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Today is Monday, which means it’s time for the Inspirational song of the week.
This song always makes me feel like skipping.
Honestly, sometimes I do 
I put this song on my walking soundtrack many, many years ago and it has continued to be one of my most favorites.
Have a marvelous week and I’ll be back on Wednesday with the word of the day.
peace,
Pam
Life doesn’t always go the way you planned.
It’s during the times of uncertainty when you find out what kind of a person you are going to be.
As I mentioned in yesterdays post, I’ve finished reading Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers. I would recommend it for anyone looking to cultivate patience and dedication.
Because I’ve been reading it on my Kindle, I can’t exactly describe the page number it’s on. (it’s complicated) but I found this part that, once I paraphrased it, made a lot of sense.
The opportunities presented to us, could also be called the challenges.
I don’t speak for everyone, but I know I’ve been trying to figure out for years what exactly it is I’m supposed to be doing with all of my abundant energy. These past 5 years, I have been trying to actively pursue patience and develop myself into whomever it is that I’m supposed to be.
Like I’m not already me. Like I’m not already everything I’m supposed to be. Like there is some challenge I have yet to meet in order to prove myself worthy of living this life. Like I’m supposed to be doing something other than what I’m already doing.
Which is a lot.
Too much sometimes.
My current challenge is balancing what I want to do with what needs to be done and not get burned out in the process.
A tall order, I know.
It’s going to take determination, grace, alacrity and resilience.
I have to focus on cultivating the kind of life I want and recognize the many blessings I have been offered.
And not take myself so f#@%ing seriously!!!! Oy!!! (I need pie!)
I hope each and every one of you has an absolutely MARVELOUS Thanksgiving!!!!!!!
I’ll be back on Monday. For now, I’m going to go hang out with my husband.
xoxoxo
Pam
Today is Wednesday, which means it’s time for the Inspirational word of the day.
Click here to go to dictionary.com for the full definition.
On my way to Amsterdam last week, I read a book by Malcolm Gladwell call the Outliers. In it, he talks about the many factors that go into making people great. Like the thousands of programming hours Bill Gates got as a child because he went to the right school at the right time. Or the Beatles playing the clubs in England for thousands of hours before they became successful here in the States. They got good at what they do because they put in the time. Not to mention the fact that they really, really loved it.
One part, especially, stood out for me. “Three things, autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward, are, most people agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying. Work that fulfills those three criteria is meaningful.”
This week, I was reading David Turnbull’s post “8 reasons we don’t do things we should and how to break the mold” on Pick the Brain. Within that post is a video of a TED lecture by Daniel Pink talking about how money is not a strong motivator and that in order to really stick with something, we must have autonomy (the urge to direct our own lives), mastery (the desire to get better at something that matters), and purpose (what we do in service to others).
Now it’s time for a confession.
I have volunteered just over 40 hours this month putting together Christmas in the Village.
I haven’t done all of the work by myself. Far from it. I get to work with lots of other people. Working with the other volunteers and community members is something that gives me a great deal of fulfillment and satisfaction.
I really like these people.
I like working with them, and they like working with me. Everyone seems to be having a good time and looking forward to a really special event that should host well over 300 people.
So everything should be perfect, right?
Well……..
After spending 3 1/2 hours collating and distributing flyers this morning, I come home to a husband who is sulking because I’m not helping him fix the drywall in the basement. I finally get him to tell me what’s wrong and so he tells me he thinks that because I don’t get paid money for what I do, ultimately it’s a waste time and money and I should really just quit and go get a real job.
Now, I know he’s feeling jealous and slighted, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that he thinks what I do has no value. According to him, I’m just screwing around with my friends and wasting time. To listen to him, if I were to quit doing what I do, somebody else would just step in and take care of it.
Honestly, I don’t know how he can be married to me and still think this way but he does.
So now what?
The event is next Saturday afternoon.
Although I tried to explain to him that my hours will scale way back after that, he’s not buying it. He doesn’t believe me. He doesn’t even really want to try to understand why I do what I do, because it doesn’t make money. Therefore, it must be a waste of time.
Seriously, W.T.F.!!
Autonomy is about doing what you know your supposed to be doing.
My heart feels the need to be a part of something bigger than just me. Bringing vendors into the Old Town Hall for Santa’s Shop, directing the DPW where to put the decorations around town, shopping for decorations and supplies with my girlfriend and fellow volunteer, Debbie, collating and distributing flyers ……..all of these things make me happy. Not just happy, fulfilled.
However, I am still married with a son. I have responsibilities here in the house. Although I have done a stellar job of keeping up with the laundry, grocery shopping, dishes, cooking and cleaning, my husband is feeling slighted.
I can’t do it all.
I can’t feel truly fulfilled if my family life suffers.
How’s that for autonomy.
What do you think? What would you do?
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Pam
For those of you just tuning in, I pick a song I believe to have inspirational qualities and I share it with you by linking it to YouTube. All you have to do is click the name of the song and you will be directed to the song already queued up and ready to play. Once you’ve watched/listened to it, just hit the back button on your browser to be taken back to this site.
My reason for doing this is simply because I believe music has magic in it. It has transformative, healing properties and when properly administered, can solve many day to day issues.
If you enjoy it, GREAT! I love being able to share this and look forward to hearing your suggestions.
If you don’t get it, no stress. Thanks for coming by and have a great day.
Today, instead of just picking one song, I am going to offer you the soundtrack I picked up while on vacation in Amsterdam with my husband last weekend.
Yes, Amsterdam.
Yes, Holland.
Yes, yes, and hell yes, it was fun!
A bit overwhelming with all of the beautiful architecture, lights, food, bikes, canal rides, museums, Christmas decorations, coffee houses and friendly people. (I even had a tender moment with a wax representation of Johnny Depp while at Madame Tussaud’s. Swoon!!)
The only drawback about the whole thing was ……………feeling like if I allowed myself to be too happy about it…………… people were going to feel jealous…………..or think my ego was getting too big…….. or think I was gloating…………… or that I’m shoving my good fortune down their throat.
Of course, anyone that knows me, knows that all of that is complete bullshit.
I have more than earned that vacation (it is also our 10 anniversary gift to ourselves, for gods sake!) and to lessen my appreciation for it would be sabotage and a ultimately a waste of my time.
I find it better to focus my energy on the good feelings while recognizing the bad feelings and then allowing them to go on their way. It’s what I do to keep myself happy, which usually helps keep the other people around me happy as well.
Like Gretchen Rubin of the Happiness Project says “Happy people make people happy.” (I even wrote that on the wall of the ladies room in the 420 Coffee house!!!! I loved Amsterdam!)
Start me up by the Rolling Stones
Handle me with care by the Travelling Wilburies.
Let the good times roll by the Cars
Get down on it by Kool and the Gang
Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder
I heard it through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye
Hot town, summer in the city by the Lovin’ Spoonful
We could be heroes by David Bowie
The future is coming on by Gorillaz
Get your groove on by Snoop Dogg
Get by with a little help from my friends by Joe Cocker
I wish each and every one of you the greatest day you can imagine , and then just a little bit more awesome on top of that.
Pink days for everyone!!!
Don’t forget to spread it around while your at it!
xoxo Pam
p.s. This guy is the happiest guy in Amsterdam. His shop is directly across the street from the Double Reggae coffee house.
Brilliant, isn’t he?!
p.p.s. The chocolate covered waffle with crumb sprinkles was To Die For. Along with the best coffee on the planet, I was in heaven. mmmmmmmmmm, yummy!
Today is Wednesday, which means it’s time for the Inspirational word of the week.
click here for the full definition from dictionary.com
“Thinking brand new thoughts you’ve never thought before is wildly more conducive to creating big life changes than just thinking different varieties of the same, old thoughts.
Think about it.” The Universe
“Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Does a baby bird feel nervous as he looks over the edge of the nest? I imagine he would, and yet, that doesn’t stop him from trying. It’s the power within the desire to do what needs to be done that feeds our souls and makes us into who we’re going to be.
If it was easy, it wouldn’t be any fun 
Tallyho!!!
Pam
Go check out Mildly Creative . Ken posted about making the attempt. Trying, even though there is no guarantee of success. I love his website!
Today is Monday, which means it’s time for the Inspirational song of the week.
(click the above link to watch the video on YouTube)
After spending a wonderful, long weekend with my dear husband in Amsterdam, I thought this song would be completely appropriate to inspire you.
I have no doubts that some of the people who read this blog will be offended by my audacity. To many people in the U.S., I would be considered a criminal for what I have done just in the past couple of days.
I don’t write this blog for those people.
I write it for you, my friendly blog reader. I write it for the people who believe in thinking for themselves. I write it for the people who believe inspiration exists everywhere, in everything, and everyone. I write it because it is my opportunity to be completely myself. Not perfect, but real, happy and fulfilled.
I wish everyone still reading this a wonderful week.
I’ll be back in the U.S. on Tuesday.
xoxoxoxo
Pam
Today is Wednesday, which means it’s time for the Inspiring word of the week.
Click here for the full definition from dictionary.com
When we first moved into this house back in November of 2004, it didn’t really feel like my house. Although it was lovely, the cool yellow color scheme wasn’t my choice, and our furniture was still stuck in Mexico. (It would take 3 months to finally get it delivered) I was feeling out of place and unsettled. As a former California girl, I realized that the cold, gray winters of Michigan would soon play havoc with my sanity if I didn’t so something to rectify the situation. One of the first things my husband and I did was to paint the kitchen Dandelion Yellow.
(Here is a recent picture of my little corner of heaven).
That coat of paint really did wonders to rectify my mood. It took energy, patience and dedicated focus upon my objective of creating our home sweet home. It still amazes me how one decision 5 years ago could effect my future so drastically. I love my house now, especially my little corner of heaven, and our family is as happy as we have ever been.
Have a fantastic week!
Today is Monday, which means it’s time for the Inspirational song of the week.
I’ve been having so much fun putting together soundtracks lately, like this one here and this one here.
After last weeks word of the day of Healing, I can’t help but think of healing songs.
I’ve comprised a list of just a very few songs that I believe help encourage healing. There are probably thousands, but I just wanted to prime the pump of your imagination. Your welcome
I would love to hear about your favorite healing songs in the comments.
I’m linking the songs to YouTube so you can listen to them there.
Bloody Mary Morning by Willie Nelson and the Dixie Chicks
My Sweet Lord by Billy Preston at the Concert for George Harrison
Dance, Dance, Dance by Steve Miller
Got to admit it’s getting better by the Beatles
Every little thing is gonna be all right by Bob Marley
It’s in the way that you use it by Eric Clapton
You are my sunshine by Elizabeth Mitchell
Bron Y’ar Stomp by Led Zeppelin
Have a little faith in me from the Benny and Joon Soundtrack
Riding with the King by Eric Clapton and B.B. King
Can’t always get what you want by the Rolling Stones
With Imagination by Harry Connick Jr.
Baby, you’re a rich man by the Beatles
End of the line by the Travelling Wilburies
With a little help from my friends by Joe Cocker
A day in the life by the Beatles
Come on over, come on in by Shania Twain
Obla di, Obla da by the Beatles
Life’s a dance by John Michael Montgomery
See you in my dream by Joe Brown
I wish each and everyone of you a blessed, wonderful, healing week!
xoxoxooxoxoxoo Pam
This blog post about Pete Townsend singing “Let my love open the door” from Mildly Creative got right to the core of the epiphany I wrote about here. Ken wrote “To take the familiar and make it fresh. To take the mundane and make it meaningful.”
Why is life so hard? To make the great things in life stand-out.
Have a wonderful Sunday,
Pam
This project made itself.
It was started when I moved back from Brasil. I was putting away my art stuff. As I went through my fabric and beads, these pieces came together into a pile. The words in the center came from a calendar from the TUT adventurers. This was January. It reads…Don’t be afraid, you needn’t slay the beast or scale the entire mountain, that’s not how it’s done. You only need to move through today. Think of the distance you’ve already covered. Focus on your strengths. Let each step remind you of your freedom. Let each breath you take remind you of your power. You’re not alone. You’re understood. This road has been walked before. Dance life’s dance. Just a few steps at a time and in the wink of an eye you will wonder to yourself “What beast? What mountain? Was I having a dream?
The Universe.
The project itself is 22″ wide by 48″ long. I started with an old burlap sack, added beads (some hand-made, some not), denim, embossed copper, a silver peacock I found on clearance for a dollar at Joanne’s and peacock feathers. My girlfriend Joyce gifted me the lace (Thanks Joyce!!) and I cut it in half to frame the center saying and then I used it whole down at the bottom. All together, it took me about 4 hours to make.
I won’t be selling this project, because the center portion, the words, are not mine.
I didn’t make it for the money, anyway.
The project had to be made. Period.
I made it because I believe in everything it stands for, like hope, healing, faith and strength. That’s enough.
I just wanted to share it with you, my friendly blog reader, because it needs to be shared. Feel free to show it to your friends who might also appreciate it. As with everything else in this blog, if something touches you, I have accomplished my purpose.
If you are interested in what I do, take a look at the products page and see if something else speaks to you. You can e-mail me at pambelding@gmail.com or call me at the phone number below.
I need to go call vendors for the Christmas in the Village event, happening December 5th from 2pm til 6pm in downtown Ortonville, MI. Anyone interested in being a part of this wonderful, small town festival, please call me at 248-232-2929, or call the DDA executive director, Molly Lalone, 248-627-8070 WooHoo!!
Have a marvelous weekend and remember to be Excellent to each other!
Pam
