THE GIFT OF LOVE

"Love cures people."

~Karl Menninger ~

Love is the answer no matter the question: love from the gut. We can't solve our problems, feel better about who we are or how we relate to others, rise up to glory in the world, or relax in peace unless we open to it. We have to allow for connection and the tugging on our hearts. It happens frequently if we care to notice, and it happens completely and utterly by God's grace.

I am grateful for the energy of love within me and around me. I am blessed by love.

BUBBLES FROM THE PAST

"Memory is a child walking along a seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things."
~Pierce Harris ~

Sometimes I think we just need to be sad; to feel nostalgic and a little mushy inside- touched by the beauty of our fragile world. It's a softness and a warm glow- a vulnerability, a smile, a reminder of where we've come from, and the lingering kindness of good friends.

I feel the sweet sadness of life on earth.

THE ART OF WAITING

"Life is always a rich and steady time when you are waiting for something to happen or to hatch."

~ EB White ~

Waiting is only uncomfortable if we are uncomfortable on the inside- squirrely in our skins, and anxious about who we are or what's to come. But if neither of those is the case, then waiting can be a peaceful stillness- an open door and an empty page: not a problem at all, but an opportunity to practice inner calm.

I wait quietly, and with peace.

ELEGANT NOTICING

"When I stopped to pay attention to where my breathing was deep and settled, the truth began to emerge from the mist."

~ Betsy C. Garmon ~

Someone the other day recommended to a group I was in that we actively participate in "elegant noticing." I love the term and I love the concept. What a wonderful way to say it! Be present; be aware; pay attention. That's the point.
    There is so much grace and beauty and fine distinction in life, and all of it can be easily overlooked and completely missed. Let's choose instead to notice everything: the details, the intricacies, the colors, textures, sounds and feelings. Life is a rich and spectacular affair if we do.

I actively practice elegant noticing.

BEING ESTEEMABLE

"Don't try to be different. Just be good. To be good is different enough."

~ Arthur Freed ~

To have self-esteem, we have to do esteemable things. This is a wonderful saying and an excellent concept to fully understand. We can't feel good about ourselves if our behavior is slippery, we're not taking care of our responsibilities, or we poison ourselves with chemical pollutants. We can't feel good about ourselves if we are riddled with guilt or unkind to our peers.

    Living right is the best answer for living: right-sized, clean, and square on the earth, with our feet planted firmly in the truth.

 

I experience the satisfying results of upright, high-integrity living.

BEING MELLOW

"Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak.'

~ Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati ~

The word of the day is mellow, and Webster's defines it as pleasantly smooth, or soft, and free from harshness. Aren't those characteristics of life worth increasing? So let's increase them, and enjoy the mellifluous result.

I engage the warm glow of mellow energy and don't allow the world to set me on edge.

SPEAKING UP

"Optimism is the foundation of courage."

~Nicholas Murray Butler ~

There's no harm in asking for things that are traditionally beyond our reach. We never know when the winds of fortune may stir the air for us, or when the answer to our improbably and seemingly impossible question might actually be yes.

I courageously ask for what I want.

INTELLECTUAL EXPLORATION

"Bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot irreverence to (your) studies... (do not) worship what is known, but question it."

~Jacob Bronowski ~

I love to learn about things that interest me, and to gather knowledge of all kinds from all sources on a regular basis. It keeps life interesting and my mind engaged: to constantly refresh my perspective and broaden my view. I learn about myself through this process as well- what attracts me and what I resist.
     To learn is to be vital. To pursue knowledge is to remind us that the world is large, and that we will feel bored only if we, ourselves, are boring. So let's not be. Let's pursue our passions and follow the lead of our hearts.

I explore the vibrant, global world in which I live.

SELF-DISCIPLINE

"Discipline is remembering what you want."

~David Campbell ~

In our culture, the concept of discipline gets a bad wrap. We think of it as punishment instead of corrective training, which is the actual meaning of the word as defined by Websters. An undisciplined life is like an undisciplined child: both unpleasant and out-of-control. Plus, if we have no self-discipline, we miss important opportunities for progress and well-being.
     It's discipline that keeps us doing the next right thing instead of the next easy thing, and discipline that reminds us that tomorrow lies before us and we cannot live for the reckless impulse of this moment only. It's discipline that grounds us and discipline that creates and maintains the foundation of our good health. So let's embrace it, and stop resisting it as something taboo. We need it, and so does our world.

I live consciously, and with care.

BEING PLAYFUL

"Seriousness is a disease."

~ Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh ~

Having fun is infectious, and someone else's lack of self-consciousness inspires the same in us. Let's call up the courage to be ourselves, and to be bold and authentic and unapologetic.

     There's freedom in silliness and relaxation in good times. So let's have good times, and laugh easily, at ourselves and life and whatever life serves up. Let's be playful and take ourselves a little less seriously than we maybe think we should.

I stop worrying what everyone else is thinking about me and have a good time.

SHOWER OF BLESSINGS

"Life is what we make it."

~Grandma Moses ~

I love making progress. I love bettering my behaviors and beliefs. I love the power of hindsight and the wisdom that comes with age. I love not having to know everything.
     I love being fit, and perseverance. I love the company of my best friend and a good night's sleep. Sometimes, I lose sight of the shower of blessings that rains down upon me, so today, I consciously give thanks.

Life is good and I am blessed.

TAKING TIME TO REFLECT

"We all have a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be."

~Jane Austen ~

Our experiences take time to digest. If we never stop rushing around and distracting ourselves with technology and phone calls and television and noise, we will fail to process our days.
     It is our responsibility to create open space for reflection and digestion; to make sense of all that we encounter, absorb, and intuit. If we don't, life gets messy quickly, and we start to feel overwhelmed and out-of-control. So let's give ourselves the gift of silence. It's an excellent daily habit and a therapeutic digestive routine.

I need time and space to process the happenings of my life, so I take it, when I need it, one hundred percent guilt free.

STAYING THE COURSE

"The past can't see you, but the future is listening."

~Terri Guillemets ~

Just because I can't see how I could possibly get from here to there doesn't mean it's not possible. The way will unfold if it's meant to unfold, and it's not always for me to know the detailed version of how. Keeping faith, persisting in my efforts, and dedicating my focus- these are my responsibility. Everything beyond that- the journey and all the rest of it, are up to powers beyond my control.

I do my part and trust the process. What is meant to be will be.

WHAT'S POSSIBLE

"I dwell in possibility."

~Emily Dickenson ~

Do you feel drawn to greatness? Or are you more comfortable living small? Smallness is beautiful in its own way, as long as it doesn't become a breeding ground for fear and limiting beliefs. There's more for us if we want it. That's the thing to know and remember. What we have and what we experience is always up for negotiation and reorganization. We are co-creators with the divine.

I allow myself to believe in greatness.

FROM BLINDNESS TO CLEAR SIGHT

"Resistance is futile."

~Star Trek ~

Occasionally, and sometimes frequently, I find myself in a state of resistance to what is. A rebel in me rises up and I want instant change and escape from things the way they are. A trail of negative thoughts cycle within me, and exhaustion and boredom rule the day. I want out.
     And then, something comes along to bust me out of resistance and my view is refreshed. I am able to appreciate the blessings before me, and my attitude adjusts accordingly. Like coming through the fog, I go from absolute blindness to total vision. Goodness is restored in me, and I am  ok again to continue a bit further along down the road.

I stop resisting my circumstances and feel grateful for all that I have.

GOOD SERVICE

"Unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant pages in the biography of souls."

~David Thomas ~

Equally, and possibly even more importantly than good food at a restaurant is good service. Good service can, in fact, ameliorate mediocre food, but poor service drags everything down with it: the whole experience, and the best cooked dish.
     Let's remember this as we move about in the world. Let's appreciate, celebrate, and acknowledge good service whenever we encounter it, demand it of ourselves, and encourage it anywhere that we can.

I honor those who provide service with good nature and care, and make sure that when I have an opportunity to serve others, that I do the same.

GOOGLE SEARCH

"I have an almost religious zeal- not for technology per se, but for the Internet which is for me, the nervous system of mother Earth, which I see as a living creature, linking up."

~Dan Millman ~

I love that we can google absolutely anything, and follow whatever trail of learning peaks our curiosity. I love having information and education at my fingertips, and the evolutionary process that takes me from research to real.

I search for opportunities online, and then take the physical steps necessary to advance along my chosen path.

STRETCHING LIGHT NIGHTS

"Poetry should appear almost a remembrance."

~John Keats ~

Light nights stretch the blessing of summer days.

Lingering warmth wraps shoulders and porch swings

and carries the evening breeze.

I love late summer sunsets and all that they bring.

SIMPLE WISDOM

"Discipline is money in the bank."

~ Henry Rollins ~

I heard this the other day and it made me laugh: "We don't have to be ugly just because we know how." What profound truth! Let's take it to heart.

No matter what life may serve up, I behave with decorum and courtesy.

KEEPING ON

"Life is the game that must be played."

~Edwin Arlington Robinson ~

Sometimes I just feel worn out. I can rally, and do, but underneath there is an exhaustion at times that is beyond a need for sleep. It is a desire for things to be other than they are. But this mindset can perpetuate itself and make me a victim. I have to acknowledge it, and give it its appropriate time and attention, but then I have to find a way to refresh myself with new adventures. It's up to me to reinvigorate my life.

I keep myself vital by following my heart, whatever that looks like on any given day.

STEPPING FORTH

"Courage is knowing what not to fear."

~ Plato ~

Worthwhile living takes daily courage. We have to step up and step out, because it's beyond our comfort zones that our blessings often lie. We cannot thrive without stretching, and we cannot stretch without being brave.
     So let's call up our courage and move in the direction of our fear instead of away from it. Let's face what is scary to face and trust that in doing so, we will be made stronger and wiser and more able to trust our next step, and then the next one after that.

Trusting in the principle of courage, I move forward in spite of my fear.  

OVERCOMING LIMITING BELIEFS

"Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us."

~Marianne Williamson ~

I recently heard a woman say that deep down, or maybe not that deep, that she had a belief that she didn't really deserve anything better than exactly what she got- which was a pretty raw deal and a whole lot of dysfunction. And my heart went out to her when she said that because I understood.
     It's so easy to believe that we are not deserving- far easier, in some ways, than to believe that we are. And I'm not sure why that is, but we have to adjust it on the inside. For it is only by identifying and disbanding our limiting beliefs that we can ultimately come to enjoy the sky-is-the-limit life that is our birthright.

I turn off my old tapes of worthlessness and believe in all that is possible and good.