Month March 2016

Sidewalk Chalk – the great restart

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Sidewalk chalk – the great restart

sidewalk chalk (3)

Creative expression at work

 

Sidewalk chalk is wonderful! Your drawings can be big, bold, beautiful, wacky or simple. Sidewalk chalk possesses limitless creative potential (just like you).

The chalk is enviable in its ability to blend, conceal, or brighten. The best part though is that you can always start new. Sidewalk chalk washes away with the slightest rain or a quick spray from the garden hose. It is this re-freshability that makes it the best. Often mistakes happen in our daily activities and we wish we could wash them away. Here’s the good news. Each new day is like that sidewalk chalk. Our errors and missteps fade in the night, and we get a clean slate to start with in the morning.

Today do not worry so much about the picture perfect day. Worry about missing the small details and enjoy the opportunities that are present. Go crazy with your colorful interjections. Extend your boundaries of kindness and consideration. Widen the brush stroke of the positive mark you make on those you encounter. Put your energy into a glorious intent of positivity and there is no grander picture!

By: Melanie A. Peters

Jelly beans

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Jelly beans – Magic beans?

Jelly beans

I love that jelly beans are one of the traditional treats of the Easter season. Easter is the time of year when we celebrate miracles. The miracle of spring. The miracles of light and life. The miracle of Christ’s resurrection. So what does this have to do with jelly beans?

Well, beans are a type of seed. Miracles make seeds grow. Seeds grow into fruitful things. Fruitful things are what make the world go round. (i.e. jelly beans plant happiness with their sugary goodness.)

It is fun to think of those colorful, sugary seeds as sweet starts to the season. They are almost magical in the way their flavors and colors blend together.

Similarly we each bring something special to the table. We all have our own color and tastes. We all have the power to start something new. We are all a part of the celebration of each day’s miracle. So, in many ways we are like jelly beans. Colorful. Fruitful. Magical.

Put your jelly bean magic to work today. Give your energy a sweet intent and miracles can happen.

By: Melanie A. Peters

Sprinkles

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Sprinkles – proof that little things can be great

sprinkles spilled

It never fails. When a dessert has sprinkles on top, you want it. Those little sugary specks make the treats that much more tempting. Other than texture, sprinkles don’t really change the dessert (usually), but they do something to enhance the appeal.

Sprinkles are like kind acts. They don’t take much to make a difference.  Try opening a door for someone, sending an encouraging e-mail, cupcake sprinklespicking up trash in the hallway, folding and putting away laundry. Any of these simple acts can  embellish the day for those around us.

Spread some cheer or add some color to your intentions today. Sprinkle those you encounter with bits of brightness, kindness, and positive energy. Make this day extra sweet (with sprinkles on top).

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

 

March on in

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March on in – Walk, run, march, strut, saunter, trudge, move

March in your style

No matter how you choose to march your way through life, make it count. March to the beat that best fits you.

My three-year-old has the BEST running motion ever. When he moves you can see the joy he feels as he kicks his little size 9’s into gear. He is smiling, his chin is out, his arms are swinging, and his legs are turning in directions that don’t look normal. He is MOVIN’.

I wish everyone could move with that same assuredness and joy. It would be so great if every time we took a step we did a little mental jig or our hearts would tap out a signature thump. Today take a moment to be grateful for you own personal gait. Consider what it is about you that makes you move or motivates you in your own special way. Put some intentional energy into your step and march right on up to your greatest potential. 

By: Melanie A. Peters

Dis-Clover Love Naturally

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Dis-clover love naturally

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Today many of us celebrate St. Patrick and the lessons he taught. St. Patrick was a terrific visionary. He is credited with divine clarification about the Holy Trinity through his explanation about God’s creation of the clover. St. Patrick explained to the Irish faithful that God, His son, and the Holy Spirit are all entities within the Trinity, just as the three leaves of the clover make it whole. He was also able to explain how God’s love for us is as natural as the ties that bind the clover leaves or the Trinity.

We are all created with a special purpose. We need to seek out the natural goodness within ourselves and the explanations that reveal themselves in the world around us. Disclover love naturally (1)These connections will allow us to have a stronger faith, love, and understanding of just how wonderfully our world is intertwined. Awareness of our connection to all of God’s creations can only enhance the energy behind our intents.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

 

By: Melanie A. Peters

Witnessing the Temporary

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Witnessing the temporary – Enjoy beautiful things while they last and look forward to their return.

Mary Pat flowers (6)1

Spring is a fleeting time. We all moan and groan for winter to hurry up and be gone, but then spring gets here and we want to wish it away, eager for summer’s sunshine and warm temps. There are so many things about spring that really need to be celebrated and cherished for their brevity. The blooms of early spring are so precious and delicate. Those little green leaves that poke through the brown remains of last fall’s foliage give us a little shot of refreshment from the grays of winter. The first tree frogs chirping and the first pesky flies flying are all signs of change.

We need to let those little signals fire up an appreciation for what is happening around us. Let your appreciation for the short-term scenery inspire a fresh look at each day’s experience.

Apply that fresh approach in your daily attitudes and the positivity can’t help but spring forward.

By: Melanie A. Peters

Season’s Greetings from Spring

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Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall – enjoy them all!
Mary flowers (1).jpg

Today take time to notice and give thanks for one element that makes up this miraculous season. Be it the plants, the fresh air, or the sounds that only this season’s nature brings (i.e. crickets chirping, leaves rustling, rain on the roof top, the crunch of snow underfoot.)

 

 

Look, listen, live, and love the uniqueness of this time of year. Do something that makes this season kinder to others. Sweep snow from your neighbor’s walk, hold an umbrella for a stranger, rake leaves for your church or school, clean up the local park. Be a part of the beauty of this season.

Season’s greetings!

signs of spring (1)

Green starting to pop as my mums make their spring debut.

By: Melanie A. Peters

Celebrating Month-a-versaries

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Month-a-versaries –

Happy 1 month-a-versary to Intentergy!

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Intentergy logo created by the amazing and talented Sonya Walker

 

Today marks one month since I hit that fateful “Publish” button and my Intentergy journey officially began. Sharing my posts has been a therapeutic and joyful experience, but has also been very humbling and created  feelings of vulnerability. I think this is normal of all those who write and I have faith that I can handle it.

I am especially grateful to all of my friends and family who have read and commented to me about my posts!!! Thank you!

Hopefully this month-a-versary is just the first of many.

It is my intent to encourage all of you to take on something that gives you pride and excitement. Please share my messages with those who could benefit their perspectives. I hope that the positivity in these posts will brighten and better the everyday lives of those who enjoy them.

Please go out and make your Intentergy count today!

By: Melanie A. Peters

Victory Dances

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Victory Dances – Whenever my yearbook staff is facing a final deadline and the pressure has been mounting, we have to do something to break the tension. One of the greatest stress relievers is to submit a completed spread.

Unfortunately hitting that “Submit” button also hits our “Fear of Failure” buttons. The best cure for fighting this post-submit anxiety is the victory dance.

Just like athletes in big time games, I challenge my students to have a signature dance move that they do after submitting one of their spreads. Most of my staff members look at dancing as more terrifying than turning in their pages, but once the tradition gets going each year, the fun starts flowing.

They learn to let go of those trepidations and move on to the next task at hand. They have boogied beyond the distress of self-doubt and letting go. AND letting go of fear and insecurity, ladies and gentlemen, is always worth dancing over.

By: Melanie A. Peters

Zone Defense for your Attitude

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Zone Defense attitude

Zone Defense – Running a zone defense requires players to maintain control of their assigned area on the court. If an opposing player comes into your zone with the ball, your job is to stop them from passing or scoring. Zone defense is really hard to run and can be even harder to break.

I like to think of attitude as a zone defense. We can let the negative thoughts and words of others penetrate our zone and score against our outlook OR we can stop those downers before they have a chance to make an impact on us.

Today, if you find yourself crowded by grumpiness or fouled by foulness of others, put up your positivity defenses. Adopt a solid stance about how great your life is and set yourself in the assuredness of your intent to be satisfied, kind, and grateful. Surround yourself with a team that provides support and has your back when you feel like you are on the weak side of your defenses.  Build your zone with energy that strengthens not diminishes the awesomeness of your life.

By: Melanie A. Peters