Vision Boards

Have you ever made a vision board?  You cut out pictures and words and paste them on a board to create a visual interpretation of what you want in life.  Its a great manifesting tool but its all about the future and puts what you want outside of yourself, because you don't yet have it.  I've made vision boards and the things on them really do come to be, but its usually in a way that I really didn't expect or even want in the end.  Like wanting to meet a Frenchman so we could live in France one day but he lived in Boston, which was no where on my vision board!  Still I rationalized Boston was at least closer to Paris!   The move back east took me away from my family and friends and in the end was not at all what I really wanted but perhaps it was just what I needed.   The move to Boston showed me how much I need to be close to my family and friends.   If I move to France would I really be happy?

My friends Ana and Cynthia were over for a Memorial Day BBQ yesterday and we made vision boards, differently.   First we thought about what we want to manifest in our lives and we asked each other what was the feeling we wanted from having those things.   I want to manifest living in a farmhouse in France.  The feeling behind this was more difficult to define.  I love the quality and pace of life in France, that you can be a short train ride away from  the vibrant, magical city of Paris and also experience the medieval villages, rolling hillsides covered with sunflowers or lavender and taste amazing food and wine in the terroir.  The respect for living close to the land and dedication to the art of living in every aspect are the things I really love about France.

Identifying the feeling perspective was very important because you can more easily manifest those feelings by changing things slightly in your life right now, rather than wait to achieve some huge goal out in the future.  The question comes to mind, do I really want to own a farmhouse in France?  Of course not! To deal with real estate issues, renovation costs and then be so far away from family and friends to even enjoy it makes the whole goal of owning a farmhouse in France seem less appealing.  But I don't really need to own a farmhouse to have the feelings I want to achieve.  I have friends who live on a 200 year old farmhouse and vineyard in the Burgundy region.  I can stay with them for a few weeks and help out on the farm and vineyard and manifest the true feelings I am longing for without too much investment.   My experience will always be with me and I can bring elements of the lifestyle I love back to my home in Southern California.  Like cooking French food with my neighbor Julietta who is French and makes beautiful jewelry at her studio and boutique,  Mon Bijou .  I will plant lavender in my patio, whose scent reminds me of Provence and place a long farm table outside under the sycamore tree for outside meals.  In these small ways, I can bring France to me and create my dreams.  I am also booking my ticket to France for 3 weeks in September to help with the grapes and chickens on my friend, Maria Cuny's vineyard.   Ah life is good!