What if?

'Tis the season for giving thanks. This week we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the United States. I'm not totally sure if the majority of people get past the turkey and stuffing and "Black Friday" shopping to really think about what they have. So I am going to list some "what ifs." Think about them. Make comments if you wish. Share this blog if you'd like. Here goes.


What if...we looked at everything as a gift? The good, the bad, the ugly.
What if...we found something good in all experiences?
What if...we saw those people who seem to be difficult differently? As people with challenges just     like us.
What if...we were grateful that we live in a country where we can call our elected officials horrible     names and live to see the sun rise?
What if...we saw the messy house as a blessing? We have a house!
What if...we saw the job we hate as a blessing? We have a job! We get paid!
What if...we turned off the news when they continue to report only the bad?
What if...we respected all living beings instead of demeaning those with whom we disagree?
What if...we waited to judge another until we had all the facts?
What if...we respected everyone as the divine incarnation they really are regardless of race, creed,       sexual orientation or political party?
What if...we refused to get caught up with the negative?
What if...we gave of ourselves to others who are living a less than abundant life?

What if, what if, what if? This could go on and on. As I wrote the above "what ifs," I realized how I get caught up in some of the things that aggravate me. I must admit I am an evolving soul not yet an evolved soul.

This Thanksgiving I plan on being kinder, being happier, being less likely to criticize, and being gratefull for the many blessings I have.

How about you? What will you truly be thankful for beside the turkey and stuffing?

Happy Thanksgiving!






Namaste,

Mareda

November

No work for me today. At least not at my usual place of employment. The physical therapy clinic is campaign headquarters for Lavender for State Representative. I'm sure hustle and bustle is what it is all about and later a celebration for a successful campaign...I hope. This post is about something else. Something that is very near and dear to my heart. Adoption.

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. The focus of this month is the adoption of children in foster care. It is true that my daughter came to me through international adoption and it is also true that I worked in international adoption for a few years; however, there are so many children in the foster care system needing homes. I honestly do not know much about the foster care system in this country. I do know that the majority of international adoptions have been halted by governmental bulls#@%. 

This is a short post but one that encourages those of you who would like to add one or two children to your family to consider adoption. Do it because your heart is open and you are ready to take on whatever challenges come your way.  My daughter has completed my life in so many ways.

 

She has grown from a cute little girl of seven

to a beautiful young woman of 24.

As Wayne Dyer said in a lecture many years ago, "Our children get to us...one way or another." 

CONSIDER ADOPTION!

Namaste,

Mareda

Voting!

This coming Tuesday, November 4 is election day in the United States. Although not a presidential election, it is a very important election. I'm sure many who are reading this blog wonder how in the world this has anything to do with mysticism, metaphysics or spirituality. The actual voting may not have much to do with these things but the manner in which one campaigns has everything to do with it. 

I am appalled at the manner in which most campaigns are run. If a political candidate cannot run down their opponent with mistruths or downright lies, they turn to other types of dirty politics. Let's pretend we are them and treat others rudely. Let's insult another's lifestyle. On and on we go. How low can we go? It would seem pretty low.

There are very few class acts in town. At least, so it seems. Maybe the class acts want to remain class acts and feel they just don't want to get drawn into the world of "dirty politics." 

Where has working together gone? We do not have to agree on everything but we can work together in a decent manner. This country claims to be one based on Christianity. If this type of politics is the Christian way, I want no part of Christianity. I have a feeling Jesus would feel the same way. 

I think about Robert Fulghum's book, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kndergarten." 

"Think what a better world it would be if we all-the whole world-had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess. And it is still true, no matter how old you are-when you go out into the world it is best to hold hands and stick together."

There are politicians who are class acts, who want to do good, and who run their campaigns based on truth and ethics. I hope that when you vote (and I hope you do get out and vote) you consider this when you choose your candidate. 

Many have fought long and hard for the right to vote. I will be voting as will my daughter on Tuesday. Will you be voting?

Namaste,

Mareda

A Kinder World

When I first sat down to write in my blog, I was going to talk about all the unkindess and intolerance in this world, about the anger and injustice. However, after meditating abut this and telling the Divine I really needed guidance, I saw this post on Facebook from Pookie:

"Just back from Ferguson.... morning rain...cleansing the streets...people out cleaning up and there is a feeling of peace after another night of unrest. Continue to pray for my beloved city...and for all the blessed beings who call it home...Sending love to you and yours...Be Love, Be Loved, Beloved..."

You may read this and think that all this says is that there was more unrest, more looting, more anger. All of this is true but there was so much more and there continues to be so much more. 

What is the "so much more?" The truth is there are good people in this world. Lots of them! People of all colors, ages, faiths and nationalities. These people come to clean up neighborhoods that are foreign to them. They come bringing Peace, Love, Light and Kindnesss. Sad to say but they do not get the same press as those who destroy and feed on the negative. Their deeds do not make the nightly news.

My request today is that we stop sharing the negative, that which perpetuates the idea of injuustice and hatred. There is absolutely no need to make another look bad and evil to justify a point or action if peace is truly our desire.

Today, I salute the Pookies, the Melissa's, the honorable police officers and civic leaders, and all the citizens of this community who are looking for positive solutions. For those of us who are not physically there to help, let us take a moment to pray for a peaceful and kinder solution to the violence in Ferguson/St. Louis.  And....

Every day, let us look at our fellow man and woman as the expression of God that they truly are. They may not even be aware of the Divine Spark that resides within them. Maybe as we see it, they too will see it and lives will change. 

My intention for today and in the future is to be a kinder soul, 

to treat everyone as the Divine Being of Light that they truly are. I shall look through the "eyes" of my heart. 

Namaste,

Mareda

We Are All One

There seems to be so much anger, hatred and separation everywhere you look. I hear people say "maybe we should just drop a bomb and get rid of them all" not really talking about any one country or class of people specifically. The Russians are terrible. (Some of my best friends are Russian and I can attest to the fact that they are not terrible.) This politician hates that politician. On and on we go. All I can say is there is a great feeling of sadness that comes over me when I allow this type of "stinking thinking" into my consciousness.

I'm currently reading the latest book by Dennis Merritt Jones, "Your (Re) Defining Moments." (A very good book which I high recommend.) There is a quote from Rumi in Chapter 13, The One Thing We All Have in Common, that I would like you to consider:

"Not Christian or Jew, Muslim, no Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi, Zen. Not any religion or culture system. I am not from the East or the West, not out of the ocean or up from the ground, not nautral or ethereal, not composed of elements at all...I belong to the Beloved, have seen the two worlds as One and that One call to know, first, last, outer, inner, only that breath breathing Human Being."                                                                                             

Once again, John Lennon comes to mind. His songs continue to bring a message of peace and unity.

Namaste,

Mareda

                

Who Are You....Really?

Have you ever thought about that question? Sure we can say our name, what we do for a living, or something profound like "I am a spiritual being having a human experience." I'm looking for something more.

I have discovered over the last few weeks that I am living in a state of denial about who I am and how I want to express in this human experience. Becoming more and more self-aware, there was an instance that could be compared to that divine 2 x 4 smacking me on the side of the head.

A week or so ago, as I was talking with my financial adviser (yes, I finally decided I needed some guidance), he asked what I intended to do as far as continuing to work. Well, I knew what I wanted to do and I knew what I wanted to say; however, speaking the words that answered his question was very challenging. All sorts of questions came to the forefront of my mind.  Is he going to think I am a nutcase? Will he even know what I am talking about? With all the courage I could muster, I told him.

Now I'm telling all who read this blog:

I am now a 2nd Degree Reiki Practitioner. By the end of the year, I will be a certified Personal Mastery Life Coach. I have been a Science of Mind Practitioner for many years. I write a blog on spiritual and mystical topics. 

So how did my financial advisor react:. Well, turns out his mother is a Reiki Practitioner and he knows a few Life Coaches. He didn't think I was strange at all! He even said he was really interested in mystical and metaphysical topics.

What does this tell me? What does it tell you?

Live your truth! If someone thinks you are crazy, so be it! And there will be some who think you are certifiably nuts but it really doesn't matter. There will be just as many people who are interested, who may need your services, or who are in awe of you doing exactly what you want to do. It has taken me six decades to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. It feels so good to know and it feels even better to tell the world!

No, I am not ready to retire. I am ready to take the next twenty or so years to do what I feel guided to do.

My advice to those of you who want to speak their truth or move toward their goals is to take this advice from Star Trek whose "five-year mission was to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before."

"BE BOLD, 

EXPLORE STRANGE NEW WORLDS, 

SEEK OUT A NEW LIFE,

GO WHERE YOU HAVE NEVER GONE BEFORE., 

and

BY ALL MEANS, 

HAVE FUN!!!!!

Namaste,

Mareda

A Little Girl Named Lily

We have all seen and heard stories about children and adults who are experiencing such severe challenges in their human experience that the question comes up as to why. Why did this happen? How could such a terrible thing occur to an infant or toddler? Of course, the biggest question: Why would God let this happen?

I do not claim to have THE answer but I do have a lot of thoughts about this. I've mulled this over in my mind many times in the past but never to the extent as recently. I have a little girl named Lily Grace to thank for this.

Lily Grace, age 4

A couple of my Facebook friends and fellow adoptive parents were always posting about this little girl. For some reason, I did not feel compelled to read about her. However, one day I did read about her and have been hooked ever since.

A little girl from China, orphaned and classified as "terminal" based on so many medical conditions touched my soul. Adopted two years ago, she has had four open heart surgeries during this time span and now has received a gift that surpasses all others...a new heart. And we (I) ask why. 

Some schools of thought suggest that before a soul comes into the human experience, they choose the "lesson" they are to learn in this Earth School. Makes sense to me because there is no way I could believe a loving God would choose this for anyone. Maybe Lily knew she had a purpose bigger than being a cute toddler. Maybe she knew that this health challenge would bring together over 5,000 Facebook friends from all over the world. Maybe she knew that people of all faiths would join in prayer to bring love and healing to her. Maybe, just maybe, her journey is on a fast-track to bring healing to this world in ways none of us could possible fathom. 

What about the child who is no longer having a human experience? What about the family who is grieving the loss of their child yet generous enough to give a heart to another? Sad. Very sad. Maybe this is part of a much grander scheme than we can imagine. It is said a child shall lead. Maybe these two little ones are leading all the adults who think they know. 

Lily is just one of many children who touch our souls. We read about children every day who surmount all odds and survive challenges that we find difficult to understand. We also read about children who bravely leave this human experience but leave a legacy that shall stand into eternity. 

To all the parents who have a child or children who are experiencing health or emotional challenges, I suggest that maybe you are blessed. No, it isn't easy. No, it isn't fun. But maybe your child has chosen you to give you an experience of divine bliss. Our children get to us by birth or adoption or fostering. And maybe even just being there for the child down the street who needs a loving and supportive adult in their life. 

From this moment on, I shall continue to pray for Lily and the soul who's heart now beats in Lily's chest. I shall also pray for all the children who have chosen (yes, chosen) the difficult road. I shall also pray for those who are traveling with them along this road. 

I leave you with this from Ecclesiastes 3:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

For those of you who would like to follow along with Lily's journey, there is an open group on Facebook: 

Praying for Lily

Namaste,

Mareda