Snow, Ice, Sleet!

Up until now, the St. Louis area has been fortunate to miss the weather challenges so many other parts of the country have experienced.  About 10 this morning, the snow started. Big fluffy snowflakes drifted down from the sky.  Within minutes, the ground began to be covered.  Then the snow changed to sleet and has continued to go back and forth from snow to sleet.  It's pretty outside but the roads are not pretty nor are they what I would call safe.  Predictions are that it is to continue like this till midnight.  Anyone who knows me knows that snow is not something I look forward to and when ice is in the mix, ugh!

Not too many years ago, I would have been in a state of panic with the weather conditions of today.  Do I go to work? Do I stay home and forfeit pay?  Will I get stuck? Will I have an accident?  On and on, my mind would race. Today, however, I went to work and watched as the snow began to cover the parking lot. There wasn't much going on and the office did close early but as I began my careful walk to my car, I felt none of the usual anxiety. I was mindful of my walk and the fact that there was a layer of ice lurking beneath the snow.  Getting in my car, I was grateful it started and that the snow was easily removed from my windshield. The roads were slippery but as I slid around one corner, I was at peace knowing I was just a few blocks from home. Now I'm safe and warm inside trying to convince my wonderful Lucky Joe that "no" we are not going outside to play ball.

Sometimes when I am in a "funk" I wonder if all my spiritual work has done anything to elevate my consciousness. Today, as I remembered previous snow storms and my reactions, I acknowledged to myself that the work I've done over the years has been fruitful. I am peaceful knowing all is well in my world at this very moment. Mindfulness is the key. Mindful of what is safe and what is not. Mindful that cars need gas in their tank if the weather is less than ideal.  Mindful that if the roads are not safe you stay home.  The body temple we live in is more important than a job, a prior commitment  or a trip to the grocery store.

So, as I look out from my front door and see the snow and what some call "blizzard conditions" I know I am safe and blessed.  And I am very grateful for that.

May all who read this entry, be warm, safe and happy. 

Namaste,

Mareda

Feelings

The past couple of weeks have felt as though I was on a perpetual roller coaster of feelings.  For those of you who know me, a roller coaster is my least favorite fun park ride.  In fact, ain't nobody getting me on one ever again. Been there, done that.  On a more serious note, I have experienced a plethora of emotions that have drained me energetically.

Without going into much detail, I was surprised and frustrated by an experience with another individual.  Actually, very angry. After much self-examination and prayer, I realized it wasn't all about me at all. Terry Cole-Whitaker's book, "What You Think of Me Is None of My Business," came to mind during this time. Everyone is where they are.  Sometimes we take things way to personally. And sometimes we are way too hard on ourselves.

from "Laughing Quietly To Myself"

However, I still felt some frustration and went about "doing" what I felt needed to be done.  Immediately events were set into motion and my feelings went from frustrated to elated. The Universe was taking charge and doors were opening, but....

The doors closed.  I was back to square one.  This time I didn't feel the frustration as much as many of my friends.  For once again, I realized change is the only constant in this world. What seemed to be today is only one episode in this saga called life. Things are still moving just at their own speed, not mine.  Divine Right Action is unfolding....in God's Time.

All this being said, I do think it is important to accept our feelings as real at the moment. I have often denied or apologized for my feelings. Stuffing our anger may only make it erupt at a future time.  Acting happy when we are actually quite sad or disillusioned is just denying who we are at the moment. As I've mentioned before we can visit the condo in the valley; we just don't want to take residence there for very long.

So, I have visited that condo, acknowledged all those feelings of anger, frustration, happiness, disillusionment, etc. But now I'm ready to come back to the reality of my life. It is really pretty good.  In fact, it is fantastic!

While visiting that bittersweet condo, I came across some wonderful Facebook pages that assisted me in my stay.  Some of them are geared to the female population but I'm hoping the feminine in those guys who read my blog will enjoy them too.

Some of my Favorite Facebook pages:

Namaste Cafe

Laughing quietly to myself

Peace Path

Wild Woman Sisterhood

As the following indicates, keep being REAL!  It's who you are.  

from "Wild Woman Sisterhood"

Namaste,

Mareda

Frosty Has Competition!

The "dusting" of snow predicted last evening turned into 4 inches of white beauty as evidenced by the photos taken by my daughter, Ulya.  Thought it was time for some beauty on my blog, so here goes.

The beginning of the snow during the night. 

The lake at Kirkwood Park. 

A scene along Sugar Creek.

The Buddha off our deck.

The beginning of trouble for Frosty!

Buddy Eckert

Buddy and Ulya.

Sorry Frosty but you have competition in Kirkwood.








Happy Sunday everyone.

Namaste,

Mareda

Loving When It Is Hard To Love

A few weeks ago, I was streaming Agape Live when Rev. Michael Beckwith made the statement "Love when it is hard to love." A few nights ago, I had a dream about Gerald Jampolskly's book "Love Is Letting Go of Fear." Many of us say "I love you" at the drop of a hat to those around us.  We love chocolate or football or any number of things.  And yet as I mention this, if you read comments on Facebook (which I know I should never do) or the newspaper, you discover that there is a lot of hate and bitterness just about everywhere.  I am very much aware that people spout off on the internet because they can.  I assume it is some sort of release of their frustrations.  I am also aware that negativity and violence sells. That is really sad.

My life has been blessed and it is relatively easy to love. I've had some challenges but I've made it through them to the Light relatively unscathed.  I'm sitting here writing this looking out at a beautiful snowfall in the warmth of my home. My healthy, happy daughter is at work.  Friends and relatives are all pretty much safe, secure and happy also.  Life is good.  But.....

What if something happens to change that?  Illness strikes, tragedy happens.  Would I still be sitting here happy as a lark?  I pray that this is never part of my experience but it is reality for many, many people. Unless a person lives in a cave, the tragedies are only too well known to all of us.

I have known people who are so fearful of something bad happening to their family that they are immobilized from living.  Photos of their children are prohibited unless safe and secure within the family unit. Attendance at large events is out.  My feeling is that they are not living. They have allowed fear to "kill" any chance of enjoying the life that the Divine Presence has given us.

Of course, one must be aware of questionable activities and events, but living in a constant state of fear is not productive of a fulfilling life here on earth. Sometimes bad things happen. Trying to figure out why or blaming someone or a whole segment of the population is fruitless.

My daughter and I were blessed a few years ago to meet and spend time with Maria Szapszewicz, a Holocaust survivor.  Maria survived Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen and was liberated from Bergen-Belsen on April 15, 1945.  As horrible an experience as this was for Maria, she was a joy to be around.  She laughed and smiled and brought joy to everyone she met.  I asked her how she was able to stay so positive.  She indicated that this was her form of revenge.  Her joy was a victory over the Nazi regime. And she loved and was Love personified.

Could I be like Maria?  or so many people who have risen above the tragedies in their lives?  I don't know the answer to that. I'd like to think I could but I've learned that until you are there, you really don't know what you would do.

This morning I came across this article on the Belief Blog.  It fits in very well with my entry today.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/02/a-killing-a-life-sentence-and-my-change-of-heart/?hpt=hp_c1

These are my thoughts to ponder today.  Thoughts about living, loving, and fear. This may be a day to pick up that special little book, "Love Is Letting Go of Fear," and read it once again.  Couldn't hurt.

By the way, a friend asked what Namaste meant.  Copied from Namaste Cafe:

Could this be what Love is all about?

Namaste,

Mareda