Month: April 2014

Resentment is like…

April 30, 2014

Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
― Carrie Fisher

I use this quote a lot so that I will remember it.  When I am having bad thoughts about another person, I realize that I am the one housing the bad thoughts.  I’m sure many times I was angry at someone who was oblivious to the fact, or who quickly forgot the incident.  I don’t want that toxicity in my temple anymore.  Whatever I am upset about, I let go of as quickly as I possibly can (depending how conscious I am in that circumstance).  And I still have a long way to go, but I’m working on it.  So whatever resentment you might be harboring… let it go, and have a wonderful Wisdom Wednesday!

Design Your Life: Abundance

April 29, 2014

The Institute for Self Actualization (isa) has been a huge help along my path.  I have been a part of this community for 15 years and I highly recommend any seminar they offer.  I have done most of them and have assisted and helped coordinate events ranging from the weekend-long Experience to the 10-day international youth camp, the YPE (Young Persons Experience).  

I don’t usually use my blog to promote events, but there is an upcoming seminar that I think will be priceless.  It is part of the new Design Your Life (DYL) series.  Read about the series and the upcoming event below.

DESIGN YOUR LIFE!
Love, happiness, health, abundance . . . whatever you want in life is available to you!

This series of one-day seminars provides an in-depth look at the “how” of creating what you want. We focus on both insight and application, with lots of skill building so you have what you need to change stubborn, persistent patterns or to simply create new growth in your chosen directions. Each day addresses a specific aspect of life: relationships, health, wealth and abundance, family, work life and more.

Design Your Life: Abundance
Are you missing out on many opportunities in your life because you don’t have the time, money or energy? Come learn how you can become abundant in all that you do! It is possible to tap into the abundance in us all and have overflowing love, health, money and time!

Order tickets via Eventbrite:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/isa-design-your-life-abundance-tickets-10709968805?aff=efbevent

Open to isa graduates and non-graduates.

Happy Birthday, Suzanne!

April 27, 2014

I attended service at the spiritual center to which I belong this morning.  Then we celebrated my sister’s 31st birthday with lunch at a Mexican restaurant.  I then spent some time with my two oldest children, their spouses, and my granddaughter.  Beyond that, I have been writing the better part of the day, either in my head or on the keyboard.  So this is the extent of my post today:  Happy Birthday, Suzanne!  

(Incidentally, I am inspired to write about my family and how we celebrate every chance we get… and how I learned that my grandfather was always hoping someone would marry so there would be a party and he could dance… but I’m too tired… perhaps later this week.)  The photo is completely unrelated, but I thought it would complement my sister’s birthday wish.  Suzanne, I hope you got some rest this cloudy afternoon.

My oldest son brought me this Easter lily last Sunday.
My oldest son brought me this Easter lily last Sunday.

 

Rites of Passage

April 26, 2014

Rite of Passage My son and his girlfriend, just before the prom.  I love this photo because they are on playground equipment, yet look so grown up.  My son will attend prom tonight.  Then he will finish high school and turn 18 later this month.  These rites of passage are somewhat bittersweet (as well as a relief), as my boy is becoming  man.

The List

April 25, 2014

I have been guilty of constantly worrying about everybody else and putting everyone else first.  My sister once pointed out to me that I needed, not to move myself up on the list, but to put myself on the list.  Fortunately, in my experience, most of the people in my life have loved and appreciated me, cared about my needs, and have not taken advantage of me.

Sometimes I am reminded that there are people out there that are more concerned with things, money, rules, and their own wants, than they are with the well-being of their fellow human beings.  I consider these people a gift.  They remind me to treat others with compassion. They remind me to be kind because we never know what another person is going through.  And they remind me that sometimes I have to put myself first, and maybe put only me on the list.

 

Looking Out For Each Other

April 24, 2014

This is the post that I was so Frustrated about the other day.  I have recreated it as best I could four days after I wrote it.

Yesterday, I accidentally hit the trunk button on my key fob when I stopped at the gas station.  I didn’t realize what I had done until my trunk was flapping in the wind.  As I pulled onto the shoulder of the busy road,  a white work van pulled over more than 100 feet ahead of me.  Then a tractor-trailer made a right-hand turn around me and whipped into the driveway just in front of me that I had not noticed until that moment.  I was more than a little nervous.

Having been hit by a bus in November (on foot), I had no desire to now be hit by a car or truck.  Because of my injuries, I don’t move very quickly so I was afraid to get out of the car on this two lane road without much of a shoulder.  So I waited until there were no cars as far as the eye could see before I got out of my car, went around to the back, and shut the trunk.  My heart was pounding the whole time, but no cars or trucks drove past until I was back in the driver’s seat of the car.  Relief.

I turned on my left turn signal and then I noticed the van.  It was still sitting there.  As I prepared to get back onto the road, the white van made a u-turn back onto the road heading back in the direction from which we had both come.  In that moment, I realized the man in the van had been looking out for me.  I’m guessing he saw my trunk open near the gas station and was trying to let me know.  He pulled over and watched to be sure I was okay.  When he saw that I was, he went on his way.

I will probably never know who the man in the white van was.  I will never be able to thank him personally.  But I am grateful nonetheless.  And I will thank him by looking out for someone else.  And I encourage you to look out for each other.  Help the woman in the grocery store who can’t reach the top shelf (that would be me), be sure the child between the clothing racks know where his mom is before you go on your way, and if you see a Taurus with the trunk open… I’ve hit the button on the key fob again!

It does not matter…

April 23, 2014

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. ~Confucius

This is my affirmation for myself on this Wisdom Wednesday.  When I am feeling like I am not progressing quickly enough, I will remember the tortoise won the race.

Lessons Learned

April 22, 2014

Last night I had a nightmare and woke up so scared that I thought my heart would pound right out of my chest.  Needless to say, I had a difficult time falling back to sleep.  When I did finally manage to nod off, it was time to get up.  Then I had one of those days where everything was a challenge.  Now I am not one to wish my life away.  But whatever lessons I was supposed to learn today, I hope I “got” them.  I am not interested in taking those tests again.

 

 

 

April Showers (Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Devices Photo Challenge)

April 21, 2014

April Showers

Taken with my iPhone 5S, using the Tonal Filter.  Looking for something to shoot in black & white, I noticed the various textures in this shot as I was showering this April morning.  I also love the look of water and chrome in black & white.  Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Devices Photo Challenge, Week 3: Black & White.