Line of the Day...

I was reading for a fairly regular client today.  She is a wonderful person. She's highly educated. She's kind and giving. She also has one of the most negative attitudes I have ever encountered when it comes to her love life / romance. She sets up land mines for herself left and right.  She is a really good example to me.  Every time I read her, I am shown in yet another way how fear can prevent us from having so much good in our lives and relationships.  Today she was in a particularly argumentative mood.  I would answer her questions honestly and she would come back at me with some fear based reason why she thought that what I was saying was wrong. This went on and on and on and on and on .... so I finally said:

"You know you're arguing with everything I say today."  She responded with, "I am not!"

I love my job!  I love my clients!  I am thankful for the lessons that I learn while doing my job on a daily basis.

Gratitude Time

It's a cloudy, chilly Sunday morning in my world.  Everyone is healthy in my house and I'm feeling good about this day.  We are having a fish fry later to celebrate the birth of one of my children.  I love other people's birthdays!!!  So I have quite a bit to be thankful for today.  Here goes:

1. Birthday celebrations


2. Perfect health


3. Cloudy days


4. Warm slippers


5. Catfish

Your turn !!!!

Gratitude time!!

It's Gratitude Time !!!!!

1. Sunshine


2. My perfect health


3. That my male cat is better today and has been playing hide and seek with me...I missed playing with him while he was sick!


4. Directv


5. My human senses

Your turn!!

Silence.... fin.

I like to talk. A lot.  I like people to talk to me and I like to talk to them.  I like sounds. I talk to my cats, myself, the animals outside, people around me ..... I just like to talk.   So -- my vow of silence is OVER!!!  It was a success.  I didn't talk for a while.  I saw how much needless stuff I say / post.  I learned I love to talk to beings around me.  I am GRATEFUL for the ability to communicate...like immensely grateful for that!

When I called my cousin to talk to her, she said, "I'm surprised you lasted as long as you did!"  I guess that means the people around me KNOW I like to talk.  Chuckle.

I'm glad I did it.  I doubt I'll do it again.  I would recommend it.  So TALK to me !!!!  What did I miss in YOUR world ?

A really good blog by James Van Praagh (Poet and didn't know it)

This morning I was reading one of my favorite sites - Heal Your Life - and I came across a new blog by James Van Praagh.  Check it out RIGHT HERE and check out the whole Heal Your Life site as well while you're over there.  It's free and loaded with lots of goodies for the soul!!

 

Day after Thanksgiving.....

 

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There is no commercialism involved. I don't walk through stores listening to Thanksgiving music. I am not inundated with Thanksgiving commercials. I don't have to buy anything. I don't have to dress up or show up anywhere. I am NOT expected to go to church. It's just lots of food, family, friends, and football. What a GREAT day !!!!!!

I love the day after Thanksgiving as well.  There is this peace and calm that comes over my world.  I do not do Black Friday shopping.  I stay home, work, eat left overs, take a nap and enjoy the peace of the day.  I also bask in the things for which I have to be grateful.  So here is today's gratitude list:

1. Rain!!!


2. My clients


3. My children being home together


4. The animal friends who choose me to live with


5. My perfect health

What are YOU grateful for today ?!?

Early mornings.....

First thing this morning, I just stayed in bed listening to the sounds of the house.  I got up and went to the room that is usually empty.  My daughter is home.  It's her room.  I could hear her breathing slowly as she slept.  I walked to my son's room and listened to his breathing / snoring / grinding teeth .... and all kinds of man noises.  ( GRIN )

 

I was and still am TRULY happy.  Having them both home at the same time is a wonderful thing.  So here is today's Gratitude List:

 

1. My children making it home safely for Thanksgiving.


2. Early mornings and quiet time that they bring.


3. Coffee.


4. My perfect health.


5. Food on grocery store shelves.

What are YOU thankful for ?

Gratitude check .....

This morning the coolest thing happened .... but let me back up some first !  My cousin bought a house VERY close to my house.  She started remodeling and has not had a kitchen.  I have to cook for my house anyway so she's been coming for dinner, cooking what she needs at my house, etc.  It has not been a problem or an issue in any way for me.  I'm sure that you can imagine how she must have felt though.  I'm sure it was hard depending on someone else's kitchen.  Granted...we're kin and we're close but it was still hard on her.

 

She got her kitchen installed this past week and last night was the first night that she was able to cook in her brand new kitchen.  She made homemade pizza.  Awesome!!  So now we get to this morning .... she sends me an Instant Message and tells me that she has homemade buttermilk biscuits, sausage gravy, eggs, bacon and coffee all going...and get this part...IF I wanted some.  IF... I laughed out loud.  Free breakfast on a Sunday morning!?!?  I was so there.  I actually got there before the biscuits came out of the oven.  Chuckle!!!

 

So today I am grateful for:

 

My cousin's completed kitchen

Open windows and a great breeze on November 21st

Cats in the windowsills who look SO happy

The ability to hear the sounds from the outside

Thanksgiving week !!!!

 

What are YOU grateful for today ?

Authentic conversations......

Yesterday I made a phone call that was 10 years in the making.  From Point A to Point Z, someone wronged me GREATLY and it has taken me this long to forgive and prepare for the conversation that had to come as a result.  Yesterday was that day.  I made the call, heard her voice, hung up promptly.  I walked around, talked to myself and God, redialed, heard her voice, wanted to hang up.  I did not hang up.  I said her name.  I could go on and on however, I will not.  The bottom line is that I spoke my truth, and I listened to her truth.   Her truth is NOT my truth so my ego and fears and angers wanted to jump up to defend me.  I took lots of deep breaths and kept reminding myself of my tools and that I had a "center point" and to keep going there to that place of balance.  I stayed centered and balanced.  I only made one jab and for those that know me, you know that's HUGE!!!!  (grin)

The fact that I carried this around for ten years is ONE HUNDRED PERCENT my fault.  I wore it like a wet, wool blanket.  I realize now that I can choose to forgive at ANY time.  One day or one decade.  It's my choice.  I also realize that her truth is not my truth and never will be.  I also realize that my truth is something she has never been able to hear and, more than likely, will never be able to hear.  That does not matter any more.  I spoke my truth.  I did it in a calm manner with no intentions of anything other than to speak my truth.  I listened to her.  I was given the opportunity to say nine of the most important words I have ever said to that woman.  "I am sorry. Please forgive me.  I forgive you."   There is a part of Travis Tritt's song "No More Looking Over My Shoulder" that says:

I could chill a room with reasons why I would not give forgiveness
To the people who had selfishly left me a wounded soul
I kept dragging 'round those memories
Like a ball and chain behind me
Wonderin' why my troubles followed me wherever I would go
Oh, but one night, sick and tired of being sick and tired
I realized forgiveness was the only open road
I swear I heard those shackles snap
The moment that I took that path
I never have one time looked back since the morning I arose

I can relate to that song.  I am also grateful beyond words for the freedom that those nine words that I was able to say, out loud have now brought me.   So my friends, who do you have to forgive?  Of whom do you need to ask forgiveness?

A cool Lakota prayer

A site I have bookmarked on my toolbar is Heal Your Life .  Today I read Chris Prelitz's blog called "The Four Directions".   It's fabulous.  So I decided to share:

Last month I was on the Lakota reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota attending a Native American Sundance. One of the most profound experiences I had was having an elder teach me the traditional Four Directions Prayer.

It has become a favorite way for me to connect deeply with both spirit and nature. I'm using it to start and end each day. Traditionally, sage or sweetgrass is burnt and offered to the four directions as you pray from your heart.

I trust you'll find it a powerful way to connect and walk more deeply in beauty:

Four Directions Prayer

(Stand facing South)

Great Spirit,

Thank you for this day,

for the breath and life within me,

and for all of your creations.

As I face South, I allow the spirit of All Possibilities to

wash over me.

Wherever I have fear or doubt, I trust that answers will

come.

Show me it is right for me to make decisions

with my heart, even if at times, my heart becomes hurt.

Help me to grow and nurture my self-worth in all ways.

(When you feel the expansion of all possibilities, turn to

face West.)

The West is the direction where the White Buffalo lives.

White Buffalo stands for strength, bravery and courage.

As you breathe in, allow the power and energy of the White

Buffalo spirit to wash over you and awaken your warrior

within.

(When you feel that powerful presence, turn to face the

North.)

The North is the direction where the black-tailed deer lives.

This is the direction of the spirit energy of humbleness and

humility.

As you breathe in, allow your soul and spirit to be touched

with humbleness,

knowing that all we are, and all that we have, comes from

the Great Spirit.

(When you truly feel touched with grateful humbleness,

turn to the East.)

The East is the land of the Eagle—the symbol for wisdom

and discernment.

I ask the spirit of the Eagle to be with me.

Sharpen my eyes and ears to hear your direction on my

path.

Guide my steps, my actions, and my every word.

(When you feel a deeper connection to the eagle’s

wisdom, turn back and face the South)

Great Father Spirit and Mother Earth,

Thank you for your beauty, and for all you have given me.

Help me to remember to love and feel compassion for all

creation.

Help me to walk my path with joy and love for myself, for

others,

for the four-legged, the winged ones, the plants and all

creation.

Remind me never to take from you more than I need,

and remind me to always give back more than I take.

Rain ...... again ........

 

In yesterday's blog, I spoke about how I was going to just go ahead and be thankful for rain even though it was not here.  I could picture it falling on the flowers, plants, trees, grass, fields, etc. around my house.  Guess what happened?  That's right.  It started raining.  OK granted....it was in the forecast but I still choose to believe that I created that rain around my house.  You're welcome Alabama!  :)   chuckling ...........  SO with GREAT flourish I present today's Gratitude List:

 

• RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


• Awesome Webmasters who are great at their jobs


• Gator football


• Bread


• Pasta


• Sweet tea


• Salt and Vinegar potato chips


• Pine trees


• Fireplaces

 

What's on your list today ?

Gratitude list ......

It's a Sunday.  The sky looks like it could rain.  We are in what "THEY" say is a "drought situation".  I am seeing rain myself....lots of it.  I will hold that vision and give thanks for rain!!!  So that is the first thing on the list:

• Rain


• Eye glasses


• Animal friends...but today, specifically, CATS


• Directv


• Macintosh computers


• Electricity


• Slippers


• Fingers


• Gross Motor Skills


• Windows


• Screens


• Hearing


• Vision


• Ability to see color


• Ability to reason

Wow - that was easy.  What's YOUR list today?

Today....

Today I am grateful for:

The warmth of the sun
My vision
My hearing
The humans that share my life
The animals that share my life
My clients
Social media like Twitter, Facebook, etc. where I can meet people I would NEVER meet in my day to day life
My fingers that can type this right now
That my friend, Blake, didn't die last week

That's just the start of my list for the day. What is YOUR top five ?

Gratitude...

This morning I was listening to a "famous" speaker who was talking about GRATITUDE.  He was saying that sometimes in our lives, we have to REALLY search for it.  So he told a story.  A man went to his minister for guidance on why he was so unhappy and unfulfilled.  The pastor said that they were going to make a list of things that were not so good and things that were great.  The man said he didn't have anything to put on the "good" side.  Everything in his life was bad.  He was unhappy after all.  So they filled out the left side of the list with everything that was wrong / bad / negative.  So then the pastor says, "I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's sickness and her dying."  The man sat back, shocked, and said, "My wife isn't sick !! She's very healthy and she's VERY much alive."  So the pastor wrote, "Healthy wife who is not dead" on the right side of the list.  The pastor then said, "I am so sorry to hear that your house burned down!"  The man said, "My house didn't burn down !!!!  I have a great house!"   The pastor wrote down "great house" on the right side of the list.

I realized that sometimes we have to REALLY look for something for which to be grateful.  Today it's easy for me.  Some days are not so easy.  I hope that we can remember this story when we have one of THOSE days.
What are you grateful for today?  I'm grateful for hearing, vision, sunshine, fireplaces, warm slippers, cats who like to play first thing in the morning, coffee, .......