Wishcasting on WHENsday

Pondering over which one to pin at I Am The Lab, resisting the urge to pin all - it suddenly struck me it's WHENsday.

I just love the whole I AM THE LAB concept

Wishcasting on WHENsday

and

Storytelling for Change

I originally started writing this post a few weeks ago.  I had planned on tying together the Storytelling for Change Labs I've been doing and what I really want The MacsX to be.

As I put my necklace on this morning I had that ‘aha’ moment.  That’s the story I want to tell.  What I like to call the story of WHEN.

I’m sitting on the top deck of a London bus looking through the window.  And then I stop looking through and start looking in.  Etched in the window is the word WHEN.  And it’s as if that window is speaking to me – bear in mind that I am on the edge of a major melt down – WHEN?  When does my life start? when do I get what I want? When do I get off?(and I don’t mean the bus).  There were a whole host of other questions that really needed to be asked.  But it was if I were hearing my own voice for the first time in a very long time.  Really hearing me. And really recognising that I was not happy with my lot – sure I had loads to be grateful for but I hadn’t found ‘it’.  What I wanted to be when I grew up – ‘happy’.  That one word etched in the window in August 2004 was the beginning of a monumental journey, which I take a new step on each day.  I am Catherine McAtier and in finding my authenticity I hope to light the way for others.  And NOW is WHEN.

That was how the day started then life took over and I got kind of derailed.  This is the first Wednesday in what seems like forever I've been able to get back to focusing on the MacsX.

Working my way through my Feedly stuff I was delighted to see my #ImaPiece jigsaw piece included in the Craftivist Collective post today.  My piece is end right on the middle row.

My contribution to #imapiece

And the when messages just keep on coming, I especially love the 'dispel the "I'll be happy when..." myth' over at Kind Over Matter This  was posted on Monday but I'm playing Feedly catch up today.

So, today I'm finally getting back to some semblance of order - and getting to use what I've got.  I have a whole host of info on Feedly, I seem to be finding pins worth looking at over on Pinterest and I'm looking forward to getting my Etsy Shop back on track with a new improved look (more later...).

And finally over at Jamie Ridler Studios it's back to Wishcasting Wednesday - Today's prompt is What Do You Wish to ....

Me, I want to discover my Authentic Life, I've been doing some work in the background between life's interruptions and hope to put all my discoveries together very soon.  So far my moon board is kind of moon oriented but over the next week or so I'm hoping to add some wishes.

In the meantime I wish everything my fellow wishcasters wish for themselves and may they discover their wishes in the way and at a time that is best for them.

Today is a Good Whensday

Catherine

xxx

Another Sunny Sunday and the usual BS

And the weeks just keep getting better and better..... 

by Catherine at When at The MacsX

One of the first things I read this morning was the Dottie Angel Post about little things.  Certainly over the last few weeks I have really learnt to embrace the ‘little’ things, to make the most of a sunny day by having lunch in the park, by ‘being there’ when it truly is the place to be, even staying down for a ‘little’ while when you fall just to draw breath and gain perspective.  Yes, I did fall over this week.  I have the skinned knee and bruises to prove it and the peace of mind that I can be 90% sure that nothing is broken.  I’m using blind faith and gut instinct for the other 10% because I really do not want to have to spend any more time in A&E.  I’m going with the positive tude and a little r and r to get me through.

I finally finished my International Craft swap this week, it is now wrapped and on its way to Australia.  I really want to show it off here but feel it wouldn’t be right, not until  Valerie gets to open it up.

Can you see what it is yet?

I also finished reading the draft of Marcella  Chamorro‘s new book – and can’t wait until she releases it to the world.   It truly is beautiful , you can pre-order it here.  And I promise to write more about it when it is fully revealed.

So, I can smile and say that I have made some positive little steps this week, and I’ve already set out another in my diary for this week coming re Storytelling for Change – Somehow serendipity seems to be at work again as this will be the week where my story comes together – time for the great reveal?  To say I'm doing some editing would be putting it mildly, the surprising bit is I'm putting back the 'not so fun parts' and making it

truly authentic.

And this week’s discoveries/rediscoveries:

Learning not take things personally, highlighted on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday with Don Miguel Ruiz.  I'm definitely taking in that whisper.

And I am loving Beth Beulow's message of "view and hold others as whole, capable, and resourceful."  I believe that this is key to overcoming the whole 'victim' mentality and is a whole post of it's own making.

Keeping the creativity going and maintaining connections I intend to complete the Artists in Blogland - Colour this Quote June Challenge.  I'm loving the message ( "May there be peace and prosperity within your walls."  Psalms 122.7)and the creative accountability my committing to this brings.

Here's to another productive week - and one full of lots of little blessings.

Take Care

Catherine

xxx

Usual Sunday BS – Checking In / Moving On

It may be Monday but it's still the weekend - yay for Bank Holidays - so I'm putting my Sunday BS together a little late and not starting this week till tomorrow - having a kind of limbo day.

The week just gone

The week started with my son visiting A&E and a frustrating day spent with the NHS.  If one more person tells me they can "understand my frustration" I swear I will scream.  Yet by the end of the week I am feeling calm, rested and present.

I've spent the best (or worst) part of a year checked out - as an onlooker, watching life go on around me and not even touching the sides.  So, what's changed in 7 days?

The lovely ladies in my Storytelling for Change group just understood that this was 'not a good week' and so there was a break from any added responsibility.  In my day job I have become more connected, I feel like I've at last started turning up again, like an invisible line has been drawn under things past and now it just is what it is - no underlying agendas.

And with regard to my son's (and my) health I guess the change has been in attitude.  We've been so busy looking for a label, believing that there could be no 'cure' before that was found.  Why would I find that more frustrating than most?  Because I don't really go for labels, I believe in taking in the whole picture.   I have spent so much time dismantling the pigeon holes in my life that the mere action of creating another box was just so 'wrong'.  So, to move ahead boxes, labels and shoulds have all been thrown out the window.  The focus is on being present - living the way we want to live now.  Sometimes the answer is right in front of you, all around you - sometimes, if not always, the first thing to do is look at what we have.

And in keeping with using what I have - I think I've done enough research to move on as Seth Godin put it "All the information in the world isn't helping you make more stuff.  You have enough.  You should stop."

The whole 'using what you've got' thing is part and parcel of the message behind the birth of this blog and The MacsX - so time to get back to the message and go with it.  And what's going to make this time different to all the other stop starts that have gone in the past.  Belief.  Belief that it just 'is'.

The week’s discoveries/rediscoveries:

Lissa Rankin's Ted Talk

My first 'Ted Talk ' - and there are so many more to see.

Seth Godin's Creative Morning Talk

My Storytelling Video

Here’s to another good week

And to using up lots of stuff

Catherine

xxx

A Perfect Day - Wednesdays are for Wishing

Working on recalibrating my GPS when asked about my favourite day one of the first things that springs to mind is Wednesday.  I love Wednesdays because they are 'my' day - Wednesday is the day I get to focus on me and on The MacsX - no 'day job' influence.  It's also the day for wishes, Jamie Ridler offers prompts for Wish Casting Wednesday (not this week because her mum's not well - so let's send all those wishes of love and healing her way today) and Alex Loves often  shows Wednesday Wish Lists (loving the orange over there today).

So if Wednesdays are for wishing, today's wish is for me to work my way through Free Range Human and get this Authentic Abundance Centre up and running.

Making This my Pin for Today

Recent Feedly Finds

(recent highlights from my Feedly Feeds)

Callie at Createavity recommended Craftsy which has been added to my research list for this week.  Also with Carly I'm looking forward to Storytelling for Change - really looking forward to getting my story together and learning about everyone else's.

Wynona Ryder looks as haunting as ever on her Interview Cover over at Trend Council.  I really want to see The Great Gatsby.

I am loving all of the wonderful wisdom over at Tiny Buddha and loving the idea of scheduling Simple Pleasures at Creating Space, Mindful Living.

May all  of your Wishes  come to fruition

In the best way, and at the best time

For You

Catherine

xxx