my daughter Jessica-heart wide open

My heart is so full it is going to explode – do you know what I mean? Do you know that feeling?  Right now I am wrapped in a cozy blanket, held snuggly by my deep, brown leather chair, looking outside at a crisp, cold bright day , with the sun shining into my eyes and turning my inner world orange– I am reminded that I AM ALIVE – I feel that life inside me and all around me.  What sweetness, what bliss to BE MARLA as fully as I can in this moment.  As I breathe in air, light, and silence, I am filled with a sense of grace and gratitude to be alive in this moment and writing to you.  I have been searching for over a month now on what I want to say that honors the closing of a tumultuous year and the opening of a new one.  The words that kept landing in my center were “Live with an Open Heart”.  Easy to say – not so easy to do.  What can I offer that is simple yet strong to support this way of being.  I was drawn right back to my heart.

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Hanging on ...

 Just Let Go?  Nature shows me how…

Why do I hold on so hard for so long – when I know it is time to let go?  Could it be that when I release my hold – there is the fall.  And the fall often times hurts.  At least this is what I tell myself.  However, my experience is that if I let go when the time is right, the Universe is set up to catch me, to hold me, to soften the fall.  So how do I know when the time is right?  Most often, just like the fruit on the tree or the dead leaf, it is when holding on gets too heavy, when it is draining me rather than nourishing me.

 Life never sits still, it is always moving forward.  When I let go of what is now past time, I create an open space to breathe, to hang out in the still air, to wonder about what is next. Our theme at C&S for the month of November is to “Honor What Matters Most.”  I have had 3 friends lose parents this last month and it hits hard during times such as these what really matters.  I believe that letting go of of old supports me in honoring what is truly precious in the present.

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The ART of Puttering – “to do trivial tasks in a random, leisurely way”

My Mom & Dad - home in Oregon

I am a fan of “puttering” – especially in my home.  I met a woman years ago at my Feng Shui Training that set aside a full day each week for puttering.  When I heard her describe what it was like to take an entire day to BE in the flow of energy around her with no lists or agenda – I was hooked.  I wanted to know what that would feel like.  I set an intention to bring puttering into my life, and yet keep it simple.  Today I spend the beginning moments of my day surrendering to this sweet flow.  I get up first in my family and after putting the teapot on the stove, I let myself “be called” by my home.  I might water plants, wander outside and pull weeds, sweep my front porch, light candles, or put on music and move.  It is a divine way to start my day, at one with the rhythm of my world. Read the rest of this entry »

A Magical Trip to Oregon

Oregon River in early morning

It is early morning and I am on the river.  I am gazing into the sun shining through the mist that swirls above the water.  A boat with fishermen slowly trolls by and we wave to each other.  My Montana roots sink into Oregon earth.  The fish are nibbling while birds softly chatter.  All around me nature is content to just BE. A deep quiet settles into my bones, my blood and my soul.

I am in Oregon, in a sweet little house perched on the river.  My daughter is asleep and I am sipping my morning coffee.  I can’t wait to write you and share the miracle of being here.  I feel blessed by the grace with which the trip came into being.  I have practiced the C&S Way of SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT. for so long that it comes naturally.  I trust the steps to build on each other. I knew I wanted a summer trip to Oregon to visit family.  (I have 5 siblings and my parents that live there.)  I wanted time with the ocean and nature.  I  wanted quality play time with my daughter.  I wanted the trip to be a time of rejuvenation and connection. Lastly, I wanted the adventure to be easy and affordable.  But, to have all that manifest in physical form, and without effort, is the miracle.  So I offer my journey in hopes that you will have a joyful experience of your own.

TRAVELING:

SEE IT – Set an intention based on what you really want the purpose of the trip to be. 

• Where do you want to go?
• Why do you want to go there?
• Who do you want with you?
• What would be most meaningful to you?

MAP IT – Let the gathering of the MAPS be a FUN part of the process.  Explore the questions above and collect maps with ideas, places, and wonderings.  Personally, I am very visual so I always take clear project folders filled with road maps, print outs from the internet of places I want to see, communications from others, and maybe stuff from former trips.  Get everyone who is going involved in their own way.  My daughter and I had so much fun creating our “agenda” of desires.

DO IT TIP – ask for help.  I asked my brother Wil for help finding the perfect place for Jessica and I to get our one-on-one ocean/water time.  Wil has a gift for knowing all the cool things to do and places to stay.  He found us this fabulous little house (Oar Shack) that sits right on the river in Nehalem OR (www.ripplerunresort.com).  We could walk into town to explore and drive 5 minutes to the ocean.  WOW!

When it comes time to take the trip, I review my intention, gather my maps/lists and then turn the trip over to the Universe.  I find great beauty and power in co-creating with the Universe rather than daring to be the director.  I have been delighted, surprised, cared for, and able to receive much more than I could have imagined.  It took me a long time to learn that I am not supposed to DO IT all myself.

SIMPLIFYING TIP – Take one trip a year for yourself, one with your intimate partner, one with family/friends.

Marla in Nehalem, OR

A Simpler Way awaits…

Marla Dee in Southern Utah

Do you resist change?  Do you long to create something new, yet hold back? Have you ever had to receive multiple messages from the Universe to step forward? I will be honest with you.  I have resisted Blogging for months now.  Everything about it feels complicated to me.  Just thinking about it throws me in a dozen different directions and I hear my mind scream …

• I am not a writer
• This will take too long
• What will I say
• There is too much to learn
• I won’t do it right
• On and on and on it goes…

I have let myself take time to walk through the many layers of resistance until I could land in a peaceful, grounded space that was free of mental clutter.  I kept hearing the Universe whisper back to me, “Marla, just BE a messenger.”  Could it be that simple?  Could it possibly BE enough to just sit down at my desk, in my sweet home office and write a message to you?  In this moment my whole body, mind and spirit can say YES to this new creation. 

I just got to spend this last weekend in Southern Utah – in the beautiful little town of Torrey at the Red Rock Women’s Music Festival.  I had given up on the idea of going – life was too busy for personal play time.  But after a morning meditation when I took the time to really surrender all my resistance, I got a phone call within 30 minutes from my favorite place to stay – Pine Shadow Cabins (www.pineshadowcabins.net) telling me there was a cabin waiting for me.  The whole trip then fell into place.  I had the time of my life.  And I came home realizing that I was finally ready to start speaking – that I had a message I was bursting to share.

• I am a Messenger
• This can be Simple
• I have something meaningful to say
• My way is perfect for me

I invite you in this moment to center and ask what is waiting for you? I ask, what have you been resisting?  What keeps showing up in front of you as a message from the Universe that only you can create?  Is it writing a letter, going for a long hike, organizing your paper, creating a vision board, getting an animal, or just taking a time out from a packed life?

Here are the STEPS to the Simpler Way:

1. Surrender your resistance
2. Let yourself say YES to the new
3. Ask yourself – what is the first step?
4. Lastly, let the Universe support you

Isn’t it time you just let go and showed up for your life?

I will share pictures and stories from my adventure on Facebook – I hope to hear back from you as well on what you create.  Your friend – Marla Dee

 www.facebook.com/marladee.cs

Choose Simple

In these complicated times, a clear & SIMPLE way is needed.  A way honoring that we are all unique, yet connected.  A way that gives a simple, step by step approach to creating the day, a project, a closet, a garden, or a conversation.  Please read our short message on the ABOUT Page and stay tuned for more inspiration that honors your need for a simpler way at last.

The Clear & SIMPLE Way Blog will begin August 10, 2009