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Saturday, March 5, 2011

Soul Restoration Blog Hop

Hopefully, you arrived here from Trisha's blog.  If you've somehow landed here towards the back half of the Soul Restoration Blog hop, you can start from the beginning by clicking here.  And just to share a little love, I'll be drawing two, yes two random numbers from all the love you leave for one of my glass tile "brave" pendants.  You have to leave some love, and I have to be able to contact you. 
This is not going to be an easy post to write, and I'm turning my internal editor off (though spell check remains active!)  Y'all know I took part in the incredible Melody Ross (and company) online workshop "Soul Restoration"-- and that I won my place in the course through the also incredible Christy Tomlinson's blog.   The workshop is a guided journey into our psyches through creative journalling and semi-structured projects.  I'm not going to say more about the content of the course... for that info:  “Join us for the powerful and fun online workshops taught by Melody Ross that are being enjoyed and loved by women all over the world! Soul Restoration on-line classes - Now expanded to TWO sessions: Soul Restoration Part 1 – Finding Your Truth (6 weeks) April 5, 2011 Session: $99 – Register HERE and Soul Restoration Part 2 – Living Your Truth (6 weeks) For graduates of Soul Restoration 1 only June 7, 2011 Session: $99 – Register HERE” .  What I want to tell you, and I don't really want to tell you, but I need to tell you, is that inside the most amazing woman (and this is true for men, too, but c'mon now, this is geared for women only right now) you have ever met lives another person who is sometimes afraid, who sometimes hurts, who has days when she cannot face herself in the mirror or does not recognise the woman she sees there.  Inside the most amazing woman you have met lives a girl just like the one inside of you and me.  And inside the most rotten woman you have ever met lives a girl like yours or mine.  I've never been an easy girl... My brother says of me: “Even when you were two, we could stand you at a fork in the road and say ‘this is the easy way, this is the hard way’ and you’d hitch up your diapers and toddle off down the hard road.” I HAVE to learn by getting my hands and heart dirty. . I wanted to participate in Soul Restoration because I believe. I believe that we all have wings, that we all have a story to tell, that in each of us there is an answer to a lesson that someone else desperately needs to learn. I believe that we are unique amazing creatures and that for most of us, being unique and amazing is an impossibly daunting task for which we learn to hate ourselves and hide our hearts.   I believe that thinking we know how things are going to work out is probably the worst thing we can do-- we don't know.  I see the world from such an interesting little place that when I share what I believe or what I know about the way things work, people give me a funny look... sometimes it's the "oh my gods, why didn't I think of that?" look, but usually it's the "whatareya freakin' crazy?" look.  I've lived a lot of life in my forty-two years and the hardest part about being unique and amazing is that when you really open yourself up, you let all kinds of things in... and some things really hurt.  And the more often we hurt, the less likely we are to remain open.  No one is as careful with your soul as you are... and yet the desire to share ourselves with others continually puts us in the position of letting others affect how we think... and the longer we think some thing, the more actual it seems.   My experience with Soul Restoration took me back to the quiet places where I could hear that voice inside again very clearly and listen to the things that are important.   The Soul Restoration "process" encourages you to share with the other participants and gain support from them.  I really enjoyed talking with others about the things that "get in our way".   I re-learned that just because you think you have something to say doesn't mean you say it.  I made friends and was inspired by more unique and amazing women than I expected to find.  I challenged myself to accomplish things that will make my world feel closer to the ideas I have about life.   I healed some history and found my words again...
Soul Restoration gave me a chance to meet some incredible women, and forge some friendships that I was desperately needing in my life.  It gave me my voice again, for, oh, about the tenth time in my 42 years and it reminded me to do some of the simplest things... share what I know, listen with my heart, live with my eyes wide open, and enjoy the journey, even when it's yucky.   Those of you here who did this with me, thank you.  Those of you here because you know someone who did this, thanks for stopping by...

In you lives a girl who already has the whole world in her heart... if you forgot her or lost her along the way, I can't recommend Soul Restoration 1 enough.
Now, remember, leave some love, and then go visit Shelley to continue on with the hop!

make something beautiful with your heart and your hands
Kaere

34 comments:

Angie... by the said...

It has been such an honor to travel this road with you. I was always touched by your comments on the Red Carpet. ♥ I love that little necklace you made! You're very talented.

Unknown said...

you have such an incredible way of expressing yourself, thank you for sharing the journey with us.

Grandma September said...

Wow. Just wow. I love what you wrote and I'm so very proud of you brave girl!

scrapwordsmom said...

Beautiful words, really. This time in my life was such a gift. Making the time line was life changing for me.

I am taking Part 2...are you? Have a wonderful weekend!!

Love,
Leslie

fairyrocks said...

Kaere,
Wow that is quite an insite.
( I too sometimes get the WTH@#%#
is she talking about?) look LOL
I am just about to embark.
Thanks for sharing

Juel said...

Kaere, I just love when you write! You are so awesome.

Shelley @ Born in a Barn said...

Thank you for adding me as the next stop on the hop! I forgot too so corrected that this morning! Love your words and your jewelry! I don't think we talked during our journey but it is nice to meet you now!! Stay brave and awesome! Shelley

sandi rusch said...

Well, you already know I'm a fan... :-) Love your stuff, love your writing.

Pippa (pjbear) said...

I was already stalking (sorry following you LOL!) and I love your blog and your giveaway! http://pjbear-determinedscrapper.blogspot.com/

Viji Siddharth said...

You have a wonderful way with words. Your post is beautiful.thanks for sharing.

Donna said...

You always have something Fabulous to say!! Thankyou for this post. It's been a pleasure taking the class with you.

Lisa said...

Thank you for sharing your words...much truth here!

Sandra said...

Kaere
You are unique and beautiful
I have loved reading every post you have put on soul restoration
I truly believe you have the whole world in your heart!
your pendant is beautiful and I love the word brave - beacuse that ids what we all strive to be!
HUGS

Dawn @ Creative Journey said...

Kaere, you are absolutely fabulous with expressive writing. Your gift is awesome. I feel so honored to have been touched by many of the things you've written. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts about Soul Restoration! <3

Flyover Pilgrim said...

OK, I haven't even read your post yet, and I love your blog!
"Whispers and Wishes"...
Your craft show display...
the purple background and gray bows...???

[sigh] love it.

I'll comment on the post as soon as I can gather myself... ;-)

Kathy said...

Kaere, your honesty is refreshing. I admired it during the course as well as I read forum posts. It's not easy to see the best in others, never mind seeing the best in ourselves. Thank you for sharing in such a deep way.

Flyover Pilgrim said...

You said, "I re-learned that just because you think you have something to say doesn't mean you say it."

That is truth, so wise.

and yes, it's about who we become along the way.

you are a Brave Girl, indeed.

hugs
--Rebecca.

Beatrice, Bea, Bibi--That's me! said...

You are an awesome writer! Love what you say!

JennL said...

Amazing words, brave girl. Thank you so much for sharing and encouraging.

Mel said...

Your words are beautiful poetry, painting a vivid image when ever I read them. Beautiful blog, very thoughtful and heartfelt.

aichaku-愛着 said...

Loved your wonderful description and thank you for sharing! <3

Anonymous said...

Kaere,

I am in awe! I am honored to be given the gift of your words. This post is so thoughtful, fruitful, full of the insight and so well articulated. Just what a woman seeks before leaping. And leap they will!
I feel so blessed to have taken the leap myself into this course along side you and ALL the other women we came in contact with.
I look forward to continuing this journey with you sister!
Thank you for being you!

Many Brave Girl {{{HUGS}}}

Sue Hetherington
http://www.elementsofhomecleaning@gmail.com

Dawn Hueser said...

Kaere,

Just when I thought that I couldn't shed another tear...... Your incredible words just spoke the words that are trapped inside of me. I appreciate your gift of writing and thank you for sharing it. Thank you so very much.

Lynda Gail said...

Beautiful words, thank you!

Nancy Wolf said...

Kerri, I love your art and your writing! Thank you for sharing your blog!

Lynn said...

Wow, powerful words. I can NOT wait to take the 1st part of SR in April.
Hurting, then healing. I'm on a mission. Thank You for sharing.

Stephanie said...

YES!!!! All I can say is 'AMEN!' to that Brave Girl!
We get so overwhelmed by external 'noise' that we can no longer hear the whispers of our souls... when I was teaching grad studies in psych. I called it 'soul sick.'
Lovely post!
xxoo

Unknown said...

What an absolutely amazing post about SR and the journey. Thank you for opening yourself up to share and continuing to open yourself up. Hugs!

RanaLea said...

Great post--thanks for sharing. I'm glad to have met you through Soul Restoration!

Anonymous said...

Every time you've posted photos of your works I've clicked the link to see them here...but when I was reading and came to "‘this is the easy way, this is the hard way’ and you’d hitch up your diapers and toddle off down the hard road." I stopped reading and started following. I always look forward to reading your comments on the Red Carpet. KNOW that your words help people you don't even know you were speaking to...I know because I'm one of those people.

Heather said...

Wow, some powerful stuff. I was unable to finish the entire blog hop but, am determined to read and get to know everyone a little bit more. We didn't chat much in the RC but, we are now on FB. I look forward to continuing our journey together!

Blooming Soul Arts said...

kaere,
beautiful post...thanks for sharing the journey with us brave girls!
Stephanie I

Michelle said...

I've been contemplating taking this course for months. I kept thinking I shouldn't spend the money and a million other excuses. I've been reading the blog post and my heart is screaming for me to do this, though it also terrifies me to some extent. Your words have inspired me to take the leap and just do it. My heart needs it!

Denise S. said...

Its been really interesting reading about everyones experiences with this course. I am still thinking about it.