Has this ever happened to you? You’re sleeping soundly, then suddenly you awake, stare at the clock, and see that it is only two a.m. You get up, visit the bathroom, then climb back into bed and try to go back to sleep, but your monkey mind says, “No. I’ve got things to digest.” Then your mind proceeds to run a list of things you forgot to do, things to be concerned about, and things to worry about. I’ve been free of “monkey mind” for the last several weeks, but last night it returned. I reverted to my age-old practices. I meditated, breathed deeply, counted those stupid sheep, practiced my Scarlet O’Hara approached, which I am famous for, but nothing helped. So, I relented and I let the thoughts parade through my mind, and finally I fell back to sleep, only to find myself groggy this morning.

The first step of  The Way is to live your life to the fullest by being in good health, which means investing in yourself by creating a healthy body and mind so your spirit can blossom. One of my goals this year is not to eat pre-packaged food. I’ve been known to be the queen of Lean Cuisine. So far, I’ve done well, and I feel better when I eat real food. I’ve just never been one for cooking. It goes back to the days when I waitressed–I detest food on my hands. We juice every morning. I eat yogurt, fresh fruit, and nuts during the day, and I usually cook a healthy meal in the evening.  I’m trying, I really am. Yesterday I came home late from work. It was bitterly cold and I didn’t feel like cooking. We lit a fire and I went out to the freezer and picked out a frozen Chinese chicken concoction that I put over brown rice. (See, I was healthy.) It was good, but I knew it was full of MSG. And I paid for it last night. I was up drinking water all night, and of course visiting the bathroom. Today I feel a slight headache from all those chemicals.

When your body is not in perfect health, your spirit suffers. Today I vow to be better!

Day 2 of my experiment, and it happened to fall on my art day. Since I live up in the mountains, on these days it is rare that I see a living soul, and this makes it easier to follow The Way because there are no distractions, with the exception of my puppy who epitomizes the balance and stress-free living that I aspire to. One of the hardest things to do is live in the moment. We have been trained since birth to lament the past and worry about the future. So, yesterday I did not listen to any news and focused on my writing and art. The day passed blissfully and I accomplished quite a lot. I followed Lulu’s suggestion of when to stretch, when to eat, and when to take a nap. When the sun came out, we sat in its rays and soaked up its warmth. I had no worries, no concerns. I have had a dog since we married, over thirty-two years ago, and I can’t imagine not having one in my life.  When the world gets crazy, all I have to do is look into her brown eyes and remember that all that there is this moment. Blessings for a beautiful day.

I gave myself a challenge yesterday to follow The Way, which is my new novel set to release in June. I’d give you all the steps now, but I’d really like you to purchase the book once it is released. (All proceeds go to my foundation.) So over the course of my experiment, I will illustrate them. Maybe you want to know why I wrote this book, or what qualifications I have. Besides teaching for twenty-five years and having a Masters Degree, I am a Reiki Master Teacher and I have been called a medium. Basically, I have been talking to the other side for the last twenty years. But how that happened is another story.

So, back to the experiment. I tucked the seven steps in my purse and headed to work. Now it is really easy to follow The Way at home when there are no interruptions, but the real world poses another challenge, especially if you operate a retail business. I was doing fine yesterday, living in the moment, eating healthy, working in a job that adds value to my live and the lives of my employees and customers, etc, etc, when into the sales office walked a customer who was surrounded with dark energy. (Sometimes I hate the fact that I can see energy because I tend to pre-judge.) Being my bubbly self, I thanked him for coming in and asked if he had been here before and what I could do to help him. He snapped at me, wouldn’t give me eye contact, (It was probably that woman-thing.)  and said he did not know who he was working with but wanted help NOW! (One of the seven steps is choosing not to be around negative and manipulate people and to learn the art of saying no, but what do you do when they are standing in front of you in a small waiting room???) Long story, short, I found him a sales person, who had a horrific experience with the customer, and we gracefully let the customer off the lot. But what I did not control were my thoughts. They became judgemental and negative toward that man, which is wrong because I do not know his past. I need to work on that, but it is hard. Some people are so toxic.

Today will be easier. It is my art day. I do not come off the mountain and into the real world or my business. I write and create all day.

This is the first day of The Way blog, or how to live a balanced and stress-free life. Last year I had written a book called The Way to help a friend with his ideas. But life got in the way, oh, the pun, and even though the book was published and many people bought the book, the project did not work out. But I really liked my story, especially Wanda McBroom the wise woman who resides in all of us, so I prayed for a way to revise the book so I could take this book where I think it needs to go. In the night, she came to me with the seven steps to balance and stress-free living. I meditated on these steps, discussed them with a wise friend, and rewrote the book. It will be released later this spring.

In the book, which is written as a novel and has workbook pages, the reader follows the lives of three women who  have endured horrific circumstances and are in search of balance and stress-free living. The Way helped them achieve their goals.

I have decided to “practice what I preached” and implement these steps into my own life. I had written in my journal for years, which many times seemed like “bitch” sessions, followed and taught “The Artist’s Way”. There is no time line on this blog, just my growth.

You can follow me as I struggle to live a balance, stress-free life in the midst of owning and operating an RV dealership, husband, children and grandchildren, and my labradoodle, Lulu. I hope you learn from my struggles.

I have come to the conclusion that there are two types of people–those who love dogs and those who do not. Oh, I know we can categorize people in other ways, but this works for me. I belong to the former group, having got my first dog right after we were married thirty-two years ago. Aspen, a mutt, graced our lives for thirteen years and since then we have had three other dogs. My current dog, Lulu, is a eleven-month-old labradoodle, and like any proud parent, I am proud of her.  I call her my first-position puppy, because like any graceful dancer she always reverts to first position. Recently, she becamesick, and not just the throwing up sick because she eats anything on the floor she finds because she does not abide by the five-second rule, but sick as to she would not leave my side, wouldn’t eat or drink, and had no puppy energy. Yesterday I was scared because she exhibited characteristics of Jack when he was dying, my beloved beagle who died suddenly almost two years ago. I cared for her, used some Reiki, and prayed to the Divine Mother. And I have to report that she seems better today. She’s licking me and seems to have some energy. I told her that if she wasn’t better by today we’d have to go to the vet. It’s amazing the mind’s will power.

One of the things I love about dogs is that they only live in the moment. Dogs are the divine teachers, showing us how to live our lives. They don’t spend their energy lamanting the past or worrying about the future. All they know is the now, which is how each of us should spend our days, coupled with chasing butterflies, delicious naps, and indulging in treats because life is too short to eat dry bread. Just ask Lulu.

The rain is falling lightly outside my studio window as another storm slams the Sierras. And with it’s arrival a slight touch of depression encircles my body, which I have concluded is physiological, not psychological. It is my body, weary, going through the change of life, and in need of the dazzling sunlight that is our normal weather. In my area, like many areas across the country, winter has been harsh, cold, and cruel. Oh, I know we need the water, but it is never enough and they will still call drought, drought! I try to limit the amount of information I store in my mind from the state-controlled media outlets.

Today I have reminded myself to follow the tenets of The Way, which are seven steps to achieve  a balanced and stress-free life. I am keeping myself in good health, but I must confess I have been remiss with my spiritual side, which is the seventh step of The Way.  It’s not an excuse, but there have been many demands on my time from work and others.

So, today is Tuesday, my art day, and I am working on a novel set in Reno in the 1930s, which I find to be a fascinating period.  Back then this state had the foresight to create a way to get them through the Depression.

And unless there is a crisis, I will light a candle and meditate.

I traveled to Key West, Florida last week for a business meeting. I know–tough duty, but someone had to do it. Due to the cold weather and snow in the south east, many flights were delayed and canceled. The airlines were overwhelmed, but I did not see additional staff to deal with the thousands of customers who were stranded. A mix-up in Key West, (I think the gate agent partook in too much rum at one of the local bars the prior evening) left us stranded in Fort Lauderdale with out boarding passes standing in a very long line with two overwhelmed agents. Long story short, we arrived the following day, much better than some of the other people who are probably still stuck in South Florida.

But the behavior exhibited by my fellow travelers was horrendous, and my heart sunk. People were pushing, shoving, calling each other and the gate attendants names.  Deplaning in Atlanta, I quietly asked two men who were shouting and cursing at each other about who was more important, to get along. The rest of the plane had agreed to let those who had tighter connections to get off first. (The flight attendants ignored their behavior.)

Years ago, traveling by plane was an adventure. People dressed up, you were treated with respect, and you were not charged for soft drinks, peanuts, and luggage. Now plane travel is Greyhound in the sky, but not as predictable. As for me, it’ll be awhile before I take to the “friendly skies.” I hope some of those nice people I met in Key West finally get home.

It was in high school that I first became enchanted with the philosopherHenry David Thoreau. I found his book in my parents’ den. Thoreau wasn’t someone high school teachers wanted you to read because he challenged you to think, not regurgitate what they lectured standing in front of the class. His writings spoke to my heart, and I pasted them on my mirror to remind me to Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.(Thoreau) Now that I have simplified by life, I’ve discovered that he was so right. The laws of the universe are easier because I am not caught up in the hurry-sickness of the outside world. I have also learned to live in accordance with Nature, and that has brought peace and wisdom to my daily life.

Especially on Tuesdays, which are my writing days. I, too, am like Henry David Thoreau because I have chosen to move to the woods so I can live deliberately. In the mountains there are few people and cars and the quiet penetrates my mind. It is sheer bliss–I can hear myself think and it is easy to write.  My own Walden Pond is still covered in snow, but once the warmer weather arrives, and it will on its own time, the snow will melt and the waterfall will flow, and then the creatures of the forest will sip from its stream.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “A government that is big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.” (Pg. 238 The Way) People have been relying on government and its leaders instead of taking personal responsibility for their own lives. Thus we have a government we deserve. But the recent upset in Massachusetts has turned the tide. We all agree we need health care reform, but we do not need  Big Brother in every aspect of our lives. Most Americans are frustrated with the back room deals and the arrogance of those we voted into office to represent us.

The Massachusetts voters represented most Americans who are weary of Washington and its elitist views. Once, years ago when we were visiting my husband’s cousin who lived outside the beltway, I got a first hand education of how those who live in the beltway view those of us who live outside the beltway.

Kudos to the voters of Massachusetts, my husband’s home state. Change is in the air!