29 days into 2011 (an attempt at a non-political statement)

The intentions and the resolutions are being looked at through a 29 day old, glazed over, whirlwind microscope. The thoughts of what would be, how they would be, feel like, smell, and taste like are far from the pre-conceived notion of how I planted 2011 into action.

I planted seeds of change, shift, newness, readiness, and willingness. Planted the seeds into a fertile soil, awaiting to nurture the growth and shift of life. The soil is new, mingling with a tad from the past to help it mature into soil for future seeds.

What I forgot was watering this new garden of intention with Patience. To allow the seedlings to grow in their right time.

I carried on, I lived my life, seeing the world unfold around me with deep amazement. Standing, and in most cases sitting,  watching the president speak to the United States at his 2 year mark. And yet I watched his country ridicule and criticize. People making accusations and assumptions. Yelling disappointments and anger. Criticizing a man that is doing by far more than I could at this juncture in my life. He is taking some steps to cleaning up, weeding and clearing out the 'things' that have not worked for us as a government and country.

And so I choose to be patient. I choose not be fired up with pissosity, but to be fueled by the power of change.  I choose to let the fertile soil nurture the seeds of intention that the leader of the country I live in can grow in a healthier way, a way we have never grown before. And for that i am honored to be a supporter of Barry.

I am not at all trying to be on a high horse. I am asking myself the same questions, and I am asking in a deep way.

This is not at all about Politics , it is about living the life we can live, everyone of us. Supporting one another in a world that can really work for everyone. Maybe I am just naive, but I do have FAITH that this is possible.

It is said that "thoughts become things," well if that is true let's pay more attention to the thoughts as they linger in the 8 pound mass in our head. Pay attention to the thoughts that we form into sentences and spit out of our mouths so freely. The words are manifesting into action.......that has shown to be scary business sometimes yes?

So my challenge to you, my challenge to myself. Let's grow a community garden together. Planting seeds of change, abundance, love, joy, laughter, etc. and nurture the growth of brilliant possibility. Watering the garden with patience and beauty. And holding one another accountable to clearing the weeds out. Being supportive of one another to manifest a reality that is delicious for all.

In all aspects of life, it takes time and focus. If you desire world peace, and you completely indulge yourself in an anti-war state of beingness you are creating more opportunity for the world to give you WAR. start to focus on being Pro-Peace. Being peaceful in your car, during rush hour, as that driver just flipped you off for not letting you in your lane because he didn't have his turn signal on. Be at peace when your life delivers a new reality, when you assumed you were headed one way, and you were pushed another way. Be at peace when your friends shift into different people and you are reinventing your 'group.' The truth is be at peace when you are shifting into a new person and the old ways, friends, way of life no longer serve you. be Pro-Peace.

newness

The new year has begun and that means a newness for all. I traveled 1,072 with 2 men, and everything I own, packed in a tetris like configuration in my beloved Element. It was by far one of the most nerve awakening, spirit liberating, and life freeing experiences of my life. If i would have had another box, paper, or person to fit, the masterful journey would be less than absolute perfection. Which is how I choose to look at the upcoming year in my life. I choose to have the right people, the right things, the right to have freedom to live the life I need and want. 

Leaving Portland was one of the most incredible experiences i have ever had. Portland embodied so much of who I am and what I desired in life, and leaving only will provide the one missing experience…..the experience that is none of my business. 

The journey down I-5 was liberating. watching the sky change so drastically --rain--fog--more fog--and then to land in a place where all i see is blue skies, smell of salt water and a refreshing sense of newness. This is good. To be in a willingness for newness and a readiness to start the next book in the life of Kristin. Pretty Rad my friends.

I am looking forward to sharing the nextness and the newness. I am deeply grateful for the path I have taken.....the one behind me, the one in front of me, and the path I am standing on.

Holiday Wish

(My platform to share my Holiday wish)

Dear Citizens of the World,

as another year comes to a close, reflection on the experiences that occurred in our lives this past year begins. A year that had some feelings of fear, disgust, and depression...on the other hand a year filled with promise, rejoice, and serenity.  

I personally experienced the spectrum of emotion. From work security, love loss, friends marrying, babies being born, tattoos, live music, heart break, depression, celebration, turning 30, moving.......And at the conclusion of every experience, the same 'awakening' occurred. The same feeling resides within me. The absolute overwhelming expression of who I really am, who I really want to be, who people really see me as, is waking up. I am ready to live the life i have been so scared to live. I am ready. And in all the experiences we have in the world, in our world, in our day to day lives, the truth is we are all given what we can handle, word? WORD!!

My holiday wish to the world, and Santa is listening!!!

1. For us to start looking at one another in the eyes, even a simple glance, connect with the people around you.

2. That we Give of your time to the people, organizations, churches, mediation groups, shelters, whatever it is that, That inspires you. The places that place that good feeling in your belly.

3. Having a moment everyday where you bless the other parts of the world. However you feel comfortable in doing that, just do it. reading these words is  privilege, that means you have a computer or iPhone, or fancy technology...where in other parts of the world the focus is clean drinking water. 

4. For every woman, man, and child to be able to look in the mirror and see the beauty that they are! 

5. For children to be safe. In their homes, communities, schools, playgrounds, and in their own minds and hearts.

6. That the nations of the world let go of "who you love". the focus is a celebration of  saying YES to love. 

7. Learn to Forgive. 
8. We only buy what is needed

9. See one another as brothers and sisters, not enemies. Creating a world that works for everyone!
10. May everyone in the world be able to smile because something so good is happening in their lives. 

This is my holiday wish.  I smile at the blue sky, the green trees, and embrace the pure beauty that is all around us.


Be You!!!


KnM

Elemental Packing

24 days.

24 days to release.

24 days to categorize.

24 days to pack.

24 days to be. present.

Kristinism

This day is always such a bizarre day to watch from afar. The shoppers prior to the feast. The cars piled up on the freeway. The matching of scarves and mittens on everyone old and young. Newspapers open, corner to corner, displaying the 'extreme' sales and deals for the day no called "black Friday." A break in the work week. Remarkable shift in music, a station that plays 50% solid goodness shifts into 10% of tolerable tunes.

It is a shift. A day in which the world transfixes upon a Holiday Season of twinkle lights and Bad Sweaters. Overspending and Gluttony. 

And then another shift happens, a shift of how we, how I, can view the entrance gate of the Holiday Season. In the past I have experienced a sense of obligation to spend for no apparent reason. i have felt the need to have a red cup in my hand as i walk the mall.  It has always felt as if I was in a rush to get all this 'stuff' done and really I was missing the point all along!

The reason I am writing my thoughts is because I was reminded. I was reminded by my body instantly reacting to past experiences as I woke. And then I simply thought of this past year in my life and ways that the year has shifted me and how i shifted it.

I am Thankful in ways i have never been before. I wake and praise the sun that warms my face. kiss the moon goodnight. I cherish the hours spent with my sisters, my friends, and  days with myself.

I am Thankful for the music i hear playing in my ears. The laughter of a child. The Colors in the garden and in the sky. the words I am writing. the pen that forms a remarkable design and now is permanently placed on my skin.

The shift was I woke up. I am not rushing anymore. I have chosen to live the day, not race to to get to the end of it. Living in the moment.

The days from now until Christmas present a challenge for us all (no pun intended). Will we soak in the beauty of the winter? the hibernation of our soul? Or simply be unconscious to it all, and fall back into the ways we have 'done' it before. falling back into a old habit------Leaf that for the Fall :)

My 10 Things i am Grateful for This day and Everyday
1. laughter, above all this makes me alive in ways only the vibration in my chest can bring.
2. family, the relationship i have cultivated with my mother, father and sisters serves my life more than i could ever have imagined. they are, and always will be fully employed as Life's cheer leading squad.
3. my boy crew, to have been the girl in the midst of these men continues to blow my mind away.
4. love, falling in Love as much as possible with whomever and whatever...so good.
5. creativity
6. friends, the nectar of life is found in my love affairs with everyone that i cherish and call a friend.
7. adventures, being in the question and creating a memory to lean into
8. collaboration, with fashion, people, organizations, ideas- the collaboration of brilliance creates beauty
9. music, holy mother of all that is good, hahahah, music is where it is at for me. the gift of the performer sparks the gift within me that i am just beginning to unwrap.
10. being myself

So on this day I thank you for reading this, being an active participant on this planet, being remarkable, alive, and simply being the one that someone will fall in love with this day!

Be Yourself!

KnM

Interview

Today the rain washes the streets. The paths are fading into one another, forming new paths. The past creeps in as I begin to focus on the newness of this life I live.  What are the things that I have done right? What are the things that I have done wrong? These questions cause a special conversation in my head. Becoming deeper and deeper involved in the what ifs and the why not's.

In all aspects of life, with everyone you meet, new and old. When you are alone, or in the midst of the crowd, the same 'thing' is occurring. You are constantly and continuously asking questions. Every conversation is an interview. We are interviewing one another based upon what we have been taught, and also to gain more information on the perception of the person we are engaged with, including ourselves.  We then formulate publication of the interview.  Our brains filled with magazine racks. Filled with all the interviews of the past and the present. From the flight attendant to our grandma on our mothers side. Interviews for years.

Whats the basis? Whats the point? why do we focus on hearing the answers? What is our business?

Is the answer in the answer, or is it in the question? Or is the answer in the experience of living the question?

Why do I want to learn more about you from questions? If the only you I have access to is the one right here and right now? The experience gives me grounding on who you are, not the answer to the question "whats your favorite ice cream?"

I have published many many interviews about every person I have met. From the people I met as a child to the people I meet day to day now. I am learning that i don't want the answers any longer. I want the feelings and the experiences. i want the surprise of learning that your ice cream flav is cookies and cream. Walking into every moment anew.

Published,
KnM

I-5 South

I am soon moving to a place I never for a moment believed I would live. Southern California. A place where I believed to be filled with silicone, tanning salons, and characters walking the streets trying to look like the cool cats of the time before (Marilyn Monroe, Elvis). As a younger teen, I believed this place to be a wonderland of artificial intelligence, a place for failure to come alive, as one in a million are the successful. it was always a cool place to visit, because i knew I would soon go back home to my life in Colorado or Oregon. 

When the crazy idea appeared for me to move to So Cal, it tasted a bit different than before. it was sweeter. it was matured. the idea brewed and aged into a remarkable reality. the 'this's' and the 'thats' all started to fall into place and it made and makes complete sense for me to shift into a California residence.  The idea of conforming into an artificial lifestyle is a complete lie. i am not conforming, I am shifting into a greater me, right? that's the truth for any new adventure, right?  that's the reality of everyday, for everyone, right?

I find myself 'pro'ing and con'ing'. And the results are hysterical. the cons are silly, and have nothing to do with my current address, or future address, it has to do with a fear I might not find the  friends , the hippest coffee shop, the local beer,  and that my favorite things will somehow leave me. My music can't divorce me. My best friend of 20 years will still call me. My sisters will still laugh with me, even if we are farther away. Its just a change in scenery. And i still find myself pondering the greatest question us humans deal with....."Will they like me?"

Taking a leap is essential to know who you are. taking life by the hand and escorting it down the yellow brick road. I am ready. and in the move, i will discover one thing above all, i am human. This is the time. this is the place. and for those that are supporting me, thank you. 

I traded Aspen trees in for Dogwoods, now i trade in for the Palm tree. 

The wizard has nothing on me,

KnM