It's All About Attitude

I just recently moved to Vernon from Vancouver a month ago. One of the major reasons was to get out of the city. Another reason was to live more affordably, and another reason was to get out of the rain. One of the main reasons, was to seek inspiration through change.
At first I felt different, and everything I saw looked different. Even the people who I passed looked different. I had the idea of writing about my daily experiences on a journal and scanning them into a blog, so it would be like a blournal where the reader actually gets a personal touch of who I am. I could even draw little pictures and stuff. But I didn't do it, or haven't done it yet. Partly because of my lack of attention to one particular idea. But I am making the effort to write this now. And I am pleased.
What I really wanted to touch on is opportunity. And manifestation. It seems like I have quickly manifested so much in my time here within the last month, that it feels like my time has doubled. A lot has happened with the meeting of new people, me getting into a new relationship (I know, fast, right? But he is amazing) finding out that my landlady above me is an insomniac, figuring out that it's hard to get around at night without a car (the buses stop running at 6 pm so I feel like I am confined into this house), and realizing that I have to persist and hammer employers if I want to get a job. Alas, this is all part of the change and adventure that I wanted, and this is what I got.
I have been (we all are) manifesting things at an unreasonably fast rate, knowingly and unknowingly. What you think, you create. What you focus on, expands.
This past week I was feeling frustrated that I wouldn't get a job within the next 2 weeks - that is when I need to start working, in 2 weeks because my EI runs out. Panically thinking about Christmas, too, and making it home for my friends and family functions. Worriedly, I asked the Universe for me to land a job within 2 weeks. Fair enough, a few days later, I got a job offer in Vancouver at my old government job I used to work at, Indian and Northern Affairs. It was to start Nov. 14-Mar. 31. Great! But not the city I want to work in. (I guess we have to be specific with our askings!) Tempted to take it, afraid of money (or lack thereof), I had to let her know by 3 pm the next day. Feeling so grateful that the Universe has answered my request, I quickly decided in 2 hours and said I would take it! Feeling a bit uneasy with my belongings and having to move again, and giving up the chance that I had just set up for myself here, I felt a little cheated to myself. "Am I going to give up what could be to go back to where I wanted to escape from?" Thinking that I was making the right decision, I let some of my friends know that I was going back to Vancouver for 5 months. They were excited, of course, to see me again. I was too. Except I didn't know what Vernon would have to offer me. I gave my landlord my notice and was mentally preparing to move the next week.
The next morning(today), I woke up, and realized that I like it here. I love this city, and the people here are so nice. I have met a lot of nice people and have had a lot of help within this last month, just think about what more could come out of this if I were to stay. I really wanted to stay and give it a try for myself.
I phoned my landlord and apologized for the confusion, and told them that I was going to stay and give it a try. I also told the job I would not take it. I also told my friends and family I was staying.
Something came over me today. Something told me to keep going, not to give up, and that I have set myself up here. I felt pushed to try harder, faith and eagerness to proceed and succeed here in this town. I got out my folder and called the places I applied at last week to follow up on my applications. Who I never heard from but wanted to last week, I got in touch with. One of the places even set up an interview time for me. With my newfound attitude on success, I made my way out in the town with determination and confidence and the first place I applied to interviewed me on the spot, and I got the job! Even though it's not my desired pay and part-time, at least it's something to diminish my worry!
You see, I wanted to take that government job out of my attitude of fear and worry about money. I know that if I did go back to Vancouver, I would probably be wondering about all the opportunity I would be missing out on over here. But because I changed my attitude on faith and determination, and held a more positive approach to my reason I moved here, doors opened up for me! And I'm sure it would be a positive one! As one opportunity presents itself, other opportunities begin to present itself, and the flow continues. It's all about motives and attitude. What is the reason behind your decisions? What is your attitude when you make a decision?
Who knows what could present itself to me the longer I am here. The more I put myself out there and the more I have a positive outlook on the reason I moved here, the opportunities could be limitless. You just gotta ask with the right attitude, and you shall receive :)

Here are a couple quotes I thought of today:

"This is just a test. I repeat: This is only a test!" - Life
"When we follow our truth, the Universe opens up doors for us where we otherwise wouldn't see."

have a great day/week/month/year/life! Always remember, the right choices you make is in your attitude about them! :)

Balance.

Balance.

What is balance? To some, it could mean centering oneself daily in the practice of meditation, exercise, yoga, playing an instrument, cooking, being in nature, or whatever it takes to make you feel like you can go on about your day and handle any task or challenging situation brought into your experience.
To some, it could mean eating a balanced diet, including the 5 food groups as part of a daily meal, keeping sugar out of your diet, or just not eating the whole box of your favorite chocolates.
In general, balance means to take control of your decisions when you are thinking clearly, and using things in moderation.

Over the years, I have become a sloth for trying to achieve balance. With many things I could speak about, I will only speak about one. That is coming to accept that certain things are out of your control, especially the actions, thoughts, and beliefs of others.

I recently watched the movie Eat, Pray, Love. Such a feel-good movie. If you haven't seen it, I do recommend it. If you don't already know the story, it is about a woman who has left her unhappy relationship to explore herself by travelling to 3 countries over 1 year. During her journey of self-discovery, she met a few interesting people who opened her perspective about love, food, religion, herself, and life. Her healing process had finally make her conclude “if you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting (which can be anything from your house to your bitter old resentments) and set out on a truth-seeking journey (either externally or internally), and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared – most of all – to face (and forgive) some very difficult realities about yourself – then truth will not be withheld from you.” Wow. How true is that. OK, that wasn't really the quote I was looking for the prove my point, but I thought I would add it in as it really speaks to me right now. I am going through a transition phase right now – I could look at it as a loss, but I am on a self-seeking journey to find my happiness, and in doing so, I have given up a few things recently. The lesson I am in is one of letting go, and that everything you need is provided from the universe for you!

OK, so where were we. Balance. Ah, yes. Some people I know have said that they can't be in a relationship when they feel unbalanced. Is that so? What about all those couples who have been married for 30 years or our families that stick around our whole lives?(I've recently read that maintaining successful family relationships is the biggest challenge of all relationships, and if you can do that, then all realtionships will be successful.) I am sure there have been many times when one or the other has felt a huge sense of imbalance. It's all in how we handle it. The most important key in a relationship is to know when you are unbalanced, acknowledge it, and do whatever it takes to regain your balance. But I suppose it is not a good idea to rid someone from your life because of your own imbalances. It is not the other person's fault and they will definitely love you even when you are feeling imbalanced. At least real love would.

OK, I'm getting a little carried away here. OK, so in the movie, Julia Roberts gave up a new opportunity for love, because she felt like she couldn't regain her balance in love. Her guru then said “Sometimes, to lose balance for love is part of living a balanced life.” That then led her to state her views regarding the former quote above, and she then chased after her man in a very happily-ever-after way.

So it comes down to know that having a “slip” of balance is a very natural human thing. We human beings are not perfect, and we are continuously learning. Whether it be feeling guilty for eating that bacon deluxe burger combo with mayo for your fries (just stuff yourself with salad the next day) or indulging in any addiction, or calling a loved one names, or not saying thank you to a stranger, we know what the right thing is for our body and mind ALWAYS. Sometimes we get so caught up in a bad day at work and take it out on our loved ones, and they take it out on someone else, and the vicious cycle continues. If we put things in perspective and NOT take things personally, and stop the vicious cycle, and let go of your mind, fear, ego, and take a chance into the unknown, and realize the real essence is love, as there is only love, then we could get through anything. And even if things don't always turn out the way we would expect, know that something greater is coming along to you from the universe. Open your mind, body, and heart to receive :-) :) YOU are in control of your own life and your reactions.

Ultra Light and Love to you today!!

xo
Karla :)

2010 to 2011 ~ Transitioning into peace and love.

2011. Where did the year go? It seems like it was just summer a few months ago.
I am sure 2011 will provide many opportunities and the flow into them will be of ease.
I ended 2010 in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, and began 2011 in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. It seemed like the right place to shed behind and leave the old, and have something new to bring into the New Year. New scenery, new people, new insights.
I went with my boyfriend on a road trip from Vancouver, BC to Nipawin, Saskatchewan, and left the day after Christmas, December 26, 2010. It was a much needed journey to shed off some old stale energies stuck inside me. As the days went by, it seemed like I was gaining more insights, learning more lessons, and taking in a new perspective into creating the new me for a fresh start into 2011.
Nipawin is a town way north of Saskatchewan with the population of 1,000 with bare roads and white covered fields of snow. The quiet and stillness is basically all you have to take in. Ice fishing, snowmobiling, and the flaps of ravens wings through the dead sound of air swallowed by massive forests is Nipawin in a nutshell. Distant sounds of snowmobiles and trucks kilometres down the long snowy roads is all you hear. There was one time we went to the hillbilliest of the hillbillies own yard to put on some snow tires, where I kept warm from the -20 degree weather infront of a firepit in the garage with collectible pop and beer cans hanging from the ceiling. He said he collected every single printed label imaginable. The cold doesn't get to you though, like it does out here. With sunny skies and a drier climate, don't let the number fool you. Of course though, I was bundles up in layers and snow pants, but it doesn't chill you to the bone like the damp rainy weather of Vancouver.
My most memorable moment by far, though was our night spent at his friend Jeff's house, in Calgary, on our journey back, Jan 2, 2011. Jeff is a Shaman and works with crystals and Spirit. Just telling him I was feeling unbalanced lately was his invitation to do some work on me. He told me to stand up, and breathe and centre myself. As I was starting to feel the energy flow, it wasn't long for me to connect to my Higher Self. Visuals came to my head, and a doorway was seen in the distance. He told me to walk towards it. I did, and as I was standing there wanting to open it, he told Lance to stand up beside me and Lance had to prepare himself to let as well. At this point, feeling Lance's presence beside me, I felt so small. I felt like a tiny 4 foot lady and Lance was a powerful giant towering beside me, but I felt safe. Jeff gave Lance a crystal and told him that this was the key to give to me and Lance has been waiting for thousands of years to give this to me. Jeff told Lance he was in his past and Jeff told me to tell Lance "It's ok. You've fulfilled your vow." I said it, and Jeff told me to say it again, from my heart. I took a breath and felt it from my heart. I held out my hand and Jeff asked Lance if he was ready to give me the key. He said yes, and he put it in my hand. Jeff told me to look at it, and to see all the love that was in it from his past. I did, and I felt it. Jeff then told me to take a few steps through the door into the new room, and I pictured an outside field of flowers and daisies, and smelled the fresh air. He then told me to turn around and to see where I came from. I saw a dark doorway and through the doorway was a long hallway that was shadowed by the doorway. He told me that was the "old Karla" and all I saw was a dark shadowed Karla looking small. I felt bigger now standing in this new place. He told Lance to raise up his hands infront of him and me as well and to feel the energy between us. We then joined our hands together and had a heart felt connection and embraced each other in our arms for a minute or two. It was the best feeling. We were now connected at heart and inseparable.
Jeff then mentioned that that was the first time he hadn't held the key for anyone. It was Lance who held the key for me. That just reinstates that we are meant to be together, and we are there to help each other. That night, we had a heart-to-heart conversation lying in bed together. There is no one else I could open up to without shame or guilt or insecurity. All feels well and all feels safe with him. He is so understanding and caring and accepts and listens to me. He has taught me to love unconditionally and that heart is the most powerful thing. It can move mountains. Through heart, we can overcome anything.
Since that opening, I have felt more love in my heart. I had insights the next day driving through the Rockies from Calgary. As we were approaching the Rockies, I noticed mountains all around me, swarming, an endless supply. It occured to me that there is no one person or thing that we can rely on to make us happy. The world is endless with people and things and all is love and I felt all the love that was shared from people to people throughout my journey.
I also had an insight that we, as society has taught us, and peers and authority figures, to always be striving for something more than what we have and to do better, and to get more, and to achieve a certain status; to be this, that, married, a banker, lawyer, doctor, to be labelled. Well, that is bull$&!#. We have everything we need. I used to want to have something in order to feel successful or fulfilled. I've always wanted more than what I had. Well, it's right in front of my face. I already HAVE it. It's love, it's there. What more could I want? We are all love.

Inspiration – Found within you or around you?

Yesterday I met a man randomly by the name of Mitch, as I was at the laundromat. No, this wasn't one of those cheesy “Do you come here often” catch phrases. What struck me was him asking me what I was looking for in the newspaper as I took one out of the street box. I told him I was looking for some inspiration and he said “You don't find that in a newspaper honey, inspiration comes from within.” That struck me as a start to an interesting conversation. I challenged his statement by further saying “But some people don't know how to find it within themselves so they look for it in others so they can tap into their own inspiration.” Intrigued by my response, his first reaction was that I was good with my words. I've always known this, but I've kind of neglected awareness to my talents. We conversed for about half an hour more, and the main message I got from him was “Follow Your Dreams.” He told me his story of starting to follow his dreams by the age of 36 (he is now 47) where he decided one day to take that chance and travel the world as a photographer. He's traveled the world twice (and I mean the whole world, he adamantly mentioned) and has sold roughly 15,000 photographs. OK, maybe more, but it was a few thousand. Being so inspired by this man, out of the blue, is just what I needed at that time. Maybe I didn't need to get that paper. Maybe my whole reason for getting that paper was to get my inspiration from him: A travelling photographer with a sleeper van and his two pitt bulls parked on the side of the road feeding his dogs Science Diet mixed with beef off the sidewalk. After we said our goodbyes, I sat back down in the laundromat's chair, and opened the paper. Seeking inspiration through ads and pictures, I felt indifferent to them. I didn't need to look for inspiration in a newspaper. I had already found it. Now I'm sharing it with you.

Simple Sounds

Quiet Sunday
The world's asleep.
Soft songs of bird melodies
fill the open air
by its own natural rhythm.
And I listen.