My Highs and Lows for This Week

   Here it is. It's Saturday. What do we do on this day? Yep, we share our high and low points for the past week. Here are some of mine:

High Points: 
1.  I did not allow someone to

We're Not Responsible For Other People's Disappointment 6/28/13 (123)

“You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life.  And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law:

Enjoying Community and Thriving, In Hot Weather 6/26/13

       Here I am.  It's almost that time, the witching hour, when the day changes it's name.  The weather has been sticky, which is unusual for this neck of the woods.  Normally we don't have

Processionary Caterpillars, Having a Spiritual Awakening............ 6/25/13

       Today, I'm meeting with friends.  At one time, I did this often.  Not so, now.

         Life's demands, make it imperative making time that enriches us. This includes setting aside time to invest in ourselves.  Mind you, I'm with people all the time.  If you are isolating, it may be God wants you connecting with others---pronto.

        What a joy it is breathing in life, calmly, delighting in its glorious wonder.  This can not happen when we live frantically.   Our American sensibilities, often equate busyness with productivity or success.

       It isn't true.

Learning from Processionary Caterpillars

     Imagine having an empty flower pot.

      Now, place seeds that processionary caterpillars love eating, inside. These critters would walk around and around and around---fol-lowing one another.
They would circle the pot, forever, eventually dying from starvation.

     The nourishment needed was less than a quarter of an inch away, inside the ceramic container.

     It's easy us being like a hairy slug-looking insect.  It is common, mistak-ing activity for accomplishment.  Effectiveness has to precede effi-ciency.

     Doing a task right isn't the issue.  Doing the right task, is.  People who succeed, have goals. They know their priorities.

     Appreciating the little things of life and nature.  Allowing time for our spirit to express itself, making nutritious, delicious meals.  They are ways of being grounded in the present.
 

      It is taking care of ourselves.  It frees us from mental chatter that easily can occu-py our mind and spirit.

     Listening to music we love, engaging in intimate, authentic conversations with emotionally friends nurtures us.

     Doing what it takes so that we can sleep more than seven hours allows our soul to drink in the sanity and serenity life offers.

     Living by helpful principles, exercising boundaries----even when pressured to do otherwise by unpleasant, bullying, demanding people and narcissists, is loving and caring for ourselves.

A Spiritual Awakening

      Staying focused.  Stepping away from crises that want to embroil us.  Obsessing less by going with the flow.  Enjoying greater in inner peace.

      These are all forms of a spiritual awakening.  Being spiritual isn't feeling superior or wearing a halo of self-righteousness.  Living fully is seizing the joys the day offers while being practical and responsible, too.

      A spiritual awakening involves enjoying the beauty of living in the here and now, not tinctured with bitterness, fear or self-loathing.

      It is sharing life with emotionally healthy friends.  It is spending time with loved ones and family.  Connecting with God and life involves luxuriating in emotional safety, tranquility, order, and ease.

       This is bonding of the good kind and having intimacy with others who accept us as we truly are.  We can be ourselves.

      When the above is our reality, we will have an Attitude of Gratitude.

How About You?
In what ways are you enjoying a Spiritual Awakening?

Balance When Relating With Others 6/23/13

 
       Good evening,

I worked today.  I'm beat and tomorrow is my busiest day, and it's going to

"Checking In" Time: Highs & Lows, A Serene Cap to a Hectic Week 6/22/13

The Harbor Bay lagoons of Alameda

          How is everyone?

It was great hearing from several readers in the previous posting. Thank you.  This week has been busy, eventful, challenging, but

The Source For Personal Growth, And, Being Silent Doesn't Mean We Are Afraid. Boring Isn't Boring. It Means We or Others Are Healthy

     Good evening,

I just arrived at home after being with friends.  When it was over, some of us continued hanging out, heading over to the refurbished Juanita's Mexican restaurant.  Hello to Cheryl.  She said she was dropping by tonight to check out this cozy place in cyberspace for the first time.

My Gratitudes for Tonight:
     I spent time connecting with

Awareness, Realizing the Problem Lies Beneath our Nose, Revisited 6/18/13

Stinky stuff

     Good evening everyone,

The following I wrote August, two years ago.   Let me know your response.

******

      How you be?  Yesterday was a humdinger of a day, but good.  Life has been rich and full this week.  I thank God for the learning opportunities He provides.

       One of His instructions happened this week, in the laboratory of life.  I witnessed a person in denial.  And nope, that doesn't mean a big river in Egypt. (You are supposed to laugh.)

        Being unaware of areas where our character needs to grow is understandable.  Denial isn't that.  For more clarity on this subject, you can read here.  When we are actively in denial we strongly oppose areas requiring change on our part.  These areas can involve either our thinking or behavior, perhaps both.

Life Doesn't Get Any Better Than Today---Enjoying Abundance 6/17/13

Abundance is not in how much we
 have, but in how much we enjoy. 

   Good late evening everyone,

How was your Monday?  Mine was busy, but good; the weather was fantastic throughout the day.
I can't say my baseball team, enjoyed today. They arrived from Atlanta at 4:00 a.m. this morning, started a game at 7:15 p.m., losing it at 11:50 pm, just now, in the thirteenth inning, after more than four-and-a-half hours of play.

      Normally, I'm

Love, Fun and Connecting With Dear Ones

       Good evening,

What a fabulous Fathers Day.  The good news is that tomorrow will start out well and end even better.   I'm thankful for the love received today.  It's amazingly fulfilling, hanging out with loved ones, taking in special time together.

      We met with friends this evening, having a blast as we played Pit, a card game.  Enthusiastic yelling, laughter, giggling, diving for the last spoon, a roomful of smiles and beaming faces made for an excellent evening.

      The weather was amazing.  Amazing.  It was 75 degrees with a cool breeze.  I'm thankful for Theresa. We gathered at her place for fun.  Man, is life is a joy, when it's shared with our supportive community.

My Gratitudes for Sunday: 
1.  Fun was had and I was loved today.  That always makes for a great day.            
2.  Loving time with family. I am always encouraged when I'm valued. That happened today.
3.  I'm doing better with budgeting time.  I have more ease and serenity, when I allot  enough time to get things done.
4.  I lost something important for work. I have been gentle towards myself as I process the loss.
5.  Tonight, after the evening was over, my friend Stuart and I talked. A rich conversation filled my mind with inspiring possibilities.

How About You? 
    What are three gratitudes you have for today?