“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.”
~Buddha

My husband, 3 dogs and I are off on a grand adventure to visit a long lost childhood friend. It is a 7 hour drive to get there, which would have seemed impossible to me when my Fibro was so bad. She owns a horse farm and really is encouraging me to RIDE! I haven't ridden in 14 years! But I am going to give it a whirl. I feel that good! It is exciting to be reuniting with someone who shared so much of my past. We were thicker than thieves from 5th grade until I moved away my senior year in high school. We lived on horseback back then. Woo hoo Julie here we come!

photo is from www.joe-ks.com/archives_feb2008/CircleOfLife.jpg


Elder's Meditation of the Day

"All life is a circle."
--Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE

The atom is a circle, orbits are circles, the earth, moon, and sun are circles. The seasons are circles. The cycle of life is a circle: baby, youth, adult, elder. The sun gives life to the earth who feeds life to the trees whose seeds fall to the earth to grow new trees. We need to practice seeing the cycles that the Great Spirit gave us because this will help us more in our understanding of how things operate. We need to respect these cycles and live in harmony with them.

Great Spirit, let me grow in knowledge of the circle.

photo by Ron Birrell

Man's heart away from nature becomes hard.
~Standing Bear

~ photographer unknow to me


Sunday, January 24, 2010 – Divine Energy

Feel the energy of my inner body. Immediately mental noise slows down or ceases. Feel it in my hands, my feet, my abdomen, my chest.
Feel the life that I am, the life that animates the body"
~Eckhart Tolle

Today's Affirmation
I am filled and fueled by Spirit, which is my source.

Today's Meditation

Mother/Father God,

In this moment;
I let go of my busyness,
I let go of the past and the future,
I let go of my thoughts and feelings.
I am aware of the energy that moves silently through my body.
I allow my awareness of Your constant presence to expand, encompassing everything around me.
I am aware of the subtle rhythm of All that is and All that is yet to be.
I am aware of the continuous flow of life, expressing Itself though and as me, connecting everything and everyone. continuously expressing and ever changeless.
I have a body but I am not my body.
I have feelings but I am not my feelings.
I have thoughts but I am not my thoughts.
I have work to do, but I am not my work.
I have emotions but I am not my emotions.
I have dreams but I am not my dreams.
I am an individualized expression of the divine energy pattern of life.
I am more than the sum of my knowing.
I am more than I ever imagined.
I am that which You are.
You are that which I am.
I am, fully present, now.
Thank You.

photo from http://www.gaialandscapedesignbackgrounds.net

Our bodies are our gardens - our wills are our gardeners.
~William Shakespeare

photo from The Daily OM

Maya Angelou said this:
'I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'

'I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.'

'I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.'

'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life.'

'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.'

'I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.....'

'I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision..'

'I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one....'

'I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.'

'I've learned that I still have a lot to learn..'

'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

photo from an email

"All this is simply to say that all life is interrelated. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality; tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. As long as there is poverty in this world, no man can be totally rich even if he has a billion dollars. As long as diseases are rampant and millions of people cannot expect to live more than twenty or thirty years, no man can be totally healthy, even if he just got a clean bill of health from the finest clinic in America. Strangely enough, I can never be what I need to be until I am what I need to be.
This is the way the world is made."
~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today's Affirmation
I am connected to all of life.

Today's Meditation
Dear God, Spirit of the Universe, Mother, Father,
You are the fabric that binds all people together.
Yet, I often see myself as separated in so many ways:
different races, genders, sexual orientations, nationalities and religions.
Show me what I can do to help heal these illusions.
Help me to unite in love for the good of all.
Thank You.

photograher unknown to me


Elder's Meditation of the Day

"Heal yourself - your physical and spiritual bodies. Regenerate yourself with light, and then help those who have poverty of the soul. Return to the inner spirit, which we have abandoned while looking elsewhere for happiness."

--Willaru Huayta, QUECHUA NATION, PERU

It is difficult to look inside ourselves, especially when we see conflict or confusion. During times of conflict we need to realize that we are talking to ourselves about our thoughts. This conversation is printing in our subconscious and forming our beliefs. During times of conflict we need to ask the spirit to control our self-talk. Only thorough finding that inner place and going there during troubled times will we ever find happiness.


Great Spirit, You are my peace and you dwell within me. Let me look for You within myself.

"Fortunate are the people whose roots are deep."
-Agnes Meyer

When trees have deep roots they don't fall over as easily. It works the same with people. Our roots help to support us, and to keep us strong when the wind blows hard. Our roots can nourish us. It's up to us to grow these roots for ourselves - with our friends, our family, our community and our memories.
-Lissa Coffey

photo by Clark Little
"To some people, surrender may have negative connotations, implying defeat, giving up, failing to rise to the challenges of life, becoming lethargic, and so on. True surrender, however, is something entirely different. It does not mean to passively put up with whatever situation I find myself in and to do nothing about it. Nor does it mean to cease making plans or initiating positive action. Surrender is the simple but profound wisdom of yielding to, rather than opposing the flow of life.”
~Eckhart Tolle

photo from an email showing the sunset and moonrise at the North Pole

“Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.”
~ Barbara De Angelis

photo from http://www.moillusions.com

“There are two ways to spread the light:
to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
~ Edith Wharton

Clark Little photographer

“I dropped a tear in the ocean, and whenever they find it I'll stop loving you, only then.”
~author unkown

photographer unknown to me

The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.
- Helen Keller

photographer unknown to me

The Daily OM
Finding Time for You
Your Most Vital Commitment
Within each of there is a well of energy that must be regularly replenished. When we act as if this well is bottomless, scheduling a long list of activities that fit like puzzle pieces into every minute of every day, it becomes depleted and we feel exhausted, disconnected, and weak. Refilling this well is a matter of finding time to focus on, nurture, and care for ourselves, or "you time." Most of us are, at different times throughout the day, a spouse, a friend, a relative, an employee, a parent, or a volunteer, which means that down time, however relaxing in nature, is not necessarily "you time." Though some people will inevitably look upon "you time" as being selfish, it is actually the polar opposite of selfishness. We can only excel where our outer world affairs are concerned when our own spiritual, physical, and intellectual needs are fulfilled.

Recognizing the importance of "you time" is far easier than finding a place for it in an active, multifaceted lifestyle, however. Even if you find a spot for it in your agenda, you may be dismayed to discover that your thoughts continuously stray into worldly territory. To make the most of "you time," give yourself enough time on either side of the block of time you plan to spend on yourself to ensure that you do not feel rushed. Consider how you would like to pass the time, forgetting for the moment your obligations and embracing the notion of renewal. You may discover that you are energized by creative pursuits, guided meditation, relaxing activities during which your mind can wander, or modes of expression such as writing.

Even if you have achieved a functioning work-life balance, you may still be neglecting the most important part of that equation: you. "You time" prepares you for the next round of daily life, whether you are poised to immerse yourself in a professional project or chores around the home. It also affords you a unique opportunity to learn about yourself, your needs, and your tolerances in a concrete way. As unimportant as "you time" can sometimes seem, it truly is crucial to your wellbeing because it ensures that you are never left without the energy to give of yourself.

Making time for me was a hard concept to actually incorporate in my life. I was so used to being a single mom, working and somehow keeping all my plates in the air, all of which left little "me time". Then my life changed, I remarried, my last daughter left home, I moved, I got Fibromyalgia. Getting Fibro has made me learn to take time for myself. I had to start taking care of my body inside and out. I was used to doing everything physically that I wanted to and suddenly in 2006 I no longer could. I have found a way back to being able to do most of the physical activities that are important in my life. OK, I admit just in a slower gentler way. I call this my new normal.
No complaints, life is good!

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil

They may look sweet and innocent. But watch out, they are plotting some evil overthrow or what to break next!

photographer unknown to me

Simplicity
"When the solution is simple, God is answering."
~Albert Einstein

Today's Affirmation
The Truth is sweet and simple.

Today's Meditation
Dear God, Mother, Father, Spirit of the Universe,
Thank You for simple solutions to my seemingly complex problems.
You call me to a gentler way:
Love and tenderness for one another; and myself,
Love for this planet and the environment,
Passion for peacefulness and cooperation;
And heartfelt celebration of all creation.
May I learn to look beyond the distractions I fabricate.
May I learn to be in love with life.

Thank you.

Photo found on images.quickblogcast.com

“When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels”
~ author unknown

Well I am off to shovel and maybe make snow angels! Enjoy this gift of a day!

Baby sharing her pretty pink princess bed with her brother

"When something does not insist on being noticed, when we aren't grabbed by the collar or struck on the skull by a presence or an event, we take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude."
-Cynthia Ozick

photographer unknow to me

“Listen to my dreams. They are the whispers of my heart telling me all I’ll ever need to be happy.”
Belva Davis

Snowmen fall from heaven... unassembled.
~Author Unknown

photo by Kim Taylor

There are two kinds of intellect; the first is acquired –
Thanks to it, you learn like a schoolboy
Books, teachers, reflection, concepts, all kinds of sciences.
You learn and your intellect grows superior.
But conserving this knowledge is always a burden.
The other intellect is God's pure gift;
Its heart is in the breast of the soul.
When the water of divine gnosis jets from the heart
It never becomes stagnant or old or dirty.
And if it can't flow outside, what does that matter?
It keeps foaming up from within the heart.
~Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

photo from a powerpoint slideshow I got via email

"The most beautiful thing I can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed."
~Albert Einstein

photo by Kim Taylor

"The truth of a thing is the feel of it, not the think of it."
-Stanley Kubrick

45 life lessons and 5 to grow on AND Happy 2010

our cozy bungalow built for two

Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow onBy Regina Brett, The Plain Dealer
September 20, 2007, 2:03PM
Originally published in The Plain Dealer on Sunday, May 28, 2006

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.

It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

These lessons were sent to me in a slideshow via email and so many of the lessons reonated with me, so I thought I'd share. So I googled these 45 lessons and found Regina has added 5 more! I send you all blessings and love for a most magnificent 2010!