28 Comments

1. 

   seagirl on March 19, 2012 at 5:56 am

   Monday morning VPAing. Yay!

   Update from last week: I wanted more structure and clarity on the money stuff. I got that. I had my time sheet on my desk (which showed that I need more clients, too), and got the information to the bookkeeper for her to do updates, and I managed my personal bills, too. I still didn’t find a good way to track things, but I’ll continue to work with that.

   The silently retreated vpa: got some more intel.

   What I Want This Week:
   Health. Eyes, legs not cooperating. Being sick. I don’t know why or from what or what to do. Maybe visit the acupuncturist tomorrow.

   Clients. Cases are closing and clients are happily able to move on with their lives. This leaves me with lots of nice space for new clients. And so I would like new clients. Estate plans hopefully. Ways this could work: my blog posts that I have scheduled could attract people. Those people from the seminar could make appointments. People could decide now is the right time to make an appointment. Maybe people want to use their tax return to do their legal work? I could trust in the flow, also.

   What else I can do? Finish the work for the clients I do have. Ask for testimonials from old clients and use those to attract new clients. Remember that now is not then.

   Reply
2. 

   Loon on March 19, 2012 at 6:21 am

   Yay VPA! I’m still surprised at how much I like VPAing. Starting these was a little daunting, but now that I’ve gotten into the habit of figuring out what I need, it’s actually rather fun. I’ve even started doing mini-VPAs for each day.

   Update on last week:

   I found a place to live for the summer! Hoorah! And also managed a potentially hurtful situation with ease and grace. Go me! A return to weight-lifting has also happened, along with a re-initiation of the self-care routines that go along with weight-training (feeding myself on time, sleeping, stretching, yoga etc.). I haven’t found a job yet, or applied to too many, but most of the internal resistance has dissolved/shifted. I also asked for space for me-who-is-in-pain. I think she took the space/rest that she needed this weekend. So more or less successful asks all around.

   This week: Here’s what I want –

   Thing 1: Grounding, ease, essay-writing superpowers.
   Since I took the weekend off, I haven’t been able to do the work I needed to do for the coming week, or the week after. I feel overwhelmed and a little scared that I might drop one of the balls I’m juggling and all my hard work will end in catastrophe (hello, monster!). I would like to be centered and grounded this week, so that I can do all that I need to do.

   Ways this could work:
   – Listening to slightly future me.
   – Taking a deep breath and re-starting.
   – Talking to the monsters, prioritizing their concerns.

   I’ll play with:
   – Breathing.
   – Letting go of expectations and consequences.
   – Setting firm boundaries around my time.

   Thing 2: I still have to hammer out the details for one of the places to live. I want this to happen smoothly.

   Thing 3: Job.
   The internal work has happened. I now feel sufficiently capable. I just have to make time now to apply for as many jobs as possible.

   Ways this could work:
   – Applying for jobs while I’m too tired to study/as a break from study.
   – Setting aside two hours after dinner to do this.

   I’ll play with:
   – Finding pockets of time.
   – Asking people.

   Thing 4: Taxes!

   Ways this could work:
   – Calling up the place that does taxes to get an appointment.

   I’ll play with:
   – Metaphor mousing this. Perhaps calling it “collecting alms for the poor,” because it sounds old and cartoony and socialist enough.

   Thing 5: Summer courses. Decisions need to be made.
   The summer course application deadline is on the 21st. I would like it to go smoothly enough, so that I can still make it to class later in the day (it usually takes 3 hours to do). I need to also decide what I will be taking.

   Ways this could work:
   – Listening to slightly future me.
   – Doing some fractal flowering.
   – Looking into the benefits of a degree in Economics, figuring out if I’d want to stay here another year.

   I’ll play with:
   – Letting go.
   – Trusting myself.
   – Being as prepared as possible, but accepting the chanciness and precarity of this decision.

   I hope everyone has a good week 🙂

   Reply
3. 

   Kylie on March 19, 2012 at 8:01 am

   So much exciting-ness with the new Playground! Yay! My acupuncture place has rolling stools like these: http://shop.thesupplycenter.com/category.sc?categoryId=130

   What I want: This week, I’d like to finish the first draft of a paper that’s been in progress for a long time.

   Ways this could work: I could put time in my calendar for it. I could do Shiva Nata before sitting down to write. I could start writing even though I don’t know everything yet (and never will). I could allow this to be easy, because it really, truly is.

   I’ll play with: A cozy container in which to write. Destuckifying in delightful new ways. Connecting with the gorgeous essence of this: why I’m doing it.

   Sending love to everyone’s VPAs!

   Reply
4. 

   Risa on March 19, 2012 at 8:03 am

   Hello hello, VPA time – I welcome you and make space for you.

   I’ve been exploring the difference between a VPA and an OOD because I’m curious about how easy it is for me to do VPAs and how hard it is to do OODs. I think I like being able to avoid the Pitfalls bit.

   Update on last week’s asks: I’m not sure I found a Way to Ask. I did the planting but never got blooms for it, yeeetttt…. we might have a space. A very pretty, roomy, light new space. After we both fully gave up and gave in and decided we were stuck with the current Space. I’m not yet done unstuffing that to see what it means. I also did not find a larger context for my TST, but the immersions in the world of the TST have been quite lovely 🙂

   Reasking both VPAs for this week, and adding one new VPA this week:

   #1 – A Change In Time Perception

   My “Not Enough Time” monsters have a lot of ammunition, and our conversations aren’t going very well. Everyone at work is truly overwhelmed (sans Ball) and the number of items we need to take care of at home is too long to even be scrollable on my favorite list app. Therefore, I want to change the way I view time to lessen the crazy Overwhelm. I only have so many bottles of bubbly for an Overwhelm Ball. 😉

   Blooms for it:
   – Find some space to have a nice long walk/talk with Slightly Future Me.
   – I could find a way to apply dream time dilation to conscious life.
   – I could find a helper who actually helps.

   What I’ll Plant:
   – Permission slips to be late or let things drop.
   – Remembering that Nothing is Wrong.

   Tons of hand-on-heart sighs and love for everyone.

   Goodbye, goodbye VPA time, and thank you for being with me.

   Reply
5. 

   Mechaieh on March 19, 2012 at 9:20 am

   Update on last week’s asks:

   * My book was released for sale in two of its three formats, and has found some of its readers already. 🙂

   * Still rumbling and fumbling with current raft of time-space challenges; some insights on what does(n’t) work for me.

   * Too hyper with book schtuffs to dwell on narratives.

   This week’s Things:

   Thing 1: improved lung and gut health

   Ways this could work:
   * try out new OTC meds
   * lots of hydration
   * try (or revisit) teas targeted to those areas
   * yoga or intentional breathing breaks
   * more research
   * adjustments in diet

   I’ll play with:
   * negotiating with responsibility (aka “You’re Being Self-Indulgent”) demons
   * thinking of myself as an athlete. Which, I am; I just wandered away from that for a while…

   Thing 2: more magnetic rails and comfier saferooms. The Things For Later keep beckoning/badgering me away from the Things That Need To Be Done now.

   So I’d like something more compelling and positive than fear to keep me focused on the Now Things, and I’d like the right metaphors or what-have-you to persuade and assure the Later Things that I’m not going to miss out on z, y, or x if I defer spending time with them until it’s truly their turn.

   WTCW:
   * tea with metaphor mice and reframing elves
   * start a metaphor sketchbook or calendar, so the listmakings and schedules don’t themselves feel like self-derailings? turn all of this into an larger, external story?
   * come up with some kind of effective reminder to the Later Things that I can pay closer attention to them if they wait, than when they’re siphoning time from the Things Now

   I’ll play with: calendars. inks. collages. interior design analogies.

   Wishing everyone a beautiful and bountiful week!

   Reply
6. 

   Melissa on March 19, 2012 at 9:35 am

   What about something like an over the door/wall hanging rack. Or with pockets for the shoes instead of cubbies. Maybe you can use rods or something instead of attaching it directly to the walls. http://www.walmart.com/ip/36-Pair-Over-the-Door-Resin-Shoe-Rack-White/9730037

   Thing I want: Health. I want to stop being sick. I’ve been sick for way too long without seeming to get better.

   Ways this could work: I scheduled a doctor’s appointment for Wednesday. I could rest (although rest this weekend wasn’t quite enough).

   My Commitment: To eat right and go to the doctor on Wednesday. To try to take care of my body first before anything else. To rest. To sleep on the other side, so the infection drains away from the ear ache.

   Reply
7. 

   Dawn Haney on March 19, 2012 at 9:41 am

   A couple tiny thoughts on shoes:
   I keep envisioning shoe racks I’ve seen at meditation centers, who also need “just shoes” storage. My Google-fu is turning up no actual suggestions on this.

   I did turn up this playful DIY solution that was too cute not to share: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/look-shoe-rack-made-from-pipes-109277

   And some VPAs:
   Thing 1: Ease & grace at work
   There are many BIG things to do at work this week. Perhaps too many of them. And I’m only working Monday-Thursday (plus event Saturday afternoon). And they all involve some relationship building, so I want to be sparkly rather than grumpy about all the work.

   I will play with: Filling up on qualities of sparkly, ease, grace, enoughness.

   Turning to the Floop to process when I start getting grumpy or frantic.

   Thing 2: A new shape for this relationship I am in

   This relationship has not been working right for months. But with me in hard work places, and her in major depression, it was better to let things stay status quo for awhile. Now they are settling down, and it’s time to broach a hard conversation.

   Ways this could work: It just could. It could be a welcome relief for everyone if we are talking about this.

   I will play with: The alignment exercise. An OOD.

   Reply
8. 

   chacha1 on March 19, 2012 at 10:00 am

   I like Melissa’s suggestion about the shoe-pocket type arrangement. If rods could be suspended from the ceiling it might be possible to put up shoe-pocket thingies back to back. So the shoe-pocket thingies could form almost a soft wall.

   Alt: Pegboard, S-hooks, and baskets or bags.

   Alt: heavy-duty fishing net, S-hooks, and baskets or bags. I kind of dig this one b/c it plays with the whole Pirate thing. 🙂

   Reply
9. 

   Esme on March 19, 2012 at 10:04 am

   What I want:

   I’m just getting over the mumps, or possibly consumption, and the last few days (despite a lot of hard) felt like a retreat where all I was obligated to do was stay in bed and I couldn’t feel guilty at all for not doing other things. And I feel like the illness had a message for me, like that I’m not balancing relaxation time and productive time properly. So what I want is to fully learn whatever the lesson is, and bring some of those qualities of the illness I appreciated (comfort, rest, care) to my normal life, and somehow change the way my life has been running (which I’ve shown over and over isn’t working optimally) to run much more effectively.

   Ways this could work:

   Maybe the Art of Embarking has something useful for exits, so I can process and say goodbye to the mumps, instead of just feeling nostalgic and wishing I could spend all day in bed some more.

   Journalling. Shiva nata. Listening to my body. I’m not sure, I haven’t found solutions despite many past VPAs, so I’m not sure how to find a solution now.

   I’ll play with:

   Doing what feels right. Listening to my body. Being intuitive.

   What I want:

   I’ve implemented a change to my blog, and I want it to run smoothly. Or, if more changes are needed, I would like to discover those necessary changes.

   Ways this could work:

   I don’t know.

   I’ll play with:

   Having fun in my blog.

   Reply
10. 

    Cathy on March 19, 2012 at 10:19 am

    RE: Shoes — one of the playcare places my son goes to has a bookcase with plastic bins, where they put their shoes. Seems like it might be easier to get used bookcases than a tall shoe cubby. Of course, now that I think of it, another place just has them put their shoes in a canvas bag and then hangs the bag… on hooks, I think. Maybe hangers. Would that work? No, you specifically asked for cubbies. Hmmm. Sending good luck thoughts to that!

    Report from last week:

    I wanted to get some stuff done in the Hard, namely a critique, taxes, and getting to page 200 on my revisions. I got to page 132 on the revisions, did nothing on taxes, and finished a critique last night — just need to write up the report this morning. Whew. The in-the-Soft work didn’t quite get done, but I realized it didn’t need to.

    VPA #1: Progress on critiques.
    Ways this could work: I could create containers for them. I could ground before I work. I could set better energy. I could metaphor mouse them.
    My commitment: To show up for them.

    VPA #2: Taxes!
    Ways this could work: Sit down and be kind to myself. Remind myself that these numbers aren’t judging me, are not my “worth” and are not permanent.
    My commitment: To show up for them, as well.

    VPA #3: My revisions
    Ways this could work: Create containers for them, as well. Play with new ideas. Have fun.
    My commitment: To show up for them.

    Thanks, guys!

    Reply
11. 

    Havi Brooks on March 19, 2012 at 10:28 am

    Clarifications on the shoe cubbies, because I did not give enough information! 🙂

    The place where people will be putting shoes is in public, shared space that everyone else who uses the buildings can see when they’re going to their offices. And our clients who are going to the massage room will also be going past it. So it needs to be attractive and look intentionally-designed, because our neighbors in the building are already not thrilled about having semi-permanent fixtures in the shared space.

    And we need to accommodate 30-40 people at a time, but sometimes we will also have *much* bigger events as well.

    We don’t have doors and we can’t hang rods. Standing cubbies is semi-permanent but drilling and hanging rods in the shared space is a no-go.

    (Note: there are no worries about shoes going missing, because we have a Crew member who will be stationed at the desk there, it’s not that the shoes will be abandoned in public space, just that the set-up needs to look clean, intentional and beautiful.)

    Hope that helps, thanks for all the creative suggestions, keep them coming, that one made from pipes is awesome looking.

    Reply
12. 

    Risa on March 19, 2012 at 10:44 am

    @Havi – Offering this up as a potential idea-spawner, no expectation:

    I don’t know why, but instead of seeing cubbies in my mind’s eye I keep seeing two or three toybox-style benches, with pretty cushions, where someone can lift the seat and put things inside, and can also sit down while they’re taking off their shoes. Maybe with a pirate treasure-box theme. 🙂

    Reply
13. 

    Linda on March 19, 2012 at 10:45 am

    Shoes – just have really simple low shelves? Like I had for books in my student days – just planks and house bricks 🙂 (Nostalgic sigh LOL!)
    VPAs
    1. Get ready for my holiday
    Ways this could work – play with calm breathing and cleaning the sink (proxy) a little every day.
    My commitment – to find safe havens for other me’s and to remember then is not now.
    2. Progress on my new thing
    Ways this could work – an OOD of course! Slaps hand to head! 🙂
    My commitment – to show up and take time for this.
    3. A relaxed tummy – pollen and a change to more raw food for spring has stressed my digestive system.
    Ways this could work – remembering the answer is more raw not less. Taking time to chew. Listening to my needs and not judging too much. (The image of Havi in the piggy hat has stayed with me this week, a good reminder to trust myself!)
    My commitment – to trust myself to know what’s good for me.

    Reply
14. 

    Chandler on March 19, 2012 at 11:11 am

    When I first glanced at the shoe cubby thing, my brain interrupted my reading and thought you were asking for a metaphor-mouse Sovereignty Shoe Cubby, for folks to check their shoes at the door before they have a chance to throw them.

    Which made me laugh when I got past the interruption to finish reading…but then a VPA started writing itself. Because I realized I actually *DO* want a metaphorical shoe cubby. Going to pause to ponder the ways that might work.

    Most of all, though, I’m asking for a return to regular blogging. With all my heart. Ways it could work? Immersing myself in the act of (re)entry. Setting out party balloons and putting out the welcome mat, rather than cracking the whip and shouting. My commitment: to be a good hostess to myself, to help see my return to blogging as a really crackin’ party I’m tickled pink to be invited to.

    Reply
15. 

    Hannah on March 19, 2012 at 12:06 pm

    VPA’s!

    I am doing frolicky ones. Who knows it might be a metaphor or a proxy!

    1. Costumes!

    I want to wear costumes to work for “Confidence, mademoiselle” purposes (a phrase that an old professor told me once).

    ways it could work I could stand in front of my closet and actually wear some of my suit-thingees. I could go shopping for the next Girl Reunion!

    i’ll play with – boundaries. what am i defending? remembering it’s a tiny sweet thing and it has a right to be defended. Connecting to Advocate Me. Essences. And also: new costumes! And also: talking to Advanced Me.

    2. A super huge amount of time for Internal Decorating

    I want a lot of time to sit and ponder and write. I want that time back for me. That spaciousness. I want to know more about incoming me. I also want to take notes on the research I just did concerning Beacons vs. Uncool companies.

    ways this could work Carving out time. Adjusting my show-watching behaviour to the theme. Having a budget for writing in cafes.

    i’ll play with anything that helps. perhaps the new index-cards-in-photo-albums system (thank you floopers). perhaps sitting down to draw something. perhaps sitting down to write & interview & find out what I already know. An awesome soundtrack wouldn’t hurt!

    VPA update

    I asked for Easy Tizmun in a busy week. And it mostly worked out by taking things slower and easier and remember – “we underestimate what we need and we overestimate what we can do” (Havi quote from a KT call in the library)

    I wanted JOY & I found back some in an improvised workshop I gave.

    I asked for writing confidenc. Realizing its lacking helped. I then I built an extensive Safe Room for Words. It feels like a zone of safety. I am not there yet but I can see a direction of hope and I love imagining myself there.

    Reply
16. 

    Rhiannon on March 19, 2012 at 12:32 pm

    Two weeks since I VPA’d and everything is, of course, different.

    Then I wanted clarity (which I got in spades) and effectiveness (which I didn’t.) But then I got clarity about the effectiveness, so that was helpful.

    April for Making Money with Love!

    This is what I want: I want to make April a month in which I make massive progress on earning money. Specifically that I earn all my rent money by teaching Shiva Nata. (And/or learn about that process.)

    I also want it to be a month in which other people can play along with me and examine/rewrite their relationships with money.

    Ways it could work: I could offer a video or worksheet that focuses on money to go along with my Shiva Nata sessions. I could rewrite the Shiva Nata page (I could ask for testimonials). I could work a lot in the soft in the Floop.

    What I’ll do: Shiva Nata! More of this level 3 stuff. And then the rest of the day can go to this. Because today is the day I have.

    Welcoming for the Child that is coming!

    What I want: rituals, preparations, plans, and welcoming for this child that will be here in eight months.

    Bringing together the right space, the right emotions, the right people, and the right things. Making room and time.

    Ways it could work: I could make a quilt! More of my friends could send me hand-me-downs. I could make a plan about how much money I need to hire the midwife I want and take a month off and start a.)earning it and b.)asking for it. We could figure out where we’ll be living.

    What I’ll do: Commit to this exploration of money. Keep talking to future me. Even more Shiva Nata. Practice wanting and Ooding.

    Goodbye, VPAs. Exiting with love, and entering the rest of my day with clarity, compassion and sweetness.

    Reply
17. 

    Sarah on March 19, 2012 at 12:56 pm

    What I Want
    To not be in resistance to where I am. But also to not resist being in resistance to where I am.
    Ways it could work
    I am not sure. The resistance seems to have become ingrained in the thing in my mind. I’m playing with shifting things but have not hit the right one yet. I’m also playing with allowing myself to hate being here.
    I’ll play with
    Doing the alignment exercise every day. Using NVC to acknowledge that being here is my choice. Continuing the planning for when I am not here. Also, the usual filling out forms, finding creative ways to take breaks, checking in with body and breath.

    What I Want
    To finish my writing work this week.
    Ways This Could Work
    I could write one article every morning after yoga. And they could just be really easy and flow.
    I’ll play with…
    Changing the metaphor. Using the articles as proxies for other things.

    What I Want
    For my friend’s bachelorette party this weekend to be fun and ease-filled.
    Ways This Could Work
    I’m not sure.. there is a lot of tension with people… particularly from the one friend who is planning it with me.
    I’ll play with…
    Finding out her needs and asking myself if I can meet some of them. Not taking responsibility for other people’s reactions. Filling up on me. Creating a strong and sparkly force field! Wearing the right costume.

    Reply
18. 

    Leni on March 19, 2012 at 1:25 pm

    Holy Crow, do I have some needs!

    -SAFETY. man, is the emotional safety in short supply around here!
    -Ease and gentlenes
    -Health tests going smoothly with minimal pain
    -the spoons to keep the writing on track

    VPA 1: Deeper morning practice
    WIW: I have integrated a morning practice and I’m consistent about it. But it’s plateau’d off now. I have an energetic part and a breathing part, but I feel that “observing your thoughts without attachment” is lacking. If I’m having intrsuive thoughts 10 minutes after Sitting, I need something more to keep my hea dina good place. I want to know how to deepen and stengthen the stronmg practcie i have, so that I feel stronger and less vulnerable to random ugliness
    WTCW: DUnno. Maybe some of you have thoughts? Maybe thisn is a question to ask my peeps? Maybe an evening practice to finsih the day?
    ICT: Flailing on this question. Continuing to sit every morning. Being open to answers. Identifying, in my body and head, how it feels when I’ve meditated “enough.” What is “enough”? ARe there other ways to get here? Taking random minutes to breathe and feel my body and find my breath during the day. Noticing when the intrsuve thoguhts pop up–is ther a trigger, a catalyst? what in my othr habits makes this happen?

    Also:
    -plants and mulch for the garden (very lil cash in budget for this)
    -new scents at Black Phoenix
    -a massage and more baths

    Reply
19. 

    Lynn on March 19, 2012 at 2:52 pm

    Oh, Havi I’ve done it. I quit my day job on Leap Day. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for SOOO long. I’ve been miserable, and the Universe has showed me sign after sign, and wakeup call after wakeup call that this job is done. It pointed me on a new path and I am so excited and so scared because starting 3/31, I am a full-time entrepreneur and photographer.

    WOW.

    SO, I have some serious VPAs today.

    Thing 1: Mental calmness and sleep

    What I want: for my mind to calm down. The right pmeds in the right doses. Rest without judgment from myself or anyone else. My mind does not stop. It’s part of the bipolar illness. And partly, the day job which has made me soooo miserable.

    It looks like this: I am compelled and ready to go to bed every night around 1030pm. I ease into it. I sleep for 7-8 hours, and I wake up refreshed. During the day I easily concentrate on the task at hand, and I finish what I need to finish. I feel relzed and calm and energized and clear.

    I could play with:
    Setting an alarm
    Giving myself a reward for going to bed on time
    Valium and tea a few hours before to calm my mind
    Quiet music, maybe guided meditation
    Exercise during the day (I’ll have time)

    Thing 2: My financial house neat and tidy

    My money is a mess. I have not started entering anything from 2011 into Quickbooks, or even installed Quickbooks. And I haven’t started my taxes. And it’s March 18. I feel anxious to the point of paralysis.

    What this will look like: All of my stuff is neatly entered. I have had a calm phone call with our CPA. I have all of my business deductions and personal deductions organized. I see a big fat IRS check coming back to us.

    I could play with:
    Setting small goals for every day for the next 10 days
    Giving myself a fun reward (15 mins of Pinterest!) for meeting the goal
    Giving up and just handing all the receipts to the bookkeeper and paying her to do it (wow, that feels like a relief)

    Thing 3: Four of my right people as clients in April

    I purposely haven’t booked clients since mid-January due to travel and it being really slow season. I have to start booking out.

    What it could look like: My calendar will be booked out with time for me (recovery/detox), time for projects (neglected house and personal stuff) and clients. All the client slots will be full with people who are my target client, and all of the ordering sessions have sales numbers well above what I need to make per sale to make my goals.

    I could play with:
    Doing an email to everyone I know
    Starting my google adwords
    Trying new networking events in early April
    Actually creating the booking calendar

    Thing 4: Permission to actually relax and detox for a couple of weeks

    Because I suck at giving myself to just do that.

    What it could look like: going to bed on time, taking a walk, exercising a bit, going to see my mom, hanging out with a friend or two, doing some yoga, taking naps, journaling whatever comes up, seeing a movie in the middle of the day, working on my studio for the love of it, editing a personal project.

    I could play with: catching the monster who tells me it’s not OK and soothing it.

    Thing 5: Ability to say now and disengage from the day job now

    What it would look like: I would come in, focus on finishing the work I have to finish, clean out the rest of my office and leave. I would refuse (kindly) discussions about what I’d do to fix what will happen when I leave.

    and I’d smile as I refused.

    I could play with: breathing, smiling, saying no thank you

    Reply
20. 

    VickiB on March 19, 2012 at 3:44 pm

    Update from last week:

    Last time, I had an ask about prioritites, and remembering the ones that came to the fore during the previous difficult week. The challenges continued into the week just past, and I have been able to make notes and plans.

    I also wanted to adjust to the “New Normal.” Later I realized that I don’t want this to *be* the new normal, and it doesn’t have to be.

    I asked for movement on a bunch of things that need movement and some of that happened. Fractal flowers. Opening windows.

    I wanted self care to happen. I have a lot of stuckness about that. I need to re-ask that one.

    This week’s VPAs:

    Thing 1: Clarity about self care.

    I want to sit with this for a while, to learn about the internal and external obstacles to self care. Self care is becoming a burden in itself.

    Thing 2: Related: clearing physical space for self care activities.

    Thing 3: Cooperation with others involved in and affected by the current situation.

    I am posting these incomplete requests as placeholders for what I want.

    Wishing everyone well with your VPAs.

    Reply
21. 

    Lesley on March 19, 2012 at 5:38 pm

    You know those simple unfinished wooden bookcases from ikea? You can buy wine bottle holders for them instead of shelves. That’s what I use to store all my shoes. You could easily put 10 bottle holders up on one bookcase. Each bottle holder holds 4 pairs. It keeps them nice and neat too, since each shoe has it’s own perfect resting place.

    Reply
22. 

    OhanaMama on March 19, 2012 at 7:16 pm

    VPA-

    Want #1: Free time to transcribe 4 interviews before conducting the next 3 interviews for my book.

    Ways this could happen:

    I could prioritize this want over other wants and obligations for the sake of forward motion with the book.

    Want #2: More job opportunities or possibilities for the fall.

    Ways this could happen:

    Discuss w/ J on Thursday.

    Email a few more contacts.

    Block out a possible schedule for the fall, including the class I’m teaching, group I’m running, and other things I’d LIKE to do.

    Want #3: A web designer for my website-in-development

    Ways this could happen:

    Ask a few people… on FB?

    Look into web design services.

    Want #4: More content for my website-in-development and sketches/outlines of chapters for my book.

    Ways this could happen:

    Quit my full-time job?? Seriously. I have no idea how to fit MORE into my life, but these are things that feel so ESSENTIAL (caring for my son and going to work are also essential, though).

    For ANY of the wants above, I am TOTALLY open to advice or feedback.

    Reply
23. 

    judy on March 20, 2012 at 6:17 am

    VPA ing on Tuesday morning – it’s been that kind of week & weekend.

    Weighing in on shoes: My experience with the shoe pockets (kindergarten teacher) is that they are limited in the size shoe that can go in (no boots, or large shoes). Toy stores, and other places too, sell small stacking/attaching crates that can be configured in any shape, height,etc. They are usually plastic or metal and some wood ones can be found.

    Gwishing now:

    *Some healing and peace for a very sick Kitty.
    how: WE can find out what it is and give her medicine that helps. Or, it may be her time is up.
    commitment: To be with my sad, to know that I’m not me from 7 years old who didn’t know how to help her sick bird, and to trust that the kitty will get what she needs.

    * Last week I wished for more clients – didn’t get – but did get new followers on the blog. Yay. Still wanting to let people know that there’s nice new space for some new clients – thank you @seagirl- for reminding me to approach from abundance.

    how: I could do OOD on it to get clearer. See above.
    Commitment: Spending some time on that this morning.

    * Also wished for people to buy our house. There’s been lots of visitors, and two very interested couples. I can feel openings.

    how: we’re in process.

    commitment: last time I committed to prepare for visitors with love, kindness and “this house is enoughness” sans focusing on the faults of the house.
    More of the same this week.

    Reply
24. 

    jessamine on March 20, 2012 at 9:09 am

    idea for shoes: milk crates stacked, painted fun colors, usually found at flea markets, on line under the heading bulk wooden crates, and farmers/ farmers markets/ health food stores. I’ve found them for free often. You can stack and wire them to each other to add stability.

    Reply
25. 

    Angel on March 20, 2012 at 11:08 am

    Havi! I just found an adorable little shoe cubby and thought of you with this post! Not sure if you’ve already resolved it but just in case:

    http://shoeboxdwelling.com/2012/03/20/xshelf/

    🙂

    Reply
26. 

    chacha1 on March 20, 2012 at 11:24 am

    Re: shoe cubbies. After clarification I agree with others that small bookcases and/or trunks may be the way to go, and putting them on casters may also be desireable so they can be easily reconfigured.

    If the backs of the furnishings face “out,” and are made attractive through paint or fabric, they will look much more like art than storage.

    Space neighbors want things to look tidy and uncluttered, and not like the entrance to THEIR office is through a locker room – I get that!

    Reply
27. 

    Corie on March 20, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    Hello and best wishes for all VPAs!

    This week is feeling hard, and I’m not entirely sure why.

    Thing one: Resolution.

    I’d like resolution with a crazy cat colony situation. With a possible gig offer. With a bit of editing that’s driving me bats.With two other possible projects that both want brainspace.

    What I can play with: practicing patience. Working in the garden (if it doesn’t snow again). Rewriting the chapter from scratch, and seeing if the difficult part needs to be there at all. Realizing that reality-as-it-is just may not be what I want as far as the colony, and that may have to be ok.

    Thing two:
    To find three of my right people for my new thing.

    Ways this could work: Finishing the site, showing it to people. Asking for folks for a freebie time. Referrals.

    And with ease. Ease and flow.

    Reply
28. 

    D on March 21, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    A few shoe ideas.

    http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/shoerack/

    http://deliciouslyorganized.blogspot.com/2010/06/top-3-favorite-shoe-storage-ideas.html

    http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/look-shoe-rack-made-from-pipes-109277

    Reply