…is actually being prepared to work!

There’s been a couple of times (okay, okay, more than a couple) where I’ve questioned my choice of theme for this month. I’m especially wincing over this particular post where I gleefully listed all of the things I wanted to let go of, because, once again, the universe/Karma has decided to test my willingness and willpower to actually make the changes I said I wanted.

Turns out, I wasn’t really ready to, you know, work on it or anything.

Not to be all self-inflated, but my habit of procrastination is totally an art form. I’m so good at procrastinating that I’m finding it a really tough habit to break, let me tell you.

I could claim that part of it is just resting and taking the time I need, and that’d be semi-correct. I do need this resting time, definitely, for myself and my brain. But then it gets to that point where I know it’s no longer relaxing, it’s indulging. That point is characterized by the ability to put off work in order to devour three books in a week, ordering take-out every day while online shopping because I can’t be bothered to change out of my pajamas to go buy groceries, and the inability to get to bed before dawn.

I’m very, very good at indulging myself.

In total self-disgust and guilt, I sat down last week and started tackling my list of projects. I almost immediately gave up, because I was reminded about the amount of work involved, but I didn’t (go me!). In an effort to keep that ball rolling, and because I’m sure several of you are wondering when exactly I’m going to get the destash beads listed and make some progress on the Elements eclass I was talking about, I’m taking the week off from blogging to focus and work.

In the mean time, may I offer some favorite posts from the archives for your reading pleasure?

• That time I almost got kicked out of an art museum
• A favorite color palette from last year’s August Break
• A quick review of my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens
• Full-time work with part-time hours Tip Share
• How to re-color a digital object

If I get myself into shape by Friday, I’ll be back with a color palette. If not, see you next week!

I’m desperately homesick for Hawaii this morning. It’s been three years since I’ve been back, and this is the longest stretch I’ve ever gone without going home. I took it for granted that I’d always be able to visit at least once a year… not so much. So, since it’s on my mind, I thought I’d share a little bit of the islands with you today.

Who’s up for a little mental vacation?

A slideshow to get you started

One of my favorite songs to lift the spirits

A hula halau (group) from last year’s Merrie Monarch festival

A solo hula dancer from last year’s Merrie Monarch festival

(This is a solo competition within the larger festival for Miss Aloha Hula. Traditionally, it starts with chanting, so skip to around 3:40 for the dancing if that’s all you want to see.)

P.S. I was having a heck of a time embedding these videos this morning. If, for some reason, they don’t show up here, I apologize.

A couple of weeks ago, my buddy Ruth from Rock+Purl announced she was doing a new blogging project for the year, Blogstars 2012. She invited her friends over for a weekly guest post series, and since I’ve got a monthly topic or theme for the year, too, it felt just right to participate.

So, if you’ve got a moment, pop over to Rock+Purl to read my guest post about Why I love what I do!

As I was brainstorming ideas for monthly topics, the first that came into my mind was (obviously) authenticity. The second was a little bit of a surprise – invitation – and it came from My ABCs of Important Things.

Like I mentioned on that post, I don’t mean the paper kind of invitation, but the kind of invitation where we allow things and people and opportunities into our lives. Do we invite the positive or the negative? What do we let in?

Invitation implies action and preparation, don’t you think? “Party” comes to mind first when I hear the word invitation, and that’s sort of fitting. When I create a guest list and invite people, I’m planning for an event. I’m planning, prepping, cleaning, and organizing for the big day.

What if it worked the same way for everything? I know that I would feel better if I had a more active role in what comes into my life. It would make me feel more involved, versus a passive participant, and I always seem to do better with a plan of attack. What would happen if I invited an idea or dream, then prepared for it to come? I don’t expect that everything I invite in will show up, but I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot more would come if I opened my mind to the possibility and prepped for what it would feel like. Kind of like the Law of Attraction.

Already so far, interesting things have walked into my life, things that I’d been hoping for but never formally invited in or did anything about. I hope that trend continues, and as certain projects wrap up, I’d love to share them here with you (provided I get the clients’ okay!).

I also wanted to open up for questions. I really loved the responses I got on a lot of last month’s posts, so I thought why not continue the open lines of discussion? So, ask away, any topic you want. I can’t guarantee I’ll respond publicly to every question, but I can promise to read every one and respond privately (especially if it’s personal). Some, if they have a more detailed answer, I’ll turn into a post either this month or next.

Ready, and go!

Definition courtesy of Dictionary.com. Tape strip from the lovely Katrina of Pugly Pixel.