Many years ago, after winning big at a casino in Monaco, one of my dearest friends and fellow European adventurists, Holly, declared

That I had a horseshoe up my ass.  

That everything always goes right for me.  

That I’m one LUCKY motherfucker.  

It’s true, I had never even been to a casino before and on my second try at the slot machines, I was a winner.  The lights started flashing and the clinging and clanging of money falling falling falling into the dispenser gave me a huge rush.  I can see how people get addicted to gambling….because winning sounds good and feels even better. 

However lucky…..

It doesn’t mean that I’m not sad sometimes.

It doesn’t mean that I don’t experience pain and hurt.

It doesn’t mean that I’m always happy.

It doesn’t mean that I’m always strong.

It doesn’t mean that I always win.

Lucky means….

That I get to be me.

That I can celebrate my imperfections

That I have so much love in my life.

That I can let my light shine through.

That I can embrace my pain and let it show me a lesson or two.

That I can love life and let it love me right back.

Life is like that casino and the choices that we make are each somewhat of a gamble.  We are all just hoping to experience the clinging clanging of  happiness and feel the rush of winning.  However, I know that when I’m experiencing a loss, I will always remind myself of that horeshoe up my ass.  Even when it’s difficult and I have to try and see it through some tears. 

Yes, I choose to be one lucky motherfucker and thus it is so.

One of my souliest sisters, Gypsy, recently turned 40!  Woohoo!!! In true gypsy style, she decided to throw a Welcome To The Jungle party to celebrate her advancement from puma to Cougar!  The only requirement: wear animal print. It was a divine night with lots of meows and roars from beautiful people at all different stages….baby kittens, cats, pumas, and cougars.

This leap of the week photo was taken in the dark dark middle of the night when all the wild animals decided to take to the streets of Kingsville and demonstrate their ferocious feline love with a collaborative unrestrained leap!

(Please read below for further information with regard to a “Cougar” as extracted from urban dictionary dot com)

True cougars are classy, beautiful creatures who have made their successes on their own, have real brains, and are real head turners. Cougars seek younger men, and don’t have to sneak up and attack…they know their younger mates are eager to get an experienced woman who won’t ask if they’ll call them the next day. Being a cougar is a positive thing. Cougars are gaining in popularity — particularly the true hotties — as young men find not only a sexual high, but many times a chick with her shit together.

A woman in her sexual prime who prefers to hunt rather than be hunted. A cougar’s victims are usually under 25, as cougars prefer to mate with men who still have hair. Cougars generally feed and then continue hunting, as they enjoy role reversal.

A distinguished species of older females who seek the company of younger males whilst avoiding the entanglements of a relationship, in favor of a lack of restrictions.

AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE!!!!!

The cougar woman has overcome society’s prescribed behavior for women’s sexual behavior. Thus, she embraces her true self and lives her life to the fullest. She know what she wants and isn’t afraid to hunt for it!

Please bear in mind…that Griffin House is MY boyfriend…but I’m willing to share him with you in the name of girlpower.

When you find yourself feeling sad, rejected, hurt, scared, less than, insecure, not enough, as we all do every once in a while……..I urge you to have this song on hand. Okay…it’s about relationships…but you can apply it to numerous down-and-out situations……(the guy that says goodbye to you…the friend that says goodbye to you…the job that says goodbye to you…the opportunity that says goodbye to you….the audition that says goodbye to you…the contest that says goodbye to you…..the ANYTHING that says goodbye to you)

Because sometimes our US just needs an outside reminder that we are One of A Kind…to keep us going til we remember ourselves.  AND….there is always a Hello waiting for us after a Goodbye.

I came across this video a few months ago and immediately shared it with all my friends. It is sooo true and fabulous and embodies everything we need to remind ourselves at whatever stage we are along our journies.

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love is a fascinating woman to begin with, and her words and authenticity are inspiring.  What struck me the most in this speech is when she summarizes Martha Beck’s definitions of the types of women that there are in this world.  The last category of woman is……… 

THE MYSTIC.  ~ A small sect of women who have found a deeply resonant inner voice that they listen to. They negate everything else and they follow that path wherever it takes them.

Grab your favorite beverage in a pretty glass, sit in your most comfortable spot, burn a candle or two, and WATCH THIS VIDEO!!!!!!  I guarantee you’ll be inspired.

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Talk on O’s 10th Anniversary

….and let’s all aspire to be mystics. 

When you look at this picture…what do you see?

I used to be the type that would care about my chipped nailpolish and maybe not ever show this picture. When younger, it’s possible that I would have gone to take the photo of the bluest lake I know, and changed my mind altogether because of an imperfect pedicure. 

The greatest gift of age and evolution is that you become the type of person that forgives their imperfections and focuses on the beauty and the magic and the sparkle and the treasures of the universe…of life.  

When what you notice is that the lake is the exact color of your sparkly turquoise nailpolish….and when you are in awe of mother nature….and when you can actually close your eyes and feel a color and can fully experience the magic of the moment……you are lucky and living true.

I wish for you to be able to see with your heart.  <3

Sometimes, our truths are hard to admit even to ourselves.  As much as I love my me, sometimes I have to face the fact that she’s not the woman that I had envisioned.  For example, it disappoints me that I’m not the kind of person that loves when someone drops by, but that is one of my truths.  ..and I had always envisioned my future me to throw parties all the time and say things like “the more the merrier”. As much as I’d like to be that person, I’m just not.  It turns out that the me that I developed prefers one-on-one interaction or very small groups to share a more intimate experience.   It’s interesting to really think about what you wish were different, but what is not going to change because that’s just who you turned out to be. 

 I expressed one of my truths in this Asspiration post.   

A few more of my truths:

• I do not subscribe to ”the more the merrier”.
• I’m not a “stop by anytime” kind of girl.
• When I’m feeling on top of the world, I quickly become scared of the fall.
• I haven’t trusted myself in the past to make my own decisions and to know what’s right for me.
• I have more fear inside me than I want to admit.  
• I have an amazing gift to help others follow their dreams, but I’m not always folllowing my own.

Tuning in to your own denial and facing your truths is a great way to accept yourself and set your soul free.  I created this exercise by accident when writing to a friend about what’s getting clearer to me as I get older.  She loved it and in turn created her own list of truths!  

What are your truths? Beware, as they could make you cringe, cry, and blush. However, the truth shall set you freeeeeeeeeee.

Sharing an intimate moment..my favorite kind...with my friend Jamie at Torch Lake.

“I believe that the circles of women around us weave invisible nests of love that carry us when we’re weak and sing with us when we’re strong. Let’s lean back and let the arms of women’s friendships carry us and help us to know ourselves better, and live our lives together.” ~Sark (from one of my all-time fave books…Succulent Wild Woman)

Debbie Ford is a spiritual author that I follow. You might remember my naked post during which time I was following her Consciousness Cleanse.  Recently, she posted a question that I think is so relevant with regard to my mission as a parent.   

“Are you living your parents beliefs? You have the right to choose your future. And if you’re a parent, what can you do to empower your child to choose their own path and follow their own beliefs?”

That very same week, my youngest daughter started a conversation about religion. She was asking me a little bit about atheists and then about christians and what the difference was with what their beliefs were.  She then said this: “What are we?”   I said to her, “Well I will tell you what I believe and why because I think it’s important for you to know…but you are separate from me and it is not up to me to tell you what you should believe.  You will have your own ideas about what is true to your heart and what makes sense to your soul as you learn about life along the way.”  

How interesting that our kids naturally think that they need to be whatever we are….what we want them to be.  I think the most crucial thing we can do for our kids is support and empower themto discover who they are ….and mostly …remind them often that they are the stars of their very own story.  

Check out this beautiful video essay for the very same kind of inspiration about motherhood. It’s geared towards raising girls…but the message rings true for boys just as well. xo 

Mixed media artwork by Andrea Clegg

Mixed Media Artwork by Andrea Clegg

As part of a new project, I am collecting photographs of people….women, men, children, anyone…..YOU taking a leap.   Read my very own leap and twirl story here to understand the origin of this idea.   

I invite you to capture the essence of your spirit with random leaps wherever your days take you. Surprise me with different locations and settings. Schedule a photo shoot with your friend….(after all you’re the star of your story) and take turns leaping and twirling all through town. Whenever that desire to take a leap whether it be in the name of  joy, courage, or just plain insanity overcomes you……….set your soul free. Just be sure to snap the moment up in a pic.  Also, I welcome a summary of what your leap represents for you althought it  isn’t necessary.   

Please know that I will be gathering these photos to share on my blog and also to use in creating art.  If you are inspired to create your own art with your photo and then send it to me…that’s fabulous too!  Email your Leap and Twirl photos to aclegg4@yahoo.com with “Project Leap” in the subject line. 

Most importantly, have fun with this. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!!!!!