Remembrance

This morning as I made my way to the kitchen to put the kettle on,

I caught the feature of the 9/11 Memorial airing on the news.

I paused to remember.

I went back to that day...the moment that I turned on the news.

 I had just returned home after dropping Brandon off at school.

I remember the air being sucked out of me. The fear. The incredible wave of sadness.

I think back to a visit back home years later,

when friends took us to see the Memorial.

And how my breath stopped.

 A huge lump formed in my throat & tears welled up in my eyes.

I remember the heaviness of my heart,

mixed with the awe of seeing something so breathtakingly

beautiful, transformed from something so dark and tragic.

I felt a connection.

I recall how strangely silent it seemed as we all gathered around.

In that fleeting moment,

I didn't feel any separation or difference, 

Instead,

It was as if we were a part of something more.

In the blink of an eye...

we all stood united.

This morning...in a blink of an eye... I felt the same way.

Brandon standing at the 9/11 Memorial

Journal notes:

He is with us always.

Even when we journey into unknown places.

"We are not advertisement for Jesus.

We are evidence of Him,

and we do this best in our weaknesses,

not our strengths."

Prayerfully seek to understand where others are coming from-

especially when their words and actions confuse or upset you.

Give others the benefit of your doubt.

You don't know what is motivating them to respond as they do.

'Pursue peace with people.

See God's understanding about who they are,

what burdens they bear,

and what they struggle with.'

Don't absorb the fear & scarcity of the culture

& keep your energy anchored in God as your source.

(note: as I wrote the last sentence: I hear a jet. I glance up as a B-2 bomber flies over...

and as it fades out of sight, a pair of doves fly above me...

you know me and my signs....💝)

'Every so often something happens that literally shakes us awake,

yanks us out of our heads, reminds us of the 

preciousness of life, the uncertainty surrounding us in 

every moment, and all the many things we take for 

granted that we could be so grateful for.'

Stop. Get quiet. Breathe into the gratitude you feel for who you are,

for the gifts you've been given, and your ability to make positive changes.

Only God's Love is strong enough to break 

the hold that fear has on us.

Unexpected events shake up our routines.

As we turn to God, He clings to our hand,

and we experience His comfort and love.

be well...

xoxo

💓

"A GREAT TRAGEDY can bring people together.

When bad things happen, some people rise to help in 

the midst of great sadness,

wanting to help alleviate the pain.

Concentrate on how you too can help and see the good

that does arise in response to terrible events.

We are not helpless when bad things happen.

Agents of change show up in unexpected ways.

Together we can bring healing energy 

to the residue of tragedy."

~Emily Silva~

Self-reflection

When I sat to reflect on the last few years,

I expected it to look a bit like waking up after a severe storm.

 Broken and destroyed.

Or in my imagination....,

I turn back to see the little walking-wounded- versions of me,

left in the wake of

 emotional upsets,

 negative habits, and obstacles I released along the way.

I'd see darkness, gloom, burnt earth,

and listless remains.

Instead, in the aftermath of it all...

 I discover light and life.

I see birds on the feeders and flowers that traveled through time.

 Gardens that have transitioned and grown more colorful and beautiful.

Old quilts (stained with ink blots, coffee spills, and smudgy paw prints), and throw pillows on the wicker loveseat.

The little things that were there when I started on my spiritual journey,

and that have become sources of comfort and joy along the way.

 

So I look back...

....and mostly,

I am awed by the beauty.

I see grace, peace, 

comfort, warmth and love.

I see forgiveness, healing, and renewal.

I see little pieces of the essence of me.

I see God.

Journal notes...

"It's OK to lean into the grace that reminds

you things will come together in the way they were supposed to."

'You are free to forgive and you are also free to heal.

You are worthy of love no matter how anyone else has made you feel.'

'When you feel the pull of the past, and feel helpless trying to calm

the storms on your own,

remember to do the best you can do knowing & trusting

it's not all up to you.'

Work against the patterns that hold you back, and that hurt.

Be submissive to God.

It is God's responsibility to remove what stands in the way,

not yours.

'It's OK to cast down your burdens &

believe in healing.

It is all a part of being grounded right where you need to be.

All by grace, it is still being written in the way it was meant to be.'

Trust God with your life regardless of what you see.

Take time to seek His wisdom through His word.

Be willing to wait for His answer.

Put off falsehood & speak truthfully.

"Be rather than seem."

Let authenticity be your guide and travel companion.

If the next step is clear, then the one thing to do is take it.

'Let the real version of you show up, & you will experience a new

take on your life.

It might feel like a stretch, but it's worth it.

Your worth it !!'

You can benefit from a crisis by gaining greater self-awareness.

It forces you to stop and take a good look at your life.

Re-evaluate your beliefs, goals, values & life direction.

Let go of the things that hold you back.

Shift your attitude.

Connect with your inner greatness, contentment,

and true sense of happiness. 

 Enjoy your life, and no longer be run by it.

Focus on what you're doing right &

on all that is good around you.

"...to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy

for mourning, the garment of praise for 

the spirit of heaviness...."

Isaiah 61:13

Don't give up on Love.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Negative self-talk produces physiological stress

in the body and raises cortisol,

among other things.

So not only can we feel happier and mentally lighter

when we retrain the brain towards love and acceptance,

we are creating better whole-body health at the same time."

~Dr. Mark Hyman~

 

Letting Go

I woke up this morning, opened the shutters, and looked out the window.

It's something I do every morning, but today I realized just how

beautiful the scenery before me really was.

Walking through my morning routine, brushing my teeth,

putting the kettle on the stove, feeding the cat, and emptying the dehumidifier,...

an ordinary morning,

yet, with a profound sense of awe 

and a deep swell of appreciation.

After a busy week of purging and clearing out the house, garage,

and few emotions as well, 

I took today to appreciate what remains. The space, clarity

and the lightness.

 It feels good.

A few journal picks from this week....

...'look not at the causes of conflict, 

but at the maintainers.'

Let go of resentments and unmet expectations.

Let go of figuring and figuring and trying to understand.

Let go of the need to fix what others have broke.

Let go of energy drainers.

Let go of proving your worth. 

Let go of things that no longer have meaning.

Let go of old stories.

Let go of bitterness toward others.

(your only hurting yourself)

Let go of grudges.

Let go of self-limiting beliefs 

& embrace your potential.

Let go of the unbelief, deception,

and fears that thwart your enjoyment of the

life you've been given.

'Times are changing, and we are changing with the times.'

You don't have to do any better than you can. Ever.

Step into the ring.

"Change is synonymous with growth."

Do your best for the moment, then let it go.

Don't trade who you are for who you think you need to be.

"God has never looked in your mirror & wished He 

saw someone else."

Feel the joy in being exactly who you were created to be.

Dissolve self doubt.

It can become a catalyst for growth and empowerment.

Other people don't get to decide who you are. 

You are free to chase after what matters.

Be yourself & let other be themselves, because

that's the starting point of love.

"We are all deeply flawed & even more 

deeply loved by God."

Simply take time out now and then to sit still

and experience attention of the heart.

Resist trying to fix right now.

Hit pause. Trust God to sort it out when the time

is right.

"An ongoing problem is like a tutor who is always

by your side. The learning possibilities are limited only by 

your willingness to be teachable."

"The greatest revolution of our generation is the 

discovery that human beings, by changing the inner 

attitude of their minds can change the outer aspects

of their lives."

~William James~

It's okay to cast down your burdens, and choose to

believe in healing.

It is all a part of being guided right where you need to be.

All by grace, it is still being written in the way it was meant to be.

be well...

xoxo

💖

Self-realization

I'm learning that I can't want something for 

another person. 

I can only discover what is right for me.

What's right for them, is right for them.

And I am gradually learning it's OK for me to be right for me.

We don't have to agree.

We don't have to give up our own truth.

We're all human, beautiful, and capable of making mistakes.

We can't always change the situation, 

we can't change someone else's mind,

but we can change our perspective.

We can look at reality differently.

We can accept other's points of view,

and meet them where they are,

not what we expect them to be.

We don't have to prove our worth.

We're all imperfect and whole.

May we always remember how special we are...

and that there will never be another one just like us.

We never have to apologize for being who we are.

Be willing to engage in some self-reflection and correction.

Walk in your truth. Strive to do your best at being a nice human.

Enjoy what is good, and solve the problems that belong to you.

Journal notes:

When you're tempted to turn your life into a grand plan,

leave some space in your day for God to write more beautiful

things in your life.

Take responsibility for your behavior.

Be sure it's not self-defeating or hurtful.

Tackle your own parts in the story.

If it feels right, or feels wrong,

appropriate or non-appropriate,

trust that feeling.

You deserve to be at peace with yourself and with others.

Turn to God  for help. He will guide you in the process.

'Perhaps, "turn the other cheek",

 means to look at the same thing

from a new perspective.'

Drop the defense.

You don't  have to defend yourself from a crime you never committed.

It just becomes a power struggle.

It takes two to fight.

It takes one to stop.

Don't let others' words penetrate your spirit.

It's not personal.

It's more about how they feel about themselves.

Keep your mind from spiraling downward,

and meditate on His goodness within you.

Watch for signs and signals.

Trust in His timing.

Allow Him to lead the way.

(for me it's that subtle nudge)

Live in harmony with life.

Blessing...

May you know how to relax completely,

sleep deeply, and receive all the blessings of every moment

as they arise.

May you deeply trust in the Divine plan.

May you feel gratitude and ease today.

May you remain centered in all conditions, 

even those which are difficult.

May you breathe, relax, and trust that you are being guided.

May you know and love who you really are.

Be safe, and well...

xoxo

💖

"Be yourself. If you water yourself down to

please people or to fit in or not offend anyone,

you lose the power, the passion, the freedom and the joy

of being uniquely you.

It's much easier to love yourself 

when you are being yourself."

"Lose your inhibition, follow your intuition,

free your inner soul,

and break away from tradition."

~Black Eyes Peas, 'Let's Get it Started'