Wednesday, April 25, 2012

New Beginnings

Some things come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
Last year I had one season, summer, but like all seasons it had to come to an end.
Standing in the winter that seems to have lasted too long I have decided that I must make my own new beginning.

One Chic Chickpea has meant so much to me over the past year and a bit that I have been blogging here, and the friends that I have made in this digital world are dear to my heart, but like all things this too must come to an end. 
Or is that just a new beginning?
Friends, you can find me now at my new home Thoroughly Nourished Life
I hope you will join me in my new beginning.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Brand New Yellow Brick Road

A few years ago I stood at another cross road in my life.
I was very fortunate to have the guidance of a mentor who took the time to call me out on what I was doing to myself and to help me start to put one foot in front of the other and move forward again.
For a long time the only way I could set such strong feelings and powerful moments straight in my mind was to write songs.
Tonight, I share it with you.
(source)


Brand New Yellow Brick Road 
by Amy Brooke Chatwin (1st November, 2009)

Well I returned from Wonderland a year ago
With a room full of pictures and head full of dreams
Lost something and found a whole lot more
Guess the old truth wasn't what it seemed
We all fought to try and find that before time again
But it was finally over and no one saw the end
I pushed it all aside, hid the new girl deep inside
Became a blank just to survive

Somehow you saw the lost soul in my eyes
I thought I'd finally covered her up
But you saw through that disguise
I told you too many times that I was fine
You took the time to call me out on my lies
Now I'm broken but I'm building
You led me back to the beginning
Made me start again
Find out for myself just who I'm meant to be

And I'm a little scared
Will someone be there to hold my hand
Never done much alone before
What happens if I take that step
And find a world beyond all I've ever known
What if somehow I have stumbled onto
A brand new yellow brick road
If I start this journey I may never come back
What if my old dreams don't fit me when I've grown

Somehow you saw the lost soul in my eyes
I thought I'd finally covered her up
But you saw through that disguise
I told you too many times that I was fine
You took the time to call me out on my lies
Now I'm broken but I'm building
You led me back to the beginning
Made me start again
Find out for myself just who I'm meant to be

So here I am back at the beginning
Ruby slippers on the road
Starting again
With three clicks here I go.....

Somehow you saw the lost soul in my eyes
I thought I'd finally covered her up
But you saw through that disguise
I told you too many times that I was fine
You took the time to call me out on my lies
Now I'm broken but I'm building
You led me back to the beginning
Made me start again
Find out for myself just who I'm meant to be

Monday, March 26, 2012

A quarter is more than you think....

One quarter. Doesn't seem like much when you hold it in your hand in the shape of a coin.
When you look at a cake, it seems like a bit more.
What happens when you look at a century?
25 years.
On Saturday I officially celebrated 25 years in this world.


I have lived a beautiful life so far. I am lucky that even with all my adventures, and a few mistakes under my belt, I do not regret a single moment of it.
It is with the distance of years, a rose-coloured glass barrier of time, that I can look at what I have been through with a smile on my face and comfort in my heart.
There are always clouds, even in the bluest of skies and those rainy days will catch you by surprise, out in the open without an umbrella sometimes. 
Last year I had the longest summer of my life. Bright mornings, clear days, golden afternoons and brilliant star filled nights.
Sadly, all summers must come to an end, but the seeds sown within my soul on those long warm days were nurtured by the rains that followed and the fruits are mine to gather and share with all who come to my table.


The beauty of celebrating the passage of time that has passed between this March 24th and the last is the patterns it reveals and the truths it spells out so plainly.
Once these patterns and truths are in front of me there is no way to ignore them; in fact, it would be unhealthy not to learn from what life is teaching me.
I prefer to focus on the patterns that make me happy and how I can continue these threads throughout the quilt of my life.
What makes me happy?
Early morning so that I can be the first to see the sunrise and hear the last of the night time quiet before the world wakes.
My family and friends. Time with them is more precious than anything you can buy.
Things that grow. Flowers, fruit, being close to the earth.
Feeling my heart beat, and race and rise and recover.
Sharing whole, delicious food with people I love.
Losing myself in pages, dancing between the lines, and remembering that there is nothing beyond the power of imagination.
When you find a pattern that works - keep it on repeat, these are the threads that help me weave a thoroughly nourished life.

What are my truths? What have I learned so far on this wonderful journey?
Just love. Love is the most important thing.
Love your life, and show it the commitment that it deserves. Treasure each and every day. Even the dark ones, they make you appreciate the light so much more.
Love every heart that comes your way - whether family, friend, or neighbour - we really are in this together.
Love the earth, take care of the little patch that you get to call your own. We might not all get to call the shots on global warming, or the bigger issues, but take care of your space. Plant a garden. Love an animal. Do what you can, with what you have.
The biggest truth of all: love yourself.
Look at those scars, inside and out, and remember that they are the poetry of your life.
The ferocity you feel inside - all that you are at your very core, that is your power - your gift of life to share with the world.
Don't try to change it, it might bend to your will for a time, but it will never submit.
So stand in your truth and love it every day.
Until you can love exactly who you are, right now, you will never be able to give yourself fully to all the other brilliant loves that are waiting right outside your door.

When I look back, when my last quarter is spent, I want to be able to smile and close my eyes and say.
Yes, I loved this life.
Happy birthday Amy. Here's to the next quarter.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

First Race of the Year!

My, my, what are these? 


They belong to these two, smiling, sweaty (yes we know we are gross) faces.

The little chickpea and I took part in the Twilight Running Festival this evening!
A 4pm start for our 10km race was a nice change from early morning starts. Jess and I really enjoyed the beautiful weather and we were very lucky that the threatening black clouds held off all afternoon.
Finishing time was an unexpected joy at 1:02:52! We were both a little nervous, being morning runners, but the twilight seemed to agree with us!
Tonight we are putting our feet up, eating sushi, and watching lots of trashy TV.
Yep, post race pampering.
Who else has a race coming up soon?

Saturday, March 17, 2012

A Little Ditty

Just something small for a rainy Saturday night.
Humour this student with pages still to go....

What I wish I looked like when I study...(source)

A Bookly Ditty by Amy


Upstroke
Down
Across
Round
Completed
Bound
Bookshelf
Found
Stormy night
Candle light
Where am I?
Came the cry
At last look...
Lost in book

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Quotes That Keep Me Going

When the days lay foggily in my mind and the hours pass too slowly to even count, when the thought of rousing from my waking slumber and stumbling until I find sunlight leaves me drowsy again: I turn to words.
Sometimes the act of just scribbling down my own thoughts is enough to remind me of how wonderful the world is with all its possibilities and chances for a new start.
Some days the wisdom of great minds is needed and these are some of the quotes that remind me of the spark that lies within us all, and the greater hope that is the flight of every soul.



“If more of us valued food and cheer above hoarded gold, it would be a much merrier world.” 
 J. R. R. Tolkien (source) 


"Better to light the candle than curse the darkness"
Chinese Proverb  (sometimes also attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt)


"She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails."
Elizabeth Edwards


"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Mark Twain

And, possibly my favourite for it speaks tomes in few words.


"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
George Bernard Shaw

Dear reader, which words of wisdom speak the most to you?

Monday, March 12, 2012

Oh I Miss You All

My dearest readers,
I am sorry for my absence at the moment. This week just passed I had several evening engagements as well as work and university; with the candle burnt at both ends I flickered out for a little while.
Absence certainly has made my heart grow fonder. I promise prolific prose promptly delivered this week.
In the meantime please accept my apologies; I will be back very soon with recipes, commentary, and photos.
All my chickpea heart,
Amy