We're Not in OZ Anymore

Over at Wishcasting Wednesday,  the prompt is What do you wish to share?

I wish to share my journey of the power of the Ruby Red Slippers.  The power to stay young in heart and learn to believe it for ourselves.  My personal mission statement to to inspire and encourage others to find and pursue their own potential through my own personal and spirtual example. 

Today, I met the Tin Man.  Standing alone in the forest, unable to speak. Hanging around for years just waiting for someone to come along and help him out.  Stuck, frozen, waiting...and waiting...and waiting..  That has been me for years.  Unable to speak about how I feel, afraid to interact. So afraid, I just stayed immersed in my thoughts wishing and hoping .... just like the Tin Man wanting a heart so badly. 

Today was my weight watchers meeting.  I got my first Gold Star.  It was like someone oiled my mouth. I spoke up in the meeting and it felt GOOD.  My approach and attitude this time around is very different than any attempts in the past.  It isn't about the weight watchers, it isn't about the scale.  It is about speaking up AND taking action. It is about learning new behaviors like cooking, healthy eating, and self-care.  The meetings are just one small part of my action plan.  It holds me accountable to myself.  Not to my meeting leader, not to my family, not to other members.  JUST accountable to ME! 

So bring on the OIL CAN!  This week I am ready and WILLING to take on another action.  MOVING. Over at a Slice of Life Diet I will be starting a 90 day challenge for change.  Check it out if you want to join in.

I will keep you posted on how the oil can works out for me this week.

All day long I have wanted to share my experience of seeing "The Wizard of Oz" on the big screen and in HD.  Somehow, I got caught with the trees throwing apples my way.  At least they were delicious apples, but none the less, it kept me away from the computer. 

Ah at last.  My experience last night was well worth the wait and anticipation and self-argument it took to get there.  First THANK YOU to all who posted their support of my wish yesterday, it just added to the magic.  The movie was sold-out and they added a second showing at the last minute.  The movie theatre was filled with young and old and every age in between.  Little girls dressed up with Dorothy tightly clinging to their Moms, yet a confidence of wearing those ruby red slippers. 

It reminded me of going to the movies when I was little.  No cell phone lights to distract not a sound of chatter during the movie and HUGE audience participation.  They cheered, they laughed, and they clapped at the end of the movie.  I have not heard that in such a long time.

The movie itself had me in AWE, like seeing it for the first time.  I don't know if it was the big screen or the HD but there was SO MUCH more to see.  The depth and colors so bright and vivid. You could actually see more of the munchkins in the background, the details on the trees-their lines, their character, the glimmering shine on leaves and apples. 

Most of the movie, I caught myself with just a smile of pure and simple joy!

I HIGHLY recommend to anyone who is a fan or is still just YOUNG IN HEART to buy the DVD next week in high def or Blu ray.  You will not be disappointed!    

Today celebrates the 70th Anniversary of the Wizard of Oz.  I am actually going to a special showing of the movie tonight to honor the anniversary and to kick off the release of the movie now in HD and Blu Ray.  That is a pure luxury for me.  Check out Wishcasting Wednesday for today to see what luxuries others are wishing for. 

My luxury wish for today and the future months is the strength and courage to allow myself time for all the things I dream about.  With that, to have the stability and security that I need and balance that with the creative, intuitive things I know about the true, authentic self deep below all the layers.

To give myself permission to believe in my writing and to complete and publish the book, Click 3 Times, that has been sitting in the safety of my imagination and my computer for way too long.

To start, today I am wearing red shoes!  Permission to have fun and enjoy the whole, magical day!

What will you do for yourself today?  What luxury do you wish for? 

Today, I am standing at Scarecrow Crossroads.  You remember the place.  Dorothy standing there deciding which way to go.  The scarecrow pointing at all the different directions. Dorothy releases Scarecrow from his pole where he just observed life passing him by. After landing in the middle of Munchkinland last week, I have some observations that have brought me to this crossroad.

As in changing any habit, we talk about will power and motivation.  We often come to a crossroad of something significant in our lives that urges us to change.  Sometimes we choose it but more often than not, it is some outside force that occurs always.  I have often heard that the way to stay motivated is to make the goal something you are moving toward rather than away from.  I am understanding that concept more and more.  I guess I do have a brain!

Actually, we all have a brain.  A wonderful brain.  It's just that we sometimes don't utilize its full potential.  In our busy lives we run around on autopilot or subconscious thinking.  We fall into a rut, a routine, or just daily habits.  I am not saying those are bad, some of it is necessary. 

Take eating for example. My first week of my new healthy eating was interesting. The hardest part didn't have anything to do with the food at all.  It was writing down everything I ate.  That made it a conscious thought several times a day and with that came choices.  That in and of itself was liberating. In the past, when I was just moving away from something - I didn't want to be fat anymore - I would do everything I thought I was suppose to, force myself, burn myself out, and still didn't learn anything. I was still in the mindset of being fat and trying to change that, not looking ahead. 

Most of the time the old behaviors and thought patterns got in the way.  I got tired of fighting it all, gave up and went back to autopilot.  Subconscious thinking is comfortable.  It is doing what we have always done  AND it takes no effort.  Now let's look at the scarecrow's song again.

If I Only Had a Brain

I could while away the hours, conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain.
And my head I'd be scratchin' while
my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
I'd unravel every riddle for any individ'le,
In trouble or in pain.
With the thoughts you'll be thinkin'
you could be another Lincoln
If you only had a brain.
Oh, I could tell you why The ocean's near the shore.
I could think of things I never thunk before.
And then I'd sit, and think some more.
I would not be just a nothin' my head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain.
I would dance and be merry, life would be a ding-a-derry,
If I only had a brain.

When I re-read this, he is saying that he would be living in the present moment.  Enjoying nature, helping others, coming up with creative ideas, and he wouldn't be living in the torment of all his own old thoughts and the pain in his heart.  He would be enjoying life.  He was just blaming it all on not having a brain, not being smart enough. He is smart enough, just like you and me. 

Life can be merry and we can enjoy it.  My choice today is to stop blaming my past, stop reinforcing my past, and to stop blaming what I think is a lack of time.  Instead of looking at it as willpower and motivation, I choose to look at it as free will and choices......Everything is a choice if you look and make conscious choices!

Check out my other blog, A Slice of Life Diet, to find how to apply these to other areas of your life. 

So traveling on the Yellow Brick Road, I am approaching Scarecrow Corner. I am getting ready to make friends with my first companion.  You remember him. Hanging around in the field, stuck.  Stuck on the pole waiting for someone to come along and take him off his pole.  "Oh the poor me...  I can't even scare a crow."  "I cant do what is expected of me."  "I am stupid and dumb."  Have you ever said that to yourself?   While I prepare to meet him and deal with some things head-on, I want to think of the words to his infamous song.

If I Only Had a Brain

I could while away the hours, conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain.
And my head I'd be scratchin' while
my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
I'd unravel every riddle for any individ'le,
In trouble or in pain.
With the thoughts you'll be thinkin'
you could be another Lincoln
If you only had a brain.
Oh, I could tell you why The ocean's near the shore.
I could think of things I never thunk before.
And then I'd sit, and think some more.
I would not be just a nothin' my head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain.
I would dance and be merry, life would be a ding-a-derry,
If I only had a brain.

Join along with me.  Give yourself permission to just think about the lyrics and imagine the scarecrow in his dance.  Have a little fun. I will be back to share with you what I have discovered when I arrive at the crossroad corner.