all images and stories are the property of Catherine Beerda-Basso and are not to be used without given permission...thank you

Monday 23 January 2012

Monday~Offering~a~Giveaway.......


"The universe is not short on wake-up calls. We're just quick to hit the snooze button."
This was one of many favourite quotes from my  latest Wisdom Club read : "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown
the cover says:
"Let Go of Who You Think
You're Supposed to Be
and Embrace Who You Are"
YOUR GUIDE TO A WHOLEHEARTED LIFE

I know right??!!
So we gathered to discuss this rich, informative book.
Our first gathering of the New Year...the reunion brought with it much joy in being together again. 8 of the 12 were present.








"I am enough"

These three words were the heart of this book. And on a personal note this book was a perfect fit along with my word for 2012:  Vulnerability.

"Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy--the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the Darkness will we discover the infinite power of our Light." pg.6


As we fed our bodies, so we also fed our souls with Brene's wise words and naked experiences.

"Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity......The heart of Compassion is really acceptance." pg 16


"When we can let go of what other people think and own our story, we gain access to our worthiness--the feeling that we are enough just as we are and that we are worthy of love and belonging. When we spend a lifetime trying to distance ourselves from the parts of our lives that don't fit who we think we're supposed to be, we stand outside of our story and hustle for our worthiness by constantly performingperfecting pleasing and proving. Our sense of worthiness....lives inside of our story."pg 23


Oh how I know about that hustling. It brought me to my knees about 5 years ago. No more. Not to say I don't slip down that familiar path now and again. And certainly not to say some of those adjectives are harder to rid myself of then others...like proving.
I recently had a sister who was in my inner circle judge my Faith Walk. Through all the emails, cards and accusations I remained silent. That was very difficult to do. I wanted to prove myself. I still feel it. Instead I remain firmly rooted in my Faith...in my walk. I have revealed myself to her and she has forgotten...there is nothing more I can do. Sad, but true.
I  ask myself..."Is it right with my soul?"  And my Spirit answers, "Yes." And that is enough. Nothing to prove.
Just me, living my Truth with the Divine always present.

Brene also talks about finding someone who as earned the right to hear our story.
How often do we just blab it out?
To shift our perspective and treasure it for what it is-a moulding of who we are. I really liked the freedom that statement gave me. That there are things that I can keep sacred and give only to those who have earned it...like it is something precious and special. What a gift a slight shift can bring to a seeker of Truth.



"If we really want to live a joyful, connected, and meaningful life, we must talk about things that get in the way." pg 35

AMEN! Couldn't agree more

"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we thing we're supposed to be and embracing who we are."pg 50

In particular I wanted to point out the word "practice"
It's a practice--being Authentic and being authentic takes practice.
So many things that we think are just a given, that they should just show up and be there for us at our beckoning call.
Things like Love, Grace, Compassion, Faith and Authenticity.
But these all take practice...these are all A PRACTICE.

The soup gets ladled out for us.....


...but it is up to us to eat it...and how did we learn to feed ourselves? Through practice.

In her research, Brene found out that Spirituality was the corner stone to living a Wholehearted Life.

"Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing Spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning and purpose to our lives." pg 64

"Again I didn't find that any one interpretation of Spirituality has the corner on the resilience market. It's not about denominations or dogma. Practicing Spirituality is what brings healing and creates resilience. for me, spirituality is about connection with God, and I do that most often through nature, community, and music. We all have to define Spirituality in a way that inspires us." pg 74

Inspire Us
Us living Inspired

what happens when we practice that?
what happens to the world around us?

Yes I say
yes
Lets do it
Live inspired
This world offers much to be inspired by...truly it does.


This book is bursting with great insight and guidance.
I will end my quotes with one on Faith...as it is one of my most important practices...that I practice.   : )

"Faith is a place of mystery where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty." pg 90

"The opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty." -Anne Lamott. pg 91

Beautiful words from a beautiful book
*a book that finds a permanent home on my shelf and one I would love to pass on to you. So if you are interested in getting a copy of Brene Browns book " The Gifts of Imperfection" leave me a comment...let me know who you want to be.
I will be announcing the winner on the next Monday Offerings.

And who do I want to be?


This girl.
This brave girl who is not afraid to walk the road less traveled. A girl who practices Eagle vision. A girl who communes with Mother, Father, Spirit, Friend. Who is one with Earth and Sky and all that lives within them.  A girl who Loves deep, Laughs big and Lives Free.
A girl who know's who she is...
the Light
the Shadows
the Everything.
A girl who is enough.

Love and Light (check back as I will be replying to your comments)




23 comments:

  1. This book sounds fabulous and fascinating and empowering all at the same time.

    You know..it pains me to admit that I still don't know who I really want to be, not definitively anyway. How is that possible to have lived so much life already and still not know? Maybe (I hope) the book can help me on this journey xx

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    1. You know Meghan, you probably have more company in that department than you think. I am not sure what it is like where you live, in your country, but here in North American there is a buzz of busyness and there is minimal time for Spiritual Reflection. We are not encouraged to "go inside", to find our core...it takes intention and practice.
      I do see this changing, ever so slowly, but I strongly believe that as more strive for authenticity and spiritual existence, the world becomes a better place.
      Thanks for entering
      love and light
      Cat

      Delete
  2. I WILL be the brave girl who isn't afraid xxx
    What a FANTASTIC sounding book and if I don't win it I'll buy it!
    Inspired again by one Cat to another
    Love & Light
    Cat

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    Replies
    1. you ARE that brave girl!

      love and light
      from one Cat to another♥

      Delete
  3. Wow, lots of delicious mind bites in this post! It looks like a beautiful time and I'm wondering what kind of soup you're ladling up. Is it pumpkin? Squash?
    Catherine Denton

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    1. those are not my hands btw they are those of my very dear friend Sylvie..she was our hostess for the evening...it is cauliflower soup and yes it was a delicious as it looks!

      love and light

      ps you for got to tell me who you want to be ; )

      Delete
  4. I'm in Cat, it sounds like a very interesting, thought provoking book.

    Who do I want to be? I want to be that person who is filled with passion for her creator that she seeps and radiates lights and that people are drawn to God because of her :)

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    1. filled with passion you are Sophie!

      love and light

      Delete
  5. How fabulous, Cat - sorry, a little slow on the uptake today ;)
    I would be so thrilled to read her words, regardless of whether I win or snap it up after the contest is over :)

    xoxox,
    A

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    Replies
    1. I know you will enjoy it A
      thanks for stopping by
      did not want you to miss it : )

      love and light

      Delete
  6. I really was inspired by that book and recommend it often. Also reading your post was a good reminder to me to let others earn the right to hear my story. Sometimes I forget this. :)

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    1. so true C
      so easy to forget to value our story, that it is not a given that everyone hears it
      in fact I love that there are some things that are just for us
      reminds how treasured we each are

      Love and Light

      Delete
  7. Dont count me in the draw as I have this book. I just wanted to comment because I saw this book right before christmas and it triggered a memory,... it must have been a memory of you quoting it as I have not been able to figure it out until now. I have not read it yet but you have gotten me excited to. My book group was called off. I felt it was time after almost two years fore everyone to fly but now what> I ask myself? I would love to be there doing this book with you:)

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    1. woudln't that be great K?
      Let me know when you read it and we can discuss...

      love and light

      Delete
  8. Sounds like a beautiful book. I think I know who I want to be and I know my heart beats to encourage people and to remind them they are a part of this great story - a needed part. Not sure exactly how that looks but that's my heart-beat.

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  9. and a lovely heart beat it is Miriam
    I can here it all the way across the ocean!

    love and light

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  10. Yes, that girl IS enough.

    Cat, I feel that we are such sisters in the tribe of self-discovery, acceptance and light. I'm always so glad to read your words.

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    1. I could not agree with you more Miss Dove...sister on the road to discovery and all that is to follow
      it is a good tribe we run with : )

      Love and Light

      Delete
  11. I ADORE Brene so so much! I have read through this book too and her one before this one as well... SOOOOOOO good and such a BIG part of my freedom journey out of shame.
    it's so amazing to realize that alot of my struggles are just shame, and it's something we can all just work through...knowing the truth that we HAVE worth and value and that shame is lying.

    "You are enough."

    YES! YES! YES!

    I was thinking about one of the things that continues to spur me on after reading this book, and one thing that I too love is that when we are courageous, and therefore vulnerable to share our true heart and our stories, it's the greatest gift of freedom we offer ourselves, as well as each other. Powerful!!!

    Beautiful, Cat!! I love that you went through this book with your girlfriends... so powerful!!

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    1. It is really nice after reading a book like this, to be able to discuss with a diverse group of women
      We all face many of the same challenges and a book like this really helps minimize that feeling that it is only us....

      love and light friend

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  12. who do i want to be? i'm not really sure right now. everything thing seems hazy, like a veil over my face blocking the sun and the Way. i feel so cold. so bare and alone. i want to be brave. i want to be a girl who is enough too. because right now there are vacant and empty places inside. i am sorry i haven't been around much. i've been very short on time...much to my dismay. you've not been out of my thoughts though. so much love. <3

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    1. sometime Rachel, we have time of darkness and withdrawal...just try not be there too long.
      You are enough and you are certainly brave...look how you revealed yourself in just this short comment, ♥

      be kind to you
      love and light

      Delete
  13. Thanks again for sharing Cat! I love reading your blogs, and getting to re-live such magical nights xxManjit

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Your voice is welcome here, your connection appreciated. Love and Light