Laughing With Friends

The best decompression activity I know of is laughing with good friends. Every month or two, three dear women and I have an afternoon of playing spades and enjoying each others' company. We always feel renewed and happy after these days, and look forward to finding time to do it again as soon as possible. Many people, for many reasons, have not been able to cultivate lasting friendships, and I want to assure them that it's never too late! Reach out to folks who you have a good feeling about, whether you know them or not. Companionship, stimulating conversation, a common cause such as animal welfare  -- there are many foundations on which to enjoy communion with others. Don't be afraid to reach out!

"You rest within the peace of God today, and call upon your brothers from your rest to draw them to their rest, along with you.​ ​You will be faithful to your trust today, forgetting no one, bringing everyone into the boundless circle of your peace, the holy sanctuary where you rest. Open the temple doors and let them come from far across the world, and near as well; your distant brothers and your closest friends; bid them all enter here and rest with you.​" A Course in Miracles​ W-pI.109.8.

Unexpectedly Upside Down

San Francisco photo credit: Aaron Springston

We all feel overwhelmed by life's circumstances at times -- or, at least, I know I have. Everything seems easier now, with grown children, no daily jobs to show up for, and most arduous demands being gone from my days. Sometimes things happen and we are drawn into them for one reason or another. I have friends whose lives have been turned upside down when they least expected it. How do we cope when an unexpected illness hits us or our loved ones, changing everything from the rhythm we had cherished? Of course, we do what we must, and we pray for strength and guidance, and we listen for answers in whatever form they may appear. I don't mean for this to sound like an easy task -- but really, what is our choice? To all of us who are afraid, perhaps angry, feeling put-upon unnecessarily, overwrought by things beyond our control -- just breathe. Breathe deeply and find something to be happy for, an idea to be peaceful about. Sometimes we must release a problem in order to find its resolution. We can't change the situation, but we can change our thought about it. Love to you, each and every one!

"Love is freedom. To look for it by placing yourself in bondage is to separate yourself from it. For the Love of God, no longer seek for union in separation, nor for freedom in bondage! As you release, so will you be released. Forget this not, or Love will be unable to find you and comfort you." A Course in Miracles T-16.VI.2.

Signs of Hope

On the John Muir Trail - PC: Aaron Springston

Points of progress, good news, signs of hope -- these are the things with which I try to fill myself. It's easy to overload on horror stories today. Almost every bit of news brings about fear for our planet's animals, rivers, trees, people -- the earth itself it being bombarded from all sides. So when I see a glimmer of goodness, I celebrate it! I just read an article about the most searched-for words of 2019. On the three major online dictionary sites, one phrase stood out: climate emergency. This means people are realizing there is an emergency, not just a gentle warming that in the middle of winter brings comfort. Crisis, extinction, eco-anxiety, ecocide: the search for these words' meaning is heartening, in that people are thinking in terms of finally doing something! Other top searches showed our interest in upcycling, gender neutral pronouns, and the odd word "tergiversations". This last one can be either "evasion of straightforward action or clear-cut statement" and "desertion of a cause, position, party, or faith". Each and every one of us want to do good; some want to do good for our fellow humans, others want good for themselves. Overall, these searches tell me that we care and are willing to work toward positive resolution!

"In quietness are all things answered, and is every problem quietly resolved. In conflict there can be no answer and no resolution, for its purpose is to make no resolution possible, and to ensure no answer will be plain." A Course in Miracles T-27.IV.1. 

Happiness is Everywhere!

Everywhere I went today, people were talking about how weird their day was, or how odd they felt, or what crazy things were going on around them. I love hearing these stories, don't you? No one seemed to be particularly upset about these odd events in their lives. The checker at the grocery store was almost giddy when relating a few events from her day. Once again proving that things are either stressful or exciting, maddening or fun, according to your interpretation and perceptions! I'm not going to go into the weird things which happened in my world today, but I feel the need for some Deva Premal chants. Here's one for you, too! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlnHON3tAXo

"Happiness is spiritual, born of truth and love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it." Mary Baker Eddy 

The Language of my Discernment

Today has been a interesting mishmash of talking to friends who have a multitude of problematic happenings in their lives. One dear woman is worried about her husband’s memory. Another has gangrene in her foot and her future is uncertain in every way. One passed a kidney stone and is very happy that’s over! Another is worried about losing his job. Someone has an adult son in rehab with serious mental problems. One of these people is a metaphysician and is feeling guilty because she can’t “do” something about the situation. This took my thought to the impersonal nature of disease. We seem to want to blame ourselves when a malady occurs. What did I do wrong which caused this dis-ease? If we are truly One in Spirit, then perhaps we shouldn’t take all the blame for the mass hypnotism running rampant in our society. Everywhere we turn, there is a commercial telling us what’s wrong with us, or a news story proclaiming disaster from something or another, or someone predicting doom in some for. What an we do? Just say no. There are many books and YouTube videos giving us tips on how to counteract negativity. Don’t be afraid to life your thought in this way. I think I’ll do that right now!

I'm Never Upset For the Reason I Think

Sometimes I get emotionally overwrought and don't realize it's happening until I say or do something foolish. At times like these, I wish I could retreat to the top of a mountain -- or perhaps a cave -- and wait for calm to come again. But that's not the way life happens, is it? Actually, it is if that place of calm you find is inside yourself. And that is, after all, the only place it truly can be. I could be by myself in outer space but still be fragile if my mind is spinning in circles of anxiety. So when I'm tempted to say someone else has upset me, that isn't even close to being true. Perhaps I've been tense about numerous circumstances and allow one little thing to tip the boat over. These times are when I return to Love, as I'm doing right now. I'm going to listen to calm instrumental music, close my eyes and forgive myself, loving the people and situations I could say are causing my unrest. "I love you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you." 

​"​I am never upset for the reason I think.​ ​This idea​...can be used with any person, situation or event you think is causing you pain. Apply it specifically to whatever you believe is the cause of your upset, using the description of the feeling in whatever term seems accurate to you. The upset may seem to be fear, worry, depression, anxiety, anger, hatred, jealousy or any number of forms, all of which will be perceived as different. This is not true.​" W-pI.5.1.

Don't Take it Personally

photo credit: Aaron Springston

Today I’ve been pondering a situation in which one person thinks another person isn’t doing his job. She wants things to change, but I’m not sure what those changes could possibly be! We are talking about dynamic personalities on both sides: two people who do good work in the community, take pride in their accomplishments, and are sorely disappointed when everything doesn’t work out as planned. I like them both and hope they can find a way to resolve their differences. I could take sides, but that wouldn’t help bring about resolution. Talking to them has allowed me to see they are hurt by the others actions. Which brings me back to a point I’m always making in these writings. If we would all live in harmony with The 4 Agreements, as interpreted by Don Miguel Ruiz, the world would be a peaceful, harmonious place. I once again affirm to not take anything personally, and to refuse to make assumptions about why people do what they do.

“Life is like dancing. If we have a big floor, many people will dance. Some will get angry when the rhythm changes. But life is changing all the time.” Don Miguel Ruiz