Beyond the Ending

 

Closed Path

I thought that my voyage had come to its end

at the last limit of my power, 

...that the path before me was closed

that provisions were exhausted

and the time had come to take shelter in a silent obscurity.

But I find that they will knows no end in me. 

And when old words die out on the tongue,

new melodies break forth from the heart;

and where the old tracks are lost,

new country is revealed with its wonders.

Rabindranath Tagore

The cycle of life consists of a new beginning followed by an ending.  This cycle is repeated in our thoughts, actions, and deeds.  Birth, death, and rebirth is seen everywhere in nature and in every human beings existence.
We can experience death and rebirth within a very short period of time or experience a very prolonged span for action followed by consequences.  A synchronised  moment can give life to a dying thought.  A coincidence can birth a brand new beginning.  A spiritual epiphany can restore our dying human spirit.
It is part of the human voyage to experience situations like a hole in the bottom of the boat, appearing to be 'the death of me' or 'the end of me' only to discover life has not abandoned us after all.  We may find our selves washed up on shore, penniless, but cleansed and prepared for a new start.
Tonight at midnight, the year of 2012 ends and the year of 2013 offers us a new beginning.  We must see beyond the ending and chart our course to being a better 'me' which will improve our actions towards all others.  If we can but carry just one thought beyond this ending into the new year, let it be  to embrace each other, respecting diversity.

Swing Open the Gate ...

 Your only obligation in any lifetime

is to be true to yourself.

Richard Bach

We cannot be true to our most inner self if we do not explore our strengths, weaknesses, and insights.  Unfortunately our strengths are displayed rather nicely as children only to be ridiculed by others instead of encouraged and supported.  In the end, we can find our selves living parents dreams instead of dreams of our own.  The good news, however, is it is never to late to pursue our heart's desire.

Not only is it important to honor our talents and gifts, it is also very healthy to have an outlet where we can totally lose our selves.  When we invest in something we love doing, stress reduces, blood presssure drops, and mental attitudes improve. 

To be involved in an activity that brings us joy, we feel liberated which creates higher self regard.  Being creative in our own personal way heightens our life experiences directly and indirectly. 

We must take time to fan the fires of our passion.  We must give our selves permission to be involved in activities that allow us to be truly aligned with body, mind, and spirit. 

Step off the beaten path, swing open the gate and follow  intuition to where we need to be led.  Something wonderful is waiting ... if we would just stop and listen. 

Remaining in the Womb ...

Perhaps if we saw what was ahead of us,

and glimpsed the follies, and misfortunes

that would befall us later on,

we would all stay in our mother's wombs.

Lemony Snicket

When I was a young adult, it was probably a good thing I did not know what was loitering in the hallways of this classroom called life.  As a seasoned adult, I look back and wonder how I had the resilience to accomplish all that I have.  


If we were given an itinerary at birth, and applied organizational skills and well thought out goals with outcomes, we certainly would still fall short of the expected mark.  How could we possibly maintain focus for all of time?


I do not believe we are predestined, that there is a specific detailed profile for us as we have freedom of choice which allows us to stray all over the map. I do believe there is a gentle outline of expectations or lessons we need to learn with a variety of ways to accomplish this.  I sometimes have compared my life to a billiard game where I am the ball bouncing off one post into another until I reach the needed destination.

And what about second chances?  If I were shown all of the errors of my ways and given another chance at life, certainly I would not make the same mistakes ... I'd end up making new ones ... and maybe they would be worse than the first!

It is a good thing I do not have control over the mechanics of this existence named life.  I believe Spirit allows me to wander from my intended path, yet ultimately I am guided back to where I need to be.  Sometimes it seems as though I am on a scavenger's hunt, collecting parts of myself from one place and then another. 

I do not believe I would have preferred to remain in the womb.  I don't do well in crowded places and need to be out in the sun. I am fairly impatient and get bored if I cannot relax into walking or reading.  And good grief, how would I write or worse yet, talk!  No, life has unfolded better outside of the womb.

All Parts of the Self ...

Be gentle with your self.

You are a child of the Universe.

Max Ehrmann

Life has many blessings, but we find ourselves usually on guard, prepared to protect our children, health, livelihood, and personal selves.  The challenges we face in our lives can come unexpectedly and we want to be ready.

Unfortunately, we often times get stuck in this protective mode when we need to most comfort or nurture our selves.  It is too harsh for the body, mind, and spirit to remain in an adrenaline rush.

Too frequently, we forget we have many parts to our selves and each needs attention.  We will say we do not have the time, but I say, you cannot afford to not take the time.

Instead of staying tightly knotted into a bud, we need to let our selves gently unfold, one petal at a time.  To release our full fragrance or vibrancy we must expand.

To do this we must be aware of our total self and what parts make us whole.  We should be able to reflect a playful side, an innocent curiosity like that of a child.  We can allow our selves to appear unknowing as we do not have every answer nor can we be all things to all people.  Certainly we all hide our pain taking it in stride, but we also can be cognizant of how others learn through our sharing the stories of loss or pain.  Lastly, we too often take our gifts and talents for granted. 

It is a typical scenario for one friend to say to the other, "How do you do that?  It is beautiful!  I could never do that."  (This can pertain to sewing, singing, gardening, cooking, art, decor, style or professional skills, etc... )  The response is always a minimization of the talent.  The other friend says, "Oh anyone can do this.  It is easy!"  It is easy for them as it is their gift and they think anyone can do what they do. 

Wisdom gathers over the years and we eventually learn to honor all parts of ourselves in areas where we once thought we would be boastful or selfish.  Vanity and pride are not what I am referring to here.  We must see the blessings in our lives and share them with others.  In each moment, we must be present with all parts of ourselves, not prepared just for protection. 

Let the tightly woven bud closing over all of our unique aspects, gently open.  Let the sun shine unfurling our petals expressing and displaying the beauty within.  Honor the Universe by honoring what we have been given through sharing with others.  We are children of this Universe and we need to be just as gentle with ourselves as we would be with others.

Rewards Will Come

 

When one door closes,

another opens;

but we often look so long

and so regretfully upon the closed door

that we do not see the one which has opened for us.

Alexander Graham Bell

Years ago, I was the director of a private agency by the name of OPEN DOORS.  This facility was given this particular name as I was committed to opening doors to those who were not able to do so on their own.  I assisted others, especially women, in stepping through doorways they couldn't personally see. 

OPEN DOORS was a message to all peoples for all situations.  No one was ever turned away, although some were referred to other resources.  The key to moving forward was clearly in seeing options.  If a person cannot see choices, they remain a victim.  Even when limited, if there is choice, there is motivation to take the next steps.  Movement creates necessary action to reach a better place. 

Once we make a decision, we feel better and no longer feel stuck.  Our self-esteem can be restored and hope brings the possibility of a brighter future.  I have been privileged to be present in the lives of others as they pass through a new opening.

Let there be no mistake, we must be prepared to walk through an opening door alone.   We must take our own steps and find our own way.  When we allow awareness and insight to guide us, in time, rewards will come our way.

Self-Sabotage

As the long night slowly yields to day,

I, too, surrender to my next step

Which carries me toward

My natural state of limitlessness.



Danaan Parry





Every day of this week, I have been hoping to have a solid time for writing. I have this idea in my head that needs to get down on paper before it floats away as quickly as it arrived. It is a great thought and I keep adding color, feeling, and substance to it. Each day, however, something gets into the way.

So this morning I awaken, knowing that the day is absolutely free! I can get up, put the coffee on and begin my journey through the written word. I can finally write to my heart's content.

This doesn't happen. I sort laundry, brush lovely Hannah our Golden Retriever, wash out the bowls for Trudy the Tuxedo cat, dust mop floors, run the vacuum, and think about tackling the linen closet that seems to be in disarray. 

This is clearly self-sabotage! I need to give myself permission to create the time and space for my artistic or creative expression. Self-worth is certainly laced into this scenario. All of the roadblocks I have been placing in my way are just distractions. This hesitancy I feel is nothing but fear.

The ego laughs at its ability to mess with my mind. It whispers, "who do you think you are?" It creates images in my head of others invalidating my work. I know this old trick and I must quickly step through this self-imposed fear before my ideas evaporate into thin air.

I open the back door, slip off my shoes and stand on Mother Earth. I let her energy run up my legs and restore my energy. I look at the birds flying freely, flowers pushing themselves up through the ground, and the beautiful blue sky. I breathe in the crisp calm air and release my stagnant thoughts. 

I am ready now. Once again, I am excited to share my words even if they never get read. It is what I do. It is what brings me fulfillment and joy. I am happy to be me!

 

The Nameless Path

The great square has no corners.

The great vessel takes long to complete;

the great note is rarefied in sound;

The great image has no shape.

The way conceals itself in being nameless.

It is the way alone that excels in bestowing

and in accomplishing.

THE TAO TE CHING

Lao Tzu

(translated by D.C. Laus)

Why is it people, places and things being held in our highest regard frequently cannot be described in words?  How is it when bringing to mind a heart rendering event, emotion overcomes our words? 

So much that is dear to us, cannot be described.  There doesn't seem to be a language known to us that would appropriately encompass all particles of description.  Although artistic expression is an avenue just as the written word, neither captures all of our senses in totality. 

In so many situations, we are left to trust in our lack of description, of our inability to put into words all that we intuit,

and to embrace what I term as "knowing".  It could take a life time to describe in depth one person's definition of the Divine.  One could search for days for words totally embracing the experience of feeling a new born baby's breath against the cheek or breast.  Which words would express entirely the isolation or imprisonment of grief and sorrow from a loved one's death?  The nameless passages in life are endless.

In the words of Lao Tzu, translated by D.C. Laus:

     "The way conceals itself in being nameless."

The sense of absolute is one of quick passing.  We rarely

extend the sense of identity for very long.  So much of life

is unidentified purposefully so that we seek our unique and authentic pathway.

The road I travel still remains nameless and my exact direction continues to be unclear.  Teachers and mentors continue to be exacting road signs on this often times isolated journey; but this nameless path continues to lead me inward where I become less and less of self and expand into all that is.





Deep Longings

The secret longings of a learned man

Are more mysterious than the fabled Phoenix;

Within the oyster grows a hidden pearl

From the deep longings of the boundless sea.

Omar Khayyam

Translated by Ali Dashti

In childhood, our world dances with magic.  All things take on a persona and our imaginings create an adventurous world.  We bound out of bed in the morning ready to face the day and collapse into bed at night having spent every ounce of energy.  There is a lust for life in every moment and an eagerness for the flight into fantasy during our sleeping hours.

Where does this excitement go?  At what point is it drained out of us or get buried so deeply that we forget it is even there?  

As childhood passes, we may find a composition book to jot down our wisps of wonderment, but it ends up tucked away to be discovered in our later years.  Our focus shifts away from nature and the connections with rocks discovered in mud, water dripping from a hose, and racing in the blowing winds.  Gone are the games of cops and robbers, hop scotch, jacks, jump rope and trading cards or marbles.  

No longer children, our minds turn to more serious things like girls, sports, and boys.  We find fascination with more worldly things and struggle to remain who we really are.  We define ourselves by the unspoken rules of fitting in, and let important segments drop away.  

I vividly remember a friend who was so gifted in painting, and desired a life long career in artistic expression, but his parents forbid him to study art in college as 'it was a waste of time and he would never make enough money".  It was as though a light was snuffed out inside of him.  His disposition shifted and so much of how he identified himself simply fell away.

Years later, I ran into him at an artists fair smiling from ear to ear. His retirement offered him time to brush up on  his skills and he found himself back into an artist's studio.  His small following encouraged him to continue forward and he never looked better.

Do we bury our intuition, artistic expression, and magical moments in order to live what others term a 'normal' life?  Then do we unpack all that is buried within once we are older and no longer care about other's expectations?  Do we finally unearth what we knew all along as a child?

Senior Citizens are no longer categorized as tottering old fools.  From the age of 55 and up, this population is using retirement to express deep longings, recapture passions, and make significant contributions to world communities and local neighborhoods.  It is not unusual to learn that a sixty year old friend is 'finally' taking piano or dance lessons, or writing their memoirs, or volunteering to enhance the lives of others.  


Perhaps we can all rekindle artistic expression in our personal lives.  Whether it is cooking, gardening, or saving the world, let our light shine! Shine so brightly that the young can maintain their light throughout their lives, uninterrupted.

   

A Child's World, e.e.cummings

A Child's World

e. e. cummings

maggie and milly and molly and may

went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang

so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles, and

milly befriended a stranded star

whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing

which raced sideways while blowing bubbles and

may came home with a smooth round stone

as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

it's always ourselves we find in the sea.

There is something about the line, "as small as a world and as large as alone" that lingers in my mind.  As large as the world actually is, there are often times it personally feels quite small ... too small.  The world 'large' is really quite common and yet I have never heard it compared to 'alone' ... but it makes perfect sense, doesn't it? 

DUST by Dorianne Laux

DUST

Dorianne Laux

Someone spoke to me last night,

told me the truth.  Just a few words,

but I recognized it.

I knew I should make myself get up,

write it down, but it was late,

and I was exhausted from working

all day in the garden, moving rocks.

Now, I remember only the flavor ~

not like food, sweet or sharp.

More like a fine powder, like dust.

And I wasn't elated or frightened,

but simply rapt, aware.

That's how it is sometimes ~

God comes to your window,

all bright light and black wings,

and you're just too tired to open it.

Edited by Roger Housden

Throughout history, men and women have been receiving nocturnal artistic expressions and insights.  It can be a voice, an image, or a sound that prompts the growth of seedlings, if we but remember to water the soil.

Upon awakening, the memory floats closely by, but by the time we brush our teeth, only fragments remain.  Try as hard as we will, the connecting dots elude us.

We all experience times when we are busily about our day when someone mentions the smallest thing and it triggers the vague memory of something we had just dreamed that very morning.  Slowly, bits and pieces return to our memory.

Today we are offered texting, tweeting, face booking, emailing, and long distance calling.  For me, the night time communication laced within our dreams is my favorite form of all.   

Waking Eyes ...

NIGHT

The sun descending in the west,

The evening star does shine;

The birds are silent in their nest,

And I must seek for mine.

The moon, like a flower,

In heaven's high bower,

With silent delight

Sits and smiles on the night.

William Blake

Many times I have been blessed while viewing the setting sun.  Whether from the island of St. Thomas or a lounge chair on the back deck, the view of the descending sun can become an awestruck moment.

Darkness paints the sky as the sun slips down into the horizon, and a star begins to twinkle in the sky.  The moon seemingly faded strikes a contrast with the blackened sky.  

As all falls quiet, instead of feeling like the ending, a sense of beginning surrounds me.  Another day has ended, but there is promise of experiences all brand new, just waiting for my waking eyes.

Silent the Sounds

It is only when we silent the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts. 

~K.T. Jong

As I sit in my favorite chair by the window, watching the birds fly from tree to tree, I let the concerns from the day slide away.  The stillness of the room encourages my monkey mind to settle down and to allow the comfort of silence relax my body, mind, and soul.

Memories of Christmas carols, children playing with new toys, expressions written across young parents faces, and the lines of loss etched upon others once again are recalled.  There are friends I have missed, some whose final destination I do not know, and others who have simply just let go. 

My chair embraces me, holds me as my thoughts drift into silence.  It is within this silence that the whispers of truth finally reach my ear.  In this chair of comfort, I can safely explore what life reveals as it knocks upon my heart's door.

This solitude allows me to speculate, but not be drawn in to decision making or planning.  It is a neutral time for simple observation, allowing all drama to fall by the way side.  I can see into the heart of the matter and feel the 'knowing' of what is true.

Before much longer, the Christmas tree will no longer be in my view.  I will miss the white lights laced between the branches, reflecting purity and goodness while I rest in my chair.  Time passes and the holidays come and go, but I can always find the beauty of life by stepping in to silence with body, mind, and soul. 

Finding the Child ...

 

 

There's nothing sadder in this world

than to awake Christmas morning

and not be a child.

Erma Bombeck

As the mother of four, making Christmas magical was a full time job.  Specialty stocking stuffers chosen specifically for each individual stocking took thought, preparation and time.  Christmas wrapping paper were of two different varieties: one was used only for Santa's presents, and the other for gifts from Mom or Dad.  Each child would receive his or her special ornament that had been selected with care (which they claimed for themselves once an adult leaving my tree almost bare!)

A variety of cookies needed to be baked as siblings never liked the same ones.  Groceries galore filled every inch of counter space.  Appropriate clothing for Christmas Eve church services or church Christmas programs or school Christmas programs needed to be purchased for all four growing children.  Hiding spots for the gathering purchases also needed to be discovered. 

Time had to be designated between the children's commitments, adult obligatory dinners, and gatherings of friends.  Then opportunities needed to be created between stories of the Christ child, Advent services, and religious reflection.

It is no wonder women suffer from empty nest syndrome once the children have all moved away.  What to do with all of the extra time? There are other resolves than waiting for grandchildren to start the crazy cycle of creating magic all over again.

After I had my children, I realized that I needed to withdraw from several activities in order to be the kind of mother I expected myself to be.  I recall this decision clearly and knew both then and years later that there would be time when to reclaim my life as my own.

Our age does not matter, however, when we have the opportunity to once again be a child.  Perhaps the awareness of a child could be with us daily.  We can hide gifts for friends; make a snow angel;  select a special present for ourselves, wrap it in decorative paper and place it mysteriously under the tree ... waiting like a child for Christmas morn.

Frequently, we are referred to as children of God.  In this sense we are called to experience life with childlike wonder, to maintain faith and trust like that of a child, and to play well with others.  Our gifts of course are not found under a tree, but rather well hidden and waiting to be discovered within ourselves.

So on this Christmas Day, through childlike eyes see the surrounding magic.  See the beauty of the earth, and the radiance in every one's hearts.  Listen for the whispers of guidance to be heard in the lyrics of Christmas Carols or to be found in the written word. 

Light one candle, just one small votive candle in honor of yourself, in respect for all that has been given and all that has yet to come.  Give praise and thanksgiving for the freedom to celebrate the Christmas Season in whatever manner you choose. 

 On this Christmas Day,

I wish you a heart full of happiness

and a mind filled with inspiration

and wonderment!

The Road Less Traveled ...

Two roads diverged in a wood,

and I .......

I took the one less traveled by,

And that had made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Traveling down a darkened path, I came upon a fork in the road.  In this dream, there was also a tree plumply filled with birds as though it were a sacred symbol deliberately placed to gain my attention. I looked to the path leading to the right, and it was a well traveled straight line to my destination.  The other path was not well lighted nor was it very well groomed.  Some how I understood this path would also take me to where I wanted to be, but that it would be the long way, not the easy way.  The choice I made in the dream seemed to govern my choice of passage in real life.

We all wonder how we will be called to serve others.  It can be through teaching, social services, fire fighting, police, military as there are many areas available.  The career chosen is simply the vehicle we use to serve and we individually choose if we will serve with integrity or deception.  Frequently we are faced with the decision whether to take the easy route or the longer less defined way.

In many ways my life has been challenging, but in my heart it is very clear to me that I have best served others by taking the less traveled road.  It has offered me more opportunities to walk upon a path meeting others who have been teachers for me or those in need of who I am.

My identity ebbs and flows based upon my confidence, awareness, compassion, and connectedness to the whole, especially through nature.  When I am at my best, my energy and light touch the lives of others just by my presence.  By offering loving kindness whether through a smile or a thorough discussion, I have the choice to help someone in need. 

There is no intention for reward or recognition, but a simple hope to have cleared the way for someone else's understanding.  Perhaps I have lifted the veil to greater understanding or planted a seed that will produce food for thought.  It does not matter what profession we claim, but how we use our loving kindness to enable the 'wounded' to be brave enough to heal themselves.

Mark Nepo in THE BOOK OF AWAKENING uses the term "spiritual hospitality."  He describes this as helping kindred spirits by offering and receiving "...guidance

and comfort on the way --- without imposition, design, or thought of reward." 

By offering compassion to those who struggle, a sense of comfort is created where healing can begin to take place.  In many ways, the action of "spiritual hospitality" is like the book PAY IT FORWARD.  By experiencing loving kindness from others whom we may never have the means to repay, we extend learned compassion to those we eventually come to meet. 

I truly believe whenever we extend a helping hand, a gift is left in the palm of our own.  We must extend our hand, one to the other, rather than raising a fist or building a wall.  Allow the hand to remove the wall or to relax into a gesture of kindness. 

By joining hands, we can make a difference no matter which road we decide to travel.  We can reach out emotionally or physically, silently or actively, receiving or offering, but reach out we must.

Autumn by Rainer Maria Rilke

 

                                                      The leaves are falling, falling as if from far up,
                                                as if orchards were dying high in space.                            
                                                Each leaf falls as if it were motioning "no."

                                               And tonight the heavy earth is falling
                                               away from all other stars in the loneliness.

                                               We're all falling. This hand here is falling.
                                              And look at the other one. It's in them all.

                                              And yet there is Someone, whose hands
                                              infinitely calm, holding up all this falling.
                                       
                                        Rainer Maria Rilke 

  Ah, the blissful comfort

                                              of being safely cradled

in Somone's hands.

(This poem was sent to me by a young woman who teaches me through her old soul eyes of innocence, her yearning for answers with a questioning heart, and her euphoric laughter.  Her joyful spirit is sacred company on my too often lonely path.)

Food for Thought ...

We cannot hold a torch

to light another's path

without brightening

our own.

Mohammed

The grocery store was quite empty this morning as I went much earlier than usual.  I always go to the same store so I am familiar with some of the folks working there.

The young man unloading my shopping cart takes his job seriously and always has a great smile.  He seems to be joyful while helping others in any manner he can.

The gentleman checking out my groceries casually asks if I had a good Thanksgiving.  "Oh yes," I reply.  "Friends, great food, and beautiful weather all made for a wonderful day."  He tells me that he is married, has 3 adult children, and multiple grandchildren.  "Where does the time go?" he asks.  I assume that he is retired, working another job to generate more income or to stay busy. 

In the few minutes that follow, the three of us (the checker, the bagger, and myself) each share comments regarding time passing so quickly.  The checker says the bible tells us that both time and our life on earth is but a vapor.  The bagger says when he was younger, time passed so slowly.  My comments reflect the elasticity of time, expanding and contracting, but never feeling my age. 

Then the checker begins to speak of our lives here on earth, how we forget that our real destination is heaven.  The bagger mentions his father who passed away two years ago, and how he keeps his memory alive until he sees him face to face once more when he, too, passes.  I suddenly feel too emotional to speak.

There is a slight pause before I turn to leave the check out

aisle.  The three of us are looking each other in the eyes, saying nothing, but emotion is hanging in the air.  I feel loving kindness being emitted from both of them, so much so, tears begin to seep out of my eyes.

As I walk to my car, I continue to reflect on this strange grocery store encounter.  This unusual exchange seems like a wrinkle in time, leaving me with plenty of food for thought.

Simplicity, Patience and Compassion

I have just three things to teach:

simplicity, patience, compassion.

These are your greatest treasures.

Compassionate toward yourself,

you reconcile all beings in the world.

Lao-Tzu

Life gets pretty complicated sometimes.  Unresolved issues and uncontrolled emotions spike up the drama in any situation.  If we try to keep things simple, life unfolds not only more naturally, but more meaningful.

Emotions and issues get in the way of our basic love, honor, and respect for each other.  While someone is being rude to us, instead of directing anger towards them, we can extend compassion for we do not know the burdens they are carrying.  We don't need to accept or condone their actions, but if we can mentally extend loving kindness to them, it just might be a turning point in their day. 

Simplicity and compassion requires patience.  We decide to embrace the world as our brothers and sisters, but we will find ourselves immediately tested by the harshness in the world.  At times we can feel like the only spiritual warrior on the playing field.  Maintaining patience, keeping things simple, and extending compassion we will begin to notice a more peaceful nature to our own lives.

"Be the change you want to see," is a beautiful quote and very much to the point.  We must start with ourselves, our own community, and surrounding environment.  When we begin with ourselves, simple, patient, and compassionate, we are role modeling to others.  We can begin a small ripple that just might turn into a wave that could bring cleansing or healing to faces you will never see. 

We are all in this together.  We each play an independent part, but we are all connected.  We can begin together to make this world a peaceful place to be. 

Waiting for the Key

The moment one definitely commits oneself,

then Providence moves too.  All sorts of things

occur to help one that would never otherwise

have occurred.  A whole stream of events issues

from the decision which no one could have

dreamed would have come their way.

~W. H. Murray

The key to opportunity, what shape does it take?  Is there only one key or many?  Either way, a risk must be taken.  Once the risk is taken, does the key unlock the door?  One never knows until the steps are taken into the unknown.

Optimists encourage a person to make their own opportunity, to not wait for someone to arrive knocking at your door.  An individual must put himself or herself 'out there' in order to set things in motion.  One must not only unlock the door, but step through it.

Norman Vincent Peale author of THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING also wrote the book POSITIVE IMAGING which was described as "The Powerful Way to Change Your Life". Basically, the concept was to vividly picture your goal,  and hold it until it became a part of your unconsciousnessness where it would release great untapped energies.  "Hope, faith, and truth seem to be the keys." 

Our self image creates how we present our self.  If we paint our self into a pretty picture, we more than likely will find our self enjoying the landscape.  It is believed by many what we send out into the world will come back to us.  If we render hatred, we will receive hatred in return.

Love, light, and energy is how I think of myself.  It is what I want to be to others.  I will be steadfast with faith, hope, and trust that the Universe will return these things to me.

Let Go Of Leaves

A wind has blown the rain away

and blown the sky away

and all of the leaves away,

and the trees stand.

I think, I too, have known

the autumn too long.

e. e. cummings

Fall is my most favorite time of the year for a variety of reasons.  I love apples, pumpkins, cooler weather and all of the beautiful leaves.  I feel most at home in the fall and more alive.  There is a vitality and joy that seems to keep my fears at bay.  My energy seems to be able to stay in the flow where I feel calm and safe.

There are times, however, where the wind is so strong, it takes away some leaves that I am not yet ready to release.  The gust rattles my branches and shakes some of the still attached leaves free.  At this time, I do not yet feel prepared to stand leaf-less or naked in the dull gloom of the forthcoming winter hues. 

It is impossible to maintain a constant presence in the flow of nature or spirituality.  We, as human beings, seem unable to consistently remain in clarity.  One minute we have an experience in lofty space and time, but then we find ourselves disconnected again.  There are lapses in our enlightenment, but determination moves us back through the holy stream with curiosity, love and desire.

As I watch the leaves gracefully fall to the ground, I wonder about the long cold winter of hibernation.  Hopefully my stored thoughts will keep me pondering until the arrival of spring.  I will be anxious to see my new sprouts and what life will once again bring.