Letting Go

Awareness is an amazing thing. If I really, really pay attention to where my thoughts go, I'm so very grateful no one can read them. A real lesson in readjusting my thinking. And part of that process has come from watching others and how they react to negative situations around them. It's true what they say, often when you dislike a quality or characteristic in someone else, it may be that you recognize that very same thing in yourself. The trick is letting yourself acknowledge that, own it, and (if you really don't like it) turn it around. Fascinating. Not easy, but so much more freeing than holding onto resentment, criticism, competitiveness, and negative thinking. Letting go can be so liberating. May it be so!

Look...but don't touch!

Today I'm grateful for our monthly division meeting, which took place at Belmont/Gari Melchers Home and Studio, this morning. We had refreshments (which was awesome, since I missed breakfast this morning...), a talk from Director David Berreth, and a tour of the current exhibit: The New Reality: The Frontier of Realism in the 21st Century.

Wow. Truly stunning. We are so very, very fortunate to have this historical and cultural gem in our area.



It was all I could do not to touch these paintings, the realism unlike anything I've ever seen before. Head on over there. This weekend. You won't regret it.

Amen

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.





The man was too good for this world, apparently. Thank god his words live on to this day, inspiring people to love, forgive, promote peace, and respect their fellow man.

The more things change...

...the more they stay the same. Rereading some old posts, trying to find a particular one to share with mom and sis, found this one from a while back. Interesting and maybe a little disturbing, the same patterns seem to repeat. I like to think I have a better perspective (e.g., if someone has an issue with me, it's theirs, not mine; have a conversation with me...otherwise, it's none of my business...or whatever.) I like having these posts to go back and reflect on.

An Extraordinary Day

That's what today is. Extraordinary. Nothing today will be quite like any other day. Today we're given a fresh canvas. Some of the elements are the same, but the entire day stretches before us and gives us the chance to be a better us. Right now, we can move forward and be a positive force in someone's life. Right now, we can look around us and say, "How very fortunate I am to have been given another day. I'm thankful." Right now, we can give a smile, pat a shoulder, lend an ear, look someone in the eye, and really connect. Right now, we can forgive ourselves for the mistakes we made yesterday, and look at today with the eyes of a child:



see the sunrise as though it was our first, hear the birdsong and recognize the timelessness of the sound, feel the crisp cold air and recognize the thousands and thousands of winter days gone and to come; smell the freshness in that cold air, and breathe in a new day of life. All these sensory experiences allow us to recognize both our insignificance and our good fortune in this great big world. It's a brand new day...make it a good one.

Thankful for...

For bright blue skies on a cold winter day
For my daughter's cheerful morning voice
For comfortable work clothes
For a window overlooking my little world
For the bluebirds in our backyard on a cold winter morning
For filled dates on my calendar
For open spaces of time on that same calendar
For a to-do list at work, which helps to pass the time
For aloe, eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender scented chest rub...

It just bears repeating...

...I need to see this more than just once a year:

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2010.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts over things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing.
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.
34. Time heals.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up..
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, be thankful.
39. Your Innermost is always happy. So, be happy.

There were five in the bed...

My off weekend, R. is with her dad. Stayed home last night, although I considered going out for music about 15 times. Just couldn't muster up the energy. Good thing, since as it was I slept until 10 a.m. and woke up feeling as though I'm fighting something off. But I woke up with four cats on the bed, all snoozing right along with me, not one single 'meow' about getting fed. Always feel better after a shower and moving around some, but this is definitely something I need to fight off. Even though I know I missed some great music, I'm glad I opted for home.

In any case, a day of straightening and organizing a bit, then up to MD for a house concert/overnight at Susie's House Concerts. Always enjoy the house concert venue for music, and especially one 'away' where I can meet new folks.

It's 11:19. Better start the day!

6 a.m.

Having a tough time with the 6 a.m. wake up this week. But then, driving into work and listening to the news on NPR, we were reminded once again of how very fortunate we are...so many privileges and services that we take for granted, while elsewhere folks are woken up by bombs, or news of loved ones killed by bombs. And we're reminded of the devoted folks in the military who sleep on the cold ground if they sleep at all. And the news guy that gave the report this morning, embedded with the troops and reporting on those killed, perhaps because he believes it is so important that people know what's happening 'over there' and that we remember, and maybe we'll stop and appreciate what we have, maybe even give a little prayer of thanks and safekeeping.

Sure, I would've loved a snow delay this morning. But then, I'm just grateful I have a job, and my daughter has the privilege of going to school every day, and we wake up in a warm house, with four loving (er, hungry...) cats, and we put on clean clothes and eat our breakfast and drive our car to said job and school, and this weekend I'll have the opportunity to spend time with family or friends, enjoying food, art, wine, and music.

Yeah, I guess getting up at 6 a.m. is a very, very small price to pay.

Turn Right at the Light...and Just Keep Going

First post of the new year. 2011. Holy shit. And I'm inspired by the blog, Lemonade, to take a different approach to my writings here. After all, it is the little things in life that can make all the difference. And it is looking at the positive/humorous side of things that allows us to get through the mucky parts of life.

One of the common themes in my recent posts has been my discouragement over being disliked or misunderstood by people who I consider(ed) friends. Well, I'm done with that. Hamster's jumpin' off of that wheel. As of right now. Finis. There are too many folks out there that 'get' me and love me and accept me for who I am. Those are the relationships I need to nurture and cultivate. It's time to feed my soul. No antagonism towards others, just acceptance that all relationships are different and some just work (and some don't.)

So, thanks AB, for the inspiration. I'm gonna turn right (towards the positive) at the light and keep moving forward. With a little help from my friends, I'll make it a good year!