The Universe can be a bit of a nag.
For weeks, I kept running across reading material on envisioning my future.
Then, I ran across on old video clip of Oprah talking to Jim Carey. He wrote himself a $10 million “pretend” check for his acting services when he was an unknown. He also visualized directors being interested and good career opps coming to him.
Then, an article on vision boards popped up on my radar.
And the piece de resistance, my friend Jules talked to me about the vision board she had made, unprompted by any mention of one by me.
Ok, ok, I get it already.
Weeks later, I found myself armed with glue, poster board and a stack of magazines so high my Labrador retriever saw them as a potential threat to our safety, growling at them menacingly.
I felt a little silly, to be honest. It was reminiscent of my teen years when I would create collages on my closet door to tell the world who I was and what I valued. I never did think it through far enough to realize the world would never see my closet door.
But this vision board I was about to cobble together was not about telling the world anything. It was about being clear with myself regarding what I want to welcome into my life in 2015. The “how” I leave up to a being far more divine than me.
I view it as a contract with my Higher Power. I will take care of business each day if You will take care of Business overall. Here’s our destination as my soul has translated it—the roadmap is up to You.
Did you know there are vision board experts and coaches? Yep. I tried very hard to find some good, non-cheesy pieces of advice and websites to which I could refer you, but I have to be honest.
Most of them made me laugh. I guess I am not a very studious or serious vision boarder. Sigh.
Anyway, this isn’t mean to be a how-to article. We all know I suck at those.
I looked at each major area of my life—family, romance, work, finances, etc.—and tried to find pics that would represent what I want.
The end product is passable. I was pleased when done but then the doubts began.
Vision board experts and law of attraction types are big on being extremely specific about what you want. “Found money” could get you a dime in a subway grate rather than the windfall inheritance for which you hoped. Remember our pal Jim Carey? Ten million dollar check and he gave himself a five-year window. Nothing fuzzy about that.
Hmmm . . . I could be playing with fire here.
Because things already seem to be manifesting.
On a recent trip to California, I went horseback riding with friends.
After the ride, my friend John mentioned that our guide seemed to take a shine to me. I can’t remember his name, only his horse’s name—Delgado—so I guess that does not bode well for romance.
This is neither here nor there except for the fact that the pic I chose to represent love on my vision board just so happens to be a man and woman riding side by side on horses. His arm is around her as he kisses her affectionately. (Stop your snickering. Do you know how hard it is to find a pic that represents love that is less cheesy than this one? Hard. You should be patting me on the back for resisting cutting from Viagra and tampon ads.)
I would love to find love—could care less about the horseback riding. And yet—if we’re being specific—I could find myself riding a horse next to a man I barely know who suddenly decides to kiss me—specifically, to kiss my eye (I mean it—look at my pic. May be a poor choice).
You see where I’m headed with this, right? Give me the rules of engagement, Universe. How specific do I have to be? Thanks for the small ego boost from Delgado’s owner but I don’t just mean any ‘ole man on horseback. Could we please find the right one? Even if he’s sitting by the fire reading a book? Maybe I should write “horses optional” on my love shot, just to be really clear.
The “Don’t work so hard” line is meant to remind me to balance work and family, to work smarter not harder. But hopefully the Universe does not interpret this as a call to take away my employment. There are many ways to bring me a bit of a slower pace, right? Some preferable to others. I’d prefer the not working so hard not to involve an unemployment line.
And the fit woman in a bathing suit gazing over the railing of a ship? That’s supposed to be my visual for my bathing suit body. I certainly hope I do not find myself in the Greek Isles in several months, covered up strategically with beach towels, while I gaze at the in-flesh vision of what I had hoped I would look like, just before she swan dives gracefully into the blue water below. Maybe the magic marker comes out again and I write: THIS IS ME, with an arrow pointing to her. I’d hate to be confusing here. I don’t want to SEE her. I want to BE her.
In other words, 20/40 version just will not work this year. I’m done with fuzzy.
Yes, I jest. But truly, I’m new to all of this. My Higher Power and I have a pretty decent relationship. I don’t always get the stage directions right on the first go-round but have become quicker on the uptake as I’ve progressed in life. So, I’m hoping my intentions for my vision board pictures come through in 20/20 focus.
Otherwise, I think I will forego more horseback riding this year. And I consider not being kissed by our overly friendly guide on my recent ride in California a narrow escape.
As my mother always said, be careful what you wish for.
Or, at the very least, be extremely specific.
candidkay 
Voila! It was the “visualise your future” and “vision boards” for me too this year. So imagine my surprise when I read your post. Ok ok i get it too… will start on my vision board soon! Thanks for the timely post-there must be some divine intervention here. Great post!
Excellent Kristine, love your quirky posts. (Not many people’s dogs would regard a pile of magazines as a threat 🙂 )Interesting how, as young teens, we agonise over our future, talk to our friends, make great plans. Yet many years later we often find ourselves way more uncertain than we were then despite (or maybe because of) life experiences. Lucky are those that find serenity, through visions boards or otherwise.
Youre right, Roy. Teenagers are an odd mix of hubris and uncertainty. Some days, I wish for the hubris again.
In any type of natural magic – whether a spell or a vision board – I’ve always learned you should be specific, otherwise you get something unexpected, but the other important thing is to do something in the real world to put your vision into action – so maybe it was the fact that you actually went horse riding that triggered your admirer – the universe thought, hey, here we go, this is exactly what she wants 🙂
Just wrote about Pinterest on my blog and how spending 2015 looking at pictures of travel, good food, cute kitties, birds and generally everything I love will influence this year. Time will tell!
I’ve never actually made a vision board. But I do try to get super clear on what I’m after. It helps. If you wanted to take it a step further you could try to imagine the feeling you have when your vision becomes reality. Like how Jim Carrey felt when he was cashing that imaginary check.
This was my second big laugh of the day after Matt’s mail. You go girl! I love that you simply don’t give up. And continue to inspire others. So happy to have you in my life.
Right back ‘atcha, Tersea:). Glad you got a chuckle or two out of it!
I have read of vision boards before but none as interesting as yours sounds although I must say I think I would give the kissing while riding wild horses a miss, and go for the quieter life.
I hope that your wishes come true.
Wow $10,000,000 in 4 years. That is some aim.
In between jobs, I once went to a career counselor. She had me envision my perfect job: the setting, the salary, the ups and downs. I didn’t do a poster board – but wrote out what I wanted out of a career. And you know what – it worked!! It’s been years since I’ve done something like that. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Love to hear these kinds of stories! Makes it seem less woo-woo and more grounded in reality.
May 2015 bring you all its choicest gifts – things you haven’t even dreamed of yet, including wonderful surprises and many moments of pure, sweet joy. I’m envisioning a thousand beautiful things for you, my friend, and a thousand more still! xox
You always put things so beautifully, Amy. Thank you for the kind wishes–and hope the wind blows these same things your way this year. They’re more than deserved!
I like the idea of a vision board, though I’ve never attempted one. I don’t think you can ever make it perfect, and trying would leave no room for the wonderful serendipitous moments that life hands you. Like a spontaneous kiss on the eye. 😉
Ooh, you reframed that eye kiss ever so nicely! Love it:).
I have been “working” on a vision board for two years now … I got nothing. Enjoyed reading your process though. Very funny! Congratulations on completing it. Here’s to clarity for 2015!
I almost made it that impossiblw task, Shara, because i felt it should be perfect. And then realized a finished imperfect board was better than not having one! I double dog dare you:).
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I want to make a vision board now. (I loved the whole kissing the eye thing :-))
Thank you! I think you should make one and leave eye kissing entirely off:).