This year, my Mother’s Day gift to myself is to run the Color Run with my 11-year-old daughter. Together, we will run 5 km while being bathed and showered in all forms of rainbows and unicorns. She rolls her eyes at me and I’m excited. I know we will create a memory that will last our lives.
Memories are the greatest gifts.
I want to be an excellent gift giver and memory maker, even on Mother’s Day. It is a joyful act to create memories with soul. It is personally fulfilling to be a not-perfect-yet-considerate memory-making gift-giver than to shove a last minute card at someone – which of course I’ve regretfully done too. So, for Mother’s Day, I’m actively giving to myself and daughter because it gives back to me in joy and goofy memories of rainbows and unicorns.
Let me be clear, when I talk about gifts, I mean what you give yourself as well as others. Don’t sell yourself short here.
There is also a firm line between a soulful gift and stuff. A joyful gift feels meaningful, like a little lost piece of personal puzzle snuggling tightly back into place. (I’ve always wanted to do the Color Run.) A thoughtful and meaningful gift can become a life-giving vein that nourishes your relationship for a lifetime; a precious memory. In contrast, giving stuff is just stuffing; empty, fluffy, squishy and eventually squished – for everyone.
Personally, I like gifts that are a little off center, create connections and have built-in adventure. They make me giggle and are sticky memories. For this, if I am the giver or the receiver, I faithfully return my heart, my loyalty and my love.
If we all gave this way, all the time, it would change the world or maybe just your community.
With that said, here are some fantastic memory makers that nourish souls, create memories, and connect. I hope they will inspire you.
Artists Way Workshop.
It doesn’t get much more soulful that the 12 week course and book The Artist Way by Julia Cameron. This workshop and the book its based upon take you on a gentle journey into your creative soul to awaken and recover your creative spirit. I read this book almost 20 years ago and it inspired me to paint. I just completed this workshop this month and it was so worth it, again. It has helped me develop my painting and business practice in Seattle despite a not-so-perfect-life-or-circumstance being here. If you or someone you know whispers about a desire to have more creativity in their life; to be a writer, a dance or painter or just want to change their life, this workshop is transformational kick start. I recommend taking the class together too.
http://www.seattleartistswaycenter.com/classofferings.htm
Custom Washington Wine Tour from Vin Wine and Events.
A dear friends once said “Love is… Wine.” How could you disagree? Throw in a little travel and I’m in heaven. For the month of April Vin Wine and Events will create a custom Washington Wine Tour for only $15 and then its only $25 after that. The owner, Carolyn Holt, is our favorite wine person in Seattle. She will take all your preferences into account you get the chance to not just sample the increasingly well regarded wines of Washington, but truly experience them too.
http://vinwineseattle.com/vin-tours/
Climbing Class at Vertical World.
My husband and I have been rock climbing for 15 years and I think it has saved our marriage more than once. Beyond being good for marriage, a little adventure and facing my fear is a quick route to happiness. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I have completed a difficult climb, it is excellent for confidence and a sense of accomplishment. More, I love the outdoor adventure and bond that climbing has given my family. Climbing is what we do together as a family, an excellent memory maker. The people at Vertical World are friendly, knowledgeable and always keep safety first.
http://seattle.verticalworld.com/
Flora Bowley Intuitive Painting Workshop.
Flora Bowley is one of my favorite soulful artists. On her amazing website, she offers In-Person Workshops, Online Intuitive Art Classes, Painting Sessions and more for a variety of budgets and means. For her, painting is not just product, but a spiritual and permission-giving process that can transform your life. You don’t have to be a painter to try out her techniques. You don’t have to want to be a painter either. But painting could just be a means to unlocking a creative spirit and give you the courage to change your life.
www.florabowley.com
Some Danielle LaPorte Wisdom
Danielle is my giving soulfully guru. Her site is full of wise and stimulating blogs and videos that offer new age counter-spiritual wisdom. The mostly free content is an ultimate gift for unlocking some of the wisdom you didn’t know you had. I love many of the audios and her free e-book Fight for your Joy. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on her new upcoming book White Hot Truth and rereading Firestarter Sessions or picking up Desire Map is a great idea too.
http://www.daniellelaporte.com/
Just Make It Up.
Of course you don’t have to buy a memory. Make a song, a poem, a story, a skit, a painting. The real point is that the intentional heart, novelty, adventure, message and love is there to create connection and memory. My favorite memory of our goodbye party in Costa Rica was of the three kids, standing in our pool, who unexpectedly serenaded us with Count on Me by Bruno Mars. I mean, come on, it was a beautiful goodbye never to be forgotten.
In peace and given soulfully. Love.
Marika
PS: What would you add to this list?