Even On Your Worst Day...

"Even on your worst day, there is a possibility for JOY."

That quote is from an episode of Castle. He'd been snooping in Kate's desk and found a stick figure made from beach wood and string and assorted beach stuff. After a bit of bickering, she finally told him the story of the object. Turns out it was from the day of her mother's funeral. She and her dad had been surrounded by friends and family, both of them miserable with the whole affair. Her dad grabbed her and whisked her off to Coney Island. There, still dressed in their funeral garb, they walked the beach, gathering treasures and finding their way into the joy of the moment, despite the passing of her mom, his wife. Together they constructed the stick man and she'd carried it with her since that dreadful/joyful day. Castle asked Kate if the day was "a happy one or a sad one". She replied, "Both." And then she said, "He reminds me that even on your worst day, there is a possibility for joy."

It's one of my favorite episodes. And I never forgot that story. So, one day, I decided to try to recreate that stick man. I keep it on my fridge. As a reminder. It always makes me smile. And then...

Today, whilst sitting at my desk, trying to get started on some work, I heard on of the Yorkies barking. Nothing new. They're a noisy pair. But this wasn't a playful sound. It was clearly a sound of distress. I stopped to listen more closely. Three seconds passed before it registered. I jumped out of my chair and ran outside. There I saw Sophie facing the pool, standing statue still. Bentley was facing his house, barking more intensely. Where's Barkley????

I ran to the pool and saw the poor little fella trying desperately to get OUT. The water is ice cold. He's NOT a very good swimmer. I grabbed him up and ran to his house, hollering for his mama. She opened the door to see me dashing up the steps, holding the poor, soaked puppy at arms length. Both Bentley and Sophie were at my heels. She said, "I kept thinking, why won't he stop barking?". All I could think was, thank the gods for my instincts. And for my ability to distinguish their voices. And for Bentley, looking out for his brother. And for Sophie, pointing to the pool. I was so full of adrenaline at that point, all I could do was hand the dog over and go back to my house.

And then it hit me. I couldn't stop crying. I kept thinking about what might have happened if I hadn't gotten up and went out there to see what was wrong. Or if I didn't have that ability to note the different tones they use. Or if Bentley hadn't done what he did. All those images kept screaming through my mind as the adrenaline worked its way out of my system.

Now, as I've typed these words, I can feel my body relaxing. I can feel my heart resume its normal rhythm. The tears have stopped. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. He's okay. DEEP BREATHS.

What's left is this:

Profound gratitude.
For being able to hear what he was saying.
For listening to my intuition.
For both Sophie and Bentley doing their parts.
For getting out there in time to save that little guy.

 As the calm returns, in my head all I hear is:

Even on your worst day, there is a possibility for JOY.

Magnificent Sublime

I have come to trust the Universe in all Its splendor. I have learned this trust by throwing my arms in the air and shouting LOUDLY whenever the frustration, or fear, or aggravation grows too large for me to handle. In short, when all else fails, I give it up to the U.

I am usually not disappointed.

Having said that, you should also know that I didn't always feel this way. There was a time when I'd fight like a cornered cat to get things done. I'd refuse to give up. I was as stubborn and tenacious as a darling Pit Bull, certain I could fix anything that needed fixin'.

Mostly, the more I resisted, the worse things got.

There are some things that are just not in our control. And mostly, when folks like me get all wanged out over some thing or another, it is because there's something we cannot control. Hence the moniker: Control Freak. Happily, those days have passed and I no longer operate that way.

Yes, Albert, there is order in the Universe.

So, today, whilst toodling about town, running my various errands, I stopped into my favorite pet store to purchase food and a goodie for my darlin'est Sophie. Usually, she'd be with me for this particular errand because: a) they let you bring your puppy/bird/cat/etc. into the store and b) she LOVES the extra attention and the treats she gets when we go there.

                             

Today, I had to leave Sophie home because it was just too danged hot for her to be sitting in the truck. Being the brilliant puppy she is, she has come to understand that when I say, "You have to stay home. It's just too hot for you to sit in the truck.", that's her cue to go into her Puppy Cave and chill. Which she does. Without complaint. She doesn't even make a dash for the door. She just chills under the bed, in full confidence that yes, I will return AND she will most likely get a treat when I do.

She's good like that.

When I walked into the wonderfully air-conditioned store, the manager (darling Ben) greeted me with his usual genuine smile. As did the other lovely woman who works there. It was relatively quiet, so while Ben rang up my purchase, the three of us chatted about my absent Sophie. Which led to a little story about a minor fiasco that occurred a week ago. Laura, the woman, had helped me with a query I'd had about one of the hens. She even called to the Ramona store to get answers for me. So, today, she asked how they were doing. I shared with them the story of said fiasco, whereby the landlady had left the coop door ajar, and two of the hens made their great escape. Of course, Sophie AND the landlady's 2 little Yorkies (scamps, both!) were all gathered 'round the coop. Immediately Landlady made a dash for one of the hens. So did Sophie. And the two Scamps. My heart did a triple gaynor before I stopped, took a GIANT breath, and called for Sophie to STOP. I was sure she was going to kill that chicken. To my great surprise, she did NOT. Instead, she ran around it and began herding her toward me. I could barely believe my eyes. I was calling the chicken (who I've name Miss Vivienne) and also telling Sophie what a good girl she was. Worked like a charm. That dang chicken ran right to me, where I quickly scooped her up and started walking back to the coop.

Meanwhile, Blanca was still running away from Landlady. And the Scamps were running after Blanca. I used my Big Voice, "KNOCK IT OFF!" and both dogs sat down quick as a hiccup. I turned to Landlady and said, "just get behind her. She'll walk right back in."

And...she did.

All the chickens are safe in the coop and Sophie is standing right at my ankle, looking up at me all happy and proud. "Good GIRL, Sophie! GOOD GIRL!"

Back to today: I'm telling this story to Ben and Laura and she starts clapping her hands gleefully. She is absolutely thrilled over all this. Tells me she's got goose bumps. And that she's so proud of Sophie. Both of us are grinning like Cheshires. And Ben is standing there, with my card in his hand, smiling as only a man watching two ridiculous women can. (Actually, he wasn't judging. I could tell. He was merely taking it all in, and smiling at our little bonding moment. Or something like that.) It was one of those moments that makes you happy to be alive.

Just as I was about to leave, Laura complimented me on the hat I was wearing. Mostly, I think, she liked the peacock feathers. I thanked her and asked, "Do you like peacocks?" (who doesn't?!). "Oh yes! They are stunning birds!" I tell her to walk out to my truck with me and I'll give her the one I picked up on my way out of the house. He's molting right now. There are feathers EVERYWHERE. It's like Christmas in August. Gorgeous peacock feathers surround my little house every morning. It never ceases to thrill me.

I can't even begin to tell you how that woman lit up. You'd have thought I was about to hand her the winning MegaLotto ticket. My heart did another triple gaynor. Only this time it was for the Joy that was flyin' around that store. So much JOY!

When we got to my truck, she said, "I know this is going to sound weird, but I SWEAR I know you from somewhere. Like...from some life time long ago. Do you think that's weird?"

"Not at all. I feel the same way. Like we've been friends for eons. I understand."

I handed her the feather, and she immediately teared up. She was overwhelmed by the moment and it showed all over her face. I gave her a hug as she said, "I have no idea why I'm crying! You must think I'm nuts." I said, "No, Laura. You're  not nuts. It's just that we haven't seen each other in a very long time. Don't you think?"

Then, together, we laughed. Long and loud. She gave me another hug and thanked me, over and over. "I don't know where all this is coming from, but it sure is a great way to start the week. You have NO idea how much I needed this today."

As I got in my truck, she stood there, tears rolling down her cheeks and a GINORMOUS grin on her face. Both of us had been lifted, wayyyyy high. Both of us felt that kinship that only Old Souls recognize. Both of us had our faith in the Universe fully restored.

There are no accidents.
Or coincidences.
Or chance meetings.
There is only the magnificent, sublime Universe working Its magick...on all of us.

If only we will allow it.

Yes, my Darlin's. Joy is a CHOICE.

Aftermath

Every now and then, you run into people who seem to thrive on misery. It's one of the saddest things of all. They seem to seek out any and everything that will grow their misery, as if it's their food of choice. Nothing makes them happy. Nothing lifts them up. Even worse is when you run into such a person who has a gift, and all they do is bitch about how painful it is to use it. I've never understood people like this. And I've run into more than my share. (even just three is more than one needs to meet, particularly if one is a Lover of Life)

I ran into one such person yesterday. She lives down the road from me, and has asked me numerous times to stop by and visit. Perhaps my Intuition kept me away for as long as it did. Because each time she'd invite me, I'd make up some excuse why I couldn't. Lies to keep from hurting her feelings. NOT my favorite thing to do. In any case, I kept putting her off. She kept asking. Yesterday, I acquiesced.

The moment I walked through the front door, I knew it was a mistake. I could feel the misery in her home. It was like a dark, heavy, foul-smelling blanket that covered every inch of her space. What could have been a lovely place was filled with regret and anger. She is a painter. Her paintings are quite good. But the whole while she was walking me through, telling of each work, she had nothing good to say about any of it. She spoke of how "hard" it is to create, and sell, and "get people to understand". She bitched the entire time I was there. When she showed me some of her works on her computer, I commented that one was so realistic it looked like a photograph. I meant it as a compliment. BOYHOWDY! Was that ever the wrong thing to say! She launched into a rant about how photographers are NOT artists. Neither are dancers, actors, singers, musicians, or writers. "Art", she said, "is all about pain. So how can you call a photographer an artist when all he does is push a button?"

It took all the restraint I'm known not to have to keep from reading her the Riot Act. It was such a shock to hear her words, I could hardly believe she wasn't teasing me. I had to look in her eyes to be sure. Rather than argue with her, I said, "Well, I suppose it's a matter of opinion. Everyone is entitled to theirs, regardless of how wrong it might be." I don't think she really heard what I said, because she kept right on with her rant. Happily for me, I'd set an alarm on my phone before I went over there. I adjusted the tone to ring like an old-fashioned telephone. I set it for one hour. Right about the time I was losing patience, the alarm rang. I took my phone from my pocket, asked her to excuse me for a moment, and walked into the other room where I pretended to be on the phone. I went back into the dining room and told her I had to go. I thanked her and headed for the door.

As I walked out she said, "I'm glad you came over, even if I don't agree with you." I thanked her again and left. As soon as I was out of sight of her house, I did my Happy Dance. I was (and still am) so incredibly grateful for my Life. And my attitude. And my beautiful, deliciously happy world. I was singing "THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!" all the way back to my house. When I walked through the door, Sophie greeted me as she always does; with full-blown Joy. I jumped onto the bed with her and rolled around for the next ten minutes, laughing and giggling and spilling gratitude all over the place. Oh how thankful I am to NOT be like that.

Today, while I was working on one of my own pieces, I thought about her. I sent a silent prayer out for her. I prayed she might one day see just how blessed she is. And be grateful for those blessings. I prayed she might find her way to more Joy, however small it may be. I said my prayers for her, and then one of my own:

Thank you, Sweet Mother, for ALL the riches in my world. I'm so happy to be happy. I won't dismiss my Intuition next time. I promise!

I guess that sometimes, it's good to have those kinds of encounters. They make for more appreciation. And...a reminder of how not to be!

As always ~
I choose Joy.

GiddyUP, Darlin's ~~~

Trust Your Gut {Pt. 2}

It's enough to make a person scream. The vacillating opinions of so-called nutritionistas (if I say a word and you understand the word, then it's a word. Just look at a dictionary from ten years ago. And then...one from today. All kinds of "new" words in today's. Even if some of them are dumb. Like "selfie". Dumb word. But oh-so-familiar now.)

As I was saying...

The vacillating opinions of nutritionistas whose findings change yearly. First you're not supposed to eat the egg yolks. Too much fat. Then, they tell you, the egg white actually balances the fat of the yolk, so it's now "the perfect food". Or fatty foods. Like avocados. Don't eat them! They're loaded with fat! Next week, avocados are also "the perfect food" because, as it turns out, we need that kind of fat. Or fish. Or bread. Or pasta. The list goes on and on. In the end, you just never know what foods are "good" for you and which ones are gonna kill ya.

Aside #1: Just the other day I saw something that read "eating seven or more servings of fruits/vegetables a day reduces the risk of death by 42%."

Okay...first of all, I don't care how many servings you eat, you're still gonna die. Eventually. Second, why are we so obsessed with not dying? We all know it's inevitable. We all know we can't beat it. So what the f#@! is the big deal? From the moment we're born, we begin the journey to death. It is what it is. Get over it.

So then...back to the food thing.

In the end, if you really are paying attention to your own body, it's going to tell you what's good for you and what isn't. You're going to feel it. If you're paying attention. You don't need a degree in nutrition to understand the fundamentals of good eating. Your cravings? They're telling you that your body needs something that particular food holds. Assuming you're already taking good care of yourself. You know...balanced meals, working out, meditating, and all that jazz.

Balance. Good, basic balance.

In the end...it really is about trusting your gut. In the most literal terms. Your gut houses a plethora of microscopic goodies that really do affect the whole rest of your body. If you balance your food intake, your gut will do the rest. But even if you eat the best foods; organic and fresh and leafy and lean, if you're all stressed out all the time, all that good eatin' isn't going to help. Stress will kill you faster than McDonald's Big Macs (ICK. ICK. ICK.) or drinking a fifth of Jack Daniels every day.

Back to balance.

When folks talk about "holistic" medicine, they're talking about the WHOLE of you. That equals body/mind/spirit. So eating well doesn't mean diddly if you're not taking care of the other two "parts". You don't need to run marathons or meditate four hours a day. You just need to make some time to push your body a bit so it gets all heated up (a little sweat will do) and take some quiet time to calm your mind. Gardening is just as meditative as sitting in the lotus position. Or playing with your critter. Or taking a soothing walk. Anything that will get your busy brain to shut up for a while. That's as much a meditation as anything your local guru can offer.

Get where I'm going here?

Your gut, as it were, is as much the physical stomach as it is your intuition. So trust it. Listen. And take some time to take care of you.

In the end, when death comes a'knockin', instead of being afraid, perhaps you'll meet it with a smile and say "I'm ready. What's next?"

As always...the choice is YOURS ~

Not long ago, we moved into a new abode with brandy new surroundings and some added extras not had in our previous residence. Among those extras is more channels on DishNetwork. Now, being the persnickety TV viewer that I am, most of the stuff offered on TV is, in my not so humble opinion, CRAP. However, as with all things media, there are certainly some choice options too. Anyway, among the newer channels I now have available is Miz Winfrey's OWN. There was a time when I was a huge fan of hers. Then, some things changed (or was it me?!) and I kinda fell off the Oprah wagon. But I still wanted to see what her network was about. And so...

She had this Life Class thing that she was doing; apparently an offshoot of something she'd begun a while back. Among the featured 'guests' were Iyanla VanZant, Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra, and some other folks I'd never heard of. So last night, I'm watching the rebroadcast of Iyanla (I missed it first go 'round), thinking it'd be fun to hear what she had to offer. Now, I don't know if you're familiar with her work but she can be quite fun to listen to. She has a sassiness that appeals to the likes of this Imp. In any case, I'm sitting there watching this thing unfold when I began to get this little knot in my belly. I was acutely aware of it, from the moment it began. So I paid attention, without letting it "grow larger" and continued to listen/watch as she did what she does. Suddenly, as if someone had snuck up behind my chair and tipped it over, I jumped out of my seat and switched the program off. I didn't want to see/hear one more word. I was a bit surprised by the feelings that came flyin' up. And then it hit me: just because this is what she believes does not make it so. We are each entitled to our beliefs, our practices, our choices. And just because hers are not akin to mine, doesn't mean I need to react so strongly. It was an angst that is all too familiar to me. And when it happened, I realized just how NOT in balance I can sometimes be. It really shocked me!

So it seemed appropriate that I share this today. It appears that no matter how "far along" we think we have come, sometimes it's not nearly as far as we might like it to be. Sometimes, stuff like that is a terrific wake-up call. Sometimes...it pays to pay attention!

The gist of all this is: regardless of where you are on your path, or what you have or have not yet done, regardless of whether or not you agree with someone else's truth, the only things that really matter are those things that feel like YOUR truth. There is no right or wrong. There is no test to pass. There is no other (person's) judgment that makes a difference. Only YOU can choose what fits your Life. Only YOU know how something feels to your own Self. Trust that. Trust whatever those voices or vibes or gut feelings tell you. Because, in the end, the Life you live is yours and yours alone. I don't care how "famous" they are. "They" are not YOU.

'Nuff said.

VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

Howdy, Ya'll! Many of you have asked when I might release my book in digital format. And so...
I am pleased to announce the Kindle version of "Whispers~The Often Subtle Sometimes Rowdy Voice of Truth". As of today (July, 28, 2011) you can purchase a digital copy of the book via Amazon.com. (CLICK HERE). AND...since it's digital (which means I don't have to pay for printing, etc.), the price is a MERE $6.95! So...if you've been wanting to read it...and you have any number of new-fangled device, here's your chance!

P.S. I would be tickled to my toes if you'd also spread the word. Tell your friends. Tell your Mama. Tell that crazy lady down the street with 17 cats. Post it on your FB page...and Twitter...and whatever else you do! Thank you in advance for your support!

Wishing you all a splendid day full of your own magickal Whispers!

Peace OUT ~

the Knowing....

Do you remember how it felt "that time" when you were standing at a fork in the road, with a choice in front of you, and you knew, without a stitch of doubt, which choice to make? Standing there, with your desire, pure and joyful and exuberant with the knowing of the choice you would make. Fearless, thrilled to your toes with the Knowing. So excited that you threw your arms in the air and shouted "YESSSSSSSSS! IT'S MINE!" Laughing and dancing and clapping your hands in glorious expectation of your desire come to you.

Do you remember?

Stop for a moment. Stop and pull out all the many experiences you've lived. Find that "one" that made you feel that way. The one that started with joyous expectation, unfolding perfectly, culminating without a single glitch. Even if there is only one. Maybe there are more...but it doesn't matter "how many" times you felt that feeling of absolute joy for the desire come 'true'. Find one or two or seven. Relive the whole she-bang. Get those feelings fired up as if you were living it right now.

Are you there? Can you feel it?

THAT is the stance from which to live your life and the choices you get to make. From that place of exuberance. That place of confidence. That place of unadulterated KNOWING.

Making a choice from any other place is just plain crazy. We all have the Knowing. We've all experienced something so pure that when we recall it, we also remember that there are no mistakes. There are no bad choices. There are no flaws in the system. We all have this Knowing.

And when we use the Knowing to guide ourselves through the zillions of choices we are afforded each and every day, life is nothing short of SPECTACULAR.

This, my friend, is the funnest way to live your magnificent Life.

Whaddya think?

Opportunities ....

Every now and then an opportunity will present itself that is so large, so amazing...as to feel "too good to be true". You know that adage? "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
Well, I've never really considered that adage to hold much merit until recently. And then it occurred to me that adages live long because they ARE true. Go figure.

Anyway, so this opportunity presented itself just a week ago; a pretty amazing offer of "free" living: rent, food, utilities, etc., along with a small stipend and run of the place. 7.5 acres in the mountains...complete with barn, round pen, arena, and all the necessities for a horse. Not to mention that it even SNOWS there! (yes people. it does snow in Southern California.) And I LOVE the snow. Especially if I don't have to go anywhere if I don't want to. Which, of course, this opportunity included. Basically the requirements were minimal: prepare a few meals a week, keep the main house clean, feed a flock of exotic birds each morning and generally look after the place. Not the heavy stuff; they'd have "hands" for that. But the basic stuff. When the offer came, I thought, "HOLY HANNA! How can I say no to THIS???"

And then...I remembered who she was and how she'd treated me in the past. It all came back in large, vivid pictures...along with the feelings that accompanied those past experiences. Not only did I recall all that...but she seemed to be in exactly the same 'place' all these years later. A combative, confrontational, in-your-face kinda woman who loves nothing more than to exert (or attempt exertion) control over any and everyone around her. She prides herself on being "a powerful Aries" woman.

Now, to be fair, let me say that I, too, was very much akin to this woman. We even share the same birthday (years apart, but the same date); and when I first met her, I was in exactly that same space. So, in the beginning at least, it didn't strike me as anything less than a kinship. It didn't take long for me to realize that I'd been completely blinded by my own needs/desires to see the differences. And let me tell you, they were VAST. On the surface, we were very much alike. Under all that...not so much. It was during a time when my own life had been turned upside down and I was feeling rather vulnerable. In fact, I WAS vulnerable. I just didn't realize it at the time. Funny about that whole "hindsight" thing, huh?

So it came to pass that after all these years, she contacted me with this amazing offer. Like I said, at first it just seemed incredible. Live out up the mountains??? With a horse and all that space and a minimum of obligations? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

Shortly thereafter, she called me and we chatted about the whole thing. At last I asked the dreaded question: "How in the world did you manage to buy a $5M property?"

Well, as much as I'd felt apprehension before asking that question, I was oh-so-glad I did. Because the moment I asked, she reacted. Note that I said REACTED. She did NOT respond...and she sidestepped in every imaginable manner, including copping a righteous attitude about my asking in the first place.

That was all I needed. At that moment I saw as clearly as I've ever seen precisely what was going on. I felt it in my gut to the point where it made my belly cramp. No kidding. It was like this enormous punch in the gut...bells sounding, flags flying, sweat poppin' out on my brow. The whole nine yards. And all I could think was "PRAISE ALLAH!!!" My intuition went into overdrive and I hadn't even spent more than a few hours pondering the whole idea. Talk about a freakin' life-saver! WHEW!

I ended up hanging up the phone without making a commitment, one way or the other. At that point I realized that there was a lot of baggage and I thought it might be a good idea to just give it a minute. Shortly thereafter, she wrote an email...and ranted about all the things she'd "done for me". (She even went so far as to say that I'd had a "victim mentality" and couldn't see it for what it was. Hmmmmm.) THAT was the icing on the cake. As I read the email, I could feel the grin slide onto my face, and that warm, fuzzy KNOWING wash over me.

NOT A FREAKIN' CHANCE IN HELL I'M DOING THIS. NO WAY, NO HOW. AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN.

The result of the whole episode was even more remarkable. Because the MOMENT I made up my mind to stay in this lovely place I currently call home I was awash with appreciation for ALL that I have. Including the occasional challenges I face living with someone else. Even though we have entirely separate spaces; I'm in the West Wing...and I mean that literally. The entire western portion of the house is upstairs and separate from his living quarters. The house is built in such a way that it provides complete privacy, from one end to the other. We share the kitchen and they yard, but otherwise, if I don't want to see him, or vice versa, it's easy to do. So on those occasions when I want to shoot him for being who he is (judgments. judgments. judgments.), I can just remove myself and let the moment pass. The space I rent is more than plenty for me. I have 2 bedrooms, one of which I use as my office, a full bath, and a loft that has both a 'living room' and a sitting room, which I use as a sort of breakfast nook. The views are stunning. The light is abundant (large windows in all rooms...all double-paned and well insulated.) There's a swimming pool, a rose garden, a vegetable garden and tons of orange trees. The house itself is on a cul-de-sac so there is no traffic other than those who live here. A total of 9 houses. All very private people, all well cared for homes. In short...PARADISE.

So why in the world would I leave all this? Why would I forgo this Paradise...except for MONEY? Oh sure. It'd be terrific not to have to pay rent or buy groceries or pay all the other monthly expenses we all have to pay to live as we wish. But at what price? Is paying rent worth more than serenity? Or learning the lessons I apparently chose to learn? Or knowing that at some point there WILL BE a disagreement (to put it mildly) that might put me in an even more precarious position? Is free rent/food/etc. worth my PEACE???

NOT IN A MILLION FREAKIN' YEARS.

I've spent the larger portion of the past 3 years learning about illusions. My own, of course. Illusions like "security" and "limitation" and "CAN'T". Illusions that kept me so tightly wound that I was like some kind of dormant volcano ready to explode with the slightest tremor of movement. A zombie with cool cowboy boots and not a clue about what it meant to actually LIVE. I was, for all intents and purposes, a Living Dead. The result of that kind of existence was the decline of my physical wellness. And when it hit, it hit HARD. So hard that I was (literally) immobilized. And when that happened, it woke my little ass UP.

So here I am now...with all kinds of opportunities presenting themselves. Not just the aforementioned opportunity. Many others as well. I have opted to accept some and decline others. Because now I can see that opportunities are there for us to choose, not only what we may wish to have, but also to see that what we DO have is perfect just as it is. In other words: contrast to further define those things that bring us joy.

There are no "once in a lifetime" opportunities. That's a bunch of fear-filled nonsense. Opportunities ABOUND. The only true question is:

Am I choosing through fear or trust?

Ain't Life G-R-A-N-D???!!!

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!