Cultivate Strengths

"May I live this day compassionate of heart,

clear in word, gracious in awareness,

courageous in thought, generous in love."

John O'Donohue

Let us go inside of our lovely selves and take inventory just as though we were making a list for the store.  Any compassion in our heart?  Hmm ... it seems to be a little low.  What about clarity in thought?  A little muddled.  There is plenty of awareness, but is it lavishly focused on others, and not self-applied? Surveying love, it would appear portions are outdated.  They either need to be discarded or revitalized while others can be distributed in healthier ways.

There is a vital difference between being self-centered and self-nurtured.  We are not to  hoard our blessings, but to share them.  We must cultivate strengths in ourselves to be able to assist others and not become depleted.

We can strive for balance between being nurtured and a surplus for others.  There is an alignment between giving and receiving.  We may give to those in need who are incapable of returning the gesture, but in some form, kindness will be returned to us.  Over the years, many have reached out to help us personally, but they have relocated or transitioned.  A beautiful way of returning their gesture is through outreach to others.