Honoring 2016

2016 is coming to an end.  Much turmoil has happened in the world this year.  And much goodness.  Let us bless 2016 and set the intention for 2017 that we will exude and experience good will toward all.

Headaches

"Beneath most headaches is a heartache." Mark Nepo

Might that be true?  I do not have many headaches, except sinus-related, but I do agree we must listen to the messages from our hearts.  Is there something you need to say to someone?  Is there someone, perhaps yourself, with whom you need to make amends?  Let's do it and help our hearts and our heads.

Learn By Going

"I learn by going, where I have to go." Theodore Roethke

Another way of saying --- just keep moving.  Make one decision after another.  Life will correct us if we go too far astray, or, at least, it will try to correct us.  We will learn where we need to go by going.

Taking the Step

"If you come to a fork in the road, take it." Yogi Berra

What a funny way to describe keeping on going.  Yogi Berra does not say which fork to take, but - for heaven's sake - take one of them.  Do not stay stuck.  The people I see who are the most sad are the ones who are stuck, who cannot decide which fork to take.  I don't think it matters too much which one we take -- as the Universe will bless us and work with us on whichever one, but do take a fork.  Do keep going.

Being Content

"Be content with what you have." Lao Tzu

It has taken me many years to be content with what I have, but I think that is human nature.  In our young adult years, we usually are accumulating.  Having accumulated many things, I am in the process of releasing things and being content with what I have.  How about you? 

Joyful Noise

"Make joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth" Psalm 98:4

Do you live in joy?  I recently read a definition of joy -- that it is living knowing good will prevail.  Einstein said a similar thing when he suggested we decide if the universe is friendly or not.  Can we hold the hope together that good will prevail?

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays

Today let us focus on peace in our hearts and put forth the intention for peace in the world.  Let us enjoy one another and see the goodness in each other.  

Tidings of Great Joy

"Do not be afraid; for see -- I bring you good news of great joy for all people." Lk 2:10

Christians celebrate this season remembering the birth of Jesus, whom they see as the Messiah.  The retelling of the familiar story brings back the inspiration:  we can each be more Christ-like in the world, we can promote peace on earth.

"God breaks the heart again and again and again until it stays open." Hazrat Inayat Khan

It does seem that life breaks us open time and again.  When I ended a marriage I treasured, I broke open.  When my children left for university, I broke open.  When my husband died, I broke open.  The task, it seems, is to stay open.

Busy Season

"The most wonderful time of the year . . . " song

Is it the most wonderful time of the year for you?  It seems there are so many things to do.  I finished my end-of-year charitable donations and paid all bills this morning.  Finished sending the holiday cards I wanted to send.  Whew.  Now to relax.  How about you?

Joy to the World

Things do not seem joyful in the world right now.  Atrocities on human life in Syria and other places, mass murder in Berlin, assassinations, violent speech in politics.  Sometimes it is hard to be joyful.  I read recently a definition of joy and that is:  reliance on God that things will work out.  Let us hope together that things will work out.  That good will prevail.

Beauty

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Margaret Wolfe Hungerford

It has been frigid cold here, slippery walking and driving, and there is such beauty in the clear blue sky contrasted with the green pines and white snow.  What do you find beautiful?

Having Fun in Any Season

What do you do for fun in the various seasons of the year?  Or, perhaps you live where there is only one season.  One thing I like about living where there are seasons is the variety.  Fall is my favorite, because I love the temperate days and cool evenings and beautiful colors.  Winter is fun here usually, because it is quite temperate usually (not right now!).  Summer is time for water sports, hikes, time in nature.  Spring kind of gets skipped over in my region, but it is always hopeful to come out of winter and enjoy the foliage waking up again.

Winter

Winter has not arrived on the calendar, but - regardless - she has made her way into the area in which I live.   -14 degrees Fahrenheit.   Brrrrrr.  A good day to get out holiday cards and make my end-of-year charitable donations.  

Loving versus Thinking

"Thinking belongs to duality.  Love belongs to the Oneness." Human Angels

Life seems to hold many dualities.  Light and darkness, happiness and sadness, sickness and health, poor and rich.  But, aren't they really all on a continuum?  What if love joins them all?

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

There is much glitter this time of year in most parts of the world.  But, not all glitter is holy.  What is holy for you?  Spending time with people I love is holy for me.  Having a true soul connection is holy for me.

The Road Less Traveled

"Not I, nor anyone else, can travel that road for you.  You must travel it by yourself."
Walt Whitman

When I was with my husband as he died, I was so struck by what a solitary journey it is.  Even though I was there, holding his hand and talking to him -- it was a journey only he could take.  So, too, is our inner journey -- growing more and more into who we were meant to be -- a solitary journey.  Let's support each other in the walk.

Getting Unstuck

"There ain't no journey what don't change you some." David Mitchell

How true.  Whether it is journeying to a culture different from yours or journeying internally to undo beliefs that don't serve us and replace them with beliefs that do serve us.  We cannot help but be changed.  The most misery I see in people is when they will not take the journey life has offered, and stay stuck instead.  What is life asking of you?

Letting Go of the Past

"The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday."
Steve Maraboli

Many of the people I see in therapy are affected by past hurts, betrayals, injustices.  And, of course, those do hurt.  But, we must learn to let them go.  Truly let them go.  At the cellular level.  It takes choosing to forgive ourselves and others, and it often takes some kind of body work -- like massage or Bodytalk -- to help the physical body release the negativity.