Thursday;

And the sun shines bright across the foothills.

Oddly enough, I was thinking about you.
Thinking about your children,
your family,
and then I wondered,
who are you thinking about?

Have you called those far away?
Have you reconnected with those
whose distance is emotional, and not physical?

I know, but as I said, I was thinking.

Thursday, and the weekend is due for some.
For others, the week has just begun, and yet,
neither changes the season.

In love,
as in life,
sometimes,
we have to reach past our own borders.

Reach past the pain and
dissapointment(s)that we harbor,
and reach into a new perspective.

Me, on this Thursday,
I'm thinking of you.

And you, who are you thinking about!

Free your heart,
and be blessed.....

Last night, while the stars were dancing in the sky

The moon and I were talking about you.

Not that he told what he saw, for he can see us always,
but, he was kind enough to tell me how he wiped the hair from your brow,
and how you purred in that way that you do, when you can fell love is near you.

The moon and I, we talk alot.

Mostly we talk about him,
but every so often,
we'll talk about the ones that we know together.

Those that we each can see need a hug,
and we pray about the sun.

Odd that,
but the moon and the sun don't always get along.

But last night,
we mostly just talked about you!

What if you changed your thinking:

Have you ever been excited about something new you've learned or a new and exciting direction you wanted to move in your life into, but for some reason, that seems to be happening less and less as you get older? Well then, you just may be getting slightly jaded.

For most of us, as we get older, it gets tougher to find new things to get excited about, primarily because we've had our hopes and dreams dashed to pieces so many times in the past. Unfortunately, we then fall into the trap of shutting ourselves off to new things simply because this perceived never ending hope dashing, is just too painful.

Oddly enough, I'm hearing a version of this now
as we get ever closer to electing a new National Leader:

"We've heard it all before."
"All of these politicians are just lying crooks

who won't really end up doing anything."

Of course, if you buy in to the "Law of Attraction", then you'll agree that we
create a self fulfilling prophecy with all of these comments, thoughts
and feelings do have a way of ending up getting us the leadership we deserve!

How sad.

So, what is the secret to staying positive, upbeat, approachable, mentally and
emotionally fresh throughout life?

Here are a few ideas:

Always be about learning something new.

Understand that your interpretation of a situation is based on your
Perceptions, therefore, always question your perceptions!
Why do I believe the way I do and where did these perceptions come from?

Learn to never criticize anything unless you completely understand what is going on and have developed an alternate solution. Do you have some thoughts about the price of gas and what to do about it? Are they based on economic reality? Is there something you can do personally and locally to make a difference with your ideas?

Approach every situation you find yourself in with the attitude that
there is something you can learn, and/or there is someone you can help with your knowledge. Always, and but that, I mean always, expect the best and most complete graciousness from where you are and who you're with right now.

Make a daily list of everything you are grateful for.

In this way, the positive your thinking about,
can affect the thoughts that you’ll be having as the day progresses.

Life, like the thoughts of those around us,
can be influenced by the positive energy, within us!

So, be Positive.

What face do you present to the world?

How do others know you?

Do they see the same person you know yourself to be?
Do they see your fears, your hopes and dreams, your successes, your pain, all you’ve learned, all you haven’t?

Or do they see a mask that you’ve put in front of your face to hide that which is deep inside you, so that you can “be” somebody else instead?

These are some of the pressing questions that confront us as we seek to live more authentically. Considering them takes time. Going more deeply, how do you see yourself? Are you aware of the difference between the real person you are on the inside and the person you show to the world?

Do you know you wear this mask?
Do you even know who the “real you” is?

Heavy questions. If you haven’t turned aside by now with the discomfort it may evoke in you, congratulations.
Discomfort is one of the strings that holds the mask on.
What to do now? Two steps can move you toward a more genuine life:


Understand. It usually helps to have a mental picture of what’s going on inside you. From that, you can develop a first-hand experiential picture (see below). Think of two circles, one inside the other. The small circle in the center is the genuine, free, honest, heart-centered you. The much larger, outer circle is made up of all your life lessons, fears, pain, discomfort, opinions and judgments -- about yourself and about life. Because the inner circle (you) is hidden inside the outer one, the “face you present to the world” is made up of stuff that isn’t even you. It’s your mask. It’s how others see you. It may even be the person you think is the real you. On to part 2.

Inquire. The way to set the real you free is to dismantle the mask, the “false face” you are presenting to the world. The way you do that is to start to get to know yourself very well, possibly for the first time. It doesn’t matter so much right now how the mask got there, but it came from all the “lessons” you were taught about how life is, and from the fears you took on as a result of those lessons. Your mask protects you from your fears (but denies you authentic living). Perhaps on your own, and more likely with outside help (a coach, maybe) you can learn to observe your own thoughts, behaviors, feelings, and body responses -- all clues to pieces of your mask. Here is where the value of experiential lessons comes in: when you can see and feel your own reality in new ways (despite the admitted discomfort it causes), you’ll easily be able to take action in new ways, ways that help you let go of the parts of you that just “aren’t you,” exposing that genuine self to the world.

It turns out that, even if you are unconscious of wearing a mask, it still drains a huge amount of your energy. Not being your genuine self drains you in the way of frustration, resentment and dissatisfaction with life.

Once you let go of the mask, truly accept the real you underneath, and allow yourself to live from the depth of your own heart and truth, life gets easier and easier. Instead of fighting with life, you merge with its natural rhythm and flow.


A River Runs Through It [Life lessons offered by rivers]

A river seems to have many faces. It may be a raging torrent in the springtime. It may overflow its banks after a heavy rain. It may be an early-summer mirror, lazily reflecting deep-blue sky and puffy clouds. It may dry up with the summer’s heat, exposing its bed to the world. Yet no matter what face it presents, a river isn’t covering up for something, hiding from part of itself. In every day of its life, a river is just working (genuinely) with “what is.” Perhaps it is this authenticity in rivers that evokes such peace in us, and offers us that connection in life that we long for so deeply inside. Perhaps the river is there to help us believe in that same power in ourselves.

Words for the weekend

Fill your moments with action,
and there will be little time left for worry.

Fill your moments with meaning,
and there will be little time left for despair.

Fill your days with discovery, and you will fill your life with valuable knowledge. Fill your hours with caring, compassion and respect,
and you will fill your world with love and friendship.

Fill your thoughts with positive possibilities,

and the best things in life will surely be within your reach.

Fill your words with encouragement and enthusiasm,

and you'll often find people and circumstances lining up in your favor.

Fill your efforts with purpose, persistence, diligence and integrity.

And your life will be filled with valuable achievements.

Fill your heart with a love of truth and goodness.
And your soul will be filled with the treasure of wisdom.

Your life is a most precious gift.

Fill every corner of it with the best that you can.

Love ends, and you breath again(trust me!):

How will I stand

If you turn out the light

That shines over me

And how will I live

If you take all the give

That you have given me

How will I love

If you take all the life

From out of me

Right from out of me

Tell me,

how will I live

If you take all the give

That you give to me

Love so fast

Yet still we remain'

Cause we'll live

And we giveToday

Tell me then,
how will I live

With anyone but you

With anyone but you?

(Seal)

Me, I'm not blaiming it you!

In all honesty, I do write every day, but it’s a habit that I don’t always release these words that are my crystallized thoughts for those moments.

Some see them, and others do not.
In this way, I feel safe.

And while I’m confessing these word related sins,
I sometimes neglect to even capture my written thoughts at all!

Even those that I know I should, but honestly, I remember them still.

On any given day then, a one will come to me, and inspired by our exchange, I’ll write something to them (or about them), but I won’t allow myself to save and/or share it with others, for not unlike my verbal expressions,
some of my written words can often go too deep as well.

Clarity:

Therefore, the reason why I’m saying all this, is that yes, I allowed a comment to remain posted (and no, I’m not saying it’s a new thing, or something that I’ll continue to let happen from others), but enough have noticed and then questioned me about it, that I thought it was best to offer an explanation now, then have to confront it at a time,
when I’m in the mood for confrontation.

Words:

Me, I love.
I share my love,
And I’m open to new love
Which is how we
Got to be friends.

But also within me,
I’m not responsive to all,
And in particular
I exclude those who
Are rightfully so,
Connected to me.

In this way
I choose in whom,
I want to be related to.

And yet,

A one has come from that place
And I’ve chosen
to reveal myself to her.

And in doing so,
She is revealing herself
To us both.

In that
I see a love
For awareness,
Awakening

And so,
I’ve chosen
To not turn away.

In this new way then,
I don’t perceive
That I’m changing

But I like
The growth
Nonetheless.

Change with me
If you like,

But don’t expect

The change
To effect

Who we’ve
Become,

To each other.

In that
I think
is truth!

In the future:

How about a life that makes the living better?
Love that includes your whole life.
Passion that wakes you up @ night.

And the best part is, in the future,
you'll never have to wonder if you're being loved.
Plus, your whole family is invited.

Now all you have to do,
is want such a life.

For when we're ready for anything, ideally,
that should include somethings that you'll want more of.

Sort of like good sex!

When the power is right,
the surrender is that much more complete.

In the between, sleep!
But remember,
it's a long holiday weekend,
so be safe,
and remind your friends to be as well....

The Beauty of Memories

Is that within them, there's a choice to be taken;

Not unlike love, which unfurls and is buffeted by every other opinion,
within a memory, there is only the viewer, who controls the outcome.

Thinking then as I do, remembering you as you'll always be to me, I smile.
Not because my mind is jaded and I can only remember the beauty of it all,
but because no matter the reality, in closing my eyes, I can remember the you that always brought me joy, and in that, you'll always be.

On Mothers day, and beyond....

The reality of life is:

Many are called, and yet,
very few will answer.

Not unlike the people we meet as we go about our day;

Many will seek to be seen,
but few, actually want to be known.

And in that,
is contained the reason why
so many are aware,
and yet so few have understanding!

In knowing this,
just as in knowing me,
there is indeed a difference.

Me then,
I know you,
seek more.


Which is why we, connect....

An old thought:

You know,
so many things change in life,
and yet,
the things that matter never seem to fail us:

Friendship,
Understanding,
Family,
Love,
Compassion
and Strength.

For us then,
yesterday,
is almost as good as today,
but, in the between of tomorrow,
closeness has always been the promise!

Which is yet another reason to smile.

Learning to let go of emotional burdens:

One of the most liberating tools for empowering your life is learning to let go.
We carry so many burdens with us, from our childhoods throughout our lives.

We carry hurts and wrongs that were done to us.
We carry regrets about things we wish we had or hadn't done.
We hide these memories, but the anger and hurt and regret
can influence the way we think and interact without our even knowing it.

Living in the Now:

We often forget to live while we're living, because we're focusing on something that we wish to be. Or we're worried about something that lies ahead, and it distracts us so that we don't seem to be able to accomplish anything or get any closer to where we want to be. The key to living a life of peace is to set our sites on where we want to be, but focus on where we are NOW, and take each step, moment by moment.

Learn from the past, plan for the future:

The past is past. The future will come when it comes.
We are here in the present. We can learn from the past.
Where we can, we can try to mend the bridges in our lives -- the relationships with the people who are a part of our lives. But where there is nothing we can do, we have to let it go.

We have to let ourselves live, free of the burdens of guilt, and regret and anger.
We can plan for the future, but we must live in the present and let go of anxiety and worrying about what might be.

Change what we can:

let go of what you can't change my friend, so as to free your self for what is to come!
Learning to see the difference between things that we can change and things that we can't,
is the first step to letting go and freeing our inner selves.

Emotions can be red flags or red lights:

Guilt, regret, anger and anxiety can sometimes help us to see things in our lives that need to be fixed and changed and worked on. But they are useless emotions when they paralyze us. They are useless when there is nothing that we can do to heal them. When they are useless, we need to let them go.

Learning to tell the difference:

We can learn to figure out when our emotions are trying to tell us something useful, or when they're causing us to lose track of what's important. The first step is to slow down, and find that place of peace inside. Then examine what exactly it is that you're angry or sad or anxious about. What would it take to make it right? Is there anything that you can do about it now? Is there anything you can do about it at some other time? If not, let it go. If so, set a new course.

Redirecting your focus:

When we find our emotions have led us to a fork in the road, we can refocus and redirect the paths we have chosen to walk. What path can we take to lead us towards making whatever is wrong right? It helps to write down our thoughts and concerns and resolves. It helps to keep our focus on the paths we choose, and to let go of paralyzing emotions until the time when they can be resolved, and to concentrate on the moment at hand.


In the between though:

Feel free to choose me as a one that you call.
For within me, is more than just the answers you seek,
but also the unspoken questions you've yet to fully consider...

Coming back into the Valley;

I was reminded that the universe has always had an ear for my heart:

"Lights go out and I can..t be saved
Tides that I tried to swim against
You..ve put me down upon my knees

Oh I beg, I beg and plead, singing
Come out of things unsaid,
shoot an apple off my head and a
Trouble that can..t be named,
tigers waiting to be tamed, singing

You are, you are
Confusion never stops,
closing walls and ticking clocks, gonna
Come back and take you home,
I could not stop,
that you now know, singing

Come out upon my seas,
curse missed opportunities, am I
A part of the cure, or am I part of the disease, singing

You are, you are, you are, you are
You are, you are

And nothing else compares
Oh no nothing else compares
And nothing else compares
You are (in background)

Home, home,
where I wanted to go,
Home, home, where I wanted to go,

Home, home, where I wanted to go,
Home, home, where I wanted to go."

Clocks: by Cold Play

Just as I thought it, there it was to reinforce my reservations about you.

Weekends

Sometimes, no matter how often we think about another,
often, we fail to take that thought and transfer it into action.

This morning, oddly enough then, right after I awoke,
I remembered you, recalled your smile and just knew,
I had to do something.

Here then is just another opportunity to remind you,
that no matter the distance, still, I remember you!

Even if I know I'll see you soon.....

You know;

I’m elated that,
with the fading notoriety of the movie "TheSecret",
the buzz around the Law of Attraction hasn’t fadedcompletely into the background.

I’ve noticed that for some it was a flash-in-the-pan,
but for others it was the beginning of a process
of peeling back their layers of ego and external expectations
to get reacquainted with "who they really are."

And me and others,
that’s truly a good thing!

Live,
Love,
Refresh,
And reflect.

For in the coming months,
life will indeed improve
as your awareness expands.

Actualy, it wasn't Lauryn Hill:

"I see the way you look at me
As if to say its right
I pray for you day in and day out

Something's happening to me
The man I used to be is gone
He gave up his life
So I could go on Girl, on in heaven

Where the love of a lifetime resides In you
Girl there's heaven in you babe

Oh Girl and it's so meant to be
This place where two souls collide
There's no pain, no fear, only you and I

Something's happening to me
The man I used to be is gone
He gave up his life
So I could go on and on

Girl, on in heaven
Where the love of a lifetime resides
Somewhere in you girl

I've been looking for heaven baby
See I spent my lifetime only to find
Heaven's in you, girl
Heaven's in you baby

Here I spent a lifetime
Trying to find heaven
Searching my lifetime
Trying to find heaven yeah

Gotta find you
Come on girl
Heaven's in you baby
Yeah it's right there

Inside your heart baby I've been looking for heaven baby
Where the love of a lifetime yeah,
It resides somewhere in you girl.

I've been looking for heaven babe
See I spent my lifetime
Trying to find it
I want you baby
I want to give my love to you

Heaven's right there in your heart girl
Heaven's inside of you
Heaven's inside of you
Heaven's in you
Heaven's in you babe
It's right there
On the inside
Heaven's in you girl

You're like heaven
You're the love of a lifetime
And I find my strength in you"


See, not every man is correct,
nor every womans need suspect.

Often, life in love is just a series of mistakes
that are caused by following what we see w/our eyes,
while ignoring the genuine words that we feel and hear w/our heart!

Writing, not only clears the mind

It provides space for the soul to sing as well!
For me then,
I'll step away from the keyboard
and reflect on the day.

Reflect on the sights
and words that came to me,
and find reason to write again.

In the between though,
think as you do
but be willing to change too.

For change is neccesary,
if you're ever going to really believe in more than right now!

The Risk of Love: by Kris Hydmore

There is a risk involved in everything
Every time you share a smile
Every time you shed a tear
You are opening yourself up to hurt.

Some people tread slowly through life,
Avoiding the closeness risk brings,
Side-stepping the things they can't understand
Turning away from those who care too much,
Those who care stay too long,
Those who hold too tightly.

There is never an easy way to love
You can not approach it cautiously
It will not wait for you to arm yourself.

It does not care if you turn away
It is everywhere, it is everything.

Love is the greatest of all risks.
It is not reliable, it is not cautious,
It is not sympathetic
It is unprejudiced and unmerciliess.

It strikes the strongest of mind,
And brings them to their knees in one blow.
Even in the best of times,
love hurts.It hurts to need, it hurts to belong,

It hurts to be the other part of someone else,
Without either of your consent.
But, from the moment it overtakes you,
It hurts worse to be all alone.

The risk of love never depletes;
It grows stronger and more dangerous with time.

But, it's in the total surrender of all defense,
That we, no matter weak or strong,
No matter willing or captive,
No matter what, we truly experience love.

Despite the many things love is not,
Outweighing it all are the things that love is.
Love is surrender without a loss.
It is a gift without the cost.
It consumes your every thought & desire,
Every breath you take.

It is the fire that fuels you
To do more than pass through life;
It urges you, instead, to live.

No matter the outcome,
having felt love,
You will never be the same.

It may scar your heart & soul
And Leave you only memories of forever.
Or, it may cause every day of your life
To feel like there is no need for tomorrow.

But, love is worth it. It is worth the risk...

For in all of life,

Love is truly the only risk worth taking.

Amen!

Remember this then;

The color of a man
only determines how others see him,
for the one who is loved by him though,
all she can see is his heart!

Mine's purple by the way.

Good morning after all;

Today,
today is going to be a great day!

Not just because the rains have returned,
or even because the deer were in the yard again this morning.

Today is going to be a great day
because I desire for it to be.

And whether or not you believe this,
the fact remains that our attitude(s)determine our outcomes.

Last night,
I didn't sleep well.

And yet today,
knowing that it's my life after all,
Today I'm going to be happy!

You,
you can be what ever you want.

Me,
me I'm going to be happy!

As for everyone else,

well the choice is up to you.................