Day 13 of the 21 day gratitude challenge – I’m loving this challenge, but wow it is a challenge!  I’m not used to blogging so much, but glad (and thankful, of course) that I am.

So the assignment is this –  Pick three friends or family members you see regularly. View their actions and gestures through a positive lens, assuming their goodness and witnessing their best intentions.  –

Nearly all my family and friends are positive people.  Of course they have negative thoughts at times (who doesn’t?), but for the most part they’re positive.  When they’re not, they become aware they’re not (which I think is what’s important!).  I’m extremely grateful to be surrounded by their light.  I think we all help each other shine brighter!

In watching and listening to some of my family and friends here’s what I’ve discovered.  It’s enlightening to witness when life gives you lemons.  At first there may be some bitterness, some stress and some anxiety but in the end it always works itself out.  I’m fortunate (and oh so grateful) that I learned this and grasped onto it a long time ago…so I rarely get stressed.  I just sit back and wait for the lemonade!  But, I see this happening with people around me (and in myself at times)…  A life situation arises (not enough money, not enough time, etc) and at the moment it seems horrible…maybe there’s some bitching, complaining, and just negativity.  We all handle stress in a different way.  At a point, though, there’s a shift.  We see just a little glimpse of light in the darkness and there’s hope.  We start to see a little more lightness and the positivity comes back…more hope, more faith, more confidence, more smiles!

I think that entire process is pretty cool.  I see it play out in different people and with different situations.  For some, the gap between the “horrible” situation and the glimpse of light is wide.  It takes a while.  And in some (depending on the person & the situation), the gap is much shorter.  I’m so thankful that my gap is typically really short, and I’m thankful that I have gotten to witness this and write it down.  I think it totally helps it stick.  It helps me remember that there will be light, there will be lemonade!

So thank you to my family and friends for letting me learn from you.  Thank you for being who you are, for having genuine goodness in your heart and for having only the best of intentions.

I’m thankful for having such positive people in my life.  I’m thankful that we all have hope and faith, and I’m really grateful that I’m aware of this!

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I was going to name this post “A Little House Cleaning” because really that’s what I should be doing BUT I would first like to tell you a bit about what else I’ve been doing.

At the beginning of this year I got involved with an organization called Spirit Jump.  I’ve blogged about it before so maybe you’re familiar.  If not, you need to read my blog more!  (HA Just kidding, or am I?)  No really, if you’re not familiar with Spirit Jump it’s an organization designed to “jump” or lift the spirits of cancer patients by sending them cards, gifts, and positive energy.  I have teamed up with a new found friend, Cherise, and together we have been able to send 10 or more pieces of jewelry per month to people that need “jumps”.  It’s been so much fun doing this and I can’t thank Cherise enough for all the financial help she has been able to provide.  It’s been really amazing and I just hope that the people on the receiving end are getting as much out of it as we are!

Besides the overall greatness of feeling good for giving, I’ve also recently been featured on a couple different blogs.  One of them is Foxy G Knits.  Lois, of Foxy G Knits, does a weekly tribute to different artists that pay it forward.  She calls it “Art from the ♥”.  I am honored to be one of Foxy G Knits featured artist!  You can see my feature here.  Thank you so much, Lois, for the write up!

Lois is an artist herself.  She hand-knits, one-of-a-kind shawls, wraps and scarves.  And she pays it forward to.  She sends hats and scarves to homeless shelters.  What a great idea!  Check out her beautiful creations!

Another blog that I have had the pleasure of being featured on is “Our Daily Blessing…Life“.  I met Amy through Spirit Jump.  She is battling cancer right now, and one of her sons has had 15 brain operations.  She blogs about her life, and all she’s got on her plate (4 kids and a 21 year marriage).  I have so much respect for her.  I can’t even imagine doing all she does!  She is as positive as she can be, and I truly have a lot of compassion for her and her family.  She is actually doing a giveaway…that giveaway being a $45 Self Symmetry gift certificate!  Get the details here.  I’d love to have you win.  Plus, it’s a great blog to follow!

That’s a little of what I’ve been doing lately, and why it’s been a while since I last posted.  That, and I’ve been cleaning…yeah right!

So my point here is that when you give what you can, you get a lot out of it.  I’ve not only been featured on these fabulous blogs, but I’ve been selling a lot of jewelry, getting custom orders, feeling good, and just enjoying my life!

If you’d like to be a Spirit Jumper too.  It’s so incredibly easy.  Visit their website, get on their email list, and start sending jumps!  You’ll be glad you did

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Since getting a new laptop, I’ve fallen in love with the internet again!  I’m finding that it has opened my eyes to so much creativity.  I’ve been in a blogosphere and haven’t emerged (sorry hubby and sons — there’s so much to see in this blog world that I may not be out for a while…a long while!).

I’m seeing creativity from handmade things, to amazing writings, to enlightening ideas.  I’m so INSPIRED!  So, I thought I’d list several (if I can narrow it down) of my favorite blogs &/or blogs that have opened my eyes.  These are in no order!

Tip Junkie

Stem Parties

We Heart This

Hostess with the Mostess

Created by Mom

Mom Made That

Etsy Item of the Day

Thoughtfully Simple

Share Yoga

Spirit Jump

The SITS Girls

The Secret Resource

Then I found Twitter…. OMG!  I’m following a ton of amazing, positive people that are inspiring as well.

What inspires you??

What inspires me now is my kids!  Gotta run~

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With the help of an amazing IT guy, Ryan Meinzer, I am proud to announce the relaunch of my website.  Actually, it’s  just the shopping cart area of my site.  BUT — I do hope you’ll check it out (and Ryan…he’s fast, efficient, easy to understand (he is an IT guy afterall), and can totally hook you up if you need any help in this department.  And, he writes a really good blog too!)

Getting back to me…haha  As you can tell by the name of my company, Self Symmetry, I’m all about finding balance.  I believe that when you find balance; physically, mentally, and spiritually, that you are completely and wholly healthy!  I’m also all about feeling good.   If we can get ourselves feeling good all the time, then our lives will be free flowing and easy.  (I’m not saying that we shouldn’t experience any other emotion, but just that our dominate state should be good and positive.)

With my strong belief in finding balance and feeling good I teach yoga, make jewelry, and now this blog.  If you’re in Dallas/Plano, I would love to have you come take a class of mine.  See my schedule for details.  If you’re not in Dallas, then just go check out a class in your ‘hood.  It’s really amazing, transforming, and healing.

If you’re interested in jewelry, browse around my new shopping cart.  I hand make everything and use semi precious gemstones.  Gemstones have healing properties to them.  They are from the earth, so they hold all kinds of positive energy…making you look good and feel good!  I attach a card to each piece of jewelry describing the stones used and what they do for you energetically.  Because of this, they make awesome, thoughtful gifts (Mother’s Day coming up…hint, hint).  However, if you don’t wear much jewelry, check out BE Charmed!  Who can’t use some extra positive energy?  Side note:  Guys…I don’t have any man jewelry on my site, but I can make you something.  I’ve made several pieces for guys so just email me and we’ll come up with something really manly!

If you’re reading this, then you found my blog.  Congrats!  I would say this blog is on the spiritual side.  It’s about my attempt to live life to the fullest, and all the things that I’ve learned and am still learning.

So there you have it…my shameless self promotion.  I hope you leave my yoga class (or any yoga class) feeling good.  I hope you feel good wearing my jewelry (I know you’ll look good!), and I hope reading my blog leaves you feeling inspired, hopeful, and optimistic!

And Ryan, you rock!  I can’t thank you enough!

Balanced and feeling good – Love, Kat

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I love it because little kids are absolutely living in the present moment, you can learn so much from them, and them from you (be careful of this one!!).

Since little ones don’t understand time, they have no stress and are always happy (as long as all their needs are met!).  They are totally playing in the moment – living in the moment.  My kids play well by themselves (fortunately!), but I’ve noticed that if they need my attention I can either completely give it to them or I can be there but have my mind elsewhere.  If my mind is on something else I’ve noticed that they need me longer.  If I am there for them completely, in the present moment with them, then the amount of time they “need” me is less.  If I’ve got things to do around the house, jewelry to make, or a blog to write I am able to get those things done if I just spend a little quality time with them.  It makes them happy, I feel great, and in turn I’m more productive.  It’s such a relief for me too because in that moment there’s absolutely nothing lacking…I have no stress and life is perfect!

Lately, my sweet Max (he’s 3) has been teaching me to let go.  His new saying is “but it’s okay”.

“Max, you’ve got food all over your face.” – “yeah, but it’s okay!”

As he’s hitting his brother with a stuffed animal (Miles is mildly laughing) – “Mommy, it’s okay”.

We’re running late for school – “but it’s okay!”

And what’s really cool is that as soon as he says that, I relax and say you’re right IT IS OKAY.  Sometimes we get so caught up in looking perfect, always doing things right, and everything being a certain way but does it really matter?  Can we just let go and have fun?  Because ultimately, it is okay!

Kids watch, learn, and sense our energy too.  The more rushed I am to get out of the house, the more uncooperative they are.  If I’m relaxed and calmly explain how we need to leave immediately, they listen and work with me.  The way I do something, they do too.  For example, I always rinse off the tooth brush and tap the brush on the counter before putting it up.  Max does this too, and can point out that his Daddy doesn’t.

I also came to the realization that Max got his new expression (it’s okay) from me.  I say it quite a bit – like if he drops his food, or can’t find a toy.  So it comes full circle!  I’m teaching him that it’s okay and he’s teaching me the same.  How awesome is that?

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