Love

 The image of her is one of trust.  She has the undeniable look of accomplishing anything. Her world is one of a journey full of dreams with stairs made of conquests. Never reaching the top, because that would mean her journey was complete. Her life will unfold with amazing events. some sad, some scary. some will be absolutely amazing. She will stumble and fall but she will always get up one more time than she fell. 

My dear sweet girl, you were born pure and beautiful, the image of God. You are the image of God, that image resides in you. Born of light that was molded into the woman you are today. Shaped by the people  that were shaped by the people before them, and on and on. Shaped by the events that which is called life. How I wish I could have whispered in your ear, letting you know that above all things, you are perfect. How proud I am of your strength. resilience, perseverance, determination, kindness, generosity, and your love of life to name a few. Yes you do have qualities that would be deemed as undesirable but for this intended purpose I'm going to set those aside. 

I want you to know that you will always be safe and loved even though it won't feel like that at times. You will question why this or that happens; just look at what 'this' or 'that' is and you will see you are questioning the 'bad' things. You will feel lost but know that there will always be someone that takes your hand to help you find your way. You will feel sad, cry and grieve but know that there will always be someone there to comfort you. You will laugh with pure happiness, silliness, and overwhelming excitement and will always have someone to share that with. You will question yourself, not knowing if what you will do is the right thing or not. Always have faith in yourself that whatever you do, no matter how it turns out, you will find a way a path that leads to betters things. You are more loved than you can possibly fathom. Truly believe that what YOU want is important, not for any other reason except just because you want it. Don't let anyone ever make you question yourself.  You have a kind heart and an inherent zest for life. You will always see the good in people and some of them will take advantage of this. If anything doesn't feel right, stop and ask why it doesn't feel right?  Follow your intuition, it's there for a reason. You are a bright shining light, so full of life and curiosity. Always wanting to learn, sometimes just for the sake of learning something new. Your heart will be broken, several times, by people; just remember your worth, you are the best thing that ever happened to them. You will grieve the loss of many things, just know you are a strong little girl, and that the hurt you feel will heal. Be patient, it may take, what seems like forever, but it will come. You will look back on your life several times, wondering 'what if'. To tell you how your life will unfold would be unjust to you, that would defeat the purpose of living it. Just know, whatever happens, happens for a reason. Have faith in yourself, keep positive thoughts, always be kind, always be grateful and always forgive. You were put here for a reason, that reason is to shine. You are a bright shining star that illuminates everything around you, keep that thought with you, always. Have comfort in the fact that the future can not be predicted and in reality, shouldn't be. What fun is playing the game if you already know the outcome? 

You are the best thing that ever happened to me. You will always be in my heart, you are and always will be a success story.

 

  

Listen

 Ever feel like life is kicking you square in the butt? There seems to be one person in particular that is always pushing your buttons?  Ah yes, been there, done that.  What, you might ask, is this person's objective?  If we could just figure that out then maybe we could end the continuous nagging.  Our response to this continuous negativity may require some counterintuitive thinking. We can't change this event, but we can change how we respond to it. Maybe the negativity is so bad that help from others is needed, which is off topic. Anyway, This person is making your life miserable but just think if all that they are giving out, they are getting back.  

Say you take what they say and or do, and put it  into the context of where it belongs, they are getting what they are giving. They apparently are not happy and feel the need to make others lives as unhappy as their own.  Keep in mind the phrase "You reap what you sow" and it puts things in a different light. Karma is like a boomerang, a mirror, reflecting back to you what you are as a person.  Do we smile, hold doors open for others, have a positive unwavering belief that we make our own destiny and forgive others?  All of these things lead to a life filled with endless possibilities. We must be kind to ourselves first and foremost though. The self that is the essence of our being, not the ego part of the entity we exist in.  For loving ourselves sends a message to the universe that we are worthy of all that is good. Believe, have faith, that our positive thoughts are creating our good life.  Are we worried or fearful of events?  Those are negative thoughts that will bring negative feelings which creates negative emotions which will lead to negative out comes.

 So, getting back to the thorn in your side. just know that they are creating their own reality by their negative actions. Can we control what they do? Of course not but we can control how we react to it. Staying calm in a storm requires us to be calm right down to our core. Staying in the present moment, the 'right here right now' is key to this. Right now, and now, and now, and now and now. We are standing between two walls, one to our right, one to our left. Over the left wall is the past and over the right wall is our future. So that would make the space between those walls the present moment. We close our eyes, slowly inhale through our nose and slowly exhale through our mouth. FEEL the air as it passes into our nose and out past our lips. This is it, this is all we can control. ourselves. Peace is the silence between thoughts, the pause between the breathe. Being present, knowing we will never come to this moment again should be a wake up call. Listen.....
 

   

Create

 There he was....just as I had envisioned his arrival.

  He had fallen out a window through a loose screen, six feet to the ground.  I wasn't aware of his disappearance until I finished watching a movie and went into the room where is known to perch for hours gazing out the window. I called for him with no response. I began to panic, looking in every square inch of my home calling his name over and over. I noticed the screen in 'his' window was missing.  I ran outside and looked everywhere, calling his name, tears streaming down my face. Had I come all this way to lose him was the question that I was asking myself. 

 I spent the night siting outside watching for him. It was the next night that I saw him run across the lane from my home, toward the neighbor next to me. He was sitting under the vehicle in the driveway.  I went inside my home, opened a can of tuna and went to the driveway where he sat.  I was wary of approaching him to quickly, knowing I would scare him away. I knelt down calmly calling him by the 'pet' name I had given him, moving slowly toward him.  I was within four feet and he came out from under the car and paced back and forth making a sound I have never heard. I believe that sound was 9one of hope enveloped in terror.  I moved within arms length of him and set the can of tuna down on the driveway. He was sniffing the air that was filled with the smell of tuna. He began walking to the can and when he reached it, in a brief desperate attempt to have him back with me, I grabbed for him.  I missed.  Through tear filled sobs of sadness and regret, I saw him run. I sat on that driveway with my with my hands covering my face, sobbing.  

Night after night I walked the small neighborhood with a flashlight calling for him, looking under every car and shrub.  I bought humane cages but he had outsmarted the exit door and escaped.  He never entered any of them again. I was frantic I feared I would never hold him again. 

 I had enlisted the help of9 my small community. It was heart warming to see these people come together to help me find my precious kitty.  Then something odd happened.  Tommie, the neighbor across the lane from me, mentioned he had seen my kitty sitting on the step outside my door, as if waiting to p9be let inside. This gave me an idea; if I could leave the door ajar he may enter.  I put every enticing thing in that entry way. His favorite blanket, his favorite foods, even his litter box. Then I bought a couple of baby monitors. I positioned them so I could see him at two different angles.  I wrapped a thin rope around the door knob and draped it through the entry way into the living room.  I taped the end to the top of the chair so when he did come in, I could quietly reach up and pull the door closed. Night after night, for three weeks solid I watched the monitor, seeing him poke his head up into the doorway, eating the food I put on the step outside. 

 I imagined him, without hesitation, stepping into the entry way, walking through that room, ignoring all the things I put out to entice him in there. I saw him walk through the sliding glass door that remained open the entire time, and into the liv9ing room where I sat waiting to pull the door closed.  Three weeks of watching him come and go, searching everywhere, seeing him laying on the driveway next door, knowing there was nothing I could do to retrieve him.  He had to come to me. His nonchalant walk through the entry way, past the glass doors and into the living room was on a constant loop in my head. Counterproductivke sadness, guilt and regret also occupied my thoughts.

Then, there he was. I was looking at the monitor, watching him walk through the entry way, past the glass doors and into the living room.  It was exactly how I had seen him in my thoughts. I sat staring at it, was this really happening? He was behind the chair I sat in, I froze not believing what I was seeing. I suddenly remembered the rope I had taped to the top of the chair. I reached up those six inches and pulled. The door slammed shut and I heard a scream from my sweet kitty.  I calmly walked to the door, keeping the rope taught.  I pulled the door closed.  He was safe, he was behind the couch crying.  I stood in the center of the room doing the same thing.  It took him a bit of coaxing to come to me. He remained at my side for weeks afterwards. Never letting me out of his sight.

My whole point of this event in my life is to share how powerful our thoughts are.  I imagined him walking into his home the exact way that he actually did.  If my doubts and fears weren't added to this, his arrival would have been sooner. Let's not forget the coincidence of Tommie telling me what he saw in the wee hours of the morning.  Serendipity, fortunate accidents. Tommie and my continuing loop of my kitty's walk into his home brought him back to me. I brought him to me.  He is the proof that our thoughts are our reality.

The more you think about something the more you draw it to you.  

Journey

 Life is a journey, each moment is a gift that will never be recreated in the same way again. Life is a series of 'tasks' that are checked off but that list is constantly added to, or it least it should be. 

Think about that for a second from a baby's view point. They have a 'to do' list, they just don't know it. They go from just laying around to creating a smile, that smile leads to a laugh. The laying around goes from turning over to to crawling, to walking. I guess I'm getting a little off track here. 

I heard a series of struggles others had in their life, that were intertwined with other people as well as myself.  How odd it is to think that my struggles are so different than theirs.  They are all the same wrapped in a different design of wrapping paper.  What the outcome from these struggles is entirely up to oneself.  Positive thoughts will play a really big part in it. What have you been telling yourself all day?  That he or she is a pain in the butt, well guess what? You just told yourself that YOU are a pain in the butt. Self talk is powerful. Being mindful of those thoughts is something you can cultivate.  Is your  life a series of unfortunate events? Day to day crap that you wish would end. It can end....change the way you think and you will change your life. Stumbling upon this insight was a complete act of serendipity, 'fortunate accidents'. I remember the exact moment of this and how my life has unfolded since then. The coincidence's and thinking maybe there is a reason for why and how life happens. Stepping back and looking at life events with the realization that life is merely a series of events that we shape with our thoughts. Okay, okay, this is sounding pretty bizarre for you right?  That being said, how many of us stubbed our toe then dropped something in the toilet then find the internet was out and on and on and on.  Yes, it was your thoughts, well the internet thing may have been caused by the storm last night.   Anyway,  life is a journey. It's not about what happened in the past or what you think might happen in the future, it's about the ride. The ride is created by oneself.  If we feel like we're 'stuck' on that ride, it most likely is because of fear. What self talk are you having with yourself? Our you trying to predict the future by telling yourself that you 'can't'. Well guess what you won't be able to because you just told yourself that you can't. Telling someone "Don't forget your lunch (or whatever) is heard by their brain as 'forget'. Try it sometime and watch what happens. Telling yourself to 'remember' something is a much better way of remembering it. 

Okay, we're all thinking but...and yes, I can see that.  The word 'but' should be one of many words taken out of our vocabulary. Say a sentence right now with the word 'but' in it.  What came after that word?  I'll bet it was based on fear or trying to predict the future, right?  We have to recognize what we have control over and what we don't and be okay with that.  The next time something happens in your life that is unpleasant, sad or whatever, ask yourself if you have any control over it? Are you actually capable of doing something about it? If so than do it, if not than let it go. Remember that your response, good or bad will come back to you. You get what you give. Whatever your thoughts are, will come back to you. Our thoughts are literally creating our lives.

Wishing someone well or wishing someone ill.  What ever it is will come back to you. This great gift of knowing this came to me by accident, serendipity.  I saw a glimpse of this from conversations with two other people.  One said she couldn't explain it, we had to find out on our own, the other delved deep into this concept with me.  Both acknowledging the mere idea of our thoughts being mirrored back to us would seem a bit strange to most people. The friend that shared this profound concept with me, said this positive mindset, would be seen, I wouldn't need to explain. Let me ask those of you who caught something in my last sentence. The word 'wouldn't'. I just told you that I 'would' need to explain it because our brain only recognizes the word before 'not'. Okay, way to much information here.  My whole point of this lies in hope that we all know how unique and different we are at the same time. How our life unfolds in unexpected ways as a journey, not a destination. Matching our thoughts to what we want our own life to look like, and that embracing gratefulness for the things money cannot buy. Stay positive and be kind to others. We get what we give.

Thought

 Predicting the future, how often do we do this?  Every minute of every day and it is often followed by fear based solutions. Looking for the right answer to the questions we have most often involves looking at the past in retrospect. We do this or that and the results follow a path that we are certain will turn out the same way. We take a chance, do something out of our comfort zone and suddenly our minds are running a thousand different scenarios as to the outcome.The problem with this is, the future has millions of different variables. Everyday we choose our future with the things we do and don't do.

 You're leaving the house and you go back to get the keys you forgot, one path of your future has changed. We have an infinite number of paths of our one life,  yet don't realize this. Life is not linear, it's expansive. Some of us will be excited. some scared, some with a little of both. It's our mindset that will predict the outcome. We take that, put the past where it belongs, and venture out to something that will literally be whatever we imagine it to be. 

Our mind does not know the difference between what is real and what is imagined. We, as humans, are in a constant state of survival mode. It is ingrained in our DNA.  We constantly seek out comfort and familiarity. When we take a chance, do something new and the outcome is unpleasant, we carry that feeling with us to protect us from similar unfortunate circumstances. So, do we try new things or stay in out comfort zone. To avoid, what could be truly wonderful, is denying ourselves the experience of life itself.  Yes, life can be and will be difficult, it will also be amazing. Life will always follow our lead... always. We are brave enough to take a step into uncertainty and believe, truly believe, that the next step will lead to better things.

 Life is a journey that we are creating with every thought we have in every second of the day.  What we believe to be true is entirely up to us. Trying to wrap our mind around this is futile because we are our mind. We create our life based upon what we imagine. The thoughts of things we have no control over, are they adding to our serenity and taking from it?  Being grateful for what we already have, not because someone else has less, but just because we have it. 'It' being anything and everything. Having undeniable faith that we are creating our life just by thinking. 

When was the last time we actually observed a thought. Stopped and asked 'What was I thinking just now?' That in itself can be a game changer. Was it one of negativity. hate, revenge, unfairness, remorse or one of thankfulness, kindness and love. These thoughts, the negative and positive are shaping our reality. I'll repeat a scientific fact, our brain believes whatever we tell it. It has no perception of what is imagined or what is real. Life will always have obstacles, challenges for every living thing on this planet. We as humans have the gift of imagination, let's use that to our advantage.

Reality

 It was a clear, warm and an absolutely beautiful day for a drive in my convertible.  I just arrived home and as I pressed the garage door opener, I turned my steering wheel to the right as I entered the garage. Grabbing my groceries. I opened the car door and got out.  The door to my home was already unlocked so I knew Maria was there. I entered, walked through the laundry room and into the kitchen. I set the groceries on the island countertop and turned to talk to Maria. Walter was curling his body around her ankles and made my ankles his next conquest. We chatted for a few minutes as she told me how her day went taking care of my home. Walter had made several figure eights at our feet before Maria finally had a chance to leave without tripping over him. 

I walked through the living room to the glass doors that led to the deck. I opened the door and walked outside as the warmth of the sun fell onto my face. I stepped to the railing, placed the palms of my hands on top of it. I closed my eyes and tilted my head back as I smiled, grateful for this moment. The smell of the ocean, the warmth of the sun and the slight breeze was there just for me. I inhaled slowly and exhaled even slower, savoring every second. The breeze could be seen as it brushed my hair over my shoulder and my dress into waves across my knees.  I walked over to my cushioned lounge chair and sat down, placing my feet up on the cushion. I sat there letting the feeling of peace and gratitude wash over me. Several minutes passed and I opened my eyes, gazed at the sky that met the ocean which was reflecting the rays of the sun. 

Embracing the moment. I heard a voice that came out of nowhere and as I looked to my left I saw my neighbors waving. A smile on their face as they walked on the beach letting the ocean water gently touch their feet. I returned their smile and waved back. It was time to go back inside. I entered the living room and Walter jumped down off of the couch and stretched as he slowly approached me. I went to the counter and emptied the bags I had brought in earlier.

 It was time to get some work done, or so it would be called to anyone but me. It was play, not work, as I sat in front of my keyboard and typed.  As I finished my umpteenth page for the day, I walked to the door that led to path made of sand outside. I carefully stepped onto the sand which engulfed my feet at every step I took. I finally reached the ocean front to the sand that was wet from the water splashing over it.  I decided to walk the same path my neighbors had walked earlier, letting the water pour over my feet with each step I took.

 My gaze once fixated at the ocean at my feet, had now risen to meet the gaze of him, the amazing man who is also the love of my life. He approached me  with a smile and outstretched arms  He engulfed me with the warmth of his body, holding me gently. I could feel his breath as it touched my cheek. How truly grateful I am, for this life, for this moment, for every breath I take. For me...

Open

 The confusion we create in our lives is as real as the happiness we create. We create, that is what I've been told. Humans create...music, poems, recipes, a light bulb, paintings, a faster way to get home. We create. 

I'm looking into the sun, it moves behind a cloud, I no longer see it. Is it still there? That light exists in me, not in a physical part of me.  Where does that light exist in me? It exists as me. I am that light. How can a human mind except that concept?

 A million different thoughts drift through my mind. I've read and listened to so many people telling me that their way is the way to discovering this truth. Their way is a human way to do this, how unfortunate  that is all we have to learn from, the teachings of others. I have found the more I learn the more 'in tune' and open I become to what others have to say. I hold onto what resonates with me and I let the rest go. 

I have been taught unconventional {to some} ways of healing the human mind, the human heart, the human soul. These, for me, have been extremely enlightening. How challenging new ideas, new ways of doing things can be, but what a wonderful gift they can be. Letting my life flow, savoring the present moment being as aware as humanly possible., Knowing my 'safe place' is the present moment. No past, no future just a place I can breathe. Knowing if I listen to my body, it will send a signal to my brain that will tell me what is wrong and what is right. Listen. I can hear myself complaining about this or that. My mind dwells on the negative things and my subconsciousness is busy making scenarios to make sure those negative thoughts materialize. Creating a mindset of positivity will make those scenarios materialize as well.  That is what I (we) do, create. I am an artist. you are an artist. My intention is creating a life of beauty and knowing that I'm doing the best that I can. You are the artist of your life...create.