Online Dating Part Two

Two years ago I joined an online dating site.  It was quite eye opening.  You're basically shopping for a date.  Once I got into the flow of it, I had a few first days and I think one second date.  During the whole online thing I met someone through a mutual friend.  The online dating stopped.  Now here I am two years later giving it another shot.  Several friends encouraged me with 'why not, what do you have to lose'.  And it's true, what do I have to lose.  I'm ready to find love so I need to be open to it in any form it may take.  It is challenging to decipher the guys who are serious and those who are just trolling.  It's like a job, sorting through profiles, emails, likes, winks, etc.  But I've decided to just go for it. There are several guidelines I have set for myself.  When I'm interested, I'm going to send an email and if he responds, we'll see where it goes.  If he's not, move along.  No hurt feelings.  When someone reaches out to me and I'm not interested, I'm going to tell them right away.  No need to string anyone along or settle for anything that doesn't feel right.

Who knows what will happen.  Maybe I'll meet someone online but maybe I'll meet them in the grocery store or coffee shop or walking down the street.  I will be sure to share more here.

In a Word - Love

For the past 4 years, I have chosen a word of the year.  Or more accurately the word has chosen me.  Last year my word was TRUST.  I had to learn to trust myself again; trust my instincts; trust in other people; trust in the Universe; trust that I was on the right path.  Looking back at 2014, Trust was the perfect word.  I did learn to trust my instincts, I listened to my gut (or maybe they were my angels & guides, right Grace?!) and I made some necessary changes to put myself on the right path.  I moved to a place that has opened up my social circle to include people I probably never would have met.  I've become more involved coordinating events and bringing people together, which is something I had always done but had lost that part of me for awhile.  I feel like I'm back on track.  I'm so much more comfortable in my own skin and am trusting myself and my choices. This brings me to my word for 2015, LOVE!  Again, this word has chosen me.  For awhile I wanted the word to be Abundance but nope...it kept coming back to LOVE.  Doesn't it always come back to love though?  I ended my year trying to spread more love, to myself and to others.  I'm more open...to meeting new people, trying new things, having new experiences, and most important, to finding LOVE...the romantic variety.  I am ready!  How do I know I'm ready?  Because I am really comfortable being single, I enjoy my own company, I have learned to love myself and I am taking care of myself - emotionally, financially and physically.  I don't NEED to have a partner in this life, I WANT one.  I know because I'm ready to receive love in my life.  I've been really good at giving love but found it harder to receive it.  I'm ready because I know I will choose only the best and am not willing to settle (any potential partner will choose only the best too).  I'm ready because I'm open.  Open to the possibilities, open to the disappointments, open to the good, open to the bad, and most important open to falling in love.

Yes, this will be the year of LOVE for me...and I hope for you too!

Trust

Every year, for the past several, I have selected a guiding word for that year.  Some years it takes a lot of time and thought to select my word.  For 2014, the word actually came to me at the end of 2013.  TRUST became a big issue for me after my breakup and is my guiding word moving forward.  This year has already tested my trust.

*Trust in my instincts and my choices.

*Trust in other people.

*Trust in the Universe, Divine Order, my Angels and Guides

*Trust that its ok to let go and let other people help.

*Trust that everything is going to work out as it is supposed to.

*Trust that I'll find the strength when needed.

*Trust that this is temporary.

Word of the Year - PLAY

Yes its February and I'm just now sharing my Word of the Year.  But it seems appropriate to do so now since I received my word bracelet from Kolleen yesterday and I was reminded why I chose this word.

I grew up a little too fast.  My parents divorced when I was 13 and when my mom went to work I took care of my little brother.  My mom would probably argue that it wasn't my responsibility and she never asked me to do it but I somehow felt the need to take on that role.  And my brother would always say to me..."you're not my mother".  I was always a pretty cautious person, still am, and I don't like to "break the rules".  When there's a sign that says stay off the grass...I wouldn't dare step on the grass.  And break a law...would never even consider it!

Last year, my word was EASE.  And even though the year had some challenges, I dealt with a sense of ease.  So this year I needed to shake things up a bit.  I need more Fun and more Joy in my life.  I decided that Play encompassed all of these.

Play to me, means to lighten up more, have fun, try things I might not normally try, let loose a bit.  So with that in mind, I joined a dating site, I bought a hula hoop (which I still have not learned to use) and I vowed to say yes to more play.

Ah yes, the dating site.  In several previous posts I stated that I would probably not be writing about dating stories because I met someone who sparked my interest.  Well, as quickly as that began it has since ended.  There are several reasons but needless to say I am back into the dating pool and we shall see what happens.  So I may be sharing some fun dating stories after all.

I also hope to be sharing more PLAY-ful posts.

Did you choose a word of the year?  Care to share?

Aspirations

I used to have to set goals in my previous job (which I always put off) but I've never been fond of setting them in my personal life.  For some reason, this year I want to write down my 'goals' for the year.  So I looked up 'goals' and the synonyms in the dictionary, I choose to call them Aspirations instead.  Goals sound so corporate to me.  Aspirations sound more dreamy and artsy.

My Aspirations for 2011

• buy a house
• finish my pilates training (600 hours is alot)
• buy a Canned Ham
• create something, anything, every week (every day is just too ambitious for me)
• write the book on sibling grief (this one is going to be hard)
• try, try, try to stay present (this one may be harder than the book)
• read all the books on my nightstand (The Artist's Way, life is a verb, The Shadow Effect, Anam Cara, To Bless the Space Between Us, and Women Who Run with the Wolves) a bit of light reading don't ya think?
• send more snail mail
• spend more time by the Sea

This is not a 'must do' list, so I'm sure it will evolve over the year, some things getting done, others being pushed back or changed, new things added and some of them removed.  An ever evolving list of aspirations.

If you have a list of aspirations, goals, dreams....whatever you choose to call them....please feel free to share them here.

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Since everyone is questioning canned ham...here is a canned ham...http://cosprings.craigslist.org/rvs/2114485676.html

Trust and Balance part 2

Trust that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Trust others to do the things I feel I'm the only one qualified to do (you know like laundry, dishes, etc. ~ important things).

Trust that when people offer help that they want to help me and I'm not being an imposition.

Trust my gut...its always right anyway.

Trust that it will all get done, exactly as it's supposed to and when the time is right.

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Balance love life, 'me' time and time with friends.

Balance play with work.

Balance dreams with realism.

Balance control and letting go.

Trust and Balance

I've been thinking about my word for 2011 but instead of one, I had two words come to me.

trust: a:assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something; b : one in which confidence is placed

balance: mental and emotional steadiness

I have been trying to write this post for 2 days now.  What do I want to say about these two words?  Why are these the words I have chosen for 2011?  I've decided that I am obviously having a little struggle with putting the reasons for choosing these words into a post.  So I am going to sit with it for a little longer and hopefully I'll be better able to share.

In the meantime, if you haven't checked out my BFF's website lately, she is doing a giveaway each day in January, check it out!  She also has a new column over at wishstudio.  Such a busy bee!

I just read this post by Marianne and I love it!  Just perfect.

Check out the lovely Pixie's latest creations.  I bought one and can't wait to add more totems to it!  And I received one of her paintings for Christmas and just love it!

And last but not least, if you haven't been (or even if you have) to Squam Art Workshops, check it out.  Lots of great teachers, fun classes and amazing souls.  If you can go, do it!

It looks like everyone is jumping right in to 2011...lots of great stuff!