What I Gained By Believing In Myself

I remember family vacations as a kid, I remember spending hours doing my homework in the back of my Dad’s Lincoln while we made the 15 hour drive to South Padre Island, so we could spend a week at the ocean, fishing, walking the beach, going to Mexico, getting fresh tortillas, swimming, building sand castles, life seemed so simple then. I lived for these vacations, I loved the sunshine and ocean air, looking back now, these family vacations were everything, in all honesty, I think some of trips could have been a National Lampoon’s Vacation movie!

I have lived in Maine for many years and I have been very blessed that I have friends with boats that would gladly take me anytime I want to go, but one day I decided that I want my own boat, I want to be able to get out on the water myself, I want to haul lobster traps and tour around explore the islands. This was probably one of my more ridiculous ideas, that came with endless self doubt dialogue that played over and over in my head, but I told Mike about my idea, he said, “ok, I will find you a boat.” It did not take long, maybe a week before I was backing up my truck to pick up my little lobster boat. I looked at Mike and said, “ what if I can’t do this, what if I back the boat off the ramp, what if I hit a ledge, what if... what if.... what if.....????” My ‘what if’s were really WTH did I just do, what am I doing, I can just got out on a friends boat! Mike looked at me and calmly said, “You can do anything, you want to do, I believe in you!” Those words brought back all those fishing trips with my family and my dad teaching me how to fish, watching him and remembering my dad saying, “you will never know unless you try.”

So, I come down the driveway towing a boat, which I have never really towed anything before, let alone back down a boat ramp, and don't even get me started about getting the boat off the trailer by myself!! It was September when we brought home the boat, it stayed hooked up to the truck for a few days, I actually lost sleep thinking just thinking about backing up. I live in a community of fishermen and here I am a girl from Oklahoma that now owns a lobster fishing boat.

It was a Sunday morning, I was up early, told Mike to get ready we were taking the boat for a ride, we loaded up Babs and off we went. Mike was a little confused, he did not realize I meant taking the boat for a ride, actually meant I had been up for many nights finding isolated boat ramps, on non-fishing days so I could actually practice backing down a boat ramp with my boat. We traveled an hour from home to a tiny little town called Lubec, basically it is practically Cananda, I did not want anyone, especially anyone I know to see my first attempts at backing up a trailer.

We arrived, and the fun began. Now, Mike who had supported this entire idea, really knew nothing about backing up a trailer, NOTHING. So, here we are in this town where we did not know a soul and the fun began. I went up and down that boat ramp, side ways, sometimes half straight, up and down, for an hour or more. We laughed and I was completely over thinking the whole thing, to put in perspective how long I spent backing up and down, I had put 2 miles on the odometer. It was fun, I can say I had not really grasped the concept yet, when I looked up and there was a man standing in front of my truck, he was smiling. He said, “I own this little restaurant and we have been watching you for the last hour, we have never seen someone smile so much trying to back up a trailer, please come in and let me buy you a beer, we want to hear your story!” So, I finally parked, and we no longer were strangers in this little town, I was the girl from Oklahoma with a lobster boat. I actually managed to get down the ramp once successfully before we left for the day, it was a huge accomplishment in my book!

I spent the next two months, towing my boat everywhere, I would take it to buy groceries, just to get practice driving with a trailer, I would sneak off to every different town I could find, just to back down the ramp. By November I had put on 1,000 miles “taking my boat for a ride”! It was actually a very cold day in November when I asked a friend if he would help me put the boat in the water. I was a nervous wreck, for the first time, I was backing up the boat at my town marina, with fishermen watching and I was a shaking mess, but I did it! I managed to get the boat off, go for a ride and with some help back on the trailer. I spent there rest of the winter, towing my boat around town, I went over in my mind 10,000 times how to get it off the trailer and tried to patiently wait for Spring.

In reflecting on my ridiculous idea, it truly was not so ridiculous at all. I learned a lot about myself, I learned a lot about the support of friends and community. I feel truly blessed that I live in such a beautiful place that pushed me to do something I TRULY love, I love being on the water. To this day, we still laugh about the fall I learned to tow a boat, the memories we have made will live in our hearts. This is what sets my soul on fire, this is what keeps me connected to nature, this is what grounds me. What sets your soul on fire, what drives you?

All My Best,

Dr. Nicole

Shifting From Busy To Content

Hi lovely people!

Let’s take a moment today about the word “busy.”

What moments do you think of or physically feel like when you are “busy”? For me I feel like I am doing my best to keep up with the demands of my day, doing a first rate job and meeting all of the goals I have set for myself. It also means that I am also probably neglecting a things that I shouldn’t be. Some times this looks like eating when I can, not keeping up on being hydrated properly, not moving my body as I should, not doing the things that fill my soul on a daily basis. If I am really stuck in this mindset, I’m not doing anything I’m passionate about, I don’t “have time” for those things that are so necessary to my body, mind and soul.

When I stop and reflect upon this mindset, usually because I’ve become a little grouchy and my family has let me know in their, oh so subtle ways. I usually then realize what has been driving me. Usually, money, the needs of others, the demands of others, putting everyone else first. I begin to realize that those goals that I have, are not mine. These goals are for others. I am filling people and things with the energy that I need to be giving to myself. Please do not misunderstand, I know that we need our jobs, need our relationships, however first, we need our health, mental as well as physical. We also need to love ourselves, feed our passions, nourish our spirits.

When I realize that I am in in this place of “busy” I now stop, literally just stop. Whatever I was doing just a second ago, I take a break from. Sometimes it can only be 10 minutes, but I take it. I used to apologize to myself, but now I congratulate myself on recognizing that I have been being “busy” and make a shift in my mindset. I check in with myself to see how I am feeling throughout my body, ask myself to be present in this moment. I can usually feel that my body is tired from pushing through the day, and talk to myself gently and let myself know I am aware I need to shift priorities back to myself. I take a moment to become aware of my surroundings and my place in within it. To become content within right where I am.

It took me a while to be able to change my mindset to being content instead of being busy. “Busy”would sweep me up and demanded its needs be met. I had to start actively finding what in each area in my life made me content. I did this one step at a time, when things where calm. Literally, when I wake up I give myself a few minutes to go over a small segment of my day to find what about that part of the day I can find contentment in. Which one on my senses in a certain place or or situation lead to feelings of contentment. To be honest there may not be feelings of contentment there yet, we have not been taught to take moments and be present and enjoy part of it to the point where contentment can be reached. When this happens I work on thinking of being in those moments and then remind myself what I feel when I am content, when love and satisfaction of just being aware of what is present for me. This starts a correlation of being content even when “busy” is trying to take over. I only work on one situation in the morning. As I continue to practice this in the mornings I find my mind wandering during other moments of my day, recognizing contentment when it happens, or even thinking if I did something in a different way, it would be much more enjoyable and pleasing. In time I have been able to recognize when I needed to stop, center myself and regroup to meet my needs as well. I have given myself the time and attention to create a new mindset and tools that work for me that stop me from being “busy” to content in the surroundings of my life, and yes I too am an important part of this landscape.

This does takes time and you need to give yourself grace when it doesn’t happen immediately. Practice and patience is what will get you going and move you forward. It will help you be aware of yourself and your surroundings, and truly shift your perspective on how you are an integral part of this world and how you thrive, grow and love is at the heart of what you are doing here.

You will find yourself more settled, content, and having more energy, for you have given to yourself as well as to others. I encourage you to find and practice the little things that shift your focus form being “busy”, to being present, learning what part of moments you can take pleasure in, and still get complete the necessities of the your daily life. That first night when you relax or put yourself to bed and can say to yourself that you are wholly satisfied with your day, and it is because you chose to be aware and live in each moment, that my lovely people is some powerful healing. I promise it is worth the work, everyday.

Love and Blessings,

Thea

Working with Crystals: Black Moonstone

Hello Lovely People!

Today we are going over the properties and used for Black Moonstone.

First, moonstone is black-grey in color and is a translucent stone that is streaky and opaque. It is a type of Labradorite, Black moonstone is found in Madagascar, and it is easily attainable.

Upon getting your first stone, remember to cleanse/clear it, you can move it through sage smoke or incense, place it in rice or even bury in the earth overnight. This stone can be placed in the light of the full moon to energize as well.

Black Moonstone protects and opens your energy field to higher vibrations, and is powerful for connecting with the feminine divine. It also screens out the effects of electromagnetic emanations (cell phones, computers, WiFi, radiation and x-rays. Black moon stone can also assist sensitive people by filtering energetic information that you pick up from others and only perceive what is useful for you.

Physically Black Moonstone increases your stamina, focus and coo-ordination. Also, it is helpful for the digestive system and female reproduction organs. Can aid in stimulation needed for recovery of stroke and be beneficial for Parkinson’s. Traditionally Black Moonstone in useful in balancing the hormones in women’s cycles, this includes all phases of life, puberty through menopause.

Black Moonstone is is associated with the Third Eye Chakra and Soma Chakra.

You can also place Black Moonstone in a grid fashion throughout your home to attract abundance, and to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere, especially helpful with teenagers and focus needed for learning and creativity.

Remember to ask for your stone or crystal’s assistance, set your intention before working with your stones and crystals and cleanse them in between uses.

All Our Best,

Dr. Nicole and Thea

Passions, Priorities, and Healing

I myself met Dr. Nicole when I was in a very difficult place in my life and she started me on my healing journey. Like many I wanted to do everything and get it done with, but healing does not work that way. Changing foods and adding supplements is the tip of the iceberg. No argument, they do make you feel better and get your body more in balance, give you more energy, and cleanse you of what is hurting your body. However, other things are more challenging, let’s talk about self-care that does not include the dietary changes you have made for yourself. These are the changes you need to make for your mind and your spirit. You know those self-care things we are all supposed to do, say we know how important it is, but just can’t fit in anything more right now, we will get to them when we have time, money, energy, after work is finished, after I get my children get a bit older, my wants can wait for now…the excuses are endless and let’s be honest we know better.

What we don’t realize is, the things that feed our minds and spirits are the things that we are passionate about, get creative with and do our best interactions in and with this world. These things my lovely people are not wants, they are needs for our hearts and souls. Those moments with working with what we love to do are a very big part of what sustains us, and makes us thrive.

During those first few years (yes, years, I’m stubborn and willful and at that time fought everything as if it where an epic battle, epic things take a lot of time) while attempting to gain balance within myself physically, mentally and spiritually, I thought the only thing I could do was take care of my body. During this time of healing I had low energy and my body hurt. Somedays I could not get off the couch. I would knit, crochet spinning, embroider and everything I could get my hands on to explore deeper into in the fiber arts world. I felt like I was being lazy, I should push myself more housework, cleaning, working part time and being a mom taxi and I did. However, those where the days are when I felt the worst, but thought I felt better mentally because, I overcame my bodies limitations and strained it again in order to get what I though was most important done. This stagnated my progress for quite some time.

During my first year of healing I spent enough time on that couch to make enough things to have a homemade Christmas for my family, our parents and closest friends. This completely elated me, and my family as well. I went into the next year knowing I would do better. Of course that meant being 100% in a couple of months, right? Well, no, but I did improve. However, I was still missing the point of what was actually helping me heal and move forward. Every hat, mitten, sock, sweater, afghan, and piece of art work was an act of saving myself at the time. While creating I was immersed in learning, making, feeling excited and building a passion for something new. This creating was moving me forward, making me want to get up, feeling good about myself for what I was creating, no matter how bad I was at it in the beginning. I found that wanting to create made me not only want to live, but to be active, participate in life and continue exploring what I love to do.

Your interests and passions most likely live elsewhere than where I found mine to be, but the amount of self-care you give to yourself while pursuing what you love, gives so much more love, healing and self-worth back to you, it is priceless. It does not have to be a full time job, and probably at the moment it cannot be, however, making time for it daily even just a few minutes to move a project forward bit by bit is fulfilling. This is a big thing asking yourself to make yourself a priority, a number one priority at that, for just a little while each day. How could we think we did not have time for this? Why we are not worth our own time? I found I had to do it before I could understand why it was helping me, and I found that it made it easier to give to others when I had already created the”love” they needed me to give, it had been created when I was creating. This has increased my ability to give, rather than feel like it was being drained from me.

So, what is it that you are passionate about, curious about, want to learn about, want to say yes to? How about making your passion a priority?

Love and Blessings,

Thea