Today's sacred space is filled with ramblings based on my personal experience, and my hope is that you can find a bit that resonates with you. . .

My life has been a bit topsy turvy over the past few weeks.  I have been in transition, dealing with complex and difficult realities of failure--while still planning for a hope-full future.  Sometimes the dream and the reality collide with a jolt that jars us to the core.  When that happens, what sustains us?  Here is what is sustaining me:  the giving and receiving of grace and compassion.

These two words get thrown around a great deal.  Sometimes they are used with shame and guilt.  It's always a bit messy and human.  The humanity of the practice is the beauty.  Let's approach them today with love and presence.  When we try to be present, we must slow down, put down devices, and just be in the moment.  This is really difficult in the beginning.  It scares me, but it's so worth it.   Part of it is learning to really listen.  And sometimes to just be still and quiet.  Trying to do this require a generous amount of grace and compassion toward ourselves.  We are a great person with whom to begin pouring grace and compassion into the world.

And then when we get a bit of grace and compassion into our own soul, we are ready to turn toward the people who are in our life.  We can begin anywhere.  Being slow to to react, respond and judge is a great space.  Rather than putting down the other, the question to ask is what may I contribute to improve this situation.  Sometimes the answer is nothing.  If there is no obvious answer than continue to move slowly forward.  We don't need all the answers!  

So my blessing for us all today:  May we all have the courage to be present.  May we basque in grace and compassion, and as they overflow from our souls, may we sprinkle the abundance wherever the journey takes us.  May we be slow place demands but quick to listen.  May we find our lives more beautiful because of the interactions with the world around us.

And since I've been missing FREEBIE FRIDAY, here is a little inspiration poster for your week!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B98mbYRaEywlM19XM1dyMzFzZTg
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It's the time of year when weather changes easily and water churns wildly.  There is a reason why March is described as both a lion and a lamb.  In Ohio March as definitely come in like a lion.

It's also a great time of year to be on the look out for signs--sign of spring, and hope, and change.  I saw a robin last week.  I have little bits of new green life peeking out of the corners of my flowerbed.  Those little things often fill me with hope.

Be on the look out for your own signs of spring and hope and change.  And if I may presume for a minute, consider how you can offer up a gift of hope to people you encounter in life--kind gestures, a friendly smile, gifts left for coworkers, a hand written note sent by snail mail.

The really cool part of thinking up gifts for others is that it all lifts our spirits.

Today I am sending you warm sunshine on your face, and hope--even in the face of changing weather or churning waters.  You are amazing.  Please keep that in mind for future reference!

​xo Brave Mim

The recent events and conversations and political talk feel completely overwhelming, and I'm not even in a traditional school setting. I want to honor the bravery of teachers in so many big and small ways all around the world!  I've wanted to honor that difficulty of these days for teachers.  I think we might all be standing on the edge of something really amazing.  Time will tell.

So I thought what can I give to teachers and everyone else who follow this little corner of the universe?  I decided today that I would share an ebook/hands-on workshop that I created six years ago.  Here is the thing, I have a disclaimer:  Some of the resources are a bit out of date, and so is the info about me.  {I wish I had the time this week to update, but I didn't.}

So I'm giving away today How To Heal Your Brave Heart With Affirmations.  It's all about how to write and create affirmations to gently heal your heart and subtly change your thinking.  This is power-full!  I hope you enjoy it, and feel free to share it wildly.  May this gift sail into the world and carry change all around.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B98mbYRaEywlM1RZV05OUUhvM3c

Wishing you a super relaxing weekend, filled with peace and positivity!
​xo Brave Mim

P.S.  Have you checked out the Letter Writing Revival HERE?  It's a great way to be a revolutionary by sending unique handmade cards into the world.  You can order month by month or 6 months at a time (which is like getting one month for free!  I'm taking subscriptions for March!