MONEY – NOT The ONLY Currency

While money definitely isn’t the root of all evil, it certainly doesn’t make the world go round.  Since internet presences began (Gee, how many eons ago was that?), I have had 5 or 6 people who were going to assist in monetizing my Universal Wellness website. There are so many stories about why, both the efforts that were implemented and the situations that came up keeping others from materializing, took place. Basically, over the now decades, none of my marketing efforts have been that effective in generating much money. While it could have been that some of the marketing was “faulty”, it surely wasn’t the case across the board. Instead, my marketing efforts attracted many situations in which I was able to support many folks and make an exceptional difference on this planet….just not make a lot of money doing so.

Although I was never rolling in dough, there was a period of time at least I had enough that most people would consider comfortable. From that place I never could have imagined how I’d be living since 2009…….living without money - or at least not much.

Countless Benefactors worldwide have been housing, feeding, clothing, entertaining and otherwise

providing for me. Deep gratitude goes out to them all daily! This was undeniably a unique calling I answered as I could have easily stayed in one place making “comfortable” money. Over the past 7 years, I have continued helping people in many ways I used to get paid for. Now, I just don’t get paid, for the most part, directly by the people I assist in that manner. At the same time, there is no way I could monetarily pay back all the kind people that have been taking care of me. It is a type of energetic exchange that goes around. Money is energy – just one of the myriad possibilities of an energetic exchange. I have traded goods and services many times with others which I prefer doing whenever possible rather than using money.

An example of which is my time in Ecuador that many of you are aware of from previous posts If I’d Have Known and Really….The Desert?!  There I taught yoga, did massage, assisted with hotel registration, cleaning, food service and other aspects of running a business in exchange for my housing, food, pool, laundry etc.

Back to…. “You May Say I’m A Dreamer, but I’m not the only one!” There are many humans out there who believe and live similarly, in many ways, to me. You may enjoy reading about a few of my friends here and their alternative ways of dwelling on Planet Earth.
Nora Dunn – The Professional Hobo http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/
Colin Turner – Free World Charter http://www.freeworldcharter.org/en
Daniel Suelo https://sites.google.com/site/livingwithoutmoney/
David Morrison – Vagabond Film Maker https://www.youtube.com/user/VagabondFilmmaker

My Angel Daughter recently held a yard sale to assist me in my travels. Yes, there are still areas I need actual money. The airlines won’t let me trade my flight in exchange for me bringing drinks, meals and blankets to other passengers. Verizon is too big to see my smile to decide it wants to give me a special deal on my phone. You get the idea. In addition to Natasha’s kindness to me, I know thousands were touched by her generous actions. While we know there are plenty of people who have money that go to yard sales for the fun of the hunt and love finding a great deal, others are not in that position. Many who buy things at yard sales would not be able to have those things, be it clothing, children’s toys or kitchen items, were it not for tag sale prices. At $3 a stuffed bag, lots of folks will be sporting new condition Abercrombie and Fitch, UnderArmour, Victoria’s Secret, Roxy, Volcom and more. Numerous generous individuals were purchasing things for others who could not afford them as well. I can’t even tell you how many supporters contributed to the sale by donating abundant goods of all sorts. As the sale was winding down, my daughter invited charities to pick up things they needed. The dog shelter, autistic kids, and woman in crisis were all aided. Finally, Natasha declared a Very Merry Unbirthday to everyone….or something like that.

She posted the vast remaining items for free to anyone who wished to stop by and get presents. Besides the hundreds of people who physically stopped at the event, you can imagine how the ripple effect of my daughter’s thoughtful endeavor touched thousands or more. You notice, too, that some of it involved the currency we call money while much involved simply the currency of love and kindness.

Again, I am not saying money is in any way bad. The love of, or attachment to, money can get people in trouble but that’s a completely different topic. Money is beneficial in infinite ways and often a convenient method of exchange. I am just proposing the idea that there are many more currencies. Perhaps it could add to many peoples’ freedom to explore some of these alternate energy exchanges and systems. Perhaps you don’t need to stay in a job or career you don’t like just because it “pays well”. There are many resources on the internet to research what I’ve been sharing. If you’d like to explore these ideas with me, I invite you to investigate my service of Wellness Coaching by Phone.
This is one of those services I generally do in exchange for money. However, if you have access to something I could use like website services, travel or accommodations, I’m open to playing with the possibilities!

LET IT GO……..

This is a phrase that has now flowed through me more times than I can count. It represented many

things over the years from letting go of material things, relationships that no longer served, situations I couldn’t change and more. How extremely ironic it was I went to see the movie Frozen in the theatre when it came out. How could sun and warmth loving me so relate to a movie with that title?? Anyone who knows me also knows of my aversion to the snow and cold. Nonetheless, a few who are a bit closer to me understand my connection and the many personal relevancies of that “fairytale”. In fact, my darling niece and great-niece felt inspired to send me an Elsa shirt with “Let It Go” as a cheerful reminder.

Recently I had an incredible, totally unexpected opportunity to “Let It Go” on an infinitely higher level than previously. If someone had described to me the month before my transformation, I would not have believed it and, furthermore, would not have gone. See earlier blog post  If I’d Have Known As is was, I did go full on  - physically and emotionally. To shorten the story to blog post length, I ended up agreeing to accompany a friend on a visit to his mom in the Northeastern region of the US….in the WINTER! What was I thinking?! The whole time I was traveling there, I couldn’t even believe my own actions and wondered what could have possibly possessed me. I entered into an almost altered state of reality.

When I first actually saw the “white stuff”, I was in a state of semi-denial. Arriving, there were actually only traces here and there. The next morning dawned a completely different story. Created by a blizzard from the night before, I looked out at what might have been a winter wonderland.

Instead, I recoiled inside and burst into tears. My stomach twisted in knots as my mind played images from long ago like a movie that would not stop. Reliving the painful feelings actually took me quite by surprise. While I knew I didn’t prefer the snow and cold, I thought I had thoroughly dealt with all these old experiences and was at peace with them. Obviously not. I burrowed back into the bed trying to shut it all out. Finally, I got myself together enough to be “sociable”.

When it was time to go out in the snow, another barrage of distressing emotions were triggered. By the way, going out in it meant the 3 seconds it took from being completely snow bunny bundled from head to toe in a heated house to a heated car. Then, of course, the reverse had to happen at our destination. The miles in between were almost non-existent as I closed my eyes imagining I was somewhere else. As the days went by, I’d open my eyes here and there. But all I saw was ugly and painful. The associations I made with sights and sounds were pretty much all negative. Then one day, I caught myself mentally noting how cute something was on someone’s house. Then something else was beautiful. That day was definitely a breakthrough as I slowly began noticing beauty all around. Finally I even got to the day where I saw the snow itself as glorious and magical. The height of my “healing” came the day I actually played in it.

I felt joy as if through the eyes of a child. Yet a wise child. It wasn’t as if nothing had happened before. It was knowing all that had transpired and getting back to the point of innocence, appreciation and wonder. I’d notice the occasional sunlight making the dancing frozen moisture appear as a zillion fairies at play. Crystalline prisms sparkled enchantment….in frozen fractals all around!

While I definitely wouldn’t have intentionally gone through this
transformational experience, my Wise Self evidently knew something little human me did not. I still am not crazy about being in the snow, do NOT like the cold and am still searching for my secluded dolphin retreat in the tropics. However, the deep dread about being in the cold and snow no longer has its grips on me. “You have no power over me!” This triumphant, awakened phrase from Sarah, in the movie The Labyrinth, was very poignant both with regard to the snow and old memories as well as what was imminently in store. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I absolutely would need renewed strength to make it through to the other side of the next challenge I unwittingly allowed to totally blindside me ……

Presently, I am going within to determine how and what to share in my next post via a manner that will be for the highest good and edification of all. In the meantime, do you ever feel as if life is pulling you in strange directions? …..like you might have fallen down the Rabbit Hole? Perhaps Wellness Coaching by Phone might assist you on your unique journey? If you’ve ever contemplated the idea, look HERE to decide if you are called to take the next enchanted step.

Here is a link for my Fairy Sparkles video. I could not figure out how to embed it in this blog....

The “T” Word

After my daughter’s wedding in August, I had no clue what was next. I was totally operating on what a Soul Sister and I refer to as the “T” word. Friends of my blog know I have referred to this before….T standing for Trust. For the most part, I am becoming somewhat of a master in knowing what step I should take next and trusting in the Universe that step is always in the perfect direction. The perfect direction, that is, for my highest good and that of all I encounter. It may not always

appear that way to my human self or others but sometimes God operates in mysterious ways. During this time, I got to see a few wonderful friends and previous clients as well. I was blessed to enjoy time with my family too. Among other joys, this was the greatest Halloween for me with my precious

kids since they were young. Even I dressed up for the occasion as tenacious Princess Leia – perfectly outfitted by my daughter down to the cinnamon bun wig and attending my son’s pumpkin carving and Halloween parties.

Among the situations I encountered, writing came up in a number of ways for me. The future will show if I am to pursue any of them. Travel writing may be one avenue for me. I would like to develop my blog a bit more as well. In the past I have put it out there, but am doing so again as it keeps showing up. I am looking for someone with excellent web design skills who will help me put together a blog similar to my friend Nora, The Professional Hobo www.theprofessionalhobo.com , whom I admire greatly for many reasons. I am great at writing content but don’t have the time or desire to do the design or other techy stuff required for this to be successful. While I do enjoy and will continue to provide services and goods in trade, this kind of website would enable me to make some money for the needs I have in this life that still require it. This evolved tech expert would be willing to donate, trade or generously discount his/her work if interested. Any leads toward this end are greatly appreciated.

Speaking about God/Goddess operating in mysterious ways…..I have been researching numerous locations in different countries for various prospects over a decade now. My inspired Tropical Dolphin Retreat pushed me to start looking for appropriate locations, possible opportunities for me to partner or learn what I’d need to proceed or places to care-take to assist me in such. It is just wild that, after all these years and research, I’d just now come across 2 websites (that have been around for years) that would initiate the next chapter of my journey – www.workaway.info and www.helpx.net . Within weeks, I found the websites, joined and, with the aid of my Angels, was off to my next destination. Here’s a tease about where that is…..a snippet of what my current host posted on one of the sites: Beachfront hotel in need of 2 to 4 helpers to cook, wait tables and maintain the restaurant, clean guest rooms, clean up beachfront and hotel grounds, water plants, tend to the bar, check guests in and out, etc. We also have 13 hectares about 45 minutes away by car that we are turning into a permaculture food forest and we need workers to help with planting, water and energy systems, and the construction of housing on the property.

So here I swing in a tasseled hammock, palm fronds waving in the salty breeze above me, listening to

the constant lullaby of the sea……

Life is but a dream and Trust sure helps to make it a delightful one!