Posted by ineta on Dec 23, 2011 in
Holidays I feel an enormous gratitude to my family and friends. For my family, thank you for being my inspiration. I love our deep conversations about life and what is possible, remembrance of our past moments and seeing how far we came, and where we are going next.
For my friends, thank you for cheering me on, for inspiring me to strive for the better. You inspire me to be more creative and share the beauty of life and the world with you. Thank you!
I wish you heart-felt moments with your family and friends. These precious moments are more important than any gifts in the world. I wish for you lots of laughter, many surprises, heartfelt hugs and great conversations.
Love dearly, smile widely, hug wholeheartedly, laugh till tears, dance till whole room spins, and sing from your whole being! Create something that nobody but you can create!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Thank you for being a HUGE part of my life, each one of you! You are a True Blessing!
Tags: family, friends, fun, Happy New Year, inspiration, love, Merry Christmas, personal, photo inspiration, photography, photos, picture, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, reflections, thoughts, wonderocity
Posted by ineta on Dec 4, 2011 in
art,
being creative,
photography Sometimes when looking in the sky, we see painted pictures. Our imagination see animals, waves, dancing ladies, hearts, and even words. Here is a collection of pictures where you can see something in them. What do you see?
I see a dancing lady, and below a lady with a big hat.
I see a sun heart
I see “I’m”
I see a number “20″ or a dragon with a big tail.
I see on the right corner – head of baby elephant
I see a huge heart
I see an elephant
I see a head of the dog
I see a word “Hi”
I see a man on his knees praying.
I see a giant dog bone.
I see a mountain climber
I see a giant bird
I see Lo and with a bird forming Lov as in Love
I see an Opera Singer or Giant Dinosaur
I see a Sea Horse by the sun
I see “I” and “heart”
For more sky wonder, you can see Imagination at Play
Tags: art, beauty, cloud imagination, clouds, fun, inspiration, love, me, nature, photo, photo gallery, photo inspiration, photo tips, photography, photos, picture, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, wonderocity
Posted by ineta on Nov 24, 2011 in
being grateful,
Holidays This is a time to stop and think about what we are grateful for. For me the list is HUGE not simply in words, but in feelings, too!!!
I am thankful for my life and health.
I am thankful for my family and friends who are INCREDIBLE in every way. Thank you for being You!
I am thankful for my family who are true inspirations full of courage, determination and so much love.
I am thankful for our pets who always warm our hearts and make us smile.
I am thankful for wildlife that cause me by surprise and leads me on curiosity trips.
I am thankful for every magical moment I see everyday: from diamond sparkles on the leaves and flowers after the rain to a sunset that takes my breath away.
I am thankful for challenges that life throws in order to let me think creatively.
I am thankful for my creativity to see and feel things.
I am thankful for moments of inspiration from people, books, and life.
I am thankful for freedom of my heart and thoughts.
I am thankful for great wisdom teachers who challenge to see life in a heart-felt way.
I am thankful for my fans who cheer me on and see the beauty of life the way I do.
I am thankful for all the love I feel within my heart.
I am thankful for all the artists who make a world more beautiful with their creations.
I am thankful for music that lets my heart sing.
I am thankful for having a courage to let go of things that do not serve me anymore.
I am thankful for a new space I am creating for new possibilities.
I am thankful for an incredible future that will come because I know what I want.
I am thankful for nature how it always refreshes me and makes me wonder and gives me an inspiration.
I am thankful for every day, hour and minute I live.
What are you grateful?
Have an awesome Thanksgiving, my family and friends!!!! Sending you lots of love!
Tags: art, beauty, books, family, friends, Happy Thanksgiving, inspiration, journal, life, lifestyle, love, me, nature, opinion, personal, photo inspiration, photography, photos, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, random thoughts, reflections, Thanksgiving Day, thoughts, wonderocity
Posted by ineta on Oct 5, 2011 in
wisdom These are excerpts from the book “A Walk on the Beach” by Joan Anderson. This book always inspires me. So much wisdom here.
Here is a Joan Erikson’s Unconventional Wisdom. It will make you think. It will make you come alive. It will make you feel grateful for what it is. Make it a fantastic day, and live each moment to the fullest:
1. OVERDOSE ON THE SENSES. “Get out of your body, absorbing all that you come in contact with.”
“The great joy is when something happens seredipitously,” Joan says, “like an unexpected breeze, or finding this boat. I never feel as though I am living unless I am making contact with the world like we’re doing now. In my youth, I would walk the streets of New York and smell the neighborhoods, all the aromas of people from other places, or walk across the great bridges with rain-soaked hair and the wind on my skin, or go to museums where I would get so close to a painting that I could smell the oil. Do you know what I mean, dear?” she asks, extending her hand now over the edge of the boat and letting the water race through her fingers. “We taught early on to stop sensing the world. Parents say no to their toddlers all the time, when all their child wants to do is sense the world around him. Pity, isn’t it! Overdose on the senses is what I say, all the way through life.”
“…the way to feel a whole range of emotions is to use them.”
“I want to be nature – you know, unblemished, natural, primitive, even, That makes all the difference.”
“We came away from that moment realizing the importance of reflection. If I recall we spent the rest of the afternoon reflecting on reflection. It’s a matter of using all that is around you, merging your senses with the world like an animal or child would do to find the clarity you seek. Once again, the key is to loosen up. Where curiosity and playful discovery are the focus of activity, there’s little opportunity to fail.”
“See, smell, touch, and taste everything… that’s what enlivens and links us in a sensuous way to the world outside ourselves. It’s the very food we need for our body and soul.”
2. DANCE BEYOND THE BREAKERS. “Having direction and going after something – going toward that which gives you purpose is the way – otherwise your life becomes avoiding trouble and there is no strength in that.”
“That’s the beauty of this life. You leave all the rigid rules behind.”
“Dance is so absolutely glorious. There’s no end to what you can do with pure energy.” “…especially with modern dance, which isn’t restricting. Rather, it’s about breaking boundaries.”
“And down the street and onto the beach. Why not?” she laughs. “Dance beyond the breakers, that’s what I say… be willing to go as far as you dare. Hell, it’s one of the few legitimate ways to be sexy and sensuous,” she says, her naughty twinkle appearing again. “The motion of the whole thing…and the flexibility it evokes! The lucky ones are those that grow up near water where everything is in motion – you crave it the rest of your life,” she says, reaching for my water glass and taking a gulp.”
“Dance when you’re broken open, and, Dance if you’ve torn the bandage off, Dance in the middle of the fighting, Dance in your blood, Dance, when you’re perfectly free.”
“There should never be any set way to dance. It’s about losing yourself and giving your body over to the music.”
“Always remember, my dears,” Joan says by way of a toast, “that no matter how hard you dance, not everyone will clap.” She lifts her glass to both of us. “At the very least, from here on in, you’ll be creating your own rules. Take your dreams by the hand and let them float. It’s a gift being your own person. In any case, it’s pretty deadly not to be.”
3. LEAN ON YOUR STRENGTHS. “In order not to fail in the end, you have to be dependent on yourself and know that you can handle things. Most importantly, bring a little humor into despair. Lightness, imagination, flexibility – these are the things that go into making a new start.”
“Adventure gets you to a feeling level and keeps the mind at bay. Allow your imagination and feelings to follow whatever image moves you.”
“You must have confidence in your body. It’s a portable world-a wonder, really. It will get you through anything if you take care of it.”
“Passion is a force, a direction you are moved to. It comes when you are open and vulnerable… Still, passion is only a lofty word if you stay closed and not open. All the words attached to the stages are so grand. Only when we turn them into verbs and connect them with action do they make sense. Always remember, dear, that theory without action has no strength at all.”
“It was she who told me that she didn’t hit bottom awfully easily. “When I do,” she once admitted, “I try to focus, not on the problem but on my strength. One way out of doldrums is to do something…take action rather than sit passively.”
“I keep telling myself that I can be either powerful like the sea or as weak as the broken shells under out feet. Of course you know which I’d prefer.”
“One thing I’ve learned is that when you can no longer get in touch with your instinct and intuition, It’s all over.”
“You must imagine your capacities, how much strength you can muster, what you can do even before you set out. Then you will have the confidence to stretch yourself like never before.”
4. SPONSOR YOURSELF. “Don’t deny yourself to please others. You only lose yourself in the promise.”
“Many a woman makes it a goal to know her man without knowing herself, first. She sees loving him as the solution to her problems, but love soon becomes the center of her problem. She is thinking rather than feeling her way through the relationship and eventually becomes isolated from the very essence of herself. That is a tragedy.”
“Well, in any case, I always envisioned marriage as a collaboration,” she continues. “Mutuality, reciprocity, interdependence are the keys to the game. If you don’t have them, what’s the point?”
“We must have sensed a deep need to know ourselves better if we were ever to know anyone else.”
“When you are willing to pull back and look at your neglected dreams and foibles, you bring a newfound energy into your partnership. You learn to respect what makes you an individual and you learn to accept the other person’s quirks as well. It isn’t easy work. The big trap most of us fall into is believing that love and joy always go together. It can’t possibly be so because truth comes with love and many times truth is not so playful because of its honesty.”
“You get love by participating in it.”
5. SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW. “Be generative. Pass on what you know. In sharing there is real delight. People in every stage depend on other people. Out of connection real growth happens. If there is no reciprocity, nothing ever works.”
“It’s not about you, dear. It’s about being generative and giving back. Can’t you see how people are sick for the truth? Nothing in our culture encourages us to break out of the mold.”
“Henry James said that a writer must be willing to embarrass himself,” “Everyone wants to hear the voice of someone who has gone through something real.”
“You have something unique to share, my dear. People are dying for adventure, and if they can’t make themselves get out there, they will content themselves with living vicariously off of others.”
6. PLAY OUT YOUR EXPERIENCES. “We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing. Anyway, the opposite of play is obey!”
“The point is to be less serious,” Joan says, “and more playful. Children have it right – that is, until someone knocks sense into them and the life out of them. I always insist that joy is a duty.”
“If only we could spread our wings and be freer with our bodies, we too could lighten up and recharge our souls.”
“Stop relying so much on your mind and get in touch with experience.”
“It’s one thing to hazard out in a safe place and another in unknown territory. Taking chances and risking routine are two important ingredients for keeping alive. Besides, a new panorama always offers fresh insight.”
“I make a silent promise to remember always to strive toward more unimaginable experiences.”
“I have been leveled and grounded by intangibles – such things as endurance, patience, will, commitment – a pleasant combination of active and passive ingredients needed for a harmony and balance. Sitting here and taking stock forces me to remember and cherish what is to be vitally alive – somehow to transcend the mundane, to be broken and remade.”
“In any case, richness of experience is a potential generator of wisdom.”
“Life works best when there is a flow between times of intentional quiet and informed action. ” Action needs a counterpoint and destiny always develops in silence.”
7. REACH FOR SATISFACTION. “Does what you are doing (in work or play) satisfy you? Does it make you laugh? Does it make you sing? If so, latch on to it.”
“You emerge slowly when you truly listen to your heart. There’s no putting a time frame on soul work.”
“Practice nonsense, Have some joy during all your trudging, and don’t forget to laugh. Tears no longer become you.”
“I want to remember to reach for the unknown or exotic as well as a measure of joy. “It’s there for the taking, ” Joan constantly says, “and we must seize it for ourselves. The opposite of joy is shame and doubt. There’s hardly any fun in that.”
8. ALWAYS BE WILLING TO EMBRACE CHALLENGES. “A good life is like a weaving. Energy is created in the tension. The struggle, the pull and tug are everything.”
“It’s the hard that makes it great.”
“The only way to pass the test is to take the test. – Native American Regal Black Swan. “Whether I’m giving a speech, walking my talk, or climbing the mountain, it’s all about taking one step and then another.
“Sigmund Freud though that out of one’s vulnerability comes strength.”
“you need to shake your life up in order to find new intentions.”
“No more asking permission, Whose life is it anyhow?…Besides, haven’t you learned by now that no one ever pushes you towards freedom. You need to take that for yourself.”
Take Action
Have Adventures
Face Your Fears
Seize the Moments
Tolerate Isolation
Overdose on the Senses
Lean on Your Body
Reach Beyond Your Grasp
“Please let your sun – your concentrated energy, your own submerged authentic vital power – shine out from you.”
Tags: "A Walk on the Beach", books, children, family, friends, fun, inspiration, Joan Anderson, Joan Erikson, kids, life, life's inspiration, lifestyle, love, opinion, personal, philosophy, photo, photo gallery, photos, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, ramblings, random thoughts, reflections, relationships, self-confidence, self-esteem, stories, thoughts, women, wonderocity
Posted by ineta on Sep 25, 2011 in
love This is a third day after we lost our Thoroughbred Tango (Congressman). He was the sweetest horse in the world with the biggest eyes that melted everyone’s hearts. He was a gentle spirit with the biggest appetite. He lived to be 25 years old.
Tango had a racing name Congressman and he was a winner in the races. His grandfather is Mill Reef – a Century Horse, and his father was a Champion, named Diamond Shoal.
We are not sure about what happened after his racing was over, but he was abandoned, and my mom adopted him and nursed him back to health. We had Tango for 10 years until 3 days ago when we lost him to cancer.
We do have another horse a Dutch warm-blood Princess Adora, who is grieving with us. She spent most of her time with Tango. When we buried Tango, Princess was running and calling him. She stood at exact spot where we buried Tango and tried to dig him out. Who says animals have no feelings.
Losing Tango was a huge heartbreak. It still is. Our bodies were hurting, and our hearts were heavy. It felt as if a huge stone was on our chest. No wonder, we carry our beloved horse in our hearts. <3
When we found Tango laying on the side, we did not know how terminal it was. Therefore, we were fighting with all our might for his life. He fought, too. While waiting for a vet, we tried to sit him up at least. He brought his head up a few times, but then he went down again. Tango was incredible. He still had a huge appetite. He drank some water and had food and some alfa alfa hay. We tried to keep him as much as comfortable as we could, not giving up. We persisted, he persisted, too. Unfortunately, his body did not cooperate.
At the end, he was tired. After vet came, she informed us that he is in toxic shock because of cancer. That’s why he can’t get up. No matter how heart-broken we were, we had to learn to let go of him. Our love for Tango was most important thing, and we did not want him to suffer anymore. Persistence, love and letting go were our lessons.
Losing Tango changed me a bit. It gave me a different perspective in life. I realized how precious each moment in life is. We should cherish every minute of it. Family and friendship, a connection one to one can’t replace anything in the whole world. Helplessness (while waiting for vet and not be able to help Tango) is the most frustrating and scary feeling and I do not want to go through that again. To have an open mind to look for different solutions is very important.
We lost Tango and our hearts expanded for more love. There is a space that opened up for new possibilities, for cherishing life and for what is most important. And for some things, it is time to let them go…
When we came to the ranch yesterday, we saw the most incredible gigantic heart in the sky. Perhaps Tango sent his love to us. <3 We love you, Tango. You always will be in our hearts.
Tags: friends, horse, horse behavior, horse loss, inspiration, journal, life, love, me, opinion, people, personal, photo, photos, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, random thoughts, reflections, thoughts, wonderocity
Posted by ineta on Aug 24, 2011 in
art,
being creative,
passion,
photography Sometimes photography is all about a color, and the most that stands out is a color Red. It makes a gloomy day more interesting. It gives an energy and power. It is a color of passion, love and life.
Red color flowers stand out in the garden.
In fashion, the touch of red brings out sexiness, like these Christian Louboutin heels. (See shoerazzi.com for more great shoe goodness)
Red brings out fun, summer feel and vacation. This is my friend Sandy dressed in Dalia Koss necklace
Deep red color top and turquoise makes a great match. Jewelry by Dalia Koss.
Red dress in this photo makes a woman beautiful, and mysterious.
Even red light reflection on the street makes otherwise gloomy rainy night like a painting.
Red accent like this red toy makes already cute picture more powerful.
This one is an interesting moment. I captured a giant moon right next to the red light through car’s window. It made the sky surreal.
Red paddle boat makes this scene even more magical by giving a great contrast.
Love is in the air. 
Red Macaws are grooming each other.
Red sea of flowers
Red dragonfly is a sure stand out in a green background.
Sometimes a red color is a great protection for insects. It is warning for birds not to eat them.
Red sunset adds a drama to the sky.
This Red horse statue brings out excitement to the city.
Red strawberries add a delicious touch to this yogurt.
Red bromiliad looks like a natural firework.
Red color makes the overcast day so much prettier. It brings a sense of adventure.
Red brings out a huge contrast into a magical day.
Of course, nothing can beat a red sports car. This Ferrari makes my heart skip the beat just looking at it. It has a sense of dangerousness, hotness, and adventure.
The red color adds a fire and passion in our lives. Where can you find yours?
Color Green photography
Tags: art, beauty, Christian Louboutin heels, color red, color red photography, Dalia Koss Unique Jewelry, friends, fun, http://www.daliakoss.com/, inspiration, love, nature, opinion, personal, photo, photo gallery, photo inspiration, photo tips, photography, photos, picture, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, random thoughts, red, red color, red color photography, red photography, reflections, Sandy Baumgartner, Shoerazzi, Shoerazzi.com, thoughts, wonderocity
By thinking how our mind affects our world and searching the web, I came across this little story. I took it from website called
successconsciousness.com. This is basically my view explained and being put in a story line:
The Villager and the Happy Man
By Remez Sasson
In a small village in the valley, lived a man who was always happy, kind, and well disposed to everyone he met. He always smiled, and had a kind and encouraging word to say whenever necessary. Everyone who met him left feeling better, happier and elated. People knew they could count on him, and regarded him as a great friend. One of the village dwellers was curious to know what his secret was, and how he could always be so kind and helpful. He wondered, how is it that he held no grudge toward anyone, and why he was always happy. Once, upon meeting him in the street he asked him: “Most people are selfish and unsatisfied. They do not smile as often as you do; neither are they as helpful or kind as you are. How do you explain it?”"When you make peace with yourself, you can be in peace with the rest of the world. If you can recognize the spirit in yourself, you can recognize the spirit in everyone, and then you find it natural to be kind and well disposed to all. If your thoughts are under your control, you become strong and firm. The personality is like a robot programmed to do certain tasks. Your habits and thoughts are the tools and programs that control your personality. Become free from being programmed, and then the inner good and happiness that reside within you will be revealed.”"But a lot of work is necessary. Good habits have to be developed. The ability to concentrate and to control the thoughts has to be strengthened. The work is difficult and endless. There are many walls that need to be to climbed. It is not an easy task.” Lamented the villager.
“Do not think about the difficulties, otherwise this is what you will see and experience. Just quieten your feelings and thoughts, and try to stay in this peace. Just try to be calm, and do not let yourself be carried away by your thoughts.”
“Is that all?” Asked the villager.
“Try to watch your thoughts and see how they come and go. Stay in the quietness that arises. The moments of peace will be brief at first, but in time they will get longer. This peace is also strength, power, kindness, and love. You will then realize that you are one with the Universal Power, and this will cause you to act from a different dimension, not from the selfish, small, limited ego.”
“I will try to remember your words,” said the villager and continued, “there is another thing that I am curious about. You do not seem to be influenced by the environment. You have a kind word to everyone, and are helpful. However, people treat you well, and do not exploit your goodness.”
“Being good and being kind do not necessarily point to weakness. When you are good, you can also be strong. People sense your inner strength, and therefore do not impose on you. When you are strong and calm inside, you help people, because you can, and you want to. You then act from strength and not from weakness. Goodness can also go with power and strength, it is not a sign of weakness, as some people erroneously think.”
“Thank you very much for your advice and explanation”, said the villager, and went away happy and satisfied.
My note: It all starts with us.
Tags: friends, happiness, inner state of mind, inspiration, kindness, life, lifestyle, links, love, me, opinion, peace, people, personal, philosophy, photo, photo inspiration, picture, post and photo by Ineta Mcparland, random thoughts, reflections, relationships, self-confidence, self-esteem, stories, thoughts, wonderocity
Posted by ineta on May 19, 2011 in
abundance,
being creative We often seek many things outside ourselves: love, respect, abundance, success, compassion, etc., etc. We think, they are hidden from us and we seek them in people we meet. We expect, and when we do not find what we are searching for, we continue to go on to this never-ending treasure hunt. Where is it? Why it keeps eluding us? Why can’t we find it?
What if all this treasure of abundance lays inside of us? What if we think of ourselves as source of abundance? What can we find? Better yet, once we realize that what we are searching for is inside of us, what we will do with it?
Let’s open this treasure chest and see what we can offer to the world. To some people, abundance might come from creativity. To some, might be from love. What we have inside of us, that’s what we project to the world. If we have a love in our hearts, we do everything with love. If we hold notes of creativity, we can create a beautiful music of our creation.
What our hearts consist of? What can we share with the world?
What is inside of my treasure chest? It is an inner knowing that I translate into words, a beauty that I capture through photography. All this will be summed up into books, websites, drawing… – sharing what I see and feel.
How about you? What do you want to share with the world? What is waiting to come out? What is in your treasure chest?
Tags: abundance, art, creativity, inner knowing, inspiration, life, love, opinion, personal, philosophy, photo, photo of heart, picture, post and photo by Ineta Mcparland, random thoughts, reflections, sharing, thoughts, treasure hunt, wonder, wonderocity, writing
Posted by ineta on May 8, 2011 in
Holidays Mom is a beautiful treasure in our lives. She brings love and care to us and in turn teaches how to love and care about people in our lives. Mother’s dedication is unbeatable and unconquered. She is strong like a tigress, and at the same time gentle as a dove. Everything she does is from her heart. Her love is abundant and she shares it in everything she does.
Thank you so much, Mom, for the best gift in our lives – Thank you for You.
Thank you for being by our side
…and showing us the way
Thank you for protecting us from danger
…and for encouraging us to take on challenges
Thank you for encouraging to be curious about everything
… and taking us on different life’s adventures
Thank you for all the fun and joy and great conversations that we have
Thank you for teaching us to be close no matter what
Thank you, Mom for all you do. We love you and Happy Mother’s Day!
Tags: beauty, family, Happy Mother's Day, home, inspiration, life, love, mom, mothers, nature, parenting, personal, photo gallery, photo inspiration, photography, photos, pictures, post and photos by Ineta McParland, reflections, thoughts, women, wonderocity
Posted by ineta on Apr 13, 2011 in
Inspiring Stories,
kindness,
nature,
vision Silence feels amazing when we quiet our chattering mind and outside noises, and just be: feel a gentle breeze in the hair, a warm sun’s touch on the skin and breathe.
Today I did just that. I sat for a couple of minutes. I thought how to keep my already so much improved vision longer at the time. I get periods of 20/20 vision, but as I blink, it gets a bit blurry again going into about 20/30, 20/25 field. The answer came: instead of keeping on narrow focus got to expand my vision, and it all starts with the heart. I opened my eyes, and I could see every blade of the grass and every leaf on the tree. It felt amazing. The perfect vision stayed with me longer than usual. Then, all of the sudden I saw a seemingly lifeless dragonfly in the water. I touched it and to my surprise, he moved his wings desperately trying to escape. Unfortunately, the wings were already submerged and the weight of water did not let it to fly.
I gently picked it up on my finger and wanted to put on the branch to dry it out. He fought to stay on my finger, so I let it stay, and I chased off the wasp who tried to get him. As his wings dried out, he started to move them in the breeze little by little. When he got stronger, I put him on the branch. He stayed there for a little bit and flew away…
So this is what I learned:
Narrow Focus => Expanded Vision = Seeing things that otherwise are easily missed.
With expanded vision and using our love, we can see more and hear more and feel more, and make a huge difference. It might start with a dragonfly at first. Then it might go to other things. Small as a dragonfly and big as the world. It is only a matter of perception.
Can you imagine how world would be if we would move ourselves from a narrow focus of everyday life to an expanded worldly vision and do everything from the heart?
Tags: dragonfly, dragonfly whisperer, expanded vision, helping nature, how to see better, inspiration, journal, life, love, me, narrow focus, nature, philosophy, photo, picture, random thoughts, seeing without contacts, seeing without glasses, stories, story, thoughts, vision, wonderocity
