Most definitely, to most other's chagrin...when I start my inquiries and questions, I can just see my husband's or friend's faces wanting to crawl into the woodwork or quietly look the other way, move away slowly, as if they don't know me.  I'm inquisitive and have always been this way since a child.  I was always encouraged to "question".  My Dad even had a plaque on his desk when he taught at the local community college that said QUESTION. 

I do it to: find out more, connect to what the other person is saying, have them articulate their feelings about a subject matter or thought, dig down and find the real meaning that might not be said at their first breath, so the person sees I am truly interested in what they're sharing, living in that moment together, focused on the communication that's happening with us.  I have a tendency to interrupt tho because I feel like if I don't get that particular detail right then, I'll forget the piece I need to fill in the puzzle.  It's like a sneeze that doesn't get it's "bless you".  :)

I'm Curious George's little sis! 

Usually, easy.  There's something about my nature that gives me an internal "knowing" that trusts.  My hubbie is usually the one who is much more cautious and reads people better than I.  Even if I tell him of a conversation, that I think is lighthearted and exchanging, he'll give me a inquisitive look saying, be careful something doesn't sound right. 

I go by feel and trust the Universe has a master plan for me to be in this situation with this person, at this moment, and if I don't trust the Universe, how do I trust?

Once I've been hurt or I've found out someone's lied to me then the "distrust button" is on wary mode.  I am known to let go of that energy unless there is a reason to continue engaging, may serve a higher purpose to move through.

I admit I don't know...I'm a pretty resourceful chick and will find out tho.  I enjoy the search, the questioning of friends and their knowledge, writing an email to someone I don't know that I've googled and they sound as if I'd like to connect with them and find out and ask more, being on a recon(naissance) mission.  I also get excited and enthused that something's been presented to my life that I get to explore.  I like the "limbo", the comfort of not having to know...the delving in, investigating, the possibility of meeting new people who know and I can pick their brains.  With one more discovery and knowing, I try it on like a new dress and see if it fits or feel parts that fit...I become discerning.

How people feel.  I sense the vibe they give off, their aura, are they happy, are they pained, are they uncertain, are they searching, are they rushing through life, missing the moment?  I've seen this in the simplest of experiences, at the market, the bank, pumping gas at Costco, passing someone on my morning walk, how mothers and fathers relate and talk to their child(ren)...I observe.  I watch how a person treats the cashier at the market or the salesperson at Nordstrom's...that tells a great deal about who a person is, are they respectful, present, or are they discounting, is the person their "servant"?

To cut through the crap, I ask how are you doing today?, sometimes I ask a complete stranger it they need a hug.  I've gotten, "do you really want to know?", sighs, tears, shifts in their energy, and falling into my arms with a smile or shared understanding.

Oh, let me count the ways...in my teens and 20's I ran from the thought of EVER being like them.  30's I started to see similarities, keeping those thoughts to myself or have a quiet giggle within as if a bell's going off, the realization and reality, I'm becoming and AM my parents.

My Mother quite artistic and flighty, her imagination percolating constantly, could find a "gem piece" at a flea market, auction or garage sale, a lover of flowers and gardening, never on time, talks to everyone she met whether at the market checkout, bank, guy who's changing Betsy's (a black, convertible Lincoln Continental with the suicide doors, how eccentric!) oil at the gas station, always making a new best friend.  Used to absolutely embarrass me to the core when she did this in my teens, seeing that she wasn't always getting a warm response.  My take on it, people thought she was weird and if I was in tow, so was I.  She also loved beauty, hearing and watching the ocean surf and reminding my brother and I to take a moment to enjoy it's joy and playfulness, taking us to LACMA (an art museum in Los Angeles) on Sunday's invariably asking my brother and I, if there was one piece in this gallery you could take home, which one would it be and why?  I still ask that question myself whenever I go to an art faire, gallery or art museum.  It's now become a habit with my hubbie and I before moving from one exhibit to the next.

My Father the "MBA business, personnel (now called human resources) man", problem-solver extraordinaire, deliberate, things in their place and organized, best labeled-box garage and tool bench in our entire neighborhood, laying on the couch reading aloud the Palos Verdes Peninsula News' (our local evening paper) community highlights or police blotter while watching a TV show, our family dinner conversation being the familiar question, how were you productive today? 

Now I look at the To Do list I created at the beginning of the day and see how many things I got to put a check next to as having been completed.  And when I request my husband to pause Tivo during one of our evening programs to let him know the crimes that are happening within our zip code, he'll ask, how can you read the paper AND watch this program?  Why honey, I've become my father. 

When we take our morning walk with the doggie, hubbie's talking about the news of the day or financial stuff and I ask out of the blue, my imagination heightened, honey, "where are the dragonflies?"  He looks over with a laugh and says this is why I love you, you look at the world like a child, simple.  Or, if I'm chatting with Claudia, (my favorite cashier at WFM), to come home to tell him that I've inspired her to create the "Top Ten List of Qualities She Wants in A Man" and we'll co-develop personalized affirmations and manifest a man with all those.  He looks bewilderingly at me, how do you get into these conversations with people?  My Mother taught me.

These are the kookier things about them I love.  We lived our family dysfunctions too, Mom was bipolar II, undiagnosed, Dad a high-powered, functioning alcoholic, little bro lost in the shuffle with no voice, moi the caretaker, rescuer, "soap-boxer", perfectionist, using my dance and movement to escape the craziness of it all.  All, a culmination of the woman I've become.  I thank and love them for that foundation.  Taking such care, sculpting a unique and loving soul with spunk to take on the world and make a difference.

Expecting much.  Feeling that I have to be "on", stage if you will, able to tackle what comes at any given moment, instead of taking a breath and asking myself do I want to give my energy to this now, need to do this now, does this warrant my energy or commitment, being and continually learning discernment and reaffirming, I am in control of my life, no one else.  I make the personal choices to be engaged or not for the betterment of my spirit and soul's journey.

Being transparently honest (my Barack-ism for this morning) with who I come in contact.  I'm not with everyone, so I'm getting better at that.  I still judge incorrectly at times "thinking" this person, who I have a more than acquaintance relationship with, wants the real deal.  I am bound by that if I'm committed to this friendship or working with this person.

Seeing the world simply.  It's much more complex than I realize at times.  Thank goodness I have a husband who loves playing chess and is a professional poker player and many steps ahead of thinking out situations, looking past face-value, noticing "tells" or what's not being said in conversations.  He "reads" people well and presents other sides that I've not considered (and he's usually right).

Life presents much and I am in constant awe with the opportunities that present themselves as "hard"...I can use those to grow spiritually as long as I'm listening and in the space to take the "learning" in.

I've had therapy! 

I take personal responsibility for my actions, instead of blaming my parents or the world for "the way I turned out".  I don't live the "blame game".  I see the dots connecting in an in-congruent way and decide to empower myself to shift the way I'm connecting them, or watching them connect without my engagement.  I don't stand on the sidelines and watch my life passing by or being reactive to.  I've equipped myself with coping tools and mechanisms so I don't have to numb the pain through some addiction or self-destructive behaviors.  I'm committed to being conscious about my choices, the energy I bring into my life through people, situations and things.  I guide myself as gently and lovingly possible, through the learning and "teachable moments" presented. 

I live karmic-ly.  It all comes back around if I don't deal with it now.  My actions and thoughts contribute to the good of other beings and by holding myself accountable and mindful...I carefully and thoughtfully consider and understand potential outcomes.  I'm not a victim, letting others decide and be in my life script.  I look what happens to and with me in life as my reflection pool for spiritual growth.

I decide.  I discern.  I ask for help from my circle of trust when I need it.  I walk and skip through life being aware and crystal clear about my intentions, as those will affect my path and those I intersect on this life's journey, imprinting their lives in some form or fashion...Having the knowingness when to use my warrior action and when to float as a butterfly on my lily pad.

Peaceful, quiet, no "requirements or expectations"...I can feel their heart talking to me, instead of their head.  Like we're in a canoe traveling down a softly, moving river together, sharing the movement and listenings of our voice as we go.  Appreciative, joy-filled and relishing the moments.  The experience takes me off the merry-go-round of life and let's us "be" together.  And, be okay in sharing our quietness.

I love fully, openly and with abandonment!  I do ME best and I cannot be duplicated.  I like the uniqueness of my heart and the way I view life and the world.  I enjoy being a loving soul no matter the mud that crosses my path.  I'm true to myself and my intentions, being guided by my faith in humanity to want something more positive than we have now.  I reach out before I'm asked.  I ask what can I do to support instead of waiting to be asked.  I engage, trust the Universe guides me to where I'm needed and to whom I'm to share and listen.

I have a slew of angels and spirits that surround me and give me information about what I'm involved in or walking into.  I'm looked after by some amazingly, cool, spiritually-gifted, angelic friends, who protect, care, guide, remind me to settle down when I get excited, hold and kiss me, and flick my lights so I know they're around...My TwinkleEyes Trio.  :)

There's a twinkle in your heart which flutters like a dragonfly...you know the person sitting next to, or across from you, has understood your soul.  If even just for a second, a minute, an hour, in that moment in time you both shared something very special, never again to be energetically duplicated.  If you're really excited, like a visceral resonating "they got it!"...it feels like swimming through a tightly-woven school of small, little fishies fluttering out together in search of plankton.

I hope you get some flutters today!  :)

My shallow response - a "spa day".  Starts off with a mimosa made with champagne and cranberry juice, warm, terrycloth slipper or flops, and a robe so soft and cuddly that I could nuzzle in and take a nap by the pool.  At some point during the day, there'd be a facial (with only green-friendly products that smell yummy) and massage (sesame oil with a hint of lavender warmed up, ending with warm stones and energy balancing) with people who don't talk or ask questions of me.  This is the "quick nurture" full-day program at JW.

This is the Most Every Day program...Asking what doesn't?...resonates best from my perspective. 

Waking up every morning with joy to take on new challenges, seeing and loving a wonderful hubbie sleeping next to me and being ever so grateful we have each other to live another day, getting morning "meow greetings" from my kitties, having a beautiful home to envelop my creative being, hearing the birds singing to one another, having a luscious first cup of coffee in my favorite daffodil English china teacup, being surrounded by my creations and contemporary art that intrigues me to propel my imagine-ings...that's just the first half hour of my day.  This post could go on for hmmm...that gives you a snippet of what nourishes my soul.  :)   Oh, and having yoga and meditation!

After the sun sets, I watch the movement of Van Gogh's clouds of soft blue with slashes of lavender-purple and puffy plum in higher spots, Pollock's marshmallow white throws, melting and pulling away like powdered sugar on a warm buttered crepe.  The softness of the night, how it sounds, what it sounds like, why it sounds the way it does.  I relish the quiet, sitting in the backyard, on the porch swing, a rustling tree is letting the wind cut in as if it were on a dance floor.  The leaves aren't too keen about being disturbed and ruffled, similar feelings as tree.  I hear the night's sounds, bugs scurrying over and through the rocks, pick up bare feet.  I see the stars making friends with one another, a twinkle here, one there, eu a couple sparkling my direction, smiling brilliance longingly in unison.  I could get lost in those stars talking with them, watching how they answer, a short blip, or a longer pulsing, evened tone heart pumps, radiating an energy of love.  Smell the evening and what's it saying?  The moon hovering between clouds, delicately whispering, I give you peace...and pure contentment.