The Fortune in Friendship

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive; and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born!​”

— Anais Nin

Isn’t it amazing how with over 7 billion people on planet Earth we can all come together on a single shared journey? Along the way, we are fortunate to cross paths with those special people we call friends. Can you think of a friend who has brought fortune into your Life?

As I reflect upon my Life, I see that my experiences have been enriched by the people I’ve met along the way. 

One of my childhood friendships spans over 55 years of memories, shared adventures, & Life events. From kindergarten to becoming Grandmothers, my friend & I continue to celebrate our bond of mutual affection! We know a world that birthed our mischievous antics as kids, as well as, our love affair with horses. 

There were those special friends who navigated high school with me. Through the challenges of adolescence and the adventures of defining ourselves with our place in the world, we thought we were lost.

It is the serendipity of friendships that stimulate a new culture within us. 

The sub-culture of college in the 70’s was a new world. I believe it was one of the most exciting & revolutionary periods of our history. With the influence & encouragement of friends, I leapt blindly into taking risks to experience Life with a fierce new resolve! We rocked the world together rallying to support a cause or nursing a cure.

Each of my friends represents a new world of fortune within me. Each fortune I have received has been unique & priceless. 

Probably one of the greatest fortunes I have experienced are the friendships born on my path of sobriety. The world of recovery is a common arena where unlikely companions find support & new hope for their destiny. It is “living in the solution” with others that truly makes the difference.

And in recent years, I recognize those friends who have met me in grief. As we support & allow each other to experience loss & then acceptance, together we find promise of a new world. . .

PONDER THIS:

Can you think of a friend who has brought fortune into your Life?

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Cultivate Personal Peace

“When we love ourselves, we don’t hurt ourselves and we don’t hurt other people.”

— Louise Hay

Whether these words hit home on a personal level or are far reaching in a global perspective, Louise Hay’s message is clear & powerful.  

The recent tragic events in Paris have annihilated our sense of safety and our ability to comprehend such darkness.  We look out there to our humanity in disbelief & fear while we struggle for answers. How can we end this madness? What can one person possibly do?

For some, the impending Thanksgiving holiday generates a similar trigger of restlessness, sadness, or anxiety. Both of these events can contribute to that disconnected place where we feel powerless.

We may find ourselves straddling between thoughts of oppressive holidays in the past and anticipating what this years’ gathering might hold. Our focus is out of whack ~ out of alignment.

In dealing with any disturbing or uncomfortable experience, each of us has the power to make a difference. The peace & charity we want in our lives & in our world begins with loving & accepting what is…  

When we treat ourselves with Love & kindness, we can demonstrate compassion to the world.

When we let go of judging ourselves from our limiting beliefs, we can practice allowing others to be who they are.

When we let go of unrealistic expectations of ourselves & others, we find a peaceful presence to experience the gifts of the moment.

When we acknowledge our feelings as they surface, the intensity of their energy can dissipate & move out. We can trust ourselves & our awareness.

When we let go of our resentment, we become willing to forgive. 

And when we forgive ourselves & others, we can celebrate the freedom that comes from Love & acceptance.

Ponder This:

What are you willing to let go of to cultivate your personal peace?

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

A Thankful Voice

“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.”

— Jean Baptiste Massieu

Since I was a kid, I have enjoyed writing as a way to express myself.  Journaling, jotting down quotes, & recording mental insights have always brought me home. Home to where my heart remembers, home to the present.

The format of an acrostic poem has been a favorite of mine. I love the structure it provides to focus my thoughts & script my message. As I turn my attention to this month of November, I “see” the word grateful.

GRATEFUL

G ~ Gratitude is a choice, an attitude, a practice. It is a “state of being,” which has its roots in the present ~ where God exists.

R ~ Running water invites me to be present. In taking my shower or washing my hands, I focus on & honor those who cannot enjoy this luxury.

A ~ Acceptance illuminates & expands my present consciousness. It unleashes my resistance & allows me to flow effortlessly in the rhythm of Life.

T ~ Trust is the venue where truth shines light. It’s a place on a dark path where I can stand in faith. It is my memory of connection & the voice of my inner wisdom.

E ~ Energy = Life. Spirit. Movement. Passion. Power!

F ~ Freedom to be authentically me. Free to show up, contribute, & receive love from my family, friends, furry companions & Mother Nature.

U ~ Unlimited. Infinite possibilities & potential. I create my Life how I want it to be from my own perspective of the present moment.

L ~ Love is all there is right here, right now. Abundant, consistent, & unconditional. And because you’re right here reading this, I hold you gratefully in my heart!

Ponder This:

When you think of gratitude, what does your heart want you to see?

If you'd like, please share in the comment section below.

Impatience is a Clue

“When I feel impatient - it is because I have a powerful desire - that I haven’t come into alignment with yet.”  ~Abraham/Hicks

Impatience. I know the feeling. In fact, impatience has become a driving force & a weighted anchor in my Life. Feeling impatient can be nerve wracking, frustrating, & annoying.

When I feel impatient, I hold my Breath. Impatience is where my “mistrust of Life” lives. When I experience the feeling of impatience it is because I am unsatisfied with some aspect of my Life in the moment.  

I need to get beyond what’s limiting me. And the more I need to “get there” the more impatient I feel. The more hurried I get, the more behind I become.

My feeling of impatience surfaces in a response to my ego. I “need” something I don’t have yet. Whatever I want is not coming to me fast enough, in the way I want it to, or in a format I can recognize. 

Louise Hay tells us “that everything happens in the perfect time/space sequence.” When I resist this idea, I project my focus into the future. I desperately want what’s out there to be here now. Maybe I’m just not ready to experience that yet… 

Pay attention the next time you notice you are feeling impatient. What are you feeling impatient about? What message could this feeling be offering you? 

Could it be a clue to some unrest that lies within you at the moment? Could you make a decision to “let go of needing” whatever that is? Give yourself permission to be patient with yourself and the situation.

PONDER THIS:

What is one situation in your Life where you felt impatient and later recognized what that impatience was showing you?

If you'd like, please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Trust Your Good

“Everlasting happiness is based on a basic Trust that your Life is not happening to you; it is happening for you.”  ~ Dr. Robert Holden

How very simple Life might be if we could trust that everything really does happen for our highest & greatest good. When we deem what is happening as positive or pleasant, it is easy to believe this quote from Dr. Robert Holden.  

But what about when our lives seem to be catapulting out of control? Or when the other shoe has definitely dropped and there seems to be no light at the end of our tunnel? 

How could these seemingly negative or challenging situations be to our benefit?

All of us experience Life.  And Life is comprised of events, situations, relationships, & circumstances.  How we respond to our Life creates the quality of our experience.  

Take a moment to conduct a quick review of your Life. Focus on remembering those big things, those monumental shifts in your journey.  What do you notice being the end result of the upheaval, trauma, or illness? Where has this experience taken you?

Again the quality of our experience rests in our thoughts & the choices we make.  If we are stuck in looking outside ourselves for validation, love or success, the world’s offering will always fall short.  

If we look for someone or something to blame for our unhappiness, we will continue to attract more evidence to justify why we are so unhappy.  And in the meantime, we are incapable of seeing any of the gifts or support that is being presented to us.

Living from a victim consciousness fuels the belief that we’ve been singled out to suffer. Life is unfair and we are being punished.

When we come from a place of gratitude we experience a Life of trust.  We slow down our focus to the present where we can recognize ways we are indeed, being taken care of. 

We live from a firm belief in the reliability, the strength, & the truth of Life to care for us.  We experience faith & confidence in whatever is happening to offer us an opportunity to see, to choose & to grow.

“When the bird lands on a twig, it does not worry that it might break, it Trusts instead ~ in it’s ability to fly.”  ~Anonymous

Ponder This:

What is one of the greatest gifts you’ve been given through hardship?

Share your experience in the comment section below.