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	<title>how to live a good life Archives - Kate M Foster</title>
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	<title>how to live a good life Archives - Kate M Foster</title>
	<link>https://www.katemfoster.com/tag/how-to-live-a-good-life/</link>
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		<title>Kindness and the art of being blessed.</title>
		<link>https://www.katemfoster.com/kindness-art-blessed/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ged Johnson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 2016 14:08:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Everyday moments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bless]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blessed]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to live a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[humans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kate M Foster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kindness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life lessons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[real life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.katemfoster.com/?p=1055</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; This past week i have been reflecting on the kindness of others. I have been inundated with snail mail, cooked meals, warm conversations, friendly smiles and my husband even returned home with some wildflowers. My life is immeasurably blessed. And these blessings got me reflecting on the moments that have impacted or changed my life&#8230; </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/kindness-art-blessed/">Kindness and the art of being blessed.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>This past week i have been reflecting on the kindness of others. I have been inundated with snail mail, cooked meals, warm conversations, friendly smiles and my husband even returned home with some wildflowers. My life is immeasurably blessed. And these blessings got me reflecting on the moments that have impacted or changed my life the most. And every single one of these moments have been where others chose to bring kindness, to show up and share generously their time, words or service.</p>
<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1061 size-large" src="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/kindness-1024x1024.jpg" alt="kindness" width="790" height="790" srcset="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/kindness-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/kindness-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/kindness-100x100.jpg 100w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/kindness-600x600.jpg 600w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/kindness-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/kindness.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px" /></p>
<p>Blessing others has a funny way of rubbing off on all involved.</p>
<p>Its not every week I get inundated with external worldly blessings like i mentioned above. Life has many seasons. Regardless of how it looks, i rest in the beauty of my life, i love it entirely and i intend to share this joy with the whole world if they want it!</p>
<p>In the everyday rhythm of living i focus on what my mama taught me when i was little. If you want kindness, you have to bring it. (This applies to most things: Happiness, love, peace etc). We need to embody what we yearn for most. We need to be the person we wish was there for us. We need to share the kindness we may love to receive, offer the support we know buoys and nourishes our life.</p>
<p>Because in some strange way it doesn&#8217;t matter which way kindness is flowing, the simple fact is that when someone brings it, the likely hood is that &#8216;kindness&#8217; will find a way to infect almost everyone nearby. Even if i witness random strangers being blessed by others, i feel warm and fuzzy and grateful.</p>
<p>Have a beautiful week brave hearts. Keep sharing what you yearn for most. Planetary happiness really does depend on each of us. Now more than ever its important to remember we are the ones we have been waiting for!! Get gifting your gifts! The time is now.</p>
<p>With love and kindness from my heart, xo.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/kindness-art-blessed/">Kindness and the art of being blessed.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
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		<title>Love looks like this</title>
		<link>https://www.katemfoster.com/love-looks-like/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ged Johnson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2016 13:54:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to live a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kate M Foster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the small things in life]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.katemfoster.com/?p=910</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>This is my favourite cup. I love it for so many reasons. It was handmade. It&#8217;s happy. It was squeezed in the middle before it was fired so it feels just right in your hand. It&#8217;s the perfect size. I never finish a full cup of tea in any other mug. It fits conveniently inside&#8230; </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/love-looks-like/">Love looks like this</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is my favourite cup. I love it for so many reasons. It was handmade. It&#8217;s happy. It was squeezed in the middle before it was fired so it feels just right in your hand. It&#8217;s the perfect size. I never finish a full cup of tea in any other mug. It fits conveniently inside my beloveds mug (important in a caravan with limited space). And it&#8217;s broken. A particularly rough country road shook our cupboards all over. It broke clean in half.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-911" src="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image-1024x768.jpeg" alt="image" width="800" height="600" srcset="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image-600x450.jpeg 600w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image-900x675.jpeg 900w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image-1280x960.jpeg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p>Look closely at this picture. It explains love. I was sad when I found my broken cup. Tea is a ritual in our home. I have treasured every tea I&#8217;ve had in it. I wasn&#8217;t ready to let it go. Almost defiantly I left the broken remnants on the bench to contemplate the next step&#8230;</p>
<p>I busied myself with cleaning and errands. Miss four interrupted asking for tape. I contemplated saying no as I was busy and it felt inconvenient yet I took a deep breath and rummaged through my Tetris caravan cupboards to find it. 10 or 15 minutes later I enquired what she was doing with the scissors and tape and with big joyful eyes she smiled and presented me with my cup. It&#8217;s all fixed mama. Bless her heart, it was completely sticky taped together. Even the gaping hole in the bottom had tape clumsily hanging over it.</p>
<p>The whole world opened to me in that moment and I remembered the truth of life.</p>
<p>Our innocents hearts are the same.</p>
<p>Eternally loving, infinitely giving, courageously vulnerable, showing up to perform the impossible.</p>
<p>May we all be blessed with innocent hearts.</p>
<p>Love and kindness &#x2764;&#xfe0f;KMF</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/love-looks-like/">Love looks like this</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
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		<title>Letting Love In&#8230;</title>
		<link>https://www.katemfoster.com/letting-love-in/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ged Johnson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2016 00:08:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[find love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to find love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to live a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kate M Foster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[let love in]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[letting love in]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travels with a born again Buddhist]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.katemfoster.com/?p=902</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>For as long as I can remember i&#8217;ve been in love with love. I&#8217;ve searched and questioned and yearned and wanted to understand it since I was a tiny girl. When I was four I came to the understanding that as you grew, if you let it, love would turn you into a big warm&#8230; </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/letting-love-in/">Letting Love In&#8230;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For as long as I can remember i&#8217;ve been in love with love. I&#8217;ve searched and questioned and yearned and wanted to understand it since I was a tiny girl. When I was four I came to the understanding that as you grew, if you let it, love would turn you into a big warm hug. And if you didn&#8217;t let it in, you became a sharp corner no one wanted to bump into. Three decades on this insight still serves me well. The difference now is that i have had plenty of opportunities to make friends with my own sharp corners.</p>
<p>For countless years I searched for love, wanted to be loved, wanted to be cherished and all at the same time didn&#8217;t understand what vulnerability was required to actually become saturated with that juicy goodness.</p>
<p>The world in addition to the countless Disney movies I consumed taught me love was meant to feel good, if it didn&#8217;t feel good it wasn&#8217;t love. And love most definitely was an outside job. For love to be real it must come from someone or something outside my own shadow filled self. It must be profound, convenient and clearly labelled, these were the kinds of things that I believed made love real.</p>
<p>(For the record let me be clear here when i speak about love not always feeling good, I am in no way referring to any kind of violence. Violence, emotional, physical or any other kind is NEVER ok and absolutely NOT any part of love. It must not be tolerated, accepted or hidden. Ever. Ever.)</p>
<p>When I speak of the parts of love that don&#8217;t feel good what I am referring to is the willingness inside myself to move towards those aspects of myself I found and sometimes still find undesirable. You see it would have been highly convenient if the world or someone else could love those undesirable bits of me so i could feel good, accepted, valued, beautiful, enough. I wanted my worthiness to come from an external source.  An external person. An external thing. (Addiction lives here). And although sometimes love can be reflected back to us by something outside of ourselves, it is only ever a signpost back to the truth of what is already in existence inside of us. Love is an inside job, any other version rarely lasts long.</p>
<p>Some of my demands were for someone to love and cherish me the way I deserved. And the shit storm started there. Because when someone does love and support you so entirely and you still feel unworthy, you have the opportunity to turn and face the truth, to run or to suffer. There is no where else to hide. If every external demand you have made has been met and you are still not happy, its time to face the music. The internal music. The song that never ends.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s what i call the hot seat. This hot seat is the invitation you have been waiting for your whole life. It&#8217;s your deepest yearning to get real and honest and messy so you can make friends with your own internal chaos. But more about that in my upcoming book.</p>
<p>What I can share with you now is this.</p>
<p>By turning towards all that petrified me about myself, by finding the courage to sit and make friends with my yucky icky undesirable shame filled bits, this divine man appeared in my life. And when he appeared I turned towards myself, and him.</p>
<p>He showed up and I let him in. In doing so I stood far beyond any confines of comfort I had ever known in my life. It hasn&#8217;t changed.</p>
<p>I vulnerably love with all my being and at the same time i know it is 100 percent guaranteed one of us will leave the other. That happens to everyone we know and love. We leave each other. We all eventually have to farewell this life. Our time is finite.</p>
<p>So when he pulls over in the car and wanders off into a paddock I wait. I sit, I weave and reflect. And when he appears back at the side of the car with these in his hands love leaks out my eyes. I see him. I love. I let that love in. It breaks me. And in my sacred brokenness my light floods out and touches the world.</p>
<p>My heart is willing to make friends with my sharp corners and from there I can be that big warm hug the world is desperate for.</p>
<p>I show up,</p>
<p>In love and service,</p>
<p>K xoxo</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-903" src="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_0176-768x1024.jpg" alt="Mr Rob Foster" width="768" height="1024" srcset="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_0176-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_0176-600x800.jpg 600w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_0176-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_0176-900x1200.jpg 900w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_0176-1280x1707.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/letting-love-in/">Letting Love In&#8230;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
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		<title>The simple Truth.</title>
		<link>https://www.katemfoster.com/simple-truth/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ged Johnson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 May 2016 22:49:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[be kind]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[be kind to yourself]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to live a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kate M Foster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the simple truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[truth]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.katemfoster.com/?p=888</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>My message is this: Show up. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. Its that simple. Remember life is not as complicated as we pretend it to be.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/simple-truth/">The simple Truth.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-889 size-large" src="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/image-683x1024.png" alt="Simple Truth" width="683" height="1024" srcset="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/image-683x1024.png 683w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/image-600x900.png 600w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/image-200x300.png 200w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/image-900x1350.png 900w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/image-1280x1920.png 1280w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/image.png 1365w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /></p>
<p>My message is this:</p>
<p>Show up.</p>
<p>Be kind to yourself.</p>
<p>Be kind to others.</p>
<p>Its that simple.</p>
<p>Remember life is not as complicated as we pretend it to be.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/simple-truth/">The simple Truth.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
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		<title>This I know to be Truth.</title>
		<link>https://www.katemfoster.com/this-i-know-truth/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ged Johnson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 May 2016 09:12:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[courage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[growing up]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to live a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kate M Foster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.katemfoster.com/?p=847</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>When I was a child kids would often tease me saying: Who do you think you are? You walk like you are someone special. You talk like you are someone special. Who made you queen? It was hard because alongside their accusations I had my own &#8216;what is the meaning of life thing&#8217; going on.&#8230; </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/this-i-know-truth/">This I know to be Truth.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When I was a child kids would often tease me saying: Who do you think you are? You walk like you are someone special. You talk like you are someone special. Who made you queen?</p>
<p>It was hard because alongside their accusations I had my own &#8216;what is the meaning of life thing&#8217; going on. To be honest I can&#8217;t remember a time I wasn&#8217;t asking myself who I was? Questioning what this whole shebang of a life is about. What is the meaning of it all? And what is my place in it? And how do I serve the world without rocking the boat and being judged?</p>
<p>Mostly the common line of accusations and questions from the kids perplexed me because:<br />
a) I knew part of me was whatever God was, so of course I was special.<br />
b) They too were made of this same sacred source, them and I were entirely the same and I had no sense of feeling &#8216;more than&#8217; or &#8216; better than&#8217; any of them.<br />
And<br />
c) When I would speak up about this sacred equality the rebuke of &#8216;listen to how you sound&#8217; or &#8216;sure, you just walk like you&#8217;re better than the rest of us&#8217; and similar would fly back at me.</p>
<p>Regardless of my efforts I could never convey the sense of sacred equality I felt with the whole world, at least not in a way they could understand.</p>
<p>So I started writing. I wrote to that divine source I didn&#8217;t entirely understand. And I listened for answers.</p>
<p>And I set about the business of playing it small. Not speaking up. If the mere presence of my voice, something I had no control over the sound of, was making people feel inferior then I better shut up. Keep quiet. Not stand out.</p>
<p>And this worked for a while.</p>
<p>Hiding does.</p>
<p>Yet hiding is never a permanent fix. It only works until life&#8217;s patience runs out.<br />
Some of life&#8217;s plans for me were relentless spiritual seeking and study, reflection and even deeper questioning. I started 10 day silent retreats when I was 20. And for the first time I really understood that silence and being alone was my medicine. Gee maybe it&#8217;s even the worlds medicine.</p>
<p>Over the years Ive remembered many things about the truth of life and of course I&#8217;ve made peace with living in my own skin.</p>
<p>My voice, I&#8217;m so thankful for it. It&#8217;s one of the ways I share with the world. My walk, it&#8217;s taken me all over this precious earth, and in each place I&#8217;ve visited, I&#8217;ve shared kindness and love while serving and benefiting others.</p>
<p>Sometimes the remnants of these childhood experiences still guide me to new insights.<br />
As I draw closer to 40 and step into a deeper role of teaching and serving the world I&#8217;ve been reflecting on what&#8217;s changing within my awareness.</p>
<p>When I look at the world I still see fragments of the divine. Each person a manifestation of truth. However I&#8217;m understanding more and more how we are all in different stages of remembering. So while we may all be equal, we all don&#8217;t know this to be true.</p>
<p>And this is why I teach. This is why I create sacred space and offer workshops and retreats. Why I share my heart daily. Why I show up vulnerable and real and write and speak.</p>
<p>Because my life purpose is to embody truth and share that with everyone, reflecting wakefulness through each phase and season of life.</p>
<p>Yes it takes courage for to be seen. To be heard. Yet I believe all beings are destined for liberation, me included and so my commitment is to be in service of all.</p>
<p>My invitation to the world is this. Draw near. You have full permission to remember. Come, I offer you all that I am. Share with me. Travel alongside me. Take what you wish from my offerings and leave the rest. All you need do is take the next natural step. And in return for your courage I dedicate and offer my entire existence to serving all beings, for this life and all future lifetimes if they come about. I am unwavering in my dedication.</p>
<p>This I know to be truth.</p>
<p>So whenever you are ready, I&#8217;m here.</p>
<p>See you on the road my friend &#x2764;&#xfe0f;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-845" src="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8728.jpg" alt="Kate M Foster" width="720" height="639" srcset="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8728.jpg 720w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8728-600x533.jpg 600w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8728-300x266.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/this-i-know-truth/">This I know to be Truth.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
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		<title>Every family is different</title>
		<link>https://www.katemfoster.com/every-family-is-different/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ged Johnson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 May 2016 01:45:21 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Everyday moments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blended family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[communication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to live a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kate M Foster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life balance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living a full life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nonviolent communication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NVC]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.katemfoster.com/?p=833</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Our family happens to be a blended one. Is it hard? Of course, all families are hard sometimes. Do we agree on everything? No way, what family does? Do we all show up when we are tired and grumpy and out of our depths? Yep. That&#8217;s courage, we couldn&#8217;t live without it. Do we get&#8230; </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/every-family-is-different/">Every family is different</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Our family happens to be a blended one.</p>
<p>Is it hard? Of course, all families are hard sometimes.</p>
<p>Do we agree on everything? No way, what family does?</p>
<p>Do we all show up when we are tired and grumpy and out of our depths? Yep. That&#8217;s courage, we couldn&#8217;t live without it.</p>
<p>Do we get scared? Overwhelmed? Feel out of our comfort zone? Absolutely, all of us, regularly.</p>
<figure id="attachment_831" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-831" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8711.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-831" src="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8711.jpg" width="600" height="800" srcset="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8711.jpg 3024w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8711-600x800.jpg 600w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8711-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8711-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8711-900x1200.jpg 900w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8711-1280x1707.jpg 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-831" class="wp-caption-text"><center>(My eldest boarding a flight in Melbourne this morning to her dad and other mother.)</center></figcaption></figure>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>You see blended families contain humans. And like all other humans on the planet we are fragile creatures. We each carry our own histories of hurts and heart breaks and dreams. All of us, without exception desire happiness and peace. And all of us would love to avoid sadness and suffering.</p>
<p>Do we manage happiness and peace all of the time. Of course not, and I&#8217;m not sure it would be helpful anyway. You see it is the seasons that bring change and growth and transformation. It&#8217;s the seasons that steal our leaves and scatter them at our feet. They strip our branches and then by some act of grace, when we&#8217;ve finally got to a place of acceptance on how our life really is now, that same fierce grace thrusts new blossoms upon branches, highlighting our vulnerability once again.</p>
<p>Regardless of how uncomfortable the seasons make us or what thoughts we have about their presence in our lives, we need them. They give us life. The seasons serve us. Support us. Encourage us. Guide us.</p>
<p>You see a raw diamond is nothing special. We may not even notice it. For diamonds require polishing. Lots of polishing. They are slow to submit yet once cut are profound reflectors of light and beauty.</p>
<p>Families are diamonds. Multi faceted diamonds.</p>
<p>To think we can have the light without the polishing is insanity.</p>
<p>Each family comes with unique challenges and blessings, so of course each family will require different tools and polishing.</p>
<p>For our family, communication has been the master polisher. Lots of it. More than is comfortable. Communication married to willing vulnerable hearts, clear far sighted intentions, life long motivations to support and benefit our child, and grace. Truckloads of grace.</p>
<p>You see communication creates trust. I&#8217;ve even heard it said that the definition of trust is communication. And with this definition, trust is never permanently lost, regardless of what has happened. Life asks from us a deep commitment to communicate, and when things are hard, to show up and communicate again. Supporting our family means regularly checking in with our far reaching intentions, communicating more than we find convenient and having courage to rebuild trust and connection in the hard times.</p>
<p>In families we are often very quick to jump to conclusions or judge others. We form ideas and interpretations of what things mean and can forget that first and foremost true communication begins with ourselves. Communication involves deep inner honesty and truth telling. True communication demands we show up and do our inner work. How can we ever be pillars of strength and trust and truth for anyone else if we have not made space to listen and honour our own hearts?</p>
<p>The most helpful and supportive learnings I&#8217;ve ever had for connecting and understanding myself and others is <a href="http://www.nvcaustralia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NVC</a>. Nonviolent communication (or compassionate communication as it is also known) has become the foundation I&#8217;ve rebuilt my life around. When I was at a critical time of upheaval and change, in the early years of becoming a blended family, NVC, by some act of grace appeared in my life. Maybe reading this is the gentle nudge or invitation you&#8217;ve been waiting for? Maybe your way is different? Honour your guidance.</p>
<p>If you are interested I encourage you to google NVC. You will find countless free YouTube clips by its founder Marshall Rosenberg. There are books, teachings, retreats and more accessible all over the world. I rarely recommend teachers to others however I would not hesitate in recommending Shari Elle, a world renowned trainer I have studied with who is based in Sydney Australia. She runs regular foundation trainings all over the country. A two day time investment will change your life.</p>
<p>So whatever season you find yourself in right now and regardless of how your garden looks, I encourage you to take heart. To turn towards the insurmountable hills. To brave up and take time to get honest with the deepest parts of yourself.</p>
<p>And I assure you that with an open, willing and vulnerable heart, a dedication to learning and courage to move towards that which scares you, grace WILL find a way to move in your life.</p>
<p>Your diamond is being cut and polished, it is growing more luminous as you come to trust in the ever changing seasons of your own heart and life.</p>
<p>Take care my friend, we are not so different you and I.</p>
<p>Love and kindness<br />
K xo</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/every-family-is-different/">Every family is different</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
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		<title>Scary successful shiny spiritual women who appear to have it all&#8230;</title>
		<link>https://www.katemfoster.com/scary-successful-shiny-spiritual-women-who-appear-to-have-it-all/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ged Johnson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2016 12:13:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Everyday moments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[everyday moments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to live a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kate M Foster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[successful women]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travels with a born again Buddhist]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.katemfoster.com/?p=817</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>You know what, I&#8217;m surrounded by divine women. Wise, beautiful, courageous, spiritual divine women. Powerful and strong women that bring profound goodness to this world every single day. And you know what else, some days that scares the pants off me. My inner Tourettes gets so out of control I paralyse myself. I get to&#8230; </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/scary-successful-shiny-spiritual-women-who-appear-to-have-it-all/">Scary successful shiny spiritual women who appear to have it all&#8230;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You know what, I&#8217;m surrounded by divine women. Wise, beautiful, courageous, spiritual divine women. Powerful and strong women that bring profound goodness to this world every single day. And you know what else, some days that scares the pants off me. My inner Tourettes gets so out of control I paralyse myself. I get to doubting I have anything of value to offer this world. I get an internal roll on, &#8220;who do you think you are believing you have gifts to give this world&#8230; And your book&#8230;. Pfttt&#8230;.. Don&#8217;t even embarrass yourself.&#8221;</p>
<p>It&#8217;s true, my gifts are not better than anyone else&#8217;s, and measuring myself against any other human is never going to end well. There are millions if not billions of people with greater insight, grace, compassion, wisdom, workshops, books, the list goes on.<br />
Maybe I am foolish for baring my heart each day, unleashing my fragile revelations into the ethers to be carved up by the masses. God knows I am judged, hell I even judge myself.</p>
<p>The truth is this, I do have a choice. I can silence myself, spiral inwards and downwards and turn against myself&#8230;.   Or I can choose to show up vulnerable, to keep getting my brave on, to continue nakedly and foolishly offering what I have each moment as the most precious gift I can share. I call it &#8216;showing up anyway&#8217;. Its me, raw and real and often inadequately messy yet so holy divinely devoted to serve with every cell of my being.</p>
<p>So don&#8217;t come to me seeking perfection. Don&#8217;t expect infallible wisdom. Rather come with all of your vulnerabilities, your questions, your willingness, your fragile messy hearts and together we can explore and remember that which we never truly forgot in the first place.</p>
<p>No one has life sorted all the time. We are not meant to. We are the seasons and our only job is to not turn from whatever weather we find ourselves in.</p>
<p>Tonight I face the winds of change. I know not what they bring. I&#8217;m showing up anyway. Fragile, uncertain, scared, doubtful, real, willing, dedicated and brave. You see a queen wears her crown regardless of weather and I&#8217;ve got that damn thing on, shiny, wobbly, visible.</p>
<p>I look forward to seeing you out there fellow traveller, I need you, your brave heart inspires me, it encourages me onwards. Together we&#8217;ve got this &#x2764;&#xfe0f; xox</p>
<p>June Sunshine Coast Workshop details coming soon&#8230;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-837" src="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8573-768x1024.jpg" alt="Kate M Foster" width="600" height="800" srcset="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8573-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8573-600x800.jpg 600w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8573-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8573-900x1200.jpg 900w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8573-1280x1707.jpg 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/scary-successful-shiny-spiritual-women-who-appear-to-have-it-all/">Scary successful shiny spiritual women who appear to have it all&#8230;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
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		<title>Here&#8217;s an inside view of my inner landscape in the midst of a meltdown.</title>
		<link>https://www.katemfoster.com/inside-view-of-my-meltdown/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ged Johnson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2016 10:58:15 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[honesty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to deal with a meltdown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to live a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kate M Foster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living a full life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[meltdown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal meltdown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[real life]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.katemfoster.com/?p=806</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Chaos calls forth change&#8230; Look at birth&#8230; It&#8217;s messy! (I just discovered these reflections on moving out of our home and reinventing our life. It was written at the end of last year. I often write my way through chapters. You are welcome to read and harvest what you wish.) I&#8217;m at that pointy end&#8230; </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/inside-view-of-my-meltdown/">Here&#8217;s an inside view of my inner landscape in the midst of a meltdown.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Chaos calls forth change&#8230; Look at birth&#8230; It&#8217;s messy!</p>
<p>(I just discovered these reflections on moving out of our home and reinventing our life. It was written at the end of last year. I often write my way through chapters. You are welcome to read and harvest what you wish.)</p>
<p>I&#8217;m at that pointy end of the deal where there is the hugest, fattest invitation to get involved with my thoughts&#8230; To entertain them, get intimate with them, believe them, serenade them, define myself by them and most of all, to pick them up and run like hell down God knows what track at a break necking pace, doubting myself and questioning my sanity while carrying them on my shoulders.</p>
<p>But, I&#8217;ve been there, and done that run more times than I could count. And while in my desperation I could almost convince myself it&#8217;s a charming option, the stillness inside of me is deciding to rest on the side of surrender.</p>
<p>For me, surrender is not shiny or pretty or charming, but it is EASY when you feel THIS tired! Ease CAN be the best option. The world of course won&#8217;t tell you that, because mostly we are taught that we must push beyond our capacity, we must do our best (which by the way is usually just outside our human capacity) and show up &#8216;switched on&#8217; with positivity at any cost. There seems to be little room for exhaustion, self connection, deep questions, honesty, self care, authentic expression or curiosity. Don&#8217;t get me wrong, there certainly is a time for pushing (like if you were exhausted and crossing a road and a bus was headed for you&#8230;) but in a lot of instances, kindness and compassion looks like ease and surrender, not necessarily shoving the hell out of yourself.</p>
<p>Life is big. Most people I know are moving at such a fast pace with an enormous load that there is very little spaciousness left in their moments. We tend to place our happiness in time, either at a future event when EVERYTHING is going to be exactly as we want it to be, or we place it in the past, where things WERE actually entirely wonderful (at least according to our limited memory). We forget our bodies are temporary rentals and that life doesn&#8217;t allow US to relentlessly push them. Nature doesn&#8217;t continue any cycle unendingly. Where in the world is it always summer? Or where in the ocean is it always high tide? Are we not bound by similar forces?</p>
<p>We modern humans juggle so many balls that living a healthy life is often out of our reach. We worry, have trouble sleeping, over eat, under eat then serve ourselves guilt and shame. We are so busy maintaining this demanding pace that we often don&#8217;t slow to reflect and smell the roses until life takes control of the reins. And when this happens, as it inevitably does, we are reminded how little of life is really within our control. I love that Buddhist saying, &#8220;relax, nothing is under control!&#8221; It may be a mind flip, however, regardless of our personal opinions, life does inevitably impose change, reminding us our CEO position is certainly not reliable nor secure. Sometimes change is wrapped in illness or loss, more times than not it involves suffering. My teacher Adyashanti often says suffering is the great awakener, and I&#8217;ve experienced this so many times in my own life. I&#8217;m not sure why but I tend to learn the most through hardship. Bless the people who learn and grow with joy and grace &#8216;rainbows and butterflies style&#8217;. Truth be known, I&#8217;ve rarely managed this. For some reason I&#8217;ve often needed hardcore super course sandpaper to prepare me for surrender.</p>
<p>Yet&#8230;</p>
<p>Not this time!</p>
<p>I&#8217;m intercepting the &#8220;it has to be hard and full of suffering habit&#8221; and inviting in a new way.</p>
<p>Yes i&#8217;m curious about where this road show is headed, but rest assured I&#8217;m not bulldozing my way into it!</p>
<p>Yesterday I spent 2 hours on my hands and knees picking up pebbles and rocks from a dirt floor soon to become our temporary living area.</p>
<p>-Insert crazy here.-</p>
<p>The past year has overflowed with richness for me. I&#8217;ve lost precious people, grieved, worked hard at inviting discernment and the word &#8216;NO&#8217; into my life which translated into saying yes to a whole lot more and I finally married my beloved. It&#8217;s been a big beautiful messy year. And what I&#8217;ve discovered in a nut shell is this:</p>
<p>1) Time is shorter than I think. I don&#8217;t actually know how many more breaths I&#8217;ve got. Or how many more my loved ones have either. And I want to love all over them and the world with as much of my heart and time as possible.</p>
<p>2) Having a big beautiful house is an immeasurable blessing and also a shitload of work and distraction from what matters to me the most.</p>
<p>3)I want to play with my children, haphazardly with reckless abandon.</p>
<p>4) I suck at playing with my children when I spend my days saying YES to too many societal or worldly invitations and not enough NO&#8217;s to things that don&#8217;t really matter.</p>
<p>5) I also suck at living in disorder or chaos and am so habituated to work to &#8216;straighten things out&#8217;, and rather than playing or writing,  I loyally serve the tasks of my house.</p>
<p>6) I&#8217;m ready. I&#8217;m ready to let go. I&#8217;m ready to play. I&#8217;m ready to give through my vulnerable authentic heart. I&#8217;m ready to &#8216;not know&#8217;.</p>
<p>And from this place I asked my husband if he would consider moving out of our home and into a caravan so I could simplify life down to what is fully present in my heart, right now&#8230; And this looks like time and spaciousness with my precious family, and time to write and explore this beautiful country we live in.  (I also plan to finish this book and surrender it to the world while I&#8217;m still alive!!)</p>
<p>Being an adventurous soul he was on board straight away. As was our youngest &#8211; 4 years. But miss 8, while she loves camping and travel, is super reluctant to leave her school for a year. She loves it. Loves her guides, her friends, the opportunities the school community offers. I can highly recommend Montessori Education! And while she has visions of where she wants to travel and clearly sees the market stall she wants to create, her sensitivity cautions her to change. I honour that! I&#8217;ve been a fool many times over and dived deep. Yet it&#8217;s a dance to hold her precious and also trust the alive invitations of life. Questioning my intentions can be another well wrapped invitation to mother guilt. Reminder to self: Unwrapping mother guilt IS optional.</p>
<p>Where I&#8217;m sitting now is smack bang in the middle of a house half packed, overflowing with chaos, and a bush camp half created yet far from complete. And I&#8217;m exhausted. I landed back here a week ago after a few weeks retreat in the USA. Silence is wonderful for clarity and surrender. I&#8217;ve begun the climb out of one overflowing constant life into a simpler more spacious one. Yet I&#8217;m in the messy middle. My previous life is dismantled and offers little comfort, yet the new foundations have a way to go before they offer any stability.</p>
<p>Any sense of comfort, safety or sanity is not going to come from outside of me. It&#8217;s a complete shitfight everywhere I look. This middle gap asks a real lot of me and offers nothing in return. And I could shove, push, force myself relentlessly, yet the sense I get is this:</p>
<p>Yes, keep showing up, however hold your heart tenderly, it is ever so courageous and precious and now is not a time for doubt or discouragement. Encourage it to trust, but please, no force. Invite what ever is present, be it pretty, ugly or indifferent to come, sit and drink tea. Sure, you may be a complete nutter giving up your home, maybe your children won&#8217;t be able to stand playing with you and your book will be a total flop, but that aliveness that is guiding you now and has guided you countless other times before has offered a 100% survival rate so far. Lean into those odds. And keep listening. The silence is loud if you take a moment to acknowledge it. Let&#8217;s &#8216;check in&#8217; in a few months and see how this new life change is unfolding.</p>
<p>And in the meantime, be brave and ever so kind to yourself. Hang in there woman, you are doing a great job.</p>
<p>You never know what&#8217;s in store.<br />
Take care dear ones.</p>
<p>Love Xox</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-841" src="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/img_8541-1.jpg" alt="Kate M Foster" width="600" height="800" /></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/inside-view-of-my-meltdown/">Here&#8217;s an inside view of my inner landscape in the midst of a meltdown.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
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		<title>The River of Life</title>
		<link>https://www.katemfoster.com/the-river-of-life/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ged Johnson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Feb 2016 02:25:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Adventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to live a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kate M Foster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living a full life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[River]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[river of life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tips for life]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.katemfoster.com/?p=788</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Remember in Pocahontas when she sings “you cant step into the same river twice”? Well, i think she was actually onto something. I have been watching this river for two days now and while the vessel it fills, its banks, have only changed ever so slightly, at no point has the river flowing within ever been&#8230; </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/the-river-of-life/">The River of Life</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Remember in Pocahontas when she sings “you cant step into the same river twice”? Well, i think she was actually onto something.<br />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-789" src="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_3891.JPG-1024x768.jpeg" alt="Kate M Foster" width="790" height="593" srcset="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_3891.JPG-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_3891.JPG-600x450.jpeg 600w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_3891.JPG-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_3891.JPG-900x675.jpeg 900w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_3891.JPG-1280x960.jpeg 1280w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_3891.JPG.jpeg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px" />I have been watching this river for two days now and while the vessel it fills, its banks, have only changed ever so slightly, at no point has the river flowing within ever been the same. Each moment the water is anew. And you know what else. In those two days i have not seen it struggle once with this fact. It just keeps flowing with what is. We swim in it, it flows around us. We wash in it, it surrenders and adjusts. The kids shift and move rocks and sand. It doesn&#8217;t argue.</p>
<p>Im super curious? Why as humans do we wrestle so much. Why do we continually fight with who we are? Why do we try to hold onto a fixed version of ourselves. Why is change so scary?</p>
<p>The adventure of being human is the richest i can remember. For some unknown reason I&#8217;ve spent large chunks of my life fighting against what is and also who i am, moment to moment. Questioning, wondering, doubting, wanting more. More of what? It&#8217;s always different. Somehow i got it into my head that happiness was a fixed address, true peace would come to stay. And if my life deviated off either of these two fixed points, i was doing something wrong.</p>
<p>From this point, things spiral down fast. With just a few quick sharp thoughts i can find myself in a land of shame and inadequacy. Of constant measurement, comparison and not enoughs. Yet the spiral out is equally as fast if i surrender.</p>
<p>Im not sure why we listen to our thoughts so much. Im also not sure why we think it is a requirement we have to believe what goes on up there in our precious little heads. I also wonder why we think ‘knowing’ the answers would bring the resolution we are seeking. Often knowing brings no resolution.</p>
<p>To be honest any joy, peace or happiness i can remember actually occurred in a gap of the almost relentless stream of mind chatter that occurs in my pretty little head.</p>
<p>For a very long time we have been naturally drawn to that which creates a gap in our rambling minds. Camp fires, a night sky filled with stars, the ocean, mountains, love, discovering an unexpected river. We search out these places, rest in them and remember a little about the truth of ourselves.</p>
<p>This morning my harvest of truth comes from the river. Its gentle suggestion to keep surrendering to the vessel of my life, regardless of how it presents, brings a salve of peace. While my life&#8217;s vessel may look similar each day, the river within is totally new.</p>
<p>Over time i guess i am becoming more like the river rocks in this picture. Yielding and surrendered. The willingness to allow ‘what is’ seems so much easier than the constant thrashing of earlier years. Oh i still thrash, i think that is part of this human existence for every human. What is different is that i rarely judge myself for this thrashing. I witness it, give it space to breathe, to be felt and at some point it passes. In my life i am entirely dedicated to gentleness, so Ill be darned if i am going to drag myself through a lemon bush over the antics of my mind. After all, i don&#8217;t make the thoughts come, how could i ever make them stop.</p>
<p>May the peace of the river find its way to you today. Enjoy you day beautiful people. I am off to enjoy the ever anew river of my life.</p>
<p>Stay brave.</p>
<p>Love xo</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/the-river-of-life/">The River of Life</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
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		<title>Creativity, the risk of life&#8230;</title>
		<link>https://www.katemfoster.com/creativity-the-risk-of-life/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ged Johnson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2016 11:38:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[be creative]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[best life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[create]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creativity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to live a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kate M Foster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living a good life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[risk of life]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://loveandteaparties.com/?p=523</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Deep in the recesses of my being I&#8217;ve made a ton of agreements with myself. One of these agreements has been that if i was going to do something i would do it well. Not a good job, more like exceptionally unrealistically well. Like just outside what i was humanly capable of well. This has&#8230; </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/creativity-the-risk-of-life/">Creativity, the risk of life&#8230;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Deep in the recesses of my being I&#8217;ve made a ton of agreements with myself. One of these agreements has been that if i was going to do something i would do it well. Not a good job, more like exceptionally unrealistically well. Like just outside what i was humanly capable of well.</p>
<figure id="attachment_666" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-666" style="width: 790px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-666 size-large" src="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/img_3210-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="Kate M Foster" width="790" height="593" srcset="https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/img_3210-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/img_3210-1-600x450.jpg 600w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/img_3210-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/img_3210-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/img_3210-1-900x675.jpg 900w, https://www.katemfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/img_3210-1-1280x960.jpg 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-666" class="wp-caption-text"><center>(I made that dreamcatcher &#8211; Imperfectly perfect isn&#8217;t it 🙂 )</center></figcaption></figure>
<p>This has served me tremendously in life. Through constant reflection, refinement, improvement and diligence i have learnt to deliver on the little details. This dedication to doing ‘it right’ has created immense beauty in my world and it has allowed me to bless countless others.</p>
<p>Truthfully, at the same time, it has also strangled the life force from me, suffocating my creativity and joy, and left me so scared of being judged that I&#8217;ve run at the speed of lightning with the fear of death pulsing through my veins to hide in the safety of insecurities.</p>
<p>You see another agreement i made with myself was ‘if i couldn&#8217;t do it well’ then i would avoid whatever ‘it’ was with a 6 foot barge pole. Id maintain my picture perfect delivery by not being seen for all the half arsed creations and unfinished projects i also birth into the world. God forbid i showed the world my overflowing craft room or all the half written books stored on hard drives hidden in the back of my cupboard. I only felt safe to gift the world the very best of myself, i guess i had not realised the beauty of all my squishy seemingly imperfect bits.</p>
<p>Over the past few years my intention has shifted from perfect to finished. My focus is on ‘doing it’ as opposed to ‘doing it right’. And the difference that focus makes in my world is momentous. You see the grace and kindness i have gifted myself has not only changed my world, it has changed the way i view every other human too. I celebrate my courage and that of others every single day. I treasure the things i make and i revel in their ‘one-off-ness’. I don&#8217;t compare my creations to other more perfect versions anymore. I acknowledge my grammar is not perfect and i celebrate my ability to share my heart through words anyway.</p>
<p>I wholeheartedly offer the world my vulnerability in all its colours. I offer an honest expression of the truth of me in its ever changing state, be that in my words or my masterpieces 🙂 And i honestly believe the world wants this. My mess is good enough. Life simply wants to express itself over and over and over again. It doesn&#8217;t have a preference for perfection, it has a preference for expression, however that looks.</p>
<p>Part of me has often felt like a fake or phoney. I often hold back sharing because i tell myself it is not totally original or new. I spent so many of my earlier years attempting to have it all together that i got disconnected from the raw truth of life, the raw truth of myself. Remembering is a constant adventure.</p>
<p>My current understanding is that life is messy. All the best things are. Ive never seen a tidy birth of anything in this world! And i am more than willing to live in and embrace this mess.</p>
<p>One of my intentions for this year of travel has been to unbridle my creativity. To be more real and raw and honest than I&#8217;ve ever known how. I&#8217;m doing this for myself and also for the benefit others. You see i reckon if i get scared of my nakedness, other people get scared of theirs too. Us brave hearts need to show up and support each other. Encourage each other. Share the road maps we have created.</p>
<p>I still get scared. Im human. And when i do i fall back on my mantra, show up anyway. Be willing to be seen. The world needs your goodness. The world can handle your mess.</p>
<p>My motivation for writing today was to share my exciting news, i finally got a new computer, its a mac and i am relearning how to do pretty much everything. Any mastery i had is gone. Its like landing in another country. I have been using my iPhone for all my writing over the past 3 months as my computer died and i didn&#8217;t want to use that as an excuse to not write. (Us writers are queens of procrastination and i decided i&#8217;m done with deluding myself with dishonest excuses). I also discovered a handful of sharings on my iPhone i never got around to posting. Sometimes when i stumble upon my words i get surprised at the wisdom they contain. I guess they are written as reminders for myself most of all. I promise ill share them over the coming weeks in case there is anything in there for you too.</p>
<p>So before i reread my words or get tempted to sensor or hide i am going to post this. I&#8217;m wishing each of you courage and trust to ‘do it’ rather than ‘do it right’.</p>
<p>Im showing up, sometimes its messy, always its raw and real.</p>
<p>I see you brave heart.</p>
<p>Write to me and tell me about your creations and discoveries.</p>
<p>Take care my friend</p>
<p>Kindness</p>
<p>Katie xo</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com/creativity-the-risk-of-life/">Creativity, the risk of life&#8230;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.katemfoster.com">Kate M Foster</a>.</p>
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