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Finding Faeries

~ My continuing mission to explore … magic

Finding Faeries

Tag Archives: live

#Magicday…Sometimes Nope is the Correct Answer

08 Monday May 2017

Posted by Kathleen Palm in Magicday, Thoughts

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

calm, expectations, happy, live, magic, Magicday, peace, say no, simply be, stress, thoughts

The magic for today is to decide not to…

I didn’t blog last week. I let a few days go without my workout. I just said nope.

For me, learning I’ll be okay when I let the routine go, when I deviate from what I think I should do is a big deal. I get wrapped up in the list I have in my head, the list that makes up the perfect me. When I start to obsess about what I have to do, the magic of stepping back can refocus me, it can remind me what is important. I am important. My calm happiness is important. The stress caused by the pursuit if perfection isn’t worth compromising that peace.

So, sometimes I have to not. Just run away from the stuff.

I have to remember that I will be okay if I don’t, to prove that I won’t end up like…

I get more done when I’m not trying to check all the perfect boxes on my perfect list. I feel more accomplished when I don’t have the things I didn’t do staring at me, accusing me of failing.

I didn’t blog last week.

The world didn’t end.

I missed some workouts.

The sun rose.

I didn’t panic. I didn’t stress. I let it all go.

I can like me for me and not because I lived up to my impossible expectations, but because I allowed myself to simply be.

Don’t forget you in all the things. Don’t forget to live in all the doing. Step back to remember what makes you happy and let go of all the stress.

Not doing can be magic.

 

Hello, New Year… Let’s be Friends

02 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by Kathleen Palm in Inspiration, Thoughts

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

be you, live, new year, New Years Eve, possibilities, thoughts

First, I have to admit that on New Years Eve, I cry. Every year.

Why? I don’t know. Possibly I am a stage five clinger. I have trouble letting go. In writing that means I revise forever, it’s never finished, never right. In life, I tend to not want things to end. I tuck myself in my memories, reliving the glorious past over and over in my mind.

Cause there is so much fabulousness there! It was a great year. It’s been a WONDERFUL life.

I dread that soon I will be packing away all my Christmas treasures. My ornaments, holding so many memories, will be tucked in boxes and shoved in the basement. *clings to tree*

The Christmas glow in my house will go dark. *cries*

But not to worry, I don’t need an intervention. The future calls me from my need to hold onto the past. So much waits.

Soon I will be helping to coach my daughter’s volleyball team. EEEEEKKKK!

Hopefully there will be snow for sledding and snowmen. I do love snow.

I will find all the words I love and create new stories.

Before I know it, I’ll be happily sitting at baseball games, cheering for my kids.

As much as I love the now and looking back at 2014 with all its fabulous moments, I am ready for what’s next. Bring it on, 2015! I know this year will be spectacular. 2015 and I shall be the best of friends.

Onward! To life!

Everyone draw your swords and say yes to you as you stride towards that bright spot on the horizon. Everything is possible.

So gather all your happy memories and accomplishments and step into the new year ready for anything. Leave the rest behind, it won’t be needed. Because what waits in 2015 is greatness, is happiness, is a whole bunch of awesome wrapped in a shining bow.

Celebrating!

17 Monday Nov 2014

Posted by Kathleen Palm in Inspiration, Thoughts

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

breast cancer, celebrate you, live, sisters, smile, Susan G Komen walk

So this is my 100th blog post.

What? Did I do that? Yes!

I’d love to blow your socks off with some terribly awesome post that will change the world. But, sadly… I am just me.

However, let’s travel back in time. *holds TARDIS door open* Come on. *sets dials* *pulls levers* *pushes buttons* *runs around like a crazy Time Lord*

We have traveled back to one year ago today.

November 17, 2013.

San Diego, CA.

The final day of the Susan G. Koman 3-Day Walk. The last twenty miles. Sore legs. Blisters. But the end was in sight.

My sisters and I participated in this event to raise money to fight breast cancer. We walked 60 miles in three days.

IT WAS THE BEST WEEKEND OF MY LIFE.

The volunteers who cheered us on. The people of San Diego holding signs and handing out candy and cupcakes (yes, cupcakes). The crew directing traffic all day long, but always sharing a smile.

A fabulous time with my two sisters. I salute you: Janet (who lives with MS, never knowing if her body will cooperate or not) and Sharon (a now 2 year breast cancer survivor!). The best sisters. My sisters.

I had no idea how that day would affect me. I had no idea that in those final miles a great sense of having been a part of something bigger would wash over me. Yes, I cried. The cheering crowds. The signs thanking us for walking. The people dressed in outrageous bras and pink EVERYTHING.

I could have lost my sister.

But I didn’t. Modern medicine and perhaps God saved her.

And I am thankful.

As we crossed that finish line, passing the 60 mile mark, I lost it. What I had just done struck me. Before taking that first step, I was going on a walk. I was going to hang out with my sisters, no kids or hubs or house to worry about. Just steps. One foot in front of the other. Simple. Except not.

It was more. It was everything.

At the end, we donned our shirts, Sharon, the survivor, in pink and Janet and I in white. We joined a line of walkers, Sharon shipped off to the survivor line. First the white shirts paraded through a crowd. Faces I didn’t know, smiling and waving. And I wanted to hide. All I had done was walk.

Then came the faces I knew, the volunteers that had been out on that course everyday in sweep vans, offering rides, or directing traffic, or handing out food. My heart swelled with thanks to them for what they had done for us, those who had walked. Walked to make the world a better place.

After all the white shirts had filed in, those wearing pink came in to thunderous applause. And we took off a shoe, people, a shoe that had traveled 60 miles of San Diego, and we raised them in the air. In honor of these people who fought cancer and won. In honor of all the people who had fought and hadn’t won.

And I caught sight of my sister. And I cried. Again.

My sister made me a poster of our weekend for Christmas last year. So many pics. Memories. I stare at it all the time. Remembering. The handkerchief holding names of those who had fought or were fighting. My identification tag, covered with stickers, and the pink feathers I collected from the side of the road. The cards with the day’s schedule. I keep it all, these things represent so much.

Sharon made us each a poster to remember the journey.

Sharon made us each a poster to remember the journey.

The world is a big place. Full of people. And being who I am, I tend to avoid it, hide in my house, writing words. But every so often we should come out of our worlds and experience something bigger than us. Be a part of all the greatness that exists out there in the world. The Susan G. Koman 3-Day Walk was that for me. I will never forget that experience. And the fact that I got to do it with my sisters makes it even better.

Go forth, all you fabulous people. Go forth and spread a smile. Add you to the world. It needs you.

Midwest Writers’ Workshop

24 Thursday Jul 2014

Posted by Kathleen Palm in Thoughts

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

fear, friends, live, Midwest Writers' Workshop, new experiences, smile, thoughts

I am driving to Muncie, IN today to attend my first writers’ conference.

OHMYGOLLYGOSHWHATAMIDOING… THEREWILLBEPEOPLETHERE… IMIGHTHAVETOTALKTOPEOPLE! I am packing PANTS, dear readers, PANTS.

So with visitors and vacation, I pushed the thought of the conference to the back of my mind, but yesterday it hit me. I was going, venturing out into the unknown. The unknown is scary, pretty sure monsters lurk there. *mixes up monster spray*

Stepping off the comfortable life-path makes my mind scream “NOOOOOO!”. Seriously, I am considering hiding in a closet. But I will not be alone. Not only will there be a bajillion writers there all wishing they could curl up in a quiet corner and read a book, but I am lucky enough to get to share the days with two fabulous Twitter-writer friends Rena Olsen and Jamie Adams. Together we will be awesome.

Taking the leap into the shadows gives me hope that when one of my manuscripts is accepted for publication, I will not freak out (completely), but will be able to stride semi-comfortably into the world of publishing.

I suppose that’s what life is, from when we take our first steps to when we reach for who we want to be, for what we want for ourselves. I will face my fears, reach for my dreams, and mature… a bit, but I promise to never grow-up. I will keep my eyes open to watch for the magic in each and every phase of life. Over the next few days, I will giggle and laugh, smile and stay out of the shadows, no matter how uncomfortable, how nervous I am. When I return, I will share what I find. Now back to laundry, packing, and generally freaking out.

When it’s difficult to find that happy, dear friends, I hope my shaky grin will lift you up. We’re in this together, whatever we do with all our insecurities. Writing. Parenthood. Relationships. Learning.

Living.

So live.

Sharing my search for magic in everything.

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Kathleen Palm, Author

Kathleen Palm, Author

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