zena musings

Words to Live By

Our Deepest Fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our Deepest Fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you NOT to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

--Marianne Williamson

Carla Live & On the Radio

I'm participating in two big upcoming events I wanted to let you know about:

Saturday, April 29th, I'm the opening speaker at what should be a terrific one-day event in Spokane, WA -- The Women's Summit. This year's focus is intention. I'm pretty nervous about speaking. If you're in the Spokane area, I hope you'll come by and play! After my talk, I plan to roll up my sleeves and dive in as a participant. I'll also have a booth where you can see, smell and purchase zena moon candles. I truly hope to see you there!

The next morning, Sunday, April 30th @ 8am, I'll be interviewed by Comfort Queen Jennifer Louden on her Martha Stewart Living radio show called LoudenClear. Click here to subscribe to the podcast. I think after the initial broadcast it'll be accessible in the archives, but to be honest I don't really understand how it works. I'll find out and let you know!

As someone who normally shies away from the spotlight, these are B-I-I-I-I-I-I-G stretches for me. Which is probably why the World's Largest Cold Sore has erupted on my lower lip. Ah, sweet humility!

This Week's Stretch ~ 4/21/06

How did you reach outside your comfort zone this week?

I agreed to be interviewed by the truly wonderful Pamela Slim (Escape from Cubicle Nation) for an article she's writing for StartupNation. For many of you enviable creatures, being interviewed wouldn't constitute a stretch at all -- but I like the safe coziness of anonymity and tend to squirm and/or panic under the spotlight.

Not sure when Pam's article will be published, but I'll let you know when it is.

Keep stretching, whether you share here or not!

Business (and Belly) Bloat

After several quiet weeks, wholesale orders have been pouring in like it's Christmas (pre-Mother's Day stock up?) lending me long workdays. Ebb and flow, always important to remember cycles are natural in every aspect of life.

What do you allow, or awaken to, in the openness of your ebbs?

Lately I'm receiving messages galore about shining brightly in the world. I'll write more on that later, as well as two opportunities to see and hear me in person next weekend. Right now it's time to go for a swim, then take Silas to the dog park. I need to shake some of this salt bloat -- too much Easter ham!

Thursday blessings to you.

This Week's Stretch ~ 4/14/06

How did you reach outside your comfort zone this week?

My stretch this week was extra big and important! I asked family friend and fitness coach Marla Emde to help get my butt back in shape. As a former competitive swimmer I need goals, rah-rah's, accountability, help with discipline and most importantly to NOT do stuff on my own.

This is the first step -- a big step -- in reclaiming myself and my body as an athlete. Yay. :)

Snapshot

Self-care. Work. Friends and family. A good day ahead in zmland.

Are you on your To Do list today? I encourage you to add yourself, even if it's just 5 minutes to breathe.

Blessings to all.

Color My Curiosity Piqued

At first I thought someone stuck trash in my mailbox. But it's actually a muffin box modified into a mailing envelope, making it the most intriguing-looking piece of mail I've received in ages. I love it! My favorite touch is that the sender Crispina actually sewed both ends shut. I'm beyond curious to open it! One of my secret passions is sending and receiving unique and creative mail.

I'm about to open it up and will let you know what's inside...

Very, Very Cool
Inside is a letter, three snips of fabric and a business card. The letter tells me that Crispina is a line of products for the home made from recycled sweaters, shirts and pants. The fabric samples are gorgeous, heavenly, soft and yummy. Alison's biz card is recycled brown paper glued to a piece of recycled cardboard (from a hot chocolate box?). This is excellent marketing. Already I like this company and am curious to see if there's something I want to carry at zena moon, or who knows what. OOOOH! Maybe Women at Rest could offer their blankets, shams and such. We shall see!

This Week's Stretch ~ 4/7/06

Last July I wrote about asking for what you want, and as a personal challenge to myself committed to reaching out -- i.e., stretching outside my comfort zone -- once a week. I called the practice This Week's Stretch. As I wrote back then:

Reaching out basically means s t r e t c h i n g  just outside the boundaries of our cozy comfort zones. Doesn't have to be big or grand or all that much, even sticking out your little pinky finger half an inch counts!

Soon after I made the biggest stretch of my life: I quit drinking. These last few months my journey into recovery has been so engrossing, amazing, all-consuming and illuminating that I often feel stretched like a spiritual and emotional Gumby. It has required my undivided attention and continues to be my top priority. My 12-step meetings + recovery work blow me out of my comfort zone daily. And ... and ...

I feel ready to try stretching a little bit more in service of my work via zena moon, Women at Rest and writing my book. Nothing dramatic, nothing crazy. Just small, smooth, gentle, occasional reaches.

Please join me in these weekly stretches! It would be awesome to have company. Every Friday I'll post a new thread, and I'd LOVE to hear your weekly stretches as well.

This Week's Stretch: Resuming This Week's Stretch. :)

Carpe Diem

Myth: There was one magical moment when I decided to transform myself from a burned-out Microsoft employee into zena moon entrepreneur. One moment I held the secret to mastering courage over fear. And if I can recapture that one moment -- how the stars were aligned, what I wore and felt and thought and did -- the secret potion will be revealed bestowing magical powers and granting boundless courage to others to make their own giant leaps of faith.

Truth: Each one of us holds the magic wand.

"You don't need to be helped any longer. You've always had the power." ~Glinda

Come Out and Play

"Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature." ~Helen Keller