Being vs. Doing

Are you a human being or a human doing?  This question comes up quite frequently for me as it seems I never sit down for more than a few minutes at a time.  I've been called the "energizer bunny" by more than one person. Although this is meant to be a compliment, I'm not sure functioning as the "energizer bunny" is the best way to go through life.

This morning I awakened to a rainy, dreary Sunday. Although a part of me wanted to get up and go to church, another part really wanted to curl up and stay in my warm cozy bed. The battle between getting up and staying continued for quite a few minutes; however, I am happy to say the battle to stay in bed won.  Why did this victory make me happy?

Typically, I get up, straighten up, feed my animal family, go to work or church, and continue to DO whatever needs to be done until it is time to go to bed.  Yes, I watch some TV but I'm usually multi-tasking while I watch. If I'm reading, I'm also cooking or washing clothes or doing something else between chapters.  You get the drift.  I am a human doing.

Today, my choice was to stop doing and start being.  My church attendance was Agape Live this morning. I did not move once while the service was streaming. As I write this, I am writing this.  Nothing else is happening. This afternoon, I intend to curl up and finish a very enlightening book, "Secrets of a Working Dog: Unleash Your Potential and Create Success," by Bella the Boxer and her human family.  Wise words of wisdom can be found on every page. If you are blessed to have a dog in your family, you will notice that when they play, they play; when they sniff, they sniff; when they beg for food, they beg; when they are happy, they are happy; no multi-tasking.  If they are tired, they sleep.  No guilt.

So today, I am allowing myself to rest. I am allowing myself to take a nap if I want.  Today, I am choosing to be a human being.

What's your choice today?  Human doing or human being?

Namaste,

Mareda

Letting Go and Letting God

Once again, I've discovered the lessons needed to live a life of ease.  Once again, I've discovered this in a way that was anything but easy.

You see, there is a beach in South Beach, Florida calling me to visit.  It's been calling for some time now but the call is louder and clearer than ever.  I finally succumbed to the call and began making arrangements. The main challenge though was locating someone to take care of my pawed and feathered geriatric family. Since my daughter and her boyfriend are coming along to the beach (they have heard the call too), I wanted to be sure these family members had someone who would care for them. So I began my search.

I searched for someone who had helped out before.  After weeks of searching I found her on Facebook but her life had undergone major changes and she was no longer able to pet sit.  I went on to calling this person and then another person.  Pretty soon I found someone only to discover later that this wouldn't work out.  By this time, I was exhausted, frustrated, and somewhat depressed.  I was on my way to that "condo in the valley" for an unwanted vacation of sorts.  This was NOT the type of vacation I wanted!

Only  when I got settled into my room at the "condo" did I remember something.  I had not done any prayer work prior to my search.  What was I thinking...or not thinking?

Immediately I settled into that place of quiet and peace and did my work.  Was I really supposed to take this trip? Would all my geriatric family members be okay without me? Was there someone to take care of my home and pets?  And so I let it go knowing that if this trip was for my highest good, someone would come to me and say "I can do it."

Yes, someone came forward.  In fact, I also have a backup now.  I also have a hotel booked that seems very intriguing.  As a side, Al Capone actually stayed there in the 1930's.  Very interesting.

So, what does this all mean?  It means we just have to know that there is a Power and Presence here for us, waiting to guide us and assist us when we let it.

Affirmation

Today, I know that I am guided in all my decisions.  

The answers to all my seeming dilemmas are right here. 

I stay open and receptive to Divine Guidance.  

Thank you Father-Mother-God.  

And so it is. And so I let it be.

Namaste

Mareda

Attitude ~ Attitude ~ Attitude

If you've ever searched for the perfect home to purchase, I'm sure you've heard this: "location, location, location."  You can change the home but you cannot change the location.  When you find yourself in a "place" less than desired, you may hear: "attitude, attitude, attitude."  The difference is you can change your attitude!

In 1989, I discovered a little book written by Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D. entitled "Love is Letting Go of Fear." A group was forming in St. Louis to assist those who were living with HIV. The St. Louis center was structured after the one Jampolsky began in California.  I decided I wanted to be a part of this and became a volunteer facilitator. For the facilitators and the participants, honesty could be tough when sharing.  It seems simpler to blame others for the predicaments in which we find ourselves or to just wallow in self-pity.

• A miserable marriage: why doesn't he or she change?  Not my fault.  I have done nothing to deserve this. Did you know he/she had a substance abuse problem before you married?
• Lung cancer: why did this happen to me?  I don't deserve this at age 40.  I'm going to die. Did you really smoke 1-2 packs of cigarettes for 20 years?  
• HIV positive: what caused this? Why, why, why? Did you have unprotected sex over and over again? 
• Bankrupt, homeless, unemployed: why did this happen to me? And sometimes there just is no good answer as to why but there are choices in how to deal with the situation.

Yes, a marriage can fail for no apparent reason, cancer can smack you down in your childhood or prime of life, and on and on.  Life happens.  How do we deal with this life we have been dealt? How can we make the best from what seems to be the worst:  Gerald Jampolsky had an idea.  From his website www.healingcenter.org/, we find this explanation:

"Jerry founded the International Center for Attitudinal Healing (ICAH) in 1975 in Tiburon, California. Through the ICAH, people of all ages, faiths, and cultures facing serious life threatening illness, catastrophic events, loss of loved ones, or just everyday challenges, have free support services and lots of unconditional love to help them through tough times."

"Love is Letting Go of Fear," based on the "Course in Miracles," was the guide for this Center. Written in a very simple style, it is filled with cartoons, affirmations and lessons that could be anything but simple.  For you see, the principles contradicted many of our beliefs and stretched our comfort zone.   Here is a list of the principles from the Attitudinal Healing website: http://www.healingcenter.org/.


THE PRINCIPLES OF ATTITUDINAL HEALING

---

1. The essence of our being is love.
2. Health is inner peace. Healing is letting go of fear.
3. Giving and receiving are the same.
4. We can let go of the past and the future.
5. Now is the only time there is and each instant is for giving.
6. We can learn to love ourselves and others by forgiving rather than judging.
7. We can become love finders rather than fault finders.
8. We can choose and direct ourselves to be peaceful inside regardless of what is happening outside.
9. We are students and teachers to each other.
10. We can focus on the whole of life rather than the fragments.
11. Since love is eternal death need not be viewed as fearful.
12. We can always perceive ourselves and others as either extending love or giving a call for help.

There are Attitudinal Healing Groups active in various parts of the world.  Sadly to say, these groups are not as plentiful as they could be.  Many participants do not want to take responsibility and refuse to be part of a group that doesn't lay blame on others.  Other participants want a miracle cure for their dis-ease.  The actual work to reach that spiritual breakthrough can be difficult and painful.  It isn't for the weak in spirit or faint of heart. 

I remember when I was first  exposed to the "Course in Miracles," I was not a fan. The workbook that went along with the text was not fun.  I really did not like what it had to say. By the time I read Jampolsky's book, I guess I had evolved enough to really begin to "get it." Since that time, I have embraced the wisdom imparted through these books as well as other books by authors such as Marianne Williamson, Alan H. Cohen and Wayne Dyer. 

If each of us honestly looks at the challenges in our life and at our worries, I think we will see some type of fear back of the worry. A little self-inquiry goes a long way. 

I've discovered a website with a plethora of information on attitudinal healing:  http://www.ahinternational.org/. If fear is holding you back, you may want to explore this website and/or some of the books written by the above-mentioned authors.  

You might just change your life. 

Namaste,

Mareda

We Write What We Most Need to Read

Many of us are familiar with the statement, "We teach what we most need to learn."  As I write entries into my blog, I am discovering that I am writing about things that I most need to read. My memory seems to need refreshing quite often lately.

The last few days I have felt quite tired, actually rather exhausted in the evening. I've been getting an appropriate amount of sleep and really haven't been that busy.  My first inclination was to wonder what was going on with my health.  Although the flu seems to be attacking a great number of people, I'm not planning on succumbing to it.  Not in my belief system.  Now we are getting somewhere.  My belief system.

If I am honest with myself, I realize that many times during the day and evening, I am stating emphatically to myself that "I am so tired; I just want to sleep; bears have the right idea, they sleep all winter."  Wow! planting that idea in my subconscious can only produce exhaustion!  Just like planting a seed of corn.  You're going to get a corn plant not a tomato plant.

I know this. I've studied this for years. Words have power. Especially words that are repeated over and over again.  I have been claiming exhaustion as my reality. Maybe I am a bit tired.  The days of winter are a bit dreary and cold.  However, my words are like fertilizer in a garden.  A little bit sleepy unfolds into exhaustion and lethargy. Not really what I want to experience.

Verbalizing how poor we are, how lonely we are, how unhappy we are does exactly the same thing.  It may not even be true.  Sure, maybe we don't have as much in our bank account as we would like but are we truly poor?

It is so important to be aware of what we are saying and what we are thinking. We can fall into a habit of negative thinking. We may not even be aware of what we are thinking or saying.

My suggestion is to become aware of your thoughts and your words.  It may seem foolish but it really makes a difference.

• When you find yourself thinking or saying you are tired, say "NO!  I am right now renewed in body, mind and spirit."
• When you find yourself lamenting over your seeming lack of prosperity, say "I am so grateful for the increased prosperity and abundance in my life right now." 
• When you think your life is unbearable, say "Right now, I recognize the Good in my life and bless it.  It is multiplying right now!"

It is important to neutralize the negative thoughts that come up.  They will.  We live in a world that focuses on the negative.  Romans 12:2 says this:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010) 

And do not imitate this world, but be transformed by the renovation of your minds, and you shall distinguish what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

And so it is!

Namaste,
Mareda

Consciousness Rising

This past Saturday I had lunch with a friend of many years.  We have been through a lot together and it was good having time to talk and catch up on family and personal life events.  Naturally, our talk turned to current events including the recent elections and the senseless acts of violence. It seems that our culture is immersed in anger and violence. What is happening?  Has it always been like this?

After thinking about this and after talking with my friend, I have come to some conclusions.  I don't really believe events have changed that much from centuries ago.  The Bible talks about Christians being fed to the lions.  The Crusades killed thousands of people.  The Indians and early settlers of this country scalped and killed.  I could go on and on but I think you get my point. There has been a culture of violence almost from the beginning of time.  The difference in this 21st Century is we have the technology to know about an event in Iran immediately.  A couple of hundred years ago, that was not the case.  There are also just a few more people inhabiting our earth.

Now, I feel we are more concerned with the violence and anger and hatred that we encounter on a daily basis.  People are evolving and saying "No More!"  No longer do we accept as normal, murders, beheadings, rapes, abuse and other forms of violence.

Technology is felt by many to be a hindrance to a healthy lifestyle but in truth it is bringing this world together.  As I have mentioned before, we must focus on Love and Peace.  Technology can help us do this.  I truly believe if we saturate the air waves with our messages of Divine Good, things will change.  Maybe not overnight but it has started.  We are birthing a new consciousness of Love. It can be painful but in the words of Louis Armstrong:

What A Wonderful World

Songwriters: GEORGE DAVID WEISS, GEORGE DOUGLAS, BOB THIELE

I see trees of green........ red roses too 
I see em bloom..... for me and for you 
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world. 

I see skies of blue..... clouds of white 
Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights 
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world. 

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky 
Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by 
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do 
They're really sayin......i love you. 

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow 
They'll learn much more.....than I'll never know 
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world 

Today, my wish for you is that you find wonder in your world.

Namaste

Monday Monday

Monday, the first day of the work week for most people.  It is for me and usually I wake up ready to go; however, most days the temperature isn't below 20 degrees outside with my door frozen shut and then the latch frozen so the door won't stay closed once I have it open. Needless to say, this wasn't a Monday where I was ready to go anywhere but back to bed.  Although I tried to hide my displeasure as I began my day, inside I was frustrated and wishing I lived in a warmer climate.  As I "mature," cold weather is more and more of a challenge.  Don't know what I would do if I lived in Minnesota or Alaska or my daughter's home country Russia.  

As I began my day at my work, the words to the Mama and Papa's song "Monday Monday" came to me: 

Monday Monday, can't trust that day,

Monday Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way

Oh Monday morning, you gave me no warning of what was to be...

Most of the lyrics are much more positive than those above.  What really caught my attention was "you gave me no warning of what was to be."  What was to be for the rest of the day?  My beliefs say it is up to me to decide that.  

So, I decided to forget about the cold....after all the sun was making a valiant effort to shine.  So I decided to smile and be cheerful, and to just get over it.  Unless I choose to move to a warmer climate, there are going to be cold days in St. Louis. 

How often do we choose to be unhappy and blame it on the weather or other people or the stage of the moon or some other insignificant happening in our life?  Of course, there are challenges we come upon that can have a significant effect on our happiness.  The loss of a loved one, a serious illness, a divorce  can leave us less than deliriously happy.  But....

We still can choose how we deal with these events.  Being unhappy is not going to bring a loved one back nor is it going to heal a serious illness or miserable marriage.  If anything, it might just chase away those people who are in your life to support and love you. 

It is imperative that we choose to see whatever good we can at any given moment.  It may be challenging to do this.  I tell myself over and over that feeling miserable isn't doing me or anyone else any good. It truly is a waste of time.  

So, my words of wisdom are to look for whatever Good you can.  No matter how small, if you look you  will find it. 

Affirmation

This week I am choosing to see the Good in everything.  

My life is blessed and I am a blessing to everyone.  

And so it is.

Namaste

Fun Stuff

It has been a few days since my last entry.  In my everyday busyness, I find it challenging to stay put long enough to write anything meaningful.  This morning I was in the same position, nothing was coming through or to me.  Illuminating, enlightening, spiritual stuff just wasn't appearing on my computer screen.  As I looked out my window at a gray, cold and icey day, the thought did come to my awareness to just share some fun sites and photos as well as some of that "spiritual stuff" I so enjoy. Most of these come from shares on my Facebook page.  I apologize in advance if you've seen them already but they brought a smile to my face and an occasional "ah ha." Paying forward seemed the right thing to do. So here goes.

• TheBakingPan.com ~ A wonderful site for recipes, tips for succesful cakes, pies, cookies, etc. Most of my Christmas cookie recipes came from here this year.  I also followed a recipe for a pound cake last night...exactly as they indicated.  Yummy!

Old Fashioned Pound Cake

• http://www.dogblessyou.org/ ~ If you love dogs, this is the site for you. "Join us in celebrating the ways in which dogs uplift the human spirit. Dog Bless You funds the training of therapy, service and guide dogs." Mainly photos similar to this one:

Jade and her service dog Pistol

• Whole Lotta Dogs, a Facebook page ~ Here you can post photos of your pawed family member.  I must remember to post Lucky Joseph's photo here soon.  Here's Oliver:

Oliver

• http://www.petcentric.com/ ~ Not wanting to ignore my cat family, this site has some neat information on cats as well as photos like this: 

One tired cat

• http://www.k9comfort.org/ ~ These are some of the dogs (and their handlers) that assisted in New Town.  Nothing more needs to be said. 

At New Town School

At Kevin's Community Center
New Town

• http://www.dennismerrittjones.com/ ~ Dennis is an author, keynote speaker and columnist. His ministerial degree is in Religious Science.

Dennis Merritt Jones

• https://www.facebook.com/Ernest.Holmes ~ The Facebook page of the founder of the movement known as Religious Science (Science of Mind).  This teaching changed my life and continues to be of immense importance to me. 

Ernest Holmes

• http://www.joelosteen.com/ ~ A message of hope and love that speaks to all faiths seeking the positive in Christianity.  My personal opinion is that Joel is familiar with the Science of Mind. 

Joel Osteen

and last but not least, my newest discovery on Facebook:

• https://www.facebook.com/namastedharmacafe ~ Daily meditations, a blog, and a store.  I absolutely love this page and the site.  I ordered a travel mug from the Namaste Cafe's Online Store, http://www.cafepress.com/namastecafe.  Love it. 

*Plitvice Lakes, Croatia* So beautifully peaceful.
Enjoy a wonderful start to your week, Namaste Café family ♥ Namaste

These are some of my favorite websites and Facebook pages. I hope you enjoy them.  I'd love to have you share some of your favorite sites with me.

Today, look to the Good.  Deny that which appears to invalidate all the Good there is.  

Namaste!