Kindness is reflecting back the light
When I started my inspirational Facebook page Heal Now and Forever Be In Peace a friend posted this on my wall:
There is somewhere close to you and within you where people come to their true nature once again. Evelyn Prieto
So many people see a poor version of themselves. Read the rest at A Year Of Making a Difference.
Today I am pleased to have a guest post by Galen Pearl of 10 Steps to FInding Your Happy Place and Staying There. I have been reading her blog for close to a year and have appreciated her honesty and compassion for herself and others. Her pearls of wisdom are never short of luster. Today she is talking about feelings…
“Feelings, whoa whoa whoa, feelings….”
Feelings, Roger Whittaker
Years ago, I was a very uptight person. I didn’t see myself that way. I saw myself as being in control, of myself and of, well, everything else. I never got upset, never cried, never asked for help or let anyone see if I was struggling. Of course, I never struggled. Thinking back, I never really laughed, either, not a deep belly laugh.
I had a friend who was short on tact, but always told the truth as she saw it. She observed that I was an angry person, very angry. “Seething with rage” is how she described it, along with “barely contained,” and “always on the brink of exploding.”
How did I respond to her assessment? “I am not angry!” Continue Reading →
What do you think you are?
As usual, my children and my clients are my greatest teachers. As I was flitting around one morning multitasking as usual, my daughter stopped me to read me a poem. It made me stop and ask myself: What do you think you are?
This was the poem:
“Zebra Question” by Shel Silverstein
I asked the zebra,
Are you black with white stripes?
Or white with black stripes? Continue Reading →
These are rocks I used to symbolize a community surrounding a loved one going through a hard time.
We don’t usually think too hard about how to create rituals, since most of the ones that we engage in everyday came from our culture.
I loved the comments and ideas shared after Monday’s post Five Benefits of Ritual. Everyone seemed to understand that we engage in ritual constantly even though there are many names for it. They can also be called habits and routines. We call it writing, praying, exercising, cooking, eating, talking, breathing, kissing, reading, holding hands, watching a TV show, planning, celebrating, laughing, playing, etc, etc.
1. Decide to do something consciously. That “something” could be anything–whatever is important to us. Making a commitment, giving ourselves some time to breathe, letting go of hurt, embarking on a new project, or stepping into a new identity. Continue Reading →
“Rituals” may be a confusing term for some people. When I was growing up Catholic, this term was off putting to me. It conjured images of black magic.
Little did I realize I was involved in rituals everyday: I recited the Pledge of Allegiance every morning at school, said a pray before meals, light candles as an altar server at church, and attended weddings and baptisms. All with positive, life-giving intentions. Rituals create a space for us to focus on what is most important to us, make commitments, embrace beliefs, forgive, celebrate accomplishment, honor community, and show appreciation. Whether we know it or not, we do them all the time. And the benefits are immeasurable. Continue Reading →
I met Ryan Harb last weekend (he and I helped at John Perkins Shapeshifting Leadership workshop) and was blown away at what a light in the world he is. He is making a difference by bringing a whole community together while he transforms grass areas of UMass Amherst campus into food-growing, organic gardens. Watch this 5 minute video to see what they are up to.
If they achieve 50,000 views by September 15, sponsors will donate fruit and nut trees to 4 schools, so make a difference, please pass it along!
One man was observing another man on the beach fishing. He noticed that he caught some big fish and some little fish. The big fish he threw right back into the water, yet he kept the little fish. Knowing this man was fishing for his dinner, the observer’s curiosity peaked.
He went over to the fisherman and asked, “Why do you keep the small fish, and throw back the big fish?”
The man said, “I only have a ten inch frying pan.” Continue Reading →
Optimism at workI meet with people in a very intimate space. They show me their hearts, share with me things they do not tell anyone else. It is truly an honor and privilege to be invited into another life in this way. I am so happy doing what I do.
“I love my job, I get to show people how wonderful they are all day long!”
If you have been following my blog, you might have pegged me as optimistic. Well, you nailed that one on the head. Perhaps it is the benefits of my profession. People always wonder how I could hear other peoples’ problems all day long. “Well,” I tell them. “I listen for how they resist them and I am inspired and uplifted rather than bogged down.”
A few more thoughts on “Need”… (See Thursdays post A Question of Need)
Many people have neediness anxiety: AKA “worry about being too needy.” Being “too needy” is generally frowned upon in our individualistic culture. And when we (like appropriate, regular human beings) desire some help or company, we mistakenly think something is way wrong with us.
This is ridiculous!
I think the last line could be “Love someone.”
