Twenty-Nine Intentions

December 9, 2010 By 33 Comments

Today is my 29th birthday and I could not be happier spending it in my happy place as we drive north to Eugene for a week.

I’ve been thinking on my last birthday and the list I created for myself. I couldn’t cross all of them off and I’m really okay with that. When it came down to it, I was so wrapped up in the adventure of just living this life that the things I thought I wanted to do had long lost my interest.

Life has an amazing way of changing what it is you think you want.

I feel like I went into the year with a great idea of things I wanted to do, because I had such little idea of what such an amazing year would have me experiencing. And last year was an experience like no other.

Not because of anything I did, but because of everything it did to me.

So as I sit here, I can’t help but ask myself if creating another list is actually pointless. Can I really predict where the next year will bring me or what I’ll want to do once I get there?

Yes. :)

I can predict it. I can wish it. I can dream it up all big and juicy, create some amazing goals and set my intentions.

My predictions may not be 100% accurate and I may not cross off all those crazy ideas.

But I’d rather approach the next year of my life with big, crazy intentions of the adventures I want to create and then allow them to evolve as the moment offers.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Some of these things are carry-overs from the last list, some aren’t. Some of them can’t possibly be perfected in one year. But all of them resonate with me.

This year I want to:

  1. Learn to drive a manual
  2. Drive the 5th wheel
  3. Knit a pair of socks already!
  4. Snorkel in the Keys
  5. Visit the Smithsonian
  6. Hang out of a San Francisco trolley
  7. Play stop motion with Zeb
  8. Leave messages or gifts of love in random places
  9. Create a Gratitude Habit
  10. Practice the fine art of advocating for kids
  11. Make silly/wicked/fun/cool home videos
  12. Create a Life List
  13. Validate, appreciate, and celebrate authenticity
  14. Do something that scares me
  15. Smile bigger
  16. Love my body
  17. CREATE!
  18. Foster the beautiful things in life
  19. Make a difference
  20. Dance, dance, dance
  21. Write my heart out
  22. Be a fool to make someone laugh
  23. Travel off the continent
  24. Stare up at Mt Rushmore
  25. Stay up late laughing with friends
  26. Write more letters
  27. Create success
  28. Challenge myself regularly
  29. Bury a time capsule!
Filed Under: Celebrations Tagged With: , , , , ,

Unlock. Unleash. Unschool!

September 30, 2010 By

The past several months of offering coaching for unschooling and mindful parenting have been amazing. I’ve connected with so many parents, learned a lot about the common challenges people face (and the diversity within each experience) and so enjoyed inspiring parents to tap into their own unconditional love.

I’ve spoken with unschoolers, homeschoolers and public and private schoolers, all amazing parents undergoing some pretty amazing transformations and needing a bit of support.

Something else I’ve discovered, though: 30 minutes is not quite long enough and 60 minutes is sometimes too long. A little like Baby Bear, 45 minutes seems to be just right.

So I made some changes:

  • For starters, I changed my button. For some of you it may have updated on its own. For others you may need to grab the code again from this page. Or keep the old one if you prefer. ;)
  • I’m now only offering one session length and one package of four calls, each 45 minutes, each still with email support. This has changed the pricing a bit (which won’t affect those of you who have already scheduled). But…
  • I’m also offering the Honor System via the Paypal Donations button found to the right. If you need support and your budget doesn’t allow it, just email me. You can pay whatever you can afford (even if that means nothing). Likewise, if you can afford to pay a bit more it will go towards someone else’s session. Again, this is on the honor system. My time is important to my family, too, so hopefully this will work out for everyone involved.

Why am I offering this? Because it’s needed. Talking to a friend on the phone, someone who will meet you where you are and help you get where you want to be, is important. And not everyone has that.

And I’m offering it because I trust that our needs are always met when we meet the needs of others. I was lamenting my inability to volunteer my time in some capacity while traveling when I realized just how silly that was.

I do have time to volunteer. Granted it might be slightly more interrupted, or it might be while we driving down the road, or maybe while I’m making dinner. But I do have time when I remember to make time for what matters.

Unschooling matters. Mindful parenting matters. Inspiring others matters.

This isn’t a handout. It’s the offer of support. Something we all need. And something we all need to do more of.

Filed Under: Organic Learning Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Inspiration Monday – The Most Stars

September 6, 2010 By 13 Comments

The Most Stars (I've Ever Seen)

#2 on my list of 28 Things is “Stand Under More Stars Than I’ve Ever Seen”.

A few weeks ago, this was a panic point. Justin and Zeb were standing outside in Wisconsin and admiring the stars. I couldn’t see what they were talking about. Even with my glasses on I just couldn’t make out more than a slightly hazy sky.

I was feeling beyond bummed about the whole thing – would I really never see a sky full of stars?! Was I doomed to the Big Dipper only?

Then I stumbled across an article in a small health publication. It stated that visions problems may all be in my head. (No pun intended.)

Hmm, it was certainly worth a try. And since my glasses had seen an unfortunate meeting involving a closet door, it wasn’t like I was dying to wear them scratched and slightly bent. So I started going without my glasses and telling myself my vision was improving every day.

Now I have no idea if they are quantifiably “better”, but I do know I spent a long night last week searching for constellations and meteors with Zeb, and sitting mesmerized under the most amazing smattering of stars I’ve ever seen. :D

Truly one of the most inspiring nights I’ve had…

Would you like to join in Inspiration Mondays?

It can be a story, quote, or excerpt; a piece of art you made, a pair of earrings you love or a list of links to fantastic articles that left you in awe.

Submit your blog post link below (adding this link in your post)
or share your inspiration in the comments!

Current Location: Dallas, TX for the Rethinking Everything Conference!

Filed Under: Inspiration, Organic Health Tagged With: , , , ,

Singing My Song: My Photography Giveaway

August 28, 2010 By

Good Morning Anne

I’ve been up to something.

Something both yummy and provoking that challenges my self-doubt and insists I push through the fears I’d rather avoid, thank you very much. It’s exciting and terrifying in the very best of ways.

I’m now selling my photography.

The idea fell into my head several months ago with such determined assurance I felt for sure it hadn’t come from me. And the way it quickened my heart and stirred up my fears confirms (as it always does) that it’s exactly what I’m suppose to be doing.

Of course, as is my fashion when I’m confronted with facing my own self-loathing demons, I procrastinated a good four months. But thanks to Visionary Mom and her awesome teams, I’m finally moving forward with a dream I’ve only toyed with for several years.

I’m still wracked with doubt. As a self-taught photographer, there is much I have left to learn and I seem to insist on perpetuating my doubts by comparing my work to the work of the many other fantastic, experienced artists doing their thing.

I almost gave up completely until this quote was whispered to me:

“Use the talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” – Henry Van Dyke

I am very, very far from the best. You could write encyclopedias on what I’ve yet to learn. And some of my attempts make even me laugh. But occasionally I stumble across a shot that lights me on fire, and am in awe to hear it do the same for others. So, this is me singing my little bird song, adding my voice to the chorus of very best in the woods.

Bench Monday - Boxcar Edition

To add to my awe and amazement, within a week of putting my prints for sale, I sold my first! Not only did I sell my first, I sold it to someone in the UK. And I don’t care what anyone says, no one is bursting the bubble of excitement I create by calling myself an international photographer. ;)

So without further ado, I’d like to introduce my RedBubble.

It’s where you can find my favorite prints, and order them to your specifications. You can also find cards and postcards with some of my favorite shots combined with some of my favorite quotes. And if there is something you’d like to see added, let me know!

Buy my art

The Giveaway!

I can’t wait to share my prints with TWO lucky winners:

  • The first winner will receive an 8×12 laminated print: you choose your fave photo and border color.
  • The second winner will receive a collection of each of my cards: you choose either postcards or notecards or a combination of the two!

How to enter:

There are FIVE ways to enter:

  1. Leave a comment here telling me your favorite print or what you’d love to see me place on RedBubble
  2. Tweet this giveaway (you can use the ReTweet button below) including the name of your favorite print
  3. Share this giveaway on Facebook, including the name of your favorite print
  4. “Like” The Organic Sister on Facebook
  5. Blog about this giveaway, linking back here and to my RedBubble account, as well as sharing the name of your favorite print.

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry for them all to be counted!

The giveaway will close August 31st at 8pm CST and the winners will be announced shortly after.

Good luck!

Filed Under: Organic Business Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Hooping Progress Report #1

June 19, 2010 By 30 Comments

I’m fairly certain we’ll be attending the Rethinking Everything Conference in Dallas in September and I’ve decided that for #26 on my 28 Things list, I’m going to be onstage for their talent exhibition with my hula hoop. Fer realz.

I hate even putting it out there because I know the tendency for life to hand me route changes. But if I’m going to accomplish even half of what’s on that list, I need to get moving and a little public humiliation accountability may just be in order.

I also love all the hooping inspiration that’s been traveling the ‘net and hearing so many new families picking up a hoop. It’s just fun! And if Sara can put her (admittedly much more awesome than mine) practice video out there, we can too.

Things to know about this video:

  1. I think we laughed as much as we hooped. Then we watched the videos and laughed some more.
  2. This was filmed at five weeks, which is almost two weeks ago. Because that’s how long it takes to edit and upload a photo these days.
  3. Stick around to the end for Justin’s hysterical performance. I wish I could add captions or turn up the volume on what he said. So much of his hilarity is in his tones.
  4. Notice how my child steps on an ant hill and I go right back to hooping? Mother of the Year, that one.

Hooping @ 5 Weeks from Tara Wagner on Vimeo.

Here’s the one of the elbow to elbow pass we talked about in the above video:

Hooping Practice – Elbow Passes from Tara Wagner on Vimeo.

I really enjoy hooping. I enjoy accomplishing a trick I didn’t think I could manage. I enjoy the movement and flow and energy. I really, really enjoy watching this video of an amazing hooper doing some stuff that literally dropped my jaw. I want to do what she can do.

Are you hooping? What new tricks have you learned?

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: , , ,
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