On a beautiful spring day women gather for a style show.
A friend's daughter has complications from breast cancer.
A politician rants.
A woman decides to marry.
I breathe.
You write it: How do you bring the disparate aspects of life into oneness?
I look around my bedroom as I awaken to see my photograph of light coming through a Hawaiian rainforest. As my eyes pan the room, there's an exquisite Asian beaded wall hanging, a gift from a grateful friend. Two small angels, gifts from friends, look down from a high shelf. Just looking at these treasures evokes love, pleasure, and adventure. As I awaken, my spirit lifts.
I hear a lot these days about our relationship with things. I choose to be selectively surrounded with what brings out the best in me.
You write it: What surrounds you? Does it bring out the best in you?
When I reached down to pick up the poop our dog had just deposited, I saw treasures--rose shapes, with the texture of papery pine cones. They had fallen from a deodar cedar. When was the last time you discovered one of nature's treasures?
On this cold, cloudy day,
A woman lies unconscious on her kitchen floor.
Friends gather to discuss a book.
A young woman rejoices that she has learned how to live.
You write it: In any day, there is something to celebrate. What do you celebrate today?
There's a stream called life, and I'm in it. Just floating--accepting--noticing--feeling truly alive.
You write it: How would you describe your life today? How do you want it to be?
I spent much of my life making things happen--doing projects--charting my course.
Today I focus on my breathing--live in gratitude--and wait for the path to appear.
Simplicity and peace.
You write it: How do you spend your life?
"Love is patient. Love is kind. Love keeps no record of wrongs." 1 Corinthians 13.
"Someday, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tides, and gravity, mankind shall harness for God the energies of love. Then, for the second time in the history of the world, we will have discovered fire." Teilhard de Chardin
You write it: When have you loved? When have you felt most loved?
In my mother's home hung a framed quotation by Max Ehrmann--a 1927 poem called "Desiderata." Recently I was reminded of a portion that goes like this: "Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story."
What reminded me of this quotation was a friend in my book club. In our last meeting, we discussed a book that several women in the group did not like, and they were harsh in their criticism. My friend sat quietly, listening to their comments. Then she said, "I had a different experience from many of you. Here's what I liked and appreciated about this book." She explained without arguing. She didn't try to convince anyone or justify her position. She spoke her truth clearly, simply and quietly and then went silent.
Powerful.
You write it: What do you do when you are in the presence of people who are strongly expressing opinions you disagree with?
On the other side of the dream is the stuff of other dreams. We dream it--live it--then dream again, in a pattern that weaves our lives.
Think about it: How have dreams led you through your life? How have your dreams changed? What is your dream right now?
It's difficult to speak the truth in love, but that's what these times require. We must say what we truly need to say without judgment or condemnation. This is the ultimate form of respect--for ourselves and for others.
You write it: What do you truly need to say?
A friend lent me a wooden jigsaw puzzle--the first one I had ever seen. It is an elegant creation with beautiful, interesting pieces of unusual shapes. Challenging and fun, working it reminded me of several important truths:
Precious, sacred, ordinary life. Daily friends. Simple tasks. Life is good, and all is well.
The stories we tell ourselves make the reality we live in. In this year with a new number, may we find the loving, hopeful themes of the story and live in perfect peace.
This morning the clouds are low, and I can't see the familiar red rocks or the red rays of sunrise. Yet I know they are there, beyond what I can see.
A week ago I cut my finger while slicing some dates for fruitcake. It was a minor cut, but my finger bled so much that I went to Urgent Care to stop the bleeding. Today I have only a small abrasion to show for the mishap. The swelling and bandages are gone. So it is with physical wounds. They heal quickly.
Emotional wounds are different. They often throb for years because they are not treated. Instead of crying the tears and seeking help to forgive, we pretend we're not hurt, until the next time, when we pile another wound on top of the last one. Then we wonder why we aren't happier.
For Christmas this year, give yourself the gift of cleansing. Start writing. Put onto paper everything you haven't forgiven. Then let it go. Forgiveness is a gift for you.
You write it: Who do you now forgive?
A topic of conversation recently was being present--not numbing ourselves with drink or other distraction, but simply being present, feeling our feelings, even the unpleasant ones.
A learned man once taught me that when we tell ourselves, "I don't want to feel sad," (or mad or whatever) our brains hear, "I don't want to feel," and it shuts down all feelings. So we don't feel sad, but we also lose happiness and the other good feelings we want.
Thus, many people live from task to task, shutting out feeling, even at this time of year.
For just a moment today, stop to feel your feelings. Give yourself permission to cry or stomp your feet or shake your fist. Then make a list of what you're grateful for. Do it every day for 40 days.
You write it: What are you grateful for?
Not everyone has my sensitivity, but to me the spirit in which a gift is given is more important than the gift itself. I want my gifts to say, "I honor you and hereby express my love for you."
Some of my greatest disappointments have come when I've given a gift in this spirit with no acknowledgement from the receiver. I learned it isn't good for me to put my heart and soul into a gift and then be ignored. So, with these recipients, I did something different.
I found charities whose missions fit the interest of my recipients and made a donation in their honor. The charities unfailingly acknowledge my gift, and my heart is satisfied that I gave something that honors and expresses my love. I send my loved ones a note so they know. Then I let it go.
Gift-giving can be stressful. What I most want is peace of mind. A perfect gift gives both ways, to the giver and the receiver.
You write it: Is there any adjustment you would like to make in gift-giving? What is it?
Sometimes I get so distracted by what's going on around me that I fail to notice the love that's right in front of me. A couple of days ago my husband and I were in Las Vegas. One morning as we walked out of our hotel, I was silently annoyed about the loud music and frenetic jangling of all the games.
As we opened the door to go out, I noticed a homeless person on the street cradling something in her arms. I was focused on my destination, but I did see she was holding and petting a dog. We walked past her; then my husband stopped and said, "I'm going to give her some money."
As I waited for him, I realized I was in the presence of love. It was in the form of a homeless person and her pet. Sometimes love shows up in unexpected places.
My prayer, as I go through this holiday season with its noise and distraction, is to notice the love that is in front of me every single day.
You write it: What is the love that is right in front of you?
Once a month I participate in a group meditation. We meet in a church, and last week the choir was rehearsing nearby as we started our meditation.
"Breathe deeply through the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth." I focused on my breathing. I just kept breathing.
We meditate for 25 minutes, and after awhile choir rehearsal was over. I became aware that conversations were happening--some just outside our door. But I was more aware of my breathing and felt no need to quieten anyone.
I was meditating. The choir was dispersing. We were on parallel tracks.
As our holiday season begins this week, may you be on your own path, noticing but not disturbed by what is going on around you.
You write it: What is your experience with meditation?
The recent election has caused me to be more mindful of what I'm thinking and feeling. I notice what hooks me into an emotional state that does align with what I want in my life. I'm making more intentional choices about what I experience.
This morning I deleted one news app from my phone. I have one other that I'm keeping--for now. I'm considering replacing the evening news with a long walk or reading.
Along the way, I have learned that what I focus on gets stronger. So I'm making constant, conscious choices to focus on what's good and simply let the rest be.
You write it: What "hooks" you? What do you want to focus on?
