Intentional Awareness

TODAY'S QUOTE: Intention is the core of all conscious life. It is our intentions that create karma, our intentions that help others, our intentions that lead us away from the delusions of individuality toward the immutable verities of enlightened awareness. Conscious intention colors and moves everything. Master Hsing Yun, "Describing the Indescribable"

I'm a firm believer in the power of intentions... having them means that some forethought has gone into whatever actions we take. It's one thing to do something that wounds others then say it wasn't our intention to hurt anyone... it's another thing altogether to design our actions to suit our intentions.

To be mindful of what we are doing and how it affects others gives us power to effect the outcome of even the most challenging situations life has to throw our way. Taking responsibility for every step we take empowers us to safely reach chosen destinations, instead of simply ending up wherever we're driven.

When we take a trip a lot of planning goes into the journey. We plot our route... we print out directions, program our gps, or our phones to help us keep on track. We check our vehicle for problems that could derail our plans, or make reservations for another mode of travel. We pack, mindful of climate and occasion. But the larger picture... the real journey... we too often just leave that to chance.

Chances are if left to chance alone we end up somewhere we would never have ventured to willingly. Default destinations are always da-fault of whomever didn't take the time or care to be mindful of where they really wished to go. Plot your own course, or be the victim of a plot that is written by chance or... worse yet  penned by someone with an agenda of their own.

Karma is something I'm ever mindful of... we each earn what it gives... either good or bad. It's like a reap what we sow scorecard. In nature we cannot plant fruit and harvest vegetables, and in life we cannot do evil and expect grace. Our intentions play a large part of whether it is a blessing or a curse received.

There is no place where what is done by us or our intentions, if any, can be hidden. Some think that if they are alone, or concealed behind a monitor that anything goes. Counting on the things done in private to be free of fault is foolish beyond compare. This is our only journey, and karma is certain... so choose the best destination and let karma be the blessing earned for mindful intentions. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!   
   

Real Freedom

TODAY'S QUOTE: Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you.
Jean-Paul Sartre

We all have a story, as unique as a snowflake. Some of us share the very same experiences, but what makes it different from all others is in how we process it once it belongs to us. Events can knock us down, but nothing in the world can keep us down if we are determined to rise again.

Upbringing is our first out of control issue; we get what is given as far as family goes. Nobody deserves a less than perfect place to begin their lifetime, but perfection is an ideal we may reach for, yet never truly achieve. With family the best that we can get is still flawed in some fashion, no matter how slight. The options we have to govern our personal space does increase with age, but the baggage we carry away is often overwhelming.

Unpacking that trunk is mandatory to achieving real freedom, yet we all too often just keep dragging it along from place to place, and battlefield to battlefield. Life quickly becomes more burden than bliss when bent double, struggling inch by inch is the only option available. Our "happen to you" luggage is often packed by the ones who claim to love us the most, and if its weight is accepted, without protest or any attempt to lighten the load, then personal growth ends at the point of overload.

True happiness comes from the inside out, it can't be gifted, or bought, or earned. People can't complete us, although they can add delight or misery to our journey. True freedom is the most precious blessing we can have, and it is every persons birthright. All you have to do is continue standing tall, no matter what knocks you down, and unpack whatever luggage you choose to carry. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!

Wise Spending

TODAY'S QUOTE: Yesterday is a cancelled check; Tomorrow is a promissory note; Today is the only cash you have, so spend it wisely.
Kim Lyons

Using today wisely is an investment in self that pays dividends for a lifetime. Self-awareness spotlights internal issues that may need tweaked, making higher education one of the most valuable ways to spend quality time.

Women are caregivers by upbringing and temperament, but we all too often tend other's while we ignore our own needs. When we give all to anyone, keeping little or nothing for ourselves, the fault for the burn out that is guaranteed belongs to us. Saving a healthy portion for our own consumption, insures that we don't risk losing sight of who we really are.

Labels are great, unless we define ourselves by them... daughter... wife... mother... girlfriend... caretaker... the list can be overwhelming. We wear many hats, but a hat has very little to do with more than covering our head. Nobody sane would dress only their head and leave the rest unadorned.

Respecting self is vital. Feeding the soul is mandatory. Challenging the mind, and using our heart to love ourselves first before doling it out to others. We cannot save the world, no matter how much we try, but we certainly can make our world a gentler place, and that must begin by wise spending on self. There truly is much more to go around when we invest  in our wholeness every single day.  Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!

Sculpting Notion

TODAY'S QUOTE:
Thought is the sculptor who can create the person you want to be.

Henry David Thoreau, 1817-1862, American Author/Critic/Naturalist

Thoughts are controlled by each brain owner, so allowing rubbish to accumulate is the collectors choice. Free will is every humans birthright, and its most precious use is always exercised internally. We can screen our notions, adjusting our reactions to outside influence where needed for maximum mental health, or we can let our thoughts wander where they will until they lead us into madness of one sort or another.

All of us have the power, but even the ones who exercise it sometimes allow their attentions to focus so completely on issues that belong to other's, leaving their own untended. Once our back is turned our mind starts rotating at a speed well out of our comfort zone. Chaos quickly makes a mess of even the most well ordered noggin.

Let me stress here that the fault for any brain bedlam caused by self-neglect is NEVER the responsibility of whomever we gifted all our thoughts to. Once we lose control, we waste a lot of time and effort just reacting to all sorts of notions that never get processed in a sane manner.

Our thoughts about ourselves become actions, which alter our reality in either a good or bad direction. Whichever route we travel is always driver choice. How we think about ourselves dictates how other people see us. How we view our own reflection also dictates self-respect. If we don't treat ourselves with the right amount of dignity then we really can't fault anyone else for following our lead.

We all get to whatever point we reach by a metamorphosis that is driven by upbringing, environment, and free will. We have no choice in our upbringing... environment can be forced as well... but free will gives us the liberty to overcome even the worst of our circumstances. If we aren't who we want to be, we can cripple our chances of ever reaching our ideal by blaming uncontrollable misfortunes, or we can evolve into a better, stronger, self.

Be a work or art worthy of a pedestal... and it all begins with one positive thought, followed by positive actions. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!  

Perfect Alignment

TODAY'S QUOTE:
Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.-Brian Tracy

The truth of this quote is most easily understood when you read it from an unbalanced position. The factual content is equally clear to anyone who has ever driven on a flat tire, but if you've never really been deflated yourself it's impossible to truly comprehend its challenges.

The speed of travel in both cases is reduced in a dramatic way... you can get there eventually, rattled and shaken certainly, but reaching your destination is possible. BUT when it's a flat tire, we don't continue the trip until we repair the damage, yet if it's internal we don't always fix what's flat. Suck up the pain... swallow the stress... make the best of a bad situation... walking wounded quickly becomes a way of life.

I love that this quote lists the condition and its cure in the space of one single sentence. True balance is vital to every layer that makes up who we really are. When we ignore one layer it collapses and strains the ability of the whole to stay upright. When we forget who we are, we may still be traveling, but we have no control over our final destination.

Expecting others to patch our leaks is a fools notion. Depending on anything external to blindly repair our internal issues only causes more damage, and places the blame for our wobbles on shoulders that don't deserve the burden. Go inside and find the leaks... accept what belong to you so you will know where you're headed and why. Think about it... let it ride... then YOU decide!!!

Future Steps

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"The future lies before you, like paths of pure white snow. Be careful how you tread it, for every step will show."... Unknown

What a nice way to say that a bit of forethought will save us a mountain of regret. Too much in life is done on the fly, rushing around like lunatics seems the fashion nowadays. The world is set up for high-speed living... drive thru's exist for more things than most of us can even imagine.

When we visited Vegas I saw the "I DO... DRIVE THRU" and I'm still amused. I can't think who'd make use of it, but no doubt some have if only for the novelty value. Life is treated as if it were some kind of race. Please forgive me, but I refuse to rush headlong toward death as if it were the prize in some twisted contest.

We invest split seconds into making decisions deserving of careful pondering, or without any hesitation blunder into quicksand. Sometimes we act shocked on our decent then struggle, speeding up a fate chosen blindly. Why opt for bull-shit when its an easy enough thing to avoid the barnyard.

Choose to walk on a path of your own choosing, or one will be thrust upon you by default. Volunteer for an avenue worth traveling, or get drafted to struggle down a path to nowhere worth visiting. Aren't there enough potholes to trip into without digging our own??? Think about it... Let it ride... Then YOU decide!!!    

A Single Step

Today's Quote:
If you take a single step toward positive change, that divine energy will take a hundred steps toward you. New worlds and unbelievable possibilities will open up for you. The synchronicities that will begin appearing in your life will become a source of delight and amazement. - Joan Borysenko

A single step seems such a simple thing... lift foot... replace it in a different position...  even an idiot could follow those directions with ease. I know from personal experience that the first step is always the most difficult, and the more we consider it the harder it becomes to accomplish. We could hike for a million miles on feet that never lose their rhythm, but start a journey of soul-shaping importance and we all become like babies taking their very first step. We wobble, hesitate, struggle for balance, worry bout falling, and sometimes there are no arms ready to buffer our landing if we do tumble.

Standing still should never be an alternative, but that is all too often used  as a solution. Why try when we can simply grow deep roots and avoid all pitfalls. My answer to that is very easy. A tree cannot ever hope to fly, except during a tornado. I would rather risk a million "fall on my face" steps than ever be satisfied in a narrow spot at the mercy of every storm that passes by. And believe me there will be wild winds galore even if you stand frozen and hold your breath. Huddle all you want, but never imagine for a moment that you are safe from shit happening that you cannot control.

Sometimes we run away from things... sometimes toward... and God help us at times we do both at the same time. I tend to go away from the darkness into the light, because I have learned, (most often the hard way) that when i aim for the positive place my soul tells me i must reach the positive comes to reach me before I have the time for a total crash and burn.

A main catalyst for my movements is always an unwillingness to be satisfied with what is if I am certain what can be is better. Settling is for dust. Rooting is for vegetation. Souls are meant to soar past the possible, always reaching for that sweet spot of perfect peace. That is never possible unless you take that first step. It truly exists, I have seen its borders and heard its echoes. Meet me there... think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!

  

Daily Awakening

Today's Quote:
If every day is an awakening, you will never grow old. You will just keep growing.
-Gail Sheehy

I love this quote; I believe it soul-deep, yet I have wasted a lot of time ignoring its healing power. I needed to re-read it, now all that is left is to re-live it daily, while doing my level best to not misplace its magic ever again. One day at a time... every day... one step at a time. The buck stops here!!!

Our level best can never be achieved while wandering within the confines of a prison constructed of negative emotions. It hardly even matters who, or what inspired the walls. The strength of their construction matters even less, because the builder will always have the energy to demolish their handiwork, if they can only find the willingness to do the work.

The why of things is key to learning how to avoid simply knee-jerking into the same behavior throughout a lifetime, but to use it as an excuse for self-imprisonment is lame. A person, or situation is never to blame for how we react... they are certainly responsible for the feelings they inspire, but how we CHOOSE to process them is on us.

But it is not only other people or tense situations that test our limits for growth. Some of the hardest things in life to overcome are the ones we willingly embraced in our real youth that haunt our adulthood. Addictions of every sort are danced with when our feet are nimble, but become a real burden as we age.

My big endeavor at the moment is that I quit smoking on Friday. I found myself sick to death of being controlled by  a demon I had invited into my space. I have no doubt of my success, but I also realize that unless I had been willing to go through some major pain that it was useless to even try.

I always smoked a lot, but the real chain smoking developed when my husband was ill, and continued after his death 7 years ago today. Soon after I moved to California I quit, but began again when I began a job, (2 yrs later) that often tested my limits... and the chain smoking reappeared. I invited the comfort it brought, so now I must embrace the pain of its departure.

The use of patches dulls the ache just a bit, but they do not produce a patch to simulate the amount necessary to pacify a chain smoker. When this box is gone I doubt I go on to step 2... the worst will be over within the 2 weeks step 1 supplies. I take complete responsibility for doing this to myself, but what matters much more now is that I will never willingly invite any sort of demon into whatever measure of life I still possess. 

I refuse to say that I am trying to quit, as I have before many times. I am not trying.... I am doing... there lies the difference.  I have other things on my list... things to really do... things to accomplish... all aimed toward growth. And this quote spoke volumes to me about the liberation of growth and the terrible aging involved in giving up on real life. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!

I added this video in case the quote listed above does not speak a personal message of hope to you. Perhaps there is one included there that will jump start you in some fashion.

Tissue Paper Fear

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Many of our fears are tissue paper thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them."... Brendan Francis

Fear has such a nasty habit of freezing us into whatever position we inhabited when first it strikes us senseless. Most often it leaves us in a stance that practically invites abuse of some sort, either from ourselves, or the ones we value the most. At its worst we can find ourselves attacked from both directions at once. Building the courage to shift position can take precious time, but the ability to break free from that trap is something each of us possesses.


The first notion that begins the melting process is the soul-deep belief that we deserve to inhabit an upright posture. Nothing invites attack any quicker than to be bent forward at the waist... so standing tall is mandatory to facing whatever fear has you acting like a willing victim. Once our back is straight, our next hurdle is holding up our head. Unearned punishment brings with it unwarranted shame... neither of which necessarily has a thing to do with reality.


Our worst fears are often simply left over baggage that other people have packed for us when our attention was focused elsewhere. I have found the the best time for anyone to stow unwanted weight into our luggage is when we are happily attending to their needs, while being almost oblivious to our own. In the end everyone involved ends up paying dearly for either the packing, transporting, or whatever is due during the unloading.


To minimize the stress and strain of lifting things that are better left behind, it becomes necessary to examine what we carry and why before we end up with a burden that is impossible to shoulder. We simply need to remember that any fear is always worse then the reality of what will occur if it is faced head on and overcome. And the first step is the only one that is uphill... after that it's all  on level ground. Think about it... let it ride... then YOU decide!!!

Grateful Blessings

TODAY'S QUOTE:

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
-Melody Beattie

The art of directing thought patterns toward a more grateful outlook is a wonderful way of investing in an uncluttered mind and a balanced life. There is truly nothing that cannot be included in this prescription... even the bad stuff contains hidden gifts, which can only be seen by tilting emotions a bit and viewing the drama from a different position.

A mind's eye is programed by past events and imagined outcomes, but our mind set is by no means made of granite. When alterations become necessary to happiness it is always a do-able task, but it has to be a conscious decision followed by determined actions, or settling for more of the same will always be the final outcome.   

Point of view is a mental position from which things are viewed, which makes it unique to each observer. Our outlook is automatically programmed by the landscapes we travel through, our companions on the journey, and our position in the parade. The best way to alter it is to modify as much of that as necessary to adjust our attitude to reflect what is really inside of us and not simply be a runaway reaction to outside forces. And a grateful outlook is the best road to a gratifying final destination.

I added a video which I hope will uplift and encourage anyone who watches it as much as it did me. All I ever really ask is that you... think about it... let it ride... then YOU decide!!!

Brain Bliss

TODAY'S QUOTE:

"Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom."... James Allen

A calm mind takes a lot of effort and self-awareness to develop. Forethought is mandatory, because the best way to calm a mind is by slowing your thoughts down to a speed where they can be processed. That is not a natural response, so thinking ahead about your fashion of thinking is necessary. Determination to be master of your own mind is a powerful incentive, where every success results in instant brain bliss, and any failure reflects a true example of weak places that need more exercise.

Finding your center is impossible if a storm is raging, and if you are not centered it is a sure bet that your core will be unprotected. Notions can be razor sharp and painful, directing their speed and volume is the only way to have personal control over how deep the pain becomes and how you deal with it afterwards.

You may open your door to every person who knocks, but you do not entertain them all. If thoughts offend do not dance with them... if hungry thoughts attack then refuse them food. Remember that regret is not for wallowing in, shame is a great teacher, but a deadly companion, and mind control is the mother of a calm mind and a quiet soul.

I'm adding this video "TWO WOLVES" as an aide toward true understanding of our power as humans to overcome the emotions that wreck havoc upon us all, if we allow our mind full reign without any direction. THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE... THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

Always Be

TODAY'S QUOTE:
Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of someone else..... Judy Garland

The urge to fit in navigates some... the hunger to be different drives others... swerving in either direction too fast, too far, or for too long can lead directly to a crash and burn destination. The need to please or displease the multitude can completely overshadow who we really are, until that person truly ceases to exist. Losing yourself in the task of soothing or shocking makes life a burden instead of the adventure it should be.

The spark may still remain, but the flame gets smothered by the constant internal fidgeting of a soul that cannot fit with comfort into the skin that it is in. I speak from experience, most of which was unpleasant... and although I am no longer suffering from the condition, I will never forget the price I often paid for someone else's happiness. The saddest part is that every time I imagined I was doing the dance perfectly they changed the music.

There have been a number of "theys" in my life, and once upon a time I found comfort in blaming them for their misdeeds. Admitting that just because I heard music did not mean I had to dance placed the largest part of the fault at my door. When we own something it becomes impossible to ignore, but that is the first step to a final cure. Freedom from that trap began when I tuned out all the orchestras and started composing on my own. Every day is an adventure in self-discovery, and a celebration of just being me. I hope the backup singers in my life always bring harmony, but when they do not I will dance on to the tune of my soul... and I wish the same for you! Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!

Anxious Minds

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained."... Arthur Somers Roche

This quote gives fair warning to us all to get control of our fears before they have a chance to take control, because if we do not they surely will. We all fear something, some of us are afraid of many things, but letting them build force and volume will only freeze us inside of boundaries that imprison our soul and rob us of hope.

Every sea began with one drop and every flood has its levels, building in strength and depth over time until it claims what it can then recedes leaving damage in its wake. Worry is a lot like that. A nagging chant, becomes a mighty roar and the echo leaves us off balance. A trickle becomes a torrent that can wash away all logic... when we need our wits about us the most they are too soggy to be of much use.

What if's are a total waste of time. If fretting ever solved anything there would be some kind of formula we could follow to solve our problems... both real and imaginary. Perhaps three days of sorrow for simple issues, or seven for more complex woes, or thirty days for a deep regret. Life would be so much simpler like that, but the real world is a pay as you go journey.

We all pay dearly, in one form or another, for a round trip ticket on this train, but the honor of being a passenger ought to give us some comfort. Simply living takes a toll, so why would anyone offer to spend more than is asked. Worry is a thief... of time... of energy... of hope, yet we invite them into our most sacred places and allow them free reign. They will arrive, invited or not, but the length of the visit and the amount of damage done is a personal choice we each must learn to make.

Leaving the thief in charge is not mandatory; acknowledge his presence, feed him as little as possible, and make the visit brief. The wisest choice is to save as much time, energy, and hope for dealing with reality, instead of wallowing in its dark imaginings. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!

High Ground Maintience

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"If criticism is mistaken or mean-spirited, rise above it. Maintain the high ground when you're under fire. No victory is worth winning at the expense of picking up the mud that has been slung at you and throwing it back."... Rubel Shelly

This is a quote I have adopted as a very healthy coping aid when I feel boxed into the need to reply to things that would be much wiser to simply ignore. If I'm mistaken I say so without restraint, but I refuse to remain on my knees, begging for forgiveness forever. And when I own no blame I will not gather it up like a priceless gift, so I have no need to spend endless time trying to return it to where it rightfully belongs.

In life there is plenty of blame to go around, some deserved... some not so much... some not at all, swallow what you earn, suffer the bellyache, clean up the mess, then flush and move on. If someone dips more onto your plate than is due then simply put it down and walk away. No good will ever come from slinging it back into their face, unless you relish making a mess that you will be responsible for cleaning up. If they are mistaken, you prove them right, and if they are mean spirited you supply them with a switch they will never stop flipping... either way you lose.

I always do my best not to shit where I sleep, but I have been forced into stinky situations that I did not create and the last instance inspired anger that created unwise responses that I will never repeat in this lifetime. I gained wisdom, which is wonderful, but the cost was almost more than I could pay. My reaction robbed me of the right to say I was blameless, and caused me more pain than I would have suffered otherwise. Once I picked up the first handful, everything that happened afterwards was totally out of my control. i ended up with a plateful of bitter things to digest and a mess to clean up... that will NEVER happen again!!!

Everyone has their own agenda and mine is the peace of mind I get from not abusing someone else's space for the sole comfort of mine. I guess that has been done to me enough to make it sickening to my sight and caustic to my life. Tearing someone else down does not make us any taller, but it does alter the size of our soul. Refusing to take the bait leaves the fisherman looking foolish, and that beats swinging on a hook any day. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!

Keep Going

TODAY'S QUOTE:
If you are going through hell...keep going.-Winston Churchill

Life isn't an endless picnic of pleasure, yet some act as if it is nothing but... rushing from one place to another, one carnival ride to the next in a frantic attempt to keep hold of the thrill. They travel at the speed of light through delight, rarely savoring the moment, imagining it will never end, or synthetically creating it over and over as a way of staying locked into a certain mind set.

A hummingbirds speed isn't meant to replace a humans normal velocity; if you're not being chased by something that means you harm, why travel as if your life depended upon flight. Slow down enough to get a true taste of the simplest pleasure and the amount needed to satisfy will decrease in perfect response to the lessening need for speed. Savor the good times, because the bad will surely come and the strength we earn during happiness will be invaluable to mobility when sadness drives our footsteps. Heartache is a detour... not a final destination... unless we build a shrine there and worship at its base.

When we travel through troubled times or brutal realities the speed we adopt should reflect our true need for understanding and self awareness. Running away never works... facing our issues is the only way to make sense out of the pain, and eliminate the ache forever. To cease moving altogether risks the chance of sinking into the sorrow so deeply that any forward motion becomes a burden that cannot be carried. Move forward at a steady pace, not measured by miles, but calculated by knowledge gained and the journey will be worthy of the effort. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!

Proven Wisdom

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Admitting error clears the score, and proves you wiser than before."... Arthur Guiterman

Confession of any wrong allows everyone involved the freedom of forgiveness, and dismisses a ton of guilt from the equation. The key is sincerity, which is proven over time by not being a repeat offender. That does not mean that you will cease making mistakes in judgement, but it does mean that the offense where pardon was asked for and granted will not reoccur endlessly throughout your lifetime.

Forgiving the same error over and over brings shame into the mix, altering mercy given into a sad form of punishment. To forgive something is much different than condoning it, but when the same issue keeps coming up and free pardon is always granted the line between the two is quickly crossed. Condoning transforms into enabling in the blink of an eye, which guarantees the forgiver a more than fair share of guilt for an offence that has already caused them heartache.

When someone fails to learn from their mistakes then any positives that could occur as a result of the lesson is deleted by default. No wisdom can ever come from de-fault if de-fault is not shouldered in a fashion that embraces its responsibilities. Asking for forgiveness implies lesson learned, or why else would you admit the error in the first place? When we receive amnesty it is our obligation to live up to the faith shown by following through with actions that speak louder than any words ever could.

Self-awareness plays a huge part in the gaining of wisdom. Autopilot is not a safe form of flight for a lifetime; we may use it from time-to-time without any damage done, but prolonged dependence upon it is the fastest route to a crash and burn destination. Examining errors shows us clearly why it was done, and how to avoid it in the future. True wisdom comes from walking the walk, not just talking the talk. Any fool can beg a pardon, but the wise truly deserve the pardon. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!

Life Size?

Today's Quote:
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." ... Anais Nin

This quote instantly prompted me to consider "life size" as a question of volume, instead of simply viewing it as a description of form. And don't cha' just love the things that make you go hmmmmm??? I sure do!!! I figure anything capable of jump-starting my brain automatically deserves as much attention as necessary to satisfy its every yearning. Hungry notions are such a wonderment.

Whenever any new avenue opens our thoughts just naturally tumble and spin, and with any luck eventually reach the speed of true enlightenment. Enjoying the journey isn't mandatory, but I personally recommend delight over dread any ole' day. We really do have the choice, but if we don't make it... well... duh... don't blame the car... fault the driver!!!

I ponder the part courage played in my own life's size, which has often expanded at such a snowball rolling downhill speed. I'm convinced that fear fueled me more often than bravery ever did, but whatever the motivation it's certainly been an adventure. My biggest fear was that I'd finally become satisfied with what never satisfied me before... and nowadays that's no longer even a consideration.

I wish you all the gift of a life size big enough to keep you enchanted. Downsize if its so heavy it feels like a burden, upgrade if it pinches in all the wrong places. And like I always say... Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!

Love The Moment

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries.".... Corita Kent

I often say own your space and this quote perfectly explains why I urge it and what benefit it inspires. Seizing completely all the moments of life is like looking through a magnifying glass. Our point of view is enlarged, our perspective made crystal clear, and time itself passes in a much gentler fashion when we pay it the honor of real attention.

Every single second holds an almost magical power that is released only if validated. We all have the same ability, but too few use what can only be gotten by deliberate action. This mighty magnifier truly exists, but each of us has to lift it up and peer through or it is just a pointless possession.

You simply cannot see a damn thing with it lying idle and untouched. I mean really, how many books could a pair of glasses read if laid on a stack and left for a lifetime? NONE, would be a safe bet, I reckon. Tools are meant to be used. We may fumble a bit in learning how things function, but with all things God given it does not take much time to become a craftsman. A birthright quickly becomes second nature and gains momentum with use.

Own your space! Possess your moments, if not they will simply possess you and that makes a willing slave out of a potential master. Live up to your potential. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!

Masterpieces

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"All the masterpieces of art contain both light and shadow. A happy life is not one filled with only sunshine, but one which uses both light and shadow to produce beauty.".... Billy Graham

The contrasting of dark against light highlights everything in a way that benefits the whole picture. Once upon a time when I looked at a landscape I focused only on the sunny spots. Sunbeams are a passion of mine. They signal hope to my soul, but that is not all there is to the world. Tunnel vision is too limiting to willingly wear blinders once you have a clue of all you are missing. And thank God I have a clue.

One sunny day my husband called me to our big picture window to point out how the sunlight was making breathtaking shadow art with our trees. The image was so hauntingly beautiful that it is still vivid in my memory today so many long years after its reality. He is gone now, but the lesson remains.

It instantly taught me a very valuable lesson about point of view. Narrow sight robs you of so much. The light was brighter and the dark was made beautiful by their contrasting shades. Life is like that too if you bother taking the time to think about it.

If I had not lived through so many years of shadow I would value less this wondrous time of pure light. If I had never known a heavy hand I would not glory in the gentle one that strokes me now. I am made happier now by all the sadness I once experienced.

If I had been given every victory on a platter of silver how would I know how to survive defeat? If easy was all I had known then hard would do me in without a fight. I thrived in spite of the agony and it made me stronger than I would ever have been without the brutal struggle.

Trial by fire either makes ashes of you or forges you stronger than you ever imagined possible. Being cremated before death is not something anyone should be satisfied with experiencing. Fighting for the right to be happy is a war well worth any risk.

Lessons hard-learned stick with you forever. Next time you are fighting what seems like a losing battle take heart. There really is a light at the end of the dark tunnel. But if you give up at the point of your darkest hour all you will have is the dark place where you lost heart. Fight on, even if the battle ends in some sort of loss it is not a complete defeat if you refuse to act the victim. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!

Heart Searching

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.".... Kahlil Gibran

The measure of sorrow some things inspire is in direct contrast with how much joy they brought into your life. Lost loved ones... family or treasured friends, love gone wrong, dreams shattered... each of these demands agony, at their ending, equal to whatever bliss we felt at the height of their reality.

In a real way the pain validates the pleasure. The higher the cost the more treasured the memory. To be asked to pay the price is in one fashion a negative, yet in another it is purely positive. Feeling it fully can be brutal, yet it comes from a blessing so it is an honorable sort of agony.
I know people who fear the hurt so intensely that they insulate themselves from the need to feel anything. It may keep them safe from hurt, but it separates them from joy too. Insuring that numbness is all you are capable of feeling is a waste of life's possibilities.

Owning a treasure is an awesome responsibility. Keeping it hidden robs you of the pleasure it gives when it is hung in plain view, and makes the world a darker place. If we all kept our lights hidden the earth would quickly become pitch black and desolate.

Safe is not always best, and frozen in fear is not a wise position to choose. Life has so much more for us than we can ever reach by traveling those avenues. Any action that steals our capacity to feel is self-defeating in the extreme. Risk much and gain tons. Risk nothing and that is all you will ever be entitled to receive. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!

Listening

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears--by listening to them.".... Dean Rusk

Listening is an art form each of us should make a determined effort to master. Doing it well certainly does not come naturally to everyone. This world overflows with unsealed lips... but open ears that are not attached to a flapping mouth are rare. Most people are all too willing to offer some kind of advice, assuming I suppose that when a friend or loved one opens up they are seeking a recommended course of action. Few simply listen, even though most often that is all anyone really requires of us, unless clearly stated otherwise. Voice boxes are a dime a dozen, but ear drums are priceless.

The next time you are called upon to play the role of sounding board, let that person vent their frustration without any attempt to direct their actions with suggestions they do not ask for. Unless you are answering a question no comment is required. If they do not ask something then pause for a response it is destructive to the natural flow of their release of stress when you comment. Capping a volcano is a dangerous undertaking.

Listen to what they say and how it is said. Take note of tone of voice, tint of face, stance of body, paying special attention to what the eyes say that the mouth does not. There is so much more to proper listening than simply hearing what reaches your ear. You may have something to say, which they need to hear, but leave any comments unsaid until their mouth is empty and their ears are tuned in. Taking turns is mandatory.

You will notice that they dig much deeper into whatever issue is on their mind and often come up with the perfect answer on their own. When comments get tossed in it stops any train of thought from getting them to a sane destination. You will end up knowing them much better by hearing whatever is really being said. They will also gain more soul-deep knowledge and strength that way than they ever would otherwise.
Simply save your breath and exercise your ears whenever possible. And as always... think about it... let it grow... then decide!!!

IT KILLED THE CAT, THEY SAY!

TODAY'S QUOTE:
Curiosity is one of those insatiable passions that grow by gratification... Sarah Scott


The urge for answers can drive us to pretty dangerous territory and create havoc where peace should reign. One tiny grain of curiosity can erect a mountain out of even the smallest mole hill. Some things should be taken on faith alone, or walked away from... look hard enough for a negative and you end up creating one.

Prying is an action taken to disassemble something, and if used against someone is offensive in the extreme. Intruders can be shot for trespassing... and most times it is classified as justifiable homicide. Once curiosity gets a firm grip of the wheel our destination becomes the first cliff it finds. They say, "it killed the cat" .... and it truly is the death of many things besides felines.

I like knowing stuff, but I do not make it a habit to go digging without an invitation and even then I mostly just listen to words and absorb vibrations. I've been blessed or cursed with the ability to feel other peoples energy in a very enhanced fashion. I have helped many, but I never did anything just for the sake of knowing.

Curiosity does not enter into this formula, and I'm thankful for that fact... and doubly so now that I know first hand what havoc runaway wondering can inspire. A mind saturated with curiosity magnifies every negative emotion it stumbles upon. The need to know overshadows good sense and quickly turns even the wisest person into a fool.

I learned a valuable lesson about myself and identified a mortal enemy that will never have the power to attack me again. The pain created was brutal enough to get my undivided attention, but not fatal. I will never feed that demon again... and it did not take 9 lives for me to understand that I am much wiser than any cat. Here's to wisdom, hard earned, and well learned. Think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!

A Fisherman's Hook

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Anger or hatred is like a fisherman's hook. It is very important for us to ensure that we are not caught by it.".... Dalai Lama

Negative emotions are exactly like barbed hooks and when cast out always tear a jagged hole in the one holding the line. Most often the one aimed for never even gets touched. And if so any irritation is minor compared to the joy they feel knowing just how ate up with anger the angler was when he slung the bait.

Most people who inspire such negative emotions in others are already on to their next victim by the time we recover enough to lash out. They get off on our discomfort, so letting them have solid proof of our agony just thrills them to the bone. Elation is the last emotion you ever seek to inspire, so taking the chance seems unwise no matter how you tilt the magnifying glass.

Negatives are powerful drains. They steal time and energy better used in some positive fashion. People dedicated to being natural drains are their own worst enemy and reap what they sow in the long run. Be a fountain instead.

Give your time and energy to adding something to the mix worth having there. Echo the voice of reason. Bait the hook with love and catch something worth ingesting. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!

Internal Bleeding

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Tearless grief bleeds inwardly.".... Christian Nevell Bovee, 1820-1904, American Author and Lawyer

Heartache takes its pound of flesh however it can, one way or another the bill will surely come. Even though there is no way to avoid the cost of grief, we do have some valuable choices in how we pay the bill.

With some forethought and determination we do not have to be bankrupt by any sorrow, no matter its source. In fact the overcoming of it can inspire strengths we did not even imagine we possessed. I have found it to be one of the best teachers... brutal yes, but invaluable to my growth as a human being.

I do not welcome it, yet I do not run from it either... any warrior who hopes to be forged stronger by the fire faces it with as much valor as possible. I like to imagine that the measure of agony I feel for any loss is equal to the joy I experienced at having it in the first place. That way it is an honor to grieve and not simply a burden.

Some things are sad by nature, fighting against it only makes it more demanding. So when I pay, I do so at a speed that I can handle paying careful attention to any lessons involved.

No two people grieve the same, we do not even necessarily agonize over the same things. It does not matter what it is you carry or why. What matters most is how you carry it.

Are you in its power, or is it under your control. Do you honor it or does it dishonor you. Do you rise above or wallow below. All these are choices freely made, but without deep thinking they are impossible to make.
Giving your life to something lost will not bring it back. But honoring its memory with just payment, proudly made will add to the joy it gave. I had to redefine how I looked at grief before I could come to terms with the mountain of it I possessed from countless sources. Nowadays, I pay what it demands, but nothing more. And what it asks is never more than I can afford.

Pain is like broken glass. What is held inside will keep flying around with the force of a whirlwind of emotion, causing constant internal bleeding. Wounds never get a chance to heal as long as we carry the active pain and allow it to keep doing its damage. Honor it, learn from it, overcome it, then any scars are points of pride.

I wrote the following poem about grief and place it here, because it is a perfect fit for the subject at hand. I hope it shows my understanding of all pain, no matter its source. And as always.... think about it.... let it grow.... then decide!!!!

Measuring Grief

How much sorrow is there to a pound,
What decibel limit rules despairs haunted sound?
How many tears make up an even mile,
And what is fair punishment for stealing a smile?

How much misery equals an inch,
What balance of pain reaches perfect pitch?
How many ounces of melancholy can a broken heart hold,
And what stems the current when it finally overflows?

Each ache is different, that much is true,
What wounds me doesn't necessarily bother you.
So there is no equal measure that fits every pain,
Because your grief and mine are never quite the same.

c 2004 Glenda Mahan

Hope Is

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark".... George Iles

This journal deals in hope, handing it out in whatever measure possible is its aim and my desire. Reasons to be hopeless are everywhere, having somewhere to go that does not add to the negatives seems a worthwhile undertaking.

But... my words are not placebos, handed out to the wounded as a way to placate their pain. Everything I say comes from the heart, and has been tested by time, or I would not voice it in a place I consider to be almost sacred.

We mostly find whatever we actively seek; negative thoughts are like magnets and draw more of the same. The same can be said for positives. If I am going to invite something into my life why would I willingly send out invitations to loud mouths with nothing good to bring to my table. I do not know about you, but when I have a meal, I want ease of swallowing and a sweet after taste.

I have complete control over what I place in my own path. Obstacles need to fall from the sky to stop me... and believe me they do... but only for however long it takes me to find a way around, over, or through them.

Hope is like a cab in a downpour. It may be a real difficult to get one, but once you climb inside its warm and dry. I have used hope so often that now it is akin to having a limo driving beside me... there when I need it, but I stroll until I do.

At times I have acted hopeful when I was anything but, and been rewarded with something worth hoping for in the process. That taught me to act until it is fact, and it works like a magic charm. Grasping straws is sometimes all the protection that is available. But I figure having anything to hold on to is better than whipping in the wind with no direction at all. So hope all you can, whenever you can and visit this cab stand when its raining. And as always... think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!

Mastering Your Karma

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Every minute you perform hundreds of karmic actions, yet you are hardly conscious of any of them. In the stillness of meditation, however, you can listen to your mind, the source of all this activity. You learn to be aware of your actions to a far greater extent than ever before. This self-awareness leads to self-control, enabling you to master your karma rather than be mastered by it.".... Lama Thubten Yeshe, "In Wisdom Energy"

Learning what makes you tick, tick, tick is one of the most rewarding things you could ever do for yourself. Everyone around you benefits if you are happy and it is damn near impossible to be happy when you are fractured. Without knowledge or understanding of yourself how can you be anything less than in a million pieces, all of them trying to please the masses and all of them failing to please anyone?

I have come to firmly believe that too few of us truly have any idea of who we really are. We know our labels... mate... parent... sibling... co-worker, but strip all that away and many would be so clueless to what remains. We know who others want us to be, acting according to the wishes of someone else in an never ending struggle to fit in somehow.

We listen to a multitude of voices, ignoring our own so often that it becomes barely a whisper. We stagger under the weight of costumes that do not fit, we stagnate in roles not meant for our nature then we wonder why we are so confused. Our soul voice gets overpowered by the screams of people who try to drive us to be what we can never become. I stopped listening to those voices long ago. I make plenty of mistakes, but going against my true nature is not among them anymore. And I know myself better than most anyone I know.

Do yourself a huge favor and throw away the script, rip off the costume, get off the stage and find a quiet island and absorb that voice that will never lie to you. Seek quiet places and serene territory (even if only for a few minutes a day) and soon you will discover the role you were meant to play. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!

FOOLED AROUND AND FELL IN LOVE

CLICK ON THE TITLE FOR THE SONG... THE ONLY SONG A MAN EVER DEDICATED TO ME ON THE RADIO AND BEEN DONE MANYYYY TIMES... SPECIAL MAN... SPECIAL SONG... OUR SONG

LOVE IS...

TODAY'S QUOTE:
Love is a friendship that has caught fire...it is a loyalty through good and bad. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses... Ann Landers

Love that begins with friendship has a symmetry that really does not exist in relationships that are formed in any other fashion. Desire can be red hot, but if that is the foundation then if it dies the whole structure collapses. Beauty fades, conditions change, trouble visits, and poof its gone like a puff of smoke that even a gentle breeze can master. Friendship first and forever will hold that love solid, no matter what conspires against it.

Real love does not depend on anything except itself to exist. Money cannot buy it, bad health cannot destroy it, sex cannot guarantee it, outsiders cannot steal it, and eternity is not long enough to make it forgettable. Real love does not rely on rings and things. Real love does not live in a fancy house... it lives soul-deep and is satisfied with the simple things. Sharing space is enough when it is real, and when it is not... then nothing is ever enough to make it more than what it is.

The notion of love is very different from the reality. We all dream of happily ever after, but that is truly something we can only give to ourselves. It does not depend upon who you love, but it does depend upon loving who you are. Real love demands total trust and trustworthiness. Real love expects total loyalty and gives it in equal measure. And only loving when it is effortless to do so is nothing to brag about.

I have spoken here before about my personal talismans and how I use them for my own ease and instant comfort. Today I will describe part of one briefly, because it has everything to do with real love. My brother gave me a book I hold every day... The Prayer of Jabez... inside the book is a pledge I say every morning. And it goes as follows...

"My love and commitment of and to Warren doesn't depend upon anything outside of himself. Not on fortune, health, sex, friends, family... not on what he gives me, or what he takes away. Not on rings... or rites... or vows before God said and taken. Blessing or curse I'll love him till I die."

That means I'll love him when he's lovable and when he's not. Most times total blessing, sometimes a bit of curse... but always unshakable... and it began with friendship... and continues resting in that same sweet space, no matter what else happens.

Start with friendship... then add to it... so that no matter what is subtracted the friendship remains... that to me is real love. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!

My Harvest

TODAY'S QUOTE:
My mind is a garden. My thoughts are the seeds. My harvest will be either flower or weeds.-Mel Weldon

Tending our notions is a vital link to how we function throughout each day. When taking a long hike, the shoes we choose are the most important deciding factor between failure or success. They govern our speed and comfort. They dictate whether we stride or limp. Even with the right shoes, if we do not keep them pebble free then blisters will be our reward.

Point is... we choose the shoes, and if we are not mindful... we also choose the pebble. If we do not strive to make the right choices, we might as well go barefooted, or better yet just stay at home. The ideal would be to always choose what is sensible to our comfort and success, but none of us get it right every time.

The garden premise of this quote is priceless in its clarity and simplicity. What we plant, dictates what we harvest. How well we tend the garden dictates how rich our yield. And how we prepare the soil for planting dictates the ease or difficulty which the plants have on their first push toward sunlight. Success or failure depends upon the commitment of the farmer to do what is necessary at each stage.

If you are hungry, planting vegetables makes perfect sense. If you seek to fill your garden with beauty, flowers will fill your needs. I cannot think of any benefit that can be received from the planting, tending, and harvest of weeds. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!

Someday

Angry Guests

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Can you accept the moments of anger and fear as guests, be willing to receive them with kindness without feeling obliged to serve them a five-course meal?"... Christina Feldman

Human nature dictates that at some point during our lifetime we will all experience rage and terror of one measure or another. None of us is immune. Even the calmest will taste panic, and the coolest will reach their boiling point, but what happen next is uncertain. All of us will react in some fashion, many will control their emotions while others will be controlled by them.

The choice is ours to make, although we like to pretend that actions of any kind are justified by any injustices done to us during the journey. Bull-shit will surely occur, fanning the pile only increases the aroma. We often have little or no control over things around us, but if we do not control ourselves it matters very little what else we imagine is under our command.

Emotions are internal, we have access to them before they are broadcast to anyone else. Allowing them to spew everywhere is a very unattractive form of nudity. Gaze in a mirror the next time you come unhinged if you doubt that hard fact. Raw unedited emotions inspire instant high-drama, sparks from you can light fires in others, and so on... and so on... and so on. Why choose to be the spark that causes an inferno?

Pump the breaks! Slow the skid!! Get a grip!!! Whatever you nurture just naturally grows, so starve the predators or they will happily eat you alive. Allow yourself to feel... then drive on. Think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!

Circumstantial Constraint

Today's Quote:
If we examine every stage of our lives, we find that from our first breath to our last we are under the constraint of circumstances. And yet we still possess the greatest of all freedoms, the power of developing our innermost selves in harmony with the moral order of the Universe, and so winning peace at heart whatever obstacles we meet.
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


I was asked by my sister-in-law to keep my posts squeaky clean, so that when she wished to show one to her pastor, she could do so without shame. With respect for her wishes, I will not open this post the way I normally would by saying "s... happens", but will say instead... STUFF OCCURS. Some good, some bad, and some totally indifferent to our expectations. We are all at times held hostage by circumstances over which we have little or no control.


At birth we inherit the environment our parents inhabit. If we are lucky they have a good grasp on reality, if not it becomes an instant struggle to survive and grow wise in spite of what surrounds us. School follows and learning is easy or hard, according to our ability and affability. If fitting in is an issue, formal education can be pure torture. With age comes the wisdom that being a bit different is often a blessing, but until that dawning of knowledge it can be a bumpy ride.


Then it is time for adult pastimes like work, and love, and parenthood. The opportunities for stuff to occur just grows and grows. And stuff occurs! And occurs!! And keeps occurring!!! The quicker we can learn not to become hostage to occurrences the better, but for some of us it can take a huge portion of our lifetime to get a clue. *Raises hand here, admitting I used to be a most dedicated hostage.

Constraints are devices that retard movement, which guarantees no forward motion is possible. Circumstance is a set of facts that surround a situation. When I get surrounded the last thing I need is retarded movement. The fact is that when I get trapped by situations, I've been known to make some really retarded movements without the aid of any devices. But only when I forget to make good use of my power of reasoning.

It is more than possible to rise above whatever it is, yet so many people never develop their ability to fly. Whatever it is that is holding you stationary, is not at fault... the blame lies in the fact that you allow it to grip the space you should own free and clear. Once you believe in your right to ownership, protecting it becomes your responsibility, and it is a most sacred trust. Sometimes reclaiming it becomes necessary, and thank God there is no limit to the times this can be done.

A calm mind, a quiet soul, and a peaceful heart are just rewards for the battles we fight to find our true self. Really knowing ourselves and why we
sometime do stupid things is the first step to ceasing the stupidity. And even more important than knowing who you are is being certain of who you will become if you keep journeying down the path that leads to your deepest being. As you travel, look around, I'll be along the road somewhere... maybe we can walk for a time together. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!