Thursday, May 19

DIFFERENT VIEWS, DIFFERENT OPINIONS, ALL ARE IMPORTANT


It is the different opinions and viewpoints from everyone that makes the world go around. We are products of our families, societies and cultures. As we continue to evolve through out our lives, our points of view will change and then hopefully will change again and again. Our souls are on this earth for their evolution. The ultimate goal is Oneness with God and heaven. (Certainly just one point of view and opinion, from one persons experience.)

I had gone to the local pub last evening in support of a friend who was doing the Master Cleanse,( Lemonade Diet). When I arrived, she had taken the day off and her husband preceded to tell us how dissatisfied he was with her doing this cleanse. Another friend piped in as well. “It’s not healthy, etc.” he stated. He continued, “He’s her husband and he knows what is best for her!” I was a bit irritated as they all had negative things to say about the cleanse and yet not one of them had read anything about it.

I had only one point that I was trying to make. That we should all support our friend in the decision that she had made about her body. Someone tried to shhhhhhh me. “You’re making him mad!” (about the husband) “You need to pick your battles.” What battles? I was simply stating my opinion from my point of view. I have done the Master Cleanse and read several books on the subject, so I did have an opinion.

This was probably one of the first times in my life, that I stood for what I believed.

I think that it is important to remember that we all have a valued place on the wheel of life. All of our opinions, view points and experiences matter. Our life experiences that we share, help others to figure out what is right for them in their life and visa versa. We’re meant to share, we’re all interconnected. Thanks to all who have the courage to share with me and for the mirrors you provide for me in my life.

Saturday, May 7

DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR ME, HELPS OTHERS TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM


Recently I told a friend this, about his sister. “I love working for her. There is never any question where you stand with her. She’s very clear in her communication about what she wants, there is no guessing involved.” His reply caught my attention. “Yes, but she doesn’t have any relationships either.”

Hmmm. He is equating honest communication with not being able to have a relationship.
For the first time, I understood this. In my 30 year marriage, I wasn’t honest. I didn’t want to make waves or say anything that may have made my husband unhappy. (He might leave. Certainly these were unconscious thoughts at the time.)

I now understand that in communicating what is best for me helps others to do what is best for them.
When I do what is best for me, others can see clearer, what is best for them as their options narrow. Conversely, when others do what is best for them, then I can more easily see what path is best for me….as my options narrow.

It’s such a gift to each other when we can be honest. Certainly, there can be an initial ‘sting’ when we are clear, however, I can assure you, that it goes away much quicker than not being honest. We say, “We don’t want to hurt their feelings.” (It’s OK to hurt our feelings). I assure you, just like a splinter, pulling it out quickly may have an initial sting to it, but it hurts worse the longer it’s allowed sit and fester. The longer we go without saying whatever it is that we need to say, the more painful it becomes in the end.

Thursday, May 5

BREAKING THOUGH THE ILLUSION OF PERCEIVED VALUE




While sitting at open houses in southern Arizona this past winter I visited with many people who were ready to sell their home and relocate to beautiful southern Arizona. What I heard over and over was “Before we can make a move, we have to sell our home first, which is worth a fraction of what it was several years ago!”

I get a bit frustrated with this kind of limited thinking. I don’t believe that we lost anything! You can’t loose something that you didn’t have. We only lost the perception of what others told us we could sell our homes for. But if we didn’t sell them, well, then as I see it, we haven’t lost anything!

The word value according to the dictionary is simply relative worth. Relative is the key word here. Value is just what another is willing to pay for a property, or anything for that matter.
I too am a homeowner and in 2006 it was appraised at $305,000. If I were to put it on the market today in 2011, it would list for $160,000. That’s a difference of $145,000. (Remember, this is all on paper.)

My beautiful little cottage was never worth that inflated price. However, I’m not saying that someone wouldn’t have paid that for it, but since I didn’t sell it, I don’t think I lost anything.

Today, as I’m re-thinking to sell my home, as long as I buy another, I don’t think that I would still be loosing any money, because what I sell it for will be reflected in the savings that I purchase another home for.
I guess the point of all of this is that, it’s important that we live our lives and not base the decisions we make out of fear. “I can’t sell now because….”

In trying to live my life, truly live, I always begin by asking myself a couple of questions to discover the deep desires of my heart.

1. What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
2. What would you do if it weren’t about money?
3. Would you have regrets later if you did…or didn’t, do…..whatever?

And in this particular case of buying and selling a home, I’d ask a couple of more.

1. Where do I want to live? (Not based on what you think you should do.)
2. Do I want to spend part of my time in Arizona?
3. Do I want to live full time in Arizona?

With that, I’ll leave you with the words from Auntie Mamme,
Live, Live, Live…Life is a banquet and most poor souls are starving!
(Don’t you be one!)

Wednesday, May 4

EDUCATION COMES IN MANY PACKAGES


In coming to the end of completing my next book, GPS for Living, I was thinking about life and why we’re on this earth. I believe that we are here for many reasons and one is to acquire knowledge and experiences that are not possible without a physical body. I’ve come to see in my own life that ‘education’ comes in many different packages, from formal, traditional types of schooling to the more common school of Hard Knocks! (Life itself!)

I remembered back to when I got my first air card for my computer. I hadn’t understood Megabytes and Gigabytes and when my bill arrived, instead of the $60 I was expecting it was $260! I spent many hours on the phone trying to get someone to side with me, "I just didn’t understand!” I pleaded! (Lack of knowledge) At the end of it all, nothing was done and I owed $200 extra on my bill, which was going to be a real hardship on me financially. I thought that someone else should pay! Well, not even pay, simply hit a little button on their computer and reverse some charges. How easy would that be (for me) and I’d continue to be a happy customer.

I was complaining to my shaman (life coach at the time) about this. I was finally able to see and began justifying that education comes in all forms. She simply said, “So, you’re wanting someone else to pay the tuition for your education!” Yes! Well, when you put it that way, I suppose not.

We learn from pain, physically, like staying in the sun too long and getting burned, or monetarily, by having to do without something because of a foo-pah we’ve made. We need to show ourselves some compassion, it’s simply how we learn. Guess what, I now know a megabytes and how many I can use!

Tuesday, May 3

FIRE IN TUBAC, AZ



Today, I woke up and as the sun rose, it seemed like it was hiding behind a haze. Where are the beautiful mountains that I can normally see from my bed in the morning? Ah, yes, the smell, it’s a bit too familiar. I’m taken back to 1988, when we first moved to Northern California and we were to experience our first major fire, The 49er Fire which destroyed thousands of acres of forest and homes. I remember now.

Two days ago, as I drove south, back to Tubac, Az, I could see that there was a fire in the Santa Rita mountains, just southeast from where I’m staying. It was a bit eerie and yet mysteriously intriguing. There was even a beauty to the mountains being embraced by the smoke and I began feeling a bit uneasy because I also knew the destruction that would be left behind in the wake of this fire. It’s hard to breathe and my head is hurting.

As I lie in bed, I reflect on the possibilities. The fire seemed to be in the direction of the Indian Petroglyphs that I love to visit. How would they be affected? I took a moment and began to send Loving Energy out in the direction affected areas, asking Wanka Tankan, (Great Spirit, God) for protection for all, beginning with human lives, mother earth, and all living things, including the plants, animals.

Knowing it’s a New Moon, the beginning of new creations, looking out my window at the haze, I wonder what new beginning will come from the end of this fire?

CHOPPING WOOD/CARRYING WATER - THE ROAD TO SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT



BEFORE WE GROW INTO THE NEW US, WE SPEND MANY YEARS ON THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT., THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF THE SOUL. along the way, we have many jobs and experiences that all contribute to make us into who we are to become, who we were created to be. The path of enlightenment is simply the discovery of our passions which are the gifts we’ve been given to share with the world. For the better part of this week, a friend and I are refinishing some kitchen cabinets for a friend and landed a house cleaning job and planting plants in a garden, definitely, all, chopping wood/carrying water sorts of jobs, simply .a means to an end, a way to put food on the table and a roof over our heads. These little odd jobs also help us perfect our skills, dealing with people and acquiring new talents.