Having Had a Spiritual Awakening While Cycling .................. 5/31/12

If we expect to receive happiness we are obligated to give
happiness. We have no right to consume it without producing it.

        Hello guests to the Attitude of Gratitude Inn,

Yep, I did it again. Tonight, I hit the road on my bike. Am I glad.  I made time, investing in the physical part of me. Enhancing my serenity and expending pent-up energies was both

Guarding Our Emotional Sobriety, Revisited 5/30/12

         How was your day?  I was tired. Then again, I didn't get to bed until 5:00 this morning.  I'm leaving you with something I wrote almost a year ago, June 4th, last year.

Images: "Swiss Mountain Farm" by Tim Blessed, all rights reserved, used by permission.

Guarding Our Emotional Sobriety
      Recently, someone tried engaging me in an argument. I stopped it, cold. I don't care for

Antidotes to Panic ..............................5/30/12

Image: "Countryside: Leafy Path" by Tim Blessed. All rights reserved. 

        Thank you, for dropping by. My, how wonderful it is seeing so many comments from the guests to this inn! I love it. I appreciate your birthday greetings, too. :)

        I've been in the eye of a busy schedule.  Today, I

Celebrating Life: Saturday and Especially Today ..............................5/28/12

If you take a look, you'll see this lovely rose is frayed around the edges. 

         The talk I gave went well, beyond what I could have imagined. More about that, later. I'm still writing about it in another draft.

         Saturday was wonderful, sensational and thrilling.  It was a day of challenge, which I am always up for. Speaking regularly before others is something I've done since fourteen.

         Public speaking is fun. It allows me to wed different parts of me. I love studying. Talking before others allows me to share my research and what I am passionate about: principles that encourage, help and heal others, ideas that allow me to tend to and invigorate roses browned by the stresses of life.

         Communicating before others is a form of drama. This most recent experience was no different. The whole time I'm before an audience, it communicates with me.  And so it was.  I only needed eyes and a heart that truly look and listen.

         After speaking, I was besieged.  People lined up, their hurts, tears, pain, and joy they brought when we visited. For a half hour, I got acquainted with those whose smiling faces I saw when I was on the platform.  Others stood by, trying to glean from the mini conversations I had with each person.  It looks like I have several new clients.

         People are hungry for principles that allow us to surmount our vulnerabilities. For some that are helpful, please click here.

        This is who I really am: a speaker.  Being the innkeeper to this inn is the challenge.  My strength is not writing prose. Give me a subject and I can write outlines in my sleep.  I'm sure you can tell.  Outlines allow me to move from thought-to-thought. I fill in the gaps when I speak.

         It's an entirely different style conveying thoughts, word-by-word, sentence upon sentence.  It requires a different discipline. Writing---as I do here---reins in my racing thoughts, It slows them down.  Writing is labor.  When I speak, my thoughts gallop away, enjoying the beautiful country roads of invigorating principles at a breath taking pace.

         However, the permanence of the written word propels me to plug away and post.  And post.  And post, one word at a time.  I've been under the regimen of writing, daily, for two or more hours, for the past two years and nine months. This is the result of tending to this inn, and when it was located at two previous addresses.

          Being a dutiful innkeeper provides blessings never imagined. I'm growing in an area where I was weak. Thoughts are recorded that otherwise would flit by if they were only spoken. Best of all, I've met new friends---you who cheer the innkeeper with your comments and visits.

Success depends not in how well we do the things we enjoy, but in how conscientiously we perform those duties that we don't. 

                      John Maxwell, Developing the Leader Within You

      I am humbled and thankful for having an amazingly fulfilling profession.  I help people.  Doing so, I love.  It's not my job, it's my joy and privilege. It requires much effort, work that goes beyond my time with those I counsel or teach. The great thing is that I love every aspect of my career and every second of what I do.

***************************

        In addition to giving a talk, Saturday I rode bikes with my youngest son, Josiah.  Afterwards, he and I gathered with friends and my other sons, for an early celebration of my birthday. The big day is today.

        This is the day I emerged into the world in human form.  I celebrate my life and all that is within it, including knowing a loving, gracious, patient, God. I love my family and friends. They are incarnational ambassadors of God's love for me.  I deeply enjoy my work, music, nature, books and the night.

        I have stars to explore, clouds to ride, mountains to climb and books to publish. Thank you for joining me in this journey. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for dropping by the Attitude of Gratitude Inn.

       A happy innkeeper

  P.S.  I'll also let you know something personal about me, too. Let me just say: "a woman."  Is that intriguing?  Did I get your attention?

Not Going Into an Emotional Storm Alone & No Longer Being a Super Hero: Retiring the Cape (Freedom from Codependency) Revisited ..................5/27/12

Have you taken time to thank God? You'll be glad you did     

        I wrote the following not long ago, in February.

       The message is important.  We do not get healed in isolation.  It is a good idea to welcome our needs.

      They are God's way of extruding us into a relationship with Safe People.

        For growth, we need a different consciousness than the one that created our problems. We want to get beyond ourselves.  We don't have the psychological nor emotional distance to heal ourselves.

       Here's the post:

       Wednesday evening I gathered with friends. I'm grateful for the support of dear ones. Speaking of which......

A home in my neighborhood

Not Alone While Weathering an Emotional Storm

        Yesterday, I spoke with my friend Charli while strolling through my neighborhood for an hour. She's in her seventies, whose insights I respect. A notepad, reading glasses and pen were on hand, while I walked and wrung wisdom from this wonderful woman.

        She's the definition of pithiness.  Jotting down her comments helps.  When she speaks, I'm unable to process it all.  

       In minutes, she pours out useful wisdom that takes me a week to digest.  Am I lucky knowing her.  It's been since October since we've connected. 

       I was in dire need and happy when I heard her alert voice at the other end of my call.  It strengthens me, having friends. They set me straight. 

      Time with her reminded me of the value of not living in isolation, within my head.  Charli's comments oriented me after recently slamming into the sliding glass door of an unpleasant reality. 

       The jarring experience of someone who screamed at me, in front of eighteen other friends clouded my perspective the past month.  I didn't want to react to the unpleasant event; responding is better.  Charli's experience, strength and hope was sought.  

        Her insight was appreciated: there was the possibility of seeing the screamer the evening I spoke with Charli. My trusted friend didn't let me down.

       Talking with her, reacquainted me with her humor. Laughing heartily, several times, while we talked was a welcomed respite.  I was concerned by the behavior of the screaming bully. 

        I relaxed, because of my friend's support. 

        Thanks, Charli. I love you and am lucky having your support. You demonstrate the value of not living alone, relying only on my own resources. 

        I'm thankful for the practical help available when in relationship with emotionally mature others. I become a better person. Clearer insights are conjured.  The collective strength of my supportive community is a gift I don't want to neglect.  

         Better responses I learn. Better than any I could come up with, if I were left to my distorted my perspective. All that was required was willingness to admit I'm not God. I admitted my vulnerability. 

         I'm thankful for the emotional and psychological distance Balcony People provide. 

Retiring the Cape 

         The other day, I was with a friend. She was depressed. I watched her struggle to express her needs. It appeared she expected others to intuit what she wanted and provide for her. 

         This attractive woman's slumped-over body screamed despair while she and I were with a crowd of friends. My "rescuer" self wrestled with the idea of taking out my hidden cape of codependency. My saner self  reminded me I'm neither Mighty Mouse nor God. I stayed put. 

          I'm glad I did not react to the siren call of her miserable, depressed expressions. Her desire to get healthier needs to be stronger than my desire to help. Such is not the case.

My Gratitudes:

1. Beautiful Bay Area weather
2. Reuniting with friends at a restaurant, until the late hours of the evening. Nothing beats community, love, shared joy and support.
3. I'm able to write this post; it's great connecting with you.
4. I bought a wonderful toy last night. I got a cyclometer that calculates the distance I ride, the speed---both average and the maximum----during the trip and time elapsed. I love seeing progress. This device will help.
5. This afternoon, a friend and I rode our bike for an hour circling the island town where I live. Afterwards, we discussed healthy ways of handling anger. All of which made for a terrific afternoon.
How About You?  
1. Who aids you, when you need it? Today, Charli helped me. 
2. Who do you seek out, when you're stumped? 
3 Are there any other suggestions as to what a person can do, to get support, while going through a tough time? What works for you?
     I like hearing your ideas; my perspective is limited. 
    
    Have I told you I'm glad when you drop by and sign the registry to this inn by commenting, sharing your gratitudes and saying hello to the innkeeper?   :)

Update

   I hope you had a terrific Friday.
My Gratitudes:
1.  I was able to mention my concerns I had in a relationship with someone. He heard me out. I am grateful for the respect he showed and his cooperation.
2.  I look forward to speaking early Saturday morning. I enjoy the adventure of talking before a new audience at a new venue. I'm thankful for the confidence I have about this opportunity. I'll be sharing on a subject that is dear to me: gratitude.
3.  I had a good session with someone this afternoon.  I like seeing the learning and growth that this person is going through, as a result of our time together.

Wishing you the best,

Pablo

Time With Family ...............................5/25/12

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. (Mahatma Gandhi)

         Good morning,

I just got in. I spent the evening with my oldest son. We miniature golfed, followed by

Kindness Pays ...............................5/23/12

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may
 never be enough. Give your best anyway. 
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.”
Mother Theresa

      Good evening,

How was your day?  I'm weary. A busy day was had. I had someone negotiating with me over five cents.  Can you believe that?  "I'm a businessman and

Riding, Walking Through Fear. Also, Putting Our Job On Probation ..........5/22/12

To understand the whole work of the Master is not in my power; but to do His will 

as written in my conscience is, and when I do this, then I am at peace. (Leo Tolstoy)

Image: "Elderberry and Swan" by Tim Blessed.
 Copyrighted photo, used by permission.

      Good evening,

Today, all of the conditioning I've gotten from bike riding the past few months was

Serenity: Balanced Living .............................5/21/12

Image: "Countryside: After the Rain." by Tim Blessed.
 Copyrighted photo. All rights reserved. Used by permission. 

      How was your day?

Monday is my day off. I needed it. Tomorrow I have