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Wednesday, November 27, 2019

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

"Nothing is possessed save in appreciation, of which thankfulness is the indispensable ingredient."
~ WJ Cameron ~

I am grateful for YOU, who read this blog!
And changing weather,
And the ocean and sun,
And snow, 
And gentle soaking rain,
And good food,
And the warm Holiday feeling in my heart,
And friends.
I am grateful for the experience of 
Presence in my life,
And love,
And excitement,
And courage,
And laughter.
I am grateful for my body
And good health,
For creativity,
Productivity,
Freedom,
And hard work.
All of it really,
I am grateful for 
the whole ride.

I am grateful. 

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

THE UNTOUCHABLE CORE

"I am not afraid of storms."
~ Louisa May Alcott ~

Solid, grounded spiritual strength can co-exist with physical and emotional trauma. Even as the winds of our life circumstances beat us about, there is a core within, an anchored kernel, the source of our very existence, that remains unfettered, untouched and unharmed. It carries us always, and especially when we do not feel fully able to carry ourselves.

There is that within me which is unchangeable and vastly secure.

Monday, November 25, 2019

NO MATTER WHAT

"Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years."
~ Simone Signoret ~

I am grateful for my marriage. 
We've had our challenges, 
to be sure, 
and continue to have them, 
but we keep on communicating 
and keep on feeling our feelings 
and keep on loving each other 
no matter what.

I celebrate the journey of partnership.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

THANKSGIVING WEEK

"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds."
~ Theodore Roosevelt ~

Thanksgiving week has come again, launching the 2019 Holiday Season, and the gathering of families with their new additions and their loved ones lost, food a plenty, and the range of feelings that come and go and come and go. Let's be grateful for all of it and for our lives as well, and the journey of the ongoing days.

I am grateful to be. 

Thursday, November 21, 2019

FLIPPING THE SCRIPT

"You can take no credit for beauty at sixteen. 
But if you are beautiful at sixty, it will be your soul's own doing."
~ Marie Stopes ~

For those of us who live with hot flashes, perhaps we can learn to experience them as a surge of power and an intimation of the vast reservoir within us that wants expression in the world. And perhaps those who live with us can learn to accept our hot flashes like beacons from a lighthouse leading the lost and wandering spirit home. And for those who have nothing whatsoever to do with hot flashes, take a moment to be grateful for balanced hormones and your ability to be a steady presence in the world.

I create the reality I experience.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

TENUOUS BALANCE

"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance."
~ Confucius ~

Just because something works for me doesn't mean it will work for you and vice versa. We are all uniquely responsive to herbs, to medicines, to therapies, to supplements, and to the energies and messages of our bodies.
      When someone shares an ailment, it seems to be a common trend to flippantly say, "This will fix it," and move on, completely missing the emotional and metaphysical implications of the sharing and the journey.
     Let's heighten our sensitivity and stop thinking we know so much about what other people need. It's job enough to maintain the tenuous balance of ourselves.

I may know less than I think I do. 

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

WAITING ON HOLD

"It happens by a thousand tiny surrenders of self-respect to self-interest."
~ Robert Brault ~

Dealing with an efficient, high-integrity company is a pleasure, but sadly, not all companies fall into this category. Recently, I ordered some things online, and a few days later got an email saying there was a problem with the coordination of the credit card information and billing address so could I please call to verify.
     When I called, I waited on hold for twenty minutes with the constant haranguing of the techno-voice telling me she appreciated my patience and please hold for the next available representative, who finally picked up, and then couldn't understand why I had gotten the email in the first place because all was actually in order with my address.
     I was reassured that my items would be shipped.
     But no shipping verification email came; instead, another notice that the order could not be processed because of a problem with the address and could I please call. So here I am on hold again, listening to the techno voice, and it's been twenty two minutes and counting. They have lost all my future business at this point, and my patience, and my respect.

I celebrate the efficiency of high-integrity companies. 

Monday, November 18, 2019

PURPOSE

"No one understands that you have given everything. You must give more."
~ Antonio Porchia ~

Some of us are internally driven by the idea of making money, some by the idea of being famous, being in love, achieving a goal, having a child, healing an illness, being at peace. And none of these are wrong and none better than another. Still, it's helpful to understand for ourselves personally what in particular motivates us so we can use it to guide our compass and point our True North.

I know what drives me. 

Sunday, November 17, 2019

FARM PROJECTS

"The level path is easy, but it will not bring you to the mountaintop."
~ Dr. Idel Dreimer ~

We've been working on burying drainage pipes in ditches for water runoff from the equipment sheds and barn. It's challenging work shoveling dirt, making sure the grade is running steadily downhill, and negotiating all the uneven ground climbing up and down the ditch banks. My body is sore, and I'm tired, but we mush on to get the job done.

I finish what I start. 

Friday, November 15, 2019

FINANCIAL STRAIN

"There are people who have money and people who are rich."
~ Coco Chanel ~

I am tired of being fearful about money, of feeling anxious and worried, of becoming a kind of crazy person every time I have to pay bills or some unanticipated expense pops up. I have always had what I needed and then some. It's time to take a deep breath and commit to a new way of being relaxed and trusting around all things financial.

I let money come and go and flow with ease. 

Thursday, November 14, 2019

THE RIGHT STUFF

"Honest labor dispels melancholy."
~ James Lendall Basford ~

More than once, I have tried to pay bills and do paperwork in a cozy environment to make it more palatable- sitting in front of a fire in a comfy chair, or something of the sort- but I need a desk, and space for organization purposes, and a certain mental intensity to get the job done. It goes better that way, and faster, and I don't have to suffer the frustration of piles of paper slipping constantly off of my lap.

I accept that some approaches are better than others to honor the job at hand.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

CHILLIN

"Take-it-easy and Live-long are brothers."
~ German Proverb ~

Life is full of things to do, and sometimes we just have to make the conscious decision to not do them. It's ok every once in a while to do nothing.

I give myself a respite from activity so I can return to life refreshed.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

5 RHYTHMS

"Ah! this beautiful world!"
~ HW Longfellow ~

Travel the road of emotion rising,
And falling,
And spinning in twisting, wrenching,
Convoluted turns
Until it is spun out and only
Space and stillness remain
For a pace or two
Before emotions rise again,
And fall,
And twist into stillness.

Life is never-ending energy in motion. 

Monday, November 11, 2019

COMPASSION FOR SELF

"Body tired, brain tired, soul benumbed, heart aching, a worn out human drops into a seat."
~Leigh Norval ~

Emotional exhaustion is different than physical exhaustion, and arguably more debilitating, so when we've experienced heightened feelings and traveled the heart journey of deserts and mountains, it's best to allow for rest. We need time to process and time to integrate and time to just be.

When emotional exhaustion comes on, I go easy on myself.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

HOW IT FEELS

"All beings everywhere, suffer; let your heart go out to them in spontaneous and immeasurable compassion."
~ Rigpa Glimpse of the Day ~

We are all wounded in one way or another, and our woundedness connects us.Though we might want to pretend that we are above or beyond all of that, that we have forgiven all that needs to be forgiven and let go of all that needs to be let go, the effect of our pain remains like a stain on our soul. And that's a good thing, because it's our wounds that make us authentically human and our wounds that make us useful to others. We can be compassionate only because we really do know how it feels.

I honor the hurt in myself and others.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

SHHHHH

"Silence is the universal refuge."
~ Henry David Thoreau ~

We live in a fast, noisy, busy world, 
so it's key really, 
every so often, 
to shut off the sound and sit or walk or just be in silence. 
And, though our minds may rattle on, 
if we trust the quiet,
 and breathe deeply into it, 
it will steady us,  
and restore us to balance 
and clear vision, 
and wisdom,
and peace.

I make time to be quiet.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

"Eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."
~ Hans Hofmann ~

I went to another funeral for my Aunt Mary that was completely different from the one for my Cousin Nat. Hers was simple and straight to the point, just the way she wanted it. Six of us stood by the graveside while the coffin was buried. We played a bagpipe version of Amazing Grace on a cell phone, it was sunny with a cool fall breeze, and we stood around talking gently while the cemetery guys systematically filled the hole, and replaced the sod.
     It was soothing in a way, and peaceful, and natural, and beautiful. No fanfare, no service, just a few loved ones present for the closure of a life.

Simplicity is peaceful. 

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

UNDER THE WEATHER

"Every disease is a physician"
~ Irish proverb ~

It's difficult to see the ones we love suffer physically. To have them be weak and not feel well inspires compassion and also frustration, empathy, and a bit of irritation as well, perhaps from our fear that they will never be well again. And as with all difficult things, it's an opportunity to practice spiritual principles, but that doesn't make it any more palatable. No matter how I come at it, I find it leaves a taste of discomfort in the soul.

I admit and accept the challenge of sickness. 

Monday, November 4, 2019

PRESENCE AS A LIFE SKILL

"The past is a guidepost, not a hitching post."
~ L. Thomas Holdcroft ~

I believe the most important, most helpful, most evolved life skill we can learn is how to be present; how to be vigorously aware of everything around us, and be tuned-in to our inner energy, and instantaneously and appropriately responsive to anything new that arises.
Presence gives us spaciousness.
Presence gives us ease.
Presence gives us vitality and appreciation and a sense of well-being and the feeling of love.
And presence gives us that thing we long for
that we often cannot name.
Presence gives us peace.

I practice the art of presence.

PS I was interviewed on this topic, and you can watch that interview, along with many other inspired interviews here. Just scroll down to find my name. 

Sunday, November 3, 2019

THE UNKNOWN

"We may never pass this way again."
~ Seals and Crofts ~

We think we know what's coming, and if we ever get a little too comfortable with that idea, life has a way of jolting us back into the mystery of unexpected challenge and the unknown.

I never know what's around the corner so I take full advantage of whatever is happening now.