Sacred Foundation

When we acknowledge that all of life is sacred and that each act is an act of choice and therefore sacred, then life is a sacred dance lived consciously each moment.   When we live at this level, we participate in the creation of a better world.

~Scout Cloud Lee

There was a time each special day or season had its own time and space.  Now it seems everything begins in different time periods.  Some Christmas decorations were on display around Halloween and everything else  before Thanksgiving. 

It is important to find a balance between the buying and the donating;  the giving and the receiving; the social commitments and the family responsibilities; and the public and the personal expectations.

It takes focused effort to align our inner and outer worlds.  It takes deliberate planning and action to meet our needs.  It requires an awareness to make every choice congruent with how we want our lives to be lived.  Each and every choice builds our sacred foundation.

If we can treat each act as sacred, we will move through our actions more slowly, carefully, and with greater respect.  If we can fill our days with sacred acts rather than careless deeds, our life becomes more sacred.

If we truly master the sacred steps in our life, it does not matter what season it is at all.  Every day can be sacred and the world can be a better place for all.

Error In Our Thinking

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have a potential to turn a life around. It's overwhelming to consider the continuous opportunities there are to make our love felt.

— Leo Buscaglia

We are seldom confronted with opportunities for greatness, but we are surrounded daily by circumstances to make a difference.  We make the mistake of waiting for some situation to appear needing our intervention.  We know in our hearts that we are willing and able to help, if the right time just came along.  And therein lies the error of our thinking.

By adjusting our thinking, we can make a difference all day long.  When we wake up of the morning, we can use affirmations or prayers requesting  to be filled with loving kindness to be distributed all day long.  Through creative visualization, we can see and feel our body filling up with golden loving light.  Thus prepared, we face our day, excited about where we will project this light without request or obvious signs of need. 

Throughout our day, we can extend this light to anyone we pass or come in contact with whether it is in the coffee shop or grocery store.  We exchange kindness through handshakes, slight nods, or eye contact.  Even through small phrases of "Thank you" or "Have a great day" can help you dispense goodness to unsuspecting others. 

We can liken these gestures to hiding Easter eggs or being a secret Santa.  We can leave a finished book in the airport waiting area or leave unused cupons on the store shelf by the product. When waiting in any line extend kindness to everyone in front of or behind us.  Pay it forward any way we can.

Through our actions, we are placing positive energy out into the world where it will ripple across all people, places, and things.  We can place this energy into the money we hold in our hand, releasing any negativity and allowing it to be circulated with loving kindness.  We can fill our office or elevator with loving light to keep our selves and fellow humans safe during the day.  We can extend light within our cars, homes, and favorite places to create a peaceful atmosphere.

We will find our selves feeling better about our life and our world.  We will feel as though we are making a difference even though we are not recognized for our good deeds nor will we necessarily see the positive out comes of our generous giving.

When we end our day, we can have thankful hearts and a sense of gratitude for playing a behind the scenes light giver.  We will sleep well and look forward to the next day when we can be filled with light once again.  We can be making a difference every day!

Permission

Work when there is work to do.

Rest when you are tired.

One thing done in peace

will most likely be better

than ten things done in panic ...

I am not a hero if I deny rest;

I am only tired.

Susan McHenry

Self-care is like preventive medicine and yet we sometimes feel as though nurturing our self  is being selfish.  Our culture suggests utilizing every minute to be profitable while all else is wasteful, lazy or a poor investment.  Parents, mentors and student guidance counselors frequently encourage students to stay away from pursuing a music or writing career or indulging in the arts as it would never support  a person financially.  An although there is truth to the struggles of the artistic world, what of the struggles of the creative spirit stifled behind a computer all day?  What of the dreams, self-respect, and honoring of personal gifts and talents?  

Ingrained into our thinking is the concept  to remain profitably busy.  We feel somewhat selfish if we are not productive.  If we cannot be held accountable for a productive day we may feel anxious or guilty.  Lives become focused on "doing" rather than "being" and our identity becomes linked to what is outside of our selves  rather than who we truly are on the inside.

When we are 'comfortable in our own skin,' we bring our true nature into whatever it is we choose to do.   Then whatever it is we do, reflects who we are on the inside.  We will have the sense of being integrated or whole, perfectly capable of granting our selves rest.

Hearing Voices

“Sometimes people are beautiful.
Not in looks.
Not in what they say.
Just in what they are.”

Markus Zusak

I am the Messenger

My definition of beautiful has certainly changed over the years from elements of the physical to an awareness of beauty within on soul level.  I have given up labeling people or trying to put them in categories by just living in the moment and really listening to what is being said out loud, what isn't being said and what is being portrayed by body language.  I no longer try to decipher what is truth or accurate reporting, I just embrace the message and wonder how it can be applied to the day, to life, or to nothing at all. 

If I develop the art of listening, I can be conscious of the intention of the moment.  I am not preoccupied as to how I need to remedy the problem, but rather giving my full attention in order for the person to fully express his or her message.  By creating an arena for someone to share safely and comfortably allows them to hear their own voices which assist in discovery of their own needs or actions.

When we remain balanced, our energy vibrates out to others and we are like a light in a dark tunnel.  Energy attracts energy.  If our energy is abrasive, people will shy away.  If our energy is expressing kindness and calm, people will feel invited.

So instead of squinting and observing a narrow view of cosmetic or fashionable beauty, try to hold not only the sense of seeing, but all of the other senses to appreciate a fuller view of each and everyone of us.  Experience the whole person by being attentive to not only sight, but sound and smell as well.  As we open all of our senses to another, we blend into a deeper level of communication.

 When we strive to listen and be present, we will not feel pressure to resolve issues.  We will honor and respect the space between two voices. By shinning our  light for others, we will see more beauty in every day people and allow for voices to be heard. 

One Slip of Paper

 

I wanna be the best in at least one thing in this life.

~ Toba Beta

We stack up years of life experience, thousands of dollars in education, numerous career moves, and we still wonder what we will be when we grow up.   It all gets rather confusing as we need to address all parts of our selves ... family, career, spiritual, physical, and mental.  We have many sides to our human form and our focus can become quite skewed in our attempt at wholeness.   It is ironic that the most important part of the equation for living a full life is discovered so much later in life. 

Think of it as trying to build a bicycle without directions.  We can make several test trials, errors, rebuilds, and experience very few moments of pleasure before it all falls apart.  When we have finally come close to giving up, the owner's manual arrives.  Just browsing through the directions, we easily understand what we were trying to do was ineffective.   The instructions help us to see our task from a different perspective.  Then we begin to build once again.

If we indeed came with an owner's manual, perhaps we would speed read, or skip pages, or misplace the book.  Maybe we would seek out the 'cliff notes' version and miss the importance of trial by error.  We would compare our mannual to others and become so overwhelmed with conflicting information we might end up a jack of all trades, and master of none.

In my heart, I don't think we would ever be born with an owner's manual.  At best, we would be born with one slip of paper with one message delicately scrawled across it.  It would read:   Be the best version of you!

The Pictures We Paint

Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince others.  Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval.  Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.   ~  Lao Tzu

Isn't it amazing how we can experience the exact same situation twice, responding in two totally different ways depending upon our mood?  A person can tease us about something, and if we are in a really good mood, we can laugh and shrug it off.  On the other hand, if we are not in a good mood, the teasing can hurt our feelings and leave us brooding ... for hours ... for days ... any maybe even longer.

The other day I came across an old picture of myself.  I instantly remembered this place in time, and the exact same feelings I had felt in that moment spread through my present day body.  I felt fat, ugly, and alone facing a professional dinner where I would know no one.  I knew I would be miserable and dreaded going. 

Holding the picture in my hand, I recalled that the evening introduced me to several new friends as well as professional connections.  Looking into the picture I saw a woman dressed very professionally in a business suit, freshly applied makeup, thick shoulder length glossy hair and a terrific smile.  In short, I would have given anything to look this good again!  I had no idea my waist had been so small! 

So why had I painted this terrible picture of myself those twenty years ago?  Then the dawning ... this picture was taken not long after my divorce.  My self-esteem was shot, I was returning to a career that had been dormant for far too many years, and I was a single mom of four.   I was embarrassed about being divorced and was struggling with shame and guilt for what I termed a "failed" marriage.  

My personal assessment did not paint a very good picture.  Sadly, I was focusing on all of the negative things and my internal critic was running wild.  I had been very frightened of all of the responsibilities facing me.

Looking back at this photo, I saw an entirely different image.  I saw a successful business woman, a dedicated mother, loyal friend, and intensely creative human being.  I did not see these things at the time as I looked through the lens of fear. 

We need to paint better pictures of ourselves.  Throw on the paint using brilliant colors and use a small brush to better define details.  Instead of focusing on shadows, highlight all of the good qualities.  We need to see ourselves in a larger picture with all of our strengths and desires aligned.

Carefully Drawn Boundaries

Indifference and neglect

often do much more damage

than outright dislike.

J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

It never seizes to amaze me how much I learn and then how much I forget.  I am not talking about letting go of what I no longer need.  I am talking about experiencing something pivotal and then allowing it to fall through a rabbit's hole like Alice in Wonderland. 

Then I have to re-experience the lesson all over again.  I hear myself say, "Oh, I remember this!"  The second time, the lesson seems to have increased in challenge, making it just a little more difficult to accomplish and then maintain.

Just lately, I have been exceptionally hard on myself.  In my own eyes I have been falling short of self-imposed expectations, and  I have tried all the harder to come up with my desired result. 

I slowly became aware that I was no longer aligned.  I was making allowances where there should have been none.   I was over compensating and out of balance. 

I realize it is better to give than to receive, but our boundaries must be carefully drawn to prevent others from taking advantage.  Compassion for others is a necessary component in life, but it does not require us to be subjected to disrespect.  If we do not speak up for ourselves, then who will?

Master the Art of Giving

It's important to give without expecting anything in return, rather than keeping a tally of whom we've helped and who has helped us. Silence and service go hand in hand. Random acts of kindness, particularly those anonymously accomplished, reflect a healthy non-attachment to deed or outcome.

— Chelle Thompson

      Editor of Inspiration Line

December is the month for giving.  As our children become adults and our grandchildren and extended family members live far away, it is difficult to replicate the excitement of the holidays.  There are  ways, however, to master the art of giving!

1.   Make a prayer list for friends or those in need.

2.   Donate to Angel Trees, Charities, or Adopt a Family.

3.   Pay it forward ... so many ways to do this!

      Drive up windows, Restaurants, Stores

4.   Offer to baby sit for a neighbor so she can shop.

5.   Take an elder to gather a few holiday things.

6.   Bake items for children of busy mothers.

7.   Share talents with nursing homes or shut ins:

      Read, Sing, Play piano, Listen, Play a game or Puzzle

8.   Invite someone to join your family dinner.

9.   Give away Christmas decorations no longer used.

10. Gift favorite used books to others with inscriptions.

11. Volunteer ... schools, senior centers, greeters.

12. Be a "present" to all around you.

We so often take our own strengths for granted ... health, family, friends, creativity ... and we rarely think of our selves as a gift but, by doing so, unlimited ideas surface for ways of service to others.  To "gift" others,  not with monetary glitter, but with heartfelt gestures, memories will be created  out lasting the holiday season.  Personal thoughtfulness will warm every one's hearts for seasons to come.

In the Flow

I've been a fish:  in search of bottom when I've surfaced, in search of surface when I 've bottomed, and the ribbon of God's sea passing through my gills is what I've felt and thought and spoken.

Mark Nepo

The Book of Awakening


In my life, I have too frequently found my self treading water exhausted rather than gently going with the flow.  Going against currents weaken our discovery for what we yearn to know, while fighting upstream can be an obsessive distraction.

According to Mark Nepo, like the small fish uses a gill for turning water into air, we must turn our experiences into something that can sustain us.  We can transform our pain and heartache into something positive to help us move through our days rather than trying to figure out how it all works.

We can determine for our selves which flow we want to follow, as not all of us are meant for mainstream.  No matter what we decide, we must find our soul to be trusting and mindful of what we learn while in the flow!

Be You, Bravely

Bravery is being the only one

who knows you're afraid.

Franklin P. Jones

A common misconception is: if I leave my job, relationship, or neighborhood, I can begin my life all over.  Starting fresh  is a wonderful opportunity; however, if we do not address the underlying problem, we simply drag it along with us to the new job, relationship, or neighborhood.  In order to create new beginnings, we must alter or adjust or resolve the issue triggering our unrest.

To be able to make corrections, we must first be aware of what we need to change.  We need to review what we learned from our family of origin and older generations, such as levels of secrecy or money values or relationship patterns.   Viewpoints on these subjects were impressed upon us at a very young age and we may not be aware of the extent they impacted us.

By shedding outdated belief systems or unhealthy life style patterns, we experience a freedom.  We have prepared an opening for which satisfying new behaviors or beliefs can be instilled to both our actions and our thought processes.

By truly breaking negative family cycles, we discover the ways we have been limited and prevented from a more fulfilling   personal identity.  It takes bravery to give ourselves permission to change in order to reach our individual potential.  It is not an easy task but it is a highly rewarding one.  Be you, bravely!

A Place of Women

How might your life have been different if there had been a place for you?  A place for you to go, a place of women, to help you learn the ways of woman . . . a place where you were nurtured from an ancient flow sustaining you and steadying you as you sought to become yourself.  A place of women to help you find and trust the ancient flow already there within yourself . . .  waiting to be released . . . 

A place of women . . .

How might your life be different?

Circle of  Stones by Judith Duerk

Quite honestly, I do not wish my life were different, but I do wonder how different it might have been had I had positive, supportive, and caring women in my life.  If there had been a circle of women encouraging me and nurturing me as a child, I wonder if I would have still been as fear based as I am. 

If there had been those who celebrated my differences rather than shaming me, would I even look different?  Would I carry my self differently, physically?  Could my mind be more creative and my spirit more kindly? 

I cannot change my past, but thankfully my awareness grew through the diversity of women who did come into my life in later years.  Exposure to women who were excellent role models by being whatever their true nature called them to be, taught me a sense of value and self-worth. 

After bringing three wonderful boys into this world, I was gifted with a daughter.   With intense gratitude, I have been able to acquaint all four of them  with the strengths, gifts, and talents that all people bring into the world.  My boys learned how to recognize and respect diversity in  women while my daughter learned the importance of her own voice to be used with both male and female.

We are intended to be nurtured by those surrounding us.  It pleases me, therefore, to be aware of the diverse characteristics of women currently being displayed and developed in women across the globe.  We are entitled to be our inner self to the fullest which often times is made easier if we have a place of women.

Enhanced Life Experience

If you realized how powerful your thoughts are,

you would never think a negative thought.

Peace Pilgrim

1908-1981

Masaru Emoto, a Japanese author, conducted research into the negative and positive aspects in water.  Positive energy was given to a water sample and then frozen.  Negative energy was given to a water sample and then frozen.  Upon studying the results, the water crystals from the positive energy were indeed beautiful while the water crystals from the negative water sample were dark and distorted. (Please google Masaru Emoto for accurate study pictures, procedures and developments.) 

The human body contains anywhere from 65 to 80% of water, depending upon the studies available.  The brain itself stores a large content of water.  So if both positive and negative energies impact water, to what degree does our negative thinking have upon our personal human experience?

So if we place our selves in a negative environment and silently criticize our selves in our head, how would we compare with others who remain in a supportive environment and maintain high self-esteem?  We have much more control over our environment, our mental and physical health than we realize.

If we would only monitor our selves, be aware of how we are feeling in any given moment, and remain in the present moment, we would notice a spectacular difference in our selves and those surrounding us.  We need to be more responsible in accepting the appropriate care we need to maintain a level of "higher self" for an enhanced life experience.

Be Loyal to Our Selves

Just because I liked something at one point in time doesn’t mean I’ll always like it, or that I have to go on liking it at all points in time as an unthinking act of loyalty to who I am as a person, based solely on who I was as a person. To be loyal to myself is to allow myself to grow and change, and challenge who I am and what I think. The only thing I am for sure is unsure, and this means I’m growing, and not stagnant or shrinking.

Jarod Kintz

Before we can be loyal to our selves, we must first know who we are inside and out. Secondly, we need to be so closely connected to who we are that we know when we are on the cusp of change or facing challenge.  Once the change or challenge has been completed, we then adjust our behaviors accordingly.

Frequently, we outgrow a favorite sport or activity and yet find our selves parroting to someone how much we love it.  When we really listen or pay attention, we soon realize that we have grown out of something, but as we were not paying attention, we have grown stagnant by not replacing the old with something new.  A new project or a new interest, or a new way of reflecting who we are now.

We out grow apartments or homes.  We out grow office space or personal space within a relationship.  If we experience a spiritual awareness, we may feel uncomfortable with how we spend our social time.  Any time there is change, an adjustment needs to be made, otherwise the imbalance of a certain part is not being supported by the whole.

When we change, it is not always comfortable for us.  It takes energy to physically or emotionally withdraw.  It helps when we give our selves permission to move ahead even when it means we leave others behind.  We are not being selfish nor our we being judgmental when we decide we need something different to support our mind, body, or spirit. 

When give our selves permission to evolve into  new space, we increase our curiosity, trigger adventure, and allow our selves to grow.  If we ignore our yearnings for change or dreams, we are not honoring our creative or authentic self.  We have an obligation to be loyal to friends, but first we must be loyal to our selves.

To some, this may sound selfish.  Being loyal or respectful to our selves does not mean being greedy or harmful to others.  It does mean nurturing our selves so we can stretch into who we truly want to be, just as Divine intended.

Belong to Me

  The greatest thing in the world

is to know how to belong to oneself.

Michel de Montaigne

 There were many triggers going off  within me when I first read this quote.  As an unattended child, I believed the only person I really belonged to was me ... and that was rather frightening as I was not sure I liked my self all that much. 

Over the years, I longed for someone to be responsible for me or  to take care of me.  When I did find someone to belong to, he did such a great job I resented being dominated and not having free thought or will. 

Finally retrieving parts of my self that had fallen into others dominion, I attempted to become what I thought others needed me to be so that I could finally belong.  I kept giving and giving until there was nothing left to give.

It has taken years for me to love the 'self' within me, and to see I was  worthy of respect and attention.  The truth is I really like myself now that I have accepted all the sharp edges and weakened floor boards.  I am still 'under construction', if you will, but I am pleased with the progress and results.  I am truly grateful to finally belong to me!

To Be Patient and Wise

Keep growing quietly

and seriously

throughout your whole development.

Rainer Maria Rilke

Until my physical body no longer exists, I sincerely hope that I will continue to grow both mentally and spiritually, each and every day.  I have always been somewhat of a seeker, but lately, awareness seems to grow more gently within sorting out what I have already gathered.   I no longer wait to set aside time for seeking or learning, as there seems to be a lesson in most anything I see or do.  Life unfolds with its own rhythm in every breath we take.

When we allow life to slow down, we have more patience, and when we have more patience, we have deeper understanding of all that surrounds us.  When life is moving gracefully, we are more apt to catch the beauty seen through other's eyes  and more readily embrace a perception not known to us previously.

The world is rotating, the atmosphere is changing, the seasons are transforming, age is increasing, and perceptions are diversifying.  There is nothing particularly stationary about life and so we learn to navigate through it, best we can.

For some, life feels like a slow boat to China with boredom or isolation, while others experience it as a flash in the pan.  If we strive to stay present, to be aware in each moment there is far greater reward.  All we really have is right now, this instant, to be patient and wise.

Writing, My Forever Friend

                                                Write what disturbs you,

what you fear,

what you have not been willing to speak about.

Be willing to be split open.

Natalie Goldberg

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within

If you have any interest in writing, get your self acquainted with Natalie Goldberg.  She in not only an excellent writer, she is an inspiration to those wanting to write.  While reading her endless material, you instantly feel connected with a personal mentor. 

A few years ago, local writers joined together to form a weekly writer's forum.  Although some of us were strangers to each other, we seemed to bond right away.  All of us liked to write, and we seemed to have a different focus ... fantasy, poetry, memoirs, non-fiction  ... so there was never any competitiveness.  On the contrary, the support we received from each other was amazing. 

While attending the writer's forum a fellow writer Becky, now living in New Zealand, taught me how to set up a blog.  Once I began posting, I never stopped.  I post every day about familiar subjects that randomly appear in that scary place known only to myself ... my mind.

In grade school, I developed the love for writing.  By the summer between 7th and 8th grade, I had written two novels.  In high school, my writing turned very dark and was a more cryptic style of  off-beat poetry.  I only wrote when I found my mind to be in a very dark and lonely place, which unfortunately was often. 

Once in college, my writing expanded.  Even though I had kept diaries since mid-grade school, my writing demanded more and more time and space.  I seemed to write everywhere and anywhere.  I was encouraged by a few professors to take my writing a little more seriously and to focus on journalism.  I graduated with a double major in Psychology-Sociology and used my skills writing case manager notes and court documents.

As the years crept by, I continued my love for writing.  I have numerous journals spanning over my life.  With my love for typing which I developed in high school, the computer took me flying as fast as my fingers could go.  I began printing e-mails of correspondence or articles of interest and saving them in binders.  For seven years, I kept deliberate journals tracking my dreams. 

Smaller journals were wonderful to take on trips or to slide into my purse.  There never seemed to be a question of what to write as much as there was the question of when I could write.  These smaller journals held different writings like quick insights or topics I wanted to follow up on or an author recommended for a great new book.

Now, of course, my iPad has been added to the mix.  It seems to be my forever friend, willing and waiting to just accept what I have to write or to link me to cyber space in quest of something in particular. 

Everyone can write interesting material.  It isn't about sentence structure and punctuations, it is about whatever sits in your soul.  Everyone has something to say and writing is the avenue to say it.  Even if your writing never sees the light of day and is kept locked in a drawer, the words need to sprawl across the page!

Words Upon the Page

And by the way,

everything in life is writable about

if you have the outgoing guts to do it,

and the imagination to improvise.

The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.

                                           Sylvia Plath

Ever since I was a little girl, I have been writing and reading and then writing some more.  There is very little else I enjoy more than writing, unless of course it is reading.  I have  felt freedom and joy placing pen onto paper and allowing my thoughts to take form and flow.  I don't have to think about what to write, there seems to be something just waiting there.  Waiting to take form in the perfect words and then spring forth in perfect words.

Writing is a way to ease things out of me or to sort through random thoughts clamoring for structure and order.  It is also the means of engaging with you, sharing questions and sought after answers.  Carefully placing my words upon paper is an effort for me to make things right, to help set the world in a better way.  The more we can understand each other, the smaller the world will seem and we hopefully can stay out of harm's way. 

My words are no greater than any others, but they are honest and true.  There means to be no implication that my beliefs are exclusively accurate, for all people need to find their own words and express them in their own way.

Words are colors dancing in my thoughts.  Each word has its own rhythm and tone.  Some may be similar, but each meaning is enitrely its own.  Some words bring images and by joining these images, a mini-theater unfolds in my head. 

This process almost works in reverse in that the slower I go, the more details race in.  It is as though the rehersals have already been run, and in this final act no one wants to be cut from the show.  Carefully, I go, making certain the smallest detail is captured to complete the story you will behold.

Thoughts take form in words that are written upon the page.  It is reliving or recalling or manifesting dreams, desires, or pain.  There seems to be great healing once everything is neatly displayed. Thank you for meeting me here, to witness this page.



Unfolding Parts of the Self

“We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.”       

~Anais Nin




Change has never been one of my mastered areas as I lean more towards permanency.  I feel more comfortable  when things are the way I expect them to be; but then there suddenly seems to be a time when I want to rearrange everything as I have grown bored or feel stagnant.

Change is a constant in life, challenging us whenever we feel settled about an issue, situation, or location.  Change can shift our emotions and how we feel within seconds even though we may not be aware of the cause and effect until a much later time.

We are multi-faceted human beings.  We are not just one solid body of thought, word, or deed. We are made up of differing parts.  Our cause and effect, or ability to respond, or inconsistencies can vary from moment to moment or conversely may not shift for years.

We may be a professional flying to different cities daily, sleeping in different hotels every night and eating meals at random.  We may love this style of life, but when we return to our home, if one thing is out of place, we may go ballistic!  We may stay up late into the night arguing to win our partner over to our side.  Then first thing in the morning, our partner openly agrees, but we sometimes respond with, "No, I have changed my mind."

Not only are our parts vastly different from each other, they are also given to change.  We are similar to massive computers with files being added to regularly or transferred or deleted and then retrieved from the recycle bin!  We need to know ourselves well so we can recognize when we are on the cusp of real change or a fanciful whim. 

It is beneficial to listen to all parts of the self, as each part needs some level of honor and respect.  In other words, we need to create balance between all of our varying needs.  If we pay attention, we will recognize which part of our self is trying to get attention and to what degree we want to give it.

Sometimes our behavior may surprise us.  We may ask, "Where did that come from?"  We all are exposed to negative energy, and we are all confronted with change, creating a cause and effect.  If we take the time to know our selves very well, we can more readily anticipate our reaction and smoothly move through the currents of life.   If we rush through life, ignoring or repressing parts of our self, it will be a bumpy road.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously.  And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

May we each have a child's heart today, filled with innocence, playfulness, forgiveness, and adventure.  Let our day be filled by honoring those we love and by sharing laughter with those surrounding us.  Let our hearts over flow with kindness towards our selves and others.

We can be thankful for our family's ancestors, our personal history, accomplishments and challenges, and good health.  There may be so much more to be desired, but just for this day, let us feel saturated with goodness and hold all distractions at bay.

I am thankful for many people and things which include those who read my words and for the opportunity to write.  Many blessings to all peoples near and far.

In the Moment

Whatever you are doing,

be aware of it.

Dipa Ma

Being in the moment, we monitor ourselves and realize when we are being kind and when we are being rude.  As human beings, we are not always compassionate and we frequently judge.  When we are able to be in the moment, to not be distracted, we are far more aware of our own behaviors. 

Our behaviors will never be perfect, but once we are aware, we have a greater opportunity to change how we act.  If we are irresponsible and move through life at a high pace, we may never monitor ourselves.  We may minimize our behavior or justify it falsely. 

As we monitor our behaviors, we see a broader picture instead of our own biased view.   We have greater listening skills and our keen observations prep us for better decision making.

When we are in the moment, we are more mindful in both speech and action.  We can make a better impression on others by allowing them to feel listened to and understood, even if we do not agree.  We do not have to challenge everything we hear or see, so we are not distracted by planning our defensive response.  We simply give ourselves permission to simply be present in the moment without drama or discernment.

When we practice mindfulness, we display respect and honor towards others which in turn creates a better feeling about ourselves.  Our ego is less likely to puff us up or bring us down.

Dreams are Puzzles

   

All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.

Edgar Allan Poe

We are told by Jonathan Parker that dreams revolve around several issues:

Wrong and Right

Attraction and Fears

Life and Death

Love and Hate

Masculine and Feminine

Freedom and Security

When we open our mind to dream interpretation we begin to develop an excellent resource for understanding our current life.   Whatever we experience throughout our day ... what we see, hear, touch, smell and speak ... becomes stored away  for possible use in our dreams.

A dream may be highly exaggerated to catch our attention and to make a point.  A drama might unfold within a dream where our current belief system is reflected.  Dream content is meant to expand our understanding whether it be for depth or laughter.  No matter who we dream about, the dream is always about our self.  The characters in our dream simply reflect an aspect about ourselves.  It is best to give dreams lots of room for interpretation.  Continue to examine our dream until we feel a connection with it and how it relates  to our life.

Once I had a dream that did not seem related to my life at all.  I studied it, turned it around, and shared it with a friend, but I could not find any personal meaning in it.  I recorded it in my dream journal and still it did not resonate with me.  I finally gave up, but a few days later when my friend asked about it, it unfolded itself ever so gently in my mind.  It made perfect sense! 

Dreams are like puzzles.  Sometimes we have to keep moving the pieces around until they gently fit together.  Instead of just seeing a piece of the puzzle or small groupings, we eventually see the pieces forming the whole picture.

And, yes, we all dream every night.  It is a matter of whether or not you remember dreams.

First and Last Identity

Be strong then,

and enter into your own body;

there you have a solid place for your feet.

Kabir

We spend so much time looking outside of ourselves for validation or unconditional love.  We need to accept ourselves just the way we are ... imperfect.  Imperfect in the sense that we are an unfinished product, still under construction, and vulnerable to unexpected change.

When our first identity is associated with being Buddha's Heart or Christ Consciousness or Divine Universe, we stand more firmly upon this ground.  As a spark of the Divine, we  experience being human through our family, work, community and belief systems.  We live more harmoniously remembering that our soul is unchanged in spite of  external human labeling.

Identifying with our spiritual nature, our human developments are less dramatic with more effective solutions.  As our perspective is clearly spiritual, every day happenings shift in importance.  

If we are seeking the answer to the question of "Who am I"

simply go within and connect with our soul.  Soul is the first identity we experienced coming into this incarnation and it will be our last identity as we depart.

The Option of Hope

 A man's face is his autobiography. 

A woman's face is her work of fiction.

Oscar Wilde

My dear friend Nancy is always directing me to wonderful information I would otherwise miss.  She brought to my attention a website by Jeff Foster.  Through his writing, I learned a  positive and supportive concept  regarding individuals facing  suicide, a subject we usually would choose to ignore.

Jeff Foster points out that many individuals considering suicide, really don't want to end their life, they just want to end the falseness that has been built into their lives.    The heaviness of dragging around masks of deception, and the pain of not being who they intended to be,  have created such a terrible burden they just want it to end.  Do they really want to die?  No, they just want the nightmare to end and at the moment, they cannot see any other way out as they are exhausted and desperate.  (Jeff Foster's website:  http://www.lifewithoutacentre.com )

Jeff Foster's website records the story of his presence with a suicidal wealthy single mom.  He was not there as a therapist, nor was he  there to talk her out of her decision.  He simply sat with her as a passive listener as she unloaded all of the burdens of her life.  Just his quiet presence encouraged her hour after hour to continue emptying the disappointments and disillusions of her life.

In time, the woman began to talk about what she originally intended for her life and the aspirations she held as a mother to her only child.  As she recalled her earlier dreams and desires, a spark of life returned to her.  She became curious as to how she might disassemble  her current life and rebuild her newly recalled dreams and desires.  She had created an option for herself, one that is available to us all ... hope.

It is never too late to reconstruct our lives rather than ending them.  It may take some doing, but the desire to return to our authentic self will give us hope which can be a brilliant light to lead us out of our darkness.