Be Your Own Hero!!

At a lovely dinner last night here in Park City, I had a conversation with a good friend of mine.  We were talking about finding your purpose in life and how it feels when you just don't know what that is.  We talked around the subject and then came to the realization that you know your purpose, it's inside of you just waiting to get out.  There are quite a few folks in the world who are already living their purpose, but I would have to guess that there are more who are not.  They are stuck in jobs they don't like, relationships that aren't working and are not saying yes to their souls. Fast forward an appetizer or two, and we came up with the lovely conclusion that you do have your purpose inside of you.  It's the unlocking of steps to get you to that a-ha moment, that lovely, yummy version of yourself.  The one where you no longer feel that emptiness inside and that voice inside your head that says, "I know there is more!"

So, the inevitable question becomes how do we get there?  How do we unlock those steps?  For me it was years of workshops, coaching, therapy, etc.  It's just what I had to do.  It can get frustrating but it's that one coach who will give you the tools to get the job done yourself who will be the most valuable.  We all go to the workshops and hope that "they" give us the answers.  How many of you can relate to this?  When you make that switch to "I can do this!", the answers will flow more easily.

As I continued to talk to my dear friend, we realized that you can work on finding your passion at night while still in your day job.  Just start!  Just start with small steps and it will keep the momentum building and the energy going forward.  It's when you stop and try and re-start a few months later that you have problems getting the energy up to full speed.  Try it, just do three things a day.  Sit down and write three things a day that you want to accomplish.  The feeling of completing those three things will have you feeling so good, you will continue with the rest of that long to-do list.  Baby steps, my dear, baby steps.

It took me 50 years to finally see what my purpose here on earth was.  Some folks are blessed to find it way early and some way later than me.  It's that acceptance of knowing that it is inside of you and that you eventually will have the tools to tease it out that will make your life so much richer!

“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there’s love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” —Ella Fitzgerald

“I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing that I wanted to do.” — Georgia O’Keefe

Until My Next Adventure,

Trish Walker

Check out my new book @ https://www.amazon.com/honey-just-getting-started-Consciously

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at pwalker2650@gmail.com to discuss how I can help you to make your next chapter better than your last.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: Trish Walker or via Twitter (Trish Walker@50foraYear).

A Canvas of My Experiences

This week saw me completing probably my fortieth 50.4.50. I have been talking about this one for years and years. It finally took me turning the big 5-0 to act on it. My first tattoo, loud and clear on my forearm, is now a reality. Getting it has reinforced how proud I am of myself for making the plan to do this list and for coming so very close to being near the end. I made an appointment almost five months ago with a young man name Ryan at Oni Tattoo in Salt Lake City. He came highly recommended by a friend of mine who is very well-inked. I saw Ryan's work and immediately put down my deposit and waited out my five months. Not once did I waver from doing this. In fact, I was so excited that by yesterday when it was time for my appointment I was 100% sure of walking in the front door of that tattoo parlor and getting my ink.

I had been grappling with several design ideas, but the theme seemed to be the same throughout: a sunburst. It was perhaps a week or so ago when I was going through some old belongings and an artistic tile I had bought in Sedona a few months ago suddenly resurfaced. The design on the tile caught my eye and I said, this is it. I carried the tile around in my purse all week and every time I glanced at it, it became clearer. This was my tattoo.

The process was a whole lot easier than I thought it would be. It took literally all of about 45 minutes. I had it in my mind that I would be there for hours, but once Ryan sketched the initial design, we made one revision and off to the table I went. Ryan had a great table-side manner and really put me at ease. When he was done, he joked with me that I was officially on the dark side and now I would no longer be able to get a job! We laughed and immediately started talking about how long it would be before I came back in for my next. I am still considering whether or not to get some color on this one, a nice shade of purple might be the answer. This was reinforced when as I was driving back up into the mountains from Salt Lake, I was greeted with an amazing rainbow.

Getting a tattoo at my age was a bit unnerving, but I was helped when I asked the young man at the front desk if I was the oldest he had ever seen. He smiled, and said no ma'am, in fact last week we had a 70 year old lady come in for her first. That made me feel great! Thanks dude!

When I got home last night, I showed the tattoo to my kid. He shrugged, said that's cool and off he went. I realized later that his generation are probably so used to seeing tattoos that it didn't even make him blink. Let's hope that he waits until he is 50 for his first. If not, I will embrace his creativity and right to own his body as this is making me feel I own mine.

“My body is my journal, and my tattoos are my story.” ― Johnny Depp

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Dear Wonder Woman, I Am Officially Resigning!

The first for today is about finally finding the courage to set up some boundaries. It takes a lot of courage, strength and detachment to set up boundaries with those loved ones who suck your energy, those people around you that suck your energy and life in general. This week I came upon quite a few folks who were going through some intense energies. They all had one thing in common, people were truly annoying the crap out of them. I am a true believer of loving everyone the same, but sometimes people just really push the limits on that one. It was with this in mind, that I realized that it was time for me to find the strength to set boundaries.

This week I had two phone calls that really angered me. Why did they anger me, because I gave my precious time away to people that just didn’t respect it. They had their own agenda, and did not come up for air to ask me about what was going on with me. Again, I realized that this is my fault. I do not set boundaries. This has finally taken it’s toll. I am ready to take off my cape and forge ahead in a way that is healthy for me.

Why are we so afraid of saying no? Why are we so afraid to not set boundaries with those around us? Several reasons pop into my mind: what will people think (oh geez, there goes that line of thinking again), we cannot say no or the old FOMO = Fear of Missing Out.

It truly has been an empowering week for me. This boundary lesson got me thinking about other themes that run concurrent in my life. Why all of a sudden does this boundary thing bother me so much? Why do I all of a sudden have the strength to set them? I truly believe that because of the healing path I am on, I am acquiring more and more tools to help me handle these situations in a different manner than I ever have before.

Today I ran into two dear friends serendipitously. It couldn’t have worked out any better even if I had planned it for months. These two lovely souls didn’t know each other but by the end of the two hour chance meeting, they were chatting like old friends. I love that, I love to see that my tribe can expand beyond me and those like-minded folks can connect. It also helped me to see that I was not the only one that was having this boundary issue come up. We had a lot in common today and it helped cement for me that I was moving in the right direction.

I think that we spend a lot of time blaming ourselves for past mistakes. Who doesn’t? It’s human nature. What I saw today is that I realized that I sometimes slip back but I am correcting my course a lot faster to get back in aligment with my authentic self. I love how the Universe helps us out.

“We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. Consequences give us the pain that motivates us to change.”  ― Henry Cloud

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Signs from the Universe

As I sat down this morning to write this blog post, it occurred to me that I had no clue what I was going to write about today. I just knew it would flow through me. This is a first of sorts. I liken it to just putting it out there. I am trusting the universe to take over the reins and give me a voice. Today has been unique. I have had an outpouring of phone calls and messages from people that I haven’t heard from in a long time. These are folks that I have chosen to take a step back from. They didn’t fit into what I have been moving forward into. They are not bad people, just not on the same path as I.  I was questioning why all of sudden did they all reach out on the same day?

As the voice mails and emails appeared , I thought to myself that I should sit and figure out what was going on. What is the pop quiz that the universe was putting to me this first day of the week? I finally got it. I realized after seeing several posts pop up on facebook and sitting on what was happening, it is about going within. Why were these messages so bothersome to me? Why was it irritating to me that someone close to me was once again self-sabotaging himself? I pulled out the proverbial “mirror” and said, why was I irked? It hit me. I am irked because I made the conscious decision to be irked. I was spending my precious energy trying to figure out the behaviors of others. Do you know what this did for me? It gave me the luxury of time spent away from my dreams and visions. If I spent it on others, then I wouldn’t have to go out into that uncomfortable world of the unknown.

When I realized all of this, I kind of got a little excited. I realized that I had a choice here. I could continue going down that path, or I could forge ever forward to do something that felt uncomfortable to me. I could move one step ahead today to get myself closer to my dreams. I could do a huge thing today to get even closer. Bottom line was that it was all in my power.  There are times where, of course, the behavior of others will still affect me. It’s only natural, but what I can do is be there for them with compassion. I can ask them, what would playing a bigger game look like to you?

I ask you the reader, if you have had a situation that you keep re-visiting to get away from the bigger picture. If you do, what will things be like in one year, five years, ten years if you don’t take action now?

"We are our choices." - Jean-Paul Sartre

Until my next adventure,

P.A. Walker

The Power of Words

Today there have been many messages about the power of words.  Words can change so many things.  Words can bring a whole understanding even with just one.  When I say the word magical, it tends to give you an uplifting feeling.  When I utter the word murder, it brings an entirely negative meaning. Today's new thing in my fifties is to listen more closely to the word, to listen just for the sake of listening and not just to respond. Why?  Because this will make me be more aware.  Why is it important to be more aware?  When the question was asked of several people, what came up is because it brings brightness and future possibilities.

I was with a group of ladies the other day and I just sat back and observed.  It was very apparent that no one was listening to what the other had to say.  They were listening in order to respond.  They were literally waiting to respond instead of listening closely to what the other had to say.  Unfortunately, I think this has become a norm in our society.  As has the art of texting.  I can be texting someone all day.  I will stop and pick up the phone to try and actually call them and guess what, they don't answer.

Instead of sitting in judgement of others, I have decided that it is time for me to be the change.  I am going to be the one who listens carefully.  The one who doesn't respond until I know someone is truly finished with their thoughts.  I am excited to see where this leads.  Will it lead to those uncomfortable bouts of silence that no one seems to like?  I am hoping that it will lead to someone being truly glad that I actually took time out of my day and listened and valued what they had to say.

One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say. - Bryant H. McGill

What words mean different things to you?  Are you on a path of becoming more aware?  If so, why?  I would love to hear some of  your stories.  I promise I will listen!

Until my next adventure,

P.A. Walker

The Circle of Influence

As I continue on with my new decade I keep having the feeling that my past no matter what I try and do, just keeps following me. I can resist it but it will persist. Case in point, I have been working on my circle of influence.  I keep hearing that you are the sum total of those five people that are closest to you. When I first heard that and looked around, I was kind of aghast and started really working on myself. I was attracting certain types of people that didn’t fit with my definition of success for myself. I was around some folks that were not very uplifting. Did I do this because I wanted to feel better about myself?  Most likely the answer is yes. After making this realization, I set about surrounding myself with some like-minded folks.  I went on retreats, took classes and did a whole lot of reading.  I sat down today for the first time and realized I had done just what I set out to do. I have succeeded in surrounding myself with a great group of people who are not only always there for me, but also uplift me.  So what is the problem? The problem is that my past keeps giving me pop quizzes. It keeps having people appear to throw me tests on how far I have really come.

After spending yet another lunch time with someone who just doesn’t want to look inside, I had had enough. I blurted out, "If you don’t change something, than why do you think anything is going to change?"   She stopped, looked at me and just keep babbling on with those words that I have forbidden my kid to ever use, “Yeah but….”. It was at that moment that I realized that not only did I have the tools to work myself out of this situation, but that I was ready to actually use them. I looked at her and again muttered, but louder this time, “If you don’t change anything, how do you expect this situation to ever change?”. I then got up and told her that I had to go and turned and walked away. This was a huge first for me. It might not have been the proper way to handle the situation, but in my gut, I think she may have gotten the message. Why do I sometimes continue to go back into these toxic situations that I know are not good for me to be in?  Simple, fear of letting the other person know how I feel and fear of conflict.

It has taken me a long time to get to this point of having these tools, but I know they work now and I certainly will not hesitate to use them if the situation arises again. In the meantime,  I made a point to reach out to my newest circle of influence folks and let them know how much I appreciate each and every one of them. I appreciate that they have come into my life at just the right moment and I truly thank them for that!!

I question if any of you have been in this same situation and how you handled it.

I leave you with a link to a great blog called The Evening Cup.  In this particular post, Nicole Taylor gives her readers some great advice!

http://theeveningcup.com/3-reasons-let-go-wrong-people/

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Not So Fast and Not So Furious

I did it! I went to race car school. It’s been on my bucket list for years now and I finally made it happen.  I attended a class and training at Exotics Racing in Las Vegas. The staff was amazing and my experience was beyond awesome. I left the track that day saying that was one of the coolest things I have ever done in my whole life. It truly made me feel really alive.

After sitting in a class on technique and going around the track once to get some instructions from a seasoned professional, I was given the keys and allowed behind the wheel. For this adventure, I chose to go out in a Porsche Cayman.   Although it was referred to by some of the drivers at Exotics as the "go-cart", I was still thrilled to be able to get out and make some turns.

My instructor hailed from the U.K. and was a very patient man. He must have had nerves of steel. He instructed me all the way around the track five times.  I slowed way down going around the curves, but finally got up the gumption to turn on the speed towards the end of my session.  When I reviewed the video of my laps, I burst out laughing because I looked like I was slowing down to get a parking spot at the mall.  When I had originally heard that I was "only" going five laps, I thought to myself that that would not be enough.  It turned out I was very wrong.  It requires a lot of hard work and muscles to do even one lap.

As I left the vehicle, I was feeling like I hadn’t had the thrill of the speed. I realized that I had let fear hold me back and now I had regrets that I just didn't let it fly.  To satisfy my as of yet unmet need for speed, I decided it was time to take a few laps with the Professional Race Car driver. His name was Rudy and his credits included being one of the drivers in the first Fast and Furious movie. I thought I would be completely nervous going into this adventure, but the opposite was true. I had such a feeling of calm come over me that Rudy could see I wasn’t scared at all. In fact, I think he took this as a challenge and turned up the heat. During our last lap, we completely fish tailed and swung around. I still wasn’t freaked out. Sorry Rudy, you can’t scare this old gal!  I have made a vow to go back and do this again very soon.  This time I will drive the Lamborghini.

After completing this adventure, I truly left the track on such a high.  I also vowed that I would not continue to hold back because of fear.  I would put myself out there and feel the fear and do it anyway!

“If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough.” ― Mario Andretti

Until my next adventure,

P.A. Walker

Want-To-Be Writer Turns "Real"

I have always been a voracious reader.  I love to read books, magazines, you name it.  I am turning the tides and becoming a rabid want-to-be writer. Why do I keep labeling myself a want-to-be? I AM a writer. I have hit publish on several blog posts.  I have submitted several articles for review.  Now for one of my firsts, I am going to start not one, but two books. I have two distinct ideas for books and somehow they keep melding into each other. Should I combine them or separate them?  I am just not sure. Today’s adventure will be to surrender the ideas and see where the universe takes them. I have one of the books finished to the point of a raw manuscript.  I sent out word to two different people to help edit and got no response. Instead of stopping what I was doing and not going forward, I just surrendered. I will alternatively continue to seek out editors and also wait it out and see who comes to me. I have an idea of going to an author's event in Denver next month. I feel like this is what I am supposed to be doing and that this might answer this editing question. Again, surrender to the universe.  Why is it so hard to surrender to the universe?  I keep having this question come up when I try and do this.  Are you supposed to surrender completely or help the process along?  If you are to help the process along, what does that look like?

“I surrender this fear or desire. Thank you for taking care of it!”.

I ask you, the reader, to share with me any times in your life where you have just put your hands up and surrendered.  How did this work out for you?  Any thoughts on answering that universal question of how much should we be helping out?

"Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't". - Steve Marabol, Life, Truth and Being Free

Until the Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram and my Facebook Page Kiva Wellness. www.kivawell.com.