Wednesday Wish (69); Sleep Your Pig

photo by mookfarm via flickr

The little runt ran around in circles as if he were an over-wound preschool toy. He tried to sniff at little clumps of curious bits, but couldn’t stop long enough to take in a real breath. His skin was pink. His nose was brown. His body all covered in dirt. He grunted as well as any tiny pig might do but wherever he went his wiggles stole the show.

“Would you like to hold him?” said the owner with a smile.

I laughed. “Easier to hold a wet bar of soap on a hang glider.”

“Hey, hey, hold on a minute there. No one ever taught you how to sleep a pig?”

“To sleep a pig…?” I was trying not to let my eyebrows reach too high.

But he was already off to try to capture the little fellow.

I followed.

“Ok, now…watch me when I get him into my hands…” He grabbed him like you might a chicken—two hands, locked down, fighting pure muscle. And then, he moved his hands horizontally so the little pig lay on his side.

“You watchin’ now? I won't be doing it twice…”

“Yes,” I said. “I’m watching.”

And with an itch of the man’s finger to the crick in the little pig’s leg, he went completely limp. Right there in his owner’s hand. He just laid there like a lump of dough.

“Is he dead? What’d you do to him? Can I touch him?”

He was warm. I saw his little belly breathing. But his legs and his head…they were still.

“I slept him, that’s all. In a few minutes he’ll be up and movin’ again. You just have to know where to touch ‘em is all. Easy peezy.”

With just a tickle, but in the perfect place, that hyper little pig had found his peace.

*          *          *

My Wednesday Wish for You?

To find that place that turns you to putty, that loosens your kinks, smoothes your edges and makes you feel like a decadent pot of melted butter. First your mind—let it return to where your heart wants it to go. Where the spikes soften and the worries disappear like smoke. Where the hurdles shrink and the fears forget their hardened faces. Close your eyes. Invite yourself to return with the natural pull of the red magnet, the one that begs you, always, back to your peaceful, contented Self.

And after your mind, then find a feather for your heart. Tickle her just so….just so she really knows you are coming home. Let her slow down. Let her take a new breath. One with scented promises of kinder tomorrows, of gentler beginnings, of sunshine on your nose and a new lightness in your being. Feel her start to smile and maybe even giggle. Tell her she is free to fly deep and wide, and as far as the horizon dares to stretch along the sea.

Find your itch spot. Your happy sink hole. That place that makes you feel as if you are home. Go there. Be there. Dwell there. And watch what unfolds. For you see, every happy sink hole that I’ve ever met has been nothing less than pure magic to me.

Sleep your pig and watch your spirit soar…

Happy Valentine's Day, dear Readers

love and a hug,

--Brynne

Wednesday Wish (68); From Expected to -- Extraordinary

Step 1.

Watch this:

I heard these often when I lived in Papua New Guinea, but never saw one in the wild. And yet, I knew they were there. I sensed their presence, touched their fallen feathers, and heard their songs. Birds of Paradise aren't ordinary birds. They don't do what we expect from ordinary birds. Simply put, they are magic. Magic by some outside force? No. Magic by merely being their extraordinary selves.

We too, all have the opportunity to move from ordinary to extra-ordinary, from expected to magic. The question then becomes...

When will you decide to be your extraordinary, magical Self?

*          *          *

Step 2.

Read this:

I walked into the post office and waited in line, humming a little tune. A few people turned and stared. I gave each a genuine smile. They smiled back. Or mostly. A few opened their eyes even wider and wondered what my diagnosis was.

When I finally got to the front, ‘Gary’ welcomed me.

“Hey Brynne. How y’ been?”

Eyebrows, of the few I had yet to win over, lowered a bit. She can’t be as crazy as she seems if Gary knows her. Gary, the most conservative, grumpy postal worker we've ever had in this county.

            “Life is good, Gary… life is good. How ‘bout you, my friend?” I asked.

            “Oh alright, you know. Making the best of what scraps come my way. What’y got for me today?”

I lifted up my bag and pulled out one of the things I intended to mail. It was a clear surgical glove filled with candy and tied with a string. On the end of the string was a piece of paper with an address and a note that said ‘thank you for your helping hand’.

            “Well, I never. You’re serious, aren’t ya darlin’?”

            I nodded with a smile.

            He shook his head with a happy feeling emanating. The people in line craned to see what all the fuss was about. I could feel the air lighten. Everywhere. Even among the eyebrow-raisers.

            “Well, you see…” I said. “I wanted to surprise my volunteers since they surprised me. I didn’t expect them to be so wonderful with the kids, to volunteer their hearts even more than their time. How could I send them boring old envelopes with ordinary thank you notes inside when they deserved so much more?”

That’s when Gary said this to me:

“You know, darlin’…. When you first came in here, I wasn’t so much sure about you. But with every trip in, you left me with a smile. And I’m not a smilin’ kinda guy, if you haven’t noticed.” He swallowed a big gulp. “But when I saw the power of a smile, of that magic it creates, I decided I better mend my ways.”

He leaned his head down, all the way down, so his eyes were looking straight at the counter. And there on the bare skin of his bald head, was a smile.

            “I drew it myself. For all my customers. I do every mornin’ now. They deserve it even when I can’t seem to find it for my face.”

And then he smiled. A real smile. His extra-ordinary Self had shown through.

 *          *          *

Step 3.

 Do this:

Decide to be your extraordinary, magical Self.

Wednesday Wish (67); Heart Speak

photo by the top hat bandit via flickr

Looking back

over a lifetime,

you see that

love was the answer to

everything.

--Ray Bradbury

Tuned in.

To everyone around her….

Just not so much herSelf.

Baby needs a diaper change. Husband needs a compliment. Neighbor needs a call. Son needs praise. Daughter needs a haircut. Mother needs an email. Father needs a card. Client needs a favor. Friend needs a shoulder. Cousin needs a casserole….wait a minute…Me? Oh, I’m fine. Yes, I like myself. Of course I like myself. Don’t I look happy? Because I am. I’m just…well…busy. Very busy. But I’m happy. Very happy. Just look at all the things around me that I have to be happy about. Whew…how could I be anything but happy? And of course I like myself. Love myself? What kind of a question is that? Whamo!

Loving isn’t the same as liking. It’s bigger, deeper, and harder to understand—with the mind. It’s a heart thing. A soul thing. A gift that has an energy all its own. And once given, it multiplies, grows, morphs into more beauty and more love for everyone…always.

Loving yourSelf doesn’t just help you, it helps others, too.

Do you know how to love yourSelf?

Do you know how to tune in to your needs? Your deeper needs, those that are harder to understand—with your mind. Do you know ‘heart speak’? Here, let me give you a taste…

*          *          *

The water tumbled, echoed, began to fill the room up with steam. She dipped her toe into the sacred elixir. Warm ooze seeped up her leg like a trill from a harp. The almond scented air filled her lungs. She took a deep breath, slinked her body down, let it sink into the depths. Her mind began to quiet, her heart began to speak.

She looked down at a body that had been neglected, ignored, shoved to the side, and yet with heart speak, suddenly it appeared pure lovely. She dipped her hands in the almond scented sea and felt the softness of her skin. Her legs, her arms, her face and neck. Slowly, lingering like a lover, feeling her body’s sensuality, giving herself…love.

Beauty, at its finest, is loving one’s Self.

Heart speak bathing

2 cups plain Epsom salts

3 Tablespoons almond or olive oil

A tub of hot water

A half hour of alone time

Love for one’s Self

*          *          *

She craved it, oh did she ever. But there wasn’t time. She had to get the kids to bed, sew her husbands ripped seam, sweep, wash the dishes, and then, if there was time, super glue the broken mug. But suddenly, in the midst of it all, she breathed in a scented dream. Of a place where life floated and the race ceased. Where birds twittered her song and sunlight fell on her very own shoulders.

So she peeled the rest away. And made her craving come to life. She honored what she felt and in so doing, invited her heart to speak even louder the next time. She loved herSelf. And tasted a slice of heaven.

Heart speak chocolate cake 

(Brynne's favorite)

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

¾ teaspoon salt

2 cubes butter, less 1/8^th of a cube

1 cup buttermilk

2 ½ cups flour

½ cup cocoa

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup boiling water

Cream together sugar, eggs, salt and butter. Alternately add buttermilk, and mixture of flour, cocoa and baking soda.

Add vanilla and boiling water. After adding boiling water, cake must be immediately placed in greased and floured pan(s). Two round cake pans or a 9 x 13 both work well. As do cupcakes!

Bake 35 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean) in preheated 350 degree oven.

Heart speak frosting

(another favorite)

1 bag chocolate chips, preferably Nestle semisweet

2 cups whipping cream

½ teaspoon light corn syrup

Heat chocolate chips in heavy saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until combined and thickened, between 20-25 minutes. Increase heat to medium low, stirring, 3 more minutes.

Stir in corn syrup. Chill until cool enough to spread, checking and stirring often. Keeps in fridge well.

*          *          *

This week, my Wish for you?

Rewrite your life. With love for yourSelf.

Heart speak paints a different world

that will never let you down

and will always bring you magic.

Tuned in.

To everyone around her….

But most of all, herSelf

Looking back

over a lifetime,

you see that

love for one’s Self was the answer to

everything.

--Brynne Betz