Welcome Steven and Ru

Awwwww!  I have three followers and I am extremely happy and grateful that you decided to come along for the ride.

Welcome!!!!!

Today's Lesson

My Mini Cooper is sick…the transmission is falling apart (exact words of the service manager). Fortunately, I purchased an extended warranty and she’s covered. The transmission is $5,000 and with labor it will run approximately $8,000. I have to admit that I was nervous about the warranty. What if I read it wrong? What if this part isn’t covered? What if I can’t get it fixed? This is the chatter of the monkey mind that I mentioned (if thoughts are things) yesterday. I called the dealership where I purchased the car and they told me that I had to take my car to a Mini/BMW dealership because they don’t repair them. My mind leaped into all possibilities. What if, How come…etc. The service manager gave me the warranty number and I called the Mini dealership. They said they were busy, there was no way they could service my Mini and I would have to make an appointment for another day. I said okay and hung up. Told my significant other and he drove the car to the dealership and lo and behold my Donald Shimoda got them to take the car AND give us a loaner. I was speechless. This bought a new awareness to me… “Donald” is a manifester.

While he doesn’t “believe” in the LOA or is not “into metaphysics” he’s a natural with this. So I began to analyze (cause that’s what this Virgo does) and so many things came to mind. I believe the worst will happen. While “Donald” believes that as well..I love his thought pattern “he say prepare for the worst but expect the best” and he often asks me “what’s the worst that can happen?” and he plans from that point to the best. Reaching the best scenario – he dwells on it. He also doesn’t let anything stick to him. He “appears” to never worry. Why should he? “Donald” has me to do the worrying! His concept lets me see that the worst that can happen isn’t as bad you think it is. For instance, I don’t ride roller coasters. Why you may ask? I’ll be the one in the car that flies off the track and I’ll die. “Donald” says “how many times has that happened? Why do you think it will happen to you? Do you really believe that you are that special? Out of 20 roller coaster cars YOURS will derail and fly off the track? How realistic is that?” “Donald asks. I stand there feeling silly, laughing nervously and calculating that it will still happen (this is what I spoke of yesterday – thoughts become things…I am always thinking the worse – what if I cross the street here, I’ll get hit…these things NEVER come anywhere near fruition – thank God!).

I, on the other hand, plan for the worse and stay there. Now this is a powerful belief system for me. As the response was this morning: a belief is a thought that you think over and over AND I admit, I never viewed it that way but I like that idea. My beliefs are not my beliefs. They are my Mother’s beliefs – I just latched onto them or acquired them over time. This fear has been programmed and I allowed it. This is code within me. My life coach encouraged me to take a look at my beliefs and those that did not serve me or no longer served me needed to be eliminated. This goes back to comfort zone. Oh but it is so glorious to think these thoughts…I have always thought them and it is so familiar. As my 12 step program says “If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got, and you'll always feel what you always felt.” I’m tired of feeling this way yet I gravitate to the same feelings AGAIN.

So today…I have taken the time to sit in each “odd” feeling and see where it comes from. BTW, I am surprisingly calm right now. As each feeling/emotion came to the surface, I asked why? Most of it was inherent, inane imaginings. As I mentioned, my Mother was/is in a constant state of fear. I know a lot comes from her. As each situation presented itself, instead of allowing fear to rule, I asked a series of questions: Where did “you” come from? What is “your” purpose? What is it “you” want? What, if anything, are “you” attempting to teach me or to prove? Some answers came immediately – others lingered, went away and then came back. This process is time consuming but it kept my mind engaged in the present – not the murky fearful mistakes of the past and not the uncertain fears of the future. Today’s Daily OM was great confirmation for me!

All day I have been trying to visualize and reach for the next best feeling and nothing worked. I know LOA is like everything else in our lives – we have to see what fits/resonates with us. Trial and error isn’t a bad thing. I didn’t have the luxury of making mistakes growing up or in my adult life so this is an interesting concept to be able to say “this doesn’t work for me and I am not going to try and make it work. I shall move on to something else.” I always viewed that behavior as failure.

I am having a blast learning today. Thanks all for allowing me to discover, learn and share!

I am a member of several Yahoo groups and when one member posts something she almost always says "if it resonates with you use it..if not let it go." This was MAJOR for me. I grew up with a mindset that if it is here in front of you - it's for you. Spirit put it here and it is a sin not to take it and use it. This resulted in being inundated with information, information overload and chronic forgetfulness. Who wouldn't forget when you have so much stored? Especially items stored that aren't for your use or edification - just useless stuff stored for party/game trivia or for the appearance of being a know-it-all (and yes...that is what I wanted).


I love being able to sign up for a blog, for information, and when it doesn't speak to me, I don't feel "obligated" to continue receiving or reading it. Very liberating for me.

The mistake "thing" flows over at work. I have four people I deal with (heavily) and they all have four very different opinions and motives. I will give them something to review and all four will have four different comments. Initially, when I saw the mark ups I felt inadequate. No, I didn't ask myself why but I suspect it was an expectation, which my "Donald" says "expectations are resentments waiting to happen." I expected myself to know what each person wanted to say or how they wanted to say it. I expected that the document was perfect with no mistakes. I expected that I knew better than my other colleagues. I treated these mark ups as personal attacks and this belief kept me bound. I'd be sick to my stomach when I submitted items to the team - just knowing they would rip it apart. Some of the comments are "controlling" and I just laugh them off. Sometimes they comment to get "back" at each other. It has become a game to me and it is humorous to see adults behaving this way.

I always preached this to my daughter "you are not a failure if you learn something from the experience." It's easier to say it than to believe it. I obviously didn't believe it or worse...I never learned from failure of mistakes. I kept pounding my head against a brick wall. "Ouch that hurts" or as "Donald" says "if it hurts when you move your arm like that...stop moving your arm like that."

Pretty simple stuff, hunh?

Meditative and Mindful Baking

Many people have written about baking bread as meditation. Just google it and lots of things will come up - from cookbooks to blogs.

I admit that I am not a baker. I love baked goods but I can't bake. Years ago I realized my baking skills were lacking due to a lack of patience. I am the baker that opens the oven door, that stands there tapping her feet, sneaking small pieces of bread, cake, brownies, cookies, rolls well before they are done. I end up tossing the whole lot because they weren't good enough. Well...that says something about me and my need for perfection.

I recently began honoring and loving myself on a level deeper than surface love (looking good, buying expensive products and items). I have always meditated but now I do it with ease and peace because I love myself and I need to take care of me.

This self love and self care spills over to the meals I create as well as my baking skills. I spent yesterday relaxing and making sticky buns for my beloved. Today I created pumpernickel bread - an homage to the man I love.  The deliberate measuring of ingredients, the proper placement, the clean up, the patience, the love and the simplicity all put me such a peaceful state of mind.

I used this recipe and it was a breeze: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpernickel-Rye-Bread/Detail.aspx. I used my bread machine and all I had to do was set and forget it.

Look at the finished product...it tastes as good as it looks.  I have to pick my beloved friend up from the airport and I shall make his favorite sandwich using this fresh baked bread.  What a treat to the mind, body and spirit.

Who says baking can't add a dimension to your meditation?

Sunday Musings

Good morning all!

Sunday is my favorite day of the week. It's something sacred and wonderful about Sunday and I am not sure why but it just my favorite day.  I can remember running around the house as a child (and as an adult) to get ready for church (which was never a favorite for me - it was always a production).  My Mother would put my Father's clothes out for him, inspect what I had on, make breakfast, clean up, get dressed, do hair and make a mad dash to the car for an hour and a half worth of "preaching."  Sunday is the day before Monday and Monday means back to work for most of us so why would this be my favorite day?  I have no clue.

This Sunday stands out for me because it is Father's day.  My Father has been in spirit form for 17 years yet it seems just like yesterday to me.  My Father is a truly wonderful, gentle man (and yes I used present tense because he is always with me) and I love him.  So, Dad, wherever your Spirit form is - I love you and miss you!  Happy Father's Day to my Father!  And a very Happy Father's Day to all the Fathers out there.  Don't underestimate your worth and power.  If your children don't tell you they love you for awhile or if they utter that dreadful "I hate you" - keep loving them...they need you and you need them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WFQVgyNNE0 I just LOVE this version.  I adore Lionel Ritchie!  Even though this song is about leaving - it is just so peaceful and beautiful.  This man's voice is amazing.  Here is a longer version (although not the version with Wille Nelson) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waV741V1MHY

Perhaps I love Sunday because biblical it is the day of rest and I honor that and myself.  Sunday is often a day of reflection for me - how did my week go, what does my upcoming week look like, what did I accomplish, what lessons did I learn?

During my adult years, Sundays have always had a nice, slow and relaxing routine for me.  I make sure that there is absolutely NOTHING I have to do on Sunday.  When my Daughter was an infant, Sunday morning was grocery store shopping.  I'd get her dressed we'd head to the grocery store.  That was my peace, my meditation and my time to connect to with her.  I always feel like Sunday is the ultimate relaxation day because everything mandatory has been done.  Sunday - is about me!   I can bake (which is what I am doing now), meditate, walk, relax, sleep late, sip coffee on the porch and rejuvenate.

I do believe in God but I don't frequently go to church, but I spent everyday in some form of worship - I don't have to set aside one day to praise, pray or recognize my Higher Power.

For the most part, I am alone.  My best friend in the entire world is home about once a month, so my routines are not set in stone - sometimes we attend church, sometimes we walk, sometimes I walk, sometimes I stay in bed all day, sometime we go to brunch, you get it.

I try to focus on my fledgling blog on Sunday too.  I have a chance to catch-up on any blogs I didn't have time to read earlier in the week and to just surf the Internet. This is the ultimate indulgence!

I am going to grab another cup of coffee and finish the pumpernickel bread and sit quietly with my thoughts until I feel the urge to do something else.

I leave you with this...The Secret of Life is enjoying the passage of time." - Enjoy your Sunday!

Self Care

I spent last night nourishing my inner Diva and watching chick flicks. I wanted to...no needed to feel girly, sexy, seductive, glamorous and pampered.  I believe in pampering.  I believe in taking care of myself but I notice that I neglect the most important part of me - the spiritual part. 

It has become so easy to allow myself to get bogged down in the unglamorous day to day that I not only appear frumpy, I feel frumpy.  Is this because we look to the external to make us feel a certain way?  In the immortal words of Billy Crystal (portraying Fernando Lamas) "It is better to look good than to feel good."  If you are too young to remember this SNL skit - look it up on Hulu or YouTube - it's hilarious.  To a certain extent I do believe that looking our best helps us feel our best.  It's just that we have taken this concept too far.  We doll up the outside and have an inside that looks like a monster and we feel that is okay.  We think we can fake it.  Yes, most of us do fake it, but there are enlightened beings that realize - I look marvelous yet I feel awful.  I was that person and if not careful I can still be that person.  Life does NOT have to be unglamorous.  You should feel and be glamorous whether you are baking sticky buns, having a mani and pedi, sipping coffee or knee deep in the hoopla of the day.  Glamour comes from within.  It has nothing to do with what you have on or whether your makeup is impeccable.  It has everything to do with how you feel!

I have worn the most expensive of items, have purchased the top of the line of everything and I kept purchasing.  I was looking for the next best feeling.  I always managed to find it but I always kept looking for bigger, better, faster...this quest became endless and I was still empty.

Recently (within the past two years), my focus and reality shifted.  I pared down the physical - lost weight.  I donated, sold, freecycled many of my possessions and started paying attention to what the hungry spiritual part of me needed (not wanted) and things fell into place.

The key is REMEMBERING!  Remember who you are.  Remember your purpose.  Remember why you are here.  Remember to nourish your body, mind and soul.  Remember that your outward appearance is not who you are.  Remember to allow the beautiful, magnificent inner light to shine for all to see.  Regardless of what you have been through, what you have or have not done or what others have told you...let that light of beauty shine.

Do whatever it takes to nourish your inner Diva - take time for you.  I recommend morning and evening long, slow and relaxing meditations and short meditations throughout your day.  This keeps the glamour going.

Try this one on for size, my beautiful spirited friends:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D56tUOdpgts

Control

I am a member of several yahoo groups and one of my favorites is the group on the Law of Attraction.  We are a fun group of great people that encourage each other.  Today's message (that was sent to the Group) was A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda Byrne, Creator of The Secret.  Here it is:

From The Secret Daily Teachings

Isn't it great to know that you cannot control your world from the outside? To try and control things on the outside feels impossible because it would take so much work, and in fact it is impossible according to the law of attraction.

To change your world all you have to do is manage your thoughts and feelings on the inside of you, and then your whole world changes.

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne

This is another good one. Control! I am a self confessed control freak. Even amidst the chaos and fear - I fearlessly try to control EVERYTHING!

I hate not being in control yet I am smart enough to know that control is an illusion.  Okay already. 

I am a control freak - in the worst sense. I am addicted to control.  This is yet another facet of growing up in an alcoholic home.  You can't control anything so you try to control everything.  I am especially good at controlling things I cannot control. The lives of others, the emotions of others, the desires of others, the amount of time I'm given, what people think of me and the list goes on.  I try and control...control.

Once I had the opportunity to sit back and really look at things, I knew I had to relinquish control.  No, I haven't totally mastered this but I am trying.

What is your addiction of choice?  We all have them - be it control, fear, eating, shopping, worry...

Take some time today to get to know you and how you "attempt" to control your life or the lives of others.

Namaste!

Know it all

For years I’ve lived in the shadow of needing to know.   I had to know everything about everybody.  I had to know everything about every subject.  As you can imagine, I was exhausted.  I needed to know every nuance, every minute detail, every piece of information must come through me or be known by me.  Woe unto me for not knowing something.  If I didn’t know something this meant two things:  1.  A surprise attack – someone could spring something on me without my knowledge and 2. I was inadequate.  I spent the need to know years in turmoil and in fear of being found out.  Not being smart enough.  Not knowing enough.

Number 1 taught me a very valuable lesson.  I worked for a major corporation for over seven years.  I was good at my job but wasn’t “popular”.  I was pleasant to work with, friendly and fun and I always got the job done.  I attended the company functions and knew all the employees at our location.  I was well liked by many and I played the corporate game.  There was one gentleman, Dave Ullman, who didn’t care for me.  He thought I wasn’t qualified for the position I held and he felt I had too much authority.  My manager, the VP, traveled frequently and relied on me to keep our office going.  My position, at one time, was held by Dave, before he left the company.  My VP and I talked several times during the day and he trusted me.  He had every right to trust me.  I worked my way up from receptionist to this position.  I made lateral moves and upward moves making sure to never burn bridges.  I was happy.  I knew my job and I was good at it.

I cannot begin to express the devastation I experienced one Friday as I sat in my office and Dave came in, shut the door and announced that I was being laid off.  I was in shock!  I didn’t see that coming.  I felt betrayed, I felt slighted, I felt this decision had been made in an unethical and unfair manner and I was hurt.  I was a single parent of a six year old what was I going to do?  She depended on me.  How would I manage?  How could you do this to me.  I was young and resilient.  While I didn't like the decision or  understand the decision - I didn't stay down for long.  I spent a long time questioning why I was laid off.  I spent a long time wondering about the fairness of life.

Let me assure you that the months ahead were fantastic.  I accomplished more in the time I was laid off than I had ever done and I seemed to have more money than imaginable.  I reflect back on that time and can smile.  My nephew (who was married to my middle niece) and I were good friends and when I confided in him, he stood up, looked me in the eyes and said “For Chrissake, how many clues did you need that it was time for you to move on?”  I sat there stunned.  A man, five years younger than me, who had no belief system spoke words of truth.  I still play those exact words to this day.

There have been many layoffs (especially in my field) and I can’t say that I don't feel pain when it happens because I do.  I can't say that I always handle the situation well.  I would love to say that I instinctively know that I will be okay but I don’t.  It takes time for me wrap my head around it.  There have always been fields of opportunity for me after layoffs, there has always been great growth and joy but as with anything – it is hard to see when you are in the midst of it all.  I have learned that there is always a blessing in everything – regardless of what it looks like or what you think.  There is always a bright side.

Are you faced with a “layoff”?  It doesn’t have to be employment.  It can be any situation of familiarity that is changing.  How is your current belief serving you during this layoff?  Most of the time our current belief system does not hold us.  That’s okay.  We tend to like tried and true and safe.  Sometimes we have to break out of the ordinary in order for the extraordinary to manifest.  Take a couple of deep breaths and then trust the process.  Trust yourself and trust that your Higher Power is working it out – because He is.  No doubt about that!