January 31--Plenty to Explore

There is a great deal of unmapped country within us.  --George Eliot

    Let's consider all four "countries" within us--physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. We are one whole unit. These aspects cannot truly be separated, but I'm going to play with them. 

    Our physical bodies, while we have learned so much, are still a source of great mystery. Consider how two cells coming together in a uterus eventually become heart, lung, big toe, etc--a brand new human. I teach the Melt Method, which works with the connective tissue (fascia) throughout our bodies. It has only been in the past two to three decades that its importance in our body has become known, and it is our stability system--it literally holds our bodies together. We obviously don't have cures for everything (even the common cold!!), so there is plenty of unmapped country there. 

    Emotional country is endless, ranging from those who prefer not to have any sort of emotion to those who live for the emotional drama of life. The range of emotions available to us is staggering. Part of our upbringing is learning how to control our emotions and express them in constructive ways. Emotional outbursts were discouraged in my home growing up, so much of my adult life has been spent exploring my unmapped emotional country. Note: I've found some scary places and survived. 

    Experts say we use only a small percentage of our mental abilities, so there's plenty more mapping to do there. Learning keeps us going and growing. The pace of invention seems to be accelerating so rapidly, and I love that. 

    Our spiritual realm, consciousness, is as big as the Universe. I'm thinking it will take all of eternity to map infinity 😉😉 Our DNA is multi-dimensional, much more complex than we currently comprehend. From the tiniest parts of the physical body to the most expansive thoughts in mass consciousness--that's a lot of country to map. 

    I'm thinking no one ought to ever get bored!

        Leta

I could spend many happy hours in that chair!!

January 30--New Moves

Ultimately, we know deeply that the other side of every fear is freedom. 
--Marilyn Ferguson

    I have faced a multitude of fears in working with my spiritual coach, and I can say that yes, freedom is on the other side, blessed freedom. I have become increasingly aware that I have a lot of suppressed anger, and I can see underneath that a deep-seated fear of not getting what I want. Alas, as long as we are alive, there is something to work on--freedom from fear continually calls to us.

    I took my "beginner anxiety" to the YMCA this past Saturday morning for a beginner pickleball clinic. I know I'm late to the game, but there you have it. I had an experienced player work with me on the drills, and I loved it. I improved and caught on considerably in an hour, and learned even more as I sat and watched others play. I surely did use muscles in a new way, and my body let me know that. Praise the heavens for Epsom salts! I have purchased a paddle and I'm ready to get into the game regularly. 

    More freedom = more fun!

        Leta

January 29--Surprises Are Lurking Everywhere

The more one does and sees and feels, the more one is able to do. 
--Amelia Earhart

    As I go through my days, I am usually on the lookout for something interesting that I can bring to the blog. Signs, bumper stickers, billboards--inspiration could be anywhere 😉😉
    I was quite surprised when, driving along 21st Street West in Wichita, I saw this on one of the electronic church signs:

Many parents need a good spanking!

    I was so surprised that I drove by a second time to confirm that I was not imagining it. I told a couple of friends (one, a retired minister) about this, and their eyes bulged wide. I'm not sure whether this sentiment would attract or repel potential church visitors. While some may secretly agree with this statement, I find it quite creepy to be on a church sign. Oh, baby, bring it on?!?!!? Creepy.

    It did give me something to write about!!

        Leta

[No google image today---I have no intention of googling "spanking"!!!!!!!!]

January 28--Curiosity

Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. 
--Stephen Hawking

    I saw in the news line at the bottom of the TV screen that some football player had been arrested for "misdemeanor domestic violence." Life experience has made me aware of all manner of abuse, and the idea that some of it is minor, not that bad, only a misdemeanor, is ridiculous and baffling to me. 

    I'm learning here... the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives defines it:

A “misdemeanor crime of domestic violence” is an offense that:

1. Is a misdemeanor under federal, state, or tribal law;
2. Has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon; and
3. Goes on to define "domestic"

Here's what I found relative to Kansas: 

Kansas Statutes § 21-5414 defines domestic battery as a violent offense where bodily harm is inflicted upon a domestic partner which is a class B misdemeanor with up to 6 months in jail &/or up to $500 in fines.

    I seems to me that someone who wants to terrorize and hammer on another in the home doesn't have much to worry about legally. Disgusting!

        Leta

January 27--WWWIIINNNTTTEEERRR 😛😛

The world of the future is in our making. Tomorrow is now.  --Eleanor Roosevelt

    One of my prayerful thoughts each morning is "please help us all to be kinder to each other and kinder to the planet." 

    The big world, our planet, and all the stuff going on is just too much for me. While I believe humans are basically good and Life is expanding into greater consciousness, the stupidity, greed, ignorance, pettiness and evil seem overwhelming and leave me feeling frustrated and powerless. 

    So I look at the "Leta world of the future"--that over which I do have some control. Winter "yuck" has set in--dreary days, cold weather, boredom. I spend too much time lying around, and my husband is frustrated because he can't find enough to do. He's considering a part-time job, and I am crocheting to save my sanity. Our mantra is "spring will be here soon." I remind myself often that simple moments of gratitude are the best building blocks for tomorrow. 

    Happy to be here,

        Leta 

Thriving basil plants--the pesto of the future!

January 26--I Prefer Swimming

You can't cling to the side your whole life. One lesson every parent needs to teach a child is, "If you don't want to sink, you better figure out how to swim." 
--Jeannette Walls

    My dad taught me to swim at Whipples Dam State Park in the boondocks of Pennsylvania. Swimming is a skill every child should learn. I really enjoy watching the little-kid swim lessons going on at the YMCA when I am lap-swimming. 

    But I suspect Ms. Walls was talking about more than actual swimming skills. We can't hang on to safety forever... At some point we have to let go, get out into the world, and explore, experiment and adventure. We can see the drive in an infant as he gradually learns to roll over, hold the head up, crawl, stand, toddle and run. Our whole reason for being here is to "let go of the side." One is never too old to do that. There are considerably more "life preservers" out there than we can imagine. 

        Leta

January 25--Insurance Rules

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow them. 
--Louisa May Alcott

    This morning I feel like chatting about the medical profession and death. Fun, huh!??!

    I am on my second pass through the book "At Peace: Choosing a Good Death after a Long Life." It is about too many medical procedures, tests, drugs, etc being pushed on folks over 65, and how to resist being "over-medicalized" when the situation does not warrant aggressive treatment which may even be more harmful than the original diagnosis. 

    My obgyn doctor who delivered my sons retired, so on Monday I had my regular well-woman checkup with a brand new doctor. I arrived early so that I could complete their paperwork prior to my appointment time, and I did that. Then I sat in the waiting room for 27 more minutes while even women who came in after me were taken back to their appointments. My name was finally called. The nurse took my blood pressure and had me sign a form acknowledging that Medicare might not cover the visit and agreeing that I would pay the bill if not. You know--paperwork and money stuff are first and foremost to cover all applicable asses. Then I waited another 20 minutes in the lovely paper outfit until the doctor arrived. She acknowledged my previous doctor's retirement, then asked if I had any problems. "No, I'm good," I replied. Then she proceeded to talk me into a colonoscopy ("I'm not doing that"), Cologuard (at home colon test... "no, thanks") and a bone density test. To that one I replied, "I would not take any of the osteoporosis medicines, and besides I'm a yoga teacher, and I have rock-solid bones." She was in the room fewer than ten minutes. She did the Pap test, and I guess that's all I was there for anyway. She left the encounter knowing almost nothing about me, but all the insurance t's were crossed and i's dotted. I'm sure the new doc felt that it was a perfectly wonderful visit. I have no delusions that my frustrating experience was unusual. 

    As I age, I am seeing with alarming frequency that the more people "doctor," the worse off they become. I highly recommend Dr. Harrington's book for consideration of alternative choices. 

        Leta 

January 24--Opportunities

Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: I'm with you kid, let's go. 
--Maya Angelou

    I'm ready. There are several opportunities waiting. One is a trip to Colorado to see the family--that one was postponed due to nasty weather. I am also waiting to hear if a trip to England and Wales in October is going to have sufficient sign-ups to happen. Lastly, I have "thrown my hat into the ring" on an opportunity to expand my online MELT teaching. Happenings to look forward to are especially important to me in the winter months when I don't have golf to entertain me, and I tend to be a hermit. 

    Ms. Angelou's quote speaks to me of thriving rather than merely surviving. It seems that aging and/or illness tends to move us into survival mode, but thankfully, I'm not there yet!

    Let's go!

        Leta

Sun's up, off we go!

January 23--Verb or Adjective?

For us there is only the trying.  --T. S. Eliot

    Does he mean trying as a verb, as in trying to do, be or have? 

    Or does Eliot mean trying as an adjective, as in all we get are trying experiences? 

    It's Monday. let's try not to have a trying day!

        Leta

Golf... no matter how hard I try,
it is usually trying!

January 22--Living in Hope

The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope, running down its hallways, touching the walls on both sides.  --Barbara Kingsolver

    I grew up with a mother who loved to travel and a generous father willing to fund the trips. My dad refused to fly. He said often, "You don't die till your number is up, and I don't want to be up there when the pilot's number is up." So I got to go on the trips with my mom, and that planted in me a lifelong hope for more travel. I've been to a lot of places on our magnificent Mother Earth. Probably the most fun has been pursuing my every-MLB-stadium quest, enabling me to "run down the hallways" of 28 cities with two to go (Astros and Rangers). 

    I've had some folks suggest over the years that certain destinations or travel plans could be dangerous. My two replies are 1) it is bad business to kill tourists, and 2) I lead a charmed life, especially when traveling. 

    This year's hopes for travel include Florida, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, Colorado, England, Wales, and maybe more. 
    Two of my favorite words: ROAD TRIP!

        Leta

Golfing in CO with my sons...
The biggest "hope" I live inside.

January 21--I Don't Think Patience Is One of My Virtues

Between the wish and the thing the world is waiting.  --Cormac McCarthy

    I am feeling a lot of melancholy. We were supposed to go to Colorado this weekend to have a belated Christmas with the whole family, but weather and road conditions along the route eliminated that prospect. My "wish" is to have more time with my new grandson and "the thing" is not happening. So in the midst of all this waiting, I've had to just move on with life. Maybe things will change, maybe not. At least in a couple months, traveling weather won't be an issue. It is a challenge for me to stay in the "NOW" and both live life and wait...

        Leta

January 20--What Makes Us Human?

Love and work are the cornerstones of our humanness.  --Sigmund Freud

    I agree! Love and work take us to all sorts of places in one human life. Fading quickly are the days when one stays with one profession or company for a whole lifetime of work. Already my sons in their early 30s have had a variety of work experiences. Companies generally don't offer the security they once did, so younger folks have to create their own by being inventive and flexible. I see this as a good thing!

    Love... we would not exist or be human without it. The heart is the center of our physical, emotional and spiritual life, and its very essence is love. It behooves us to nurture our hearts and expand our capacity for loving, starting with ourselves. From Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis: "Being honest with ourselves about ourselves is to love ourselves unconditionally, to love ourselves fiercely." The foundation of love for others is self-love. 

    Enjoy your Friday!

        Leta

I'm most anxious to get back to "work" 😉😉

January 19--Doing Good Work

The secret of joy in work is contained in one word--excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.  --Pearl S. Buck

    I'm starting my third year as treasurer of one of my golf leagues. Let's just say that no one is fighting me for the job. I think most of the other ladies would rather have a root canal. Yet I love it. I'm a numbers-nerd, and balancing to the penny is excellent fun for me. 

    While excellence in work is very satisfying, let it not keep us from the up-and-down, twist-and-turn process of learning a new skill. No one is excellent at the very start. Learning is part of the joy of being in human form. 

    Loving and learning, life is good!

        Leta

My favorite clothing brand

January 18--Bring Along Curiosity

It's where we go, and what we do when we get there, that tells us who we are. 
--Joyce Carol Oates

    I've gone to lots of places, and more often than not, when I get there, I go to a major league baseball game. I guess that means I'm a sports nut, especially about baseball. That would be true. 

    Wherever we go, what if we arrived there with a sense of wonder? Curiosity? Willingness to explore and learn? I get to see my 5-month-old grandson soon, and he is all about wonder and curiosity because everything is new. Could we, as jaded adults, take a sense of wonder into the grocery store? Where does all this stuff come from? The bounty is seemingly infinite most of the time. How do they make Reese's peanut butter Christmas trees? Why are eggs so expensive? Do we really need that many varieties of potato chips? When I shop, I tend to get in and get out with the minimum amount of stuff and distance covered, but it could actually be quite an adventure. 

    Routine does not have to be boring. 

        Leta

January 17--Gratitude & Generosity

All serious daring starts from within.  --Eudora Welty

    These are words from the "Daily Meditation" by Richard Rohr on 11/22/22. These were written by Lakota author and activist Doug Good Feather about gratitude and generosity:

Each and every morning offers us a chance to start anew, fresh, and to begin again. Each morning when we wake—should we choose to listen—is a message from the Creator to remember the privilege we were given of waking up. It’s a reminder to get up and prepare our self, to honor our self, to go out into the world, to connect with Mother Earth and the hearts of other beings, to inspire and encourage those who cross our paths, and most importantly, to enjoy life.

Gratitude and generosity are similar virtues, but they differ in that gratitude is an internal characteristic and generosity is our external expression of our sense of gratitude. Basically, gratitude is how we feel, and generosity is how we express that feeling out in the world...

When we engage with the world from a place of gratitude, it’s the difference between trying to make something happen and allowing something to happen. The defining difference between effort and effortlessness is the virtue of gratitude. We see the quotes and memes from the sages and gurus that talk about gratitude. But why is gratitude such a core concept of joy, contentment, and well-being in our life? The ancestors tell us there are two primary reasons. The first is that a person cannot exist in a place of fear and true gratitude at the same time. The second is that gratitude is the doorway to divine intuition, which allows us to be guided by our connection with the Creator.

Gratitude moves stagnant energy when we’re feeling stuck in life. The simple act of practicing gratitude disrupts negative thoughts and changes our mindset to see the world in a positive way. Not only are we more attractive to others when we live in gratitude, but the most ordinary things can become extraordinary, creating a fuller, more beautiful expression of our life.

You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Things don’t happen to us, they happen for us.” Gratitude is the foundation of that adage. It means that our mindset has to be that the universe is generally conspiring and working in our favor. Frequently, when something that we perceive as “bad” happens to us, we let it affect us in a highly negative way. But if we interact with the world from a place of gratitude, when something happens that others may perceive as “bad,” we just see that experience as “interesting.” We are curious about why something happens the way it does, and in expressing that curiosity, we’re actively seeking the part of the experience that we’re grateful for.

Grateful to be alive!

        Leta

January 16--Lots of Ideas

Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.  --John Steinbeck

    There is a wonderful bestseller children's book titled "What Do You Do With An Idea?" by Kobi Yamada. Spoiler alert: "You change the world." 

    Yes, ideas multiply like rabbits. Not all ideas are good ones. It takes intuition to know which ones to pursue and which to let float away. I like the 12-step wisdom that suggests that with a decision to make, one waits a day or two to see if the idea gains momentum or flounders due to lack of interest. A wise mentor says that it is OK to say "I don't have my guidance yet" when pressed for a decision. 

    I have worked with folks who are great at coming up with ideas, but not so gifted at implementing them. Implementation has typically been my job. I have great respect for idea-generators and equal respect for those who turn ideas into form. Both are talents any functioning family/business/country needs. 

    Enjoy today's ideas!

        Leta

January 15--Infinite Out There and In Here

Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.  --Carl Sagan

    I am regularly fascinated each morning by the Astronomy Picture of the Day...

    This is our sun, the photo from January 14. It is HUGE. Just one sunspot is the size of a whole planet. It is a giant ball of burning gas 93 million miles away from earth, yet it sustains all life here. What amazing events happened bazillions of years ago to create that star and its happy little satellites?!?!? We star-gaze at night with the realization that some of those "stars" are actually whole galaxies. The infinity of it is mind-boggling. 

    Equally infinite territory to explore is our inner world. There is always more to be known, as we humans expand in consciousness and learn ever more about our true nature. I suspect there is an extraordinary amount of untapped power there (as demonstrated by Jesus). It's good we have eternity to play!

        Leta

January 14--I'm Not Old, I'm Human

The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.  --Joseph Campbell

    I'm a very organized, "detail" person usually, but just like the rest of humanity, I can be dingy sometimes. On our recent OKC basketball trip, I led my friend to our seats, we sat, and I thought, "I don't think this was the view I was expecting." Oh, well. After about 10 minutes, a couple of guys walked up and said, "You are in our seats." Well, we were in Section 110, and our ACTUAL seats were in 101. I got the digits right, just in the wrong order. When we moved, the view was much more like what I was expecting. I told my friend, "Please don't ever assume I know what I'm doing." We got a big laugh out of the whole thing. 

    Being a human rocks!

        Leta

The cell-phone flashlight light-up
from our actual seat location
at Paycom Center, OKC

January 13--Angels LOVE Babies!

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.  --Arthur Ashe

    In the 12-step program, we use the slogan, "Do the next right thing," and of course, that means doing something other than using. 

    Mr. Ashe's quote is life. We can't start from anywhere else than where we are in this moment. I can't play a musical instrument, but I can write. I can't solve all the world's problems today, but I can be kind to the folks I encounter. 

    The "set of angels" theme has me thinking even more about the wonder that is my new grandson. His angel set came into action at his conception, and had the time of his gestation to get to know the angel sets of his chosen parents. I picture that the angel sets of new babies are squealing with excitement to start a new adventure on earth. Maybe that's why babies are so adorable--they are so surrounded and in touch with all that angelic love. I expect the angels really have to work overtime to comfort the newborn coming from the bliss of mama's womb into this big, bizarre world. It's a slow process, with some babies taking longer than others, but soon the little ones are motoring around, and then their angel sets never get a break!

    We come from love and we are to live in love.

        Leta

January 12--Maybe? Maybe Not?

Work while you have the light. You are responsible for the talent that has been entrusted to you.  --Henri Frederic Amiel

    I sat in a Zoom presentation last night about the Science of Mind statement written by Ernest Holmes titled "What We Believe." One of the things that attracted me to this philosophy is this: "We believe in the direct revelation of truth through our intuitive and spiritual nature, and that anyone may become a revealer of truth who lives in close contact with the indwelling God." To me this means we have a direct connection to Something Bigger, and we don't need anyone else to ask God for stuff or figure out God for us. We are all a part of the Big One, so we are always 100% "plugged in." 

    Back to the sets of angels I've been writing about... I'm fully aware that it could all be nonsense, bullshit, fantasy, whatever you may choose to call it. It is MY "direct revelation" which I felt motivated to share. 

    The surest way to get me to run the opposite direction is to tell me that I have to believe or do or say certain things in particular ways in order to connect with Spirit, or be loved by Spirit, or be "saved." AAAAKKKK! 

    What's more fun than to chat with Something Bigger and More Beautiful--my set of angels--on a daily, friendship basis? A dialogue of life, so to speak. My angels love to celebrate with me, hold me when I cry, and support me in any way they can. So even if it's all BS, I'm having fun with it!

        Leta

 

From Google Images

January 11--YOU Are an Angel!

Suddenly you find--at age fifty, say--that a whole new life has opened before you... as if a fresh sap of ideas and thoughts was rising in you.  --Agatha Christie

    I think that if we started seeing angels hanging around, specifically in our airy-fairy heavenly concept of them, that we'd get freaked out, suspecting Armageddon or something. Therefore, our ever-wise angels have to use us humans to stand in for them. And more therefore, YOU have been an angel at least once in your life, probably even hundreds of times. 

    Changing the names to protect these earthly angels, here's my story... On Tuesday night I had an event planned at Place A. This was graciously arranged by friend Esmeralda. Late Monday night, Esmeralda called to tell me that she had just received notice that Place A had water-damage, was being repaired and was not available Tuesday night. Esmeralda was very bummed. I elected to remain calm and know there was a solution. Normally such a happening would cause me to sleep very poorly. Before going to sleep, I addressed my set of angels, "You don't need to sleep, but I do. Work this out for me. Thanks!" I slept very well. 

    Early Tuesday morning (day of event), I had this strong nudge to simply email the group signed up to attend the event to see if anyone of them might have any suggestions. Within minutes, angel-in-human-form Gladys offered her workspace, Place B, and it turned out to be perfect. We had a fun time and accomplished all I intended. 

    Dang! My set of angels does GOOOOOOD work!

        Leta

A Jamaican Christmas tree angel

January 10--Angels Love Google Maps

To have that sense of one's intrinsic worth which constitutes self-respect is potentially to have everything.  --Joan Didion

    Our sets of angels did stellar work on our game trip to Oklahoma City. Safe travels were supported in a most excellent way by Google Maps. I'm betting that feature has lightened the load of many a set of angels.  

    Sensing "one's intrinsic worth" is the ability to appreciate and love the person one has become. I believe each set of angels loves us infinitely no matter what dumb stuff we may do. It's a lovely exercise to take a few deep breaths and say, "OK, angels, love me up a bit." Then allow yourself to bask in the love for a few moments. Connecting to Something Bigger is always a good plan. 

    On the topic of Big Love, I offer this Note from the Universe (Mike Dooley, tut.com):

    I can imagine that from your perspective, it must seem like some truly awful things happen in time and space. So, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to weigh in.
    You live in a world of illusions. A world that springs from a much deeper and far greater reality. And while at times the illusions are indeed ugly, with your physical senses you only see the tip of the iceberg. If you could see the whole, you'd discover that the unpleasantness was only the tiniest piece of a most spectacular puzzle that was created with order, intelligence, and absolute love. You'd see that contrary to appearances, in the grandest scheme of things, nothing is ever lost, no one becomes less, and setbacks are always temporary. And you'd understand that no matter what has happened, everyone lives again, everyone laughs again, and everyone loves again, even more richly than before.
    P.S. Time and space are your laboratory and playground. Play as hard as you study and let the good times roll.
    The Universe

     Have a love-filled day!
        Leta

Lilies (my favorite!!) given to 
me as a Christmas gift 😀

January 9--Road Trip!

You are the one and only ever you.  --Nancy Tillman

    We take a one-day break from the "set of angels" theme. 

    A sporting event is an excellent place to see the variety and uniqueness of humans. A friend and I went to the OKC Thunder/Dallas Mavericks NBA game last night. From the fittest of athletes on the floor to the most couch-potato fan to the wildly-excited little kids, it is a sea of individuals of infinite variety. What fun!

    Alas, the reason I wanted to come to this game (and true for many others) was to see Luka Doncic play for the Mavs. He was out due to an ankle injury. Bummer. But the Thunder won, and that's good for that often-struggling very young team. 

    Happy to be me, happy to have the first road trip of 2023!

        Leta

January 8--Is It Crowded?

If you are offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat! Just get on. 
--Sheryl Sandberg

    I love this quote! Just say "yes." That's how I've had two fabulous December vacations in Jamaica the past two years, and many other wonderful travels. 

    A fair number of folks need scientific proof before they are willing to believe. I prefer the heart-wisdom/gut-feel evaluation process. It takes courage to operate this way, rather than waiting for definitive, comforting certainty. It is the "just get on" approach to life--see where the ride takes me.

    In our house, there are three sets of angels--mine, my husband's, and Barney's. Yes, I believe our dog Barney has his own set--who do you think orchestrates all the adoptions?!?!?! 😉😉 So in any given house, there is a set for each person and each pet. And, heaven only knows, there may be more (for each houseplant?!!?!!) 

    The question then becomes "How do angel sets interact?" With all creation being one unified whole, maybe it's just one super-big glob of angels. But then when I head out the door, my angels need to go with me. But then they are everywhere all the time! (See how mind-wobbling this can be!?!!) I'm thinking angels are better at cooperation than their humans are. Likewise, with infinite resources and a much larger perspective, they have a better concept of divine order than we humans can see with our very limited vision. 

    Let's enjoy the idea of infinite angel love and wisdom filling our homes. 

        Leta

By Paul Noth

January 7--What Do You Believe, Really?

If we don't believe the things we put on our agendas will come true for us, then there's no hope for us... We've got to believe in our beautiful impossible blueprints.  --Doris Lessing

    Well, isn't this an appropriate quote when I'm on a roll considering sets of angels!?!? If you don't believe you have a set of angels, you don't lose them, you just "tie their hands," and prevent them from being as helpful as they could be. We can't disconnect from Something Bigger, but we can ignore it. 

    I have a stubborn, rambunctious 4-year-old within me that stomps her foot and says, "I do it myself!!" (If you have raised a child, you have likely experienced this scene.) I sway to that end of the spectrum too often, indicating a weakened belief in my angel set's abilities. It would be more empowering for me to consistently enlist the angels' help for my "agenda," whatever that may be.
    Here are some interesting questions from Howard Thurman: 

"Do you believe that life is really dynamic? That it isn’t quite finished yet? That not only are you involved always in a circling series of potentials, but that you are potential. You, potential. Do you believe that?"

    We all believe in something. Why not believe in mighty, awesome, infinitely-charged angels?

        Leta

On a tour bus in Jamaica...
Not sure why it is a "WARNING"

January 6--Wild? What's That?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? 
--Mary Oliver

    Right now I'd say my life feels very precious, but not so wild. The pressure to have a "wild" life, whatever that is, can be discouraging. I guess the challenge is to enjoy the not-so-wild parts in between the wild ones. Actually I have some "wild" just around the corner. A friend and I are driving to OKC for the Mavericks-Thunder NBA game on Sunday night, returning home Monday. Probably Ms. Oliver was thinking more lofty things than an NBA game. 😉😉

    Ms. Oliver can ask the question because we humans on Mother Earth have free will. This is the rock-solid foundation of life here. Even though we may not like the selections, we always have a choice. Enter my angel set. I'm the boss--the angels cannot mess with my free will. I expect there have been a multitude of times where they have eye-rolled, grimaced, and squirmed at my choices, yet did their best to support me anyway. 

    Let's be good to our sets of angels. Assign good work to them. Use them. Keep them busy. They love the work and us!

        Leta

Another awesome KS sunrise!

January 5--Others Have Angel Sets, Too

Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.  --St. Francis of Assisi

    I really like the Saint's words. "Impossible" is too big a leap for me at the moment, but I can manage what is "necessary." I can even apply this sentiment to cleaning: get the necessary basics done, maybe add a few more things, and voila!--the impossible--the house is clean for a few nanoseconds. Alas, I think the Saint was probably speaking of something more profound than house-cleaning!

    Back to angels... Obviously I am not the only human with a set of angels. Everyone has a set. Worrying about my younger son snowboarding is what put me on this theme. Let his set of perfectly competent angels watch over him. But how do I know his set of angels are perfectly competent? I have to trust that ALL angels are excellent at what they do, backed 100% by the Source of all creation. I think that's as good as it can get!

    There are so many potential worries: my husband when he's biking; the fragile new life of my grandson; my brother with his mobility and health issues; friends and family members distressed in some way. I am fully aware that my worrying does not contribute any good to any situation, but that doesn't always stop me from worrying. The reminder that each one has his/her own set of perfectly competent angels is comforting, and let's me set them free, at least for a while.

    Thanks, angels, for caring for the ones I love!

        Leta

January 4--Angels Have Fun

To love what you do and feel it matters--how could anything be more fun? 
--Katharine Graham

    I have a variety of "hats" that I wear in self-employment, and I love them all. I feel that all the different things I do matter, so yes, it's all fun. I'm even numbers-nerd enough to enjoy being the treasurer of a women's golf league.

    Back to angels... a friend recommended the book by Jean Slatter: "Hiring the Heavens, A Practical Guide to Developing Working Relationships with the Spirits of Creation." 

    Ms. Graham's quote describes life for our sets of angels perfectly! I have no doubt that what they do matters. I truly believe we couldn't thrive here on Mother Earth without them. Do they love what they do? All indications are a resounding "yes!" Think about it--every single human is a unique, never-before, never-again, completely new adventure for each angel set. Think of how things have changed over time. Long ago angels would have to deal with endless hours of hard labor, plagues, and so on--really hard lives for most of the people. Nowadays there are such wonders as space travel and virtual reality games. My set of angels has been sky-diving, zip-lining and para-sailing; traveled to many fun places; enjoyed the challenges of raising two sons. 

    Angels live in infinite potential. How about we tap into some of that? 

        Leta

January 3--More Than Just a Parking Space

My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition.  --Indira Gandhi

    I confess that I have used my set of angels too many times for a good parking space. They have let me know very clearly that while they do stellar work in that area, good parking spaces are trivial and boring work for them. 

    I do not consistently remember that I have a set of angels working for me. I slip back into "I have to do it all myself" thinking. If I truly believe I have a personal set of angels, why am I not using them for so much more?!?! What good could I do with infinite willing power at my disposal? Whether my set of angels actually exists or not does not matter. It's my belief in them that accomplishes the work. 

    Noting Gandhi's quote, I'm quite willing to let my set of angels do the work AND take the credit. The challenge is figuring out how I'd like to use them. What do I really want? Healing? Better self-care? More time with my grandson? More travel adventures? Rain? New opportunities? 

    What do you want your set of angels to accomplish for you? 

        Leta

January 2--How Many Angels?

What you have to do is work with the raw material you have--namely you--and never let up.  --Helen Gurley Brown

    "Know thyself" is a never-ending exploration. 

    Back to my current theme of one's own set of angels... I believe that we are never alone, that there is a divine presence enfolding us at all times. "Angel" is an easy way for me to envision this presence in my mind. I like the idea of a set of them. I get into situations that require them to consult with each other on the best way to support me. There are more experienced angels in my set that can guide the rookies into the best way of caring for me. It's a team effort. The bigger the team, the more powerful. Given the infinite nature of the Universe, I can have as many angels in my set as I want. They have been with me since conception (at least). It's a good thing they are plugged into an infinite energy source, because I expect there have been some very tiring times getting me to this "youngster" age of 67. 

    How many angels would you like in your set? 

        Leta

No, I did not take this photo.
It's from google images and 
I think it is a hoot!

January 1--Set of Angels

Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness.  --Allen Ginsberg

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

  WELCOME, 2023!

    The January theme in "Daily Gratitude" is GROWTH. 

    Most every night, I wake up for some period of time and, if left unchecked, my mind goes to worrying. I don't like to consider myself a worrier, so I usually try to steer my thoughts elsewhere. A couple nights ago, my mind wandered into concerns about my younger son and his beloved hobby of snowboarding. Almost immediately, I got this "announcement:" "He has his own set of angels, let them handle it." Then my mind took off on the idea of each of us having our own set of angels to use. So that is what I'll be writing about for a while. 

    Playful fun!

        Leta