The Greatest Gift of all

Kids are great at giving, you see them in the play yard, or hear of them sharing their treats, their packed lunches are shared, clothing is shared on many occasions, hair clips are passed around, make up.  For the boys, toys are shared evenly and effortlessly.  Kids appreciate it, they hug and love to show their friendship and kindness by giving even the shoes off their feet.  I think that is simply remarkable!

The gift of giving creates SUCH joy in the giver and receiver.  It is an exchange of "I have this, you don't-here you go, enjoy"!  I love to give, to many and of many different things.  The act alone, makes me so happy.  I do it on a whim, when I am not in want or need of something-or even if I do like the item a lot, do still want it, may still need it, may still be dear to me-but feel the other person would benefit much greater then me by having this or that, big or small.  I love the random acts of kindness, of sharing, giving, the thought behind it and the energy it gives you and as well, others.  

I saw a show a few months ago, where this group of individuals was using a "Happy Meter Device"  Everyone scored a "Happy Reading" except the one girl out of the group.  Although she was smiling, laughing, she did not score Happy.  The group of individuals tried everything to SEE what would make this girl happy.  They gave her new puppies to play with for a day, still she did not READ HAPPY.  They took her shopping and although smiling and having a great time, still the meter did not READ HAPPY.  They sent her to the salon to get her hair and nails done, still smiling, although NOT HAPPY.  Then, they gave this girl a Million Dollars, not hers, but she was set on a task to give this JACK POT to someone random.  She picked someone who she thought could use it a random passer by.  FINALLY, after handing over a MILLION dollars for the gentleman to keep, SHE scored Happy on the Happy Device.  GIVING creates lasting joy, for me and for many.

You do not have to give material items, it could be time, helping someone in need somehow, even just a smile on the street as you walk by, or a great talk with someone you know.  That for me is the greatest gift, the gift of giving...anytime or way...If you are thinking, OH I have nothing...NO, not true.  You may have a talent of knitting, or crafting like my true sister in law, and gift her items regularily that she creates from ground up, from her joy and creativity, her love as she makes things and gifts them out.  I heard one girl, pick up board games and puzzles for  the nursing homes and just dropped them off at the door-HOW sweet is that???  If someone has not a lot and you have much of what is missing, in all cases GIVE.  

Giving at Birthdays and perhaps other occasions is great, it does set the tone for a season or day, but to give random acts of kindness, a listening ear, a smile, a telephone call to someone who may need a friend, anything you can give from your heart is a sentiment really saying, YOU are LOVED and VALUED, YOU are WORTHY and IMPORTANT, YOU are THOUGHT of.  

What would it mean say if the person you are giving to is about to give up, they have lost hope, to them their life is bleak, they can not see the silver lining, they have no reason to be joyful about tomorrow and want to call it quits.  What would it mean if some random stranger went up to that person who was all out of hope and no zest for living.  What would it mean if that person was randomly given a Lotto ticket perhaps worth more then they could ask for, or perhaps even a picked flower, or a coffee just handed to them...anything to just say...I see you, and there are better days ahead.  That person would possibly light up and be able to crawl out of their despair and set off on a new day...looking forward to tomorrow and the next.  

You never know what one smile would do, one flower perhaps, something so small or soo huge that you could actually MAKE that person's LIFE, by showing the good Nature of HUMAN KIND.  If kids can do it, why can't we?  Making a difference to show support, value and love in a way of giving and sharing

is the best gift of all.

A Prayer For Life

A Prayer For Life

Keep us warm and full,

Give each of us Good will.

Give us peace as we set our day,

Give us love from June until May.

Let us count our blessing on our fingers and toes,

Help the sick, weak and poor, become healthy and strong.

Let us hold you with us every where we go.

Let us forgive ourselves and others when we go wrong,

Let us start each day with a beautiful song.

Help us give thanks for the Life you 

gave,

Let us be aware of all we have, because we were saved.

Let us be tender to our Families, with welcome and good cheer,

Lead us to light, far away from fear.

We have so much because of you,

Let us not waist our life, or anything we do.

AMEN

True Peace Within

True peace within.  What does peace mean to you, are you a peaceful person.  I like to think I am, although blunder in comparison to most.  I do love peace and quiet, not too quiet, but always love a sense of calm throughout my day, my house and environment.  In the face of chaos, though can you still remain peaceful.  For me, I am only human and can handle things the way I know how-though Peace is what I search for on my daily outings, my chats with others, when the tide hits, I love to try to remain calm through all matters, although of course sometimes it gets the better of me.

Everyone is dealing with something, something big, something that feels beyond them, something small.  When I see people smiling through it all, it gives me a sense of hope, and reason to keep carrying on, joyful and peaceful.  When what they may be going through may be much more hurtful and much more delicate then I.  Some people say, to me...how do you do it, keep going the way you do with all that you entail in your life.  Like everyone, you just got to keep going, keep the faith, keep love alive, try to smile through any hardships.  When though one has a lot on there plate or shoulders, and no way to release them, no way to have a sense of understanding....that is when the sickness comes in with Mental Health and healing.  The reason why I talk about releasing the hardships in life, over and over, until able to handle more and then release more.  It becomes second nature.  

As someone who has dealt with Mental Health and still does, not as difficult as it was.  I can honestly say, the tools and tactics I use, are the most helpful in recovery.  Don't let life roll you over!  I tend to think, everyday for survival.  How am I feeling physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually?  What is missing today or feeling heavy that I have to over come, deal with...so that I can continue to be Mentally Fit?  I always pay close attention to my body.  Almost like a scan everyday to see how I am feeling, relating to the World around me.  What feels off...and HOW do I fix it using my tactics?  May seem ridiculous to some...not me, for me it works and allows me to most times, not all...remain calm and if I do have a melt down, I am able to put the peaces back together with my tools and tactics.  I say to myself when feeling...off...What can I do to FEEL BETTER...just as if you had a cold to tend to, you would have to do what you need to to get on your feet again.  The tools are as individual as the person and very vital.  A release gives not just a quick fix, but once you find out what works for you...you can use it next time, also you can tweak your tool how you like it.  

If your tool is going for a walk...what would make it so inspiring for you, how can you get the most of your walk or hike to come back being totally refreshed, being and feeling whole again, with yourself...so that there is no suffering.  You chip away at your ill feelings, or illness one by one..until you knock your illness right to the ground.  The tools you choose, are relaxation measures...also hobbies, things that make you joyful, happy, content and whole.  I change mine here and there...some remain constant, some change over time or I tweak them, when I find it is not working anymore.  Wanting to remain peaceful as the tough get going and the rough waters appear.  It for me is a constant understanding of asking my self, HOW do I feel right now, HOW does my body, mind, and spirit feel and I do everything through out the day to make it a top priority TO just FEEL good.  Remain Positive, Remain Peaceful.

YOUR choice, Dream.

Someone once told me, don't ever give up on your dream, you can do anything!  That person believed in me...I was young and innocent and looked to them for encouragement...when I was tired, sad, lonely, happy, thoughtful, joyful, eager, restless, feeling good about myself or bad...IN each instance I had someone, cheering me on.  I was LUCKY for that..am Lucky for that.  That person taught me to dive, taught me to believe in me as a young girl.  The rest I taught myself or LIFE taught me and I was full ears.

Then someone said, believe in yourself, but give up on your dreams?  A sort of mixed message..but someone I tend to look up towards...in all cases...I can not nor will I.  You can not give up on who you are and you can not help who you are...YOU just are.  

(The week in the life of a person who has to keep going, has to keep on, has to dream BIG, live by there word, live respectfully by there mottos, values.  Learns from hardships to become who they are, become who they see they can be.  Without excuse.)

Someone told someone to not follow a dream, that seed, led to unfulfilling matters, unwaivering mis use, mis trust, mis communication, mis fortune, being mis lead and that person ended up feeling miserable.  WHY, because the INTENTION within that person was not being looked after, there DRIVE was not being looked after, their DREAM was being tested, their ABILITIES were being tested, their MOTIVATION was lacking.  Things then Fell to the ground, and the pieces were to be picked up one by one, two by two then three by three...That person had to look themselves in the mirror...and that person Had to ASK

"Why is it that people seem to be picking on me, why do I have bad luck, what am I doing wrong in my life, to have such catastrophes at my door, trying to push it out, but it keeps coming back, more and more"

When that person asked deep down, WHAT IS IT...what is it that is happening..when all around me are horrendous things taking place, out of my control...horrible things...with no victory and no end it seemed.

The answer was....

"Because that person was NOT following their Dream, their Desire, their LIFE, Their devotion of who they are when they are pursuing that dream"  When that happened...When the person GAVE UP, for whatever reason, when they decided to turn their back on WHO they are, their course in life, something they cultivated...EVERYTHING around them...FELL apart, the cultivation was being left for others to tend to...that person had to cultivate once again, NOT from ground up, but where they left off"  SO the cultivation began"

People became wicked, and there was no PURPOSE...

TO have a dream and FOLLOW it is a CHOICE, ONE choice, MADE many times!!!! I vow never to turn my back or listen to someones ideas about my dreams, my choice, my ambition...When I am closer everyday...I am Happy when I write, for the purpose there are many...for others, for thinking, for clear air, for reaching out, for others reaching back, for understanding, for fellowship, for groundedness, for unity, for LOVE, for LIFE, for health, for offering something to the place I call home; Earth, to contribute, to give, to create, to harmonize and perhaps as I keep going...OTHERS will to!

On Bended Knees You Can Believe.

With Easter on its way, there is much birth, rebirth, change, praise, love for HIM.  You can believe, have Faith that He is working everyday.  Giving thanks not just to people although very important.  Giving thanks everyday for the many blessings, for life, the people in it, the family we cherish, the love restored...many things.  I am very spiritual, love all things with good energy, healing, not just positivity-although that is one way to look at it and begin.

Along our paths, sometimes when we need courage, help, health, help when we stumble, when we move away from ourselves.  The greatest gifts that were given to me was when I was on bended knee praying to the LORD above.  I prayed many times for healing of my illness, still do everyday.  I knew way back that if I turned to him, he could and would hear me.  There was really nothing else I could do but pray.  The feelings I was having were awful, dealing with the many bipolar issues.  It was bigger then me.  I then turned to spirituality since then.  Turned my road and path around from that bottom from then on.  Since then, healing was given in many respects.  I seemed to meet the RIGHT people, who would be there, even in thought, but be there they are.  I would stumble on the precious people in my life and know that they are good, they need to be in my life and maybe me in theirs even at such a young age.  Still we connect and gladly.  There were others who I could NOT do it without.  My spiritual adviser, who also is so giving and concerning when there is an issue...non bias, we PRAY together..and all else is forgotten.  My therapist, who I not only see at the office, but he continues to make me a priority when needed and giving a phone call at the comfort of my own home, to walk me through any struggle.  I have a friend, a doula, for my blessing with our pregnancy, who's wisdom and knowledge, professionalism is key and very helpful.  In an instant all of them appeared when on bended knee.  In search for more, in search for meaning, friendship, with no conditions we are able to even feed each other with knowledge of spirituality and growth.

Discovering my spiritual adviser was truly heavens sent.  I called her because she had some supplements that I could purchase...we got to talking as she took her time with me.  I told her and explained last MAY, that I would love along with my husband to conceive.  Although she had a supplement for that...she asked if she minded if she PRAYED....and I allowed it.  We talked for two hours...months later, and late in life almost 40 yrs old and years of trying...my prayers, our prayers were answered...and I KNEW it was right and true...all is right and true. We prayed for a miracle and were ready to receive...being VERY MINDFUL, knowing that relaxation was key as well and was already set on a healthy path, with food, drink and Dance.  I updated her and was she ever pleased.

Prior, my prayers were answered in the years where I use to have difficulty with my illness, now not an issue unless I make it one...met the right counselor for me, the right family doctor who also took me seriously even as a twenty something.  Met friends here and there...who stuck, took classes in many things...really the thirst for knowledge was in my writing blood and can not survive happily without my writing bug.  That will never dissipate, it is me, who I am, a big part of me.  I met my husband again on bended knees, I learned, adjusted, he learned adjusted.  Again needing my spiritual counselor I called on bended knees, we had a lot of time spent talking and praying and it was not just helpful.  It was joyful, it aided in healing in every sector that needed it.  I allowed healing, we all did.  In the end of this conversation on bended knees was again a happy ending to a grouling couple of weeks, hurt, upset, commotion no more.  Forgiveness was the answer, of myself and more...things were handled just as it was meant, worry diminished.  That is why I hold the people in my circle close and hope them to me as well.  My doula is a forever constant that I know we will share a bond now and in the future, our baby is on HIS way and so blessed.

You can believe that on bended knees, with what ever is lurking, or hurting, dismaying that HE is the only one on bended knees will hear you, help you, the change within will be deeper and more concise then any other.  You may not believe, like I once did...sometimes there just is no other choice but to believe and become restored completely and always on bended knees.

Positivity Is A Force

If someone said to you that if you think, believe and act with a positive mindset all your dreams will come true, would you?  If you were a glass half empty "type of person" and someone said, if you believe everyday with all certainty that great things will come your way, everyday, would you then think the glass is half full?  I would!  To be down in the dumps to me is for the birds.  Positivity is a force, a huge force just like any other.  A vibration.  Just as true as negative...!  Would you not want the best chance for all lovely, beautiful, wonderful and great things going on in your life and around you as much as possible?  I would!  It does take practice, truly it does.  Do you think that Luke Sky Walker when approached by Yoda saying to him "Let the Force be with you"  would say ahh ninny to that, forget this thing.  NO, he believed, he had to...for him it was life or the other.  So with the FORCE, belief and positivity, he prevailed, managed to do what he was set out to do.  He listened and learned the way of positive force.

I was possibly once negative, actually not believing in my self and abilities were at the core.  I gave up, sunk, and wondered why I was always spinning my wheels to get ahead.  I really don't think I was a stick in the mud, but believing in others way more then my own talents, character and skills was a work in progress that took years to get over.

NOW believing in myself, abilities, the universe and all wonderful things; I can not even imagine being the way I use to be, thinking the way I use to think.  To get past that, the low self talk I always listened to, I had to think, believe, act and LIVE positive like nothing else mattered or it was sink, sink or swim and keep swimming!  It was a force that I had to grab a hold of, with all belief in the process, with every thought, every moment.  Always to think, what is the BRIGHT side.  Now a self proclaimed bright side thinker I am able to look at any situation as to say, there has to be a lesson, a reason and it MUST be a good one.

Waking up everyday, really is a beautiful experience for me and I could not see it any other way, now that the force is within me as second nature.  Positivity is not just a word, to throw around, it is a way of life.  I think of the Pro Baseball players, or hockey, skating, whatever the sport.  They imagine winning, imagine the trophy, spend much time cheering their team members on through all of their training, the coaches feed them words of go go go get em'.  They do not think I believe for a second that they are going into a game or competition to loose, one thought of loss can be costly for them.  WIN WIN, whatever you do.  There are setbacks in life, but to see those setbacks with a positive frame of mind all the time, no matter the circumstance is a WIN in itself.  Life happens, but a cheery disposition, a smile, a nice word, a compliment all these things measure up to having a glass full  no matter, flood, winter storm, flat tire.  To wake up, take a breath, think of all the wonderful things that could and may come your way is the best start to your day-even beats coffee in the morning!

Sure of course there may be times of "not so sure" about whatever endeavor that is being saught after, there can be doubt.  The outcome has many things to do with your ways of overcoming the fears and doubt, how that is handled, rising to the occasion says VICTORY every time.

To wake up everyday hating to go to work is a waist.  There must be at least a few things that is exciting about the work day ahead.  A co-worker, a client, being a mentor yourself?  The force of positive thinking is a very HUGE step in all of your dreams coming true, I really don't think that any person that followed there dreams or chosen path did so with a glass half empty mindset.  Wake up with a smile and just watch how the day unfolds.  You would be amazed how the force takes you along so effortlessly to everything you could have hoped for.

Don't Dismiss Their Wisdom

I love older people, I am very drawn to their laugh, gift of the chops, the wisdom, presence in their being, their nature.  For me, listening to the many wonderful older people I have had the pleasure of knowing, in the past and now is to me such a treasure.  Being a writer, I value spending time with "them" learning from their words like a reading a page turner, every word to me is precious  I find myself hanging on to them with grand fascination of where they came, how they grew, what they learned, how they lived and live. To me it is much like going to the movies, I can vision how they feel about matters, how they relate to the changing world and how I can learn from them, much more then I can offer myself.   I can relate to every thought, action and belief, finding myself really getting down to the point of the matter, to have tea or spend an afternoon is always special in so many ways.  I wold much rather spend a day and night, or many with someone older then someone my own age...I find them to be gifts to have in my life.

The best friends I have had in the last twenty or so years have been older woman, it is such a treat to see how these friends handle matters, handle problems.  They have been there and done that much more then I.  With each special older pal I have in my life-either family or other, I can truly feel myself grow.  Today there was a bit of a catastrophe, I had to call upon my faithful friend to reach out.  That is what I tend to preach, reach out in times of trouble.  I did and ever so glad.  Faithful and true with open arms they reached back, in a blink of a few spoken words all of the pieces were quickly picked up and put back together again.  Not saying that I could not go to a person my own age or younger.  The older, got what I needed, a friend.  I was holding in and had to release and release I did.  I knew if I talked to the older that I would feel better and again old faithful came through.

I have other faithfuls that I lean on for guidance, to me it is the best cure of getting back to the grips of handling your stuff.  I love sitting with the faithfuls, gabbing it out, not causing heartache, knowing that they know way more then me-they take the stage and I sit back like in a theater, waiting for the happy ending.  And with them, it always appears.  Not ever making matters worse, but knowing HOW to fix, HOW to piece back, HOW to help.  

 

Of course I do love the many in my life that are my age, going through the same motions, the same age span, the same ways.  I remember my grandfather, such a man of story telling, as to my grandmother.  I just loved sitting and listening to the good old days, all so different, all fascinating stories.  Miracles for me to have a guided hand in them.  "They" are faithful, there word is there word, maybe I am old fashion.  The knowledge we speak about is priceless.  Time goes by, fun is always had, they GET me, I get THEM.

They love to be there, and in turn, I will always be there too....selfless really in so many ways.  They care, so they are there and that is reciprocated time and time again.  My fondest memories are of the times I spent with these faithfuls, true to their world.  I look forward to them like a sponge as I soak it all in.  Remember the great times, give such thanks to there presence and being in my life.  

I really feel my most self when I am around the faithfuls, I allow myself to be in the moment with them, to have a blast, or lay low, whatever is on their agenda for the day...I love being a part of it!