Fairy Ditty

Nine requisites for contented living:

Health enough to make work a pleasure.

Wealth enough to support your needs.

Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them.

Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them.

Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished.

Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor.

Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others.

Faith enough to make real the things of God.

Hope enough to remove all the anxious fears concerning the future.

–Johann von Goethe.

Daily Tao

The intellect is inherently dualistic. It makes distinctions and creates new connections between concepts and calls that “meaning.” This type of analytical thinking is extremely limited in the face of Tao, which is not fully rational, not fully quantitative, not fully describable. Though most followers of Tao are learned, they also realize that the intellect is but one aspect in what must be a multifaceted approach to Tao.

It is said one must give up on education, not because we should be dumb, but because we must seek a level of consciousness beyond the intellect. We must study, but not to the point that emphasis on experience and meditation is lost. If we can combine the intellect and direct experience with our meditative mind, then there will be no barrier to the wordless perception of reality.

Fairy Reminder

"People need joy. Quite as much as clothing. Some of them need it far more.”

—Margaret Collier Graham

Life is not without pain and travail. They are necessary to new awareness which prompts growth. And the gift of growth is joy. Pain and joy are thus intertwined. It is possible to feel only the burden of pain and not the exhilaration of joy, however.

Before seeking help to change our lives, many of us were heavily burdened by pain. But we were unable to open ourselves to the knowledge made possible by that pain. We were on a treadmill, accumulating painful experiences at every step, unable to capture the joy that was ever present.

We can have hope. Joy does await each of us today. We must open our eyes to it, just as we must open our hearts to one another. We must be willing to peel away the layers of pain to expose the core, the seedling of joy. And we need joy in our lives, just as surely as we need rest and a good diet. We need the light heart that joy fosters for a better perspective on the many experiences we’ll face today, and every day.

Happy Crayola Crayon Day!!

TFTD

I search for silver linings, for the deeper meaning of the events in my life. Life is my teacher if I can learn to read the subtle messages that are laced into the circumstances that I co-create around me. I will look for the lesson. When life offers up its inevitable challenges, I will try to understand what I am meant to see that I am not seeing, what I am meant to hear that I am not hearing, what I am meant to know that I am not knowing. There is always a silver lining if I look for it. Even if I don't see it readily, I trust that it is there and that it will reveal itself to me over time. Life isn't simple. One of the ways that I can grow from life's adversities, is to see what is positive about a difficult situation, to look for the silver lining. I can grow in joy and in pain. It doesn't need to be one or the other because pain can transform into joy. It can be the fire that clears the field for new and tender growth.

 .

Daily reading

When I slow down long enough to smell the roses, I usually see the beauty and all else that is ours to share.
–Morgan Jennings

We overlook so many joys, so many hidden treasures, when we hurry from place to place, person to person, experience to experience, with little attention anywhere. All that matters passes before us now, at this moment. And assuredly, we will not pass this way again.

It has been said the greatest gift we can give one another is rapt attention; additionally, living life fully attentive to the breezes, the colors, the sorrows and the thrills as well, is the most prayerful response any of us can make in this life. Nothing more is asked of us. Nothing less is expected.

We have just this one life to live, and each day is a blessing. Even the trials we shall understand as blessings in the months, the years ahead, as we can see now how the painful moments of the past played their part. Our attitude toward the lessons life has offered makes all the difference in the world.

Ummm...I made meatloaf for dinner and I didn't use a recipe? :-/

Today's Reminder

 Trusting Ourselves

Trust can be one of the most confusing concepts in recovery. Who do we trust? For what?

The most important trust issue we face is learning to trust ourselves. The most detrimental thing that’s happened to us is that we came to believe we couldn’t trust ourselves.

There will be some who tell us we cannot trust ourselves; we are off base and out of whack. There are those who would benefit by our mistrusting ourselves.

Fear and doubt are our enemies. Panic is our enemy. Confusion is our opposition.

Self-trust is a healing gift we can give ourselves. How do we acquire it? We learn it. What do we do about our mistakes, about those times we thought we could trust ourselves but were wrong? We accept them, and trust ourselves anyway.

We know what is best for us. We know what is right for us. If we are wrong, if we need to change our mind, we will be guided into that – but only by trusting where we are today.

We can look to others for support and reinforcement, but trust in ourselves is essential.

Do not trust fear. Do not trust panic. We can trust ourselves, stand in our own truth, and stand in our own light. We have it now. Already. We have all the light we need for today. And tomorrow’s light shall be given to us then.

Trust ourselves, and we will know whom to trust. Trust ourselves, and we will know what to do. When we feel we absolutely cannot trust ourselves, trust that God will guide us into truth.

Fairy Reading

Observe Yourself

Watch yourself. That’s not a grim admonition. It’s a call to observe yourself and is a helpful tool on the journey.

When you get stuck in a behavior, stuck in a pattern, stuck in a place, a thought, a feeling, a job, or a relationship and you don’t know how to get unstuck, watch yourself. When you’ve tried everything you know and your feelings and old ways of reacting still come to the fore– even when you don’t want them to and especially when you’ve made an effort to do things differently– watch yourself. When it feels hopeless, when it seems things will never change or shift, when you can’t help yourself and it doesn’t look like those around you can either, look at yourself.

The act of watching ourselves, neutrally observing ourselves without judgement or reproach, can be a powerful tool for change. If you’ve tried and tried to change but it hasn’t worked, then watch yourself. Watch what you say, what you think, how you feel, how you act, how you react. Don’t try to stop yourself. Don’t judge. Just observe. Do it as long as you need to, although it may not take long.

omg I'm nuts...

Zackly how fast can things go down the proverbial hill?!
Couldn't they just kinda "roll"at a nice gentle pace?
Apparently the answer to that one is rancorous laughter.
In text that is "Mwahahaha...."
Or wait.....maybe that's just mischievous laughter?
I sure hope so, I use that one a LOT.  :-/
Regardless, it's almost laugh worthy.  It's been, what....30 days since my appointment with Dr. "Dunno-why-you're-here-but-let-me-script-you-narcotics", done ONLY-I'm sure-because I have such an honest looking face....and I'm returning to see him.  :-/

...k....
In all fairness, neither he nor I had a clue as to why I was there--hardly his fault his receptionist put my records on top of a cabinet....which probably wasn't her fault either, given they were delivered in a BOX and not the standard manilla envelope most copy of records arrive in.  Yes....a BOX.  *sigh*  I do very few things in a small way.....and I mean VERY few.
I'm pretty sure the man was just trying to get me relief from pain.
I'll find out when I return.
Cuz right now, nobody seems to think returning to the previous Pain Medicines Physician is a good plan.  Not the nice nurse assigned to me for the past 2.5 years, not my Family physician who isn't feeling confident about making changes to the quickly rolling downhill medication regime, not the much revered/respected oncologist I rang in frustration to get advice from, and not even me.  Not adding up to a lot of confidence...that's kinda essential in a partnership with a doctor.
And I'm going back to Dr. Dunno because?  Duh....because I'm nuts?

Because my oncologist would recommend him?  Because he's done well with patients my family doc has referred on?  Because he has my BOX of records and I won't have to wait forever to get into see him cuz records are required before any P M doc will see you which is why the first situation with Dr. Dunno is even more laughable.
At this point if he's open to seeing me, I'm open to seeing him...only because he comes with recommendations
But he's got some explaining to do.....

Daily Reflections

"Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or by the handle.”

—James Russel Lowell

Success rains down for no apparent reason. Tragedy strikes like a freight train. We’re left to deal with the results. We can allow our egos to swell over our sudden good fortune, or we can humbly accept the fruit of our labor and continue to better ourselves. We can lie down and give up after a tragedy, or we can grieve, get up, and begin taking steps to move on with our lives.

Look at the situations in your life. Have you been given success? Are you learning the lessons of loss? Perhaps yours is the gift of the ordinary. Don’t walk too boastfully through your successes, nor remain too long in your grief. And don’t sleep through an ordinary life. You’ll lose your sense of wonder and awe, and when it ends, you won’t know where you’ve been.

We cannot always control what will happen to us. We need to let go of any false thoughts that we can. We can choose how we’ll handle the situation just like we choose how we’ll pick up a knife– by grabbing the handle or the blade.

Watch out for the cutting edge.

Choosing happy cuz it's a HAPPY DAY!!!

On the other hand……  It's all about attitude, and I can choose mine.

I'm working this evening, mentoring, teaching—and doing observations so I can have a conversation at a later time.  Oh, but I'll be getting to play with kiddos.  We'll be doing homework and chores and maybe having a group (that would be cool…..I've not sat in a therapy group for a long time though I'm not sure the therapist would actually want an observer…..).

 

It's a happy day!

Roof's done and today they're putting on the gutters and other 'stuff' that gets put on after the roof.

And then I can write the big check.  Eeks!

 

Wait—happy.  Choose happy.

Stuff 'Max' into my pocket and go have fun with kiddos!

Fact is, I'm thinking I'll go early, while they're in school so I can chat with the grownups and just 'hang'.

What a brilliant idea!  Who wants to do all this excel stuff when you could be playing with kiddos and grownups! 

Boy, am I smart or what?!  Mwahahahaha!!!

 

 

 

Least I forget while life speeds up

Be still
                                                                                         

    Breathe.
                                                                                                               Just BE.

                                                                         

       Right HERE.  Right NOW…….

Fairy Reading

"If we could untangle the mysteries of life and unravel the energies which run through the world; if we could evaluate correctly the significance of passing events; if we could measure the struggles, dilemmas, and aspirations of mankind, we could find that nothing is born out of time. Everything comes at its appointed moment.”

—Joseph R. Sizoo

Timing can be frustrating. We can wait and wait for something to happen, and it seems to be forever until it comes to pass. Or, suddenly, an event or circumstance is thrust upon us, catching us by surprise. Believing that things happen too slowly or too quickly is an illusion. Timing is perfect.

This is my first reminder

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Daily Reminder

"Never bend your head. Look at the world straight in the face.”

—Helen Keller

Pride is elusive when we’re hurting emotionally.  We may act and feel overwhelmed.  It is very difficult to be mindful of all we can accomplish and we may focus on what is out of our reach.  Or we may tend to hide from our problems by withdrawing from social gatherings or by isolating ourselves emotionally. Feeling ashamed that we are hurting makes asking for help very hard.

Now, as we hide less often from our feelings we find it easier to face the world straight on.  We may not have made this transition easily or even by ourselves, but we are making it with the help of loving friends.  Increasingly we accept our limitations, make the effort to  do  what we can, and ask for help when we must.  And with this, we raise our heads with pride.

Today's fairy reading

“Love is not getting, but giving. It is sacrifice. And sacrifice is glorious!”

—Joanna Field

How easily we mistake attention for love. Even more easily, we trick ourselves into thinking our ability to control someone signifies love—especially theirs for us. But love is something far different from either attention or control. Far different.

Love frees others from our grasp—and lets them return on their own. Love is placing another’s personal needs above our own, without regret. Love is selfless, yet it exhilarates the self. Giving love softens our edges, completes us, and connects us to the people with whom we are fulfilling our destinies.

Wanting love is a normal human desire, not one we should deny. And we shall receive love, the less our emphasis is on getting it, the more on giving it. We invite love when we freely and honestly give it. Another invitation for love comes from loving ourselves; self-hatred, which trapped many of us for years, hampers us no longer.

Love inspires—ourselves and those we give it to. It brightens our way, lessens our burdens, makes possible our rightful unfolding.

I won’t look for love today. I will just give it. It will bless me tenfold.

Fairy Diddy

Although we have been made to believe that if we let go we will end up with nothing, life reveals just the opposite: that letting go is the real path to freedom.

Things that make me happy....

...bitty buds on the buddlieah bushes.

....flying a big tailed, HUMONGOUS kite (until I got it up so high it threatened to pull my arms outta their socket....)

....flying my long, rainbow colour tailed, itty bitty kite.  :-)

....sending a weekly card to a friend who's fighting the good fight.

....ohhh!!  The awesome remote controlled candle that can go outdoors--which is where it's going come spring!! 

....talking to the sister.  I love her soooo much!!

....catching the start of sunrise before walking into work....love it!!

Captured Memory #67