MONDO-BEYOND 2009 :: attaining dreams...one word at a time

Hello 2009! It's 4:28am and I've been up for almost a half hour. I have no idea why I'm up so early, but I am enjoying the sound of pitter-patter-puppy feet as little Ella comes looking for me. I like the sound of heat whirring through the vents and the otherwise silence of the world. Although this hour is quite a bit earlier than my usual preference for being awake, I do love the darkness of morning and the sense of contemplation it provides. This is the one time of day that doesn't demand anything more than it has to offer.

I've spent a lot of time this past week thinking about what I want for 2009. I have a feeling, both strong and deep, that this is going to be my year to take a giant step forward in living my dreams. The past year has shown me just what truly powerful creators we are. I made my annual list of accomplishments for the year (like I do every year--instead of New Year's resolutions) and (oh, mama-mia!) it was staggering. Granted, it was excessively Stray Dog Arts obsessive, but I was amazed to see how many things manifested and changed for me in one short year.

The best part is knowing that it is only the beginning.

Late last night, after a long day of photo shoots, phone calls, emails, and (joyously!!) finally moving my canvases and paints into the studio, I came home and sat on the couch with my husband and dogs. This is a luxury I don't usually grant myself...but there was a documentary on India and, well, what can I say?

Last year my big Mondo-Beyondo request for the Universe was to attain my dream studio. I can't even tell you how close to IMPOSSIBLE that was at the time of asking. This has truly been the most incredible year of my life. The Universe has proven to me, with flying colors, that ANYTHING is possible when you live from your heart. This year, one of my most important Mondo-Beyondos is to return to India. The other one is to significantly increase the flow of money into my life. And, dear Universe, I am soooooo ready!

As I sat and watched images of India move through me on the television screen, something shifted. Yes, it was that special sort of shift that means something real is happening. Something real and wonderful and life changing. I've come to understand that all of life's biggest transformations happen in this way--and, every time, it comes as a surprise. You can't make it happen--it's more like something that happens to you and, yet, it occurs from the inside out. In my experience, molecular shifts always come about at the most unexpected times.

Anyway, I felt it. And somehow, somewhere deep inside of me, I know that it is going to happen. I am going to travel back to India to paint stray dogs and tell their story. I don't know how and I don't know when...but I do know that I am going to get there. I also know that, on a personal level, the work I do there is going to be profoundly important.

I get the sense that our life is a thread and that each thing we experience is connected to what is both before and after it. Even when things don't make sense as we're living them, those moments create our story. It is what makes sense of the difficult parts. It is the journey, not the destination. That thread is what make us beautiful.

This morning is the day that I am launching a new project and am calling it:

WORD OF THE DAY:: living life one word at a time

Every day for the next year (or more!) I am going to post a word that I have decided to dedicate my day to. These words will be built from my alphabet paintings and, every day, will be posted on my Patch of Sky Etsy (the first word can be found here). I also hope to post and write about these words here on my blog as often as possible.

In honor of my Mondo-Beyondo 2009 list...my very first WORD OF THE DAY is:

BELIEVE

I believe that everything is possible. I believe that we are powerful creators of our own reality. I believe in love and magic and dreams. I believe in miracles.

2009 is my year for life to break open. Last year was about gaining the confidence to live from the center of my Self. This year is about breaking into wild bloom.

Believing is a perfect place to begin.

Last year I accomplished the majority of my list. At the time of writing it, a lot of it felt nearly (if not completely) impossible. ha! Nothing is impossible.

Click on the image to read my Mondo-Beyondo for 2009. What about you? What's on your Mondo-Beyondo list??

Here's to BELIEVING in 2009!

~