there is no such thing...

There is no such thing as too much gratitude. Did ya know that? Did ya know that the more grateful you are for what you have, the more you will have to be grateful for? Did ya know that when you're in a funk, the fastest way out of it is to look around and find something, anything...to be grateful for?

If you woke up this morning, you have something to celebrate. 

If you have food to eat and clothes to keep you warm, 

you have something to celebrate.

If you are loved, by even just one person, 

you have something to celebrate.

If you've ever heard a child laugh or had a puppy lick your face, 

you have something to celebrate.

If you've ever seen a flower in bloom

 or smelled it's lovely fragrance, 

you have something to celebrate.

There are millions of things to be grateful for, if you will 

just take a moment to look.

I know.

I, too, have had my "moments" when my world seemed so dismal.

Yet, I made my way through and found reasons to be grateful.

It's a terrific little "tool".

It may take a little practice at first.

But if you will just take one second to STOP and remind yourself that you are blessed, 

you are well, you are loved...then you will find the secret to living Joy

 each and every day.

It's all about your choices.

I've said it a million times and I'll say it again....

Joy is a CHOICE.

And gratitude is what gets ya there the fastest.

HONEST!

When Humor Hits the Road

Humor packed her bags and hit the road. She gave no warning. Didn't leave a note. Just up and left one sunny afternoon. Didn't even bother to close the door. Rude. Just plain rude. It's quite possible she ran off with The Muse. Not sure, but seems like they both disappeared around the same time. Probably lounging around some glamorous poolside, sipping Margaritas and having those cabana boys fan them with palm fronds. Little hussies.

When Humor takes off, she doesn't mess around. She takes the whole she-bang with her. Giggles, chuckles, big-fat-belly-laughs, pee-in-your-pants-uncontrollable laughter and every little thing in between. She's quite the little scamp when she walks out. Based on the way she left, without warning and all, I'm guessing she probably laughed her ass off all the way to the airport where her private jet was waiting (and, no doubt, The Muse too).

When I realized she was gone, I did what any 'normal' person might do: I got all pissed off at her. I cursed her. I shouted 'good riddance'. I took all her pictures off the walls. I told myself I didn't need her silly ass anyway. I can do this on my own. To hell with her. I'll show that selfish #!*&!

And then...(isn't there ALWAYS "and then"?!)

Woke up one morning and realized just how much I missed her. Realized it had been a long, long time since I'd laughed so hard that I cried. I missed her silliness and her child-like glee and the way she could laugh even in the face of the most dire situations. I missed her goofy guffaws and her twinkling eyes. I felt the tears roll down my cheeks, and that horrible knot in my gut, wondering if she was ever coming back. Wondered if she missed me as much as I missed her. Wondered how in the world I was going to find her and so I could beg her to come home.

About an hour after I had my cry, I decided that the only thing I could do was let go of the angst and try to remember what it felt like to have her around. To somehow create the feelings within myself to get the laughter back. It took me a bit longer than I'd expected, but pretty soon I was walking around with this giant grin on my face. I was rolling on the floor with my dog (who is a VERY funny guy), telling jokes and working myself into a full-blown giggle fit. It was SO much fun.

Shortly thereafter, I heard her come through the door. She was roaring with laughter, tears rolling down her angel face, with her arms outstretched and the love shining from her eyes. Right behind her was The Muse. Yep. The two of them showed up together, all happy and silly and thrilled to see me. I could hardly believe it. There we were, hugging and laughing and having a party like they'd never been gone in the first place. Even Bruzer (that's my dog) was doin' a dance.

Go figure.

2010....WOWZA!

A brandy new year...and the start of a new decade. Funny how just one second can make all the difference, huh? I've always thought the whole New Year's Eve thing was kind of goofy. I mean..it's just one second. But somehow it seems to matter. To a whole lotta folks. It's the dawning of a new year, which must mean that all manner of new things can occur. And for some, it does.

On the other hand...why must we wait until this one second interval to make anything new? Why must we hold off until the start of a new year to make whatever changes we wish to make? Why do we not do this every single morning?

It seems to me that every morning we awaken is a new beginning. There is an adage:

"With every new day, a new story begins."

I LOVE that.

I keep posted on my bathroom mirror. Every morning, when I walk in there to brush my teeth...there it is. And it ALWAYS makes me smile. Because, for me, it's absolutely true. Every single day, a new story begins. And it's up to me to write that story. Starting with the moment I open my eyes...until I lay myself down to rest. And if I've managed to touch the life of even one person in the smallest way, I have lived a good story for that day.

I realize that there are many who find this sort of thing a bit...annoying. How in the world can anyone be so danged cheerful all the time? Is she on crack, or whut?

Nope. Not on crack. I just made the choice to be happy, regardless of what's going on. Regardless of bumps in the road (which are inevitable), regardless of financial distress or physical impairments or boneheaded fools. Regardless of whatever is going on, it's my choice to either be happy...or not. Even when things seems to be impossibly, ridiculously challenging. Even when somebody gets on my last nerve. Even when the pain is so intense it seems I won't be able to breath. No matter. I get to choose:

Will I let this make me miserable or will I breath my way through it, trusting that this, too, shall pass?

I offer this up, yet again, as this new year begins because I think it's essential to live one's convictions. I believe, with all my Being, that we are here to live joyous, exhilarating lives. I believe we ALL have tremendous, marvelous gifts that can change the world...one person at a time.

So whether you just let someone step ahead in line at the grocery store, or you open a door for someone about to walk in at the same moment, or you simply smile at a stranger...just cuz....you have NO IDEA how much of an impact that little gesture may have on a person's day. Don't underestimate this. It matters.

And so do YOU.

I wish you the most bountiful, healthy, prosperous, happy, incredibly splendid year of your life.

Really.

polishing the ego ~

There is a saying in Buddhist teachings that when we chant, we are polishing the ego. That is to say, we are rubbing away the fears that keep us from living in joy, every moment of every day. The Buddha spent his life sharing the message that we ALL have the power to live in peace and happiness. It is not something that we must struggle to attain. Rather it is our natural state...and we can make our way back to that state with a bit of devotion and a bit of focus. When we take time to spend with our true Self, honoring that Self and listening to it's message of Love, we find this happiness in an instant. The tricky part?...spending the time to actually DO IT.

For all the many philosophies I've studied along my path, there are two that really resonate with me. They're both so similar in their teachings, and the rituals are also very closely related. Not surprisingly, both are also considered "pagan" philosophies (I hesitate to use the word "religion" because they aren't really. Although, many use that word to define them, it's not quite accurate. But I digress...)

In both Buddhist and Native American teachings, the focus is on harmony. Rather than "praying" to some god, both traditions honor Universal Law or The Great Mystery. There is a common thread that reminds us to cherish all Living Beings, stand in Truth, and practice Kindness at all times. Instead of "asking" for help from some All-Powerful Entity, we are urged to embrace our own Power and tap into the Source to co-create our lives. Instead of fear there is joy. Instead of helplessness there is empowerment. Instead of waiting to live, we ARE living.

I suppose one of the (many) reasons I love these philosophies is that they both use sound to raise energy. The Native Americans have those incredibly powerful chants that make me want to dance around with feathers in my hair. Then there are the drums. The heart beat of Mother Earth. The rhythms of the Universe. Oh, how I love those sounds!

In Buddhism, there is the monotone chant. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo...over and over and over. At first, that sound can be a bit maddening (depending on who you are and how averse to 'droning' you may be) But the magick of this chant is in the resonance. It takes on a rhythm that vibrates through the entire body...and on out into the Cosmos. It can be a most electrifying experience. I used to be strongly opposed to this chant...because it made me feel like I was going to lose my mind. But something happened along the way...and now it's an entirely different feeling. One that grounds me like nothing ever has. Between the two (Native American & Buddhist), each has it's own marvelous way of bringing me to some altered state where there is no fear, no pain, no thought whatsoever. A state of BEING.

I suppose I'm sharing all this right now because I'm feeling immense appreciation. I'm feeling like there's nothing in the world that could disrupt this knowing...that all is well and I am 'safe'. The fear and anger that were once the mainstays of my life have all but disappeared. Not entirely (yet!)...but vastly diminished. It's a beautiful thang!

And, because there have been some strong messages from people I love who are pained and struggling, I thought it might be helpful to put this out there...for anyone who might need it. The short of it is:

It doesn't matter HOW you do it. Just find a way and MAKE the time to spend with your Self. A half hour a day will transform your life. Whether it's to meditate or chant or dance or play in the park...spending time with You is far more important than racing around to "get more stuff". If you will commit to spending this time each day, you will see the proof for yourself. In my world, proof is the fuel that keeps my Spirit coming back for more.

But that's just Me.

vascillation ~

there's nothing like a little perspective to get you off your butt, ya know? 'specially when you think you're having a less than stellar day...and then, you hear someone else talk about theirs. yep. makes ya really aware of what you have...and you can see it with grateful eyes. good stuff.

it's not always easy. i know. sometimes, regardless of how hard i try, there's that icky black cloud following me around, threatening to drop hailstones on my head. big hailstones...like the kind that'll dent your car. scary stuff. but the thing is, when i remember that the cloud is there cuz i formed it, i can unform it just as quickly. if i want to, that is. back to the whole 'turn the other way' thang. perspective. perspective. perspective.

yesterday, i had this feeling, all day long, that my friend was not having a very good day. just a feeling in my gut. so, after a while, i called to see how she was doing. the moment i heard her voice, i knew my instincts were right on. (as usual). i also knew that she was trying real hard to NOT tell her 'sad story'...cuz we practice that sorta thing all the time. but in the end, she did...and i was so glad for it. cuz, by the time we hung up, she was feeling better and so was i. funny how that works. more and more i see that one of the best things to do when my day is kinda icky is to call someone else and offer up some sunshine for their day. ya know, it works every time. listening to someone else's stuff takes your mind off your own stuff and pretty soon you're both whoopin' it up and laughing at how silly you're (both) being. that ick? well, it's just an illusion anyway. just like the black cloud.

it's the moments in between...the vascillation...that makes ya crazy if you let it. sheeesh! it's not like we don't have the 'tools' to change our perspectives, or our attitudes, or our moods in general. cuz we do! all of us do. question is, how often do we use them when we need them most? cuz the way i figure it, it's pretty easy to be happy when everything is honky-dorey. it's when the poop hits the pavement that we think it's hard to be happy. but if ya boil it all down to THIS MOMENT...and you look around for just a minute...you can always find something to make you smile. something to be grateful for. something to make your heart do a little dance. if only you'd take that moment, ya know?

i'm pretty sure that all this crapola is temporary. i'm also pretty sure that soon, VERY soon, it'll all be a distant memory...something for me to remember (or not!) as a time when i was asked to look inside and see just how much i have...and how much i CAN...and how many options abound for me to live the best life ever. tell ya the truth....i am SOOOOOOOOOO looking forward to that (distant memory)! for now, though, i'm just gonna keep laughing about it. cuz the only other option is to cry. and what good would that do?

HAAAAAAAAAAAA!