Thursday, June 21, 2007

You Have Always Had the Power - Day 8

The Ruby Slippers from the Wizard of Oz were the most facinating part of the movie for me. They personify my favorite movie line of all time, "You have always had the power." That was the moral of the story, for me, anyway...You have always had the power...

I repeat these words to myself when I need to accomlish something big or overwhelming...I have always had the power within myself to do anything I dreamed...and dreaming I do...

Today I am putting on my ruby slippers, clicking my heels three times, and saying "There's no place like home." I, like Dorothy, have taken a little detour on my life's path and I desperatly want to return home to my little beach house and live hapily ever after...I will be grateful each day for being able to live one of my top five life goals...to own a beach house.

You read the saga of how I ended up in Georgia 15 months ago...here...but you didn't know how I achieved a life dream in 2001...When we moved to Atlanta in 1990, I promised my daughter that we would not move again until she graduated high school...we had moved from Myrtle Beach, SC to Atlanta to Clearwater, FL to Atlanta to Fairfax, VA to Charleston, SC...I stayed until my daughter graduated college in 2000. I began searching for a home near the beach because my businesses as a muralist, teacher, and magazine editor could move with me anywhere...I was looking in South Carolina, but it had become very expensive and I would not have been able to get within miles of the ocean. One of my students told me about Fernandina Beach, so I made an exploratory trip and fell in love...


It is a sleepy shrimping town on Amelia Island, north east of Jacksonville. It is America's second oldest city and home of the modern shrimping industry...The historic district has a 50 block area of Victorian Painted Ladies...but it was the beachfront that won my heart! Beach cottages line the beach unlike most east coast shorelines which are littered with high rise hotels and condos. My student was builing a home on the Plantation and when I visited her, I fell in love the minute she opened the front door...The pocket slidding doors (left) were open and it was open and airy...I literally heard music...I wanted this house...we made a deal on the spot...and the rest is history...

So I am finally super excited about going home...it has taken me time to sort through feelings of failure and a sense of loss to get to this place...but I am here, ready to be home, I can't wait...

Today's aMUSEment - What are your life dreams? Do you have a list? In 1995 I wrote a list of 5 things I want to do/accomplish before I die...I worked on it several months until I was sure about each item... Begin your list today...get a special notebook or page of your journal and write things when they come to you...after a few months, you should be able to write the top 5 list..Remember You Have ALWAYS had the Power.

Here is my dear friend Tammi putting up the old light fixture after removing one of my chandiliers last night...she drove 10 hours, then did 4 light fixtures for me...she was gone before I woke at 6 AM this morning...God bless you and God speed...

You can see the blueprint of the slippers here.
(Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History)

GTD - pre-pay bills, disperse unwanted items, rent u-haul

Happy Summer - U Be Creative Today!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

That line rings true
You have always had the power.

A heart, a mind, courage and faith.

Anonymous said...

I will be 50 next year.....and this is a turning point which makes me work on a list.....will tell moar about it later in my blog.

By the way.....thanks for leading my paths to your creative blog. I feel at home here.

Linda said...

Just found your blog via Corey. I am inspired by your bravery to move, even when afraid, to a new place. Good for you. I was paralized by fear for a long time and I was afraid of change. It all happened anyway and I went through some black years, but everything is really great now. Thanks for the quote-"You have always had the power." That's a keeper.

Anonymous said...

WOW! That is so profound. I am going to use the ruby slippers analogy when I teach in the jail (I volunteer in the county jail and teach Bible studies there).
Except the 'power' that has always been 'there' for them is the Holy Spirit.
But, very very neat-o! I like it a lot- thanks!
(I found you from Singleton's blog, whom I have been visiting for almost a year now).

Darla said...

You are making such progress! I can nearly hear that ocean whispering sweet words in your ears.

I love where I am in life and I got here one little goal at a time.

One must not be complacent tho so maybe I'd better sit down and come up with a list for the next 5 years.

Darla

Anonymous said...

You are a miracle! I didn't realize all you have been through! Keep those Ruby Slippers on and you'll keep going where you are meant to be. I think I must find my own pair of Rubies!

Anonymous said...

i've never made a list of goals, they were always printed in my mind. they came and went and new one's were made. there is this last item i'm still dreaming of...a home in southern france. perhaps one day...i'll invite you.
you've reached many of your goals, rebecca and you're moving towards one of them again. i think the yellow brick road is just in front of you ;)
what a great friend you have there, driving 10 hours to assist you!! unique!!
ps. love the beautiful home and fire place on the picture!!

paris parfait said...

Thank you for visiting me. Your blog is lovely and hooray for you for following your dreams and finding that beachhouse! It sounds wonderful; am looking forward to seeing photos after you're moved and settled. I loved the ruby slippers in Wizard of Oz too and the message of that movie. Bonne chance in your move!

Anonymous said...

You certainly have been on a long, difficult personal journey, but it looks like you have found your way to home. You have such a positive outlook on life. You're an inspiration!

Anonymous said...

I loved reading this today - this is what I needed to hear - hooray for you Rebecca!

xox - eb.