Celebrate

Celebration is something that most of us do not do often enough. Certainly the big things in life do get acknowledged, like weddings, birthdays, graduations and the like, but the little daily things seem to slip under the radar. There are so many things in our life that can call for celebration, or even simple acknowledgment.
We can celebrate the fact that we live where we live. Our family and friends, a smile or kind world from a stranger, having food in the cupboard and a roof over our head, even the air that we breathe. It all becomes then a question of attitude. To live with an attitude of gratitude and to be mindful daily could be a very insightful exercise.
What would happen if you were asked to live one whole week in a constant state of celebration? Would that be so much of a challenge that you would not be even considered it, or could it be a fun challenge? Would you be able to turn every situation, into a positive experience? To let off some internal fireworks and to acknowledge yourself, to change your perspective to gratitude could be very difficult for many people, but well worth the experience. I feel that the week could end up by being a positive and much happier experience to you and ones around you.
Or on the other hand do we have an attitude of entitlement? Has our environment, relentless commercialism and the fast pace of our world given us the false sense of expectation that we are owed?
Lets not take others, our environment or our life for granted. Celebrate (whether out loud or just to yourself) and be grateful, we are truly blessed.

The greatest gift we can give ....

The greatest gift we can give to a person in pain is to hold in our own minds the thought that there is a light beyond this darkness. What goes on externally is only the tip of the iceberg in any situation. The lessons, the real changes, the opportunities to grow--these are things the body's eyes can't see. They remain beneath the spiritual water line, but they are there. And they represent a much more vast picture of the soul's journey than what we can see from the perspective of our physical senses. Growth is not always about getting what we think we want. Always, it's about becoming the men and women we have the potential to be. Loving, pure, honest, clear.

—Excerpted from A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

Different but same!

"The world is to big for us. Too much going on. Too many crimes, and too much violence and excitement. Try as you will you get behind in the race. It's an incessant strain to keep pace and still you lose ground. Science empties its discoveries on you so fast that you stagger beneath them in hopeless bewilderment. Everything is high pressure. Human nature can't endure much more."

Atlantic Journal
16 June 1833

I found this piece to be amazing, it could be an article of today. Through the generations, people have had, do have and will have so many of the same issues. We are not so different at all from past generations when you really think about it, humans all have the same needs and wants to be satisfied.

Commitment versus trying

Last week, I made a conscious decision to commit to some of those things that never seen to get done. All those little things we talk about doing and know they need to be attended to and we will eventually get around to doing. We all know (I hope I’m not the only one here) what that’s like.

So instead of trying to make time, I decided that the time had come to commit and just do it. Time to stop making excuses and start crossing some of these “need to’s” off my list.

I have, with a little help, set up my own skype address just for me! Though quite small in the big picture I know, it is quite a large step for me into the wondrous world of technology!

It is such a good feeling to have this done. It really didn’t take too much time or effort either and that makes me wonder why I kept putting it off?

Commitment versus trying can be a very powerful statement. It can take us out of the void zone and into the glad I’ve done it zone. I really do agree with someone I heard say that the word “Trying” sounds very whinny! Doing is a much more positive action to use.

Do, doing, done – don’t you love it and it feels so good.

Self Help

I can’t help but feel amused at the number of times lately that I have found myself standing and searching for a book that is recommended reading, and it is in the “Self Help” section of the bookstore. I have fun seeing myself in others eyes as having been just dumped, not coping – a scene straight out of 'Bridget Jone's Diary'. Small things can make me smile :o) It is interesting how we view ourselves isn’t it? Often, it is the opposite as to how others really see us.

So from all my readings, listening and learning, a common thread weaves through my life. An awareness that I became conscious of a few years ago, after reading another book! That is Gratitude. I have read that gratitude; love and appreciation are the highest forms of vibrations and when you are having these thoughts, there is no room for the negative feelings. As more of your feelings, thoughts and words become positive you start attracting more of the same feelings thoughts and words. Same attracts same.

I have used a gratitude journal, one that I would write 5 things into which I was grateful for that day. I haven’t used it for a while, but I still take the time and run these thoughts through my mind before I go to sleep each night.

Last nights list was; giving thanks for the beautiful sunny day we had after such a cold start in the morning. I was grateful for having a cassette player in my car, so that I could listen to something undisturbed whilst driving. I was grateful for my son who came up to my office for a visit and a wonderful hug. I gave thanks for finding a few hours to work on my coarse work, which is rare to find. I was so grateful for my wonderful warm bed at the end of a long day and gave thanks for so many things that I have and hope never to take them for granted.

Self help is just what it says, to help self - thats you! Be aware of all the great qualities you have, take some time to list them down. See in yourself what others see and take control of you. Find things to be grateful for each and every day. Even after a horrible, taxing, flu ridden day, look for a bright moment. Someone who was being kind to you or another person, putting on your slippers at the end of a long day, or just knowing that the day is over and the sun will come up again in the morning to begin another wonderful day.

“To change the world, you must change yourself first. To help the world, you must help yourself first. To understand the world, you must understand your self first.” Annette Noontil

Time for Action

I tend to be a procrastinator. I know that I should be doing something and usually do get around to doing it sooner or later. I also know that I am not alone!

I decided this week, to give myself a challenge and put into action something that I have been delaying or putting off. So, me being me, I chose a safe and easy task to begin with. “Clearing the clutter.” This is one thing that really does get me down, living in clutter. So starting with the pantry, whilst cooking dinner, shelf by shelf every item was removed, area cleaned and things neatly returned. I am happy to share with you that all the shelves are looking fabulous. I now know what was living way back in the dark and more than one item have moved on to land fill (sorry about that). Wow, I do feel so much better when I open that pantry door. It is an achievement, though granted a small one. Next on my de-clutter list is the spare bedroom where all the children’s clothes, books and toys are biding their time. Mind you the children are no longer children, so this is a job that is well overdue.

As I work through my list and change my procrastinating habits, it is amazing how good it feels. My next big move is with my coaching and commencing my trial sessions. I have wonderful volunteers’ and am working on my trail session structure, which is just about complete. It will feel very rewarding to then tick off having done several of these sessions.

The word “should” needs to exit my vocabulary and be replaced with the word “will”. I don’t want to be doing what others want me to do, hence what I feel I “should” be doing. It is time to take charge and do the things I want to do and will do.

So here is a challenge for you. What exists in your life right now that you have been delaying? Can you put it into action this week? Start small, baby steps. The sense of accomplishment will be well worth the doing.

Nurturing

What do you think of when you hear the word Nurturing? Do you think as a parent and nurturing children & family, or tending a garden, perhaps cooking healthy homely meals comes to mind or is it nurturing yourself

The dictionary says: nurture 1 : to supply with nourishment 2 : educate 3 : to further the development of . Dates back to the 15^th Century – so it’s been around for a long time.

I have been very fortunate to have attended a wonderful retreat and enjoy five whole days of nurturing mind, body and spirit with my wonderful husband. Here is the link to where I can recommend some wonderful pampering. http://www.gaiaretreat.com.au/

Time out is so important. I heard a great analogy yesterday that I would like to share “We can become very much like a computer with too many windows open, eventually something has to crash.” So as you would log off and shut down your computer to allow it to reboot, you need to also do the same for yourself.

This week also after having my blissful week away, I had news of two beautiful nieces of mine having been harmed, by no fault of their own. One niece, an air born germ, which has caused a terrible illness and possible long-term damage which she, may have to live with. Another person, using drugs and attempting to harm a beautiful young girl, caused the second incident. Hearing these events have made me stop and really appreciate how special our children are and how we, as parents, family and friends will never stop wanting to nurture and protect them. Such a traumatic experience in such young people we want to protect from. The trauma felt from these events ripples through from victim to parent to other family members to friends. They both could have been so very much worse than they were, so we are extremely grateful for that

Take time out to appreciate what we have, nourish children, family, friends and self without forgetting our mother earth.