Learning To Fly

Having returned this week from a whirlwind trip of visiting family, I've been unpacking suitcases and Christmas presents and umm…avoiding the Mt. Kilimanjaro stack of paperwork on my desk that is my nemesis.

We all have something we avoid, even though we know a full-force effort would bring us tranquility, don't we?

If the New Year is all about New Starts and New Pledges, we must make room for them.

What do you need to clear out of your life from 2010 - clutter in the categories of stuff, emotions or relationships - to make space available for 2011 and new memory-making?

Because really, that junk you and I are holding onto that's eating our lunch and our peace - you know what it is - from a chaotic master closet to an odd case of the blues that won't leave you - those have to be dealt with before 2011 can be as shiny as you know it can be.

Here goes!

Your Stuff

Have a friend come over and be your 'accountability partner' in going through a space or two in your home that make you crazy. A closet. A garage that no longer has room for your car. The kitchen.

Put on music. Hug or high-five one another before you begin (I promise, that part is important!). Then set out bags labeled 'trash', 'give away' and 'keep.' Go through the entire space (no holding out), and get rid of more than seems necessary.

While you're purging, focus rather relentlessly on the fact that your discards will truly bless and delight someone else.

Your Emotions

You can do it - make an appointment with a professional counselor who will help you make sense of your disappointments or destructive habits. And move on. It really can be that simple. Bonus: your improved outlook will give the folks that love you a big fat break and a new smile, too. So go ahead and bless them by being courageous and kissing a few demons goodbye.

Your Relationships

Call the person you need to make peace with and just spit it out. Your words don't have to be perfect. Even if all you muster is, "I'm sorry that I didn't say 'Sorry' sooner." Or, "I miss you." Often, the courage it takes just to reach out and say something kind is enough to bring water to a parched relationship.

In honor of the New Year and all it holds for you, pick one thing that holds you back: then deal and kick it to the curb. You won't miss it like you think you will. You will be free, and truly capable of New.

After all, who you are isn't really about what you hold onto - it's about what you embrace.

Need extra encouragement? Pick up a copy (or Book on CD - great for commutes!) of Dr. Laura Schlessinger's 'Stop Whining, Start Living.' Good golly, it's awesome.

Now, I'm off to tackle my mountain of paper! And I think I'm taking champagne with me. Should make for more interesting file labels. : )

Happy New Year!

Love,

Melinda

P.S. Welcome new Super Much Love readers in Italy and Thailand! So happy to have you here.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Running Down a Dream

Happy Day-Before-Christmas-Eve.

Otherwise known as: Good Golly, I've-Got-to-Get-It-Completely-Together Day!

If you've had your shopping and wrapping done since mid-December, I salute you. I am not in your camp, but I admire you with the very gusto I reserve for folks who know a whole lot about wine or who possess a family crest they utilize in home decor and can explain with ease.

There's a measure of mysticism and depth about you, Fabled and Prepared-For-Christmas-One, that I just love. Now, if you'll just loan me that fancy wrapping paper cutter I saw advertised, but wouldn't give in to…because my scissors still (sort-of) work…and I secretly believed (a couple of weeks ago, at least) that some slightly jagged paper ends give an 'authentic and folksy' feel to gifts.

Anywhooo - it occurred to me whilst wrapping gifts yesterday, that our lives are like this - we're buying, wrapping or unwrapping pages of this lovely life all the time. And that's a very good thing.

You and I are either figuring out what we want (trying different jobs, friendships, ways to worship, places to live), going after what we want (tucking lessons learned in our front pockets and pursuing what makes our hearts race), or enjoying and sharing the fruits of all this running about.

The entirety of this is very productive work in my book, and may be reflected upon with a nice glass of wine in your hand. Please just ask my more culturally advanced friends which vintage to buy, as I'm prone to simply snapping up bottles with the coolest-looking labels.

Most days, I favor the adventure of the unknown ending, yet am forever indebted to my friends with map skills. Together, we seem to fulfill that fabulous Tom Petty song, 'Running Down a Dream.'

I rolled on as the sky grew dark

I put the pedal down to make some time

There's something good waitin' down this road

I'm pickin' up whatever is mine

Yeah, runnin' down a dream

That never would come to me

Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads

I'm runnin' down a dream

What dream has your name on it in the new year, Dear Reader?

Write it down, wrap it up, put it under the tree, and don't forget to tag it as yours. This is no Hallmark card stuff. This is your life!

Love,

Melinda

P.S. Wondering who won the SML giveaway of the $1000 American Express gift card? Well, we hit our goal of 20 countries lickety-split - in fact, 26 countries have now experienced Super Much Love, thanks to you! The most recent are Israel and Norway!

All that remains now for the giveaway is the goal of 200 Facebook Fans.

Please take a moment today to become a fan of the Super Much Love Facebook page.

Then hit the 'Suggest to Friends' button under our profile pic. Easy-peasy!

$1000 could come in handy for knocking out new year's resolutions, we say! Mmm-hmm!

Thank you for sharing Super Much Love - and good luck in the giveaway!

Photo Credit: Getty Images

You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore. And That's OK.

Relationships don't always work out. Friendships, romances, business partnerships - they all possess an element of fragility, and some simply seem to have a clock running that we can't hear or see. At least, not while it's clicking neatly beside us.

Often all we take in are two sets of footsteps marching or dancing forward. Until the clock stops, you look across at your partner, and see a bit of a stranger in their face. It's funny/odd, because you can still hear the music in your head.

So what do you do?

Well, tantrums and blame make you ugly and age faster, so those are out.

So...you think about the ways this person or relationship made you stretch and were good. How you dumped some things in yourself that don't work and learned really well some things that do.

You admit that you may have played a role in the music stopping.

You realize the fact that you are not currently dancing is not the definition of tragedy. Not really.

You apologize to your partner if your heart feels heavy with regret for words or actions. Clean and honest I am very sorry's are what keep this world spinning on its axis.

And you remember in your heart and throughout your cells that enjoyment is a gift. The Giver of all good things is still very much alive, and He ain't gonna leave you high and dry.

So maybe take a few moments to tell Him your version of what happened, what you think you need now to heal up (friends? good sleep?) and count a few of your blessings while you're still on the line with Him. Only good stuff comes from that.

Then feel the influx of what you'll always need most, whether rain or shine: peace.

Ah, yep - Heavenly Peace. That kind.

We all need it, no matter our brand of faith.

Breathe it in - it's yours for the asking.

Love,

-Melinda

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Keeping the Home Fires Burning

I had the privilege last week of visiting my good friend, Claudia, who is in her 80's. She's one of the youngest people I know - always encouraging me to visit other countries (her fave trips: Turkey, Italy and Greece), make friends with adventure and, for goodness's sake: Kiss The Boys!

I love her.

Last week, we were joined on the sofa by another of Claudia's friends - a wonderful, twinkle-in-the-eye Scottish woman, also 80-ish and endlessly feisty. In our conversation, the friend's thick, marvelous accent delivered a number of phrases worth writing down....such as when she stated the following about her age: "I'm not that old. There's snow on the rooftop, and a fire in the furnace!" And then she laughed with such a sassy strength.

It really didn't matter that we were sitting in a living area at a retirement community. We might has well have been perched at an outdoor table at a cafe in Paris, diving into chocolate crepes and finishing a nice bottle of cab.

These two ladies are more alive then most of the folks you'd find lined up for a sky diving class. They keep finding the joy in life, and providing it to folks like me, who are just learning, at 39, how to live.

And their hugs are the warmest darn things, without an ounce of hurry or worry.

Try dishing out a few of those today to folks who aren't expecting it.

Maybe plan a trip to somewhere for which you don't already know the airport code.

Or perhaps just put down the whirling gift wrap arsenal of paper, scissors and tape, and savor your role in keeping the home fires burning - be they for your significant other or the cherished friends and family that run your fabulous fan club.

Sofa. Glass of wine. Gratefulness. And maybe some Ronnie Milsap. The man had 26 number one hits - 'She Keeps the Home Fires Burning' is just the one I can't get out of my head. And neither should you! : )

Love,

Melinda

P.S. Thanks to you, dear readers, Super Much Love reached three new countries this week - Brazil, Turkey and Poland! Please continue sharing SML with your friends by "liking" the Super Much Love Facebook Fan Page, "liking" and "sharing" individual entries, hitting 'Suggest to Friends' or simply buying a big fat billboard along your morning commute with www.SuperMuchLove.com on it. You rock my world with your kindness!

Photo Credit: Getty Images

What's in a Name? Why, Everything!

With a surname of "Jones," it's rare that I'm asked to spell my name. I had a friend in college, however, who sported a fabulously exotic 16-letter last name. I can still spell it to this day.

Names are inherently marvelous, no matter how simple or protracted. They tell of a bit of where we come from, and leave things blessedly open in terms of where we're going. We have our entire lives to determine what our names will mean to others. YUM. Opportunity!

So celebrate the one you've been given, or have bestowed upon another.

Put it in the very capable, stylish hands of All Spelled Out.

Love child of the wonderfully gifted interior designer, Maureen Koopman, All Spelled Out takes your name/monogram/special word and color scheme and crafts a wonderful keepsake in the form of a hand-painted canvas featuring birch letters.

Whether you wish to note the year your family was established, a baby's name, a cherished pet's moniker or a funny family quip, no one handles happy words in your home like Koopman.

Visit her All Spelled Out Etsy site - you can on-the-spot purchase something you see and must have, or inquire about a custom design. She'll lovingly work with your exact fabrics/materials - be it wallpaper, baby's crib bedding or sofa pillows! - to create a special canvas that looks fabulous in your decor. You'll even receive a proof for approval via email before your canvas goes into production, to make sure you're 100% happy.

Whether your style is modern or traditional - or somewhere in between - All Spelled Out gets it!

These canvases make fantastic holiday gifts (and many are under $50!). They're also lovely for wedding and new home gifts, and baby showers.

Get 15% off your order with code SML15 at checkout on All Spelled Out's Etsy site.

For SML readers outside the U.S.: I have confirmed that international shipping is no trouble at all! : )

Love,

Melinda

P.S. I SO, SO much appreciate your sharing Super Much Love with friends and family, and "liking" the SML Facebook page! Thanks to your sweet selves, this little blog is now being read in 16 countries.

A warm welcome to new Super Much Love readers in Ireland, Slovakia and Taiwan! MUAH, BESOS, KISSES to everyone!

Photo Courtesy: All Spelled Out