A Letter To My Younger Self

A couple of weeks ago a dear sister of mine asked if I'd be interested in writing a letter to my younger self. She invited several "super women" to participate and thought it may be wonderful to gather these letters into a book that may serve to guide girls growing up and women in our lives.

Below was my submission for the project. Please note that I really wrote this for me and wouldn't necessarily advise the same things for others. I usually offer more of a balanced perspective. What was fun about this project is that I could speak directly to myself and my particular lessons of life.

If you are interested in submitting a letter or helping our book come together, please let me know!! :)

Letter To My Younger Self

Dearest Me,

Guess what! Today you have been blessed with a slip of time and a bit of magic. You are receiving a letter of wisdom from your future self – when you’re wiser, more beautiful, and more amazing…. Not that I think you need to make any changes because everything works out perfectly, always. I just want to offer you a great opportunity to really live it up the whole time. So take advantage, open up to the messages, and enjoy the experience!

Now Dani, I know you think you know everything already. When you think that way, you don't give yourself opportunity to learn more. So never think "I already know". Open to what more you can learn. I know you're brilliant! Now keep developing that! Okay, so here it goes... wisdom from YOU:

Enjoy the journey. Love every moment of life that you can, because it always goes faster than you think it will go. Especially once you step up and really live it. Don’t worry, you will – and the sooner you can do that, the more amazing your life can be. So have fun during the amazing exploration and unfolding of the life you create and see the gift in each experience. Start with presence and awareness.

You are amazing. Don’t waste your younger years looking up to others as being better than you and giving away parts of yourself to fit in. Know that you are beautiful inside and out. Uncover what makes you special and express it. Make it better, highlight and explore it. If you are attracted to another, find out what they represent to you and reclaim that part of yourself as well. Develop those characteristics you admire and be the best you! Don’t go overboard and judge others. When you feel a superiority complex coming on, realize that you have something to learn and figure out what it is. Keep growing. As you find your specialties, share them with the world.

Be love. Develop a loving relationship with yourself. Make sure that you are nourished and full. Then share your well of love with others. Be a compassionate loving presence to everyone you encounter. Share your services with those who are ready for it.

Treasure your relationships as sacred arrangements of brothers and sisters. They truly are a blessing and you are a lot more alike than you may think. Everyone is learning here. Make time for your friends. Listen to them and be interactive in their experience. Treasure your relationships – those that are for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Nourish those in which you are at your best and are mutually beneficial.

Do what makes your heart sing. Have fun finding out what makes you feel joyful. Find several things, simple and great. What makes you giggle? What gives you excitement and energy? Be open and try lots of things. Figure it out. Get to know your self. Go toward these treasures when you find them. Reward yourself with exploring them in balance with everything else.

Feelings are gifts rather than things you should out-think. Being aware of your emotions and following your feelings will guide you to the divine wisdom in your heart. When they get tough, have faith that you can get through and will be only greater and stronger. Learn about yourself and how to be your own best friend. Develop your relationship with the Creator as your greatest treasure and supreme guidance. You will be able to get through it all and it won’t be as tough. Nurture your feelings and allow them to expand you.

You gotta have faith. Whatever it may be. Openly explore and develop your trust and beliefs endlessly. Keep what feels true for you in your heart. Once you really feel it, you’ll know you are never alone. Express your faith. Be it. Share it with others who are curious.

Every morning get into the rituals or habits that connect you to your greatest being before starting your day. Your entire experience will shift to grander levels. Give thanks for all the little things, every day.

"The lightning flashes and the thunder roars

and the superior man does not drop the ceremonial spoon."

Okay, that’s it for now. Stay focused on these things first. Every one of these is key. Use this like a checklist and review every spring to see how you can incorporate these into your daily being on a new level. You will always grow and see more in the same simple things.

Pay attention and find messages all along the way. You can sense hundreds every day if you are really open to them. You may see, hear, or feel something. Ask questions and you’ll find the answers, but maybe not where you think. Look everywhere and be ready. They may come from a child or from a stranger.

If you tune in you’ll figure it out. Delight in the uncovering of divine timing.

Always be your best.

LOVE!

You

Danielle Marie Crume

My Favorite Writing Habits and Approaches

These are my treasured ideas for people who enjoy writing and/or journaling:

Writing is best when it is lived. Just as is any passion that we feel in our heart. It is a lifestyle, a being. Become it through your practice.

To develop your writing and/or passion, first make your presence with it a priority.

It is simple. Make time and space for it.

But reconsider which time and space works best.

Time

Find the ideal pocket of time in your usual routine. Whether you develop a little bit of it daily or focus on it once every week, find the spot that is just right. One that flows with your energy.

Use this as a "rock" in your flow. Allow other things to move around it; keep it your priority.

I prefer mornings when the energy is fresh and it is more likely to be nice and quiet so that I can really be with my self and am not as easily distracted.

Space

Set up a space customized for developing your passion. One that is attractive to you and draws you in. Place all the essential tools customized for you and this project within easy reach. Make it so that it prompts your creative flow and feels great to be in.

Visit it every day, a few times. Even if just for a check in. Allow it to serve as a keystone to always keep you connected.

Showtime!

When you actually get into that pocket of space and time in which you are really writing, keep these approaches in mind. First tune into what type of mood you're in or what you're feeling and identify which you'd like to do.

Journaling/Creative: If you feel inspired and have thoughts to spew, jot them down in a handwritten journal and allow it to flow. Don't think twice about spelling errors or punctuation. You can perfect it later. Just focus on getting to what you are feeling and getting it out on the paper.

Reviewing/Filling In: If you are not so inspired to write about any particular thing, flip through some old notes. If you don't have any now, you will have TONS very soon if you really like to write. Keep all notes you write randomly with any type of inspiration in them and then reference them at these times. I have folders full. You can fill in past things you've started or further outline them. Take what you've written in the past a little farther. Usually it brings me right into the flow.

Editing/Refining: This is the final version of your writing. Go through it all once again and see if anything else arises to be added or if any parts are no longer needed. Make sure that the overall structure is best and that it also flows well.

A great way to naturally prompt your writing to actually getting to this stage is by posting them to a blog. That also allows others to enjoy your writing, if interested.

Whatever your preference, collect your final drafts in one place that is well organized and easily findable.

Would love to hear your tricks and tips. Have fun writing. :)

Love!

Danielle Marie Crume

Why Am I Writing This?

Why do I blog anyway? Do I earn money to do this? Am I selling something? What is this blog for? These are questions I would have asked me in the past... so in case you're curious, here it is:

I am deeply motivated to share my experience.

In the past I was so curious about others. It started as extreme judgment, but eventually opened beyond it. Now I love to share with those who may be like me.

I am innately tuned into the overview of life and openly exploring my perspective of that. I see meaning in things that seem ordinary to others. I love what I see.

I worked hard to get here. I was led by others who had taken steps (and often struggled) to look beyond the messages handed to them and then bravely shared their personal truths. Enough so that I could see a glimpse of the next step toward growth and expansion. When illusions of life settle and fall out, the drive that moves us forward can be lost. At shifts in my life, I've felt the cold reality of feeling lost and unmotivated. What moved me then, at rock bottom, was the love in others and a love for myself. Sharing any tidbits of love and understanding to someone is something that makes my heart sing.

Writing moves me. I am excited to get clear through the process - unlike most other processes of truth I've tried. It is my favorite way of unfolding. I love taking a bath and enjoying a creative writing session in the morning before moving on to nurture my family and get to work. On the days I receive a lot of messages or when my mind is very clear, I just creatively flow and write in my journal. On the days I don't, I organize past notes (I have a ton of them) and eventually I get to the flow again. It is one of the most enjoyable hours of my day. Somehow it took five years of wanting to get into writing to actually make it a part of my daily life, but I am so glad that it is. I enjoy the whole process: expression, clarity, sharing, and feedback.

It's a golden bonus that these words may be seen by another and it may even move them. Already in my short experimentation with standing up and being bolder than my ego would like me to be, I've received kind words and great feedback from people around the world of how their reading of my writing brightened their moment - or inspired them to live greater. How amazing!

Whether I reach one person or one million, I love to create the opportunity. I'd love to share it with a million and I curiously move toward that direction, daily.

I don't expect people to read what I write out of obligation. It's not for those who are too busy. It's for those who may be busy yet are called to check it out and are attracted to it, who find a part of themselves in it.

I have yet to make money through writing, although I'm looking into it :). I'd love the freedom to focus on it and explore how to shift into that. However, I am committed to this service through passion either way. We'll see where it takes me....

May we all shine our light and share our love.

Love,

Danielle Marie Crume

Seven Exercises to Achieve Mental Fitness

Adapted from the book Advanced Selling Strategies by Brian Tracy. Although this book is about selling, it holds great universal wisdom. Check it out:

Mental fitness should be defined as a general attitude of optimism, self-confidence, and good cheer that positively affects everything you do. To achieve it, you must work on it every day until it becomes a part of your character and personality.

1. Self-Talk

The way you talk to yourself determines how you feel more than any other single factor. By controlling your inner dialogue and tone, you can decide how you are going to talk to yourself and thereby control your thoughts, which determine your emotions. Talk to yourself the way you want to be, not the way you are. Tell the truth, in advance!

2. Imaging

Because your outer world mirrors your inner world, positive imaging, or positive visualization is the way you create clear, vivid pictures in your mind that are consistent with the experiences you want to enjoy in your work. Visualize yourself as being confident, positive, determined and completely successful, living in the kind of house you want, looking the way you want to look, etc. Flood your mind with pictures of success and affluence at every opportunity. Refuse to dwell upon on imagine experiences or outcomes you do not want.

3. Mental Food

Since you become what you think about, your attitude, personality, values, and emotions are largely the result of the mental “food” that you are feeding into your mind on a minute-by-minute basis. Just as your body is determined by the food you eat, your mind is determined by the mental food you take in. The way you think and feel will determine your conduct and your behavior, which will in turn dictate your actions and your results. Take in mental protein through books, tapes and videos, rather than mental candy through television shows, magazines, etc.

4. People

The people you habitually associate with, both in person and in your thinking, have a tremendous effect on the person you become. Your choice of “reference group” will, more than any other factor, determine what will happen to you in your life.

5. Training and Development

The more new ideas and information that you take in about how to be more effective, and the more you think about these ideas, the more you will embody them in everything you do. You will become what you think about. By working on yourself, you can learn anything you need to know to achieve any goal you can set for yourself.

6. Health Habits

Life requires enormous amounts of physical, mental, and emotional energy day after day. Because of this, virtually all successful salespeople seem to have higher than average levels of energy and enthusiasm. To be at your best, you must take excellent care of your health. This can be obtained through:

a. Eliminate as many fats from your diet as quickly as possible.

b. Exercise regularly

c. Drink lots of water to flush toxins and impurities

d. Get ample rest

7. Action

The faster you move: the more energy you have, the more positive you feel, the more people you see, and the more experience you get. Therefore faster you learn, the more prospects you talk to and the more of them that will turn into customers, the more enthusiastic you will be, and the more you will feel in control of your life. Fast tempo is essential for success. Develop a sense of urgency.

By moving faster, you will achieve a greater success in a shorter period of time. The success will motivate you and make you more positive and enthusiastic about what you do.

Love,

Danielle Marie Crume

Hooray, It's Summer!

Birthing of Ideas. Nurturing.

Summer 2009: June 20th (summer solstice) - September 21st (fall equinox)

Summer is the season of light. Plants blossom all around. It’s warm, vivid, and bright. Days are longer. We feel alive more than ever. Play comes more naturally. We may find ourselves outside more. The beauty of the season provokes fun, relaxation, and vacation. Walks, bike rides, cold drinks, and ice cream come to mind. What does summer feel like for you?

In the yearly cycle, the potential that we dug up during winter and planted in spring is now birthing and growing. During summer we tend to the nourishment of our projects. Some of the seeds you planted are already showing in recognizable form while others are just about to sprout through the soil. Nurture and develop them for the harvest in fall when you will see the supple fruits of your labor ripening.

There are several ways to make the most of summer and thrive off the enjoyment of it’s most beautiful assets. Wake up to enjoy the sunrise. Bring some flowers into your environment by keeping plants around your living spaces. Open your windows and allow the fresh air in. When outside, pause and enjoy the richness of flowers in full bloom. Enjoy your playfulness and be spontaneous. Take a trip to the beach. Listen to the beautiful sounds of summer while letting the sun warm your face. Each of these serve as a great opportunity to rejuvenate and inspire your self.

Continue to nourish your projects and have fun watching them blossom.

Enjoy your summer!

Love,

Danielle Marie Crume

A Real Treasure Map

So you thought treasure maps were things that kids make-believe.... of course. However, there is a real treasure map - for people of all ages. Yes, grown-ups too.

This exercise is a lot of fun with the great benefits of exploration and clarity. It is a vision board exercise for your inner child that also plays on your highest goals. It's a vision statement in picture form. And the bonus prize is that you have a wonderful reminder of it to hang up and be refreshed by daily.

Spring is the ideal time to plant the seeds of projects that you'll be working on for the year. It is a time of pregnancy and birthing. As we only have a few days left (summer begins this weekend), now is a perfect time to wrap up the process of getting your seeds planted. Be selective of what you invest your energy into. In summer, it will be perfect to tend and nurture these seeds you plant.

So take a break from your usual busy-ness and take a healthy stretch of your imagination!

Each of these steps can be their own mini-project. Each time you work on one, make sure you are in a great space with all the conditions to make this a lot of fun. No need to rush:

* Gather 2-4 magazines for a great selection and well-rounded variety. Pick out 1-2 favorites from a big magazine rack (bookstores are a great source). Be VERY picky what you choose and you are consciously choose your future. Take your time and have fun finding your perfect magazine. Be open - it may be different today than it's always been. Grab some more magazines from around the house, the free racks in coffee shops, or in the mail. Even the ones that are really random may have a couple of great pictures in them.

*Get a strong, clean posterboard to paste your pictures on.

*Cut out pictures and/or words that are striking and attractive to you. Cutting out more than you need is better than not having enough. You can be more selective as you arrange them on the posterboard.

*Lay out the pictures you've cut in a meaningful arrangement on your posterboard. Start with just placing them and moving them around until they fit as you'd like. Then you can get out the glue and start permanently attaching them. Be selective as to what gets included in your treasure map. When all set just how you like it, glue the pictures in place.

*Allow to dry overnight and then hang in a prominent place as an inspirational reminder of what is important to you.

Each time I do this exercise, I take it up another level. The last time I did it was over a year ago. I loved my creation so much that I didn't see any room for improvement and thus waited longer than usual to do it. After a visit and a nudge from a dear friend, I realized I didn't have anything on my posterboard having to do with details. My last one was so much about concepts and ideals - it didn't show anything specific at all. I have since added some material preferences in my treasure map as well. Balance is always key for me and I'd definitely like to open the door to a full experience!

So this one is the best one yet. I enjoy staring at it from the kitchen table. I hope you enjoy the exercise. I would love to hear your experience with it.

Love,

Danielle Marie Crume

A Beautiful Story

Love this one :)

Hopefully you can read it all. It's sad, but holds great truth.

The last line says, "For the only way for anyone to emerge into a butterfly is to not cut short our time in the cocoon. Instead, recognize it's exactly what we need to grow those glorious wings and start to fly".

Have a beautiful day :)

Danielle Marie Crume

Self Love Rituals

Take a break from time to time and spend some time on your self. Make time for your most enjoyable rituals. Taking the time to do things you love will help revitalize you and allow you more resources to give and share with others. Nurturing yourself, in balance, will recharge you and allow more presence. One my most treasured daily moments is to connect with Source; it refills my well of energy within.

"When you love who you are, there is no thing unconquerable, no thing unreachable.

When you truly love yourself, you live in the light of your own laughter and travel the path of joy.

When you are in love with yourself, then that light ... extends itself to all humanity."~Ramtha

Ideally I spend at least one hour each day retreating into this space and developing my self. This time can often be shared with children or special partners who can work on their selves simultaneously.

Self Love Rituals:

o music/drums/dance/sing – Having sound in the room helps to create the environment. Often times sound can walk you through a feeling or experience. Feel the energy of the music washing over you. Shamanic drums help to ground and clear out old patterns. Dancing for ten minutes or more is a great way to shake off stale energy, liven yourself up, and burn some calories. It’s very fun to do with kids too. I feel happiest when music is playing all day long. It creates a different feeling for the day. I often sing loud at work with the lyrics. I find that involving as many senses as possible naturally facilitates your grandest presence: sound/music, smell/incense, and sight/candles all naturally connect me.

o envision your highest self – Expand your vision of your highest self and explore it. Expand limitations to discover new worlds. Keep this vision in focus daily to help make it reality. Rather than wallow in what is wrong, look at the opportunity and develop your highest vision of your self.

o walk/bike/be in nature/garden – Get out and soak it in. Calm and connect. Walking is great for your body and your mind. While you are out it is easier to feel present as you look at the details around you such as leaves on the trees. Tend to your garden or visit someone else's.

o exercise/yoga – Perform some type of body exercise and movement that will warm up the body and move it around, whatever you prefer. I rotate running and yoga rites that get all of your chakras spinning at equal rates, warm up the body beautifully, and can be done in as little as five minutes.

o pause: breathe/meditate – Take a moment 'out of time' and follow your breath or meditate, as you prefer. Feel timeless for a moment.

o have fun/play – Break for some fun and play! Allow the child within to have some old fashioned fun. Think back to what used to be your greatest past-times and get out and try them again. Make them even better. Truly having fun involves not being attached to any outcome.

o be free (do what you want for 1/2 hour+) - This means that you've spent a half hour or more doing what you want to do in that moment. This can be reading a magazine, napping, or doing something else already listed, whatever and however you prefer.

o read/write/draw/art – Read a book or article, write about your experience, draw, or create art. Express your creativity and your experience.

o water/vitamins – A reminder to drink a full 8 glasses of water or more – each day, all day - and take vitamins. It is ideal to drink 1 room temperature glass of water first thing in the morning and allow it to clean you out for 1/2 hour before ingesting anything else. Water flushes your system and cleans it. To make it a little more fun, you can drink teas, 100% juice, etc.

o nourish body/cook – Feed your body healthy, nourishing food for its ultimate creation. Prepare homemade food with natural ingredients or make sure what you eat is nourishing and providing the energy your body needs to be creative and productive. Remember fruits and vegetables! I recommend Dr. Andrew Weil's 8 Weeks to Optimum Health for everyone interested in feeling better (consult your doctor first).

o clean/organize space – Clean up after your self and organize your space in a way that is most beneficial and meaningful for you. Keeping your space clean assists you in feeling clear and energetic. Through decoration with items that remind you of experiences and lessons, your space can take on whole new meanings and become very functional. Organizing your space in a new way creates a fun freshness. This facilitates a higher level of creativity.

o water plants/care for pets – Take care of the gentle life outside of you that gives us air to breathe and keeps us happy. Talk to and feed this life consistently and share quality time. Great pleasure can be found in caring for another’s growth. Take time to care for life that is dependent. Nurture it, giving and receiving energy.

o soothing bath/relax – Take a soothing bath and/or relax. Step into your inner stillness for a moment. I prefer to take a nice soothing hot bath at least twice a week, but always aim for at least one great bath each week. Sometimes during the day, sometimes at night before bed. A hot bath with baking soda is the best way I have found to unwind and clear off happenings of my day; it is an INjoyable way to cleanse and relax. I treat myself to a salt scrub and then shave, leaving me smooth and feeling very sensual. On special occasions, I add rose petals, bath salts, lemon, and/or oils while playing music, lighting candles, and incense. As I clear these energies off me, I usually find that I realize things here and most clearly commune. Sometimes I read in the bath (this requires skill).

“The secret answer to all of life's questions

is pouring a box of baking soda in your bath water and listening.”

~Danielle Marie Crume

Take twelve breaths slowly while in the bath. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you take each breath in, breathe in newness and that which you desire. As you exhale, breathe out that which is no longer serving your highest good. This is a great time to pray for friends.

o lotion: face/body/eye cream – Moisturize, indulge, and protect your skin. Wear SPF 15 face lotion and apply eye cream twice a day (yes, you boys too). Apply lotion to your full body at least twice a week. As you care for your skin, you will feel healthier and look better. Spoil yourself in this way and make this a priority. Enjoy the sensuality of putting your lotion on.

o candles/incense – When candles and incense are lit, they have an effect on the whole room. They set the atmosphere and create a vibration that awakens and reminds. Frankincense has a very sacred meaning in religious history. As you light a candle, you can set a specific energy or meaning to it, making it even more powerful. For example, you can intend to feel creative while working on your music. Both of these help to create the essence of your environment.

Remember to take breaks from your computer or whatever you may do in one place for a long time. Get up and stretch, walk away, get water, or go hug someone; anything to break from your usual routine. Then you can return refreshed and with a centered mind. Please note that most states include a mandatory break period during work in addition to your minimal 1/2 hour lunch break. For example, California requires that each employee be given 2 ten-minute breaks in addition. I used one of these breaks every day to write in my WholeBook, make calls, and align my day with those I creatively work with. Sometimes I'd get outside and take a walk around the flowers in the parking lot. I took the second break to apply my face lotion, brush my teeth, and stretch.

I suggest everyone make little pockets of time like this for themselves. Don’t be too caught up in the overwhelming speediness of things that you never prioritize you and never take care of yourself!

Love,

Danielle Marie Crume