To Have Never Tried ...

Many of us are afraid to follow our passion,

to pursue what we want most because 

it means taking risks

and even facing failure.

But to pursue your passion

with all your heart and soul

is success in itself.

The greatest failure is to have

never tried.

Robyn Allen

Many years ago, I was the director of a preschool program.  Through time and brief exchanges, I became friendly with the mother of one of my little students.  She was an accomplished artist who reflected a passion for her work.  

I happened to mention this artist to a friend of mine who was an art teacher at the local high school.  Much to my surprise, my friend knew this artist.  So we put our three heads together and organized a play day for our children while we could work with some form of art.

This alliance stayed strong for quite some time offering us stronger bonds of friendship, laughter, and artistic expression.  Out of the three of us, I was the plagiarizer!

They knew what they were doing having had years of education and experience while I was a novice.  I was very thankful for the opportunity to experiment.

We all have a passion that needs to be expressed and by choosing to do so brings us closer to our spiritual connection.   This passion begins to be processed through our unique abilities and blends with Divinity.  

I refer to this experience as "being in the flow".  One becomes so absorbed in processing the passion everything becomes limitless.  

Whether it is through the written word, painting, articulating, or physical movement, our passion blends with our body, mind, and spirit. The end result is about feeling fulfilled not about equivalence to success.  The lingering sensation is experienced as oneness with all things.

Having New Eyes

The real voyage of discovery

consists not in seeking new landscapes

but in having new eyes.

                                   Marcel Proust

My morning routine consists of coffee, reading both Alan Cohen and Mark Nepo, journaling, and yoga, but rarely in the same order.  This morning as I gathered my books to read, I couldn't find my glasses.  I wear them every day, and keep a 'back up' pair by the computer, bedside, and in the car.

This morning, Alan Cohen refers to a woman reading a metaphysical book about physical challenges stemming from inner decisions we make.  "Vision is related to our willingness (or resistance) to see what is happening in our life."  

Mr. Cohen encourages the reader to ask the question, "When I first began to need glasses, what was happening in my life that I did not want to see?"
He shares that "many people began to wear glasses when their parents were getting divorced, or they were feeling abused by family or friends, or they faced a life trauma. I began to wear eyeglasses when I was bullied by several boys in elementary school, and felt unprotected."

I journaled about my first experience wearing not only glasses but a patch on my eye in elementary school...talk about hiding and not wanting to see! The doctor said I had a 'lazy' eye.  Although my memory is vague, I believe I wore those red plaid little glasses (still in my possession safely in their case) for less than a year.  They certainly must represent something to me!  When I turned 40 years old, my perfect 20/20 vision diminished and it was only then that I began to use 'readers'.

Alan Cohen states:
"Our physical body is always sending us messages about what it is happening with our spirit.  Just as we shut down on seeing or hearing when we don't want to see or hear what's happening in our physical world, we can restore our health by making a new decision to see and hear through God's eyes and ears."

Over the years, I have read numerous books on the subject of the connectedness between the body, mind and spirit.  If you feel like exploring this area, here are some books, although there are so many others, that would be helpful:

POSITIVE IMAGING 
by Norman Vincent Peale

THE POWER OF THE MIND TO HEAL
by Joan Borysekno

CREATIVE VISUALIZATION
by Shakti Gawain

THE PATH OF TRANSFORMATION
by Shakti Gawain

I do believe that I will experiment by wearing my glasses less, exploring God's perfection that surrounds me.  At the very least, I will further my journaling using questions to trigger my memory of the events surrounding my decisions.  I hope you do too!