Living a Thankful Life

I opened my autumn 2011 edition of the INNERWORDS MESSENGER, a Newsletter to Spark your Inner Journey by Suzanne Harrill, M.Ed that magically and pleasantly appears in my mail box each season. It always provides such insightful and thought provoking articles and goodies that I always read it through right away. This edition holds true to the Newsletter and got me to delve in right away to read about Awareness. All of the articles are powerful and captivating.

Expand Your Consciousness to Change Your Life, is the title of the first article. Hmmm, let me check this out! As I read and re-read, I began to share the articles and the Newsletter with different people. The article below, Living a Thankful Life is from the Goodies Section. I am sharing with you, my Blogosphere family. Check out Innerwords and subscribe to the Newsletter, I think you will enjoy it too.

Living a Thankful Life

Heavy rains remind us of challenges in life. Rather than ask for a lighter rain, seek a better umbrella. That is attitude.

When flood comes, fish eat ants and when flood recedes, ants eat fish. Only time matters, just hold on, the Divine gives opportunity to everyone!

Life is not about finding the right person, but creating the right relationship. It's not about how we care in the beginning, but how much we grow and nourish one another in a relationship.

Some people always throw stones in your path. It depends on you what you make with them - wall or bridge? Remember you are the architect of your life.

Every problem has (n+1) solutions, where n is the number of solutions that you have tried and 1 is that you have not tried. That’s life.

‘Search a beautiful heart, not a beautiful face,’ because beautiful things won’t last forever, and a golden heart does always.

It’s not important to hold all the good cards in life. But it’s important how well you play with the cards which you hold.

Often when we lose all hope and think this is the end, the Divine whispers, ‘Relax dear, it’s just a bend, not the end. Have Faith and have a successful life.’

One of the basic differences between the Divine and human is, the Divine gives, gives, gives and forgives. But human gets, gets, gets and forgets. Be thankful in life.

Thank you Suzanne Harrill! I am thankful for you and your inspired words.

Anticipate the Harvest

The take away message from a recent Sunday sermon resonated with me to the point that I wrote out the three points and pinned it on the wall of my tiny office. – I spend a lot of time there. Each time I enter the room I see the note and take stock. I check to see if I have been on task for the day or the time period since I last entered the room. As simple and commonplace as each item is, they each and together evoke a powerful emotion and call to action that brings comfort and a measure of satisfaction. The words: Attend, Anticipate, Appreciate have been reminding me to take time to do, to give and to recognize with gratitude.

I think about the words in this way:

Attend - brings to mind taking care OF ….. This also reminds me of  Notes from the Universe which has a tag line of “thoughts become things…..choose the good ones.” Attend in this case gives me a sense of calm and deliberateness that drives caring and touching others, taking the time to prepare myself and present myself as a tool for others.

 

Anticipate – The minister said, "anticipate the harvest." Harvest in terms of the rewards from the attention one will pay to the daily encounters and situation or nurturing of self so that you can share the value with others. When we are 'together', we can and will realize the goodness and the grace we receive as reward for our conscious actions and deeds.

Appreciate - One of my favorite Bible verses, Give thanks in all things.... which a friend translate as "thank Him any how," I always remind myself  or share often. I find it comforting even when I feel disappointed about a result. We often hear the phrase …nothing is promised or tomorrow isn’t promised to us. We must do our best with what is in our control and our path. If we do good or right we can anticipate a measure of satisfaction or reward that gives us strength and resolve to repeat the deeds.

Be grateful for all things, find Grace in Small Things, which are blessings, whether we believe we are deserving or not. Blessings can blow our minds in various ways but being grateful will gives us rest.

Thank him anyhow... Anticipate the Harvest!

Fate on a Fateful Day! Remembering 9/11/2001

I reported to the office instead of heading to a meeting that was scheduled at 2 WTC on September 11, to avoid spending time with an associate who I felt was too clingy. My colleagues and I looked out the window and exchanged niceties of the past evening and talked about the day ahead, sipping our coffee as per usual. It was a beautiful day, sun high in the sky, a breath taking view of the city sky line and the Twin Towers. As we looked out into the city finishing up our coffee, suddenly the mood changed. We gasped…. “Oh my gosh that plane hit the tower!” “What in the world! ….how long have that thing been there,” one of us said. “Didn’t that pilot know or have the flight pattern…” oh no! We were aghast staring wide eyed at the scene in shock.

As we screamed and motioned to others on the floor that a plane crashed in the Twin Towers, we scrambled to tune the radio to learn what was going on. As the news spread through the office and we looked on exasperated….. “Oh, oh no… another plane hit the other Tower.” “What the hell….” 1010 WINS kicked in and John Montone, I believe said, New York is under attack…….. What we saw as a horrific accident was now clear, not an accident but a deliberate act of terrorism. Oh no, it’s no accident... it’s a terror attack on New York City. “Dear God, what’s happening,” someone in the room said as we watched the flames and smoke rise in the sky.

Needless to say shock, panic, awe, grief and fear kicked in. I gasped again, oh my God; my daughter is in school in the city. Now all our attention now turned to reaching out to family and loved ones to check in, spread the news, breathe, strategize ……. the rest is history.

I called my husband, with all the calm I could muster and said, “Two planes just flew into the Twin Towers, I just watched it out the window. You have to go get the kids. I will stay on the phone to reach the school in the city.” At the time the other kids were in the Bronx. I was numb.

I was frantic as I was unable to reach my daughter by cell phone and the school phone was incessantly busy. I couldn’t panic. I had to stay calm to learn what was happening and how I could get to my daughter. My husband went to get the kids in the Bronx while I tried to reach the school in the city. I was back and forth on the phone with my husband asking if I had gotten through to the school. He was also calling the school from his cell phone, with spotty service, and with no luck. I had to keep him calm and distracted from wanting to go downtown to get our first born. Finally I got an answer from the school and was reassured that the school was OK, it was in the 90’s and the children would be kept in the building and cared for until further notice. I hurriedly relayed the information to my husband. Some relief! I could breathe now. My mom got through to me around 11:30 and frantically screamed my name twice and asked where are you, where are the kids, is everyone alright. “Yes, Ma, we’re OK,” I said. I had to be calm for her too. She would be the relay to the rest of the family.

We were glued to the radio in the office listening to all of the damage and devastation in the city. I kept praying, Lord, be merciful…spear and comfort those in harms way. Comfort the parents and the children and grant us peace.

I have mixed emotions about not making the trip to the city that day but not looking beyond but being grateful that I followed the urge to avoid the meeting. I am forever grateful that I was far away from that place, yet sad and dismayed for all those who were in and around the Twin Towers. My constant prayers and well wishes that grace and peace will abide with you, who suffered the unbearable losses on that fateful day. May you find comfort in their memory and grace. As the years go by I am forever grateful for the blessings and divine intervention that kept me away. I am grateful to my colleagues who consoled me that day; those hours of tyranny.

It is my fervent hope that whatever the reason or the purpose I have to fulfill, it will be done and it will make the difference for those who it is intended. My fellow New Yorkers, I embrace you with love and peace, the peace of God that passeth all understanding, may it rest with you and yours forever. And as we commemorate this day, this year and years to come, may the goodness of the universe give you rest.

As You Like it!.....or not.

My friends, as you know I have been absent from this space for some time but I am still around. As I visit the Blog Space and contemplate re-entry, I have the desire to engage but as time go by and life happens, the winds of change blows in the direction that makes coping and survival occur in the best possible way. And in this case it can take us not necessarily where we want to go or want to be, but where we will go and we must stand and play. All the world's a stage!

As I think about all of this and what I think my days ahead will be like, I am reminded of my all time favorite poem and reality check from Shakespeare, As you like it! All the World’s a stage. Of course I have decided once again to take solace in the lines and focus on what life brings in this season and determined to make the best of it. So, I go on with the knowledge that all things, and people, have a time and a ‘place’ and like it or not, (know what “it” is or not) we will all go through to the destiny. “Just let the universe show you the way!”

I am hoping that this new season will be grand for me and I will be present here to share and reflect with you, but in the mean time read on, below, and take heart. I am well and I am grateful for this space and for you. See you again, soon. And for now, and for You,

Shakespeare’s As you like it!,……or not.

All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players:

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.

And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel

And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,

Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad

Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,

Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,

Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation

Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,

In fair round belly with good capon lined,

With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws and modern instances;

And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts

Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,

With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,

His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide

For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,

Turning again toward childish treble, pipes

And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,

Is second childishness and mere oblivion,

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

 To my friends and colleagues in the academic arena and calendar, I wish you all a wonderful year.

The Passing of Time and Friends

What is time? Why does it go the way it does: fast, slow, quick, slow. So interesting, right! Time comes and goes whether we want it to, like it to or not. I guess it’s one of those things we cannot control or can we?! It’s a choice, isn’t it? We can try to take the bull by the horn and break it, you know settle it down so that we can keep up with it. It’s just not that easy while it’s in motion.

I haven’t had enough time to do all the things I’ve wanted to do, needed to do and should do, even though I’ve wanted to and think about doing. Touching base; saying hello, making a phone call, sending an email, the little but very important touchstones of life. I just haven’t had the time or made the time to do them as much. OR perhaps haven’t the presence of mind, will and determination to just do it!

I attended the funeral today of a friend of over 20 years. He was a staff member in an organization where I directed a program in the mid-‘80’s. We remained friend’s years after I left the organization. He was caring and very available to help and give counsel and offer support. Our families were friendly; we each had two daughters earlier on, and kept in touch through birthday parties, graduations etc. For the past several years I was more in touch with his wife, Jill, than he and haven’t actually spoken to him in about 3 years.

He was a very peculiar person and sometimes even stoic. He was fine knowing I was in touch with his wife and would comment that I chose her over him so he had nothing to “say” to me. Anyway he was a good friend. He was giving and direct and sometimes unforgiving but he would explain his position and made peace with it. He loved music and played the steel drums beautifully, it was his passion. Food and kids were also his passion.

He had very distinct ideas and beliefs and there was no convincing him otherwise. He could accept his decisions and move on never giving a thought to soften his position or appease someone who disagreed. He was unpretentious and comfortable in his skin. He was authentic. When I badgered him about being hard nosed he would say, “You take me as I am or leave me. I’m cool, I can live with myself.” I have to admit he was solid.

He died of a massive stroke because of hypertension. He believed that he could take care of himself better than any other person so going to the doctors, taking medicines, chemical compounds, were not his thing. He had remedies that were better and could fix whatever ails him and that would be that. Well sadly, that was that.

So could I have made an impression on him to get checked and take the prescribed treatment had I been in touch? Could I have been able to prepare the family for this outcome was I more involved? Would I have gotten a goodbye hug more recently that says to him that he is loved, take care? Well who knows? I am not beating myself up about this, it is just a reflection. Really, who knows?

One of my goals this year is to stay in touch and more engaged with friends and family. This certainly gives pause for me to actualize it every chance I get. The girls and Jill will be in my prayers and thoughts and in my way through out the year. Stay strong my friends, we are with you.

My friend, rest in peace. Thank you for your friendship and your love.

To his family: may, the peace of God that passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

2011, An Opportunity to Start Again

I welcome 2011 with open embrace, gratitude, excitement of anticipation and hope. I embrace the opportunity to start over, one day at a time.

This New Year gives me the opportunity to pause and redirect myself, my attention, relationships and desires in a way that will yield the fruits of the spirit, personal growth and achievements. It’s new, it’s fresh, it has endless possibilities and potential and I can choose how and what to engage with and attach to and explore and give to and of myself and enjoy.

I don’t have to take along or try to fix the failings, baggage, the disappointments and losses of 2010. I will forgive, be thankful, acknowledge, appreciate and be grateful for being on the other side of 2010. I am moving ahead with the memories of lessons learned, friendships formed, challenges faced and graces given to strengthen and enrich how I will live and love and play in 2011.

I anticipate abundance of grace and will seek to shine my light and love in the world. To care for me and my household and all that is given. Seek to understand and fill the longings of my soul. Be bold and rejoice in the present. I will look for goodness and give kindness and know that I will be better for it. I will follow the calling of the universe of goodness, boldness, truth and faith.

I embrace 2011 knowing that my life will be richer, healthier, bolder and full of joys and love and beauty as I seek to be good, stand strong, be purposeful and content.

To all of you who have been my inspiration, confidant, supporter, loves and friends, I salute and welcome you on this journey of 2011, side by side with me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart! I count on your continued support, your wisdom, your truths and your understanding. I will stay in the present.

Happy New Year! May all your hopes and dreams be realized throughout 2011.

In hope, in love and in faith. Welcome 2011!