Touched By The Shadows of Hawks

 

What a GREAT day!

I talk a lot about every day miracles and keeping your eyes open ... Let me share yesterday's miracle with you!

I was working out in the yard, when I heard all the birds go quiet.  I looked up to see a red tailed hawk skim across my yard only 7-8 feet above my head!  His shadow crossed over me and I froze ... watching him circle slowly upward, riding a thermal as he searched for food.

I heard another hawk cry behind me and watched as the second hawk joined the first and they began to circle around each other, riding the same column of air, soaring wide and occasionally dipping behind the trees or flying in front of the sun where I would lose them for a minute because the sun was so bright.  My eyes were watering from looking into the bright sunshine but I didn't want to miss a moment of their dance in the clear blue sky.

I watched the hawks circling over my yard.  Their shadows crossed over me more than once and my heart would skip a beat at being close enough to feel their shadows.  It was magical.

They soared and dived behind some trees as they moved up the creek.  "Come back", I whispered, but even as I whispered, I heard the other birds in the yard begin to chirp and the squirrels resumed their play among the trees.

My short visit with the hawks had ended but it was AWESOME while it lasted!

I packed up my tools and put the cart away, went inside and got cleaned up, thinking about the hawks as I made supper.  After we had eaten, I cleaned the kitchen and came in here to read what is becoming one of my favorite web-sites, DailyOm. 

Here was yesterday's entry ...

 

Hawk Medicine The Power Of Perspective  Hawks have the power to soar high above the earth, giving them a perspective previously only available to the inhabitants of the heavens above. Because of this, people from various cultures throughout history have seen them as messengers of spirit, bringing wisdom from the heavens and the value of their higher vision down to earth. From their vantage point, riding on the wind and sunlight, they remind us today that there is a bigger picture to be seen. When we get bogged down with the details of what is right in front of us, hawks help us remember that we are part of a larger plan and that everything fits together beautifully and perfectly. Once in this expanded frame of mind, we can harness their reputation as visionaries, using their keen eyesight to focus on the exact spot that truly needs our attention. With inspiration and focus on our goal, hawks teach us how to interpret and then follow our personal vision. Hawks were thought to be able to look directly into the sun and see what is not visible to the rest of us. Using our spiritual vision, we too can look deeply into the inner light that guides us, seeing clearly what is not visible unless sought: our personal truth glowing within us. With that knowledge, we, like the hawk, can confidently ride the winds of chance, moving as one with the flow of whirling energy. This ability is what inspired the Egyptians to make hawks the hieroglyphic symbol for the wind. The hawk's ability to live on land but visit the sky is a good reminder for us all. They remind us that their strength and survival comes from communing regularly with the spirit and bringing the guidance received into earthly affairs. Soaring in the province of the heavenly bodies of the sun, the stars, and the wind that moves the clouds reminds us to consider a larger perspective, one that inspires us to move through the world we inhabit with strength, certainty, and grace. Want more DailyOM? Register for your free email, or browse all articles

 

It gave me goose bumps to read about what I had just watched in the yard only a few hours before! ... and even as I tell you about life's coincidences and how they have been arriving back to back for me lately, I know that it will seem almost too perfect to some of you.  A few skeptics may even wonder if I'm making it up.  I know that because there was a time before my life worked this way that I would have thought the same thing!

I am sharing this because it illustrates how much a life can change ... and there are some out there who badly need to know that your life CAN be different than what it is now.

My life was a jumbled up mess just a short time ago.  I had reached the lowest point in my life.  Just when I didn't think it could get any worse ... something happened to wake me up and life has not been the same since! 

I tore down everything, threw out most of the garbage and baggage I'd been dragging around throughout my life and started remodeling and reprogramming the way I think.  It's called recovery because it is the process by which we reclaim and recover our authentic selves, the person we were always meant to be.  Recovery requires that we GET REAL with ourselves and others.  We begin to live a more ordered life on the edge of a much calmer sea. 

 

It is amazing how creating order on the inside can establish order on the outside.  There is more time in my life and more room in my mind and my heart to notice the wonder that is around me!  When I am less consumed with my worries and troubles, my intuition and perception is able to stretch much further than it ever has! 

I am awake!  I am aware! I am alive!

 

Life is not supposed to be DRUGERY!  No matter where you are or where you aren't, what you are doing or what you are not doing, how much money you have or don't have, you can change the way you live TODAY!  Yes, YOU.  You don't need anyone else.  You have all you need INSIDE YOU!  You already have all the answers INSIDE YOU!

 

I'm telling you the absolute TRUTH.  It's like Gandhi said, IF YOU WISH FOR CHANGE, BE THE CHANGE!

 

"That's too simple", you say?  Why do you think that?  Why do you want to make life so hard on yourself?

 

You say ... "I don't know all the things you have to deal with.  No one could be happy with all that going on" ... Really?  There are people much worse off than you who are just happy to be alive today.

 

I hear you ... "Yes, but things have happened to me that have damaged me" ... Well, fix it!  If you need healing, find it!  If you need hope, look for it.  I don't mean drive by a church or temple and hope some of the goody rubs off.  I mean look for what you have lost the same way you would look for a lost contact lens ... inch by inch and step by step.

 

I'm sharing my coincidences with you because I want you to see how it can be.  I want to share hope.  Living a life with back to back blessings is not the way my life has always been!  It took work to get to this place of gratitude and joy, but if I can do it, you can too.  I'm not one bit smarter or stronger or richer or prettier than any of you! 

I am a quite ordinary woman who has found the most extraordinary life and I want to share the possibility of such a life with you ... because HEALING is possible for all of us. 



    

Awakening The Inner Warrior

Yesterday, I read about going with the flow and today, I read about awakening the inner warrior!

Somehow, that makes sense to me because life is a balance between the two.  Trusting that your life is unfolding as it is supposed to creates an inner peace and calm, a reservoir of strength.  But, there are times when you are called to defend yourself, your family, your friends, even your country.  My Mom used to say, "If you don't stand for SOME THING, you will fall for anything."

I have two sides to me, and you probably do too? ... The side that is capable of walking away from insignificant and unnecessary drama ... and another side that is ready, willing and able to throw my hat in the ring!

 

Stoking The Fire Within
Awakening The Inner Warrior

There are certain personality archetypes that we all carry within us, such as the inner child, the lover, and the mother. Some of these archetypes present themselves strongly, while others lay fallow. For example, there is an inner warrior in each one of us, but in some of us this warrior is underdeveloped to the point that we are unable to stand up for ourselves, even when necessary. There can be many reasons for this. We may have grown up with a parent whose warrior aspect was overdeveloped, and we responded by repressing ours completely. On the other hand, we may have grown up with parents in whom this aspect was dormant, so we never learned to awaken it in ourselves.

A warrior is someone with the strength to stand up for what he or she believes; someone who perseveres in the face of challenges and obstacles; someone who speaks and acts in the service of an ideal; someone who protects those who are too weak to fight for themselves.

Regardless of the reasons for an underdeveloped inner warrior, you may begin to notice the lack of its fiery, protective presence and wish to awaken it. You may need to stand up for yourself in a certain relationship or situation, or you may have a vision you want to realize, and you know you will need the courage, energy, and strength of a warrior to succeed. Similarly, if you find that you often feel scared, anxious, or powerless, rousing this sleeping ally may be just the antidote you need.

One excellent way to cultivate the presence of your inner warrior is to choose a role model who embodies the qualities of bravery, strength, and vitality. This person could be a character in a myth, movie, or book, or a historical or living person you admire.

Simply close your eyes each day and contemplate the quality of energy that attracts you to this person, knowing that the same potential lives within you. Confirm for yourself that you are capable of handling this energy responsibly, and stoke the fire of your own inner courage.

DailyOM - Browse

 

 

The warrior archetype is alive and well in me ... but warriors know who the REAL ENEMIES are ... and sometimes, the enemy is me!  There are a lot of things that can make me angry but being a warrior doesn't mean that we go to the wall on everything!  Sometimes, things that make us angry are the very things that we don't need to fight about.

Let me try to explain ... 

 

If you are in a car accident and it's the other guys fault and they come running up to you, screaming and yelling, that would be the time to answer calmly and try to bring some peace and calm to an already tense situation.  Simply stay put and call 911.

If you are in a store and a clerk is rude to you, you might be capable of dressing the little dear down but what would be the point?  You know who you are.  You also know that people only act that way when they are under some sort of pressure, so instead of telling them off, you could calmly say, "It seems like you are having a bad day.  I'm sorry.  I'll come back when you arein the mood to sell me something." and just leave.

 

Neither of those situations is anything to lose your peace over!

 

Anger and Frustration are not useful tools for a warrior.  You can't think clearly when you allow yourself to be angry.  Vengeance and Spite are useless tools too because they cut you more deeply than they cut your adversary.  You may as well drive your sword into your own heart!  Jealousy won't serve you either.  It poisons you long before you ever use it on someone else! 

So what tools are worthy of a Successful Warrior?
   

Courage, Wisdom, Integrity, Hope, Faith, Discernment, Intuition, Empathy, a working Knowledge of How To Heal yourself and others, Love, Joy, Patience, Kindness (not everyone is your enemy), Goodness, Kindness, Self-Control ... to name just a few, but you can probably think of a few more traits ...

Just imagine what a HERO would do!  If our lives were a movie, would we be the ones that the audience would be pulling for or are we acting like the villain? 

MOST of the things in our life that take REAL COURAGE are the things most people will never see.  In those quiet moments where no one really knows, are you acting like a HERO?

 

You know the answer ... If you are the hero, you probably just smiled and your heart felt good for me to acknowledge that most people will never know how much courage you really have.  If you aren't the hero, you probably just slumped a little and shut your eyes, hoping no one sees.  I'm sorry.  That doesn't have to be how your story goes.

There is a hero in all of us ... an inner strength at the core of our being ... It's the part of us that rises up to protect ... We really can be our own hero!   

 

God grant me the Serenity
to accept the things I cannot change

The COURAGE TO CHANGE the things I can

And the WISDOM to know the difference

Navigating The Stream ... Going With The Flow

I am a woman who used to live with lots of regrets. 

 

I worried and fretted "ad nauseam", second guessing myself constantly.  Whenever something went wrong, I would analyze nearly to death every action, every thought, every word and every deed, wondering, "What would have happened IF ...?"

 

Good grief!

 

Half of the things I worried about just NEVER happened.  No, more than that!  89% of the things I worried about never happened.  10% of the things that happened, I never even thought about and 1% actually was worse than I could have imagined!

 

Did all that worrying and fretting do anything but give me indigestion?  Nope!

 

My friend, Daisy, talks about the spiral path ... Natalie Cole sings a song about going all around the world to find something just five minutes away ... I wonder now, why it took me so long to TRUST that things just were the way they were ... and today, they just are what they ARE ...

Simple! 

 

That doesn't mean we don't have a choice in what we do.  We did and we do.  We chose THIS place!  If this is where we are at ... we must be here for a reason ... so let me look around and see what there is to see ... What lesson does today hold for me? 

 

Better yet, what blessing will I find?  What nugget of truth is resting somewhere in the unfolding of the day?  What miracle will I be a witness to?

 

Looking at the past, fretting about decisions already made, or worrying about what could have been just keeps us stuck in the precarious place of driving in one direction while looking over our shoulder and not paying attention to what's in front of us at all!  How long will it be before we get in trouble doing that?  LOL!!!  It wouldn't take long for even the best driver to hit something!

 

Looking too far ahead is almost the same thing.  I was driving down the highway once when I looked over and saw a man looking at a map while he was trying to drive!  He had the whole thing unfolded, covering most of his view and trying to figure out where he was going!  I slowed way down and let him go on ahead where I could keep an eye on him ... There is no way he could have been giving the road his full attention with all that going on!

 

But how many times do we do that too?  I can think of times I was so worried about something coming up that I was miserable for days, planning and writing lists and running around, trying to make sure EVERY THING was PERFECT!  

 

All those things turned out just fine.  Even if something didn't go as planned, it still was lovely and no one but me really knew that it was a mistake ... or was it? 

Some of the most precious memories I have are of the little unplanned miracles that popped up in the middle of my well-made plans.

 

My daughter's wedding was only a week away.  It was my second wedding so I had everything covered ... Invitations ... Place ... Minister ... Dress ... Bridesmaids Dresses ... Flowers ... Food ... Drinks ... Cake ... I felt pretty good about how smoothly every thing had fallen into place. 

Two days before the wedding, I called to arrange pick-up of the cake.  They didn't know what I was talking about!  It seems that the girl who had taken my order had quit that day and never turned inmy order!  They were in full swing on 3 other weddings and they couldn't help me!!!

Unbelievable!

 

My Mom had just come into town, and she does wedding cakes at home but she didn't have anything with her ... We put our heads together and I called Publix.  They were a new grocery store in town, but they had the BEST tasting cakes and I figured we'd go with a couple of sheet cakes if nothing else ... Mom and I drove across town to the store and the sweetest lady was working in the bakery.  I told her what had happened, ending my story in tears.  She came around the counter, hugged me and said, "No problem.  We can handle this.  I baked some extra cakes this morning.  Let's see what we can do."

 

She and Mom talked and came up with an idea ... simple plan ... three tiers ... three different flavor cakes ... butter cream icing on every layer and my daughter would still get to use her cake topper too!  She promised to have it ready the next afternoon.

 

It was the prettiest cake I had ever seen.  She had added a few extra touches and flourishes ... like love gifts to my daughter ... The cake wasn't just pretty.  It was moist and every layer was flavorful.  My eyes fill with tears even now ... to think of how that mess turned into a beautiful memory of my Mom helping with the cake and meeting a sweet, sweet angel that bakes cakes at Publix!


I didn't have anything to do with the planning of that memory, but it is one of my favorites.  I think of it often when I am planning a party or a get-together and I start obsessing over the details ...

There might be a good REASON things don't always go as planned!

Setting high goals and having high standards is a good idea, as long as we remember that nothing ever really turns out PERFECT, but sometimes, when we don't even try, things are BETTER than PERFECT!

There is no reason to lose our peace or give up our joy by getting bogged down in regrets or guilt or worry!  Relax ... ENJOY the moment.  Quit looking back ... Put down the map and the plan book and the to-do lists and look around at this BEAUTIFUL day!

 

It's your's to do WHATEVER you want with it!

Make it a good day!

 

 

Footnote:  Just as I finished my thought, I took a break to read some of my emails, and this was in this morning's mail!    

" ... Going with the flow means that we are aware of an energy that is larger than our small selves and we are open to working with it, not against it.

Many of us are afraid of going with the flow because we don't trust that we will get where we want to go if we do. This causes us to cling to plans that aren't working, stick to routes that are obstructed, and obsess over relationships that aren't fulfilling. When you find yourself stuck in these kinds of patterns, do yourself a favor and open to the flow of what is rather than resisting it.

 

Trust that the big river of your life has a plan for you and let it carry you onward. Throw overboard those things that are weighing you down. Be open to revising your maps. Take a deep breath and move into the current."

 

 

How cool is that?!!!

 

(smiling)

 

I get goose bumps every single time THAT happens ... where I am thinking, writing or talking about a thing and I pick up a book or read an email or see a magazine article that adds to the thought in the most beautiful way ...

 

Every SINGLE day has something new for us to learn ... if we just go with the flow.  Keep our eyes open.  Don't waste time looking back.  Don't worry too much about what lies ahead.  It will still be there when we get there! 

 

What TRUTH will float your way today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counting Our Sisters Tears

 

 

 

 

 

This morning, I searched for just one image of a woman crying and what I found was hundreds of images from every decade and every nation of women crying and weeping at the horrible event that marked that moment ...

The images touched my heart and made me realize just how much we are all alike ... We might look different on the outside but our hearts break in the exact same way on the inside.  Hopefully, the images and my attempt at poetry will only add to the meaning of the verse I tried to create an image for ...

It certainly caused me to pause in the midst of my morning routine and say a prayer for all those women out there who weep ... those that wept yesterday, today and those that find themselves weeping tomorrow ... Perhaps, in the midst of your day, you will remember them in your hearts too?

 

Counting Our Sisters Tears

 

If women are the heart of the home,

Their tears certainly are the herald for change.

 

Women have wept at the start,

The duration,

And

The end of every single war,

Every skirmish, every battle,

Every act of terrorism,

Every gang fight, every drive-by shooting,

Every bombing,

Every violence committed against any one of us.

 

Death shows no favor,

Crushing heroes and anti-heroes equally

While women weep.

 

Mothers, Sisters, Wives and Friends

Cling to one another and cry

At the loss of each life ...

And the devastation they feel connected to.

They beg the universe for mercy

For the

Men and women they knew

And the strangers too.

 

And while our sisters weep,

Where are you?

(From the Hebrew Talmud)

 

Be very careful if you make a woman cry
because God counts her tears.

The woman came out of the man's rib ...

Not from his feet to be walked on ...

Not from his head to be superior ...

But from the side ... to be equal ...

Under the arm to be protected ...

And next to the heart to be loved.

Lighting Up The Dark

Seeing Your Perfection Letting Your Light Shine   We are each born into this world with unique gifts. Within us is a glimmer of the divine, a light that can potentially make the world a more beautiful place. But in many, that light lies dormant, snuffed out by fears and feelings of inadequacy. To spark it is to attract attention, face the possibility of rejection or the responsibility of success, and risk being labeled immodest. Yet when we undermine the light by hiding our aptitudes and quashing our dreams, we deny ourselves and others a wealth of experiences. Your abilities are a part of who you are and when you take pride in them, you affirm the love, esteem, and trust with which you view yourself. Moreover, as you express the light within, you grant others permission to do the same, freeing them to explore their own talents. For some, we are taught to hide our light from the world since childhood. Relatives caution us that the professions associated with our aptitudes are unattainable. Our peers may be envious of our skills and thus overly critical of the activities we instinctively enjoy. And authority figures admonish us to be humble and avoid showing off. But there is a vast chasm that separates those who let their light shine and those who seek only to draw attention to themselves. When you dare to share your light with the world, the beauty and perfection of your soul become clearly visible. You become a whole being-the literal embodiment of your vast potential. Whether you are a wonderful dancer, a first-rate cook, quick with numbers, or a natural negotiator, you'll come to understand that you do the world no favors when you hold yourself back. If you have hidden your light for so long that it has shrunk to an ember, make a list of everything you do well, however impractical, silly, or seemingly inconsequential. Then ask yourself how you can positively utilize those abilities in your daily life. The gifts you were born with were not granted to you arbitrarily. While you may never discover what impact your light has had on others, you can be certain that when you embrace your talents and share them with others, you will spread illumination in the world. Want more DailyOM? Register for your free email, or browse all articles

Healing Creek Discovers Fountain Of Youth !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW TO STAY YOUNG !!!

 

1. Try everything twice.
   On Madam's tombstone (of Whelan and Madam) she said she wanted this epitaph: "Tried everything twice ... loved it both times!"
   
   
2. Keep only cheerful friends.
   The grouches pull you down.  Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches.
   
   
3. Keep learning. 
   Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop."
   
   
4. Enjoy the simple things.
   Sunrises ... Sunsets ... Full Moons ... Stars ... Summer Breezes ... Fall Leaves ... First Snows ... Spring Rain ... Flowers ... Candlelight ... Children's Laughter ... A Clean House ... A Completed To-Do List ... Mowed Grass ... Fresh Cut Flowers ... Ice Cold Glass OfWater ... A HotCup Of Tea ... A Walk In The Park ... Your Favorite Song ... An Old Movie ... Pajamas ... Poetry ... Photographs ... Stained Glass Windows ... Holding Hands ... Hugs ...
     
   
5. Laugh often, long and loud.
   Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with him/her.
   
   
6. LIVE while YOU are alive. 
   The tears will come.  Endure, grieve, and move on. Forgive now those who made you cry. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves.
   
    
7. Surround yourself with what you love.
   Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, and hobbies; whatever. Your home is your refuge.
   
   
8. Cherish your health.
   If it is good, preserve it.  If it is unstable, improve it.  If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
   
   
9. Don't take guilt trips.
   Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, or even a foreign country, but NO guilt trips.
   
   
10. Tell the people you love that you love them.
    ... at every opportunity and when you say it, mean it.

 

 

 

What Do I Believe?

I BELIEVE





Have a seat . . . relax . . . and read this slowly.
This sums it all up...

I believe ...
... that just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,

it doesn't mean they do.

I believe ...
... that we don't have to change friends
if we understand that friends change.


I believe ...
... that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and
you must forgive them for that.

I believe ...
... that true friendship continues to grow,

even over the longest distance.

Same goes for true Love.

I believe ...
... that you can do something in an instant

that will give you heartache for life.

I believe ...
... that it's taking me a long time to become
the person I want to be.

I believe -
. . . that you should always leave loved ones

with loving words.

It may be the last time you see them.

I believe ...
... that you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I believe ...
... That we are responsible for what we do,

no matter how we feel.

I believe ...
... that either you control your attitude

or it controls you.

I believe ...
... that heroes are the people who

do what has to be done when it needs to be done,

regardless of the consequences.

I believe ...
... that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe ...
... that my best friend and I can do anything

or nothing

and have the best time.

I believe ...
... that sometimes the people

you expect to kick you when you're down,

will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe ...
... that sometimes when I'm angry

I have the right to be angry,

but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe ...
.... that maturity has more to do with what

types of experiences you've had

and

what you've learned from them

and

less to do with how many birthdays
you've celebrated.

I believe ...
... that it isn't always enough to be forgiven
by others.

Sometimes you have to learn to forgive
yourself.

I believe ...
... that no matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe ...
... that our background and circumstances

may have influenced who we are,

but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe ...
... that you shouldn't be so eager

to find out a secret.

It could change your life forever.

I believe ...
... two people can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.

I believe ...
... that your life can be changed

in a matter of hours by people

who don't even know you.

I believe ...
... that even when you think you have no more to give,

when a friend cries out to you ...

you will find the strength to help.

I believe ...
... that credentials on the wall

do not make you a decent human being.

I believe ...
... that the people you care about most in life
are taken from you too soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forgiveness for Yourself and Others

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Imagine vividly a situation where you have acted badly,
One about which you feel guilty,

One you might even wince even to think of it.

Then, as you breathe in,
Accept total responsibility for your actions
In that particular situation,
Without in any way trying to justify your behavior.

Acknowledge exactly what you have done wrong,
And wholeheartedly ask for forgiveness.
Now, as you breatheout,
Send out
Reconciliation, forgiveness, healing, and understanding.

So you breathe in blame,
And breathe out the undoing of harm;

You breathe in responsibility,

Breathe out
Healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

This exercise is particularly powerful

And may give you the courage to go to see the person

Whom you have wronged,

And the strength and willingness to talk
To him or her directly and actually
Ask for forgiveness

From the depths of your heart.

 

 

Forgiveness Quotes
About Getting & Giving Forgiveness:

Forgiveness Quotes : The Importance Of Forgiveness Cannot Be Over Emphasized

 

 

 

 

 

JOIE de VIVRE !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you ever know someone who lived their lives with Joie de Vivre (French for the "joy of being alive")?  I love those people!  Sometimes, I am one of those people!  I have noticed it in others!  It's awesome!

I found this website through a friend.  I really like it!  This recent entry said (in only a few words) how some of us can get in the way of their own joy.  I've done that!  Maybe, you have too?  Maybe, you're doing it right now?

Joy is a CHOICE we make in every moment ... every day ...


 

 

September 8, 2006
Alive In Joy!
Dispelling Drama

There are scores of people in the world who seem to be magnets for calamity.  They live their lives jumping from one difficult situation to the next, surrounded by unstable individuals.  Some believe themselves victims of fate and decry a universe they regard as malevolent.  Others view their chaotic circumstances as just punishments for some failing within.  Yet, in truth, neither group has been fated or consigned to suffer. 

They are likely unconsciously drawing drama into their lives, attracting catastrophe through their choices, attitudes, and patterns of thought. 

Drama, however disastrous, can be exciting and stimulating.  But the thrill of pandemonium eventually begins to frustrate the soul and drain the energy of all who embrace it. 

To halt this process, we must understand the root of our drama addiction, be aware of our reactions, and be willing to accept that a serene, joyful life need not be a boring one.

Many people, so used to living in the dramatic world they create, feel uncomfortable when confronted with the prospect of a lifetime of peace and contentment.  The drama in their lives serves multiple purposes.  Upset causes excitement, prompting the body to manufacture adrenaline, which produces a pleasurable surge of energy.  For those seeking affection in the form of sympathy, drama forms the basis of their identity as a victim.  And when drama is familial, many people believe they can avoid abandonment by continuing to play a key role in the established family dynamic. 

The addiction to drama is fed by the intensity of the feelings evoked during bouts of conflict, periods of uncertainty, and upheaval.

Understanding where the subconscious need for drama stems from is the key to addressing it effectively.  Journaling can help you transfer this need from your mind onto a benign piece of paper.  After repeated writing sessions, your feelings regarding the mayhem, hurt feelings, and confusion often associated with drama become clear. 

When you confront your emotional response to drama and the purpose it serves in your life, you can reject it. 

Each time you consciously choose not to take part in dramatic situations or associate with dramatic people, you create space in your inner being that is filled with a calm and tranquil stillness and becomes an asset in your quest to lead a more centered life.

DailyOM - Nurturing Mind Body & Spirit
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Wishing you MUCH JOY !!!

 

 

Today ... A New Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whatever you do,
Don't shut off your pain ...
Accept your pain and remain vulnerable.
However desperate you become ...
Accept your pain as it is
Because it is in fact trying to hand you a priceless gift:
The chance of discovering

Through spiritual practice

What lies behind sorrow.

Grief can be the garden of compassion.

If you keep your heart open through everything,

Your pain can become your greatest ally

In your life’s search for

Love and wisdom.

Tags: grief, healing, recovery

Five Years Ago Today ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five years ago today, I was getting ready for work, and as always, I was listening to the news while I got ready.  I walked past the tv and saw a plane fly into one of the twin towers and thought,"What kind of a movie is Hollywood making now?"  Just then, Katie Couric came on, looking more serious than usual.  I could feel something was wrong so I sat down to hear what she was saying ... "A small plane has just crashed into one the Twin Towers ..."  I looked at the amateur video.  I knew that wasn't a small plane.

Without thinking about it, I started praying ...

... and while the cameras were all aimed at the Twin Towers, I watched another jet plane deliberately turn into the second tower going very fast.  I saw something HUGE fly out the other side of the building and knew it had to be one of the engines.

 

I shook my head in disbelief and picked up the phone.

I called a few of my loved ones, asking them if they had seen or heard what had just happened in New York City?

Most had not.

They were at work or school.

They didn't believe it any more than I did and I had just seen it with my own two eyes.  It didn't really sink in until a few hours later when my Mom said, "What do you think this means?"

Without thinking, I said, "Mom, I think we are at war.
Someone just declared war on the U.S.  Someone is going to pay.

This is America.

No one bombs and kills Americans on our own soil

and gets away with it." 

 

Silence.

I didn't want to believe it but there it was.  I had just said it.

Mom didn't want to hear it but she knew I was speaking the truth.
Mom said the same thing I have said many times since 9-11 ...

 

God bless us all.

I got this as an email today and even though it was hard to read,
it spoke to my heart and
paid tribute to the victims and honored the heroes ...

God bless them all.

 

 

 

THE STAIRWELL

by Babybird

 

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news, September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

 

I was on the 11th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say "Good-bye".  I held his fingers steady as he dialed.
I gave him peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it,
but it's okay ... I'm ready to go ...".
I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children.
I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized
he would not be coming home that night.

 

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor
when a woman cried out to me for help.
"I have been knocking on the door to your heart for 50 years!" I said.
"Of course I'll show you the way home - only believe on Me now."

 

I was at the base of the building with the priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his flock in Heaven.
He heard My voice and answered.

 

I was on all four of the planes, in every seat and with every prayer.
I was with the crew as they were overtaken.
I was in the very heart of the believers there,
comforting them and assuring them that their faith had saved them.

 

I was in Texas, Kansas, London ...
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense me?
I want you to know that I saw every face.
I knew every name -- though they did not all know Me.
Some met Me for the first time on the 100th floor.
Some sought Me out in their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames,
"Come to Me ... this way ... take My hand."
Some chose for the final time to ignore Me, but I was there.

 

I did not place you in the towers that day - you may not know why,
but I do.
However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time,
would you have reached for Me?
September 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you,
but someday, your journey will end,
and when it does, I will be there for you as well.
Seek Me now while I may be found.
Then, at any moment, you know youare ready to go.

 

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments,

God

 

 

KEEP CLIMBING

(published in the Edmonton Star, October 3, 2001)

 

Keep Climbing, says the Captain,

Up through the smoke and smell.

Keep Climbing, says the Captain

I think I hear somebody's yell.

 

Keep Climbing, calls the Captain

Forget about your pain

Keep climbing, shouts the Captain

We have a few more floors to gain

Keep climbing, yells the Captain

We'll bring them down again

 

Keep Climbing, cries the Captain,

If I can, so can you

Keep Climbing, orders the Captain,

Silversmiths, Fire Walkers & Spirit Dancers

 

 

 

It was a foggy sunrise here at the Creek ... this beautiful thought came to me in an email ...

 

 

 

This verse ... He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.  (Malachi 3:3) ... puzzled a woman in Bible study and she felt compelled to find out about the process of refining silver.  She called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him work.  She didn't make any mention of the reason for her interest other than curiosity about the process.

 

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.  He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away the impurities.

 

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot, remembering the verse, "He will sit as a purifier of silver."

 

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

 

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eye on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.  If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

 

The woman was silent for a moment.  Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when it is fully refined?"

 

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

 

 

 

What a beautiful truth!

 

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until he sees His image in YOU!

 

I thought about that.  It is not His intent for us to be in the fire one moment too long ... just long enough to be purified but never to be destroyed.

 

      

 

That one thought would have changed the way I walked through my own fires!  I wouldn't have crouched in fear.  I would have stretched and danced ... had I truly known and believed that He was watching me!

 

No worries!

 

There will be other fires.  There always are.  Next time, I won't just be a fire walker, making my way through the fire storm ...

I can take the heat!  I've done that before! 

Next time, I'll give my spirit permission to dance!

 

       

 

Come dance with me?

 

 

 

End of Summer

 

Last weekend, my brother and his family came for a short but WONDERFUL visit!  He had never gone on a vacation anywhere, so he was like a kid exploring.

 

We had a cook out with his family, my oldest daughter and her family and my son and his family.  We had dogs and kids ... ring-around-the-rosie on the back porch, gardening 101 in the kitchen (My sister-in-law won yard of the month!  Isn't that cool?!!!  She is my new hero!) sports on tv in the living room, a movie in the back room and a river hike all going on at the same time ... lol ... It was GREAT!

 

My daughter-in-law brought her new ice cream maker.  The kids were so excited that we didn't let the ice cream set up much ... just served it soft in glasses with some chocolate sauce and a few fresh raspberries on top!  After just a few minutes on the back porch and the afternoon heat, we all had great milkshakes!

 

My youngest granddaughter started giggling and looking around at all of us, said, "I'm laughing!  Isn't this fun?"  We all laughed too.  It was pretty fun to rock on the back porch and eat home made ice cream with some of the neatest people you would ever want to meet! 

 

 

 

I've been in the garden and working in the yard in between company from out of town.  It's looking like I am actually going to be able to put in six apple trees this fall!

 

I have a few friends who are thinning out some of their flowers so I have added another garden for the "new babies"!  Crepe Myrtle and forsythia can be started from "suckers" from older plants so I'm in search of both ... I have even stopped at neighbors and asked if I could separate the suckers from the plants if I replace it with potting soil ... less work for them and a good start on a plant for me!

 

I saw a drawing of a raised garden last week.  Joey thinks we could build raised beds using all the natural rock around here to make rock walls instead of using cross ties ... I would love to have a real big vegetable garden but the soil here is SO ROCKY ... I have to carve out areas, remove rock and replace with extra good top soil to grow much of anything ... quite a chore ... so the raised bed idea sure sounds good to me ... plus, I could sit on the side of the bed and weed ... How cool would that be?

 

When it's been too rainy or too hot, I've been cleaning out all the stack of old magazines and saved articles and other things I always thought I just had to save!  For what?  I'm wondering?  Most of the stuff I saved, could easily be found on the Internet anytime I need it and the extra room feels great!

 

 

 

In fact, I even shop differently ... I see lots of things I like but I have to wonder where will I put it, how much do I really need it, how long will it be before I am sick of it, and after I'm sick of it, could I get any money for it when I sell it on EBay?  I really have everything I need.  I like my house the way it is and I don't want to clutter it up on a whim!

 

There was a time I used to shop just for the sake of shopping, like I would buy "the perfect thing" and everything would be right with the world.  Some people drink.  Some people smoke.  Some people have other vices.  I shopped!  I had a big empty place inside of me that was just crying to be filled ... but in recovery, I have learned that the only thing that can truly fill those gaps in ourselves is US.  There isn't enough alcohol, cigarettes, pills or shopping bags in the whole world to fill up even one tiny lonely space inside us!  In recovery, we become whole people.  We develop healthier ways to fill those empty spaces and somehow, after years of work, we don't really feel the need for alcohol, cigarettes, pills or shopping bags (or whatever vice holds or has held us in it's grip)!  It's a miracle!

 

Seems like that could be a topic for a whole post on a different day ... we'll have to come back to that! 

 

 

 

While cleaning up, I found these sayings about aging and had to laugh out loud.  Some of them sound just like something we'd say! 

 

Which one reminds you most of you?

 

Reporters interviewing a 104-year old woman by asking, "What is the best part of turning 104?"

She replied, "No peer pressure!"

 

My memory is not as sharp as it used to be. 
Also, my memory is not as sharp as it used to be.

 

Know how to prevent sagging?  Just eat until the wrinkles fill out!

 

It's scary when you start to make the same noises in the morning as your coffee maker!

 

Don't think of it as hot flashes ... Think of it as your inner child playing with matches!

 

Remember:  You don't stop laughing because you grow old. 

You grow old because you stop laughing.

 

The Senility Prayer:

Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,

The good fortune to run into the ones I do,

And the eyesight to tell the difference.

 

 

 

Maybe, you have a good one to add to the list?