One by One

 

 

 

 

 

“I understand you, and I shall not attempt to make you change your mind. I am too old to want to improve the world. I have told you what I think, and that is all. I shall remain your friend even if you act contrary to my convictions, and I shall help you even if I disagree with you.”    Milan Kundera

Wandering down by the wharf, we watched numerous people waiting in line in preparation for boarding one of the schooners.  Some of these boats have beautiful wooden interiors and provide entertainment during the sail.  The musician is usually dressed in vintage clothing playing instruments from early time periods in history.

It was fun to watch these people board the  schooner.  They were all talking as though they were all old friends.  Laughter and conversations floated joyfully through the air.  It is amazing to watch a group of people who are unknown to each other, squeeze
themselves into a schooner and become instant friends with fellow sailors.  Granted, the relationship is superficial at the time, but a respect is generally offered to those one meets.  Compare this scenario with another. Think of  a line of people waiting for a bus, train, or plane.  There seldom is communication, just pushing to get on and settled in.  So what is the difference?  A state of mind, work -vs- vacation?  

Fear prevents us from common courtesies, and I do understand the need for personal safety, but not to the degree of rudeness towards others.  Since we have been here, we have shared our table with another couple when the restaurant was crazy busy.  We have stepped back and let someone in a hurry go before us.  It makes a person feel good, not better.  If we would allow ourselves common courtesies towards others, the recipient would feel good and so would we.  We have to take small steps.  Each one of us has to take small.  One by one we can choose to make the world a better place.



Mother's Day ...

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters

of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you,

but not from you,

And though they are with you yet

they belong not to you.

You may give them your love,

but not your thoughts,

for they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies,

but not their souls,

for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,

which you cannot visit,

not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them,

but seek not to make them like you.

Kahlil Gibran

 On Children 
                                                                         

As a child when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always the same.  I wanted to be a 'mom'.  I wanted to be a really good mom.  When I graduated from college, I still wanted to be a 'mom' and not an ordinary one either.

I chose to bring four children into this world.  At the time, I had no idea what challenges these babies would bring nor how many decisions I would have to be make, but I certainly did not anticipate the extent their lives would have upon mine. 

I once read an article quoting an adoptive father upon receiving his first child.  The quote was, "I can hardly wait to watch this child unfold, to discover the magnificence of this life."  It was refreshing to read about a parent who was not designing the path of the child. 

My three boys were nothing alike and yet there were so many similarities.  What I learned with my first son certainly didn't help me with my second or third son.  Each child needed differing rules, individual guidance, and unique experiences.  Then my fourth child was a girl surprising us all.  We each gave her a part of our self which she blended into her

own creative spirit.

I raised my children to be independent, desiring to nurture strengths and strengthen weaknesses.  It was vitally important

to me that they established and maintained a sense of belonging to each other no matter what life brought forth on any given day.

As my children evolved into their own individual spirits, they taught me trust, faith, and the deepest sense of love I had ever experienced.  They certainly became aware of my short comings, personal challenges, and determination to become more fully 'me'.  There were difficult times for all of us, and the consequences shaped us into who we are today.

Being a mother has been the most important role I have had in my life time.  I know in my heart I did my best and acknowledge that often my best was not enough.  Motherhood grew me emotionally and spiritually, the teacher becoming the student.  I will always be grateful for having the privilege of bringing these four special souls into the physical and I honor the individual paths they have followed.

May the blessings be ...

Blown Away

Love comes unseen;

we only see it go.

Austin Dobson

We are all multi-sided individuals, creating different sides to one personality.  There are masks to give the appearance of what we are not or to hide what we are.  It is rare that we show all sides of ourselves to one person.

I was thinking of my children and how they would describe me or remember me when I have passed.  They knew me very well as a mother and a grandmother, but what about the other parts of me?

There are those from my career that knew what high standards I held for myself and what ethics I maintained for all people.  Privately, however, they really knew very little about me.

Sisters of my heart, my very dearest of friends, know me very deeply.  They have been present during my anger, pain, and joy.  They have witnessed my unfolding with encouragement and support.  And yet, there is much they do not know.

My daughter, perhaps, knows me best of all having been so constant and loving in my life over the years.  She has seen many sides of me and embraced me when times were very difficult.  The truth remains, she has never walked around in my mind where unexplainable knowledge resides.

As I grow older, I have integrated my private self with my public self by being less public and more out spoken in private.  There is less motivation to be 'known' as I do feel understood, accepted and loved.

There is so much left inside of me however, I feel all of this seeking and recording will have been in vain.  Like leaves falling from the branches of the trees, my most inner thoughts will be blown away by the wind. 

 

Vacillating Duality

Light is meaningful
only in relation to darkness,
and truth presupposes error.

It is these mingled opposites
which people our life,
which make it pungent, intoxicating.

We only exist in terms of this conflict,
in the zone where black and white clash.

~Louis Aragon



Spiritual/Material
Acceptance/Critical
Fluid/Rigid
Humble/Ego
Blessing/Rejection
Give/Take
Honor/Disrespect
Recognize/Ignore
Wonder/Worry
Dream/Repress
Creative/Stagnant
Embrace/Abandon
Freedom/Freeze
Opportunist/Victim
Rebirth/Death
Energy/Lethargic
Depth/Transparent
Laughter/Tears
Joy/Solitude
Cleanse/Decay
Forgive/Bitterness
Oneness/Isolate

Walk into the darkness of your soul,
bringing light to what is hidden,
so that you will fear no more.

New Years Eve ... Worry versus Wonder

In the landscape of time,

there are few locations less comfortable

than that of one who waits

for some person or event to arrive

at some unknown moment in the future.

Robert Grudin

New Years Eve and we find ourselves assessing what we achieved and what we allowed to fall by the way side.  We count our blessings, but being humans we linger over our losses a little longer than necessary.

Many of us have counted the days throughout the year, waiting for that special person to arrive and change our life forever.  Be it a doctor to cure us, an employer to hire us, or a soul mate to love us, we may be facing the end of the year alone.

With all of the fear being propagated about 2012, I recently searched material reflecting attitudes back in 1699 and 1899 finding the same fearful statements of what 1700 or 1900 might bring ... destruction, diseases, and unknown catastrophes.  To me, it seemed as though there were no differences between then and now except for the dates.  The great "not knowing" or uncertainties drenched in the depths of fear.

In one of my readings, I found a suggestion to replace the word worry with the word wonder. This simplistic suggestion has altered my thinking process.  It is a wonderful reframe!

Test it right now ... say the word worry and notice the heaviness and fear of it.  Now say the word wonder and feel the lightness and curiosity. 

Who is it that says, "Be the change you want to see."  If you want peace, be peaceful to your self and others.  If you want to extinguish hunger, feed your self and your neighbors.  If you desire respect, respect your self and others.  Well, you get the idea.

The year 2011 has been filled with death and rebirth of thoughts, expectations, and situations I no longer needed. The year has been painful, but equally rewarding.  As 2012 begins, I have the sense that it will be a time for things to fall into place or come together for me.  

As this year comes to a close, we can let go of what no longer serves us and make room for new positive experiences awaiting us. Replace the gripping fingers of fear with the face of magical wonderment. 

"I shall fear no evil." 

Christmas Behavior

Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish.  Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself.  ~Francis C. Farley

Our family are the people encouraging us to be fully our selves.  They are the ones who love us unconditionally and treat us with compassion.  We are blessed if these folks are our family of origin, but frequently they are not.  If we are not honored by blood relatives, then we tend to discover others who bring true value into our lives.  It is vitally important to honor the lives of all people, but not at the cost of our selves. 

Compromising our selves in order to fit in with our original families or critical others does serious harm both physically and spiritually.  Give blessings to all people and stand for personal truth allowing others to do the same. 

Integrity can be maintained by extending love to all peoples ... whatever that means to you.  It might mean a phone call extending genuine blessings rather than a visit.  We can abbreviate our visit to build peace even if momentarily.  Altering tradition by volunteering at a shelter or adopting a family can bring greater spiritual meaning into all lives concerned rather than an emotional family free for all.  

It is an illusion if we feel we have no choice.  If we secure in our minds what we want, arrange our holidays accordingly, and give permission for others to do the same, we will find freedom and joy filling our days. Focus on realistic expectations that will allow the holidays to be filled with peace, love, and creative personal expression. 

"Fool me once ...

"Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice, shame on me."

Old Proverb

Living my life with compassion, loving kindness, and an open heart is not always easy.  My down fall has always been seeing people at soul level, not as they really are in human form.  Illusions generally fall away, rendering a cost to my unsuspecting heart.

Forgiveness comes easily to me as I truly believe we are all doing the very best we can do at any given moment.  When faced with choice, we don't always make the best decisions.  Believing we are here for the human experience, of course we are going to face numerous challenges and we will not always be proud of them.

So with my open heart I forgive as I am very aware that beneath all actions resides a fellow spiritual being.  We learn through our conflicted decisions and I choose to see the forgivable/unforgivable situation as an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth.  And by forgiving I do not mean condoning. 

So this is where I get stuck.  Processing brings me this far and then I falter.  First, I struggle with the genuine disappointment that the person chose not to do better. Secondly, although I have forgiven, the heaviness of my personal loss remains.  I ask myself what the lesson was for all involved, but primarily search for the application to myself.   And lastly, I find myself dwelling on the situation rather than simply letting it go.

I accept that our perspective is frequently limited leaving us incapable of seeing the big picture.  Only as time passes do we begin to truly view how all of the pieces fit together.  With a little distance, we can turn back and see how we ignored information that could have helped minimize the entire experience. 

It is easy to sit back and count the wrongs of others as it is a distraction from listing our own.  We may even find ourselves in denial saying, "Oh, but what they did was ten times worse."  Point being, we are not the ones to judge.  We must use all of our efforts to keep our own house in order.

All people carry love, energy and light within them.  There are different ways to utilize this power:

well wishes, blessings, prayer, energy work, or meditation to name a few.   Whatever method

we use to touch the hearts of others, we must be mindful to apply it to ourselves as well.  Restoring

our inner self with the love of God, Universal energy, and light of Christ/Buddha or simply the Divine will help us heal.  Letting go of what is heavy in our heart, enables us to make room for new, moving forward hopefully a little wiser. 

Juncture of Life

 It may be when we no longer know what to do,
we have come to our real work,
and that when we no longer know which way to go,
we have begun our real journey.

Wendell Berry

It is a day filled with rain and gloom sending a chill deep into my bones.  I sit in my chair looking out the window and find myself missing the leaves that have been carried away by the wind.  There is an empty space where my fallen tree called home and its absence causes me to sigh.

While I journal, I speculate how I fit into the greater scheme of things.   Do I make a difference in space or time?  There is so much fear and uncertainty in our world, accompanied by hot passion, but too frequently lacking conviction.  The earth and all whom stand upon her are in need of great healing and yet an intensity festers amongst those who hold the speculative answers.

As human beings we have free will.  We have choice as to whether or not we will watch life pass us by or jump on board as active participants.  Will our life just leisurely unfold or will we become interior decorators of our soul.

Some challenges are mastered while some remain snagged in distorted dreams.  Which lenses we choose to look through determines our interpretation of all that surrounds us.  Belief systems and core values direct our focus so pure innocence or untainted viewpoints are difficult to come by. 

Who to trust? 
What to believe?

Clarity of perception still resides in the eyes of the beholder.  The eyes sometimes do not see what the ears can acutely hear.  Even our physical vibrations impact reactions.  How do we ever find our way?

I no longer know what to do ...

I no longer know which way to go ...

This must be the real juncture of my life.

The one I have been striving towards.

Adorn Yourself Accordingly ...

Know first who you are,

and then adorn yourself

accordingly.

Epictetus

Stoic, AD 55

A few years ago, I was gathered with some women exploring our spiritual beliefs and personal truths.  The conversation wandered into a discussion about  the image we project onto others.  Unexpectedly, a very dear friend pointed at me and exclaimed, "Well, look at you.  You are all decorated like a tree!"   I was so caught off guard, I quickly withdrew into myself and allowed the conversation to move forward by saying, "Why thank you!" I felt embarrassed, defensive, and hurt. 

I tried very hard not to feel that this was a personal attack, but more of an observation regarding the diversity of women.  I believe that it was pointing out the differences between good friends. Later, in the safety of my home, I reviewed this bothersome remark.

When I no longer felt defensive, I began to explore the evolution of my dress code which ran parallel to the unfolding of my spiritual life.  All of the changes that occured on the inside of me, were eventually reflected on the outside.

As a little girl, I was dressed in feminine attire until I morphed into a 'tom boy'.  Entering a private college prep academy, I quickly realized I was totally out of my league in fashion.  When I left for college, I packed one pair of black flats and one pair of navy blue heels.  Fortunately, my college roommate and I were able to swap clothes frequently.  My interest in clothes accompanied my marriage, but was quickly replaced with pregnancies and booties. 

After having my three boys, I was gifted with a daughter on Mother's Day.  Into my life came patent leather shoes, little gloves, smocked dresses and matching bonnets.  There was enormous pleasure in dressing this beautiful child.

Once I returned to a professional career, years later, my respect for myself began to flourish.  I was not fanciful, but tailored clothes were a must.  It was during these later years that my spiritual self joined forces with my physical self producing a confidence that was reflected in some flair.

As my daughter entered a professional career, she too fashioned a style of her own, and repeatedly assisted in discovering designs suited for myself.  I had a multitude of shoes, suits and a casual wear.  I developed a very good sense of color scheme accented by unique jewelry.  I liked who I was and thoroughly enjoyed dressing in what reflected how I felt.

Self-discovery brought me to compassion and acceptance of myself.  Nurturing myself comforted my wounded child and love became possible.  In celebration, I adorned my body accordingly. 

Each of us will choose what feels comfortable on us.  Our apparel may change from hour to hour or day to day.   We may have a set uniform that we can live in repeatedly and indefinitely.  It does not matter, but realize there is choice for all of us.

Celebrate yourself! Be festive in your own way!  Use music, dance, and poetry to herald the unfolding of your beautiful self.  And if someone says you are lit up like a tree ... know your internal light and the loving kindness of your heart is shining through for all to see!

Dinner With The Jones Family ...

Those people in our lives

who have validated our personhood

by seeing us and exclaiming

so are the foundations

of our self-worth.

Mark Nepo

Fern and Al Jones are celebrating their first pregnancy.  The child will be a boy named Drew.  Al's parents came into town to be a part of the joy anticipating this first born child. 

My daughter and I were invited to dinner as this artistic young couple is like family to us.  Al was eager for us to meet his parents and Fern was eager for us to be present for the evening celebration.  An excellent dinner was laboriously prepared and delicious while the conversations were heartfelt and thought provoking.

Family dynamics are intriguing.  As a therapist, my daughter listens to what is not being said, pays attention to body language, and monitors words that are deliberately or carelessly spoken.  On the other hand, I gather a sense of the spirit within each person.  I tend to see individuals on soul level.  Impressions of woundedness appear and I feel the personal dance between the darkness and the light.

Wishing that others could see life challenge through spiritual eyes; hoping acceptance and compassion can prevail; and witnessing the unmet needs of others makes me want to hold the broken hearts in my hands cradled with loving care.  I want to gently whisper into their souls how beautiful they are and remind them of the wonderful gifts they are bringing into our world, making it a better place. 

To be a positive presence in the lives of our loved ones is imperative.  We do not need the right words or the perfect solutions.  We can be a constant in their lives.  See both the flaw and the gift, extending acceptance and compassion which validates their worthiness.

As I left the sweet home of the Jones Family, my heart overflowed with joy.  I was grateful to be a part of this gathering and to be embraced as a favored elder.  I am forever indebted to both of these intricately sweet human beings for all of the kindness they extend to my daughter as well as to me.  I find truth in the saying, "Friends are the family we meet along the way."

The Timing of the Fall ...

An apple falls from the tree when it is ripe;

there is no way it can continue to stay on the branch. In the same way, there is no way your blessings can be separated from you if you affirm in your gut, "Yes, I accept." 

A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE

Alan Cohen

Divine Spirit continuously offers opportunities, blessings, and gifts, but we are some times so busy creating struggles in life that we miss the outreaching of all that is Holy.  Our ego gets in the way; our agendas do not allow time to just sit in the presence of Spirit; we are not awake to the magic in life that surrounds us.

Life can turn to bliss when we allow the Divine to be our day planner.  When is the last time you welcomed the Divine Spirit into your life?  Extend an invitation and be aware of the glowing reciprocation!

Empty chairs ...

We must not, in trying to think about how we

can make a big difference,

ignore the small daily differences

we can make which, over time,

add up to big differences

that we often cannot foresee.

Marion Wright Edelman

Earlier in my life when I was being squeezed out of the restraints of organized religion and into the freedom of ecumenical spiritual freedom, I found myself worrying about what great contribution I would personally give to the world.  I wondered what credentials I had, who my contacts would be, and where I would go to accomplish some great gift of peace.  Ego, was of course, driving this folly.

Through experience and deeper understanding, I was soon to learn that few of us are called to greatness.  The realization that I would not be the Queen Bee of anything, allowed me more time to be more realistic in my quest.  I wanted to make a daily difference in the world in a humble and unnoticeable way.  My desire was to share what I had grown to understand with others without preaching or being invasive.  Eventually, I was shown a way.

We must look at our personal gifts and agendas to discern how they can fit together so daily, we are giving as much as we are receiving.  It is not about finances or busy schedules, but having a constant awareness of the presence of others around us.  If we remain mindful and treat those around us with respect and kindness, we are bringing peace to our community.  It is not about approving unacceptable behavior or judging actions.  Through acceptance and compassion we can warm a lonely heart.

My passion for writing brings me a sense of connection with the spiritual world as well as the physical world.  By posting on a blog, my thoughts can be shared with those who I may never meet, willing to take the time to read.  I am hoping that my words will encourage and brighten the lives of others on their time when they are ready.

As an energy worker, I am always experimenting with love, light, and energy which are the components we all have.  Whether I am driving my car, in the aisles of a grocery store, or taking a walk, my light is going out to everything and everyone around me.  This is my contribution, the gift I extend to my community and to the world.  It is what I do and have done for years.

Recently, I found myself sitting on a cold metal folding chair in a waiting room filled with many others.  A note card was clutched in my hand with an assigned number on it and I waited for my turn.  I realized that the numbers were being called out of order, so I could not guess at how soon mine would be called.  I read my book for awhile, chatted with the nice lady seated next to me, and found myself to be distracted by all of the noise surrounding me.  Children were crying from being kept still for too long.  People were complaining about the long wait.  The security guard was demanding that all cell phones were to be turned off, even though the air was filled with a variety of ring tones.  Anxiety filled the air.

As I sat amongst these people from all walks of life, I set aside speculation and judgment.  I allowed myself to feel compassion for each of their journeys and the challenges they would face.  As I was watching people come and go,  I would silently send them blessings and cover them with light.  My eyes drifted up and down the aisles of chairs, and one by one, good wishes and loving light were sent their way.  This helped time pass while the minutes dragged by. 

The guard had locked the front door, closing the building for the day and not allowing any new people in.  He made a statement saying that everyone present would get to complete their business by the end of the day.   I had already been sitting for a few hours and thankfully, there were only a few hours left in the work day.

My number was finally called and I was able to take care of my business with a very kind woman.  As I sat down in front of her, I automatically covered her in patience and light.  It would have been tempting to complain about my long wait, but instead I relaxed her by thanking her for being there to do what she obviously did so well.  In no time at all, business was complete, and I left her office.

As I exited through the waiting room, I was amazed to find that every chair was empty.  It brought a smile inside of me, as I knew that during the four hours I had been waiting, every person who had been sitting in a chair had received love, energy, and light. 

We all have time to do this if not something similar.  In this day and age, we find ourselves waiting in chairs, driving and experiencing dead time.  We all can develop the habit of sending love out into the world without there being a crisis or trauma to inspire the action.  The gesture can become as easily as the habit of crossing your arms or legs.  It costs nothing.

This has been about us giving, but we receive as well.  By developing a practice of silently giving, we receive inside of our selves a sense of connection, kindness, and peace.  This experience, no matter how brief, makes us stronger for our day.  It brings balance and awareness. 

It is the little things that can be so pivotal in life, so stop waiting for one monumental gesture.  If we begin our small string of kindness today, we will experience a warm feeling growing within. 

The warm feeling may be our hearts opening to the blessings we receive when we allow spirit to work through us. 



turning point

turning point

“ lighting a candle in her own darkness,
she came and brought it to the others.
'i understand,' she whispered, 'and i want to help.'
there was safety in what she offered.
there was hope in the flickering shadows.
quietly, they gathered.
and it began.
crying, trusting, struggling, sharing.
empowering and celebrating,
they grew and became more.
taking their own candles back to their own worlds
they changed the darkness back to light. ”

~terri st. cloud
 www.bonesigharts.com

Holes in the side of the barn ...

Ultimately the bond of all companionship,

whether in marriage or in friendship,

is conversation.

Oscar Wilde



Women tend to master companionship to a greater degree than men.  Perhaps it is the physical expressions that accompany female conversations like a pat on the hand or a hug.  Then there are the little gifts, maybe unexpected flowers or a nice bottle of wine or a surprise card received in the mail.  So easily one's spirit can be lifted by a simple gesture of a dear friend.

The skills of communication are imperative such as:  acceptance without judgment, compassion without refrain, and listening without resolution.  Most people when in need of a friend are not necessarily looking for resolve, but rather just needing to hear themselves think out loud or just be heard.  Any friend must know how to just sit and be present for the other ... no special mantra or chant is required.

There is a need to let the bad with the good come tumbling out, knowing that the dear friend will never throw it back into your face.   Author John Gray states, "When negative feelings are suppressed, positive feelings become suppressed as well, and love dies."  Relationships frequently end through lack of healthy communication while participants scratch their heads wondering what happened. "What did I say?"  Sometimes it is what you didn't say.

When I was in high school, my beloved home room teacher, Vernoy Johnson gave me an illustration that I remember to this day.  He told me that words were like arrows being shot into the side of a barn.  He said that you can pull the arrows out once they had been shot, but the holes in the side of the barn would remain forever. 

So often we are careless with our words.  We say things out of anger that we really don't mean or refrain from saying meaningful feelings that might alter the destination of a friendship.  If in friendship we do not confront each other, imaginary walls are built, and healing may never occur.  I wonder how many friendships fall by the way side over simple misunderstandings.

While reviewing our lives, I am certain that other than family memories, our tender moments are laced with happy recalls of friendship.  We probably can think of funny situations, embarrassing moments, or heart to heart talks shared with best buddies.  A dear friend is priceless.  Unconditional love, gentle gestures, and simple acts of kindness allow us to enter the healing light of friendship.  An established arena of safety is where our friends stand, calling to us, "Well, come on!  Well come on!"

Speaking Your Truth ... Once

maybe grace is figuring out

it's not all about you.

that people are doing

what they're doing

for their own reasons.

not yours.

and maybe grace

is accepting that.

Terri St. Cloud

Introduced by a mutual friend, Nancy B became a 'sister of my heart' as well as a loving mentor.  As a long time neighbor, discussions led anywhere from relationships with friends and animals, favorite authors, lessons in life, to planting a tree between our yards symbolizing all of the special "Rose's" in our life.

As any wise soul, Nancy always had insights to be shared.   One day she said, "We have the right to speak our truth to our child ... but once only."  We had been talking about having good boundaries, and where the line was between being helpful or being reduntanly invasive. 

This piece of wisdom has been very helpful not only with my children, but with my friends as well.  It is not always easy to know when to speak out or when it is best to remain still.  We all have our visions and we are all entitled to find our own way, but sometimes we can learn from each other. 

I have a right to my truth and an obligation to speak it ... gently and lovingly.  If I say it once and it goes unheard, than so be it.  I did my part.  To continuously belabor my point of view, it can be perceived as interferance.   If my truth encourages or assists another, than I have served.

We do not know what is best for someone else, so we must trust their decisions and listen to their dreams.  If we interfere, we may be causing the person to miss an important lesson, something vital they must learn on their own.

Embracing others with love and compassion will enhance relationships far greater than judgment and closed mindedness.  Honor your truth, but ultimately, see the grace in letting others experience life in their own way.  They too, have their own truth.

Ho'oponopono Method

The Island of Maui

EXCERPTED FROM the InnerSelf.com article:
Ho’oponopo: Healing by Restoring Balance
by Alan Cohen 

The ho’oponopono method is quite simple, and you can gain its benefits from even a simple understanding of it: The world you see is nothing more or less than the projection of your thoughts about it. No one outside you is doing anything to you, for you, or against you other than what you are doing to yourself. Shift your vision of that person or situation, and the person or situation will shift in accordance with your vision of them or it.

Take the person or situation into mind and heart, and say, for example: “I accept responsibility for creating my experience of you by way of how I have thought about you. I now wish to change my experience by changing the version of you I am holding in my mind. I now choose to see you as loving, wise, healthy, and kind. I recognize your higher, better, and whole self. I see this situation as working out to everyone’s well being and benefit.”

The words you use are less important than the intention you hold. When you accept one hundred percent responsibility for setting the situation up as it has been, you gain one hundred percent of the power to create an outcome that works for you and everyone involved. It’s as simple as that. As Dr. Hew Len said in his lecture, “I wish I could make it more complicated. But that’s just how simple it is.”

Hiding Stories ...

The Healing Began

feeling dirty, ashamed and damaged,

she hid her story.

not knowing that the woman

next to her

also hid hers.

and the next woman,

and the next.

finally someone whispered the truth.

and their eyes met,

and their tears came,

their heads nodded softly,

and their arms reached out.

holding each other gently,

telling their stories,

the healing began.

terri st. cloud

http://www.bonesigharts.com/

Journey Together

"Imagine that everyone you meet is here to assist you to go deeper in your wisdom, healing, and joy.  Do not be fooled by appearances;  use your higher vision until you find the gold."    --- A Deep Breathe of Life by Alan Cohen

As we travel through our day, let us be mindful that all things can be teachers for us.  We can observe random acts of kindness or thoughtless hurtful behavior which can impact our own approach to life.  Observing the beauty in nature can be a catalyst for inspiration or healing.  By taking time to respect all things, we become more respectful to our selves. 

Instead of observing through the eyes of preconceived judgment, observe with compassion and love.  We are all children of the Divine, each following a path of discovery that will lead to being loved, heard and understood.  Be steadfast in finding the the golden light inside of every beating heart as we journey through life together.