hula hoop
yoga
long walks
bike rides
regular recycling
composting

These all seem easy enough, but it is so easy for me to waste away my extra time.  Alot of it is honestly spent online, which is one thing I need to let go of a bit.  Not my blog, but social networks.  At least really limit my time doing those things.  Or you know, browsing cute clothes online :)  The time I do spend online, I would love to use connecting deeper with the people who are helping me on my path of healing.  Im already learning how to let go of those who no longer bring goodness into my life.  Loss is always painful, but Im allowing it to not hurt me anymore.  

I will still be posting like usual, about all of the things I always do, but I may also be writing alot more about this process, and maybe even sharing my progress with the list above.  I know to alot of people, the list above may seem like all extra curricular activities that no one has time for in this busy world, but these are all things I feel passionate about, and want to slowly add them into my life so they are so second nature I dont have to schedule time for them.  I want them all to just be little parts of my daily life.  And I dont want to wake up one day and realize all Ive done in this life is create alot of work for myself.  When I have children, these are the kinds of things I want to share and do with them.  

Wow.  Sometimes I think a bit too much, eh? 

So, Im very ready for this little chunk of time Im setting aside for myself.  Ive already thought of a ton of things to fill up my time with... but I think Im going to let them all go, and go day by day.  I need this for myself.  It will be a fresh new start to a new amazing year.  From what I am learning, this new year is going to be full of changes within myself.  Cosmic shifts are happening in my soul, once again.  Propelled once again by death, and will hopefully be transformed into a more deeper sense of life.  

PEACE,
Laura

26 comments:

  1. You are a beautiful soul Laura! I'm so glad that you are taking this much needed time for yourself. I love your list...I'm a list girl myself. Many of the things you have on yours are things that I find bring me great peace in my day to day life. I wish you much luck on your new journey!

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  2. this is one of the reasons why i love your blog so much. you are always open and honest about yourself and about the feelings you are feeling right at this very moment. the girl above me commented saying 'you are a beautiful soul' and it is so very true. i find peace when i come to your blog. that may seem silly but in a (blog) world where it's all about cute stuff and fashion and vintage and...cats (lol) it's refreshing to come across a blog that isn't just about that. you reach deep down and pull out the meaningful things in life and for that i thank you. you remind me to stay true to myself and you make me want to be a better person. i know this might seem a bit intense but it's true and i want you to know that. i really do look up to and respect you as a person...and a blogger. so, i guess what i'm trying to say is, thank you...and i hope you find what you're looking for on your new journey!

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  3. I am so happy for you and this new chapter. I'm totally your silent cheerleader, I read your blog all the time but never get around to commenting for some reason. Gardening is so good for the soul! You will love it. You deserve to take the time to explore life outside of work and learning to balance work, downtime, relationships and hobbies now before you have babies will make you an even better Mom! Enjoy your time off! :) Oh and advice about getting into gardening, start out small, I made a huge flower garden and got overwhelmed, created a lot of work for myself, and feel guilty about not weeding instead of enjoying the flowers! Okay, just thought I'd add that :)

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  4. Your list doesn't seem like extra to me at all. It seems necessary for a beautiful life. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your journey as you embrace more of this kind of living.
    Catherine Denton

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  5. so happy and proud. :-) i love that you share so much of your life. you are truly beautiful all the way deep down inside.

    and i LOVE those JEANS! laura! i've been drooling over the free people ones for months. can't wait to see your shoot.

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  6. to renewing your spirit, soul, self, & whatever else taking this break will bring. i really like your sunshine yellow, with orange, & bare feet outfit.

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  7. I loved this blog post and am SO happy that you're readying for a new chapter of life. It's amazing when the journey finds us instead of the other way around, isn't it?

    Thank you for sharing this part of yourself. Good luck with everything.

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  8. I've always thought that 2012 would be a time of cosmic shifts, great changes and soul transformation. The end of the world in a metaphorical sense. Being passionate about work is wonderful but allowing the light to shine in the dark recesses of the heart brings great balance to the force. Enjoy your vacation and life at a slower pace. 'Tis good for the soul.

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  9. I love your goals and will be sending you vibes. I love that you are so sensitive to your emotional and mental experiences to know when you simply need to rest. Our world tells us to do the opposite- to just press on no matter what. Part of being human is simply dwelling sometimes and letting something bigger than ourselves lead our lives.
    I have been convicted by the need to make my "online" relationships more intentional as well... not just mindless searching, but investing into real people and real goals, just as I would in the 'real' world. Thank you for this reminder and reflection!

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  10. I once watched a Tv show (I think it was "My Strange Addiction") where a psychiatrist told one of her patients that the perfect balance in life is the 8s: 8 hours of sleep, 8 hours of work, and 8 hours of "free" time--every single day. It seems so simple and easy when you lay it down like that right? But it makes perfect sense. To give yourself as much time as you give work would be the perfect balance. I hope you can find your own balance in the new year, and enjoy your time off!! It is a vacation after all. : ]

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  11. Haling is always good, take the time to relax and find yourself. These next two weeks are going to be divine, enjoy them.

    Xoxo, Mary from ♥ meowwzie.blogspot.com ♥

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  12. You are such a beautiful soul. Have a great rest from work and good luck with your list! I have one that I am starting and it looks quite similar to yours!

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  13. Enjoy your time off,I have also been wanting some regroup time,but my husband works crazy gours and I am usualy home alone with two kids and a small farm to tend to.I have always wanted to learn to sew and hope to learn this new year!BUt I just read that a new buddhist temple has opened in my town and I couldnt not be more excited so this year I am going to start praying with the monks.I have read about the faith and have always wanted to find a temple and now there is one in my town! relax and have a blessed time off.
    sending lots of hugs

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  14. adore the photo, you look simply perfect

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  15. I listen to the vibrations of your words ...
    who knows how many councils have already received in your journey?! .. but I think the most important recommendations to come from your soul day after day ..
    Sometimes you can not do everything .. but with time you learn to listen to your balance, be in peace, but only with the constancy of the gifts of the spirit enters into matter, and all of us we tend to hear what the wind exists within the creative ..
    take care of yourself
    and fly in your sky ..

    Love
    Elysa Crystal *

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  16. Good luck with your break! I can totally relate to your overwhelming feeling. I had to give up hangbag making because all the packaging and marketing was so overwhelming. It can to a point where I just couldn't ship out orders, it was like I had social anxiety for the post office & paypal.
    Enjoy your time away. <3

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  17. What a wonderful list Laura, I look forward to reading your progress. Also enjoy your much needed break. I have to admit that once I established "No Computer Nights" as part of my weekly schedule, it really made a difference and helped me feel alittle more balance between work & life. Hope you can find that balance too. :)

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  18. Laura-

    I wanna learn to play the banjo, too! :) I hope it's ok with you, I featured you on my "etsy finds" feature on my blog today. I love your work!

    peace
    erin
    :)

    www.onwardcreativity.blogspot.com

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  19. wow...you look stunning. your fashion rocks. hippy chic. the headband. im in love. dont worry i wont become an obsessive follower ;)

    i love your writing, very heavenly and flowy if you get me.

    xo katrina
    theyoungbridgetjones.blogspot.com

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  20. i love your blog! actually found it through doing a search for jewelry holders....i have a shutter i wanted to turn into one as well...i just couldn't figure it out...thank you for sharing..

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  21. You're an inspiration!

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  22. Thank you for sharing. I have just starting following your blog not to long ago, and I love it. You put a lot of soul and feeling into your writing and work. I have really connected with this post and feel like I am at a similar point in my life. I wish you luck on your journey and can't wait to see where the new year takes you.

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  23. I will miss seeing your work in your shops but enjoy your much needed break! I need to reduce hours in front of computer at night too. Tonight I spent 2hours mending / stitching clothing and teaching my 3y.o. hand sewing instead of browsing online. I feel very happy and better balanced. Best wishes to you in coming new year :)

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  24. Really glad to hear that you're taking time to do things day by day. If you feel like walking a whole day: do it! A day when you want to work, work work: do it then. It can be so stifling creativly to get in a rut. I'm only new to this process, but I'm glad that someone so experienced, like yourself, thinks the same way!

    Can't wait to read about what you'll experience down this new path!

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  25. I just discovered your blog and this post today. So grateful to come across this beautiful and heartfelt post. I feel similarly-- and it's amazing when the universe reflects that back onto you...the new discovery, the reinforcement of --yes, there is where I want to be. I can be. I look forward to reading more.

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Thank you so much for your sweet comments!