join me on the path

tell me something good

Is it the long, dark nights? Is it post-holiday letdown? Do you see those circles under my eyes?

I have nothing about which to complain, but I'm exhausted. And when I'm like this, I get whiny and pitiful. Rather than a pity party (never fun and I end up feeling pathetic on top of feeling pitiful), let's have a Something Good party.

What happened this year that brought joy into your life? Did you do something to contribute to the happiness of someone else? It doesn't have to be the biggest or the best, just share your something good with me. My heart thanks you.

peace & love

it's your choice

Fear is a choice.

“Worry is an extension of fear and can be a very draining. In order for worry to exist, we have to imagine that something bad might happen.” Daily Om, December 29, 2008

I confess I’ve worried with the best of them. Often my worrying arises in situations where I feel powerless, or when I’m afraid of the outcome. It’s taken me a long time to understand that my worrying is practiced by choice, and that I can choose otherwise.

Under the assumption that fear is the root of worry, as well as the assumption that I’m human and will inevitably experience that human emotion called fear, it behooves me to remember when fear rears its scary head that I have a choice. I can either feed the beast or banish it with love.

If this all sounds like hippy-skippy new age crap you may want to stop right here, it gets worse. Thanks for playing along.

We each can choose love or choose fear. Try this little exercise: Stick out your arm and keep your fist closed tight. That is what fear looks like. Now extend your arm, open your hand and turn your palm toward the sky. That is what love looks like.

Every day you have a choice. I choose love.

Peace.

after survivor

It's time to start living again. It's been almost two full years since I was diagnosed with lymphoma, and more than a year since the tests show "no cancer." The past two years, in retrospect, have been years in which my focus was on surviving rather than living. These quiet, end-of-year days with as much darkness as there is light have me holing up at home and realizing that I'm ready, willing and able again to live out loud. I'm healthy and strong again; there's surely something I'm meant to do.

But what? It's not unusual for cancer survivors to find themselves in this mode wondering how to live like a "normal" person again. As the year winds down I'm taking time to look at the year just passed, counting my blessings and setting my intentions for the new year.

There's never a bad time for a gratitude list:
1. I'm healthy
2. I have a job I love
3. My home is safe and warm
4. Family and friends circle the wagons in good times and bad
5. I never miss a meal
6. I always sleep in a comfortable bed
7. My faith in my Higher Power sustains me when I'm unclear about what to do next

Peace on the path.

eat, pray, love

No resolutions here, but I keep finding myself pondering my intentions for the coming year. In the year of our Lord 2009 I want to live fully, laugh often and love with abandon. I feel the longing to put some kind of plan into place ... I'm just not sure WHAT I want to plan for.

So in the meantime, a new, dear friend reminded me of Elizabeth Gilbert's inspirational book Eat, Pray, Love. I know, having read it twice already, that each time I finish it I find a renewed desire to be alive in the world in ways that have the potential to make a positive difference.

OK ... so this sounds like a lot of babble to me, too, so I'm signing off with a wish for peace on the planet and warmth in our hearts.

someday at christmas

Someday at Christmas there'll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life's really worth
There'll be peace on earth ...
                                      ~Stevie Wonder

                                                                                                                                                       Merry Christmas to you and yours. Wishing you all
                                                                                            that is bright and beautiful.

the family tree will always grow

Found out yesterday that my baby is going to have a baby. I'll be a Nana and these two adorable "kids" will become Mama and Daddy. Life is good.

May you find yourself in the loving arms of family (whether it be the blood-relation kind or the "family" of your own making).

Peace be upon us all.

improve your sex life

That is perhaps a misleading blog-post title, because this isn't really about sex at all. I just wanted to get your attention.

Think about this (if you can shift away from being disappointed that I don't have the secret to a better sex life):  The quality of your life is determined by the focus of your attention. This is the belief of the folks at Living Compassion and they've started a OneThing Revolution. The idea is that we're overwhelmed by the state of the union (and the world) and we can hardly imagine where to start. But if we just do OneThing we CAN make a difference.

What if you could do one thing that would
                                         change your attitude
                                         change your day
                                         change your life
                                         change the world ...
                                         Would you do it?

I'm going to ask this question, at least once every day, of someone who looks like they could use some help (which is just about everyone): What can I do to help you today?

Tell me what you'd do if you could do OneThing.

Peace & love.

p.s. If you're living in the deep freeze that's hit the US, remind yourself that this too shall pass.

the wishing tree

Party on ... or at least that's what I think is the motto of this clan. These bottle trees caught my eye last summer and now that I'm thinking about wishing trees, I've found the perfect post for which to use the photo.

My wish has nothing to do with empty bottles of Absolute, of that I'm absolutely sure. My wishing tree would have roots that run deep, to provide support and nourishment to the canopy. The branches would reach toward the sun and the sky, representing growth and discovery and family.

My wishing tree grows every day, and I know that I simply need to be present, do my part and enjoy the beauty of my life.

Wishing you warmth and a sturdy wishing tree of your own.  Peace & love.

turn toward the light

Stop! Whatever you're doing in preparation for whatever it is you're celebrating, just stop. Breathe and turn toward the light.

While we're all busy preparing for Christmas next week or the first night of Hanukkah tomorrow night or the winter solstice or whatever you and yours may be celebrating at this darkest time of year, let's all remember to turn our faces toward the light. (I love the Quaker sentiment: I'm holding you in the light. The idea being that if I'm holding you in the light, we're both being bathed in love.)

Whatever the source of your Higher Power, turn toward it and let the light warm your heart so that you may in turn lift a friend in need toward the light. It's dark outside and there's so much fear. Just remember that ... yes, we can ... make a difference, rise above, live fully.

Peace be upon us all.

Now ... I've got to run to the grocery for the last-minute stuff for our party tonight. If you're in our river valley and know where Cathy lives, you're invited for good food, time with good friends and an opportunity to watch Cindy-Loo Who and Max triumph in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the original, of course).

Cindy-Loo Who                                                                    

                                                                             The Grinch and Max

Peace & love

hail to the chief

Bigger than Oprah? Well, he's arrived indeed.

Barack Obama is bringing poetry back to inauguration day. Publishers Weekly reported, "This is the biggest thing that could happen ... for Elizabeth," Mary Matze, Graywolf publicity director, said, “It’s bigger than Oprah! The entire world is going to be watching.”

Elizabeth is Elizabeth Alexander, the poet who will be reading her work on January 20 when Barack Obama is sworn into the office of president of the United States. While I've often longed to attend inaugural balls (even when my candidate didn't win — hey, I'm always up for a good party!), this is the one I'd truly love to see live and in person.

In honor of the return of poetry, let's share our favorite poems. Here's one of mine (by Robert Frost who read the poem at John F. Kennedy's inauguration):

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those that favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

 

Wishing you peace on the path.