THE LONG WALK HOME

Good morning everyone.  Happy Thursday.  Long walks are something I adore.  Even when I didn't have Mia by my side, I used to take long walks no matter what the weather brought.  OK, not if it brought rain!  During these walks my mind would jump from topic to topic or freeze while I admired a tree, a cloud or a bird in the sky.

These walks were and still are an important part of my day.  I use them to clear my head and make future plans like what to cook for dinner and where I see myself a month from now.  Sometimes I reminisce and review past events that could have been done differently but never do I berate myself for past mistakes. You can't have a smash hit on Broadway without lots of rehearsals!

Today's quote is, "The walk to your destiny begins with challenges obstacles failures successes and ultimately celebrations when your goals have been reached and realized."  We all know about the overnight success right?  Wrong.  Such a thing does not exist.

A client of mine, a graphic designer whose job it is to come up with logos for various products shared a very poignant story.  He was given a design job and when the work was completed his client didn't want to pay the amount agreed upon because it only took ten minutes to draw. His very appropriate response was to say,  "Do you know how many years of schooling and practice went into that ten minute design?"

Do you know how many potatoes a Michelin chef has peeled before getting that five star rating?  Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was rejected by so many publishers it made the Guinness Book of World Records.  One hundred and twenty one publishing houses turned it down before it went on to become a best seller selling five million copies.

Sore fingers didn't stop Daniel Boulud from cooking nor did a wounded ego stop Robert M. Pirsig from writing.  That overnight success is a long way in the making for anyone and everyone.  You may feel discouraged and disheartened but never give up.  Take comfort to know that we all begin with challenges, with obstacles, with failures and mistakes but with tenacity, drive and enthusiasm those successes can and will be yours.  I know it isn't always easy but when those goals are reached, grab a couple of glasses and toast to your accomplishments!

Have a wonderful Thursday everyone! ~Love, Amy



To learn more about what I do, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co
To schedule an in-person or remote Reiki session with me, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co/private sessions OR email me at amy@amykaufman.co

CREATED AS ONE

Good morning everyone.  Happy Tuesday.  What are your feelings on the story of creation?  The original story that says God created man and woman and somehow, of course, the woman really screwed up and made life miserable ever after.  Could it be the original #metoo?

I prefer to think that we were created in a similar fashion.  You know. Equal!  I mean, do you think I feel pain any less than you?  Do you think my heart was never broken?  We all have upsets and setbacks, celebrations and triumphs.  Certainly we are equal in the experiences we share as human beings.

Today's quote is, "The one who created me created you with a heart for love and compassion and a mind for contemplation to distinguish right from wrong and good from evil."  It's kind of crazy to think there are Ted Bundys in the world but that's not the norm.  I would like to think that most of us have big, compassionate hearts.  Case in point: all the puppy videos on Facebook!  

While angel wings are not shooting out of our backs and judgmental utterances come out of our mouths from time to time, it doesn't mean that we are not good or kind.  We have the ability to stop ourselves from certain thoughts once we see beyond an appearance and even feel bad for those thoughts.  That's where the part about our good heart comes in.

Do we know right from wrong and good from evil?  Yes we do.  Is there evil out there?  Yes Ted.  There is evil out there but the majority of us are compassionate and caring.   Show compassion to friends and strangers.  One never knows what goes on in someone's life but rest assured that we share so much more than what we don't.  

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone! ~Love, Amy  



To learn more about what I do, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co
To schedule an in-person or remote Reiki session with me, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co/private sessions OR email me at amy@amykaufman.co

CLEAR YOUR MIND~POSSIBILITIES AWAIT!

Good morning everyone and happy Thursday!  What will today bring?  Sometimes we know and sometimes we have absolutely no clue.  The latter is more fun.  It leaves you open to surprises!  Out of curiosity, which one of you said, "uh oh" in your head?  Who out there thought immediately that surprise is synonymous with disaster?  If I said more of you went to the dark place rather than the light, I would probably be right.  Too many of us are hard wired to feel the thorn instead of smelling the rose.

We have so much power yet we don't believe in our abilities.  We have so much strength but feel we are weak.  Perhaps we were raised to think we weren't good enough or maybe just maybe we did this to ourselves.  If you are the source of  your inadequacy, stop it right now!

Today's quote is, "Sweep away thoughts of insecurity and doubt for only a clear mind can be open to endless possibilities."  Possibilities for anything cannot exist in a clouded mind.  Overpowered by fear and doubt, we can see nothing to the right, to the left, in back or in front of us.  Use you inner strength and power to jump over those waves of negativity.  Repeat a mantra to yourself.  Do whatever it takes until you convince yourself that you are worthy to receive.

Insecurity and doubt are obstacles we place in our own mind but we are also the ones who have the power to remove them.  Waste no time!  Opportunity awaits!

Have a wonderful Thursday everyone! Love, Amy

To learn more about what I do, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co
To schedule an in-person or remote Reiki session with me, visit my webite:https://amykaufman.co/private sessions OR email me at amy@amykaufman.co

STEPPING FORWARD OR STANDING STILL

Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday.  Do you daydream?  I often find my mind drifting at certain times in my day.  Sometimes my thoughts are random and go from "did I put the wash in the dryer," to "I need to buy yeast." Sometimes my mind completely leaves and I find myself visualizing  a country road or the shore of a beach.  Definitely two of my favorite places. It won't be long before my visualizations become a reality, (excluding the laundry and food shopping) and that's because I have been doing everything I can to make it happen.

Nothing happens simply because you want it to.  You have to make it happen.  In your mind's eye, envision a rainbow and think about what you would like to find at the other end AND how you are going to get there.  You need a plan and you need to plot each movement one by one OR just admire those beautiful colors, two very different approaches leading to change or stagnation.

Today's quote is, "Everything you do is a step to the next place - everything you don't do is also a step."  True that! Remember that it takes time to get to where you want to be.  Once upon a time we found our way to the working world and it wasn't exactly what we wanted to do but we did it anyway.  Then we found ourselves somewhere that was a bit more challenging and fulfilling but we weren't quite there yet.  Sometimes we refused to acknowledge that there was even anything remotely interesting out there.  Not a step in the wrong direction, but a decision we made.

Get the picture.  We cannot possibly get to step 10 without going through 1-9 but somewhere around step 5 you may need to take your time and regroup.  Whatever you do, whatever approach you take know that it is all part of the process!

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone! ~Love, Amy

To learn more about what I do, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co
To schedule an in-person or remote Reiki session with me, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co/private sessions OR email me at amy@amykaufman.co

LET LOVE LEAD THE WAY

Good morning everyone.  Happy Thursday to you.  What drives you?  What moves you?  What is the motivating force that gets you out of bed in the morning?  Is it money?  Yes, I said money.  Are you getting up because you have a job to go to?  One that provides you with the funds you need to live in your home and have dinner every night.  Are you getting up because there are people in your life who depend on you?  Do you throw the covers off and jump out of bed because you are so excited to see what the new day brings?

There are many things that drive us, move us and motivate us but the one thing that drives us all is love.  Yep.  Love.  Love is our driving force.  Today's quote is, "It is from love that we are guided."  The simplicity of this quote is what is so powerful.  Think about it for a moment.  It is from love that we are guided.  Of course it is.  A job you have may be unfulfilling but does fill your bank account so there is a roof above you and a plate of pasta for a meal.  You may not love the job, but you love a warm house and a hot meal.

Who wants to jump out of bed at 4 a.m. but if your child is crying or a loved one is calling, that's what you do!  You may love your sleep but love for your children trumps the need for zzzz's.  I bet you thought this was going to be about doing what you love!  Landing that dream job and living life on your terms but everything so far has been on your terms.  The job you chose, the home you live in and the children you have.

Jobs change, children grow up and our lives take a different turn and still, love will always guide you. At some point you will find a different direction based on love from where you choose to live and how you spend your time.   Love what you are doing this very moment because moments do not return.  Cooking again?  Maybe a tiring chore but you are doing it for the ones you love and who love you even more!

Have a wonderful Thursday everyone! ~Love, Amy

To learn more about what I do, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co
To schedule an in-person or remote Reiki session with me, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co/private sessions OR email me at amy@amykaufman.co

SHOWER YOURSELF WITH LOVE

Good morning everyone.  Happy Tuesday.  Positive affirmations are wonderful.  Their purpose is so that we remain...well, positive!  When you look at the mirror do you greet yourself with, "good morning gorgeous," or do you look at your face examining it with the precision of a forensic scientist noticing your perceived imperfections.

If that's how you start your day, looking at what's wrong and thinking of the difficulties that will greet you when walk outside your front door, where do you expect it to go from there?  Today's quote is, "Rapid descent occurs through betrayal of the mind - a mind which showers you with negativity and defeat."  Why why why do we do that to ourselves?  Habit!  We are in the habit on focusing on what is negative rather than what is positive.

We were all taught not to be conceited and not to boast about ourselves and to be humble.  There is nothing wrong with celebrating something great about yourself.  Life is about balance and the way we treat ourselves needs balance as well.

No, we will not be an expert in everything and yes, there is only one winner,  but just because you didn't get a trophy doesn't mean you are a loser.  Next time you feel that wave of negativity swimming through your veins, think of that one thing that makes you the unique being that you are.  Next time you are in the shower let those negative thoughts go down the drain and shower yourself with love, the love you deserve!

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone! ~Love, Amy

To learn more about what I do, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co
To schedule an in-person or remote Reiki session with me, visit my website:https://amykaufman.co/private sessions OR email me at amy@amykaufman.co